Each year, the Show brings together more than 100 U.S. and international artisans and dealers, including a number of I.G.M.A. Artisans and Fellows. They offer collectors unique, well-crafted 1-inch, 1/2-inch, and 1/4-inch scale miniatures from around the world.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Dealer Fern Vasi, Doll Artist

For the last 15 years, IGMA Artisan Fern Vasi has been a dealer at Good Sam. She creates enchanting 1:12 scale porcelain character dolls of all ages and from all walks of life. Each tells a story with its distinctive costuming, body language, and varied emotions. Be sure to stop by Fern's table at this year's show. She sells her delightful figures on eBay as fernvasi. Email: fernvasidolls@yahoo.com

"Reflection of Music." The image of the lovely young woman playing the cello is cleverly reflected in the two-way mirror.










Every year, Fern makes new Holiday Christmas elves doing something different than in past years. They are a popular series with collectors. 

To see more of Fern Vasi's work, go >here<.

Dealer Joan Wheatley: Tiny Mice & Rabbit Scenes, Treehouses, Folk Art Accessories

We are delighted that IGMA Artisan Joan Wheatley will be at this year's show. She makes treehouses, collector display cases, tiny scenes with hand-sculpted mice and rabbits, as well as Folk Art (Hindeloopen) painted dollhouse accessories. Below are photos of some of of Joan's most recent wee ceramic mice scenes. Look for her new work at the show. Email: Joansweetrees@bellsouth.net.  Web: http://www.joansweetrees.com


Wee rustic "House on Maple Leaf Lane" with hand-sculpted ceramic mice. Book: 5-3/4" square. Ceramic cottage scene: 1-3/4" in diameter.
"Friends Forever" and "In the Pines" books with tiny ceramic mouse in woodsy scene. 3" wide x 2-3/4" high. Mouse is 3/4" tall.
Two hand-sculpted wee mice in tiny rustic scene on round base, 4-1/2" in diameter and 3" tall. Mouse in blue is 3/4" tall.
"My Tiny Playhouse" woodsy cottage on a wood cigar box, with an "In the Cellar" drawer. 9" high x 7" deep x 8" high. Small room: 1-3/4" square. Larger room: 4" tall x 2" deep.
"Reading Before Bedtime" with wee hand-sculpted white mice. Yellow book is 2" long x 1.5" inches wide.
"Can't We Be Friends?" A grinning black cat sits on a wee ceramic "Cats" book atop a "Dogs..." book. (The "Dogs..." book is 1.5" long.)
"Sweethearts" with two hand-sculpted wee ceramic mice holding hands. Boy mouse is 1.25" tall. Base is about 2.5" long. 

To see more of Joan Wheatley's work, go >here<.

Two 2014 Good Sam Academy Classes

This is the last week to register for a Good Sam Academy workshop. Don't miss this once-a-year opportunity to take classes from top miniature artisans in their field. You will have lots of fun while learning advanced techniques in a relaxed atmosphere. Here are two more of the workshops to be held from Oct. 13-17 at our Morgan Hill, CA facility immediately following the show.

Students learn the woodworking techniques necessary to create a lovely New England Windsor Arm chair. Instructor: Mark Murphy, IGMA Fellow.



Students learn Silver Soldering techniques to fabricate two lovely desk lamps and one floor lamp. Instructor Jim Pounder, IGMA Fellow.

For detailed information about the 2014 Academy classes, go to: http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net/goodsamacademy.htm
Send in your GSAM registration now and join the fun.

Learning at the 2013 Academy

Last year, instructors and students alike left with a sense of having been part of something much more rewarding than the organizers had hoped to achieve. For your enjoyment, here are some photos from the 2013 Good Sam Academy.

"Teaching at the 2013 Academy was a great experience for both the students and the teachers," says instructor Rik Pierce. "Students learned a lot and laughed a lot."
Instructor Rik Pierce gives a demonstration in his 2013 Medieval Folly workshop. All of the instructors were passionate about sharing their knowledge with students.
"To observe all of the individual talent and skills being learned in Rik Pierce's class and the other classes was remarkable," says student Carolynn Walden. "It is a memory that will always stay with me."
"The 2013 Academy was well organized with wonderful students eager to learn, making teaching a pleasure," said Stained Glass instructor Barbara Sabia.
Student Betty Hodges enjoyed learning the basic techniques of lead cutting, lead usage and glazing for stained glass. "The experience was so much fun that I am already signed up for the 2014 Good Sam Academy."
Student Larrell Howell says of Geoff Wonnacott's 2013 furniture workshop: "I learned techniques and methods that can be applied to many different miniature projects. I am very proud of the piece I completed."
Bluette Meloney taught faux finishing techniques in her 2013 Le Bon Marché workshop. Student Ruth Block said, "I enjoyed the class immensely and have a beautiful display box for my efforts." 
At lunchtime, students and instructors enjoyed the unique ambiance of hot pizza straight from a wood-burning oven. 

The 2013 Good Sam Academy was a truly serendipitous experience for all. It brings to mind the old adage, "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts." Don't miss the opportunity to attend this year's Academy.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

2014 Good Sam Show Ad

This Ad for the 2014 Good Sam Show appears in the current issues of Dollhouse Miniatures and American Miniaturist magazines. The Show will be held October 11-12 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, CA. There will be 116 fine miniature dealers, of which 18 are international. Eight excellent workshops are scheduled on Friday, before the show. Come and join the fun! http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net 

Ad in American Miniaturist (Sept 2014, Issue 137, page 68) and Dollhouse Miniatures magazine (Sept-Oct 2014, Issue 41, page 51).

Click on any photo on the Blog to enlarge.

Figures, Furniture, Lighting: Mzia Dsamia, Small Creations

New to Good Sam in 2013, Mzia Dsamia is a fine miniature dollhouse artist from New York City. Her work includes custom designed figures, costumes, chandeliers, hand-painted China, furniture, lighting, and more. One of her favorite periods in which to work is XVI to XVIII Century European royalty. Email: tbilisid@netscape.net. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Small-Creations-by-Mzia-Dsamia/172583816097147 


Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel. Model in a Chanel dress.
Marie Theresa costume (First wife of Louis XIV, France)
Pink round sofa with Venetian style Crystal Chandelier.
Lovely fireplace with decorated mantle. Lamps on fireplace are male figurines with glass shades.
Floor and table lamps with white silk shades.
Victorian lady in white silk chiffon dress with flowers.
Silk chiffon summer day dresses with flowers.
Pretty feminine floor lamp with flowers. 
Gorgeous red gown by Fashion Designer John Galliano.

To see more of Mzia Dsamia's work, go here.

Miniature Fine Art & Signs: Phyllis Hawkes

IGMA Fellow Phyllis Hawkes has attended Good Sam since 2012. Working in 1:12 scale, she specializes in fine art, signs, and decorated furniture. Her fine art reproductions range from Old Masters to American Folk Painting, antique signs, contemporary signs, wall plaques, decorated furniture, and more. Custom projects and commissions are welcome. Email: phyllis.hawkes@comcast.net. Web: http://www.phyllishawkesstudio.com/

The Great Race: The Cutty Sark & The Thermopolae by Charles Vickery (early 20th century). Traditional oil painting. 4" x 3-1/16".
Miss Jayne Bowles by Joshua Reynolds (1775). Traditional oil painting. 3-3/16" x 2-5/8".
Retrieving by Edward Henry Potthast (1890). Traditional oil painting. 2-5/8" x 3-3/16".
Jane Ann Campbell by Ammi Phillips (1820). Traditional oil painting. 2-1/2" x 3-1/4".
Mrs. Keyser by unknown American Folk painter (1884). Traditional oil painting. 1-7/8" x 2-1/4".
Sign of the Thomson Inn by unknown New England sign painter (1799). Acrylic, 3-1/8" x 5".
Shoe-Maker Sign after a parade banner. By William Capon, Jr. (1841). Acrylic, 2-1/2" x 1-7/8". 
Birds & Butterflies Set after modern wall hangings (21st century). Acrylic, approximately 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" each.  

To see more of Phyllis Hawkes work, go here and here.