Christmas....and More projects....

It was one of the best Christmas Days in the past few years. Love everyone for that.

The best of all gifts around any Chistmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped in each other!

And that was exactly what we had.

Got some wonderful mini possibilities!

This wonderful shadow box that I already see possibilities for. It's 8" x 10" and 3/4" deep so plan on making it into a memory box for Leanne. to update the one I made for her when she lived in Dallas Texas.

The old one...

The possible new one...

Marie gave me the loveliest basket of gifts in this! Which I can see becoming a great wall hanging. I already have some great ideas for it.

Shirley gave Mom two lovely tops in this gift box and Mom suggested that she give the box to me to  contain a miniature scene.

This is a great miniature picture that Marie gave me which will go into a future art gallery.

The picture itself is 2 1/2 x 3

Don't think that Marie realized that this collection of scent pods will eventually become a wonderful place to collect my beads. But until it does, I will enjoy the great subtle scents they offer.

 See how this container will be great for beads?!

My friend, Barb, upstairs gave me this lovely little container with a snowman and Christmas tree.

Non-mini:
My sister Carol gave me this lovely quilted pocket book:

(Closed)

(Open) With room for credit cards, money and a zippered compartment for change.

Carol gave each of us this tea towel! LOL

Potluck dinner door prize, Visit from a friend, The Book

We had our Condo Potluck Christmas Dinner Thursday night and it was wonderful! Turkey, ham and all the accouterments (for you, Margaret). This was the 4th time I had made a miniature setting as a door prize and Dave (husband of Donna who won it two years ago) won it this year. Donna is a big fan so I'm pleased for them.

Friday afternoon, our mini friend, Debbie, (a former member of M.E.E. and now a resident of Gabriola Island) stopped by at Barb's and I was lucky enough to be invited to join them. We had the loveliest visit discussing our lives and our minis. Just a great time....until I had to leave and meet my youngest sister Marie and her husband at Mom's. They're out here until after Christmas so we will have some wonderful extended family time coming up!

* * *

Only have two more books to finish:

I have been totally blessed to have this binding machine that my DS Marie found for me at the Put and Take in Peace River.

Degrees of separation; The Book; a wonderful chance to meet again

Well, Dave took the mini tables to Red Willow Place (the Seniors' Centre) to drop them off for me.As he was getting the tables from his vehicle, a woman said, "Hello," and re-introduced herself to him (they had met years ago). He showed her the tables and she looked and said, "Yes, Maureen made those."

What were the changes that Joanne and Dave would meet again after all those years and under those circumstances!?!

* * *

(Shoot! Camera won't download for some reason.)  YES!!! Finally got "The Book" collated and ready to bind. So thrilled. Just need to bind them and deliver/wrap/mail them. Hate that they're so late but glad they're finished.

* * *

Just had an email from Barb that Debbie M. (a former MEE member and incredible author, etc.) will be visiting her on Friday. She's planning on being here at 1 p.m. so I will have time to visit with her before my youngest sister arrives.  How wonderful!

Three down!

Real Life has gotten in the way of my mini-ing but I've found my groove and am getting a few things done.

Before I get into the Meals on Wheels project, want to tell you about the last couple nights. Friend Joanne, DD Leanne and I attended Tom Jackson's The Huron Carole on Thursday night and the Jerry Granelli Trio performance of Tales of a Charlie Brown Christmas on Saturday night. Both were absolutely wonderful! It was the first time I had seen The Huron Carole and I would heartily recommend it to anyone who has the chance to see it. Jerry Granelli was the drummer for the group that originally played the music for A Charlie Brown Christmas and shared some wonderful insights on the making of the TV special.

Last year, Meals on Wheels here had 42 clients so we did it as a M.E.E. project but this year they only had 8 so I decided to do it on my own. But when I got my 'tables' out, only had 7...so put it off until I could find more 12 ounce styrofoam cups...and ordered them from Staples. After I had done that, discovered four more tucked away....Shoot!

Anyway, decided I would do 10...just in case a couple more people had signed up.

So, here are the tables:

 My Christmas bulletin boards:

Two of my food and plate bulletin boards:

And my lighting bulletin board with my candle holders and candles:

These are the trees from Dollarama decorated with rhinestones and snowflake decals (also from Dollarama):

And here is the "laser poop" from Tina that will become the bases for the trees:

Only ended up using two of the trees. Back into my stash. LOL

These aren't as elaborate as last year's but I still hope they will brighten the recipients' days.

While most are Christmas-themed, a couple are more winter-oriented as I have no idea who the recipients will be.

I called my friend and neighbour, Dave, who agreed to deliver them to the Meals on Wheels co-ordinator at the St. Albert Seniors' Centre for me tomorrow.

* * * * *

Now that these three projects are completed, I can clear off my table (almost completed!) and tomorrow I will finish collating "The Book" and binding it!

YIPPEE!!!

Two down!

I got this room vignette for $5.00 from an estate sale. Bought it for the setting then discovered that everything was totally glued down. So had to rethink it a bit!

It will be a door prize at our Condo Christmas Potluck Dinner so added the Christmas tree and some gifts, a dish of licorice allsorts, the red bowl, a pair of Crocs and a puppy.

Also knit the little afghan over the back of the chair to add a bit of colour.

Stitch for the afghan is:

Cast on multiple of 4 plus 2 stitches.
K2 *P1 wrap wool around needle once, P2 together K1*
Repeat the stiches between * and * to the end of the row.
Just keep repeating that same row until you have the length you want.

One Down!

Months ago, my friend Jeanne gave me a set of Barbie scale dishes that she wanted made into a table centrepiece. Well, it has been sitting on the counter for months while I procrastinated. I knew what I planned on doing but just couldn't seem to get around to it.

I didn't take any pictures when I made the table but the instructions for a basic table are here. Of course, I had to make it a lot bigger than usual since it's in 1:6 rather than 1:12 scale. Painted it white then added a table runner from red gingham ribbon. Set the table with Jeanne's dishes and cutlery, taking them in place with movable miniature glue. Didn't feel up to making spaghetti so settled for adding 'lettuce' to the bowls. You can see the instructions for the lettuce here (just after the Meals on Wheels tables).

Added one of Judy's tea lights as a centerpiece.

Very pleased with how it turned out.

Nursery Roombox for Kyla, M.E.E. Christmas Party, A Few More Things

Nursery Roombox:

Our member, Kyla, and her husband, had a son i October so the club banded together to make her a roombox to commemorate the occasion. Tina supplied and wallpapered the roombox and the rest of the club donated the contents. Barb R. and I put it together. Unfortunately, I can't identify who all the pieces came from but will where I can.

The crib blanket was from Lucille L. (made by Linda Gautier). The toybox was from Lil M.. Carriage from Cheryl S.

The mobile was made by Katherine R.

The mother and child dolls and the rocking chair were given by Holly and the rug under the chair as well as the gift basket on the dresser were given by Barb R.

The birth announcement was by Tina M. and the quilted rainbow was from Judy S.

I donated this corner cabinet and the Janice Crawley piggy bank on the second shelf. (This is the piece that I painted with the Americana multi-surface satin paint that I bought at Paint for Joy.)
The decorative hanging from the top of the cabinet was purchased by Trineke in Holland. Several other of the contents were donated by Judy Storey.

Cheryl S. added a lovely shelving unit filled with pieces and Maureen M. donated a miniature toy. Didn't get pictures of either.

I apologize to all those whose contributions I have not recognized.

The Christmas Party:

Although some of our members were absent for happy reasons such as being in warmer climates and being in Europe on a Danube Christmas cruise, others were absent for sadder reasons. To them, we send our love and thoughts.

The 14 of us who were able to attend the Christmas party had a great time! Joanne and I arrived to set up at 4:30. Due to the decreased numbers, all was finished by 5:00 so the 'helpers' who showed up then were welcome but had nothing to do but sit and visit. And we had a wonderful time doing that!

Here's the "savory" table...

And the dessert table...

And the pics of members...

The bottle of teeny sequins on the left was a gift from Joanne and the container and the gingerbread man and stocking on the right were gifts from the club.

Trineke gifted me (and a few others) with this wonderful corner shelf in the shape of a Christmas tree. (She even supplied beads for feet if we want to set it on the floor instead of hanging it on the wall.)

We were given a great 15 question Christmas quiz. Out table won with 10 1/2 correct answers and received this wonderful Christmas corn flakes box from Trineke.

Throughout the evening, Joanne drew door prize names and I won four tubes of Super Glue.

After eating, Bev entertained us by "teaching" us to hula  (something like that but more simplified) then we accompanied here to "Six White Boomers". What fun!

We then moved our chairs into an open circle and did our gift exchange. This year Joanne used the story of the law firm suing Santa. It was SO MUCH fun - especially when she put in two "across" movements which may or may not be in the story.

I was SO thrilled to get my gift from Kyla. Actually gifts...They are so beautiful and perfect.

As a matter of fact, I took them to my coffee club in the condo today and everyone just raved about them. 

 THEN Joanne read/sang (with the help of Fay) the Canadian version of "Deck the Halls". What a great way to end the evening.

 Additional Things:

I took a supply of Judy Mitchell's tea light scenes to the Christmas party and sold some to members. A few more pictures of Judy Mitchell's tealight scenes.

Lit on the left, Unlit on the right.

 And a reminder that Judy will be at St. Albert City Hall on Saturday, December 8, as part of the Farmers' Market. Don't know where her stall will be.

Trash to Treasure:

Well, you NEVER have a gathering of miniaturists without a "Trash to Treasure" great find!

Fay brought some individual desserts (limoncello, pistachio, chocolate and one other) which came in these great little containers!

Most of us thought "an aquarium"

but I thought to turn it upside down and make a modern end table.

Maybe you can come up with something else....