miniatures — Page 96

With Deep Sympathy

September 23, 2011 at 11:29 am by Claudia

I have to take a moment to write about loss. Sometimes I am hit with news that stops me in my tracks. That happened this week when I read the latest post by my blogging friend, Jayne. Jayne is a talented miniaturist who has the most generous of hearts. You’ve seen one of Jayne’s creations quite often on this blog.

Jayne created the lovely statue with flowers on the right.

What you might not know is that Jayne sent me a wonderful package with all sorts of miniatures, including this statue, simply because she likes giving to others and I was new to the dollhouse world – because her heart is a giving one.

Jayne and her husband, Mick, are British and live in California. They bought a home last year and had been working on it together. Last week, Mick suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 51. He was on his way home on his motorcycle. Jayne wrote eloquently about Mick and shared with us what a wonderful and kind man he was.

My heart breaks for Jayne and her family. I am not writing this in order for you to go to her post and leave a comment. I’m writing this because Jayne is part of my blogging life and has touched my heart with her kindness in the past. I have shown that statue in many photos over the past week. To show it and not acknowledge the heartbreak and loss this lovely woman is going through feels wrong.

We can be here one day and gone the next. Life is precious beyond belief. As Jayne says so movingly in her post, “tell your family you love them each time you are saying goodbye.”

Dear Jayne, may you be enveloped in the love of your family and friends and may peace and healing find their way to your heart.

A New Perch for the Dollhouse

September 17, 2011 at 9:43 am by Claudia

The dollhouse is now on a ‘new’ table, which replaces the coffee table. The coffee table is now functioning as…a coffee table. Brilliant on our part, isn’t it?

This dollhouse is so hard to photograph! Since the den is tucked in behind the porch, it doesn’t get as much light as in other parts of the house. I’ve resorted to a ‘special effect’ to make this look like an artistic shot. Gosh darn it, I keep entering The Pioneer Woman’s camera giveaways and I never win!

Another angle:

I keep some of my supplies on the shelf. There’s more in those Trader Joe’s bags in the corner. As usual in this house, somehow or other a dog manages to get in the picture. Hi Riley.

His little adventure the other night seems to have left him no worse for the wear.

Today I am going to change out the front door. Wish me luck.

Have a great weekend. Ours is cool and very fall-like. And the leaves are changing. I’m ready.

Birdies, Nests, Dollhouse Miniatures; Presents in the Mail

September 9, 2011 at 10:40 am by Claudia

Part of a robin’s egg, found on the patio a few weeks ago, clearly needed to be back in a nest. This particular nest is being carried on the back of one of my McCoy singing birds.

A few months back, my friend Jill of Little Nest Studio had a giveaway. Jill is a longtime blogging friend. She is one of the nicest people I know and very talented. And she loves miniatures. I was lucky enough to be one of the winners (I seem to remember there was more than one.) Jill wanted to make something special with the winner in mind. Oh my gosh…she did.

Yesterday, in the midst of the rain, I saw a package down at the mailbox. You’d better believe I skedaddled right on down there. The box had the prettiest hand-addressed label and may I say that Jill has the coolest handwriting in the world? I’m jealous. She writes in a style that immediately says ‘Artist.’

I couldn’t wait to see what she had created.

Yes, there are wrapped presents there (check out the sweet rick rack and flowers), but first…what do I see on the right?

Oh, happiness! Some of my favorite coffee! That darn Jill knows me very well, indeed. I let out a little cry of delight when I saw this unexpected goodie. Just ask Don. He was right there. (See what I mean about the handwriting?)

Here’s what Jill created for me. Get ready to swoon.

Oh my goodness! It is absolutely perfect. Jill’s embroidery skills leave mine in the dust. When we were both part of 39 Squares, her work was consistently beautiful. A close-up of her stitches:

I’m fiddling with Picnik – no sunshine for several days makes for difficult picture taking. The blue is more vivid than this photo indicates, it’s more like the previous photo. But back to the stitching…isn’t it beautiful? I love the rick rack trim she added, as well. Frankly, this is too pretty for my kitchen. Don would forget that he wasn’t to touch it and within seconds, there would be some sort of stain on it. Have I ever told you about the mess he made of my wedding dress? Just think about spare ribs and sauce and you’ll get the picture. I will have to find a better place. Hmmm. My thinking cap is on.

What else was in the package?

For my dollhouse: this charming table (made and signed by Jill) in my favorite colors. Won’t it look sweet in my dollhouse – perhaps in the kitchen? She also sent the vase, which looks very much like the McCoy pottery I collect and display here at MHC.

Oh, that’s not all.

She also sent the tote bag and flip-flops. Adorable. Do you think Jill knows my favorite colors?

Every single treasure in this package was made with me in mind. That blows me away. Seeing all this beauty, this precise and heart-felt handwork, touches my heart. I am surely blessed by knowing Jill and I’m so grateful to call her my friend.

Thank you, dear Jill.

The sun just came out. Do I have Jill to thank for that? I rather suspect I do.

With Deep Sympathy

A New Perch for the Dollhouse

Birdies, Nests, Dollhouse Miniatures; Presents in the Mail

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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