Arts Day at Leo Nickerson School

This Friday Leo Nickerson School will again be holding their annual Arts Day. Artists of all kinds (photographers, painters, potters, musicians, actors, etc.) set up displays of their work and/or teach workshops. I'll be at the school again with a miniatures display.

Still haven't decided exactly what I'll be taking this year other than the 1:12 miniature of the school's art studio that I did for their silent auction last year. The owner, the art teacher at the school, allowed me to borrow it to display at our miniature show and sale on the 18th. It will certainly be a display that they can relate to.

Since almost all the contents of that room were made from scratch, I think I'll take the trash to treasure display I did for our show in 2010 and maybe the trash to treasure vignettes that I did for a challenge on Canada Minis.

Today I made up four chairs in four different scales (playscale 1:6, 1:12, 1:24 and 1:48) that I think I'll take to show the students the different scales that we work in.

I make a lot of these chairs in 1:12 when I do vignettes with students but it's the first time I've made them in the four different scales. It makes an interesting visual, doesn't it?

Drinking glasses, paint rack

About ten years ago, I got an ice cream bucket full of 27 bottles of stained glass paint for $2.50 at a garage sale. They served me well over the years but, let's face it, eventually they DO dry out. I picked up a nice supply of new stained glass paint a couple weeks ago at Dollar Giant so it was time to throw out the old stuff. The great thing about the old paints is that they have wonderful caps like the ones on Aleene's glue, only red. So I now have a great supply of red drinking glasses.

My DS Shirley gave me a spinning paint rack for Christmas a few years back. I had some bottles of paint that were too small to fit properly in the slots so I cut pieces of foamcore and made a shelf to fit in the upper part of the rack.

This allows me to store odd sized bottles, including the nail polishes that I often use to paint small items.

storage

Canadian Tire has the 8 packs of clear 9L shoeboxes on sale this coming week for $11.99. I love these for storing items specifically meant for upcoming projects or collections of beads or ribbons/trims.  But I probably don't NEED any more......

forgot to mention..

MEE president Tina MacDonald did a television interview about the Show and Sale on Friday morning. You can watch it here.

Also, you may have seen the tributes to the Red Hat Ladies in the pictures of the displays. This is the second year that Red Hat Ladies have volunteered at our show and sale helping in the display area and sales floor.

What a wonderful weekend!

Well, Saturday got off to a less than stellar start. The freezer of my fridge quit working so had to transfer everything to the freezer Leanne gave us for Christmas last year. What a lifesaver that was! Fortunately the fridge portion was still working.

Wendy, Sue and Jocelyn arrived about 4 p.m. from Calgary and I immediately put them to work with a last minute task for the show and sale. With that out of the way, Jocelyn had time for a quick look at some of my minis and my workroom then we left for the hotel. I was staying at the hotel with Eileen from Nanaimo since I had to be on duty at 6:30 in the morning while the ladies from Calgary would be spending the night at my place.

The evening before the show, we have a no-host dinner at the hotel for MEE members, out of town guests, and dealers. It's a good chance to have a relaxing visit before the show starts.

Eileen had been up very early to catch her flight from Victoria and I had been going strong all day so we turned the lights out by 10.

Up at 6:00, dressed and headed downstairs to the sales room. Kathy Barbier from Hummingbird Miniatures was there ahead of me. We visited for a few minutes then Alex Zohar from Victoria Miniland joined us.

The hotel staff had done a great job setting up the room. With map in hand, I put the numbers and dealer envelopes on the tables and our dealers began setup.

Most of our dealers are regulars so it's like old home week as they arrive.

In the meantime, Sunni and Lorry were doing their usual magic in the display room arranging all the beautiful displays. It was nice to see that many of the dealers also brought work for display.

In addition to the individual displays, the club unveiled the cooperative dollhouse that we have been working on for two years. The club was divided into geographic groups and each group was responsible for decorating one room of the house. All the items in the house are references to children's literature. The house will be presented to the Children's section of the St. Albert Public Library in October. I will be taking pictures of the individual rooms later and will post them then.

Dealers could shop at 9:30 then the doors opened to the public at 10:00. We had a wonderful turn out and people were still arriving at 3:30 and shopping right until closing at 4:00.

My upstairs neighbour Barb came by for a couple hours. She's just now getting into minis so it was great for her to see all the displays and see the fantastic variety of items available from the dealers. She had some questions about knitting in miniature and she was pleased with the advice she received from dealers who do miniature knitting. Barb also transported most of my purchases home so I would only have to deal with my displays at the end of the day.

All our dealers are so friendly and helpful. They are such a pleasure to work with.

Sunni Dixon did her usual marvellous job at the children's 'make and take' table with the help of some student volunteers. This year, children had a chance to make a small vignette. There are pictures of some of their work at the bottom of the page  here.

I stayed pretty much on task with my purchases. Most of my purchases were light fixtures and molding.

I did hit the jackpot with an off-task purchase from Danielle Perry. Danielle was parting with some of her personal collection and was selling a Fisher Price Sesame Street dollhouse. DD Leanne and I had been discussing this very piece just a week ago so I HAD to get it for her. For now I am "the greatest mommy in the world". LOL

About 4:30, takedown was just about finished and it was time to go home. It was a long but wonderful day.

Today was spend downloading pictures, sorting through my purchases (and cleaning out the fridge so I can get a repair man out - and hopefully get it fixed and not have to replace it.)

Exciting news!

Just had to tell someone! Andrea Daly, who bought the miniature of the Leo Nickerson Art Studio at the silent auction, is loaning it to me to display at the Show and Sale on Sunday.

I'm just thrilled that I'll have an opportunity to show it off!

displays in a book

Over the years I've seen some great miniature scenes (many of them fairy tales) done in books. Most of them have been done in papier mache books but some have been done in hollowed out real books. In fact, I've hollowed out two books myself with the intention of someday (okay, don't fall off your chair laughing) putting scenes in them.

BTW this is very time-consuming and I'd honestly suggest using the papier mache version. They're usually available at Michael's - and in fact the last time I was there they had some in various sizes with absolutely gorgeous covers in the $15 - $20 range (quite reasonable I thought for Michael's). And with a coupon.....

While surfing this morning (I love it when one thing leads to another but it sure sucks up time), I found this tutorial for making a book out of a box. She's making them to lay flat and store craft supplies in but don't see why they couldn't be used vertically with a scene inside.

Joann Swanson

As she is to so many miniaturists, Joann Swanson is my hero and mentor. All of my projects incorporate so many things I've learned from her over the years - and many of them are based in some way on her articles published in Nutshell News and earlier issues of Dollhouse Miniatures magazine.

With her blog, she continues to educate us with new projects and lessons on how to make things. She has just added a wonderful tutorial on scale that is most informative and helpful. The standard household measurement pages are particularly helpful, especially if you're new to miniatures. This would be good information to print and take to a miniature show.

And speaking of miniature shows, we're all frantically dealing with the last minute details for ours on Sunday. Club-wise, everything is in place and set to go, but individually most of us are just a bit frazzled trying to get displays completed. My detective's office has been finished for some time but the bar below it has been stalled for quite a while as you know. Maybe I'll have to display it with an "Under Construction - Opening Soon" sign. LOL

Edmonton AB Show and Sale final dealers' list

We've had two last minute additions to the list. Sue Lefebvre of Calgary will be selling her 1:12 handbags. These are lovely and beautifully made. The other is Nigh's Pottery - miniature hand thrown (on a wheel) pottery, every piece is one of a kind.

DEALER LIST 2011

Another World Miniatures (Linda Maddaford, Bev Perret)

1:12 scale fine furniture, glass, silver, Goebel figurines, fabric, ribbon and accessories

http://dollhouse-miniature-projects.com

Bits by Barb (Barb Striethorst)

Plant kits, plants, slippers, bonsai, basket kits, landscape supplies

bstriet@shaw.ca

Boyne Miniatures (Michelle Alberni)

Porcelain dolls, china painted porcelain vases, food, teddy bears, baskets, glassware and some commercial items

alberni@mts.net

Brigitte’s Minis and Kristina Bears (Brigitte and Kristine Simon)

Floral minis, food and miniature bears

kristinabears@yahoo.com

Danielle Perry Miniatures

Closing Out Sale

Furniture, accessories, electric, building supplies dollhouses

DaniellePerry@shaw.ca

Danielle Perry Miniatures Artisan Table

The work of these artisans is not included in the Closing Out Sale.

Jenny Wren – Jennifer Elliot

Monica’s Miniatures – Monica “Peaches” Lavoie

Penny Spence

Sher McGirr

L.A. Genuine Gems – Linda Austin

Aleeta Kent

Eileen Shannon

Handwoven items in 1:12 and 1:48 scale, some tatted items

e_k.shannon@shaw.ca

Hummingbird Miniatures (Kathy Barbier)

Hand-painted garden accessories

barbier@telus.net

Janice Crawley, IGMA Fellow

Ceramic dishes, tiny porcelain dolls (dressed and undressed)

Judy Mitchell

Various items in 1:12 and 1:48 scales

Jmitchell4@shaw.ca

Luba Barnes

Miscellaneous miniature items

lubarnes@telusplanet.net

MiniLAND

Full line of roomboxes, furniture and accessories

http://www.miniland.ca

info@miniland.ca

ML Designs (Marg Wolfe)/Lathey Bones (Tina MacDonald)

Original artwork, wood and acrylic turnings

http://camacdonald.com/MEE

tina@camacdonald.com

Ms Mini (Sherrill Bedu)

1:12 and 1:48 dolls, furniture, accessories, kits, etc.

msmini@telus.net

Nana’s Minis (Eileen Morgan)

1:12 readable books, games, Christmas items

http://www.nanasminis.ca

Eileen_is@shaw.ca  

Needleart Treasures by Rosalle

Crocheted accessories for the mini home

rosecrochetminis@aol.com

Nigh’s Pottery

Miniature hand thrown (on a wheel) pottery, every piece is one of a kind

Porcelain Beauties

Small dolls and supplies

http://www.porcelainbeauties.ca

porcelainbeauties@shaw.ca

Reenie’s Teenies (Reenie Desarker)

1:12 miniatures and supplies

d_reenie@hotmail.com

Rock-a-Bye Dolls

Assortment of miniatures and show cases

vcorraini@telus.net

Sher My Miniatures (Sher McGirr)

Flowers, Hallowe’en, Christmas, etc.

smcgirr@shaw.ca

Sue Lefebvre

1:12 scale handbags

Tiny Treasures (Louise Zawada)

1:12 miniatures and supplies

louz@shaw.ca

Dollar Giant

Even though Dollar Giant is across the street from Dollarama I don't often stop there. I find that Dollarama has a better array of craft supplies in general although I sometimes find good stuff at Dollar Giant.

I did go there yesterday and bought a good selection of DecoArt glass stain for $1.25 a bottle. Good for painting glass and plastic. Got green, blue, orange, yellow, purple, white, red and black leading for $10.00. Now I can throw out a bunch of old, dried out ones. LOL (Actually, my old ones have red caps like the Tacky glue caps so it'll give me a good collection of red glasses.)

Also for $1.25 I got a set of black and ivory coloured chess pieces. The pawns will make good lamp bases, think the King and Queen would make good bases for standing ashtrays and the knights could be trimmed off from the bottom and used for bookends.

Glenrose display

Barb, Laurie, Joanne and I went to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and installed  a miniature display which will be up for September and October (Dollhouse month).

There was a lot of interest in the display while we were setting up so I think it will be popular.

Unfortunately, I didn't remember to take pictures until everything was locked in the display cases. There are certainly some I would have liked to take better close up shots of. At the far left in the first picture is a clear Christmas ball with a double sided 1:144 scene inside. One side has the front door and landscaping and the other has a living room scene with a fireplace and stockings hanging. (Oh, my, do I hear another project calling?)

Since members tend to display their recent work at the Show and Sale, it was nice to see these pieces, some after a long time and some for the first time.

Edmonton Show and Sale Dealers September 18, 2011

Unless we get some last minute additions, here's the final dealer list for the Show and Sale. All I can say is WOW! What a lineup! We've been forced to expand to two rooms this year so the exhibits will be across the hall from the dealers. Hope you will be able to join us.

DEALER LIST 2011

Another World Miniatures (Linda Maddaford, Bev Perret)

1:12 scale fine furniture, glass, silver, Goebel figurines, fabric, ribbon and accessories

http://dollhouse-miniature-projects.com

Bits by Barb (Barb Striethorst)

Plant kits, plants, slippers, bonsai, basket kits, landscape supplies

bstriet@shaw.ca

Boyne Miniatures (Michelle Alberni)

Porcelain dolls, china painted porcelain vases, food, teddy bears, baskets, glassware and some commercial items

alberni@mts.net

Brigitte’s Minis and Kristina Bears (Brigitte and Kristine Simon)

Floral minis, food and miniature bears

kristinabears@yahoo.com

Danielle Perry Miniatures

Closing Out Sale

Furniture, accessories, electric, building supplies dollhouses

DaniellePerry@shaw.ca

Danielle Perry Miniatures Artisan Table

The work of these artisans is not included in the Closing Out Sale.

Jenny Wren – Jennifer Elliot

Monica’s Miniatures – Monica “Peaches” Lavoie

Penny Spence

Sher McGirr

L.A. Genuine Gems – Linda Austin

Aleeta Kent

Eileen Shannon

Handwoven items in 1:12 and 1:48 scale, some tatted items

e_k.shannon@shaw.ca

Hummingbird Miniatures (Kathy Barbier)

Hand-painted garden accessories

barbier@telus.net

Janice Crawley, IGMA Fellow

Ceramic dishes, tiny porcelain dolls (dressed and undressed)

Judy Mitchell

Various items in 1:12 and 1:48 scales

Jmitchell4@shaw.ca

Luba Barnes

Miscellaneous miniature items

lubarnes@telusplanet.net

MiniLAND

Full line of roomboxes, furniture and accessories

http://www.miniland.ca

info@miniland.ca

ML Designs (Marg Wolfe)/Lathey Bones (Tina MacDonald)

Original artwork, wood and acrylic turnings

http://camacdonald.com/MEE

tina@camacdonald.com

Ms Mini (Sherrill Bedu)

1:12 and 1:48 dolls, furniture, accessories, kits, etc.

msmini@telus.net

Nana’s Minis (Eileen Morgan)

1:12 readable books, games, Christmas items

http://www.nanasminis.ca

Eileen_is@shaw.ca  

Needleart Treasures by Rosalle

Crocheted accessories for the mini home

rosecrochetminis@aol.com

Porcelain Beauties

Small dolls and supplies

http://www.porcelainbeauties.ca

porcelainbeauties@shaw.ca

Reenie’s Teenies (Reenie Desarker)

1:12 miniatures and supplies

d_reenie@hotmail.com

Rock-a-Bye Dolls

Assortment of miniatures and show cases

vcorraini@telus.net

Sher My Miniatures (Sher McGirr)

Flowers, Hallowe’en, Christmas, etc.

smcgirr@shaw.ca

Tiny Treasures (Louise Zawada)

1:12 miniatures and supplies

louz@shaw.ca

Odds and Ends

After sorting all the magazines, my new pet peeve is magazine publishers who put the magazine date at the bottom of the cover page - or even worse - put only the month (and not the year) on the cover.

Delivered all my duplicates to Joanne and Delores last night on our way to the first meeting of MEE after summer break. Joanne also found a bunch of duplicates in her collection and gave them away at club last night.

Was good to see everyone and catch up on summer news.

Today, Joanne, Laurie, Barb and I are headed over to the Glenrose Hospital with two vans filled with miniatures that club members are displaying there for September and October. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished display. One of our club members is in the hospital there so we're hoping to get a chance to visit her after set-up. Must remember to take my camera - and actually USE it. VBG

In order to make room for the magazines, I had to do some major shifting of bookshelf contents both in the living room and bedroom which meant I had to get rid of a bunch of books. Fortunately, my sister Shirley said she would take them to the lake and share them with neighbours there so she's coming over this morning to pick up a 60L tote of them.

Our condo AGM is tonight. Once that's over I have to get my rear in gear and get some displays ready for the Show and Sale on September 18. I have only two new projects completed so far but at this point my calendar's clear until our dinner the night before the show so hopefully I'll be able to finish at least the bar.

Magazines finished....and Christmas star

What a job! There were roughly 450 magazines to be catalogued and collated with my own magazines. Plus my list of magazines that I had was lost when my computer crashed so it had to be re-done. Now what I really need to do is make a list of what I DON'T have to make it easier to tuck in my purse. But that will wait for another day...

Nutshell News and American Miniaturist

(two boxes of AM are currently out on loan)

Miniature Collector, Dollhouse Miniatures Magazine,

Dolls' House Magazine, Dolls House World,

Dolls House and Miniature Scene

Most of the duplicates (some have already been passed on to Joanne)

Joanne and I went to Michael's this afternoon hoping to find some grey leather for the elephant's foot umbrella stand she's working on. No luck with that but as we were leaving I spotted these dimensional plastic star stickers for $1.59 a package.

The minute I spotted them I thought "star tree toppers" for my Christmas shop.

I twisted some fine wire around the tip of a bamboo skewer, leaving a short straight piece straight up from the point. Then I cut the wire off leaving about 1/4" of coiled wire.

I put the straight piece up the centre of the sticky side of the star.

 Then added a second star making a sandwich of the wire. And, voila! A star Christmas tree topper. Now I just need to make some more and package them for the Christmas shop.

Paper on sale

For those of you in Canada who do a lot of printing, Canadian Tire has multi-purpose copy paper  (8 1/2 x 11 20 lb. white acid free, 500 sheets per package) on sale this week regular $5.29 for $1.50. Limit 10 per customer.

I do SO much printing that I buy my paper by the case and I don't really need any at this time but at that price I'm sure going to try to pick up more.

Magazines and Dollarama

I've just about finished with the magazines but it has triggered one of those situations where you can't finish one thing without doing another. Until I clean out some of the books in the bedroom, I can't put away the books that I have to remove from the living room bookshelves to make room for the magazines. But all the magazines have been catalogued except a small stack of Miniature Showcase magazines.

Did take a bit of a break to go to lunch and Dollarama with Joanne. Hadn't really planned on buying anything at Dollarama - until I spotted some great headbands.

These come in quite a few different styles/shapes. This particular one also comes in black and gold.

 Here it is with the elastic cut off and laying flat.

 I actually got it to use as tiles around the bathtub in the Bombay house. (It's just taped loosely in place here to show you what it will look like.

There's also a shower in that bathroom and I'm thinking I might tile around the bottom of the shower - but then again I might not. LOL