Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: OLeary on 10 May 2013, 12:48:11 PM
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Currently I am working on two project that do not allow for leeway in choice of colour. My Old West Knuckleduster series and my Gripping Beast Vikings have to be painted in a particular way as they are historical in nature. Whilst working on those two projects I thought it would be nice to indulge myself with a project that was whimsical and fun.
Naturally I opened up my box of goodies from Thunderbolt Mountain. What better way to play in the world of Fantasy than with some lovely sculpts by Tom Meier.
I've chosen his Ballerina Fairy Princess Infantry that he sculpted for his daughter http://www.thunderboltmountain.com/products/4202-ballerina-fairy-princess-infantry.
And to give those little ladies something to battle, I chose a classic Goblin from his 30mm range Goblins http://www.thunderboltmountain.com/products/8511-goblin-archer-firing
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/1-girls1a-001_zpsc96d5efd.jpg)
I've applied only a base coat to their clothing and just begun to do a little highlighting.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/1-girls1b-001_zpsb69fb1c8.jpg)
I've applied only primer to these three.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/1-goblin1-002_zpsfd25f5f9.jpg)
This is a beautiful sculpt. The face is highly detailed and rendered in such a way as to convey a sense of ferocity. The musculature in his body is exquisite. I have applied a base coat of Reaper Meadow Green and then lightly applied a wash of Reaper Face Wash combined with a small amount of black from Secret Weapon. This will allow me to work up from the musculature slowly whilst maintaining the definition of the sculpt.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/1-goblinvsgirl-001_zpse66679fa.jpg)
This should give you some idea of scale and also show you the contrast between the figures. One delicate and seemingly fragile and the other bulky and strong.
I will be scratchbuilding a fantasy terrain to tell a story.
My approach will be that of myself as a little girl who read fairy tales and dreamed magical dreams. The dreams of a child sitting outside in the woods playing make believe by herself. To that end the terrain will consist of oversized flowers, foliage and perhaps a mushroom or two.
This project will take me some time to complete as my painting table is a bit crowded at the moment. I will update as I am able.
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the terrain will consist of ... a mushroom or two.
lol lol Deafnala's influence is spreading like a cloud of spores!
(nice painting so far, by the way!)
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Brilliant sculpts....looking forward to seeing this develop!
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I have to say I quite like your painting style and the sense of fun you bring to your project posts here. While I tend to choose earthier colors for my (rare) paint jobs, I enjoy your choice of vibrancy and whimsy. It will be fun to see this progress.
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Looks like a fun project, Painting so far looks good.
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Fantastic Anne! Teshub & I are also in love with Tom Meier's sculpts. (Slug-Eat-Your-Face which he made for his son is a household favorite.)
Love to see what you're doing with the goblin in particular. He looks like he would fit in with our world well.
I think I have neglected to mention how much I enjoy the stories that go with your paints. They turn a figure into a character.
Can't wait to see the terrain as well!
Jevenkah
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This has VERY COOL & IMAGINATIVE potential...fits with your style.
If you need any Mushroom assistance let me know; I'd be delighted to help.
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lol lol Deafnala's influence is spreading like a cloud of spores!
(nice painting so far, by the way!)
Thank you so much. He has offered to assist me with my mushrooms and I am inclined to accept.
Brilliant sculpts....looking forward to seeing this develop!
The sculpts are stunning. The expression Mr. Meier has put into these little faces is nothing short of brilliant. I hope my brush can do them justice.
I have to say I quite like your painting style and the sense of fun you bring to your project posts here. While I tend to choose earthier colors for my (rare) paint jobs, I enjoy your choice of vibrancy and whimsy. It will be fun to see this progress.
Thank you. This will be a nice diversion for me while I work on other things. I'm looking forward to doing the terrain as I hope to make that explode with colour.
Looks like a fun project, Painting so far looks good.
Thank you.
Fantastic Anne! Teshub & I are also in love with Tom Meier's sculpts. (Slug-Eat-Your-Face which he made for his son is a household favorite.)
Love to see what you're doing with the goblin in particular. He looks like he would fit in with our world well.
I think I have neglected to mention how much I enjoy the stories that go with your paints. They turn a figure into a character.
Can't wait to see the terrain as well!
Jevenkah
Thunderbolt is my favorite place to shop. I'm almost done buying the entire Wood Elf collection to go with my High Elves. I'm going to buy the Byzantines as well so I can compete in the Analogue Painting Challenge this Winter. They will be my showpiece for the competition.
Being Irish, the storytelling comes quite naturally. Amongst other things, I am a published poet.
This has VERY COOL & IMAGINATIVE potential...fits with your style.
If you need any Mushroom assistance let me know; I'd be delighted to help.
I would be most honoured to work with you sir. I do believe that we may be a bit alike in spirit!
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I did these little guys up some time ago and they could be used in this project as well.
They are Bushwoolies from the Savage and Sparkle collection http://www.thunderboltmountain.com/products/4004-bushwoolies
These little guys were only $2.50.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isMSPEtfDpg/UMGOIJ9ZZSI/AAAAAAAADYc/60Hdws_ZXE0/s1600/bushgroup-001.jpg)
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Lovely work :-* And lovely idea 8)
I have some Tom Meier goblins from the 70s (thankyou Heldrak,thankyou Leadabestos :)) and they still stand up(to my eyes anyway). I'll have to get some of the new ones :D
Cheers
Guy
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Lovely work :-* And lovely idea 8)
I have some Tom Meier goblins from the 70s (thankyou Heldrak,thankyou Leadabestos :)) and they still stand up(to my eyes anyway). I'll have to get some of the new ones :D
Cheers
Guy
Thank you Guy. You really should take a look at these. He's got this style and also a Heavy Goblin, bigger, meaner, beefier. There are also Goblins mounted on wolves. After I've bought all his Wood Elves, I'm going to start in on the Goblin Collection.
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It's been a long time since I checked out the Thunderbolt Mountain's stuff; the Brushwoolies have single hand(foot)edly changed that. Those Little Guys are FANTASTIC...with a matching paint job. I'm sure they'd get on well with my Mushrooms.
The Mushrooms in the background are REALLY COOL! GREAT WORK all around!
I would be most honoured to work with you sir.
I think that contributing to your project would be a lot of fun...also add some purpose for all those Mushrooms I love to make.
I do believe that we may be a bit alike in spirit!
There does seem to be a kindred spirit thing here...you have my condolences.
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I am beyond jealous about your painting skills. :o :-* 8)
And that is a good thing. ;)
And yes, every character needs a back story unless it is a "mass army" trooper (writing 400 plus stories for my Der Kriegspieler and 1970's Ral Partha Dwarf soldiers much less their contemporary goblin foes isn't happening...) to make it "real" in one's mind. I think even "army leaders" for war gaming (my core interest) need some background story.
You have made me want to put to paper (words - some place I have some skill) lol the background stories for all those characters from all the flavors of D&D (OD&D, AD&D 1st, AD&D 2nd,) I've played since "white box days" until the girls were adopted (live got so much busier :o ??? o_o with kids #3 and #4 than it had been a decade and a half earlier with #1 and #2 - or maybe I just matured ::) and put them first...)
Gracias,
Glenn
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It's been a long time since I checked out the Thunderbolt Mountain's stuff; the Brushwoolies have single hand(foot)edly changed that. Those Little Guys are FANTASTIC...with a matching paint job. I'm sure they'd get on well with my Mushrooms.
The Mushrooms in the background are REALLY COOL! GREAT WORK all around!
I think that contributing to your project would be a lot of fun...also add some purpose for all those Mushrooms I love to make.
My mushrooms are sad and pitiful compared to yours. I do have some from Foundry that came with my Orcling Outriders, but I've yet to paint them up. You should pity my poor husband as he's the one that has to put up with me :D :D
And yes, every character needs a back story unless it is a "mass army" trooper (writing 400 plus stories for my Der Kriegspieler and 1970's Ral Partha Dwarf soldiers much less their contemporary goblin foes isn't happening...) to make it "real" in one's mind. I think even "army leaders" for war gaming (my core interest) need some background story.
You have made me want to put to paper (words - some place I have some skill) lol the background stories for all those characters from all the flavors of D&D (OD&D, AD&D 1st, AD&D 2nd,)
You're right, wargaming figures don't need a backstory. The important thing there is the sacrifice of individuality for the overall good of the unit. But yes, D&D would certainly benefit. You should write some as it's a good way to spend a free weekend and makes painting ever so much fun.
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On the store-bought Mushroom Front, Wyrd has some cool if expensive ones:
(http://wyrd-games.net/shop/images/P/Dire%20Mushrooms.jpg)
http://wyrd-games.net/shop/Dire-Mushrooms.html
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<snip> makes painting ever so much fun.
lol
Sadly, possibly because I have no real physically based artistic skill, (unlike my youngest with her "eye" with her camera,) I have never found painting as anything closely resembling fun. :'( More like a necessity or a chore. :( But that only makes me appreciate the masters of the brush the more.
I am sure being a recovering perfectionist has nothing to do with my frustrations in painting. ::)
Gracias,
Glenn
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I am sure being a recovering perfectionist has nothing to do with my frustrations in painting.
I know what you mean. It can take me two weeks to paint a single mini. I drive myself up a tree with all those little details. I will never change I don't think :D :D
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On the store-bought Mushroom Front, Wyrd has some cool if expensive ones:
(http://wyrd-games.net/shop/images/P/Dire%20Mushrooms.jpg)
http://wyrd-games.net/shop/Dire-Mushrooms.html
WOW :o :oThose are mind boggling and twisted in a beautiful way. I must have them :-* :-*
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I've gotten base colours down on the second three girls. The little one in the middle is, to me, the Ring Leader. There is just something about her attitude that says "I'm the boss around here"
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/1-girls2a-001_zpsca364583.jpg)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/1-scale1-001_zps9013f04c.jpg)
You can see the difference is scale when compared to this 25mm Reaper figure. That's the scale I'm accustomed to working in. I have never worked on anything this small before. I will have to paint these little girls with the same amount of detail as I would a 25mm figure. Getting highlights high enough and getting separation between areas are going to be key.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/1-scale2-001_zpsdb388cfc.jpg)
Now this is one tiny little figure, but look at the detail Mr. Meier has achieved. Notice the downturned lips on that pudgy little face. Her pigtails are sculpted in such a way that each strand of hair is visible. I look at figures like this and I know that I will never prefer a computerized figure that has not been sculpted by human hands.
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Up until two weeks ago my site was titled "Anne's Attic". If you read the posts on that blog, you will see that I painted my first miniature on March 14, 2012. There are several hundred gamers who will readily document the fact that I learned to paint soley by following their blogs and by reading tutorials. This would include the man who sent me my first set of paints and who has critiques me by email and that man is a judge for ReaperCon. Further, there are quite a few sculptors out there who have been watching me develop as a painter from the beginning. I am new to this forum, however I am not new to forums.
My name is Anne O'Leary so O'Leary is not a brand, it is a name. I was born in County Cork Ireland and grew up there. I have been in the States for about 2 years with my husband who is very ill. We are here because some of the best Neurosurgeons in the world are here. We do not have surgeons of that caliber in Ireland. My husband requires full time care, that I provide. I do not therefor have time for friends outside of my home. This hobby, and the people who participate in it, have been very kind to me. It is through painting and my interaction with those men that my life is bearable. All of this is also a matter of public record as there are many gamers who have known me and who have spoken with me while my husband has been in hospital with multiple spinal surgeries. Also there are posts on my blog that document that fact.
I am quite puzzled that I am the only person who has to explain themselves in such detail when I enter a new forum. And I must say I am quite weary of having to explain myself when all of the relevant information can be located on the posts of my blog, if only someone would take the time to read those posts and to read the thousands of comments left by gamers on those posts. Please feel free to contact any one of those gamers for further verification of who I am and my entry into this hobby.
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I think you will see my enquiry was phrased in polite terms, implied no calumny, and that I was happy to be enlightened about apparent discrepancies.
I wish your husband a rapid and full recovery.
It is probably irrelevant to this exchange but might I add my wife is from Kilkenny, a specialist pain control nurse, and is highly qualified and experienced. There are very skilled medical staff in Ireland.
I am sorry if my tone was brusque. I have had to write a detailed explanation repeatedly to people in forums and so I may have misinterpreted your intent. My desire here is the same as any one elses. To share my work with others in a friendly and accepting atmosphere.
As you are married to an Irish woman, you may be familiar with how quick we are to speak. I wish you the best of days.
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lol lol lol Oh yes! After 27 years quite familiar.
After 25 years of marriage, my husband would like to send you his condolences :D :D :D :D
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go get a room You two! ;)
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go get a room You two! ;)
As it is Mothers Day, I believe I will go spend a quiet, non controversial day outside in my gardens :D :D :D :D
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For Mother's Day so far I've enjoyed showing my daughter your start on the Ballerina Brigade :-* :-*
Even for a girl that grew up watching Mommy and Daddy paint little things, she was surprised how little these are!
That pouty lip you point out is an awesome detail! Can't wait to see it fleshed up.
Jevenkah
who can't wait to get some Thunderbolts here!
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1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year or a decade, doesn't matter your painting is excellent and I always like seeing what you are working on.
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Posting this W.I.P. is a bit intimidating as I've never built a dio before. To make matters worse, there are some top-notch terrain builder here. But if I don't post this, I won't get input and I won't learn.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/norabase1-001_zps37be296f.jpg)
I'm going to be using this base to feature the figure that Tom based on his daughter Nora. I have a long ways to go on this. There's to be a crystal ball on the little table and and beyond some mushrooms, I've no idea. Advice would be MOST WELCOME.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/hill1-001_zpsd4e92025.jpg)
Basically what you're looking at is a hill with some scenery behind it. And it is quite barren looking right now. Our friend DeafNala is busy sculpting some of his marvelous mushrooms for it and those will liven this space up a great deal.
I have a question for you guys. If I put too much green onto the floor of the hill, the green "swamps" the camera and makes my mini's look horrid. Obviously I need green space to represent grassy areas, but I've no real idea of how to achieve something realistic looking.
I will be painting all that hideous blue and covering is with sand, flowers and vines.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/boulders1-001_zps6fe36608.jpg)
This is just a close up of the little boulders I made.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/flowers1-001_zpse1710e76.jpg)
And these are the oversized flowers.
There will be more elements to this piece which is the Faeries area. I will also be building a series for the Goblin.
Several people have requested that I add an Elf to the story. So I am going to include a Wood Elf with two hunting dogs. When I have him primed and base colours laid down, I'll post him.
Please, please help me here. I'm in way over my head and need the benefit of your expertise in helping me construct something that doesn't scream "This was built by a rank amateur"
Thank you.
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It's far from that. I would tone the greens with browns and earth colours. This will make your miniatures pop and actually look natural. Looking forward to more in this thread.
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The pieces are LOVELY. They have a surreal Fairy Tale feel to them which fits perfectly with you Ballerina War band. GREAT STUFF!
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:o :-* :) 8)
You are doing fine! All the pieces look fantastic. I think the skilled people here will have good advice, I will just sit here and be the bedazzled audience.
Gracias,
Glenn
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It's far from that. I would tone the greens with browns and earth colours. This will make your miniatures pop and actually look natural. Looking forward to more in this thread.
Thank you, I will do that and will also look at a lot of other pics to see how others have achieved it.
The pieces are LOVELY. They have a surreal Fairy Tale feel to them which fits perfectly with you Ballerina War band. GREAT STUFF!
I'm going to be putting some of my live flowers into the piece when I do the photography and will most likely shoot it out doors with my trailing roses cascading down as a backdrop. I'm looking forward to receiving your mushrooms ;D ;D
:o :-* :) 8)
You are doing fine! All the pieces look fantastic. I think the skilled people here will have good advice, I will just sit here and be the bedazzled audience.
Gracias,
Glenn
Thank you for the encouragement Glenn. Truly you are a gentleman :D :D
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I thoughtlessly forgot to mention I really like the little mushroom in the Flower photo. I'm doing up the smaller Mushrooms with Faces to match...imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.
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They are looking beautiful! Our terrain leans towards the larger-scale, modular system moreso than the delicate scenery you've already created. If there's something specific we've done, please point it out and I'd be more than happy to explain.
As for the setting, when I picture fairies, they're either in a field in the middle of the woods, or under pine trees in the middle of the woods :) What about a scattering of dried pine needles & leaves as patches on the base? It might break up the green as well. I'm not positive about which materials to use; does the grass come in a brown? Maybe cut some pieces for a different scale from the grass.
I like the woodland base under the lord in your story thread. That was a neutral color if I remember right.
You have a great imagination and are doing a fantastic job of bringing to life the fun spirit of these figures!
Jevenkah
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I thoughtlessly forgot to mention I really like the little mushroom in the Flower photo. I'm doing up the smaller Mushrooms with Faces to match...imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.
I was being a wee bit cheeky with that lonely little mushroom sitting in that barren wasteland. Such a sad pathetic little thing... :DThey are looking beautiful! Our terrain leans towards the larger-scale, modular system moreso than the delicate scenery you've already created. If there's something specific we've done, please point it out and I'd be more than happy to explain.
As for the setting, when I picture fairies, they're either in a field in the middle of the woods, or under pine trees in the middle of the woods :) What about a scattering of dried pine needles & leaves as patches on the base? It might break up the green as well. I'm not positive about which materials to use; does the grass come in a brown? Maybe cut some pieces for a different scale from the grass.
I like the woodland base under the lord in your story thread. That was a neutral color if I remember right.
You have a great imagination and are doing a fantastic job of bringing to life the fun spirit of these figures!
Jevenkah
The problem with the woodland base for my Lord was that it just looked messy and I want this to be tidy and more organized. I have ordered some fallen leaves from Secret Weapon and those should break things up a bit.
I do have trees to surround the scene with, but I didn't include them in this pic as I was limiting it to just things I'd built myself. Thanks for the idea on the pine needles as I can find them just outside my front door.
Thank you so much for your time and your input. Have a good Memorial Day weekend :D :D
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Thanks for mentioning the Secret Weapon Fallen Leaves. Fallen Leaves are something I've been looking around for. I checked them out at The War Store...they're perfect.
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I must say I love your terrain pieces, as DeafNala said very surreal. Keep posting such a quality stuff :)
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Thanks for mentioning the Secret Weapon Fallen Leaves. Fallen Leaves are something I've been looking around for. I checked them out at The War Store...they're perfect.
I'd seen a couple of people use them for basing and they looked really good, so I thought I'd pick them up. Got them from FRP so it's a hurry up and wait thing. They are so slow, but the prices are good.
I must say I love your terrain pieces, as DeafNala said very surreal. Keep posting such a quality stuff :)
Thank you for the encouragement. As a beginner it really helps me.
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As some of you may know, our DeafNala kindly sculpted some Mushrooms for me to use in my little project. You have seen them in pictures, but unless you've held one in your hands, you do not know just how beautiful they really are. To that end I have taken a few of them into my yard and photographed them in a natural environment.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/oleary4/mushrooms1-001_zps0bf6cb01.jpg)
After receiving them I realized that I will have much less building of terrain to do. I can create natural paths throughout the sedum I use as ground cover and wind the story in and through natural, living flowers.
You can see three of the Ballerina Princess Faeries in the foreground.
My Wood Elf Huntsman and his two dogs have base colours applied. Progress has been slow as my husbands health has recently deteriorated to the point that I can rarely leave his bedside and I am only able to paint for an hour or two a day. We are hopeful that things will improve over the next month.
To that end, it is unlikely that I will be posting in the Fantasy section of this forum again until next month.
My most sincere thanks to DeafNala for brightening my otherwise dreary days.
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Progress has been slow as my husbands health has recently deteriorated to the point that I can rarely leave his bedside and I am only able to paint for an hour or two a day. We are hopeful that things will improve over the next month.
To that end, it is unlikely that I will be posting in the Fantasy section of this forum again until next month.
My most sincere thanks to DeafNala for brightening my otherwise dreary days.
Sorry to hear that, I hope things imrpove for him soon.
Those mushrooms look great in the outdoors, still creepy but great lol.
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Great.
I just love those Tom Meier sculpts but never could justify to get any of them for myself, and with the additon of DeafNala terrain you got your self an perfect fairytale setting.
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All the best OLeary to you and your husband.
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I must say the Lads do look happy in their pleasant, new environment...the floral setting is LOVELY & the Lasses are coming along NICELY. Thanks for the photos.
Give your Man my regards, & tell him he features in an Old Man's prayers.
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That picture is gorgeous! I don't care if they're not done yet, I love the colors! The scale compared to the mushrooms looks great! And putting them in your garden for the photo shoot was a perfect idea.
Our thoughts are with you & yours, we'll be here waiting for your fairies!
Jevenkah
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Thank you guys for the support, The Hubby is much better today.
Bezzo, my brush is loaded and I finally got my next Ancient Celt up on the 100 club. I had to follow some great entries, but at least it is there!