The miniature show was lovely. I almost didn’t get photos because I was using an app for driving directions and it nearly drained my phone battery. (I remember this happening last year, as well!) There I was, driving along, trying to find my charger while keeping my eyes on the road and one hand on the wheel. I was able to charge it enough to grab some photos while I was there.

As usual, I see that I was so intent on figuring out what I wanted to buy that I only got photos from a few vendors. The ones I liked the most, of course. This show is run by the IGMA, the International Guild of Miniature Artisans, so it’s highly curated and most of the booths offer the creations of incredibly gifted miniaturists.

Walking through it elicits one gasp after another. Here are some of the wares I saw yesterday:

From Maddie Gerig Shelley – all sorts of miniature pottery with a modern spin. I was absolutely amazed by her work. She lives near New Haven, and is one of the younger artisans at the show. How does she do it? (Hint: I bought something from her.)

Next to Maddie? Her famous aunt, Jane Graber, who has been making gorgeous miniature pottery for years. I didn’t get a photo of her booth, but I did buy something from her.

Uncle Ciggie’s Miniatures made by artisan Vicky Sanfield.

The bassinets!

Oh my heavens! This is a tour de force. I had a nice long chat with Vicky and I did buy something from her.

Keenderson Miniatures from Ottawa, Ontario. I was over-the-moon with this gentleman’s creations. Look at the inlaid work on that table! And he also made all the floors on which he displays his work. We chatted a long time, too, because he loves the Craftsman/Mission style and I rarely see miniatures in that style.

These tables! I really wanted the circular Stickley-style table but I had already spent too much money. Never fear, I have his card and I can order from him online. Truly swoon-worthy work.

Speaking of swoon-worthy, my favorite booth. It was also my favorite last year. Bubba’s Mini Country Cupboards – incredibly detailed furniture designed by Barbara Vajnar. This year, I  had the chance to chat with both Barbara and her proud husband, who was helping to man the booth.

Feast your eyes:

Designed in the primitive style, these are truly to scale, including knobs, hinges, everything. They’re not laser cut, but are made by hand in Barbara’s workshop. Most pieces are made of cherry.

I must have spent an hour, all told, looking at each piece.

The tin in those hanging cupboards is hand punched.

Her work is exquisite.

When I arrived, I paid the modest $10 fee and filled out a card for a door prize, though I never win that sort of thing. Imagine my surprise when I was in the middle of speaking to the artisan from Ottawa and I heard my name announced over the loudspeaker! I won a $25 gift certificate to put toward anything in the show. Hello!

I was tired and dehydrated and I knew I had a 2 hour drive back home, so I only stayed there for about an hour and a half. Today, I realized that I missed a booth from a favorite miniaturist who makes tiny appliances! I don’t know how I missed it – unless he hadn’t set up yet at that point. Ah well.

Here’s what I bought:

This amazing crock from Jane Graber.

Signed by Jane.

This wicker table by Uncle Ciggie’s Miniatures. Isn’t it lovely?

This modern pottery with the most beautiful glaze – made by Maddie, Jane’s niece.

So, so beautiful. I would like a life-sized version, too. She also makes pottery in half-scale which is beyond my comprehension. I don’t know how she does it.

And…my big splurge. Gulp. It’s the most I’ve ever spent on a miniature but, heavens, I’m so thrilled that I have it. (Don wants a life-sized version).

I went for this because of the mustard milk-paint finish and because it was on the lower end of  the price scale. Some of her pieces are very, very  expensive, but absolutely worth it.

It is so, so beautifully made.

Look at the carving on the side.

The hinges are hand made by another artisan, attached – not with glue – but with tiny little nails. The knobs are perfectly to scale. And notice the tiny little – what do you call them? – door closures. The drawers open and shut.

Barbara’s signature.

I’m glad I went for it, but I took me a long time to finally make the decision. I picked it up. I put it down. I went to other booths. I circled back. I picked it up again.

Finally, I did it.

I’m thinking it will inspire the decor of the yet-to-be-rehabbed little house I found at the dump.

Happy Sunday.

 

It’s raining today and the temperature is almost 20 degrees lower than yesterday. Huzzah!

We were so over the heat and humidity of the past 4 or 5 days. Don couldn’t do much photography work, I had to stay in due to allergies – although I obviously went out to water all the plants – so I’m blessing the rain this morning.

I haven’t done anything more on the dollhouse, but I did buy a couple of pieces of mini furniture. I am very picky about chairs and sofas because so many of the ones I see out there are awkward and wrong. The cushions are too big, the pleats at the bottom are way too wide, the pattern on the fabric is too large. They don’t look real. What I find lacking in some dollhouses I see is attention to scale. It’s impossible to get everything exactly to scale, but I really do my best to make everything look real and to have nothing that’s ‘off.’

I’ve had a couple of modern sofas handmade by artisans and I really love them. One of them is in Don’s Studio. The other is in the modern dollhouse that I purchased last year (and have yet to decorate.)

I found one manufacturer that I liked when I was redoing Hummingbird Cottage.

They made this sofa that’s in the den. Perfectly to scale.

Side note: I’ve always been unhappy with that copy of To Kill a Mockingbird  that’s on the table. It’s too big. It looks like a coffee table book instead of a hard cover novel. Note to self: must find one that is in scale. This is an older photo and I’m not even sure if the book is on the table anymore. It may be on the shelf.

And they made this chair in the living room.

Also one of my favorites.

Then I didn’t see their handiwork for a long time and assumed I wouldn’t be able to use them again. Recently, I was on a website and there they were! I ordered this sofa.

Since I’m thinking of an English Cottage look for this little house, I thought this might work. It looks English to me. I also ordered a duplicate of the one in the Hummingbird Cottage den, simply because I love it so much and what if they stop making it, horrors! I need to have another one on hand.

From another source on eBay, I ordered this chair:

Maybe for the bedroom?

I’m not sure. I just liked it and wanted it in my stash.

Realistically, I probably won’t do much of anything on the house until we return from our trip. As the days get chillier, working on the dollhouse will seem more and more appealing.

Change of subject: Have you seen the documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, RBG? It was playing in theaters and is now being aired by CNN (they might be airing it this Sunday, check your listings) and it’s available On Demand/CNN. It’s simply wonderful. I learned so much more about her and, if possible, I’m even more of a fan than I already was. Extraordinary. I recommend it highly.

Okay. It’s Friday. I have to accomplish something around here and it will be in the form of laundry and cleaning.

Happy Friday.