HAPPY BIRTHDAY

5/29/09Happy Birthday To MEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!

My gift to myself this year will be 5 rooms of mini carpeting.

When I went to my office this morning there was a gift from DH, the RGT Light House that I have been wanting for MANY years. :-)

When he called to ask if I found it where he had left it, I told him he has to take it back, because I have a 40% off coupon. That won't work he said, because he got it at more then 50% off.

A very good day !!!

BLAH BLAH BLAH

5/28/09

It was another trying day.

I sanded the floors and put on another coat of poly. It's not looking good. I may have defective poly. The floors are very blotchy. I'll try another coat or two. I hope I don't have to sand it all off, and start over.

I started installing the porch slats (basswood) on one of the porch rooms.I tried Weldbond, since I need to avoid toxic chemicals. That made the slats warp. I switched to Aleene's fast grab tacky. That worked out much better. 

STILL AT IT

5/27/09

It was a long mini day.

I fixed the rug, put the first coat of poly on the cherry floors, washed curtains for the Seaview wall rooms, and worked on the wedding in a wine glass.

I did some measuring and have a carpet order ready to go to E+T.

I'm trying to make tiles now, but my printer won't accept the paper.

MONDAY BLUE TO PINK

5/26/09

Not a lot of time for minis today. Mondays are always busy here, especially when they come on Tuesday. ;-)

I did finish sanding the cabinets, and finished the punch rug I was working on,  except for that bald spot the camera showed up. I couldn't see that with my naked eye. I use yarns for some of my punch rugs. You can't punch the rows too close, or you get puckering, except the 3 or 4 edge rows. Those need to be very close, or you get bald spots when you turn the fabric under.

TEDIUM

 5/25/09

I've been working on the mini sites. The move to the new server is going well.

Today I went on a hunt for supplies that are no longer available. Tomorrow I experiment alternatives. ;-)

THORHNHILL CABINETS

 5/22/09

I finished sanding the floors in the Thornhill, and worked on the cabinets which need sanding after each coat of paint.

MINI MAINTENANCE and REPAIRS

5/21/09

I've been working on wall rooms the past couple of days. I painted some of the wall dividers, made 5 more faux windows and printed out window views for them, repaired another window, and hung the curtains on all of them.

I repaired a desk (replica of a life-size one of mine). I made the mini desk about 17 years ago. I cringe at the crude workmanship now, but it still "looks" okay. ;-)

I also repaired a card table I made, that has been forever collapsing. I drilled holes into the bottom of the table top, and set the legs in. This worked out well. Wish I had thought of this before any of the last dozen times I tried to fix the thing.

I have a tray of perfumes and cosmetics that I got in a swap. The glue had failed, so I fixed that. I had tried to repair this before, and that also failed, so I cut a silver disc and glued it into the tray, and then glued the cosmetic bottles onto the disc. TA DA! SOLID.

I repaired the swap I made, so I'm also ready for the next round of swapping. :-)

Mini maintenance is a lot more fun than life-size. ;-)

THORHNHILL WOES OVERCOME

 5/19/09 
HOORAY !!

I finished installing the cherry floors in the Thornhill. I did 5 rooms with the hardwood, and cut most of it by hand. The house is not truly square, so all of the end and edge pieces had to be cut one by one. It was easier to keep the mitre saw right there, than to keep getting up to go to the table saw. Or so I thought until the arthritis kicked in.

;-) No matter.
As soon as I get the floors sanded and do 3 coats of poly, I can have the house brought downstairs to be finished. I am SO excited.

GETTING BETTER

5/13/09

YAY !!! After three weeks down, I am finally feeling better.

Real life requires I try to do a little cleaning. But I have my punch rug all ready for lots of mini-breaks.

Life is good.

IN MY OWN WAY

5/12/09

I'm in my own way these days.

This week I made a nice little item for a swap, but it broke. :-(

I spent most of today searching for a pattern for a punch rug. I finally decided on a pattern, but then I couldn't find the supplies I need. It was an all day affair that grew more an more frustrating.It all finally came together, and I am merrily punching away.

Minis are my life-line. When I'm down and out, I knit, punch, paint woodwork, shingle, or make bunka rugs. These projects are so relaxing and mesmerizing, and take little physical energy. My problem is getting the projects ready when I have so little energy and shake so much.

I "should" always have something "ready" to go for times like this. But mini addict that I am, when ever I do get something ready, I start it right away and keep at it until it's finished or I grow tired of it.

MINI MUM

5/10/09

It's Mom's Day. Snickers gave me a wide screen TV (mini of course). DH gave me a violin for my music room.

Getting back to minis is slow going. I'm still tired, shaky and having vision problems. Each day is a little better though. I'm happy and hopeful. I'm committed to trying to do something mini each day, even if it's only for a few minutes.

Today, I learned to ruche 2mm silk ribbon. I'm amazed that this Klutzy Katie can do this. With some practice, I think I could do well with it.

OLD AND WEATHERED

5/8/09
Minis were on the back burner while I was busy with my daughter's wedding, and recovering from a medical flare-up.

It's hard to get back into the mini-groove.

My hands are so shaky from medication. I get very frustrated.

Mini groups these days are all about aging and weathering. I get bored. I'm aged and weathered enough. I want to surround myself with NEW and PRETTY and WRINKLE FREE.

I started a couple of small projects this week.

One is a wedding in a wine glass. The featured items were gifts from a friend. Working on it reminded me of my celebration boxes.

I recently had a request to make a recovery box. I haven't made one of these in about 7 years. I gave up taking orders  for the celebration and recovery boxes. The commissions were too stressful and time consuming for me. But > Such a good cause.

The young women, whose lives have been saved through their fellowship, are so inspirational.