Congratulations To Our July 2012 Winner!

The winning comment said:  "Hallo Felma, I love your blog and all your little wedding dresses.  So beautiful and delicate.  It's amazing.  I put a link to my sidebar and I hope to win this gorgeous wedding dress, so I can show it to everyone in the Netherlands.  I hope I can join your give away."

Congratulations to our latest winner!  Drum roll please for Marga Boot!


Thank you Marga for leaving your lovely comment.  May God continue to Bless you in all that you do.  Please continue to enter to win.  Second chances are the best ever!


Thanks to all of you who entered.  Your comment gave me the opportunity to draw another name and  post another give away for August (details coming soon).  Please keep those comments coming.  Thank you to all of you following my blog.  You make my My Journey To Celebrating Life a lot happier.

Tom Bishop International Show 2013! Chicago Here I Come!

Brinca Dada -Emerson A Modern Mini House

After my doctor's appointment yesterday morning I was disappointed and feeling down in the dumps.  My family,  friends and enemies too had prayed for a miracle that God would reveal to the doctor a fix for my shoulder.  Instead, after reviewing my MRI and showing me the damage, he said,  "The rotator cuff is torn beyond repair.  Even if you were normal and didn't have lymphedema,  surgery would only be a 50/50 option for this kind of tear."  


So, there went my option for restoration and while down in the dumps of despair, suddenly I remembered something from the Holy Bible: "And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers." Philemon 1:22 NIV and quickly I started climbing to higher ground humming a song my mother used to sing that includes these words, He may not come when you want him, but He is always right on time.  


God is an awesome God!  Our prayers are always answered although we may not know it.  Therefore prepare a guest room for me because I will keep hope alive! Thank you to all of you who prayed for me.

Gift of goodies I received Today!

Today has been one of the best days of my life.  I received in the mail the dollhouse goodies in the picture to the right.  A very nice lady I met at the Tom Bishop Chicago International Show sent them to me.  And tomorrow the Mini Modern Brinca Dada Emerson house will be delivered to my home.  Yep, the same nice lady.  Pictures will be posted. 

My plan is to furnish the house as a very unusual and interesting Bridal Shop in black, white and silver, so she also sent the gorgeous hand turned vase which stands 1 1/2 inches tall.   Made from precious wood.  The delicate wooden piece at the top is removable.  Awesome!


This is the best time for me to tell you that I feel another give away coming your way because of you!  I want to thank you for following my blog and leaving those wonderful comments. 

Please don't forget that this 
Saturday is the day of the drawing for the very unique dress to the right.


 Is your name on the list of followers of my blog and your comment has been posted on the post for this give away?  Great! Your comment will be put in the hat for the drawing!


If not, please read the instructions from my last post to enter.  
Good luck to all!


Would you like to see the dress in the picture below offered as a Give Away?  Please leave a comment and let me know.

A Possible Give Away For August?

Last day of June! The last day for me to relish in being published in American Miniaturist magazine's June issue and  offer one more give-a-way.  I've read so many great comments about the article and I am absolutely grateful.  Thank you all so much for the great responses.


The dress to the left was shown in the magazine.  The dress below, inspired by your comments, is my last day of June give-a-way.

Give Away on July 21, 2012

All you have to do is be a follower of my blog, leave a positive comment on this post only before the deadline of Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 3:00PM Pacific Daylight Time.  Your comment will be put in a hat and the lucky winner will be drawn on the date of the deadline.  Lucky winner will be posted on Monday, July 23rd.  There are three weeks to the deadline.  Let's have some fun and I hope you are the lucky winner!  Thanks to 140 followers for making my life happier each day.  Please keep the comments coming.  Hugs, Felma

And the lucky winner of our draw this week, The American Miniaturist Magazine,  made this comment: 

 "Congratulations to the lucky winners!! Bye Faby."    

                   
Thanks to all of you for your participation in the drawing. 

I appreciate your interest in my blog.  Now, something dreadful has happened to my blog where I can no longer add pictures or links to my posts.  Please bear with me until I figure out what the problem is.  If you know of a way to fix this problem please leave a comment or contact me.  Without pictures I feel lost.  Thanks.  Hugs, Felma. Congratulations Faby!

My Journey To Celebrating Life May Become Infectious!

My Journey To Celebrating Life has become a joy and my joy may become infectious to you.  Celebrate and enjoy each day of your life.   Drawing the comments below from our lucky winners was fun, fun and more fun!

"Wow Felma, Can't believe I could have two chances to win a piece of your amazing work.  I don't know if I can be more inspirational than my previous comment on your bridal gown giveaway.  Well.. Let me say it this way:  I am grateful I found your blog because I loveeeee dresses! Lol!  Thanks for the opportunity.  I'll put this give away, same as the bridal gown, on my blog.  Hugs, Vall"

"This is a dress worthy of a special roombox to display it.  I'd love to win it.  Will spread the news of this giveaway on the sidebar of my blog.  Thanks and a hug, Drora."

Congratulations to our lucky winners!  Please keep the comments coming and you may be our next lucky winner!  Thank you for reading and following my blog.  Hugs and prayers to all of you.

"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun."  Ecclesiastes 8:15

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.