Minis in Melbourne Part 5 (The miscellaneous miniature sightings)

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of my photos of random miniature-related sightings around Melbourne:

1. A scale model of an opal mine, in the window of a shop just down from where I was staying.

2. A dolls house I spotted in the Ralph Lauren children's clothes department of David Jones, spotted as I was heading for the loo.

3. In the NGV International's gift shop, porcelain stacking tableware by Allessandro Zambelli for Seletti.

4. Also in the gift shop (My collection development policy told me I had to buy a copy of this book).

5. On display at the NGV International: 'In praise of dialectics' by Renee Magritte,

6. Miniature tea service (1795) by Caughley Porcelain Manufacture,

7. and Rustic cottage (1745) Meissen Porcelain Factory.

8. Finally, a friend took me for a walk along St Kilda seafront where there is a series of scale models of the planets of the solar system, set out at the correct (scale) distance from each other. Here's my friend trying to eat Earth:

 and admiring the scale model of the sun.

Minis in Melbourne Part 4 (The Mailbox)

I've known about the Mailbox art space (previously Mailbox 141) for some time and have meant to find time to visit it on my last few trips to Melbourne. But never did.

So imagine my embarrassment when I discovered, on this visit, that it was situated in the lobby of a building I've photographed the front of on previous visits because of its button and needle sign (Tessuti is in the same building).

The gallery is situated in the vintage mailboxes in the lobby of the building and is open for viewing during business hours.

The current exhibition is Happiness Comix NY.

And each piece fits into a space not much more than 17 cm high.

The miniaturist in me loved the way different artists used their boxes:

and I shot this video so you could share its glory:

(I'm just sad that The Dolls House Gallery closed before I had the chance to see it and that Hand Held Gallery is no more...)

Minis in Melbourne Part 3 (The magic)

My Melbourne-based friend and I decided to check out the Queen Victoria night markets on my first night in town. And there, right in the very middle, we stumbled across this:

How could we resist checking it out with a name like "the curator, tiniest show on earth'? 

Minute exhibit is created and performed by Lana Schwarcz. 

I told her she made my whole trip to Melbourne worthwhile.

Minis in Melbourne Part 2 (The shopping)

Melbourne is known as Australia's shopping destination. And I certainly did some shopping, just not the sort that most visitors do.

On my first day I went to visit The Doll House in its new location in Mont Albert.

It's a short stroll from the station and a just down the road from two op shops: the perfect location, in my book!

Kerrie, the owner, tells me that she's only been in the new location for a month

but it looks pretty settled.

I spent an enjoyable hour or so perusing the shelves of stock

before making my choices:

You can see that Switchboard Cafe had already inspired me to buy a shopfront

plus some glasses.

And I picked up a few things for Margell Public School as well.

During my trip I made a few more mini purchases, from non-traditional sources.

I picked up this silicon clockfor $7.50 from the half-price bin at the Canberra airport newsagents:

and a couple of storage units and a neck towel to make towels for Margell from Daiso ($2.80 each).

Keeping to the Japanese theme, I found this perspex display case at Muji ($39.95), which will be great for shows.

While visiting Melbourne Style on the hunt for a tea towel to add to my collection, I picked up some alphabet magnets ($10), gift cards ($7.50 a pack) and a greeting card ($6) to decorate future scenes.

And, finally, at Melbourne airport bought a cheap bracelet with penguin charms on it ($19.95) to mark my visit to the penguins at St Kilda: two charms will be used for stitch markers and the other is to go in a scene.

Minis in Melbourne Part 1 (The inspiration)

July and early August were crazy-busy for me with a major work project, expressions of interest due in for roles in our new work structure plus the August tiny Times to edit. So I decided I needed to run away for a bit at the end of it all and finally see the Mid-century modern - Australian Furniture design exhibition in Melbourne.

I took over 400 photos in the two and a half days I was there: so decided to break them down by theme into several blog posts so I don't overwhelm you (or me!)

After I dropped my bags off the owner of the apartment I'd rented took me to her favourite local cafe for a coffee. And I fell in love (with the cafe, not the owner). Switchboard Cafe is located at the back of the Manchester Unity building arcade in what used to be the building's switchboard. 

On one side of the arcade is a tiny seating area, not much bigger than a shop window

and on the other, a hole in the wall where the barrista makes the coffee and where the food is prepared.

Over coffee I decided it would be the perfect small-size miniature project

so took a pile of photos for reference.

The apartment I'd booked was also crying out to be made in miniature.

Located on the third floor of the Capitol Theatre building, designed by Walter Burley Griffin and built in the 1920s, it included original internal columns, windows and a beautiful parquet floor in the kitchen.

 Unfortunately the arcade downstairs had been remuddled in the 1960s, but there were still some original details on the exterior of the building.

On my second day in Melbourne I stumbled across The Little Library in Melbourne Central. 

 And, once again, found myself designing a miniature version in my head.