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

Good Sam Miniatures Showcase 2013 - Pete and Pam Boorum Class

After 2 days of nice relaxing driving through Oregon and California we arrived to San Jose, CA where the Good Sam Miniatures Showcase will take place this coming weekend.

Yesterday I had a class with Pete and Pam Boorum. There were 8 students making a Marquetry chest. Pete and Pam Boorum are not only excellent at what they are doing but they are great teaches as well. Under their supervision I made this chest with marquetry on the top lid.

I had to go to set up a table and still need to install the hinges. This is a picture of Pam Boorum (with magnifying glasses) showing us, students, how to attach hinges to the chest.

It was a great class!

There are 116 dealers from different countries at the show and I hopefully I will be able to take pictures of their work tomorrow. It will be a busy day!

At the end I wanted to show you the beautiful sunrise in early morning in California.

Natalia, off to bed!

Confession - Yes, I did, I cheated...

For me it was like a little betray to what I am involved in miniature and devote most of my free time - needlework, stitching.

The reason why I did it is a try to understand what miniatures' fans/collectors want to see in what is called "miniature needlework". The question for you is: would you prefer to own a piece of furniture, wall hanging, framed pictures that has been specifically stitched in scale on fine silk gauze and with fine silk or you'd rather chose to buy a piece of furniture, for instance, miniature firescreen, chair, settee upholstered with an antique petit point?

I have never used old antique or vintage petit point for upholstering miniature furniture myself, though I have a couple of pieces I could sacrifice for it. Actually, I did sacrificed them and cut without any regret on small pieces and upholstered a couple of chairs.

Want to hear what you think about it. Does the design look for you to be in scale?

and this is my favorite piece:

A needlepoint deer

Can't wait to hear what side you will take: for or against using antique petit point in miniature.

Natalia, waiting for your thoughts and ideas.

Meet an Artist - Yuliya Klem

Today I would like to introduce Yuliya Klem to you.

I met Yuliya during the on-line doll making classes from "A" is for Artistic and followed the process of her work with a big interest.

Yuliya was born and raised in Ukraine, graduated from the University of Texas, traveled all over the world and had a great opportunity to attend classes at the Royal School of Needlework (UK), attended seminars on the history of costume at the Museo del Traje in Spain and completed a program that earned her the highest certification level from the City & Guilds (London) in Design and Embroidery.

Being a creative and talented artist Yuliya not only keeps exploring the world by taking different classes and learning new techniques but also makes her own dolls, sews historic costumes, and does beautiful embroidery. Just look at her work on her website http://yuliyaklem.com/

Here is just a couple of them:

Lady Mother, 21", Paperclay and cloth

Goldwork by Yuliya

Yuliya's interest to miniatures started with the dolls. Here you can find miniature dolls that she dressed http://yuliyaklem.com/minidolls.html

Granny, dress pattern by Yuliya

Red Queen from Dana Burton's kit

Please, visit Yuliya's website http://yuliyaklem.com/ and have fun enjoying her art!

Many creative hours to you!
Natalia

More Chairs Upholstered With Handwoven Fabric

I had time to upholster 2 more chairs with handwoven fabric I finished on my loom:

Chair 1 is a corner chair upholstered with a weaved overshot motif

Chair 2

Have a great day!
Natalia

Good Sam Miniatures Showcase 2013!

Today we are leaving for the Good Sam Miniatures Showcase that will be held in San Jose, CA on the 12-13 of October.

I am double excited about this event. First of all, I will meet my old and new friends there! And I am taking 2 classes as well.

The first class will be Marquetry Blanket Chest by Pete and Pam Boorum.

I am very happy they opened an Academy on the West coast and one of the classes the Academy offers this year is Medieval Hunting Lodge and Conservatory, A Folly built in the 18th or 19th Century, by Rick Pierce. I am very excited! I hope I will have enough energy for this 5 days class.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Mini hugs, Natalia

Дворянское Гнездо - Day 3 - Recovery!

I wanted to thank everyone who left comments on my previous post. Supported by your encouragement almost all day yesterday I spent making bricks and applying them to the house. When the entire house was covered with bricks I took it to the porch and sprayed with a gray color a little bit.

Now it looks like after the fire, but we can't be afraid of change, true? At least, now the house is talking to me.

Actually, I liked the result. It is still not finished and not perfect but it is closer to what I wanted to see.

I also weathered shingles and they don't look shiny gold anymore...

For the bricks I used DAS clay

It doesn't hurt to admit we all do mistakes. The important part of making them is accepting and talking about them, finding the solution and not giving up. I had so many projects started and forgotten just because of a fear of a possibility of ruining them. In some way your support helped me to overcome that fear and keep working.

I am leaving for the Good Sam show in San Jose, California in one day and will be back only after the 20th of October. I am excited that this time at the show I am not only dealing, but taking 2 classes about which I will tell you later. So, Vanessa's mansion will be left in the condition you see it today and it will give me time to clear up my thoughts about what to do next.

Have a great day!

Natalia

Дворянское Гнездо - Day 2 Disaster!

Usually you are not supposed to make posts about your unsuccessful experiment on your blog, but I am doing it to share my pain with you, :)))

This weekend I had a little bit of time to work on my new dollhouse. I didn't like plain white color and really wanted to make this house old looking. No, not haunted, just with a little bit trace of history on it.

First of all, windows on the sides were removed.

I painted bay windows, the trim of the house and columns dark blue and crackled them...

...and then I went wild! I painted the house blue! Disaster! My poor Vanessa doesn't want to talk to me anymore! My sweetheart and my son laughed all day. I've got support only from Nataly, my little princess, she came to me, gave me a hug and said that the house looks unusual and that's why it is beautiful.

After a while I decided that I am done experimenting with the paint and I always liked dollhouses with bricks and stones and I've never done it before. I made up my mind to cover the house with bricks!

I made bricks from the clay that I purchased with a huge discount when our local Ben Franklin craft store went out of business, added some texture paint

and painted it

What happened next and how house looks now I will tell you in my next post!

Natalia

Weaving in Miniature

If you follow my blog you know that I picked up a new hobby - weaving. I finished my weaving sample and am really very impressed with the possibilities weaving gives. Since it was just a sample of little samples, I used some small pieces to upholster chairs.

I had this little boy from Heidy Ott and decided to change a seat cover.

Before:

After: the design reminds Bargello in needlepoint and was weaved with interesting combination of silk and very fine wool yarn, believe or not.

This Bespaque chair with a blue cover

was transformed in this chair with weaved chair seat in delicate green with fine cotton

I am not impressed with a result of upholstering of these 2 footstools, but it was only an experiment that is a lasting process...

This footstool was made by Elga Koster for me in 2010 http://elgakoster.blogspot.com/

This footstool was made by me, again as an experiment

So far, I love weaving and am willing to continue working on weaving different kinds of fabric suitable for miniature upholstery, curtains, rugs, towels, bed covers, even fabric for doll's dressing, but later about it...

Happy weekend!
Natalia

A Line of New Designs in French Style - New Commission

My last commission, a miniature petit point chair seat, is finished. The customer picked up a light peach color for the background. This is my own design and t is stitched on 49 count silk gauze and I will add more pictures at the end of October when the customer's chair will be assembled.

I've been carrying an idea to start a series of petit point designs in miniature in French style for a long time. This commission is just a nice start. I am planning to make the miniature petit point kits in French style for pillows, chair seats, firescreens, etc... be available in 2014. I hope you will enjoy it!

Many mini hugs!
Natalia

GRAND OPENING - My New Website

I am very happy to announce that today is a day of Grand Opening of my new website Dollhouse Needlepoint Patterns and Kits. You can enter it by using this link www.dollhouseneedlepoint.com, or by clicking on this image on the right hand side bar

I will offer a wide range of petit point kits for your dollhouse, including kits for rugs, pillows, Christmas stockings, slippers, firescreens, etc... However, due to the recent increase in shipping cost I have chosen to offer Dollhouse Miniature Petit point Patterns in PDF format. There is no shipping cost for it. Hard copies of patterns will be still available upon request. In this case, shipping will be calculated based on weight and destination.

The website is still under construction and I will add patterns and kits each week. If you wish to be on the list for a Newsletter, please, contact me personally with your data at scarletsails@live.com.

Right now you can find silk gauze of different counts and sizes available at my website http://www.dollhouseneedlepoint.com/apps/webstore/products/category/963953?page=1

and some wood kits by McQueenie Dollhouse Miniature http://www.dollhouseneedlepoint.com/apps/webstore/products/category/963942?page=1

Please, feel free to browse the website, read the blog, see what is available right now, check out the Links and shows I am planning to attend and may be meet you there!

Happy Tuesday! Happy 1st October!

Natalia