Sorry, I really fouled up

I'm just thankful that I can post this to you. I've really fouled up my computer. Even yesterday I could still post pictures to here but now can't even do that.

Hope I'll get things back in order soon but until then, thanks for checking me out.

I still can receive and reply to email on my tablet but that's about it.

Maureen

Some different containers

Our next-year's project will be one done in a different container of the member's choice. With that in mind, I thought I'd review some of the containers I've used over the years.

One of my favourites was the camping scene I made in an aquarium for my sister, Carol, in memory of the summers we spent camping with out children.

And where would we be without the breadbox. I made my Dad's workshop in a rolltop breadbox.

My sister, Shirley, found this little wood and glass cabinet for me at a garage sale. Used it to showcase some nice little pieces I had picked up along the way. (It also would have worked for something in 1:48 scale.)

I turned a CD rack into a series of 6 vignettes representing portions of rooms in my sister, Marie's, home.

For my BIL, Grahame's, 80th birthday, I turned a clock from the Put and Take into a "memory book" for him.

Another item from the Put and Take was a covered, pedestal cake plate containing a living room scene that I keep on my living room coffee table.

If you aren't lucky enough to find a beautiful glass cake plate like mine, you may come across a plastic one that will work in the same way. This one, if I remember correctly, came from a MEE Christmas party.

A special favourite of mine is making miniature scenes in gift bags. This is the last one that I made.
These are so simple and inexpensive to make. They make wonderful gifts.

Sorry about the poor picture but this is one of my favourite containers! On a road trip to Calgary with Cheryl H., we got stranded in Bowden, AB. The saving grace was finding a humungous and cheap garage sale on Saturday morning where I found this pagoda-shaped lamp. I removed the fibre optics from it and had this great (albeit small) display case for the Asian pieces I had been collecting. (Well, okay, only about one tenth of then but I found the rest good homes. LOL)

Sorry that there are so few pictures and so many links but I hope this will give you some new ideas for displaying minis in a different way.

Needle felting

On April 14, Aleeta came down from Grande Prairie to teach a class in needle felting. I didn't take the class but did manage to take some pictures during the day.

The first four pictures are of Aleeta's work. What a variety of of shapes and sizes!

Aleeta handing out the kits.

Aleeta suggested that students begin with larger projects than usual to get a feel for the work.

Jillian getting started.

Jillian's bear ready to assemble.

Jillian - just one last arm to add.

Another completed bear.

Elisabeth's Dollhouse

Last year, I bought a dollhouse for my great-niece, Elisabeth. Her grandma, (my sister, Marie) and I weren't too sure how receptive she would be. She's quite a tomboy so I always said that if she didn't want it as a dollhouse, she could use it as a toy box.

I was lucky enough to pick up some great furniture and dolls for it (and get some pieces from my stash).

It took a long time for everything to be delivered to Elisabeth...first to Marie and Rob in Peace River, then to Grande Prairie where her parents live.

Everything came together last weekend!

I wish I had the pictures to share with you but I'm having computer problems that don't allow me to do that..

Marie and Rob took it to Grande Prairie. Elisabeth was SO excited that she started playing with it as soon as it was unloaded in the garage. When it was taken down to the play area in the basement, she spent 5 hours playing with it there.

I am SO pleased that she is pleased.

Driving Miss Dolly

For the third year in a row, members of the Calgary Doll Club, the Doll Club of Edmonton and the Miniature Enthusiasts of Edmonton got together in Red Deer for "Driving Miss Dolly". It's a great opportunity to meet others who share some common interests.

Sunni, Joanne and I left St. Albert on Friday at noon and spent the afternoon exploring downtown Red Deer. I found a great dress to wear to a July wedding and a vintage handbag that has all sorts of compartments.

This year's theme was Christmas.

Two set-ups for photographing dolls.

The "Ugly Christmas Sweater" contest entries.

 I took my Christmas shop to display.

Two tables of donated door prizes - and my door prize teddy bear between them.

He's so soft and cuddly!

Dawn-Marie of the Doll Club of Edmonton doing some paperwork. (Edmonton organized the trip this year.)

Sales tables:

Rebecca from Calgary had the most wonderful miniatures for sale.

I bought these beautiful bouquets from Rebecca.

BUT these two pieces of cranberry glass from Rebecca just made my day! 

The doll on the left was from the FREE table and the one on the right was only $2.00. I'm generally not a fan of dolls but these two spoke to me.

Got 4m of white lace with pastel accents for $3.00. The bassinette for the nursery for Ann's daughter has a row of pink lace around the top and since they don't want to know the sex of the baby ahead of time, I'll replace it with this.

I love House of Miniatures kits. This might end up being in a vignette to display the cranberry glass I got from Rebecca.

 Everyone got a set of doll cut-outs.

 
 Got this for 25 cents at the Doll Club of Edmonton sales table. Not too sure what I'll do with it but love the colour and it is SO soft.

Penny and Cameron donated a RL Christmas mug with small gifts to each attendee.

This was one of the items in my mug (about 1/2 inch tall).

I was only away for 30 hours but it was amazingly revitalizing!

............

I feel badly that I've not posted in months. The shingles that I had in February left me in a very sore and lethargic state. Although the rash was gone in a very short time, the nerve pain (still ongoing but much less) was pretty bad for a couple months. Quite honestly, I became very lazy and didn't do much but read. I'm hoping I can get my act together soon.

A lot has been going on mini-wise so I'll try and let you know about those things soon.

Hugs, Maureen