Long delay but....we're back in business!!!

My apologies for the long delay in posting the Bingo entries received but, after many obstacles and trials, including the crash of my computer which necessitated buying a new one in the end, we're finally good to go!  I lost about 1300 emails in my inbox -- yes, I know -- you don't have to say it!!  -- and another 1100 in my sent mail, and all of my contact addresses.

Now that I'm up and operating again, I have received a couple of entries that have been re-sent.  Thank you very much for your understanding.

So - first up, we have another entry from Shelley A.  Shelley gets to fill in the box for "contributing to the mini community" for a display she set up for a recent event in her community.

Every time we exhibit our work we are doing our part to let more and more people know about this wonderful hobby and how rewarding it is.  Thanks for sharing, Shelley - and thank you for including yourself in the picture - that actually is how the rules are recorded but we've been a little lax in enforcing them. *smile*

With this entry, Shelley now has four boxes filled in already!  Great start.

Don't forget that you can click on the pictures if you would like a larger view - and also that you can check out the Bingo cards to date by choosing "completed Bingo Cards 2017/18" in the column to the right.  Tomorrow I will add another entry that has been re-sent to me.  Thanks everyone! - Marilyn D.

Another Bingo challenger enters the fray!

Hello Campers and welcome Julie J. to the Bingo Challenge.

Julie recently taught a workshop to her local mini group.  They made these adorable little fabric pumpkins.  It's was a very timely workshop, wasn't it?

Here are her lovely examples of what they produced. 

So - we now have 4 people in the game.  I guess the other 30 of us need to get moving so these 4 don't get too far ahead of us!  As always, you can check out the Bingo cards by clicking on the label to the right that says "completed Bingo Cards 2017/18".

Above all -- have fun!  - Marilyn

Someone's working hard right out of the starting blocks!!

Two more entries tonight from Shelley A.  She's been very active since Camp, hasn't she?  No worries - there's lots of time for the rest of us to catch up!

I think Shelley's words are best to describe these latest two entries:

                                    "I am having a blast with the Bingo.  Thanks for doing this. I am 

                                     glad I have more time for minis this year.

                                     So two more entries:  One is to make a musical instrument. 

                                     So I made a bodhran.  It actually seems to make little drum 

                                     sounds if you are gentle and hold it next to your ear :)

                                   And the other is to make a mini scene in an Altoids tin.  A nice 

                                   little half scale reading and writing corner.

                                   I look forward to the next challenge."

Aren't these both fantastic entries?  I love them both and find them so inspiring.  I just hope I can squeeze in some mini time myself sometime soon.  These entries are giving me so many ideas!  

Shelley now has three of her Bingo squares checked off .  To see the Bingo cards, click on the "Completed Bingo Cards" label in the column on the right.

Now - as I suggested last night, here are a few extra pictures of Louise's finished Camp project - a summer retreat for Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  First up - dinner is on the barbie!!!!

Next picture shows the comfy chairs, upholstered with a nice Christmas tree fabric, on either side of a lovely little drum table.  (click on the picture for a larger view).

And finally, Santa and Mrs. Claus can enjoy a cup of tea on their balcony outside their 2nd floor bedroom.  What a lovely, comfy looking bed - dressed in Christmas colours, of course.  

Thank you for sharing your pictures Louise, Shelley and Audrey.  

These are the last of the recent Bingo Challenge entries. I can hardly wait to hear from all you other Campers out there who I know are busy working on some of those Bingo squares.  Send them to me at mdriscn618@rogers.com when you're ready to share!  Thanks, everyone. - Marilyn

First person to finish and post their 2017 Camp Project!!

First I will show you some pictures of this Bingo entry for finishing the Camp project - and I'll let you guess who it belongs to.  Somehow, I don't think it will be difficult for you.

It is truly a beautiful little summer retreat for a very special couple who reside at the following address during their vacation:

Is that a big enough hint?  No???  Okay - how about this lovely little welcome bench for weary visitors to rest on?  Any hints in this picture?

What about these patio lights hanging from the trees around the swimming pool - do these make you think of anyone in particular???? (click on the picture for a larger view perhaps)

Here they are lit:

Okay - so if you haven't yet guessed that this is Louise Mc.'s Camp project -- well, you just haven't been paying attention!!

Louise added some extra space to her little building and turned it into the most wonderful vacation retreat for our favourite jolly couple.  Here are some views of the whole project.  Envy - thy name is ME!!

She has left out no detail - including the paddock for the trusty sleigh-pullers and the little storage building for their feed....

Well, Santa and Mrs. Claus aren't taking a complete break from their busy schedule.  They're taking the time to help the elves by planting and harvesting a great selection of gifts for the children, just to take the pressure off the workshop back home.

At the end of each day they harvest a fresh crop to load into the silo for later transportation to the North Pole for sorting and delivery.  Whew - still working hard...

...and happy to relax in the pool at the end of each day.  Oops - look like someone lost a flipper in the bottom of the pool!  The barbeque is all set to cook up their evening meal and someone has left the door open to the little bunny's hutch.  I hope he doesn't escape.

These comfy-looking hanging chairs were hand-crocheted by Louise and fitted with little cushions made with -- you guessed it -- flamingo fabric!

Louise's Spanish-style roof tiles turned out exceptionally well - perfect size and colour.

One last picture for today - a quick glimpse into the kitchen, through the patio doors.

I think Louise definitely deserves to check off that Bingo square for completing her Camp project, don't you?  We have another entry to show you tomorrow and, who knows, perhaps we might add a few more interior pictures from Louise's project as well.  Have a good evening everyone! - Marilyn

A teeny tiny Christmas gift...

Our second Bingo Challenge entry comes from Audrey M.  This is a wonderful miniature for her online miniatures group.  How lucky is the person who receives this little gem???  If you'd like a closer look, just click on the picture for a larger view.

Check back tomorrow evening for a wonderful look at the first entry posting a completed Camp 2017 project.  It's a treat for sure!

And don't forget - you can always leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the featured projects.

Completed Bingo Cards 2017/18

We will keep the Bingo Cards listed at this link, alphabetically by the mini makers first name.

Have fun keeping up with the challenge from now until we meet again at Camp.

First Bingo entries for 2017/18 coming in!

Campers are getting busy early this year, with our Bingo Challenge.  Our first entry was received just a couple of weeks after we were all back home. 

Shelley A. starts us off with the first Bingo square to be checked off.  Her entry is for a lovely gift for a colleague. In Shelley's words:

"I have been having fun working on a couple of things.  One just came up because a colleague is
retiring.  So I made him a gift....a mini of course. And since we work in the chicken industry....well....it was a no-brainer!"

Isn't this a great gift for her co-worker? (As always - you can get a larger view by clicking on the pictures below.)

Thank you, Shelley, for starting this year's challenge with such a great project. I'm sure your colleague was absolutely thrilled!

Tune in tomorrow evening for the next entry received.  And, at any time through the challenge you will be able to find the actual bingo cards checked off by clicking on the "Completed Bingo Cards" label in the right hand column.

Good luck everyone and have a great time mini-ing! - Marilyn

2017/18 Bingo Card

If you have lost your copy of the Bingo Card for our 2017/18 Challenge - here you have it!  Just click on it for a larger picture and you can print it off if you'd like.

Last entries for 2016/17 Bingo Challenge?

With only a couple of days left before I leave for Nova Scotia, we have some last-ditch entries for our Bingo Challenge, plus one I missed entirely!   Aleeta K. and Lynn M. have sent in the following:

Aleeta has sent in two entries - the first is a reminder about one I forgot to post earlier - my apologies, Aleeta.

In May, Aleeta taught a miniature cat-sculpting class to the Edmonton Miniatures Club.  We don't have any pictures here but I am sure there are plenty of people who can vouch for this one.  She gets to fill in the box for "contributing to the mini-community"

Secondly, she worked with her niece and nephew to make miniature dolls. She admits it was a bit of a challenge for a 4 year old, but he tried really hard and both of them were thrilled with their finished products.

Here they are with their works in progress - I especially like the picture of Aleeta's nephew with a smear of chocolate completely surrounding his lips.  So - minis and chocolate - Aunt Aleeta must be their favourite Auntie ever!!

And here they are with their finished "Whappi" dolls:

Lynn actually gets to check off three of her Bingo squares:

1. Repair one broken or neglected item - her little doggie fell over when he was peeing against the wall and he broke his leg.  One repair job later and he's as good as new.

2. She also completed a Christmas-themed room box, checking off another square.  This was her group project as past of the FAME club in Fredericton.

3. Last entry - make a lighted mini.  Originally, the thought was that this would be some kind of light fixture or a scene with light in it - well this hot tub does light up so that must count, right?!?  It looks great, doesn't it?

Okay - here is where I apologize profusely to Patricia S.!  Ages ago she sent in an article she wrote on using the proper scale in your minis.  That would qualify her to check off one more square on her Bingo Card.  I only just noticed it as I was reviewing all of the files to make sure I didn't miss one.  I'm so sorry, Patricia.  For the rest of us, here is the article produced by Patricia:

So, this closes the entries I have for the 2016/17 Bingo Challenge.

The one box that can still be "collected" by anyone who was at Camp last year and is attending Camp this year is the square for donating an item to the Camp auction.  When the auction items are turned in at the registration desk, the names will be passed along to me so I can make sure the appropriate squares are filled in.

Thank you to everyone who participated.  We hope the Bingo Challenge was fun for you, and provided a little encouragement to work on minis throughout the year, from one Camp to the next!

 - Marilyn

We're cutting it close - only 8 days to go!

Jo-Ann has been working away at her minis, even as the clock is ticking down and the calendar pages are flying faster than the fall leaves.

In Jo-Ann's words:
Here we go again!  I have two more entries for the Bingo card.  One is for a lighted mini.  This is my 
version of a fairy house that I’ve been working on for some time.  BTW, this is the same number of lights that Campers will be getting for their project this year.  There are two overhead lights and two flickering lights for the fireplace.  I’m actually quite pleased with how bright they are.  

The other is a turret prototype which is made from recycled materials.  The tube is from a film roll that I got from work and the cone used to have yarn on it.  FWI, everyone will be getting this very cone for their Camp project this year to use for their turret.

Jo-Ann now has the most entries into this year's Bingo Challenge - but there's still a few days left!  Anyone else out there with entries ready to go?  Please don't leave it too late because I'm desperately trying to get ready for Camp myself and it does take time to get these organized and posted.  Thank you, everyone! - Marilyn