Buying Online

I live on a small island in the Atlantic Ocean and there is no retailer for miniatures anywhere near me.  I'm fortunate enough to travel a lot and can always find a miniature store while travelling.  But I do rely a lot on purchasing online. 

One of my favourite places for buying online is miniatures.com.  They don't sell artisan pieces, but I can get my regular supplies from them, plus many times I can get factory made items that I can alter to make more custom.

I recently made a purchase and I just received my order yesterday.  The problem with buying online is that even though they may provide the measurements, you can't always tell scale.  I was so excited about finding a "wrought iron" window box for the garden shed window, but now that I have received it, even though the length is right for the window, the depth is completely out of scale.

It looks even larger in this picture because of the perspective with the walkway, but it's only about 3" long.  I am going to see if I can have it cut in half lengthwise and make into two window boxes.  Once it's filled with flowers, you won't be able to tell that it's missing the back!  Hopefully!  I also need to distress it and give it a little touch of aging so it's not so new and shiny looking.  So I'll have to do a follow up on this piece once I alter it. 

I also got three great Morning Glory vines.  I am hoping to add a part of a fence at the back of the shed, and I thought it would be great to wine a vine through the fence.

The leaves and flowers on the vine are made from clay.  I've been studying it closely and I think I may be able to make flowers from the clay as well.  So far all the flowers I have made have been made with paper, and now I am excited about trying a new medium for flowers.

The funny item in the order was more ground cover.  I had struggled so hard with the sand around the tiles, which by the way is improving with each layer of glue and sand!  I had forgotten that I had ordered several bags of "mulch" for the flower beds.  Wish me more luck with adhering this to the landscaping!

The item that was most exciting in the shipment was my little garden bench.  It was already decorated with flowers, and some of them need to be switched out because they also are a little too large and out of scale, but I think it has a lot of potential.

I also purchased a sheet of metal (brass) geranium leaves.  They have to be spray painted and bent to shape, so I am hoping they turn out nicely.  They are so thin and perfectly scaled.  I am hoping to make geraniums for the window box.

I got also this pair of "wrought iron" plant hangers.  Again I will need to age these a little, but I think they are perfectly scaled.

Overall I am pleased with my new purchases, but it was definitely a reminder of paying close attention to scale when buying online!  I purchased some small tools and some items for my castle project as well, so more to share at a later date!

Most importantly I would like to welcome a new follower.  Please welcome Minisonia.  I couldn't see a blog, but if you have one just drop me an email or comment and I can post a link to your blog.

Until next time..........

Wanda

Give me a Daisy a Day

I've been busy repairing my tile job this weekend, but also continuing to make mini flowers in between.  You need something to do while the glue is drying!!

I just finished making Daisy Mums from a Bonnie Lavish kit.  I absolutely love assembling Bonnie Lavish flower kits.  They are laser cut and perfect to assemble.  I've tried other flower kits before, but nothing impresses me more than Bonnie's kits.

This is the finished results.  I've laid them in a flower pot to dry, but they will actually go in the garden around the shed, once I've made enough flowers. 

To check out more of Bonnie's kits go to http://www.bonnielavish.com/ .  I've completed several of her fushia kits, they are perfect.  I have several other kits that I have yet to assemble from Bonnie and from other artisans, so lots to work on yet.

I've also been making some flowers from scratch from patterns I've found in several miniature magazines.  These are still work in progress.

I added the instructions on how I made the paving tiles yesterday, and a few minutes later I returned and found I had five new followers.  Wow, thanks for taking an interest.  Also thanks for the great comments on the tutorial.

I would like to say welcome too:-

Petra at http://meinekleinigkeiten.blogspot.com/  She has a great tutorial on her site for making Hydrangea!
Annina at http://anninagunter.blogspot.com/  For those who love modern miniatures, this is most definitely the spot to check out!
Marlie at http://marliesminies.blogspot.com/  She is working on a fabulous built in piece in her room box. 
My Wee Life at http://my-wee-life.blogspot.com/  I see she is working on a Bonnie Lavish kit as well.
The final new follower appears to be following privately, which is still great, so whoever you are welcome to So Mini Projects, I hope you enjoy it!

Until the next time........

Wanda

My last garden swap arrived

With the busy holiday weekend here (it's Thanksgiving in Canada) I haven't had a chance yet to post the fact that I have received my final garden swap from Margaret in Australia.  She sent a beautiful birdcage, birdhouse, wooden crate and the most wonderful dried lavender to hang from the rafters of my shed.  I can't wait to get the items in place.

I am working on Caterina's swaps again because unfortunately the package I sent never made it to her.  This time I will put a tracking number on it to ensure that it makes it to her.  Hopefully I can get this completed this week, because the following week will be a busy one with the wedding fast approaching.  It's less than two weeks now!

I have two new followers to welcome.  Say hello to Alennka & Frederica( I don't see a blog for either of you, but if you have one, just post a comment in this blog!)

Again a big thank you to Margaret!  I love the items.

Until the next time-

Wanda

Safely arrived home from Camp Mini Ha Ha

I've safely arrived home from Camp Mini Ha Ha and my partially completed kit, swap items and purchases have all made it safely back to Newfoundland as well.

I had so much fun at Camp and learned so much more about mini construction.  So even though it was a hectic time to go both from a work perspective and considering I am getting married in less than four weeks, I am glad I went.

One of the great benefits of camp is that several vendors of dollhouse miniature items also set up at the camp, and we have several time periods where we can go shopping.  These vendors are the campers who are also participating in the workshop as well.  So I got to purchase a lot of new items, both for the castle project and for other projects still in the works and in the planning stages as well.

One of the new items I purchased was some fantastic rugs.  I had received one of these rugs in the final night giftie exchange, but I also purchased four more for other projects.  The detail in these rugs is fantastic, and the prices were even better!!

I've got lots more purchases to share with you in the coming days.

I also promised to welcome all the new followers in the past 2 weeks. Check out the blogs of the following:-

Annie at http://obsidian-hall.blogspot.com/
Janine at http://missameliasminiatures.com/home.html
Little Miss Kris, I can't to find a blog for this one.  Let me know if I have missed it.
Tabitha Corsica, at http://tabithacorsica.blogspot.com/

Thanks for taking an interest in my blog!

Until the next time
-Wanda

I'm off to Camp Mini Ha Ha

Sorry I haven't posted in several days.  I have been busy making all my swap items for the upcoming Camp Mini Ha Ha.  We will be making a roombox of a castle room.  We had to make swap items for each of the ladies attending (33 in all) plus 5 larger gift items for each evening of the camp.  I will post pictures of what I made when I return, but I don't want to spoil the surprise for the ladies attending by posting them now.

This is the project we will be making.

It's a Tudor castle room, and everyone has different plans for the interior.  I am planning to turn it into a modern day interpretation of an old world castle.  I've collected some of the furnishings and fabrics already, and I am planning to make most of the other items.  I also want to panel the entire back wall of the room inside.  I am visionalizing a wealthy couple who have purchased this old castle and they are modernizing it to live in today.  They want to keep some of the authentic tudor features, but they still want the luxuries of today!

Some of the ladies are planning to do fantasy styled rooms such as Harry Potter, and others are planning an old world room.  It will be interesting to see all the different versions of the castle.

I will have limited internet access at Camp, so hopefully I will keep up on my blog reading, but I don't think I will be able to post again until I return.  I'll have lots to show you when I get back!  I'll take lots of pictures.

The picture at the top of my blog is from last year's Camp.  We all made stores, and mine is a bakery, which is still a work in progress!

When I return it will be less than 4 weeks until my wedding, so postings will be limited while I ensure all the last minute preparations are done for my big day!! 

Just as a tease, here's a few pictures of the 5 gifts I made for the upcoming camp, these pictures are the work in progress, you'll see the finish product when I return.  I enjoyed making these, especially the finishing process.

I have several more followers to welcome also.  Thanks for taking an interest in my blog.  I hope everyone takes the time to check out these followers blogs as well.

Looking Glass Miniatures, http://lookingglassminiature.blogspot.com/

Lotte, http://lottasatomaa.wordpress.com/

Maddie, http://ero-kappa.blogspot.com/

Rachel, http://miniaturemaid.blogspot.com/

Peggy, http://peggy-cosycottage.blogspot.com/

Berri Jones, I can't see a blog for you, but if you have one, just send me an email and I will post the link for you.

I'll be back on the 30th of September with lots to share!

-Wanda

A Blog full of Joy and Color

Clara over at "The Life In Miniature" blog gave me a lovely award called "A Blog full of Joy and Color!"  Clara, thank you very much for thinking of me and my blog.  She has requested that I pass on the award to five other blogs.  Well I follow 300 blogs, and it's really difficult to select only five, so I am sending out the award to all 300 blogs!

Speaking of 300 blogs, maybe someone out there in blogland can help me.  I have posted this question to the Blogger help site, but none of the answers are working for me.  Once you get to 300 blogs, the dashboard does not allow you to add any more blogs to follow.  Some of these 300 blogs have not had postings in a really long time and I would love to delete the inactive ones so I can add some newer blogs that I can follow.  I have followed the directions to stop following a blog, but they are still in my Dashboard, and it will not let me add a new blog to follow.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop following a blog?  I would love your help.

I do have some new followers to welcome as well.

Minna, http://minnasdollhouses.blogspot.com/
CM, http://myrealitty.blogspot.com/
Rosanna, http://rosanna-theredhouse.blogspot.com/
Sara, http://minidreamz.blogspot.com/

Thanks for your interest in my blog.  It would be great for everyone to check out their blogs as well!
-Wanda

Caterina's Garden Swap

I've been away for several days again, and just prior to leaving Caterina's garden swap items arrived, but I didn't have time to post at that time.  I was so excited, I had to open the packages, and Caterina made that a challenge in itself.  They were well taped, and I was afraid I would damage the items so it took some time.  But it was well worth the challenge!

Once I got everything opened, I had so many wonderful items.  There were fantastic baskets, one of Caterina's water jugs, lawn seed pack, gardening books and seed packages!

 I had to show you a close up of the baskets.  The detail is fantastic.  I absolutely love these.  Thank you very much!

I have so many little items for my garden shed display now.  I am so pleased with all the items.  I haven't heard whether everyone has received their swap items from me yet.  I hope you get them soon, let me know, I am getting a little anxious here myself.  I still have one more swap to receive myself, and one swap to send.  I've just heard from Kim that she is ready to send her swap items now, so I will be sending out her items now as well.

Now that I have my new tools I have no excuse but time to finish my garden shed.  I was booked to attend Camp Mini Ha Ha later this month, but things are hectic at work, so I am trying to at least get all my swap items made for Camp.  Even if I don't get there, I can still send my swap items and get my castle kit and swap items back in return.  I'll show you the swap items at a later date, because I don't want to spoil the surprise for everyone else before they get to camp.

I have a few new followers to welcome as well.  Please take the time to drop by their blogs and check things out.  Welcome to:-

Jolanda, http://jolandasheavenandearthdesigns.blogspot.com/

Joy, http://adora-bella-minis.blogspot.com/

Nati, http://loscuentosdenati.blogspot.com/

Maria, I don't see a blog for Maria, but if I have overlooked it Maria, please let me know.

Also it my welcome posting on Sunday there were a couple of new followers I couldn't find a blog for, but they posted their blog links in the comments for Sunday's posting,  Have a look and check out their blogs as well.

Thanks for your interest!

-Wanda

Welcome to all my new Followers

The picture was taken at our local Botanical Gardens.  I just love the twisted branches of this vine.  Great miniature inspiration.  It has wrapped it's branches around the arbor.

I've been going through the list of all my new followers this morning.  Wow, there are some fabulous blogs out there.  Lots of great miniatures and other crafters.  I am so thrilled that you have taken the time to follow my blog.  I am so sorry I have not welcomed you earlier.  I've added lots of new blogs to my list of blogs to follow this morning as well.  I am so pleased.

A big welcome to:-

Kim @ http://myfairytalecottage.blogspot.com/
Teresa @ http://thisandthatminiaturesandlife.blogspot.com/
Daisy @ http://miniaturasdaisy.blogspot.com/
Flutterby @ http://biwubaer.blogspot.com/
May @ http://maytecles.blogspot.com/
Flora @ http://lacasadellebambolediflora.blogspot.com/
    Flora I thinked you were one of my earlier followers, but there must have been some disconnect, but I am happy to see you here again!
Jody @ http://jodysminiwereld.blogspot.com/
Bastrota @ http://bastrota.blogspot.com/  Have a look at the most beautiful flowers!  Fantastic!
Lena @ http://miniatyrmama.blogspot.com/
Macrupe @ http://minialev.blogspot.com/
Pilar @ http://lasminisdepilar.blogspot.com/
Anubis @ http://anubisminiworld.blogspot.com/
Eva @ http://tatalamaru.blogspot.com/
Eva @ http://mini-escenas.blogspot.com/
Clara @ http://lavidaenminiatura.blogspot.com/
Marie @ http://lepetitmondemerveilleux.blogspot.com/
Gaye @ http://mysmallobsessionminiatures.blogspot.com/
http://nuestrasmeriendasymanualidades.blogspot.com/ which is a group of woman who meet to craft and then blog together.  I think it's a wonderful concept!
Vinchen @ http://vinchenarts.blogspot.com/
Carol @ http://starsgemini3.blogspot.com/
Carol @ http://true2scale.blogspot.com/
Susan @ http://minicrochetmad.blogspot.com/


Yvanna, Monique, GardenLover, AnythingMiniature, Yayin, and Karin I don't see a blog for these followers, and if I have overlooked it, please let me know and I will post a link to your site on my blog!  If you are like me earlier in my blog following, I followed many before I ever started my own blog.  It's a great way to learn the system first. 

Thank you to each and everyone of you for taking an interest in my blog, and so sorry for the delay in posting your welcome! 
-Wanda

I've got mail!!

It's been over 2 weeks since my last posting.  There's been so much going on in my life, that my miniatures have taken a backseat.  I'm planning a wedding that's happening in less than 2 months.  My worklife has been on overload, business trips and an unfortunate loss in my fiance's family, all have made me diliquent with my minis and this blog.  I have managed during this time to get all my garden swaps out in the mail, except one, Kim, who is anxiously working on her part and will send her address when she has completed hers.  Which is more than okay!

But today I got the needed boost to start me thinking about miniatures again, I got miniatures in the mail!!  The first of my garden swaps arrived and I am so excited.  What a treat.  We have such talented miniature makers out there!

There's so much to share, I'll show one each day, just to keep you waiting!  From Ira at http://merryjingle.blogspot.com/ I received a treasure trove of miniatures.

Ira has sent beautiful roses, daisies, peonies, hyacinth and some great loose leaves.  I love the roses, I am definitely going to make a rose bush for the garden trellis I had made!!  There is a tree ready to plant!  (It took a little beating coming across the ocean, but it's an easy repair to get the leaves and fruit back on).  I've also got some of Ira's gardening containers, garden tools and beautiful garden plaques.  She also sent some wonderful printies.  I've got so many wonderful new accessories for my garden shed.

Thank you so much Ira, I am so pleased with everything.  I hope you like the items I have sent you.  Everything went out in the mail 4 days ago via air mail.  So hopefully it won't take too long.

I've gotten so many new followers during my absense, and to each and everyone of you thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I appreciate the interest.  I promised to list all the new followers, there are so many since my last listing, I think I have close to 30 to list, so it will have to be a posting in itself.  So now I have promised two postings.  In the next one I will show you all the wonderful things I received from Monica at http://puppenstubennostalgie.blogspot.com/

I was so far behind in my blog reading, but I was determined to catch up before I posted again.  Yesterday I finally caught up, even though I still have to read today's posts, but I feel so good about catching up.  I love what I am reading.  All of you do wonderful work.  You should be so proud.

-Wanda

And the Winner is.........

Things are finally back to normal and I have drawn for my garden give-a-way today. 

I had my fiance do the actual draw,

and the winner is.....drum roll please....Maribel @ http://minimaribel.blogspot.com/

Maribel if you could email me your mailing address that would be great.  I also need to know if you would like labels on the two crates.  Also let me know if you would like the accessories glued into the garden tote, or left loose.

A big thank you to all the people are where interested enough to enter.  A special thanks to all my new followers.  I hope to make regular posts to keep all of you interested in my mini works!!

Now I am off to finish packing my swap items!!

-Wanda

In a blink of an eye

I've just returned from Las Vegas to see the overwhelming response I'd received on my give-a-way.  I now have 115 followers, and I am so thankful to each and everyone of you for taking the time to read my blog and to be interested in what I am doing here.

Unfortunately in the blink of an eye, life can change and it is so important to live your life to the best each and every day.  While in Las Vegas my fiance's uncle suddenly passed away.  He was deeply loved by everyone who has ever met him, and he was a wonderful man.  We meet so many people in our lives who are confused with our choice of hobbies, and then you meet those who are absolutely impressed and in awe of what we do. Jim was one of those people.  He was a retired engineer and completely understood the skill and talent required to do what it is we do with our miniatures.

Jim passed away in the place he absolutely loved, his cabin, doing what he asbolutely what he loved to do, fly fishing. It's a sad time for everyone, and tomorrow we leave to go to his hometown for the funeral. 

Unfortunately I will have to delay the draw for the give-a-way until I return on Sunday.  It will give others a few more days to enter if they choose to do so.  I apologize for the delay.  I also have to apologize to my fellow swappers because I had hoped to get the garden swaps mailed before I left for Vegas, but paint had still not dried on a couple of items and this task will also have to wait..  I am now back just long enough to unpack and repack to leave again.   I hope everything will be worth the wait once you receive them.

There are far too many new followers to list right now, but I promise to do that at a later date.  I have tried to keep up on my blog reading while in Las Vegas but the time difference for me (4.5 hours) made me extremely tired, so I am still three days behind on this as well.

I am leaving a picture of another project I am working on, my bakery, and a peep into the front door to see all the shelving on the back wall.  More to follow on this project in the future.

-Wanda

Second time around...

The value in taking photos of your minis allows you to see things that you can't see with your naked eye. Last night I sanded down the stool and tool box and photographed it again and placed the photo in my blog. Once I got a moment to really size up the photo I realized that you couldn't even see the sanding I had done. I wanted it too look older and more distressed. So tonight it was back to the drawing board...or in this case, the painting and distressing area.

I rubbed both pieces down with raw umber and chipped out some wood, and then sanded everything again. I'm more pleased with the look now. You never know though, it still may not be finished!!

Have a look!

I have one new follower to welcome this evening. Please take the time to have a look at her fabulous blog. Welcome to

Christina, http://miniaturewonderland.blogspot.com/

I am fast approaching 100 followers, and I have put together a give-a-way for that time. More details in the coming days.

-Wanda

Little bit of this.....

I haven't spent a lot of time at my minis since I returned from Nova Scotia. Playing a little catch up at the office, and enjoying our fabulous summer days. Tonight I did spend a little time sanding down my latest two creations, the tool box and the bench.

Now I've got the tool box filled, and placed outside the garden shed, with the newly sanded bench. I thought the distressing would be more obvious, so I may go back and do further distressing later. Hope you like the items!



I have a few more followers to welcome:-

Monika, http://puppenstubennostalgie.blogspot.com/
Beatrice, http://lesminiaturesdebeatrice.blogspot.com/
Sylvia, http://lotjesdollshouse.blogspot.com/
Glenda, http://peppercornminis.blogspot.com/

Thanks ladies for taking an interest in my blog. I've been actively following your blogs as well.

In the past two months since I started this blog, I've been lucky enough to have 90 followers interested in my blog. Thank you to each of you. I will have to put some thought into a give-a-way as the 100 plateau quickly approaches. Sounds like an idea for my next posting.....stay tune!
-Wanda

Home Again

It's always exciting to travel to other places, but it seems it's always more exciting to get home again. After a few busy days in Halifax, Nova Scotia for work, I am back on the Rock again. For those who have never heard, Newfoundland is affectionately referred to as The Rock, because of the rugged coastline and vast areas of very little vegetation, and just mainly "rocks." It's a beautiful area never the less.

I did get to spend some evening time with my miniature friends in Halifax though, and we spent a lovely evening at Nancy's house getting to see her extensive miniature collection that she has accummulated over many years. I was so impressed and so in awe. There were times that I didn't know where to turn because she had such a large collection. She works on her miniatures in a space that is the same size as my entire house!! I am so envious. She was an absolutely gracious host, and when we parted she gave me a beautiful gift to remember my visit to her home and to Nova Scotia. I've informed her that she can adopt me anytime she wants too!!

It was a miniature dinner setting of a lobster meal. For anyone who has never been to the area, lobster is definitely a meal you have to taste when visiting the area. In my case, I just get to admire it!! Too little to taste!! But absolutely beautiful. Nancy thank you so very much.

If you can believe it, I forgot to take my camera with me to Nancy's, but one of the other girls did remember and they have sent me the pictures, so I have got to sort through them and post one at a later date.

I also spent an evening visiting my future in-laws in the area, and they are avid flea market collectors and always on the outlook for me for miniature items. Bess had found these wonderful little ceramic children and dressed cats and other figurines. Now I have to plan a future project for them. Aren't they great?!

I returned from my trip on Friday evening, but yesterday was such a beautiful day we spent some of the time outside, until it got too hot, and then we did a little more planning and shopping for our upcoming wedding. My fiance and I are getting married on October 23rd, so we have lots of planning to do for that day. With all my travelling and minis to take up my time, and least I forget, the career that pays all my bills, and allows us to enjoy our life, planning a wedding is one more adventure to add to the mix.

I was able to squeeze one mini into the last two days though. I wanted a little bench for outside the door of the garden shed, and I had cut it out and started to assemble it before I left for Halifax, and this morning I was able to finish it. I pickled the wood, but I think once it's dry (still wet in the picture) I may "dirty" it up a little and make sure it fits perfectly in place by the shed. I modelled it after a bench that my mom had for many years. It was used in her family home when she was growing up. I used it myself as a coffee table for many years and only in the past years gave it back to mom for her to use again. They used it at their kitchen table growing up. It is a wonderful old bench, and I love my replica of it.

While in Halifax I did take a quick trip to the local Michael's store and was able to get a block of the terra cotta coloured air-drying clay. I thought once I got to the airport, the block of clay safely packed in my suitcase may raise a few eyebrows once the luggage passed through screening, but there were no TSC security alerts in my suitcase when I arrived home. I travel quite often and know every miniature shop in my travels, so I buy often when travelling and some of my miniature purchases have raised a few security alerts over the years. From the little bags of landscaping materials, (it's only little bags of powder..lol) to the blades for my hand saws and cutters, to the steel and magnet gluing jig, I have seen many TSC security alert notices in my bags over the years. They must wonder what this lady is doing with all these supplies, and I am sure to the person who has never seen what we make, it is difficult at times explaining our pastime!

I am hoping to make some paving tiles for the grounds just outside the garden shed with my newly acquired clay. That will be a posting for another day. I have seen several blogs over the past month working with this product and I am excited about experimenting myself.

I wasn't able to get much reading in on the blogs I follow during my trip, a few at the airport while waiting for my return flight, so a good part of yesterday was spent "catching up." I follow over 200 blogs, and most of them are miniature related, so I did read each and every posting, but because I had so much to read I only posted a couple of comments. I did see some fabulous pictures in your postings, and I am envious of those who won fabulous give-a-ways and received wonderful swap items. You are so fortunate.

I did gain a few more followers myself, that I would like to welcome. Some of them are bloggers that I follow already. Take a moment and view the wonderful work they are doing.

Welcome to:-

Rosa Margarita, http://chiquicosas.blogspot.com/

Paky, http://paquicheli.blogspot.com/

Sarah, http://realfoodwellplanned.blogspot.com/ This is a really interesting blog. Definitely take the time to have a look.

Pan, who doesn't appear to have a blog. If you do Pan, just add a comment with a link to your blog.

Thanks for taking an interest in my blog as well.

-Wanda

Out of town for a few days

I'm travelling for the next three days for work, so I will be away from my workshop during this time, and not making any new postings. Hopefully I will get a moment to read everyone's postings during this time, if not on the weekend I will be doing lots of catch up reading.

Before I leave I wanted to welcome a few more followers:-

Caroline. Caroline doesn't appear to have a blog, but she does sell on Etsy and has a link for this:-http://www.etsy.com/shop/cinderellamoments If there is a blog, Caroline let me know and I can post a link for you.

Martina. I don't see if you have a blog, but if you do also, just let me know and I will post a link.

Kim, http://flowerkim.blogspot.com/

Marit, http://blackcatcottage.blogspot.com/

Alicja, http://at-the-attic.blogspot.com/

Welcome to my blog, thanks for taking an interest.

Thought I would share one more flower photo from our trip to the Botanical Gardens last week. I don't know the name of the flower. It kind of reminds me of a lily, but I am almost sure it's not. Maybe someone else does. At any rate, it's great inspiration for future miniature flower making.

-Wanda

Early homes of Newfoundland

One of the things we like to do is travel to different areas of the island. One of the things I like to do, is take pictures of the many beautiful older homes still standing in many of these communities. I always think that some day I will build a miniature version of these homes. I guess if I had to do this with every house I have photographed, I'll be building 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the rest of my life!! Oh well. These homes are still worth photographing though. I get lots of inspiration for the projects I am working on.

Yesterday we visiting a community called Brigus, Newfoundland. This community was settled in the 1600s, so it has lots of history, and lots of interesting architecture that has survived. Brigus is the birthplace of Captain Robert A. Bartlett, the master mariner of arctic fame who has immortalized the town in the annals of history. If you would like to know more about this community, their website is http://www.brigus.net/ .

One of the houses I photographed yesterday appears to be abandoned, but at some time someone did give it a facelift. It's a beautiful older home. I don't have any information on it's history, but I just liked it, and thought it would be a great inspiration for future mini houses.

I love the two storey entry and the old back door. Unfortunately I didn't get a close up shot of the front door. It has nice decorative trim and corbel brackets. The foundation is a loose stone base. It appears to have been painted recently in the past several years, and I love the colour.

I hope it inspires someone else with their mini projects as well.

I have gained one new follower as well. I would like to welcome:-

Ira, http://merryjingle.blogspot.com/ Drop by and have a look at the fabulous projects Ira has been working on. Thanks for taking an interest in my site as well. Ira and I are both working on a garden feature. She is working on a green house, as well as many other great projects.

As far as my garden shed, today I worked on the roof again. Everything is glued and clamped at this time, so nothing worth photographing. Hopefully tomorrow I will have more to show.

My four day weekend has now come to a conclusion. Back to work tomorrow!! It was fun while it lasted.

-Wanda

Crates & Signs!

I promised yesterday that I would show you some of the other minis I have been working on for the garden shed. I had accumulated a lot of miniature printie signs, that I have patiently cut out over the past week. Yesterday I glued the signs to a 1/16" board and painted and distressed the signs. I got a little carried away with my sign making. Some of them were not necessarily something I would put in my shed, some may work on my other projects, even one I know will work in a friend's project, and some I have no idea where I will use them, I just liked them! (Like the Paris sign).

The printies I used came from a variety of places. Some were downloaded from the intranet, some were from Miniaturas magazine web site and some came from accessory catalogs. I work as a home furnishings buyer, so I have lots of old accessories catalogs that I can use for sources such as this and also for inspiration.

I also glued labels to some of the boxes I had aged, and then I aged the labels as well. I also made some seed flats. I still have to fill those with "soil & plants", but that will be for another day.

Here is some of the signs and crates I have completed.

I have a new follower to welcome as well.

Esperanza, her blog is http://lasminisdeesperanza.blogspot.com/ Drop by and look at the very detailed work she is doing.

-Wanda

A Relaxing Day

I've spent my bonus day off relaxing and working on my minis. It's nice to have an extra day, all to myself to work guilt free on the garden shed and accessories. Today I sanded down the red paint on the garden tool carrier, and worked on the accessories to fill it.

After I had most of the items in the carrier I felt the colour was too bright, so I thought I would age it as well. I still need to cut out the plant stakes and make gloves for the carrier, but I am pleased with the work so far.

I have to make enough accessories to fill the other two carriers I have now. Hopefully I can use them for a draw in the near future.

I make a lot of old vintage gardening signs today and aged more crates and added signs to the end of the crate. I still have to age them, so that will be a picture for another day. As usual I made much more than I needed!! More to share I guess!

I have more followers to welcome also:-

De, http://delightfulminis.blogspot.com/

Dale, http://dalesdreams.blogspot.com/

Jose, http://jose-miprrimeracasita.blogspot.com/ Jose is building a phenomenal castle, you should check out jose's blog.

Also welcome to Sabiha, who doesn't appear to have a blog,

and a big welcome to my sweetie, and husband-to-be, Jeff, who is now one of my followers, (but weren't you always one of my followers??? lol

Check out everyone's blogs, there are some great things there to see! And thanks for taking an interest in my blog.

-Wanda

Accessorizing the shed

Yesterday, I decided to hang the tools in the shed. I made up a board with some hooks (jewelry findings) and then glued everything in place. I like the results.





You can see the stain coming through from the outside finish on the shed. I had debated whether I would stain the interior of the shed so that the bleeding from the outside would be gone, but I decided that I liked the uneven colour of the interior. It's a shed!!! It isn't suppose to be finished on the inside!

I've been cutting so many garden printies, that I decided I should evaluate and see how many I actually really need. I decided to place the accessories I had in the shed and see what else I needed. Based on the other accessories I put in place today, I probably don't need a tenth of the hundreds of printies I have cut!! Oh well, I will have lots of printies to share I guess.

This is how the interior of the shed looks with some of the minis placed. Keep in mind that there are NO printies in the shed yet, so it may be a really crowded shed!!

Hope you like the work to date. Nothing is glued in place yet, I just wanted to get a feel for it.

I was going to make another table to go under the window and then I remembered I had a House of Miniatures dry sink that I had started to assemble years ago, and then realized that there were two drawer fronts missing. It's sat on a shelf ever since then, and I thought it's a perfect place for an old dry sink that can't be used in a kitchen. I might paint it to match the potting table. I have a little time to decide.

Overall I am pleased with the temporary placements. I have lots of glueing to do once the printies are placed. It will be difficult to access the interior once the roof is attached so I want to ensure nothing is going to move later!

I would love to have your feedback on everything!

I have another new follower to welcome! My first Canadian and fellow camper for Camp Mini Ha Ha. Hello to

Karin, http://orrlakemusings.blogspot.com/ and http://minitutesfromorrlake.blogspot.com/

Karin has two blogs. Have a look!

Also in my last posting I had said that I didn't think Ascension had a blog. But she does!! Here's the link for her blog:- http://ascension-misminiaturas.blogspot.com/

Thanks everyone for taking an interest and for your kind comments!

-Wanda