More Cleaning - Donation to Club

The Miniature Enthusiasts of Edmonton Club has a lending library that members can access. I've decided that many of my books would be better served by being in that than being in my work room.

Many of them are on making period accessories and furniture - which I do not do. I like to make my own furniture and accessories but when I do, I usually sit with the RL piece in front of me and try to build from that.

I pulled enough books, so far, to fill one box and will take them to club on Tuesday so Marg, our librarian, can catalogue them. All but three, I think, are actual books about miniatures. The others are full size furniture making and decorating books full of patterns and ideas.

I have kept my Helen Ruthberg, Venus and Martin Dodge, and Joan McElroy books. (Some things you just can't part with.) Still haven't finished totally sorting the books but the ones I'm already donating weigh a ton so this will do for now.

That still leaves me with three shelves of binders (plus other things) that need to be sorted through.

And THAT is definitely a SOMEDAY project.........

Mini Day Out

Not a great turnout but okay considering it's summer and we had a club all-day workshop last week!

I had painted my lamp roombox on Friday night with white cottage paint so was able to varnish it with a matte finish first thing Saturday morning. After a little problem with the lighting unit, was able to get it attached.

Then I had that "AHA" moment we all love. I've been thinking lately that I almost needed to do another art gallery to use up the rest of the art that's in my stash. So I went back to the suite and grabbed a bunch of stuff from my Art bulletin board.

And here's what I ended up with....Pictures need to be hung and other tweaks made but think this will work.

Can even leave the insert white!

Rosalle brought in some of the great new afghans she has been crocheting for the Show and Sale. I bought a couple already at our club garage sale in June and Lucille and Tina bought some at Mini Day Out.

Cheryl S. is one of our newest members (and new to minis). This is her wonderful take on the past year's shop project. She may be a newbie but her work is absolutely incredible!

Her coffin shelving unit.

Her chair!

Lucille was working on a 1:48 barber shop.

Tina tested her abilities to see how small she could make this basket! Wow - fits on the end of her finger! (She says she won't be making another one!)

Inger worked on a great slide show of last year's Show and Sale that she plans on having ready for the Show and Sale this year. Great job!

Joanne brought some printies to work on but ran into a glitch :-(. Marg was late so I didn't get pictures of the two dolls she was working on. Which is a big shame because they were beautiful.

It was a great day. Lots of fun, laughter and shared ideas.

Finished with beads

Well, there went two days of my life I'll never get back again LOL.

Actually, it's  not quite that bad. Now I know for sure what I have and where it is. So it wasn't a complete loss to sort through everything....but it certainly didn't take up any less space.

My beads and findings

I've have SO much cleaning and organizing that needs to be done. Although it was not at the top of the list, I decided to organize my beads and findings.

There are two KIS shoeboxes full of 'stuff', including six pill containers full of beads. My family is forever giving me bits of jewellery to be taken apart for the beads so first order of business is to take apart all the jewellery and sort and bag the beads.

Picked up two of these at Dollarama the other day and went back and picked up four more today.

They're a good size for most findings.

Bonus! The new boxes fit quite nicely in some Ferraro Rocher boxes I have. So yesterday and today, I got the findings all sorted and in the boxes. One of the pill boxes also contained findings so I took the strips out and placed them in the F-R boxes. The empty box worked well for bigger pieces. So that part of the sorting is finished.

And here is one box with the cover on.

Now to start sorting through the beads. Almost everything is now in Ziploc bags so the plan is to sort them by colour (mostly) and put each colour in a larger Ziploc of its own. Hopefully all the beads will fit in one shoebox.

So - back to it............

X-Acto knives and cutting mats

This  is one of the best, most comprehensive write-ups on X-Acto knives and cutting mats that I have every seen. I highly recommend it to anyone who ever picks up an X-Acto knife.

The host website is a wonderful source of contemporary dollhouse furniture - my absolute favourite.

When I have some time, I'm going to check out their blog more closely. So far, I've seen lots to explore there.

All Day Workshop on Saturday

Saturday was our all day workshop at the church. Lucille taught a great workshop on doll wigging, the main thrust of the day. Some of us who weren't making dolls just worked on whatever took our fancy.

Tina worked on some baskets for the Show and Sale on September 20.

Inger's doll:

Trineke's doll:

 Oops! Forget whose this was.

 June's doll:

 And another by June (with a dolly):

 Think this was Lil's:

 Carol worked on filling her 1:48 Christmas stall:

 Some of the pieces to go in it:

One of Theresa's dolls. She's new to our club and is making five dolls! She has done such a great job that her children thought she had bought them! Now that's encouraging.

 I worked on the display of this coming year's project. Still have a couple small things to do, paint it and fill it. I bought some mahogany gel stain for it but think I'm going to use chalk paint instead.

 Finally got to use this great jeweller's drill that I bought at Princess Auto a while back to replace one that was my Dad's that finally gave up the ghost. (Used it to attach the frame that holds the light in place.

Joanne and I went back to Home Sense on Thursday (?) and picked up all the shades they had in this style. Bit big, maybe, but they were only $14.99 each.

DD Leanne - Enabler!?!

On Friday, DD Leanne, who is a teacher at the Head Start program at Norwood Community Centre in Edmonton, picked me up in the morning so I could spend the day organizing the library in her classroom.

It was a long but rewarding day!

Met Lisa B. whose mother is an Edmonton miniaturist who doesn't belong to our club :-( but does come to our show and sale. I love knowing that there are other miniaturists out there but it disappoints me that we don't get to know them.

Leanne often refers to me as a "hoarder". I'm a collector and my room may often get a bit crowded and untidy but I certainly don't feel that I'm a hoarder.

BUT, I think this is interesting.

Months ago, I lent Leanne my heat gun and sander (with extra sanding paper).

On Friday, she returned those things!

Along with:

(two books of these): This really wonderful book of "smart-fab". The innovative artistic and educational medium, colorful, durable and easy to work with". Interesting material - I think it's much like jay-cloth. Colours are really beautiful!

This is available in the booklet, 9 x 12 and 12 x 18 sheets and rolls.

8 glass bottles about two inches tall

about 15 skeins of DMC embroidery floss

and

a package of silver jump rings.

I'm a judicious keeper of things.

Well, I did keep one book of the fabric....and the jump rings....

The rest I gave away at the All Day Workshop on Saturday!

For Chris

Chris, the picture I shared yesterday was sized to send by e-mail and I couldn't enlarge it without distorting it.

 But I do have these pictures of Patricia's room.

Haven't decided what to do with mine (I've bought three of the lamps) so need to come up with some great ideas.

The room is 9 3/8" x 6 3/8" so I'll have to ponder this a lot.

Had this bedroom furniture that I got at Amber's storage unit sale. It is beautifully made and quite lovely but unfortunately it's too big :-(

Love this desk! Lots of room for some of my Barbara Brear books and and great glassware, etc.

Or, I still have one lit Christmas tree left so I could do another Christmas scene.

Have to think on it. And take another look through my stash to check out other possibilities. REALLY want to use up some of my stash - particularly things that I love but that I have no special plans for. Like this display table that I bought years ago and have never found the right spot for.

Yesterday, Joanne and I met June and Carol for lunch before they went to a class at Paint for Joy, then checked out Michael's looking for some striped paper for Joanne's flower shop. No luck. But we did find a bunch of lamp shades at Home Sense that will work for for the lamp roomboxes. Unfortunately, I thought they were too tall so didn't pick one up. I was wrong so have to get back there and pick them up.

Then we spent the evening at Tina's with the quarter scale group. I don't normally go as I don't do 1:48 at all but it was a great time visiting and sharing stories.

Today, went to coffee club and did some condo things.

Tomorrow, Joanne and I have a STARFest meeting in the morning and I have our potluck dinner in the evening.

Friday, I'm volunteering in Leanne's classroom. Even get dinner out of that one.

Saturday is a MEE all-day workshop on doll wigging. I didn't do any dolls but I'll attend the workshop and hopefully get my lamp roombox done.

So it may be awhile before I get back to you.

My latest project - the lamp roombox!

First of all, thanks to all of you who asked about my Mom. She's doing well. (92nd birthday is next week!)

This is one of the finished lamps from the kit that Liz and Wayne of Grandpa's Dollhouse designed for Camp Mini HaHa last fall.

I fell in love with the project and presented it to the Miniature Enthusiasts of Edmonton club as our project for this year. Joanne and I received our kits early from Liz and Wayne so we can put them together in time to show them as samples for our membership table at the Show and Sale.

Here are the sections of the kit organized into work sections.

This is the 'removable' insert. This allows you to put a scene together on an insert and drop it into the roombox....and make another different scene on another insert...and exchange them as the season - or your feelings - call for it.

And the lighting system is very easy to install.

I am SO excited about finally putting this together (with video instructions from Wayne).

The best thing about this project is that is (1) it has practical use - the lamp; (2)  it has so little to do for the outside of the project - I hate doing the "box" itself; and (3) the joy is filling the inside of the project. And for this one, I can make several "insides".

Already loving it.....

Posting: This will show up on Tuesday which is the day that Joanne and I are meeting with Carol and June for lunch before they go to a class at Paint for Joy in St. Albert. Then we're going to Tina's for a smaller MEE group get-together.

Dealer Update

Couple changes to the Dealer list. Ordinarily, I'd do it a bit differently but I had to spend this (Saturday) evening with my almost 92 year old Mom in Emergency. She's had some serious attacks of vertigo in the past couple days but seems to be doing well now and glad to be home and sleep in her own bed.

DEALER LIST 2015

Another World Miniatures (Linda Maddaford, Bev Perret)

1:12 scale accessories and collectibles, silk ribbon and fabrics, furniture and some 1:48 supplies

Bits by Barb (Barb Striethorst)

Flower kits, assembled flowers, landscape supplies, German laser cuts, food items

Bob Francis Miniatures

1:48 plants, 1:48 furniture kits

Bren’s Miniature Pottery

Pottery (all scales), paper flowers, 1:12 clearance miniatures, 1:12 crocheted items

Live A Little Miniatures

(Hoanie Yong)

Chandeliers, books, Christmas trees, ornaments, other misc. items

Janice Crawley, IGMA Fellow

1:12 ceramic dishes, Toby Mugs, figurines, tiny porcelain dolls (1” – 2”)

Judy Mitchell

Various handmade items in 1:12 and 1:48 scales

Linda Austin

Tools, kits, 1:12 and 1:48 miniatures

Luba Barnes

Miscellaneous miniature items, bunka, silk, etc.

MiniLAND, VICTORIA

Full line of roomboxes, furniture and accessories

http://www.miniland.ca

info@miniland.ca

National Organization of Miniature Enthusiasts

Needleart Treasures by Rosalle

Crocheted accessories for the mini home

Tina MacDonald

Turnings, basketry, tableware, garden pottery, fabric, 1/4 scale wallpaper and carpets

Sherri MacRaild

Toys, Holiday Treats and Accessories, Chocolate Boxes, Circus Items all in 1:12 scale

*New IGMA Artisan*

Val Corraini

Dollhouse items and dolls 1:12 scale

Edmonton Show and Sale September 20 Dealer List

DEALER LIST 2015

Another World Miniatures (Linda Maddaford, Bev Perret)

1:12 scale accessories and collectibles, silk ribbon and fabrics, furniture and some 1:48 supplies

Bits by Barb (Barb Striethorst)

Flower kits, assembled flowers, landscape supplies, German laser cuts, food items

Bob Francis Miniatures

1:48 plants, 1:48 furniture kits

Bren’s Miniature Pottery

Pottery (all scales), paper flowers, 1:12 clearance miniatures, 1:12 crocheted items

Hoanie Yong

Chandeliers, books, Christmas trees, ornaments, other misc. items

Janice Crawley, IGMA Fellow

1:12 ceramic dishes, Toby Mugs, figurines, tiny porcelain dolls (1” – 2”)

Judy Mitchell

Various handmade items in 1:12 and 1:48 scales

Linda Austin

Tools, kits, 1:12 and 1:48 miniatures

Luba Barnes

Miscellaneous miniature items, bunka, silk, etc.

MiniLAND, VICTORIA

Full line of roomboxes, furniture and accessories

http://www.miniland.ca

info@miniland.ca

National Organization of Miniature Enthusiasts

Needleart Treasures by Rosalle

Crocheted accessories for the mini home

Tina MacDonald

Sherri MacRaild

Toys, Holiday Treats and Accessories, Chocolate Boxes, Circus Items all in 1:12 scale

*New IGMA Artisan*

Plus: five more incredible dealers from whom I'm just waiting forms and cheques and two new dealers that I expect to hear from soon!

Oh, my, I'm getting SO excited about our line-up for the show! We still have some tables available. If you're interested in being a dealer (or know someone who is), please e-mail me All forms and cheques must be in by August 31.

shingles, knitting (2 different patterns), Mini Day Out

Oh, my, I had a lot to do around here after Sean, Julie and the grands left (wonderful visit, BTW). My office/workroom was a terribly mess with stacks of paper everywhere. Finally got 90% of it either shredded or filed (two garbage bags of shredding!). 

It had been over a month since I shelved the books in the library so finally got around to that this morning. Unfortunately, I also brought some books home but I only read one this afternoon.

SHINGLES

Finally finished shingling the attic. Well, just about, still have to trim the edges.

I LOVE these shingles. Got them from a donation to MEE that the club members shared. There are three strips in each sheet. Unfortunately, they were in an unmarked bag so don't know anything about them. They're a pressed cardboard of some sort. Cut easily and a dream to work with. Just cut to fit and glue in place with a bit of Weldbond.

If anyone knows if they're still available, please let me know. I don't think I'll be shingling anything in the future but would like to let club members know about them.

KNITTING

This is a knitting pattern that someone gave me over 35 years ago. I made this afghan for Vern when we took Sean and Leanne on a three month trip through the western states.

Then when I started knitting in miniature, I found I had lost the instructions for that stitch....

Eventually I found another stitch that worked although I didn't like it quite as much.

The stitch is: Cast on multiple of 4 plus 2. K2 *P1 wrap wool around needle once P2 together K1* Repeat the stitches between * and * to the end of the row. Just keep repeating that same row until you have the length you want. You can also do a one inch by 2 inch piece to make a matching cushion. Just fold in half over a 1" piece of white felt or whatever and stitch up the three sides.

So I ended up making this with it.  

This was a nightmare! I had it about 3/4 finished and had quit working on it in the car because I was worried about it slipping off the needles. Then took it to an appointment, pulled it out of my bag and, you guessed it! Pulled it off the needles! But I persevered, started over and finally finished it. It's a lovely stitch but if you pull it off the needles, there is NO recovering!

Then, lo and behold, while I was looking through the binders of clippings with DGS Jonah - there it was!

The thread I used to knit this sample was a bit thick so it doesn't show up too well but I've found it again. 

It's a really simple stitch: Cast on stitches in multiples of 7. K2tog, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, slip 1, K1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch. Repeat to end of the row. Then repeat for the next row.

This is 14 stitches.

MINI DAY OUT: 
A while back, a club member had remarked to Joanne that it had been quite sometime since we'd held a mini day out. (Ouch! I couldn't believe it had been well over a year!) So I decided to try and fit one in for August. So I scheduled one for August 22 - which turned out to be the day of the club's doll wigging all day workshop. After looking at the calendar, decided to change it to August 29. It's not great to have them two Saturdays in a row but the next weekend is the September long weekend, then we're into September and the Show and Sale on September 20.

I hope to spend the day working on the lamp roombox that is the club project for the upcoming year so it will be ready to display on the membership table at the Show and Sale.

So if you are or are going to be in the Edmonton area and can work this into your schedule, e-mail me if you would like details. 

Personal Non-Mini Notes:
When several us took the bus to Calgary with the Edmonton Doll Club, I picked up a talking Lamb Chop (Shari Lewis) puppet then bought 7 more pieces of Adam pattern silverplate cutlery at the antique mall.

The lady who sold me the Lamp Chop puppet had bought it for her grand-daughter who was scared of it. But I gave it to Holly (my DGD) who loved it, especially after we showed her some youtube videos of Shari Lewis!

Over the years, I ended up with 149 pieces of the Adam pattern silverplate cutlery.. Very long story involving some serendipitous purchases and a couple incredible gifts! I'm in my late 60s and don't entertain anymore. So months ago, I e-mailed Sean and Julie and asked if they would like it. It's too heavy to mail so thought they might take it home with them. And they did! I am thrilled. I hope they will get as much pleasure as I have out of it. And enjoy the stories behind the collection.