It won’t be long now before the Spring Miniatura Show is upon us, and I’m sure everyone is eagerly looking forward to seeing what’s new, and what you talented miniaturists have been creating over the winter months. Here’s a little roundup of some of the exhibitors who will be at the show along with their unique style of dolls house miniatures.
For those wanting a magnificent Robert Stubbs Tudor Dolls House, Chandres Khatri will once again be exhibiting a range of Tudor cottages, houses and mansions, along with tea shops, pubs and shops. The company has been producing these one-off Tudor style buildings for more than 35 years, and now with Chandres adding his creative talents and skills, they continue to enjoy a great reputation of quality of build and value for money.
Meanwhile Robert Stubbs has been making a new name for himself with his Old Git Lamps – and you’ll find the two stands next to one another at the show. Robert told Miniatura, “After building dolls houses for 38 years, age has determined that it is time to leave my successor, Chandresh Khatri to carry on the business alone and I am very pleased to say that he has proved himself to be able to take the houses to a higher level than I, myself could.
“I am now an 82 year ‘Old Git’ and I still have the urge to make something. Hence the table lamps. I have concentrated on the house theme and each lamp is an individual.” To give a general idea of the dimensions the lamps are approximately 10/11 inches high (25/28 cm) excluding the bulb holder and the width of the plinth; 10/11 inches (25/28 cm) wide. Visit Old Git lamps website for more details.
Thinking outside the box!
You could say that Rebecca Hellewell is thinking outside the box with her miniatures. Rebecca of Miniature Real Estate will be travelling from Morecombe where she lives and runs her dolls house shop. Rebecca was into antiques but got hooked on miniatures in 2019. She had been selling Sid Cooke Empire Stores dolls houses and realised that everyone who walked through her doors loved them. She also realised that not everyone has room for a dolls house in their home, and so she started making miniature room lanterns and room boxes crafted out of all kinds of containers which add to the atmosphere of the miniature scenes.
Her thinking ‘outside the box’ sees Rebecca creating room box scenes from hollowed-out books, converted cabinets, jewellery boxes and under cake stand cloches. “A lot of people have houses where you can’t fit a dolls house in, but to save space you could have a room box on a wall, or some piece of furniture converted, such as a cabinet to create that personal miniature.” Look out for Rebecca’s stand at the Spring Show.
Boxing clever is David Garrett who will be back with his Stick and Go products – his cardboard ‘flat pack’ room boxes, and his self-adhesive wallpaper. At the Autumn 2021 show, David introduced his brand-new Room Box concept. This being a simple one-piece construction that can be assembled in just 60 seconds and ready to decorate. There are four different designs to choose from and all are manufactured here in the UK in a solid white faced rigid corrugated board. David said, “The room boxes are 1/12 scale, they are flat packed which fold out and slot together.”
And to decorate the walls, ceilings and floors he also produces 120 designs of self-adhesive wall tiles. He added, “The material is non-tear and is re-positionable, plus you can apply it over other coverings. It will stick to any flat, clean surface.”
So, lots to look forward to at the Spring Show at the Birmingham NEC. And while people are still alert to the dangers of Covid, rest assured that Miniatura continues to be vigilant in keeping people safe by following government guidelines, full details of which can be found right here on the Miniatura website.
Photos by Rob Tysall – Pro Photography.