Enjoying the free make and take on Sunday at the Guild Show.

There are many reasons to fit the 2015 Guild Show into your travel plans this summer, not least of which is the showroom full of dealers offering wonderful merchandise! There are classes being held in the days leading up to the show and demonstrations by skilled craftspeople along with a free and bountiful dessert buffet the evening before the show opens. The Desserts and Demonstration: Gathering of the Guild is a great time to reconnect with friends

Small Beginnings, the special sales area for young collectors and their budgets.

and learn something new!

During show hours on Saturday and Sunday, silent auctions will be taking place just outside the showroom, and Saturday just at the close of the show, the live auction will begin, offering special pieces for your collection, most will be one of a kind and made by IGMA Artisan and Fellow members.

As well as a showroom full of dealers for adult collectors, there is Small Beginnings, 3

Live Auction items from 2013.

tables set aside and filled with merchandise for beginning collectors-children under 14. The Small Beginnings sales area is supplied by donations and staffed with volunteers who will help their patrons make choices free from parental influence…and with prices to suitable for their budgets. Sunday afternoon, there will be free craft projects for anyone to enjoy in the Grand Concourse just outside the showroom.

If you’re a Guild member, this gathering is also the location of the Guild’s annual meeting, a chance to meet the members of their Board of Trustees and to hear what is going on within the organization. A complimentary continental breakfast is available to all who attend.

And lest we forget, Teaneck is a brief 20 minute bus ride from New York City and all that has to offer. A partial listing of opportunities there is available on our website.

One of Pat Kasell’s 1/12 scale bobbin lace doilies, submitted for her Artisan evaluation.

And now, I am pleased to announce the elevation of eleven new Artisan members: Pia Becker from Germany in Flowers/Plants, Pat Kasell from the USA in Needlework, Sherri MacRaild of Canada in Toys, Peggy Meyers of the USA in Needlework, Julie Parrot of the UK in Animal Figures, Mario Sergio Ramos Pastrana of Spain in Glass, Barbara Studebaker of the USA in Needlework, Lorraine Thomson of the UK in Food, Elizabeth Winters of the USA in Animal Figures, Jasmine Blanche Woodbury of the USA in Food, and Michael Yukovic of the USA in Furniture; and five new Fellow members: Erzsebet Bodzas of Hungary in Food, Pat Richards of the USA in Needlework, Kellie Wachter of the USA in Needlework, Mariella Vitale of Italy in Needlework and Carolyn Mohler Kraft of the USA in Plants.

These artists have worked long and hard to get to this point in their miniature careers and well deserve to take a bow for their achievement. Some are, or will be dealers;  look for their work at upcoming shows, and in the exhibits at the Guild School and the Guild Show this summer.

A Hosta leaf in 1/12 scale, Carolyn Mohler Kraft’s process towards her Fellow submission.

Anyone who has been a member of the Guild for at least a year is eligible to apply for Artisan membership. When you’ve been an Artisan member for two years, you become eligible to apply for Fellow membership, which is the highest honor the Guild can bestow. Those are only the most basic requirements, there are several pages of guidelines posted on the IGMA website that are required reading for anyone thinking of applying. The guidelines give you an overview of the evaluation process, list the categories used to classify submissions and an overview of what the evaluation committee looks for within those categories.

A most modern rocker by Michael Yurkovic, who has been elevated to Artisan member in the category of furniture.

Reading the guidelines and then closely examining your work and the work of other artists you respect is a bit of an education in itself, and is a great way to begin the process. The guidelines are the criteria by which your work will be evaluated. It is a blind process, meaning that those on the committee have no idea whose work they are looking at, there are no names attached to the submission when they see it. There are also no limits on how many members may be elevated at any evaluation. If they have 10 fantastic submissions at an Artisan or Fellow evaluation, and all are evaluated as meeting or exceeding the criteria, then IGMA has 10 new Artisan or Fellow members.

I urge all who are interested in stretching and developing their skills to consider working towards this recognition. The Guild Study Programs and Guild School are invaluable resources to help you in this process. At either of these programs you will be able to meet and talk to many other miniaturists and perhaps find a mentor to help you along.

A fully jointed doll by Gale Elena Bantock.

If we’re doing anything like a decent job at publicity, you’ve already heard that the International Guild of Miniature Artisans is hosting its 2nd Annual Auction at Tom Bishop’s Chicago International Show on April 17th. As the date draws closer, we are getting very excited to see the items that are arriving for the auction. Some of the donations are coming from the artist

A jointed teddy bear by Canadian miniature toy artist Barbara Logan.

themselves, many of whom are graciously creating one of a kind pieces especially for this auction; other donations are from collectors who have generously diverted choice items from their collections to support our cause. All of the auction items will be on display smack dab in the center of the Grand Ballroom during preview day Friday, April 17th so everyone there will have a chance to examine them in all their fine detail. For those who won’t be in attendance, or who haven’t yet decided, here are some photos to tempt you into joining us for

A Wooten desk with its plethora of drawers and compartments by Jim Gans.

the evening. Our auctioneer extraordinaire, Duffy Wineman, will be drawing us all into an evening  of rollicking good fun–even if you’re not bidding!

An incredibly detailed 1/144 scale art gallery by IGMA Fellow member Julian Biggers.

Items from last year’s IGMA auctions, from Kerri Pajutee and Christina Goodman.

The Guild raises its operating funds in several ways-your dues, first and foremost, but also through auctions that we hold at our annual show and sale, and occasionally at other functions throughout the year. This year we will be holding the second, in what we hope will become an annual tradition, at Tom Bishop’s Chicago International Show in April. The money we raise from our auctions goes directly into IGMA’s many educational and outreach programs, helping to keep the cost to program participants as low as possible. That is how Guild programs can remain so affordable and our dues at the same level they have been for many years.

The auction offers miniaturists many ways to support IGMA, one of which does not even involve your wallet! You can, if you wish, support IGMA with the donation of a miniature, it might be something that you made, or that you have acquired at some point, perhaps something you bought, but which never found its way into that special project.

If it is within your budget, come to the auction Friday, April 17 and bid on one or more of the many special pieces that will be on the auction block. One of a kind pieces will be found and the occasional bargain, too. Even if you’re not bidding, it is a truly fun event, there is no one like our auctioneer Duffy Wineman to keep everyone on the edge of their seat with excitement and laughter.

Please visit the IGMA web site for more information.

Sue Krzysko doing a little shopping at the Guild Show.

The end of something is almost always the beginning of something else, and the end of the Guild Show 2014 last weekend meant the start of the Guild Show 2015, but maybe more importantly, it meant a bit of a vacation and time to be creative in different ways. And after such an intense period of concentration, the creativity burst out in several different directions. Its all good and will all infuse and reinvigorate the soul for the next experience.

New IGMA Fellow member Teresa Layman and her daughter at the 35th Anniversary Celebration.

The 35th Anniversary Guild Show was a tremendous amount of fun. There are so many miniature shows one can attend these days, that you might wonder what is so special about the Guild Show. For that very reason, the International Guild of Miniature Artisans has moved in a unique direction to make their show a weekend long experience. It helps that it is held just the other side of the river from New York City and attendees can pop into town to take advantage of the many cultural attractions; on their own or on one of the show committee’s organized trips-to take in a Broadway show, or to shop the many and varied stores in the garment district for trims and materials that you may not be able to find at your local craft shops back home.

Enjoying the free make and take on Sunday at the Guild Show.

The Guild is also well known for their educational offerings and the show is another venue for learning. Classes are, and were, offered in lengths ranging from a few hours, to a full day and sometimes longer. Free learning opportunities were available as well, the Desserts and Demonstrations Friday evening before the show was a chance to sit down with artists and learn a little about how they make their pieces. On Sunday, there was free crafting enjoyed by all-from those of elementary school age, to-ahem, the well past elementary school age attendees.

All told, many excellent reasons to attend the Guild Show, and as a bonus, for Guild members, its free! And now, to begin work on the Guild Show 2015.

Learn how to punch 1/12 scale tin panels for a pie safe or other project with Bill Hurd.

Have you ever wondered how to work with some of those polymer clays? How about how to make authentic looking finger joints on some of those miniature boxes you’ve seen on Pam and Pete Boorum’s table? Maybe you’ve wondered if you should switch to LED lights for your next project. Well, you might find the answers to some of your questions at the 35th Anniversary Guild Show’s Gathering of the Guild Friday night August

Barbara Studebaker will be demonstrating how to work crazy quilting in 1/12 scale.

8th. Now, that doesn’t really sound like a great place to find answers, but you might not know that the Gathering is also known as Desserts and Demonstrations and 12 artists are getting ready to let you in on a few of their secrets.

Betsey Baker and Sue Veeder will be demonstrating how to work with Super Sculpey. Betsey uses it to sculpt the wonderful dolls’ heads that give her creations such personality and

See how Jane Graber adds the decoration to her hand thrown pots and plates prior to firing.

Sue will demonstrate how her cats come to life with that polymer clay.

Tim Kraft, lighting master extraordinaire, will demonstrate LED lighting techniques, warm versus cool lighting and what effects that can have on a miniature scene.

Jane Graber will be demonstrating how she decorates the fine

Patricia Richards will demonstrate how to braid a rag rug in 1/12 scale.

stone and redware she makes preparatory to firing. Slip-trailing, painting and sgraffito are all used at various times and for various effects.

Jim Pounder’s exquisite sculptures are done with the lost wax casting process; stop by his table to see exactly how that process works.

In total, there will be 12 different topics being discussed and demonstrated at the Gathering of the Guild that Friday evening prior to the Guild Show. Stop by, find out what you don’t know and enjoy reconnecting with your mini friends over a tasty bite from the free and bountiful dessert bar-or the more healthful selections, if that’s your preference!

2014 Tony Award winning Musical, this years feature for Broadway night.

The 35 Give-Aways are being packaged up and there is a list for when and where those will be awarded to show attendees. There is a growing list of fun and intriguing questions that will reveal how much the Anniversary Dinner guests know about the Guild-participation is not mandatory, but there will be prizes! There is a list of items to be packed into dealer goodie bags-we do like to be known as a friendly show, and of course, there is a very long list of things still remaining to be done before heading out that door.

Lest we haven’t stated it often enough, there is a roster of wonderful classes taking place Thursday and Friday before the show, many still have space available. You can join the theater group going on the Broadway Night excursion Thursday evening, they’ll be seeing ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’, this year’s Tony award winning musical, and will enjoy dinner at La Trattoria Trecolori beforehand. Mike Barbour will be taking a group into town Friday morning for a romp through the garment district-fabric and trim stores galore! And if none of that appeals to you, there is a list on the website of other events and nearby destinations varied enough to suit anyone and everyone’s interests. Friday evening the Gathering of the Guild features artists demonstrating various aspects of their craft at tables along one side of the Grand Concourse, and along the other is an eye-popping and possibly diet-busting FREE buffet of desserts and crudités.

A scale model of the Cutty Sark created by Ron Stetkewicz, Sr., will be on display, along with several other model ships, in the exhibit at the 35th Anniversary Guild Show.

Saturday the main event-the 35th Anniversary Guild Show opens its doors to IGMA members at 9 a.m. and to the General Public at 10 a.m. Dealers, and shoppers, will be attending from around the world and many treasures await discovery. The Small Beginnings sales area hold treasures for the younger collectors and their limited budgets while outside the salesroom doors silent auctions held during during show hours provide yet one more shopping opportunity.

After the show on Saturday comes the big Anniversary Party, beginning with a cocktail hour, cash bar, and an abbreviated live auction featuring items that represent people and programs from Guild history. Will you find something here by which you’ll remember this momentous occasion? Dinner follows with delectable carving and buffet-style stations from which to fill your dinner plates. More prizes and fun remembrances from our past will wrap up the festivities and a great time is virtually guaranteed.

The show winds down on Sunday, still with significant events to attract and welcome first time and returning attendees. Free crafting projects will be taking place in the Grand Concourse from noon to 2:30 p.m., with a variety of projects for a variety of skills; from the ultra-simple-punch and shape paper plates in 1/12 scale, to more complex-assemble one of the Chrysnbon kits that a generous donor provided for this event.

Directions to the show hotel can be found on the website along with a link to our special room rates. Our block of rooms is only guaranteed until July 22, so don’t waste any time making your reservations. Once the rooms are released, the price can fluctuate widely.

And there you have it, a very long list of events for a very fun weekend. We sure hope to see you there!

In no particular order…

Christine Pratt submitted a 1/12 scale working loom and many of its accessories.

Fannie Sandor submitted a collection of 1/12 scale birds and water fowl.

Christina Goodman submitted paintings in 1/12 scale.

Robin Brady-Boxwell submitted food in 1/12 scale.

Christopher Malcomson submitted elaborately inlaid furniture in 1/12 scale.

Jeanne Rullie submitted a grouping of dolls in 1/12 scale.

Debora Beijerbacht submitted delicately carved furniture in 1/12 scale.

Vicky Sanfield submitted wicker pieces of furniture in 1/12 and 1/24 scale.

Christine Young submitted a selection of paintings in 1/12 scale.

Gideon Wolfe submitted furniture in 1/12 scale.

Congratulations to all and we look forward to seeing much more of your work.

For information on the process for applying for Artisan membership, please visit the IGMA website.

Pots by IGMA Fellow member Jon Almeda, two of the prizes in the 35 Give-Aways.

The festivities will commence when the first class begins on Wednesday, August 6. That evening anyone in town is welcome to join the show organizers for the opening ceremonies and perhaps by then we’ll know who was the recipient of the first of the 35 Give-Aways. Yes! This is no cheesy two door prize show, this is a show proud of its 35 year history and we’re honoring it by giving away  35 prizes across the weekend’s events.

A straw hat and box by international doll artist Marie France Beglan, another of the 35 Give-Aways.

Who will be the lucky recipients? Perhaps the 35th person to sign up for a class, or the 35th person to walk in the door, or to the 35th bid on a silent auction item…will that be you?

And the prizes, they’re not cheesy either and will range from Artisan and Fellow member pieces to items from artists of international renown.

It was a class at Guild School with Annelle Ferguson designing and stitching the panels for this tiny casket…

It sounds like an essay you had to write in elementary school, after returning from summer vacation, doesn’t it?

The International Guild of Miniature Artisans is celebrating 35 years of existence this year! There will be a plethora of festivities at the Guild Show this August, and we’d like a part of those festivities to include contributions from our members about what the Guild has meant to them.

…that awakened my interest in 17th century needlework and led me to create this.

When I first heard about the Guild, it was in regards to their fantastic show, where I found amazing miniatures for sale. I wanted to be a part of that, so I honed my craft and applied for Artisan to get my name out there and to begin establishing a reputation for my work. It was several years after that before I got to a place where I felt Guild School was a possibility and well, that just opened up the doors to me. I suspect that Guild School will be a pretty big part of what the Guild means to many people.

If I had to distill it down to a few words, I think I’d say the Guild has opened a world of possibilities to me.

What has it meant to you? Send your words, and/or pictures via e-mail to pat at prminiatures dot com; they may become part of our 35th Anniversary Celebration at the Guild Show in August!