Saturday, April 28, 2012

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:

Thursday, April 26, 2012

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!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

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. 

Sunday, April 15, 2012

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

Sunday, April 1, 2012

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.  

Sunday, March 18, 2012

March! Happy Anniversary Favorite Daughter & Son-in-Law! It Was My Wedding Day! Not Hers!


The gorgeous Wedding Dress that stimulated my creativity to make Bridal Gowns on Mannequins!

Lace Is So Very Lovely!

My love for making Dollhouse Miniature Bridal Gowns took root right after our honeymoon.  As we were trying on this dress as shown in the close-up picture of the lace above, we knew the journey to find a wedding dress was over!  We had found our dress.  Just look at the design in this gorgeous dress.  Couldn't get that lovely lace out of my mind.  The long train flowed just right.  Wonderful!  My God!  So Gorgeous!  So, we got married in this dress and lived happily ever afterwards.  Reception pictures will be added later.  The train is removable and was removed for the reception.

March 18, 2006, with tons of pride I slowly marched down the isle the very first time in my life on the arm of my handsome nephew, Gary.  It was the most beautiful wedding I had ever seen.  It was my wedding day!  Not hers!  I fought back tears as I helped her with her makeup.  Her dress.  Kissed her.  She was so beautiful.  By the way, she is still the most beautiful daughter I have.  So,  I kept telling myself that I was playing a very important role in this wedding.  Mother of the Bride.  That's me forcing a grin in the picture to the left.  Scared!  My favorite daughter was getting ready to march down the isle and I was anticipating these words,  "Who gives this woman to......?"  My baby starting a new chapter in her life as wife, daughter-in-law and nine months later a Mother!  My prayers were answered!  Well, I did pray that we would get pregnant on our honeymoon.  I love her so much,  love her man too.  God has Blessed their marriage with my two favorite grandsons along with many things.  Let us all celebrate this day.  I bring to you six years of Dollhouse Miniature Bridal Gowns!
      Happy Anniversary my Loves! 

Thanks again to all of you for reading my blog and sending the beautiful comments and e-mails.  Love and hugs to all.

 I am going to pray and ask God to help me act my age and stop jumping from boulders because according to His Word:
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  Matther 21:22

Friday, March 9, 2012

March Is Starting With A Bang! Jumped From A Boulder In The Mountains! Pain, Pain, Pain!

March started with excitement and real life bang; I jumped from a boulder in the mountains.  Yes, I fell down and broke...well I didn't really break anything, just tore up my already injured  (torn rotator cuff) shoulder.  Please continue to read about my Sound Mind below. 

 I also received an invitation for an opportunity to get published in one of Dollhouse Miniature's most popular Magazines and I accepted!  Didn't want to blog about the invitation for fear that my submission to the magazine would be rejected.  Why do we  wait until after something is completed to tell anyone?  Fear? 
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of sound mind."2 Timothy 1:7

Please look for me in the June issue of American Miniaturist Magazine to view a parade of some of my Bridal Gowns along with other Artist's gowns and I writing a fun tutorial on how to create a Bridal Gown of your own on a mannequin as shown in the pictures.  The pattern that I am going to use can be used to make a variety of dresses for your own use.  Start your subscription now!  I sell these little cuties on eBay. 


"Swirls"
Just finished this beautiful gown yesterday.  The buyer purchased a gorgeous Emerald necklace at a Miniature Show, purchased this fabric and Waa Laa!  "Swirls"

Example of my Sound Mind:

Monday afternoon I jumped from the  boulder, I lost my footing, fell forward on my hands and knees. And, as I lost strength in both arms after feeling and hearing a crackle sound coming from my already injured right shoulder I dropped to the ground and bounced forward on my tummy a few inches.  

Tuesday morning I went to Urgent Care.  X-rays showed no broken bones.  Three weeks ago I had a cortisone shot in the same shoulder to stop pain due to a torn rotator cuff.  The pain went away immediately after the shot!  Three whole weeks pain free!  Felt great!  Although no one was near me,  I was pushed or coaxed into jumping.  Did I hear a "Voice?"  No.  


My conclusion:  God showed me something that interfered with the new route we were going to take our grandson on because when my hubby gently turned me over on my back I looked up at my sweet little boy standing above me carrying a cookie in each hand as he leaned down on both knees, holding his cookies high above his head, he gave me the sweetest little peck on my lips and asked me if I was okay.   Can't carry food into Bear Territory.  I thanked God for the fall.  God protects little children.


Walked about a mile back downhill to get to our vehicle.  The pain was so intense my shoulder was crying too.  Very dramatic!   


Hubby made a makeshift sling to carry my arm in as he threatened to call 911or take me to Emergency.  I screamed, "No, no, no! The healing has already begun!"  I couldn't imagine spending the night in emergency with my 2 year old grandson who kept running over to me hugging my legs as though to express,  "Grandma, Thank you for taking the fall to protect us from the bears!  You are wise with a sound mind."

Growing up I was told I was born an old soul since my parents were in their mid-thirties and I was the youngest child of eight that I looked and acted old.  So, I followed on cue and acted old for as long as I could. Now that my grandsons  have found a connection with my young soul, they want it to come out and play.  How wonderful!  What a Blessing to play miniatures with them and watch them create.
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30 
 
Picture to the right taken about a month ago indicates the boulder (little rock) from which I jumped.  Should I say from which I fell?  No, I JUMPED and lost my balance as I hit the ground hard.
Again, thanks to all of you for reading and a special thanks to those of you who are joined as members.  Love and hugs to all.  Felma

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

March! March! Here We Go Marching Into March! The Most Inspirational Month Of The Year!















Can you believe tomorrow is March 2012? When I wake up tomorrow morning to see another Blessed day, my odds of having the opportunity to make more of these gorgeous lace dresses, gets closer.  If you are interested in owning a dress similar to one of these mini Spring beauties, standing only four inches tall, please check out my eBay auction site in a few weeks by clicking on the following link and meet Anyminimore:

Again, thanks to all of you for reading my blog and letting me know that you are.
  I hope to inspire and encourage you to do the best
you can at whatever you do.  Celebrate Life with me!  Hugs and kisses to all.

"I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me."                                                                 Philippians 4:13  NKJV

Monday, February 20, 2012

My Journey To Celebrating Life One Year Anniversary! Spotlight on Grandsons!

Celebrating Life has taken on a whole new meaning since starting this blog a year ago.   Life is a challenge that we want to look forward to each day.  I am now more aware of the meaning of the following Country Wisdom from unknown Author:  
 Every path has some puddles. 
 The best sermons are lived, not preached. 
 Life is simpler when we plow around the stumps. 
 Life is not about how fast we run or how high we climb, but how well we bounce. 
Don't sell your mule to buy a plow.
Don't corner something meaner than you.

Hold on to what you love with both hands and never let go.  by Felma

Big Brother holds on to Little Brother as he shows love for him.  He protects him with lots of love and admiration.
 My boys have the best protection of all.  Next to God, their earthly Father loves and protects them.  In the picture below, "Daddy and Son" are engrossed in conversation as I do my very best to capture the look of love and adoration. 
 Approaching my 63rd birthday and 12th year survivorship with the speed of lightening, family, friends and holding on to what I love means more to me than ever.  My grandsons are my life.  My Journey To Celebrating Life is all about two little boys.  They are the reason I get out of bed each morning and say, "Thank you Lord for another day with the ones I love."  I haven't stopped doing  the things I started my blog with last year.  Planning to walk a half-marathon later this year with my favorite daughter.  Making dollhouse miniatures will always be one of my greatest passions and I will capture the creativity with both hands as long as I can.  Since I am much wiser now, I know this is the best year of my life.  Hope it is your best year too.

Again, thanks to all of you for following my blog for the inspirational e-mails.  Hugs and kisses to all. Be inspired to hold on with both hands as you celebrate your life with lots of love and creativity.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Voice! My Encounter With A Third Kind Of Creative Juice! No Contest Winners!

A few nights ago,  just after midnight the powerful ceiling lights in my workshop 
illuminated the room as though it was a sunny bright day.  I was alone.  Everyone else had gone to bed.  It was quiet except for the crackling sound of an old iron cooling down that I had unplugged a minute ago.  As I sat at my work station in a relaxing state of mind leaning back in my chair with my feet propped up on the table contemplating on what to do with a
gorgeous white lace dress on a mannequin.  It, the encounter, happened!  It really happened!  First, I thought it
was the Voice Of God, although the voice sounded nothing like I imagine God's voice  would sound.  I sat upright in my chair and listened intently for the sound of footsteps.  Maybe someone had gotten out of bed.  No.  That wasn't it.  The voice was like a soft whisper of some sort, so I imagined it was female.  It sounded comforting.   I didn't have to wait long to find out because within the next two or three minutes I heard it again and at the same time a soft touch like a feather brushed against my right cheek.  Naturally I thought it was a message from Heather, my chicken friend I killed for dinner when I was a young girl growing up in the country.  Heather will always show me a feather when I am really in distress, but she has never touched me or talked to me.  Since I was not really in the kind of distress that calls for a feather from Heather, I was still hesitant as started to lean back in my chair again when I clearly heard the word "Amour."  At the same time I saw the mannequin I was contemplating on move slightly to my right. My mind started turning like a whirlwind and within hours I was almost done with the creation above. 

A Spring Wedding Dress, a Winter Wedding Dress. 

"Amour is the French word for love, an intense feeling of affection."

Just one word can stimulate the creative juices to start flowing and you can let the juices flow forever as you listen for, "The Voice."  Since this was my third encounter with a situation of this sort, I did not feel any fear.  Only a peacefulness filled with joy. 

The contest for creating a doll is over and no winner was selected because there were no entries.  Don't be afraid to open up and let your creativity flow.  It doesn't have to be making a doll.  It could be a creative walk or run or going barefoot in the park.  You could take your camera along and stop to take pictures and share them with the world. 

Try this creative activity:  Join my blog.  Please leave positive comments.  Of all  the negatives going on, the positives going on is what keep us alive and balanced for another day. 

  Grandson stops walking and climbs a rock to talk to a bear in the mountains today.  I thought it was very creative especially when he named the bear Somite.  I grabbed my camera just as the bear was running back to her cubs and grandson was waving goodbye with a smile on his face.  What an unexpected adventure, although at two, he is already charming the ladies! 

Thanks again to all of you reading and following my blog.  Love, hugs and kisses.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  Genesis 1:1 NIV