small talk winter 2 21:22

Small TalkNational Association of Miniature Enthusiasts

Region N2,Winter2021–22http://nameregionn2.org

From Your Regional CoordinatorIt has been a busy Fall and now it’s time for Winter Holidays and Winter. Thank heavens we got a little rain out herein N2.It was good to see many of you who ventured out and attended the Good Sam Show. It was a nice show and so

much room in the sales room to shop. I do hope we can have the overseas vendors back next year though. We allmissed them. Seems like this Covid thing is never going away. NAME night was quite successful, and I thinkattendees had a great time working on the “Make ‘N Take” workshops. Debbie Young provided little kits foreveryone attending Good Sam this year so one of the tables was hosted by Debbie with supplies to put the little housekit together. Deb Laue taught tiny clothespin reindeer, Lynn Hoffman taught lovely Hawaiian print hangings thatwere perfect for the NAME Day Tiki Bar, and I taught at a table where we made ¼” ceiling fans. Little goodie bagswere given out and we were done by 9:00 pm. We hope to do it again next year so plan to attend on Saturday eveningof the show in 2022.So many activities are coming up in 2022. Plan to join us on New Year’s Eve for a party on Zoom. Go to the

Create.miniatures.org and find out more about the party.We will be welcoming in the 50thAnniversary year of NAMEand much more. In February is the Online Houseparty. I hope to see many of you during that week. In May will bethe Portland, OR Houseparty, Come FlyWith Me. I sure hope it will be well attended and that we can feel a bit betterabout getting together.I am planning to step down as Regional Coordinator for N2 (our NAME region) and we will have a new Regional

Coordinator in June. That will be announced in the Spring newsletter.Watch for activities in the Morgan Hill area. They are always busy there and HAVEAWONDERFUL HOLIDAY

SEASON and a HAPPY NEWYEAR!! See you all in 2022.Barbara

Good Sam Showcase of MiniaturesA smaller and cozier Good Sam was enjoyed by a fair number of show-goers, in spite of the circumstances regarding pandemicprocedure. We thank you for your support and hope to be back at full speed in 2022.

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Ferd Sobol, a huge talent and true gentleman. Many of you were aware of hishealth incident on Friday during show setup. He succumbed in late November due to kidney failure. He and Millie were long time andvery popular supporters of our show. Our sympathies to Millie and the family. Ferd will be missed by all who knew him.

Ruth Heisch

Small TalkState Rep Reports

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North CoastalState Rep Sharon Ocheltree

Our Little Mini Club:My Mini Autobiographyby Carlene Brown

As with most of you reading this article,my love of little things goes back as far asI can remember. My first prizedpossessions were a play pen, high chair,baby buggy and a little molded baby dollall made from pink plastic, complete with alittle piece of cloth for a blanket. My firstdoll house came on Christmas day when Iwas five, along with a case of measlessending me to bed when I felt fine andwanted so much to play with the dollhouse.

As an adult, had wanted a doll housefor a long time and I finally received adoll house kit for my birthday one year.After building the Farmhouse styledollhouse, the house needed furnitureand so my real journey began--findingminiature stores and going to miniatureshows to find just the perfect pieces offurniture. At the time, there were lots ofminiature stores and shows, which sadlyhave disappeared over the years. One ofthose first shows that I remember was inGolden Gate Park in San Francisco, andI was totally in awe. So many wonderful“little” things, it was unbelievable!!

In 1998, at a miniature show inSacramento, I asked about miniaturegroups and so was able to find Our LittleMini Club in Paradise, CA. MargaretGordus took me under her wing andhelped me become a “maker” instead ofa collector. Over the years, Margaret andI co-chaired two State Days put on by ourclub, a Southwest building and aJapanese Teahouse—so much fun andenjoyed by all who attended.

My work schedule allowed mesummers off and so one summer Idiscovered Pinterest and with it manyideas for making miniatures. I fell in love

with a Market Stall made by someone inGermany and gave it a try. My OCDkicked in at that point and one becamemany. I had so many ideas for themes,and kept building. When I attended aMini Cals workshop in Morgan Hill, Ibrought several of my market stalls for“show and tell’ and ended up selling twoof them. Rhona Lee and Karen Laisureencouraged me to sell the stalls at GoodSam and that was the beginning of mylittle dealership venture.

After the Campfire in Paradise in2018, I moved to Burney, CA which iseven farther north and away fromeverything, with no nearby clubs orshops. To give me something to do andcontinue making, I started selling itemson Etsy. I have not only kept busybuilding and selling things, but havemade new friends from afar. If you wantto check out my Etsy site it is:SomethingSpecialMini.

The miniature world is full ofwonderful, amazing people and I havemade so many friends in my miniaturejourney.When the Campfire happened in2018, the miniature world stepped up inamazing fashion, donating hundreds ofdollars worth of gift cards to our clubmembers who had lost their homes. Wecould never say enough thank you’s!!!

Our Little Mini Club is still goingstrong after the fire, we are spread farand wide but refuse to give up our bondand so meet monthly in a zoom meetingcoordinated by Margaret and the NAMEoffice!

North CentralMargaret Gordus

Carlene’s Creations

Redwood Small World: Is it reallyDecember already!?It sure has snuckup on me.I just got my Thanksgivingdecorations put away.

Christa Stressenger hosted ourSeptember meeting at her lovely home inFortuna.She is a most charming hostessand an excellent teacher.We requestedthat she help us with another wicker


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Sacramento, Central Valley,Sierra Foothills

State Rep Laura Seibert

No. Nevada, TahoeMary Ann Van Buskirk

Marin, Napa Valley

Open Position

Fresno

State Rep Barbara Fairbanks

Tinker Belles: Well Fresno is stillmeeting without a meeting place. Wehave met in members homes for a yearnow and it has worked out well. Eagerlywaiting for the Covid to end and thenmaybe we have a nice space to have ourmeetings.

Everyone is working on differentprojects and scales. And a lot of projects

that need finishing. Would you believeI am still working on Pickett Hill?Maybe next newsletter it will be finished.

We will have our Christmas luncheonDec. 11 at El Rodeo. We have eaten therebefore and really enjoyed it so we willmeet there again. Thanks Glendon forsetting it all up.

Wishing all a very Merry Season. Wedon't have snow here but it sure is coldnow.

Think we went straight from summerto winter this year. We seem to bemissing Spring and Fall anymore.

—Barbara Fairbanks

furniture project.She put kits together forall of us to assemble a simplebasket.Good practice for all.The basketis suitable for household items, plants,dog toys, whatever.Great project!

In October Dick and Luci Hansonjoined us from Cascade Miniatures inGrants Pass, Oregon. They have. taughtworkshops for us before and we surelylook forward to each visit.This trip Lucishared her knowledge on mold makingand resin pouring.This was a totally newprocess for us with many different skillsto learn and practice.A whole new worldopened up for creating ourminiatures.Dick and Luci are suchtreasures and we appreciate theirfriendship.They are becoming family.

The workshop was held at SueKuhnhausen's home and it was decoratedto the max for Halloween. A huge blow-up black cat, with moving head, greetedus as we drove in.On the porch, askeleton sat in an Adirondack chair bythe front door.Hand made, Halloweenminiature scenes were displayedthroughout the home.She severed acreepy lunch for the occasion with batwings, (blackened chicken wings), astuffed baked pumpkin of chicken,mushrooms and rice, and a tsunami cakefor desert, oozing chocolate gnash andgummy worms.She does love to cook!

Thanksgiving dinner was held at myhome for our November meeting witheveryone contributing to the menu.It wasa special time of way too much deliciousfood and visiting with friends who havebecome sisters in our miniature world.Sue lead everyone in a project of puttingtogether little harvest crates and thenhelping create fall fruits out of Fimo.There were crates of pumpkins, applesand squash.Time consuming but verycute.

At this time of year, I'd just like toexpress how dear our relationships arewith fellowmembers of our clubs.You area special people!Merry Christmas to all!—Sharon Ocheltree

Harvest crates of fruits and vegetables

Susie’s witch and boiling calddron

San Francisco, No. Peninsula

Open Position

Itty Bitties: The Itty Bitties Clubmembers have been busy! We startedworking on Winter/Christmas projects.Kathy Burlingame taught us how tomake a tabletop Christmas tree usingwire and lycopodium moss, in August.We created the trees using wire and thenadded the moss to each wire. Projectsshown were completed by Ynez Fritschand Kathy. In September, we learnedhow to make ribbon roses to decorate awinter hat and muff.

In October, we started on our vignettein a wreath project. A special thanks toMarie Bird and Thuy Means for sharingtheir ideas on the November/December2015 Gazette. Most of us were done withthe door or the window and then attachedit to the backing and the wreath. Kathyused a narrow Victorian bay windowand used a different technique for thelanding. Ynez used a window and wasable to fit a few things, including a


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Itty Bitties’Wreath Projects

Quarter Persuasion: Our QuarterPersuasion club continues to meet byZoom. We really enjoy it. Besidesmeeting on our traditional 3rd Saturdayof the month at 11:00 am, we also meetevery Monday at 11:00 am.

We're really looking forward to theSplintered Fairytales Online HousepartyFebruary 17th–20th, 2022. We all

moose! Deb Laue turned her windowinto a room box by adding three inchesaround the window to create a deeperspace to add lights, a fireplace and achair for Santa! And . . .some of usdecided to do the vignette with the door.In November, we worked on thesnowman, the sign and worked onfinishing the wreath. We learned how touse plaster of Paris, glitter snow andWashi tape.

Snowmen and signs made by DebraTaylor and Ynez Fritsch. We will endthe year with a get-together hosted byCarolyn Paul. We have started planningour project for 2022.

—Frances Bigler


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MiniCals: Our club started holding inperson meetings with social distancingand we were able to complete severalprojects together over the fall months.We had a successful NAME day with theTiki Hut project, and attendees weredelighted with their projects and extraaccessories.

We will gather for a holidaycelebration and look forward toworkshops in January and April in theM&L Morgan Hill location. Our SpringFling sales event is scheduled for Marchand we plan on other events in February

and May.Upcoming Workshops

January 15, 2022. Shabby Chic Doorwith a Western flavorApril 9, 2022. Patricia Perlhefter’sLadies Notion Display with Hat andJewelryCynthia Howe Workshop in June

For more information about theworkshops, contact Ruth Heisch 408997-1004 or [email protected]

.—Brenda Hough

South Bay, PeninsulaOpen Position

Through the Looking Glass: Throughthe Looking Glass is very excited aboutNAME Day, the Tiki Bar project and co-hosting a Work Day in Morgan Hill withMiniCals. We have been spending thesummer months working on table favorsof kits and gifts related to the theme.

We were able to return to our usualmeeting place this month at Prince ofPeace Lutheran Church in Saratoga andwe look forward to many more times ofnormality.

We also welcomed a new member,Michael Touchi, to our group thissummer. A gifted musician, Michaelbrings a great interest in miniatures andis jumping right in with the Tiki Barproject.

Hoping to join new and old friends onNAME Day!

—Barbara Adams

registered. Most of us will be attendingthe Come Fly With Me Portland, OregonHouseparty May 6th–8th.

It's NAME's 50th anniversary in 2022,with celebrating all year long! There's somuch to look forward to!

For projects at our Zoom meetings, wecontinue to work on whatever we feellike working on.

I'm trying to finish structures to counton myAIM form. Don't forget to mailyour AIM forms by January 31st! That'sthe last day they can be postmarked

—Laura Seibert

Laura’s Christmas Ornament

Juanita Landa’s Tiki Bar

Shabby Chic Door

Patricia Perlhefter’s Ladies Notion Displaywith Hat and Jewelry


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We are all sad as one of your members,Cindy Loman, has moved She is verytalented new miniaturist. She completedthe Neverwas before she moved. Weplan to stay in touch with zoommeetings.

—Carol Walls

Mini Attics: The MiniAttics havebeen able to get together for in personmeetings, which is a treat We have allbeen working on the tote bag favors forWinter Wonderland, the NAME Nationalin 2022.

Four of our members went to theMiniCals NAME Day for the Tiki Bar.We all had a wonderful time. Most of uswere very happy to attend the Good SamShow, to see others we have not seen in awhile, as well as shop. Carol Wallsdisplayed her "Granma's Attic" at GoodSam. Meg Milani gathered miniaturesfrom all of us and put up a mini displayof fall, Christmas and flowers in theRedwood City library.

Lori Rodriguez’s Tiki Bar

Monya Johnson’s Tiki Bar

Lori Rodriguez’s Tiki Bar

Nancy Peter’s Tiki Bar

Barbara Adams Tiki Bar

Carol’s Attic

Cindy’s NeverWas


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Hawaii

State Rep Naomi Losch

Wee Housers: We finally got togetheragain in person!—after meeting onZoom during most of the last year or so.Rhona invited us down to Gilroy for adelightful Christmas party. After awonderful lunch we got down to the bestpart—our not so “Secret” Santa giftexchange. Eery member was all smiles aswe opened gifts. Each one was perfectfor the recipient.

In Rhona’s words, “We laughed, wecomplained, we whined, we ate. We ahh-ed and ohh-ed at each other gifts.” Theone downside was that Denise couldn’tbe there.

We look forward to more in personmeetings in the future.

—Laura Johnson Wee Housers Gift Exchange

A lantern with birds nesting, by Beth FreemanKane, who are being carefully monitored by asupposedly sleeping cat lying on the gardenbench.This is a scene from Rhona’s Pat and NoelThomas Garden Shed that she exhibited thisyear at the Good Sam Showcase ofMiniatures 2021.

Library Display in Redwood City

Hydrangea plant made by Laura

Moonyeen’s birdhouse. It’s going to be awonderful addition to a garden scene.

Small Talk

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NAME Region N2 CalendarJanuary 15 MiniCals Workshop—Morgan Hill

Shabby Chic Door with a Western FlavorFebruary 17–20 NAME Online Houseparty

Splintered Fairy TalesMarch 12 Spring Fling in Morgan HillApril 9 MiniCals Workshop—Morgan Hill

Patricia Perlhefter’s Ladies Notion Display with Hat and Jewelry

Check the N2WebsiteLocal mini events may be limited, but there are opportunities to get together and share our enthusiasm for miniaturesonline! Check out the calendar on our N2 website: nameregionn2.org/events-calendar It’s updated with online events,including workshops and sales.If you know of a miniature related event or have information/photos to share, please contact Carol([email protected]) to add it to the calendar page of the website.

You must pre-register.To sign up please email: [email protected] the day you would like to come and

the number of people in your party.

Small Talk

NAMEBox 69Carmel, IN 46082317-571-8094

Regional Coordinator(Interim)Barbara Thornton-Hill650-380-3038 (cell)[email protected]

Newsletter EditorLaura [email protected]

Events CoordinatorLeslie [email protected]

N2WebmasterCarol [email protected]

Welcome ChairCarlene [email protected]

East Bay/Tri-ValleyOpen Position

Marin/Napa ValleyOpen Position

FresnoBarbara [email protected]

HawaiiNaomi [email protected]

North CentralMargaret [email protected]

North CoastalSharon [email protected]

Northern Nevada/TahoeAreaMary Ann Van [email protected]

Sacramento/Central Valley/Sierra FoothillsLaura [email protected]

San Francisco/N. PeninsulaOpen Position

South Bay/PeninsulaOpen Peninsula

small talk winter 2 21:22

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