York Dollshouse and Miniatures Fair - 7th June 2015

I may as well begin with an apology.  This is the first show 'review' where I don't have a single photo to share with you.  I usually have an album.  For the last couple of years plus, every show I have been to I have been writing a review of it for Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine and so I was allowed to take a zillion photos (with vendors permission).

This time, quelle catastrophe!  Having agreed with the editor that I would cover it I arrived fifteen minutes before curtain up only to be told there was a lady already doing it.  I managed to speak to her briefly to confirm she was indeed covering the show for the magazine so, as she was already underway, I conceded the arena and sent my husband off to the car with my camera as I wouldn't be able to use it in the show.

Most vendors who make their own things don't want everyone photographing them and copying them so they are rightly 'precious' about who gets to do what, so it isn't worth trailing around with a camera for the occasional vendor who doesn't mind.

As for the show itself, it seemed to be a very good one.  Over eighty stalls, a fine day weather-wise and a ton of customers at opening time.  The location is very good - easy to get to and well sign-posted if coming by car.  That said, York is something of a hub for trains so I imagine it is also good for people who want to get there by train.

The racecourse is spacious (tons of free parking for the show) and offers easy walking into town from there if, like me, you have a companion who has a day to fill with things other than miniatures.

The show is spread over three floors so no real crush once the first hour's angst to get to the best piece has subsided.

I (my husband) always take stuff to the charity table and do that before the doors open as that it is always the first 'hit' for a lot of people.  I love the idea of someone enjoying my stuff more than the pennies you make after you have been stiffed by EBay.
(PS: they raised over £2,000 on the day)

The variety of vendors is good.  there are a few high end people, a mass of what I think of as nice things at doable prices and a few who are perfect for newbies who are just finding their feet and don't want to splurge on anything too 'exotic'. 

The food is reasonable and there are a couple of areas for this - a main restaurant area on the ground floor and a quiet snack and drink area on the third floor for five minutes feet up time.

There was a flower making class with Ladies Mile Miniatures and a Jane Harrop talk but I actually missed her stand and thought she wasn't there.  So cross with myself because I enjoy her talks and would have gone for sure.  She is always good to listen to, not to mention you get to do this for free.  There was also a lovely prize draw for a Petite Properties cottage.

The only other thing I can tell you is that I had a wonderful weekend.  We went to York on Saturday, had a picnic lunch from home, went round the amazing Fairfax House - do try to get to see it if you have any kind of Georgian itch.  I have never seen such fine ceilings in such a house.

We then checked into our hotel.  Premier Inn  (Bilbrough).  It was cheap, especially with the meal deal thrown in, and I'd certainly do it again.

We then went to see the Noel Terry house - this time to die for if you are an Arts and Crafts fan, or just want to see a nice house, stroll some pleasant gardens and have cake and tea.

On Sunday, following a good breakfast, I was off to the show .  I had finished by lunchtime so we went to lunch at an Italian which my husband haunts on all the York trips because they do fabulous ice cream.  I am even giving you a link to this because it was absolutely outstanding food and terrific service.  The place was very busy and full of yummy mummies and their tribes but well worth doing.  Trinacria.  

So if you do the terrific York show try to make a weekend of it.  It is happening again in November.

PS:  York itself is lovely and packed with history, topped by the breathtaking Minster.  If shopping is your thing - tons to go at including a great Designer outlet.

PPS:  if you want to see what I bought from fourteen vendors (!) go look at my Dalton House site on 10th, 11th, 12th June 2015.

Leeds Doll's House Fair, 18th April 2015

Fresh back from the Leeds Show and as always it was a really good 'do'.  I like Doreen Jeffries' shows as they are a reasonable size without being overwhelming and have a broad mix of vendors.

I have added a photo album to the left hand column but you can click here if you'd like to see some of the things I saw there, Leeds Show.

For certain sure if you are setting off on a project this show will tick most of your boxes.

Jennifers of Walsall and J & A Supplies between them will kit you out with floors and wall-covering and lights and stairs and doors and knobs and just about anything you need to get the project up and running.

J & A Supplies

If you are at the next phase of collecting 'stuff' to dress your project - again there is a lot to go at with vendors such as Matlock Miniatures and Weaverthorpe Dolls House Miniatures and almost every other table.

Matlock Miniatures

For the collector of fine things there are people like Glasscraft and Vicanna Vintage.

Vicanna Vintage

Glasscraft

For someone like me who has been playing with this stuff now for four years, best of all, you get to meet new (to you) vendors such as the wonderful Replicast Miniatures who are nudging me towards a very ornate drawing room.

Replicast Miniatures

Unique Miniatures was my personal favourite find for today.  I bought one item from her which has completely changed the narrative for my project.  I now know what my house is about.  Thank you V. Harper.

American Shows

This map isn't interactive you need to go to the proper site

Someone has collated the information on a lot of the US shows and put them on a really good interactive map.  

You can choose by location or using the colour code you can choose by month - you'll see what I mean if you click on this link:   Small House Models

Leeds Show (Pudsey) - Saturday 18th April

OK chaps, shine your shoes and count your pennies....

Click here for all the information you will need to get to the Leeds Show on Saturday.

Pudsey

It was the first show I ever went to and I loved it.  It is a nice size to go at - not exhausting but there's plenty enough to have a good old shop around.  It hosts tons of my favourite (stalwart) vendors such as Jennifers of Walsall, J & A Supplies, Matlock Miniatures  to pick but three - all of which are on my hit list when I start a new project.

Florida - upcoming shows

Having just done the Sarasota show I thought I might give you a heads up on the ones I am about to do next.

Molly's Orlando show is still worth doing even if you did her Sarasota one - there will be a slightly different mix of vendors and even when the vendor is one you saw before they may well bring 'stuff' you didn't see in Sarasota.

I love the Flea Market.  I sort of discovered it 'accidentally' last year and vowed to go back this year for sure.  Great mix of wonderful artisans like Jill Castoral and Pat Holstrom selling off bits and pieces they no longer want and a handful of vendors selling new stuff but mostly a room packed with mini folk selling off their unwanted items for a song.  What a totally great idea - wish there were more of them.  

I have no personal knowledge of the Boca Raton show - if anyone reading this can tell us anything about it  please do.....

If Florida is not a place you can get to right now I do have a list of shows tagged above these posts if that helps you find something you can get to and here is a link to a great interactive countrywide/all year map to browse around:  http://www.smallhousemodels.com/2015-minis-show-list-map.  

Enjoy...

Bought at the Sarasota Show

Well, so much for 'check back tomorrow' - apologies for being tardy - just caught up in real life I'm afraid.  

I genuinely had no intention of buying a thing at this show - I have all I can go at for a very long time right now and a restricted 'spends' pocket.  I set out to 'cover' the show for the magazine and deliver a room-box; I would pick up payment for that to go into my hobby pot and so continue to garner funds for the next show.

It goes without saying I just found some things irresistible.

I don't therefore have a lot to show you but everyone is a gem.  They are all quarter scale:

I already have a set of garden tools from True2scale but they are so nice and such a good price I think I could do with a 'spare' and to complete any garden or shed scene of the future their pots and sacks and wheelbarrow are just the best.

These are from Miniatures at Butterfly Crossing.  I can't add a link as the only one I could find was a website which promises 'coming soon.'  They had some reasonable 3D printed furniture and quite a few of the metal pieces like these.  I have seen these around in their unpainted form but they looked as though they needed a lot of sprue cleaning up.  Then you have to wash and dry them well and, ideally, spray undercoat the metal followed by one or two very thin top coats of gloss.  If you factor in two tins of paint you may never use again at about $7 each then these at $10 and finished seem to be a bargain to me.  As always the camera points up the slight imperfections, in real life they look just great.

Apologies for sideways shot - it happens sometimes and I still can't figure out why!!

Yet again, you need to believe the detail on this little piece is astonishing - I already have two of them but I would hate for Sally Manwell to run out of them before I have all the ones I might want.  Again I can't give you a link to a website but if you Google her name you will find people selling her work.

Iced tea and cakes - another Sally Manwell piece.

Finally a lamp from her too.

I was given a new product from True2scale to share with you so if you are interested pop over to my Gate House blog for a look.

  

Gulf Coast Dollhouse Miniatures Festival, January 17th and 18th, 2015

I almost missed my fourth visit to Molly Cromwell's Sarasota show as my son and his family were visiting us back 'home' in Naples but I had promised to deliver my Judy Berman box to Molly so it seemed I 'was forced' to abandon them for the day and flit up US41 for a mini fest.

Judy Berman room box

The show was as entertaining as ever.

There is a core of vendors I am now becoming familiar with such as The Betterleys, 

True2Scale 

and Quarter Source

 to name but three, but there are always several 'new-to-me' traders at her shows, which is always exciting:

Miniatures at Butterfly Crossing were showing an interesting 3D printed range of quarter scale furniture.  I am probably too much of a traditionalist to go that route but I can see it will have its uses even for die-hards like me - fridges, bathroom suites etc.

Versailles Fashion Dolls had some appealing characters:

Miniature Corner Too is a trader who I am sure has been around a while but, again, new to me.  There was an eclectic mix of items for sale but their Bavarian corner appealed to me. 

Dollhouse Alley.com  Had some good inexpensive buys.

Lynn McEntire has been creating her porcelain dolls since the seventies but, again, she was new to me.  She had a glass dome just packed with the most incredible little figures of all sizes.

There were two sides to this dolls shop in a dome

As always I commend Molly's shows to you.  They are a great assortment of vendors - all styles, scales and prices so there is always something to buy for everyone.  You can catch her here in Sarasota which is great venue for a winter break or, in February, she will be in Orlando and then in May she is in Sturbridge - check out her website: Molly's shows

I had no intention of buying as I am 'overstocked' right now...............  I will share my purchases with you here tomorrow!............

For more photos of the show click on the album link on the left. These are 'raw' photos not sorted or edited just pretty much all I took at the show.

GULF COAST DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES FESTIVAL
January 17 & 18

Ramada Marina Hotel
7150 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34243

A show & sale featuring craftsmen from the USA, France, Brazil, & Canada with miniature structures from HO to 1" scale, dollhouse furnishings & accessories, antique & collectible miniatures, dollhouse dolls, fine art, pottery, stitchery & more...all in miniature & all for sale!

SUNDAY ~ January 18 10-4
Adults $7 ~ Children 12-under $4 One child admitted free with each full paying adult on Sunday after 2 p.m.

Saturday Evening Preview
January 17 5 - 8 p.m. $18
includes Weekend Admission, Early Sales, Refreshments & Cash Bar. Pay at door.

Exhibits from the Private Collections of Gulf Coast club members

Directions: I-75 Exit 213/University Parkway West, to Ringling Museum, then 1 mi on 41North to Ramada on the left

Book a room at the Sarasota Ramada Waterfront: 941-358-1000
More Information: 941-371-3193