Inspirational Pictures from my drive..

Well.... I'm back....
This trip is one of those love-hate things.
I love driving through the mountains, I love seeing all the beautiful things that live there. The farms, and big red barns.... the livestock in the fields, seeing the deers eating by the edge of the forest.... the layers of trees that seem to go on forever... and even all the rocks!

But in the same sense I Hate driving through the mountains..... All the ups and down, and sharp turns- it's kinda like a roller coaster, but you control the speed.... and believe me when I tell you I crawl through the mountains, lol... this year I drove alone, so there was No one in the car to tell me how to drive. :) Needless to say it was a very quite drive:)

I did stop at a lookout and took pictures of the rock walls there... I've seen the lookouts before, so I spent my time looking at the rocks, lol. There was a family there that I'm sure thought I was nuts was I got out of my car to take a bunch of pictures of the rock walls....lol. Only a miniaturist would understand:)

This was some old fort..... and a wall leading up a path.

And this was the retaining wall in front of the fort.

I just love all the colors and the cracks.... And the age it shows:)

But my favorite part is this mustard colored moss that grows in spots...... If you make the picture bigger you can see it more clearly:)


I've always thought these 'windmills' were pretty! But it is very surreal to see because of their size... I've been up in the mountains and came around a corner before to see it pretty close up and it just makes me feel like I'm in another dimension or something, lol. Not something you see here in the city. Which by the way is very depressing to come home to after you've spent 3 days driving through the mountains. The rude drivers, the traffic, the smells..... Yup! I'm ready to go back already!

Thursday I did fine..... Friday after I picked my daughter up from camp.... I think I left my mind there! I ended up taking a 3 hour detour through Pennsylvania... and now I know I wasn't even suppose to be in Pa! Dumb ass! Had to go almost all the way back to where camp was to get on the right road! Then when I got to DC, I missed my exit and ended up having to drive back around the beltway to catch it again... then I took the wrong exit... figured out the right way and then 5 minutes before my Mom's there was a huge accident that blocked both sides of the road. Luckily the police let us drive up around the mess to pass. After being on the road since 7 that morning... and it was then almost 9... I was sooooo ready to get out of that Big Bright Red Beast of a thing (that reminded me of a smaller version of the Jeepers Creepers milk truck) that I rented to get through the mountains..... *sigh*

While I was home I had another moment of stupidity. Remember the painted I showed you the other day that I had bought because it reminded me of one at my Mom's house. Well, here's the painting....... And the only thing even close in these two paintings is that there are a few children together. LMAO! Isn't it funny how our minds play tricks on us?! I do like this painting too- an actually plan on trying to find it as well.

Finally got pictures of Dads planes..... Now I just gotta figure out how to do it in mini... Remember- I already have the planes, I just have to paint them now.

Also got a picture of a birdhouse that's been in their garage for a while now, hint, hint!! Anyways- I'd like to make it in mini one day, too. It's a big birdhouse though- that's the leg of a foot stool sitting next to it!

All in all.... it was a good trip. We're home, safe and sound, with no real drama to complain about!

Hopefully next time I'll have some mini news for you.
See ya then!

A Little of This and That..

So..... I made a couple of Lion heads out of polymer clay. And I used a coffee straw from 7-11 to poke a hole through the mouth. When I originally bought the pendant... I had the same idea as many of you- Turning it into a miniature fountain..... But if you're lazy like me, you'll just use it as an accessory...

I did 5 in the same color, but I won't bore you with all the pictures... But these 2 were some of my favorites:) I did 2 whole ones... 2 that are 'broke' on one side... and then one that is just the face.... I will have a couple of these listed in Etsy sometime next week. ((At some point today I need to get my butt in gear... I've got to drive to West Virginia tomorrow to pick up Cora from camp... then onto DC to get the boys.... and then back home:) No trips planned this time, just A lot of driving! Yuck!

But before you go, I thought I'd share 2 new tins I bought from the thrift store.... Couldn't pass up the image on this one.... Makes me want to mosaic something! Love all the colors!

I also picked up this one.... Couldn't leave it behind.... Goes with my other store cans:)

And then there's this picture I ordered off Etsy from
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyDollhousePictures . It reminds me of one my Mother has had since I can remember. Hopefully I can remember to take a picture of the one at her house when I'm home..... This one is in the parents bedroom in Cora's house..... This is one of the rooms that I still need to put back together... But I couldn't help showing it to you:) The bed is one of the first things I crackled in miniature:) One day I'll actually get around to hanging stuff up in here. For the picture I just balanced the frame on the back of the bed.

Hope you've enjoyed my pictures.... I sure do like having someone to share them with:)
SO... until next time....

After a little bit of paint....

It looks perfect:) But they were crumbling apart as I painted them:(

I love how they turned out, but I'm afraid I can't really do much with them... But I do think I want to try some in polymer clay....

...until next time...

If you asked me last night....

I woulda told you I absolutely loved this "pottery paper clay"! (Remember I bought it a few weeks ago on clearance...) It is just like paper clay.... but with the texture and color of pottery when it dries..... This lion was my favorite.... I just love how it split down the nose.....

But some time between last night and this morning.... They've all broke apart. I'm thinking a certain orange fella had something to do with this.... but it was really upsetting to see everything chipped apart..... I even made a few planters... All but one survived. On the right of this picture.... You can see the molds I using.... They're full of clay right now.... Drying...... Hopefully these won't break. I'm thinking I can still do something with the broken ones..... Just have to think about it....

I also painted another column.... to replace the Bright white one that was in here before.

I started with several layers of red paint..... but after my first set of pictures, I realized it was too bright..... So I added a few layers of watered down brown, then black and brown... then added green to what was left of the wash and used that for the last layer. I like it a lot better now... And once I get one of my torso's one the wall, it will balance itself out:) I hope.

I found some more odds and ends to put in here.... Jody's peaches are on the end table... and her books are in the chair... I brought the tin birdhouse out (it's sitting on the stool) but there's No silver in this room, so I'm thinking it might go back in The Painted Lady. I'm trying to stick to a color scheme- and have been pulling my colors from the fabric in the chair. Lots of reds, coppers, oranges, yellows, and blues... The greens will be in all the plants that will one day get made....

I use this glass house as a book end to keep my bills from falling off my desk- And the other day I found one of my favorite pictures and had set it back here to remind myself to do something with it..... Any guesses as to who they are??

And if that freakin weatherman says it going to HOT one more time.... I'm going poke him in the eye.... DUH! We know it's freakin hot.....

....Until Next Time....

Some new toys:)

While surfing through Etsy the other day.... I found these for Marshmallow Manor!! I bought them from a seller that goes by HartsDesireMinis... I just love this rug! It matches my quilt perfectly!

The other rug I had bought for the living room...

But after thinking about it, I kinda like it next to the bed, too. I hate stepping out of a warm bed onto a cold floor! Or maybe I can put them both down stairs, and get a bigger one for the bedroom... Decisions, decisions....lol

I also wanted to show you what a friend dropped off for me last night.... He found them in a house they were cleaning out, and knew I needed them:)

They're for train sets.... but I'm thinking I can use them in my world, too! I just love the ones in the next picture:) The top ones look like German girls... then there's the clowns... and the show ponies.... And just check out them Camels!! So freakin cute!!

And in the bottom of the box there were tools! No more excuses Casey! I now have those tweezers you're always talking about, lol....

And just check out them drill bits! Crazy small! Oh the possibilities:)

I'm off to go day dream about what I should be doing...lol
until next time.....

Playing around with space...

Between Carolyn's comment and what my bf had said to me... I put the chair in place and went from there. Please excuse the glare- I tried to use a book with a 'pretty' picture, but it is just too shinny- Note to self- Use a non shinny image as a background when photographing through glass.

With the exception of the wicker furniture and the garden caddy... I've made most of the items in here. The stand for the birdhouse in the back is one you haven't seen yet.... when I put the finishing touch on it, I will pull it out and take better pictures. I will say that crown molding trim on it was a pain to cut! The angel is listed in my Etsy shop... but I figured for now, I could show her off in here:)

I did remove a few items, and pulled somethings out of the bottom of Katie's Corner (which is currently a garden shop) to use in here. When I finally get everything where I want it... I'll take it outside and get some great pictures of things.

I love how you can see Otis napping in the background:)

There's still a lot of plants that I'd like to have..... and seeing as it's a quiet place to read- I'm thinking I'll need some books, too, lol.....

Until Next Time

And this is where I get stuck...

I don't know why "Setting up a room" seems to be so hard for me. But it is the part that takes me the longest.....

I cleared all the items that were in here from The Painted Lady, packed them away while they wait for their new home to be finished... and then pulled out the set that came from Casey. Then started going through all the stuff around here to pull out what I thought would work best.... And now I just gotta figured out what stays and what goes... and then figure out where to put everything.

I want it to be a cozy little place where one could go to look at a book or just sit and think.... Looking at it in pictures helps- now I can see that I need more color and more plants, ect.. taller ones, too!

With the kids being gone, I'm suppose to be working.. and yet, I seem to be playing, lol. So while I ponder what to do with everything, maybe it's time to go run those errands!

Until Next Time!

Kitty Update

Warning! Lots of kitty pictures to follow:)

The babies are starting to open their eyes... and they were crawling right through the bars on the crate.... so they got moved into a laundry basket..... This way Cleo can get in... and they can't get out:)

Oh... and check out how she's holding the black one:) She's laying on it's head.

Cleo loves the camera....

...but doesn't understand why I'm taking pictures of the babies and not her...

...if you look real close... you will see the black ones little face:)

Isn't this baby just the cutest:) I've had 2 people ask about them, so keep you fingers crossed that they find forever homes...

Sorry about the contrast in colors here.... But check out the black one again..... see that tiny tongue...... so sweet:)

Poor Cleo! She really is a good Mom.... but was taking a break here.... I don't blame her... these babies are full of energy!

Thought I'd share a few other pictures with you...
This is Bella.... Totally not understanding what personal space is all about, lol.

And what about a quick game of Who's in the Monopoly box?

It's Teddy and Bear....

And here's one of Freddy's Weirdo moments.... He really does love being outside:)

And a candid photo if Mini... Sometimes it's so bright outside that I can't see what I'm taking a picture of.... It wasn't until I pulled this up in Picasa that I saw his Mushroom Hat! Too funny!

Sorry I have no minis to show you.... but I've been steadily working on my trade:) I did remember to take pictures along the way, so later this summer I'll be able to share them with you:) I'm excited about it.....

Tomorrow... my Dad is coming to get the kiddos for 2 weeks:) And I just don't know what I'm going to do with myself:) Yes, I do.... I plan on getting lots of work done! I'll let you know when I get stuff listed... I did put a few items up over the weekend..... But there is more to come:)

So.... Until Next Time....

Finally some minis:)

Thought I'd show you a few minis I've been working on for myself. Eventually they'll go in The Painted Lady. This was one of the cake shop cake toppers... I was blue with red trim. I started with a few coats of Gesso and then spent the next week painting. Every time I'd think I was done... I'd find one more spot to fix.. and now that I see it online, I see even more spots to fix, ack!!

But I sure do love this color combo!!

I even took some scrapbook paper- one of my favorite designs:) and used it for the floor. Not to sure what will go in it yet..... But it sure is cute!

This I made yesterday. It was the bottom to one of the Michael's $1.00 hutches. I FINALLY got it to break apart in the microwave- I've tried this before, and I guess I didn't cook it long enough. I will say though while trying to pry this apart- I did break quite a bit of it....

I really like how it turned out. It was a darker blue, but I didn't like that... so I added white, and painted another coat.... Then went back and sanded it down to let the darker blue shine though...

...and I didn't crackle it..... I thought about it.... but decided against it because all the other pieces I have are crackled and I wanted something different.

And while I was digging for paper, I found this. Who knows why I put it in my paper bin?!

It's a drawer, painted and aged and then lined with my fav paper again. I'm thinking it will hang on the way, and I just gotta find something to frame in it....

I have lots of unfinished projects around here, lol..... But for now....

I've got a blog trade to work on.... Oh how I wish I could share the details with you..... one day:)



Until Next Time....