Yes...It Happened to a Miniaturist Artisan!

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This section is devoted to AIM member’s little snippets and anecdotes, who have kindly allowed us all to share just a few moments into their lives.

We have some real chuckles this time…and some super pictures. Special thanks for being allowed to share the first one with you...

This month we also have a really special caption competition - see below for further details!...

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A VERY UNUSUAL COMMISSION … for Ellie de Lacy

A few years ago, just as a dolls house fair was coming to a close, a gentleman approached my stand.  I have to admit that looks can be deceiving as he didn’t really seem the type of person who would normally attend a dolls house fair – more like a motorbike show.   

The gentleman started chatting about a dog of his who had died many years before.  He would have dearly loved to get a miniature portrait painted of this particular dog, but unfortunately he didn’t have any photographs.  He then mentioned that the only reminder he had of his beloved pet was a tattoo, which he promptly showed us.  He asked if I would be able to create a portrait from the tattoo.  Not one to turn down a challenge, I said I’d have a go, got out my camera and started taking photos of the gentleman’s torso – I can’t imagine what any passers by would’ve been thinking at that moment in time! 

I lost contact with the gentleman and started thinking that my leg was being well and truly pulled.  Then, a year later he turned up at the same venue to pick up his miniature portrait of “Jock”.  He explained that he had moved overseas and had lost my details.  He was very pleased with his painting.

 

From Ellie de Lacy, who has …distractions…

Caption Competition

“When I’m not squirreling away with a paintbrush, I like to relax by watching the birds visiting my garden.  This is NOT my idea of relaxation!”   

“NOT really a squirrel-proof bird feeder, after all”

 

And even Ellie is sometimes….

 Not so coolYou hear about it happening to other people but think you’ll be perfectly cool if it happens to you.  I’m talking about if you get a chance to meet someone famous.  Well cool was as far away from the truth as possible when Willard Wigan, the ultimate in miniaturist artisans, came over to visit my stand at Miniatura last year.  He’s the guy who creates those “eye of the needle” sculptures that you need a microscope to view.  What an opportunity to talk to someone like this.  I completely froze, don’t ask me why, and my head emptied of all the intelligent questions that I would have loved to ask this guy and I turned into a silly little giggling girlie.  OMG!  Totally embarrassing, I wanted to hide under my table.  He admired my work but I can’t imagine the impression he got of the artist! 

 

The fantastic picture above really DOES deserve a funny caption!

 

AIM has a wonderful prize of one of Ellie de Lacey’s prints of these delightful foxes, called ‘Hiding Place’, for the best caption sent in to us.

 

We look forward to hearing your suggestions – please email me with your caption: robin.britton.uk@btinternet.com

The winner will be announced in next month's online AIM magazine!

 

More from our often amusing, miniature world next time…  Robin Britton

Charity Shopping...

A doll maker chum went into a charity shop (as we do) looking for some silk for a special costume, and found the perfect silk jacket she could cut up. She took it to the elderly lady manning the till, who engaged her in the usual kind of conversation  ‘...is it for you...no.... is it a present..?’  ‘No, I'm a doll-maker, I'm going to cut it up....’ The elderly lady was horrified and refused to sell it to her…. minor confrontation and manager arrived, sold her the jacket, calmed the elderly lady and took her off for a cup of tea......magic. You couldn’t make it up!