Fabulous Fabrics and Tantalising Trimmings

Yes, dear Duffy, our very persuasive show organiser, has talked me into doing it again. You don't dare say no to Duffy!

A private bus will take us into Mahattan and we'll get to shop in the best stores in the garment district, meet the wonderful and knowlegable owners and even get to have lunch (at your expense) before the bus whisks us back to show off all the goodies.

This tour is very popular and has a limited number of students so don't hestitate, go to www.igma.org click on the Show Page and get ready to walk into heaven.

WEB SITE DOWN AGAIN BUT HERE'S THE NEWS

MINIATURE IN TUNE

Yet again we're going to have fun in Denmark, let's just hope my students remember that the best way of getting good marks and get all my attention is to go and get me a regular supply of the wonderful Danish Pastries from the baker.

Here's what I'm teaching this year.

For the first three days I'll be showing how to sculpt in half scale with the added bonus of me directing you to costume. It's restricted to the Medieval Period this year but I hope to do The Tudor Period next year.

It's going to be great fun with new techniques to learn, plus, if students find this scale natural to them, I'll have special things to teach.

Then, for the two day class I'll be teaching

Men's Tailoring

The well tailored jacket, with shirt front, tie and waistcoat. And of course matching trousers.

This will be dressed on a tailoring stand but all the skills taught will be useful for tailoring for your own figures.

For details go to http://www.miniatureitune.com/

Yes the website is in English and, since most of the students speak it perfectly you'll not have any problems with understanding and being understood.

Also teaching there will be Jens Torp - in shorts! - Philippa Todd, Bill Robertson, Ursula Dyrbye-skovsted, and Bjarne Kelde.

It's a fabulous setting with private rooms, en suite. Fantastic food and very friendly atmosphere.

Up and Coming.

Here I am again, just over a month to go before the first fair of the year and I can't see the wood for the trees. OK so there are a range of figures nearly ready but now I can see the gaps and there's going to be no time to fill them. It would be so nice if this was the first time it's happened but we all know it's not. Must give Ann High a ring in the morning to see how much stock she's got done.

Still there's one or two that I'm really quite pleased with, just wait till I've taken pictures of them and I'll share them with you. June Cleaver was fun to do in half scale. Who the heck is June Cleaver you ask? Turns out she was a character in an American sitcom called Leave it to Beaver - really can't think we'd have got away with a title like that in England - wearing a full skirted shirtwaister, apron and pearls. Oh yeah just like my Mum. Friends over the water had just finished a 50s kitchen and challenged me to make the figure so I rose to it and had a go.

Oh yes I've got new lights for my stand too, 50 watt halogen lights that really reach are lightweight and have a wide angle. I really ought to put all the lamps I've bought over the years up on Ebay, I could probably retire on what I could make. But I'm just hoping that these are the final ones, it did take me fifteen years to come up with the stand I use nowadays so I suppose I should be patient.

Now it's time for bed, so good night and I hope your dreams give you great ideas for the morning.