tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52624597498237189672024-02-18T20:21:34.974-06:00Both Sides of the Lamp PostIn the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, a lamp post is located between the magical world of Narnia and the real world of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. I will be writing about topics that range from the fantasy world of scale miniatures to the pleasures and challenges of living in the real world. Anything relevant to life, from the silly to the serious, may show up here.Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-49369116631876810402013-10-23T00:32:00.000-05:002013-10-23T00:32:45.484-05:00Frame FinishedI had no idea how long it had been since I posted. Today, a follower reminded me that I hadn't posted pictures of the finished frame for my lighthouse petitpoint. I thought I had, but it was facebook where I posted the pictures. So..... here's the finished frame. It was donated to the IGMA Guild School silent auction in support of the Guild School and its scholarship funds. The frame is made of danta wood with ebony string inlays and pegs. The danta wood looks similar to miniature mahogany.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdllGWBFqScc5LW6n_LweBMxcPyeStDaysrpLJprVifQ6RMDIdrtlUgGnKYmB4uYneOqyrFoJESYgi4wOfrS4rA6KQ-D5Tx4D8jNzVaedAzP4flpJdPvyQ9KAY6zkjM3d6t-Tlz9Ncgr6/s1600/CastineLighthousePetitpointFramed.JohnHallFrame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdllGWBFqScc5LW6n_LweBMxcPyeStDaysrpLJprVifQ6RMDIdrtlUgGnKYmB4uYneOqyrFoJESYgi4wOfrS4rA6KQ-D5Tx4D8jNzVaedAzP4flpJdPvyQ9KAY6zkjM3d6t-Tlz9Ncgr6/s320/CastineLighthousePetitpointFramed.JohnHallFrame.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5c-L5uDvw2Hr6TA8Bu8ldyAm9EwuaORMaUl9osFl97AbQ5rco0mMn_BYpT8aAN1tvp8cFkkBF7beGjtkqkpY9BP0LwyoazkVay592bW7q6FhLgwBdUBUYxA6ebKY94SqTZR8JlG3rBqS/s1600/CastineLighthousePetitpointFramedBack.JohnHallFrame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5c-L5uDvw2Hr6TA8Bu8ldyAm9EwuaORMaUl9osFl97AbQ5rco0mMn_BYpT8aAN1tvp8cFkkBF7beGjtkqkpY9BP0LwyoazkVay592bW7q6FhLgwBdUBUYxA6ebKY94SqTZR8JlG3rBqS/s320/CastineLighthousePetitpointFramedBack.JohnHallFrame.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1886464585"></span><span id="goog_1886464586"></span><br />Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-46951063956288255582013-05-26T21:15:00.001-05:002013-05-26T21:25:46.967-05:00Starting on the Picture FrameThe frame I decided to make is a reproduction of a frame made by John Hall, one of the craftsmen who built much of the Greene & Greene Furniture. You can read about the history of the frame <a href="http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/articles/john-hall-frame/" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also <a href="http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/files/hall_frame.pdf" target="_blank">download the plans</a> if you want to make your own.<br />
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Making the frame in miniature is a challenge and will need some adjustment. What I'm writing and showing you here is my work in progress, and so far I'm winging it! There may be adjustments made later when I find out that what I'm doing right now doesn't work. ;-)<br />
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The first decision to make was what type of wood to use. I believe the original frame was walnut, but most of the Greene & Greene items were made of mahogany. I decided to use Danta wood because it is a good miniature version of mahogany with its close grain and color.<br />
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First I printed out the template from the plans and reduced it until it was the right size for the petitpoint. That took several tries. Here I'm cutting out the frame from the template and testing it to be sure it fits the stitched piece. I'll probably have to add in a few stitches where the sides of the frame curve.<br />
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Next, I started cutting out the pattern pieces. I discovered I had more control with scissors than I had with the knife blade.</div>
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Afte cutting out the top and bottom pieces, I folded them in half and trimmed just to be sure that the right and left sides of the frame would be the same. The two side pieces could be cut out with one pattern piece by layering the wood right sides together under the pattern and cutting them together. I didn't, because I was afraid my saw wouldn't remain vertical which would make the top or bottom piece a different size from the other one anyway. In the article about the frame (linked above), the author noted that none of the pieces of the original frame were exactly alike, especially the puzzle piece shapes at the bottom of the sides. (Whew, that lessens the pressure!)</div>
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The next step is laying out the pattern pieces on the wood. It's important to have pleasing wood grain on each piece. Grain on the top and bottom pieces should be horizontal, and grain on the side pieces should be vertical. Grain should always follow the length of the piece. Here, I've laid the hole in the template that was left over after cutting out the pattern piece on top of the wood and moved it around looking for a spot with a pleasing grain pattern for that particular pattern piece.</div>
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Here, I've placed the pattern on the wood and Scotch taped it down. Normally I would use double sided tape, but I didn't have any, so I made do. It worked, but not as well. It's harder to see the line to cut on, and once the piece is cut out, the pattern falls away instead of staying stuck to the wood until the edges are filed and sanded smooth. It's important to cut just outside the lines to leave room for final shaping. You don't want to accidentally cut the piece too small.</div>
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This is my set-up for using my jeweler's saw. The tall stand underneath is courtesy of Bill Robertson from a class he taught. Clamped on top of it is a wooden jig rigged with metal and plastic tubing and a small air pump that blows air on your piece as you saw, blowing away the sawdust that would otherwise obstruct your view as you work. I found it several years ago at Stewart McDonald. <a href="http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/5262" target="_blank">The one they have now </a>isn't exactly the same as what they sold then - from the reviews, it's just a fish tank air pump attached to a plastic hose. Here's the <a href="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Inlay/Pearl_Cutting_Jig.html?actn=100101&xst=1&xsr=5262" target="_blank">jig it attaches to</a>.</div>
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Here are the pieces of the frame that I've already done some filing and shaping on. Still have to do the top piece.</div>
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Stopping now for a cup of tea.... more to come!</div>
Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-22512563926359150342013-05-25T15:25:00.000-05:002013-05-25T15:25:51.675-05:00Getting ready for IGMA Guild School - Stitching CompletedThis is silk on 48 count silk gauze. I designed it based on a combination of several vintage postcards showing the <a href="http://www.lighthouse.cc/dicehead/pc2.html" target="_blank">Dice (Dyce) Head Lighthouse</a> in Castine, ME. I finished the stitching last night, and today has been spent researching and planning the design for the frame. I'm thinking of something in the style of Green & Greene, perhaps best known for the <a href="http://www.gamblehouse.org/" target="_blank">Gamble House</a> in California. The stitching is 75 X 75 stitches (total 5625 stitches) and measures 1.5 inches square. Shown with a US nickel to give a sense of scale.<br />
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The finished framed piece will be my donation to the <a href="http://igma.org/guild_school/index.html" target="_blank">Guild School (IGMA)</a> for their auction which raises money to support the school and provide scholarships for deserving students. The school meets for a week in June every year at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, ME. The teachers are artisans and fellows of the Guild from all over the world. This will be my first time in Castine, and the excitement is building rapidly! And thanks to the suggestion of my friend <a href="http://elgakoster.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Elga Koster</a> in South Africa, we will have two full days in NYC on the way to Maine, followed by a lovely drive up the coast to Castine from Portland.Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-14552560629946126762012-06-10T22:17:00.000-05:002012-06-10T22:20:47.377-05:00Kazak Rug in ProgressThis is a dollhouse rug I've been working on using Hand-Dyed Fibers, luscious silk threads with subtle color variations perfect for this tiny scale. The gauze is 48 threads per inch. This particular rug will always bring back memories of my dad, as I've stitched a large portion of it while staying at his house during the last two months of his life. It will also bring back memories of all the wonderful people who came to help out and stumbled on the world of miniatures - my mother's dollhouse displayed in the living room, and me with my special stitching lamp and my jeweler's loupe stuck in the middle of my forehead (when not stitching). One of the last things my father said as he examined this rug was that he would like to see our family crest done in petitpoint.... I don't know, Daddy, maybe some day when I have lots and lots of spare time! Click to see the full-size picture.<br />
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<br /></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-5678882879123753322012-06-10T18:47:00.000-05:002012-06-10T19:43:37.938-05:00Recognized by His Wounds: What good is a suffering God?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">n Memory of my Father...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">John R. Boling, April 7, 1932 - May 22, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.hhhfunerals.com/obituaries/John-Boling/#/Obituary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Obituary</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A little over a year ago, a few days after Easter, my dad commented that he had always wondered <em>why the risen Christ was recognized by his wounds, and not by his face</em>. He was referring to a comment the pastor had made in the church newsletter about the biblical text from John that would be read the following Sunday. The text below from John's gospel is traditionally read on the Sunday after Easter, the Sunday which is often referred to as "low Sunday" in the church year. The brass fanfares are only a memory, the lilies have faded, and the crowds have dwindled. John's story about the visits of the risen Christ to the disciples on Easter night and again the following week is appropriate for the Sunday after Easter because it helps us move away from the euphoria of Easter morning and understand what the Resurrection means for us every day of our lives. As I pondered my dad's comment over the past year, it occurred to me that if it helps us understand what the Resurrection means for us during the ordinary times of our lives, than how much more helpful it might be in helping us understand what the Resurrection means for us on the lowest days of our lives - the days when our hearts have gaping holes in them and our stomachs are tied in knots with grief. And so I decided to preach the sermon for my father's funeral based on this passage from John. I'm posting a slightly altered version here because so many people asked for copies of the sermon, saying it was helpful to them in thinking about the problem of pain and suffering, the oldest and most difficult question that most of us have ever asked. I don't have the answer, but perhaps John's gospel can give us a clue.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyPNoY493ufIfSoB0y-4ajBDJNOXK6ERTz24_Dos7A6ViYKEb5C6IddpPlVeBPKAj6cJXVUeEaVnU6Ucb0x0sArcyfm7bnMRxa62Z_A7t6DOd3ljIVwz6i1LQPfLT7GOjDD5-yvtqR03s/s1600/Rembrandt-The+Incredulity+of+Thomas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyPNoY493ufIfSoB0y-4ajBDJNOXK6ERTz24_Dos7A6ViYKEb5C6IddpPlVeBPKAj6cJXVUeEaVnU6Ucb0x0sArcyfm7bnMRxa62Z_A7t6DOd3ljIVwz6i1LQPfLT7GOjDD5-yvtqR03s/s400/Rembrandt-The+Incredulity+of+Thomas.jpg" width="387" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Rembrandt - The Incredulity of Thomas</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">John 20:19-31</span></strong></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. NRSV</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Certainly, we know that the Resurrection means that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead, and because he has been raised, we know that death has been overcome. We know that death is not the end. The promise of the Resurrection is that we, too, shall be raised to eternal life with God. But in this story, John tells us something more about the Resurrection. It certainly has to do with our death and our resurrected life with God, but it also has to do with our living now. It has to do not only with our daily lives after the euphoria of Easter is over, but also with the times of deepest despair... the times when joy and hope seem forever gone and our hearts are breaking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">John tells us that on Easter night and again the following week, Jesus appears to the disciples in a house where the doors were locked. Both times, he shows them his hands and his side, without being asked. It is clear that none of the disciples recognize the risen Christ until they see his hands and his side. The wounds are proof that the one who stands before them is the one who was crucified. The wounds are his very identity, giving us the truest revelation of God available to us. If the risen Christ is the crucified one, then what is revealed is that God is a vulnerable, suffering God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Traditionally, we think of God as infinite, omniscient, without passion, almighty, most absolute.... </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Narratives-Vulnerable-God-Theology-Scripture/dp/0664255345/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339369320&sr=1-1&keywords=narratives+of+a+vulnerable+god" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">William Placher</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> says that the God described this way is a God who can do anything to anyone, but no one can cause this God pain. But John's account of the appearances of the risen Christ show us that the God revealed in Jesus Christ has another side. The God revealed in Jesus Christ is a wounded God, a suffering God, and therefore, a vulnerable God. When we think of resurrected bodies, don't we usually imagine a body that's young, beautiful, and healthy? But the body of the risen Christ has wounds. Those wounds went to the grave, and they rose from the grave. Jesus broke the bonds of death, but he kept his wounds. Even after rising, his wounds remain. The wounded Christ who shows his followers his pierced hands and his side reveals a vulnerable God who is open to our pain, who enters into our suffering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Jesus did not come into the world merely to reveal God's power. Yes, the God depicted in the scriptures is a God of power, but it is a strange power, an upside down power, a power made known in the cross, a power made known in the wounds of the risen Christ. But what good, you may ask, is a suffering God? What good is a God who does not exercise power to relieve our suffering? How does a suffering God help?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What does one say to someone who is suffering? </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lament-Son-Nicholas-Wolterstorff/dp/080280294X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339370410&sr=8-3&keywords=wolterstorff+nicholas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nicholas Wolterstorff</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> says, <em>"The heart that speaks is heard more than the words than are spoken..... Not even the best of words can take away pain... What I need to hear from you is that you recognize how painful it is. I need to hear from you that you are with me in my desperation. To comfort me, you must come close. Come sit beside me on my mourning bench."</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">God did not stand over there, apart from us. God came close - really close. Emmanuel - "God With Us" - came close. God Incarnate, God of the flesh, came really close, close enough to enter into human pain and death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lament-Son-Nicholas-Wolterstorff/dp/080280294X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339370410&sr=8-3&keywords=wolterstorff+nicholas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wolterstorff</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> says that "to redeem our brokenness and lovelessness he who suffers with us did not strike some mighty blow of power but sent his beloved son to suffer <em>like</em> us, through his suffering to redeem us from suffering and evil... Instead of explaining our suffering God shares it." That's worth saying again.... "Instead of explaining our suffering, God shares it."</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chorus-Witnesses-Thomas-G-Long/dp/0802801323/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339367616&sr=1-2&keywords=the+courage+to+love+william+sloane+coffin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">William Sloane Coffin</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, in a sermon on the Sunday following his own son's death at the age of 24, tells of a woman who arrived at his door the night following the death with about 18 quiches. He says, <em>"[She] headed for the kitchen, saying sadly over her shoulder, 'I just don't understand the will of God.' </em>The grieving father exploded, <em>"Do you think it was the will of God that Alex never fixed that lousy windshield wiper of his, that he was probably driving too fast in such a storm, that he had probably had a couple of 'frosties' too many? Do you think it is God's will that there are no street lights along that stretch of road, and no guard rail separating the road and Boston Harbor?"</em></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chorus-Witnesses-Thomas-G-Long/dp/0802801323/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339367616&sr=1-2&keywords=the+courage+to+love+william+sloane+coffin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Coffin</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> goes on to say, <em>"The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is 'It is the will of God.' My own consolation lies in knowing that it was </em><strong>not</strong><em> the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, God's heart was the first to break."</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I certainly don't have the answer to the problem of pain and suffering. I don't know why God doesn't prevent babies from dying, or why so many must suffer from chronic debilitating illness, or why we have natural disasters or terrorism or any of the other endless causes of suffering. I don't know why my father had to suffer from cancer and the effects of the treatment for 5 years. I don't know why he had to suffer the trauma of suddenly losing the love of his life just when he felt he needed her the most, just when he needed her to be with him through his last days on earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But because of John's story of the risen Christ being recognized by his wounds, and not by his face, here is what I do know. God Almighty, manifested as Jesus, suffered and died. It is this suffering, dying God who appears to the disciples on Easter evening and again the following week. So I know one thing for sure: God does not stand off somewhere at a distance, isolated from our pain, insensitive to our suffering, unmoved by our dying. As the risen Christ entered through the locked doors and showed the skeptical disciples his hands and his side, God breaks through the locked doors of fear and doubt and comes close. When we hurt, or weep, or cry out, God's heart is the first to break. Rather than explaining our suffering, God Incarnate, Emmanuel, actually comes close, infinitely close, and shares it. And the risen Christ, who kept his wounds and still broke the bonds of death, does much more than weep with us. The risen Christ, coming to us as the Holy Spirit, dries our tears, creates hope out of despair, and lights our way in the darkness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">For further reading, you might like to see these books which I consulted and/or quoted in the preparation of the sermon:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Narratives-Vulnerable-God-Theology-Scripture/dp/0664255345/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339369320&sr=1-1&keywords=narratives+of+a+vulnerable+god" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Narratives of a Vulnerable God: Christ, Theology, and Scripture by William C. Placher</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lament-Son-Nicholas-Wolterstorff/dp/080280294X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339370410&sr=8-3&keywords=wolterstorff+nicholas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chorus-Witnesses-Thomas-G-Long/dp/0802801323/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339371378&sr=1-1&keywords=a+chorus+of+witnesses#_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Chorus of Witnesses, ed. by Thomas G. Long and Cornelius Plantinga</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Seeking-Understanding-Introduction-Christian/dp/080282787X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339373121&sr=1-1&keywords=faith+seeking+understanding+by+daniel+l.+migliore" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology by Daniel L. Migliore</a><br />
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<br /></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-7371820244366597282012-02-29T19:02:00.000-06:002012-02-29T19:02:30.684-06:00Petitpoint chart in 40th issue of Artisans in Miniature IMagI have a chart for a red rose cushion with a dark chocolate background on pp. 22-23. What could be better than red roses and dark chocolate? It's designed for 40 ct silk gauze and DMC floss. The background is Gentle Arts hand dyed floss in "dark chocolate." For the cording trim, I made my own out of 2 strands dark chocolate, 1 strand of gold, and one strand of red.<br />
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<a title="View AIM Imag 40th issue on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/83250601/AIM-Imag-40th-issue" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">AIM Imag 40th issue</a><object id="doc_499287767297153" name="doc_499287767297153" height="500" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=83250601&access_key=key-2j54g15h6pmep9qc92k9&page=1&viewMode=book"> <embed id="doc_499287767297153" name="doc_499287767297153" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=83250601&access_key=key-2j54g15h6pmep9qc92k9&page=1&viewMode=book" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-74185314052136623632012-01-24T16:01:00.001-06:002012-01-24T16:04:01.968-06:00New Camera for Taking Pictures of MiniaturesJust got this camera yesterday and have been playing with it. Here are a couple examples of pictures of miniatures that I took using the supermacro mode. No tripod needed - the antishake/stablization system worked perfectly!<br />
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<a href="http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_archived_product_details.asp?id=1487&fl=4" target="_blank">Olympus Stylus 7040 Camera</a><br />
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I got it for $129 from Amazon, ordered Fri and arrived Mon with free shipping!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuci9GJM3Jytslfe8a75sEMB8U7J4Tt4Mc5ECHMe0g9GaLtc0-Lxl14GRLdqkJfBGzP5CsOuQwcLXKd3P4k4MdDOa-0QdDvnCKMM7Enysf3bkbg3i-rxLE5UjzrPq-D8jbx3UEv3ZXnPh/s1600/Dick+Van+Dyke+Show+Props+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuci9GJM3Jytslfe8a75sEMB8U7J4Tt4Mc5ECHMe0g9GaLtc0-Lxl14GRLdqkJfBGzP5CsOuQwcLXKd3P4k4MdDOa-0QdDvnCKMM7Enysf3bkbg3i-rxLE5UjzrPq-D8jbx3UEv3ZXnPh/s320/Dick+Van+Dyke+Show+Props+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniatures made by Nantasy Fantasy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvJ-WRpqi89s9H1pcRxf0qPPDgtim55PwynqBFz0amuAWcPz_R8PLv26nnc4nxH9Rxojhq2q6fkKiWVjwfQUZUdm0Mt-WPjjLPOeDivedXLIXEwHHv9FeEZSZOd3nrKgQ2RcVlPz45FER/s1600/lomonosov.peonies.graber.heitz.carlisle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvJ-WRpqi89s9H1pcRxf0qPPDgtim55PwynqBFz0amuAWcPz_R8PLv26nnc4nxH9Rxojhq2q6fkKiWVjwfQUZUdm0Mt-WPjjLPOeDivedXLIXEwHHv9FeEZSZOd3nrKgQ2RcVlPz45FER/s320/lomonosov.peonies.graber.heitz.carlisle.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">China by Christopher Whitford, peonies by Michele Carter, pottery plate by Jane Graber, pottery vase by Joni Heitz, table by Bob Carlisle.</td></tr>
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It also takes excellent pictures of full size things...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYWStQwtGAY21CND0aFn0jh-sM4BbY_lGnlPMH3WOalz8SSXNcvtq3m_GCmTuigabf_39p2RySDuGnMO9xPkAcl45SXbGgKJ38uUye8IzUWdj6ebC50jILdmyhGziMJaRwMtDcn0n_CjJ/s1600/Albert+1.23.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYWStQwtGAY21CND0aFn0jh-sM4BbY_lGnlPMH3WOalz8SSXNcvtq3m_GCmTuigabf_39p2RySDuGnMO9xPkAcl45SXbGgKJ38uUye8IzUWdj6ebC50jILdmyhGziMJaRwMtDcn0n_CjJ/s320/Albert+1.23.12.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albert</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K0nwak2kSVc7lLN1PvtDHYCXWTYFbG04lUsL2CrBOWcXQejh7v8hdokuDb5jChBqa0h3y2bVMBdQo0uZ6owsJMurftIvi6xUFpY12SHgpLK8gwaN9NFohBrt-xYM_3wcC1COOFrLdqe6/s1600/Albert+1.23.2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K0nwak2kSVc7lLN1PvtDHYCXWTYFbG04lUsL2CrBOWcXQejh7v8hdokuDb5jChBqa0h3y2bVMBdQo0uZ6owsJMurftIvi6xUFpY12SHgpLK8gwaN9NFohBrt-xYM_3wcC1COOFrLdqe6/s320/Albert+1.23.2012.JPG" width="275" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx3JNeZG7UEE1I1iJQGbaRqKsn4EP7ecRh5o8bUrID1Mh9KAyxjXohYM5EXvoOp5VRMQsk0ui58NOI4r5GdOFxz2FgsYgiCmHxR2gSROpoyeHZr-pn_yVwtn1V-i1Fdb998P9UWbFV6Z7/s1600/P1230023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx3JNeZG7UEE1I1iJQGbaRqKsn4EP7ecRh5o8bUrID1Mh9KAyxjXohYM5EXvoOp5VRMQsk0ui58NOI4r5GdOFxz2FgsYgiCmHxR2gSROpoyeHZr-pn_yVwtn1V-i1Fdb998P9UWbFV6Z7/s320/P1230023.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria</td></tr>
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Panoramic shots...<br />
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And special effects... the camera took this line drawing in line drawing mode. I did no editing at at, except a slight crop.<br />
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It also does HD video clips with sound!</div>
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<br /></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-11089789220297493602012-01-20T15:14:00.003-06:002012-01-20T15:20:25.483-06:00Miniature Tea CozyJust finished putting together a tea cozy after stitching it twice. The lesson here is to double check the count of your gauze, as it may not be the size it's labeled to be! After stitching the front, and being unable to find a backing fabric that was the right color and thickness, I decided to stitch a back. I quickly stitched it up, but when I went to sew the front to the back, they were different sizes! Well, since the back was larger than the front, I experimented thinking I might be able to trim the excess off the back. Nope. Then in the process of ripping out the stitching, I cut both the front and the back. Sooooo, back to the drawing board, stitching both pieces on the same piece of gauze. One important note - since silk gauze is not exactly even weave, it is important to orient front and back in the same direction (parallel rather than perpendicular to each other).<br />
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Here is the finished tea cozy. The back is plain yellow with the scalloped blue border at the bottom. The blue splotch above the border on the back is really my initials. I can't get a good picture to save my life - my camera used to take wonderful mini pics, but it's become crotchety in its old age. If anyone has suggestions for a new camera, I'm interested! This one is a Fugi Fine Pix, and won't work with Windows 7, another reason to get a new one. Downloading pics onto my old slow desktop and transferring to the new laptop is not worth the effort for such poor results.<br />
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The tea cozy, when stitched on 48 count silk gauze, is a perfect fit for a Christopher Whitford 1:12 scale teapot. This one is the Blue Net Lomonosov pattern. It also works well on the slightly smaller pottery teapot I have that was made by Jane Graber. Her tea pot is about the same height, but smaller around.</div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-70192813771981549692012-01-14T20:29:00.007-06:002012-01-14T21:43:45.584-06:00More on my Dick Van Dyke Show house<div style="text-align: left;">
Last fall I received this wonderful painting done by Karry Johnson for my Petrie house. She is a joy to work with and did an amazing job! I have two color still photos taken during rehearsals, and Karry used those to choose the colors. The painting was not shown in those color photos, but she took colors from the rest of the room to coordinate. The painting measures 2 inches by 3.75 inches. Now to frame it.... <a href="http://www.karryjohnson.com/" target="_blank">http://www.karryjohnson.com/</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4vNTBy4TAD3IN4wvOZMB8hbQAeqSFa4_-PmxvXk_tB_TxfKkmC-iQZkSCAXFvkXvifklEQFaqyU-EJGr4Jrm1GkGWSaGXQqItr5bVsRWQAPMMH5CDEzjZi0Wxq4oKNhnEyz4aX2494pN/s1600/sofa+painting+living+room+with+Karry+Johnson+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4vNTBy4TAD3IN4wvOZMB8hbQAeqSFa4_-PmxvXk_tB_TxfKkmC-iQZkSCAXFvkXvifklEQFaqyU-EJGr4Jrm1GkGWSaGXQqItr5bVsRWQAPMMH5CDEzjZi0Wxq4oKNhnEyz4aX2494pN/s320/sofa+painting+living+room+with+Karry+Johnson+painting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-59275315748144042892012-01-08T15:08:00.002-06:002012-01-08T15:47:36.179-06:00Wise Words from Keeper of the FireEileen Campbell-Reed was one of my teaching assistants at Vanderbilt who is now a leader in academia and a fine example of ministry. She has an exceptional talent for blogging, and this is a post from her archives that is directed to women considering a vocation in ordained ministry, but there is much practical advise here for anyone who is concerned with living well. Click on the 'advice' tag of the blog if you're interested in reading follow-up posts that flesh out each of the numbered pieces of advice.<br />
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<a href="http://eileencampbellreed.org/blog/2011/07/27/ordinary-time-x-2/" target="_blank">Wise Words from Keeper of the Fire</a><br />
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Thank you, Eileen!Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-18093427811739350632011-09-22T22:02:00.040-05:002012-01-09T15:23:54.614-06:00Life goes on.... Nashville 3 Blind Mice Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's hard to believe that so much time has slipped by since the last time I blogged. It's been a sad year - my mother died suddenly on Feb. 16, and my dad's health has been up and down. We have managed a few happy times in between the sad ones. As he puts it, we've been "motoring about the countryside" in his convertible, and we've been able to spend some happy times with his brother and family. I also adopted a new baby named Albert - what a terror he can be, but so sweet too! He teases the other cats mercilessly and has been known to wrap himself around the dog's hind leg. Rosie doesn't even try to shake him off. I was able to attend the Three Blind Mice Miniature Show here in Nashville and came home with several treasures. It was a well-attended show, so I'm hopeful it will return to Nashville next year. A few pictures....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria in her newly found hiding place</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Albert</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albert - He thinks my leather recliner is his.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1:12 scale Roger Gutheil chair - another treasure from the miniature show</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-5993506290106044982011-01-21T01:47:00.000-06:002011-01-21T01:47:32.221-06:00What I'm Reading<span></span><span></span>My sister asked for <em>Merry Hall</em> for Christmas, so I gave it to her and borrowed it to read. ;-) Beverley Nichols has written many books, and this the first of his second trilogy - am I confusing you? Anyway, it's hilarious. It's set in post WWII England, and is the story of his experiences restoring the garden of an old estate he's just purchased. I've ordered books 2 and 3 for myself...<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=melissaboling&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0881924172&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=melissaboling&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0881924601&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=melissaboling&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0881924679&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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The other book I've just finished is Jeanne M. Dams' latest Dorothy Martin mystery. These are set in England in the present day. She is also working on a series of Hilda Johansson mysteries, set in South Bend, IN around the turn of the twentieth century.<br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=melissaboling&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0061011339&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=melissaboling&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1574902407&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-12635782745026148752011-01-20T22:52:00.000-06:002011-01-20T22:52:17.371-06:00A New Car!This is my newest toy! A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air in a beautiful turquoise blue. It's 1:12 scale and came from the Danbury Mint. I haven't had the courage to try putting the top up yet - I'm so afraid I'll break it! I'll take some better pictures in a day or two, in the daylight, but here I'm trying to show off the lights that actually work. The headlights switch from high to low beams with a dimmer switch on the floor. Pressing the brake pedal turns on the brake lights - what a concept! :-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8pDJ-jCZ2uZNNcVTDEZkWxSj1FVGfdCPlCeWHXtdR4X-eK93WmGr8myCWH6-IF6a1i1d8POEkWyWQUbHsiV-_plGXwbqBco9ICAHc2VcIBlCkLvH83dM1uGUGrrUzxEPNUATR06-3h6H/s1600/2011_0102Image0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8pDJ-jCZ2uZNNcVTDEZkWxSj1FVGfdCPlCeWHXtdR4X-eK93WmGr8myCWH6-IF6a1i1d8POEkWyWQUbHsiV-_plGXwbqBco9ICAHc2VcIBlCkLvH83dM1uGUGrrUzxEPNUATR06-3h6H/s320/2011_0102Image0011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-77178312740710627222010-11-17T14:05:00.003-06:002010-11-17T14:28:28.799-06:00Maysville Guild Study ProgramIn Oct. I attended the <a href="http://igma.org/">IGMA</a>'s guild study program in Maysville, KY. It was held at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center which houses the <a href="http://www.kygmc.org/miniatureExhibits/">Kathleen Savage Browning Miniatures Collection</a>. I can't begin to describe the amazing exhibits and the wonderfully warm hospitality offered by Kaye Browning and the museum staff. The class I took was taught by William (Bill) Robertson - a 1:12 scale tiger maple chest of drawers, about 5 inches tall. The biggest challenge was the hand cut dovetails. Bill is a born teacher and an unbelievably talented artisan!<br />
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On the last night, we were invited to dinner at the home of Kaye Browning. These are views from her back yard.</div>
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Maysville is the hometown of Rosemary Clooney and a great place to see a wide variety of historic architecture. This is a shot of one of the flood wall murals, taken from the parking lot of the <a href="http://frenchquarterinn.com/">French Quarter Inn</a> where I stayed.</div>
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</div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-48494772507175202702010-04-23T18:49:00.000-05:002010-04-23T18:49:18.830-05:00A blog post to lift your spirits!I just had to share this beautiful post from one of my favorite bloggers....<br />
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<a href="http://blueridgebluecollargirl.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/peace/">Peace</a>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-65565804163184063202010-04-02T17:47:00.003-05:002010-04-22T14:25:37.638-05:00Christ and the Torn Temple CurtainIn case anyone's interested, here's the link to my article on the Good Friday religion page of the <a href="http://www.herald-citizen.com/index.cfm?event=news.view&id=BDEE454D-19B9-E2E2-679C0C1BE945380A">Herald-Citizen</a> in Cookeville, TN. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all mention that the temple curtain tears from top to bottom at the time of Jesus' death, but I had never heard anything about what that might mean. So I looked it up, and found it to be quite significant. Hope you find it as interesting as I did.<br />
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Easter blessings to all, Missy<br />
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Addendum: Thanks to Sharon for letting me know the link has expired. :-) I've added the text of the article below. And Sharon, your comment is very interesting - I never thought of the ladder problem, and it wasn't in any of the commentaries I read.<br />
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<strong>The Way Through the Curtain</strong><br />
For Christians, the central event of God’s work of salvation is the atoning work of Christ on the cross. The meaning of the English word atonement is easy to see by dividing the word into its parts: at-one-ment. It means at one with. In our Christian faith, atonement speaks of the reconciliation between God and the fallen creation, especially between God and sinful human beings. Reconciliation with God leads to reconciliation with ourselves, with our communities, and with the world.<br />
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Throughout the Bible, the images of atonement threaten to overwhelm us by their sheer abundance. One of the images that is seldom given much attention is the rending of the temple veil brought about by Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45). To understand the significance of the torn veil, we must go back to the meaning of the temple in Jewish society. The temple, in its most basic sense, symbolizes the dwelling place of God. The temple also symbolizes the center of the cosmos, the meeting place between heaven and earth. As a symbol of creation, the temple evokes the Garden of Eden or paradise. Because the temple represented the dwelling place of God on earth, it was a symbol of holiness. Unlike a synagogue or church, the inside of the temple itself was not a place of public worship. On the inside was located the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. The curtain or veil protected the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies from common view. Only the high priest could go beyond the veil, and only on the Day of Atonement. Understanding this symbolism, we can see that the tearing of the curtain opens the way for us into the very presence of God.<br />
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In The Epistle to the Hebrews, the author compares Jesus to the “great high priest over the house of God” (10:21) and the torn curtain to Jesus’ own flesh (10:20). In other words, Jesus is both priest and sacrifice. As God Incarnate, Jesus is the ultimate Great High Priest. As God With Us, fully human but without sin, Jesus is the ultimate and perfect sacrifice. Christ, the great high priest, replaces the curtain of the temple with his own broken flesh. Through his broken flesh, sinful humanity is allowed to stream through the gap between humanity and divinity, into the very presence of God, reconciled to God forever. Humanity is now at one with God.<br />
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The author of Hebrews goes on to explain what it means for us to be reconciled with God. In Hebrews 10:22-24, we are called to faith, hope, and love. Because Jesus has opened the way through his flesh into God’s inner sanctuary, we can approach God “with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” We can “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering,” and “we are to provoke one another to love and good deeds.”<br />
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Finally, we are reminded not to neglect the assembly of the saints (see Hebrews 10:25). In setting us at one with God, Christ’s work of atonement also sets us at one with self and neighbor. At the foot of the cross on Good Friday, we find that we are not alone. We are surrounded by witnesses who not only give glory to God, but also encourage each other. For the author of Hebrews, the cross is not simply a matter of personal salvation. In the cross, we are all made one in Christ – one with God, one with self, and one with neighbor, a divine wholeness for all of eternity.Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-18343712261686437272010-03-13T15:20:00.002-06:002010-03-13T15:23:16.512-06:00More Dollhouse Progress Pictures<br />
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Here's the latest...stairs taken out of the old version and temporarily in place in the new one. The stairs will be modified a bit, but mostly used as is.</div>
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<br /></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-46068532445848529072010-03-07T23:00:00.000-06:002010-03-07T23:00:51.226-06:00More House ConstructionI've spent the last couple days cutting more 2X4s - under the supervision of the cat, of course. I've even added a few floor joists. Now to see if the stairs will come out of the first version of the basement to be used in the new one....<br />
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This is the back section of the house. There will also be a middle section and a front section.<br />
</div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-91795940333420948752010-02-22T19:08:00.000-06:002010-02-22T19:08:14.676-06:00New Baby GirlToday's the day for packages to arrive! This darling little baby girl, just under 2 inches tall, came today. She will be needing some clothes, since the outfit I have won't fit over her head or legs. I'll have to wrap her in a blanket for now. I do have a cradle for her if I can find it.... She was made by Alicia Singleton of <a href="http://www.alliebeandolls.webs.com/">AllieBeanDolls</a>. She's beautiful in pictures, but even seeing her in person, I can't believe how delicate and perfect she is!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x-pKRpg7ADgu78yrnN0kGtcbqqGaheRrCN5e47PvudQ61yLgKgGClVwtBYXvgP86C-pmY5vN8FdvS48o6-IQtTyGVgfyXFU-A7kFMJEJZEIIcUUwodfEtNw8ptc-QMcad4AuEAa-Rw1i/s1600-h/AllieBeanDoll+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x-pKRpg7ADgu78yrnN0kGtcbqqGaheRrCN5e47PvudQ61yLgKgGClVwtBYXvgP86C-pmY5vN8FdvS48o6-IQtTyGVgfyXFU-A7kFMJEJZEIIcUUwodfEtNw8ptc-QMcad4AuEAa-Rw1i/s200/AllieBeanDoll+2.JPG" width="187" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCcttHRsUpeROHLw0-l_3HXYX6PoI08wD4OEkX9WKf5tUtlJLKivfEdOovAuTp6HdWpXeoBV-TX9baL9jVjtAr6q0RTpqnlLpsh_InXZ_7Exs4s3IOloDO_5X4CINAH8voNgXR31B-HXd/s1600-h/AllieBeanDoll+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCcttHRsUpeROHLw0-l_3HXYX6PoI08wD4OEkX9WKf5tUtlJLKivfEdOovAuTp6HdWpXeoBV-TX9baL9jVjtAr6q0RTpqnlLpsh_InXZ_7Exs4s3IOloDO_5X4CINAH8voNgXR31B-HXd/s200/AllieBeanDoll+1.JPG" width="137" /></a></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-72438113124052875432010-02-22T16:18:00.001-06:002010-02-22T16:26:20.142-06:00Dick Van Dyke DollhouseI just got some new minis in the mail from <a href="http://grandmahollyshouse.com/miniatures/">Grandma Holly's House</a>. What lightening fast service she provides!!! She had only 2 of these chairs, but she's ordered 2 more for me. They are made by Reac and are absolutely perfectly scaled for 1:12. Since there's no table to go with the chairs, I'll have to figure out how to make one.<br />
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This is a 1:12 scale replica of the Dick Van Dyke Show set which I started building about 10 years ago. Since then, I've moved twice, so not much has been done. I was also given some color pictures of the kitchen and living room since this decorating was done, so I'll be re-decorating in more authentic colors. I've also become a little better in the woodworking dept since I built this, so most of this will be re-done. This will give you an idea of what I'm working for though....<br />
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The actual colors in the kitchen were grey, aqua, and pink, with a green rug on the floor. I have some full size wallpaper from the 1960s that I reduced to miniature. It actually has all those colors in it, and I'm going to use it on the wall to the right of the table and chairs.<br />
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Above is a temporary display in which I used the kitchen wallpaper - just so you can see what it will look like. The cannisters and percolater will eventually go in the Dick Van Dyke house. The counter will go in the other dollhouse shown in earlier posts.Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-3669663006911584612010-02-22T14:33:00.000-06:002010-02-22T14:33:52.769-06:00George the Miniguy: S-c-r-o-o-g-e!!This is one of the neatest mini rooms I've seen! Check out the glowing ghost! Lots of wonderful detail.<br /><br /><a href="http://tallminiguy.blogspot.com/2009/04/s-c-r-o-o-g-e.html">George the Miniguy: S-c-r-o-o-g-e!!</a>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-36512515821264024612010-02-20T00:32:00.001-06:002010-02-20T00:36:19.978-06:00Rug Stitching ProgressI've made a new start on some petitpoint, and have gotten lots of stitching done during the Olympics. The odd thing is that I haven't made any mistakes during the Olympics, but when the late news comes on, I'm doomed! The colors aren't showing up very well in the photo, but at least it gives a general idea. This is done on 48 ct silk gauze using <a href="http://hand-dyedfibers.com/">Hand Dyed Fibers</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qcz4rXPlFavqSq4AzpZMOMnxKo2IdcqOQCBiM0Nly9xOuSV6HFMAT2rprx85lVw6RTdz-EPYwcfua0nWjEr2xArEt3lbv8g-6X62q7cUl1wwsjueZDUqww0jI852gWEt74-23GCDuvh4/s1600-h/Kazak+02.20.2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qcz4rXPlFavqSq4AzpZMOMnxKo2IdcqOQCBiM0Nly9xOuSV6HFMAT2rprx85lVw6RTdz-EPYwcfua0nWjEr2xArEt3lbv8g-6X62q7cUl1wwsjueZDUqww0jI852gWEt74-23GCDuvh4/s320/Kazak+02.20.2010.jpg" /></a></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-92101370533665080022010-02-03T23:11:00.001-06:002010-02-03T23:14:18.319-06:00Back wall almost finished!I spent today cutting tiny pieces of wood. Not as relaxing as tiny stitches, but more visible progress. :-) There are just a few more pieces to cut, and I'll be ready to start the side walls. I'll also have to see if I can get the basement stairs out of the first house without damaging them. Fingers crossed that they'll fit with this new wall. With luck, the stair landing will be the right height for the door. (I did measure, but my measurements have been known to be wrong, as you can see by the original placement of the door, and the patch in the wall.)<br />
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Of course the real basement was poured concrete. I'll cover the studs in the basement and make it look like concrete. The door shown here is not the one that will be used - I'm just using this one for sizing purposes.Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-81137662334344560252010-02-01T15:36:00.004-06:002010-02-01T15:45:55.816-06:00Petitpoint Pillow from Elizabeth Bradley designs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A fellow miniaturist asked about Elizabeth Bradley designs that would work for stitching in miniature, so I thought I'd put up a picture of one of her designs that I stitched. It was one of my first petitpoint pieces that I stitched before I started designing my own. It's done on 48 ct silk gauze and has been made into a cushion suitable for placing on a dollhouse sofa or chair. The design is 50 X 50 stitches, and the pillow measures approximately 1 inch square, floral on the front and geometric on the back. I don't know why the second picture looks green!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuhra_BwSQ07kyNHyZDj5HvLT_oFaurpNDMhLye46Q7mNXipbbzg3zUAbnM2vYEPjBoIumOFx66pJCXv9CMPLluXtRYolr4AxOoMuXNWeragk6uVGdSE3TiI62zWRfITGsiDQajL28_Yk/s1600-h/woven+ribbons+cushion+for+Bev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<img border="0" height="195" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmzUxgH4ZQlHwvdcPCAIx0YlNHyZiTLS6ta0s7e8_f05mkyItuJLttwgBIVin6E5xnUsKniBpcOBAfJkFkqnUecS7Q6Xk6mzIfiGd2Z-bcXNr3rBUUXwaVhwUdbv0kqVYVbZOItk_BJJB/s200/Eliz+Bradley+floral+pillow+stitched+for+Bev.jpg" width="200" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuhra_BwSQ07kyNHyZDj5HvLT_oFaurpNDMhLye46Q7mNXipbbzg3zUAbnM2vYEPjBoIumOFx66pJCXv9CMPLluXtRYolr4AxOoMuXNWeragk6uVGdSE3TiI62zWRfITGsiDQajL28_Yk/s1600-h/woven+ribbons+cushion+for+Bev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuhra_BwSQ07kyNHyZDj5HvLT_oFaurpNDMhLye46Q7mNXipbbzg3zUAbnM2vYEPjBoIumOFx66pJCXv9CMPLluXtRYolr4AxOoMuXNWeragk6uVGdSE3TiI62zWRfITGsiDQajL28_Yk/s200/woven+ribbons+cushion+for+Bev.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5262459749823718967.post-74431272353162079202010-01-31T17:36:00.006-06:002010-01-31T18:48:18.944-06:00Back to the dollhouse - Finally!I started this dollhouse about 7 or 8 years ago. Between getting overwhelmed with the complicated roof lines and 3 separate floors, and two moves, the house has had little attention. The house is a 1:12 scale (1 inch = 1 foot) replica of the house my great aunt and uncle lived in until they sold it around 1973. The house is still in existance at the corner of 37th and Burleigh, in Milwaukee, WI. I was able to take photos there from the outside before I began the construction process, supplementing photos I have from visits there. Since this is a replica of a real house, it does not have the typical open back that most doll houses in the US have. This makes it a challenge to make the interior accessible for decorating and viewing. Initially I planned to have each floor lift off in layers, but they are very heavy and tend to twist a bit when lifted up. The back room addition is at a different level, and I couldn't figure out how to make it easily separate from the kitchen/basement wall. Ceiling fixtures were also a problem if each floor lifted off. So here are the pictures of my first attempt. (Pictures of my solution to these problems later.) Actually, I guess the first pictures should be of the original house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8Mv7LwkEqdc0xvbD8PKaTAmhnW5_LrS5UA1-FRDRd99Mu_Jw3XGhcF8aYNiKGXK5-uHoOjkDTa8GO9tfNraqL_vHVpioo5rPyqTbFvzP0yQFyZNJhxFyPayWoDK629_ZAFaAIBJQRBSc/s1600-h/Werkmann+house0001.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8Mv7LwkEqdc0xvbD8PKaTAmhnW5_LrS5UA1-FRDRd99Mu_Jw3XGhcF8aYNiKGXK5-uHoOjkDTa8GO9tfNraqL_vHVpioo5rPyqTbFvzP0yQFyZNJhxFyPayWoDK629_ZAFaAIBJQRBSc/s400/Werkmann+house0001.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>
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Below, I'm the one in the red shorts. The others are my mother, my great aunt, my grandmother, and my little sister. This must have been taken around 1968.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz3qlHwTvOIPhjbkSeh9IcNu28zBjQVmNWVvLWdfCktdf-8HNDkTPWalFnwbt_IKQBaBwpwk1TUssFZPAzaO7jskV2iQ3ioxJc42F8Y5X3QSBvWUJTxNuvVs0BDKZcwFB0EyfH8ocI3cX/s1600-h/Milw+front+steps0001.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz3qlHwTvOIPhjbkSeh9IcNu28zBjQVmNWVvLWdfCktdf-8HNDkTPWalFnwbt_IKQBaBwpwk1TUssFZPAzaO7jskV2iQ3ioxJc42F8Y5X3QSBvWUJTxNuvVs0BDKZcwFB0EyfH8ocI3cX/s400/Milw+front+steps0001.BMP" width="400" /></a></div>
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Below are my great aunt and uncle during construction of the new back room.</div>
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(With the first inhabitant, a furry little waif found under a dumpster at the mall. His name is Bing.) </div>
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This little room (above) will be the bathroom that was added in the basement. My mother remembers painting the walls herself when she was there visiting.<br />
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The little black cat in the pictures above is Schatzi. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7-Lj7ZwwJL2xq8cGC3Ot1NdRE_FnpBPDrM9q1thTieWITN7UuEzCAQopbOtwNhuRAF_cwkhu2RR34jJVM2Zd3yoV_U07zXB3fcT6Wr2GkAFYLQQgb1G2jPp6Wf3E4tDASuYJE5gofOyo/s1600-h/door+to+front+hall+and+stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7-Lj7ZwwJL2xq8cGC3Ot1NdRE_FnpBPDrM9q1thTieWITN7UuEzCAQopbOtwNhuRAF_cwkhu2RR34jJVM2Zd3yoV_U07zXB3fcT6Wr2GkAFYLQQgb1G2jPp6Wf3E4tDASuYJE5gofOyo/s640/door+to+front+hall+and+stairs.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>
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My aunt designed this door herself. The shelves on each side will hold her collection of Dresden dancers and Hummels. The opening will have double French doors. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS4rCq_yfwVFLjnLnK1HZBK238r8YPPGkzYbyx3JwA70ecK-vItRoI-DC6HGH_D8wTYCDGzeVLrQxmwpnzXZHNnkbPMMj5z4_wobLTGyS81m_l78eifSGSNh2cEyqQX6J25MW5R7D2o4e/s1600-h/front+hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS4rCq_yfwVFLjnLnK1HZBK238r8YPPGkzYbyx3JwA70ecK-vItRoI-DC6HGH_D8wTYCDGzeVLrQxmwpnzXZHNnkbPMMj5z4_wobLTGyS81m_l78eifSGSNh2cEyqQX6J25MW5R7D2o4e/s400/front+hall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So - here's the beginning of the new version just started this week. I plan to stick build it (with studs and wall board, like a real house) which will make it much lighter weight. I'm going to make vertical sections instead of horizontal sections. There will be 3 main sections - front, middle, and back. I'll use the little back mudroom as it is, and there will also be a closed in front porch that will be a separate piece. I'll be re-using most of the interior parts such as the stairs, door, and basement bathroom, so I'm not really starting from scratch. Here's the new back wall in progress. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRbtJvjj8-5_IG4QB0qi0EObydBf7u1XEDIRMGncmE7pkvSH6GhrYpjwQZ2KR4ooloovZudd1266P7nGo7OVtQ3jE5XzWGi17w8LkdhMeZBdCT-ST9E3u6N9BiQRUDWg_MABB99cQzL1r/s1600-h/2010_0125+back+wall+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRbtJvjj8-5_IG4QB0qi0EObydBf7u1XEDIRMGncmE7pkvSH6GhrYpjwQZ2KR4ooloovZudd1266P7nGo7OVtQ3jE5XzWGi17w8LkdhMeZBdCT-ST9E3u6N9BiQRUDWg_MABB99cQzL1r/s400/2010_0125+back+wall+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My next task is to cut the verticle studs and drill holes in them for the electrical wire, and then glue them all in place. The exterior sheathing is something I found at the art store called "museum board." It's very sturdy and archival quality, so it won't disintegrate over time. (I hope!) It's about 1/8" thick and can be cut with several passes of a utility knife. I had originally thought I would use 1/8" micro plywood, but that would have been very expensive and harder to cut. The interior wall board will be made of <a href="http://www.taskboard.com/">taskboard</a>. I think I got the 1/32" thickness, but I don't remember for sure.</div>Melissa Bolinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11947666806768150776noreply@blogger.com0