Humble Beginnings

Hello and welcome.

This is my introduction and explanation piece. In this post, I will systematically explain a few aspects about this blog.

1. History

"Wait a minute! This is the first post of this blog! How is there any kind of history?", you may be asking. Well, I tell you there is a history. It started with a challenge to myself.

I wanted to write a blog, and I wanted to focus on a specific topic. There were so many topics popping up in my head, I couldn't decide where to go. I figured the best way for me to narrow down the topics I wanted to write about was to spend time writing about them all and see how things turned out. Thus, I challenged myself to post to a blog at least once a week for one year. I left the blog public for the entire year, but I told no-one about it. Not even my wife knew. Thus, I was free to write about anything I wanted, but still had the constraint of feeling like I had an audience.

To make a longer story short, I went through book reviews, game sessions, car repairs, pet peeves, rants about facebook, etc. I learned that writing about some things made me happy. Other things made me frustrated. I decided I wanted to feel good after writing; keep a positive tone and direction. So no ranting on this blog (I'll keep it to the other one). So on with what I will be focusing on.

2. Topic(s)

There were three recurring topics during that year that made it past my "feel-good" requirement: games, projects I was working on, and books I had read. I think that three topics is too diverse, so I'm cutting books.

I do love to read and I get almost two books read per month. However, I am signed up on Goodreads to keep a record of my reading and if I want to write about the books I read, I will use that venue. Besides, Jenni's cousin already blogs on books and writing and I'm following that.

But I've always loved games. Some of the most fun I've had has been playing games with my family. Card games, board games, outdoor games, purchased games, and games we made up. Games have helped me make connections with people I would otherwise not have connected with.

I also really like making things. Lately, I have been bringing things home from the dump (mostly wood) to use to make things for myself and others. Sometimes I like fixing our vehicles. I also like to brag tell other people about what I've done. Shelving for the garage, a gift for a family member, or replacing the exhaust manifold on my car, the end result is great feeling of having done something and of having something I've done.


3. Name

"The Homemade Mini? Sounds like you're building a car."

Well, one must get a little creative to get a name that isn't already taken. With that in mind, please allow me to explain my choice of name.

The names I made up with "game" in them were already taken, so I went more specific. Many games in and out of production use miniature models as player's pieces, often referred to as miniatures or minis by the average gaming hobbyist, or as toys by anyone else. I have a soft spot for minis, always have. I can remember substituting my Monopoly* or Ratrace* pawn with a Micro Machine or a Lego figure. Maybe that makes me a little shallow, but I think games are a little more enjoyable with a little flash to them, and adding flash is what minis do best.

I recently started following some of the gamer blogs out there and they have made me even more interested in miniature gaming. But miniatures can be an expensive hobby to get into and I'm cheap. Even the cheapish stuff I find online, costs so much with shipping I can't bring myself to buy it. So I started making my own miniatures, using the money I saved by not buying them to buy paint and brushes, magnets, and other tools and supplies to help make more.

It began with carving World War I fighter planes in 1/144 scale for Canvas Eagles* and then Wings of War* and has gone on to carving space ships for Full Thrust* (which I have yet to actually play) and building cards, characters, and scenery for Pulp Alley* (which I also have yet to play).

In conclusion:

I like making things and I like games and miniatures. Hence, after trying a number of word combinations to find one that wasn't used, I again welcome you to The Homemade Mini: A blog about playing games and making things and about making things for playing games.

* I am a member of the Board Game Geek (BGG) community. With the possible exception of my email providers, it's the site I visit more than any other on-line. For those interested types, my handle there is 'rolfy12'. When I mention a game, I will probably link to a BGG page about it, as you may have just noticed.