Dollhouses, cats, and teachers

[kandykidsaturn]

So, I can't help but notice common threads amongst quite a few of the people on the boards. Aside from the fact we are dollhouse fanatics, we also seem to mostly like animals, there are quite a few cats. Also, there are a lot of teachers on the board! I wonder if it has something to do with the way we think... :idea:

[Shy Spirit]

Generally speaking ... miniaturists are the nicest people ...

[Chris P.]

I often wondered about the cat commonality. I do wonder what draws certain people to dollhouse building and miniatures; other people tend to think of it as a craziness. A lot of forum members are also gardeners. I am all of the above; a teacher, an animal lover, have a cat (and a dog and a bird), and am a gardener. I'm also a musician and martial artist... any other musicians and martial artists on board?

[havanaholly]

I think creativity and originality are two of the most common links we all share.

[Angieaug]

I've noticed the same thing about the cat thing too. I don't know how many pictures I've seen of cats curled up in dollhouse rooms! We have an outdoor cat that sort of adopted us, I guess. He started hanging around our house, and we started feeding him every day.

any other musicians and martial artists on board?

Right here - I play the piano and guitar, and my 19 year old's teaching me the bass.

[Chris P.]

Angie, I like the fact that you have a guitar in your Bayberry house. I'm leaning bass, too. Too much fun!

[kandykidsaturn]

I often wondered about the cat commonality. I do wonder what draws certain people to dollhouse building and miniatures; other people tend to think of it as a craziness. A lot of forum members are also gardeners. I am all of the above; a teacher, an animal lover, have a cat (and a dog and a bird), and am a gardener. I'm also a musician and martial artist... any other musicians and martial artists on board?

I play guitar, bass, piano, and I played tuba/baritone in high school. lol I also garden, flowers specifically. o.O

[sparklepuppies]

It is funny the similarities! But the only thing I can offer is the cat part.

I played in the band in high school, but haven't since.

I don't go outside, I sure don't garden, instead I kill things.

I am not a teacher, sure don't have the patience for that! (I do work for the school system though, does that count half?)

I am not a martial artist, or play any sports. (My kids are/do, does that count half too?)

I don't think I am creative or original, in fact that makes it very hard for me. I am an instruction follower, so it's been a challenge for me sometimes because the instructions do not say "put in *this* wallpaper before you put in the stairs, and paint this wall *this* color...

But I'm still happy to be here, and be able to learn from the creative ones! That I can do!

[amyole]

Okay... let's see

Teacher - yes

Cats - yes (2)

played flute (mostly in jr. high)

What about these other similarities?

love to read

interested in history

like architecture/interior design

Any more?

[Chris P.]

love to read (YES!)

interested in history (yes)

like architecture/interior design (yes)

[Jo Med]

Pretty much the same as everyone else here except for the musician bit and the teacher bit - can add travel and an interest in travel writing to the list.

I enjoy the creative bit of dollhouse building - you know - how can I make this look original. Even if I buy a standard bit of furniture say, I like to customise as much as I can. It doesn't always work out right but I'm getting better at it.

[wytchy]

let´s see..

cats - yes I have 2 of the rascals running around

teacher is not in my list, neither is music.. unless listening to it counts as well

I love history, reading and architecture though..

[uppitycats]

Well, a definite yes on the cats -- I'm owned by 4 of them. And my houses are occupied primarily by cats.

As for teaching...I am sort of a teacher..a consultant...does that count?

Music: used to play the piano and violin...badly. Haven't played either for years, now...since college..so 40+ years ago...

While I'm not able to get out do much gardening anymore, I do "direct" my husband about what to plant and where (and sometimes he even listens to me! )

Avid reader, especially since I got my Kindle, but not specifically architecture, or history...(just never romance, or science fiction!)

I used to be a weaver until my legs quit working entirely (couldn't manage the treadles on the loom), so looked around for another hobby....found The Garfield...and have been doing this for 6 years, now....

[havanaholly]

Reader, needlecrafter, no cats (violently allergic; LOVE dogs!), former alto (vocal), Jill of all trades. Retired public health nurse, worked in local elementary schools, which involved teaching basic health classes to kids and inservices to teachers.

[Muriel]

Had cats, waiting for our own house to have another one. Husband is a teacher instead of me ;) He builds/paints warhammer tabletop war gaming models. Musical as in I've played many instruments previously, but none currently. Enjoy singing, but am not in a choir or anything like that. Of course enjoy architecture a lot too.

Can't wait to get a cat! Also love guinea pigs and dogs

[mesp2k]

...dollhouses/models of course, carpentry and interested in architecture

as with Holly I'm allergic to cats, love dogs

as for everything else on the list - I got nothin'

I'm not a big reader - but to avoid appearing illiterate -

I think I'm mostly a tactile and visual learner.

I learn from images, graphs, diagrams, or hands on / demonstrations.

And if you know me from the forums I draw more than I write...

---------- read on if interested in Learning Styles------------

???controversial you say???

In the following lists > more like me in green, less like me in red, black neutral...

So I came up with Tactile mostly, then Visual and very little Auditory.

See what you relate to:

Tactile and Kinesthetic Learners

Making up about 5% of the population, tactile and kinesthetic learners absorb information best by doing, experiencing, touching, moving or being active in some way.Enjoy feeling, discovery and action.

Remember by using tools, building models and manipulating things

Learn through emotions, touch, movement and space

Enjoy demonstrations of concept demonstrations

Master skills through imitation and practice.

Benefit from hands-on teaching techniques,

Find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time.

Remember who did what in the past, rather than what they said or how they looked.

Prefer to stand, walk about or use large motor muscles when learning.

Learn well from field trips and excursions.

Tends to collect things (does sawdust count?)

Do not have good handwritingAre weaker at spelling.Talk fast using hands to communicate.

Benefit from role-playing and simulations

Enjoy having background music while studying or working.

Good at sports

Take frequent breaks when studying

Think in terms of physical action

May play a musical instrument.

Enjoy exploring the environment

Participates in martial arts, dance.

Can grasp concepts when abstract theories are combined with practical experience

Enjoy science experiments, construction games, arts ad crafts

Could be considered hyperactive

More relaxed and open to learning in a beanbag than a hard chair.

Good internal compass for finding their way around.

Get restless during long lectures

Comfortable touching others as a gesture of friendship

Prefer participating actively rather than watching video or reading from a book

Learn more effectively when free to move

Studies effectively laying on floor or bed, fidgeting, tapping fingers or touching objects

SUGGESTIONS FOR TACTILE-KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

Create a model

Demonstrate a principle

Practice a technique

Participate in simulations

Engage in hands-on activities

Study in comfortable position, not necessarily sitting in a chair

PREFERRED TEST STYLES FOR TACTILE-KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

Multiple choice, short definitions fill in the blanks

WORST TEST TYPE

Long essay tests

POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS

Dancers, physical education teachers, actors, firefighters, athletes, mimes ====================

Visual Learners

Making up about 65% of the population, visual learners absorb and recall information best by seeing. Some of their primary characteristics include:

Love books, magazines, and other reading materials.

Relate best to written information, notes, diagrams, maps, graphs, flashcards, highlighters, charts, pictures computers.

Like to have pen and paper handy

Enjoy learning through visually appealing materials

Feel frustrated and restless when unable to take notes.

May have exceptional "photographic memories"

Can remember where information was located on a page

Need a quiet place to study

Benefit from recopying or making their own notes, even from printed information

Have trouble following long lectures

Tend to be good at spelling

Benefit from field trips where observation skills can be used

Tend to be detail oriented

Are usually organized and tidy

Often ask for verbal instructions to be repeated

Benefit from previewing reading material.

Skilled at making graphs, charts or other visual displays

Write down directions or draw a map

Need to see the instructor's facial expressions and body language

Concentrate better with clear line of sight to blackboard or visual aids

Remember how people looked and dressed in the past

Prefer written instructions to oral ones.

Don't remember names easily.

SUGGESTIONS FOR VISUAL LEARNERS

Write things down

Jot down key points on post-it notes and display around the house

Copy what's on the board

Sit near the front of the classroom to see instructor clearly

Write key words

Create visual reminders of auditory info

Use mind maps to summarize large tracts of information

Take notes

Make lists

Watch videos

Use flashcards

Use highlighters, underlining, etc.

PREFERRED TEST STYLES FOR VISUAL LEARNERS

Essays, Diagramming, Maps, Demonstrating a process

WORST TEST TYPE

Listen and respond

POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS

visual artists, inventors, architects, interior designers, mechanics, engineers, navigators, sculptors

=====================

Auditory Learners

Making up about 30% of the population, auditory learners absorb information best through the sense of hearing. Some of their main characteristics include:

Being talkative in class

Relate most effectively to the spoken word

Learn effectively through lectures, audio books, oral presentations, music

Unless heard, information has little relevance

Prefer giving oral reports to written ones

Remember who said what in the past

Enjoy discussions and debates

Benefit from reading aloud.

Follow oral directions better than written ones

Tend to memorize well

Prefer listening to the news

Remember names

Notices sound effects in movies

Doesn't automatically understand graphs, diagrams or maps

Enjoys talking to others

Likes to tell jokes and stories

Enjoys music

Often sings, hums or whistles to themselves

May use finger as pointer when reading

Talks to self

Is good at grammar and foreign languages

Repeat phone numbers in order to repeat them.

Uses jingles to remember pieces of information

Benefits from study groups

Prefers to listen to music rather than view a piece of art

Reads slowly

Follows spoken directions well.

May be articulate speakers

Can't keep quiet for long

SUGGESTIONS FOR AUDITORY LEARNERS

Use audiotapes for learning languages

Read textbooks aloud

Repeat facts with eyes closed

Ask questions

Describe aloud what is to be remembered

Use word association to remember facts and lines.

Watch videos.

Participate in group discussions.

Listen to taped notes

Record lectures & listen to them again

Use audiotapes

Avoid auditory distractions.

PREFERRED TEST STYLES FOR AUDITORY LEARNERS

Writing responses to lectures, oral exams

WORST TEST TYPE

Reading comprehension exercises

POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS

Writer, journalist, teacher, lawyer, politician, blogger, translator, poet?

too much information ???

[kandykidsaturn]

Okay... let's see

Teacher - yes

Cats - yes (2)

played flute (mostly in jr. high)

What about these other similarities?

love to read

interested in history

like architecture/interior design

Any more?

I LOVE to read- urban fantasy specifically. My mother was an interior designer for 30 years, and passed that love on to me. I, however, dislike history.

Reader, needlecrafter, no cats (violently allergic; LOVE dogs!), former alto (vocal), Jill of all trades. Retired public health nurse, worked in local elementary schools, which involved teaching basic health classes to kids and inservices to teachers.

I love needle crafting, I just can't seem to get the hang of crocheting. Also, Holly, I always say that nursing and teaching are sister professions! :thumb:

Mike! I, too, am a tactile learner. That's why I never did well in math in school back when they expected you to just "understand" the abstract concept. Now they use manipulatives, which is WONDERFUL.

[havanaholly]

Not sure what kind of learner I am, since I used techniques from all three lists to get through Nursing School in my early 50s. Megan, I learned to crochet when I was 6, but taught myself to knit in my 20s and to tat in my 50s. It has been a real learning curve to adapt it all to 1:12 scale & smaller.

[CheckMouse]

I have always considered the miniature-bug in me to be part of the artistic talent that runs through our family; we have many accomplished artists, architects, and musicians. My creativity goes into miniatures.

I used to play the piano and sing in a choir, but not professionally. I also love to read (as someone mentioned: not romance or science fiction!), and to write.

Oh, yes, I also home-schooled our children for their first few years; does that count as a teacher? Taught Sunday School also.

My gardening skills are limited to silk plants – they bloom so beautifully!

We’ve always had pets in our home – parakeets, cats, dogs, and even a donkey for a SHORT time; but now there are none. After my last beloved Dachshund died, I couldn’t bear the thought of loving and losing another one.

Looks like the miniature hobby has something for everyone.

[Reliving My Childhood]

Its funny, I've talked about this with one of my non-mini friends... our consensus is that I just don't seem to "fit" in with the general population of mini-ers. Sure, there are probably plenty of people on this forum who have SOME of my traits but i find it hilarious that I am soooo on the outside of the majority:

1) I smoke. I bet less than 10% of you out there do. Maybe add another 5% for those of you who USED to.

2) I have a 10ft long workbench (plus storage) in my garage. How do you work on your kitchen table and not make a huge mess? Where do you store stuff?

3) Dogs. That's it. I will go out of my way to protect any of God's creatures and have even housed new litters of kittens (sigh) but I just can't love anything but a dog.

4) Dolls. Nope. Creepy.

5) Kids. Love mine. Like the rest once they get to be about 20. Would take a teenager over a toddler any day.

6) Once finished or bored (whichever comes first), I tear it up. Not interested in keeping them. That's what my camera is for.

7) Unable to survive without 500+ channels & 200 aps. Last time the power went out, I plugged my iPad into my car and stayed there for 3 hours, perfectly entertained.

8) Think coffee tastes yucky unless it comes in a Breyer's tub.

9) Would rather have potato chips (Fritos!!!) than any kind of sweets. Especially - gasp - chocolate.

10) I'm 47 and didn't start doing minis until just 4 years ago.

If this forum doubled as a dating service, no doubt I'd be a spinster for life!

[kandykidsaturn]

Oh, yes, I also home-schooled our children for their first few years; does that count as a teacher? Taught Sunday School also.

It most certainly does!! There is NO amount of money in the WORLD you could give me to homeschool my child. We would kill each other. I love her, but I leave the teaching to her teachers (even though I am one!)

1) I smoke. I bet less than 10% of you out there do. Maybe add another 5% for those of you who USED to.

7) Unable to survive without 500+ channels & 200 aps. Last time the power went out, I plugged my iPad into my car and stayed there for 3 hours, perfectly entertained.

8) Think coffee tastes yucky unless it comes in a Breyer's tub.

9) Would rather have potato chips (Fritos!!!) than any kind of sweets.

Those things apply to me too! I can, however go without the channels. I just need the internet. I can get any shows I want on there. I HATE coffee, i prefer my sweet nectar of life, diet coke. And salty potato chips are my weakness. <3

[Kabrina]

love to read (YES!)

interested in history (yes)

like architecture/interior design (yes)

I love antique books and old literature. Favorite authors, Frances Burney, Jane Austin, Louisa May Alcott, & Wilkie Collins but will read practically anything written before 1900. Very eclectic reading subjects from fiction/lit to fantasy to biographies/history and how-to-books mini or otherwise.

I LOVE cats, have 3 at the moment, very large ones too. I love all animals though, we have an outdoors (as I found out after getting him that apparently I'm allergic) Golden Retriever/Lab mix puppy Max and Koopa the turtle, too. I had 2 gerbils who passed away last year and before them I had the sweetest Spiny Mouse named Daisy. LOL My 3 year old just told me the other day that he needs a bird. Heehee...guess it's a good thing hubby thinks he is allergic to bird dander so I can't have one of those or we'd have a whole menagerie.

As to teaching that would be a no. I have a bad case of shyness and it takes me awhile to get the nerve to speak in front of people but I did teach a crochet class once around 5 years ago and while I loved sharing that with the ones who really wanted to learn I was more upset by the girl who was there who didn't have an interest and was only dragged by her mother. I actually taught myself to crochet lefthanded so I could teach her in a way that would be more comfortable for her before I found out she could care less . Interesting experience but no thanks.

I am not a gardner. One, I live in Arizona where it's insanely hot and have light sensitive eyes after having Lasik B). (Love seeing far away but wasn't expecting to see how bright everything is LOL) Two, I have a very black thumb. Hubby bought me the prettiest little bamboo. Supposedly hardy and impossible to kill, not so for me. He said he'd never seen bamboo die like that. I'm getting better though. I've been taking baby steps and now have a struggling ivy and a scraggly looking flowering plant, don't even know what it is but it's still alive so I'm happy.

Have to add old movies and music to the list. Love the Turner Classic Movies channel and have hunted through Netflix for all their old films. Love to listen to the Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole etc. Can't play anything though but love to listen to it. That was probably more then you wanted to know...ooops got a little carried away. :whistle:

[CheckMouse]

I am not a gardner. One, I live in Arizona where it's insanely hot and have light sensitive eyes after having Lasik B). (Love seeing far away but wasn't expecting to see how bright everything is LOL) Two, I have a very black thumb. Hubby bought me the prettiest little bamboo. Supposedly hardy and impossible to kill, not so for me. He said he'd never seen bamboo die like that. I'm getting better though. I've been taking baby steps and now have a struggling ivy and a scraggly looking flowering plant, don't even know what it is but it's still alive so I'm happy.

Oh, Kabrina, you got me laughing on that one! My friend gave me a cactus years a go -- indistructible, right? She came by several months later and looked at it closely, then picked it up -- came right out of the pot and showed off its shriveled, dry roots, not even pretending to adhere to the dirt. She looked at me in dismay and said, "How could you kill a CACTUS??"

But that's okay -- all my silk plants are thriving and beautiful!

[Kabrina]

LOL CJ, that makes me feel better! :yes: I could probably do the same to a cactus but I've always been leary of them as I'm accident prone and they are way too dangerous for me.

[Muriel]

Lol, CJ, I bought my other half a great plant that you could ignor for months and months, water it and it'd go green and alive looking. You could forget about it again for months when it'd shrivle up and look dead, until you watered it again. He thinks he managed to kill it, but I think he just thought he had and couldn't be bothered to try and revive it again!