Tiny bit more done for now....

Well, I took off the feet from the bottom of the roombox and painted it.

Feet off and first coat of charcoal Cottage Paint

Second coat of paint and feet added back.

I finally got "The Book" compiled. Today got my shipment of paper and ink cartridges so time to start printing, collating and binding. With the uncertainty of the mail these days, "The Book" has to take priority so I can get them off to arrive before Christmas.

But I will try to keep working on the black and white room.
 

3 Baby steps forward...one giant step back...but maybe light at the end of the tunnel....

Oh, my goodness! This part was from October 6...

Early last week, I told Joanne that I was going to start working on my Black and White living room.

Wednesday: I checked that I had the charcoal paint that I needed for the frame of the roombox.

Friday:  I moved the roombox that was in my plan to the dining room table.

Some of the pieces that might go in it...

These will go in it...

Some of the possible fabrics...

Problem was the glass panel in the front of the roombox...made it very difficult to paint the frame....and that really stalled me...

Then Pat M. came over a couple weeks ago to pick up up some tiny turnings for a sewing scene...

In return she gifted me with these great books.

And, duh, she showed me how to remove the glass front of the roombox! Thanks, Pat.

But there everything has sat....

Got my new glasses last week after the cataract surgery (two pair - progressives to improve the distance vision just a tad and allow me read/work on the computer and another pair just to give me the sight I had before the surgery to work on minis close up) but just couldn't get my mini-mojo back.

Over the weekend, I had two lovely telephone conversations with Sherri MacR from Calgary. (Sherri is an IGMA Artisan in toys and has been a dealer at our Show and Sale for a few years now.) We sort of encouraged each other to get cracking on things that were on our "to-do" lists (nice way of saying we kicked each others butts). She got started on one of her non-mini projects and I tried the second pair of glasses that my optometrist gave me for working with minis. 

Taking it a bit by bit but I'm hoping I'm back in the groove.

The Miniature Enthusiasts of Edmonton has a new website! Tina has designed this incredible new website for us https://www.miniature-enthusiasts-of-edmonton.com/ It is filled with SO much eye candy and information (including our 2020 virtual show and sale), I hope you will check it out!

NEW WEBSITE AND VIRTUAL SHOW AND SALE!!!

 

SAVE THE DATE:  SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

MINIATURE ENTHUSIASTS OF EDMONTON

(M.E.E.) ANNUAL SHOW & SALE IS GOING VIRTUAL!

Please join us for our 24^th Annual Show & Sale. With over 170 displays and vendors from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, there will be something for everyone here.

 So, on September 20, after 10:00 a.m. MST,  grab a cup of coffee or make yourself a pot of tea and relax in front of your computer (or laptop, or tablet, or phone). Just log onto our website at:

http://www.miniature-enthusiasts-of-edmonton.com

 Browse around, and then click on the Show & Sale link. You will find our Show (a Youtube video and a link to a survey so you can vote for your favorites), our Sale (a downloadable PDF file showcasing our vendors, with links to their sale sites) and even a fun hidden object game in a fairy tale dollhouse. 

See you on the 20^th!

The new website is up and running now but the links for the Show and the Sale won't be live until 10 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 20).

Am recovering from the July surgery quite well but I've since had cataracts removed from both eyes  3 and 4 weeks ago so am having difficulty using my computer for the blog and for longer email messages.

I'm home!!!

Surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm was last Wednesday.

It was a very major surgery but i had incredible faith in my surgical team. And sighting a rainbow on the way to the hospital gave me all the reassurance I might had needed.

The leader of the surgical team said it went very,very well.

DD Leanne and DS Sean were at the hospital with me (separately, of course, because of COVID) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

Things have gone so well that I came home Friday afternoon (a few days ahead of time).Sorry, just hit with a big wave of tiredness so will continue tomorrow.

Update

Hi there!  First time caller, long time listener Sean here.

Maureen (Mom) asked me to post this for her friends out there in virtual world.

Surgery went perfectly (surgeons words, not hers).  Recovery is progressing exactly on schedule and she should be back at the keyboard by this time next week.

She has her tablet at the hospital and can read your comments/emails but the tablet did not like the blog posting feature on blogger.  She is anxious to get home and begin her next project.

M.E.E. Mini Garage Sale, Away for awhile...

One of the highlights of our club year is our June garage sale where we can sell/give away items in our collections that we no longer want/need.

Of course, we had thought that COVID would have put an end to that for this year. But Tina, bless her heart, worked out a way for us to have it via Zoom! Those who had offerings send Tina emails with pictures, descriptions and prices. Tina put all that information into a power point (?) presentation.

On  Tuesday night, we started our meeting with the show of all the items (with the sellers adding any information that wasn't shown). You could jot down the number, description and seller of items you were interested in. At the end of the presentation, there was a 15 minute break then at 8:45 you could e-mail the seller and tell her what you wanted to buy. I was too late on two items but I did buy the following:

(We could pay by PayPal or e-transfer and make arrangement for delivery or pickup.) I was lucky that Joanne was able to pick up my items for me. Thanks Joanne!)

Got this lovely store front from Erika. The door opens and the back slides off for decorating.

The Reutter store front that I used for my jewellery shop formerly housed a lot of small decorative pieces so I think that I will use this to display them along with several other beautiful small pieces that haven't found a home so far. Sort of a fancy gift emporium.

And I got this great Doug and Melissa living room set from Hoanie.

I hadn't bid on these but when I told Joanne I was interested, she brought them over when she brought over the other two items.

I just put them together for the picture. I think I will make them into bookends with one side being a neat, pristine Christmas scene (the night before Christmas) and the other being the aftermath (late Christmas Day) with all the gifts unwrapped, a garbage bag of wrapping paper, etc..

I have two matching Christmas trees and the two matching chairs above so think it's quite do-able.
(Think it's from a Joanne Swanson idea.)

Not that I've been posting much this year but I definitely will not be posting for the next two or three weeks. On Wednesday, I'm having major surgery for repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm and expect to be in hospital for about two weeks then will be in recovery at home for about four months.

I have an excellent surgeon and have every confidence that all will go well.

So will post when I get home.

More pysanka

The pictures I showed you yesterday didn't give you any idea of how beautiful and intricate Jeanne's work is.

I'm fortunate to have two of Jeanne's work. These are the chicken eggs that I have. They're on upside down pizza props so you can see them.

the front of the right hand side one to show the detail.

From the top

When I worked at Sir George Simpson School, one of the art teachers taught staff a class on making pysanka. That's when I learned that it was too delicate and difficult for me to do.

Some eye candy (not mini) and slippers

My friend Jeanne invited me up to their condo yesterday to see what she has been doing while in isolation. WOW!

She doesn't do  minis but she does do pysanka so she finished these in the past few months. The pictures simply do not do them justice. The largest eggs are ostrich and the next smaller are emu. Truly works of art.

So while everyone else seems to be accomplishing great things, I managed to make one pair of slippers.

Barb S. taught a great workshop on Zoom last Tuesday. After missing a couple meetings because I couldn't get into Zoom on either tablet, finally got into this one using my phone.

Our kits included material for two pair of slippers so you could say this is my practice run.

Here I've cut out the heels and uppers from microsuede.

The sole pattern, ribbon, and fun foam

The sole pattern is glued to the ribbon then cut out.

The cut out pieces are then glued to the foam and those are cut out

Soles finished

The heel pieces are then glued to the soles.

I was sure I had taken a picture when I was adding the uppers but guess I didn't. It's a bit tricky and fiddly but I found that adding one side at a time and letting the glue dry before doing the other side worked for me.

The one on the right is a bit lopsided but all in all I'm happy with how they turned out.

Thanks to Barb for a great workshop!

A blog (or two) to follow...

My friend, Marilyn D., from New Brunswick, has started a new project on her blog.

I was blessed to meet Marilyn and her husband, Bruce, eleven or twelve years ago when they hosted my friend, Cheryl H. and me at their cottage when we took a trip to P.E.I.

They live in New Brunswick where Marilyn is part of the club with another friend, Marijke,

I've mentioned Marjike's blog before. She does absolutely wonderful flowers, plants, and aging techniques.

Marilyn hasn't been doing miniatures for all that long but she is doing great work.

I'm referring you to her blog because I think her latest project is so wonderful and delightful that I think you will want to follow it. You know how, sometimes, someone starts a project that just "gets you" and you know it will be "the project". I have one of those and I think that this is one of Marilyn's.

A fun interview

D. Thomas  Fine Miniatures has been hosting Zoominars with various miniaturists.

This one is with Adam Koch. and I really enjoyed it. (48 minutes)

Adam is a professional set designer from Brooklyn, New York with a passion for miniatures who started the popular Instagram account Dollhouse Therapy https://www.instagram.com/dollhouseth...
We had a casual chat with Adam and learned more about his work in theatrical stage design, its connection with his interest in miniatures, and got to hear all about his personal 30 day challenge to build an awesome 7-room dollhouse during the 2020 Covid pandemic lockdown.

Costco box - just a thought...

When I had the thought the other night about the Costco box, it was just that - another possibility. Something that probably could be used during the pandemic.

I am not going to start this now! Just so you know....

 I have thought for probably ten years about doing a  "Secret Garden". With that in mind, I have two paper boxes plus a bit ready to go in it.

Originally,  I bought two 4' x 2' sheets of 1" thick builders foam thinking that it could be carved into stone walls. Now this box may work.

Because I don't do the outsides of buildings well, I was pleased to find (at Dollarama) six peel and stick stonework wall panel sheets (12" x 12") so I think I think about making those work.

On the backburner for now...but still a possibility.

I think this is so cool..- such possibilities. Roombox from Costco box

I was sitting on my couch tonight and looked over at a box that had come from Costco the last time I was there.  The size is perfect! It's 19" wide by 10 3/4" high by 15" deep.

As is, the front could be used as a storefront window. If cut down to the floor, if could be just an open visual to the scene inside.

Cover the walls and floor with matboard and you have a great roombox.

Cover the front and top with plexiglass and this would be finished.

So keep your eyes open when you go to Costco - lots of possibilities there.

One more small addition then the MHV roombox was delivered!

Was getting ready to take the roombox over to MHV when I realized it needed two more things: a book and a pair of glasses!

Always love adding a book and a pair of glasses to a scene.

Took it over to MHV yesterday afternoon and got to visit with some friends there.

And they liked the roombox!

Guest Blogger - IGMA Artisan Sherri MacRaild of Calgary, Alberta

It has been my pleasure and honour to know Sherri for several years now. She is an IGMA Artisan who has been a dealer at the Edmonton Show and Sale during that time. We've been in touch more often now during COVID-19.

We spoke of her most recent creation lately and she gave me permission to post this with her as my guest blogger based on her emails. I hope you enjoy it..

Have worked on this project on and off for years….started with the tub and then got stalled with what to use for the bears I wanted.   Bought a bunch of jointed bears but they would not comply with the positions needed in this very small container.   The tub is in 1/12” scale and is supposed to be a wash-day tub.   

Here is the story that goes with it……

                “It  is in the year 1798 and the British navy has been fighting the French under Napoleon.   Our story starts when a ship in the British navy  has a run-in with the French and British ship is sunk in the action.   Even the life boats are destroyed.   All that is left is the cook’s giant fish-holding tub.  Only 4 crew survive the battle and they have to pile into that tub at the last moment.    But it smells very badly!   The captain usually goes down with the ship but he knows that the lieutenant  (left-tenant as it is pronounced by the British)  is an idiot who was able to be placed in his position only because his uncle is in the House of Lords).  Thus the Captain felt it was his duty to save what was left of his crew.   I mean, the lieutenant has been looking at that compass for an hour now and still has no clue where they are!   The captain is forced to scan the horizon with his spyglass, looking for anything that will help them out of their predicament.   No smiles there.   But the sailor with the hat is smiling a lot because he is the one holding the only life preserver.   Yesssss!  The other sailor was on the gun crew and didn’t have time to grab his regular hat before abandoning the sinking ship.    So he is still wearing the bandana meant to hold back his fur while he was re-loading Cannon #3.”

I managed to put the captain into the ‘tub’ as the first bear to go in, although he squirmed a lot before finally settling down.   The lieutenant was even harder to get into the tub.   He kept insisting that I show ‘his good side’ before he would consent to be glued down.  How vain can you get?! Then the other 2 sailors rebelled saying that they wouldn’t go into that evil-smelling tub unless they were able to have their daily rum ration.  They had the nerve to demand the ‘emergency’ barrel of the stuff (plus the drinking cup, mind you!).   That meant a lot of research on my part, all the while muttering about stubborn sailors specifically….and males in general.   Found out that there was indeed an emergency barrel which, to my surprise, was sideways rather than straight up and down and it comes with a funnel.   Hmmm, learn something new every day!   These self-same sailors then threatened mutiny unless I made sure there was an anchor in the tub.   What?!  An anchor??  I finally figured out that they were thinking they might float by an island (on which there might be much more rum than was being rationed out in the tub…and even girls!).   They wanted to make sure the tub stayed in place while they swam to shore for ‘just a short visit’, the rascals!  

You have heard how a project can take on a life of its own….well, this one did, and in spades!   I am exhausted after keeping up with the crew’s demands on the HMS Fishtub.

Personally, I think it's one of the absolutely best things I have ever seen of Sherri's work. The painting on the tub alone is just superb. And her story and research make it even better.

MHV roombox finished!

I probably should have looked through all my flowers (have about 50) but instead I went with the arrangement with the gladiolas and painted the vase gold.

Added a couple of napkins and I'm declaring it finished.

I still can't get very good pictures once the glass case is on but since the wallpaper and picture are part of the case, this really is the only way to show it.

More work on the MHV roombox

Years ago, I bought this great little teapot kit from Another World Miniatures in Saskatoon. (They're a dealer on online shows these days.) 

In two shoeboxes of beads, there was only one that fit! This is a special bead that Sunni brought me from one of her trips. I glued everything together then put the end of the stem into a piece of foam to take the picture.

 

This is where it got VERY messy. I thought I would put a bit of Gorilla gel glue in the hole of the bead to stabilize the pin. OOPS! Way too much - which was good in a weird sort of way - because there was too much for it to set on my hands immediately so I was able to separate the bead and all fingers and thumbs that had been "almost" glued together.  Fortunately, I had a bottle of acetone nail polish remover on hand and was able to clean up this mess.

I clipped off the bottom of the pin then put a clump of Gorilla Gel in the base, put it together and let it set.

Here I've put the teapot upside down in a clothespin so I can put the miniature moveable glue on the base.

HINT: Clothespins can be used to hold things in place for various reasons..

I'm really running low on Chrysnbon dishes and unfortunately the few I have left are ones that I had tried to trim with my gold Pilot pen years ago. I had tried removing that with nail polish remover and that did not work. (Hence the nail polisher remover on my table.)

So then I went to my Costco dollhouse and found the dishes and silverware that I would need for MHV.

And the china would have been right...except I had no idea what I had used to paint it......so couldn't paint a matching dessert plate.

So back to the wrong saucer...

Now I've finished the cups, saucers, and dessert plates with the Krylon gold pen:

I wet the end of a Q-tip to hole the cup in place so I could paint it.

 Now here are all the pieces done in gold...

 Those things are great.

Now I have to think about what flowers will go in there.

So it's coming together.

Will take another look tomorrow....