Breast Cancer Campaign Raffle Page – Now Live

I am pleased to announce the launch of the Breast Cancer Campaign Raffle Page on KT Miniatures website today, after a slight delay it is now live...HOORAY!!!

Visitors to my website this morning were probably wondering what on earth was going on as my Home Page seemed to take on a life of its own but it was only me trying to participate in a spot of web designing all on my very own (oh dear...BIG MISTAKE) resulting inevitably in “mucking it all up” and having to promptly engage the services of hubby to put it back together again! Oh well, its suitably back up and running again now and you can begin to feast your eyes on the goodies that have already been donated to the wonderful Breast Cancer Campaign Raffle that will take place at THE Thame Dolls House & Miniatures Fair on Saturday 19th February 2011.

Although I am no longer able to organise this wonderful and special annual event, I have agreed to continue to co-ordinate the Breast Cancer Campaign Raffle and Sales Table. So here we are.....already I have been given donations that are "to die for"..... from not just UK artisans but overseas as well!



The extremely talented Deb Jackson of Deb Jackson Designs who produces the most weeniest breathtaking unique and unusual miniatures, has donated this exquisite "The Art Of The Miniaturist" book. No, your eyes are not deceiving you....yes there really is a weeny metal chair sitting on the front cover!!! If you would like to see more of Deb's amazing work then do go visit her website: http://www.debjacksondesigns.com/

Tony Knott, who is extremely well known in the miniatures world for his amazing historically accurate Tudor & Medieval buildings and accessories, has donated this delightful little solid bronze jug with distressed gilding. This would look brilliant with a flower arrangement. For more of Tony's work, see: http://www.tonyknott.co.uk/

Ellie de Lacy,  who is famous for her delightful paintings,  has donated this fabulous set of limited edition fully printed and illustrated leather bound books - recent additions to her ever growing list of gorgeous handmade products.  They are truly wonderful and would not look out of a place in an antique dolls house, as they look authentically old! If you would like to see Ellies full range of products then do go visit her website on: http://www.elliedelacy.co.uk/index.html

Mary Williams has donated this exquisite doll dressed in an Edwardian walking suit trimmed with pink and co-ordinating hat with roses. Mary produces beautiful porcelain dressed dolls in  a whole variety of costumes from past eras to 20th century.  If you would like to see more of Mary's wonderful  work then do go see her website: http://www.dollshousedolls.co.uk/

This gorgeous late 19th century style hat of dusky pink silk velvet with handmade silk flowers has been donated by Lanzarote based Janine Crocker of Miss Amelia's Miniatures. To view more of Janines amazing millinery and other creations do go check out her website:   http://www.missameliasminiatures.com/

You can see lots more including donations from Australian artisans Kathy Brindle and Lidi Stroud, by clicking onto the Breast Cancer Campaign Raffle Page, either by the following link http://www.ktminiatures.com/Raffle.html or there is a sliding pictorial box link based on KT Miniatures Home Page. More donations will be added as they come in so do keep checking.

1940s Room Box-Work In Progress

Here is one of the room box commissions I am currently working on......thought you might like to take a peek as it is quite different from my usual projects. It is a hospital ward scene in wartime Britain during the 1940s....and it will be set at Xmas!

The whole scene is being constructed inside an antique cabinet......and is great fun to do although I have to say is proving quite challenging!The whole project is still very much “work in progress” and I will put up more pics when the whole project is complete at the end of this month (I hope). 



Here is a cabinet filled with medicines, ointment and bandages.



Nurse's desk complete with flex from handmade lamp that will be fixed into a socket on the wall (lamp made from an old Dol-Toi teacup, a vintage metal saucer plus garden wire)! Originally this table was to stand  longways but then realised that the lamp flex would trail along the floor...creating health & safety issues...unacceptable even for the 1940s!

The tea trolley has a catering size teapot (teapot made by David Williams of Harvington Miniatures) - trolley contents not quite finished yet but it has real working castors so Miss Nurse can wheel this around to her hearts content!

 Mr Patient and Miss Nurse are the work of Robin Britton of Coombe Craft, whose fabulous work has been seen before on this blog. Robin often works closely with me on commissioned projects; her little character dolls are perfect for miniature room settings as  they can be manipulated into various positions.

More pictures to come when the project is complete.

Variety Of Antique Dolls Now Available

 I currently have a variety of antique dolls available on KT Miniatures and thought I would show you a selection on here.

This first doll is extremely old and believed to be late Victorian. She has a china head plus bisque arms and legs, the rest of her body is made from stuffed material. Her clothes are believed to be original and although she is a little playworn, she is still exquisite. She measures 5" in height and would look wonderful in an old dolls house. It is refreshing to have the whole doll as more often than not I end up with just the head or maybe an occasional limb from this type of doll!

There are also two bisque Kewpie type dolls, both identical, each complete with their own nursery bed and are being sold separately. They are real cuties measuring just 2 1/2" in height and are believed to be either German or Japanese, dating from c1930s. Both are a little playworn and a tad grubby but generally are in good condition.

This particular German bisque doll is one of my all time favourites and she is in an excellent played with condition, c1920s/1930s.  As you can see she is dressed as a maid, her clothes being original and she has gorgeous painted features including her little shoes and bobbed hair. She measures 3 1/4" in height. Isn't she lovely? I am so torn to let her go but already have three in my little 30's Hobbies House so go she must as it is becoming rather crowded in there!

There are other vintage dolls including a couple of little Grecons currently for sale.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THESE VINTAGE DOLLS

A Wonderful Bedroom Set Inlaid With Bone

I am in the process of putting up for sale on KT Miniatures some quite old and interesting dolls house furniture, all from the same vintage collection. My favourite of all the pieces that I have listed today is this little bedroom set that has been inlaid with bone in a cross design...it is quite exquisite and beautifully crafted.

The wardrobe doors open to reveal a little mirror and two tiny hangers on a rail....absolutely wonderful! The wardrobe measures 6 3/4" high x 4" wide x 2 1/4" deep so quite big for  1/12th scale.

Here you can see the inlay detail of the bone, it has been quite skillfully created. Wonder if there is some significance of the cross?

The bed measures 6" long x 4 1/4" wide and is sprung with vintage covered curtain rail rods.....truly delightful. I am of the opinion that although there is no makers mark, this set was probably manufactured commercially circa 1920s/1930s in Europe (the design of the bed suggests the art deco era).   There is no doubt that this is a quality set and would look fantastic in an old dolls house. Obviously if anyone out there has seen a set like this before or can even shed some light on the maker, I would love to hear from you.

It is now up for sale under the Antique 1/12th Bedroom section on KT Miniatures.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW LISTING

Here are two other old pieces from the same vintage collection that have been listed today. A very old wardrobe circa 1910-1920s with a lovely mirrored door. Plus a kitchen dresser from the same era (in fact it may even be late Victorian).  The old wardrobe can be found on the same page as the bedroom set above and the old dresser can be found on the Antique 1/12th Kitchen Page. There are lots more interesting vintage dolls house pieces to go up for sale over the next few days, all from the same collection.

Unique 1950s Dolls House

This adorable little dolls house has just gone up for sale today on KT Miniatures website. It is handmade and believed to have been created for a little girl called Susan in the 1950s.

There are some really nice touches to this house with much of the original handmade furniture (all included in the sale).

I love the little round window at the top of the house which looks into a loft room and the way the chimney has been designed as a handle!

My favourite room has to be the bedroom as it still retains it's original handmade bed with bedclothes, dressing table with pull out drawers.

A REALLY LOVELY touch.....a built in wardrobe with sliding door. Inside there is still a felt coat on a hangar.....gorgeous!

The kitchen is a bit of a mix. I think the shelf with hooks is original but the sink and cooker are plastic and different scale ie. more like 1/16th whereas the other furniture is more like 1/12th scale. So I believe these are later additions.

The lounge has a wonderful embroidered carpet that sets off the two handmade armchairs and table, all original to the house.

Another really lovely touch is the loft rooms, accessed by a lift off back roof panel....clever!

For more info, CLICK HERE