Miniature Time Traveller Issue 1

Miniature Time Traveller Magazine Issue #1/22 Just off The Great Alpine Highway heading towards the Southern Alps is the tiny village of Waddington. The Old Parsonage was built in 1881 to house the Ministers of the Methodist Church which was next door. In 1991 Dee and Jim Nunan bought the old place which was in a neglected state. Restoring both house and garden was a mammoth task but eventually things began to take shape and today it is a popular place for garden lovers and miniaturists. The garden is full of cottage garden plants and blooms from September to April. There is a teapot garden, a nonsense garden with old relics found on the property and many other quirky, whimsical areas to please the eye. Also nestled in the garden are two tiny cottages in which only three people can fit in at any one time. One is a museum with memorabilia from a bygone era, and the other a little chapel with treasures depicting the four religious festivals. There is also a display of train memorabilia in Jim's garage and a replica Gypsy caravan with displays of handkerchiefs, laces, pegs, earrings, tools, greeting cards and other items of interest gypsies may have used. Then of course there are the Miniatures situated in a bigger cottage in keeping with the old house. Dee has always loved and collected anything tiny and when she and Jim moved from Christchurch city to Waddington she was at last able to share them with other lovers of miniature items. Collecting for about forty years Dee has many on display from tea sets to shoes, and many other interesting treasures with some for sale. While she was working at Christchurch Polytechnic in the Bakery section she watched and learned the art of modeling with Pastillage similar to plastic icing. She made a shop called The Emporium fully stocked with everything a General Store sells, a dining room with a table set for afternoon tea, and as these were entered in food competitions the last one was a model with three tables displaying bread, cakes, deserts and a table in the middle with trophies and certificates ready for winners in a teeny tiny competition. The Dolls houses in this cottage were a labour of love, tears and tantrums, especially when wallpapering and trying to place things when ones fingers are too big. You would enjoy the fourteen roomed house which was a kitset from the U.S.A. This one is special as each room is dedicated to a friend or family member who made something or gave a tiny trinket i.e. costume jewelry belonging to Dee's Mother. There is a Triang house made into two shops. HIDDEN TREASURES—THE OLD PARSONAGE AND COUNTRY MINIATURES—Waddington, Canterbury There is much to see in this fairyland for little girls and big girls. Many gentlemen enjoy it too especially with Jim's collection of three Austin cars and the train room. Visitors are always welcome at” The Old Parsonage”. Dee and Jim derive great pleasure talking to folk and showing them around the house, garden and collections. Phone 03 3183723 Email ddeen@xtra.co.nz f or a viewing.