Porcelain, Books, Radiators and Toys......
The Sturbridge Miniatures Fair was held on the first Sunday in June, Dear Readers, which was also the final day of my vacation week, and it really was the icing on the cake of a wonderful vacation. It did seem as though it was a little emptier than usual, of both vendors and buyers, which could be a sad result of the ease of internet marketing. I do enjoy being able to see the items I am buying up close and for real, and enjoy the exchanges with the crafts-people and artisans who give so much to this Miniature World! This Fair happens only once a year and I count myself fortunate that it is only a little over an hours drive from where I live. And because my RL world recently has been rather full of visiting relatives and no time for minis, I will share with you some of the Treasures I found at the Fair. The china dishes in the above picture are old and well used, but I think that makes them perfect for the Fortune Teller's Gypsy Wagon! I found quite a few Treasures in the bins of sellers who were clearing out inherited collections.
Like this very Tiny Nativity!
(Because I surely don't already have enough Nativities!)
And a charming basket filled with skeins of yarns.....
And a whole selection of metal wares.....
sconces, old cutlery, a bed warming pan,
candlestick and candle snuffer,
and a lovely copper grater!
And then there were the usual (and not so usual)
commercially available pieces....
An assortment of books...
most with empty pages but evocative titles.....
And some with a definite destination.....
If I ever get to start building my "Someday" Santa's Workshop......
(No.... don't cringe....!)
And some with gorgeous craftsmanship.....
And fully illustrated pages.....
The Book of Myths and Enchantment Tales......
And the Edmund DuLac Fairy Book.....!
These last two were purchased from
"Art To Play With Hitty"...
a showcase for Hitty artisans.
(I did not know about Hitty dolls, but they seem to be
carved wooden jointed dolls much like my own Penny Wooden!)
And of course, there were dolls.....
A lovely "antique style" china doll... (a doll's doll)......
dressed as if from the mid nineteenth century,
made by Ethel Hicks.
She is just under two inches tall,
so she would be a large doll, and is jointed porcelain...
And can be convinced to sit in a chair... sort of...
those petticoats do get in the way!
Also by Ethel Hicks there were two "Fashion Dolls"
which caught my eye and had to come home with me.....
Meant to resemble Barbie dolls...
these are not jointed and are 1 and 1/2 inches tall, porcelain beauties.
The detail work on them is very fine,
and I'm afraid my photos do not do them justice!
And the most remarkable polymer clay food you will ever see anywhere....
made by Twin Heart (www.twinheart.com)
Every item is realistic in every detail....
the cabbages are layered and can be cut open and "shredded".....!
(I will have to practice carefully when I open them!)
The orange can be peeled and the sections separate inside....!
The bagels and breads can be sliced and are textured inside!
This tomato is cut in half....
but can be further sliced if desired...!
And the broken egg!!!
What can I say?
It was difficult to choose from her selection....
next year I will buy more!
Of course there were the run-of-the-mill regular sorts of kits too....
Some old House of Miniatures kits....
A 1/144th scale Pub kit by Templewood Miniatures....
and a kit for a Victorian parlor table...
And I just could Not resist the "Ravenwood"
Robin Betterley's Haunted House kit in 1/144th scale!
(It seems I have No impulse control when it comes to her kits!)
And at the very end, Dear Readers,
when I thought I had found everything I could ever need...
I remembered that I had hoped to find
a couple of those old fashioned radiators (made of resin)
because the Lovely Old Dollhouse is still needing a few...
and I found them among the supplies offered by Aminithing!
And I'm sorry to say I just can't remember
which vendor sold the tiniest set of "jacks" you ever saw!
I know, my picture does not do them justice....
I will have to get them out and play a game of Jacks...
I played a lot when I was young!
Oh, and I almost forgot to show you the twelfth Lilac blossom....!
Lest you think I had slacked off....
In spite of all my last minute guests...
I completed the twelfth blossom!
( I think I've got a system!)
So Dear Readers, I went to the Sturbridge Fair....
And I found Porcelain, Books, Radiators and Toys...
And Kits and Food and Trinkets too.....
And I am so glad I could be there!
