At the Show - Halloween Quarter-Scale

The Halloween  "Trick or Treat" quarter-scale kit is one of the themed structures from Karen Cary's Miniatures. It sells for $65. Coordinating furniture kits are also available. In addition to an extensive selection of quarter-scale kits, a wide range of laser cut decorative trims and several 1:144 kits are offered. Visit the website to see more. minis@karencary.com, www.karencary.com

Previous posts here and here.

At the Show - More Halloween Quarter-Scale

Phyllis Nishimori and her sister Liz Aduan, Grandt Line Products, offer quarter-scale kits often inspired by 1930s Disney movies and 1940s children books. Whimsy abounds in their high detailed kits. To see more designs, go to the website. www.grandtline.com

"Cindy, You're Late" quarter-scale kit. Cinderella's carriage has turned back into a pumpkin. Her footman and driver are once again the tiny mice scurrying about.

"Crow's Landing" quarter-scale kit. Halloween scene complete with landscaping and scarecrow in top hat.

Previous Grandt Line post here

At the Show - Halloween Collectible

A few years ago, Barbara and Lew Kummerow offered this charming one-of-a-kind Autumn (Halloween-themed) house in 1/2" scale. The house was also available with a unique Spring, Summer or Winter theme. The Kummerows make exquisite Tiffany lamps and stained glass pieces, small scale houses, fabulous toy theatres and toys.  kumini@tcsn.net

Previous Kummerow post here

At the Show - Halloween Accessories

Using the traditional colors of black and orange, Karen Laisure (M&L/Minis by Karen) makes delightful framed silhouettes with a Halloween theme. She brings us witches, black cats, ghosts, haunted houses and more. Karen also supplies a wide range of mirrors, picture frames and art work. She handcrafts flowers, planters, pottery, accessories, porcelain dollhouse dolls, furniture and more. klaisure@aol.com, http://minisbyKaren.com

Previous Karen Laisure post here

At the Show - Halloween Decorations

Tom Lee of Lee's Microcosm makes a unique line of hand carved Jack O' Lanterns (carved pumpkins). Tom finds ideas for faces in magazines, off the internet, and from his own imagination. An IGMA Artisan, he makes fabulous working nutcrackers and working toys in 1:12 scale. His carved pumpkins sell for $15-$20. Orders accepted. 510-659-1154,  glenlee5@sbcglobal.net

Previous Tom Lee posts here and here

At the Show - Halloween Collectibles

Karen Markland's whimsical vintage and country casual style Halloween creations are sure to delight. An IGMA Fellow and dealer at Good Sam for more than twenty years, Karen makes a wide range of folk art furniture, accessories, and toys. Tel: 281-492-8496

Hand-painted Halloween bench and small spooky accessories.

Hand-painted cupboard with spooky graveyard and handcrafted Halloween decor.

Handcrafted and painted birdhouse with Halloween ghosts, black cat, pumpkins, bat, and witch.

Handmade and painted Halloween witch jumping jack toy.

Previous Karen Markland posts here and here

At the Show - Fantasy Figures & Collectibles

Sylvia Mobley creates porcelain dolls, wild animals, domestic cats and dogs, and a line of resin creatures. An IGMA Fellow, she also makes a wee Haunted Village and charming Christmas Village. The structures are about one-inch tall, sold separately, and have no scale. They are designed to work as decorations in a 1:12 scale setting. See Sylvia's website and blog for more of her work. pinerose@dishmail.net,  www.sylviamobley.com, sylviamobley.blogspot.com

Resin cast mouse available in assorted poses (white, grey or brown). Body 1/4 to 3/8 inch long. From Sylvia's line of Resin Creatures made using her original sculptures. Pumpkin by Pat Richmond of Twinheart. pat@twinheart.com, www.twinheart.com

Witch with hedgehog, ready to cast a spell. 

The witch Crystal with baby pet dragon. The mother pet dragon is at her feet. Both dragons are from Sylvia's line of Resin Creatures.

Thorn Tree house. One of the wee structures available in Sylvia's new Haunted Village.

Some previous Sylvia Mobley posts here, here and here

At the Show - Halloween Accessories

In addition to lovely miniature jewelry, IGMA Artisan Lynn O’Shaughnessy makes a variety of Halloween items. She also makes a wide range of eyeglasses, bath and boudoir accessories, and much more. lynno@wbhsi.net


1:12 scale black and white Cats, Ghosts and Goblin Decorations. 6 black and white Cats (or 6 Ghosts or mix of 6 Ghosts & Goblins) for $5. 12 micro Cats (or Ghosts and Goblins) 1/2" and under for $10.

Haunted Dollhouse kit for $20, 2-3/8"H x 1-5/8"W. Each one varies slightly but always includes a Witch, Moon, 2 bats, 2 spiders, 3 ghosts, 3 cats and Giant Cat Goblin. Available complete for $36.

Previous Lynn O'Shaughnessy post here

At the Show - Halloween Exhibits

This week's Exhibits pay tribute to Halloween. Each one is unique and great fun. All of the vignettes were exhibited at the 2007 and 2008 Good Sam. Special thanks to Connie Sauve for sharing her photographs.

Halloween exhibits displayed at the 2007 Good Sam Show. The names of the exhibitors are unknown.

Halloween Exhibits displayed at the 2008 Good Sam Show. The names of the exhibitors are unknown.

Announcing the 2013 Good Sam Academy of Miniatures

Immediately after the 2013 Good Sam Show on Oct 12-13, we will hold the first annual Good Sam Academy of Miniatures (GSAM). Starting Monday, October 14th, the Academy will feature 6 classes in our Morgan Hill facility. Our intent is to give students an opportunity to learn how to make high quality miniatures, rather than gluing things up from kits. The six experienced 2013 teachers have all achieved the status of IGMA Artisan or Fellow. Most have taught at Castine, Chicago, or both. Offerings include:


Bluette Meloney - Faux  finishing
Rik Pierce - Creative Paperclay and more
Barbara Sabia - Stained Glass
Nancy Summers - Upholstering
Carol Wagner - Making plants
Geoff Wonnacott from England -Furniture Construction

Students from out of town will be transported to Morgan Hill where a hotel will be available. Transportation will be provided from the hotel to class and back. Lunches and dinners will be catered at the teaching site. Classes may vary in length, depending upon what each teacher selects to teach. Transportation will be provided to the airport for those who flew in for the show and the academy. Watch for updates on the show website and blog. To be put on the Academy email list, contact Connie Sauve, our Academy Director, at Connie@thechinadoll.com 

At the Show - Figures & Animals

IGMA Fellow Sylvia Mobley works in 1:12 scale with porcelain and ceramic clays and slips using molds from her original sculptures. All of her dolls are china painted porcelain and dressed with silks, cottons and wools. Email pinerose@dishmail.net. To see more of her work, visit www.sylviamobley.com, sylviamobley.blogspot.com

Ancient crone. An original sculpt dressed in all natural fabrics.

"Moving Day" for Jean and her canaries.  The carpet bag is by Sylvia Rountree, The Dolls Cobbler, www.dollscobbler.com. The birdcage is from Bespaq.

Various animals and pieces for a wee Haunted Village.

Various animals.

Sylvia at her table with her wee Christmas Village. Fairy under dome by Stephanie Blythe with rabbit by Sylvia.

Previous Sylvia Mobley posts here, here, and here.

At the Show - Figures & Fantasy

A long-time member of NIADA (National Institute of American Doll Artists), Stephanie Blythe creates exquisite fine art porcelain figures and miniature dolls. Her fantasy figures include Babes in the Woods, fairies and merbabies, fairies in treasure boxes, figures based on fairy tales, and more. Look for Stephanie and her work at Sylvia Mobley's table. Figures are 1:12 scale.  s.blythe@comcast.net, www.stephanieblythe.com

Fairy in a treasure box, Merbabies in seashells, and little girl sleeping.

Collection of tiny Merbabies in seashells.

Previous Stephanie Blythe post here.

At the Show - Books & Workshop 2012

From the Netherlands, Tine Krijnen makes marvelous hand bound miniature books and other fine paper goods. At her Friday workshop, Tine taught students the first steps of bookbinding--including how to cut and measure book blocks, covers, glue spines, and more. Do-it-yourself kits are available for purchase on her website. info@miniatuurboekbinden.nl, www.miniatuurboekbinden.nl

Hand-bound miniature leather historical books, illustrated pop-up book, and detailed stamp album.

Illustrated pop-up books, leather books with fancy clasps and sheet music from Tine's table.

Handcrafted quarter-scale bookcase, loose books, and book stacks.

Tine with two students in her workshop. Everyone went home with "know how" and material to make 40 books.

Tine shows off a finished illustrated book. Leathers, kits and supplies were available for purchase at the workshop.

Previous post Tine Krijnen here.

At the Show - Food, Kits & Workshop

Ruth Stewart, Stewart Dollhouse Creations, creates in 1:12 and 1:48 scales. She offers cakes, cupcakes, pastries, tea sets, laser cut antique doilies, lots of kits, and more. Ruth taught a workshop at the 2012 Show on how to make a variety of miniature flowers. ruth@stewartdollhousecreations.com, stewartdollhousecreations.com

Halloween Cake House is offered finished and as a 1:12 scale wood kit, 3-1/2 inches tall. It is covered in polymer clay to mimic fondant. The railing, door, windows, spider webs and cats are laser cut. The pumpkins, roses and leaves are handmade. Ruth then uses her special frosting to decorate with vines and borders.

Interior view of Halloween Cake House.

Scarecrow cupcakes with handmade little hats and candy corn noses, 1:12 scale. Cupcake mold kit available on Ruth's website. In the future, she will be offering a tutorial, hats and candy corn to make the scarecrow cupcakes.

The Cupcake Emporium Kit comes with the base, back, Cupcake and floor, 1:12 scale. First put together and paint the cupcake bakery stand, display stand, prep table with all the fixings, table and chairs, and cupcake small display table. Then make all the cupcakes. Included are a frosting kit, cupcake trims, tutorials, and cupcake mold kit. Components also sold separately. stewartdollhousecreations.com/mcupckit02

In Ruth's workshop "Making Flowers From Clay" participants learned techniques to make petals, leaves, and mix clay. Students took home a detailed booklet on making flowers.

A blank sliceable cake and frosting were provided to help complete the cake. Students picked a vase for their bouquet.

Ruth Stewart holding the prototypes for the cake and a vase of flowers.

Previous Ruth Stewart post here.