Remember that flu I mentioned in my last post? It just kept coming around - again and again! My poor mom ended up in the hospital for 5 days with the stuff, and still felt terrible for another 5 days after they let her out! I was back down for three days, and my dad had to have 2 rounds of antibiotics to quash his resulting sinus infection. Just a mean and nasty bug that I hope we have finally beat for good!
Due to all of the sickness and the hospital stay, we had to postpone our family Christmas celebration again - for another week. There has been so many obstacles to all of us getting together that I started referring to it as Christmas Dammit! Because in spite of all the road blocks, WE WILL HAVE CHRISTMAS DAMMIT! Festivities take place tomorrow (God willing), and then life will resume as "normal" again (she says with her eternal optimism firmly installed).
In the meantime, some really wonderful things have been sprinkled into the mix. I was contacted by a miniature publication and asked to write a few veggie tutorials for an upcoming issue. Of course I said yes, even though the level of confidence I have in my mini abilities is not a truly comfortable one. But, I know that challenges are how we grow, so I welcomed the opportunity. It will cover how to make an easy raised planter and include four different (paper craft) vegetables. It's been fun to work on, and I am about half way finished!
I hope to start the next project just as soon as I finish the tutorials - it feels like my mini life stopped when I got sick in December, and I am looking so forward to delving into projects and the community once again. I get so cranky otherwise! :O) I'll be using another chipboard kit from Alpha Stamps as the structure for the flower shop. I really enjoyed making cooking scenes in the secret book kits that are offered from them! The chipboard kits are:
1. Affordable.
2. Easy to assemble.
3. Easier than wood to alter.
4. Small enough to finish (and enjoy looking at) pretty quickly.
I also love that I can use scrapbooking sets to paper and coordinate both the inside and outside of the structure. It's really like miniatures meets collage art - so much to get creative with and enjoy! I hope that it will inspire you to branch out, as well!
I am using the Gilded Lily papers from Graphics 45. They are wonderful!
Monday I'll work on the Swiss Chard (for the third time - my leaf veining really stinks!) and lettuce, then hopefully turn to the floral side of mini botany - speaking of which, the working title for the flower shop is Botanique. A little French, you say? Oui, oui!
Have a wonderful and healthy weekend!
Hope you have Christmas soon! Lord knows you deserve it after all this time and sickness. You'll do great with your tutorials. I still love your red leaf lettuces.
ReplyDeleteI know, right!?! It has been like torture knowing there are all kinds of See's candies in those stockings! I confess that I did have to reorder a pound of the milk chocolate butterchews - the hubs and I laid in bed one night and nearly polished off the whole box! Thanks for the tutorial encouragement! Challenging but fun!
DeleteEspero que podáis disfrutar todos de vuestra fiesta.
ReplyDeleteMe encanta la lechuga.
DeleteGracias Isabel! Quiero tan mal para que todos abran sus regalos !!!
Merry Christmas Dammit!
ReplyDelete:O)
DeleteBlimey, you've had a nightmare. I hope you're all feeling well now. Congratulations having your tutorials published and a happy, healthy, belated Christmas :0D
ReplyDeleteAll better thank heavens! Thanks for the congrats! I hope that they will be worthy of the sentiment! And... Merry (late) Christmas to you, as well!
DeleteWOW Jodi! I didn't realize how seriously ill you were but I am soooo Glad that you are once again on the up-swing, but
ReplyDeleteyour poor mother though-!
I am looking forward to seeing your Alpha Stamps shop come together. I have used their products before and both they and the blog posts are Amazingly Creative. I never get tired of seeing how they incorporate the different elements into something Fantastic, using heavy chipboard. I am anticipating watching your new project unfold. AND I hope that your delayed Christmas will STILL have been worth waiting for!
Thank God mama was beck to nearly her full ornery (and wonderful) self! Our Christmas Dammit celebration was soooo enjoyable! The best part was playing a game together called TableTopics Family Gathering. They are a bunch of questions meant to provoke (or evoke?) family stories, memories and just getting to know everyone more personally. It was awesome! We had scratch lottery tickets as prizes (for remembering key points in their answers) and all talked about where we would vacation as an extended family should we win The Big One (20,000). We came away with $7 in winners and belly laughs and shared memories galore! Thanks Elizabeth for your hopes and well wishes!
DeleteMerry Christmas indeed!!! So glad you're feeling better. It was a nasty flu for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brae! I am glad you are back in good health, too!
DeleteI was sick on Christmas too, it sucks! Congrats on your publishing your tutorials. Don't sell yourself short, your work is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that the bug got you, too! And still you posted that wonderful Christmas scene! I was not really tempted to try that kit until I saw your red sofa! It's amazing! I love it!
DeleteThanks for the kind words about the tutorials! I was feeling fairly good about the veggies until I got to veining the Swiss chard - it's been very challenging! I hope that my failures and determination turn into a lot of helpful tips for others like me to whom painting tiny detailed lines are troublesome!
Hello Jodi,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear your family has had such a hard time. I hope it is all done with by now. It is surprising that such a gifted miniaturist, with a great talent for explaining what she does, could feel like she does not have much self confidence. You get rid of that, because you are a wonderful miniaturist!
Big hug
Giac
Awww - you just made me smile through tears! Thank you, Giac!
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