The International Dolls' House Show

Exhibitor Spotlight

Black Mountain Miniatures

Kim Hemsley

I got involved with miniatures because when my daughter Donna was doing her GCSE she was taken ill and couldn’t finish her project. She had completed the design and cutting out of her model and herschool suggested that I gave her a hand to finish it. Of course I did and we shared a ‘B+’ much to my delight.

Shortly after this, a friend brought her dolls house down to work on over the winter and I was utterly amazed at the detail. I wanted to do something myself but not so big. As I am a gardener, I thought I would try to make a potting shed. I have childhood memories of my uncle’s privy being converted to a shed and as at the same time my wife had a hankering for a dolls house it worked very well for both of us, and suddenly we were in the world of miniatures.

We joined a dolls house club in Hay-on-Wye, but realised it was too far to travel regularly, so we found another club closer to our home in Abergavenny. I was invited to demonstrate how to wire a house on our second visit.   The club flourished and I soon encountered polymer clays and started making food, fruit and vegetables. The next step for me was discovering Miniatura and our first visit really opened my eyes to the unbelievably high standards set by the craftsmen there.

I was very impressed by Angie Scarr, and could scarcely believe the detail she was able to achieve. I bought her first book and still use it for reference.
It made me want to build sheds with fruit and vegetables inside. This led to a market stall, and from there to stands at craft fairs and dolls house shows.

As my work improved, I approached Andy Hopwood of Miniatura to see if I could be accepted for a stand at the show. I was delighted to be offered a stand the following year and had to work hard to make enough stock for a two day show.

By this time we had made many new friends through the hobby, one of whom introduced me to singing in a choir of which I am now a member.

I now spend my time modelling for Miniatura which keeps me very busy thinking of new ideas for the next show, and singing with the Pontewydd male choir. My wife knits clothes for Heidi Ott dolls, which I incorporate within some of my models, and we are both very busy with our grandson. I am very content with my lot, and I hope to see you at the next Miniatura.

Since this article was written Kim has had to withdraw from the Spring 2011 show due to ill health but hopes to be back again in the Autumn.