Time for a break

My new project is coming along nicely and will post a photo when finished.

Just added a couple more fairs for the 'Harvington Miniatures Roadshow', so it will be thirteen for this year with plans for a lot more next year, am already planning the 2013 calendar.

The painting above (Beatrix Potter's house) has just been sold along with a few others so am going to have to get the paints out again very soon.

For now though I am going to close the workshop door for a few days, need a break to re-charge my batteries!

Back soon.

Okay it's just over three days and the Harvington Miniatures Roadshow will be on it's way again, this time to Hinckley in Leicestershire, will be a first for us to that county, so hope all goes well.

Neck is back to normal thankfully and today has been the first time I have felt comfortable in the workshop, have managed to do a few turnings in a new batch of burl woods that I now have, lots of new items again since the last fair and then it's the end of July before our next one.

I do have new ideas which I hope to develop during the next few months and you will see them here as and when I get them ready.

Another of my new paintings above, this is titled 'Norfolk Cottage'.

Hinckley next............

Well it's just under two weeks for our next fair, we shall be at Hinckley in Leicestershire on June 17th, the fair is in it's 11th year and this will be the first time that Harvington Miniatures will have exhibited there.

Wow, it only seems five minutes since we were planning on which fairs to attend this year and here we are now almost half way through the year!

Just haven't had time to do all we had planned but still have some new items ready including the transparent jars/bottles pictured above, we shall have quite a selection of these available on our stand.

Many new paintings will also be on show including several cottages including the one below of a Norfolk Farmhouse.

Thanks to my new paintings I now have a trapped nerve in my neck which is the main reason that our plans for even more new miniatures is slightly on hold.

Spending too long in one position whilst painting miniatures is not something that I recommend.

Hat Stands

Well we had a reasonable fair at Stourport on Severn last weekend, a very nice venue and a fair few people through the door.

To those of you who visited and may be reading this, it was nice to meet you and all being well we shall see you again next year.

Now getting ready for our next fair which is in Hinckley in three weeks time, have had a few days rest but today I returned to the workshop, turned a few new hat stands with shelves, the shelves are ideal for displaying gloves, handbags or shoes.

Lots more new items planned for the next few fairs, but need the workshop to cool down a bit, it's so hot in there at the moment.

Well you may wonder what else I am making, well I have said for years I don't make Dolls Houses, well that may just be about to change, okay I am not getting into 1/12th houses, but on a smaller scale, so far so good and all being well my first one or two will be available at Hinckley.

Also had a delivery of some really nice woods from America, so there will be plenty of new turnings in those woods as well, one wood that really stands out from the rest is a Brazilian rosewood burl.

pop bottles

Finally restocked my stand just in time for this Sunday's Fair, it's at Stourport Manor Hotel, it's a lovely venue and set in the lovely Stourport-On-Severn on Sunday May 20th, opening at 10.30.

If it's as good as last year I shall be happy..

As well as restocking I have also managed to finish part of my new range of vintage style pop bottles, 6 of which can be seen above.

Also been working on a range of beer bottles and two of these will also be on sale.

This makes a total of more than 50 bottles which are now on my stand, spirits, beer, medicine and pop, lot more yet to come and all are hand turned and labelled.

Well what a lovely setting for the fair yesterday, was in Crickhowell down by the Brecon Beacons, we had a great day and was nice to see so many people through the door, everyone was very friendly and we shall definitely be back next year.

Got a few new ideas from a couple of customers so will be working on those when I get the time.

For now I am busy restocking in time for Stourport, only two weeks to go for that one!

Well we did Sutton Coldfield, but it wasn't the best of fairs, mainly down to the weather, but we still managed to sell a fair bit, been busy replacing stock this week.

Our next fair is this Saturday May 5th, we are down at Crickhowell which is in Wales, our fingers are crossed for the weather.

Surely there can't be much more rain left up there, this must be the wettest drought we have ever had!

Will be busy getting ready for Stourport when we get back, hopefully add a few pics as I make new stock.