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Thursday, September 15, 2022

Answering The Call

Hello my friends! I don't know if you've missed me, but I sure missed all of you! It feels like I have been gone on a long, epic journey! And yet, it's only been two weeks! When we last spoke, I was enlisting help for volunteers to play with my new 3D printed minis. I am so grateful to say that I was overwhelmed by the support and by the offers of help I received! Originally, I had thought to send packages to five or six folks. But between the blog, the email blog subscription list, Facebook and Instagram, I had over forty volunteers! I know I say this all the time, but mini people are The Best People!!! I spoke with Russ about his comfort level with regard to the expense of shipping packages, and was again blown away by his encouragement. "Whatever you need" was what he told me. 💗 So I got to pick 14 names, and after the long holiday weekend, got busy contacting everyone for their preference of items. Then, I started printing.


Each of the volunteers got to pick if they were more interested in the Baking, items, the Cookware items, or the General Kitchen items. I wanted to make sure these good Samaritans would end up with things they actually needed or wanted! Then, in addition to those items, I sent items from the other categories. A typical box included the items above.


I had to organize a spreadsheet with all the volunteer's information, preferences etc., I also had to create a questionnaire for them to fill out once they'd received their minis. I had to write instructions for the things that need assembling after painting. I had to actually 3D print the items, each category taking an average of 8 hours. And once the items came off the printer, the sanding began. It was an odyssey of 16 hour days for over a week! Woodson and Rusty are terribly board since walks and play time were among the sacrifices, and poor Russ had to eat tuna salad all weekend! But by Jove, I got 'er done!


And in between batches, while waiting for the next batch to finish printing, I kept at designing new kitchen minis. I received so many excellent ideas from all of you, I just had to try making them! I started with a honey pot and dipper.



It turned out so adorably that I had to try painting it. Or THEM. To the pots, I painted a base coat of Empire Gold. To the honey dippers, I applied a coat of Raw Sienna. 

With paint before washes were applied.


Next, I applied a brown wash to all the pieces, then finished the pots with a glaze coat and the dippers with a matte coat.



And then I decided that every volunteer just had to have one! 





In addition to the finished flour sifters...






I also had small windows of time that I used to create even more of your wonderful suggestions! On the left is a garlic keeper, next to it a salt pig, (the honey pot you've already seen) and a pear shaped cookie jar. I can't wait to paint these up!



I have also been working on a colander, as many of you suggested, but getting the holes just right is an ongoing challenge. It'll get there - I just need to keep working until I uncover the secret..



Once all the batches of samples were printed and sanded, I could package them up and get them into shipping boxes. This, too, required research into the best ways to get minis safely through the mail. I still have so much to learn!


But thanks to all of you in this incredibly supportive community, I am on the way to learning how to get my ideas into your hands! The first batch, to the amazing volunteers, is on their way!


Next on the agenda is to scrub the house, get some food into the cabinets and then go visit Tasha on her farm. She and Brent are the proud parents of chickens and goats, and I get to meet them next weekend!

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement! There is nothing like minis and mini friends to fill the soul! 💗

xo xo,

Jodi


34 comments:

  1. You have really outdone yourself! What generosity. Life keeps getting in the way of my test case and now I’m out of town. But I’ll get to them soon. That little honey pot is soooo cute!

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    1. Thanks Sherrill! There is no rush - once October begins and we are stuck inside on rainy days we can focus on minis again! Email me your new address and I'll get you a honey pot! 💗

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  2. Woooo ¡que maravilla de utensilios! volver de vacaciones y encontrarme tantos utensilios de cocina ha sido una sorpresa .Como siempre felicidades por tus trabajos impecables y ahora tambiĂ©n por tu generosidad.

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    1. ¡Gracias Rosa MarĂ­a! Me alegro mucho de que te gusten las nuevas minis!!!

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  3. Congratulations to all of those lucky people who will receiving these special packages!! I just LOVE all of the new pieces you have tried as well. Especially the honey pot and the pear-shaped cookie jar! Gorgeous! I think the colander on the left looks fine the way it is. Are your honey pots for sale on Etsy or elsewhere??? I really ned to pick up few for when I eventually get back to my kitchen-in-a-cupboard project. Such wonderful pieces, Jodi! - Marilyn D.

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    1. Thanks Marilyn! I'm so glad to hear that you like the new mini kitchen things! I don't have a shop set up yet - still sort of figuring out if that is something worth endeavoring into. Once I get the feedback from the volunteer testers, I'll know if I should continue learning the magnitude of things one needs to learn in order to set up a shop, sell, pay taxes on ect... I will definitely let you know, but you shall get a honey pot either way!

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  4. Jodi, you are a machine! Soooo much work but I applaud you for doing it as I am sure it will help you so much. The honey pots and flour sifter look amazing all painted up. Love them!

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    1. Thanks Shannon! My machine has run totally out of gas! I even fell asleep on the sofa after dinner, lol! I'm glad you like everything!

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  5. Oh my goodness, Jodi, those honey pots are too adorable! I can't even begin to imagine how much work it was to print all of those minis, sand them, and package them! I truly admire your dedication to finishing all of these minis so we testers could have the fun of finishing and reviewing them. You're just amazing!
    Julia

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    1. Thanks Julia! I just feel so lucky to be able to have this creative outlet to explore, and to have all the support and encouragement from the creative people I admire so much in this community! 💗

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  6. Dear Jodi, what a wonderful gesture and so typical of the generous, loving person that you are. Congratulations to the lucky receivers of the beautiful items! The new items are lovely, especially the honey pot and garlic container.
    After these hectic days of work, you deserve to enjoy a well relaxing visit time with Tasha.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thanks Drora! I'm so happy that you like the new pieces!
      I am so excited to see what Tasha and Brent have been busy with this summer! They have really taken to their new roles as homeowners and homesteaders!

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  7. Jodi,alabo tu capacidad de sacrificio y tu generosidad para hacer tantos regalos, sus receptores estarĂĄn encantados con ellos!!
    Las nuevas minis son encantadoras, esos recipientes de miel con sus cucharas tan bonitos pintados tienen un aspecto fabuloso al igual que los pequeños tamices, el contenedor de ajos, el de sal y ese hermoso bote de galletas!!! Admiro tu capacidad de trabajo!
    Divertiros y descansa en esa visita a Tasha y Brent, seguro que disfrutarĂĄs entre sus gallinas y cabras!
    Besos.

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    1. ¡Gracias Pilar! ¡Me alegro mucho de que te gusten los nuevos minis de cocina! ¡Espero que todos los amen y puedan usarlos en sus proyectos! No puedo recibir elogios por el trabajo, me siento tan privilegiado de tener la oportunidad de cumplir con esta pasiĂłn creativa. ¡No sĂ© quĂ© harĂ­a si los minis no fueran una gran parte de mi vida! ¡Abrazos!

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  8. I say that time off to visit your daughter is well earned. You will love her goats! and the fresh eggs. I already had ideas floating around as to how paint my little gems. I was rather nonspecific at to what I thought I wanted, but knew that you would make good choices for everyone.

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    1. Thanks Ann! It tickles me to know that Tasha and Brent now enjoy things like restaining the deck, lol! I am so excited to see how they have made their new house a home this summer. And since I am not likely to get grandkids from them, I will just appreciate having grandchickens and grandgoats! It will be interesting to try and figure out what to give them for Christmas! 😊

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  9. ¡Has trabajado muchĂ­simo! y lo mejor es lo bonito que ha quedado todo. El acabado de los tarros de miel es perfecta y desconocĂ­a la existencia de ese tipo de tamizador de harina. Muy bien el mecanismo.

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    1. ¡Gracias Isabel! ¡Me alegra que te guste todo! Me extraña que no tengĂĄis algĂșn tipo de tamiz como este en España. ¡Me encantarĂ­a saber quĂ© se usĂł allĂ­ en su lugar!

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  10. Esos utensilios de cocina son realmente increĂ­bles, has hecho un trabajo fantĂĄstico.
    Enhorabuena a los receptores de esas maravillas.

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    1. Gracias EloĂ­sa! ¡Estoy tan feliz de que te guste cĂłmo quedaron! ¡Espero que todos los destinatarios estĂ©n contentos con sus miniaturas 3D cuando jueguen con ellas en persona!

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  11. Has trabajo a toda maquina para completar tu menaje y todos los envios que has realizado.
    Felicitaciones a sus receptoras, seguro que van a disfrutar con ellos.
    Un saludo

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    1. ¡Gracias Mariana! Fue un proceso intenso, ¡pero sabes lo energizado que te sientes cuando envĂ­as regalos a las personas! ¡Me divertĂ­ mucho!

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  12. They're all so cute! The flour sifter & the colander on the left give me heart eyes 😍 I thought the new ones were milk glass, actually. Because a lot of those vintage items really were

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    1. Thanks Laurinda! I am so glad to know that you love them! I love milk glass, depression glass and jadeite from that era! I am actually experimenting with clear and opaque PLA with some promising results! I hope to be able to share them soon!

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  13. Where can we buy these?

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    1. Coming soon (hopefully) to a handy online outlet near you! I'll keep you posted!

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  14. This wonderful post made me grin all over... you're speaking of "14 volunteers" while I would call them "The 14 very, very, VERY lucky ones"! *LOL* These blessed mini people will receive packages worth being considered to be early you-know-that-certain-holiday-at-the-end-of-the-year-which-shall-not-be-named-at-this-time-of-the-year-gifts. My, you've outdone yourself with generosity... and chapeau for being once more very organized. The instructions on those little bags are well explained and as far as I could see from the pictures everything was very well packed and should arrive safe and sound at their destinations. And I really had to smile about the sheet with questions... yes, that's so you, very organized... and very clever and smart. This is really a perfect test run for your future shop.

    I have no doubts you will receive wonderful feedback as I can't imagine what could ever be missing to make this lucky bunch happy with their new goodies. And the honey pots... what a wonderful new addition to the collection, even more with your perfect painting on. What a bonus for the *ahem* "volunteers"! ;O)

    As I'm very late this time I suppose you've had a great time with your kids at the farm... And who knows... maybe by now some eggholders have joined the stunning line of wonderful projects. *LOL* And before I leave let me mention still that your reply to my last comment really touched me...

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. You are so wonderfully encouraging, dear Birgit! Thank you! 💗
      I am working right along with the volunteers, painting and finishing three sets of everything: One for the Willowcrest kitchen (done in it's color scheme), one in fun kitchen-y colors for taking photographs (and to share the best finishing techniques/instructions) and one set left right off the printer to demonstrate how the pieces will arrive to any future customers. It is a long process, but hopefully, an investment that pays off in happy, empowered customers and me with a sense of achievement!

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  15. The volunteers are vey lucky! The honey pots and flour sifters are painted perfectly.

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    1. Thank you Faby! I am so grateful to have honest feedback and have already received some great suggestions for improvements! Many minds are so much better than my brain alone!

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  16. Oh my goodness, I admire your approach so much, what terrific feedback but so much work for you, yikes. You do such awesome designs, I'm really looking forward to seeing how your business evolves. Mini Hugs, Jean

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    1. Thanks Jean! I appreciate the encouragement so much! I hope to start off small just to see how it goes with all of the other life stuff that takes so much time. Online selling has gotten so complex, and I have much to learn! With a little luck I can share some fun minis with a few like minded enthusiasts! Hugs!

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  17. You are handling this very methodically and professionally. How nice that there are so many candidates for helping you with this. I feel less guilty now about not applying for it. :-) I hope you will get good reactions and great results from everyone!

    Huibrecht

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    1. Thanks Huibrecht! I am finding that it is a big commitment to open a shop. The record keeping alone for taxes will be a continual task. And, my only goal is to share unique and enjoyable minis with other enthusiasts because I enjoy it - not as a reliable income source. So, honest feedback is the only way I will truly know if there is any value to this endeavor. I am truly grateful that there are so many folks in our community who are willing to give their time! You should not feel any morsel of guilt - your encouragement alone is such an act of kindness! 💗

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