Thank You Sandi!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure everyone of you have within your collection what you could define as your five star pieces. They maybe things you paid dearly for, made yourself or someone made for you.

I have a few of those five star pieces I adore. All of them are things made for me by friends. Things that can never be replaced. Now I can add these lovely petit point pieces to that category. They were made for me by Sandi. Who's work I am sure you have admired many times on Linda's blog http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.com/ and in Mercedes blog http://libertybiberty.blogspot.com/

Sandi works on 60 count silk gauze. That is 3, 600 stitches to the square inch! It has to be stitched with silk sewing thread. Embroidery floss is much too heavy to stitch on 60 count gauze. I am thrilled beyond words to have received these lovely, lovely pieces from her. They are really astonishing!!! Sandi also made another piece that I can stitch on my 1: 12 scale embroidery frame (not pictured yet).

This is a gorgeous tea cozy Sandi designed to compliment my Stoksay Ware.

A gorgous sampler!!!

Sandi has a blog... With no entries to date. I hope that you will let her know in your comments here how much you would enjoy seeing more of her incredible work. I happen to know she has just finished the most beautiful petit point rug for her own collection. I have never seen anything so fine.

I am just in awe of your beautiful work Sandi. I will take good care and treasure these forever! Thank you so very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My SIMP Purchases

For a close up... Double click on the photo.

How lucky am I to have a friend who would shop for me at SIMP! These arrived in today's post.

Marie-Laure emailed me lots and lots of photos from the show in Paris of Elizabeth Causeret's work. Once I saw the photos, I emailed her in return and she bought several things for me. I am still amazed by the technology that allows this.

I just love the ginger jars with the crackle finish on them. I have always had a soft spot for those. I also loved Elizabeth's beautiful bowls. These are not all the pieces Marie-Laure sent. I will post those another time.

Once again.... Thank you so much Marie-Laure. http://recreationminiature.blogspot.com/ How very kind of you.

BTW... The telephone is solid brass. The part you speak into can be positioned. It is something I have had for many years.

Pascale's Irises... Think Purple

I wish my camera would see the right color. It drives me crazy. These are a beautiful shade of purple not blue!!!

I think I made a mess of this kit. Which of course means I have to order another one to do them all over again. Though in their defence I will say they look a lot better in person then in these photos.

I was happy enough with them until I added the beard to the irises. I think I would like to try a different material for that. The bright yellow (super fine) flock I used to make 1:44 scale flowers for the walnut houses might work better for me. I just lost control of the yellow sand that came with the kit. Though I am sure Pascale works with it beautifully! Everything she makes is perfect! You may have great success with the sand too.

This vase is a one of a kind. it has a frosted finish. At the top (in the back behind the flowers) the rim of the vase comes to a point. Would you say it was art nouveau? Frank Whittemore made it for me long ago. The first time I saw it I thought it needs irises in it.

A big thank you to Marie-Laure http://recreationminiature.blogspot.com/ for translating the directions from French into English!!!

The Garden

It is wall to wall flowers in the garden at the moment.

I love these huge moon flowers that open up at dusk. The vine has grown up and over my brick wall. So pretty sitting out in the courtyard at night. Next year I think I will plant a white garden.

OOPS! I missed posting this on Fathers Day

These are my parents. They did not have me until late in life. Aren't they gorgeous!

I have been working on a couple of very simple fine silver frames
1: 12 scale. Before I finished them I wanted to see if I could successfully take pictures of framed photos. I really didn't want to disturb the framing to reduce them and I don't have a scanner. I may just have to take the photos out of the frame to do it properly.

My Dad is gone now but I think about him every day. He was among many other things a true gentleman. In the old fashion sense of the words meaning. They don't make many of them anymore.

Hanna's Bananas & Hanneke

Recently I received an order from Hanna. http://miniature-chef.blogspot.com/ Her work is just beautiful!!! I am not someone that orders a lot of food items but I know I will be back to order from her again very soon. I was just amazed by the detail.

I think everyone knows Hanneke. http://www.minimini.nl/flesjes.htm Her Bonnie Maman French jams are as wonderful as her wine bottles are. I couldn't make up my mind so I ordered three of them. She has several other things I intend to order now that I have seen these wonderful jams.

Finished Watering Can & Hydrangeas

I haven't been doing much work lately. I had to have a bit of surgery on my right hand and I am right handed). It so much better now! :-)

It has been driving me crazy not to be working on something!!! So, I thought I would try and make some flowers. This is a beautiful kit made by http://www.wam-miniaturen.com/page4.htm#div Hydrangeas are one of my favorites. I love the light blues and pinks.

The watering can has been finished for several days but I had not put a finish on it. Our humidity has been so high that I wanted to wait for a good day when it was low to do it. I may not see another one until October! The part of the pour spout (head) with the holes in it is brass.

I am pretty pleased with it. In a few days I will start on another one. This one is leaving for it's new home this week.