Fall colors everywhere at our campsite (6 word Saturday)

Fall Colors Everywhere at our Campsite

This past week we took our brand new camper out on what will probably be our last camping event of the season.  We headed up north in our state to a wonderful camping area at Hammond Lake.  It is run by the 
Army Corp of Engineers and the area was developed as a result of flooding back in the 1970s.

The fall colors were beginning to disappear but enough left to make the scenery in the campsite lovely.
and because it was late in the season there were not very many campers so it was lovely and peaceful.
Here are a few other pictures I took of the area around us.

 This picture, which was taken by my husband, shows across the lake.  You can see the reflections of the trees above in the lake below.  Because it was so still you can see them pretty clearly.

Another picture of reflections.  This was across a little inlet.  The pavilion was for picnics.  I imagine it is very busy and full in summer months.

Just up the lane from where we camped we had the pleasure of looked at these wonderful Maple trees in Full color!  They almost glowed.

We will no doubt go back to Hammond Lake next year.  It is such a great place.  But for now we can just enjoy all the pictures that we took and relive the moments there.

The Corning Glass Museum

Due to traveling and also selling our old camper I did not work on my new miniature bookstore at all.  Hope to have something to show next Friday............  but meanwhile......................

This past week we were fortunate enough to go to the Corning Glass Museum in Corning, NY.   What an amazing display of Glass from over 4500 years

When you enter the museum you are first greeted by this beautiful sculpture.  Each of the tendrils is a separate piece of blown glass.

Next you enter the modern glass exhibit, a section of incredible glass pieces donated to the museum by one man.   He had collected for years. There were pictures of his New York (I think) apartment filled with the items before he donated them. I can't remember his name but you can probably learn it on the site.  I am just showing a couple of pieces that were our favorites.  

 

   

After we left that section of the museum we began to see older and also ancient glass.  Some of the pieces were from as far back as 2500BC.  I was stunned at the quality of the work considering they had no tools like we do today..

These are a few pieces that were old though I neglected to write down info on them.  They are mosaics and pieces made by making canes of glass and cutting them into designs for the mosaics.  Much like we do in Polymer clay today.
And those of us who love beads and occasionally do beadwork, here is a picture of a basket.  The card said it was made by "amateurs."  Would love to have seen what the professionals could do.  Click on the picture to see a LOT more detail.

After we left the museum part we visited the Hot Glass blowing demonstration.  Impressive is an understatement.  The real surprise is that we won  the door prize drawing....  it was a vase they made a few days earlier.  At first glance it just looks like an ordinary vase but when you see it in person you can see evidence of the blown work and where it was "broken" off of the work stick or what ever they call it at the bottom.. We were so pleased to win it.

After all this was over we went down to what they call the glass market....  lots of stuff to buy.  Some rather pricey I might add.

These were all hand blown pumpkins.  But pricey at $50 to $80 a piece.  Nice to look at though.

We did not spend much in the glass market, just some coke glasses to use in our camper. They were on the half price shelf......

After leaving the museum we had to go out into the rain.  Fortunately there was a shuttle bus to take us to the parking lot.  It will take a while to take in all that we saw that day.  Well worth the visit if you are ever in the area!

Tea cup Tuesday #10

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Here is another teacup from the shop.  This one is bone china and handpainted.

 I like the almost scalloped edge of the cup top and bottom.

 The painted out numbers are mark of the person that did the painting.
I do not know the definition of "fine grade."

With the cats, you never know (6 word Saturday)

The cats have been providing opportunity for me to pull out the camera again.  In our kitchen we have a stool that is a place to place jackets and hats when we come in from outside.  Over the years our cat Tuffy has enjoyed sitting on top of the jackets and pretty much claimed it as her own..  We recently decided we had enough of cat hair on jackets so.....  we put a piece of fabric on the stool, thinking she would like that and we would finally hang up our jackets when we get home.

WELL, she does like the new fabric on the stool  BUT so does her sister Spooky.  So now they share it.  Spooky NEVER got up on it before.  Now she loves it.   Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

Hey what are you doing here spooky?

I think I like it here says Spooky.

 Well they finally figure out that they can both sleep on the stool.......................

Up Date Friday

For the foreseeable future I will be showing my progress on my miniature bookshop on Fridays. I will also try to update other things that I may have mentions and not followed up on.  Maybe.........

Today I opened the box of parts for my new miniature bookshop.  AND I started to put it together.

      I stopped though, after putting up the floor, back and side walls.  I am now debating whether to put on the top (roof) right away.  I think it would be too hard to decorate with it on so am thinking I should hold off.  Meanwhile I have started gathering up items for the shop.

Here are a couple chairs I have found and a table I may decorate to use as well.  I am waiting for the arrival of the bookcases I have ordered and a few books as well.  AND I hope to get to make some of my own as well.  You are welcome to leave any comments.

I have often thought it would be fun to own a bookstore

So now I shall.  Albeit in miniature.

I know, lately I have spent a lot of time talking about tea cups, dolls, outdoors and campers.  But as the weather cools off it is time to get back to making miniatures.

My local Miniature club is taking on a rather large project  for the new year.  We will be making a mall and apartment house complex.  Each member is making up a room box in some sort of shop or apartment.  Loving bookstores as I do I have decided that I will turn my room box into just such a store.  But not just any book store.  I want to make it with an EDGE.  Perhaps steampunk, or at least industrial looking.

At this point it is merely in the planning stage.

I know I have to obtain a LOT of books.  I have ordered some and will make a lot more.  I had a lesson once on making mini books from old leather books.  Hope I still remember how.

Anyone with suggestions on how or what I should include let me know in the comments.

Tea Cup Tuesday #9

I finally decided to count how many "Tea Cup Tuesdays" I have participated in.   This makes the 9th time.
Today I am doing something a bit different than I have done in the past.

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I am showing a full Tea Set that I have for sale out in my shop.  I like it a lot because of the size and colors.

It was made in japan.  It included 8 cup and saucer sets, a sugar and a creamer as well as the teapot.  The cups are a bit smaller than normal but so pretty and they seem daintier than the usual size tea cup and saucer.

I hope you enjoyed my selection for today.