June 16, 2008

• Catching Up...

  It has been awhile since I blogged. We did get home from England, but just before we left, Joe's mom had a heart attack and we had no idea how bad things were and if Joe should stay or go home as planned, etc. In the end, we decided it was best for us both to go home, since she would be sure she was dying if Joe stayed (since that is how she thinks.)

  Luckily, over the next several days and tests, they found it was a mild heart attack and did surgery to insert three stents. She is back home now and doing very well, for which we are all very glad.

  I only had a week home before I had to head off again for my week of classes in Maine. I belong to IGMA (International Guild of Miniature Artists) and they hold a Guild school once a year with the cream-of-the-cream miniature artists. The timing was not at all good, but there was not much I could do at that point. So off I went and I was glad I did. It was really fantastic and I learned a lot, especially in miniature wood working. I took four classes and here are the results:

  

  This was a painting class. I took it because I don't have much confindence in my painting skills and was hoping to pick up some pointers. It turned out a lot better than I expected, but she did pick out all the paint colors, told me where to paint what and where to shade.

  

  In this class I learned to solder copper wire for this stained-glass lampshade. I am sorry, this is not the best picture. So, it is very fine work and it is a real trick to keep one solder joint from becoming undone as you do another. But I really did enjoy and plan to try my hand at more work in a similar vein. (And yes, this lamp lights up, I was just too lazy to take a picture with it on.)

  

  This class was really fun! We made peaches out of Fimo clay and I did this in just 2 hours! They really turned out great and even if you click on the photo and see them oversized, they still look realistic! I am definitely going to try my hand at more mini food products!

  

  

  This was the hardest and longest project, and as you may have noticed that I am not finished. I worked on this for 5 hours a day, for 6 days. All the scrolled work had to be hand cut, carved or filed. There is no way to do it with a scroll saw or machine of any type, being so intricate. So that is where a lot of my hours went, slowly and carefully cutting with a jewelers saw, needle files and uber fine sand paper.

  Hopefully, I can get this finished in the near future and post some pictures when done. So that is what I have been doing for the last week. I will post some lovely pictures of Maine soon.

  Meanwhile, the girls are out of school for the summer and we are busy making plans of fun things to do while they are home. I have some fun craft ideas and local travel and adventures. Well once I get over the cold that I also picked up in Maine! LOL! I slept 18 hours my first night home and another 2 yesterday afternoon. Then I slept 11 hours last night. Bleh! This too shall pass!

  I hope everyone is well and having a good summer!

  • 5:42 pm
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