Let's talk about Blogs

There is no mystery on why I blog.   When I retired in 2006, I wanted to do a web site and admit that  it took me a little over a year to get it on line.   About 30 minutes after it went live, I got a message that said I had to remove some of the content (pictures) or pay a higher rate.   That was a blow.   I worked and worked and decided that paying more was a waste of my money and my time.  So after coming to grips with spending over a year and having the world's worst web site, and  I wanted a place to share projects and collections, I decided to blog.  I decided to do two blogs.   One for collectibles, Raggedy Anns and Andys, elephants, miniatures in two scales (Quarter Scale and 1/12), dishes etc.   The other is for art projects, Junk and Jewels.     Junk and Jewels have paintings, masks, collages, pottery, jewelry etc.   

Raggedy Kingdom

Junk and Jewels

Blogs are certainly interesting things.   On blogspot there are dozens and dozens of things you can add to a blog.   When I first started, it was VERY BASIC.   After exploring blogs of others, I found I could add music (didn't like that and removed it), slide shows, pictures, lists, viewers' count, links, subscriptions, searches, follower section.   There are so many things I could add, but I want to stay fairly focused on why I decided to blog to start with.    I've been to blogs that were almost impossible to use because they had too much.   

When you go to Blogspot blogs, there is a neat little block at top that says 'next blog'.   Sometime search thru those.  They could be on all subjects and many you won't like, just keep moving on.   Sometimes you find one that is amazing and you will want to go back time and time again.     

Followers.   I love my followers.   This is an advantage to me because I know there are some who really like my blog and come back frequently to see what I am doing.   I get their comments and suggestions etc.   Also, if you have an account, you can see what blogs you follow.   Have you ever found a blog, loved it and never found it again - well just list yourself as a follower and you won't lose it.  The more feedback a blogger gets, the better the blog.   Without followers and feedback it's rather hollow.   

Subscriptions.   Although I am posting every day during October for National Dollhouse Miniature Month, I generally post less frequently.   If you subscribe, you will get an email notice that there is a new post.   Also a nice way to keep track of your favorite blogs.  Not all blogs offer subscriptions, but if you like this feature, leave a comment and suggest it.   

Search.   I have a search blank.   If you want to see a particular item, act like it's Google and type in a word and it will show you any blog that covers that subject.   Most blogs also have a list of previous posts, by year, month and date.   Good way to find a specific blog.  

Pages.   At the top of my blog I list pages.   Under those subjects you will find those blogs that are under that subject.   Might be a way to see what I've done in a given area.   Here is another area that I have rather broad headlines.    Take a look (it needs to be updated, but I will try to get that done very quickly)

Slideshows.   On each of those blogs, I have slide show of the other blog.   Gives you a little taste of what I am doing.  

Pictures.   You will notice several, mostly my son and it brightens my day when I post a blog and it enables me to share major events in my life.

I would love to have your comments.   I'd love to have you as follower.  

Sharing minis at a Beta Sigma Phi meeting last fall.   

My beach shack after the Fort Myers Fun Day spring 2012.

Come back often!  

NAME Day Project

NAME Day is a celebration of the origination NAME,   National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts.   It is held in October and recognized 3 scales, 1/12, 1/2 and 1/4 scale.    This is my 3rd year of participation of the NAME Day Event with Quarter Connection.   There are individuals and clubs all over the country (and world) working on these projects.    With the Quarter Connection group, you get the item that NAME decided to make.   In 2010 it was a hutch, in 2011 it was a kitchen island, and this year it is an alcove.

2010 Project

2011 Project

2012 Project  

 Nearly assembled.

 Alcove on jig.   Nearly finished.  

 Finished.   

It was a super fun project.   Looking forward to using the other alcoves that I purchased in different environments.   

Miniatures for November and December

Well, let's finish off the year.   As you have seen, some months are really productive and others not so much.   

All my projects for the end of the year were quarter scale.     

This first project was the souvenir house for the Quarter Connection Virtual Convention.   HERE   is where you can see my presentation for the virtual luncheon.   

I am absolutely crazy about 'four season' scenes.   I have 3 more kits to do the other 3 seasons.   Don't know when I will get them done, but I do know the inspiration will hit at some time.   

 You might not realize it, but on the porch is an ice cream freezer - what a great 4th of July custom.   

I had the above picture on my iPad and last January I met a woman at Sarasota who mentioned the virtual convention and what she had made as a swap.   She had made a little swimming pool.   When I showed her the picture, she was absolutely thrilled - it was her contribution.   That was SUCH FUN!


On another yahoo group - Small and Smaller - they had a tea room swap.   Most of the participants did their rooms in tea pots.   I had this great box that I had gotten for a few dollars at a yard sale and I wanted to o mine in the box.   Tea shop on lower level and bedroom upstairs.   This project will make a reappearance at some time because I think both rooms need more 'stuff'.   

 I love the bedroom.   However, can you imagine that I wouldn't have things on the walls.   Just haven't found the right stuff yet, But I Will!

This little frame with the box built behind it was an item that I won in a quarter connection auction.   When it arrived I figured I would just wrap it up and wait until later to do the room.    It was getting way too close to Christmas to worry about it.   It sat on my workbench for a few days and one day it basically assembled itself.   Once I added the love seat and chair and the tree  the rest was a piece of cake.   Just gathered things from my stash and it was done.    I love snowmen and thought t would make a great addition to my collection      Do any of you like snowmen?   HERE is my snowman collection.   

 Now it shouldn't be a surprise to you that I love Mary Englebreit, almost as much as I like Raggedy Ann and Andy.    I am truly not sure when this will be done, but it is furnished and lighted and useful because of the clock, so at the present time, it awaits another hit of inspiration.   

My favorite room is the living room.   

Stay tuned, I know something will appear in this clock at some later time.   If its substantial, I will post about it.

I've been posting about 2011 projects - there were 24 of them.   As you can tell, I love minis.   

Miniatures for October

October was strictly a quarter scale month.  No 1/12 items at all.  

The first project was the quarter connection 2011 NAME Day project.   The main project was the center island.   The rest of the project was the Quarter Connection Kit and Swaps with fellow QC members.   It is also a lighted project over the kitchen sink.   It is a fun project every year.   I will talk more about the NAME DAY projects later in the month.

I've talked a lot about the Diner and the following picture is how it was blogged originally in 2011.   Just recently I posted an update.   Scroll down.  

This is the updated version.   More people (including a waitress), more food, door behind the counter for the kitchen.   Sometimes you don't know when something is done.    When I originally finished it my husband said they would go broke without more business.   Duly noted!  

Another Quarter Connection project, the upstairs workroom.   This is really full and the dollhouse is making great progress.  Please note the TV mounted on the wall.   I would have to have a TV.  

Well the following project grew out of the one just reviewed.   I had too much stuff for the upstairs workroom, so I made another little workroom.     I just love this little room and it is very small.   

 I just love how this hobby grows and sometimes develops a life of it's own.    

Miniatures for September

My guess is that everyone who pursues a craft (sewing, scrap booking, minis, photography, etc) dreams of a larger, more organized craft room.   Most crafters I know, myself included, have moved from room to room, garage to basement, kitchen or dining room etc.   It is hard to get it right.   I would love to have all my hobbies in one room.   I'm close here in mini land.   This sewing room, first looks out at a great view (very important for inspiration).   It has room for sewing, gift wrapping, photography, scrap booking, and just daydreaming in front of the window.   

 I love scrap booking and have lots of stuff stacked up to get finished   I am way more organized in my mini room.   The one on your left show a page being worked on.  It is me visiting Santa when I was a very young child.   Lots of tools, glue, etc.    Space to have a friend scrapbook with me.   That makes the hobby even more fun.   

 Here is my sewing space and when I put the sewing items on the lower shelf, I have a great space to gift wrap with papers and ribbons at the ready.     The sewing machine has a bulletin board ready for current and future projects.    you can see the camera on the peg shelf, always at the ready to document a project or progress on a project.   

 The Ideal Craft room is 1/12 scale.


Below is an atrium done in a workshop at the Lakeland Fun Day.   Fun Days generally are connected with a show and sale and generally there are workshops offered a day or two before the sale.   Ron of Ron's Miniatures offered this little quarter scale atrium.    Still can't figure what I want to do with the interior, but some time the inspiration will hit.   

Do you have any ideas for the interior???? If so, leave a comment.  

The following project is what didn't fit into the ideal craft room shown first in this post.   I moved my easel every which way and finally figured I needed a dream area to sit and day dream, look at the scenery, and do a little desk work in my dream craft area and the paint area would  just have to be separate.   So here it in in a gallon can.   It uses scrapbook paper for the background.   It gives the impression of the inside of an unfinished wood building that has taken it's fair share of paint.  

 It has a table with paints, extra canvas, finished art work, a sketch and a canvas ready for that interpretation of that sketch.   

 This little paint room as a light (you can see the button on the top). Gives a lot more access to the nooks and crannies of the room.  

Lots of stuff, not too neat, but looks like a lot of fun is had in this painting spot.   

Miniatures for June, July & August

This project is by far my favorite quarter scale project.   It was a plain box and i decided it would be a tribute to my mom who sold antiques for years.     I like the way you can see through the windows.     

 This shops sells plates, pictures, pottery and a lot of other stuff.   Still have a bit more things that would fit and sometime I will add more stuff (that what you do in antique shops).  

 One swap I participated in was antiques and I got a whole little box of pottery pieces.   I thought they should be grouped to show them off.   They are all in the front counter    

 Who could resist buying a plate with so many to choose from.    Don't you like the little brick that is exposed.   Love old buildings.  

 Doesn't the peek through the window make you want to go shopping.  

 The following project was a Dream Girl's Bedroom.   It was the Lakeland Miniature Guild's fun  day project in 2011.   Since I have one son, I thought doing a girl's room would be fun.   Lots of stuff to keep this little one happy.   This project is 1/12 scale.  

 Look at his precious thing showing off in front of her mirror.    She is having fun.   

 This little garden shed is quarter scale.   Lots of things going on.  Gardening stuff.  

Apparently it was too hot during these 3 months to do too much, but what I did, I love.