Saturday, July 29, 2017

Back to the kitchen...

I have been up to my eyeballs in RL this past week but I have been thinking a bit about the Kitchen.

I was all set to light it with the LED strip lighting from Dollarama when I realized that I already had the lighting in it!...the bar light that DS Shirley gave me for Christmas a few years ago.

So that was set. Then I took out all the lower cupboards and lined them up so I could work on the counter.

And they are not even!

So I'm thinking how to make everything the same height!



Add from the bottom? Add to the top? Sand some of the top off?

Have to think on this.


Tuesday, July 25, 2017

A surprise visit

Jeanne called today and asked if she could come down for a minute. Of course, I said, yes and was thrilled to see that she had brought Megan and Carter down for a quick visit. Was wonderful to see them and show off a few recent projects.

They brought me a couple gifts:


The chuckwagon is 2 1/4" tall. Much smaller scale than I'm used to working in but ideas are coming!

RL is really hitting me from all sides this week. We have fire alarm inspections and carpet cleaning in both buildings and will be starting the replacement of parkade lighting with LEDs.

But I have moved my kitchen roombox on to my work table and hope to get that finished in the next week or so.

The first order of business is to install some lighting then I have to give all the cupboard pieces a second coat of paint.

Joanne and I are going to Tina's tonight so nothing will get done today. Hopefully, I'll get at least a small start on the kitchen tomorrow.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

A RL joy and a small mini gift

Sorry this is so late. Spent a long time talking with Cheryl H. in NS and missed the deadline for posting.

Saturday, Joanne and I went to the St. Albert Farmers' Market. A few stalls in, a picture caught my eye and I just had to have it!

You might recall my story of the birthday pig. I hadn't done anything with my birthday money so when I saw this!!! It was my purchase!!!

It's a 23" x 17" painting on a slab of wood. The picture does not do it justice.


I haven't yet decided where to hang it.

On our way into the St. Albert Public Library, there was a Recycling information table that was handing out miniature (1:24) St. Albert recycling bin key chains. What a great gift! Think I can make it work in a 1:12 scene somehow.
We went up to the magazine section of the library where we looked at the Miniature Collector magazine. (Joanne donates this to the library each year.) Had great fun looking at them.

Was thrilled to see the MC write-up on Jo-Ann Shaw. (I know it's been awhile since it was published but it was the first time I had seen it.) Joanne has a pair of her ice skates shown in the article and she says that the picture doesn't do them justice.

I'm thrilled to have known Jo-Ann for several years since I first attended Camp Mini HaHa and it's such a joy to see her work acknowledged.

All in all, a great day!

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Edmonton Show and Sale September 17

Oh, my!

We already have one more dealer than last year! We really want to keep this Show and Sale going so if you know of anyone who might be interested in coming to our Show and Sale as a dealer, please have them contact me.

I'm waiting for one more confirmed dealer contract to come in then I will publish the full list of all we have so far. This one is a doll artist so am quite excited about her attendance.

The absolute deadline for smaller (up to one 6' table) dealers is August 31 but those who want to be assured of a table and get maximum advertising value need to contact me by July 31.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Lorry's memorial box

I found the crown molding in the bag of wood from the kit, painted it white and installed it.


Then I decided that the outside of the box needed to be covered so I did that with some light brown art paper from my stash.

Folded the extra paper around the back, mitred the corners and glued it down.

Here the frame to hold the plexiglass cover has been added on three sides.


With the light on
 The plexiglass has been glued into the top section of the frame and is being put in place.

The table and flowers have been placed using Moveable Miniatures Glue. (Love that glue!)

I have a lovely little cottage teapot by Janice Crawley that was a gift from Lorry's family that I would have loved to put in here but I think it would have detracted from the vignette. I'll find another spot for it.

Here's the card I made to identify it at our Show and Sale in September. After the Show, I'll glue it to the back of the box.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Got some things done

Well, Leanne and I went to IKEA on Sunday and picked up my new sideboard. A book got in the way of working on it Sunday but I got it done yesterday....but not in time to post it. Will put things in it tomorrow. For now, I have just put my most recent pieces on it.



Went to craft night tonight and glued together the little box I'm working on. Have to glue the frame on the front and add the plexiglass then put in the table and flowers.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

new project 1 1/2

In my last post, I mentioned that I had decided to use the box only from Samm Brockhurst's book box kit to highlight a couple things I bought from Lorry's Estate Sale. Many of the items from Lorry's sale were for a kitchen and I have plans for those....but I did get a wonderful table that former MEE member, Gilbert Funk, had made and also a battery ceiling fixture. Gilbert's table is a very early piece that I think deserves special attention and this box is perfect for it.

A few years ago, I bought a beautiful vase (unsigned) of roses and daisies at the Calgary Doll Show. I always thought the roses were white but this afternoon Joanne informed me they were yellow! - and she was right!

Which is quite appropriate as "Bright, cheerful and joyful are what come to mind when thinking of a yellow rose. Yellow roses create warm feelings and provide happiness. Giving yellow roses can tell someone the joy they bring you and the friendship you share."
( www.passiongrowers.com>web>colors )

Since then, I've had all these ideas rolling around in my mind. Wanted to wallpaper before I put the box together but just couldn't find the right paper.

So Joanne came over this afternoon  to look after some MEE business (and a long overdue LONG visit) - not to mention getting out of the heat. We looked at a couple possible wallpapers and none of them worked.

But after she left, I went through my other wallpapers and found four possibles:

a burgundy tissue that worked over the manila brown of the gatorboard

Sort of liked this one as the cream and gold worked with the table and flowers

This didn't photograph well. It's white with pinstripes of red and blue. To both our minds, the best.

Too strong - washes out the strength of the table and flowers.
Well, we settled on the pink/blue pinstripe for the walls...just a hint of a pattern but nothing that overwhelms the furniture. The flooring that Samm provided and a piece of white cardstock for the ceiling.

I got out my YES glue and installed all the papers and kept them under books until all the glue was sealed.

Hopefully, I'll get this put together tomorrow and get the frame for the plexiglass in place.

We'll see - as tomorrow Leanne and I are planning on going to IKEA to pick up the HEMNES sideboard for the back wall of the dining room...and if that happens, I'll probably spend my time assembling that.

But am SORT OF back in the groove.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Shadowbox finished...and new project

Well, I finally got Margaret's shadowbox done. Had to affix the hardware,  clean the glass and trim some of the silicone sealant from the glass. It can be hung either horizontally or vertically. She will place her father's badges and other recognitions in it.


On Tuesday night, I went to Craft Night in our building. Looked for something that I could take with me and found this kit from Samm Brockhurst. (it's only 9 years old!)

Just checked it out and dry-fitted the centre box.


As I looked at the dry-fit of the box itself, I decided that I wouldn't worry about the book section.

The box itself is perfect  to highlight the Gilbert Funk table that I bought from Lorry's Estate Sale. Maybe a bouquet on it (not from Lorry)....

Monday, July 3, 2017

Shadow Box 2

Here the back of the shadowbox with the top covered with matboard is glued in place with wood glue.


Box face down
 and weighed down until the glue dried.

While the glue was drying, I moved the hanging hardware, putting two pieces on the long side and one on the short.


Then I gave the frame and the outside of the box two coats of paint.

Glued and clamped matboard on the long sides of the inside of the shadow box,

Then on the short sides.

All that's left to do is put the glass back in the frame with silicon and add the hardware.