A Great Time Was Had By All!

 Well, at last the Old Potting Shed Workshop took place last Saturday and judging by the lovely emails I have had since, it was a great success. It felt so good to be back creating once again in a classroom environment! The setting of the small barn at Thame Barns Centre (Oxfordshire) was just lovely, so I am planning on running all future workshops from there if possible. My old mate Robin Britton, who is now long retired but who used to be a professional dollmaker and workshop colleague, dropped by during the day which was nice. 

It was a hot and humid day, so windows and doors were thrown open until the intermittent thunderstorms meant that we had to close them every so often. But everyone beavered away regardless, amidst some friendly banter and some rather fascinating conversations:) As always, I encouraged everyone to work at their own pace because they were all of different abilities. What is really lovely and which I had often previously found, is that some of the more experienced crafters are genuinely encouraging and helpful to those that are not so experienced. 

It is difficult to gauge how far we would all get in the project, but my suggestion to everyone was to try and get the main walls constructed by the end of the morning, so that in the afternoon they could embark on some of the more interesting elements. I think most succeeded and some even got their windows in by the end of the day. 

Some found the measuring and cutting with a craft knife harder than others, but help was always on hand for those who were not so confident. As we were creating in 1/12th scale, we worked in inches, so for those of a slightly younger generation who grew up thinking in centimetres rather than inches, it can take a while to grasp the concept of inches...(let alone 1/4 of an inch and 1/8th of an inch). I am of the older generation and metric teaching in schools did not come in until a couple of years before I left school, so I still think in inches and pints!

I am a firm believer of using recycled materials as much as possible to create our miniature scenes, in fact I would go as far to say that I am passionate about this. 

And the surprised reactions from the attendees were a delight as they gradually came to realise that the "wooden panelling", the "flagstone" flooring, "stone" walls and "tin" roof, were all to be made from various forms of recycled cardboard! 

This was a massive project, the bulk of which will be finished off at home at leisure, as everyone went away with their kits which included all materials, paints, glue and a booklet of instructions. 

I have been assured by all that attended that they will email me photos of their completed projects, so if permission is granted, I will show their results on here in the near future. 

UPDATE: Ann sent me this picture the next day, as she was so hooked that she wanted to make a start on her stone wall. What a fab job she made of it too. When they are painted and grouted they are going to look amazing. Well done Ann!

NEXT WORKSHOP: I am considering running half day workshops (two separate simple projects on the same day of early 1900s German style kitchen elements) at Thame Barns Centre, possibly in late autumn if space at the venue is available. Plus a big all day project next year (project to be confirmed soon)....maybe in the spring. So if you would like to be added to the "Possibly Would Like To Come To Workshop List", please get in touch asap. Spaces will be limited. 

Celia

https://ktminiatures.com/workshops/

All Is Ready For The Old Potting Shed Workshop This Saturday

 At long last, after three years of waiting, the much cancelled Old Potting Shed Workshop is taking place at Thame Barns Centre in Oxfordshire. This should have taken place back in 2020, but due to Covid and then the sad permanent closure of Denman College, it has taken until now to finally re-arrange. 

With mock elements such as the stone walls, flagstone flooring, wooden panelling and rusty tin roofing, all made from recycled materials...the techniques learnt can easily be adapted to refurbishing dolls houses too. 

The kits are ready and I very much look forward to meeting everyone who have booked for Saturday's one day course in the gorgeous setting of the Thame Barns Centre. 

This is a big project, so no-one will finish the entire scene in a day. And as the attendees' kit includes everything needed to complete the scene as shown in the workshop prototype, they can go on to finish their project in the comfort of their own home afterwards. 

Meanwhile...I am now also turning my attention to the next workshop project :)

Celia

ktminiatures.com

KT Miniatures Will Be At Haddenham Antique & Vintage Fair This Sunday 25th June!

 What a month June has been….not a great one here, hence KT Miniatures website has been static, with no new stock listed for the last three weeks at least. Not only have I been laid low with a beast of a bug since the beginning of June, I also had a split water tank up in loft, so water leaking through the light fitting on my landing, directly above my brand new kitchen...scary!!! However, it has all now been mended and hopefully so am I, so life is a little calmer…(I will say it quietly as I don’t want to tempt providence).

Meanwhile,  I am pleased to say that I will be having a stand once again, at this month’s Haddenham Antique & Vintage Fair which is taking place this Sunday 25^th June, so do come along if you can, it would be great to see you!! Please note that I can only accept payment in cash at this fair, I will not have the facility to accept card payments. 

HADDENHAM ANTIQUE & VINTAGE FAIR

HADDENHAM VILLAGE HALL

BANKS ROAD

HADDENHAM

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

HP17 8EE

9.00am - 3.30pm

Hot & Cold Refreshments Available

£1.00 entry

This month I will have a mixed array of antique and vintage dolls house items, most of which are not on my website.

Amongst some of the miniature related items will be a 1930s school poster of “Princess Elizabeth & Her Doll’s House”, and an old Mabel Lucie Attwell poster called “Dolly’s Washday”…both gorgeous! Plus a rare 1932 copy of Princess Elizabeth’s Miniature House Book, which tells the story of Princess Elizabeth’s miniature house that was exhibited at the 1932 Ideal Home Exhibition.

I will have one dolls house….this rare late 1960s thick printed card dolls house, designed by Maureen Roffey (a book illustrator and designer). Presumably this is now deemed to be rare due to it having made out of thick card, so readily disposed of by many when they were no longer wanted. However, this is a lovely example of one that survived. It would originally have come flat packed and self assembled, along with furniture and a family. Much of the furniture is present in this example, plus mum, dad and baby. Nice little item. 

NB.The dolls house I took last month to this fair was snapped up quickly so no longer available, sorry. 

This antique wall shadow box will also be available on Sunday. Not a lot is known about it, but possibly Austrian and from the 1930s? It has been made in such a way that you could possibly add your own bits and bobs to it....a truly lovely and unusual item. 

I also have non dolls house related items, including some antique child tea sets, an antique toy sewing machine and loads more. 

Hope to see you there on Sunday.

Celia

ktminiatures.com

KT Miniatures Is Going To Be At Haddenham Antique & Vintage Fair Once Again - This Sunday 28th May

COME & SEE US THIS SUNDAY 28TH MAY 2023, AT  HADDENHAM ANTIQUE & VINTAGE FAIR!!!

Some of the treasures that I will have for sale at Sunday's fair. 

HADDENHAM ANTIQUE & VINTAGE FAIR

HADDENHAM VILLAGE HALL

BANKS ROAD

HADDENHAM

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

HP17 8EE

Sunday 28th May 2023

9.00am - 3.30pm

Hot & Cold Refreshments Available

£1.00 entry

I am delighted to say that due to the success of last month's fair, KT Miniatures will once again be at Haddenham Antique & Vintage Fair. I will have a 6ft stand packed with old dolls house treasures, plus a few other old non-dolls house related treasures too. Most of the items I'm bringing on Sunday are not currently on the website, some of which you can see in these photos within this blog post. Plus as always, there will be a couple of the popular rummaging boxes at the side of the stand for you to pick up a bargain! 

A real mixture of vintage and antique dolls house furniture and accessories.

Please note that I will not have the facility to accept card payment at the fair, so all transactions will have to be by cash only...sorry. I understand that there is a handy ATM over the road within the row of shops. 

The Old Potting Shed Workshop Project

Also on display will be the Old Potting Shed workshop prototype, so if you are booked onto the workshop or still pondering whether to sign up, do feel free to come and take a peek, plus it will give me an opportunity to discuss any queries you may have with regards to the project. I currently have just one more space available. 

My old mate Robin Britton  (retired "Coombe Crafts" dollmaker/ex "Nostalgia In Miniature Workshops" colleague), will be helping me on the day too. Last month, sadly we had to do without refreshments as the lovely lady who runs the kitchen was poorly. However, I understand that she is well recovered, so hot and cold refreshments will be available throughout the day. 

A "doer upper" 1950s/60s dolls house with original pretty wallpaper.  

My stand will be in the same place as before, in the entrance foyer, to the left just before the main entrance into the hall...which means I will be right next to the refreshments...very handy!

I hope to see you there!!

Celia

ktminiatures.com

Maker Of This Stunning Little Carved Wooden Dog Revealed!

I fell in love with this little carved wooden dog, he was so beautifully made, but had no idea of the maker. 

This little dog had clearly been created by a highly skilled person.

The painting and patina is exquisite too. So I was not surprised  that he was snapped up as soon as I put him up for sale...and I am pleased to say that he is going to a very good home. 

Meanwhile, I would like to thank Rosemary for kindly getting in touch, who saw the little dog on my website, and informed me that it had been made by the workshops of Brockenhurst in the 1930s. She said that he would have been part of a hunting set. 

Subsequently, I thoroughly enjoyed doing a little research on who made this dog, and was delighted to find this brilliant video on YouTube. It tells us a brief story about Frank Whittington and his "Forest Toys" which he set up after the first World War.  The toys were all hand carved and painted by Frank and his team of employees. His workshop/small factory was based in Brockenhurst, a large village set within the New Forest in Hampshire, UK. I found this video absolutely fascinating, so I decided to share it with you. If you watch carefully, you will be able to see some of these little dogs amongst the whole array of animals and figures. Truly magical!!

Celia

ktminiatures.com