Tuesday 11 October 2011

Kristin Baybar's Shop

In my earlier blog about the kitchen above Buxton's shop, I mentioned buying the mixing bowl from Kristin Baybar's shop in Gospel Oak, North London. I had first seen the shop on a documentary called Hello Dollies shown on Channel 4, about dolls house builders and enthusiasts (see earlier blog 'Hello Dollies'). The shop looked wonderful, filled with little room sets and drawers full of miniature things, I knew I had to go there!

I did my research, found the shop, and how to get there, and one day  set off to see the shop for myself. Unfortunately, I didn't research well enough, as the train line to and from Gospel Oak was completely closed for months due to an upgrade that was happening for the new London Overground service at the time. I almost headed back home, but was told that a replacement bus service was available, so I jumped on the bus! It was all very exciting, I had never seen any of this part of London before, but began to wonder what route the bus was taking as we seemed to be going further and further into the East End of London, still I thought, it must just be going the long way round. I am not sure at what point I actually was certain that I was on the wrong bus entirely, but it was long before we stopped at our final destination at Stratford, where they are currently building and expensive running track or something. (!!) ((not Shakespeare's birthplace!!!)).

Fortunately, there is a good tube route back to central London from Stratford, so I just went back to where I had started and began again, this time making sure I was in the correct bus! Eventually, I arrived in Gospel Oak!

Was it all worth it? Yes! To be fair the shop doesn't look much from the outside, painted red, it had  a large grill covering the window, and you had to ring the bell to get in, but once inside it was wonderland! Kristin herself was very welcoming and invited me to explore all the drawers and have a good root around. There is so much stuff to look at, so many tiny little things, you really do start to feel like Alice after a while! it is not a big shop, but it would take you hours to see just some of the things inside. Kristin doesn't take credit cards, and I had a limited amount of cash at the time, or I would have bought a lot more, but still came home with plenty of treasures.

I believe the train lines are now running again, and it will take a fraction of the time to get to than it did when i first went, even without the  massive detour! So, i think it is about time I ventured forth again to Kristin's tiny emporium, what do you think?

17 comments:

  1. Hi, Andy,

    What a fun adventure! You are so lucky to have so many cool miniatures shops in and around London. We have but the one (that I'm aware of).

    It doesn't appear that Ms. Baybar would accept internet orders!

    I've been meaning to check out that aforementioned 'Hello Dollies' doco. YouTube, right?

    Are you kidding? By all means, go! Wish I could join you!

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  2. I heard about this shop on the Hello Dollies programme too. It definitely would be an exciting place to see but as I'm not likely to be in London, I doubt it will ever happen.

    I definitely think it's about time you made the trip again especially as you now know what to expect - and then you can report back to us here!

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  3. En mi próxima visita a Londres, no pienso dejar pasar la oportunidad de visitar la tienda de Krintin!! Menos mal que acompañará un amigo que ya ha estado varias veces en esta tienda, no querría perderme también... ¡¡Un abrazo enorme!!

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  4. I'm so glad you didn't give up the first time you took a wrong steer, it was obviously well worth it it the end, it looks like there are so many delightful treasures in there......including Kristin.

    I defiantly think you should go for another visit.....with a shopping list from the rest of us...... ; )

    I would love to go myself, it does look like you could get lost in there for hours. We have a ruff plan for a trip in 2013 so I'm starting to make a list of all the miniature shops I need to go to. My Brother was in Paris last month and bought me back some little things from Dentelles et Ribambelles...so sweet.

    This is a great photo, did you take it your self?

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  5. oops.....he,he I ment rough.....lol

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  6. ¡¡¡ que odisea ¡¡ pero valio la pena ¡¡ te felicito que maravilla de tienda ¡¡
    besos

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  7. Hi John, no Kristin's shop isn't on the internet, sadly. Yes the documentary is on Youtube, but via Channel 4 OD (on demand) which is one of the UK's terrestrial channels and you probably won't get to see it all. But Josje has posted a Youtube link in the comments for Hello Dollies that should let you see part of the show. (thanks again for that Josje!)

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  8. Hi Irene, are there any good dolls house shops close to you that you would recommend to people?

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  9. Gracias Pedrete. Estoy en lo cierto al decir que su próxima visita a Londres es de alrededor del 3 de diciembre? Acabo de ver parte de su trabajo hermoso en la página web de Kensington muñecas festival de casa! ; o)

    grandes abrazos
    Andy

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  10. Hi Fi, no, I 'borrowed' the photo!! But under the rules of fair usage I think that is OK!! Can't wait to see those lovely Parisian miniatures one day on your possible blog!!

    Well, I think I will go and visit her shop again (like you all really needed to twist my arm!), but I also want to go the the Kensington Dollshouse Festival in December so will need to save all my pennies!

    regards!!

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  11. Gracias elisa, creo que valió la pena todo el esfuerzo para llegar allí también! y se vuelva a repetir un día pronto!

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  12. Andy - no miniature shops in Edinburgh at all - none whatsoever! I rely on the internet, a bi-annual trip to Birmingham and an annual trip to York for my supplies. We even lost the Scottish Miniatura this year and I don't know yet if it will re-appear.

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  13. Hi Irene, sorry to hear that, I didn't know Miniatura wasn't going to Scotland this year, what happened? Mind you the internet (and mail order)is very useful for getting miniatures and components, I use them a lot too. Both of my nearest dolls house shops are a two hour round trip away by car, so not exactly local.

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  14. Andy - I believe the venue upped the costs so with the distance involved, overnight stays for some exhibitors, table fees, and venue hire it may have worked out too expensive for just one day. I keep watching the Miniatura site hoping for a positive update.

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  15. Andy - while talking of shops I can highly recommend http://www.miniaturescene.com/ Excellent online service and a great shop to visit if you happen to nip up to York.

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  16. What a shame Irene, I hope that they find a new venue in Scotland, or at least further north than Birmingham, to do a Miniatura show, so you haven't got such a long way to travel! I have heard of the Miniature Scene in York, but haven't been to York for a very long time, but have been thnking of paying another visit, so now have even more of an excuse to go! The website does look very good, and have been looking through it today, thanks for posting the link, hope others will find it useful!

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  17. Oh my goodness, are you still going? I lived in gospel oak when I was a teenager and bought some lovely things from you then, I'm 52 now haha. I still make and collect dollshouses. I must come back and have a look xxx Louisa

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