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January's Featured Member of the Month - Meet Wenlaine!
By Teresa Martens
Wendy (wenlaine) has been a member of the Greenleaf Miniature Community since May 28, 2005. With 1,642 posts (and counting) she has provided support, encouragement and inspiration to many of us.
Wendy got her start in the miniature world by taking a floral design course in 2004. One of her projects was to create three floral arrangements in different time periods and they could be no larger than three inches. Not knowing what to do with the ‘miniature’ arrangements, she wondered on a way to display them. That’s when she came up with the idea to build a dollhouse and took on the ‘Beacon Hill’ as her first project. She wasn’t able to use the floral arrangements in the house, nonetheless she was hooked!
Wendy enjoys the fact that mini-ing is so creative. “I enjoy working with my hands and I also love trying to make new things. One aspect about building dollhouses I enjoy is that it doesn’t allow for boredom.” With that in mind, she continues to learn new techniques, experiments, creates unique items, and comes up with fresh ideas.
The most enjoyable part of mini-ing for Wendy? Making her wicker items . . . but she is quick to say that watching a dollhouse come to life is the most rewarding as she stands back and says “wow, I did that!”
Wendy’s current project is the ‘Van Buren’ by Greenleaf, which she is actively blogging. It is a gorgeous house done in blues and roses and houses some of her latest creations. Visit her Dollhouse blog for more info.
Other than the ‘Beacon Hill’ (my personal favorite) and the ‘Van Buren’, Wendy has built the ‘Orchid’, the ‘White Orchid’, the ‘Harrison’ and the ‘Jefferson’. You can view these houses in her dollhouse gallery.
All of these beautiful houses have been painstakingly decorated and furnished with an artist’s eye. She has made many of her own furnishings, drapes, rugs, and decorative elements that add so much personality to her houses. She has also graciously shared those talents with others of us who have purchased her well made ‘treasures’, which will no doubt become precious heirlooms.
Wendy is also an avid needle-worker, having now stitched her way into the world of punch needle rugs. I can tell you just how beautiful these rugs are because I’m fortunate enough to own one. And if you haven’t seen her wicker furniture, you’re missing out on just how wonderful wicker can be in a dollhouse. Check out all of Wendy’s wonderful creations at her Dollhouse Website!
When Wendy isn’t busy with her houses or other creations, you can find her enjoying chess, bike riding and spending time with her beloved family, especially her grandchildren.
As our 'Featured Member of the Month', Wendy will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the ‘Greenleaf Store’. Congratulations, Wendy!
Photo courtesy of Wendy van Ginkel
Back to the January Newsletter...
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