A miniaturist's blog from Finland

I follow this miniaturist's blog- I feel in love with her needle felted animals and I want to share her talents with you.

http://hannajaleijona.blogspot.com

Paper Castle

Please take the time to visit this site for more pictures of this remarkable castle ( site below) The site's author wrote the following...

I had the immense opportunity to see this wonderful paper craft art installation by a genius of the name of Wataru Itou (伊藤航), a young student of a major art university here in Tokyo. The installation is hand made over four years of hard work, complete with electrical lights and a moving train, all made of paper! Clearly, this man must have created one of the most stunning examples of Paper Craft in the world? At the exhibition you will also have the chance to see a video showing Mr. Itou at work in his studio, cutting and folding piece by piece. The exhibition is called Umi no Ue no Oshiro (A Castle On the Ocean ), 海の上のお城. It is exhibited at Umihotaru, a place which in itself is a major attraction: a service area in the middle of the ocean, right between Tokyo City and Chiba Prefecture. If you haven’t checked it out yet, use Google Earth for a close up of what is probably the weirdest parking lot in the world. Well, it’s more than a parking lot actually, but I am saving a more detailed description along with photos for another post. For now, enjoy this wonderful work of art!



http://tokyobling.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/a-paper-craft-castle-on-the-ocean/

To love life....

Give the music a moment to catch up with this picture before you begin to read.....


To just look at these miniature characters makes one smile, you can just imagine the entire scenario, make up a story about them and wish you owned everyone of them for your miniature collection.

I found this picture on a site about clay and have no idea who made them- they are British made...from "Bag of Character" the search is on to find this artist.. who has inspired me...

At the recent NAME convention , I was fortunate to take a fimo clay class called "Chocolate Decadence" - instructor Carl Bronson from the state of Washington- Seattle area ( and guess what- next year's convention is in Seattle". I came home with wonderful chocolate pastries and could be added to the scene. Making food from clay - well, I was a bit apprehensive. Carl made it easy and answered questions that I was just to afraid to ask ( no one wants to ask the dumbest questions in front of 50 people who all seem to know already what they are doing!)

NAME CONVENTION

NAME National Convention 2009 - Indianapolis

the ladies below are members of my Kentucky Bluegrass Miniature Society from Lexington, Kentucky, all with very special talents in this amazing hobby - passion - really,
they are just amazing ladies






Just a few pics from NAME NATIONAL 2009 CONVENTION







NAME - stands for the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts.. last week over 560 members met in Indianapolis for the national convention " A Family Reunion". The week begins with preconvention workshops followed by 3 days of workshops/lectures/roundtables/swaps/vendors/garage sale/ theme luncheons/ auction/banquet/gifts/exhibits and friendship.

Here are just a few pictures.. if you are a miniaturist and not a member of NAME - JOIN- as evey club has great fun/projects- every state has events - every region has events...

BEWARE....

I have just returned from 8 days of convention time for the National Association of Miniaturists Enthusiasts which was held in Indianapolis. I am also delighted to announced the Board of Trustees voted that I become the Regional Coordinator of Region A-3 ( states of Michigan/Indiana/Ohio/Kentucky and a portion of West Virginia)

Convention was a time to visit with old friends, make new friends, ohhhh and aahhh at wonderful artist's creations ( and I added a few to my collection) take a class called "Chocolate Decadence" using fimo clay and volunteer time to a wonderful association. I will be posting pictures of roomboxes/miniatures that captured by eye .

But today I found this wonderful clay creation by

Rosemary Griggs

As a fourth generation southern artist living on Saint Simons Island, my daily work commute consists of walking out the back door, past the koi pond and bird feeders, through the garden and into a very special place - my slightly skewed studio.

http://www.rosemarygriggsclayart.blogspot.com

I found it a delight....

I have begun making Stuart's House!

I have 4 dollhouse kits unmade- do not even ask about how many I have already but one is a "Mother Goose" house filled with anything and everything from her stories, another house is a beautiful white farm house - another a victorian "fairy tale" house, which features items and characters from fairy tales - the best is a Bluette Mooney 2 story shop- it is exquisite and I am now ready to make it a Kentucky Derby hat shop with the hat maker studio upstairs.
So today, as I was searching for a rooombox, I discovered the kits unmade and said- ok, Stuart Little- you have been waiting for me... so I unpacked the kit, placed the pieces on table #3 in my studio and thought, I can have this ready for Christmas!

I leave this Sunday the the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts National Convention - Indianapolis-over 560 miniaturists from all over the United States and world come together for a week of workshops, swaps, mini shopping, seminars, luncheons, and fun.... 7 days of overload on miniatures

The warmth of summer - its beauty in everything summer grows

I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from and Old Manse


Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens, noproblemgarden.com

MJ - a miniature - he was in everyone's life in some fashion

I like so many- have listened to his music all my life. If you click on the picture you will be able to see how someone created his likeness in such a real way.

1:12 Baker

I just love him! I found him on flickr under a "MINIATURE MADNESS" album. Who ever you are who owns him.. did you make him or did someone else...

3 days of wandering Indiana and being bubbly

To reminisce is grand, I have just returned from seeing friends and family-bringing home blueberry plants, books galore, flea market finds, fruits and vegetables from farmer's markets.
I was able to watch my youngest niece participate in a water polo match ( WINNERS!) , enjoy my hometown's firemen's festival/fair, visit my oldest niece in Indy, have a lunch with 2 of my dearest cheerleaders who 15 years later have grown into amazing people with careers, families and still make me smile and capture again my heart. Time with my siblings and their spouses is always special and then a phone call from my Army son, makes me once again know why the month of July is special and the 4th even more, for I am free to be able to reminisce and make more memories.