All about flowers and flower vases

Hello dear readers,

I apologize for neglecting my blog and am trying to get back to posting more often.

Shopping for miniatures in my country is difficult.  Although more people adopted this hobby, it seems not enough for miniature shows or shops; therefore, when we do not travel abroad, we buy online.  Sometimes I find suitable minis on Temu.  This post is about a set of 1/12" scale pretty vases.

My favorite vases are the three in the photo below.  I'll start with the one in the middle.

Months ago, I hung a few baby-breath branches.  They dried up fine, and I kept them for future crafting. The dead, dried-out flowers were brushed away, and the bare brunch was painted green.

Small white paper flowers and green leaves were glued to the branch and inserted into the vase.

I used my new small flower punch from Temo.  It's more expensive than the regular punches but worth its price.

I hope you'll like this vase.  I may make some changes, and if I do, I'll show them to you. I'm thinking about a Japanese cherry blossom branch.  

Wishing you all, my dear readers and friends, a blessed, calm week and happy crafting. 

Starting New Year 2026 with flowers

Hello dear friends,

Whenever Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year come, I need a small thank-you gift for the staff at the daycare center.  This year, I purchased small wishing bottles from Temu that resembled vases to be filled with flowers.

About 30 of these vases were given away as gifts.

 

When the bottles arrived, I wasn't satisfied with their plain glass look. Having no glass paints at hand, I experimented with permanent color markers, and it worked fine.

My favorites are the blue cobalt.  They look beautiful with sunflowers.

This is a transparent plastic bead with a large hole. I tried to find more of these beads with no success.

I wish all my friends and readers a Happy New Year with blessings.

Market stall tutorial

Hola, queridos lectores.

Es difícil creer lo rápido que se acaba este año. Una vez más, participo en el Calendario de Advientos , maravillosamente organizados por Matxalen. Gracias, querida Matxalen, por incluirme.

Este año, se trata de un tutorial sobre cómo construir un pequeño puesto de mercado que pueda exhibir diferentes tipos de productos: flores, cestas, artículos decorativos de Navidad y Pascua, etc.

Hello, dear readers,

It's hard to believe how fast this year is nearly over.  Once more, I'm taking part in the wonderfully organized Advent Calendars by Matxalen.  Thank you, dear Matxalen, for including me.

This year, it's a tutorial on how to build a small market stall that can display different types of merchandise, flowers, baskets, Christmas, and Easter goodies, etc.

Este tipo de puesto de mercado es fácil de construir, ya que se basa en una caja rectangular de madera fácilmente disponible. El tamaño del puesto depende del tamaño de la caja.

This type of market stall is easy to make, as it's built around a readily available rectangular wooden box. The size of the stall depends on the box's size

Materiales 

1. Una caja rectangular de madera de 9 x 6,2 x 3 cm.   (Sin tapa)                                                                               2. 4 varillas cuadradas de madera de 0,5 cm (1/4") de diámetro                                                                3. Palitos grandes de manualidades y depresores de lengua.                                                                        4. Pegamento para madera.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Materials 

1. One rectangular wooden box 9 x 6.2 x 3 cm.   (without cover)                                                                                       2. 4 square 0.5 cm (1/4") wooden rods.                                                                                                      3. Large craft sticks and tongue depressors.                                                                                                  4.  wood glue   

                                                                     

Herramientas

Caja de ingletes y sierra

Lima (o lija)

Tools

Mitre box and saw

file (or sandpaper)

Corta las varillas en 4 piezas de 17 cm cada una.

8 piezas de 6,2 cm cada una.

6 piezas de 9 cm cada una.

2 piezas de 5 cm cada una.

2 piezas de 5 cm cada una con un corte diagonal en un extremo.

Cut the rods into 4 pieces, each 17 cm.

                            8 pieces, each 6.2 cm.

                            6 pieces, each  9 sm.

                            2 pieces, each 5 cm.

                            2 pieces, each 5 cm, with a diagonal cut at one end

Pegue dos piezas de 9 cm en la parte inferior y superior de la caja, por delante y por detrás. Pegue dos piezas de 6,2 cm a los lados. (Vea la foto de abajo)

Glue two 9 cm pieces to the bottom and top of the box front and back. Glue two 6.2 pieces to the sides. (See the photo below.) 

Coloca la caja sobre una superficie de 3 cm de altura. Usé piezas de LEGO y olvidé tomar fotos, pero las tomé después para mostrártelo.

Stand the box on a 3 cm surface.  I used LEGO pieces and forgot to take photos, but did so later to show you.

Así luce el puesto antes de arreglar los estantes.

This is how the stall looks before fixing the shelves.

                                                  

 

El puesto con su estante principal.

The stall with its main shelf.

Para hacer el estante, mide la distancia entre las varillas laterales y córtala de un palito grande. Luego, pégala como se ve en la foto de abajo.

To make the shelf, you measure the distance between the side rods and cut it from the large craft stick.  Then glue it on as seen in the photo below.

Primero, pega un corte de 5 cm a otro corte de 5 cm con un extremo diagonal y haz otro igual. Cuando esté seco, pega uno a cada lado de la parte superior. (Ver foto abajo).

First, glue one 5 cm piece to another 5 cm piece with one end diagonally across it, and make another one the same way. When it's dry, glue one to each side of the top. (See photo below).

 

Después de pegar las piezas triangulares a la estructura, el puesto está listo para ser pintado.

After gluing the triangle pieces to the structure, the stall is ready to be painted.

Originalmente, mi intención era que este puesto fuera un puesto de flores, de ahí el color y la parte superior inclinada para dar sombra. En el último momento, decidí convertirlo en un puesto navideño, un homenaje a las maravillosas amigas que me enviaron todos los hermosos adornos que se exhiben. Gracias, Birgit, Gonda, Carmen, Patricia, Marieke, Jennifer, Kikka y Tatiana.

I originally intended this stall to be a flower stall, hence the sunny color and sloped top for sun shade. At the last moment, I decided to turn it into a Christmas stall, a tribute to the wonderful friends who sent me all the beautiful ornaments on display.  Thank you, Birgit, Gonda, Carmen, Patricia, Marieke, Jennifer, Kikka, and Tatiana.

Les deseo felices días de Adviento, Feliz Navidad y Feliz Hanukkah. Abrazos y bendiciones.

I wish you happy Advent days, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Hanukkah.

Hugs and Blessings

.

Les deseo un feliz Adviento con sus manualidades, Feliz Navidad y Feliz Hanukkah. Abrazos y bendiciones.Wishing you happy Advent Days crafting, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

                                                                             

                                                                         

A story about another pair of skeletons who wished to be Ghosts

 

Hello dear readers,

First of all,  thank you for your welcome comments on my previous post.

I'm thrilled and relieved to be able to post again, especially on Halloween. 

The Skellies are concerned about being separated from one another once they receive their diplomas. Since it's Halloween, they had a day off from the Ghost Academy and went to visit their friend Baalatova, the ancient witch. (You will remember, dear readers, that all the ancient abandoned palaces, mansions, and other ancient sites in the world are already occupied by ghosts. Only huge numbers of small abandoned houses, stables, stores, or huts remain. These are too small for more than one ghost to haunt, so only one ghost is allowed to haunt one site.)

Baalatova, together with her favorite adopted pets, Solly the flying bear, and Kitty the cat-girl, was happy to welcome the Skellies.  They all sat down and enjoyed a good time.

Baalatova noticed that something was bothering the skellies and asked if they needed her help or advice. They told her about their hesitation to part.

Baalatova remembered that in one of her 17th-century ancient books, there was a story about a similar case with a solution that might interest them.  

She went inside, found the book, and came back to sit with the book in her hand.

Hidden inside this book of spells was a story about two skeletons who, like Skella and Skelly, wished to be ghosts. Baalatova began reading aloud:

"In a forgotten corner of the world, nestled between the cracked stones of an overgrown graveyard, two skeletons sat beneath the cold light of the moon.  Their names were Boney and Bonyetica, and they had been best friends for centuries.  Rattling around the cemetery, playing bone dominoes, and occasionally scaring off raccoons - unlife was fine, but lately, they were bored.

They wanted more.

"Ghosts get all the drama," Bonyetica said one night, waving a femur for emphasis.  "Moaning in the hallways, floating through walls, showing up in mirrors - style, Boney, they've got style."

Boney nodded, his jaw clattering with enthusiasm. "And mobility! We're stuck here, one graveyard for eternity.  Ghosts get castles, attics, lighthouses."

That settled it.  They didn't want to be skeletons anymore.  They wanted to be ghosts.

The first obstacle was the Manual of the Undead, a dusty old tome that Bonyetica dug up under the caretaker's shack.  According to Chapter 13: "Spiritual Advancement for Bone-based Beings," skeletons could, in theory, become ghosts.  But it wasn't easy."

"You must relinquish all earthly attachments," Bonyetica read aloud.

Boney looked down at his favorite rib, polished to a shine. "Even...this?"

"I think so."

He sighed and dropped it into the offering bowl.

Next, they needed a Spectral Spark - the lingering energy of a strong emotion.  So they tried to summon some drama.

Bonyetica tried to recall the grief of her unrequited love from 1683.  Boney tried screaming about never finishing his cobbler apprenticeship.  The air did get a little colder, but nothing happened.

They even tried haunting someone -  a man running at night by the cemetery - but the guy just kept on running.

"This is hopeless," groaned Boney, his skull clinking as he slumped against a tombstone. "Maybe we're just not tragic enough."

But then, one rainy night, as they sat watching the storm roll over the hills, something strange happened.  A flash of lightning, a crack of thunder - and a shiver ran through their bones, tingling.

It wasn't drama. I wasn't grief.  It was Longing.

They weren't yearning to haunt or float - they were yearning to belong, to change, to mean something more than just bones rattling in the dark.

And the cemetery listened.

The ground trembled.  A hush fell over the world.  The gravestones glowed faintly, and from the earth rose a pale mist that coiled around them.  Then, for the first time in centuries, Boney and Bonyetica felt light.  Weightless.

They looked down and gasped.  Their bones lay in a heap on the grass.  They were translucent, floating inches above the earth, swirling outlines of who they once were.

"We're-"

"-Ghosts!"

They screamed with laughter, whirling through the trees, passing through gravestones just because they could.  Bonyetica tried a dramatic hallway moan.  Boney floated into a mausoleum and pretended to be a cold spot.  They weren't very good at it yet - but they didn't care. They had made it.  The two skeletons who had once been stuck in the dirt were now spirits of the air, the wind, the whispers in the trees.

And on clear nights, when the moon is high and the graveyard is quiet, you might still hear them". laughing - two ghosts floating free.

Skella and Skelly listened enthralled as Baalatova read the story.

Baalatova: 'Dear Skella and Skelly, I hope this story inspires you to make a final decision."

Solly: "  Sorry, Kitty and I fell in the middle of the story. We dreamt about being little ghosts, booing, snatching treats, and having fun. Will you turn us all into ghosts just for this Halloween night?" 

Baalatova:  "Of course, my darling pets, I will. But remember, my spell is valid just for Halloween night".

And, they all went happily haunting......

I hope my friends that you didn't fall asleep reading this light-headed, silly post.

I wish those of you who celebrate Halloween an enjoyable time.  Blessing and peace to all my friends, readers, and followers.

Ceasefire

 Hello dear readers,

It's been a very long time since my last post. I simply couldn't bring myself to write and describe my frustrated thoughts and feelings when the war was going on here. 

Finally, after the last few days of unrelenting tension, all of our surviving captives have returned home from captivity. 

Of the 28 hostages who did not survive, only 4 were returned in coffins. We are anxiously awaiting the return of 24.

I'll be happy to blog regularly with renewed energy and creativity.

To all my friends and readers, blessings and hugs!

The Easter Bunny

 

Dear readers,

Sorry, I'm late posting about Easter, but I do want to let you know that my family and I are all well. We keep our fingers crossed, waiting and praying for the return of the remaining captives and for the war to finally stop.

Here is a rather silly story about the Easter Bunny, which caused me to burst out laughing, 

Once upon a time, there was a man who was peacefully driving down a windy road. Suddenly, a bunny skipped across the road, and the man couldn't stop. He hit the bunny head-on. 

The man quickly jumped out of his car to check the scene. There, lying lifeless in the middle of the road, was the Easter Bunny. 

The man cried out, "Oh no! I have committed a terrible crime! I have run over the Easter Bunny!" The man started sobbing quite hard and heard another car approaching. 

It was a woman in a red convertible. The woman stopped and asked what the problem was. 

The man explained, "I have done something horribly sad. I have run over the Easter Bunny. Now there will be no one to deliver eggs on Easter, and it's all my fault." 

The woman ran back to her car. A moment later, she came back carrying a spray bottle. She ran over to the motionless bunny and sprayed it. 

The bunny immediately sprang up, ran into the woods, stopped, and waved back at the man and woman. Then it ran another 10 feet, stopped, and waved. Every 10 feet, the bunny stopped and waved until the man and the woman could no longer see it.

Once out of sight, the man exclaimed, "What is that stuff in that bottle?"

The woman replied, "It's harespray. It revitalizes hare  and adds permanent waves."

Hugs and blessings