Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Three Little Things...




Adding Up.......

I don't know about you, Dear Readers, but the month of June has flown by and I feel as though I have accomplished almost nothing in my Mini projects. This is always a disappointing feeling.... because I have so many projects and always am planning the next steps for them in my head... and not always managing to find the Time to make it happen. So in an attempt to not be too disappointed by the teeny amount I accomplished last weekend, I will instead proudly proclaim that I added to Three of my ongoing mini projects! Above you can see that I have made quite good progress (depending on how you are measuring it, of course...) on the petit-point stitching that I began last Winter. The background has been slowly filling in with the cream color that is so difficult to distinguish from the mesh cloth threads.... it is so easy to skip stitches...! But it is nearing the point where I must decide whether I will be leaving it a "work-in -progress" with a few stitches left undone as if the mini person is still working on it.... it comes with a lovely sewing stand to mount it in, which I still have to assemble.


So really, this project is progressing nicely!

The second little thing I accomplished
 was to attach the tiles that make the top surface
 for the base of the Gypsy Wagon cooking hearth.....
 nine whole tiles glued to the cardboard surface!
 
You can see it above... 
I know, my picture is quite dark, 
even with the spotlight shining on it....
(You would think that on one of the Longest Days
 of the Year I would be able to capture it in sunlight.... 
but that did not happen...)

Here, you can see it a little closer..... 
these tiles are so wonderful.....
I do love the patterns! 
I will still need to trim the front edges to the right depth....
 and the base still needs to be textured to resemble stucco....
 None of which I had time to accomplish last week.
But the base now looks more like a
 part of the hearth which is what I had hoped!
 
And the Third little thing I accomplished, Dear Readers,
 was the fourteenth Lilac blossom!

Here you can see All the little florets lined up
waiting for their paint color to be added.....

And much much later, the assembled blossom!

And here you can see it added to the collection in the Safe Box....!
Fourteen blossoms completed!

And even though this might be the Shortest Post
 I have ever posted, Dear Readers,
And all I have to show are Three little things,
They are Adding Up to a whole lot more!


24 comments:

  1. Hi Betsy! I feel the same as you, when sometimes it feels that you can't accomplish anything in mini....
    But the top surface for the base of the Gypsy Wagon cooking hearth looks beautiful with these tiny gorgeous tiles. There's so much detail to see, Betsy, and the same is for your miniature embroidery!!
    You say that it's dark on your pictures because of no sun, well, we have too much sun and are sitting in the dark because of too much sunshine, hehehehe ;O. Strange world isn't it, maybe we can do an exchange of our local weather?! Ah well, that would not good for everyone, so we have to patiently wait until the weather is changing over again, isn't it ;)?
    Making flowers is very timeconsiming, so Hurray for your fourteenth Lilac blossom, Betsy, well done! Your safe box looks like a precious treasure box with the flowers which are already finished!
    And yes, you're so right: three little things are adding up to a lot more! I'll remember this when I'm complaining that I don't accomplish much because of the hot weather. Because we're steaming up again with our temperatures to another heatwave for the next week, phew :)!
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Dear Ilona, I hope you are getting some cooler weather by now! (We are steaming up over here!) I am always trying to remind myself that every little bit counts! So progress is progress! I am just greedy and always wishing for more! LOL!

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  2. I think you're doing wonderfully. There are months that go like that. Your lilac blossoms look wonderful and I love your embroidery project... I think it will be great finished or unfinished. Unfinished leaves some great openings for story lines though, how long has it been left, why was it left, is it something only worked on in the evenings during free time... that sort of thing.

    Your gypsy stove is coming along so well. So cheerful and pretty.

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    1. Thank you Sheila! I do plan to leave a little bit of the embroidery still to sew.... because I love the "story" of it! And the Gypsy wagons are giving me trouble... I thought I had the interiors designed... but then I change my mind! So we will see!

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  3. I'm glad it was short, 'cause I have no time this morning. Only to say I wish I had tiles in my kitchen! And to vote for leaving the little petit-point unfinished - that would be realistic.
    xoxox
    Mom

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    1. Thanks Mom! I do plan to leave part of it undone...! :)

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  4. You are not alone in being alarmed at just how fast June has come and gone, and also in the feeling that not much progress has been made on the mini To-Do list. However, I keep telling myself that all of the tasks I have accomplished have been complicated, time consuming ones, that in the end will delight me. I love the "in progress" idea, as it makes the house seem so real. And you have to pat yourself on the back for the stove and tiles, as you had so many challenges to overcome, which you are doing beautifully! And the 14th blossom is truly a benchmark to be celebrated, especially when all the real life things summer brings can be such a force in stealing time away from minis!

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    1. Hi Jodi! You are so right that the in progress idea makes the mini so real... I do plan to leave it that way! And I will eventually figure out how the Gypsy Stoves should be built.... but not knowing how slows me down and I jump to other projects! LOL! The lilacs are becoming "easy" ....just time consuming! :)

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  5. Hi Betsy!
    Your short post of your Tiny Achievements deserve a round of applause because at least you are producing something; I on the other hand, have not.
    In my eyes your painstaking needlepoint is making 'RAPID' progress. I love the idea of it eventually being mounted on a work-frame too.
    The stove tiles are looking MARVELOUS, and the lady gypsy of the wagon is sure to Love Them just as much as we do! :D
    The 14th blossom is also in very good company and thus your stockpile of lilac flowers is visibly growing.
    I find it very encouraging to read about your steady progress Betsy because although it may not seem like a lot done to you- it definitely IS to all of us!

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth! I know we work in such different ways... I am sure all your next magnificent creations are "brewing" in your creative depths... and will reveal themselves in Time! Me, I just skip to the next project where I know I can accomplish "something" to hold at bay the no-minis-built angst! LOL! Sometimes all I've got are a lot of mini bits! :)

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  6. I echo what others are saying Betsy. Congratulations on your progress. I love everything you are doing and think it is especially interesting because they are all so different. The skills needed for needlepoint are very different from flower/lilac blossom making.

    We are having a really wonderful summer in Ireland this year with wall to wall sunshine. I am not doing ANY mini work because I want to be outside as much as possible, so well done to you for continuing to progress. Little steps added together make a long journey!
    Carol :) x

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    1. Hi Carol! I am glad to hear you are having a wonderful summer and are spending it outdoors and enjoying it to the hilt! Yes, all the little steps do add up and I remind myself that it is really all about the Journey anyway! :)

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  7. Any progress is good Betsey, and to get your fourteenth lilac made is great progress! Together, they are sarting to look like a nice shrub’s worth. And your needlework is almost done - that’s an accomplishment too, worthy of a little self congratulations. We all have less productive periods and that is Ok. I hope you are enjoying the summer warmth. I am VERY over winter and it’s a long way to the end. Xx

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    1. Thank you Shannon! I hope you get a little warmth from time to time... being at the opposite ends of the earth and Seasons... it is hard to remember the depths of the darkness! I am glad you think my lilac blossoms are starting to look like a shrub's worth.... I know how big my shrub is though... so I am just keeping on making them! LOL!

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  8. Hi, Betsy - Yes, June DID fly by, and here it is - already - July first! I'm happy to see that you accomplished three things during the June Fly By! That's three more than I accomplished. I love the sewing stand for your petit-point stitching; I also like the idea of leaving a few stitches "in progress." But that might be hard to do when you're eager to have the piece all done! The tiles look better and better, and the hearth tiles finish the area off perfectly. I'm looking forward to seeing the final results. I do love these gypsy wagons! Congratulations on making steady progress on the lilac blossoms. Fourteen! That's an impressive accumulation; I made only 17 geraniums for the villa, which took me 17 hours - and I was ready to quit! I certainly appreciate your perseverance and endurance. Enjoy July!

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    1. Hi Marjorie! I am planning to leave the stitching a "work -in-progress.... it is such a fun idea! The Gypsy wagons are taking their Time and giving me a lot of challenges! You would think that such a "small" space could be quickly finished... but I am finding that's not so! LOL! As for the lilacs, I am sure I will eventually have enough blossoms.... but I know it won't be soon! :)

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  9. Yes time does move quicker it seems, it is already July and the days are shortening again!!
    I admire your work on the tiniest of things like the petit point and the lilacs. Your patience and perseverance are an inspiration!
    I love the tiles. The hearth is coming together quite nicely!
    Hugs!

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    1. Thank you Veronique! I am enjoying all the tiny progress on the tiny details! (I do love Tiny!) :):)

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  10. Three little things..you have done at least three things more than I did. June has been quick, hectic and it's gone....no mini time for me as well :(

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    1. Hi Rosanna! I hope you get some mini time again soon! I always enjoy seeing what you are making! :)

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    1. Thank you! Welcome to my blog! I appreciate your comment!

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  12. The first sentences of this post could come from me too… *LOL* I have once more no idea where June went to… and we're back to heat and too much sunshine which are together with some ongoing renovations not the best conditions for creating miniatures. I really wish I could say I achieved THREE things like you did… *sigh* (But I'm telling you a secret… come closer… the only thing I achieved last week was painting decorative wood figurines for our garden… for our winter garden to be exact… a snowman and a reindeer… oh my, the C-thing is coming closer… *gulp*) It's always great to see your progress - lilac blossom No. 14 already! Bravo for keeping up with your goals of one blossom a week. And every time I'm looking at these tiles I even like them more, a fantastic choice. And your stitching is so beautiful… btw I would leave a few stitches for the mini person to do. Why should you do all the work - get yourself some help! ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. Dear Birgit, I am already thinking too much about the "next" Christmas Card which I must draw.... it is so hard to believe it is "right around the corner"! LOL! And yes, I am planning to leave a few stitches still in need of sewing for the needlework stand .... it will make it so much more interesting that way! The lilac blossoms are becoming "easy" now that I have made so many! LOL! It is the leaves I am worried about....! But I know I have the example of other leaf-makers to reassure me that it can be done! :):)

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