Grizelda the Witch at My Castle Shed

Years ago when my sons were small I and a neighbor dressed as scary witches. The little children were so frightened on Halloween they would not come down the walkway for their treats.

When I became a grandma I decided to become Grizelda the Clown Witch. Who could be frightened of her? My orange crushed hat has a spider web and a rubber spider dangles from the edge. You can see my green felt hooked nose. In the photo above for my Treadle Lady site I posed in front of the Paris Cabinet and sewed on my German Gritzner treadle sewing machine.

When my son Doug and Lisa came over with Davis their heads were shaking. Doug lovingly said, "Mom, you are such a geek." Yes!!! And I love being one. After a couple of years of teasing that stopped and about the 5th year Lisa said, "I want to be a clown witch." Another "Yes!!!" So I whipped up her adorable costume, a much cuter version with a short sassy skirt.

After becoming Grizelda the Clown Witch I designed and made a Halloween quilt with a hand painted scene. Several years ago I asked hubby to paint the scene that I designed for my quilt so I could make Halloween cards, the quilt didn't photograph as clearly as I wanted. Here is the painting he did, propped up on a chair in the castle shed the other day.

When my grandsons were small they used to point to the witch in the quilt and say, "Grandma, that's you." What a compliment! The books on the shelf in the painting are, Potions, Witches Who's Who, Pumpkin Cookbook, Frog Care and it was the title of the last book that sealed my identity, Clown Witch Costumes.

Last week I put up spider web garland banners to decorate my castle shed and then posted the PDF file for sale to make them in my Etsy shop. Here is link.

On a quiet evening this week I took my wine glass and lap top out to write at my medieval style table in my castle shed. I had a little story idea about what is happening in the painting. I propped the painting in front of me so I could tell the story, suitable as a night time story for little children, no scariness. It will be posted in my Etsy shop soon. (Here is the link to the story card.)

The castle shed is so enticing, a great little place to escape and write or work.

Here are party favor baskets I designed a few years ago and made a fresh set.

 And pillow boxes that coordinate, great for Halloween treats.

Are you ready for Halloween or a bedtime story?

The Teapot Wall Pearl China Company Set

Recently, on our way home from church, we noticed an estate sale with everything half off. We made a U turn. What treasures might there be?

My teapot wall isn't large enough for all my teapots, there are a few on the Paris cabinet and a few in the kitchen and breakfast nook. I really don't need another teapot but......when you are offered such a bargain for a beauty you can't resist. It was offered for 25% less than half off, I wasn't even negotiating. It was in such perfect condition for three pieces it came home.

We were told most of the items had been stored away for many years. There are several of the same set for sale on the internet but all of them have the gold with lots of wear. This set is in perfect condition and looks right at home in front of the painting Jan did for me of the Tuck Box in Carmel, California.

It's made by the Pearl China Company in the 1950s or 1960s. Each piece has a swirled design and 22k gold. Here is another view. What a beauty!

What kind of a tea theme would this fit?

Looking Back a Year to My Garden Castle Shed

It's dusk and we just came in from having dinner outdoors by the garden castle shed. The solar lights are on and it looks complete though as I've said many times before, there are still lots of projects to do but for now it's satisfying.

Looking back here is the day Jan dug up all the plants in that corner of the yard.

Here was my foam core model that was to be only 8 feet high turrets and storage only in turrets. As work progressed we decided to make the whole form into storage and 11 feet high turrets. I wouldn't want to go back to that day in September 2014.

It's a little dark now but had to be in a good night photo from my castle shed.

New York Twin Towers Painting

Earlier in the summer Jan (pronounced yan) did a commissioned painting for a pilot friend. On June 11, 2000 the pilot was in New York and flew by the twin towers and took a photo from his cockpit. It was a memorable moment he wanted captured in a painting from his 4x6 inch photo.

Jan struggled with all the details but he persisted and did this fine painting that was 24x30 inches. I'm so proud of my hubby.

Copper Sconce for Castle Shed Torch Lights

Wow! The design worked out great.

Remember the August 3 blog entry? I described the pattern making process from paper. There were 9 paper patterns and it was number 8 that I liked the most. It's been melding in my mind how to make it. My jewelry making skills are for small pieces of jewelry as in my MaDil Designs Etsy shop.

The skills and tools are a little different for something much larger. Finally I figured out the best way to make it out of copper sheeting.

Do we have a copper sconce or a patat frit holder?  Dutch hubby keeps calling it that. In the Netherlands french fries are served in a paper cone holder and he keeps drooling wanting a batch topped with the traditional mayonnaise on top.

It looks like a perfect torch light sconce to me. 

Now on to make the second one and mount them to the castle shed. They just may appear for sale in my Etsy shop for sale by next week as indoor electric sconce lighting. There are ideas rolling in my head.

Can you visualize them under the torch lights? The final decision will be to leave them shiny copper to age on their own or verdigris them as I did the roof finials and flags.

Jones Serpentine Hand Crank Machine Base and Labor Day Weekend

What a gorgeous labor day weekend already. Last night we had a TGIF taco night for five neighbors that came over. There is nothing like a good soft taco, a little beer or wine, music in the background and friends you enjoy.

This afternoon we took a bike ride and now I'm sitting at the medieval table in my castle shed with the doors open and the sun setting. It's 84 degrees with only 20% humidity, very nice.

A few years ago I purchased a Jones Serpentine hand crank sewing machine, from about the year 1890. Some people call it the cat back. The feet have holes in the bottom and hubby made me a base with dowels to hold it in place. It's been unfinished wood for too long so I primed it a couple of days ago and will be adding a little teal color to the base so it won't be such a harsh contrast from the black sewing machine to white.

I grabbed a couple of containers with some mixed paint, one was green, the other blue. With a stir stick I pulled out a little of each into a small pie pan I use for mixing small amounts of paint. 

Since the paint has a little carpenter's chalk in it the drying time is about 10 minutes in the nice low humidity weather. The south turret where my painting station is at is perfect for afternoon projects with a little sun still coming in through the screens.

Quick as a snap it dried and I put the machine back in place, each foot over the protruding dowels.

Here it sits on my new medieval table before taking it back into the house.

The shadows are getting deeper.

Soon the solar lights inside the castle shed will come on and a little later the torch lights. Haven't made the light fixtures yet, sigh. Still lots to do but it has come a long way and has been a very enjoyable process.

Organizing the Castle Shed

Today was a productive day and my Alice in Wonderland inspired floor really stands out now that the shed is 80% organized.

First thing in the morning I wiped down the new medieval table to remove excess stain. Annie Sloan dark soft wax was next, scrubbed it in with the brush then buffed it well.

It stayed outside while a few things were done inside. First hubby hung the shelf cabinet using a French cleat system. He made it with two strips of wood cut on a bevel, one is mounted on the wall and the other on the back of the shelf cabinet. It can be lifted off easily, love that system. Here it is on the north side of the castle shed door.

It was quickly loaded up with votive glasses and lights.

Hubby cut lots of shelves and I mixed up my magic potion of paint, water and some carpenter chalk to whitewash them.

As quick as they dried he mounted the shelves and I loaded them up with all my smaller paint cans and mixes. This is the view to the south turret and the painting station. The cabinet below the work table is gone, there is more room to arrange the gallon cans of paint and the table bases project.

 Tools and painting apron hang between work table and paint shelves.

The south turret work station is ready for some planned projects. The center lazy Susan is for painting and making projects.

The back wall is for supplies.

The shelves on the left side of the shed have decor items and miscellaneous, still needs organizing. The north turret is not shown, still needs more organizing.

The floor was cleaned and my new medieval table is buffed and put back in place.


We're all set. The white rabbit and Alice in Wonderland may show up any day. "Drink Me" potion and a key are waiting.

Making a Medieval Table

For weeks I've been wanting a small table for my castle shed. I'm so happy to be rid of the white desk that was in the center, the style just didn't fit. I've been dreaming of a small rustic medieval style table, of course what is medieval and not too difficult so it can be done quickly. The time came several days ago when Jan had free time so I twitched my nose and rubbed my genie teapot. Voila!

It is made of reclaimed wood. The plan was to use a corbel pattern we made months ago. Jan cut all the corbels from a long thick piece of lumber that was warped and had cracks. The center is a used 4x4. The assembly had to be with a flat base that had to be notched so the cross pieces would be stable.

Testing the size, notice front piece is charmingly crooked.

The top corbels were smaller, lots of cracks.

The table top was make from two layers of old fencing, glued, screwed together and clamped. The top is only 22 x 26 inches finished, just big enough for tea for two.

Look at all those screws! Hubby, the genie, is ready to chop the top to the correct height.

Now it's ready for me.

I had a can of dark walnut Howard Restor-a-Finish. There was no finish to restore, I just used it like a stain. 

Messy messy job.

Almost done.

Dirty and sweaty but had to test it. I wanted it lower than a standard table so I can write on my lap top. It's 27 inches high.

By the time the solar lights came on my genie was pooped, he had showered and crashed on the sofa. I had to take one last photo.

Guess where I will be at 6 a.m. with my laptop and a cup of tea.

Mr. Froggy Training for Yo-Yo Competition

Mr. Froggy looks very content in his resting position. For days he's been practicing yo-yo tricks for a competition. He's hoping to earn enough money to go dancing in Paris by the Eiffel tower.

It is Jan's creative painting that has inspired him. The Eiffel Tower holding a wine bottle and glass dancing in the moon light is enough to drive a dancer wild. Mr. Froggy's eyes are set on his goal.

He's got the look of determination.