MERRY CHRISTMAS!

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

I finished the ornaments in time. YAY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS RENO CONTINUES

This year I removed all the ornaments, so that I could add tree lights.

I also made a gingerbread house for the mantle. 

Now I have to redecorate the tree. See you soon. :-)

(Ginger bread house started as a kit from MINICRIS Christina Minischetti)

A LATE THANKSGIVING

This was my mini Thanksgiving Centerpiece. I know its late, but it is still football season :-)

DIY MINI LINKS

For hundreds of diy miniature links sorted into precise categories to simplify your miniature information searches visit http://home.comcast.net/~kalron/site/

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS

THORNHILL ATTIC:
The twins area with the drum, bean bag, chalk/drawing board, and clown I made recently.
The mobile glows in the dark.

FINALLY

After months of figuring, designing, building, waiting for more needed supplies, building some more and painting gluing painting (and a LOT of hair pulling) I've finished the rear balconies for the Thornhill. YAY!

HALLOWEEN

I added a table for treats

See More photos at last years post 

http://littlelifestyles.blogspot.com/search/label/mini%20halloween

CUTE IS OK

I needed a break from construction, so I pulled out an old Miniature Gazette and did a young people's project.

I think my "clown" doll is cute. (I know serious miniaturists hate that word) BUT! Sometimes cute is just the CALGON we need.  My husband says he looks more like a wizard. Clownwiz he is. STILL CUTE. ;-)

CONVERTED STORE UNIT

I used the tiles from the Replica House to create a desk unit for the Wall Rooms that now hold all the furnishings.

(REPLICA HOUSE FAMILY ROOM)

(FAMILY WALL ROOM ROOM IN PROGRESS)

CLEANING UP

This is not totally to scale as it started out as an experiment to see if I could copy my own vacuum. Since I'm keeping it for myself and it spent WAY TOO MANY YEARS in the UFO box, I finished it using the parts I had already made.

DAILY DO-SASTER

I made windows and views for the WALL FAMILY ROOM and re-made the door.
I apply these with tack it over. The tack it over was low, so I tipped it over and prepared to wait for the flow. Almost immediately I hear a pop! The tack it over had all plopped out of the bottle onto the back of one of my new window views. Hopefully I saved the picture, but won't know until it dries. :-O

Earlier this week I made the base for the Thornhill balconies. Got it all finished and (GRRR) the decking slats were crooked, so I had to do them over.

And then today I threw the memory stick into my computer without the adapter. I was able to dig it out with my best mini tweezers. It's very tight now, but still works.

WHEW! Maybe I should go back to bed.

GOOD MORNING ?????

BREAKFAST:
I THOUGHT I was doing a good job keeping an eye on the oatmeal in the microwave. Having success for the first minute and a half, I pushed the additional 30 second button. Turned my back for seconds, and the bleeping oatmeal exploded. Luckily I have a clean microwave (since this happens frequently), so I scraped the oatmeal into another bowl. Added my milk and sugar and proceeded to eat. The BLEEPING MILK was sour.
Take 2 > I try toast and PB and butter. Popped in the toast, scraped the last of the butter out of the tin, and went off to dump the sour oatmeal. I hear a bang. The dog reached up on the counter and stole my BLEEPING butter. OK, I still have the PB. OOPS! forgot it's the natural stuff that I have to soften. Of course I have to use the real oven because the microwave needs to be cleaned. By the time the PB is soft enough to spread, the toast is cold and hard.
Dare I attempt minis today? I'll see how the clean up goes, then decide.

KNIT 1, KNIT 2. CUT, PAINT and GLUE

FINISHED A COUPLE OF THINGS :-)

The baby blanket (4" x 4") I was making for Joanne.

The shawl that was lost unfinished for more years than I can remember.

THEN

Made a new toy for my twin boys who live in the Thornhill

Black board side

Art side

Made in one piece

FINISHED (sort of)

The landscaping is finished for now. The rose topiary and Mum plant were made by Barbara. The welcome sign and paving stones were made by Nancy. The large topiary were started in a Make It Mini class. I made the azaleas, one from a kit and one I made from scratch more in keeping with those we have in Southern New England. The rose bushes, baby carriage and bench were purchased.

I've repaired the lighting and it all works. HOORAY! 

During my many moves my exterior fixtures broke more than once. The wiring for them was routed into the house. What a mess. I had to dig it all out and run the new wiring on the outside. The vines running up the stairs (made from thread and spices) are hiding the ends of those wires which I painted green. The rest of the wires are grooved into the underside of the land. 

I've done the same on the back, SO > "IF" I ever have to move again, I can remove the panels with the exterior lighting and pack them safely. I wish I thought of this 4 moves ago. LOL!

HOT WIPS

The temps are inching toward 100 degrees. That means staying inside with limited activity. AKA "mini time" YAY! I figured I'd better drag out some needlework in case this lasts more than a couple of days. 

I washed softened and blocked. (I'm really bad at finishing things, so this is a big accomplishment)

The baby blanket was going to be a gift for my friend Joanne. I'll trim it in lace, and use it on one of her dolls.

The shawl I found inside a Nutshell News, finished but not fringed. WHY I put it in the book, I will never remember. Another one of those "what was I thinking?"

The punch rug is coming along nicely, I think. The colors look very bright, but since I'm using cotton floss, it will fade.

Stay cool people, or warm my friends down under.
Happy Days

MAKING PROGRESS

FOR SURE

The medical insurance issues are not all resolved yet, but I was sent a few weeks worth of inhalers and nebulizer medication, so I'm breathing a little easier. ;-)

Home wise; my leaky roof was replaced, and the mold has been cleaned up. We've finally had all the windows replaced too. Many didn't open, and were so damaged I could barely see out. After a year and a half I have fresh air and can see the beautiful sky here. ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT.

Minis and cyber life are still hit and miss. I try to visit a blog or two a day, with a quick pass through Facebook.

I have done a little landscaping (mini), and today I pulled out a couple of knitting projects that have been WIP's for way too long. It's nice to be back.

REPRIEVE

WOW! An eleventh hour save by Blue Cross granting me 25 days worth of medication. Unbelievable that I should be treated this way by a company I am paying so much $ to each month. The Pharmaceuticals, Insurers, and Banks in America have stolen our FREEDOMS, and so much else that we "hard working middle class" HAVE worked so hard for. I WILL enjoy the weekend and let go of it, until Tuesday when I have to start the process of trying to get what I am paying for. I NEED A MINI FIX! :-)

HEALTH NIGHTMARES

Blue Cross Ma has denied payment of a breathing medication (maintenance inhaler) that I have been taking for 20 years. They gave me no prior warning, and now at the beginning of a long holiday weekend I am totally out. This is to force me into mail order, yet that will take up to six weeks to square away. This medication is $600 a month. I don't have this kind of money what with paying HUGE premiums to BC BS MA. I feel like I am right in the middle of an episode of THE FIRM.

WHENEVER >

Real life has really slowed down my mini progress these days.
When I have time, this will be my next punch needle rug. This will also be for the Thornhill foyer. The pattern is from Jim Collins Printies. I printed the finished one on fuzzy paper.  It does look fine on top of carpeting, but I don't think it has enough "body" to go on the hardwood floors.

OUTSIDE INSIDE

I had another hospital stay so I haven't been able to finish the landscaping. 

I did finish a punched rug for the foyer. 

Have A Wonderful Day Bloggers

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Blog and photos. This home bound miniaturists really appreciates your company and having you all to share with.

MINI KNITS

This week I finished a camisole that was giving me fits.

HAPPY HOPPY

A few more baskets for my Easter Box. Instructions by Joann Swanson, though I could never do her justice

PROGRESS CONTINUES

I've been making curtains and accessories. See more pictures here Thorhnhill In Progress

THORNHILL ATTIC

PROGRESS YAY! "Finally" the interior has all of it's paint, wallpaper, woodwork and flooring. This space is for the twin boys (preschoolers). Obviously they haven't spent much time in here yet. TOO NEAT. LOL!

MY FRIEND JOANNE

In honor of my dear friend Joanne who passed away recently, I am presenting this slide show of some wonderful minis she made for members of LINK LADY over the past 8 years.
WE MISS YOU JOANNE

HAPPY LEAP DAY

In honor of the day, I did a dolly (hand truck) for my husbands work shop.

This was from a kit I had collected many years ago. When I went to assemble it, I discovered NO AXLE. Luckily I had one small piece of wire that would fit in its place. If you are like me and seem to collect UFO's forever, ALWAYS check those kits for parts as soon as you get them. ;-)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

This year I only had time to add the Heart Tree to my Valentine projects. The tree is based on a Joann Swanson project. It was lots of fun and quite easy.

The birdhouse is by Doreen. The roses and cake were gifts from my wonderful DH.

Harley Cow House

This was one of my earlier houses that I gave away when I lost my home. I made it for my daughter when she was into cows and Harleys. She didn't have room for it either, so we had to let it go. It went to a good home and gave some joy to a man who was also going through trying times. You can see more photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/KalRon29/HarleyCowHouse

NEW DIY LINKS

I've added several new links to DIY MINI LINKS
Due to health and home issues, I haven't been able to keep up with my internet life, or devote much time to minis, for the past year. BUT!
I will be leaving the links site up, as several of you have requested. I'm glad you are finding it helpful and fun. Enjoy!
I'm working really hard to get well, and also trying to spend at least a few minutes a day working on the Thornhill.
I will try to post pictures from time to time.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement.
HUGS KAROLYN