And the winners are...

Well, as this "guess the recipient of the shadow box gift" has come to a close, we can say that we have found out two things:

1.  Campers certainly do know who the flamingo lover is in their midst, and

2. We don't have very many people actually reading these posts.....

However, these are the winners of our Contest number 1, each one of whom has won a free entry into the Bingo Challenge:

Shelley Acker

Mary Myers

Jo-Ann Shaw

Krista Wong

Rhondalynn Clements

Aleeta Kent

Audrey Meehan

Mary Lou Watters

Debbie Parrott

Myra Tarkka

Bridgett Madill

Oh - and Louise guessed too but I'm thinking that definitely doesn't count!  

Sometime between now and our upcoming Camp - I may just come up with another Contest opportunity.  I'll have to put my thinking cap on.  Congratulations to all our correct entries ... and perhaps others could let us know if they're out there????  I'm getting lonely here!!! 

Chance for a free Bingo entry

Okay - tonight's post doesn't cross off any square for me because I already have the square for making a mini as a gift for someone.  But... it could get you an extra entry into the Bingo Challenge.

Here's how it's going to work:  I show you the gift I made for somebody for their recent birthday and, based on the gift, you guess who it was for.  Every Camper from 2017 who guesses correctly will get an extra entry in the Bingo Challenge.  So, even though there isn't an actual square for it, I will record your names and make sure it gets included.

Here's the story:  For the last 30 years or so my husband and I have had, on our fridge, an old Far Side cartoon (by Gary Larson) just because we always thought it was so funny.  Now. over this time the paper has yellowed, gotten stained and grungy - basically was looking the worse for wear however, I always thought I would like to cross stitch it in black and white and have it framed.  Well, recently I scanned it, cleaned up the background and enlarged it.  Then I traced it onto 28 ct. Monaco cloth for stitching.  I decided to combine my love of cross with my love of minis and my knowledge of the person this gift would be for.  So - who is this gift for????? 

Let me know before Sunday night and you get a free entry!!

Here is the original cartoon ...

... and the shadow box I ended up with. 

Your chance to win an extra entry closes at 10 pm Atlantic Standard time on Sunday!  Email me at mdriscn618@rogers.com.

Turning one entry into two - it's magic!

Actually - it's an "Executive Decision".  You see - I received an entry from Jo-Ann S. to fill in the Bingo square for selling an item she made for more than the cost to make it - however, the more I looked at the entry, the more I decided it should actually qualify for two boxes - not one.

Now, we all know we can't do one project and have if fulfill more than one square but, I think you'll see why Jo-Ann's is actually two.  Here is her introduction:

"I can finally reveal my Bingo entry.  I actually made these in January/February but because these are for the Ontario Miniatures Gathering, I couldn’t post it till after this weekend.  These are the souvenirs that are given to the participants which I was commissioned to make for them.  So this fulfills the square for selling an item (actually 55 1:12 scale sporrans and 30 1:48 scale bagpipes!) for more than what it cost me.  That’s also one reason I don’t have more squares filled.  Phew, what a job!"

What a job indeed!  So - the more I looked at it, the more I thought this would be the most fair way to record the entry:

1.  Sell a mini you made for more than it cost you to make it.  I think those 55 1:12 scale sporrans fit the bill for this one!

and

2. Make a mini musical instrument.  Now you can't tell me you don't think those 30 1:48 scale bagpipes qualify for this one!  Wow!

What a lot of work, Jo-Ann!

Now for the even better news - with these two entries, Jo-Ann has come the closest, so far, of anyone to completing a line that goes through the "free" square in the centre.  If she completes the one missing square in that line she will pick up an extra entry for the Bingo challenge draw.  

I'm sure many of you could do that as well - if you planned it out with that in mind.  

Tomorrow night I will share a post that, even though it can't qualify for a Bingo square for me since I have already checked off that square - I'd like to show it to you anyway.  *smile*  So - tune in again tomorrow!!! - Marilyn

Better late than never??

My apologies to everyone - but especially to Julie J. and Jo-Ann S., for missing the post last night.  I had overnight guests show up on their way home from wintering in Florida so, as a result, I didn't get to my computer last night and the postings have been pushed forward by a day.  Sorry!

Without further delay, I would like to share two entries from Julie J.:

1. Learn how to use a tool you've never used before

To fill in this Bingo square, Julie found an interesting tool to give a try.  In her words:  "I found this in my ribbon box, no directions of course. Made up my own and am pleased with the bow results."

What a perfect little bow.  Wouldn't it look great attached to a child's bicycle under a Christmas tree, or attached to a large gift basket on someone's front porch of their dollhouse or scene?

Julie's second entry:

2. Build a piece of furniture from scratch

For this project Julie used an unusual building material to produce this wonderful chair.

Won't this look fabulous in a Halloween scene, a haunted house, or a witch's cottage.  I think I need to make myself one of these!  Thanks for the inspiration, Julie.

Tomorrow evening I will post Jo-Ann's latest entry - which was supposed to be for tonight.  I'm glad I'm not too far behind.  Everyone is having fun working on minis and I'm so pleased to live vicariously through you all.  Thanks everyone. - Marilyn

New tool for new Miniaturist

Well, this year appears to be a good one for Campers to try using new tools.  In the case of tonight's entry, Krista W., it's especially inspiring because prior to just two years ago Krista was a pure collector of miniatures.  She had never actually tried her hand at making anything.  So - she started out on small items, increasing her skills and honing her ideas, completed her first room box as part of a group project with her miniature group, and attended Camp last fall for the first time.

Now - here she is taking the plunge with her first motorized tool - a Dremel tool.  Good for you Krista!

It's great to see miniaturists, new or experienced, gaining confidence as they gain new skills.  Just think of the possibilities!!

I currently have two more entries waiting in the wings so we'll post another tomorrow evening and one on Wednesday.  There have been a lot of entries just in the last week to week and a half so, if it's been a while since you've visited, be sure to scroll through and then go to the "older posts" to make sure you get a chance to see what everyone is doing.

Have fun with your mini-ing and keep those entries coming!

First time for this Bingo square!

Hi everyone.  Tonight's entry from Kelly P. fills in a Bingo square that no one else has filled:  Make a mini based on something you saw in a book/movie/TV program.

Kelly's choice was to make a miniature water pitcher that is a replica of the water pitchers in the great hall in the Harry Potter movies.

Isn't it fabulous?!?  Leave it to Kelly to be really paying attention!  I love the Harry Potter movies but I admit, I never noticed the water pitchers on the tables.  I'm going to start paying closer attention to the details when I watch movies from now on.  Great job Kelly.

We received two more entries today and I still have one left in my list from before so there will be an entry tomorrow evening, Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening at the very least.  

Don't forget to scroll through the entries as you may have missed some from earlier in the week.  It's nice to see so many busy mini-makers.  I'm impressed!

You can check out the active Bingo cards at any point by clicking on the label in the column to the right.  You can also leave comments on each of the blog entries if you choose.  Keep those entries coming!! 

Time to bring out our spring bonnets!

From Julie J. this evening we have an entry for the Bingo square for making a mini as a gift.  In her email she tells us:

"I made a gift for a friend.  I tried to get myself in the picture but it was a fruitless attempt!  Made the hat come out fuzzy!"

Oh Julie - I know the woes of trying to get the picture right.  I am not a great photographer myself and photographing minis is a whole other skill set than pictures of life-size items so I feel your pain.

Here is the lovely hat Julie made for a friend, along with what must be a matching fan.

Quite exotic looking, isn't it?  Great job, Julie.  I'm sure the gift will be greatly appreciated.

Remember to check out the progress of everyone's Bingo cards by clicking on the label for Completed Bingo Cards 2017/18 in the column to the right.

Tomorrow evening we will have an entry from Kelly P. and the following night the first entry from Krista W.  Thank you everyone for your entries.  I know they keep me inspired - I hope they do the same for all of you. - Marilyn

Sharing the wealth...

Tonight's entry is in two parts as there is more than one way to "share the wealth" we find in our amazing hobby. 

1. Here, Mary M. shares her talent and energy with a group of interested hobbyists as she teaches 5 students to make rocks and bricks out of egg cartons. 

Being the great teacher she is - all her students got A+!!!!!

2. Of course, one of everyone's favourite ways to "share the wealth" is to make that special little gift for that special mini friend.  However, Mary is keeping the recipient a secret for the time being.  Shhh - I won't tell!!  But I'm sure they will love this perfect little basket - ready to be filled with whatever the lucky recipient wishes to use it for.

Thanks for sharing, Mary.  Be sure to get back to us once this wonderful little gift has been delivered.  We'd love to see the reaction.

We have two more entries to post over the next two days - we got so many all at once this past week!  I hope everyone is enjoying this glimpse into what everyone's been up to.  Keep those entries coming!!! - Marilyn 

A Carpenter's story...

What a wonderful entry we have tonight from Shelley A.  As she notes in her email:

"I'm not certain exactly what is envisioned by an indoor/outdoor scene..but I think this qualifies.
This is my carpenter's workshop along with faithful dog Sandy.  The carpenter also has to do a 
little bit of yard work here and there between projects.  He likes making wooden toys for kids."

And he has been a busy carpenter indeed...

Some outside views....

What a great project.  It looks like it was a lot of fun to do.  Don't forget to check out the completed Bingo cards to see how everyone is doing.  Also - I uploaded a new posting last night and one the night before so be sure to scroll through to see what others are up to.  

Have fun and keep on mini-ing!!!

More from Patricia S. tonight

It was so nice to see Patricia's entry last night with three eager little girls trying their hands at their first miniature projects.  If we all tried to think of ways to engage more young minds in the hobby, the future of miniatures would be assured.

Patricia followed this entry with a couple more:

1. Make a mini from a material you have never used before

This past winter Patricia got to explore dry and wet felting for the first time, doing landscapes. First she shares her larger scale pieces on which she learned the technique...

And here she displays the lovely miniature felted wall hanging that she has titled "Sunset at the Ocean".

I've always wanted to try the felting technique to make a cat or a dog but have been a bit intimidated by the technique.  Starting out by doing a wall hanging - now that's a great project to begin with!  I may try my hand at it after all!

2. Build a piece of furniture from scratch

Patricia now used this newly acquired technique to make a half-scale rocking chair with felted seat cushions and a side table to match it to fit nicely in her fairy cottage.  The side table is modelled after the ones we made at Camp 2017.

Here we see the half scale table and chair next to a full-scale one.

Thank you for sharing these with us, Patricia.  It looks like you are having lots of fun working on your minis - and now to the big job of moving houses!  Good luck, Patricia.

Tomorrow we will explore the latest entry from Shelly A. as she shares another of her talented creations.  Thanks everyone.

Spring is in the air....

... and everyone's energies seem to be returning!  In the last two days I have received 7 - count 'em - 7 entries for our Camp Bingo Challenge.  People have been busy.

The first person to send in was Patricia S. and she has actually provided us with 3 entries of her own.  Tonight I will post the first one because there are a lot of pictures with this one:

Teaching a child-friendly mini
"Last fall I stayed over with a young friend with 4 daughters age 4 to 11, so I packed foil, masking 
tape and paper towel, hoping to have some time to show the girls how to make a simple fairy 
house. I had brought glue and some lids from large yogurt containers to define the size of the 
fairy/gnome home somewhat.

At the time the CMHH bingo was not on my mind, so, while I took photos of the girls, I have 
none with me.

More recently, I happened to ask Anna, the Mom, if any of the girls ever completed their 
project. The night, I was there, they all created their structure and taped it all, the older one got 
further than that, but there was no time to finish.

Anna then sent me a photo of one daughter's finished "home", and told me that another 
daughter had a school project, and she was able to use this technique to do her project."

"Ever likes patterned duck tape as wallpaper..."

"Mira worked fast and got the paper towel stage completed with her choice of door/window..."

"Ever adds a second story..."

"Imogen at work..."

Below, the first photo is Mira's completed gnome home that she started with Patricia.  The other 2 show Ever's school project...

The note from the girls' mother explains:

"Mira's completed house and also Ever’s recent creation of a traditional Nigerian home for her school project.  She used the technique that you taught them.  What a blessing it was to know how to make something like that!!"

Thank you, Patricia for sharing these with us - - - and for molding the next generation of miniaturists!

I am going to post all of the recent entries before I update all of the Bingo cards but right now - I'm going to bed!!!  Be sure to check back tomorrow night to see what's next.  I don't plan on sending out a notice after every single one since they all came in so close together.  Thanks everyone for your participation.

Sit back and relax.......

Tonight's Bingo entry from Jo-Ann S. will have you wanting to do just that.  Checking off the box for building a piece of furniture from scratch, Jo-Ann tells us:

"I built this recliner chair on the weekend from cardboard and leather.  What are long weekends for but to mini!" - Jo-Ann S.

What a great piece of furniture, Jo-Ann.  Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

To see Jo-Ann's Bingo card, and those of all of our entrants to this point, choose the link in the "labels" column to the right for "Completed Bingo Cards 2017/18".

If you've been working away on your own minis, and you were a 2017 Camper, check to see if anything you've done since last September qualifies you to check off one or more boxes on the Bingo challenge.  We'd love to see what you've been working on!