LIFE ISN'T FAIR

Oh my goodness!  I have been away so long, I barely remember where I actually left off.

As often happens...Life Happens...and happen it did for me.  My elderly (87) mother had a stroke on the 5th of February and I had to leave my happy home and move in with her to see to it that she got to her follow-up medical appointments after she was released from the hospital.

Well, that sort of put an END to my wonderful, budding plans for 2012!  Do I see light at the end of my little tunnel?  Of course.  I'm working feverishly to get my home Mother Ready.  The Master bedroom has been gutted and now I'm doing my best to talk my mother into making the move.  She is refusing to relocate, but with time, I think I have enough clout to make it happen when push comes to shove.

It would be so much easier on all of us.  I make the 18 mile drive everyday to feed my poor kitties who must think I have abandoned them.  Then I have my adult handicapped daughter to consider.  She HATES living at Grandma's in town.  She misses her own home, her room, her things.  She isn't noted for her ability to "change," so that puts the burden of stress on me!!!  How do I make her understand what has happened to HER LIFE???  It is a moment by moment challenge.

I tell my friends I am now "caring for" two handicapped adult children.  And that isn't far from the truth in the matter.

What has become of my minis.  They are sitting at home WAITING for me.  I have continued my purchase of accessories, so at least I am personally still in the loop, but what I despair of most is not getting all of those projects DONE.  My pen is constantantly working things through on paper, but sadly I don't get the pleasure of hands on.    : (

I think of you all and wish I were back in the swim of things.

Don't give up on me.  I WILL be back. 

Warmest hugs.

WALLPAPERING

My little French shop l@@ks darling with the new wallpaper in place, and I've been setting up the accessories in the corner cabinets.  Next, I will have to go "digging" to find the topiary trees for the pots in front of the building.  I'm so pleased with the progress that I'm making.  [Photos will be forthcoming, and they will be worth the wait.  I promise.]

Meanwhile, I managed to get the ceiling papered in my M. E. kitchen and I think it is fantastic.  I had a very small run of white textured paper that resembles the old Victorian tin ceilings and decided to try it.  Once it dried I painted it with Gesso and love the result.  Then, I fitted and cut the red and white striped paper for the walls.  I thought I would try real wheat-paste to see how that would work.  What a disaster!  The paste soaked quickly into the mini paper, making it nearly impossible to pick up and work with.  As I lifted the sheet, it began to tear apart from the weight.  Ghastly!!! I managed to get that one piece up, but I was not one bit impressed and will be going back to my "old way" of papering with Tacky Glue.  At least that is more controllable for me.  Once this phase of wallpaper is completed, the black and white checked floor will be installed and I'll be homeward bound.

Of course, I've been eyeing the ugly green house that I bought at the Thrift Shop and have decided that I will definitely be removing the upstairs wall, as the house is so narrow and the size of the two rooms are totally inadequate for anything pleasing to look at.  I will probably have to remove part of the downstairs wall as well, but unfortunately some portion of it will have to be left in place for stability of the entire structure.  Whoever designed this little house wasn't thinking long-range!  Where would the furniture go?  There were 2 little fireplaces on an outside wall that ate up precious space, so I ended up knocking them out, but that now leaves me with a useless outside chimney.  Again I ask, what was the designer thinking???

My sad "Katherine" house sits looking derelict, now that the porches have been removed, though the cats have taken a fancy to its present flat roof status as an appealing sleeping platform across from the cozy, warm wood-burner.  This past year I've been collecting wonderful "shabby" blue furniture painted with delicate pink roses, and am strongly leaning toward turning the "Katherine" into a French bed & breakfast, as she is large enough to accommodate the furnishings.

As I once mentioned, my attention is easily turned from one project to another, i. e., my gypsy wagon, stagecoach, cover wagon, 3 log cabins, Irish pub, "Cowboy" house, shabby bakeries, Italian restaurant, chocolate shop, flower shop, bridal shop, Santa's Village, and the ever glorious Gothic witch's B & B are all vying for my attention!  Each is unique.  Each has boxes of special furnishings, accessories and people waiting patiently for me to bring them to life.  Why do I torture myself so?  Answer.  I LOVE miniatures!!!

Back to work...

WORKING LIKE MAD

The "new year" is in full swing and I'm loving it!

I have several projects in motion. 

I'm in the process of gluing wallpaper on to the ceiling of my M. E. roombox; and while the glue is drying, I've torn the front porch and balcony off of my "Katherine" dollhouse; gutted a thrift-store find; and emptied my little French shop ["Jamais Apres"] in preparation for the wallpaper and border applications.

The problem remains that I am so easily distracted from the task at hand.  Everytime I pass any of my other "projects" they seem to jump off the shelf at me, with any number of possibilities.

If that were not enough temptation, I continue adding to my "collection" of lovely miniatures, and that only sparks more and more inspirational ideas for yet more projects that I would like to do.  This is proving to be a never-ending cycle of bliss.

What a Happy New Year this is going to be!

I'M FREE

That's right!

The Rose Parade is over, and I am on my way to my workshop.

Yesterday, when the grandchildren were over we all took a "tour" of Grandma's mini workshop, and the many UN-finished projects sitting about.  Of course, each and every child was overly excited, and offered to help me.  [In your dreams!]

They seemed most fascinated by my tiny drawer-ed cabinets filled with delightful minis waiting to be placed.

So many nice things waiting, waiting, waiting!

Well, 2012 is going to be MY YEAR...I am going to play, play, play.

With that said, I'm off to my workshop to begin following my bliss!

P.S.  ...It is about five and a half hours later, and I found the black and white checkered flooring that I was l@@king for.  I now have no excuses.  The M. E. room box will get done.  I also emptied at least a dozen boxes and put things away.  Still have some organizing to do, but I'm feeling so very energized to be back in my own little domain.  : )

2012 IS FINALLY HERE

Happy New Year, dear Friends!!!

The Rose Parade is tomorrow and then -- m-i-n-i-a-t-u-r-e-s.

What a delight that is going to be.

Seems I've waited an eternity for this day.

Today, New Years Day, the family was over for luncheon.  Now, the football games are on and the dishes all washed and put away, giving me a minute to stop by the computer.

Next, I'll find my way into my workshop and preview what is there and see what it is that I can begin the day after tomorrow.  : )

I'm wracking my brain to figure out where I have "hidden" the M.E. checkered flooring.  That is an essential.  I remember putting it in a "safe" place so that it wouldn't get damaged in transit.  But, for the life of me I don't remember where I put it!  This means digging and sifting to find it.

There are other projects, but that was the one I wanted to get completed first and foremost.

I am so excited, as this year is the year I will do my best to get as many of my unfinished projects done, photographed and posted.  There are so many   w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l   miniatures to share.  If you love them half as much as I do, you will be delighted. 

May all of your miniature dreams materialize and bring you great joy.

Mega mini hugs!

CHRISTMAS 2011 IS PAST

After the last guest had stepped out of my front door, I immediately went to work dismantling my decorations!

Down came the lights.

Down came the garlands.

Down came all of the stockings that were hung with such care.

Everything is gone!

Why, if you were to walk through my front door at this moment, you would not even know that today had been Christmas.

I was serious when I said that I couldn't wait for Christmas to be over.

Everything went beautifully.

Everyone had a wonderful time.

Five of the grandchildren had even stayed the night to get a jump on Christmas morning.

Well, all of that is behind, and New Years' Eve is just ahead.

Once I get through New Years', and the Rose Parade (2nd of January), I will be home free.

What does that mean?  I can get back to miniatures, that's what!!!

I'm more excited than my grandchildren were this Christmas morning.  I can hardly wait.
 
Without further ado, let me be one of the first to wish each of you the very best for the coming 2012 year.

Be happy...and don't forget to follow YOUR bliss!

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PUT ON "HOLD"

I just can't seem to get things together! 

For starters, I can't locate the black and white checkered flooring that I had cut out for the M.E. room box.  I've misplaced it in the move.  : (  

Real Life has simply taken over, so, I've been forced to put my wonderful mini projects on HOLD until after the holidays. 

This is going to be far more painful for me than for you.  I'm just so "addicted" to minis! 

In the meantime, I will continue searching and trust that all will materialize shortly.

Wishing each of you HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!