Hello and thank you for visiting my Blog! My miniature passion lies in making houseplants, but since most are viewable on my website, this blog will often feature wonderful treasures by other artisans, with a few diversions I hope you will find interesting.



Friday, July 13, 2012

WELCOMING WITH COLOR

One of my non-miniature interests is refinishing wood. Several years ago I saw a picture in a magazine of a double wood door painted teal blue, which I hung on my fridge where it stared back at me for quite some time. I very much liked that it was different from the normal red door, which I also like, but that it was unusual and would make my dull front facade pop out with color.  My 70-year-old wood door was painted black, chipping, splitting, and an embarrassment.  Buying a new one was out of the question after trying to install a new screen door.  The opening was not square and whomever installed it long ago apparently didn't think about the poor souls who might have to eventually replace it.  But refinishing a front door had to be done during warm weather because the door had to be removed to strip the paint and remove the old varnish on the interior side (which was restained and varnished).  Then there was the privacy and security issues of no front door. 

After much discussion over choosing the color that looked right in shade and sunlight, I settled on a color. The new properly locking screen door, and my large dog, provided security. I made a cardboard door for privacy, with the words 'Speak "Friend", and Enter' written on it, but only my family recognized and appreciated the "Lord Of The Rings" reference.

So here is the finished project, without the brass hardware that I also refinished.  I really love it, and although many people thought I was making a mistake, they have grown to appreciate my choice. I just wish I didn't have to cover it all up with the screen door.

Friday, July 6, 2012

A HAPPY ENDING

If I left you in suspense with my last post, wondering about the fate of my ill-shipped plants, I can now report that it all turned out ok, thanks to the efforts of Teri Aaron of The Lawbre Co, a wonderful, sweet, and awesome lady who bailed me out, revived the plants at the Guild Show in Castine, and gave a happy ending to my story.  I will be forever grateful.  Thank you, Teri!

Although I saw the photo of the mis-shapen plants, seeing them in person was a shock.  I hadn't thought about how much they would be transported and handled if I was awarded Artisan, and I should have made a contingency for that. 

They say every dark cloud has a silver lining, and I have found several silver linings in my cloud.  The best is being the recipient of a very kind act by Teri Aaron.  Another is the opportunity to back up my own words about the longevity of my plants.  And yet another is the chance to re-examine my new designs before selling any plants to ensure they are up to my standards.

Here are a few BEFORE and AFTER pics.

PEACE LILY BEFORE

PEACE LILY AFTER

RUBBER TREE BEFORE

RUBBER TREE AFTER

CORN PLANT BEFORE

CORN PLANT AFTER











Saturday, June 2, 2012

THREE MORALS TO MY STORY

Here is a photo of my 2012 IGMA Artisan submissions.  I took the picture in a hurry and it could have been much better thought out, but I always seem to be rushing around at the last minute.  Sending my plants to IGMA was no exception, although this time I had a very good reason.  That didn't change the outcome, which was that I failed to take one more extra step to ensure they make it safely through the mail. I have never had a plant break loose, until now.  Of all times for this to happen!  But it did, and I can blame only myself. :( 

The people at IGMA tried to fix them, and they made a valiant effort I am sure, but the photo I just saw on their blog was a surprise.  I had no idea that my plants had been so tossled around.  Good news for me is that I can easily rearrange them back to normal.  Bad news for me is that they don't look like they should in the photo people will see.  Worse news for me is that the plants will be at the Guild Show in Castine, and I can't be there to fix them!  So anyone going to the Guild School, or knows anyone going, please pass it on that my plants are a little mis-shapen, but just like a real plant, they can be revived.

This situation reminds me of my High School yearbook picture. I waited too long, totally my fault, to choose one of my proofs for the yearbook, so someone else chose it for me. There were only six proofs and one was clearly the best, so I assumed they would use it. When the yearbooks came out, I found myself staring in shock at the worst of the lot! Someone chose the most stupid, totally unnatural pose, and I am mortified to this day.

MORALS OF THIS STORY:    NEVER ASSUME
                                      NEVER PROCRASTINATE
                                      NEVER TAKE A BAD PICTURE



Corn Plant - Rubber Tree
Peace Lily - Hosta "June" - Bunny Ears Cactus




Hosta "June" with slug.

Friday, May 11, 2012

ANOTHER UNEXPECTED PLEASURE

Hello to those of you who are stopping to see me after my long absence. When daily life became all consuming, little pleasures got lost in the shuffle. Months passed, then a year, then so much time that I was embarrassed to start posting again until I had something exciting to tell.

Well, that time has finally come with another unexpected pleasure. To say unexpected isn't really accurate as I did apply for IGMA Artisan membership and therefore had a chance. The pleasure is that I was accepted! I submitted five plants, some were redesigned and some newly designed. After weeks of tedious, frustrating, and exhausting work, I was never so glad to see something leave my sight. Yet, the next day I was anxious to get back to designing even more new plants!  That plan was nixed by my family, who insisted I clear more than two places to eat at the dining room table. I told them Taco Bell had plenty of empty tables!

For now I will only be making a few plants per month, but I am looking forward to having more time in the Fall, and taking over the table again. While raising four children I ate many meals on my feet, going back and forth from the table to the stove, to the frig, and to the sink. It's their turn, don't you think?

Here is my redesigned Rubber Tree.