Following Kim's advice...

And I'm going to have my own Healthy Thinking Thursday!  My goals are to stay between 1200 - 1300 calories for the day, walk 1 mile while I'm at work, and do at least 30 minutes of weight training when I get home.  I'm going to try and avoid any sodas and drink lots of water as well.

My inspiration photo for the day is from a few years ago.  This is one of those "if I knew then what I know now" kind of pictures...!  The weird ear that you see on the right-hand side belongs to a friend of mine that I cropped out of the picture - lol ;)

"The first wealth is health" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A new blog award!

I want to thank Anna from http://miniannalee.blogspot.com/ for giving me the Sunshine Award.  I told David about it and he said, "Is that because you brightened someone's day?"  Lol - I just love him!

Thank you Anna!

I am to pass the award on to 6 other blog that I follow and then let them know about the award.  It's very hard to narrow it down to 6 blogs because there are so many that I love, but here goes:

1.  Ara at http://afminimansion.blogspot.com/
2.  Kim at http://flowerkim.blogspot.com/
3.  Sandra at http://forbesfarm.blogspot.com/
4.  Marilyn at http://colorado-heartsong.blogspot.com/
5.  Teresa at http://minimadwoman.blogspot.com/
6.  Lisa at http://schererart.blogspot.com/

I've received 2 other awards before, but I hadn't been blogging for very long so I wasn't too sure about award etiquette.  I think it's amazing that there are people out there who like to read what I write to begin with.  And the comments that everyone leaves really make my day!  I've seen some blogs that post their awards and I think that's a nice way to say thank-you so I think I'll create a little section on the side for mine as well.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

New followers and an update!

First I want to update about a previous follower.  When rejoice80701 first jointed us I could not find a profile or blog for her.  I now know that this is Marilyn from http://colorado-heartsong.blogspot.com/.  This is the wonderful lady that made the card I recieved from the LAMC Valentine's Day card swap.  Please go check out her blog!

I also have 2 new blog followers to introduce as well.

First is Julia.  I don't see a profile or blog for her yet (but sometimes blogger plays tricks on me!) so if you do have a blog please share so that I can post it for everyone to see.

Second is Lara.  Her profile says that she is a mother of 4 and that she likes interior decorating and miniatures.  Her blog can be found at http://larasminiatureworld.blogspot.com/.

Hello and welcome to the party!

In need of motivation...

So here it is at 3:30 in the morning and I'm up blogging.  I should definitely be in bed, but I've got too much on my mind right now.  It's been such a stressful week.  Can you believe I had 5 doctor's appointments scheduled during my week off?  I also had my yearly physical and all of the normal blood work done.  My labs came back and they weren't terrible, but they didn't seem great either.

                         

A new motivational tool that I'm going to use is something that I'm borrowing from Kim at Flowers and Art.  She's going through her own journey and she posted pics of dresses that she wants to be able to fit into for motivation.  I think that is a fabulous idea!  So here are my 2 dresses.  If I fit into the first one it will require David to take me somewhere very nice - lol!  The second one is just a nice spring dress.

Wish me luck!  I've got my fingers crossed that I can stick with this!

Remember Emma the traveling doll? Check out the video of her adventure!

Over on the Greenleaf forum a member named Elsbeth started a travel doll project.  If you remember back in September or October of last year Emma came to visit me in Tennessee.  After all of the visits were done and all of the pictures were posted we just really didn't want the fun to be over with.  There is still speculation that Emma will have a forum wedding, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. 

Anyway, a member shared with us a youtube video of another traveling doll that had been made with Windows Movie Maker.  We all started talking about it and since I had the program on my computer I sort of volunteered to make a video for our doll.  So here is the result and I hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM7t-c0ElNs

Welcome to new followers!

First I would like to introduce Ana Rose who comes to us from Las Palmas de. G.C. Spain.  She has three blogs listed and I saw some great pictures of beautiful miniatures.  Her blogs can be found at:
http://mitiendadenovias.blogspot.com/
http://misbordadosenpuntodecruz.blogspot.com/ and
http://lasminiaturasdeana.blogspot.com/
Hello and welcome!

Another new follower is rejoice80701.  I don't see a profile or a blog for this person yet - so if you have one please send it to me so that I can share with everyone.  We love finding new blogs to follow.  I am so glad that you are here!

More mini baking!

I've been doing a bit more baking with polymer clay and I wanted to share some new pictures.  I'm having a bit of trouble with the bottom of the cupcakes even with my mold and I just realized today that it's probably b/c I'm trying to fix the tops immediately.  I should probably be putting the bottoms in the oven for a few minutes just to make sure they keep their shape and then put on the icing.  Oh well, we live and learn!

Check out the one I made for St. Patty's Day - I think I'll make a little pastry box and maybe a half dozen of those for the holiday.  Yum yum!

Hope you enjoy!

My first attempt at polymer clay cupcakes!

I feel like I am in art class!  I am having so much fun playing around with polymer clay today.  This is my first attempt at mini cupcakes so it's not the greatest, but now I can definitely see why people make these.  They are fun to make and I have so many different ideas for them!  At the bottom of the post I gave all the links that I used for reference.

First I used Sculpey Mold Maker.  This stuff is soooo cool!  It was $9.99 at Hobby Lobby, but I had one of those wonderful 40% off coupons.  You cut a piece of this stuff out big enough to fit whatever shape you are trying to mold.  As per Casey's tutorial (link is at the bottom) I used connector caps for electrical wiring.  I got a bag of assorted sizes at Lowe's for about $2.50

I pushed the caps into the mold just far enough to get the shape of the bottom of a cupcake.  I used the two smallest size connector caps.  One size I think will be for cupcakes and the smaller one I will use for muffins.  You bake the mold in a 275 degree oven for 20 minutes per 1/4 inch of thickness.  Some people say not to use the same oven that you cook in, some say it's okay.  It' really up to you - some people have those small countertop ovens and use those for clay only.  I used an old flat pan that I didn't care to get clay on and I sprinkled it with cornmeal to make sure the mold wouldn't stick.  20 minutes was the perfect amount of time for my size mold.

I already had some Sculpey at home, but got a few more colors at Michael's yesterday.  They were on sale 4/$5 so I thought that was pretty decent.  I used a tiny bit of tomato red mixed with a ball of white and kneaded it together until it turned a pretty shade of pink.  I also used a tiny bit of hazelnut mixed with white to get a tan cupcake sort of color.

I found out that you need a little extra of the tan clay sticking up out of the mold - it just makes it easier to get the clay back out and you can always cut the excess off afterwards with your xacto knife.  I rolled the pink clay out into a long ribbon and swirled it on top (sort of like soft serve) to make icing.  I then used a tiny bit of red on top to make a cherry.  Also I used a toothpick and my fingers to just sort of tweak the cupcake into a shape that I liked.

And into the 275 degree oven went my cupcake.  Don't you just love my 1970's oven?  I do believe that was probably the last time it was cleaned.  Kindly overlook the recyclables in the background - they're piling up for a trip to the bins this weekend.  Since the cupcake was so small I only left it in the oven for 15 minutes.  Clay directions vary - Sculpey says 15 minutes at 275 for 1/4 inch thickness while Premo says 30 minutes.

After the cupcake was cooled completely I cut a tiny circle out of tissue paper.  The kind that you use when wrapping a present.  I laid the tissue paper over my original mold and then pushed the finished cupcake back into the mold.  I let it still for a couple of minutes and then the paper came out nice and crinkly like a muffin cup.

And here's the finished product!

And a side view.  Cute, huh?  I think I'm going to be doing a bit more "baking" so that I can practice and get better!

And now for all of the links that I used for reference.  Each one of these is extremely useful and I thank the writers for posting them.

First is a blog post from Casey

http://caseymini.blogspot.com/2009/01/whats-up-cupcake.html

This second one is from a series of youtube videos by ilyaToni.  She makes "junk food" polymer clay charms for necklaces, etc. but her methods can definitely be used for 1:12 scale minis.  She has some great tutorial videos including one for a strawberry cane so definitely check her out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw_U79_TvSg&feature=related

This next one is about making little paper cups for cupcakes, muffins, etc.

http://miniatures.about.com/od/dollshousefood/ss/paperpastrycase.htm

This one I haven't tried yet, but it's a tut for mini roses for polymer baked goods.

http://miniatures.about.com/od/polymerclay/ss/rosehatcake.htm

New minis in the mail!

I wanted to share some great new minis that I received in the mail the other day.  I do online surveys on the side to earn a little bit (very little) of extra money.  Most survey sites will pay out in cash and it can take weeks to get a check or visa debit card, but most will also let you turn your earnings into Amazon gift certificates that you get instantly.  I usually go for the Amazon gift cards and then browse through the minis to find things that I need for my saloon or for future projects.

This time I got a great stash and I even got 2 things off of my wish list!  If you haven't noticed already after I changed my blog background I started a running "wish list" down the left hand side of my blog.  Now I'll have to update that as well.

Now on to the minis!

First we have this beautiful wardrobe.  I want to use this to make a special mini for my sister.

As you can the inside of the wardrobe is not as appealing.  Did they just decide to not sand or paint the inside?!

This next one is from my wish list.  I just love this piggy bank!!!  I had one similar (and larger) when I was a kid.  Don't you just love this pic?  I wish I had a mini penny that I could have just hanging out of the little slot!

As you can see Olive has already laid claim to my piggy bank.  I don't think I'll be getting this one back :(  As you can see here she was peering in to see if there was any money inside!  Please pardon the fact that she's running around in her panties - she just got out of the bath.  You know how hard it is to keep toddlers dressed!

Below is what happened when I pulled the next mini out of the box.

My Mother: "Oh, a magazine rack!"

Me: *rolls eyes* "No, Mother."

So one twig and a few clips from my EasyCutter later and now you can see what it really is.  This will go with the mini I am working on for my Dad.

This mini is also from my wish list.  It has lovely fish and flowers painted all over it.  I'm not sure that this one would go in a saloon, but I couldn't resist it.  It's just beautiful!

I adore this next one.  It's a mini walking cane and it also goes in the mini that I'm making for my Dad.  My Papaw had a cane.  I have fond memories of him sitting in his chair by the fireplace with it.  When we were little he would try and "trip" the grandkids on our way into the dining room.  My Papaw passed away in September of 1995 and I miss him so.

This next mini is definitely for the saloon.  I cannot wait to put it right on top!

These next minis didn't come in the mail, but were ones that I already owned.  I collected minis for years when I was a kid.  I wish I had never stopped - I could be so much better at making them than I am now!  I still have a shadow box full of minis in my old bedroom over at my Mom's house.  I decided to bring these home to my apartment and add them to the collection I have now.  The "magazine rack" that my Mom saw actually gave me the idea!

Adios blogland!

New bedding and pillows for my mini trundle bed

If you remember my flea market find from a few months ago I got this beautiful trundle bed.  Below is the before look of the bed.  I found some cute material in the $1 Wal-Mart bins in the fabric section and decided to give it a try.  I think the pattern is okay to use for miniature - I had a bedding set once that had these enormous Hawaiian flowers on it.  I was really wanting something more spring looking and I like purple anyway.

Here are the after pictures.  I made two pillows so that when the trundle is pulled out the second "mini" person also has a pillow.  I used the mattress that came with the bed and just covered it with the new fabric.  There is not much room on the trundle at all so I had to use a piece of cardboard and just wrap the fabric around it in order for it to be narrow enough for the drawer to shut.

I hope you liked the pics!

More mini ramblings...

I wanted to share a couple of more dollhouses that find inspiring.  I have a fascination with apartment buildings or multiple-dwelling dollhouses.  Maybe it's because we lived in an apartment complex until I was 8 years old.  I just remember it being so much fun to have all of my friends so close - and to have a big playground in the middle of all of the buildings!

Can you imagine taking 2 or 3 of these and making your own little apartment complex?  There would be so many units to decorate differently!  I love that each one of them has an outdoor patio.  One could have a barbecue, one could have a set of bicycles, one of course with a table and set of chairs, and maybe one with a patio garden!  And of course somewhere in the middle you could have a swing set and a jungle gym for all of the children that live there.

I can imagine and entire set of Erna Meyer dolls living in the different apartments - probably the more modern looking ones.  Here's a great link to where some Erna Meyer dolls are sold http://store.dollhousecollectables.com/ernameyer.html.  The links where I found this dollhouse is here:  http://www.thisnext.com/item/9AB0CC6F/CBDF9100/A-highrise-for-your-doll

The second house that I want to share today is more of a "high-rise" than an actual house or apartment complex.  I love this one because it's so big and has so many floors.  Also from what I read there are 4 shops on the first level.  You could do some many things with this!  Once again you'd have at least 5 different units to decorate - all differently!  This is the only picture that I have ever found of this particular house, but it looks like there is either an elevator shaft or maybe stairwell exit on the roof.  That's just one more floor of space that I could use!  There could be a roof top garden with some lovely benches and of course a railing to go around the edge.  And in the shops on the bottom floor you could do just about anything - a small cafe, a post office satellite site , a dry cleaners, or even a florist.  Depending on how you built it you could maybe add a basement underground.  I would use that space for a laundry mat (with little washers and dryers and folding stations) and a little caged area for storage and also the furnace!

This particular dollhouse came out sometime in the 70's from what I can find out.  It can't be purchased anywhere now, but here is the link where I found more information -http://minimodern.blogspot.com/2007/09/some-modern-dollhouse-plans.html.  It seems that every few years the plans for this high rise will show up on Ebay.  How I would love to get my hands on a set of those!

Mini ramblings...

I know it's a bit premature to be thinking about my next dollhouse when my first one is still currently under construction, but I've been in a "thinking ahead" mood lately anyway.  I just had my yearly physical on Friday, I have a gastro appointment scheduled for Tuesday, and I'm seeing a financial advisor on Thursday - so why shouldn't this pattern just carry on over to my miniature hobby?

I have lots of houses in mind, but first let's start with my current dollhouse.  Here's the picture that actually came with my kit.  I won't be going with the red washed out look, but a more aged sort of weathered wood look.  Blah, this picture reminds me that I have so much work to do...

If you would like to buy this kit as well please go to http://www.dollhousesdear.com/.

Another house that I'd love to do and one that I actually considered when I bought the saloon is this one.  The pic is a bit small, but you get the idea.  This kit can be found at http://www.greengablesdollhouse.com/.  For some reason this kit said "bookstore" to me.  I can imagine shelves along all of the walls and those ladders that slide along so you can reach the books on the top shelf.  Maybe upstairs in the proprietor's quarters there could be his private collection of books.  It could be like a mini museum storage area - stacks of books, statues, old maps on the walls, a mini globe somewhere.  And maybe there would be area for books that you don't want everyone to know that you have - witches potions, wizards spells, the book of the dead - I'm not sure where I would go with it!  It almost looks like there could be 3 floors and that the house is actually open on the side and not the back.  I wish there were more pictures of this one.

Another kit that I'm dying to make is by Celtic Juju.  She (I believe this person is a she) is actually a Greenleaf member as well as I have seen some of her posts.  She makes these amazing gypsy wagons.  Check out some wagons that she has made at this link http://www.celticjuju.com/Wagons.html.  I can't remember if I've posted about it before, but I've always wanted to do Professor Marvel's wagon from The Wizard of Oz.  Even just as a gypsy wagon there is just so much that you could do with this kit!  You can purchase this kit at her Etsy store - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34005335.

Another kit that I would love to do comes from http://www.miniland.ca/.  This one is called "The Barr."  I'm not sure exactly what this one would be, but I love the front!  I thought maybe pet store - with the big window to look in and see all of the puppies and kitties.  I also thought floral shop or bakery - once again with the big window to see all the good for sale.  With a bakery you could extend the front walkway, as if the building sits back from the road a bit and maybe put a set of metal chairs and table in front of the window.  I also thought maybe use it as a tiny pub, in the picture it looks as if a gentle light is coming out through the windows - can you imagine it in a night scene?

               

So many ideas - so little time - and money!!!  You know we should really start some sort of Dollhouse fund.  A group of miniaturist out there could set up a paypal account (or some other high interest savings account) and pool their money (we could even accept donations - haha!).  And then find a manufacturer who would let us buy kits in bulk at a discounted price (enought to make it worth it for both parties).  It might be fun to work as a group - each with our own house.  And of course we could all blog about it and recommend the manufacturer to all of our "mini" friends.  They would get all kind of advertising - have you ever thought about how many people we reach on a daily basis - all over the world?  The group could take a vote on what kit to do next - for example the Spring Fling kit that comes out each year at Greenleaf.  This could totally work!!!

Even more handmade Valentine's Day cards to share!

I was pretty proud of this one so I wanted to share it as well.  I had been promising Kim from Flowers and Art for a while now that I would send her some "snail mail."  LAMC's card swap inspired me so I figured, what better timing?

Front cover

Inside pages.  I used "flowers and art" as my theme and I turned both Kim and myself into fairies!

Back page reads:

"A friend is the loving Gardener who inspires the soul to blossom."

And here's a cute close-up of Kim's fairy.

And a close up of my fairy.

I hope everyone is having such a wonderful Valentine's Day!

My handmade Valentine's Day card from LAMC :)

I gave a sneak peek of the card that I created for the LAMC swap a few weeks ago and now I'd like to share the entire card with everyone.  It was such fun to make and I really hope that there will be more swaps soon!

"Candle light, moon light, star light, The brightest glow is from love light." - Grey Livingston

"True love stories never have endings." - Richard Bach

"Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint

"Love is not singular except in syllable." - Marvin Taylor

"Give me a kisse, and to that kisse a score;

Then to that twenty, adde a hundred more;

A thousand to that hundred; so kisse on,

To make that thousand up a million;

Treble that million, and when that is done,

Let's kisse afresh, as when we first begun."

- Robert Herrick

"At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet." - Plato

"So many times do I love again." - Thomas Lovell Beddoes

"A man is not where he lives, but where he loves." - Latin Proverb

"A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,

A song is no song 'til you sing it,

And love in your heart

Wasn't put there to stay

Love isn't love

'Til you give it away."

- Oscar Hammerstein

"Tell me how many beads there are

In a silver chain

Of evening rain,

Unravelled from the tumbling main,

And threading the eye of a yellow star

So many times do I love again."

- Thomas Lovell Beddoes

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!  I hope you're having a wonderful day with your sweetheart.  I wanted to share with all of you out in blogland the card that I received from LAMC's card swap.  The card came to me from Marilyn in Colorado.  Her blog can be found at http://colorado-heartsong.blogspot.com/.  It's such a lovely card and I just love it!!!

"Homemade Valentine's By Terry L. Graham"

"This valentine has lots of lace"

"This valentine has a funny face"

"This valentine is red and small"

"This valentine is the biggest of all!"

"This valentine has glitter and glue, And its message says, I Love You!"