Dedication to the cause

So what's been happening in the Mitchy household for the last couple of months? Well not a great deal actually.

My Birthday came and went --- You know there comes an age when it's far easier lighting a bonfire and throwing a cupcake on the top than baking a cake and trying to balance a gazillion candles on the icing!

As it was my Birthday and despite the fact that the CIDP was still lingering, Hubby insisted we visit the Spring Miniatura. If I got really tired he promised me a ride on the motorized chairs they have for hire there. I have to admit, the thought of driving into a few shins to get me closer to the tables did appeal to the darker side of my nature. As it was, that weekend I felt better than I had in a long while. 6.30am we were heading down the motorway, laughing at radio reports about heavy snow fall in the south. Pah! Snow? I remember snowflakes the size of your fist...snow that drifted so high you had to walk on tennis rackets just to get to school. Thirty miles into the journey, smiles gave way to a look of distinct panic and much stamping on the imaginary foot brake on my side of the car.

It got worse. Snow ploughs trundling at mediocre speed in the fast lane of the motorway, just to keep us on our toes. High winds pushing the snow back onto the clear lanes. Then I had a brain fart and took us on a detour around a rural village...I've never wanted to hijack a tractor so bad as I did then. I made a joke to my Hubby about digging us out of a snow drift with a miniature Danny Shotton shovel, which was met with cold, stony silence. I use humour to diffuse difficult situations, my Hubby --- not so much.
Now I imagine at this point, you folks from the far northern hemisphere are laughing at this pitiful example of bad weather. I KNOW! Here in Blighty we get snow all the bloody time and yet we still can't cope with it.  Sheesh!
So four hours later, we arrived.

Now for a bit of miniature goodness. There was one miniaturist I particularly wanted to talk to. Ralph Keemar (sorry he doesn't have a linky), brought his wonderful 1930's  shop/home to the fair.

In his own words, the shop and accommodation above has been made almost entirely with things he found around his home. He also had a standalone room box with a display of 1930's electrical items.

Could this man be any more talented? Such a lovely gent who spent a great deal of time chatting about his work.

Another favourite artisan, and one I had the pleasure of meeting last year is Glorious Twelfth. This year he brought a book shop.

I can't help thinking Harry Potter when I see his gravity defying structures. I asked him how he started on such a complicated build, thinking his answer would involve architect type drawings and much knowledge of the building trade. No, he shrugged 'it's just a load of cubes stuck together' Smarty pants!! Seriously, he is a lovely gentleman and I would recommend anyone to stop for a chat.

Leanne of The contemporary home in miniature helped feed my passion for modern with her new Spinnaker Court. A four storey home jammed full of cool design.

You know where she found that fabulous sculpture in the image above?? A charity shop. You know what I find when I go into charity shops? Shoes that don't match and 5000 piece jigsaw puzzles with 4999 pieces in the box! Some gals have all the luck.

Okay, I think I've waffled for long enough now. If you want to find the full list of exhibitors with links to there sites, have a wander over to Miniatura for details.

Phew, I need a cuppa

Till next time

Pepper =0)