Official South Australian Miniature Enthusiast Inc: I remembered my camera this month!

Welcome to the website of the South Australian Miniature Enthusiasts Inc (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: To be announced.

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 web 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 be a financial member of the club, and then you can 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
To be announced
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.

I remembered my camera this month!

Getting back into the swing of things finally this year!

The March meeting was held with as much gusto as usual :)

We had a visitor from Britain, Liam - I believe he enjoyed his visit to our group cos he was still smiling when he left for the evening :))

We had our Paddys Market - now going to be held in March and October. Much shopping was done as always.

The workshop was busy this month - making lovely little palm plants.

The list has been put out for the workshops in the coming months and Saturdays - if you are interested in attending these workshops, please email me and put your name down.

Two of our delightful members enjoying a moments chat together!

These bookends are one of the workshops being offered - these particular bookends are going to be auctioned at the AMEA dinner later this year.

Christmas cheer was had by all....

..at the last meeting for the year! Some of us chose to wear silly Christmas hats...

and some of us chose to dress completely Christmasie from head to toe!!

The happy couple that tied the knot in October, made it together to the show too!

The committee of course were in on the act.

Then there was this poor body-less person hanging around the place. But at least he was happy :)

Show and tell was brought by one of our lovely members - its a little chocolate box with a beautiful tree and little toys inside. You only have to let your imagination run a little wild to come up with some terrific ideas and use for items you see every day.

The Raffle House for next year was brought along for a prelim look. It is fully papered, painted and lit! So don't forget if you would like to win this house, come along to the show in August and purchase a ticket or two and be in the running.

Then we got on to some serious business! Our annual auction!!!! What a laugh that is, and some interesting items went under the hammer too.

The bidding was intense...

The winners ecstatic....

The little people happy with their new owners...

And some items shone a light!

Then it was down to the REALLY serious business....SUPPER!!!

Some clever bod had made some cute cups to eat...

So time for a chat and nibbles and everyone relaxing for a moment or two to discuss next years plans.

So, we say farewell to you all for 2010. May you all have a Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year. Looking forward to having you all read about us again in 2011 (we are not back together till February, sodon't panic when you don't see a post for January!)

November Meeting...

Only one more before the Christmas Meeting and then a break till February!!!

However...till then lets get to this month!!!
...and last month.....one of our members - Naomi - got married!!! So congrats to her and her new hubby. The club presented Naomi with a miniature keepsake to celebrate her wedding. May the happy couple have a long and happy marriage.

Our demonstrations this month were done by Brian and Karen. Brian showed us how to put together a garden of delightful, easy plants.

Karen showed us how to make tiny cookie and cake cutters for making the said items out of whatever type of modelling clay we choose to use.
The cutter.....

The cutouts....

And finally... the decorated cakes!!

Theo did a workshop on a garden arch and planter box.

Bev did a workshop on opera glasses and gloves.

Bev recently visited the UK and just 'managed' to go miniature shopping while there. She brought back a beautiful little peacock that was made locally from where she was visiting... isn't it just beautiful?

We had a few sellers showing their wares..

And last but not least... the list went up for the workshops next year!!!

72 Days till Christmas!!

This is something that we were reminded of at our October meeting, not exactly how many days to go, but the fact that the meeting after next (November) will be the Christmas one!!! I have to ask "Where does the time go"?! Seems to be a question of mine a lot lately!! Anyway.....this months meeting was an interesting one once again. We had "Market Day", a bit of show and tell and of course the ever popular workshops!

As you can see, this market stall was inundated very quickly with potential buyers!! I believe the sellers would of been very happy at this response.

We had a number of visitors to the meeting again this month. It is always nice for us to have someone new along. We had a young lady from South Korea amongst our visitors - she found it strange that we all make and collect "little" things, however she did enjoy the meeting and had a go at one of the workshops making miniature roses.

Members working intently on the miniature trellis and roses.

And some just musing...

The finished product.

A bit of the Show and Tell was once again one of our new members Bert, who brought his lovely Gypsy Caravan along for us to view.

Inside the wagon.

Some of our members looking serious and some not so

And then there are some that sit, have coffee and chat!

September ...

The meeting for September was once again a busy one. We discussed the Festival of 2010 and the Festival for 2011! Planning ahead is always a good thing don't you think?

We would all like to say a big THANK YOU to all who attended the Festival this year. We once again made a few thousand dollars that will go towards a children's charity once again at the end of the year.

One of the Silver Anniversary Boxes came back for a close up. Just to show that disco is still alive!!

This months demonstrations that were held included making little toothpick dolls with Ann.

Stays for your little people with Julie.

A guest - Bert - brought his Royal Mail Stage Coach along for us to peruse. Thank you Bert!

A group of plant enthusiasts made "mother in laws tongue" plants.

We had wig making. However I think there was more laughter than hair dressing going on in that corner.

August meeting...

The August meeting is always a fun meeting, we play some games, (prizes are won!)....

have show and tell....

..and of course, eat some delicious supper!!!

..and to top it off, we chat about the Festival just gone and of course the one to come!!!

Our Festival began.......

with demonstrations at the door

Then we move inside to see the display ..... these photos are of 1/12th scale displays

September ...

The meeting for September was once again a busy one. We discussed the Festival of 2010 and the Festival for 2011! Planning ahead is always a good thing don't you think?

We would all like to say a big THANK YOU to all who attended the Festival this year. We once again made a few thousand dollars that will go towards a children's charity once again at the end of the year.

One of the Silver Anniversary Boxes came back for a close up. Just to show that disco is still alive!!