Happy Mother's Day! Swap and Giveaway!

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying a lovely Mother's Day! :)

 

My middle made me this lovely vanilla and strawberry cake! Yummy!!! :)

Thank you all so much for joining in on my swap and giveaway! :)

This has been a lot of fun and look at what delightful items have been swapped!

Sonya >>>>> Lyssa

 

Lyssa>>>>>Cecilia

 

Cecilia>>>>>Dale

 

Dale>>>>>Kim

 

 

Kim>>>>>Rosanna

 

 

Rosanna>>>>>Linda

 

Linda>>>>>Marlies

 

Marlies>>>>>Patty

 

Patty>>>>>Fabiola

 

Fabiola>>>>>Chrissey

Chrissey>>>>>Jaana

 

Jaana>>>>>Sonya

 

Mine has not arrived yet and I've not heard back yet from Jaana.

 

You can click on everyone's names to visit their blogs. :)

 

New followers to Welcome! :)

Lauren

ultsu

Amazing Miniatures

Roz & Aidy

Sandra

Steinworks

 Rosamargarita

carmen

brandyr.01 

Mieke

Thank you so much for following my blog! :)

And for the giveaway!

The winner gets to choose one of the following sets;

 

Pink

 

Blue

 

 

Blue and Yellow

Hubby lent a hand to the giveaway process. :)

and the winner is.....

 

Sound the trumpets!

Kim!

Congratulations to Kim!

Thank you all so much for playing along, this has been the most fun.

I love all the items that were exchanged in the swap, everyone is just so creative and so thoughtful. :)

 

I so hope that everyone really gets to enjoy the day. Mine is most assuredly off to a great start after getting to see Mr. Darcy this morning. lol ;)

 

I'm off to go get my oldest at college with hubby while the other two are working. We'll have a nice long ride in a beautiful part of the country.

Enjoy!

I'll catch up with you all during the week. :)

News to share and this and that :)

 Well, I hope you all had a lovely Easter holiday with family and friends, if you celebrate. :)

Isn't this the most darling thing?

I got this from De from De-Lightful Minis.

She and I are doing a little swap after I saw this on her blog.

She made me one with lots more pink (of course) I'm making her some kitchen chair cushions in return.

I thought her use of the one of a hook and eye as scissors to be nothing short of genius, but De always amazes me in more ways than one!

In other news, lol ;) I wanted to share with you what my friend Yuki from Spain has been making. Working TV's and laptops for the dollhouse. See this youtube video.  This is his etsy shop; Amatheria.

 

My friend Sandi found some of her miniatures in this slide show after attending the Boise, Idaho Miniatures Show. :)  You can find her etsy shop here. She also has a new shop on zibbet.

 

If you are on facebook, you probably already had a peek at this.

 

 

A new color scheme I am creating in for my giveaway next month.

Blue and Yellow.

Some close ups. :)

 Ottoman and pillows.

 

I'm trying to give the winner of my giveaway some choices. :)

If you are interested in my giveaway, see this post and follow the directions.

 

I hope your week is off to a fabulous start and that you are busy having fun with minis!

Until next time, my friends. :) 

Welcome New Followers! :)

Oy, it's been a while since I've welcomed my new followers and there are whoa the many!

Nice to see I was even gaining followers in my absence from blogging, that was sweet! :)

And, just as spring welcomes us with flowers....

I welcome all of you! :)

Heleni

lluna45

ayamontinomaria

maria I

dee

klara

Brujita

Linda

Dave Williams

Chrissey

Marlies

Laurie H.

Stan

Beatriz Martin

Fabiola

Alison

Gemma

inglebor willigenburg

anna

Jaana

Vinweeda Magic

Heidi

CARMEN

Jenny

Angela

lula miniland

Paco

PolkadotShroom

chourparvril

Tanya

Jollie

May

Dave Fluty

Susi

Violet

Mrs. Pitstop

Nuno Mata

Malu 2

Debbie Mise

Pepita

GWCC

Eli en Karina

weelittlewest

Just

Lenira

Eva

Roberto Ferres

Miniatures by Natalie

lisajohnsonrichards

Daisy

clerk

Sara Scales

berri

Ester y su Mundo

Tabitha Corsica

XIONY Miniatures

Enchanticals

Clara

Daydreamer

Kim

Lirael

Andriana Guedes

Art of Mini

mini_babies

ARTISANNE

Nina

Heather

BiWuBar

Tracy

otterline

mairi

marie

and..........

from out of the shadows we welcome...

erika

ta_pozzo

Marrin Powell

maushaus17

oneill686

rivervujc@comcast.net

mspapelita

mattysdolls

Mini Aussie

wrovsell

Thank you all so much for becoming a follower of my blog! :)

Everyone, there's lots of links to click and new blogs to be found!

Really, there are a lot of fabulous links here. :)

Stop by and tell them I sent you and tell them I said Hi! :)

If you have a blog and don't see a link at your name, please let me know by commenting on this post with a link and I'll try to catch up with my next posting. :) Hate to leave anyone out! :)

If you speak in another language, I strongly encourage you to add the google translate widget. You can steal if from my blog. While I love looking at the pictures, I also love to see the words you write and be able to read them in my language. :) Just a thought, you might gain more readers that way. :)

anyhoo....

If you haven't signed up for my giveaway, see this post and follow the directions! :)

If you are having any problems with getting in touch with your swap mate, email me and I will help you as best I can! :) dales_dreams@comcast.net

Hopefully, more info to come soon! I apologise for the delay, but, I've been compounded with computer issues as of late and you know, that stuff we call life... when we're not making, buying, playing with minis. :)

Wow, remind me to welcome followers more often! This took hours and hours to do! :)

But, I hope you all find wonderful new great blogs to follow as a result!

As always, if you've been following my blog for a while, you know, everything that is highlighted in pink is a clickable link, so click around! Have some fun! :)

Until next time my friends! :)

Would you like Pink or Blue? :)

You can't see it too well in the pic, but there is a white faux fur rug there.

I adore the lace trim on these pillows, it's vintage. :)

Can anyone guess what the core of the over-stuffed ottomans are?

Those are things I've been working on for my giveaway. I also have two other color combinations I'm thinking about doing.

I've also been working on my swap items, but, I can't show you that, because it's a Secret! shhhh!!! :)

At the moment, I've got about twenty different projects on my work table in various stages of completion.

Do you do this?

 I find I start one project, which makes me think of another project, which leads to another... and so on and so on and so one. lol I like having a bunch of things going at one time, makes the time pass so quickly.

I was working with some stuff, which led to this.

I know! Wrong season... but, I've had this greenery for a while and was just dying to see it come to life.

How about an alternative color combination?

If they can have a Chanukah bush, why not a wreath too?

If you are having any problems with the swap, just let me know or drop me a line dales_dreams@comcast.net

If you have not signed up to be in my giveaway, please see this post for instructions.

I have many new followers to welcome, I see. :)

So glad to have you all along, I'm behind in my welcoming, but will tend to that shortly.

For now, I say, Welcome All!

Enjoy!

:)

Thanks so much for stopping by, I love to hear what you have to say. :)

Swap Details! :)

So sorry for the delay! I had quite the busy day creating yesterday and by the time evening came along, the brain was just misfiring. ;)  So, I had some leisure time and read blogs instead of posting on mine. :)

(naughty girl, I know!)

Okay, so here we go with the swap details.

I had to really rattle my head to think of a  random way to figure out who was going to swap with who.

I know!

 This required brain power on my part.

Which is why it was probably best left for a fresh start on a bright and sunny Monday, as it is here. :)

I alphabetised every one's blog names and that is what determined who would give to whom.

Sonya >>>>> Lyssa

Lyssa>>>>>Cecilia

Cecilia>>>>>Dale

Dale>>>>>Kim

Kim>>>>>Rosanna

Rosanna>>>>>Linda

Linda>>>>>Marlies

Marlies>>>>>Patty

Patty>>>>>Fabiola

Fabiola>>>>>Chrissey

Chrissey>>>>>Jaana

Jaana>>>>>Sonya

 

Okay! So, you see your name and >>>>> is who you give to. Does this make sense? I hope so! :)

See this post's comments to find their color preferences.

And, be sure to contact each other for addresses. :)

As soon as you create your item, please take a pic and send it to me here. But, don't share it until the big reveal on May 8th. I'm hoping we all have enough time to create and send and receive by then!

(wipes sweat off brow)

The top pic is a doll that Patricia made me. Isn't she just adorable? We even have matching bracelets, she and I. :)  Patricia makes the most wonderful dolls and has fabulous films and stories on her blog.

The chocolate and cherry crazy cake was made by Deb. Isn't it divine? I love it so much! She's busy celebrating the return of her hubby from Iraq. You can find her blog here.

Since so many people have pink and blue as their colors of choice, I've been making things in pink and blue and thinking about what the giveaway prize will be. I wish I had more to show you this far, but I don't. ;)

If you want to be included in my giveaway, just follow the directions and comment on this blog post here.

I think we have a great crew for the swap and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone makes. :) 

Thanks so much to all of you for participating!

Happy Creating!

until next time.......... :)

Giveaway, Swap and More! :)

Okay, so I am going to do a swap and a giveaway!

First the swap. Since I've never run a swap before, this will be an education in the process. ;)

The swap theme is "Mother's Day" so anything feminine that you would give as a gift on Mother's Day would be appropriate. Mother's Day here in the USA is on May 8th, this year.

If you would like to be in the Swap, comment on this post and leave a preference for color and I will match peeps up and have names listed on this Sunday. So, time is of the essence for this one! It would be great if everyone could get their swap items made, sent and received by May 8th so we can all do a reveal on that day. Feel free to share this with your followers if you have a blog, the more the merrier! :)

Now, on to the giveaway. :)

The last time I had a giveaway was last year on Mother's Day, so, I think that will be the day I announce the winner. Only, the winner won't have to wait as long as the last one did, since life is much calmer here now. :)

There are many ways to increase your chances of winning the giveaway. :)

Be a follower of my blog and comment on this post.

Join in the swap and get another chance to win.

Mention my giveaway on your blog.

Like my fan page on facebook.

Favorite my shop on etsy.

Give here and you will get two extra chances to win,  it's such a good cause. You only have until March 31st to do this. For privacy concerns, you can just email me the reference number, don't tell me how much, it will all add up. :)

So, you can have seven entries to win. :)

Now, do you want to know what the giveaway is or would you like to be surprised?

I hope this doesn't get too crazy! lol

So, you are probably wondering what these pictures are of, aren't you?

Last year, I had a client in need of some bird of paradise plants.  I put the word out of my need and very graciously Cecilia Colo sent me one she had made. She thought I could make them myself, but one look, I knew it was out of my realm, they are made from clay. Isn't it lovely though? I've been enjoying it on my work table for quite a while now.

The urns were filled by my friend Cath of Golden Unicorn Minis. I love them. :)

I've been seeing a lot of birdhouses on peoples blogs lately and I wanted to share with you the one my dear friend Sandi of WhimsyCottageMinis gave me. She doesn't have any in her shop right now, as she is preparing for a miniature show, but, she said if you convo her on etsy, she'll reserve them for you. :)

Look how it comes packaged, isn't this the cutest thing?

Need a prescription for your addiction? ;)

What's this?

Oh, just a bit of shopping....

more to come on that later. :)

Happy Mother's Day, Giveaway Winner and Welcome New Followers!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and those who mother out there! :)

This is the Madonna and Child inside Notre Dame in Paris. I thought it was fitting for mother's day.

My husband took this shot, I can't take credit for it.

And the winner of my giveaway is....

drum roll.....

Stephanie of  PetitPlat!

Congratulations, Stephanie!

I am sure I will have a good time creating something just for you.

Thanks to all of you who participated in this giveaway, it was fun! :)

Well, I have a lot of new followers to welcome since the last time!

A very warm welcome to all of you and thank you for following my blog. :)

Merry Jingle

Sara Carlson

Anthoula

Flora

M Carmen Casanova

Marlene

unicornio

Pilar

PITTUSSIA

Juliana

Pan

norma

Thmini2

Naomi

Monique

Estefania

Sagrario R.R-R

Marillum

dana mocan

vivian-mimudoparalelo

Janice

auzilio

Alafosca

Turnings in Miniature

dollhouse_doll_jeanine

WENDY

and those avartar-less

Mary Sue

Chris

Alienora

fayjk

Until next time! :)

What's come in the mail recently!

Finally, my urns have arrived! :)

They are from Golden Unicorn Minis, her shop has been on vacation, but it is now up and running again. :)

Don't they look fantastic? All the way around the plants are different, which is why I took a few pictures, I love all of the detailing, just like what I would have done with real life urns. Someday, they will flank the front door of my dollhouse.

If you would like to see the tutorial for faux finishing these aged urns, click here.

Porch or lawn chairs from Inside-Out Minis. She's taking a break at the moment, but, be sure to bookmark her shop for future reference. You can look at her sales to see previous work.

She customised these for me in black. I have these vintage chairs in real life and plan on vamping them up this summer and painting them black.

A mug tree, also by Inside-Out Minis. Another custom request from me, plain (without mugs) and painted black. Looks like iron work, doesn't it?

I have a tutorial from the gal at Inside-Out Minis to make clay tea cups. If one of you DIY'ers are interested in it, let me know in the comments. Some of you know, I'll never touch the clay, so I'll pass this along. If more than one are interested, I'll do a draw. It is completely detailed with color photographs, instructions and tools to accomplish it.

Table is by my buddy Ray of minibuilder on etsy.

I was able to get my mug and my husband's at a local craft shop, but, because my children have unusual names, they weren't available. :( 

But, I managed to find a guy on ebay named facetmulti and he created the mugs that I couldn't find. :)

I've been crazy busy as usual with life, family, custom orders and collaborations. I'm way behind on my blog reading, more than usual. Probably doesn't help that I've discovered Facebook, lol, but,  I see a lot of you out there, so that's nice. :)

I'm terribly behind on my personal correspondence and I'm hoping to get up with that soon, I haven't forgotten about you! :)

My giveaway is on Sunday, so if you would like to be included in it, just make a comment on that posting.

I'll see you on Sunday with the results. :)

As always, click on the pink links and poke the pictures to see them larger. :)

Surprise Giveaway! Blog Anniversary! Over Two Hundred Followers! Hooray!!!

Wow! So much going on, so I thought I would celebrate with you all. :)

May 8th of last year was my very first blog post and my very first dipping of the toe into blogland.

I have learned so much in this past year. I knew nothing about blogging and I'm still learning.

I never realised the people I would encounter, the friendships I would begin forming and the vast amount of things I have learned in the mini world. So much is out there that I never even dreamed of. I enjoy reading all of the blogs that take you along mini adventures in the miniature world.

So, nearing the first anniversary of my blog and seeing that I now have over two hundred followers, I thought I would do a special give away. This one is to be a surprise, something specifically created for the winner.

I will draw this on Mother's day which will be May 9th, so you have plenty of time to sign up. Just comment on this post between now and then to have a chance to win. :)

Now, to Welcome my latest new followers, they are;

lyy214

Mini Beginnings

Leema

Cia

Dangerous Mezzo

The Old Maid

Jeanette

Lori

Patricia Cabrera

elly in amsterdam

Debie

Thank you all, for following my blog. :)

So, I learned the other day though Casey, of Casey's Miniatures that tuquoise is the new color. You can read about it here. Funny, that I was working on the project above, it's the *in* color! If you've never been to Casey's blog, do check it out. She is very funny and is most generous with tutorials and helpful advice.

We must be on similar wave lengths, since when she had posted a tutorial on hat making, I had just made a hat for a swap. And, now the turquoise link. ;)

The Ikea inspired table was made by Yuki of Amatheria.  The acrylic turning was made by Bertie of Bertie's Miniatures.The screen, pillows and rug/floor cloth will be heading into my etsy shop soon.

Currently, I'm working on Christmas items. I know, I know! What am I thinking? lol, but, I saw something that caught my eye and it just had to be brought to fruition. :)

As always, all the pink words are clickable so clickaway and don't forget to leave a comment if you want to be entered in the giveaway. Gotta run, I hear life calling me. ;)

***This post has been edited. I inadvertantly credited the wrong artist of the turning. It has now been updated to reflect the correct artist. My deepest apologies for my very embarrassing error! :(  ***