New mini project...

It's been a while since I've done a mini project other than working on my saloon. I made the mini scrapbooking table for my Mom so now I've decided to do a mini for my Dad. What I want to recreate (based on my novice abilities) is the scene you see in the picture below. This was my Dad's parent's (my grandparents) living room. I don't want to do everything - just mainly this far wall. I don't really care for the tv's or any of the furniture - what I remember most about this room was the fireplace with the mirror behind the mantle and the long wooden shelf hanging above it. The pictures are what always drew my attention. There was a picture of my Papaw and Mamaw together and one picture of each of the 6 brothers and sisters. If I were to include any of the other elements in the picture it would probably be the window, the lantern hanging on the side, and the roll top desk. Again we'll just have to see how far my creativity will take me. Below are the supplies that I have gathered so far. The box was $1.99 at Michael's and is approximately the size and shape that I want for the fireplace. The rest are jewelry pieces called "Petals A Plenty", also from Michael's, and were on clearance marked down to $1.99 each. I think they are supposed to be used as pendants for necklaces and earrings, but when I saw them all I could think was "mini frames!" Needless to say I bought almost every one that I could find that was shaped like a picture frame.

Kitty was helping me to judge the size of the fireplace when the top is turned on it's side to create the mantle. I think it would be easy to cut the sides of the box so that it isn't so wide and also to cut a square out of the front. But as I look at it more, I'm thinking perhaps it's going to need to be a bit taller. I have a picture of my Dad standing in front of the fireplace and the mantle came up to his shoulders. I found a wonderful post on Kathi's blog http://beautifulminiblessings.blogspot.com/2009/09/fireplace.html where she used sandpaper to create bricks for a fireplace. I'm hoping I'll be able to adapt her idea and use it for my project. I really do read everyone's blogs - it's just there are so many of them that sometimes I get behind! I have a notebook where I keep track of posts that I think I'll need for future reference. I write down the blog name, the post date, and the type of mini tutorial it was. Eventually I should be able to learn how to make just about anything!

So anyhow, back to my supplies. I used my trusty x-acto knife to peel the little stickers off of the metal backings. I kept them all though because I'm sure I'll find some other way to use them. Then David helped me to bend the little tabs at the top off so that they look less like earrings and more like frames.

And finally I went back to my trusty technique of using an index print, my Mom's photo printer, and her scrapbook cutter to make the tiny pictures. As you can see I now have all of the pictures that go across the top shelf. The fit into the frames perfectly except for the square edges. David has a tiny pair of curved scissors in his grooming kit that I believe I could borrow to fix the edges with though.

So now I just have to figure out how to make the wall behind the fireplace - and even then I'll have to figure out how to cut out a window - using either my handy dandy x-acto knife or my Easy Cutter. I'll also need some sort of mini screen to go in front of the fireplace and also some decorations for the mantle. If anyone has any suggestions please send them my way!

For all the bookworms out there!

This post has nothing to do with minis, but for those of you that love to read like I do I would like to recommend the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. If you already know about the series then you're probably just as excited as I am that the 7th book comes out 09/22! I think Diana planned this release for my birthday (just kidding)! I adore series because I tend to fall in love with the characters in the books that I read and I always find myself wondering what happened to them next or how their lives turned out. This is one of the many reasons that Gabaldon appeals to me. You get to know the characters Claire and Jamie and you just don't want to stop reading about them. Diana has even taken one of the stronger secondary characters John and began writing about his personal journey outside of the original series. I think the Outlander series really has a little bit of everything. There is romance, historical fiction, legend and folklore, danger and adventure, and even time travel! But anyway, that's my reading recommendation for everyone. If you'd like further information these are two great websites: http://www.dianagabaldon.com/ http://www.lallybroch.com/index.html

Flea market finds!

I am so excited to share my new treasures with everyone! Since I'm on vacation for 2 weeks I decided to take my Mother to the flea market yesterday (she's been "mentioning" that she'd like to go forever so it was time for a good daughter deed). And yes, September is a weird time of year for vacation, but I turn 30 on Saturday so I used this time to enjoy the last of my 20's and also to prepare to celebrate this weekend!

So you may remember many posts back when my Mother had bought some liquor/wine bottles for the saloon. At the time I thought they were a bit too expensive, but since then I have learned more about minis - both the ones that I am willing to pay for and the ones that I would rather make myself. She bought the bottles from a lady who has a booth set up at the flea market (thankfully inside one of the buildings as it was 80 degrees here yesterday!) And now I'm wondering why I didn't listen to my Mother sooner - the booth isn't huge, but the owner has a good selection and she also said she could get requested items. I was so excited looking at everything that I completely forgot to get her name though.

Anyway, on to the new minis! Here are the pictures:

I got this adorable little twin size trundle bed ($10), a wooden box of cigars ($2), and a chess set ($6).

The trundle bed itself isn't for the saloon, but I thought it would be great for Sophie and Olive since they love being together. I am still working on my own toddler beds for the two of them, but that's going to take a bit longer. And since Kitty, Sophie, and Olive have all taken up residence in the saloon for the time being, I figured it was time for a bit of furniture. Also I'm part of the travel doll project that is going on at Greenleaf and Emma will be coming to visit us sometime in October so I really do need to try and spruce the place up a bit! I'm afraid my saloon is going to be the most unfinished house that she's stayed in so far, but hopefully she won't mind.

I'm not exactly thrilled about the fabric on the bed or even the little thing at the top that is supposed to pass for a pillow, but both are easily fixed. I'm going to have to find some extremely thin batting material to use for the pull out bed because I think it needs a mattress as well.

And here is shot of the cigar box open. The cigars inside are not removable. Once again this problem is easily solved. As you can see I've already got my Easy Cutter out and used three toothpicks to make more cigars. Now to just paint them brown with that little dot of gold and they'll be perfect for the saloon. I also saved the ends of the toothpicks to make into little pencils for some future project.

The chess set is probably my favorite of them all. I was so excited when I got home and opened it to realize that the board is actually a magnet and all of the tiny metal pieces actually stay put! I can't wait to see the board up on a wooden barrel sitting next to the window in the saloon. The only part that I don't like is the yellow color, but since it's just a sticker I think that can be replaced as well. I have some printer labels around here somewhere that should do the trick.

That's all for now! Adios!

Welcome to 5 more followers!

Now to introduce our 5 new members! I've had a chance to look through some of their blogs and now I've got alot more reading to do! First is Tink - http://minitink.blogspot.com/ I'm not sure where she's from because I can't read all of her blog. She does have some really beautiful roomboxes - check out her flower shop - it's so cute! And since it seems she likes Tinkerbell I think we would get along pretty well since I'm a huge fan of Neverland.

Second is Linda - http://pin1056.blogspot.com/ Linda is from Sydney Australia. I can't say that I know her, but I do know of her because as I was starting through her blog I saw one of my favorite entries to the Greenleaf Spring Fling contest from this year. Also I'm anxious to read more of her blog as she is building a Beacon Hill to go along with one that she has already finished. She's going to line them up back to back to make one complete house!

Third is Katy - http://estudiodeartedekaty.blogspot.com/ http://paraisodebarbi.blogspot.com/ http://lasminisdekaty.blogspot.com/ http://petitbleu-katy.blogspot.com/ http://casitaroma.blogspot.com/ Katy is from Peralada Gerona Spain. And I found so many blogs listed for her that I honestly haven't been able to look at them all yet! I did see some beautiful artwork and some great minis though, so now I have alot to check out!

Fourth is Le Promeneur - http://jeanmarielemire.blogspot.com/ Le Promeneur is from Quebec Canada and his blog says that he is an artist in the world of fantasy Lowbrow. He has some very interesting artwork so definitely check it out!

Fifth is Linda, but I don't see a blog or any info for her yet, but she is definitely welcome here! And I don't know if it was my computer or Blogger's site that was having problems today, but I wasn't able to join anyone's blog. I like to join all of my follower's blogs because I love reading about minis and I learn so much from you guys! So I will definitely try again tomorrow.