Dear Fellow CDHM'rs,

Welcome to issue Number 2 of The Miniature Way!

I have to admit, I've never been a fan of Valentine's Day. A sappy sentimental holiday with no redemption whatsoever. Yes, I am the original Valentine Scrooge!

So with the February edition looming, I stared at the flashing Christmas tree lights while trying to think of how I could possibly put together an issue based on something I have had a lifetime hatred of when it hit me. Hit me so hard it almost took my feet out from under me - in the form of a rather large dog moving at top speed in hot pursuit of a cherished toy.

What about things we love? What motivates us as crafters and artists to be our passionate best?

What do I love? What am I passionate about? What makes me want to jump out of bed in the mornings - yes, in addition to be Scrooge Valentine I'm also one of those cheerful morning people who bounds out of bed and hits the ground running with at least 10 different challenges to accomplish before breakfast. I blame my name.

Then I put it to our staff: what do you love? Show me your passion.

And they responded with passionate gusto. In this issue of The Miniature Way we are showcasing things that we love from found objects with a Valentine theme to the multi-use Dremel Tool to an amazing new book on cakes not only food artists will be drooling over. All things we are passionate about. All things that make us want to jump out of bed in the morning and say whoohoo, another day to enjoy creating!

For me, this list of things to love include all things fantasy - check out the many visions of mermaid-dom created by several gallery owners; Art Deco ANYTHING - but Kat Beale's miniature house is a spectacular vision of HER passion I deeply enjoyed writing about; Hannypanny's babies - and no, I have to admit until recently I've not been a big fan of dolls but there's a certain Uh Oh Baby created by Pam who has captured my heart and made me rethink that whole concept; clay, books, tools and my inspirational dogs are just some of the things on my list.

OK, so Belgian Shepherds aren't miniature, or even miniature-related, but they are extremely smart and fun-loving, and 100 percent effective in teaching me how to really revel in what's good in life. And to remember it's really just all about what you love. Every morning they wake up and wag their tails, happy they're awake, happy I'm awake, happy it's morning. Enthusiasm personified behind gloriously waving banner tails that flutter as they race in hot pursuit of their favorite things (me included - getting ready for work in the mornings in this house can be like running an obstacle course).

So as yet another Valentine's Day rolls around, I hope to meet it with more grace than years past. If I can't love the day, I vow to love what I can spend my time creating!

The Miniature Way Editor