2013 GSAM instructor Rik Pierce: Mid-1990s Medieval Lighthouse as completed by collector.

Rik Pierce, Frogmorton Studios, was an instructor at the 2013 Good Sam Academy. A popular teacher, his imaginative structures are based on English rustic Medieval and Tudor buildings--with a lot of whimsy and fantasy thrown in. Rik prides himself in giving viewers "a lot to look at!" The Medieval Lighthouse shown here was published in American Miniaturist magazine (Oct. 2009 issue #78). Email: rik@frogmorton.com Web: http://www.frogmorton.com, http://frogmortonstudios.shutterfly.com/

Rik Pierce with prototype from mid-1990s Workshop. Taught one time only at the Chicago International Show.

A private collector purchased the Lighthouse the same year at the Philadelphia Miniaturia. It eventually became the "English Rose Tea Room."

The interior decoration for the "English Rose Tea Room" was a collaborative effort between the collector and Lenor Johnson, R-Stuff Miniatures. 

The kitchen and bedroom as outfitted by the collector and Lenor Johnson, R-Stuff Miniatures.

To see more by Rik Pierce, go >here<.

From the Chairman

The second annual Good Sam Academy of Miniatures (GSAM) will be held immediately following the 2014 Good Sam Show, on October 13-17 in Morgan Hill, just 20 minutes fom our show at the Doubletree. Registration information, pictures of the classes and the instructors, and hotel and meal information will be posted on our show web site by May 1, 2014.

Our Friday Workshops, on October 10th, will be posted on the web site June 1st, 2014. Be sure to watch for the Friday workshops, they have gotten better and better in recent years.

If you come to the show on Saturday you may return on Sunday without paying to get in. Also, Sunday from 9:30 to 10:50 there are free Tools and Techniques demonstrations by some of our dealers, and usually a couple of make it and take it teaching experiences. Do take advantage of these opportunities.

Our web site is http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net

Deb Mackie, 2014 Academy Instructor

Deb Mackie of Maryland (White Horse Studio) is our Academy instructor of the week. Deb is an I.G.M.A. Artisan and will be among our 8 Academy instructors in 2014. Formally trained as a graphic designer and illustrator, Deb Mackie also brings to the world of miniatures a background in theatrical set and costume design. The journey into sculpting and customizing began with her desire to include realistic figures and animals in her 1:12 scale dioramas. We do not yet know what Deb will be teaching, but we believe it will involve a saddle and possibly a horse in some way. You are sure to have a great class with Deb. These pictures are samples of her work, not necessarily what she will be teaching.
http://www.whitehorsestudio.com

Desert Tan Western Basketweave Saddle

King of the Wind:
The Godolphin Arabian

Johannes Landman, 2014 Academy Instructor

Johannes Landman, master fine arts painter, will be instructing a class at the 2014 Good Sam Academy of Miniatures. Johannes is the acknowledged finest painter of old masters in the United States and Canada, and possibly in the world. His use of depth and illumination is unsurpassed. Below are four examples of his fine art. Johannes can be reached by email at
jilandman@telus.net


Portrait of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of America.
After Edward Hughes (1887)

"Henry, Duke of Gloucester"
After Adriaen Haddeman (Dutch circa 1653)

"Portrait of Rembrandt"
After Jan Lievens (Dutch c. 1629)

"Children at a Window" Trompe l'oeil
After Waldmuller (Austrian circa 1853)

Kari Bloom, 2014 Academy Instructor

This week we are introducing our fifth 2014 Academy instructor, I.G.M.A. Fellow Kari Bloom. Kari started in miniatures making arts and crafts furniture, and became well known especially for her Morris Chair. Several years ago she added Retro and Modern furniture and accessories and what she calls “Cocktail Furniture”. Her MacKensie-Childs furniture is magnificent.

To learn more about the MacKensie-Childs style go to www.mackensie-childs.com for a fun read.

Below are some of the pieces Kari has done in the past. We can hardly wait to see what she offers at the Academy in 2014. Kari’s web site is under maintenance at the moment, but it is at www.minitonminiatures.com

Kari's amazing flower chairs

Kari's fan furniture

Kari's bonnet chairs. Wow!

GSAM Workshops: Fun With Power Tools

On Saturday, June l, Barbara Jones, Good Sam Chairman, taught two hands-on "Fun with Power Tools" workshops at the Good Sam Academy. Saturday morning, students learned to use a bench top table saw.  Saturday afternoon, students learned to use a scroll saw.

Enthusiastic students started the morning class with slight feelings of trepidation. All were able to practice ripping, cross cutting, cutting circles, and cutting dentil molding and finger joints. Students used GSAM's Dremel, Jarmac and Proxxon table saws, as well as several makes of scroll saws.

Seven students attended the Bench Top Table Saw Class in the morning.

 Instructor demonstrating cross cutting on a table saw.

Students trying out three different brands of table saws.

Instructor showing students how to set up sides of a box to cut finger/box joints.

Students working at table saws.

Eight students attended the Scroll Saw Class in the afternoon.

Instructor showing students how a scroll saw blade is adjusted.

Students working at scroll saws.

Participants left with a new-found sense of confidence and their own handmade, finger joint cherry wood pieces to assemble later into boxes. The fee was $15 for each 3-hour session with proceeds to be used to build up GSAM's tool pool.

Later in 2013 or early 2014, Barbara hopes to offer more power tools classes. These will include lathe turning, use of the overhead router, making cornices, moldings and paneling. Interested students may contact her at northbaj@att.net or 408-257-9385.  Also, if anyone has power tools to donate to GSAM, please give Barbara a call. Photos and write-up courtesy of Rhona Lee, Gilroy, CA.

GSAM Instructor Geoff Wonnacott

Cabinetmaker Geoff Wonnacott of England has been handcrafting authentic museum quality furniture reproductions in 1:12 scale since about the mid 1980s. He is an IGMA Fellow in Furniture and will be offering two workshops at the Good Sam Academy. The first is a French Transitional Louis XV-XVI Bureau (c1774) scheduled for three-days, October 14-16. The second is a two-day workshop scheduled October 17-18  to construct a George III Chippendale Silver Table.

For registration information, go to http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net and click on the Academy.

French Transitional Louis XV-XVI Bureau (c1774) workshop. Three-days, October 14-16.

George III Chippendale Silver Table workshop. Two-days, October 17-18.

Geoff Wonnacott's table at the 2012 Good Sam Show. Photo taken on the floor.

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

18th century Chippendale Corner Cupboard. Offered as workshop at the 2011 Show.

Ebony Lyre Chair with Late Louis XV galleried work table, c1770. 

To contact Geoff or to see more of his furniture designs, go to: GffWon@aol.com, Web: www.geoffrey.wonnacott.org. New website: www.geoffreywonnacott.co.uk

GSAM Instructor Nancy Summers

An IGMA Fellow, Nancy Summers has been making custom furniture and beds for more than thirty-six years. Designs include French Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Victorian, Art Deco, modern, and more. Nancy also makes a number of furniture kits, mainly with modern designs.

She will be offering a three-day workshop at the Good Sam Academy from Oct 14-16. Students will learn how to make a 1:12 scale tufted leather chair with foot stool using leather, fabric or a combination of both. All skill levels are welcome. For registration information, go to: http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net/goodsamacademy.htm

Tufted Leather or Fabric Chair and Foot Stool three-day workshop, Oct. 14-16, 2013.

One-of-a-kind hand carved Hall Table with Swag. Photo courtesy of Wayne Finegan, eBay id: decorativepassion25, http://www.ebay.com/sch/decorativepassion25/m.html

High Table & Chairs

Art Deco Sofa

Fabulous Modern Bed

Tufted Love Seat

Chaise Kit

Country Loveseat Kit

Footstool Kit

You can contact Nancy at nssummers@myninestar.net. Visit her website to see more designs,  http://www.summervilleminiatureworkshop.com/

From the Chairman - 2013 Good Sam Academy Ad

We want to share the 2013 Good Sam Academy of Miniatures ad in the May/June 2013 Dollhouse Miniatures magazine, page 9.  It is also in the May 2013 American Miniaturist on page 15.

IGMA Fellow Nancy Summers is offering a 3-day workshop to make the tufted chair shown in the Ad. There is also a foot stool. Students can make the chair and foot stool in leather, fabric, or a combination of both. The class is scheduled  Monday, October 14 through Wednesday, Oct 16. All skill levels are welcome.

For detailed class descriptions, info about attending the Academy, and Registration Form, go to:
http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net and click on the Academy. With questions, contact Connie Sauve, Academy Director: Connie@thechinadoll.com or 209-474-2870

From the Chairman

In 2013, Good Sam will offer some "Fun with Power Tools" days to teach Bay Area miniaturists how to use power tools. Classes will be small, and very low cost. Depending on the interest level, the classes will be held at the Good Sam Academy in Morgan Hill or Cupertino (or both).

Special thanks to Luci and Dick Hanson (Cascade Miniatures) for their recent donation of a sizeable amount of pine scraps and rolls of veneer. The pine is perfect for teaching miniaturists how to use small power tools. The veneer may surface at our free Tools and Techniques program on Sunday morning for the 2013 show. 

Seeking Tools for Good Sam Academy (GSAM)

We are seeking donations of tools for the new Good Sam Academy of Miniatures (GSAM). See list below. All such donations are tax deductible. While we have enough borrowed tools for the first year's classes, our goal is to have a well stocked tool room. The Academy will hold its first six workshops in our Morgan Hill facility beginning Monday, October 14, 2013. If you would like to make a donation of tools or be put on the Academy's mailing list, email Chairman Barbara Jones, northbaj@att.net

Tools needed for the Academy:

1.  Small table saws by Dremel, Preac, Proxxon, Jarmac or Microlux.
2.  Scroll or jig saws by Dremel, Microlux, Hegner or others.
3.  Drill presses by Cameron, Proxxon, Microlux, Anker, Dremel #210 drill presses
     and other overhead shapers.
4.  Dremel Moto-tools, the ones you hold in your hand, of any age.
5.  Lathes by Taig, Sherline, Unimat, Anker or Klein, and duplicators to fit where
     available.
6.  Belt sanders and disc sanders by Jarmac, Dremel and others.
7.  Magnetic gluing jigs, sharp drill bits (sizes 61-80 in boxed sets), pin vises, various
     clamps, tweezers, cutters and nippers, small pliers, squares, rulers, depth and angle
     gauges, needle files, small screw drivers (slotted and Phillips).