Leeds Doll's House Fair, April 26th 2014

I am typing this in a very weary state having not long returned from Pudsey (as it is known).  This is a Doreen Jeffries fair and one of my absolute favourites.  Nice size and a good variety of stuff to go at and suits my pocket.  It also has many of my favourite vendors - utterly necessary to a new build as far as I'm concerned.  This time though my focus was on three absolutely first-timers at a show venue:

Michael R Miniatures

Petite Chic Dolls House Miniatures

My Small Things

At the moment I'm not finding any websites for them so if you want to see some more of their work I have uploaded pictures - no editing done yet! - the link is in the column on the left.

So to the purpose of this blog.........

Pudsey show is easy to find (on the edge of Leeds) and is in its 33rd year, so it has a great following and is a nicely busy show drawing enough vendors and enough customers to make it a pleasurable visit.  It is held at:

Pudsey Civic Hall

Dawsons Corner, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 5TA.

It has just about everything you could need - good space, free parking, free prize draw and refreshments.

If you want to catch another Doreen Jeffries fair this year there is one at Pudsey on Saturday, November 8th 2014 but, before that you can catch one at the County Showground in Stafford - another good venue for the same reasons.  That is being held on Sunday, September 7th 2014.

Basically just click here to check out Doreen's website.

Sorry this is a bit of a sloppy write-up - really tired - I will probably come back to it in a couple of days and tweak it, I just wanted it to be 'current'.

Miniatura, NEC, Birmingham, 29th & 30th March 2014

On Saturday (29th) we toddled off to my first Spring Miniatura.  I have managed the Autumn one for the past three years and last year stayed over and did both days.  When I say did both days I really did; I left a little early (half an hour?) on day one and a couple of hours early on day two so there must have been a ton to go at. We booked this trip as a weekend intending to do the same.

When we arrived we were surprised to see it had moved from Hall 11 to 8 and further surprised to see that it looked smaller than the Autumn one.  I think the Autumn show had around 200 stalls and this one had about 150 plus.  Surprising what a difference that makes to the look of a show.  I managed to cover it in a day and we cancelled our hotel and drove home.

I do have a little grumble and that is (unlike the American shows) you don't get to see the workshops far enough ahead of the show to decided what you want to do.

That said, it was a great day with a lot to see.

I spent a chunk of my time taking photographs of people and stands for the magazine:

 These are some of Angela Singleton dolls.  You can find her as Grace Mary Miniatures.

She is someone I am doing a profile on.

In the same vein, yet completely different, these characters are the work of Carol Bull of Bags of Character .

She is also on my profile list.

.

 I also had the unenviable task of picking three vendors for the review article about the show.  The next six photos are the people I have to get down to the requisite three.

The first is Kate Pinsent Dolls - as it says these are 1/4ths - how does she get that amount of detail, not to mention posable? 

She works in all three scales.

I remember Jacqueline Crosby from another show so I may have shared her work already; that's no bad thing as it is just lovely.

I can't find a website for her.

This one was incredibly difficult to photograph and do justice to the work.  Sadie of Tiny Tail's not only makes all the wonderful creatures but she also paints them  I can't decided which of her talents I most admire.

I suspect many of you already know Simply Silk Miniatures wonderful work but no apologies for reminding you about it.

Meltingly beautiful. 

I am quite keen to put Phoenix in the three.  I think we need reminding how terrific their stuff is.  I have done three builds so far and they have been in every one and I am already sussing them out for number four.

I just love them - what more can I say?  Sussex Crafts .  This is how I would like my work to look.  I do improve on each build so you never know in about ten years time I may reach something like this level.  We all need dreams.








I didn't buy very much at the show.  I sort of had a head all over the place on the day.   I thought I was shopping for Green Gables and the Gate House but Green Gables needs American stuff and I have pretty much bought all and sundry for the Gate House; also I am procrastinating about both of them.  Green Gables was, maybe, being replaced by a thirties house I was negotiating and the Gate house was delayed by leaving two of its walls with Malcolm's Miniatures who is going to make me three interior doors for it.  The kit came with an exterior door (though that might get changed for a wonderful Malcolm one) but no interior ones.  Indeed the photo I have of the Lewis build doesn't show any doorways any way so that must have been a later tweak.

This little lovely is the first of my treasures from the show and came from Malcolm's Miniatures.  I had bought an Aga from him for my half scale which actually wouldn't fit in the cooker place in the kitchen.  Malcolm very kindly let me swap it for this.  It is sitting sweetly in my sitting room right now waiting for a small pin to hang it up.

The fish and crab are (probably) for Starfish Cottage - if it ever happens - it seems to get pushed back perpetually.  Aren't the knives brilliant for just £1.50 each.  These are all from Pride of Plaice.  yes - loads of fishy things (not easy to find) but other stuff too.  the website seems to be in the making.

Wonderful, wonderful, not Copenhagen, but Herdwick Landscapes have saved me hours of frustration - they make a great 1/48th log fire - built and lit.  What more could you want.  Funnily enough I spent a while looking at it at the show and thinking its proportions seemed odd - that was because they had it upside down - guess what - I just looked at my photo and I have done the same.  If you stand on your head you'll be able to see what a little gem this is., 

Don't know if there is anything I can say that hasn't been said about Ray Storey's work but, never forget, every day there is a newbie joining us.  He makes the entire light and in perfect scale and all the glass parts come off as they do in real life.  This is a hanging kitchen oil lamp and table lamp for Green Gables.  They were my (for me) luxury spend at the show and two days later I may not be doing Anne of Green Gables any more as I have a thirties house to do instead.  So these will have to be sold or I can ask him if he'll let me exchange them for other lights.  Need thinking space.  If anyone reading this wants them for £42 the pair (plus postage) let me know.

The Gate House is supposed to be Arts and Crafts but I think this thirties dressing table is simple enough to squeeze it in.  Any way my little residents couldn't find everything at once - they would have to compromise too.  Jane Harrop of course!

This is what I actually went to her stall for..... quarter scale again - so sweet.

So, I didn't stagger home with a ton of stuff, but probably as you go along in this game that's how it is.  You find yourself getting pickier and also just looking out for a handful of things which might not even be 'out there'.

On a purely domestic note re Miniatura - if you are fussy about food - take your lunch and eat it in the foyer!  They have the usual criminals to go at - a small food place in the Hall itself, Starbucks, Subway etc and if you just want a sandwich or something I suspect that would be fine.  Ken and I planned to have our main meal as lunch - he at an NT place and me at the show. The 'best' I could come up with was a Weatherspoons.  Not familiar with them they looked a likely place - everywhere is full incidentally so that wasn't especially a recommendation for it.  I had the world's worst steak and ale pie meal.  The reason I am telling this tale is to boast that for the first time in my life (and I have endured some grim meals) I found the wherewithal to actually take it back and ask for my money back.  There was the usual British attitude of 'it is fine, it must be you', but if you can put up with that you do have a small victory for the palate and your dosh back!  This is when I miss Naples - the home of the very best customer service.

Mini Spring Clean Flea Market - 1 March 2014

Knights of Columbus hall
4880 Fruitville Road,
Sarasota, FL


Off up to Sarasota again at the weekend; this time for something I had never encountered before - a mini flea market.  What a great idea.  I can't imagine anyone in this game not having stuff they could do with getting rid of now and again.  As a lady said at the market - sell the stuff you want so you can go buy something you do want.

 

The market ran from 10 am to 3 pm.  I had visitors staying, or rather leaving, that day so I wasn't able to get there until noon.  There was still a decent amount of stuff left for sale but I suspect the early birds had done even better.  It really was bargain city with items going at a dollar and even less.  I gathered up six things I liked from different vendors for the grand total of seven dollars.

If you want to see what I bought take a tour of my Purchases photo album or click on the link in the left column to see all the photos from the market.

As always there should be an article out of this for DH&MS magazine, so keep an eye out for that too;  meanwhile this is definitely one to add to your calender if you can get there next year.  It is already on mine; so that will be an early start from Naples.

Orlando Dollshouse Miniatures Festival: 14 - 17 February 2014

My visits to shows are getting longer and longer.  My third visit to Molly Cromwell's Orlando show became a three day trip up from Naples.  I had never done a workshop and wanted to give it a try.  There was one just made for me - Sally Manwell was showing how to make accessories for 1/48th projects.  This was being taught on Friday afternoon so Ken and I bowled up to Orlando to arrive just in time for me to join the class.

It was a terrific experience and I learned a lot and came away with a ton of stuff to continue making more little objects to dot around The Gate House.  

This is what we made in three hours.  OK, this is the one Sally made but we did OK.  I just can't show you mine like that because I kept all the bits individually as I don't know where they will go in my project just yet.

The shell on a stand was a finished object that she included but we made the lamp, the flowers, the books, the box, the photos and the dinky little basket.  We also came away with various bits of useful kit to use again and again.  What an absolute bargain and a pleasure.

The show itself was just brilliant.  There were a couple of vendors missing due to illness but to be honest it wouldn't have had a lot of impact on me other than I had arranged to meet one of them to make notes for his profile and get more photos for the article.  Hey ho, will just have to do it by email now.

Here's a taster of what I saw....

Fabulous paintings and painted furniture by Barbara Wilson.

Shoalts Collectibles are new to me and had a wide range of incredibly detailed pieces.  Click on the photo to see it better.

Another new to me was Ron Stetkewicz who had a wonderful display of all sorts of solid brass hand crafted items.  This is a second generation business, having been around now for forty years.  What a find for me.

Wright Guide miniatures do a series of vignettes along their counter and in front of each are all the items needed to make up the scene.

Of all the wonderful things Ruth Stewart makes and sells I decided to choose these items to share with you because I think they are incredibly useful and good value.  The tiny bottles are no-hole beads for $1.50.  It is great to be able to get a little of something when that's all you need.  The five double ended ball stylus must be the best bargain in the whole of mini world - just $6 - I am so annoyed that I didn't buy them.  Just forgot!!

OK, I realise that is just a smidgen of what was there but when you've checked these out you can click on my photo album over in the left column and have a look at more pictures of the show and what I bought.

There will be a review in Dolls House and Miniature Scene for those of you who read that.  Probably a couple of months down the line.

Sarasota Dollhouse Miniatures Festival: 18 & 19 January, 2014

When this is the view through the patio door of your hotel room you know you've started well.  Add to this that the date is January 18th and I am from the UK........ it just gets better and better.

For anyone who hasn't been to the West coast of Florida I commend it to you.  It is full of lovely little towns the whole way down; one of which is Sarasota and it is well worth a visit in its own right.  Add in a dolls house show for a mini enthusiast and some sun and we seem to have a perfect weekend.

As for Molly Cromwell's show itself, it was just as good as ever.  I have no idea how hard it must be to keep up this standard and to find fresh people to keep adding into the mix but I am so glad she does it every time.  There were over forty vendors, most of whom had multiple tables so there was a ton of stuff to go at.  I had paid for both days so I got to do the Saturday preview (5 pm to 8pm).  I scoured every inch of the room without a pause.  It takes every minute of three hours to get round cursorily once to suss out what's there and then to go back and shop.

In fact I was no where near done and I spent a chunk of the evening making a shopping list for the next day.

For real aficionados of shows this is a four day event offering some major classes with the very best artisans.  I counted twelve classes - some taking more than one day to complete.  In case you don't have enough to do, on Friday afternoon Molly will also take you on a conducted tour of the Little Buildings Exhibition, being held in a nearby museum.  The energy of this lady is just astonishing.

So let me share some of the things that wowed me.  I have the invidious task of choosing about a dozen traders out of the forty plus to photograph and talk to and then that dozen gets reduced again to about six or so for my review of the show for Dolls House & Miniature Scene.  I will be writing that tomorrow but it will be a couple of months or so before you get to see it published.  After all that whittling down it feels pretty useless showing you only one photo for each of them.  Luckily though I get to do profile pieces on one or two of them and that is a real pleasure.  Five of my 'profiles' were at the show and remembered me which was lovely.  

To get a better idea of the work these people do you need to take a look at the show photo album.  There is a link in the left hand column.  

All the names mentioned here have a link so you can check out their site.

Quarter Source is one of my all time favourites and this photo shows the garland and wreaths I have already bought to decorate The Gate House.  Karen Benson and Sally Manwell have some lovely new prototypes ready to 'fly'. Check out the photo album.  How do these people go on inventing more and more?  

Carol Sherry puts us back in the land of 1/12th miniatures but with some unusual offerings.  They are all beautifully made, so if whimsical is your thing she is your lady.

I defy you not to fall in love with True2scale's work.  From their elegant displays and packaging and website through to each tiny little piece of perfection.  Unlike the idiot photographer you can see in this picture.  There are better pictures in the album.

A big buzz in the quarter scale community at the moment is the latest offering from Robin Betterley's Miniatures in conjunction with Suzanne and Andrew's Miniatures - Pickett Pond.  I got to met the lovely Taryn and Scott on the Betterley's stand who were really generous with their time.  When you see PP in the flesh you get to understand why there is such excitement.  If I have understood it correctly, you get the whole kit you see here, other than the paint and the stuff to make the pond with (the pond is on the other side of the house). Then, each month, you get to buy all the kits you need to complete a particular room. So I was really lucky to see the whole thing fully furnished as this is all still a work in progress.  If you don't want to spoil the surprise it would be best not to look at the show album.

Barbara Sabia's work is a long time favourite of mine and one of these days I will find a home for one of her pieces.  Something like the screen would be just lovely freestanding anywhere.

Anyone who follows my projects might have discovered by now that there are three 'signature' pieces that go in every 'home'.  One of these is a magpie from Mini Gems.  I haven't come across anyone doing 'creature' work as perfectly in scale as hers - across all three scales - and with such character.  I bought my second magpie so now each property will have two.  One for sorrow, two for joy!  I also bought a pair of half scale seagulls for Muir House and a quarter scale cat for The Gate House.  So, if these are scales I continue to work in, Barbara Meyer's tiny creatures will simply move from one home to the next.

The Hairy Potter makes glorious pots but he has also made a 1/12th room box of a potter at work.  It has all the necessary equipment (and mess) that pottery production needs.  No point in having a pottery workroom if there aren't any pots waiting to be fired - so here they are - 1/144th size pots.  Trust me they are immaculate.  Yes, that is Craig's dainty creative finger pointing them out.  He also offered a very extended workshop for this show.

Fred Cobbs is an incredibly skilled artist who makes wonderful replicas of all sorts of arcane tools.  I may be mini-weary at this stage of the evening but I haven't been able to find a web address for him but it is well worth trawling the web to look at his 'worn and weathered' things.

Miniatures Limited is another favourite of mine and has something new and wonderful every year.  The theme this year is Da Vinci's machines.  The flying horse and companion are truly beautiful.  All Michael Reynold's work  - paintings, furniture and marvellous creations are of museum quality and a collector's delight.

... and so we move from the sublime to the ridiculous as I share my full scale treat .....

We always stop off in Venice on our journey back to Naples.  We only visit one place - Ciao Gelato.  It is just about the best gelato shop around.  Made with the finest ingredients by someone who actually understands what gelato is.  All their stuff is wonderful but to eat pistachio that actually tastes like nuts and isn't loaded with sugar is such a joy.

So endeth my wonderful weekend.

Midlands Dolls House and Miniatures Fair: 17 November 2013

.........otherwise known as the Droitwich show, organised by Warners Shows in association with Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine
The Impney Regent Centre, Droitwich Spa
17th November 2013

(Click on any picture to view it full screen)

Ken and I drove down to Château Impney on Saturday for an overnighter ready for the show the next day.  The hotel is in the most wonderful 'house' (plus 100 acres).  We had a lovely leisurely start after lunch at home and arrived in time for tea.  Dinner in (not) the restaurant was very good and super value at three courses for £19.95.  I am not sure if they offer something more when the main restaurant is open.  At the moment it is closed for refurbishment - due to finish a couple of months ago?  It was still very pleasant and I was just thrilled to be actually staying there.  I am a Brummie, born and bred, so Château Impney has a certain caché for me and in my growing-up years I would never have imagined I would step through its portals.  Just see what having a passion for minis can bring!

Following a scrumptious breakfast I toddled off to the show.  There are something like sixty vendors which doesn't sound huge but I can honestly say they lasted me the whole day. These sixty vendors covered 125 stands, so there was plenty to go at.  I always arrive for the early entrance at 10 am (pre-bookers often get an extra half hour before a show) and  I spend the first couple of hours just methodically covering the whole room; in this case a large hall and another room.

I met Ken for lunch.  The restaurant is in the same building; you can see its balcony on the right in the this photo.  Again, the food was brilliant as it is still the Château's catering.  Sadly I was only ready for a toasted teacake and a cuppa and off I went again. This photo was taken nearly at the end of the show when the crowds had thinned out.  The traders I spoke to said they thought they had done well.

At 1pm Graham Barlow of the Miniature Scene of York was doing an Open Book Workshop.  For just five pounds you got two kits to make an open leather covered book.  One was already cut and just ready for you to assemble alongside Graham and the other was a packet of what you'd need to make another.  What a bargain.

At 2.15 Jane Harrop gave a talk about giving tired miniatures a face lift.

I decided to attend both of these but I am embarrassed to admit to being very rude and sneaking off before Jane finished as my other half came and whispered scone and tea to me. One cream scone with jam and a cuppa later we were wending our way home with all my little treasures from the day.  Here they are....

I have wanted a baby house almost since I started this hobby, but could never afford the kits.  The Bespaq cupboard itself costs around $100 (£60).  I bought this part-made one for £35 and it has all the rest of the kit with it.  I've checked through and it is complete.  Indeed who ever owned it has added a few bits and pieces. In case you aren't sure what you are looking at here, the cupboard is a 1/12th replica which makes the contents 144ths.  Whoever started this kit has made a fabulous job of painting the items.  I have no idea where to share the progress of this with you - maybe here? - as it doesn't fit in any of my fourteen blogs!! (click on the picture to see the detail)

Here's Paul for Muir House (the 1/24th project).  He's better in real life.  I am considering pinching someone else's characters to live here - remember Paul Temple and his wife Steve?  Nah, thought you wouldn't - so that's a good thing, makes them easier to steal for my narrative for Muir House. 

This was also bought for Muir house but by mistake.  I knew I wanted an Aga but afterwards realised I wanted it for the Gate House (1/48th project) not Muir House.  I am now debating whether it will work in Muir House.  It probably will; I just need to do a bit of research as to the history of Agas - I am sure they were around in 1937 but its a case of who would actually buy one.

(PS - written later - doesn't work in Muir House - no chimney for the flue!  if anyone is looking for a lovely metal Aga from Malcolm's Miniatures.  It is yours for £20 o.n.o. plus postage.)

I bought  eleven pieces of white kitchenware from Jan's minis; again this is half scale and for Muir house.  I won't show them all to you here.  They will be in the album attached to Muir House or the one for the show if you want to have a look at them.

I saw this bed made up (also Jan's Minis) and liked it.  It is destined for the maid's room but if it comes up as well as the sample one I will buy another and use them both in the guest bedroom instead.

The show-stopper for me was this lovely Christmas market stall from Jane Harrop.  It is incredibly pretty and Arts and Craftsy which I love.  I am the luckiest lady as I am now the proud owner of all the little things inside the stall.  They will be my Christmas decorations in the Gate house.  To see those you'll need to go to the album that belongs to the Gate House  or the one for the show.

Last, but not least, I found the right date Fairy liquid for Chocolat's kitchen.  It was introduced in 1959 so this is spot on.

The poster is just a bonus as it is the 'packaging' in the bag that the liquid was put in.

...

Leeds Dolls House & Miniature Fair: 9 November 2013

Those of you who follow my real life progress will know that I am not in Naples, Florida (as I should have been by now) and switched over from Chocolat to my to Quarter scale projects.  I am still in the UK (flights cancelled indefinitely) thanks to an elderly aunt who has been in hospital since September and out and in again.  Until she is settled back into her Care Home we will have to be here.  In addition to this I managed to acquire a gammy leg.  Whilst out shopping a sandwich board blew over into the back of my leg and badly damaged the calf muscle.  I can honestly say it is the most painful thing I have ever experienced and after a lifetime of various injuries and operations that's some claim.  So...by week three of Hopalong Cassidy ..... as of this morning I was walking normally for the first time (bit painful).  Guess where I decided to use my leg........

Leeds Doll's House & Miniature Fair - know affectionately as Pudsey.

This is Britain's Oldest DH show (Est. 1982) and, co-incidentally, my 'oldest' show - it was the first one I ever went to in 2011 and it probably helped start the bug.

Like any show there is a core of regular vendors and that is a good thing.  It is like having all your favourite shops gathered under one roof and you know what you can get from whom plus they always have a surprise or two.

There were three vendors new to the show - A Basket of ..... and Weaverthorpe Dolls House Miniatures and Freestyle Crafts.  A couple of returners were Angie Scarr - yes - the famous foodie lady and Ladybird Miniatures - just look at her wonderful teapots and cosies.  I was too busy chatting to actually buy one - how annoying is that when you get back home.

Two of my must-see-what-they-have-got vendors had something really cute.  Harlands of Hedon had this lovely chicken pram - well duck pram really....

and this opening match-box from Minnie McGregor was the absolute show-stopper as far as I was concerned.  Truly she did open and close it for me several times.

My other half stepped into the show to retrieve me around lunchtime.  This was his first foray into a DH showroom other than picking up anything too big for me to carry away (ie Muir House from Miniatura).  I got the matchbox demonstrated specially for him and he was totally underwhelmed.  Not fazed by this I dragged him round to Danny Shotton's wonderful creations thinking that they are more of a chap sort of thing and, again, yeah/OK/have you finished?  Isn't it a pain when you are mad keen on something and other people aren't fussed?  How can they not see the near miracle of making a matchbox that opens or a corkscrew like this from Danny Shotton. This time I did remember to buy one.  It is destined for Chocolat and every project I can ever get it in.  I really want his box of chisels but can't seem to (mentally) place it any where.

Here are my other 1/12th buys........

This is the second - could be even the third - lot of light switches I've bought for Chocolat.  I am hoping they look better in situ.  I may 'tidy' the pattresses before they go in - talk about picky!  I would have liked to have added surface wiring (conduits) leading from them but not sure how to go about it.  It might still happen. My 1959 life was filled with buildings with that sort of thing - my school, my first workplace.  Sadly there was no reason to imprint the detail on your brain.  Good old Google helps... but .....

Two lots of lace for no other reason that it was lovely, very fine, very soft, cotton lace and will do something some time.  I think a yard of each (cream and white) might be a bit excessive

This is a letter box for Chocolat so I'll get that in place later today.

All in all it was a nice way to spend a rainy morning talking to like-minded people about stuff I love. That's what going to a show is all about for me.  So, here I am, one happy gammy-legged shopper back at her computer, dying to go and play with her new 'toys'.

I did manage to snare a few things for my pending 48ths....

Eight little gems from Petite Properties.

When I got home I discovered I already have a plastic bathroom set just like this but that's OK because I have four properties waiting for me so it may come in handy.

Not the nicest stuff as it is plastic but it actually works just fine for quarter scale bathrooms. I would prefer plastic to wood to replicate porcelain and that seems to be my two choices right now in 48ths.

I have seen brown plastic furniture from this range repainted and remodelled and it can look great.