The Sale - and what I bought...

What a great sale! Not without problems - two dealers had to cancel due to health problems - but we had several dealers new to the show along with our wonderful regular dealers. Quite honestly, we had been  concerned that with Danielle Perry's retirement, we might have problems filling the sales floor. Did not happen at all!

The set-up:

No matter how early I make it to the Sales Room, Alex from Miniland always beats me there. VBG

Kathy Barbier (Hummingbird Miniatures) and Lori Hansen (Hansen Miniatures) setting up.

Sue Lefebvre from Calgary

Judy Mitchell

Another World Miniatures from Saskatoon and Brigitte and Kristina Simon

Mustard Miniatures (top left) Reenie's Teenies and Tiny Treasures (picture centre)

Children's Grab Bag table and Children's Make and Take table

My friend Margaret was there and gave me a lovely box of miniatures. Thanks, Margaret.

Now for what I bought! You know this is what you've been waiting to see!

Those of you who have seen my stash know that there's VERY little that I need...VBG! And I tried very hard to limit my buying to things that would work  in the Attic memorial to Vern...and the odd thing for ongoing UFOs.

These rubber boots from Reenie's Teenies will go in the attic. I already had one pair in my greenhouse but they were so perfect there that I didn't want to take them out of there. They're made of latex and are just right!

In the past when Debbie Burville of Montacute Miniatures has done our show, I've bought my one 'special' item from her.  In the past, these have been my unicorn and my nativity scene. This year it was this gold teapot for the attic to represent the teapot that the family gave Vern's parents on their Golden wedding anniversary. Debbie had the most beautiful dinner service (sorry I didn't get a picture and it's not on her website) It was $225 and if I could have fit it in my budget I would have bought it in a New York minute!

From urban dictionary word of the day: A New York minute is an instant. Or as Johnny Carson once said, it's the interval between a Manhattan traffic light turning green and the guy behind you honking his horn. 

It appears to have originated in Texas around 1967. It is a reference to the frenzied and hectic pace of New Yorkers' lives. A New Yorker does in an instant what a Texan would take a minute to do.

OK, so maybe I did go a bit off-topic! But can you blame me? Linda Austin was selling off her 1:12 minis at such incredibly low prices that I couldn't resist! Column 1: three sets of pillows and one individual pillow; suitcase/briefcase; Coleman camping stove; sleeping bag. Column 2: table runner, placemats and napkins; licorice allsorts; Christmas sign. Column 3: a wired lamp; eye quilt trimmed with lace and ribbons; knit afghan/bedspread.

(1) I can't/won't make pillows for 25 cents each. The suitcase/briefcase, Coleman camp stove and sleeping bag will go in the attic. (I've made a Coleman stove before but for $2.00, I'll use this one!)

(2) Licorice allsorts are a family favourite so like to have a supply of them on hand. Don't really need any more things for the Christmas store but the table linen set and signpost were just so cute and inexpensive, I couldn't resist.

(3) The wiring alone justified the cost of the lamp - the shade is a beautiful parchment shade and the bead base is great. The quilted piece will make a lovely crib blanket and the knit afghan/bedspread might work in the Bedroom room box if I change the ribbons from yellow to green.

I bought three of these 16 1/2" x 11" sheets of brick from Alex at Miniland. They're embossed so have a 3-dimensional effect. I think I'll be doing the outside of the detective's office/bar with them.

I really admire people who finish their roomboxes on the outside with bricks, stones, stucco, and all the other handmade finishes. But quite honestly, my interest is the inside of the roombox and I don't care that much about the outside (as you can see since I displayed it in the show as-is) so this is a good way to finish the outside quickly so I can concentrate my efforts on the inside.

There is virtually no source of wood trims here in Edmonton so I bought two packages of baseboard from Alex.

Such great purchases! Now I just have to put them away - hopefully, where they belong!