My confession....and a change of plan....

In 1995, J. D. Robb (better known at the time as Nora Roberts) began writing her "In Death" series. Since then she has written 41 of the books. While I didn't discover them immediately, I have now read them all. In fact, the bookshelf built into the wall of the Bombay House contains many of the J.D. Robb books in miniature.

A little over a month ago, I decided to read them all from the beginning. Yesterday I finished re-reading the first 33 of the books. It has been incredible to read them in sequence like that and marvel at the character development in the books over the years.

So that is why I haven't been working on minis or writing very much on my blog. I would apologize but it has given me a great deal of pleasure.

That aside, I have decided to put the bathroom/bedroom/sitting room away for awhile and concentrate on the attic.

Sean, Julie and the grands are driving out the end of July so I would like to finish it by then so I can send it home with them with a booklet describing the contents in context of Vern's life to give Jonah and Holly a renewed sense of their grandfather.

(Another thing that was actually a bit of fun.....is that I went through my Adam silverplate cutlery that I bought the extra 7 pieces for in Airdrie....polished the pieces that needed it and offered it to Sean and Julie. So you don't have to count, there are 149 pieces(before cleaning) - and  you could probably set a table for 30 if you were willing to mix up the various pieces.)

So that's the plan....

I know I won't get much done until next week. Have condo business to take care of tomorrow then on Saturday I'm attending a brunch to celebrate the St. Albert Volunteer of the Year. Dear friend Joanne is on the short list of volunteers so her Mom and many of her friends are attending to support her. We're all so proud of her nomination and are looking forward to being with her.

I'm SO spoiled!

Didn't mention  this in my report on the all day workshop. It was too special to  lump in with everything else.

At the workshop, I found an envelope on the table from Joanne. I contained a gift of books from Barbara Brear.

Five of her non-opening books...

Plus this incredible book of oriental carpets.

And Barb R. from upstairs gifted me with these lovely pieces of her needlework.

I'm so lucky!

Club meeting on Tuesday and All Day Workshop on Saturday

MEE's general meeting was last Tuesday. Jennifer of Little Day Miniatures attended and discussed the workshop in June when she'll be teaching us to make licorice allsorts. Really looking forward to that.

Tina, Lucille and Erika had attended Chicago International and brought in some of their goodies for Show and Tell

beautiful dish of baked dainties and a copper coffee urn

Jane Graber pottery, spools of thread and more baked goodies. The black chest in the back was made in a class with Alice Zinn.

Tina bought this for her quilt shop.

Erika's toddler doll with the broken teddy bear

tree of dolls!

Erika bought this great chandelier! Non-electric but possible to put a bulb in it. She understands it was done with a 3-D printer.

Saturday was our spring All Day Workshop. Lucille, Tina and Sunni taught doll costuming. Barb, Joanne and I weren't working on dolls but took other things to work on. A great, very productive day!

Corinne, a member from Calgary, came up for the day and worked with her sister, Judi.

Poor Lucille was so busy helping everyone she didn't get much done on her own projects.

Theresa is using shop towelling to check her pattern for size.

Trineke's off to a good start with her teenager.

Debbie's solder's uniform is coming together.

Barb' S.'s German gentleman is waiting for his clothes.

Theresa is very ambitious with her family of five.

Lorry has a Marilyn Akazawa doll in the box waiting to be wigged and another just started.

Barb R. worked on hats and gloves for her shop.

Joanne got the base for this year's project all tiled and ready to be grouted.

Sunni brought in these dolls for examples.

Unfortunately, Jillian had to leave before I got a picture of her doll and I didn't get pictures of Sunni's and Erika's projects.

I was looking for an easy, portable project so I took some wood and made the shelving for Vern's attic. I was planning on doing a tutorial on this but got ahead of the pictures so I'm afraid that didn't happen.

Cut the shelves from basswood.

Had just enough strip wood to cut the uprights for the frame.

Then I had to cut more basswood to make the crosspieces.

The finished shelving unit.

And here it is in place in the unfinished attic.

Made a box of milk bones and a Tim Horton's cup.

Have to finish the inside and shingle the roof then I can start filling it up.

It was a wonderful day.

Little Day Miniatures

Was thrilled to read the Edmonton Journal on Friday and come across a two page write-up on My friend Jennifer Izquierdo and her miniatures. You can see  more about it on Little Day's Facebook page.

Jennifer is teaching a class at our June MEE workshop and will be a dealer at our September 20 Show and Sale.

Off Topic - Volunteering

Most people that I know volunteer in one way or another. Some give their time to groups they belong to, some give their time to their children's schools, others give their time to various community groups, and some give skills to fundraisers.

We do it because we want to give back to our communities in some way. We don't expect any recognition for our work other than the good feeling that we get from helping out in some small way.

But it is nice when what we do is recognized by our community as a whole.

So I was thrilled when my dear friend, Joanne, was nominated for Volunteer of the Year for the City of St. Albert....then made the short list!

She is most deserving of the nomination with her involvement with Friends of the Library, STARFest, and Children's Festival,  (Hers is the last name in the article so you need to scroll down.)

She was instrumental in the interactive dollhouse that the Miniaturist Enthusiasts of Edmonton donated to the St. Albert Public Library and  she is co-chair of MEE's Show and Sale Committee.

I'm SO proud that she is my friend.

Trip to Calgary

A group of eight of us from the miniature club joined the Edmonton Doll Club on their bus to Calgary to attend the Doll Show put on by the Calgary Doll Club. Took these pictures of the display at the front of the room. Was especially nice to see all the dollhouses!

Love this display - especially the roller skates on the carhop!

Lovely kitchen cabinet.

Marilyn Akazawa's winning entry in N.A.M.E.'s Hallmark ornament contest. Marilyn is a former member of MEE and is now with the Calgary Doll Club.

I'm wondering if this is a Lundby?

Great book!

Lovely piece - shown open

The front

I succumbed to this wonderful Shari Lewis's "Lambchop" puppet. She even whispers in your ear!

Was pleasantly surprised to find a couple dealers who also had some miniatures. Bought all of these from one lovely young lady.

What a wonderful little sewing machine - for only $1.00

Keep telling myself not to buy anymore electrical lights but couldn't resist this one.

Got this great leather jacket from another dealer. Have no idea what I'll do with it but just couldn't resist for $7.

Before we entered the show, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by follower, Dianne, whom I met at our Edmonton Show and Sale last year. Joanne and I had a wonderful talk with her about the closing of Victoria Miniland storefront and the upcoming show and sale here in September. Just a reminder that Alex's website is still open and he will be here in September!

After the doll show, we continued on to the antique mall in Airdrie. Didn't really see anything that called out to me but did take a whole slew of pictures of vintage radios. Joanne is in the planning stages of a radio shop so this will give her lots of ideas. And me, too, as I can possibly make some for her.

Just as we entered, there was a box of cutlery and I found 7 pieces of the Adam pattern that I just couldn't resist picking up for myself.

Years ago (even before minis), I used to go to auction sales. In a box of 'junk', I found about 15 pieces of this pattern. Shortly afterward, I saw a silver chest with 100 pieces at an antique show at Village Tree Mall for $100. Couldn't afford it at the time but that Christmas Vern surprised me with it at Christmas! A few years after that, my parents surprised me with six more place settings and the carving set!

Don't know why I bothered getting the new pieces. I seldom, if ever, entertain any more on this scale and the children probably won't want the stuff down the road. Nonetheless, I like it and it has a lot of good memories.