Friday, December 6, 2013

Nebraska Holiday Miniatures Display 2013


The Omaha-Council Bluffs Miniatures Guild and Shoe Box Bunch are currently displaying holiday miniatures in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. You can view our miniatures from December 6th, 2013 to January 6, 2014 here:

Washington County Historical Museum
102 North 14th Street 
Fort Calhoun, NE 68023
402-468-5740
(just north of Omaha on US Highway 75)

Hours:

Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm 
Thursday: 9am–8pm 
Saturday, December 14: 10am–4pm
(call about additional weekend hours)

Admission:
Donation

If you are interested in hosting some of our miniatures for display at any time of the year, please contact us at: ocbmguild@gmail.com.

Happy Holidays!

Monday, November 18, 2013

In Memory of Wanda Leighton


October 29, 1934–September 27, 2013

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Wanda Leighton.

Wanda Jewell Leighton passed away on September 27 at her home in Omaha, Nebraska. As a member of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Miniature Guild, she served as club Treasurer shortly after she joined NAME in 1979 until her passing. She was always ready to give a workshop at club when needed. Making candy was the class she taught the evening before she died. 

Wanda entered a NAME video contest on "How to make roses" and it won $250 for our club.

She was a Dealer at several shows in the Midwest and was known as MINIATURE HOME INTERIORS by WANDA. A true miniaturist who will be missed by her many friends, club mates, customers, and especially her sister Carol, a NAME member in California.

--Edna H. Perkins, Omaha-Council Bluffs Miniature Guild


Wanda was such a wonderful miniaturist. We have lost a great artist, and a beloved friend. Please join us in enjoying these treasures from her....

Baby chicks and red slippers:


 A door mat and a garden hose:


Soaps:


Candy:


Wanda will live on in our hearts and in our miniature builds.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Nebraska State Day 2013: Sidewalk Bistro Event


Last Saturday, the Omaha-Council Bluffs Miniature Guild hosted the 20th Annual Nebraska State Day at Faith Presbyterian Church in LaVista, Nebraska. The event went from 9am to roughly 3:30pm, and there were roughly 35 attendees. It was a fantastic event, and everyone had a great time!

The project for this year was a 1:12 Sidewalk Bistro. There were many finished examples for attendees to admire and study for inspiration:


The pre-made room boxes were made from gator board, which was easy to work with and light to carry. First, we painted the sidewalk area using a sponge technique. Next, we put on the wallpaper (leaving room for a wall mirror), and then we put in the flooring. We added "stucco" to the outside by using a stiff brush and gesso. There was an option to add some brick peeking through the stucco siding. Here, you can see the boxes drying while attendees moved on to painting or assembling interior furniture:


It was exciting to see the vast variety of colors and designs that all of the attendees chose. There were three people to each circle table, which left everyone a lot of room to work with. My favorite detail was the little trash bag that was taped to the table next to me. Very helpful!

The church's large kitchen had multiple sinks for washing brushes and getting new water. Helpers were always on the move to answer questions, offer help, or encourage the attendees. Extra supplies were available because we all know that you forget at LEAST one important tool when attending building events. Here you can see us busily working away:


Throughout the day, attendees were showered with amazing gifts, including the little bistro man you can see above in the first photo. We received everything you would possibly need for this kit as surprise gifts or tote bag items, including a metal bistro circle table and chairs, many handmade beautiful flowers, wine boxes and bottles, art for the walls, plates, silverware, cups, and oodles of decorative items. There was also a raffle for 10 different items and vendor tables to pick up any last-minute goodies. The club members donated items for the tote bags -- many creating more than one item. Big thanks to all who donated their time and energy to making such wonderful gifts!

We had coffee and rolls at the start of the day, and then we went to a Chinese buffet for lunch (all included with the price of admission). It was nice to relax and chat with fellow miniaturists over a meal before we got back into the groove with our kits:


The interior furniture that came with the room box included a table, a bench (with front and back pieces to be covered with fabric), a small table, a hostess counter, a front sign, and valances. We also received a 16-light Houseworks window and front door. Below, you can see an attendee painting her items black:


Overall, it was a fantastic day. Everyone was able to work at his or her own pace without any pressure. We took home our goodies to finish up in our own time.

On behalf of the OCBMG, I'd like to say thank you to the Faith Presbyterian Church for graciously hosting us and to all of our members for making the event such a success!

We'd also like to thank our fantastic committee for all of your hard work with planning and creating this special day: Lois Andres, Edna Bonney, Del Faris, Georgia Gregg, Syd Hulla, Wanda Leighton, Harlan Schleuter, and Ada Vicars. Thank you!!

Personally, I've been working on finishing the painting and organizing the goodies. My little bistro will be finished in no time!

Thanks again, everyone!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like to join us next year? We already have the kit picked out and decorated for you to see! We will be making "Create a Shop," which you can see below:


Look at all of those fun minis inside! Jewelry, hats, purses, shoes, scarves, perfume, and clothing:


Here is the information for next year's event:

"Create a Shop"
21st Annual Nebraska State Day
September 20, 2014
9am to 4pm
Faith Presbyterian Church
8100 Giles Road
LaVista, NE 68127

Registration: $70.00 (includes morning coffee, lunch, project, tote bag, souvenir gift, and more). This event is limited to 35 registrants, and the deadline for registration is August 15, 2014. Cancellation/refund no later than September 1, 2014.

Gift Exchange: Make 21 miniatures (all alike) that would go into the Create a Shop (no kits or printies) and if you participate you will take home 21 gifts for your Create a Shop. This is NOT mandatory, but it's a lot of fun. 

Make check payable to: Nebraska State Day
Mail to: Ada Vicars, 13412 Montclaire Drive, Omaha, NE 68144


For further information about next year's Nebraska Day, please contact:


You can also leave a comment here, and I will direct your questions to the proper people. Please let us know if you're interested in being a vendor (must be a registrant).

Friday, August 30, 2013

Nebraska and Iowa Dollhouse Miniature Clubs


The above image is the sample bistro for the 20th Annual Nebraska State Day workshop on September 21st, 2013.

Welcome to the new home for the Omaha-Council Bluffs Miniature Guild and the Shoe Box Bunch! Both of our clubs work to share our hobby with the community whenever possible. There are many ways we participate:

  • Exhibits at the Durham Museum and the Omaha Public Library
  • Dollhouse miniature shows and sales
  • Participation in National NAME Day and Nebraska State Day (half-day or whole-day workshops where each participant will have a nearly-completed roombox to take home)
  • Monthly make-and-take workshops
  • Monthly raffles
  • Periodic auctions or sales

Every event we host gives club members the opportunity to socialize with other miniaturists, learn new skills, and have a great time. If you've ever wanted to be a miniaturist or are simply curious, please feel free to contact our group at ocbmguild@gmail.com or leave us a comment here. We hope to see you soon!

Happy mini-ing!