French knot rugs

A rainy day makes it easy for me to curl up in a big chair and work on my 1/2 inch scale rug.
If only at that scale it took 1/2 the time.
I have sketched out 12 rug patterns and want to even tackle 1/4 inch scale rugs.

This little cabinet picture was sent to me by a friend... can anyone tell me who made this or where it came from- whose website? My friend was using Stumpleupon and yes, stumbled upon it and now can not remember where it come from..it is just the CUTEST ever cupboard

Spring is a month closer..

Hoorah- that horrific winter blues month is over and I have found February already bringing a bit of inspiration in to my life.

Well, kinda- I caught a horrific cold- two day of me really feeling sorry for myself, staying in my jammies and enjoying sleep and hot tea.

I also traveled with my husband's college basketball team this week to northern Indiana for a game and the next day traveled to Cincinnati for a game. With a french knot rug I am working in my travel box, off I went. Lots of stitches were made and I love basketball victories.

My husband is a cancer survivor and this is the time of year when college basketball coaches honor
" Jimmy V"and the fight against cancer. Here is a photo from one of the games and the sneakers!
My hubby is the 3rd from the left. He has had 5 cancer surgeries, the best cancer doctor in the world.. and I see no sign in the future to have my husband leaving the game he loves to teach.

Just way too cute!

I kept this image , I am not sure when I found it but Jenny who has the Allsorts website has the cutest ideas. This was what was written by a person about these little doll clothes, I do have some IKEA deep frames ( black ones) .. the wheels in the mind are turning..

Jenny from allsorts recently discovered a treasure trove of vintage doll clothes at her mother's house. After gently cleaning them, she used a simple IKEA frame, some fabric and a miniature clothes line to display them. Adorable!

Love the chair and Norman Rockwell

No words are needed...

A January day of magazines and reading....

This weekend has become a "Sorting out" the studio project. As I started to go through a very large stack of magazines which I had not read since the October issues ( holiday seasons- all magazines go unread) I got online to look at Mary Englebreit's website . I miss her magazine so very much. In reading her website information and news, I, once again read that her magazine is just too costly to put back in production. I have every issue since it began. I read and reread them.
Mary explained on her blog, that she had been searching for magazines to read on a plane trip and to her dismay, she, as I have discovered that more and more of our wonderful designing/craft/hobby magazines (what ever we want to call those types of magazines) are disappearing from the newsstand/bookstores/etc.

I am a huge reader of magazines.. especially in January, when a snuggly afghan wrapped around me as I sit in front of my roaring fireplace, with a great cup of coffee in hand next to big stack of magazines suits me just fine for an entire day.
Well, guess what , cleaning up the studio led to - a day of magazine reading.. note taking for miniature ideas , 8 pages of notes and 24 magazine pictures scanned and saved for "FUTURE UPCOMING PROJECTS!"

so back to Mary, here is a photograph of a wonderful "Mary" themed house made by my friend, Roberta. SHE IS SO TALENTED! ( I hope you do not mind me sharing your talent.) The basic house, I have two of . I found one recently at a sale table of a recent miniature show and the other ,I got at the NAME national convention in Louisville a few years back are just perfect for "MARY" themes. I am thinking of making one of my houses ( of course they ARE NOT FINISHED) into a "WINTER" themed Mary house. Did you notice how Mary went to a softer look in some of her magazine issues?

oooohhhhh... January days .. time to rethink, redo, get ready for SPRING!

Also, time spent with a "teddy bear " of a freind is so good for the soul on a January day...thanks, our visit was truly "unfeinable"! A great word (?) which makes us both smile on a gray and cold day in the winter time.

A wish on a winter's day!

''May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others...May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are.. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.''

Can you knit in minature?

This is a picture of a doll made by Jill Bennett of her 1/12th scale dolls wearing clothes knitted by Frances of Buttercup Miniatures and the doll Jane (above) doing some knitting herself. (Knitting bag and knitting also done by Frances). I found this on a website for Buttercup Miniatures of Great Britain. You can find marvelous ideas, patterns and creativity can be seen in wonderful pictures.
I have no idea how to knit, a talent my mother nor my grandmothers had to pass on to me.
But I love this little gal and this wonderful stocking!

Fantastic Mr Fox - Ronald Dahl movie

FANTASTIC MR. FOX - Official Theatrical Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2igjYFojUo

Opens next Thanksgiving ... Bill Murray and George Clooney

All hand scultpted- I can not wait !!!!

No, this is not a dollhouse but a PLAYHOUSE

yes, it is for real... just a check in the amount of $23,400 and you can have one too..

New Year's Day- ROSES

I never miss the Tournament of Roses Parade-
wishing you a happy new year's day.......

and won't these flowers be great for the
Girl's Only Cocktail Valentine's Day party!

more New York holiday windowdisplays using miniatures

Windows from Lord & Taylor- "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and "Jack and the Bean Stalk"

A new year with new vision of creating

Storybook Exhibit VII: Geppeto and Pinocchio

Artist: Tere Perry
Book: Pinocchio
By Carlo Collodi , Illustrated Lucy Covino

Isn't this a wonderful doll..... tomorrow I begin sketching my ALPHABET DOLL for a new miniature club project!

New York City Holiday store window love miniatures too

from"Cinderella" window display
from "Rumpelstiltskin" window display
from window depicting " Goldilocks and the Three Bears"






How surprised one can be when you realize Macy's, Saks, Barney's- just a few of New York's famous stores use miniatures in their holiday window displays.

And it was only 9:30 AM

just a few picture from christmas morning - at 9:30 am..
breakfast - the famous "Kentucky Hot Brown" ....

A priceless christmas miniature gift

I was very fortunate to be the recipient of this wonderful rocking bear made by my dear friend, Roberta. She is a member of my Bluegrass Miniature Society Club of Lexington and is a remarkable miniaturist.
Christmas sometimes brings you a gift, that leaves you speechless, well, this little rocking bear left me with no words. Just awe! I shall truly cherish this gift forever.
Roberta, also, shares my love for wonderful music that somehow reaches into your mind.. takes you often to a tranquil place, to happiness, brings back memories. Music can make you laugh, make you cry and I say, "wish upon a star". I must thank her also, for sharing with me the music of Chris Botti.. I have added some of his music here for you to listen to.

Roberta, thank you for making this a special Christmas. The music and this rocking bear have reached into my soul and I am so very thrilled to say you are my friend. I cherish your friendship. To all the ladies of my miniature club, I say "thank you" I cherish each of you and our friendship- what a wonderful group of ladies they are. My love to all of you!

Happy Holidays one and all and may you receive that gift that leaves you speechless. What a wonderful feeling.

Bluegrass Miniature Society Holiday Party

The Bluegrass Miniature Society Holiday Party was wonderful... filled with laughter and delight. Add to that a wonderful meal, CHOCOLATE, gifts that brought delight and a white elephant exchange which was the best ever for laughs.
These ladies are dear friends, which have made my new Kentucky home feel as if I have known them forever. I delight in their friendship and admire their talents. Our 2010 year is filled with activities/projects and fun!

My dear friends

Holidays- must be spent with dearest of friends

I am home for the holidays.

I have just returned home from being in Virginia doing a wonderful one day art show. Lots of Santas have new homes!
Now ,it is my time to get really ready for Santa to arrive here...
I had a wonderful time in Virginia- laughs, shoppings, new places, new things, visiting with my dearest of friends with more stories than I could ever tell or stories you would believe. Never a dull moment when you are with me..
this weekend 2 miniature holiday parties - one in Louisville and then to return to Lexington by 6 pm for my own club's party, don't we love this time of year for friends and families.

Great American Dollhouse Museum -Danville, Ky

I attended the holiday open house and storytelling event held at the Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, Kentucky. I wanted to share with you just a few of pictures I took that evening of the dollhouses, special exhibits decorated for the holiday season.

Lori Kagan- Moore, the museum's curator, has a collection of dollhouses and miniatures that tells the story of american dollhouses from the past to the present. Add wonderful miniatures, miniature dolls and much more which takes you anywhere one can imagine in the land of make believe.

If you are just built or received your first dollhouse , a collector of vintage or the collector of today's detailed miniatures this is a museum you need to visit.

The museum's website tells you much more of the story behind Lori's collection and her
journey in opening this museum. The museum will ever be changing and Lori's goal is make this museum a place for any one who has an interst in dollhouses and miniatures - and for the traveler who is looking for a very unique place to visit. A perfect place for boys and girls, young and old, the collector and the non collector to wander and look.

Great American Dollhouse Museum Holiday Open House

I wanted to share a few pictures sent to me by Lori Kagan-Moore ,the curator of the Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, Kentucky. The pictures show of how the exhibits have been set up for some holiday fun. I am anxious to see the entire museum and jion in on the festivities.

I will be attending the museum's Holiday Open House this Saturday and wanted to share with you Lori's information. If you live in the area, please stop by as I am sure this is going to be a fun event.

Christmas Storytelling Festival and Party at the Museum!

Join theatre professionals Patrick Kagan-Moore, Will Johnston and Sean Cook for an evening of funny, suspenseful, and heartwarming family holiday stories at The Great American Dollhouse Museum!

Enjoy delicious holiday appetizers and fresh-baked dessert treats!

See the museum in the evening, all decked out for the holidays, including special exhibit “Christmas 1959”, a row of six lavishly decorated retro shops. Another special display includes Santas through the ages, and a display of Victorian toys shows what you might have found under the tree in 1890!

The party is Saturday, December 5, 6:30 to 9:00. Storytelling starts at 7:30. Advance ticket purchase recommended as storytelling seating is limited to 60. Adults 9.00, students and children 7.00. Phone reservations with credit card 859.583.8000 or drop in during regular museum hours, Tuesday through Sunday 11 to 5:00.

http://www.thedollhousemuseum.com

December shall soon be here

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away.
~Eva Logue

Holiday of thanks

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year - and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.
~Ray Stannard Baker

On a Saturday...

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”


A lovely photo from
http://4.bp.blogspot.com
I emailed and asked permission to share this - my ribbon are from blues/red./whites.. showing cattle - never did I get such pretty pastel ribbons,.

Bluegrass Miniature Society Southern Lights Exhibit

Our exhibit is ready to be seen by the thousands of visitors to the annual Kentucky Horse Park's Southern Lights" event.

Will we ever find a cure...