FROM THE PRESIDENT

What a winter!  But we do live in Wisconsin.  We will meet in March (still trying for that positive attitude).  Linda Kasper will try to get the bead project in.  At this rate we might get them done in time for the holiday season in December!  You will need needle nose pliers, wire cutter, tweezer, small towel to control the beads, a ruler, and one dollar.

I left Wisconsin for Rhode Island the day after the canceled meeting.  Their weather wasn’t much better while I was there.  I went to help out my son and family.  He has a 4-1/2 and 3 year old girls.  I tell ya, I am getting too old for three weeks of 24/7 with children.  I was ready to come home!  Besides I was having “mini” withdrawal!

Treasurer Georgia Wagner has abandoned us to escape the snow/cold and is basking in the Florida sun on the beach.  Lucky her!  She will be back for the April meeting and will present a financial report she has already given me.   Keep track of the mini money you are due.  People who have paid their dues and get mini money are:

Charline Burgess, Nancy Flanagan, Marilyn Hess, Linda Kasper, Charlotte Millison, Deena Perlstein, Marjorie Thomas, George Wagner, Diane Wandel, Rita Wandel, and Sue Veeder, and Nancy Woudstra. 

Lori Johnson and Donna Thorson have assembled over 30 kits for the Desktop Breakaway Boxes that will cost $5 each.  Thanks to both gals for the fun project they have set up for us.  The kits will include the heat and bond, and the box materials.  You should establish a theme for your box and start rounding up “homeless” mini items from your stash.  You will need paper for the inside as well as ribbon for the outside.

I used cedar paper for my gardener’s box and paper from a scrapbook store for my sewing box.  I used a window from an old window kit, but you may use a picture or a mirror for yours.  Here are a couple of themes to keep in mind while digging through your stash:

Baker’s Nook:- Bread, cookies, cooking and kitchen supplies.
Student’s Desk or Teacher’s Desk
Gardener’s Box
Greenhouse Windows – home for all those potted plants.  
Morning Tea – Tray of tea and sweets
Reader’s Nook – books and a cup of coffee!
Sewing Nook
Artist’s Corner
My Ladies Dressing Table – lots of perfume bottles and jewelry
Toymaker’s Table – too many toys but not enough for a toyshop
Clock Maker’s Table
Crafter’s Nook
Music Room
Christmas Table (or any holiday)
Baby Corner
Antique Store or China Shop

Look through the free cutouts from old mini magazines.  I found seed packets in an old Miniature Collector.  Aren’t you getting excited about all of the things you have stored away that can be brought out into the light of day!

Sun Prairie Library
Remember, we will be at the library March 22 for the day.  It is the day before Easter which can be good or bad.  We will bring a couple of crock pots of soup and lock ourselves in there (not really) all day and play.  You can do the Breakaway Desktop Box or anything else you are working on!  It is a really good excuse to spend the day with friends since we have been snowed out so much lately.

And keep in mind … We display in the library starting April 1, so start thinking about what little things you can show.

New Catalog

I just got the NEW Handley House/Dee’s Catalog in the mail.  It is so terrific I called today and ordered another copy with a wholesale price list that will be here before the next meeting so we can circulate them both.  If someone wants to take the second copy home and return at the next meeting, we can rotate it through the club.

Here are some of the new items that caught my eye:

Broadnax wallpaper
Glenowen furniture line.  A cut above the usual.  Not Bespac but some quality things.
Expanded Heidi Ott line
More ½ inch items
More Northern scale 1/144 house kits
Expanded World of Miniature bears.
Miniature Corner – lots of Reuter porcelain

I hope to bring order sheets for everyone to take home.  

I should have a final date on the Youth Project and will give an update at the meeting.  Positive attitude now – NO SNOW.

President Nancy Flanagan

DATES TO REMEMBER

March 13	MAME meeting
March 22	Breakaway Box Sun Prairie Library
April 1-30	Sun Prairie Library Exhibit
April 3-5	Three Blind Mice Show – Schaumburg IL
April 4-6	Tom Bishop International Show Chicago
April 5 or 26	4H Youth Project
May 2-3	Bettendorf IA Mini Show
May 2-4	NAME Regional House Party, Portland, OR
May 8	MAME Silent Auction
June 6-7	Three Blind Mice  Show Schaumburg
July 24-27	NAME National Convention Nashua NH
September 12-13	Museum of Miniatures Show Indianapolis
October	National Miniature Month
October 1-31	Sun Prairie Library Exhibit
May 2009	WI State Day (Milw group)

Secretary, Gerry Schlecht