Claudia — Page 1009

Minis: SquintBox, a Monthly Subscription Service

July 11, 2016 at 9:58 am by Claudia

As I was scrolling through Instagram a week or so ago, I came across a post by Kat of KittyandKatMiniatures saying something called a SquintBox had arrived at her door. What is a SquintBox? I asked. Kat referred me to this site and I must say, my interest was definitely piqued.

SquintBox is a monthly subscription service created by Darren Scala, the founder of D. Thomas Fine Miniatures (which happens to be across the Hudson River and then due south from me – time for a trip to the shop). I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but monthly subscription boxes have become very popular of late. I’ve seen them for beauty products and books and food, so why not minis? Darren calls it: Your Monthly MiniFix™ You get a box delivered to your door monthly with up to 6 different handmade miniatures inside.

Well, this is manna from heaven for this girl! I signed up and then I wrote a note to Darren who generously sent me this inaugural box to review for all of you.

It arrived in my mailbox on Saturday:

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Just after opening the box. I had to contain my enthusiasm so that I could ‘document’ this via my camera.

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This is the booklet that is included and it answers any and all questions about SquintBox.

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Lovely packaging, don’t you think? Untying the bow….

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And there’s the box. Inside?

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More charming packaging with the theme for this month’s selection: Celebration!

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Inside each of these little envelopes were the minis. Darren has put so much thought into the packaging; each of these packets display graphics for the particular type of mini inside, and on the back is a fun quote. For example, on the back of Drinks: “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson.

The little ‘Celebration’ booklet describes this month’s theme and also includes information on this month’s Miniaturist Spotlight: Michael Yurkovic of Atomic Miniature. (Darren is also having a contest for the chance to win one of Michael’s miniatures – you’ll find more information on the site.)

What minis were chosen this month?

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A retro Cosmopolitan magazine, a bottle of California Red wine, a very Carrie Bradshaw-esque Cosmopolitan in a martini glass with a lemon twist, an extension cord, candles (with wicks!), and a blueberry pie in a real tin pie pan.

These are, of course, fabulous for mini making and dollhouses, but they can also be used in crafting, room boxes, shadow boxes or simply for the joy of collecting miniatures.

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Oh my heavens. Adorable.

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Preparing for a celebration…

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I’m in love with that Cosmo! (in a real glass, no less.)

There’s lots more information over at mysquintbox (dot) com – here’s the link.

I think it’s such a neat idea! It’s a great way to discover miniatures you might not find in your local shop (if you even have one) or online. It’s a great way for someone like me who doesn’t have a stash of mini accessories on hand to build one. You can keep them, you can give them as gifts, you can add them to your dollhouse, you can use them for scrapbooking…

And via the monthly Miniaturist Spotlight, you’ll learn about all the wonderful miniaturists working and creating out there.

Darren, thank you for this wonderful idea and for sending me the inaugural box so that I could share this with my readers. SquintBox is available to all US customers, and fear not, the international launch is coming.

You can find all about the pricing options on the site; a monthly plan, a 3-month plan and a 6-month plan.

I can’t wait to get the next box, which should arrive in my mailbox by the end of this month.

If you follow SquintBox on social media, you’ll be privy to contests that are going on – this month’s is a chance to win one of Michael Yurkovic’s ashtrays – hand signed

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(Photo courtesy of D. Thomas Fine Miniatures – and the SquintBox site.)

(I received this inaugural box in exchange for my honest review.)

Happy Monday.

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Mini Dilemmas: Where to Put the Roseville?

July 10, 2016 at 9:47 am by Claudia

I haven’t touched on it, simply because it seemed wise to keep mum, but since it all came to a head yesterday, I’ll fill you in.

Caroline has been upset with me for the past couple of months. Why, you ask? Well, I’ve been upstairs in the new office/studio space working on another project. For someone else. Caroline’s house has been turned so that the front of it is facing into the den and I haven’t really had anything to do with it. I’ve barely checked in.

I tried to explain that the new project was for Don and it was for a special birthday, blah, blah, blah, and though she somewhat understood, her nose was definitely out of joint.

“When you worked on my house, you were downstairs all the time. Now you’re hidden away upstairs!”

“If I call out to you, you can’t hear me.”

Point taken. I spent some time with her yesterday, as she had an issue with the shelf on the wall in the living room – the one that was displaying some Roseville pottery. It kept falling down. Both she and I were sick of trying to reattach it only to have it fall down again and we were worried about the Roseville breaking.

After throwing around some ideas, we came up with a solution. The shelf has been taken down and the Roseville is now here:

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We even pulled the fireplace away from the wall so you could better see what we’ve done.

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We all know that displaying favorite collections together in a group makes a powerful statement, right?

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Ignore the somewhat disconcerting appearance of a blueberry pie on the kitchen floor. That’s part of a review I’m going to do tomorrow for a new monthly subscription called SquintBox:

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Tune in tomorrow!

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The living room, sans shelf. You can see another piece of Roseville on the blue table.

Caroline and I chatted for quite a while and she seems happy now. Of course, she wants to visit the new Studio, but we’ll have to ask the resident for permission. He’s very protective about his personal space!

Happy Sunday.

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Sadness, Lists, Flowers and Rain

July 9, 2016 at 9:54 am by Claudia

What a terrible week it has been. Last night, watching the news, I saw the photos of the policemen who were murdered in Dallas, each of them there to protect those who were peacefully protesting. And now they’re gone. I can’t wrap my mind around all of it. Innocent men all – and that includes the two men who were murdered by officers in Minnesota and Louisiana. All of it such a waste of life. I’m reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me. If you want to get a sense of what it’s like to grow up as a black male in our country, I’d urge you to read it. It’s beautifully and poetically written; it’s also raw and unsparing. The winner of The National Book Award, it is sometimes difficult and uncomfortable for me to read because that world is so different than the world I grew up in as a white girl living in suburbia. Oh, but let me tell you, that reaction tells me I need to read it.

There is much that needs to be done to bridge the divide.

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It’s been so unbelievably humid here that it feels like walking around in a thick soup. And each day there are thunderstorms and torrential rains that smash down my hollyhocks and hydrangeas. More today and then, fingers crossed, we’ll get a break.

Don and I went out and tied up the hollyhocks for some support while we’re in the midst of these storms.

This daylily is in the flower bed that is right next to the porch.

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I remember that it was just a week or so ago when I was complaining about the lack of rain.

The joke’s on me!

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The night before last, All the President’s Men was on TCM. Don and I love that movie. In fact, it’s one of those movies that, should we happen upon it, everything else is immediately dropped. Whether it’s mid-story or almost over – no matter. We watch it.

There are others (this is my list):

Any Fred Astaire movie
Any Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers Movie
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Big Country
The Music Man
On the Waterfront
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Hannah and Her Sisters
The Awful Truth
Dinner at Eight
Most any Screwball Comedy
Most any Frank Capra movie
Stagecoach
Red River
Alien and Aliens
Charade
You’ve Got Mail
Any Hitchcock movie

I’m sure there are more, but this list is what immediately comes to mind. (You know me, I’ll probably be editing and adding to it as the day goes on!)

Do you have a list like that? I bet you do.

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I got so mad at those dreaded Japanese Beetles that I ran in the house, grabbed my clippers, and snipped off all the buds that that were in danger of being eaten. Take that, Japanese Beetles!

I suppose more reading is on the docket for today. I miss working in the garden and, gosh darn it, I’d love to mow the lawn.

I’ll stop complaining. Our rivers are getting higher and our well is getting fuller. All good.

Happy Saturday.

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Minis: SquintBox, a Monthly Subscription Service

Mini Dilemmas: Where to Put the Roseville?

Sadness, Lists, Flowers and Rain

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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