Staffordshire miniature show a big success

Collectors and exhibitors alike gathered for the Doll House Fair at the Staffordshire County Showground on the weekend.

It featured some of the very best designers of miniature houses and interior design work including speciality lighting from Ray Storey and realistic food from Amanda Speakman at Amanspeak Miniatures.

Stafford is one of two places Doreen Vincent, aged 69 from Lancashire, who goes by her maiden name Jeffries for the shows, runs the fair and the other takes place in Leeds.

She said: "It was a great success, you'd be amazed how many people are interested in it.There are young girls who bought little plastic dolls and older ladies who bought big dolls houses and they were both as happy as each other.

"There is everything from China to working lights to glasswear and furniture for different houses from different kinds of makers.

"It is mostly adults but we do get children and I think that is lovely, coming with mums and grannies."

Handmade items can be bought from specialist makers as well as fabric and wood supplies for people to make their own.

At the fairs, anything from a few pounds on mass-made accessories from Taiwan can be spent to a few hundred on hand-made furniture. Two doll houses costing £1,300 each were sold off one maker.

Doreen, hosts the show due to her own passion for the hobby which she has been involved with since 1977 and how much it means to her.

She said: "I met my husband through miniatures and we married in 2004. He makes mini foods and concentrates on kitchens. He will buy metal blanks and distress the metals or age them so it makes it look like they are old and chipped.

"It is nice to have something going on, there is also something to do with miniatures going on in our house. He can sit there doing that for hours, some people who are retired don't have anything to do but we have a common interest."

The next show will be held at the same place at the Staffordshire County Showground in January.