Welcome to the website of the South Australian Miniature Enthusiasts (S.A.M.E.)

S.A.M.E. helps promote miniatures through the club meetings, workshops and our annual festival. In doing so we not only help others learn about our hobby but we also raise money for children's charities through our annual festival.

Our club was founded in 1983 and meetings were originally held in one of the members homes. Over the years our membership has grown so much so that we now meet in a hall big enough to accommodate all our members and visitors, who we always welcome. We have now become a little 'web-wise' (as of 2010) and looking forward to being more available to the general public via this site.

Meetings

The meetings include a brief introduction, followed by workshops, demonstrations, occasionally member's trade tables and of course a cuppa! Our meetings help members gain information about, and an understanding of, the hobby of miniatures and collectibles. We share the love of miniatures and also friendship as well.

Meet: 2nd Wednesday of the month (except January - no meeting)

Time: 7.30pm

Where: The Payneham Community Centre, cnr Arthur Street and Payneham Road (the old school building opposite the Marden Shopping Centre)


Festival

Each year we hold a weekend festival of miniatures and dollhouses, the first being held in 1986. The festival includes miniature displays, local and interstate traders, demonstrations of many different techniques for making miniature products (including miniature wood turning), raffles, lucky dips and food to delight the taste buds!!

Next festival: 11th and 12th August 2012 - there is a mixed theme this year -
'SHEDS' and 'MEDIEVIL' along with many miniature houses and scenes of varying scale.
So please come and join us for another wonderful display.

Time: 10.00 am to 4.30pm both days.

Where: Payneham Library Complex, cnr O G Road & Turner Street, Felixstow

Admission fees: Adults $6.00, Concessions $5.00, Children under 16 $3.00, Family of 2 adults & 2 children $15.00

All welcome. Proceeds from the festival benefit children's charities in South Australia.

Any member of S.A.M.E. is encouraged to access the members only page, ask questions, give hints and share photos of your miniatures with the whole group. To become a web page member you will need to forward your email to the address below. You will receive authorisation back to your email - then follow the prompts.

Workshops

Keep your eyes on this spot for future workshops to be held in the group.

Contact
For further information you can ring
Judy 0408 896 465

What we did with our money from the 2009 Festival

Every year at out Annual General Meeting, with funds raised from our Festival, we make a donation to a children's charity or charities. This year we were pleased to present a donation to a representative of The Australian Lions Children's Mobility Foundation. This enabled the purchase of a "Hart Walker" (an orthotic device which allows children with moderate to severe physical disabilities, especially those with cerebral palsy, to stand and to experience hands free walking.) We felt as a group that this is a very worth while cause.
2011 - We were fortunate enough to have raised enough money to once again offer a donation to another childs mobility unit.
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Pams pages part 7


The Festival is well and truly over.....I would like to share here the Contemporary Textile Art Room that I made for the Festival. This is my first try at making miniature vessels and wall hangings. I just thought that it was something I hadn't seen before and also a challenge for me. I am fortunate to work in a small group of mini enthusiasts and through the year the four of us would get together and brainstorm. I could not have done it without the support and encouragement of these friends.
Some people wondered how the vessels were made as they hadn't seen this sort of thing before so I thought this was an opportunity to share some of what I did.
The room above was the result of much thought and I wanted it to look as modern as possible. I made all the vessels the same way as I make the full size ones. It was just a lot more finicky and frustrating. The main thing when working with textiles like this is to keep in mind the colour. Colour can make or break an exhibit. I made the fabric from scratch using silk tops, wool tops and scraps of chopped fabric, ribbon, tinsel and feathers. I tend to stick with colours of the same value using inclusions as light and shade.
When I am happy with the result I get stuck in with the sewing machine and stitch like crazy. After the stitching I form the vessel with whatever is handy...nothing is safe if it works for my fabric! The purple vessel in the middle at the front was formed with a pen and pulled and cut to make the wispy bits at the top.
The wall hangings were made in much the same way but were more solid. I hand stitched seed beads and some star fish and sea horse buttons onto them finishing with a matching hand made cord.
Putting the room together was important too. As it is a contemporary room it had to be minimalist and eyecatching. Finding the stands was very challenging and after trying painted dowelling and little squares of wood I decided to use all of my precious collection of clear perspex box lids to follow through with the ethereal floating look I had in mind.
Lighting was also an important part of the mix. I wanted bright light focusing on the vessels not the surroundings. I settled for two spot lights that worked very well. They were set at the front of the box pointing toward the back and down a little to illuminate the finished work.
I was happy with the result and have decided that this room box will not be dismantled and used again.
Next time, which will be quite soon I will talk about the Terrace Houses we are making for next years festival.
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