Issue One...

Hi Everyone,

The Kensington Summer Dolls House Festival was opened this year by Anneka Rice.  Anneka is a representative of 'Shooting Star CHASE', who support hospices for terminally ill children and this was the show's chosen charity for this event.

In addition to Anneka, the famous children's writer Jacqueline Wilson was also a visitor to the show.  Also making an appearance was 'The King's Speech' star Helena Bonham Carter.  Miss Carter visited our stand and was particularly taken with our selection of miniature, framed silhouettes.

As normal, Friday was our busiest day, but this year we were exceptionally busy taking orders for commissioned pieces.  As you can see from this photograph, some of this work has been particularly challenging.  This commissioned piece was actually one of an identical pair!

The September issue of The Dolls House Magazine featured on its front cover, and on several internal pages, the beautiful house which has been created by Mrs Ann Taylor and the house itself features several of our pieces.  We always find it very humbling that our work is chosen to go into the most magnificent houses of our customers and Mrs Taylor's house is a fine example of this.

I have had a few people ask if I am a collector myself.  The answer to this is 'yes!' but, not having a house, I display my collection in an assortment of cabinets.  One of my favourite artists is Neil Carter who creates wonderful bronzes using the lost wax technique.  As a collector of full size bronzes his superb work is an obvious choice for my miniature collection.

We are now actively catching up with other work ready for the Christmas Festival on 3rd December 2011 and look forward to seeing you there.

Photographs

Top - Charlotte Stokoe and Anneka Rice open the Summer Kensington Festival

Middle - Commissioned Vase

Bottom - 'Mercury' by Neil Carter