I Have Been a Bad, Bad Girl.........Miniatura Part 1

......and it had all started so promisingly. I drove up to Birmingham with my youngest son and we happily chatted while listening to 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". We made good time and I dropped him off at New Street Station to catch the train to Manchester. His sister was travelling over from Sheffield to meet him and spend the day at the university open day.

This meant I had the whole day to myself to take my time and browse.

 One of the reasons why I was so pleased to have so much time is that I am not a good shopper. I get carried away by the excitement. I try to contain my need to shop by writing very specific lists to make sure I don't go home with a load of unnecessary, impulse buys. I do have a tendency to get carried away.

 My plan was to walk round the whole exhibition once without buying a single thing. I would look, peruse, enjoy and compare. 

 I did slightly cheat though because I had already reserved this fabulous lady from Julie of Bellabelle Dolls. I had arranged to collect her later in the day and looked forward to seeing all her new dolls. 

 That was my plan then and I was soooooo good. I walked around and looked at everything, I ignored all those must have items for project 394 and concentrated on finding things that were relevant to my current projects.

 I particularly enjoyed looking at work by exhibitors I don't usually concentrate on because I am always time conscious with a foot tapping husband. Some of the tiny baby dolls were simply exquisite while the cake makers convinced me that food making was not for me. They are simply too good.

 Now my steampunk witch was my first 'buy' and the 'Witch's Apprentice' was my last buy. Although I saw her on Julie's stand I did not rush in, my new shopping resolution remaining strong but with the M4 beckoning and no more shows until Spring for me I succumbed at the last. Where is a mentor when you need one!

 This little girl has such character and is destined for 'Flourish and Blotts' to buy her books for a new year at Hogwarts.

 This lovely pumpkin is the object of her practising but I think I will be able to find another somewhere for it!

By 12o'clock I must admit to be getting a little panicky. I knew I would be falling off that wagon any moment. I hadn't quite made it all the way round but was ready to buy!