The Sturbridge Fair....

 

Times They Are A Changing....

For a number of Years now, Dear Readers, I have gone to the Sturbridge Miniatures Fair at the beginning of June and come home with an amazing pile of miniature Treasures. There was a brief hiatus due to Covid in 2020, but I have gone almost every year for a decade now. So I set off on Sunday last with high expectations of finding mini marvels to tempt my budget. But it turned out that the Miniatures Fair was no longer being run by the group who used to run it (they retired last year!), and had been sort of absorbed into the concurrent Antique Dolls and Bears Show instead. Well, they said there were some miniatures to be found in there, so having come all that way I went in to see what I could find. I was a bit disappointed to see almost entirely antique bears and dolls.... some remarkably like the ones I had as a child! (Antique!) So I prowled carefully and did find a few spots that had old estate sale caches of minis. Some furniture and lots of bric-a-brac. The pieces of antique furniture were about the only thing worth the trouble; they were relatively cheap, and I bought some nice pieces. The secretary above has no maker markings on it, and is slightly damaged, but I liked the shape and the doors have a fascinating  faux "glass" that is held together with scotch tape on the back! (Probably just brittle decaying plastic. As you can see it came home with me.

At another spot I found a bunch of pieces made by Shackman 

with the tags and boxes still together!

The woman said they had been in her childhood dollhouse,

 which she no longer had room to keep.

The table and chairs were mine!

As was this dresser, also by Shackman.

And this desk.

Just look at that "piano hinge"!

And here it is open.

The tiny drawers inside are just blanks, 

but the lower ones all open.

(I confess, I remember wanting this furniture when I was young!)

At yet another site I found a mix of old stuff and newer pieces.

An elaborately painted "Venetian" Chair by Bespak.

A lone ceramic pedestal sink....

A lovely elegant antique washstand

 with the marking JPM painted on the underside.

I am not familiar with this and will need to do some research.

It is delicate, well made and in good condition.

A "Petite Princess" grandfather clock!

These were available in my childhood, 

but the scale is not true mini scale.

We were given a few pieces of Petite Princess,

 and I was always put off by the smaller than true scale.

But this clock might find a home somewhere in one of my unfinished projects!

A beautiful cranberry glass teapot....!

Well, there will have to be a home somewhere!

At yet another spot I found a few more current "antique" pieces.

This Art Deco style settee just called to me....

 something about the purple velvet and the bentwood arms....!

And a matching side table too.

And then I spotted this....

A Vintage style TV Cabinet?

(Sorry about the gloomy pictures... 

the weather has been dismal and dark with smoke for days)

And then the lady whose booth it was

 showed me how the TV works...!

Vintage Frank Sinatra anyone???

Or old movies......

This is the movie "It's A Wonderful Life"

Full length....... really mini perfection!

I couldn't believe it!

I still haven't explored the entire menu...

"Lucille Ball", "Sherlock Holmes" ....

"What's my Line".....

As you can see,

 it too, came home with me!

So I went to the Sturbridge Fair, Dear Readers,

And even though I found a few Miniature treasures...

Clearly, the times they are a changing.

The Weekly Blossom.... Take Two!

And A Few Little Things.....

Yes, Dear Readers, it is Yet another Blossom, even though it looks just like all the ones to come before! It is either Blossom number Fifty-nine, or Blossom number Sixty.... depending on how we are counting, if you remember the dispersed Christmas Blossom, already so long past! I was late getting started this week due to the vagaries of the Visiting Schedules, and was afraid I might not get it done. But there it is! And I was so pleased with myself for making the extra push to get caught up while my Dear Mother was at her Reunions, that I decided to see whether I could complete a second one in just a single day!

And Lo And Behold... There it is!

(This did require some resting of the eyes and fingers.....

 and lots of glue and paint drying...)

At least I now know it can be done!

But I also took some time to Catalog

 my new purchases from The Sturbridge Fair....

I found this lovely Antique Tall Chest of Drawers... 

(made in the 70's)

A printed on cloth Oriental style carpet....

An ornately framed "Grandma Moses" painting....

(I am fond of her work!)

A Couple of beautiful "Books of Hours".... 

as well as a pair of unfinished wooden tables.

A couple of Framed antique photos...

And The most Adorable, as well as unusual, 

Elephant Teapot I have ever seen!

And A Christmas-y Cottage Teapot...

Because, well... Tea and Christmas

 are two of my Favorite Things!

Plus an Amazing covered ceramic butter dish!

An Elegant Footed bowl...

And a Pair of Oriental Urns....

Another picture of the Kitty...

More food made by TwinHeart.....

 the most amazing food I've ever seen!

Including a pair of Deli Wrapped Pita bread sandwiches to go... 

wrapped as I stood there!!

Impossibly perfect scallions, and a gorgeous carving knife....

And those oranges can be peeled and the sections pulled apart!!!

You really have to see it to believe it!

Another Lovely Fashion doll by "Angel's Children"

And an adorable black Angel child....

Because, I confess, there is a new project brewing!

 

A whole Bunch of Bunnies.....

because they're better that way!

A selection of tiny ribbons and laces.....

For decorating tiny gowns....

A pair of Antique lace doilies....

(Because I really haven't forgotten The Cupboard House...)

A Wonderful selection of books and magazines from years gone by....

A Mini "Dollhouse Kit" still in the box!

An unusual Nautical Plate....

A Porcelain baby doll.... 

and some interesting beaded cloth.....

A quarter scale woven carpet.....

(Yes, The Tree House is calling too!)

And some "Cranberry Glass" plates....

Just Because....!

Many of these little Treasures were from collections

 that were being sold after the owner had died...

I pawed through a lot of bins!

 

But I think, Dear Readers,

 that what you really want to see

 are the lilac blossoms in the bouquet...

There are now five blossoms in the one vase.

 I think it will look better once I have added

 some more leaves to the stems.

And yes, it is hard to see them....

 it is rainy and gloomy here again!

So there you have it Dear Readers,

The Weekly Blossom, take Two!.....

And A  whole bunch of little Treasures!

Shopping Therapy....

Sturbridge Miniatures Fair......

Thank you, Dear Readers, for all your kind and supportive comments on my recent posts. I am making good progress with my healing, but typing is still a slow and uncomfortable process. At the end of a day at work (which is mostly typing numbers) my hand is sore and my arm is tired. My comments on all your wonderful posts have been short or non-existent, even though I am trying to keep up with the reading. I am trying to be patient and let the healing happen, and I will be doing more exercises soon. So there is still no real progress on any of my projects to report. But last weekend was the annual Sturbridge Miniatures Fair, which is the only Fair that happens near enough to home that I can drive there and back comfortably on the day of the Fair. I debated not going this year.... but decided that I Needed the "Shopping Therapy"! And I came home with some sweet Treasures! Above you can see one of two tiny "house" boxes that were made as favors for one of the big minis conventions, and the dealer decided to sell hers at this Fair. It is smaller than 1/144th scale as the entire "house" is less than 2 inches tall!

And here is the other one... 

I didn't get a good picture of the front on this one...

 it is very detailed!

And in no particular order I will show some

 of the many little items I came home with....

Some metal platters and tiny glassware....

A set of Tinker Toys!.....

Some clocks and games.... 

all from "Wright Guide Miniatures"...

And yes, another Pony!

Meet " Copper"....

He was ever so eager to find his friends....

A beautiful dish drainer with colorful dishes....

(I think the house for this has not even been started yet.... 

still in it's box in the cellar...)

A Vintage porcelain bathroom set.... very cheap....

A handsome wardrobe....

A Lovely stoneware crock....

Two more Teeny dolls... each about 1/2 inch tall!

A couple of lovely old rugs made in Japan...

The one on the left is up-side down, so you can see the stitches...

Here it is right side up!

And last but Not least, another Robin Betterley kit....

 the Christmas Wagon in 1/4 scale!

(Do you think I will finish the Secret Christmas House before I open this kit???)

It did not take Copper long to find the other ponies.... 

(I apologize for the dark pictures... 

it has been dark and gloomy and rainy here for weeks!)

And here is a glimpse of the larger rug in Hardwick Hall.... 

I think it is perfect for this little dining area!

I hope you have enjoyed this little review, Dear Readers,

I am feeling so much better...

It is amazing what a little Shopping Therapy will do!

I am so glad I went to the Sturbridge Fair!