I feel so lucky...I have just been told everything is GOOD and I do not require any further treatments.
I still have to take things easy for quite a while but life looks so beautiful
My thoughts and prayers go to those who have not been as fortunate.
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Just letting you know I am now 12 days post op and although I feel I could do 'anything' I can't.
I have to take it slow and I have to take it carefully until I get the go ahead from the consultant at the beginning of Sept.
Unfortunately I am a little behind with orders and I apologise to those waiting patiently.
I will get these out ASAP and I hope can get back to normal good health and also use the exercise bike again!
My good friend Joan Wareing had an op on her right hand yesterday so she will be taking it easy as well. Something to chat about when we meet up at a club night, hopefully in the next week.
My project with the children has been put back but it's a project that could stand an interuption and will be all the better for not being rushed.
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I have been approached by one of the dolls house magazines to do a project in conjunction with another maker.
I am so excited about this but of course I won't give any more information until it's finished.
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We are getting back to being mobile again - John has started driving. We have been to Manchester, Bolton, Warrington visited family and friends all within 25 mile radius. Not far but taking it slowly...but not literally.
In the meantime I have managed to get my dolls dressing projects up to date by putting them into DVD's instead of CD's which I think are more popular; plus it means that you don't have to work at your computer getting glue , paint etc where it shouldn't be.LOL.
You can have a workshop by yourself or with friends in your own kitchen, lounge etc and follow the step by step photos and text instructions.
All the DVD's will have four doll projects with paper patterns included; so being at home has given me time to do what I wanted.
So far I have two nearly ready and others in the pipeline so to speak.
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I have arranged for my group to have the opportunity of taking on-line workshops each month.
We started in May with Jacquie Hall doing Spring flowers; I am doing this month, June of the Old Lady Sewing.
July and August , McQueenie Miniatures doing a furniture kit especcially for the workshop - a beautiful side table; September we have Jane Harrop who is also offering something new and in Oct ober have Christine Orchard doing a Circular Sofa. Noveomber is Kathryn Gray who has a Garden in a Tub with step by step photos
All members have a choice to join in, the workshops are not free, but the involvement and email contact with a tutor is invaluable.
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To-day is our Golden Wedding Anniversary, 21st May 1960 - 21st May 2010, what a milestone! I just want to know where the years have gone.
We had planned a holiday in Germany but had to cancel as John still can not drive with his broken arm/wrist.
We have also put our wedding photographs onto CD with all the names of the guests and giving these to our sons for future family tree info. The worrying thing is not many of those who attended are still with us!
I have put one of our wedding photos in because it's black and white.
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A customer recently send me this photo of a doll she has completed.
In her own words
' Just wanted to 'show off' my lady out shopping! Hope you approve!
I used a Katy Sue doll that I have had for ages and ages just waiting for
the right costume. Your pattern was unbelievably accurate for her! The
'puddle' is a piece of cling film - not that good but OK for the picture.'
It's lovely when customers are pleased and get back to you.
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Had a fraught week so far. My husband John had an accident and broke his left wrist/arm in two places, the result after waiting a full day and a half was a metal plate with 6 screws. He is now home, in some discomfort the pain relief not working very well. This means no driving for at least 6/8 weeks and I don't drive at all therefore had to cancel Edinburgh, Soest and York fairs. Having to rely on my son and daughter-in-law for shopping trips, and good friends for anything else.
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Yes, I am shouting it out to one and all.
I have started an on-line workshop group which we hope will bring a workshop into your homes for you to take part. The only stipulation is that you are a member of minis4all at yahoogroups to join in. The reason being the minis4all membership are loyal decicated miniaturists who love to join in and chat about the miniatures they have made and also teach others how to make a project look professional.
We have a programme so far:
April - Free project on Curtain Draping by Hazel (me) to start everyone off is already on line.
May - Spring Flowers by Jacquie Hall
June - Old Lady Sewing - Doll dressing by Hazel Dowd ( this site)
July - Garden of Flowers by Kathryn Gray - http://www.templewoodminiatures.co.uk
August - McQueenie Miniatures - Furniture kit http://www.mcqueenieminiatures.co.uk
September - Jane Harrop http://www.janeharrop.co.uk
October - Christine Orchard http://www.littletrimmings.com
To take part, the months workshop will be announced on minis4allyahoogroups email list.
The students then contact the tutor, pay for the workshop, the students names will be given to me.
The invitations will be sent out and the list started to begin the workshop.
The instructions can be printed out along with the photos of the project.
After 4 weeks the student members names will be deleted ready for the next workshop and new set of students taking place.
How easy is that? working in your own home, at your own speed, in your own time with email contact via the list if you require it.
There will be no chatty chats..as the list is only for workshop projects and information.
Contact Hazel if you are interested in joining mini4all.
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I am busy working on a room setting for an old lady sewing, it is from a painting by Charles Edward Wilson. I have done my other settings under the tutorledge of Joe Wareing but decided to have a go myseslf. Joe did make the box up with the inner wall and door to my instructions so I hope I can do justice to it.
I have done the walls with litfill and painted them. I stained the door and window wood. I also added beams to the ceiling which were not shown in the painting but they might have been there! I hope to complete the brick floor when I borrow the 'brick stamp' off Joe this coming week at club night. I bought the two gerainium plants from Jan van den Doel at Arnhem. I still have to make and add the curtain, make the clothes for hanging at the back door. I think Joan mentioned she has candlesticks I can buy off her. The basket I can make; I already have scissors, the cotton reels I bought from http://www.mcqueenieminiatures.com (if they are not on the site, email to enquire. BTW they also have darning mushrooms) I think I need to add a cat or a dog sleeping. Oh, and make a table??? because I can't see one that would do; and those who know me know I HATE working with wood, so I might have to ask nicely if someone else can do this for me.
I like scenes to 'say' something not look 'static' .
CONTINUED:
Made the curtain and a rail, glued them in; made and draped cloaks to hang on the door. Aged the walls by adding greys and 'damp'
I did the brick floor with Joe at the Hindley club last night (7.4.10) to-day I have to sand it a little then paint various shades of yellow, greys to make the bricks look old and worn. I have also cut a carpet of sacking (silk sacking) looks good! so nearly there.
You can't see into her sewing basket but she has the patches ready cut, scissors and bobbin, you can see she has been working adding more patches as the backing 'papers' are on the floor!
Her poor cottage is damp which is why she needs the quilt to keep her warm in winter.
Her dog is having a good 'scratch' VBG.
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Another great evening with the kids at Burscough. They finger waxed the corner cabinet, added the drawer handles and faux stone.
Glued in the corner cabinet.
Next they repainted the hat stand with a much nicer gold paint which dried very quick.
They then made up a handbag from a kit I provided.
Made up a shoe box and painted a shoe red with vnail varnish.
Next month we will glitter effect the bag, glue in the hat stand, make up scent bottles and glue these in place, maybe make up the mannequins.
Just watch this space, and I keep meaning to have photos taken of them working away. |
Of me receiving a medal and cup for the best overseas stand at the Milan fair. The organiser Sabrina is such a lovely lady and I have missed going but the air fair from Manchester to Milan with stock is now too expensive to even consider using it as a mini holiday.
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I have been browsing the web looking for small miniatures to help complete three new scenes I hope to do this year in conjunction with Joe Wareing for future club workshops. I have managed to get some small darning mushrooms and cotton reels from McQueenie Miniatures, plus a broom kit, still looking for a string of oinions, a large galvanized bucket and a stool. These are not for the same project bnut I will require all at some point.
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Another club night went quick at Burscough.
I wasn't feeling too good as I have a head cold, the first for about 3 years so must start taking vitamin tablets again.
The junior section had to paint a corner cupboard in cream, paint a hat stand in antique gold and then paper their project scene which involved, measuring, drafting and cutting. I gave them plain white paper to start with to show them how to go about this; no use giving them the expensive wallpaper first! After a couple of tries they managed it and at the end of the evening we had 5 project boxes wallpapered with the help of Joe Wareing and Chloe's mum.
Five of the adult members also started on their boxes and soon caught up.
Now to plan next months project for draped curtains, fastening in the pelmet and corner cupboard etc.
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Well reached a big one to-day 6th Feb , 70 years.. where have the years gone? Still feel young, have a new knee, got exciting things to do this year and will just enjoy life as normal with my husband and family.
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We held our first meeting of the year and the junior members started on the first part of the 10 month project to make the Elegance in Black and Red scene. They painted the inner side walls to prime them, ceiling with two coats of acrylic; cut the paper for the floor and glued this down.
They glued on the drawer fronts for the corner unit and also painted the pelmet. John, my hubby glued in the side mirror to make the scene appear as one large room. They took their boxes home with instructions to bring everything back next month.
A couple of the adults saw the juniors and they also wanted to take part. The spare box and one I had as a sample went, with orders for 5 more for next month. It's a case of watch this space for the next edition.
Oh, and we bought our free range eggs from one of the members who has a farm, we all missed these since our last meeting in November.
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Just getting ready for the Burscough mini group meeting at the end of January.
The junior members are doing my 'Elegenace in Black and Red' over 10 months.
I have been typing an order of work and I want them to have a little folder and also to write up as they proceed with the project.
After all they are learning crafts skills each month. Children have their own way of looking at an object and can sometimes do it far quicker or easier than adults so we shall have to see what happens.
I will try and get photos of the progress and show the results when finished.
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We went out to-day in the car, road still bad but whilst out we bought another exercise bike. For those who didn't know, I had a replacement knee Nov 2008 and have been using an exercise bike every morning; not for long but I do use it. It belongs to my DIL and although she didn't want it and had had it a long time it still works though the mileometer doesn't work and I was longing to see how many miles I had done. Now I can do but only if John keeps off it..LOL. Might have to keep a record.
Cycling is not a new thing for us, I had a racing bike built for me when I was 18 (John 19) and we belonged to Warrington Road Club, cycled with the club every Sunday to different places, Derbyshire was the favourite place. We also went to Southport and back of an evening 25 miles each way... John did lots of 25 mile races, I only every managed 10 mile races in 27min and some seconds... which was not bad going. We also cycled to London from Newton-le-Willows in a day and a half ( 198 miles) this was while the M1 was being built. I also used to cycle to work in Manchester ( not when raining) along the East Lancs road. When I had the children I stopped cycling all together; when I was 40 I bought myself another bike to get to work in Warrington, only a mere 5 miles away but ooh I had slowed down, that took me at least 25 mins. Which I think ruined my knees..at least that's my story, oh and another thing..no lycra then thank goodness!!!!!
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I am not attending the fair at Stafford due to the adverse weather we are having. I regret this decission as I know most of the motorways are OK for driving but the weather forecast has snow again for Sunday and I would rather not risk the 1+ hour ( in normal conditions) drive. We have minor roads to negociate at either end of the journey and these are quite scary for driving.
I hope all other traders going will enjoy the day and I hope the visitors come out to enjoy their day as well.
I know Doreen Jeffries broke her ankle on Wednesday and not sure if she will attend but her husband Bob will be attending.
Anyone going to Stafford please take care.
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Hazels Blog
