Hi all,

My name is Brian, Im the guy that use to print off Papa Ted's paper doors and window that he would send out to everybody. Nice to join the forum, I'm looking fwd to sharing, and seeing what everybody is up to!

Around Thanksgiving, I won a beat up little Clockhouse on ebay for about $30. Pretty good, I think I've seen the same one in decent condition go between $150 - $300. Which seems crazy to me, but whatever.

I already had this house in my village, but Dad didn't, so I fixed it up for him for Christmas.
First I gave it a good cleaning. Then I made a new tree, the stem of the tree is a dried stem of an asiatic lily from my garden. Put all new windows and clock in it. The clock was a little too bright white for the rest of the house, so I made a cup of Earl Grey, watered it down and applied a little with a Q-tip to the Clock to age it ever so slightly. I had to make a new fence post in front. I was lucky the original door was intact!
I also applied a little of the Coconut I got from Pete.
I was pretty happy with how it came out and Dad loved it!

Wow the before and after pics are impressive.

Never do a restoration before.

Awesome job.

So is the coconut easy to apply.
Any pointers.

Steve

brian...

first-class restoration work!...been reading all your posts...sounds like you are a young man...probably the 3 year old mention gave that away...anyway...i'm personally gald to see some young folks interested in the hobby...hope to see much, much more of your work...now...about that rather large collection of house in the background of the clock house...share it with us, ok?...

my very best regards...howard...

Thanks Steve!
Not sure why the pics posted that way.... I thought I uploaded them the other way...probably an I D 10 T error...on my part.

Coconut is pretty easy, I use Aleene's original tacky glue, its the one in the goldish brown bottle, can be bought at Michael's. I squirt a little into the top of an old spray paint can lid. Then I put in a little hot water and mix it down so it's more fluid. I don't think you would need to do this as much if you were putting on a fresh layer, but because it already had an original layer of Coco on it, I didn't want the flocking to get to thick. Then I put it on the counter or a place that I can easily sweep up any Coco that doesn't stick and reuse it. So I just use a decent size paint brush and paint it on over the old then I take a pinch of Coco out of the bag and sprinkle it on. I just do one side at a time. Then let it dry for 3 or 4 minutes, the Aleene's dries clear. Then I blow away any that doesn't stick and start the next side or apply any where it didn't take.

I'm glad I didn't have to do any structure work, the restore only took 2 nights. I got lucky the house was in fairly decent condition to begin!

Hi Howard, thank you so much! I have been following your work for sometime!! I get Maria's emails, and am always amazed by what you do!! You make awesome stuff! Yeah Im a second gen putzer...Im turning 35 this year.
I'd be happy to load pics of my village to share, I'll try to get some up very soon!

I take that back, i'm a 3rd generation putzer, my Grandma bought our first little green spot church in 1946 the year my Dad was born.

brian...i knew you were young...(i've got children ten years older than you)...

howard...

Thanks Howard! I like this hobby! Being a musician and playing local venues anybody over 30 is an old guy...