Back to work

I have been planning my 2014 display for the last several weeks and I am about ready to get to work. I have been shopping for supplies, took a workshop on making molds to replicate small objects, have tinkered with some 3D models of birds that I need to print with my 3D printer, took a 3D printing workshop, and went to Chicago International, the famous miniature show. I will show my progress on the new miniature setting in the next few blogs but first I want to talk about Chicago.

I had always heard that this was the most prestigious show and therefore had the best artists and vendors showing. I certainly saw some wonderful things there but I feel that the Philadelphia Miniaturia show (coming up November 1-3, 2013) is equally impressive and just as big if not bigger. Maybe it is just regional pride but I also like the I.G.M.A. Guild show inNew Jersey in August and the First State Mini Club show in Delaware each year (next in March 2014).

At Chicago, I saw some wonderful artists I had not seen before (mostly from Europe and Asia) and some I had enjoyed at other shows. There were a lot of displays of artificial flower arrangements which were beautiful but we can’t use them in our settings so I resisted the temptation to buy them. I am also not as interested in 1/2″ scale and 1/4″ scale as many other miniature artists and collectors are, maybe because I find it hard to work so small. But they were very popular at the Chicago show.

Carrying only my cell phone camera because I was trying to travel light (so I could bring more things home!), I am not happy about the quality of the images (not the best way to photo miniatures). But the images are at least a reminder of the value of going to miniature shows, no matter how large or how small: you always see something inspiring.

Some of my favorites: