Letter from the Organiser

Support Miniatures

The Great Exhibition 2012 is an online competition designed to run alongside the Olympics to champion Great British Arts & Crafts.  Mulvany & Rogers are representing dolls houses & miniatures so please show your support by voting for them.  Time is running out, click here to place your vote.

23.1.12

 

Final Workshop added to our programme for May 2012

We are delighted to be able to offer another workshop for would-be miniaturists on May 11th 2012. Ruth Moe of Moe Miniatures (a new exhibitor at KDF) will be teaching a short class where you can learn the techniques of embroidering & framing a picture.

Workshop WS6 with Ruth Moe

All the workshops are taking place at Kensington Town Hall before the festival opens, so it is a great way to get in the mood for a day at the show.  Click here for details of all our workshops & tours.

13.12.11

 

World First? Chocolate dolls house...

We are so pleased to announce that Paul Wayne Gregory Chocolates will be exhibiting their INCREDIBLE, Edible Chocolate Dolls house at the show on Saturday.

Paul Gregory specialises in chocolate sculptures & his latest creation is a 3 ft high chocolate dolls house with furniture!  Paul himself will be at the show & even if you can't try some of the house itself, he will be selling some of his award winning chocolates for you to sample.  What could be better?

28.11.11

 

Delph Miniatures celebrates 20 years

 

New products by Delph - Ironing board & iron & nail varnish display

Delph Miniatures first exhibited their unusual take on miniatures at a Dolls House Fair in Wakefield, West Yorkshire on 6th December 1991.  We are delighted to have Delph Miniatures back at Kensington this December - nearly 20 years to the day from their first fair. 

Delph stand apart from other makers, as they have created unusual, contemporary & specialist miniatures for all.  They have kept their prices affordable, but you know that whatever they produce will be of a high standard. 

Happy Birthday Delph.

29.10.11

 

The Great British Dolls House Competition - Special Awards

When judging the GBDHC this year, we all agreed that there were some entries, who maybe didn't fulfil the criteria that we were looking for, but showed such talent & imagination, that we had to create some special awards just for them. The judges were:

Charlotte Stokoe, KDF Organiser
Karen Griffiths, Stokesay Ware
Ann Sutcliffe, Journalist & collector
Darlene Stevens, Director of film 1:12

Below are pictures & comments from the judges on these special creations.

The Ainsworth Baby House

The judges felt that this house did not fulfil the criteria that was required, as it was an antique house, but it was clear that owner had really respected the history of the house & every item she chose for it, fitted perfectly.


“The Ainsworth Baby House is a true antique, an exquisite dolls house from a time when dolls houses were “far too good for little children to play with”! This early Georgian dolls house has the added charm in that most of its contents are also antiques, yet unusually for old dolls houses, they are pretty much in scale and also beautifully arranged; this dolls house is a real treasure.”   Ann

Interiors of the Ainsworth Baby House

The Printed House

The judges felt that the way the owner had approached the decoration of this house was so unusual, that it really could not be compared to other houses that had been entered.  It was more like an art project, with the owner finding pictures in old books & magazines, then adapting & printing them on her computer to make this unusual effect.

“The combination of two and three dimensions lent this entry an atmospheric quality, and is an interesting concept that I would like to see more of.”     Karen

Interiors of the Printed House

Victorian Tavern

The judges felt that this project had real atmosphere, mainly because of the exquisite dolls that the owner had made herself.  Although the building itself was beautifully finished, it was the characters in the pub that gave it a unique quality.

“This atmospheric and totally compelling public house has won a place in my heart for the wonderful characters who lounge within its four walls. The skill and artistry that has gone into the making of all the people, their positions, their movement, and their moments of revelry is genius.”    Ann

The Victorian Tavern - Interior

The Castle

Once again, this house seemed so unique & quirky, we really couldn't judge it against the other entries.  The owner had obviously spent so much time creating this fantasy house, that we knew it had to win a special award.

“We were all laughing out loud as we looked through the pictures of this crazy castle, but it isn’t  just the wacky design that made it stand out, we could see that all the rooms had been finished to a really high standard. Dolls houses are about using your imagination & this house was filled with just that.”   Charlotte

                        

              The Castle - Interior images of this unique house

DHMS members now get 25% off tickets for KDF

Great news if you have a DHMS subscription.  Next time you book any advanced tickets for one of the Festivals, you can get a 25% discount. This offer is not available if you book by our website, so you must either call us & pay by card, or post a cheque to us.  Remember to quote your DHMS subscription number.

3.3.11

KDF on Facebook

Our Kensington Dollshouse Festival facebook page has launched today, so why not become our friend & post pictures or hints up on our wall.  We look forward to hearing about & seeing pictures of your dolls houses

14.2.11

Dolls House Club Members

If you are a member of a dolls house club, you can get reduced price tickets to the KDF for entry after 1pm on Saturday 3rd December 2011.  If you have not registered your club with us, please fill in the club booking form & as long as you book a minimum of 10 tickets you will only pay £1/ticket instead of the usual price of £6.


Club booking form

 

 

'People of the World'
Doll-Making Competition

Diver By Jamie Carrington. The winner of our competition will have a taylor-made one day workshop with Jamie

2012 is a big year for London with thousands of visitors flooding here to watch the Olympics & celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. KDF has made this the theme for our competition. 

We are calling for all budding doll makers to create a character of any nationality who maybe visiting London as a spectator or even as part of one of these events.  Maybe a doll in a National costume, an athlete, a fan or supporter, a member of state or a celebrity, the choice is yours.  Dolls can be sent on their own or within a setting. All entrants will be on show at the KDF Summer Festival 2012, where they will be judged & the winner announced. 

The competition is open to all ages including children & there will be two age groups, over 18’s & under 18’s.

Rules

* All entries must be no bigger than 19cm x 19cm 
x19cm including their setting
* Maximum of 2 figures per person. (multiple entries
will be judged as one entry)
* Entrants must list any parts of doll, clothing or setting not made by them.
* Dolls must be in approximately 1:12 scale
* Dolls made of any material will be accepted
* All entries must be registered with KDF by 30th April 2012.
* All entries must be either brought to the Summer KDF 2012 (closing time for delivery of dolls to KDF is 13.00 on Saturday 12th May 2012), or posted to KDF at The Studio, 70a Lawford Road, London N1 5BL. (closing date for posted dolls Wednesday 9th May 2012)
*Dolls can be collected from either the KDF after 4.30pm on May 12th 2012 or between 10.00 – 16.30 on May 13th 2012, or dolls can be returned by post, but only if return postage is included in the parcel. 
* The judge’s decision is final.

Prize – Over 18’s

1 night at a top Hotel in Kensington, for the KDF Christmas Show 2012.

A exclusive taylor-made, one-day workshop with doll maker Jamie Carrington the day following the KDF Christmas Show 2012.

£150 to spend at the Christmas Festival 2012.

Prize – Under 18’s

£100 to spend at the KDF Christmas Festival.

How to enter

It’s easy. Once you have made your doll:-

1. Download an entry form here, (or call us & we will post you one).
2. Fill in the entry form & return to KDF by 31st April 2012.
3. Either bring your doll along to the KDF on May 11th or 12th 2012, or post your entry  to us.

England fan bu Jamie Carrington

 

Vintage Dolls Houses for Sale

We have been informed by a regular visitor to the KDF, that she has to part with some of her much loved dolls houses due to moving house.  The 3 houses she is trying to find new homes for are beautiful examples & all very managable sizes.  Each one is stuffed full of treasures.

Georgian House by Keith Thorne (1:24 scale) Offers from: £2000 - house & contents (owner may be open to selling house & contents separately)

Georgian House - Exterior

Only a limited number of this house were made by Keith. 6 rooms.  Roses are by Jenny Till & the post box by Bryntor.
The conservatory, on the side of the house by Geoff Daniels, contains many plants by Jenny Till & Alex Curtis.  The conservatory is moveable to enable the house to open. All furniture & fitting are good quality, the highlights are:

-Carlton House Desk with dovetail drawers by Franklyn Weber.
-Many items of furniture by John Finn including a beautiful Bureau Bookcase.
-2 sets curtains by Reverie Miniatures.
-Many accessories from Backstop Miniatures in the US.
-Sampler by Nicola Mascall.
-2 carpets by Classic Carpets.

Georgian House - Conservatory

Georgian House - Kitchen


Thatched Cottage by Keith Thorne (1:24 scale).  Offers £2000 - house & contents (Owner may be open to selling house & contents separately

Thatched Cottage - Exterior

Part timbered cottage with leaded windows & ivy attached.  Internally the house has 4 rooms + a central hallway.  All furniture & fittings are good quality, the highlights are:

-Many furniture pieces by Pear Tree Miniatures.
-A red Aga cooker.
-Working Grandfather clock by Small Time.
-Lights by Wood N Wool (now SWP)

Thatched Cottage - Interior

Thatched Cottage - Living Room

 

Chemist Shop (1:12 scale) Offers from £1000 Shop & contents

Chemist Shop - Interior

Bought undecorated from Tollgate Miniatures.  Decorated & wired by Owner. Exterior has been varnished.

Window boxes & other plants by Jenny Till.                Dolls by Jill Nix.                                                        An unusual carriage, (bought in Cuba), with a horse & a doll.
Bath chair by Roberson Miniatures (no longer made)
Interior has white walls, & black & white flooring.
Lights by Wood ‘n’ Wool (now SWP).
Fully fitted out with shelves & cabinets.
Many jars by Terry Curran & Traditional scales.

Chemist Shop - Exterior