Topping It Off

We are in the midst of constructing the cottage roof and it's coming out so wonderfully, it may take the whole place into a whole new level of cozy richness.

Cirelle and I have been struggling to install several roof joists in the cottage based on discussions I've had about it with Yuji and Shel during their visits. It's a complicated task as I need each panel of the roof to be removable for filming access and yet be independent from the walls in some places--nevermind it's nuts. To make matters worse, I started off by using free hardwood scraps I picked up from a scrap bin and they have been tough/impossible to get screws into, etc. but I'm too stubborn to replace them now.

What has worked is making a paper pattern for the space between the joists and using the pattern to get the odd shape in cardboard. Cirelle painted each side of the cardboard with a wash of brown (inside side) or redwood (topside side). She perfectly hot glued on cedar shims for the interior of the roof that I stained the next morning with various shades of wood dye and walnut ink (seen above on left looking up from the floor with the first panel set above the bed, behind the new red canopy being built beautifully by Carol.)

Cirelle in in the process of hand placing each cut and stained cedar shim shingle using a clever pattern of her own design. The giant pail of shingles I've had ready for the whole roof have nearly been used up on just the first panel... so, I'll need to get about 10 more packs to cut down and get ready for the rest.

One of the problems with a long term project is that I forget ideas by the time the build time comes around. I recall preparing to use redwood lathing strips for the interior rafters. But I actually think the cardboard covered with shims end up looking nicer, thanks to Cirelle's skill.