Sunday, September 17, 2017

2017 Bowmanville Show - Minis Gone Wild




I had never been to the Bowmanville (Ontario) Miniature Show before, and I have to say, it was a solid show!  There weren't too many vendors there, and 2 that I love had to cancel due to emergencies, but the ones remaining were exactly the ones I wanted to see!

I started off at Small Scale Showcase.  Carol always has amazing items.  I purchased a salad bowl and salt and pepper shakers handmade by a Ukrainian artist.  I also picked up a Mini Fanaberia kitchen scale.  







I then moved straight across the room to Maggie Melinda Custom Miniatures (by Janet Harvie).  She had some sell off deals at her table, and I said sold!! She is absolutely lovely to deal with, and if you want custom furniture, I would highly recommend her work.  I now have several pieces in my collection and they are beautiful and well crafted.  

And she had some of her own mini collection for sale, so I grabbed the two gold end tables. 







Across the room I went to A Dollhouse Shoppe.  They sell all kinds of minis, but the last show I attended in Fergus, they had an artist I love, Gunther's Miniatures.  Recall the bed and the bench I purchased? Well, I had to have more of his incredible work!  I purchased a rose wood coffee table and an art deco sofa table.







Now that I had exhausted my "must have" list, I took count of my cash on hand (not too many vendors taking credit cards!) and set off on my hunt.  

Fay-vourite Crafts and Miniatures Co. is always good for kits, especially the ones she makes herself.  But what caught my eye at the end of the show (and also caught the last of my cash too!) was this beautiful handmade leather purse.  She told me it was made by a recently deceased artist, Jose Gomez in Spain.  It actually opens!







1000 Island Miniatures has a mix of things, old and new.  I grabbed this vintage TV that I plan to refinish and make slightly more realistic.  It needs some work.  The lamp had a retro vibe and the bag and thermos were, well, just kinda cute!





Petite Images had a lot of cute items, but I couldn't say no to these Halloween mugs.  Look at those happy little pumpkins!




Kim Stewart of Vintage Miniatures continues to make really amazing kits, she never disappoints.  Her wicker kits are very well crafted, I just completed the wicker tray kit I purchased from the Fergus show.  Most importantly, her instructions are great so you don't have to guess as you are learning. 

The paper chain kit was a bit of a whim purchase.  I was going to make a mini chain to celebrate Miss Kitty's birthday this summer, but never got to it.  Now I can make one for Christmas!!




And as I was out of cash, in need of coffee and getting hungry, I called it quits and went to find my husband working away on his laptop in our car.  He's a keeper that one! Drag him to a mini show a good distance from home and he happily works as I get my mini on!

Here's to hoping I make the MET Show in October!






2017 Miniature Enthusiasts of Toronto Sale - October 14th

Image from Grandpa's Doll House



How is it almost October?? But it is a good month!  First, we get the Miniature Enthusiasts of Toronto sale and then its Halloween.  After that, meh (sorry Christmas lovers).

The MET show this year is doing something different, 1 day instead of 2 days and also extending their hours.  

I have prior commitments that day, but I am praying that I will somehow make it there by afternoon.  Not first in the door, but better then nothing! My fingers are crossed.

Please come out and support the amazing artists and vendors on October 14th!





Saturday, September 16, 2017

Que Vee Is For Me!



Oh, when you find the love of your life on eBay!!  Well, the miniature love of your life.  If you recall, I have a red corduroy couch (with arms) that regularly makes an appearance around here.  I have never been able to locate a manufacturer, until now.  They are made by Que Vee in the US.  I purchased the vintage 3 piece living room set and the 2 mustard colour ottomans.  Shipping was tough to swallow, but I couldn't leave these behind.







And then I decided to make a little psychedelic space!















Where To Buy/Where To Find





Tuesday, September 05, 2017

Completed Summer Projects!




I actually completed some of my many on-going projects over the summer.  Yes, its a miracle.  It's the plight of the mini maker, a thousand projects on the go and the guilt associated with never finishing most of them.  

I made this grey velvet sofa for the charity build.  But I like it so much I am going to make myself one!  It's a little too deep for me, so I will slim this design down. It was a nice thin velvet, so it was easy to manipulate and not too bulky.

I also finished the Tabriz rug kit from Janet Granger.  The kit said small, and I never read instructions so I went with it.  Ha!! It's just over 8'x5', not very small at all!  Possibly the most boring stitching project that I've done, but I love the pattern.  It can go in any room and any era.  The rust colour isn't too red or orange either, so it doesn't over power a room.

This evening I started gluing down the fixed elements on the charity build, the cabinets and the TV unit.  Tomorrow I will glue in the ceiling light.  I'm making good progress (so far!).

It's Miss Kitty's first day of Kindergarten tomorrow.  Mini me is growing up!






Where To Buy / Where To Find


Monday, September 04, 2017

Cooking Up A Kitchen



The mini charity house has been progressing slowly! Miss Kitty's school is taking up lots of time, but I've been squeezing in mini sanity time with this build.

All my Ebay items are every so slowly arriving.  I managed to score a great deal on this kitchen because it was at auction prices.  And when it arrived, the counter and the sink had detached.  I emailed the seller and they gave me a partial refund on it!  After a little glue and fiddling it's all back in one piece.

This was the kitchen before I renovated
I papered the back wall with a tile paper and spray painted the hood and hooks with stainless steel spray paint.  I really wanted to use that blank cabinet as a fridge, but I had to butt the stove section up against it.  So, in this house they have no fridge.....meh.

The amazing Jodi Hippler (My Miniature Madness) sent me a box of goodies for this build, and the faucet worked perfectly!!  Check it out in her Shapeways store!  And then Keli sent me some mini goodies for the build too.  This house will be fully stocked....and apparently I will be building another house next year given the quantity of furniture I have!

And once I finished the kitchen I couldn't resist putting my minis in it to play around.  It's my reward for finishing!





I'm hoping the bathroom vanity arrives soon so I can finish that room next.

Where To Buy / Where To Find