Collecting and making miniatures is a wonderfully immersive and rewarding hobby and one of the easiest ways to start is to visit a show. You get to see what’s on offer and to meet with other enthusiasts and share ideas. You can learn a lot in a very short space of time, so you can get to the fun parts of the hobby that little bit quicker. Miniatura is an excellent gateway into the hobby and thousands of miniaturists have started their journey by walking under that famous Miniatura sign and into a hall filled with inspiration and support. It’s bigger than most shows but it’s just as friendly and welcoming, the craftspeople who exhibit are always happy to greet newcomers into the hobby and many long friendships have been made round the workshop tables.
Most of you will not be coming as far as Astrid McGinty who has shared her experience at the last event with us to help give you an insight into what it feels like to visit Miniatura. “I just wanted to thank you for all your advice to me prior to Miniatura spring 2019. As I mentioned on facebook, we had a great time both at the show and afterwards in town. We stayed at the AC Marriott on the canals, and had a great time there enjoying the food and the shopping. Such a pretty area to see. We were both surprised on how much we enjoyed it.
“The advice you gave on the train travel across to the NEC and the cost was invaluable. It meant that I knew exactly what ticket to buy at the machines without overpaying (which was easy to do with so many options). The walk to the show was fine, going back to the station when I was tired was much slower! As for the show, it was everything I wanted and saved up for. My partner always wondered why I was often dismissive of the minis that are for sale in Australia, saying that they were a bit basic to what I liked. Now he understands. it was my first real chance to buy high quality minis on sight (I often buy online but as I can’t always judge I tend not to go overboard.) At your show, I was a total mini-geek with names I have admired from afar for so long – Stokesay Ware, Petite Properties and Ray Storey to name a few. I also loved Hall’s Miniature Clocks, and was so lucky to buy a lantern clock when the show opened.
“I still haven’t looked at my credit card bill, I am scared as I spent more at your trader tables than I did for the rest of our 2 week trip, and that included Rome and London! I would love to come again to one of your shows, and it will be on my bucket list to do so, but at least I now have lots of cards and flyers for traders that I will buy on line with in the future knowing what they sell.”
Moi Ali is a miniature enthusiast who writes for Dolls House and Miniature Scene, American Miniaturist and Dollhouse Miniatures. She’s also a familiar face at Miniatura, and here she shares she thoughts on the show – and offers some tips for people visiting for the first time. I’m a bit of a Miniatura old hand, but friends who’ve never visited the show before often ask me what it’s like and what they should expect. Well, let me tell you… First, it’s big. Yes, it’s not as big as it used to be, but so many fairs simply no longer exist and the fact that Miniatura has continued when others have gone to the wall is all credit to the Hopwoods, the lovely family behind this twice-a-year fixture in the miniaturist’s calendar. Its survival in this harsh climate is also thanks to the likes of you and me – the people who attend the event and help sustain it, and those who exhibit, or run workshops. So if you have a friend who’s not been yet, tell them to come! There really is something for everyone.
Aside from a wide range of stalls – from pocket money prices to high-end original artisan creations – you will find fun workshops. This time I went to one run by the Polymer Clay Guild, where I discovered how easy it is to make tiny peaches. I even got to take them home with me! And all for a small donation to charity. Talking of charity, one firm favourite is the charity stall in aid of Cancer Research. It always has loads of great buys and you can bask in the satisfaction of knowing that feeding your miniature fix has helped a good cause!
What I love about Miniatura is the fact that you can find such a range of products for sale: timber and other miniature materials; furniture and soft furnishings; lighting; decorative items such as sculptures and ornaments; flowers, gardening and outdoor ‘stuff’; cornices, fireplaces and other items to add realistic detail to your miniature home; and, of course, dolls’ houses and room boxes.
My top tips if you’re a first time visitor would be: 1. Get there early as there’s loads to see. 2. Wear comfy shoes as you’ll be on your feet a lot (and if you’re a wheelchair user, there is great disabled access) 3. Take some cash, as not everyone accepts credit cards. 4. Take a break mid morning and mid afternoon (yes, you can easily spend ALL day there!) 5. Check out the website before you go so you know who will be there and where to find all our favourite stands. 6. Take a shopping list and measurements with you, as there’s nothing worse than buying not quite enough cornicing, or a sofa that’s just a bit too big. 7.
Have fun – although that will be VERY easy! On the way out, don’t forget to pick up a voucher, which will give you free parking. While others queue to pay their hefty £16 parking fee, you can wave your voucher and exit for free! Travelling by train? The station goes right into the NEC so getting there couldn’t be easier! So, if you’ve not tried Miniatura yet, do – and get those show dates in your diary now!