Swap Shop - Birthday Swap

I want to thank Adrian, Ann, Audrey, Barbara K, Barbara M, Betty, Bonita, Carolyn, Chris, Diane, Fern, Jan, Joanne, Kay, Linda, Lisa, & Wanda for making my birthday so very special. When I signed up for this swap my three choices were anything Raggedy Ann & Andy, Mary Englebreit or for a shop (ladies, antique, candy, etc.). I got clock, candle holder, Lots and lots and lots of candy, shoes, stained glass art, decorative mirror, Mary Englebreit hand painted hutch, 2 ME bird houses, candy dish, Raggedy Ann fabric, 6 Raggedy Ann Dolls , Jean Day Raggedy Ann Kit, 2 Mary Englebreit filled bags, Raggedy Ann Book, Sewing Shop items, thread box, Ladies Shop items including purses and shoes, Raggedy Ann & Andy rug, hat box, perfume bottles, Teddy Bear lollipops, Easter and Valentine lollipops, serving dish, Raggedy Ann & Andy Hassocks, Raggedy Ann & Andy frame, 2 Raggedy Ann & Andy canisters, dishes in box, Mary Englebreit Bench, Gramophone, radio, flour and sugar sacks, white dress, blue dress.

It was just like Christmas (only better). I have so many items to fill in existing room boxes or complete those boxes only existing in my head.

Why I like participating in miniature swaps

I have participated in miniature swaps since the mid 1990s. There were a few years where I sat out some swaps due to real life getting in the way. I have 35 plus or minus room boxes and several more in the works. I love miniatures. If I didn't swap, I don't believe I could do miniatures.

It is required that your learn to make things and make them in some quantity (generally 10-15) and with some quality. Most of the swaps I do are central point swap so they are all mailed to one person and at the close of the swap, you get back separate swaps from the other participants. I like room boxes filled to the gills, and this you can see if you look at the slide show in the right column.

I certainly couldn't afford to do that if I didn't participate in swaps. Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a swap entitled as "shops". Each participant listed the type of shop they wanted items for. I listed a choice of two and they were antique shop or clock shop. The attached photos are of the items I got for a clock shop. Along with the clocks that I already have, I do believe I will have my completed clock shop ready to share just any time. 3rd photo down has a dime so you can see the size of the items.

You can see that many are handmade and others are purchased. Also an option. Generally the requirement is that the retail value of a swap should be $5.

Over the years, I've had the most positive experiences with swaps and have met some very talented people.

How do you find a swap group? Get on the internet and look for them. You generally have to apply for membership and each swap group is different. Some just share information and others do lots of miniature swaps. I will not list the groups I belong to due to the privacy of the members. I've gone in and out of several groups depending on how they are run and the types of swaps they have. It's worth the effort to find a group that you are compatible with.

More quarter inch scale miniatures

I've been busy getting acquainted with Quarter Inch Scale Miniatures. You will see the Jax & Jill Dome (3 1/2 inches) and a Kringle Shop. Also find the little scene for Halloween. I can't believe I'm tying ghost costumes on a pin head.

Enjoy

Chairs and more chairs

I love chairs and have way too many of them in my house. It appears that I also like them in small sizes.

Lent Is Over

I give up Chocolate every year during Lent. It really is a good exercise for me to see if I have that much will power. So far I've been successful for many many years. Since yesterday was Easter, I can have chocolate back. A dear friend sent me Andre's chocolates just after the start of Lent, so they have been waiting for me for weeks. After looking at the pictures, it's amazing I had that much will power.

Miniatures in Quarter Inch Scale

I've recently become very interested in quarter-inch scale items. Melody is a new friend in the Keys and she does absolutely wonderful work in that scale, and although I believe my fingers are a little large for this scale, I am jumping in with both feet. What you are looking at is a little tiny court yard with a painter set up and by the looks of his art work, he if very prolific. You also are looking at a tiny apple farm stand. Be sure to look for the dime in a couple of scenes to get the right size comparison.

Luscious bedroom -Shopping!!!! Welcome to my little world.

What to do with a plastic cube. Those cube designed to house collectibe basketballs. Well, they have other uses.
Take a look at the table my independent miss has set for herself. While your at it, take a look at Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com .

I love doing miniature room settings. I got this wonderful bed recently and knew it would be the basis to a great bedroom setting. The suit has been in my stash for years and years. I always thought it would get lost in most settings and I didn't want that to happen. I also found the greatest plastic cubes by Pioneer Plastics. It is the cube for displaying Basketballs. Well most of my settings tell a story. The lady who would occupy this room would be very sure of herself. She is in New York for shopping. After a day of shopping, she got herself a great suit, great spike heels, a wonderful fur hat and purse. Before she goes out to the theater district, she is going to enjoy a little wine, some shrimp and crackers. If that doesn't do the trick, she will open the candy

Look at that suit. I love the hat with it and the shoes and purse make a terrific look.

Didn't buy only clothes; make a great gift selection at the Bath & Body store.

The shoes are spike heals and have fur straps. Just the perfect finish to this outfit.

Shrimp, crackers & cheese, wine and candy. That should tide her over for awhile.

The above collage is a scanned and shrunk version of my original 8x10 collage.

It is difficult to get a good picture when the light bounces off the plastic. But I must have a way to cover my room boxes to keep the dust out. Dust is always a problem in Key West.