From the Chairman: It's Showtime! On Holiday until Saturday, Nov. 2

Please join us this weekend for the 38th Annual Good Sam Show!

We are now on holiday and will resume our weekly Saturday postings on Saturday, November 2nd. In 2014, our 39th Annual Good Sam Show is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 11, 10 am-5 pm. Sunday, Oct. 12, 11 am-4 pm at the Doubletree Hotel, San Jose, CA. Please join us. Follow our Blog throughout the year to keep yourself informed.

The show provides key funding for the PlaneTree Health Library's free community services, http://www.planetree-sccl.org

Barbara Jones, General Chairman and Phyllis Hedman, Dealer Chairman, Finance. From the 2007 Good Sam Show with a Circus theme.

From Chairman: Join Us at the 38th Good Sam Show

This is our last blog post before the 38th Annual Good Sam Show, Saturday, Oct 12, 10 am-5 pm. Sunday, Oct. 13, 11 am-4 pm. We are very excited about the show, and take great pride in our selection of talented artisans. Everyone is excellent! We hope you can join us. There are 116 sales tables, including 16 international dealers.

The Friday Workshops vary, but start as early as 8 am and end at 5 pm. Some of them will have room for students that very day. The Children's Free Workshops are 12 noon to 3 pm, both days. The Children's Pre-Registered Workshops on Saturday are full. The Girl Scout Workshops on Sunday are also full.

At the Show: Ashdown Publications

American Miniaturist Editor/Dollhouse Miniatures Sub Editor, Traci Nigon will be making the rounds at the Good Sam Show this year. She, along with Advertising Sales Manager, Sara Vix are looking forward to meeting the show's attendees, vendors and artisans. "It will be a great show and we can hardly wait for this year's event!" says Traci Nigon. traci@ashdown.co.uk, sara@ashdown.co.uk

At Show: Camille Minichino "Miniatures Mysteries" Author

Look for author Camille Minichino's table in the Lobby near the entrance to the show. Camille has published 17 novels and many short stories and nonfiction articles. As Margaret Grace, she has published 6 novels in the Miniature Mysteries series. The books feature miniaturist Geraldine Porter and her 11-year-old granddaughter, Maddie. The latest is "Mix-Up in Miniature." In April 2014, "Madness in Miniature" will be released. camille@minichino.com, http://www.minichino.com/

Camille Minichino with a background of her book covers.

Camille Minichino with Phyllis Hedman, Good Sam Dealer Committee & Finance Chairman.

At the Show: White Elephant Sale

Each year, Good Sam has a White Elephant Sale. Look for the table in the Lobby outside the Showroom. The hours are Friday Evening: 6 pm to 9:30 pm.  Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm.  Sunday: 11 an to 4 pm.  It is always great fun.You will find everything from dollhouses to past issues of miniature magazines. Everything is priced to sell. There are bargains galore.

At the Show: Saturday Silent Auction

Again this year, we are delighted to offer special miniatures in a Saturday Silent Auction. In addition to a selection of donated miniatures, there will be some room boxes and other items from a large estate we received. The auction opens at 10 am and closes at 2 pm.

Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe room box, 1:12 scale.

Small shop with nice gingerbread trim and wood shingle roof.

Four lots of Bespaq Emporium Shop Furniture in white. Bespaq labels on bottom.

West African rosewood Fireplace signed by Phyllis Turner, the Artful Hand. Mirror handcrafted by IGMA Artisan Steve Goode, S.H. Goode & Sons Workshop. Delicate silver candelabra.

Little Pot Bellied Piglet handcrafted by Teresa Summers, IGMA Artisan in Animal Figures.   

Formal rectangle dining room table with two arm chairs and two straight back chairs. Centerpiece and pretty dining service for four.

Lot of metal hand-painted Toy Soldiers.

At Show: Free Sunday Tools & Techniques Program

Sunday morning from 9:30 am to 10:50 am there is a free Tools & Techniques program with miniaturists demonstrating various techniques. Come join us for the following demonstrations:

1. "Using Cookie Molds" (a make it take it). By Ruth Stewart, Stewart Dollhouse Creations.
2. "Peel and Stick Wallpaper" (a make it take it). By Carol Kubrican, true2scale.
3. "Halloween Shelf" (a make it take it). By Deb Laue, Dragonfly International.
4. "LED lights: Soldering and Wiring" demo. By Luci & Dick Hanson, Cascade Miniatures.
    They will also have a DVD showing on wiring.
5. "Overhead Routing Techniques" demo. By Carol & Dick Hardy, IGMA Guild Office.
6. "Using a Lathe" demo. By Rob Tukham, RJT Miniatures.
7. "Braided Rugs" demo. By Sallie Evans, Strawberry Creek Design.
8. "How to Set Crystals in Mini-Jewelry" demo. By Lynn O’Shaughnessy, Jewelry and More.
9. "Making Art Glass" demo by Keshae Hedman.

Luci Hanson of Cascade Miniatures explains the use of LED lighting for miniature scenes. (Photo from the 2012 Show.)

Last year, Deb Laue of Dragonfly International taught attendees how to make a cloth baby book (see photo). This year, participants will make a Halloween Shelf.

At the 2012 Show, Carol Kubrican of true2scale taught how to work with decals to enhance plastic dishes (see photo). This year, participants will make "Peel and Stick Wallpaper."

At the Show: Sunday Drawings for Dealer Donations

Each year, Good Sam has a Sunday Drawing of donations provided by Dealers at Good Sam. Look for the Dealer Donations Table in the Lobby outside the Showroom. Buy lots of tickets, and win Sunday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. You do not have to be present to win. Below are the donations of a few of the dealers.

Hand-painted chair by Maritza Moran, Maritza Miniatures. 1:12 scale. http://www.maritzaminiatures.com. Puzzle from IGMA Fellow Barbara Stanton, painter. Her 1:12 scale miniature jigsaw puzzles have images of her paintings. http://www.barbarastanton.com/

To the left, 1:12 scale porcelain doll from Debra Hammond from Charleston, South Carolina. debraisland@gmail.com. Center: Hand-painted upholstered chair by Maritza Moran, Maritza's Miniatures, 1:12 scale. To the right, white Wisteria Vine from IGMA Fellow Era Pearce, http://www.pearceminiatures.com    

Steampunk chair from Rainbow Hand and Kathy Tepper. briantep@verizon.net,

http://www.rainbowhandandkathy.com/. On the right is a handmade teddy bear by Paulette Svec from Texas. psvecmini@yahoo.com

At the Show: Exhibits

"We are very proud of our display area and that it has stayed vibrant over the past 37 years," says Barbara Jones, Chairman. "We welcome exhibits, new or from the past, and are eager for participation from first time exhibitors."  Scales range from 1:12 scale down to 1:144 scale Here are a few of the exhibits that will be at this year's show.

"Shipwrecked" is a new room box just completed by Connie Sauve, The China Doll. "I bought this Eugene Kupjack roombox on eBay. It has been sitting in my mini stash for years," Connie tells us. "I didn't have enough silver to fill it, so I decided I'm going to turn it into a shop that sells model ships, since I have a whole collection of little ships. The front windows are the perfect size to display model ships."

"Girl with Pearl Earring" as interpreted by Michael Puff, the Good Sam Show photographer.  The structure is from a Bluette Meloney workshop.

"Master Chan's Garden" from the collection of Martha Puff, Show Publicist and writer of the Good Sam Show Blog. "The structure was a gift from Bluette Meloney. It is from her Madame Chan's Garden workshop," Martha says. "Mine is Master Chan's Garden. The figure is by doll artist Kathi Kuti of Canada."

The exhibit area at the 2012 Good Sam Show. Photos courtesy of Connie Sauve, Exhibit Chairman.

From England: Fine Furniture by Geoff Wonnacott

IGMA Fellow Geoff Wonnacott handcrafts exceptional 1:12 scale authentic furniture reproductions. He uses the finest materials often sourced from antique furniture. He is offering two workshops at this year's Good Sam Academy. To contact Geoff or to see more of his furniture designs, go to: GffWon@aol.com, http://www.geoffrey.wonnacott.org and http://www.geoffreywonnacott.co.uk

This Louis XV Marquetry Games Table is Geoff's newest piece. Made in walnut, veneered in rosewood. Backgammon on the interior.

Traditional wild goose chase game (jeu de l'oie) on the top board with pierced brass pointer.

Louis XVI Gilt Gueridon with pierced brass gallery. Neo-classic Gilt armchair with ebony arms terminating in gilt female figures. Hand-painted porcelain tea set by IGMA Artisan Miyuki Nagashima, Japan.

Louis XVI Parquetry Cylinder Bureau made in rosewood and ebony with gilt metal figures.

Sheraton chess table with Staunton chess pieces turned and carved in ebony and boxwood. Mahogany Stick Splat chair.

Louis XVI small gilt gueridon and neoclassic gilt chair, c.1790

Beautifully detailed bookcase wall unit. Porcelain plates by Miyuki Nagashima, Japan. Hand-bound books by Tine Krijnen, Netherlands. (All are dealers at this year's Good Sam Show.)

To see more of Geoff's work, go here.

From Japan: Porcelain by Miyuki Nagashima

Miyuki Nagashima, Miyuki Miniature Porcelain, Japan, has been a dealer at Good Sam since 2011. An IGMA Artisan, all of her techniques, compositions and colorings are based on European antique porcelain from the mid-18th century to the first half of the 19th century. She explains "When I paint a piece, I place particular importance on achieving a feeling of transparency and on depth of color development." mail@miyuki-miniature-porcelain.com

Reproductions in miniature of beautiful French Sevres porcelain plates. Inspired by the Wallace Collection, a National Museum in London, England.

Tea sets with fruit design and gold decoration in the Royal Worcester style.

To see more of Miyuki Nagashima's work, go here.

Tools, Accessories, Furniture from the Harvilles

Long-time dealers, Suzan and Charles Harville, Magic-N-Miniatures, carry a wide variety of handcrafted miniatures at their table. The handmade tools in their splendid Sir Thomas Thumb line are not to be missed. Do explore their offerings at this year's show.  csharville@hotmail.com, http://www.sirthomasthumb.com

Sampling of great kitchen tools and supplies.

Collection of finely crafted garden tools and supplies.

Collection of exceptional detailed period tools.

Handcrafted country furniture and accessories.

Vintage aged wood wheelbarrow and worn shop bench.

Ladies Accessories & Kits by Susan Harman Hatler

Susan Harman Hatler, Heirlooms by Susan, specializes in ladies accessories in miniature and 1:12 scale shop and boutique items. She creates in the time periods of the 1700s to the 1930s, with her favorite period being the 18th century. She offers a large number of finely detailed kits. HeirloomsBySusan@msn.com, http://www.heirloomsbysusan.com/

French inspired toiletry boxes and bags in kit form.

To see more of Susan Harman Hatler's work, go here.

Flowers, Plants & More by Marie Petrik

Marie Petrik, Marie's Mini Shoppe, handcrafts a wide variety of flowers and plants in 1:12 scale. She uses paper and silks with some natural materials to give the plants their lifelike appearance.  Marie also makes foods, fruits, vegetables and more. You will find a wide variety of one-of-a-kind items from which to choose to personalize and beautify your miniature scenes. http://www.mariesminishoppe.com/

Sweet and elegant floral in shades of pink and green flowers. 4" H x 4" W.

Unique floral design filled with shades of lavender and purples. Porcelain Venus De Milo vase by V. Stapleton. 4-1/2" H x 2-1/2" W.

Pedestal urns filled with lovely hydrangeas, tulips and irises in pinks and blues, plus a variety of greens. 5" H x 4" W

Lush dracaena in whimsical handmade checkered pot. 5-1/2" H x 3-1/2" W.

New Quarter-Scale Kits from Debbie Young, Young at Heart

Long-time dealer Debbie Young, Young at Heart, shares the new quarter-scale kits that she will be offering at this year's show. In addition to quarter-scale reproductions of actual houses, Debbie and her husband Jeff make quarter-scale individual room and whole house furniture kits. Some years, she offers a workshop at Good Sam. http://youngatheartminiatures.com

The Bon Appetit Kit is a little corner of the Julia Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian.

 The Fiesta Nook is a really fun and inexpensive kit which pays tribute to Fiesta dinnerware.

Collection of Fiestaware accessories available for the Fiesta Nook kit.

The new Kitchen Mixer is so tiny it fits on the tip of your finger.

The Country Cupboard Kit is a versatile three room shop or country cottage.

Interior of the Country Cupboard.

Houseparty House Kit. Each piece inside is significant and represents memories from one of NAME's houseparties or conventions over the past 40 years.