33rd Annual Bay Area Miniaturists Potluck & Flea Market

The 33rd Annual Bay Area Miniaturists Potluck & Flea Market was held Saturday, November 10th at the College Heights Church in San Mateo, CA. An annual NAME event sponsored by the Wee Housers Club, it is not limited to NAME members. Everyone is requested to bring a Potluck Dish to share. Attendees eat first. Then the tables are cleared off and everyone puts out what they brought to sell. It is a wonderful opportunity to sell, buy, or just visit with old friends. To learn more, email Nancy Wantiez, wantiez@sbcglobal.net

On March 9, 2013, the MiniCals club is putting on a similar "Spring Fling" Potluck & Flea Market in Morgan Hill, CA. It will be held at M&L Precision, 315 Digital Drive, Morgan Hill, CA from 10 AM to 2 PM. To learn more, email Ruth Heisch, grouchybeartoo@aol.com

In center is artisan Bluette Meloney. On her right is Joan Wion (Good Sam dealer). On her left are Laurel Doll and Karen Norman

On far right, Cary Yerves, President of NAME, shares thoughts with friends.

In center is Barbara Jones, Chairman of Good Sam. On her right is Dealer Chairman Phyllis Hedman. On her left is Jan Costello. Left front (in red) is Joan Zinner. Joan purchased an Anker overhead router and a Dremel disc/belt sander at the flea market and donated them to the new Good Sam Academy. (Thank you, Joan!)

The one with her hand up is K C Ragland, now of Fresno. Everyone agreed,

"We had lots of good food."

2013 MiniCals Workshops

In 2013, the local MiniCals miniature club is offering a series of monthly workshops. The Workshop Series for the first six months of the year is listed below. Classes are in 1" scale. Reservations are being accepted now. See contact information below.

January 19:  Bring your toolboxes and gluing jig for this shadow box. We will provide a great picture of a French Bakery (Boulangerie). Build a shelf unit for the display window and make baskets for breads and pastries.  $30  (first 30 people)

February 16:  Experiment with fimo, kitchen clay and air dry clay making breads and cakes. Learn coloring techniques for your baked goods. They will look great in the display window built in January's workshop. Molds, paints and clays will be provided. $15

March 23:  Learn a paint/tissue/glue texturing technique for the exterior of a vignette box. Make an egg carton/slate floor and electrify the box. $25

April 27:  We will build and tile a sink/cabinet/wine rack and paint wine bottles. This could be a sink/cabinet without a wine rack if that is your choice. This will furnish the March workshop vignette. $20

May 18:  Regular solder vs. liquid solder. Experiment with both and you will complete a simple metal project in 1 inch scale. $17

June 22:  Learn how to create decals and decorate plates. $15

A basic toolbox and gluing jig is all that is needed. We are now taking reservations.  If you are interested email Ruth Heisch. We will offer shoebox sales.  Bring your sack lunch and we will provide hot and cold beverage.

Questions?  Ruth @ 408-997-1004 or grouchybeartoo@aol.com 
Karen Laisure@408-436-3955, cell 408-688-4799, klaisure@aol.com
Checks payable to Ruth Heisch, 7197 Wooded Lake Dr. San Jose, CA 95120

At the Show - Exhibits

Several members of the MiniCals miniature group in San Jose, CA exhibited their 1:12 scale  NAME Day project at the 2012 Good Sam Show. Their NAME Day event was called "By the Sea" and is the title of the exhibits. NAME Day is an international event for NAME members only. The idea was to have members all over the world doing the same project on the same day as a unification of the NAME family. Photos courtesy of Connie Sauve, Exhibit Chairman, Good Sam Show.

"By the Sea" exhibit by Ruth Heisch, San Jose, CA. Along with Diane Piziali, she handles Donations & Door Prizes for Good Sam.

This delightful two-sided "By the Sea" exhibit is by Marie Gattis, San Jose, CA.

"By the Sea" exhibit by Jo Anne Conly, San Jose, CA. She is in "Through The Looking Glass" miniature club. They helped MiniCals put on the NAME Day event.  

"By the Sea" exhibit by Judy Pick, San Jose, CA. Judy is in charge of the Sunday morning Tools & Techniques program at Good Sam.

"By the Sea" exhibit by Diane Piziali, Saratoga, CA. Along with Ruth Heisch, she handles Donations & Door Prizes for Good Sam.

"By the Sea" exhibit by Penny Griffin Palmer, Alaska. (Penny Griffin was visiting Ruth Heisch, San Jose, CA and is a NAME member from Alaska.)

Jan Henderson, San Jose, CA created "On Beach in Tahoe" for her exhibit.

At the Show - Toys & Accessories

Whether you are looking for a gift or starting your own collection, Tom Lee's unique wooden nutcrackers with working jaws are sure to please. An IGMA Artisan, Tom makes stuffed and wooden toys, old-fashioned wagons, games, children's furniture and more. Look for Tom and Linda Lee at the 2013 show. They sell as Lee's Microcosm. Orders accepted. 510-659-1154,  glenlee5@sbcglobal.net

Each wooden nutcracker is wonderfully crafted, beautifully designed and painted, and stands about 1-1/4" tall.

One-of-a-kind handcrafted cuckoo clock. Special order.

At the Show - Fantasy Figures

Judith A. (Judy) Orr, A Fairy Walk, specializes in handcrafted art dolls with a fantasy flair. Working in all three scales, she makes fairies, mermaids, Santas, Elves, Christmas ornaments, holiday decorations, and much more. Judy offers workshops for adults and children. Her goal is to bring smiles and joy to collectors. Judyorr@hughes.net, http://afairywalk.com

Ornate Victorian Fortune Teller Booth with Fortune Teller. Offered as workshop at Good Sam. Tarot Readings sandwich board in 1:12 scale (available on website).

Sweet little porcelain fairy.  Antique gold Frog Prince with crown (2" tall) available on website.

Trio of lovely porcelain mermaids, 1:12 scale. Photo taken on showroom floor.

Lovely porcelain mermaid seated on large piece of resin coral.

At the 2012 Show - Tools & Techniques

More than 100 attendees participated in this year's Tools & Techniques Program on Sunday morning. Twelve knowledgeable instructors offered a variety of fascinating "how to" demonstrations. People could walk about and see all of the presentations, or concentrate on whatever they wanted to learn the most. Offerings included a lecture on LED lighting, how to cut a perfect circle, make quarter-scale food or a cloth book, and more. There was something for everyone.

 Carol Hardy, IGMA administrator and Fellow in Furniture and Sleighs, demonstrates how to cut a perfect wood circle with a table saw.

Dick Hardy, IGMA Artisan, shows how to cut a perfect wood circle using a pin router.

Sarah Anne Evans (Strawberry Creek Designs), IGMA Fellow in Needlework & Braided Rugs, demonstrates how to use a punch needle to make rugs.

Bruce Steinke (BJ Miniatures), former NAME President, shows how to align a table saw to make perfect 90 degree (square) cuts both horizontally and vertically.

"A metal triangle like this one always has an exact right angle (90 degrees)," Bruce explains. "Usually the other angles are either 45 and 45, or 30 and 60."

Keshae Hedman, a junior high student, teaches how to make instant art glass. Her mother Annie Hedman is in charge of the Children's Workshops.

Marie Gattis (MariesMinis) shares faux painting techniques. 

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

Carol Kubrican (true2scale) teaches attendees how to work with decals to enhance plastic dishes.

Janet Smith (Desert Minis) teaches how to make quarter-scale fruits and candies. She uses the microscope to check quarter-scale work and for making 1:144 micro foods.

Deb Laue (Dragonfly International) teaches attendees how to make a cloth baby book.

At the Show - Exhibits

There is a bit of magic in this week's fanciful exhibits from the 2012 Good Sam Show. These avid miniaturists have displayed vignettes many times in past years. Photos courtesy of Connie Sauve.

"One Last Look" in 1:12 scale from Linda and Tom Lee, Fremont, CA. An authentic ship's lantern is used to display a pirate of the Seven Seas. The figure and accessories are by Cliff and Peggy Feltrope (about 1985).

"The Viking" in 1:12 scale is also by the Lees. The Viking and boat were made by the Feltropes (about 1989). Selling as Lee's Microcosm, Tom and Linda are regular dealers at Good Sam.

"Pooh and Friends was inspired by three collectible Disneyana figures I found in a thrift store," says Susan Osze (Boingdragon Miniatures), Pacifica, CA. "The scene offered a chance to experiment with various landscaping materials. The log is a piece of driftwood from Linda Mar Beach near my home."

Aries, an enchanting fairy for the Zodiac sign, is a small 1:12 scale display set in a glass bowl. Also by Susan Osze, it is a delightful foray into the folklore and enchantment associated with the signs of the zodiac.

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).

At the Show - Floral Designs

IGMA Fellow Michele Carter, PepperWood Miniatures, is well known for her imaginative and elegant floral creations. Hawaiian flower designs are a specialty. She also makes seasonal arrangements, garden structures, and more. For the do-it-yourself miniaturist, Michele has created a unique line of Leaf Sheets and Leaf Sheet books. michele@pepperwoodminiatures.com, www.pepperwoodminiatures.com

Contemporary arrangement of gentian, sea holly, leucadendron, ginger, echinacea  and tropical foliage in a raku vase by Jon Almeda.

Round white arrangement of double tulips, rose mallow, oriental lilies, and small peonies in a turned resin vase by Rob Tukham.

Triangular arrangement of tulips, lilies, forsythia, hydrangea and daisies in a porcelain vase by Vince Stapleton.

Charming one-of-a-kind garden arbor. Photographed on showroom floor.

Gold and bronze autumn harvest wreath with pears, grapes, apples, and maple leaves.

Gold and white Christmas wreath with pine cones, gold and pearl balls, and holly leaves.

Shimmering pear and crystal wreath.

At the Show - Paintings

Dan Worsham, PepperWood Miniatures, is an IGMA Artisan. He paints in oil on birch panels. All of his paintings are miniature copies of master works by famous artists. Dan uses the artist's techniques when known. The painting title, the date it was painted, and the artist's name (in parentheses) are given in the caption for each work.  dan@pepperwoodminiatures.com, www.pepperwoodminiatures.com

"Paysage Huile sur Bois" (Oil Landscape on Wood), 1877 (Gustave Brion). Lovely floral arrangement with tiger lilies and daisies by Michele.

Man with a Quilted Sleeve, 1512 (Titian).

The Torn Hat, 1820,(Thomas Sully).

Three paintings by French painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905). Photo taken on the showroom floor.

Young Fellah Girl, 1876 (Bouguereau)

"Au bord du Ruisseau" (At the Edge of the Stream), 1875 (Bouguereau).

La Faneuse (The Haymaker), 1869 (Bouguereau).