Kitchen coming along...

I took the painters tape off and touched up the paint.

I painted over the grey on the front of the light so it wouldn't be so obvious on the roof of room.

Screwed the plate on the ceiling to hold the lamp in place. Wow! This was a pain. Even with pre-drilled holes, those two little half inch screws just did NOT want to go it. But finally got it in place,

added the light,

 and have the light in place.

Here's most of the furniture for the kitchen.

Went down to craft night last night for the first time in months. Got the first coat of paint on a good portion of the furniture.

Still haven't decided what to do with the floor.

I want marble counter-tops but haven't begun even thinking seriously about doing that.

I do have these tiles that I'm thinking about using for a backsplash but don't know if I have enough of any for that.

I may just end up using photo paper for a bright white subway tile backsplash.

Board meeting tonight so probably won't get anything more done today.

Mini Day Out

Every once in awhile, Joanne and I hold a Mini Day Out in the social room at the condo. It's on a Saturday from 9 to 4 with lunch provided. Generally, it's just a chance to work on whatever you feel like doing, exchange ideas and get feedback - with a lot of socialization. It's not limited to club members so if you're ever going to be in Edmonton, let me know and we'll see if we can arrange one while you're here.

Joanne was working on bricks for her fireplace for the NAME Day project; Tina was working on a chair for her lamp roombox; Cheryl H. was checking out the HOM kit she got from our Christmas party; and Lucille was building another of her wonderful 1:48 rooms.

Bev and Trineke checking out my "Trash to Treasure" book.

Barb R. couldn't be there for the day but dropped by to visit.

Inger worked on some plant kits she had purchased from Barb S.

Bev worked on a kitchen roombox she's making.

Trineke made the fern and some great sunflowers.

Carol K. is working on her Robin Betterley Christmas Stall. It is coming along beautifully!

Erika put together her lamp roombox.

Lorry worked on her NAME Day project.

Unfortunately, I had put my camera down before Cheryl S. arrived. She brought a phenomenal nativity scene she has been working on. It's filled with teeny characters she bought in Israel. She also brought some paints with her and demonstrated "smooshing"...very interesting!

I knew Carol K. has had success using chalk paint so I asked her about my problems covering my kitchen pieces. She told me that I would definitely need a second coat - and that did the trick! Now I just have to finish the rest of the pieces and set the paint with the flat varnish for that purpose.

I got the ceiling and walls painted in the room box itself. When I peeled off the painters tape, I ended up with a few spots that need to be touched up. Still haven't decided what to do with the floor.

(The hole in the back wall is for wiring but I think I'm just going to use one of the light bars DS Shirley gave me for Christmas in 2014. The hole will be covered by the cupboards.)

Finally, here's the list of things to complete this year!

In no particular order:

For years I've had an old Ikea wood-framed greenhouse that I planned to add to the Bombay House as a sunroom. But it just didn't ring true somehow so when I discovered that Ikea had a new greenhouse available I thought I would try this new one instead. (For only $19.99)

The end wall and roof pieces.

The sides.

The base.

Sides in place

With top propped open

And closed

'Sort of' in place. I need to move the house forward to the front of the sunroom is even with the front of the house.

The wooden frame is what I made years ago as the beginning of a hot tub . The pictures are so foggy because the plastic film is still on the plexiglass.

What needs to be done:
Move dollhouse forward
Frame a hole in the plexi for the french doors from the kitchen
Finish the hot tub
Either put stairs down from the kitchen or raise the floor in the sunroom

Lots of maybes on this one....

My second project is the three room roombox:

Bare bones

 Pamela dropped by the other day so I put some of the furniture and accessories in it so she could see where I plan on going with it.

With some of the possible furniture in place

What needs to be done:
Ceiling crown molding
Lighting
Trying to figure out putting in a clothes closet
Fireplace in the sitting room
Handrail and fixtures on the tub
Biggest thing is to find a place to put it!

The third project is Vern's Attic for the grandchildren.

Box of stuff to fill it!

To be done:
Lighting
Insulation
Vapour barrier
Fill it - have most of the stuff for that
Write a book to go with it to explain to Jonah and Holly the stories behind everything.


The kitchen:

Things roughly in place...

All the cabinets need to be painted the dark grey of the island. I've used Cottage Paint on the island and it didn't work well so I'm hoping that if I wash the other cabinet pieces with Pinesol, they will take the paint better. If not, I don't know what I'll do.
Thinking of maybe going with a red back wall.
Not too sure about the flooring - there's already wood flooring.
Backsplash
Maybe a small cupboard at the back right hand to hold cleaning supplies (vacuum, broom, etc.)
Fill the cupboards and fridge
Maybe a hanging rack for pots and pans
Display some of my copper pots and pans
Lighting

I also have two lamp roombox kits to do. My nephew James is marrying in April so might want to make a small roombox for him and Erin.

So I guess this will keep me busy for a month or two...or three....

Spent a good portion of today shopping with Joanne so have to spend tomorrow (Friday) finishing the cleanup from Christmas and preparing for Mini Day Out on Saturday. Will try to post about MDO on Saturday.

More Christmas!

Oops! Forgot to post pictures of my Christmas gifts from Cheryl.

This Christmas scene is 2 1/4" tall.

The Hallmark Fisher Price play family house ornament. It's 2" from the base to the top of the chimney.

 And opens! Love it.

I rescued this turntable from the Put and Take when I packed it up. Will use it eventually under a display.

Can barely see my desk!?! Need to catch up and get mini-ing!

I know I promised my list of projects to work on/finish but on the weekend I got caught up on my volunteer work in the condo. That included shelving books in the library! That is always a mistake as reading comes in a bit higher on my list of things to do - just shading out miniatures. That's why I haven't been posting.

Then today I spent the afternoon and early evening with Cheryl H. from Nova Scotia. (Cheryl is the owner of the Yahoo Group Canada Minis and one of the original founders of Camp Mini HaHa.) We met through Canada Minis and have known and visited each other for several years now. Her two daughters and her grandchildren live in Edmonton and she is here until January 14th. She and her granddaughter Keira picked me up about 1 p.m., went for lunch, spent some time at Ikea, then went to her daughter Krista's new home where Cheryl made us a wonderful shrimp stir fry.

I picked up some household things at Ikea including a new clock for my workroom. From the time I started working in this room, I had a clock on the end wall. Even though I always have the time on my computer, it became such a habit to look at the clock on the wall that when that clock died, I still turned my head to check the time. So this afternoon I bought a new clock for that wall.

I also picked up a new miniature project. Well, not exactly new but a new version of a project that I've had planned for several years.

Mini Day Out - Cheryl H. from Nova Scotia

A couple times a year, I invite miniaturists to my place for a Mini Day Out. It is a day of miniature-making and friendship.

This particular Mini Day Out is to spend time with Cheryl H. from Nova Scotia, the owner of the Yahoo group Canada Minis.

This one is on Saturday, January 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you would like to attend and if you're in the area, please email me for more information.

I hope that if you're in the area, you will join us.

Happy New Year!

I had expected/hoped to list my plans for minis for this year today but that's a long post that I'll try to get to it soon.

Today (New Year's Day), Joanne and I attended the Lieutenant-Governor's New Year's Levee. We had both read about it in years past and when she suggested it a couple days ago, decided it would be interesting. We were even on CTV News tonight! (at about 7:15)  Still not too sure how Joanne's mother spotted us as we're on screen in the line so briefly!

Was just thinking about how long we've known each other. We met through Small Stuff  Digest at a time when the decorative tooth picks became all the rage. They were available at WalMart in the U.S. and WalMart has just opened up in St. Albert. She had posted on SSD that she had been to WalMart here and that the toothpicks were not available. I emailed her a thanks for posting as it saved me a trip and we discovered that we lived just blocks away from each other.

We corresponded for a short while then she walked over to my place. (This was in 2002 as I had just completed my "This is your life" miniature for my Mom.) I cannot believe that it was that short of time ago as I feel like I have known her all my life.

She invited me to a MEE summer meeting at Cathy's, then to my first MEE meeting.

Over the years, we have become great friends both inside and outside our love for miniatures. We are now president and vice-president of MEE and co-chairs of the Show and Sale Committee.

But we also have tickets to the Citadel and Reel Monday. We go shopping together, especially at Dollarama.

We work together on StarFest for the St. Albert Public Library.

We try new foods and experiences, such as the Levee.

She is, truly, my "sister" and I am so thankful that we met.