Exploding Lighters Batman!

So it's been a while since I posted, well over a week.  I knew the daily posts wouldn't last, did you? 

Last week I went to Richmond, VA for 2 days.  1 was shopping and the other my mom and I went to Maymont and the VA Museum of Fine Arts.  Got to see Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso, just to drop a few names.  as well as the Fabergé Eggs which is one of the largest collection outside of Russia.  My wonderful sister-n-law dog sat for me, and Bodhi was as close to an angel as he could be.  As for the cinnamon candies that he left on the floor, the devil made him do it.

I also got to go to both of my nieces concerts.  One is in middle school and plays the clarinet. The other is in elementary and stays after school to play in a Dwarf orf band, I know I misspelled that but it's basically a xylophone band, I think.  Anyway they both did very well, and I'm proud of them.

So you're probably wondering why the title?  Well I was working on my 1:48th scale butcher shop, and trying to build a night stand that would hide the wires for a lamp on it.  Long story short, after several attempts I got the design down and then went to shrink the heat shrink tubing after soldering the led and wires... the lighter went up in flames in my hand.  I lit a candle, used it to shrink the tubing and somehow managed to catch the corner of the nightstand top on fire singed hair off my hand which is feeling a little like I sunburned it.  I managed to blow it out but not before the LED got to hot and self destructed.  I decided to keep the top it had character, and went through the aforementioned steps minus the lighter and catching things on fire, and now I'm waiting for glue to dry before I paint the rest of the night stand.  YAY!  BTW I think my pride is more hurt than I am... but its used to the bumps and bruises.

Don't forget the Advent calendar over at AIM, we're up to day 14 now.  12 days til Christmas... are you ready?

Lions and Tigers and Bunnies, Oh MY!

Wow, 2 posts in one day.  Who'd a'thunk it?

In my blog description I mention some of my different hobbies.  So rather than have you believe I really only talk about miniatures and I don't do anything else, I thought I'd share my most recent needle felted creation. It was a Birthday present for a good friend of mine, and since she's already received it I figure it's safe to post a couple pictures.

I'll be back to give her a shout out on her actual birthday.

I kind of forgot til just before I packaged him for sending that I wanted to take pictures, so I grabbed the P&S and well, suffice it to say I've taken better pictures.  And hopefully not to sound cocky, I don't think the pictures did him any justice.  He is 3 inches tall from the tip of his ears down to his bottom.

If I would have been thinking I would gotten a back shot or at least a better side view of him.

December's AIM Magazine is Out!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the AIM magazine, it's a free e-mag that through the wonderful efforts of editor Bea (Fiona) Broadwood and many contributing miniature artists comes out once a month.  It has helpful hints, tutorials, interviews and articles, and it's free!  Who could ask for more? Head on over when you're done here and check out the awesomesauce.

I don't know what it is with that 'word' lately, but it's in my vocabulary for the time being so please bare with me until it works it's way out.  I'm usually more of a "stoked" user.

BTW did anyone else get an image of teeny tiny artists running around trying to get article ready for the AIM magazine?  Yes I know, I'm just a little strange.

Also door 3 of the Advent Calendar is open.

I'll be nice and spare you any singing in this post. 

Alice's Restaurant

"You can get anything you want, at Alice's restaurant."

Thanks to my 3 new followers, I love groupies.  :)

I had to go 'to town' today and have my teeth cleaned; one of our radio stations has been hauled over and they kept playing an advert for themselves that ended "on the new Alice."  And every time I heard it I'd have to sing... "you can get anything you want, at Alice's restaurant."

I finished the shingles yesterday.  Not sure when I'll get pictures up because my DSLR has a dirty sensor, which the 'pro' guy removed the dust but I think transferred grease onto it.  It's gong to cost twice as much to take it to another guy, and I just don't know when I'm going to do it.  I can always shoot with my Fuji P&S, but I'm never as happy with it's output.

A quick reminder if you haven't gone there already, door two is now 'unlocked' over at the AIM's 2010 Advent Calendar.

And don't forget... "You can get anything you want, at Alice's restaurant."  (ok I'll stop already)

Pimping Out Advent

Hello world, welcome to the birth of my blog!

I thought I'd give a shout out, and pimp the AIM (artisans in miniature) Advent Calendar.  For the next 24 days, you can count down to Christmas with free miniature projects.  One each day until Christmas.  Even if you don't celebrate you can take part in the 24 wonderful gifts.  It starts today with door number one.  Just find the door and click on it.  I know they've got a ton of wonderful surprises in store for us this December.

Head on over to AIM and check it out.

As for me, I'm working on my quarter scale butcher shop; a kit by the wonderful, friendly and extremely talented, Fiona "Bea" Broadwood.  You can check out her awesomsauce over at Petite Properties, go on you know you want to.  She is also the editor of AIM, see I told you she was wonderful.

Well, I'll try and pop in again later to remind you all to check out the Advent Calendar, but for now I've got 1:48th scale shingles to lay.