Friday, 29 November 2013

A Wonderful 1940s Terraced House & Grocery Shop By Susan Collins Of Essex!

A long standing customer of KT Miniatures,  Susan Collins from Essex, has for months now been excitedly telling me about the progress of her 1940s terraced house. Then over the past week photos began to arrive into my "inbox" from Susan and well....they have completely blown me away! As you will see below, her projects are simply breathtaking! 

Susan has also sent photos of a brand new project she has started, of a 1940s Grocery Shop with a privy and garden round the back. Am delighted to say that Susan has kindly allowed me to feature both these projects on the KT Miniatures Customer Creations Gallery (relevant links can be found lower down).

Do take  a look, not only will you find all the photos utterly inspiring but I love Susan's humour and the photos are guaranteed to make you smile!

1940s Terraced House
This has been based on an "East End of London" terraced house during wartime, complete with Anderson Shelter, side entrance and even alley...truly wonderful. 
The house was made for Susan by John Burley,  the dolls in both this project and the grocer shop were made by Joy of  Adora Bella Minis and various items within this project have been created by specific artisans.
It is particularly delightful for me to see so many of KT Miniatures' creations that I have made over the years incorporated into this project, such as the wall shelf unit above the table on the right of the living room, books, framed pictures and even a coat and hat rack that you can just see through the open door of the living room, hanging on the hall wall.  Also, a wonderful example on how to mix and match antique 1/12th scale miniatures with more modern handmade miniatures, is where Susan has incorporated a 1930s German sideboard which looks well at home (seen in the photo above).....fabulous! 
Uncle Ted can be seen above with his old bike, talking over the fence. 
Above you can see the rusty side of the Anderson shelter and compost heap.
Above, you can just catch a glimpse of inside the shelter. 
In the alleyway the children play. Just look at William's go-kart and the pram that his baby brother is sitting in!
That Home Guard chappy reminds me of a character from "Dad's Army"!

 All these photos says it all..........don't you think?

If you would like to see the full story and details behind this creation plus nearly 30 photos of the entire project, please click on the following link:
http://ktminiatures.com/1940s_Terraced_House.html

1940s Grocery Shop
 Susan's grocery shop is based in wartime Britain and created from the shell of an old dolls house that has been given a new frontage. Her uncle once owned a jewellers shop and she can remember thinking how time literally seemed to have stood still in that shop, as nothing had seemed to have changed in years. Everything was brown and worn, so that memory has given her the inspiration for this particular project.
She has also created a privy and little garden at the back.....don't you just love the old lady on that loo!!! Hahaha....However, Susan tells me that this is very much a project in progress and promised to send more photos when the living quarters and other bits have been completed.

To see more photos and details of this project to date, please click on the following link:
 http://ktminiatures.com/1940s_Grocery_Shop.html

To see the full list of KT Miniatures' customer creations, click on the following link which will take you through to the main index:
 http://ktminiatures.com/Customer_Creations.html

If you are unsure on how to locate the Galleries Section on KT Miniatures website, click on the following link which will take you through to an earlier posting on here which will explain all:
 http://ktminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/please-do-take-peek-be-inspired.html


Thursday, 28 November 2013

Some Rather Lovely circa 1930s Lampshades Plus Other Bits!

 I have been busy listing some rather lovely antique and vintage pieces to KT Miniatures' website today.
Amongst some of the more rather special pieces now for sale are these circa 1930s celluloid lampshades, which are becoming ever more difficult to get hold of these days. Also, because they are made of celluloid, means they are quite fragile and many are so often found split or broken entirely. But am very pleased to say that both these....a green/white one plus a blue/white one, are in remarkably good condition. They each even have the metal conical fitment which fits on the top where the wire would feed through.
Then there are these wooden candlesticks with removable wooden candles....absolutely exquisite. It never ceases to amaze me how some of these weeny items actually survive the test of time in little hands!These lampshades and candlesticks can be found with lots of other new additions on the following page:


Also listed today is this quite unique wooden radiator...the likes of which I have never seen before, Yes, I have seen many a radiator made out of metal but wood....no! It's magnificent!

Then there is this much older handmade fretwork display cabinet, believed to originate from the early 1900s. It is rather lovely....the back flops down so that you can place your old china on the two shelves with ease. Just check out that antique green floral wallpaper inside!
This old trolley is rather splendid too....all metal..in fact am wondering if it is indeed copper? It is obviously quite old but don't have a clue to its origin.  Just imagine this laden with vintage food and china for "afternoon tea"!

All these and much more can be found on the following page:

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

A Few Handmade Items Of Unsold Stock From Last Saturday Are Now Available.....


Today I have been listing one or two items of unsold stock left over from last Saturday's event,  to various categories within my Exclusive Handmade Sections on KT Miniatures website. These have been made to look old so can be used in both vintage and reproduction dolls houses-most are 1/12th scale.  

 If you click on the following link, it will take you through to the Exclusive Handmade Index then simply click on each individual room that you wish to visit:



Plus the bathing machine and Punch & Judy tent that were created for the Victorian Seaside Scene that featured in several issues over the summer months in the Dolls House & Miniature Scene magazine as a "how to make project", are now for sale on KT Miniatures Shed, Outhouse & Outdoors Page.

Over the next few days I will be listing various vintage and antique items that were unsold at last Saturday's event. Also, I shall be putting up for sale an unusual and large dolls house that will appear in the Bargain Basement at a very reasonable price and which would make a brilliant project for someone.

Monday, 25 November 2013

What A Lovely Day We Had ....But Now We Bid Farewell To The Haddenham Event

Thank you to everyone who came along last Saturday to the little Haddenham Village Hall to what was to be the very last Haddenham Dolls House Exhibition organised by Freda and George Dorrell. 
As soon as the doors opened, customers seemed to appear from nowhere and KT Miniatures' stand was rather busy until early afternoon...then finally I could stop for a breather for a late lunch! (Thank you to those customers who had to wait so politely and patiently as I dealt individually with everyone - my little helper has now deserted me for uni' so was on my own for the whole time).  It was lovely to see so many of you throughout the day.  These were all the photos I managed to take just before the event opened...as after that, it got a bit hectic and business was brisk, so did not get the chance to take any of the many wonderful exhibits on display!
The circa 1930s Tri-ang No 62 seen here in the foreground sold within the first half hour. 

 KT Miniatures' stand was filled with a mixture of both antique/vintage and my handmade items.

Right next to KT Miniatures stand there was a display of every single project ever undertaken at our Nostalgia In Miniature Workshops.
If anyone would like to receive our Nostalgia In Miniature Workshops' free monthly emailed newsletter then please get in touch with me, Celia, at info@ktminiatures.com and I will add you to our database.
Alternatively you can contact Robin at

I understand that money raised for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Leukaemia Research will finish in the region of £1,000 which is fantastic....so congratulations to Freda and George Dorrell for putting on yet another splendid event.  They have organised this event for many years but have finally now decided that this will be the last one. It will be missed!

A gallery of over 30 photos taken on the day plus a full write up of proceedings, can be seen on the following link:


Friday, 22 November 2013

Last Minute Dolls House Addition For Haddenham Event Tomorrow...c1930s Tri-ang No 62!

This is a very brief posting to say that I am now able to bring a circa 1930s Tri-ang No. 62 dolls house to the Haddenham Dolls House Exhibition tomorrow for purchase.......
This is in addition to the already advertised 1930s Dolly Mixture dolls house, as seen in the last posting.
The exterior is in completely original condition, all metal windows, chimneys, steps and two of the original lampshades are still there. The exterior has had a coat of  white plus a light green on the top part of the base. But this is lovely and just look at that wallpaper!

I will also be bringing a further big box of vintage low budget 1/16th scale furniture for you to rummage through, in addition to what has already been advertised. Am having a BIG clear out....bargains to be had!!!!!

Just to recap - details of tomorrow's event is as follows:

Saturday 23rd November
Haddenham Dolls House Exhibition
Haddenham Village Hall, Bucks, HP17 8EE 
10.00am - 4.00pm
Admission £4.00 Adult/£1.00 Child
Hope to see you tomorrow!!!