Fairies and fantasy at miniatures fair
Itsy-bitsy models will be the highlight of the World of Miniatures Fair in Durban this weekend.
The event will be hosted by the Durban Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (DAME) at the Westville Country Club on Saturday May 25, from 10am to 3pm.This year’s theme is Fairies and Fantasy.
On offer will be scale models, fairy gardens, fairy houses, model trains, bonsai trees and dollhouses.
DAME member and one of the organisers of the show, Priscilla Kleyntjens, said the show promises to be a delight for those who love tiny things.
“The artists work in a scale of 1:12 when they make their miniatures. A lot of supplies used are made by our members as we don’t have many suppliers of the things we need available in South Africa. Importing miniatures is very costly, so we have to make everything ourselves. Our members build their own dollhouses, room boxes/dioramas, furniture, curtains, lighting, carpets and everything they need to fill their dollhouse. Making miniatures models is a lot of work but it is fulfilling and exciting. We also make use of certain things that would end up in the dustbin. For instance, the top of the Sunlight liquid bottle would be made into a teapot, a plastic bottle could be cut out to make a hip bath, and so on,” she said
Ms Kleyntjens said she started making miniatures in 1997 after going to a train convention at the Westville civic centre. This led to her passion of making miniature models.
DAME has 33 members who love their hobby and are committed to it. In the past year, they have had new members join who are already showing a lot of enthusiasm and their own creative side, said Ms Kleyntjens.
Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite display and also give the organisers an idea of what they would like to see for future shows.
Also this year, visitors stand a chance of winning a beautiful florist shop, which has been made by a new member. All members contributed flowers, vases, buckets, macrame and gifts to fill the shop to capacity.
“Our members have a roster of workshops, and every month we have a new project to work on. The member doing the workshop will supply a ready-made kit and will instruct us on how to create it,” said Ms Kleyntjens.
“The show on Saturday is for the whole family, there is something for everyone. Every year, our financial proceeds, which we obtain through fees and collections, go towards a worthy cause. We also host mini fairs during the year, and people can follow us on social media.”
Entry is R10 for adults and R5 for children, and children under the age of five enter for free. For more information contact Ms Kleyntjens on 084 357 2988.
