Scranton Small Scales Houseparty

A NAME houseparty is definitely a must for your mini bucket list. Of course if you have already been to a houseparty then it is the next houseparty that needs to be on your bucket list. 

Rest up first because it is a hectic week. 

We arrived Wednesday evening and it was great to see friends in the registration line. A few witches were in the crowd and I mean that in the best possible way.  With the theme of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow there were so many ideas for costumes and hats and t- shirts that very few waited for just the usual costume party on Saturday to dress up. Even the hotel room doors were decorated and the hotel staff really enjoyed that. The eventual winner was just down the hall from me. I should have taken a photo but there was so much going on I lost track. 

There was a good Irish pub next door so that was an easy choice for dinner Wednesday. 

I was giving a luncheon talk and had shipped my luncheon gifts to Fern who generously offered to bring them   But I could only ship them unassembled so I spent a late night trying to assemble as many as possible. 

Thursday I taught a Pre convention Workshop. Witch Croft. This is a little inside outside building with a witch hat roofed bay window. We did some aged paint techniques and a very messy but fun technique for making vines. It is sometimes nice to do something crafty that doesn't require a trip to the local craft shop first. These are done with glue and paper towel   The Paperclay cobblestones and slate floors  really needed to dry overnight but at least the first coat of colour wash could be added.  I had a great group in class and I think everyone was pleased with their Project. 

There was a bit of time in the schedule so Gary and Janet and I walked to the seafood restaurant everyone had been talking about. It was long walk and I was a bit late getting back for the evening workshop. The meal and the company was worth the delay. It is so hard to find time during a Houseparty to really catch up with friends. 

Ruth and Dan Stewart designed the Thursday night project. It was an intriguing open Sleepy Hollow book and featured a bridge over a rock lined stream leading to a coveted bridge emerging from the pages of the book. Creepy gnarled trees curled over the scene. There was a lot of intense crafting and a good supply of cookies and coffee to keep everyone going. 

Friday morning there were more workshops but I spent the morning assembling the last of my luncheon gifts. I did drop in for a minute to see Sally Manwell's workshop and came away with a couple of neat tips for making magic books for the Wandlyn Way. 

And then it was time for the opening luncheon. THe tble centrepieces were excellent. A large black lantern with a spooky little cottage. Each one was a bit different. There was a lot of back chat over who would take our table's centre piece home but of course it was entirely out of our hands and in the final draw on Sunday it was not me. Sigh!

Each meal features a souvenir and this one was a open cabinet with shelves that was shaped like a haunted tree made by Taryn and Scott Reisse. A larger base and accessories were an added gift I think from the committee but with all that was going on it was hard to keep track. 

The sales room opened for the afternoon and so were the hospitality and exhibit rooms and the display of Houseparty helpers. It was hard to choose which ones to put my tickets in. Sad to say none of mine were winning tickets. 

Friday night the round table kits went on sale. I had promised myself that I would be good and not buy too many. Then I saw the samples and from the comments I wasn't the only one who threw those same good intentions out the window. The kits were all excellent. Many of them sold out so hopefully they will all be offered again in the NAME Gazette.

The exhibit room had a lot of Halloween themed exhibits and headless horsemen. This one by Terry Unnold showcases figures by Cat Wingler.

Terry Maxwell displayed her Violin Case Speakeasy from the Greenville Houseparty.  And her C'est La Vie, which she transformed into a very upscale dress shop.

 

Debbie Columbo's lovely 1/2 scale Victorian rooms were filled with detail; including a cook who just may be sampling the cooking wine. 

All the exhibits were so well done but I  have to confess my favorite was Nancy LaChiusa's  1/4 scale Hungerford Manor.

 I would have chosen it even if it wasn't a Petworth Miniatures kit.   Honest!!

She did a wonderful job and made it uniquely her own with brocade walls and a rearrangement of the original furniture. 

More workshops on Saturday morning and then the theme luncheons. 

I had never had a chance to even go to one before so giving a luncheon talk was certainly jumping into the deep end. Mind you I can babble about miniatures for hours so it was more a case of stopping in time. Lunch was a really good soup and chicken Caesar and lemon cake but you can't eat and talk  so I didn't get a chance to really enjoy the food. Adding Spooky Special Effects to a mini scene with Evans Designs LEDs can be really easy or you can make it more challenging by adding effects such as Pepper's ghost. It was fun to try to think up different effects and include samples in the display. I'll add a new blog later with photos of the display. The comments after were very encouraging so I think everyone enjoyed the theme.

And the as sales room was open again in the afternoon I was off right after lunch to the sales room. There was a silent auction going on but I missed that. 

Saturday evening was the costume banquet and I was so busy looking at the costumes that I forgot to take photos. There were a couple of Headless Horsemen, a really nice Werewolf, lots of Witches, Mummys, Ghosts, and Vampires. People riding down in the elevator with us were either a bit worried about whether we had escaped from some local sanatorium or trying not to be rude and laugh. A few looked disappointed that they couldn't get off at the Convention level with us. Needless to say we were all a bit of a ham.

Dinner was long and loud and totally rowdy. The Houseparty Helpers were drawn amid cheers and groans. The table gifts and exchange gifts were handed out and they were all beautiful. I can't thank my table mates enough and as soon as I got home they were added to my witch's house. 

Sunday started with the final brunch. The centrepieces were drawn for. I didn't win. And the extra ones were auctioned off. Bidding was fierce and NAME certainly benefited from the competition. A final bow from the committee who did a truly outstanding job and the only thing left to so was return to the sales room. All the last minute purchases and packing and everyone started to disappear. It was one of the best Houseparties I have been to. But then I think I said that about Greenville and Portland too. Really, miniatures, friends, fun and a visit to an interesting new place, how can you miss. If a Houseparty isn't on your bucket list add it now.

I'm home, unpacked (well nearly) and getting ready for the next convention. The Ontario Miniature Gathering is a smaller version of a Houseparty with all the same fun and excitement and as chair I still have much to do before next April but my committee has everything well in hand. 

Our theme is A Gathering of the Clans and Scotland offers so many ideas that we have had as much fun organizing the event as you will have attending. It is being held in the beautiful 1000 Islands region on April 20-22 , 2018.

 The webite is now up with registration forms     www.minisgathering.ca   

 If you are coming from the US it is only 2 hours drive from Syracuse airport, straight up HWY 81 and only about a mile from the border on the Canadian side. 

Don't forget your passport. See you there.