I Am Published! Second Chances To Pursue Happiness!

 

American Miniaturist Tutorial
May 31, 2012 Give Away


 I AM PUBLISHED!!!  Please click above link to view my JHoward collection which is not published in the magazine.  Have your volume adjusted just right to hear some wonderful music too.

Want your own copy of the magazine?  Just join my blog and leave a comment on this post to enter drawing for a chance to win your copy of American Miniaturist Magazine's June issue 110.  Using the tutorial I wrote for the magazine, learn how to make lacy dress shown in picture.  Deadline to enter is Monday, June 18, 2012 at 5:00pm Pacific Daylight time.  If I receive enough comments to equal my age, two names will be drawn.  If I receive enough comments to equal my age plus the ages of my two grandsons, three names will be drawn.  Only one comment per person please.  If the total number of comments are higher than the number I've selected for the three names to be drawn, all comments will be entered in the same drawing for a Bridal Gown Give Away as the fourth name to be drawn!  Let's have some fun! Good Luck!

Well, I love comments and give aways.

Published in American Miniaturist Magazine's June issue as an Artist is an exciting highlight of my journey! 

After breast cancer surgery April of 2000, along with prayer, making miniatures over the years has helped me cope with pain, disappoints and fears of being diagnosed with cancer.   Technically, from a scientific point of view, I should be dead by now.  But, here I am sharing my God given talent with you and loving it.  Second Chance!

Second chances come along all the time. It's up to us to recognize them."  Katherine Russell Rich

Pursue Happiness!!



"We are endowed with the right to pursue happiness, but nowhere is it guaranteed that we will catch it." If The Shoe Fits


I've had so many second chances to pursue happiness in life that My Journey to Celebrating Life is written to motivate me and to motivate you during your journey, no matter what. 

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV

Again, thanks to all of you for joining my blog, leaving comments, entering to win the contests, e-mails and phone calls.  I wish everyone could win, but there is always a second chance to win something.  Don't forget to post your comment on the two give aways ending next week.  You must comment on the post that lists the dress as a give away to enter.

Love and Hugs

And The Winner is...Drum Roll Please!

 

Drum Roll To Announce The Winner!

We have a Mother's Day winner!  There were only 25 comments to draw from and here is the comment drawn from our lovely little hat at 11:00 PM Pacific Daylight Savings Time by Grandma.  Is this your comment? 

"A woman who loves God, miniatures, and your grandkids - I don't think I could like you more!!  I love your work and love to read your posts!  I follow you on my Google reader.  And I love, love your work.  Thanks for a chance to enter !!!!"

After I give my drum roll, I usually like to make a long speech, but this time I'll make it quick for grandma.  And the winner is:  Ruth in Texas!  Click on Ruth in Texas to view her blog.  Very interesting.  I realize after reading her latest post that I am a Guilt Taker.  Decide which one you are after reading her latest post.  Please share with us.

Congratulations to Ruth in Texas for winning this lovely dress!

Thanks to all of you for reading my grandma's blog posts and leaving the wonderful comments.  You are all so wonderful.  Grandma and I love to work and talk all night sometimes while we make these lovely dresses and she wants to give away every one we make. 

Thank you Ruth in Texas for entering the drawing.  Please contact grandma real soon for mailing information.

YES! THAT'S MY MOM!!! My Mother's Day Story!

 

Favorite Daughter

 "Yes!  That's My Mom!"  My favorite daughter yelled!  She was in a meeting in her office when someone excitedly rushed into her office and asked if she knew anyone named Felma.  And said it was an emergency because a Flight Attendant had found my wallet on the plane I had just taken to Chicago and needed to speak to my daughter.  My daughter was telling me this exciting story over the phone, but all I hear was, "Yes!  That's my Mom!"  My daughter mostly refers to me as "my Mom" and calls me Mom and sometimes, Mother! expressing a drawn out motherrrr!  when she is trying to prove a point and then she calls me Felma! when she knows that I am refusing to get the point.

"Yes! That's my Mom!" hit a spot in my heart and sent my soul rocking.  I thought that I was immune to the feeling I felt at that moment and the feeling of love I feel each day including now as I write my Mother's Day story.  Immune because I talk to her almost every day and when she calls me she will usually say, "Hey Mom."  Maybe it's because I'm so happy being a Grandma that I can't see the forest for the trees.

About 40 years ago my own mother was killed in a car accident, along with my stepfather when they were hit in a head-on collision by a driver who was classified as drunk.  I still miss my Mother.  I am so happy that my daughter doesn't have to miss me.   I am happier that I don't have to miss my daughter.  I am so proud of her.

My favorite and only daughter, the mother of my two grandsons is a Mother now!  WOW!  She is also the wife of my favorite son-in-law.  Who knew that I would feel so emotional over those words?!!  Especially since her two sons have taken up so much love in my heart.  It just proves that our hearts can expand with the love we have for one another.  My daughter will always be my favorite daughter and I love her today as I have always loved her more than myself.  She has always been a great Blessing to me. 

She helped save my life lots of times through her prayers and her diligent watch over me especially during times when doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive.  Doctors couldn't understand the happiness I felt lying there in the hospital bed with one leg propped up in the air, one arm propped in the air, on bed rest with an IV dripping poison into my veins to help dissolve the blood clots that were having a party in my leg and lungs.  Partying their way to my heart and brain.  They didn't make it!  When my daughter entered my hospital room a couple of hours later (my husband went yo tell her and drive her to the hospital),  I asked her,  "What time did ya'll pray?"  It was the exact time I actually felt death leave my body.   She had also called her prayer group to put in motion the Prayer Chain which included a faithful group of people. 

There are many morals to this story and I hope one of them will touch your heart.  Whether dead, lost or alive,  we all have mothers somewhere, someplace.  Please honor your MOTHER as I did this Mother's Day weekend.

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.  Genesis 3:20 NIV

May God continue to
Bless you favorite daughter and your wonderful family.  One day your boys will say, "Yes, that's my Mom!" And you will be so very proud.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms reading my story.

Thanks again to all of you reading my blog and sending those lovely comments.  

I just drew the comment of the lucky winner from the hat at 11:00 PM Pacific Daylight Savings time.  The lucky winner will be announced on Tuesday, May15, 2012. 

American Miniaturist Bridal Gown!



Tutorial



American Miniaturist Magazine June's issue is available with my Bridal Gown tutorial!  Please click on the link above to order your copy today!!! 

It is only fitting for me to give a way the Bridal Gown made for the tutorial and show a finished project.  The picture to the right shows how I finished the tutorial with embelishments.  



Bridal Gown Made Using Tutorial





Yes, it does look much better in person.  Be the lucky winner by joining my blog and leave a comment for this Bridal Gown on this post only! Deadline is Thursday, May 31, 2012.  A comment from this post only will be drawn from a hat at 9:15pm PDT.  All drawings will end Pacific Daylight Time.

For Mother's Day give a way Bridal Gown, please go to the post for April 26, 2012 and leave a comment for a chance to win.

For a chance to win the beautiful orange and green dress you must leave your comment on the April 15, 2012 post for a chance to win!

Love and hugs to all of you reading my blog and leaving those wonderful comments for a chance to win.  The comments keep me motivated to give away more.  

Ending May 13, 2012



Ending May 31, 2012



And The Lucky Winner For April Give a Way Is!



On my way to Grandma's house to
draw the luky winner!

 Thanks to all 57 of you who left a coment on this blog to win the giveaway for
April.  I wish everyone could've won.  Here is the comment that was selected by grandson in the picture to the right:

 "What a gorgeous wedding dress!  It would be perfect in my 1920s lovers (honeymoon) cottage! Happy birthday and congatulations on celebrating life!  I'll post your giveaway on my blog now!  :-)  Jennifer"

Again thank you all very much for joining my blog and leaving comments! 

You must comment on the blog announcing the give a way that you want to win before the appointed deadline.  Just look at the comments to make sure your name is there.
Love and hugs to all!

                 Congratulations to our lucky winner!   Jennifer!  Click on Jennifer to view her beautiful blog.  It is gorgeous and very helpful.



Hurry! Hurry Hurry! April Give A Way Ending Soon!

My Grandma wanted me to remind you that the deadline for April's give-a-way is tomorrow;  Sunday April 29, 2012 at 12 Noon Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).  There are 53 comments in the hat! 

Please check the comments list to make sure your comment is one of the 53 comments listed if you want your name in the hat.  You still have a few hours left until the deadline to join and add a comment. 

Your comment must be one of the 53 (or more) on the blog for the April give-a-away!  The name of the blog is:  Celebrate Your Life! April 2012 Birthday #63!  Bridal Gown Give A Way!  Posted on April 1, 2012.

Yum Yum!  Can't Wait To Draw The Lucky Winner!



My little brother in the picture to the left is licking his lips because he can just taste the feeling of drawing the  lucky winner. 

When your comment is posted as the lucky winner during the first week of May 2012, you must contact grandma within 5 days with your name and mailing address.  If grandma is not contacted within 5 days, your comment will be deleted and another lucky winner will be drawn until all 53 or more comments are drawn and the hat is empty.  Good luck!

Grandma is cutting more fabric to make another give-a-way for June.  Grandma thanks all of you for spending the time it takes to join a blog and write an inspirational comment.  She sends kisses, hugs and love to all.  My little drawing brother and me send hugs, love and kisses too! 

Another view of the lovely April Give A Way:

Lost My Wallet On Flight To Chicago! Tons of Miracles During My Stay!

After experiencing tons of miracles during the last few days and getting tons of ideas at the Chicago show, I made this dress especially for one of you to win;  Mother's Day give a-way.  All you have to do is be a follower of my blog and leave a positive comment on this post only!  This is short notice, but great.  Your name will be put into a hat and drawn on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 11:00PM Pacific Standard Time.  The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.  This is a lovely dress!  Miracle.

Chicago International Miniature Show was the best miniature show I've ever seen!  Miniature Artists and collectors from all over the world!  I had the best time and met lots of new friends.  Also met the Editor of American Miniaturist Magazine, Traci, the one that I've been exchanging e-mails with and sending pictures to during the past two months for the June issue. Miracle.  Get your copy of the June issue to see more of my Bridal Gowns and a tutorial on how to make one.  After June you can order your own back issue.  The tutorial is very easy.  I gave a class to two of my friends in Chicago to test the tutorial and they made beautiful gowns.  You just need the mannequin, fabric, lace and really nice trim.  If you don't have a source for mannequins like the ones I use, during the month of May I will list some for auction on eBay.  The mannequin if fully porcelain and stands five inches tall.  I will have ten to fifteen for auction.  Bid starting at $6.00 + shipping in U.S. currency.

Lost my wallet on flight to Chicago!  Miracles do happen.  Cancelled my bank card that held the funds I saved especially for Chicago and immediately after cancelling, my favorite daughter called to say a Flight Attendant found it.  A miracle.  God is soooo great!  The plane had landed near my home and my husband picked up my and I had my driver's license the next day.  Miracle.  I was a real person again with identification, but without most of the money I had saved especially for Chicago.  A miracle.  My traveling buddy and friend offered to pay for everything, including miniatures, hotel and food!  I spent less money than I had planned! We kept a tab and when we got home I mailed her a check! A miracle.  Great to have great friends.

More about Chicago later.  I must post this so you can start your comments to get your name in the hat.  Thanks again to all of you for positive comments, e-mails, phone calls, birthday cards, prayers and I love you all.  It is good to be back home safely to my wonderful husband who had done a makeover of my workshop while I was gone.  Miracle!

Leaving My Husband For Chicago Tomorrow! Still Celebrating!

First time attending this event and I am going with my Miniature friend!  Yes, I have my miniature friends, my Church friends, my lunch friends, my sick friends, my breast cancer friends and lots of brand new blogger friends!  Cannot believe all the people that are celebrating life with me this month.  Thank you for all of your wonderful comments.  Some make me laugh, some make me feel my spirit to the core and some encourage me to do better at what I do best.  Thank you! Thanks to those of you for sharing my give-a-ways with your friends by posting my dresses on your blogs.



Bye-Bye!



I'm leaving my husband at home!  We spend all day everyday doing things together and sometimes with the grandsons and I love it.  So instead of packing my bags for the weekend, I'm so nervous about waving goodbye and saying, "See you later," that I am going to end up leaving without luggage.  That's okay, I'll just take empty luggage and fill it up at the show during the next few days.  My husband is nervous too because he doesn't know what to do without me.  Ha! Ha!  He has been celebrating life with me for a long time.  When he lost his long-time "safe" job over two years ago and forced to retire, it was so sudden, we just sat and looked at one another for a few days wondering what to do.  Then, we thanked God for the opportunity to spend time together and with our grandsons. "Thank you Lord, it has been our pleasure."

Last week at Los Angeles Zoo and a day at Legoland with grandsons was the highlight of the week!  Now I'm off to Chicago!  Great to be born in April.  Got my taxes done on time too.  Time to pack!

During the next few days I will be checking and posting comments while at the show so please keep them coming.  The hat for April is filling up!  I may get some new ideas from the show, make something for a Mother's Day give-a-way.  No, I did not think of this before writing this blog, but why not?  Leave a comment for this blog and lets do a Mother's Day give-a-way!  Don't know what it will be, but it will be good.  Just add a comment to this blog after joining and your name is in the hat for the Mother's Day drawing on Mother's Day!  Easy.  Not a mother?  Don't worry, the drawing is open to everyone.  You are a living being and that is what matters most of all!

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:6-8

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

  Love and Hugs to All. 

Celebrations! Celebrating Life! Why? Why Not?

Have you ever sent yourself a birthday card?  Nor have I.    Thanks to all of you for the lovely cards and birthday wishes.  Three glorious days of celebrating zoomed by.  But, I'm still celebrating.  For instance, I've received so many lovely comments for the April give-a-way that I'm celebrating by giving away one of my Jared Collection dressed mannequin in the picture to the right.  Name will be drawn from hat at 9:00pm PST May 31, 2012.  Announced first week of June.  Start now!  Get your name in the hat for this gorgeous dress.  Just follow my blog and leave an inspirational comment for this post only for a chance to win.  If you are already following, just leave a comment!  Easy! 

I celebrate because my tutorial for the Bridal Gown was accepted by American Miniaturist magazine's June issue.  You must get your copy!  The tutorial is fun and easy to follow.  Use it to make variations for your doll or mannequins and fill an entire Bridal Shop or Dress shop.  Sneak preview almost finished:

Cannot close without saying thanks to all of you for following my blog and leaving those wonderful comments.  Guess what the June give-a-way will be?  Yes, you guessed it!  A Bridal Gown worthy of pictures in American Miniaturist Magazine. 

Love & Hugs to All

Celebrate Your Life! April 2012 Birthday #63! Bridal Gown Give A Way!

The Angels are singing because this
is an exciting month
with lots to Celebrate!
Easter at My Daugher's.
She is a really great
cook.



Someone is going to win this gorgeous Bridal Gown!  Will it be you?

  

 

Happy Birthday Felma!  The Good the Bad and the Ugly will be the topic of my posts during my birthday month. I will post about all three.  The good is that I am enjoying life and celebrating life to my fullest.   At 63, I feel better than I imagined I would and I even look better than I thought I could.  Being a cancer survivor has perks.  The other day I went to Nordstrom to get fitted for my free (please check with your insurance) breast cancer bras and looked so good to my husband that he took pictures.  My "girls" are sitting up quite nicely.  My words for the evening, "Don't keep your hands to yourself."  Who knew that I would come out of the closet last year and start Celebrating Life and make it a lifetime goal to live the best life I can with all the ailments I have?  It has been fun.  I am so thankful to all of you who played a song to get me started and keep me going.  God, I thank you most of all. 

 What About The Give-A-Way?

How about having a chance to win it?  It is so very easy to win the gorgeous Bridal Gown in the picture above.  It is one of my best and signed by me.  All you have to do is be a follower of my blog, leave a positive inspirational comment, for example, "Happy Birthday," and your comment will be placed into a hat.  On Monday, April 30, 2012, my 2 year old grandson will draw the winning comment.  I will post the comment of the winner during the first week of May 2012.  Comments must be received by 12:00 Noon Pacific Standard Time on Sunday April 29, 2012. 

Time to go Celebrate! 

Before I go I must say thanks to all of you for reading and following my blog.  Enjoy this month and every month to the fullest.  Thank you for the e-mails and much appreciated comments.  I love you.  Love and hugs to all.