Framed Goldwork Bird

I found a suitable frame and framed my Goldwork Bird. I hesitated to post the pictures. It didn't matter how I turned the picture or where I put it I was not satisfied with the result, but here it is...

I'll keep it, even though I don't like this greyish-bluish background, but it was not my choice of fabric...

Natalia

Good Sam Miniatures Showcase 2013, Rick Pierce's Class and OT... - Part 2

...Leaving Santa Cruz we headed towards North and took 1 North Highway, reached Half Moon Bay and spent there a beautiful day enjoining its beaches, cold water of the Pacific ocean, and clam chowder made with real ingredients and without added flower.

Next day the weather had changed and we faced thick fog instead of sunny morning. The first stop we made on our way back home that day was the Fort Ross.

It was very interesting to know that the first California's windmill was built at Fort Ross in 1814 by Russians.

The mill ground grain into flour for bread to feed both Settlement Ross and the Russians' Alaskan settlements. While the original structure no longer exists, the historical record captures many images and references to the Russian-style windmill.

The replica stolbovka style windmill, just as the original, features authentic mechanisms, a "nail-free" roof structure made of birch bark, and two pairs of blade wings. This historical reconstruction was carried out by Russian masters of the windmill building technique as introduced in the early 19th century using such traditional tools as an ax, planer, scraper, and adzes of that period. The mill was constructed in Russia and shipped to Fort Ross for installation.

I had a very interesting feeling walking along the road that lead to the former Russian settlement

The first house we saw was The Call Family Residence

George Washington Call (1829-1907) bought 2,5000 acres including Fort Ross in 1873. He and his Chilean wife, Mercedes Leiva (1850-1933), soon made Fort Ross a thriving community center and shipping port for neighboring farms, ranches, and lumber mills.

These are the pictures of the Fort Ross itself

Church at the Fort Ross

I would love to own this bell

Inside the church

Inside of some of the rooms

Next place of interest we stopped at was Point Arena Lighthouse that was erected in 1870.

This site and natural landmark has been a welcome guide to self navigation for ships along the Rugged Mendocino coast since 1870, destroyed by the 1906 earthquake, two years later stately tower was erected.

159 steps up and down

Do you see these formations?

There is an explanation why they look the way you see. As I've been told, there are two plates at that point - the Natural American and The Pacific - that are moving and change the shape of the coast.

There is one more place that stroke my attention and I wanted to tell you about. We drove through a little town Loleta (almost like Lolita by Nabokov, as unpredictable as Lolita herself). There is about 700 population, if I am not mistaken.

First I liked that absolutely gorgeous abandoned factory and couldn't resist not to take some pictures of it

You might think there is nothing extraordinary in this town. It was early motning, around 9 a.m. and half of the town was sparkling in the morning sunshine, when the rest of the town was sinking in the deep fog. For instance, I took the pictures of this church at the same time as the abandoned factory (they are located across each other), but the church looked so creepy and mystic in the fog

and then this forgotten Gilded Rose Tavern

or this out of business Antique store

or this dog on the chair almost in the middle of the road

and then absolutely unexpectedly for us we found 2 pearls:

this Cheese Factory with a HUGE variety of different kinds of cheese, where a pack of cheese is sold for only $3.99

While we were waiting for the Factory store to be opened we found the place with absolutely incredible bakery inside and absolutely beautiful baker hutch for this place.

Last but not least, can't not to show you the pictures of elks in the Elk country

As for Rick's class, as you know I left it on the third day and for now my castle looks like this

Time to start working on it!

I hope I didn't make you too tired and thank you for your interest and patience!

Happy Sunday!

Natalia

Good Sam Miniatures Showcase 2013, Rick Pierce's Class and OT... - Part 1

Good Sam show 2013 was fun and success for us.

The whole trip starting from Washington state to California, crossing Oregon state, was fun. We like travelling. Washington state saw us off with early morning thick fog and California welcomed us with a beautiful sunrise on the horizon.

We drove by the gorgeous Shasta Mountain.

Dominating the landscape, Mt. Shasta can be seen for 100 miles from certain points drawing hikers, skiers and travelers. We liked that place so much that decided to come there some day when it is much warmer and stay for a couple of days and enjoy nature around.

Mt. Shasta rises 11,000' from the base to summit for a total elevation of 14,162' above the sea level, one of the nation's largest rises, ranking 49th.

It is one of the southermost volcanoes in the Cascade Range and is the second tallest, falling short of Mt. Rainier by 248'.

It has a 17 mile diameter with 5 glaciers, the Whitney glacier being the largest in California. The most recent eruption occured in 1786 and was witnessed from the sea by explorer La Perouse.

I liked the exhibition at the Good Sam Miniatures Showcase a lot. I took pictures off all displayed pieces but unfortunately am uploading only a couple of them due to poor quality, :(((

UNFORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AGAIN! SOMEBODY STOLE A VERY EXPENSIVE MINIATURE BEAR FROM THE DISPLAY THAT RHONA LEE PRESENTED AT THE EHXIBITION! I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE COULD DO IT!

Here is a picture of the Rhona's roombox that I took on the second day of the show and the bear wasn't there already (he was sitting on the white chair),

later Yuliya Klim told me that the bear was stolen. I saw and talked to Rhona Lee (she is such a nice lady!) and she is very very upset! If anyone who took the pictures of her roombox has one with the bear, please, post it on your blog, Facebok, the Camp, whatever miniatures group you belong to and help Rhona to find her bear.

...back to the show...

You know already I took Pete and Pam Boorum's class. I put together this trunk that still needs hinges to be installed. I hope I won't forget about it, :)))

While my Sweetheart and I were at the Sale room, Nataly, my daughter took 3 kids' classes on Saturday and some free classes on Sunday and had a lot of fun making different miniatures, like a bed, birdhouse in the garden, etc...
Everyone was busy!

My favorite part of the show is meeting my old friends and making new ones.

One of them I was so happy to see again was Gideon Wolf. His business is called Wild Wolf Miniatures.

You have to check out his website http://www.wildwolfminiatures.com/ by all means.

Another old friend that I met first time at the show was Rachel Roet from Holland. Rachel and I met on-line and became friends, and finally met at the show. Rachel is a very enthusiastic, caring and sweet lady full of energy and happiness!

I also met Nancy, Kathleen, Emmely, Corky, Pat, Anne, Maritza, Diane, Jane and many other (forgive me, if I didn't call your name...) and thank you very much everyone who stopped by. It is a blast to meet and know you.

After the show was over we had to move to another hotel in Morgan Hill, what a nice, clean, stylish city it is! Next day I had a class with Rick Pierce. I've been always fascinated with his work and finally had a chance to meet a Master. Before I've made my decision to take this class, I thought it would helped me a lot to start and finish the project under supervision. Unfortunately during the first day I understood that 5-day class is probably not for me - I can't work under pressure - you can't rush the perfection, lol. :))) During the first day we were supposed to finish painting all steps, windows and doors frames. It took me 4-5 hours to paint 2 sets of steps. Actually, it took more to carve them because I wanted them to look old and beaten. As a result while all group of students finished painting the details at the end of a day,

I had only my steps painted and still not satisfied with the painting result, don't see that character in them yet...

Next day it appeared that my Sweetheart got a flu and it was difficult for him to entertain kids and take them different places. After 2 days of class I had to quit and we decided to go home... may be such long project that requires more attention for details and your own supplies, paint is not ideal for me (because with each step I had to take I came up with my own ideas I was not ready to implement at that moment due to absence of my own paint and tools). So, my advise for those who is going to take Rick's class in Germany: look at the house, think what you want to change (floor?, doors?, colors?...) and take everything you need with you even if Rick provides everything...

You remember I made a post about Yuliya Klem? I met her at the show too and it was such a blast that I could speak miniatures in Russian. Yuliya took Bluette Meloney's class and here is a picture of a working process. I am sure she is close to finish it now.

...and we decided to go home... taking the longest drive ever - we were heading to the coast! The dream to jump over the waves of the Pacific ocean couldn't leave the sick minds of my DH and son.

Here we are...

Saying Goodbye to Morgan Hill and all its habitats

we said Hi to Santa Cruz, beautiful ocean,

and seals, they were sooo playful and load!

but some of them tired and sleepy (it was really hot there!)

The wharf atrracts a noisy bunch of California sea lions. Each year they migrate to Monterey bay National Marine Sanctuary from breeding grounds in Southern California and Mexico. Most of the animals there are mails, coming to the wharf to rest, or to feed on fish in the water around the pier pilings.

to be continued...

Natalia