Monday 21 June 2021

History in print.....

As a result of my recent excavations in the workroom, I've unearthed a treasure trove of historical documents, stretching back several decades to the late 1980s.

I've always produced and printed all my own materials, from catalogues to workshop programmes and instruction booklets

Before the internet and email, I had to print my catalogues and send them in the post to customers.  These are just a few of the ones I produced over the past 30+ years.  Back in the day I made a huge variety of 1/12th dolls and kits, each one of which was described in my catalogues. 

In 208 I was accepted to teach workshops over two days at the prestigious Kensington Dollshouse Festival.  I still have the little doll I designed.... she's currently in La Migonette.


A selection of newsletter from past years. This was the only way to keep my students and customers informed about new classes, workshops and dolls.


A few of the leaflets advertising my very first workshops after moving from Tower House. Relocating the business and getting it going again was a very stressful time, but fortunately many of my students followed me from Kent to East Sussex.


Over time, my workshop projects became more and more ambitious.  This one, to make a Victorian Toy Shop was particularly elaborate and featured a wooden box which opened to reveal a toy shop setting full of toys and dolls. 


I generally taught one or two workshop sessions a month, and produced bi-annual programmes with details of the dolls and projects.



Another programme featuring a particularly ambitious doll which students completed in one day!  The amount of preparation involved was intense.... from cutting out costume pattern pieces in advance, to hand pleating miles of ribbons and lace.  Although she looked daunting to achieve in one day, I carefully worked out all the timings in advance and every student took home a finished doll!  

Latterly, my website has served as a catalogue, and I haven't produced a printed version for many years.  Similarly, workshops, projects etc have all been announced online, which has been so much easier, quicker and cheaper.

I must admit though, when looking through all the many leaflets and booklets from over so many years, I do feel nostalgic.

Looking back, I also feel very proud of my small business, which has endured for over 30 years, and which I've enjoyed enormously, despite all the hard work and occasional stress and worry involved. 

As I head towards my retirement I have so many happy memories of working in a field which I love.... from the scores of shows I've attended, to the hundreds of workshops I've taught, both in person and virtually, over three decades.  I've met lovely people, who share my passion for miniatures, and some have become firm friends over the years.  Similarly, I have known other artisans, well-known in their own fields, and collaborated in projects with several.

Quite what the lasting effect of the Covid pandemic will have on miniatures generally, remains to be seen.  In recent years, the hobby has contracted significantly.... specialist 'bricks and mortar' shops have closed in favour of selling online, shows and fairs have been badly hit, having been in decline.  Many of my artisan colleagues, of a similar vintage, have already retired, or will be retiring in the near future, and there don't seem to be enough new artisans coming in to take their place.

Ever smaller scales are becoming increasingly popular, and although I class my little dolls as 1/24th, it is incredibly difficult to scale porcelain dolls down to 1/48th or smaller.

For the remainder of my miniatures career, I plan to concentrate on dolls and projects which particularly inspire me and over the next few months I will be working on a few interesting projects, which will be hopefully be available as workshop packs later in the year. 

I also need to get back to my Mignonette Doll Club project, which has been languishing for way too long.  So I need to get out of Memory Lane and back into the present!





2 comments:

Megan Schetsche said...

What a sentimental trip down memory lane. My little business has been in existence for more than 20 years now. I also used to make paper catalogs and send printed newsletters. The first ones were done on a typewriter before I even had a computer. I will never forget the day my very own photocopier was installed in my office. I thought it was the height of sophistication! Numerous years later when newsletters and patterns became an electronic affair, I battled to find someone who was willing to take the behemoth off my hands.
As you know, I’m also in the process of sorting and downsizing and every once in a while I come across a printed paper that reminds me how far I’ve come. I’m scanning them to keep before recycling the paper. I know that I will probably never look at it again now it’s all digital but I like the idea that the memory lives on.
As for miniatures, I think the pandemic has done us a huge favour. More people than ever are investing in a hobby and online sales have now become the standard. It might be a long time before people feel comfortable flocking together at fairs and workshops but I feel confident that there’s an embryonic generation of miniaturists out there.

Sandra Morris said...

Megan.... Yes, my initial mailshots were made using stencils cut on an electric typewriter and an enormous hand-cranked duplicating machine. Felt really cutting edge at the time!
I do hope that your take on the future of miniatures proves true. It's been my life for so many years. I don't think we'll ever return to the halcyon days of 10-20 years ago, when there were more superbly talented artisans than you could shake a stick at, but it's heartening to think that there might be new talent coming through.