Hi Steve,
Don't feel bad, I've got some advantages working in my favor, as well as a bit of OCD once I start a project. But, I've got a pretty good system going now too.
It takes about an hour to do up a pattern, which I do on my computer, most of the house patterns for this set are pretty basic, with the exception of the Country House, that one took some figuring, but I was lucky enough to have one in my collection too. So if its not too crazy, I'm able to import pics of the originals and make a template pretty fast. On the new ones I've been doing it goes even faster because I already have the dog house pattern and base pattern from previous houses. I also have an advantage because I've been a graphic artist since 1995 and know my way around the programs pretty well. The other thing atleast for this set, is that all the door and window holes are the same, so I can reuse without having to measure each time in my program from house to house. If I had Pete's punch set, I would really be able to fly!
If I was doing a new house or creating something that hasn't been done before, Im sure this process could take several hours up to a few days.
Then it probably takes me an hour or two to cut out all the pieces and glue them together. I work at home, so when Im eating lunch I might do a piece, or if I come in for a break from printing and have it all layed out I will paint a little or something. I do most of my bulk work after my daughter goes to bed though. But being able to work a little throughout the day, when I can helps because it allows me to do tiny pieces and have them dry while doing other stuff. Im a big multitasker.
The primer, which I always do two coats takes about two hours with drying time. The coconut goes on with the paint, and all together takes about 2 hours to actually paint, but it has to be broken up so different parts can dry before moving on. So I can paint a whole house in about a day and a half. As for the trees and such, I do a lot at a time so they are ready when I need them.
If Im on a roll and not too distracted with other stuff I could probably crank out a house in 3 days, but so far once I've had the pattern done, it usually takes me about 5 if I have everything ready to go. On average I would say it takes around 5 to 6 hours of actual work time.
This next one might take me an extra few days, cause I'm out of trees, and I don't have the next raffia fence sewn up yet. Im not an ace with the machine yet so those take me a little longer too.
But that is pretty much my work process.
Thanks
-Brian
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