Collecting shells 2

I am sorry friends, one word escaped me in my previous post.  You only have to enter the sea KNEE HIGH in order to collect  debris from the seabed. This is what I wanted to share with you, anyone can do this even those who do not know how to swim.
 
The results justify the effort if you have access to the sea.

Collecting sea shells - tutorial

Who doesn't love shells?  Sea shells or lake shells - I love them!  I still have a box full of tiny shells from the Lake of Galilee but today I am posting about sea shells.

I used to walk on the beach looking for tiny shells.  Sometimes, if I was lucky I found some, most times I came home empty handed but always with a backache from bending and stooping down.  Not anymore.

One day, my daughter Nilly, who is much more clever than her mum, brought me a plastic bag about one kilogram (2 pounds) full of sea debris.  She just went in deep high into the sea and filled this bag from the seabed.  Now, she said, you can sit down at your table and sort this out.  The photos here show what I found.

All this lute came out of that bag.  Nilly, who loves the sea all year round will bring me more bags in other seasons of the year.  She says that each season carries different shells.

Think of what can be done with all this, mirror and picture frames, decorative boxes....

I do hope some of you will find this post useful.

Blessings

Marieke's giveaway

I was a very fortunate and happy second winner of one of  two Marieke's - http://marfolhuzminiatures.blogspot.com/  giveaways.  Mine arrived yesterday.  It is my first Christmas gift.  THANK YOU MARIEKE for this very sweet and beautiful prize which I'll treasure.

Giveaways are so exciting , especially when you win one.  I'm always happy to see one of my followers winning  a prize, it's like taking part in the fun and celebration.

Blessings to all.

More wooden toys

Two years ago we visited Russia.  I bought and gave away  little Matryoshka - Russian nesting dolls.  At that time I didn't know I'd be blogging and making swaps with other miniaturists, otherwise I would have bought many more.  I forgot all about them until now that I am making wooden toys.  They are really very cute. 

And here are some of the toys I made lately.  Hope you like these.

I have now to start thinking about makin Hanukkah toys. 

Blessings

Wooden toys

I am already preparing toys for Hanukka and Christmas.  These two holidays occure more or less at the same time.  Here is what I already made.  I still have to make some tiny micro furniture.  This takes time so I started early.

A very warm welcome to my new followes:

Mijbil - http://mijbilcreatures.blogspot.com?

Nina in Germany - Http://minimumm.blogspot.com/

            Becky - http://puntadasmil.blogspot.com/

Blanca - http://www.quepequnoeselmundo.blogspot.com/

Thank you for following.

  

                                                                                               

Embroidery on egg shells

This is not miniature work but I believe it can be interesting so I am sharing it with you fellow bloggers.
It's a Russian lady who creates this exquisite work.  It's jaw dropping amazing.

A very warm welcome to my new followers, thank you for following.

Hilsula - http://hilsula.blogspot.com/

Isabel de Poso - Cannot find your blog

Cristinamlh - http://cristinamlh.blogspot.com/

I wish everyone a wonderful Sunday

More about the Bavarian furniture

Lil, from http://lilsdolls.blogspot.com/, gave me some very interesting information about what I call my "Bavarian" furniture.  Please visit Lil's beautiful blog.  It is so interesting what she has to say.

A few years ago, my husband and I stayed in a
Tirol Austrian village zimmer.  The owner of the house had beautiful antique furniture she inherited from her grandfathers.  She told us they were in her family for generations.  I believe the little furniture pieces I have are the same style.  But it so happens that they are more likely Swedish. Maybe that was the fashion all over Europe at that period.

The picture shows an authentic piece of furniture in the Sormlands Museum in Sweden.

Thank you Lil.

Recycling

Here are photos of my "trash to treasure" ideas

The cookies are punched from cork pieces that were given to me by a friend, instead of going to the trash bin.

After eating the delicious Ferrero Rocher ball, I used all the wrapping pieces and a chewing gum bubble to make the box.  Each ball makes one box. No, I didn't eat all four...members of the family donated their part.

The "glass" jar was a test tube.  I used a saw to cut it.

The candies are tiny glass beads wrapped with a piece of wrapping from the real candy.

I love recycles and enjoy and appreciate seeing what other friends recycle.

And, of course, a warm welcome to

Cris Bottaro - http://pequeninasminnniaturas.blogspot.com/
Clare - Cannot find your blog to follow

Blessings

Olga's gifts - http://elpetitmondelalluna.blogspot.com/

My bonanza days are here.  This is the third day I post about gifts that came to me this week and to top it all I won Marieke's giveaway (http://marfolhuzminiatures.blogspot.com/).  I must have done something good to gain all these fabulous gifts.

Olga, one of the most talented and generous ladies, I have the pleasure to know, sent me these beautiful treasures.  My words, in English, cannot describe the joy I felt at opening the very beautifully packed parcel.  I am a "little girl" again playing with my new toys.  THANK YOU DEAR OLGA!!

 

 I received this award from two very lovely ladies
Valeria - http://brincado-de-boneca.blogspot.com/
Carla Alessandra - http://maniatura-carla.blogspot.com/

Thank you both for this wonderful gesture.  I pass on this award to all my followers, for their support, wonderful inspiration, companionship, generosity and being here.

A warm hug to all of you.

Bavarian Dinning room furniture

Since the day I opened this blog I have had wonderful experiences. One of the greatest is what I am posting about today.

A short time ago, I posted about the Bavarian set of bedroom furniture my daughter brought me from Austria. Among the many comments, Eva -
http://casitaderegaliz.blogspot.com/, mentioned that she had pieces of furniture like mine. Out of curiousity, I asked Eva about them and she emailed back photos. Amazingly these were exactly the color and decorations as mine. Eva wrote that she found them at her local flea market. They were not the scale and color she needed and it seemed a pity to paint over the pretty decorations. If I wanted them, I have only to email my address and she'll send them to me. Just like that without asking for anything in exchange!!!! This was the most generous offer I ever had!!!
THANK YOU EVA, from the bottom of my heart.

Eva's parcel arrived in a very short time and here are photos of the lovely dinning room set.  Eva's set is brand new.  Mine is second hand well used but in wonderful condition.  All I have to do is change the cloth material.

Of course, all this rules out my theory about the loving grandfather creating them.  They are probably commercially manufactured but painted by hand.

I am planning a "Zimmer" (bed and breakfast) scene.  The scale is 1/16".  This is going to be a long project.

Cristina's giveaway - http://criscolas.blogspot.com/

I feel blessedly lucky to have won Cristina's giveaway which arrived today.  Thank you Cris for the beautiful miniatures you sent me.  You have spoiled me completely with all your lovely gifts.

This beautiful lady's toilet table is something I cannot possibly get here, and Cris so thoughtfully sent  it to me.

Embroidered towels, a beautiful tray and very pretty wall decorations for a nursary. 

Cookies in a jar, two beautiful perfume bottles, beads that look like face or hand cream containers, Christmas tree decoration, pumkins for Haloween.  I love everything!

Trimmings, lovely ones, I can think of so much I'll be able to use them for.

This beautiful decorated box contained a surprise, a little doll with a beautiful dress.  The little rose basket which is so delicate and pretty, was made by Cris.

This is another beautiful item, a frame for a picture or mirror.  I found something which I bought a long time ago and it's perfect for this frame. Cris I hope you too are going to like it.

Its a 3 dimension kind of lacework.  I believe it's something from Russia.  I really love it.

Quite a long time ago, Cris and I decided to do swaps.  Cris was busy with her exams and I was busy with my giveaway.  Also I had to change computers as my old one broke down.  Much of the information the old computer contained got lost including Cris' address.  Cris didn't forget and sent me her swap together with the giveaway.  Now I have to keep my part and am working on the miniatures I shall send her, starting today.


THANK YOU CRIS

Once again I open my arms with a big warm hug to my new followers -

Lilang - http://lilangkrea.blogspot.com/
Cleer -   Cannot find blog to follow
Jamila - http://jamila-solotnikova.blogspot.com/
Ozden Ceyhan - Cannot find blog to follow
Carmen - http://lamaisoncarmen.blogspot.com/
Alison - http://blissminiatures.blogspot.com/
Iftah - Cannot find blog to follow
Paperina - Cannot find blog to follow

Blessings to all