Week 33! Featuring Jean Day Was Too Great To Move On! New Miniatures!

Featuring Jean Day for almost five weeks was great because I received lots of e-mails thanking me for featuring her work including the AIM magazine.  Thank you Jean!

In the meantime I haven't climbed any mountains or walked tons of miles getting ready for a marathon.  Just doing my hour a day walking and riding my stationary bike between making dollhouse dresses, reading and having fun with my grandsons.  Also eating lots of great summer foods.  Will start sharing recipes with you that I've collected over the years.  I am also a creative cook.

These pictures are just a few of the miniature clothes I've been making that's given me joy over the last few weeks and I've also been reading lots of interesting books to increase my knowledge of making dollhouse period clothing.  Victorian doll clothes are in demand.  I'm learning how to make them. 

Life is interesting and there are lots of things to learn, lots of people to meet.  Books, books and more books to read.  WOW!

Thanks to all of you for your e-mails and following my blog.  Just knowing that you are somewhere in this universe encouraging me to do my best is fantastic!  Hugs to all of you.

Week 28! Featuring Jean Day Miniatures



Jean Day



About Jean Day:

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

 Miniatures has been a full time job for the last 30 years. My wonderful husband John helps so much with our business. I am also an artist, specializing in watercolours and enjoy many fabric arts. B.F.A and B.Ed. John and I both enjoy being on the editorial team of AIM magazine. I really love working on the Gallery, Smaller Scales and formatting. It is a free on line magazine you might enjoy. I keep very busy with gardening too.

When Jean agreed to my request to feature her on my blog this week, I was really excited, but after doing some research I found so many great things about her, I really didn't know where to start writing so I did the simple thing, I asked her to give me some ideas on what to write about and she said, "Just write about what impresses you the most."  Well, that would take months of writing so I will highlight starting with an article featuring Jean in the Dollhouse Miniatures magazine, September 2004, which talks about Jean Day Makes Her Mark In History, where a national museum exhibit showcases her doll making skills.  The exhibit was so successful it ran from March 2000 until September 2003 and was so popular it was extended for six months.  Please click on the link below to see the magazine and read the article along with other great articles: http://members.shaw.ca/jday1/tpt_articles.html

Jean is also the a member of the AIM Magazine's Editorial Team.  Click on the link to see inside this fantastic miniature lovers magazine:
 http://www.scribd.com/full/56791126?access_key=key-1wj0im74nflhgeoszj91
As we know, pictures are wonderful to help tell a story, therefore, since there is so much of what Jean has done in miniatures over the last 30 years, I'll provide some links for you to click on see what Jean does to enjoy her life with miniatures.

This link will take you to her miniature tutorials:  http://jdayministutorials.blogspot.com/

 This link takes you to her Esty store where lots of beautiful work is displayed for purchase:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/jdayminis

What is life without eBay?  Click on this link to see more of her work for purchase. http://stores.ebay.ca/J-Day-Minis

Click on this link to see if you are as surprised as I was:  http://www.zibbet.com/jdayminis

Well, this link tells more about this great lady of miniatures:  http://members.shaw.ca/jdayminis/html/jean_day.htm

 

If you click on the links I've listed, yes, you will be amazed at what one person can do  with the gift of creativity.  You may also search Google for Jean Day Miniatures to find out more about this extraordinary lady, but be prepared to find about four million results. 

 

Another thing that impresses me the most, the name Jean is also part of my birth name! 

Week 27! Dollhouse Miniatures Grandsons and Life Events!

 Where does time go?  It doesn't go backward or does it?  What is good timing and what is bad timing?  Week 27 is here already and I am not ready.  Ready for what?  What would I do differently if I could to back to Week 1?  One thing for sure, keep a journal.  Blogging is great, but since I don't blog every day, many days of my Journey To Celebrating Life can soon become vague memories. 

My two grandsons are spending the week at "Grandma's House" which started yesterday and we are having a blast!  The weather is hot and we don't have a backyard pool so I created one today using a large plastic storage container.  Kids are non judgemental, creative and so much fun.  They thought grandma had made a special little pool just for them, which reminded me of a joke I read.  The comedian said, "I grew up poor, so if there is an economic collapse I'll just feel young again."  I grew up poor too.  Let us pray for economic recovery although it would be nice to feel young again.

Last week I walked almost every day for at least an hour, all uphill.  LOL.  Doctor's orders.  I'm feeling better, although walking my first marathon at the Long Beach Marathon in October is only a dream and thanks to my friend Yolanda aka Walking Diva, who encouraged and walked with me for several weeks to start my journey to celebrating life, walking has become my daily routine.  She also encouraged me to start blogging.  Please click on the Walking Diva link to read Yolanda's encouraging blog about her amazing journey to the Guinness World Record.

Dollhouse Miniatures and creativity.  My creative juices have been flowing for the last few weeks.  I've come up with a new Mark Collection;  Relax After Work wardrobe as shown in the picture above.  Christmas in July is on eBay.  Please take a look at my eBay items by clicking on this link:  http://shop.ebay.com/anyminimore/m.html

When I finished a dress today and took it to show my #1 Critic (Papa), my 4 year old grandson immediately ran to touch the dress and Papa said, "No! Don't touch!"  "Grandma, will you make me a boy dress, please?" he asked.  "Oh, I mean a shirt."  Wallah!  You guessed it, I made a miniature shirt for grandson and a new collection of boy's clothing is running around in my head as I write, waiting to be birthed.

Thank you for reading my blog, thank you for your support as I travel this Journey to Celebrate Life.  Today I made a big step and wore a swimsuit in the backyard.  I didn't even care that one breast and arm was bigger than the other.  I had fun with my grandsons.  I've also made progress with the book I'm writing, although I've changed the title a hundred and two times.

 Thank you God! 

Oh No! My Journey To Celebrating Life Is Not Ending! Just Changing Directions...

 

Making these Jared Collection suits can bring so much joy from taking a simple piece of fabric, like taking a blank canvas and turning it into something beautiful.  It amazes me every time one is completed.  The above painting also amazed me.  I've never had formal painting lessons so when I finished this little painting I thought it was a really nice little job and put it up for sale and my confirmation was that it sold immediately!  

Speaking of cool, it is so hot in my part of the country that training for a marathon is out of the question and when I saw my doctor last week he was not happy that I am training for a marathon, again.  A few years ago when I was training for a Hawaii marathon, I twisted my ankle and ended up on a walking cane.  He gave me a good talking to about my health issues and that I should keep my walking to a max of one hour per day 5 days a week.  So, when I saw him last week for a routine visit I was not going to tell him about training again for my first marathon.  My mistake,  hubby went with me. And there was a communications breakdown.  My test for diabetes was higher than we expected it to be so the conversation went something like this, "Are you exercising?" asked my doctor.  My husband was so proud he quickly responded, "Oh yes, I'm training her to walk a marathon in October."  I just sat on the the edge of the exam table giving hubby the I can't believe you said that surprised look.  My answer was simply going to be "Yes." period!  Anyway, my doctor gave me the I can't believe you are doing this surprised look.  Then I went into my mumble jumble of "what other people are doing and the challenges/obstacles they are overcoming by walking marathons" and my doctor of 11 years said,

 "My dear Felma, you were born an original, please don't die a copy."



Thanks again for all of your supportive e-mails and for reading my blog.  Please keep reading.  Sometimes I post very interesting miniatures and tell great stories. 

Miniature curtains, sofa, pillow and floral arragnements made by Felma. 

Week 23! Weddings, Walking and Miniatures!

Week 23 is here already! Week 22 quickly passed on by me and ended with a beautiful wedding.  Today I received an invitation to another wedding.  Great inspiration for wedding gowns. 

Walking is going downhill.  Yes, it should be going uphill, but I'm working on it. 

Grandsons were here for a surprise visit last week for a couple of days and we had tons of fun.  Still can't believe I have two of them.

Dollhouse Miniature suit to the right is one of my latest Jared Collection.  I thank God for this creative talent of making miniatures and for giving me this opportunity to share what I do with you. 

Week 21 Awesome Walking Wedding Miniature Suit

Week 21!  Time is flying and I am feeling great, well mostly.  I will be missing my annual Family Reunion, but it is awesome that I will attend a real wedding this Saturday!  I have made lots of miniature wedding dresses and gowns, but a real wedding is like a treat.  This will be my first since my favorite daughter got married five and a half years ago.

Had an awesome walking experience on Monday.  Was hiking up the mountain with my husband when we met two hikers who were coming back from the "mines" and insisted that we take the trail to the mines and we did.  One of the hikers reached into her backpack and took out a yellow "note it" pad and gave it to us to stick to rocks and trees on our way in to help guide us on our way out!  Whew!  It was an adventure although we didn't quite make it to the mines because when the trail got smaller and smaller and the trees looked like giants looming overhead and I couldn't see the sky, I was so scared I wanted to turn back and we did.

Suit in above picture was made by me.  This is the size of most of my dollhouse miniature clothes at one inch to one foot scale.  Therefore, when I make a little girl's dress like the cute one in the picture it is about half this size.  Yes, they are small and fun to make.

As always, thanks to all of you for reading my blog and sending encouraging e-mails.  I couldn't do this without you.  Love to all.

Week 20! Oprah Blues! Doll House Love! Miniatures! Walking & Zumba!

Oprah Blues!  After 25 years, Oprah, one of my best friends, is leaving me to start another chapter in her life and she didn't even mention my name on any of her shows!  She only mentioned some of the things I was struggling with.  When I saw her last show the tears were flowing as she acknowledged God in a way that was so powerful, it confirmed what I knew all along, that she believes in the same God I believe in.  I'm better now.  Thank you Lord!

A Doll House has been sitting around looking at me for a while and thanks to The Oprah Magazine's Living Your Best Life,  I am decorating a Doll House to give to a little girl.  I will put all the love I can into decorating this little house and I'll post pictures as I go.

In the meantime, making dollhouse miniatures, walking, Zumba and Grandsons will help me continue with another chapter of My Journey to Celebrating Life!

The cute miniature beaded dress and purse in picture was made by me.  My thanks to God for the wisdom to recognize and take advantage of the creative quality He gave me.  According to the Scriptures below, creative qualities are a part of all of us. 
  
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1
So God created mankind in his own image,
   in the image of God he created them;
   male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Thank you again for following my blog.  Words of inspiration are always appreciated.

Week 19! Pain, Pain & More Pain! Depressed? Look at The Miniature Doll!

Study this beautiful dollhouse miniature doll in the picture for a moment.  Notice the sad expression on her lovely face. Is she going on a trip?  Nice luggage.  Well, she looks exactly how I've felt all week.  I miss my grandsons and I think I must have pulled a few muscles at the end of week 18.  We finally made it to top of mountain with boys in tow, but I'm still feeling physical pain. 

Depressed?  Grandma is having withdrawal pains after loving it up with my boys for almost a week.  I don't feel like walking or dancing.  I've only walked  one day this week.  I'm sad that Arnold hurt Maria.  I feel her pain.  My heart and prayers are constantly going out to the tornado victims and all the other victims I hear or read about this week.  Misery does love company.  But as of today,  I'm cutting back on watching all the breaking news and I'm leaving my miserable company.  I'll get rid of this pain and get on with my journey to celebrating life! 

Thanks to all of you encouraging me to move forward.  I am really grateful.

Doll by Yolanda Laracunte-Romero.  Elegant hat by Felma.  Luggage unknown.

Week 18! Weather Is Not Cooperative! Shut In! Time To Reflect: Willie Wiswell!

If I had control over the weather, week 18 would've started differently.  My two grandsons are visiting for a few days and it is cold, windy and raining and they want to go hiking in the mountains. I'm not ready for that yet.  We managed a short walk yesterday.  Had to turn back when my four year old was hit by a gust of wind and loudly announced, "I'm having a bad day!" We have played games, trains, cars and karoke to our heart's content. 

I've taken advantage of my shut-in as a time to reflect.  The picture above is my miniature friend Willodean (Willie) Wiswell and me.  The first time I attended a miniature club meeting, Willie invited me to dinner along with some friends.  We had a great time!  On another occasion Willie invited me to her home for lunch and a tour of her miniature collection.  A Huge Collection of fine miniatures!  During lunch she informed me that she needed a liver transplant and without it her doctor "predicted" about 18 months of survival.  We were having lunch at month 19 and she looked great and said she felt great. Due to her age, Willie said she was way down on the transplant list, but stated that it was not going to stop her from enjoying the rest of her life to the fullest, and she did.  She lived a few more years.   Willie found goodness in everything.  I miss her.  Read her obituary by clicking on the link below or google her name to learn more about this great a lady.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lbpresstelegram/obituary.aspx?n=willodean-wiswell&pid=145071811

"Where do you find goodness when recession hits, when you lose your job, your home, when things seem to fall apart around you?  In all the things we tend to overlook:  feeling the gentle breeze on your skin, the sunlight filtering through the clouds, the sound of the rain, the wagging tail of a dog, the shiny apple you are about to bite into.  You notice the in-and-out flow of your breath, the feeling of aliveness inside your body.  And then there is the beautiful stillness behind it all, which is deep within you.  It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up."  Eckhart Tolle

My husband lost his job a year and a half ago when the recession hit.  Complications dealing with the long term side effects of breast cancer surgery has not been easy, but, as Willie, I find goodness in my miniature hobby along with hugs and kisses from my grandsons, just to name a few.  I am grateful.  Thank you God.

Thanks to all of you for reading my blog and Love To All.

Week 17! Zumba Class - Walking! Still Hanging In There!

It makes my day when I get a surprise visit from my grandsons, but sometimes this one in the picture at 18 months can be a challenge.  He knows he can take advantage of grandma's weakness, kindness, love or whatever you want to call it.  He sneaks a bag of cookies from the kitchen pantry and when I find him in the living room eating them, "Give it to grandma!" I demand.  He licks his tongue out at me with the cutest smile I've ever seen!  What was I supposed to do?  All I could do was grab my handy dandy camera and take his picture.  Children are so much fun to watch and entertain because you never know what to expect.  On a hot day last week, I decided to take him along in his stroller so I pulled off his shoes and socks, gave him a bottle of water and a few snacks to enjoy during his ride and the next thing I know he is snoring really, really loud.  I locked the wheels on the stroller and just stood there looking down at him with his legs propped up on the side of stroller, praying that throughout his life there would be lots of days like this, so relaxed, so trusting, so loved.  Thank You God.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:13-14

Week 16 ended with a very nice Mother's Day luncheon with my favorite daughter.  I went to my Zumba class or walked every day during the week and must say that I feel wonderful.  Looking forward to my first marathon in October.  Please keep the encouraging e-mails and phone calls coming.  Again, thanks to all of you for your support.  Love To All.