Having a pleasant weekend watching the Golf on TV and at the same time painting, the miniature above is Blickling Hall, this is from a sketch I did when we visited back at the end of June.

Managed to do a few turnings this morning ready for next weekend when we shall be at Crick which is not far from Rugby, looking forward to this as it's a place we have not exhibited at before.

Have to get busy now as we have four fairs within the next six weeks.

All the above are turned in exotic woods, I do love the one on the right which is rosewood burl, shame about the quality of the photo.

Have a lot more on the go in the workshop, a couple of new items at least for Crick, so I am still on target for introducing a new item at each fair we exhibit at.

There are actually quite a few new turnings to add to our table at Crick, have sold quite a lot at the last few fairs, so will be turning a lot more before we depart early next Sunday morning.

Not just exotic woods either, I have been using some nice select pieces of acrylic as well.

The Harvington Miniatures Roadshow continues to roll.

Only realised today that it has been well over a week since my last post, so thought I had better get to it, am working on a few new things right now, the little candlestick holder above is now ready for our next fair which is at Crick in two weeks time, have managed to turn three of them, not easy to do due to the size as you can see from the photo.

And before anyone asks, No the candle does not actually light up!

After six weeks without a fair we have a few coming up over the next month, so will be busy making miniatures and hopefully produce so of my new ideas.

Below is the latest photo of my favourite miniature, grand daughter Martha, she has now taken a liking to her family pet (Choo).

Martha is now 5-1/2 months old and I can't see it being much longer before she is walking, she does love to be stood up.

She is now experimenting with real food and after sucking on some cucumber yesterday she was promptly sick on me!

Well what can anyone say about the current British weather, rain, rain and more rain, feels more like Autumn at the moment, so much that we have been spending more time that usual watching TV, yes I know I could at least be painting, but...

Buying a few DVD's right now, one I fancied was Survivors, this was a BBC series back from the 70's, wow I checked ebay and you should see the prices, anything from £70 upwards, so checked Amazon and found it brand new at £22, watched the first epsiode last night.

Unlocked the door!

Well I'm back, had a great week in Norfolk, the weather was brilliant, thankfully.

Did a few turnings this morning, just to get my hand in again, was good to be back on the lathe again.

Miniatures above are amongst a few that will be listed on ebay tonight.

Although we have visited before we just had to visit Blickling Hall again, it is such an amazing place, owned by the National Trust, it is kept in remarkable condition, if you get the chance to visit then don't hesitate.

Hmmmm, though if you are to spend a bit of time there take some sandwiches and a drink.

Okay money is needed for the upkeep, would have thought them entrance fees would have looked after that.

But it was so hot, we popped in the cafe for a couple of drinks, a small bottle of coke and a water, okay nothing to go mad about, but come on the cost is way over the top.

I did say something about it which is unusual for me!, but the lady just brushed my complaint aside, expect she is used to it by now, you know the type, hand knitted long skirt and knickers, white top and flat cap which looks like they have been cut out of a tent.

Come on National Trust, you are doing a good job but stop ripping customers off.

Overall though we had a brilliant holiday, Cley Mill is another great place to visit.

We found a great bookshop just a few yards away, hmm that proved to be an expensive visit, but if you ever visit this wonderful place then there is a small cafe at the mill, we had cream teas, very reasonably priced and   was very lightly priced, how I managed to finish off the pot of cream I'll never know, but I did.

And to finish this post off, again if you are ever over Norfolk there is a new Dolls House Shop, Tudor Rose Miniatures at Bawdiswell Garden Centre, it's just a few miles out of Norwich, it's a lovely shop with lots of interesting miniatures and very friendly and the Garden Centre is pretty good as well.

They now stock my wood turnings, fingers crossed they are succesful.

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.