New Dealer: Vilia Miniature, Italy

Lia Comugnero and Alma Di Andrea of Vilia Miniature offer a wide range of handmade furniture in 1:12 and 1:24 scale. This includes wood store display units, shop counters, kitchen furnishings and bedroom pieces in both a classic style and Shabby Chic style. Furniture pieces are available for you to decorate or already decorated. Other collaborators are Vitaliano (Alma's husband) and Lia's son Luigi, who will accompany her to the show. They also make an interesting selection of handcrafted accessories and some kits. Email viliaminiature@gmail.com Web http://www.viliaminiature.it

Handcrafted wood display unit with frieze at top and two drawers at bottom. Filled with fabrics, laces, ribbons and trims.

Empty handcrafted wood shelf unit with frieze at top and two drawers on bottom.

Handcrafted wood "Tea" box. The teabags are perfect 1:12 scale reproductions and are removable.

Miniature reproduction of vintage wood chest filled with colorful DMC embroidery floss.

Handcrafted white shabby chic kitchen unit with stove top and sink.

Handcrafted wood wall plate rack with storage shelf and pegs to hang items.

Handmade traditional wood tangram puzzle. Removable from storage box.

Two boxes of Christmas ornaments.

Handsome wood carrying case filled with artist supplies.

New Dealer: Rita & Horst Kruger, Tiny Ceramics, Germany

Rita and Horst Kruger of Tiny Ceramics, Germany, make beautiful ceramic hand-painted miniature tiles out of natural clay and porcelain. Their 1-inch and 1/2-inch tiles are unglazed in natural colors or glazed with mat, silk mat or shiny glaze. They offer single tiles, wall murals, custom made floors and walls. They also carry special products such as trays, tables and bathtubs. The Krugers will guide you through the process of measuring your project to get the required number of tiles needed. Email: info@tinyceramics.de  Web: http://www.tiny-ceramics.com

Elaborate hand-painted tile wall mural. It features three panels, each with a vase of colorful flowers, birds and butterflies.

Handsome terra-cotta tile floor designed for country-style kitchen.

White and blue glazed tile floor for ladies elegant bathroom.

Hand-painted tile wall mural of the "Sleeping Beauty" children's fairy tale.

Wicker chair and wicker table with hand-painted tile design on table top.

Tile table top with a lovely hand-painted design of fruit and flowers.

Large and small trays featuring hand-painted tiles with flower scenes.

Wood tray with twelve charming Delft hand-painted porcelain tiles, each one with a different bird.

Alan Hamer Metal Work

An IGMA Fellow in metalwork, Alan Hamer works in iron, copper and brass. He makes a wide range of 1:12 scale children's toys including pedal cars with working steering and pedals. He also designs gates, fireplace tools, brass beds, household accessories, wind drags, and much more. The photos below represent a sampling of Alan's work. Email: scalemetal@msn.com, Web: http://www.alanhamerminiatures.com

Child's pedal tin racer, fully functional with working steering and pedals.

Child's trike truck with trailer.

Assorted tin ware.

Child's deluxe pedal roadster with working steering and pedals.

Scroll Iron Gate and Polo Iron Gate.

Patina'd "March Wind" wind drag.

Rapiers and broadswords.

Hanging "The Ant" iron sign. 

To see previous posts for Alan Hamer, go here and here.

Shellie's Miniature Mania - 2014 Workshops

Long-time dealer Shellie Kazan, Shellie's Miniature Mania in San Carlos, CA is offering three fabulous 1:12 scale workshops in 2014. To register, contact Shellie at 650-593-4921 or email shelliesminis@msn.com. For more details, go to http://www.shelliesminis.com.

June 14-15, 2014. "Cedric, the Sleeping Chef" - Cost $395. Teacher:  Elle Piccolo-West, IGMA Fellow. Elle will teach how to hand sculpt the head and shoulders, hands and legs, with gestures and form. The body will be soft-sculptured, using batting, needle and thread, and wire armature. Once assembled, clothing and shoes will be added and the figure wigged.

Sept. 26-30, 2014. Five day workshop with Rik Pierce: "Duddingwells Tea Room" - Cost $1,000. A very popular instructor, Rik's fantasy structures are based on English medieval and Tudor buildings. Using Creative Paperclay, he teaches students how to make fanciful brickwork, chimney, fireplace, plaster, walkways, and more. Class participants will make leaded/stained glass windows, distress hand-hewn beams and timbers, make glowing embers for the fireplace, and put in wiring for lights. 

Oct. 17, 2014. Upholstery Technique Class - Cost $195. Teacher: Nancy Summers, IGMA Fellow. Students will receive a stained and finished chair to upholster. They will learn tricks and techniques to make the upholstery look nice and tight, and also how to make a nice trim. Cotton, silk, and fine velvet will be available or students may bring their own fabric.

Revisiting the 2013 Good Sam Academy

Over the next several weeks, we will be sharing the 2013 Good Sam Academy experience on the Blog. For five days immediately following the show, the new Academy offered seven advanced classes taught by five leading miniaturists in their field. This year's Academy will be held Oct. 13-17 at our facility in Morgan Hill, CA.

"The 2013 Academy was a resounding success," says Connie Sauve, Director. "We had incredible teachers, great classes to choose from, and wonderful catered food. A week of fun, miniatures and friends! What more could a miniaturist ask for?" (Photo taken in Rik Pierce's class.)

From 2013 show coverage in Miniature Collector (Feb. 2014 issue). For a magazine subscription, phone Scott Publications toll free 1-800-458-8237.

"We had a lot of fun in the class," says instructor Nancy Summers. "Students designed and upholstered their own chairs and footstool with leather and/or fabric." "Taking Nancy Summers class was such a treat," says student Ruth Heisch (far left), San Jose, CA. "Besides ending up with a wonderful upholstered chair, I felt our group became a little family."

From show coverage in the Jan-Feb 2014 issue of Dollhouse Miniatures magazine. For a magazine subscription, phone Ashdown toll free 1-866-606-6587. Email: usoffice@ashdown.co.uk 

For 2014 Good Sam Academy class information and to register, go to http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net/goodsamacademy.htm. If you have questions, contact Connie Sauve, GSAM Director. Phone 209-474-2870 or email connie@thechinadoll.com 

Announcing the 2014 Good Sam Academy Classes

The 2014 Good Sam Academy classes will take place October 13-17 immediately after the 2014 Good Sam Show. Nine classes are being offered.  See descriptions below. (Our next new Show post will be Saturday, May 24 and weekly thereafter until show time.)

GSAM class lengths range from two to five days. The participating instructors are all leaders in their selected fields and have been teaching their skills to miniaturists for many years. Why don't you come and enjoy the fun, too?

Our spacious facility in Morgan Hill, CA is 20 minutes from the Doubletree Hotel (where the Good Sam Show is held) and the San Jose Airport on Highway 101. There are open and enclosed classrooms, a full kitchen, and ample rest rooms. For class details, to register, and for hotel and meal information go to http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net/goodsamacademy.htm

Wood fired oven pizza lunch at GSAM 2013.

Send in your GSAM registration now, before your favorite class gets filled! If you have questions, contact Connie Sauve, GSAM Director. Phone 209-474-2870 or email connie@thechinadoll.com

Geoff Wonnacott class at GSAM 2013.

Class 1: Upholstered Wingback Chair. Instructor Kari Bloom.

Students will learn upholstery techniques on a naked chair frame.  Skills include upholstering using foam, batting, cotton fabric, quilter's iron (provided), and how to make tassels. Kari will mail fabric swatches so students can mix and match up to five different fabrics. Students may also bring their own cotton fabrics.  One-inch scale. All skill levels. 3 days - Mon, Oct 13 - Wed, Oct 15, 9am - 5pm.  Projects will be completed in class. Register by Sept 1. If questions, contact Kari at 612-581-5698 or minitonmini@aol.com. Web: minitonmini.wix.com/kari-bloom 

  

Kari Bloom

Class 2: 1:144" Scale Victorian Cottage. Instructor Nell Corkin.

Charming "Carpenter Gothic" style cottage (mid to late 19th century) with ornamented bargeboards on the gable ends. Students will learn a wide variety of techniques for working in 1:144 scale with emphasis on methods developed by instructor over 30 years for achieving a high level of detail and a realistic look in 1:144 scale.  Some experience with accurate cutting and measuring in any scale is the only requirement for this class. Intermediate skill level. 4 days - Mon, Oct 13 - Thurs, Oct 16, 9am - 5pm. Likely to finish in class. Register by Sept 1. If questions, contact Nell at 517-381-1980 or miniminis@aol.com. Web: www.nellcorkin.com.  Blog: http://nell-miniminis.blogspot.com/ 

Nell Corkin, IGMA Fellow