Followers

Thursday 18 July 2013

I won a beautiful Miniature Wedding Dress for Felma's June Giveaway

She included some lovely perfume bottles, which I arranged with some lace in a small tray I had in my "tickle trunk" and displayed them

For those of you not acquainted with Felma's lovely Blog  Dollhouse Miniatures by Felma you must pop by for a visit. If you pay close attention, I would even mark it on your Calendar, she gives away one of her beautiful miniature gowns every single month.
I'm going to go off on a tangent, but after rereading what actually became the bulk of my post, it actually has everything to do with why I became a Miniature Artisan. So please, bear with me. NOTHING is too small to pray about. I pray about everything, and I mean everything. I pray for help in finding a parking spot, I pray for calm and assistance in that God will ensure that things will work out when I am dealing with a rude and difficult government clerk, postal worker, plumber, the list goes on. About a year ago, I started keeping lists and praying even more in earnest. I prayed that I would find work and be successful at a job that I was passionate about. I started keeping a list every month of my prayers and goals. Even I was amazed at what started happening. If you have been following along with my journey on Miniature Maven Diaries, I think you will agree, that as hard as this year has been for me, in many ways (God never promised us an easy life, in fact I think he pretty much promised us exactly the opposite), that miracles happen every day.


I started noticing, as I looked back through my journals, that help was being offered. I won 3 blogger giveaways in a row. (Starting with Jane's, from Minifanaticus, followed quickly by Drora's, then Jen's February giveaway at Plushy Cat Blog). I continued to be offered amazing help and opportunities presented themselves. My Dad offered to build me shadow boxes where I am planning to display miniature scenes that I will customize for my customers. He also dove into carpentry as a hobby with great enthusiasm when he retired. He astounded me a couple of weeks ago when he told me he is planning to build 12 display shelves based on the one that I found at an antique shop two years ago. I can charge between $80-100 for these at the Miniature Show and Sale, and tell my customers they can order more from me. He is also planning to make empty shadow boxes for customers, which I can sell at the mini show for $50 dollars each. Did I mention he only wants to recoup the costs of the wood he is buying to make these things? He wants me to keep the profits, because he has watched me fight to stay employed, and eventually give up and admit that I had to go on disability because I could not hold down a regular full time or even part time job. Since his offer, the local art supply store where I go to buy most of my supplies (to avoid Michaels Craft Stores, because I personally loathe that place), offered to display my miniatures. If I sell my work, they will take a 20% commission, which is a very generous offer.

 I have actually had an extremely stressful month, which has included several very serious health issues, and there are many times when I have wanted to give up and just rest for awhile. But if I look at the big picture, my prayers have been answered in so many ways. I owe it to God, or the universe, not to mention the huge number of people whose prayers and support I have asked for over past year (and been given) to keep at it. This post is a reminder (if you're feeling discouraged) to keep at it. There is no doubt I have struggled, felt despair, wanted to give up. For over a decade I have fought with every ounce of strength I could muster with a very difficult illness. My grandmother that the same illness, and she didn't survive it. I've known of and seen many others who have been swallowed my this dark beast of an illness. Everyone tells me I'm a fighter. Even when I've been at my lowest point, I think there has always a tiny glimmer of that stubborn fighter inside me that refuses to sucumb to despair, and won't give up until I find what I have spent so long searching for: peace, a life filled with meaning, and eventually, I am going to become an advocate for this illness. I learned have how to navigate the health system and the extremely aggravating government run disability system, where the staff often treat you like you have the intelligence of a gnat. Advocating for yourself  is a learned skill, that others need to be taught. There have been many times when I have been so angry that I have spent so much time struggling with being sick and feeling helpless. Eventually, I want to channel that anger into energy that will help me teach others to help themselves.

As always, I feel honored that you have taken the time to read my blog and for all of you who leave such kind and loving comments each time I post.

XOXO

Ruth

20 comments:

  1. Congrats on your gorgeous win from Felma! She is such a lovely person and makes such gorgeous dresses! Nice post, BTW. I always appreciate hearing the real story from bloggers, the challenges that they face. It keeps it real, which is so refreshing. I love your fighting spirit--you go, girl! xo Jennifer

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    1. Thanks Jennifer! If you look closely the pink lace in the picture is the pink lact is the stuff I won in your giveaway back in February :)
      XOXO

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  2. Hello Ruth! I am so sorry that you have so seriously ill for so long. You know when you blog, there is always the the assumption that all is right with the world and that everybody is blissfully happy making things. But everyone of us uses this medium to escape and make-believe. Even if it done by professionals it is still a fairy tale. Sometimes there is no happily ever after and yet there is always hope. God instills hope into us and keeps us strong even when we feel like giving up and/ or feel defeated. I have seen so many miracles in my life too and recognize some of them only in retrospect. I know that When the low spots happen to us God gives us something to smile about in the midst of it all and you have won some beautiful Giveaways that have made you smile and re-kindled the hope in the goodness of people. Fighting all the time to try and get help can be exhausting so remember to rest up when you can. God has a plan for each of us and He is working out His plans for you.

    elizabeth

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth. I believe that God has a plan for each and everyone of us. I think it was in Psalm 139 that he said I planned out every day of your life before you were born. He knows what he's doing, even when we feel forgotten and abandoned. Life has never been easy to understand :)

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  3. Congratulations for your gorgeous win! Felma is a lovely, generous lady and makes the most beauiful dresses. I love the perfume bottles Felma sent you.

    Reading this post helped me get to know a lot about you. I admire your fighting spirit and
    wish you good luck with the shadow boxes and shows.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thanks Drora,
      I believe it's worth it and be more vulnerable with my readers, even if I can give only one more person more peace, hope and company!
      Hugs,
      Ruth

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  4. what a fantastic dress, you are very lucky to receive such a great give a way. so sorry you have been suffering, I use my minis as a way to escape from the problems I have with my body, if we look hard enough there is always something to make us smile x

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    1. I totally agree Debbie,
      My blog and minis are an escape from "the world of the sick" where I spend way more time than I'd like, but I do share things from time to time to let others who are suffering that there is hope and they're not the only way struggling with difficult issues.
      XX
      Ruth

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  5. This dress is fabulous. Congratulations for the winning.
    Hug, Faby

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    1. Thanks Faby!
      I'm so in love with the dress! It's absolutely gorgeous, and Felma is a lovely, generous lady.
      Hugs,
      Ruth

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  6. Hello from Spain, congratulations. Lovely dress. Felma is very cute.

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  7. Hello Ruth, Thank you very much for the wonderful post. So happy that you received the dress and thanks to all of you for the lovely things you said in your comments about my dresses. Ruth, just the other day I told my doctor that I was ready to give up because I've prayed and prayed that my pain body would get better, but it is getting worse. My doctor got right in my face almost nose to nose and said, "Fight! God is not ready for you yet. You make people smile and encourages them to have hope for themselves to live their best life. Promise me you will fight." So, I promised. I was going to close my Blog, but after I came home I worked on my July give away which I will post today. Thank you so much for sharing. We love you and praying for you.
    Hugs,
    Felma

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    1. Hi Felma,
      I'm honored that you shared your story with me. I think we all enjoy and practise this hobby for many reasons. Its amazing the number of people that have confided in me that they too, deal with a chronic illness and that is was led them to discover miniatures. I like to tell people that I never would have dared to risk started a miniatures blog and selling my miniatures if I hadn't failed and everything (practically everything) that I considered important first. Sometimes our old, previous self has to die before a new wondrous creation can be born. I believe that God has wonderful plans for all of us, if only we have the eyes to see it.
      I will keep you in my prayers as well,
      Ruth

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  8. This was a very moving post for me to read! Thanks for sharing and sharing the fighting spirit with us readers =) And congratulations on the lovely winning! I did win two giveaways when I had a bit of a rough time too, its lovely to win after some setbacks or illness. It makes it more special, and I felt very grateful =)
    Wishing you good health in the future!
    Hannah

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  9. Praying does work. I keep a journal as well and I always go back and re-read some of my entries and yes God has move the hill that was in my way and I understand he will move a mountain for my son. Why am I not surprise that your Dad is awesome. Keep your faith and don't every let that go, we serve a mighty God and your right, he's plan is the plan. It might not be the journey we thought but it is the journey he ordained.

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  10. Hi Ruth and congrats on the beautiful dress. You are so inspiring. I have fulfilled my task for the Liebster Award and I can't say thank you enough!!

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    1. You deserve that award Brini! I love your blog! I adore Marta and her blog and yours is quite similar. Of course I agree with you about God. I was raised going to church and I don't go anymore, but I pray all the time. It's not that I don't get frustrated, but that I can't conceive of living in a Universe which doesn't have a loving force behind it. Have you ever read the footprints poem? I'll email it to you :)

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  11. You go girl!! I know you can help others. You are a fighter and you will help those who can't fight for themselves. That just may be God's plan for you. I'll always keep you in my prayers. And I know you will succeed with everything you are undertaking.
    big hugs♥,
    Caroline

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    1. I do believe it's a big part of my mission. Learning to advocate for yourself is a skill that can be learned, I finally realized plenty of people don't know how to teach themselves that skill and can benefit from being taught it.
      (((Hugs)))

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  12. Complimenti i tuoi lavori sono bellissimi, se ti fa piacere passa a trovarmi http://acasaconmanu.blogspot.it a presto.

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