The past week...pretty much personal stuff.

It was a busy week around here. My DS, Carol, and her girlfriend, Chris, came out on Tuesday and stayed in the guest suite until Thursday. DBIL (farmer) Fred hoped to be in the fields on Friday so it had to be a flying trip.

We hadn't told Mom that Carol was coming so it was a GREAT surprise and very treasured.

Tuesday night, I went to minis for a class taught by Barb S. on making a fern (more about that in a future post).

Carol, Chris and I had a good visit on Wednesday. Carol, as you may remember, is a quilter and Chris makes framed wedding invitations for friends and family. In addition to showing off my miniatures to a great, understanding audience, we had a wonderful discussion about gifting hand-made work and how people who don't craft themselves have no idea of the cost.

Wednesday night, Leanne and I took them out for dinner then she gave Carol and Chris a tour of her townhouse.

They left on Thursday, then on Friday DS Marie and BIL Robert came out for the weekend.

Marie brought me a wonderful GBC Image Maker 2000 binding machine for "The Book" that she picked up at the Put and Take in Peace River. I am just thrilled to have it since my old binding machine gave up the ghost before the publication of the last edition of "The Book".

On Friday, Leanne had an emergency at work so we had to cancel our planned morning visit to Costco. She had her second of three adoption home study visits in the afternoon then went to visit Mom then to Costco.

Saturday, (the third date we had chosen for the birthdays/housewarming at Leanne's), Leanne had to work! So Joanne and I went over a bit early to do some last minute things she hadn't had time to do. Shirley, Grahame, Marie and Rob arrived at 5 so Shirley and Marie fed the birthday pig before she arrived. Because there had been so many delays in the day, we could also celebrate Marie and Robert's May birthdays...so Shirley and Joanne were the only ones who had birthdays not being celebrated!

Shirley (left) and Marie

I still haven't received the rest of the pictures from Marie (or the pictures of Carol feeding the pig earlier).

Marie found me the perfect book "I Know I came in here for something..." lighthearted devotions and chuckles for those embracing those Senior Moments. It's great.

It was a gorgeous hot day so we put Leanne's patio furniture on the deck and visited out there for awhile. Then Leanne announced dinner was ready.

Salmon cooked to perfection, salads, tomatoes and peppers! For dessert, we had angel food cake and lemon meringue pie (Marie's absolute favourite). Leanne packed up most of the leftovers for Mom.

During dinner, the skies opened and the rain poured down. When we left the temperature had dropped almost 20 degrees and it was still raining.

Sunday, Leanne had her final adoption Home Study (which went well) and I took the leftovers to Mom who was thrilled to get such variety.

Love Mom. When she first came home from the Glenrose Rehab, I would take plated meals over to her. That lasted, maybe, a week or two then she was insistent that she make her own meals. So now, I pack up the components in separate containers so she can pick and choose her meal for the evening.

Marie and Rob go home on Monday after a quick visit with Mom.

This afternoon, she asked me to fix a leg on a small footstool that she has. Brought it home minus the three legs that did fit properly. Glued the diagonal piece back in again then filled the hollow with steel wool and glue, screwed the leg back in and I think everything will be good now. It sure is solid.

St. Albert Art Walk

Thursday night Joanne and I went on the St. Albert Art Walk. There were only eight venues this year but the art was spectacular!

We began at VASA where our friend, Vicky Armstrong, was among the many exhibitors. Absolutely great work in several media! This year's theme was botanical so we saw some incredible artwork highlighting flowers in particular. A long-time supporter of the arts and former alderman, Carol Watamaniuk had a display of absolutely beautiful jewellery.  There was one necklace that I absolutely loved. Carol put it on me and it was SPECTACULAR! Especially since it matched the blouse I was wearing. It was really pricy but if I wore jewellery at all, I really would have been tempted. Actually I was tempted, I must admit, but (1) knew I probably couldn't afford it and (2) that it would sit in my jewellery box and never be worn.

Then we headed to St. Albert Place (City Hall) to see the exhibits at the Library, Wares (a shop featuring work from St. Albert artists) and the Heritage Museum. The Library displays included Joanne's miniatures, more of Vicky's work (she has some of her paintings on display as well as the murals that are permanent displays in the Library) and paintings by Luisa Mendler-Johnson who is on the STARFest Committee with Joanne and me.

The St. Albert Art Gallery had a wonderful display of art from students at the local high schools. Really excellent work. There are some great artists that I'm sure we'll be seeing more of.

After we left the St. Albert Art Gallery, we saw a sidewalk display by Judy Leila Schafers. Two or three years ago I bought a fridge magnet from her that became the focal point of my first art gallery in miniature. (Centre of back wall behind the counter.)

At that time, I had sent her an email through her website telling her how I had used the picture but hadn't received a reply so didn't know if she had received it or not.

But this year I bought three more pictures (fridge magnets -pictures mounted on foamcore) and mentioned they were for miniature art galleries. And she did remember!

They're large: lower left is 5" x 2 3/4" but I do like larger pictures in both RL and mini.

A really great thing about the Art Walk is that many of the artists have business cards with pictures of their work on them so I collected these cards that will give me some terrific art work to put on my mini walls.

I mentioned this to the artist whose card is on the lower left and she seemed quite pleased that I wanted some abstract art for my walls. BTW her work was wonderful and I was sorely tempted by it.

It has been a hectic week. Lots more to tell you but that will have to wait....probably until Sunday as Saturday we're having a combined birthday party/housewarming at Leanne's.

Canada 150 project

I finally got my rear in gear and framed the rest of my miniature pictures for the Canada 150 project.

Clockwise from upper left: print by Jackson Beardy, First Nations artist; Niagara Falls; Dionne Quintuplets; Northern Lights; Men of the Deeps, Cape Breton; and Mile 0, Alaska Highway, Dawson Creek, BC

Jackson Beardy (1944 - 1984) was a prominent member of the Indian Group of Seven which first met in 1973 and disbanded in 1975. (I know that it should be First Nations but that was how it was referred to at the time.)

A sad note: In 1970, to commemorate Manitoba's Centennial, an even was held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Jackson Beardy's work was featured at the celebration and, proudly, he showed up at the gala with his family...but security guards wouldn't let them enter. (Wikipedia)

Great day got even better...

A short time after I returned home from Calgary and had checked in with my Mom, I received a phone call from my friend and neighbour, Jeanne. Her friends, Shirley and Evelyn, were visiting and Jeanne and Shirley (who had seen them before) had tried to explain my miniatures to Evelyn. They were unsuccessful so wanted to come down and show her what I do.

I certainly hadn't done any housework since I got home Friday with groceries for Mom and did some cooking for her...not to mention getting up at 4 this morning for the trip to Calgary!

But I asked them down anyway, having warned Jeanne.

And they were lovely, perfect guests who enjoyed my miniatures and ignored the mess!

It is such a joy to show off my miniatures. Mostly, I just let people look around and comment. Occasionally, I point out things that I'm particularly proud of.

Jeanne is one of my most enthusiastic cheerleaders! And I thank her for that. She always tells about her great/grand nephew Carter's enthusiasm for my tiny printed books and the book that I made for Megan and Carter about their trip to France. I actually had one copy of that book left to show Shirley and Evelyn.

Most people ask if I sell my things. I don't! However, these days, I find I'm making things for family members or as gifts for groups I belong to, such as our Potluck Dinner group in the condo. Jeanne won the first of those that I offered.

Great Day!

Joanne and I were up at the crack of dark this morning to catch a bus taking members of the Doll Club of Edmonton and five members of MEE to the Doll Show in Calgary. We've made this trip a few times now and it's well worth the trip, if only for the camaraderie.

We left at 6, stopped for coffee in Red Deer and arrived at the Doll Show at 9:30 which gave us time for visiting before the Show started at 10. Found Marilyn A. who is a member of both the Calgary Doll Club and MEE and MEE member Sunni Dixon who was visiting Marilyn.

MEE member Reenie of Reenie's Teenies was doing a booming business with her miniature accessories. Could hardly get near her table! Visited with Val C. of Calgary who often does our Show and Sale and who expects to attend this September. A newcomer to Calgary who does minis including beautiful knitting showed interest in doing our September also.

MEE member Bev also took some time from visiting her sister to attend the Show. And I ran into two old friends, one of whom plans on doing our Show also.

Joanne found a couple unique minis, The others from MEE found some great items also but I managed to avoid temptation.

We left the Show at 1:00 (gifted with a bottle of water and roll of Mentos each from the Calgary Doll Club) for the Antique Mall in Airdrie where we spent about an hour.

There I found a crystal salt cellar that I'll use as a mini salad bowl.

From there we headed back to Edmonton with another brief stop in Red Deer.

Home by shortly after six. Great trip!

SHOOT!

Oh, my!

I took a couple pictures with my phone at Value Village in St. Albert a couple weeks ago. They were such neat things but I haven't been able to download them!

But even though it's weeks later, I thought I would just mention them anyway....

There was a large (would guess about 12" x 12" x 36") aquarium (no visible cracks) for about $30?. Would be a wonderful  container for a miniature scene OR a cover for a 1:48 street scene.

Aquariums are great settings for mini scenes! See my camping scene.

There was also a dollhouse (three stories)) that surprisingly was 1:12 scale. Think it was $30-35.

Sorry I wasn't able to download the pictures OR report on this in a timely fashion.

A bit of fun - sort of mini

Some years ago, Barb R. made a hockey themed Christmas tree (small but not mini) for their son, Tim.  I made some mini hockey pucks for it and never thought of it again until a couple days ago.

DS Shirley gave me a string of Budweiser mini goal lights. Had a minor thought of how I could use them in mini-mini but when I got them home thought of Tim's Christmas tree.

Turns out that Barb had added to the tree over the years so was really glad to add them to it.

Just a lot of fun!