Kensington Weekend 2015

Presents Wrapped & Welsh Cakes Packed

 Last Thursday, I travelled South for the Kensington Dollshouse Festival, which also coincided with my Friends 50th Birthday. I made sure that I had the presents wrapped and a copious amount of Welsh cakes for friends exhibiting at the festival and friends that I was meeting there.

On the Friday morning, I travelled into London, I was the first one of our KDF Crew to get there and ended up having a chat with Bob from Country Contrast & Paul from Country Treasures, who were outside, before I got in the queue.

The rest of the gang met me outside a little while later.We all seemed to get split up inside the venue, but all met up at 2pm outside under the tree. (Photo's to follow in another Post).

I went with a strict list this time and told myself that I wasn't going to let my heart rule my head. I wanted bits for Slug & Jiggers Apothecary and Eeylops Owl Emporium.

Petite Properties ~ Bea Broadwood

Petite Properties ~ Bea Broadwood

Petite Properties ~ Bea Broadwood

 Bea Broadwoods, Petite Properties stall that was jam packed, lots and lots of new kits and some that were retiring at the show. Managed a quick catch up with Bea and Mr Bea.

Carol & Tomas Kubrican ~ True2Scale Miniatures

Carol & Tomas Kubrican, from True 2 Scale were over from the United States exhibiting and it was lovely to finally meet them in person after following Carols Blog for years. Such a lovely couple. They had some fabulous Kits. One that really caught my eye was the Red Stove, inside the Oven was a miniature version again of the stove and the other was the Creep Coffin Kit. Brilliant.

Lidi Stroud ~ Basketcase Miniatures

The lovely Lidi Stroud, of Basketcase Miniatures, was also exhibiting all the way from Australia. Her Baskets are beautiful.

Bob's, Country Treasures stall was overflowing with yummy food's, enamel ware and some lovely wooden tables and dressers and as always the lovely Doreen was behind the stall. Managed to have a good chat with them near the end of the day.

Bob & Doreen ~ Country Contrast

Country Contrast

 I have to say, there were some absolutely fabulous stands with exquisite miniatures on Display. One of my favourites was Janny Warnaar's, Art Of Mini. Janny was really busy when I got there, but I did manage to say Hello to her lovely Hubby. Their stall was absolutely jam crammed with miniatures and the most fabulous Room Boxes filled with so much detail, they were absolutely beautiful. I have no idea how they had managed to transport it all over and keep everything looking immaculate.

Art Of Mini

Art Of Mini

Art Of Mini

Art Of Mini

Art Of Mini

I also had a lovely chat with Jenny Kelm of Kastlekelm Miniatures, who had some really unusual bits and pieces on her stall, but unfortunately I didn't get a picture.

Also caught up with Jane from Thimbleminis, who makes the most beautiful Prams, Pushchairs and other Baby equipment. Her modern Prams are fabulous. 

Jane Timms ~ Thimblemins

Thimblemins

Crumpled & Rumpled ~ Judith Laird

The Little Hatter ~ Annette Shaw

I also managed to catch up with Judith from Crumpled and Rumpled and her friend Annette from The Little Hatter. Think they were glad of the Welsh Cakes to get them through the day.

I did manage to buy a beautiful Owl from Aidan Campbell for Eeylops.

Aidan Campbell Miniatures

The Giddy Kipper

By the time I got to Julie Campbell and Jain Squires, both their respective stands were looking very empty. But we did manage a quick chat and a catch up.

I have to say I had a lovely day, all be it a long one and it was lovely to catch up with Friends old and new. But I know I missed a few on my travels around the show.

The lovely Jain Squires & Julie Campbell

Julie Campbell Doll Artist

Julie Campbell Doll Artist

Julie Campbell Doll Artist

Dragons In The Clay..

 Everyone that knows me, knows that I have a love of Dragons. Hence, why I have Desdemona's Home for Orphaned and Abandoned Dragons. I also have the Dragonology Books and have been messing around with making some Dragon Heads in Sculpey. I finally managed to make one that I am really happy with. So much so, that I used a two part Silicone mould making kit and took a mould of it. I also found that an empty pen from a certain high-street bank, made a wonderful tool for embossing the clay to make the pattern on the Dragon's skin and my fingernails for the fin.

I took the mould to Gwili Pottery with me and Chris very kindly let me have a go at using the mould to make a plaque to hang on the wall.

The following pictures show the process of adding the Dragon Head to the Plaque with the lettering and edging pattern, then adding the coloured slips and the final result once the piece had been fired, glaze added and fired again. Really pleased with how this turned out. The Colours look so vibrant.

Gwili Pottery, have a wonderful showroom filled with beautiful pieces, which is well worth a visit if you are in Carmarthen. They also have a website and facebook page and they also do commission work, so if you have a special occasion coming up you can commission them to make you a special piece.

A.I.M ~ Issue 54

AIM Imag Issue 54

A.I.M ~ Annual Project Supplement

AIM Project Supplement 2015

Merlin

    My Magnificent Merlin, my beautiful Bear, Newfoundland & Gentle Giant, left us today to run free at the Bridge and he has taken a piece of my Heart with him. 

From the moment we picked you up as a Puppy, we had a special bond, you were always my gentle bear. My protector who would always sit on my feet, right in front of me, when we met someone new, putting yourself between me and them. A babysitter for the other animals including the Ponies, we often wondered if you thought you were a Pony. The times you would steal our things, but never chew them, just hold them in your slobbery jaws. A lover of Children who you would let hug you tight and you'd never move, just drawl all over them. You'd make us laugh how you'd do that woof, throw yourself on the floor and roll over for your belly to be tickled or to be hoovered. Silly Bear. How if we throw a Snowball and it hit the floor, you would dig in the Snow to try and find it.How you used to shake your head and cover us and everything else in your slobber, that could travel at jet speed. Visitors were warned never to wear nice clothes when visiting, because they would always go home with some of the "Merlinators", slobber somewhere on their person.

It was an honour to have such a magnificent beastie in my life. How I will miss you slobber chops, until we meet again.
R.I.P Merlin aka The Merlinator (Mileoak De Villiers) 15th March 2005 ~ 22nd January 2015

Merlin looking over the stable door into the Kitchen.

Give me a Cuddle

Merlin & Katie

Merlin babysitting Moses

This leaf came home attached to the slobber

Merlin in his Paddling Pool

He grew into those Paws

Playing Peek A Boo over the Wall

Merlin carrying off Harry's Coat

Merlin with his Rugby Ball

House Elf ~ The Making of Dobby

 After I made the other Elves, one of my Friends asked me if I could make a Dobby. 

Well I thought I'd give it a go and these pictures showed how he evolved.

I just need to dress him in his Dirty Pillowcase and paint his eyes.

I'm really pleased how he has turned out so far.

Elves & Mice...

 I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year 2015.

Back in November of last year, I showed some little Bugs and Bees that I had been making. Well when I finished those, I thought I'd have a go at sculpting some Elf faces. As you all know I took hundreds of photographs, when I went on the Harry Potter Tour, so had lots of pictures for reference.

I haven't been able to sculpt for ages, due to the swelling in my hands, but now they have changed my medication, the swelling seems to have subsided in my hands, although my legs are another matter.

I started off with a little head, that had quite Elfin looking features, just so I could see if I had the proportions right. That head is in the top picture and is currently sitting in the Cabin waiting to be cooked.

The next head that appeared in the Clay was a sleeping Elf. He actually surprised me, when he appeared. I then went on to make a another Elf and a little Mouse. Most of which have now got bodies and have been baked. But I have absolutely no idea, how I am going to dress them or how, so will probably be doing loads of research on Pinterest. 

When I showed these on my Facebook one of my Friends, asked me to see if I could make my favourite Elf Dobby. Well I had a go and I'll show you the results in another post..