A Surprise from Aunt Pat

When I went over to Aunt Pat's on Saturday, she had a surprise for me.  A few years back she asked everyone in our mini group which of her scenes were our favorites, then she made a list to give to her attorney.  None of us thought anything about it after that, content in having her with us to play.

After another mini friend passed away and her family ignored her wishes regarding her miniatures, Pat apparently decided to go ahead and send everyone home with their favorites at the last Christmas party.  She said she'd rather see us enjoying her pieces now than worry if everything would be done to her instruction later.  Also it makes more room for her current projects.

So now I am the proud (and somewhat soggy from tears) owner of "Vermeer Vignette."  The box itself is a Houseparty Helper gift from San Jose, CA in 1993 and has been reworked.  (I helped cut the skylight.) Both dolls are by Pat Boldt, dressed and wigged by Aunt Pat. 

It still makes me giggle thinking about how we came up with the "seasoned serving wench" from a Mrs. Claus doll.  We must have sat for three hours trying to figure out her clothes and pose.

 I made the doll's pipe after the one she bought vanished (while we were both sitting there working... I think it bounced someplace strange and was sucked up by the hoover) and also the knife when she couldn't find one in her stash.  She made the loaf of bread in a class, but she didn't recall when.

The painting is an original oil done after Jan Vermeer's "Girl With A Pearl Earring" by D.J. Chol. 

 All of her pieces have a black and white cat in them, it's her signature.

 Here are some closeups of the delftware.

 

 If I'm remembering correctly, Aunt Pat was given these tulips as a birthday gift by Mary Ellis, IGMA Artisan in plants.  Mary has been a friend of Pat's for years.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this room.  It will be one of my greatest treasures for as long as I live.  The best part is that Aunt Pat's still around to make minis with.  In fact I'm trying to plan a trip down there to get some projects off her "Have Kat Do This" list.  ;-)

New Minis from the St. Louis Show

On Saturday FH drove us down to St. Louis for a day trip.  This time it was for fun and not because more things have been going wrong with my dad or any other family member.  Once we got to the hotel where the miniature show was being held, friends of ours came to pick him up for the day.  This left my friend that rode with us and I the car for the day.

Here are my treasures:

I knew I'd be needing my own pleaters since I can't  just pop 'round to Pat's to use hers, so I invested in all three sizes.

 Some tiny rick rack and some hat straw.

 This was something I couldn't possibly pass up.  A mammoth carved from mammoth ivory!

 I fell in love with this knitted Jemima Puddle Duck and while she was being wrapped up, I noticed this 1/48 scale teapot with a knit cozy.  Actually she had a selection, but this is the one that spoke to me.  I was wanting something more in the Quarter Scale Adobe room to make it look more real and this fit the bill.

 On my way to the door I passed by my favorite small scale animal sculptor.  She had these two cats that were destined to go into the Adobe as well.

 When I was done taking the above pictures, I decided it would be best to put the quarter scale things into their designated room.

 Once we were satisfied with our purchases, we went to lunch with my Aunt Pat and her cousin at La Bonne Bouche, my favorite French bistro.  It's also the place where we ordered our wedding cake. After lunch my friend and I killed some time at a needlework shop whilst Aunt Pat went back to the show for a few more items that she talked herself into over lunch.  Then we met back up at her home so my friend could see her minis. 

She had a big surprise in store for me that I'll tell you about next time.  See you then!