Some of the miniatures items are standard fare, including simple furniture and accessories and lighting.

They also carry Real Good Toys houses and a small assortment of Houseworks products, plus wall papers, rugs, shingles, tools, etc.

I was very happy to see this great selection of basswood, pine, and even a bit of hardwood for scratch building. They also have balsa, dowels, and some trim pieces.

And I must digress to talk about the wonderful assortment of plastic models. It has been many years since I have seen a good assortment of vehicles like this, from 1/32nd to 1/8th, from cars to semis, to fire trucks, to military vehicles.

Their assortment of planes and ships and tools and paints and glues took up the other side of this long aisle.

And just so you don't miss it, here is the paint display on its own. Lovely!

So, now to the verdict. Is it worth a trip to Falmouth? Maybe. Not if you want to browse miniatures, unless you just need basic supplies. For trains there is a bit more. But for scale modelers it is certainly worth a special trip. And if you are headed up or down 95 it is definitely worth a stop at exit 53 for 45 minutes or so!

Setting Up

Li'l Bea hiding from the camera :-/

Laurie hamming it up for her brother.

Laurie helping with our display.

Here I am, doing the finishing touches of the set up of Capt. Stone's Study.

The Vendors

Kathy's Minis was a favorite of Li'l Bea who enjoyed digging in the bins and learning more about making minis with clay and buttons.


Barbara's Barn had several tables and most everything was marked down 20-40%. She is trying to sell off her stock and retire fully.




Feather Your Nest from Sturbridge, Mass. had this lovely display, stacked up high and extending to the floor in spots. She did well, selling out all of her houses. I found a nifty little trundle bed at a good price. It will find a home in the Country Cape someday soon.







Jamie's (of Belfast) had a good assortment, plus some train items and a display of Barbies that was a hit with the youngest girls. She also had a sweet little room box with a timely Valentine theme. It is the first room box done by Kiana Shea Oxton who is doing very well at age 8!






Here's my display. Several people were very disappointed that nothing was for sale. The LL Bean log cabin was a hit with young and old alike and started many discussions. We gave out about twenty NAME enrollment forms and about 80 MaineMiniatures.com cards.





Katherine Lawson was right next to us and it was her first time at the show, also. She offers minis in the Clam Factory Gifts store in the summer down in Stonington. Like me, she has a keen interest in the House of Miniatures furniture kits.





Barbara Hall had a number of unique items, including boat and tote style bags and LL Bean style boots, plus her lovely assortment of hand-painted furniture and boxes. I'm ashamed to say that I did not get any close-up shots of the little darling, though. :(



Nana's Dream was another new vendor. Everything on their table was hand made and unique. The scroll saw work was very impressive and the bedding was very cute. I especially liked the Raggedy Anne and Andy beds.




Elaine Perkins had the Our Dolls display of lovely porcelain mini people again, and her table always seemed to have several people enjoying her work.



Village Miniatures had quite a number of things I wanted, but I limited myself to a much needed roll of copper sheeting for the roof of the bay window on the Country Cape. I was sad to learn that they have closed the store in Hampden and will limit their sales to the two shows in Augusta and Belfast from now on. That leaves just one full-time, year round mini store in the state :(




Terry's Toys had a mixed offering of trains and minis. Eclectic is what you'd call it. My favorite was their show-stopper, five-holer selectmen's meeting house. It's a riot.




Little World had a big display! These folks from Ossipee make it up every year and have been around a long time, long enough that they remember the days when they could do 36 shows per year in New York and New England. We saw them at Pizza hut after the show and they said that they did pretty well. I found a perfect stove for my kitchen-in-a-breadbox, plus two packages of tapers (candles) in white and green.






Kate is from Bowdoinham and only does this one show each year, mostly to change out her personal collection. Selling gives her room and finances to continue her favorite hobby!




And that's the show for 2008. A net gain of one vendor over last year (not counting me) and a good time had by all. The only real dark spot was a parking lot so icy that people had to take their life in their hands to get from their cars to the door! But even an icy, windy day couldn't keep the crowds away from the Lions' show.

Looksmore brought her lighthouse again, much further along than last year.

Kitties and carpets make for a cozy home, not your typical lighthouse.

Her tables also had a number of other nice items that drew many appreciative onlookers.

A new item at this show was a display full of these gift bags that had been cut out and made into interesting roombox setting that would make great gifts!

Barbara Hall was back with lots of mini people and some beautiful painted pieces.

These little hand painted chests are quite an eyeful.

And the mini L.L. Bean bags are so realistic that I half expected to find then in the retail store in Freeport!

This setting with the lovely painting was very popular, too.

Sam Dunlap brought a great selection of his miniature pottery. I found a tea set with a schooner design and I had to have it for the captain.

Little World Miniatures from Ossipee, NH was there, as were Jamie from Jamie's Miniatures in Belfast and a big crew from Village Miniatures in Hampden. There were a few nice displays of interesting characters from Our Dolls. Barbara's Barn was advertising a retirement sale and had a good number of bargain hunters.

All-in-all the miniatures part of the show still seems to be shrinking. I hope things might be better next year. Maine Miniatures will have a table in support of NAME if all goes according to plan. Hope to see you there, too!