And now for something completely different...

A friend got married and I made the sign. It is hand lettered, hand painted and huge- for me anyhow!

Check out the gorgeous 1939 buick

Magical nuthouse!

Oh lucky day!!! I received this absolutely stunning nut house from dear friend Catherine! Her blog is kilmouskiandme.blogspot.com There are many pictures of this piece as well as all her nut houses on her blog. The workmanship is not to be believed, the incredible detail will just blow you away. I just sit and stare.....This is the most beautiful amazing piece I've ever seen.

Check out this detail. The tiny perfect eggs in their little acorn nest. Little did I know when I was finding these tiny acorns on the road where I walk what Catherine was planning for them :) Oh yeah they came back home- in a way I never could have imagined!!

The second floor has tiny furnishing! Including a tiny vase with flowers on the table!!! Have I mentioned my mind is completely blown??? The top floor is an aviary. Sweet! I love birds. This piece is all about my love of birds.  Thank you Catherine, you are 

amazing ((( {:>= )))

And the winner is.....

drum roll....................

JOHN! http://john-merrimanpark.blogspot.com

Thank you John, you were the 12th comment! Email me with your mailing address.

miraclechicken@msn.com

I am moved beyond words by this response and all the comments ... truly....words escape me and 

THANK YOU TO YOU ALL

for entering and joining .

Give away- A chip-carved foot warmer

I haven't been a very good blogger of late, it's been a strange summer! Because I've been away so long, and to thank my followers for hanging in there I am holding my very first give-away. It is open to my 123 followers, if you are interested in entering the give-away, please leave me a comment. I will use the random number generator in one week-August 8th.

 I first discovered chip-carving in 1978. Since then I enjoy making full size items  but really love doing chip-carving in miniature!

Foot warmers were a common household item up to the Victorian era. The drawer held the metal container of hot coals, and people would rest their feet on top. Sometimes the container held boiling water. And I think this one did both, judging from the rust and soot inside!

The bottom

There is a handle because they were hung up when not in use which explains why the bottom is as elaborately

carved as the sides.

The top

The pierced top allows the heat out.