2018 STURBRIDGE DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES FESTIVAL

That time of the year again and its been ages but I am hoping to attend the

Molly Cromwell Presents….
Premier Miniature Shows featuring Legends & Newcomers!

2018 STURBRIDGE DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES FESTIVAL

Featuring Legends & Terrific Newcomers!
JUNE 1st ~ 3rd, 2018
HOST HOTEL on CEDAR LAKE
366 Main Street,
Sturbridge, Massachusetts

 

Hope to see you there!

2015 Time again for our favorite Molly Cromwell Dollhouse Miniatures Shows in Sturbridge

It is that time of the year again when east Coast miniature fans flock to Massachusette for the Molly Cromwell Miniatures Festival.  Here are the details and you can read more about it on her site here.

STURBRIDGE MINIATURES FESTIVAL

A show and sale featuring artisans of scale miniatures from across the USA, Canada, France, Brazil & England

May 30 & 31, 2015 Saturday & Sunday
First weekend after Memorial Day

~ HOST HOTEL ON CEDAR LAKE ~
366 MAIN STREET/Rte 20
Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Special Show Sleeping Room Block Price!
Reservations & Directions ~ 508.347.7393

Christmas Decorating Time

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1-inch scale, 1/2-inch Scale, Accessories

My favorite time of the year, except for the cold and short days. I am staring with the tiniest things I have for decorating. It is a very big project with all these rooms.

Molly Cromwell Dollhouse Miniatures Shows in Sturbridge

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Artisan crafted miniature furniture

Sunday June 2 is a big day for miniature enthusiasts in the Northeast.  It is the annual Molly Cromwell Dollhouse Miniatures Show in Sturbridge, MA.  I think I bought my first piece from her show 30 years ago.  That was when she started hosting these events in fact.

I see some familiar vendors: Tiny Little Treasures and Precious Little Things.  And many unfamiliar by name.  It should be exciting and hope to see you there.

Wee Forest Folk, wonderful figurines made by the Peterson family in Massachusetts

Wee Forest Folk is a wonderful company that makes tiny mouse themed figures. I collected several in the 1980’s. The company was founded by Annette Peterson who worked to make the tiny creatures at her kitchen table. Eventually her production grew and she enlisted the help of her son and daughter. Here is a marvelous story about her that appeared in the Boston Globe in December 2012.  Imagine that she is still working on new designs at 93 years of age!

I love the detail of these figures and the imaginative ideas. This little guy rides his trike. You can see his determination to get where he is going.

And this little fella toasting marshmallows.

And Mom Mouse making gingerbread.

And this teeny baby rocking in his chair. I wonder if there is any cheese on his dinner tray?

In the 40 years since Wee Forest Folk have been made, the numbers of collections and  collectors worldwide has grown exponentially.  Here is the Wee Forest Folk company’s web site where you can learn more about all of their products.

Ted Norton Drop Leaf Table Half Inch Scale

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1/2-inch Scale, Artisan crafted miniature furniture

The craftsmanship of Ted Norton is something to behold. This is a drop-leaf table that sits in the Red Brick two story miniature doll house I have. It is half inch scale and perfect in every detail. There are brass hinges and even the tiny block to stabilize the legs. These are so fine I fear breaking one when I go to pick it up. I had to photogrpah it in my hands to show how fine it is.

Here is a little background on Ted from this link at Worthpoint. His exquisite pieces are collector’s items. I also have some pieces he made with Mel Prescott:
“Edward G. Norton was the founding member International Miniature Artisans which evolved into Name, Academy of Honor. Ed Norton received the Mell Prescott Memorial Award in 1987. Ed started making miniatures as a part-time hobby in 1970 and went into it full time in 1972. In the beginning, he received much aid and encoragement from Mrs. Mell Prescott and also Mr. Carl Anderson. Ed Norton interest in miniature was mainly in American Queen Anne and Chippendale furniture, as well as, Windsor chairs.”

Teddy Bear Tea Party

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Betty Valentine

Some of my favorite artisans made the furniture in this little arrangement, a tea party for a teddy bear or a very well behaved doll.  You can see some details of the salesman sample sized furniture here.  The Philadelphia Wing Chair, the tilt top table and the Chippendale Chair

A friend and fellow collector did the needlepoint seat cushion for me.

Inside the Green Clapboard House

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1/4-inch scale

Here is an inside peek into the tiniest (almost) house I have in my collection. It is the Green Clapboard House you can see here.

There is a Williamsburg feel to the bed and its blue and white comforter. And that little chest at the foot of the bed shows a nautical scene.

And this little girl gets to enjoy the piano and fireplace too.

Here is a close look at all the furniture in this house.

And upstairs a little one too.

This bed is adorable.

And the fireplace ready for the holidays.

Dollhouse Miniature Dolls – Three Sisters – Smocked Dress

This is the little sweetheart sister in her little smocked dress. She has gently fuzzy light brown hair tied with a bow in back. She is approximately 3 1/4 inches tall. She wears aweet leather shoes, pants under a short dress.

Dollhouse Miniature Dolls – Three SIsters – Banana Curls

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Miniature Dolls

Here is her genteel sister, Miss Banana Curls.

Approximately 3 1/2 inches tall
She has a cloth body, porcelain head, arms and legs and more lovely curly hair with bows.