AM134_CombinedOPT.pdf

Deb Jackson has a passion for scientific and medical vintage tools.

June 14

Issue #134

www.americanminiaturist.com

Price $6.95

CANADA $9.25 CAD. UK £4.25

PROJECTS

Beach souvenirs

Shannon Kindred turns memories into keepsakes.

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• Shabby chic mirror • Mini dungarees • Produce cart • Lace nightgown • Rum baba • Teapot bird nest • Miniature grapes

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2 American Miniaturist

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Dollhouse Land Artistry in Miniatures

See me on the Mini Cruise in September and at The Good Sam Show in October.

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American Miniaturist 3


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Deb Jackson has a passion for scientific and medical vintage tools.

June 14

Issue #134


Price $6.95


PROJECTS

Beach souvenirs

Shannon Kindred turns memories into keepsakes.

Contents Regulars

Features

6

Mini mail

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We love to hear from our readers and share their words on these pages.

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Itty bits

Talented miniature artists celebrate Father’s Day.

24

Upholstered furniture

Cut out your very own art, seed packs, cards and wedding items.

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Auto repair shop

Show dates

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• Shabby chic mirror • Mini dungarees • Produce cart • Lace nightgown • Rum baba • Teapot bird nest • Miniature grapes

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American Miniaturist 68132 250th Avenue Kasson, MN 55944

The latest news and notes in the mini world, and our newest contest winners.

Phone: (507) 634-3143 Fax: (507) 634-7691 Toll Free: 1-866-606-6587 Email: [email protected] UK: AM, Unit 5E, Park Farm Chichester Road, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0AG. Tel: 01903 884988 Fax: 01903 885514

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Publisher: Kelly Johnson

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Email: [email protected]

Editor: Auralea Krieger


Advertising & Marketing: Sara Vix Email: [email protected]

Customer Service:


Distribution: Fran Johnson


Designer: Auralea Krieger Ad designer: Ann Pavlish

Mark your calendars and plan to attend these shows around the country.

On the cover: Scene by Shannon Kindred

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Canada $135 (US funds); UK £115; Europe $259 (US); Rest of world $290 (US).

American Miniaturist (USPS# 021-053 ISSN # 14778203) is published monthly at 68132 250th Ave., Kasson, MN 55944. Subscription price is $65.00. Periodicals postage paid at Kasson, MN, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address corrections to American Miniaturist, 68132 250th Ave., Kasson, MN 55944 All material submitted to the magazine is accepted on the basis that copyright will be vested in the Publisher who assumes all rights worldwide, in all forms and media. This means American Miniaturist owns the rights to the instructions and photographs that we publish. The work may be published in the magazine, our i-Mag, ebooks, CDs and bookzines as well as on Dollshouse.TV. You continue to own the copyright for the design and are free to teach and sell your work. All that we ask is that you wait a minimum of 6 months after the publication of the issue before teaching the design or selling your own instructions. We don’t allow you to re-publish the design featured in other books or magazines without prior consent.

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Seaside cloches

Shannon Kindred preserves tiny sea treasures in creative miniature cloches.

Vintage tools

Deb Jackson makes miniature medical and scientific tools.

Miniature food

Wood turning Gallery

Subscription rates: 1 Year (12 issues) $65 2 Year (24 issues) $120

Frank Layne showcases his classic car collection.

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Published by Ashdown Broadcasting

Canada $75 (US funds); UK £59; Europe $136 (US); Rest of world $148 (US).

Kris Compas makes creative miniature furniture.

Laura Prats is a master at making tiny treats.

Issue 134 June 2014

Celebrating men

Contributors:

Natalia Antonelli, Marianne Colijn , Kris Compas, Sharon Doddroe, Deb Jackson, Felma Jackson, Shannon Kindred, Frank & Gabriele Layne, Alisa & Bear Limvere, Gil Mena, Danielle Muller, Eva Perendreu, Amanda Phillips, Laura Prats, Martha Puff, Nancy & AJ Quinby, Ron Seibert, Maria Jose Santos, Maurice Sauve, Nancy Summers, Celia Thomas, Rob Tukham, Gert & Ans Vogels, Dave Williams, and Diana Yate

Miniature furniture

Ron Seibert uses no plans to build wood furniture.

Part two of the wonderful wood turners gallery.

Wedding gowns

Felma Jackson’s makes beautiful wedding gowns.

Japanese room box

Eva Perendreu took on the challenge of making a Japanese style room box.

Baking for baby

Natalia Antonelli combines a modern baby shower and an old-fashion Italian baptism.

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Baby boutique

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Man rooms

Gabriele Layne’s shows her Bambino Baby Boutique. Danielle Muller shares the two rooms for men in her Grosvenor’s Hall dollhouse.

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Welcome Projects 10

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A war hero’s attic

Celia Thomas filled this little room with a cluster of nostalgic mementos.

A shabby chic mirror

Follow along with miniaturist Kris Compas and create this charming little antique mirror.

Mini dungarees

If you need a hard working man around the house, here is a work outfit for him!

A fresh produce cart

Diana Yate shares some creative construction tips on making this cart.

Mini nightgown

A tiny nighty made from lace is easy to make. Follow along with Felma Jackson.

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Natalia Antonelli shares her technique on how to make a delicious Italian rum baba.

A place for birds

Marianne Colijn has found a way to turn a miniature teapot into a tiny nest.

Miniature grapes

Amanda Phillips shows how fun and easy it is to make miniature grapes!

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This June issue is jam packed with so many talented artists. Summer is here and I couldn’t be happier and to make it even better, this is the month we celebrate our fathers! I remember the first time I saw my father as someone more than just a dad. I was a little girl at the time and I was spending the afternoon at his office sitting on the couch with my dolls and I noticed two walls were covered with awards for his achievements. He was a brilliant scientific engineer and the lead man at his company, but he was much more than that to me. Yes, I was amazed when I realized all of those plaques were awards, but what really made an impression on me that day was how everyone had such respect and love for him. He treated everyone with the utmost respect and kindness. He was humble, but confident and his laugh could be heard throughout the building. He was always quick with a joke. His brilliance even touched my first dollhouse when he made the perfect mini curtain rods, using only a cleverly bent clothes hanger and two small holes drilled into the wall. It was the specific tension that held it in place, no glue needed! My dad was and still is a hero in my eyes. So to all the fathers out there, I wish you a wonderful Father’s Day!

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minimail

AM is your magazine, and we want to hear from you. Write to: MiniMail, American Miniaturist, 68132 250th Ave., Kasson, MN 55944. Or email: auralea@ ashdown.co.uk. Letters may be edited if necessary.

power and collapses. I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Star letter This month’s Star Letter was written by Irina Saarenmäki who wrote in to share her thoughts about the March issue of AM. We truly love to share your projects and letters with our readers, and it means so much to us that you take the time to write! To thank Irina for her wonderful letter, we will be sending her a Sweets & Eats Project CD to help get her started on food for her new house. Please keep your letters coming. We love learning about you and your projects and hearing your comments and ideas. We always look forward to reading your thoughtful letters!

Star letter What a happy day to receive your wonderful magazine once again! LOVED the Lesia Lenex cupcake instruction in (AM131) as well as the toast instructions from Amanda Phillips. And her instructions for the salad were a treat!

Pat Bryant Tulsa, Oklahoma

I’ve just recently got my new house and I hope I’ll dare to try to make my own version of that beautiful sparkling chandelier by Caroline Dupuis. Thank you once again for your fabulous and inspiring magazine! Sure would love to see more scenes and other kind of crafts from Harry Potter, Wind In The Willow, and especially Brambly Hedge them. I LOVE mice - so it would be more than fantastic to get a pattern for a 1:12 scale mouse Keep up the good work!

Jo Bevilacqua ‘s response: Snow text was used for that project. You can find it usually at the craft store in the paint department. If you can’t find it, I have mixed fine white sand with spackling and added a little white acrylic paint to it.

Irina Saarenmäki Finland

Making snow I really love American Miniaturist. I was especially pleased with the article on Jo Bevilacqua in the February issue (AM130). Her winter garden scenes were exquisite. I have a question about them. How did she make the snow? I have tried using the spray that comes out of a can, but when it dries it turns to

Arthur contest winner Good morning Auralea and the rest of the group! Your letter and DVD came at a most appropriate time. As we were trying to overcome the latest round of


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minimail snow and cold the mail arrived. I laid it aside to finish up the chores before I allowed myself the luxury of hopefully finding something mini-related. Lo and behold the prized white envelope! I breathlessly tore into it and found a delight to keep me busy for many hours. I love searching for Arthur as I have ten grand dogs myself. The subject of the DVD, handbags, is also appropriate seeing that I have seven granddaughters. I see lots of those lying around on my chairs! Thanks again for my “end of winter” surprise and keep up the good work.

Caroline Dupuis showcases a beau tiful miniature butt erfly cottage.

Joann Conaway Bridgeville, DE

February 14

Issue #130

www.americanmi

niaturist.com

Price $6.95 CAD.

CANADA $9.25

UK £4.25

PROJECTS

• Valentines shop • Steampunk hat • Mini slippers • Ping pong light s • Turkey sandwich • Ice cream waffl

es

A ro mantic brocan te style Susanne Idun Mørch shows her personal touch

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Valentines contest winner I was so elated when I received my winnings from the February Valentine Heart contest. They are beautiful! Although, when I received my issue of American Miniaturist and read that I was the only one with the correct guess, I about dropped off my chair. What a feeling to know worldwide I was the only one! Well, you know I have been spreading that news just about everywhere I can. Just a quick background about how much this contest felt like a winner for me when I submitted it. First, I just looked at the picture of the hearts and knew they

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were the playing cards, but another and very important reason was that I just lost my beloved cat Gabby and seeing that Gabriele was the artist it was destiny to me. And here we are. I want to thank you so very, very much for my winning heart boxes they will be cherished forever in the most loving of ways just as Valentine’s Day is meant to be. Gina Brege Elba, NY

Good enough to eat I was very touched by Natalia Antonelli’s story in the April issue (AM132). What a blessing to have such talent run through generations of your family! It is also very nice to see how she cherishes her family and Italian heritage. I must say her wonderful miniature Italian food made me hungry and I suggested to my husband that we visit a local Italian restaurant the evening after reading through this issue of AM. I also enjoyed all of the Easter candy and sweet treats that were in the spring gallery, I may be on a diet for the spring, but I can always enjoy looking at sweets in miniature, zero calories! Emma Campbell Boston, MA

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Mini memories

A war hero’s miniature attic Celia Thomas filled this little room with a cluster of nostalgic mementos with reference to the two world wars.

T

he aim of this project was to create an old, neglected attic room with a feeling of nostalgia with reference to the two world wars. The room is full of

mementos from the 1930s/40s. Many of the printed items have been scanned on the computer from my own family photos, documents and books and scaled down. If you can do this your project is that bit more special for you, or the person you are giving it to for an anniversary, birthday or perhaps retirement present. If you do not have the facility to do this then you can find photos in magazines, catalogs, and advertising leaflets. I also used some of the items that I sell in my miniature business such as the 1930s Bakelite Wireless, 1930s Electric Fire, Left: An old, neglected attic room with a feeling of nostalgia.

slightly aged water jug, gas mask box, gramophone records, and War Illustrated magazines. Tools & materials: l Raw umber acrylic paint l Small paintbrush l Plain white paper towel

How to age an object Step 1: Mix the paint with a considerable amount of water. Cover the object and dab with paper towel to remove excess paint, leaving just enough to give a slightly aged and dirty look. Step 2: On items, such as boxes, you might like to add a little more paint to creases and corners. Creating books The book covers were made by scanning full size books and then reduced them in size and printing them on card. The leather Bible is simply made from a rectangular piece of leather and a piece of


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Mini memories wood ¼” depth, cut so that it is slightly smaller than the leather cover. Glue with PVA and edge all the way around with gold marker pen, including the wooden insert, to give a grand finish. I also cut a small piece of narrow red ribbon and sandwiched this in place between the front cover and the wood. Wooden boxes These are simply made from scrap pieces of wood strip and finished with acrylic paint. Sand well to give an old look. The wooden box on the shelf has been filled with scanned family photos that were reduced in size. The wooden box on top of the chest has been filled with old letters that were cut out of a magazine and some 1940 postcards. The box on the floor contains wartime printed items, such as identity cards and ration books. Some personal documents were scanned and reduced to scale, such as my grandfather’s letter from the King on his release from

Tip: Half fill the cardboard boxes with twisted up tissue paper before piling your objects on top, to give the illusion of a full box. the prisoner of war camp at the end of the First World War, and a letter from the King at the end of the Second World War for services rendered to the Home Guard. The medals were copied from my dad’s wartime medals and made out of card, colored in with gel pens and aged slightly with raw umber paint. Family photographs have been scanned and reduced in size and printed on matt photographic paper. To make the large photo frame I used a strip of picture frame, cut to size using a miter block and painted with Paynes grey acrylic, which is a soft black. The photo was glued on thin card and the frame glued on top using PVA glue, taking care not to get any on the photo. The metal oval picture frame, that you can just about see, has been bought and painted in black enamel paint. The photo was stuck on card that was cut to fit the frame and then very carefully, with a minimum amount of glue, stuck to the back of the frame. Old boxes The cardboard boxes were made from an assortment of colored card and old file covers and made to look scruffy by rubbing a pencil over the edges and rubbing a finger over the top. Scratching

with a craft knife gives a more battered look. The box on the shelf has been filled with 1930s/40s song sheets that were scanned from a book and reduced. I overlapped some to give a more random look. The box on top of the suitcase has been filled with 1930s magazines. On top of the wooden chest is a box filled with school exercise books, a school report, and a school certificate that were all scanned from the real thing, reduced to scale and printed on quality paper. I gently rubbed the exercise books with pencil, particularly around edges, and smudged with my finger to give it a dirtier look. I also rubbed my fingernail over all the edges to rough them up. On top of that is a box filled with broken items such as a saucepan that has a hole in it, a broken toaster, and a misshapen 1930s clock. Between the chair and the chest is a box filled with old boxed games. These were made out of card and the front covers were scanned from a book and then glued onto the lids. Tools & materials: l Leather from an old glove l Wood for top half ¼” x 2” x 1½” l Wood for bottom half ½” x 2” x 1½” l Leather for top half 3” x 3½” l Leather for bottom half 3½” x 4” American Miniaturist 11


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Mini memories



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Mini memories Vintage Suitcase Step 1: Stick the wooden block onto the middle of the corresponding leather. Cut along dotted lines as shown. Step 2: The sections should now look like diagram shown below. Step 3: Glue short ends to block as shown one at a time, then trim along the dotted lines at each end. Fold flaps down then glue. Step 4: Glue long ends to block as shown, one at a time then trim along dotted lines at each end. Fold flaps down then glue. Step 5: The top and bottom halves should now look like diagram below. Stick both halves together, weigh down with heavy book or clamp whilst glue dries. Step 6: The handle was made from a long piece of the inside seam of the glove cut 3/4” in length, secured onto the lower

half of the case by two tiny pins. The two catches were broken off a piece of old jewelry and glued into place with PVA glue then touched up with a little raw umber acrylic paint. Step 7: The four corners were also touched with raw umber paint and to age the case further a craft knife was dragged along all the corners and edges. To finish, I cut some old luggage labels and stuck them on with PVA glue. Making the RAF jacket The RAF jacket, which was based on my dad’s real old navigator’s wartime uniform, was quite difficult to make. I tried to be as accurate as possible when making the ribbons and medals, in order to be authentic. It is tiny details like this that if wrong, could spoil a whole scene. I painted the material (an old pair of my daughter’s denim shorts) with a very weak wash of raw umber acrylic paint and lots

of water then dried the material on the radiator between coats. It took six coats of paint before I reached the desired shade. Measuring the real jacket as a guide I cut out the parts and reduced them to scale. I sewed the basic structure of the jacket and set in the sleeves, however, the other details such as the collar and pockets I glued in with PVA glue. The Flight Lieutenant ribbons on the cuffs of the sleeves were made out of a narrow strip of white ribbon painted in black acrylic paint (as I couldn’t get black ribbon). Using a light blue gel pen and a steady hand I drew a line down the middle. The ribbons were then fixed into place with PVA glue. The ribbon on the top of the jacket was made out of white ribbon colored in with gel pens. The winged badge was made in black felt and the emblem drawn with gel pens. The buttons were made from tiny blobs of PVA glue dropped onto tin foil from a cocktail stick and left overnight to dry. The next day American Miniaturist 13


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Mini memories I scratched them off carefully, painted them in gold enamel paint, and then stuck them into place with PVA glue. Tools & materials: Cut out the following pieces: l Main piece, 2¼” x 1¼” l Two sides, ¾” x ½” l One pocket, ½” x ¾” l Strap, 4” x 1/16”

Leather Satchel This was made from a piece of dark brown leather and then glued with PVA. Step 1: Fold the sides in half. Make sure that the crease of the fold is on the outer side of each side of the satchel. Glue only the back half of the sides to fit one end of the main piece as shown. Fold the main piece in half along the dotted lines. Step 2: Glue the other half of the sides to the back of the main piece, so now you should have a basic satchel shape. Step 3: Glue the pocket to the front and the strap to each side of the satchel inside, where shown. Step 4: Fold the flap, dab a little glue to keep it together. Cut small straps out of the scraps of leather, as shown, and glue in place. Make two wire buckles with small lengths of 5-amp fuse wire. Shape it with pliers or tweezers, and then glue it in place. Running a craft

knife along all edges aged the entire satchel a little. Ideas for other items The photograph album was made from a rectangular piece of colored card and black paper. I stitched them together starting at the top of the spine working downwards. I scanned some family photos and glued them on two of the pages. Then using a fine white gel pen, created some miniature writing under each photo. I scanned the front cover of a First World War newspaper from a book and then reduced it to scale and folded it to look like a newspaper. I made the cobwebs from tiny pieces of lint I got from the tumble dryer filter. I managed to tease it out and then stuck it into place using a cocktail stick and minute specks of PVA glue. AM



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American Miniaturist


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Miniature furniture

A man who needs no plan

Ron Seibert enjoys using his retired math teacher skills instead of actual plans to build quality miniature wood furniture.

W

hat happens to a model railroader who scratch built around twenty miniature buildings in seventeen years, but never even had the trains running? I sold my trains and happily found the

world of miniature furniture. In 1982, I stumbled onto miniatures. I was at my barbers, who worked out of her home. She had a collection of miniatures that were made by her mother-in-law, who was a wholesaler. I visited the mother-in-law to see more and I really liked what I saw. After that, I jumped right into the hobby. My wife is my biggest fan and I think she likes my hobby because it keeps me at home. Since my beginning in miniatures, I have made around 300 pieces of furniture, with 1 out of 4 being upholstered. One method that I particularly enjoy is finding a photo of a piece that I like and Left: This beautiful 1:12 scale kitchen hutch cabinet is charmingly rustic.

building it from scratch with no plans. I think that being a retired math teacher has been a big help with this technique. I have a 10’ x 12’ room in the basement that is solely for my miniatures and it is very messy. Usually when I’m working on miniatures, I run back and forth to the computer while the glue or paint dries on a current project. My hobby table saw is the most valuable tool for my chosen hobby. The first piece that I built directly from a photo was a 1:12 scale pool table. The pieces that I had made before this were either from plans or based on full size pieces. Knowing that I needed a pool table for my game room, I went to the local store that sold them and found an advertisement that had a photograph of one that I liked. I took the pamphlet with me and told the man that I’d think about it. Little did he know that I was thinking about a


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Miniature furniture Left: This handmade Hoosier cabinet is complete with the combination flour-bin/sifter.

miniature version! I chose to build my version as a 4’ x 8’ table. The photograph would not be the exact measurements that I wanted, so I had to measure the long side of the table in the photo and relate that length to 8’ in order to get a ratio. With that ratio, I could measure other

aspects of the table, which I needed to build the piece. At this point, some of you math-challenged people are thinking, “What did he say?” Building in this manner is not for everyone. First, you need to be good with junior high school math skills. Second, you need to have

developed some expertise at making furniture from kits and/or from direct measurement of the full-sized piece. I am a member of Milwaukee Miniatures Club and recently my club wanted to do a project with a kitchen hutch cabinet. It was my responsibility to come up with a design and make the kits. I found some photos and proceeded to build samples for the club members to see. I planned on the piece to be 7’ tall, with the lower section 3’ off the floor. I established my ratio for working from the picture and built the samples. I choose not to draw plans when I build like this. I have the expertise, but not the patience for drawing. And yes, that means that sometimes I have to do some aspects of the piece more than once, but not to often. Frequently, I sit at my workbench for a while and just think about how to do it. After a particular problem is solved, I proceed, although sometimes that does not happen until the next day. The ladies in our club (13 of them; I’m the only male) decided which piece they would like the workshop to be based on. When I taught the class, some of them kit-bashed and made minor changes to the piece. American Miniaturist 17


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Miniature furniture

Above: Ron saw a photo of a ladies vanity and proceeded to create it only from a photograph. Right: This unpainted, open-shelf cupboard shows the beauty of the wood grain in it’s clean design.

Ten years ago there was a picture of a ladies vanity in one of the magazines. The tilting mirror and the drawers with inlaid edges looked like it would be fun to try. I determined one dimension, set the ratio, and made the piece with working drawers. I tease the ladies in our club about the “froufrou” they like to make, and that this is my one concession to that style. But it started with a piece of furniture, not the accessories.

Sometimes I build a piece because I like it and know I would enjoy the process, even if I know I have no current use for it. That is how it was with my Hoosier cabinet. I decided that I wanted to build one, so I looked at many pictures online until I found one that I liked. Building in this manner is only about 5% of what I do. Most of my furniture comes

from plans in a magazine or is built following a full sized example. For settings, I do rooms and vignettes. But mostly I make a lot of furniture out of wood. This technique is not for everyone, but if you have the building expertise and the math skills, it can be very rewarding. The satisfaction of a job well done is what I love most about miniatures. AM

Right: Ron’s miniature pool table room won Best of Show at the Iowa State Fair.



4/24/14 12:08 PM

Mini man scenes

Celebrating men in miniature These talented miniature artists share their male influenced scenes to celebrate Father’s Day. By Sharon Doddroe.

~Photography by Kim McKisson

C

ommemorating the men in your life can be as simple as creating a scene depicting your subject’s favorite hobby. These room boxes and vignettes pay tribute to times gone by, but many of these leisurely pursuits are still popular—albeit in a more modern form. Nancy Summers The 1992 movie Toys starring Robin Williams may not have been a huge success, but Nancy Summers’ miniature furniture certainly took center stage on the big screen in the minds of miniaturists. She created a sofa, six chairs and two tables for the movie. While her creations have been immortalized on film, her biggest fans are her grandchildren, who all receive a miniature on their

Right: Sitting at the desk checking stocks and sipping scotch. The wheels on this chair by Nancy Summers make it easy to reach for ticker tape without even getting up. Map of the UK by Caren Garfen. American Miniaturist 19

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Mini man scenes Left: Someone can’t wait to get out on the links. Nancy’s beautifully worn golf bag and shoes appear to be ready on a moment’s notice.

Guard during World War II. AJ is well known for his Victorian miniature accessories.

birthdays. That in itself could be considered a job—Nancy is a grandmother of ten and great-grandmother of seven. The Midwestern artisan has been creating custom miniatures for close to 40 years and gets most of her ideas from magazines and full-size furniture. Her most beloved pieces to date are a round Katherine the Great bed and a Medievalera bed. Nancy & AJ Quinby Need a one-inch-scale tattoo gun? A WWII gas mask? How about a troughton? These two

make amazing handcrafted miniatures like scientific and medical tools, weaponry, musical instruments and recreational items for over three decades. A troughton, if you didn’t know, is a wizardry tool. Nancy describes it as an orrery, an instrument illustrating the motion of the planets and their moon around the sun. Nancy specializes in making dolls, but also favors nautical items. Many of her maritime creations, such as uniforms and charting tools, are modeled after items in her father’s collection. He served as a U.S. Coast

Rob Tukham Rob likes taking the road less traveled, creating pieces not normally seen in the miniature world. “I have always liked the beautiful designs from the East and from Scandinavia,” says Rob. “They look at first glance to be so simple, but their elegance is in the detail.” Detail is indeed the key to Rob Tukham’s art—many of his decorative pieces take shape on the lathe once he sees the organic beauty of the materials. Rob also works with exotic woods, stone and acrylics from his Vancouver Island studio. While decorative items are his specialty, some of his favorite pieces evolved from requests he initially thought he could not make. After the idea “fermented,” says Rob, he was able to make the Hardy fly rod or the lava lamp the client commissioned. “The smile on their faces is my reward.” Maria Jose Santos Beautifully expressive and expertly created porcelain dolls are synonymous with the name Maria Jose Santos. The Spanish artisan has been creating her trademark character dolls for



4/24/14 12:17 PM

Mini man scenes Left: Billiard tables look so much more beautiful in vintage form, don’t they? This pool cues and stand are by Rob Tukham.

almost 15 years, foregoing a planned career as a lawyer specializing in urban planning. Maria’s interest in fashion history and costume design adds a personal flair to her period dolls, which are all named. Their costumes are hand sewn using silk, organdy, and fine cotton trimmed with handmade ornamental acces-

sories—all based on original patterns. Maria is also well known for creating ballerinas in original ballet costumes as well as one-twelfth-scale dolls

in national dress. Her work is exhibited worldwide in the Puppenhausmuseum of Basel (Switzerland), El Mundo de las Muñecas in Tenerife (Spain) and the Kathleen Browning Miniatures Collection in the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center (USA). AM

Right: A comfy leather chair, a cup of coffee and the morning newspaper. Maria Jose Santos’s “Morgan” is ready to start the day in stylish country attire complete with leather shoes. Rooster vase by Le Chateau Interiors. Robe by Larianne. American Miniaturist 21


4/24/14 12:17 PM

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4/16/14 1:22 PM

Upholstered furniture

Small furniture with big style

The talented, Kris Compas, is overflowing with creativity and it shows in her impeccable mini upholstered furniture.

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or nearly twenty years I have been making miniatures. I’ve liked miniatures since I was a child and still have my minis from that time. I had to put miniatures on hold when I got married and then had my three children. Along with sewing and knitting on a Passap knitting machine I also enjoyed making crafts with my children as they grew up. When the kids got older I went back to miniatures. Good miniatures are expensive, so I began to make them for myself. You have to be creative when you still have children at home and you want to have miniatures as your hobby. So most of the miniatures I make are made from card stock and mat board because these materials are inexpensive and easy to find. I think that most miniaturists begin with lots of different hobbies, gathering skills

“You have to be creative when you still have children at home and you want to have miniatures as your hobby. “ along the way. That’s the way it was with me as well. We use the skills we have learned along with the knowledge of

the materials and then transfer that into miniatures. I have no special training, just trial and error by discovering what works and what doesn’t. Not only do I have general craft skills, I also have some background in woodworking. My husband has been a cabinetmaker for forty years and I have been his helper for thirty-three of those years.

Above: This 1:12 scale chair set has a fun tropical feel with the wicker rattan accents.


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Upholstered furniture Left: A beautiful red and gold couch with modern Asian characteristics.

I am blessed with a wonderful husband who enjoys my miniatures; not only has he helped me with construction advice along the way, he also gave up his mudroom for my workroom. I have lots of wonderful tools packed into a small space, but the most important tool is my magnifying light. Without that I couldn’t do miniatures. I work at a big 6’ by 3’ table that my husband made for me. My table saw is at the end of the table and

most of the time the table is so filled up you can’t see its yellow top! When I am working on a tutorial I generally have many different materials all out at once,

that leaves about a one foot square space to work in. It doesn’t help that most of the time I have one of my cats

napping on the table, as well. About the same time I started my blog, I also started selling my miniature upholstered furniture. I love making upholstered furniture. I wanted to make that more than I wanted to make a room box to put it in! I make many styles of furniture from different eras. I want my work to be one-of-a-kind, so I buy small amounts of cotton fabric, usually only 1/3 of a yard. You may see your fabric again, but not on your piece of furniture.

I love looking through full size catalogs of accessories and furniture, that’s where I get Above: A fun, modern couch and chair set. This set includes two chairs. Left: This sitting room set has a classy modern touch. Complete with four silk throw cushions. American Miniaturist 25


4/24/14 10:30 AM

Upholstered furniture Left: Red, gold, and black stripes showcase this stately love seat.

most of my ideas. I also hunt for used home decorating books and books on antique furniture; all sorts of resources are available within them. Sometimes I will see something that I just can’t wait to start to draft a pattern for. I think that’s my favorite time, drafting the pattern and seeing it all come together to look like the full size version. I sell my furniture through CDHM and I try to keep my inventory filled with many different pieces. I don’t take custom orBelow: This miniature living room set is fresh and funky! A great addition to a modern dollhouse.

ders anymore. My furniture sets, which include a sofa and a chair, are offered at $50.00. I also have individual pieces that sell for less. I make the wooden legs by cutting or turning and they are doweled into the bottom of the furniture. I don’t belong to any groups. I do have a friend, Mary, who makes minis with me when we can get together; she lives about an hour away. I live about an hour from St. Louis, MO on the east side of the Mississippi River in Illinois. You could say writing the blog is my club. I always tell my followers that they are the best in

bloggerville! If I or anyone has a question I put it up and it’s answered quickly. Just a short while back I was having computer problems and I put out a “help wanted” and the problem was taken care of. With my children now grown and out of the house I have all the time in the world to make miniatures as long as I’m not helping my husband. We live on five acres and he grows a big garden so our

Above: This chaise lounge chair has a touch of spring in the yellow floral fabric.

summers are busy. We have chickens, ducks, four cats, and a standard size donkey named Casper, that “works” for us. My husband has been successfully training him to pull logs for our winter supply of wood. Someday, I want to have Casper take me into town pulling his cart. I imagine we will have matching straw hats! I do hope you enjoy my tutorials that American Miniaturist will now be publishing monthly. AM



4/24/14 10:30 AM

Antique mirror

A shabby chic mini mirror Follow along with miniaturist, Kris Compas and create this charming little antique mirror for your miniature collection.

I

was in Chicago cat-sitting for my daughter and son-in-law. Katie, my daughter, had this beautiful mirror in her bathroom and I thought it would make a good miniature. Katie told me that it is called an Abraham Lincoln mirror. Lincoln popularized beards so much that men needed small mirrors to keep them trimmed properly. Her mirror measures about 12” by 15”. That proved a little small for me, so I enlarged it just a bit. My finished miniature is 1 ¼” wide by 1 5/8” tall. There are so many

A

things you could do with this pattern, not only mirrors, but great grandpa might look nice in the frame too. Step 1: Use glue stick to glue the paper patterns onto mat board. Step 2: Put a new blade in your craft knife and cut the patterns apart. To begin cutting make a light cut first, adding pressure with each consecutive cut. Step 3: Cut out frame A first. Try to keep your blade straight up and down so you won’t get a

B

Tools & materials: l Glue stick l Mat board l Ruler l Pencil l Card stock l Plain paper l Tacky Glue l Yellow wood glue l 220-grit sandpaper l 180-grit sandpaper l Bunka l Scissors l Craft knife l Stylus l Paper leaf punches l Dimensional fabric paint l Krylon’s clear satin l Krylon’s clear gloss l Ivory, brown and silver paint l Paintbrushes l Tweezers l Poster frame acrylic

beveled edge. I cut the center first. Don’t discard the center; we will use that for a pattern to cut the mirror. American Miniaturist 27

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Antique mirror the outside edge of the mirror. This is important, or the pieces won’t match up. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, please cut the frame out with your blade straight up and down. You can discard the center of this frame.

Guess where Katie went while I cat-sat. Step 4: Cut the outside line and now you have frame A cut out. Set this aside for now. Step 6: I am beginning to cut the outside line of frame B. My blade is slanting towards the inside of the frame.

Step 5: To cut frame B out, I tipped my blade. This will make a bevel and make the time sanding the edges round shorter. I am starting with the inside line again and my blade is tipped toward

Step 8: Place the frame front side up on a scrap peice of card stock. Make sure your pencil is sharp; a sharp pencil makes a closer line to the edge you are tracing. Trace all of the way around the frame.

Have you guessed where Katie went, yet? Step 7: Frame B is now cut. Turn frame B over and you will see the beveled edges. I used 180-grit sandpaper to finish rounding off the edges. I smoothed out the surface with 220-grit sandpaper. I try to keep the frame flat on the tabletop so I don’t bend it. I’ve got the frame sanded round.

Step 9: Use your ruler to measure from the inside line. In this picture I measured 1/16” away, but I trimmed this down to almost 1/32”. The size of this lip is up to you. You can add embellishments to it and if you do you might want it to be 1/16” wide.



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Antique mirror width you need, so if you want to change it please feel free to.

Step 10: Cut out the card stock frame.

router) that allows another piece to fit into it. This space will allow the mirror to fit without sticking out of the back. Using 220-grit sandpaper. I sanded the outside edge of the frame and then rounding it a bit more to merge with frame A. Try to keep the frame on the flat surface of your tabletop. Step 13: Set this new assembly onto a scrap of card stock. Trace around the outside of the frame.

Step 11: I used yellow carpenter’s glue to glue the card stock frame to the back of frame B. Shown here from the front.

Step 14: Measure out from the traced line 1/32”. This can be any

Step 12: I used yellow wood glue, to glue frame A to the back of the frame B assembly. Ideally the outside edges should match up. What we have created with frame A is a “rabbet”, not a soft furry animal, but a cut (usually made with a machine called a shaper or a power tool called a

Step 15: Here are the two pieces, the frame and it’s back painted with ivory colored paint. Paint two coats, sanding between the dry coats with 220-grit sandpaper.

Step 16: Katie’s mirror was old and it was blotchy silver and you could barely see yourself. I liked that effect. Sometimes in miniature settings real mirrors can be distracting, my opinion only. So I tried to re-create this effect and I am pleased with it. You can use what you like, but remember your space in the back is 1/16” deep, so whatever you put in there has to be 1/16” thick. I like to use acrylic from poster frames. You can buy them in many sizes. The acrylic is 1/16” thick. I also use this for my “glass” in cabinets and windows in dollhouses. Step 17: Use the center piece you saved from cutting frame A. Trace around this pattern. Step 18: The acrylic has a plastic cover on both sides. I carefully cut on the traced line with my craft knife a few times, scoring American Miniaturist 29


4/25/14 4:56 PM

Antique mirror Step 21: Have you been painting the frame and sanding smooth with 220-grit sandpaper? Paint and sand until you are satisfied with the surface. You could do a lot of things for embellishment. Look in furniture catalogs at accessories for ideas. Embroidery floss twisted back on its self makes a great accent. Tiny charms or parts of jewelry can be glued on the frame.

a deep line. After I’ve scored my line, I use scissors to cut the piece out, then trimed where needed. Step 19: I used what I had on hand, Folk Art’s #506 Silver Anniversary for the paint. Peel off one side of the plastic covering. Dab silver paint onto the acrylic.

Step 22: Katie’s mirror has little ball-shapes on it. To make these all the same size I used an 1/8” hole punch. I punched a few circles and soaked them in a bowl of water. Let the paper change color. Carefully roll the paper circles into balls, don’t squeeze too hard. I do find that if I use paper for the balls they tend to stay glued. You will need 7 tiny balls for the frame.

Step 24: Let the leaves and balls dry before using them. I am asked, “Why wet the paper?” One, you can get a deeper impression when the paper is wet; Two, the paper will keep its shape when dry. Step 25: I have painted and sanded my frame and I think I’m done. I glued 3 balls at the top and 2 in each corner using Tacky Glue.

Step 26: I glued 2 leaves on each side of the balls at the top and only 1 leaf on each side of the

Step 23: I have a large punch that included ivy leaves. For leaves, you can also use tiny hearts. I punch the leaves out and let them fall on a damp paper towel. Let the leaves absorb the water. Transfer the leaves to a piece of craft foam and shape with a small stylus. I pressed into each lobe of the leaf.

Step 20: With the paint side down, press the acrylic onto white paper, I just used computer paper. Press it down to seal it. Turn the paper over and run your finger over the back of the acrylic to seal the whole thing. Set aside to dry.



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Antique mirror balls in the corner. Now I think I need some Bunka for filler. Step 27: After the glue is dry I painted the whole thing ivory. If you want a little cracking at spots smear a little Tacky Glue in the spots where you want the cracks.

around the edge and put the mirror in it will still be protected and we will be able to pull the rest of the plastic off when we are done.

Step 35: I have used my tweezers to pull up an edge of the plastic. Continue to pull the plastic completely off of the mirror.

Step 28: I used Krylon’s clear gloss to coat the frame. Let this dry. Step 29: To make my embellishment stand out and to also imply that the frame is old, I am going to apply a dirty wash. I used lots of acrylic thinner and two old stiff brushes. I dabbed the wash on with one brush and dabbed it off with the other. Wipe the “dabbing off” brush frequently to keep it clean. Here’s a closer look at the frame after it’s be given a dirty wash.

Step 30: In this picture I am holding the mirror with its edge towards you. I’ve pulled a little of the plastic covering off. I want you to pull a little of the plastic covering off around the edge and trim that little bit off. I want to put the mirror in the frame, but I still have some painting to do and I don’t want the mirror ruined. If we trim a little off

Step 34: I’ve painted the new addition ivory. I will spray this with Krylon’s clear gloss and give the edge a dirty wash to match the rest of the frame. Once dry, spray the entire thing with Krylon’s clear satin.

Step 31: Place the mirror into the frame, but don’t glue the mirror in. Glue the back onto the frame using yellow wood glue. Step 32: Now I am going to try something new, use dimensional fabric paint to blend the card stock back to the frame. This is usually done with a piece of molding called cove. Any brand will do. I used the nozzle on the bottle to apply the paint.

Step 33: After I apply the paint I use my finger to wipe off the extra paint. I wiped from the top of the frame downward to the card stock. Let this dry. It will shrink and you will have to apply another layer.

Here it is all finished and ready to hang! I hope you had fun. You never know where you will be inspired. I found inspiration at my daughter’s Chicago home. Have fun, expand on it, and make it better. Keep making minis! AM

P.S. There is a hint on my table about where Katie went, she brought home a souvenir for me. American Miniaturist 31


4/25/14 4:56 PM

Auto shop

Frank’s auto repair shop

Frank Layne, with a little help from Gabriele Layne, found a great way to showcase part of his classic car collection.

I

t was never hard for me to find a Father’s Day gift. I would just ask myself, what could make a man’s eyes light up and put a smile on his face? Classic cars from the 1950’s, 60’s or 70’s does it for my husband, Frank, who has been a collector of model cars for quite some time. Not only does he admire the classics, but he has also owned several of these sleek automobiles that were made in the USA at the time of the Auto-Industry boom. He drove a 51 Lincoln, 56 Buick Special, a 64 Pontiac Grand Prix, and a 65 Buick Skylark just to name a few. In his smallscale collection of

different sizes with over one hundred and twenty vehicles that include some pick-up trucks, delivery vans, trucks, several VW’s, VW buses, and even some golf carts, he has models of other cars he once drove. This includes a 62 Chevy Impala, 71 VW Beetle, and a 71 Mercedes 280SE.

Four of the models in half-inch scale have found a special place in a two bay auto repair shop, which he built. In the left bay is a 57 Chevy Corvette. In the other bay there are two cars placed on a four-post garage lift, a 67 red Mustang on top and a 74 Gremlin on the bottom. On the

Right: Three of Franks favorite automobiles fill this mini garage.


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Auto shop right of the lift is a 57 Chevy Bel Air Convertible that is repaired and ready to be driven out of the garage. The building is made of plywood with a large framed window to the left and right as well as a framed skylight on the top that lets in plenty of light. The walls are painted with acrylic paints with a little dry brushing to give them a Below: This sweet blue 57 Chevy Corvette with the hood popped is going to purr like a kitten once it leaves Franks garage.

worn look and the floor was done with textured spray paint. Anything he could build with wood such as workbenches, racks, shelves, ramps, and the four-post lift were made and then other accessories were purchased at miniature shows and from catalogs. Hydraulic jacks, air compressors, battery chargers, welding tanks, a crawler,

and a wonderful double tool cabinet were placed in the auto repair shop. Even a motor with a stand was found and put in the back of the shop. To complete the vignette some hand tools, a bucket, trash can, jumper cables, car battery, wrench, flashlight, some spray paints, and an assortment of vintage signs advertising oil and gas were added. Two shop clocks that I made for him are on the wall. The garage lights can be turned on and are powered by two battery packs placed on the back of the building. It is a wonderful way to display the collection and visitors always admire Frank’s auto shop. AM Below: A compressor and two welding tanks.


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4/24/14 10:08 AM

Mini dungarees

A carpenters dungarees If you need a hard working man around the house, here is a work outfit you can make for him to help get the job done!

I

f you need a man about the house, Chip the carpenter, is just the man for the job. Follow along to make your own work clothes for your mini man. Gluing seams You can sew the seams if you wish, but gluing is a quick an easy option. When gluing seams, run a thin line of glue along the seams and join them. Place two pieces of material together between two sheets of non-stick baking paper and press with a warm iron. The seam is at its strongest when cold. You can use PVA, but UHU fabric glue is also good. Check the pattern size for fit by cutting out pieces in tissue first. These trousers are a good fit on a slim doll.

Tools & materials: l One adult 5 ½” doll l Push mold NO:1 (Wise Woman) l 100% cotton for shirt and dungarees. Your choice of pattern/color l Scrap of material for scarf l PVA Glue l Scrap of wood l Cocktail sticks l Wigging l Yellow acrylic paint

Making the dungarees Step 1: Cut from the pattern as indicated. Step 2: Hem the top section all around. Step 3: Hem the trousers at the waist and the trouser bottoms. Step 4: With the wrong sides together, join the center front and center back seams. Step 5: Open out and join the inner leg seam.

Step 3: Fold back and glue a 1 /3” hem at the bottom of the sleeves.

Step 6: Turn through and fit to the doll.

Step 4: Turn up a further 1/2” and then glue again. Do this with the right sides facing you.

Step 7: Glue the top in place. Smear the back of a piece of dungaree material with PVA glue.

Making the shirt Step 1: Cut the fabric out from the pattern given.

Step 5: Sew or glue the underarm and side seams with the right sides together.

Step 8: When dry, cut two narrow straps and two pockets from the material.

Step 2: Cut open along the dotted line at the center front.

Step 6: Turn through, then overlap and glue the front edges.

Step 9: Hem the pockets and glue in place.


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Mini dungarees

The wigging For wigging, use embroidery thread, viscose, mohair, or theatrical plaited hair. I used grey theatrical hair which I made flatter as it is very wavy when undone. Step 1: Cover the doll’s clothes in cling film. Step 2: Chop a small amount of wigging into pieces. Step 3: Apply the glue around the neck edge and sides of a doll, not forgetting the front of the ears. Press on the chopped wigging. Step 4: Glue some strips of wigging across the head.

Step 10: Glue two small buttons in place on the front of the dungaree straps. These can either be cut from thick paper, beads, or buttons made from Fimo.

Step 5: Trim into a good shape (short back and sides) and give a quick blast of hairs pray. Making the scarf Step 1: Seal a scrap of material

with PVA glue. Then cut a strip of fabric approximately 1/2” wide on the cross, tapering the ends. Step 2: Tie around your doll’s neck and hold it in place with glue. No. 2 pencil Use a sliver of a cocktail stick. Just sharpen one end and dip it into some yellow acrylic paint. Then glue to the top of his ear. A few accessories Like every good carpenter, this fellow has a ruler in his back pocket, which is actually a strip of white card, which I marked with measurements using a pencil. He is also about to start work on a length of wood, which is a simple scrap left over from another project. AM American Miniaturist 35


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Mini dungarees



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Seaside cloches

Seaside souvenirs are treasured Shannon Kindred cherishes tiny sea treasures and preserves them by putting them in creative miniature cloches.

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s a child I always longed for a dollhouse, but it wasn’t until age twenty-nine that my longtime dream became a reality. My husband and I visited Mott’s Miniatures at Knott’s Berry Farm in California and from that day on I was determined to have a little house of my own! I actually became the proud owner of one very large, ever changing dollhouse.

inside, I’m viewing my surroundings through “miniature eyes”, and gleaning items that can be repurposed for 1:12 scale use. This perspective has come to fruition with my miniature sea treasures cloche displays. Several years ago I started making real scale cloche scenes for family and friends.

The large cloche scenes contained family ephemera, wedding, and holiday items that I wanted to preserve and display. One day, whilst shopping, I came across some fairy garden cloches at a gift shop and my Below: Three small cloches hold starfish, shells, and a sea horse.

Everywhere I go, whether be it outside or inside, I’m viewing my surroundings through “miniature eyes”, and gleaning items that can be repurposed for 1:12 scale use. Since that day, twenty-two years ago, I have come to think in 1:12 scale almost continuously. Everywhere I go, whether be it outside or American Miniaturist 37

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Seaside cloches miniature eye envisioned all sorts of magical little scenes. I bought most of the shopkeeper’s stock that day! The ocean themed scenes were inspired by a jar of tiny seashells that were forever in my craft drawer. I had purchased them years earlier because I was amazed by the beautiful colors and detail in the micro-mini shells. I then began to search for

extra fine sand, tiny starfish, and sea horses. I was amazed to find sea horses as small as three quarters of an inch in length and I knew that size

could work effectively for 1:12 scale. I’ve used other natural elements in my cloches to resemble coral, driftwood, and beach glass.

Below and right: Shannon has discovered a marvelous way to showcase the natural beauty of the smallest seaside treasures.



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Seaside cloches

Above: This miniature version of a grape vine wreath is adorned with tiny shells and a starfish.

I also occasionally tuck a tiny faux pearl into half an “oyster” shell for fun. I have very recently acquired even smaller sea treasures and have managed to locate even tinier glass cloches and domes. These smaller sized displays will require a little more patience and possibly some bifocals for me, but they will look darling in more diminutive dollhouse and room box displays. I enjoy creating these tiny scenes in my spare time and it brings me so much satisfaction to see

them evolve that sometimes it’s hard to part with any of them! When nonminiaturist friends and co-workers exclaimed how much they loved the mini cloches and wanted to purchase them, I decided that perhaps it was time to market them online. I have met other miniature enthusiasts and artisans through the internet and have recently become interested in joining other miniature

groups and organizations. Dollhouse magazines have been a tremendous inspiration and resource as well. I am a late bloomer in the miniature realm and am still finding my way, but I am loving the new connections and friendships. AM

GET IN TOUCH Studio One Twelve Shannon Kindred Email: [email protected] Etsy shop: https://www.etsy. com/shop/StudioOneTwelve

Above right and right: These little cloches are a fantastic way to decorate a mini seaside home or even a shell shop. American Miniaturist 39


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Scientific and medical tools

A passion for vintage tools

With a passion for medical and scientific tools, Deb Jackson creates the most amazing miniature vintage replicas.

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have been creating miniatures my entire life. I think that if tiny things fascinate a person the interest will never go away and if you are lucky, you get to either create them or add them to your collection. I am completely self-taught and have been trading professionally for seven years. Anyone reading this, who has the desire to create, will understand the compulsion and the all consuming concentration and thought that accompany the process; likewise, the immense satisfaction that descends over you when that final point is reached. The point when not only is the work finished, but you are

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” ~Scott Adams actually delighted with the results. I am so very lucky to be driven by this every day.

Some of my miniatures come directly from my imagination; these are the fantasy or fairy

Right: Tudor medicine preparation board.


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Scientific and medical tools Right: A detailed handcrafted microscope with objective lenses and its wooden box. Below: A three drawer box of dental tools with a picture of the patron saint of dentists, Saint Apollonia.

items, which I make up as I go along, others are an interpretation of reality. That is what I introduce to you here in this first article showcasing my creations. The creative process can be even more of a

challenge when attempting to recreate reality. Without a doubt, the finished piece has to look like the original and the closer the better. The need to discover and define techniques to achieve this can be fraught with frustration; on many occasions

Above: A 1:12 scale handmade distressed human skull. American Miniaturist 41


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Above: A beautifully crafted 1:12 scale Victorian moth collector’s vignette. Left: This 1:12 scale apothecary box has a variety of vintage pharmaceutical products, all in tiny little bottles.

a first attempt at something new results in the abandonment of a partially completed piece and some thoughtful time away from the workbench.

Sometimes you just have to wait for the right materials to come along and I find this frequently happens while working on something else, it’s great when the implication dawns on me.

“Sometimes you just have to wait for the right materials to come along and I find this frequently happens while working on something else, it’s great when the implication dawns on me.”



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I am drawn to medical and scientific items as I have an interest on the subject in a historical context. I can be sitting listening to the radio (my work companion) and a feature about some obscure medical treatment will come on, which then sends me scurrying to the computer to research photos to see if I can recreate what I just heard. A great example of this would be the vintage EKG machine shown below.

One of my favorite customers, Linda Sullivan, has certainly challenged me over the years. We’ve worked together on projects as diverse as Downton Abbey to the microscopes

of Anthonie Van Leeuwenhoek. We have even going so far as to kit out entire laboratories that were complete with furniture and equipment. In a recent email Linda said to me, “I don’t think there is anything you cannot recreate”...so far so good. I am very much looking forward to sharing more of my creations with you through feature articles in future issues of American Miniaturist. AM Top: Various 1:12 scale microscopes. Above: This little wooden box is full of a surgeon’s set of tools. Left: A vintage EKG machine. American Miniaturist 43


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Miniature food

A feast for the mini eyes

Laura Prats is a master at making tiny treats and little meals that will stir your creativity as well as your appetite.

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aura resides in Málaga, Spain, which lies on the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) of the Mediterranean. America is her favorite country and she hopes to live in Essex County, NY one day. She has always been interested in miniatures and still cherishes her large collection of dollhouses, furniture, people, food, and pets from when she was just a little girl. Laura started making miniatures in May of 2012. In the beginning, her family thought it was only a hobby, but it soon turned into a passion

“When I go to the supermarket, for example, I look at all the food. The people look at me in a way very rare, because I look at the food for several minutes and then I measure things with a ruler!” and a wonderful addiction. Finding inspiration is never a problem, she finds it everywhere she goes. “When I go to the supermarket, for example, I look at all the food. The people look at me in a way very rare, because I look at the food for

several minutes and then I measure things with a ruler! But seriously, anything is an inspiration to me, from books, pictures on the Internet, to many things I see in real life. For me, my world would be nothing without my small treasures. Now I realize that my little world, for me, means everything.” Above: A tiny, life-like pink and yellow swirled lollypop, complete with a plastic wrapper. Left: Two juicy watermelon just in time for a yummy summer treat!


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Miniature food

Above: Assorted jelly beans that look sweet enough to eat.

Even though her family is interested in her hobby, her biggest fan is the furriest one. “I think that my biggest fan, and I say this very seriously, is my doggy, Puka. I find she cannot stop looking at me when I’m doing miniature things. It’s amazing!” Laura makes different dollhouse miniatures, but mainly she focuses on 1:12 scale food. Her workspace is a small area that she diligently tries to keep organized and clean. We like to ask our artists what their most favorite tool is; Laura says, without a doubt, that her’s is her needle tool. “I love creativity and art, I’ve always liked to do things with my hands. In fact, when I was a child and played with my dollhouses I created mini food us-

ing Plasticine and so now my childhood passion has become an eternal passion.” Laura finds it very difficult combining her home life and her miniature life. But she sets aside her free time exclusively for her miniatures. When she beings to create her miniature art she likes to have a picture of what she wants to recreate sitting in front of her. If it is food she is making, she prefers to have the actual food to study if possible. Once her subject and tools are in front of her, she sits in her chair and is ready to begin creating her mini masterpieces. Her miniatures range in price depending on the complexity of the finished product and the materials used. Laura sells her products online, in some miniature fairs, and sometimes even on the streets of Spain. She has even created pieces for the museum in her city. Some of her favorite minis that she has made are the smallest ones, such as raspberries and baby shoes. Laura is completely self-

taught. She discovers her techniques through practice and deduction as well as acute observation. She feels that she learns the most from her own mistakes. “For miniatures, there are many ways to learn, such as books or DVDs, but I think above all, personal progression is essential. The books teach you a base, but then you must develop your own personal style.

Above: This tray of hot dog fixings is perfect for an outside barbecue! Left: A fresh fish on ice is ready to be cooked up for a healthy meal. Below: Four 1:12 scale fried eggs.



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Miniature food

Above: A perfect roast ham for a realistic miniature dinner table.

You just have to use your imagination and practice. I am very much a perfectionist and very demanding of myself. Therefore, every day I continue to develop new techniques that will improve my results. I truly believe that it is never too late to keep learning.” She strives to improve her Below and right: A miniature pig with stunning detail of it’s insides. A great addition for a butcher shop.

Above: This little oven cooked turkey sitting in a bed of vegetables looks crispy and ready to be carved! work every day and is always looking for bigger challenges. it’s something that will last Her future goals are to begin for centuries. I would also like sculpting babies, people, and to say that I will never leave pets. She is also excited to this art form. I’m very young take on making miniature and as I live my life, miniaflowers. tures will always be present When asked what Laura in my heart. I hope to share thinks about the future of that with the world in every miniatures she replied, “Mincreation that I make.” AM iatures are very special to me, something so small and yet so big, it’s something people will always appreciate. It’s art and



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Produce cart

Make a fresh produce cart Tom Pepper’s fruit and vegetable cart is overflowing with fresh products. Diana Yate shares some creative construction tips.

I

f you like making miniature food you will love this project. If are new to making fruits and vegetable this is a great way to practice your skills. Produce cart I made the cart following instructions given in a book by Venus and Martin Dodge. However the wheels are smaller than in the instructions and I purchased them elsewhere.

score along the dotted lines and cut where the lines are solid. Fold on the scored lines and glue the side flaps inside the box. When you have finished constructing it, paint a blue stripe around the top edge of the box.

To make the handle Step 1: cut a strip of foil ½” wide x 2¾” long. Step 2: Fold in three, lengthways and crease firmly. Bend the strips 1” from each end and glue the

Wooden boxes The fruit and vegetable boxes are made from thin balsa wood and measure 1½” x 1” at the base and ¼” deep at the sides. The triangular strips in the corners are made from headless matchsticks cut with a craft knife and smoothed with an emery board. The tomato box is made from a pattern by Kath Dalment in Dolls House Details. Mushroom punnet Use the template given to make the punnet from thin card. Lightly American Miniaturist 47

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Produce cart

dotted lines and cut along the solid lines. Step 3: Fold where you scored and glue the side flaps inside the end sections. handle across the width of the punnet. Step 3: Putting a piece of blue tissue paper underneath your Fimo mushrooms completes the look. Banana box Step 1: Use the template given for the banana box. Step 2: Again, score along the

Fruit and vegetables The period is a modern street market, so I have used fruit and vegetables that are now available all year round, rather than seasonal items like pumpkins. All the fruit and vegetables are made from Fimo. Measure and copy the real thing or use good cookery book photos. There are plenty of books on the subject if you are not familiar with making food.

Accessories The scales are white metal, which I painted red and green and placed on top of a box made from balsa wood. The price labels are made from thin card edged with a red pen and prices marked in a fine pen in kilos as well as pounds. Well we don’t want Tom to fall foul of the law do we? Paper bags The paper bags are made from real brown paper bag, with a piece of cotton thread through the corner and hung on the handle of the cart. You could use a brown paper bag or a patented one if the design is to scale.



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Produce cart Step 1: Cut the paper using the template. Step 2: Fold in half across the width at fold 1. Step 3: Fold flaps two and three over the bag and glue in place. Step 4: Use a needle and thread to make a loop through the bags at point four and hang them on the handle of the cart.

Tom Pepper Tom Pepper is modeled from Fimo and his hair is grey bunka. His trousers are made from a basic trouser pattern in cotton. The top of an old sock has been used for his jumper. I took different parts of the ribbing for the body and the sleeves of the jumper, based on a jacket pattern, but cut slightly smaller.

The roll collar is a small piece of cotton jersey material while the money bag is a length of blue cotton folded and glued into shape with a thin strip of leather to tie the bag around his waist. The cart and some spare boxes are placed on a piece of thick card, which was covered in a commercial grey, stone-paving paper. I made the base to just fit the size of the cart, but you could make it bigger to allow room for one or two customers buying their fruit and vegetables from Tom. AM Left: Tom’s jumper has been made from an old sock



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roadtripdirectory

Add your business to the map, call 1-866-606-6587 or email [email protected]

star star business business

california • USA

Ms. Peggie’s Place “I want this to be a feel good shop,” says Michael Sue Nanos, owner of Ms Peggie’s Place. All displays are unlocked and touchable. The store’s atmosphere is inviting, warm and friendly. Everything is well organized and easy to shop. You’ll find pricing for all budgets. At 700 square feet, Ms Peggie’s Place is the perfect size for ample inventory. You’ll find virtually anything and everything to build and complete the miniature project of one’s dreams. California • USA

Dollhouses, Trains & More 300 Entrada Dr Novato, CA 94949 Phone: 415- 883-0388 20 minutes North of San Francisco off Hwy 101 in Marin County Hours: M-F 10-6, S-S 10am-5pm www.DollhousesTrainsandMore.com Florida • USA

The Toy Box 419 Brevard Ave, Historical Cocoa Village Phone: 321-632-2411 Email: [email protected] Hours: Tu-Sat 10-5

IOWA• USA

Dollhouse Dreams 613 Ave G, Fort Madison, IA 52627 Phone: 319-372-0599 Toll Free: 877-875-6500 Email: [email protected] Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. www.dollhousedreams.com

california • USA

Elegant Dollhouse 1120 Fulton Avenue, Sacremento, CA 95825 Phone: 916-484-0411 Hours: M-Sat 10-6 / Sun 12-4 www.elegantdollhouse.com

ILLINOIS • USA

Tom Thumb Hobby & Crafts 1026 Davis St Evanston, IL 60201 Phone: 847-869-9575 Email: [email protected] Hours: M-F 10-6 / Sat 10-5 / Sun 1-5 www.tomthumbcrafts.com

MARYLAND • USA

Forever Friends Dollhouses and Miniatures 2105 Bishops Castle Drive Olney, MD 20832 Phone: 301-774-3037 Hours: Open most days/weekends www.foreverfriendsminis.com/shop

Ms. Peggie’s Place 5063 Cass Street, San Diego, CA 92109 Phone: 858-483-2621 Hours: W-Th 5-8 / F 12-5 / Sat 10-5 / Sun 11-5

california • USA

Shellie’s Miniature Mania 732 Laurel Street San Carlos, CA 94070 Phone: 650-593-4921 Email: [email protected] Hours: Tue-Fri 10:30-5:30 / Sat 10:30-5 www.shelliesminis.com INDIANA • USA

Jeepers Dollhouse Miniatures 69 W Washington St, Morgantown, IN 46160-0335 Phone: 812-597-4346 Hours: M-Sat 10-5 www.jeepersminiatures.com

MINNESOTA • USA

Little Enchantments 5013 Ewing Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410 Phone: 612-746-4040 Hours: Tu-F 10-7 / Sat 10-5 Monday by appointment www.littleenchantments.com


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Spanning the Nation, from coast to coast, you’ll find a listing of shops in every state for your next traveling adventure! Whether it’s a day trip or an extended vacation, take a road trip and venture out to visit these fine full service miniature shops to find your next miniature treasure.

new york • USA

new jersey • USA

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ate register

Earth & Tree Miniatures 276 Route 101 #1 Amherst, NH 03031 Phone: 603-673-8707 Hours: M-Sat 10-5 / Sun 12-5 www.EarthAndTree.com

new york • USA

Circus Dollhouse 445 Route 23 South Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 Toll free: 877-402-3061 Email: [email protected] www.circusdollhouse.com

ohio • USA

Forever Friends

Dollhouses & Miniatures

2105 Bishops Castle Drive Olney, Maryland 20832 301-774-3037 [email protected] A FULL SERVICE MINIATURE SHOP Located in Olney, MD, a short drive from Columbia, Baltimore, Frederick, DC, and N. Virginia.

Dollhouse Alley 3335-A Park Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793 Phone: (516) 308-7555 Email: [email protected] Hours: M, W, F 10-6 / Th 11-7 / Sat 11-4 www.DollhouseAlley.com http://facebook.com/dollhousealley Pennsylvania • USA

OPENCellar EVERY THURSDAY 10-4 The Miniature CallGeauga or e-mail forPlaza other hours & directions 12652 West Chesterland, OH 44024Furnishings & Accessories Dollhouses & Kits & Flooring Electrical Supplies, Lighting Phone:Wallpaper 440-729-6464 Email: [email protected] WE CONSTRUCT, PAINT, ELECTRIFY, Hours: Tu-Sat 10-5 FINISH & RESTORE DOLLHOUSES www.miniaturecellar.com

MISSOURI

Pennsylvania • USA

Treasure Hill

Houses, Furniture, Building Materials, and Accessories Hours: 10-5 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday or by appointment 4746 State Road J South, Fulton, MO 65251 (Millersburg Area) Ph. 573-642-8802 or 573-642-2502

Fingertip Fantasies 2985 Dutton Mill Rd, Aston, PA 19014 Phone: 610-494-6401 Email: [email protected] Hours: W-F 10-6 / Sat 10-4 www.dollhouseminiatures.com VERMONT • USA

NEW JERSEY

Lynlott Miniatures 223 Commercial Avenue DOLLHOUSE GINA’S Pittsburgh, PA 15215 EXPRESS Phone: 888-781-6445 All Dollhouse Supplies www.dollhousejunction.com nniversary 1st year A

176 Route 23 S. Hamburg, N.J. 07419 Phone: 973-209-7900 Fax: 973-209-4984 www.dollhouseexpress.com

Virginia • USA

NEW YORK

heavenly wonderland crafts and miniatures Hand crafted miniatures.

Real Good Toys Dollhouse Factory Outlet 10 Quarry Street (Behind State Farm), Barre, VT 05641 Phone: 802-477-6464 Hours: M-Sat 9-4 www.realgoodtoys.com

Doll house kits, furniture, wallpaper, carpeting and accessories.

Happily Ever After Special discounts to 20609 Gordon Park Square, Ste. clubs 110 miniature and members Ashburn, VA 20147 Phone: 703-777-1869 Email: [email protected] Visit us online at: Hours: Tu-Sat 10-4 & by appointment www.heavenlywonderlandcrafts.com Please call for hours at www.happily-ever-after.biz (718)-418-8080 Fax: (718)-715-8080

Chautauqua Miniatures & Dollhouses 5031 W. Lake RD Rt. 394 Mayville, NY 14757 Phone: 716-753-3100 Open seven days a week www.chautauquaminiatures.com

OREGON • USA

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On the Beautiful Oregon Coast [email protected] Closed Wed Oct thru Mar 15 Dot’s Doll House InPENNSYLVANIA The Rocking Horse Mall 1542 North Hi Way 101 Lincoln City on the Beautiful Oregon Coast A-C’s994-4647 Emporium Phone: 97367 (541) of Miniatures Email: [email protected] “over 50 dollhouses Hours: Closed Wednesdays on display” texas • USA

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My Doll House Inc. SPECIALIZING IN HANDCRAFTED MINIATURES Alamo Heights, 6000 Broadway St San Antonio, TX 78209 TENNESSEE Phone: 210-930-5363 Email: [email protected] MINIATURE COTTAGE INC. Tennessee's oldest and largest miniature 410appointment East Iris Drive Hours: M-Sat 10-6, shop Sun by

Nashville, 37204 615.298.2872 MondayLike us onTN Facebook Saturday 10AM-5PM www.mydollhouse.us

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For rates and information visit: www.americanminiaturist.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE • USA

Visit our web site @ http://w

"The Dollho Department S

(703) 237-00

Wed. - Sat. 10 - 5, S

WISCONSIN

Ontario • Canada

WHILE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -

Visit "My Doll House" at 6000 Broadway in Alamo Heights. Dollhouses, Miniatures, & Collectibles.

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American Mini 004JUN14_p050-51.indd 51

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Turning Gallery

The fine art of wood turning Part two of our wood turning gallery has many more talented artists showing their individual artistic style. By Martha Puff.

T

he turners presented here are leading miniature artisans and take pride in the originality of their work. Their superb fine art turnings demonstrate boldness of vision and technical mastery. With imagination and ingenuity, these artists use the lathe and other techniques to craft their distinctive turnings. Not afraid to pioneer, Gil Mena’s turnings are decidedly fresh and state-of-the-art. Most recently, he has created several money impregnated resin turnings. How original is that! The highly respected

“

”

The lathe for me has opened a world of exploration into one of nature’s wonders, the tree. —Unknown

Maurice Sauve from Arizona designs graceful pieces with a special presence. His extraordinarily beautiful acrylic turnings come in a breathtaking rainbow of colors. Standing People Designs of Colorado is comprised of the uber-talented husband and wife team of Bear and Alisa Limvere. Both are wonderfully original and innovative artists. And, you can always “expect the unexpected” from the in-

credibly talented Rob Tukham of RJT Miniatures. With a great sense of history, Gert and Ans Vogels from the Netherlands create elegant, exquisite, museum quality turnings. They are passionate about ornamental turning, which is believed to have originated in the latter part of the 15th century in Bavaria. From England, Dave Williams, Harvington Miniatures, is never afraid to try something new. This year, he will be experimenting more on mixing colored resin with wood. All turnings shown here are 1:12 scale. AM Top: “There’s Something on the Horizon” from spalted maple. By Alisa and Bear Limvere. Left: Handcrafted bench with three vases turned out of Palm Nuts. By Rob Tukham.


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Turning Gallery

Gert and Ans Vogels, Vonas Miniaturen

Netherlands

“Working in 1:12 scale, I turn recycled old ivory and exotic woods on a lathe. A professional goldsmith, my wife Ans, finishes the pieces with gold and silver. The ivory pieces are miniature replicas of turnings by the famous 16th century turners Georg Wecker and Egidius Lobenigk. Their work is at the Das Grünes Gewölbe Museum, Germany and Rosenborg Castle, Denmark. Wecker and Lobenigk were usually attached to various European courts and also gave lessons in the art of turning to members of the royal family.”

Above: Group of 1:12 scale turnings in various exotic woods. One has silver detail by Ans.

Our favorite material is recycled old ivory, which has a beautiful appearance. We also make turnings of wood-such as mahogany, ebony, cocobolo, snakewood, boxwood, rosewood, and kingwood. Wood, in combination with silver, gives fine results. Most jars are hollowed out and fitted with a loose lid. My turnings are so finely detailed that the wood turning tools from the marketplace are not sufficient. To provide the finest details, I use dental tools (special tool steel) to obtain the right shape and cut surfaces.

Left: Five beautiful ivory vessels. Lidded vessel with seated girl, 36 mm (11/2”).

Right: This wonderfully detailed chess table stands at 57 mm (21/4”) tall. American Miniaturist 53


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Turning Gallery

Alisa and Bear Limvere, Standing People Designs

Elbert, Colorado

“We explore shapes, spaces, and finishes, using multiple sources of inspiration and continually experimenting with new techniques and designs. We have an extensive library of books and magazines about pottery, full-sized wood turnings, sculptures, and historical art. Also, we look to nature and our surroundings for inspiration. We often see something and then try to figure out how to create it in miniature. We work in multiple scales. The majority of our work would fit in 1:12 scale, but we also create 1:24, 1:48, and slightly oversized work. With more of our customers moving to smaller scales, we are constantly challenging ourselves to create the same quality and details in our smaller pieces. We often have to create new tools or techniques to enable us to transform our visions into miniature realities.” Right: “Oak Leaf Greenman”. Pyrography figure on hollow form. American Elm, 1.2” diam. x 2.1” tall.

Above: Ornamental turning with 30 indexed cuts around the edge. African Olive, 1.1” diam. x 0.2” tall.

Left: The candlesticks are turned on 7 different centers, and mirror each other. Cocobolo (South America). Each is 0.7” in diam. x 1.25” tall.

Below: “Like a Circle in a Spiral” wall hanging. Natural-edge turning with concentric decorations and carved spiral work. Oregon Madrone Burl, 1.6” tall x 1.8” wide x 0.2” thick.

We love so many of the exotic imports because of their beauty and hardness. Among our favorite woods are African Blackwood, Cocobolo, Tulipwood, and African Olive. We want to continue to experiment, explore, and expand our repertoire of work. There are so many ideas that we just haven’t had the time to try. We love the ability to play and see what our customers respond to at shows. Besides our lathes, of course, a “must have” tool would be the Chris Stott Narrow Parting Tool. It is our workhorse for much of our turnings. We also have a number of tools that Bear designed and created that allow us to create special details and shapes. We always try to highlight the characteristics of the material, the grain, color, and texture. One major challenge working in wood is to ensure that something is left after shaping it that small.



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Turning Gallery

Gil Mena,

Valencia, California “I would describe my miniature turnings as tiny showpieces of the natural beauty of wood in spherical form. While I work primarily in 1:12 scale, I have turned pieces for room settings in 1:144 scale. Inspiration for my work comes from nature, books on wood turning, and the Internet. My main goal in regard to wood turning is to develop techniques that impart repetitive geometric carving on the surface of my wood turnings.”

Above: A whimsical turning sliced by a plane of wood. Left: Mixed media turnings of “ivorine” and burlwood in segmented, round and cylindrical form.

Above: This beautiful turning consists of color impregnated wood. Left: Money impregnated resin turned in the round and in vase form make for an exquisite pair of vessels. American Miniaturist 55


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Turning Gallery

My favorite woods are walnut, rosewood, ebony and various burlwoods. My primary alternate material is a synthetic substitute for ivory and some highly figured resin materials. The x-acto blade is my favorite tool. These I grind down on a very fine sanding disk to form extremely tiny wood turning chisels that work wonders on wood at any scale.

Left: Three pieces showcasing the visual texture of money impregnated resin in turned and box form.

Dave Williams, Harvington Miniatures

England

“I would describe my miniature turnings as the result of what I enjoy doing. Each time I turn on the lathe I get excited. Mainly, I work in 1:12 scale, sometimes in 1:24, and very occasionally in 1:48. My favorite subject matter is whatever is in my mind when I turn on the lathe. I particularly enjoy creating the “unusual”— such as magical pensieves and incense burners. My one goal is to keep finding new ideas.” Left: Perfume bottles turned from pure acrylic. Tallest is about 1/2” high.

Right: Incense burner, 17/8” (45mm) tall. Turned in Coolibah Burl.



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Turning Gallery

Left: Tobacco Jar and table are turned from a resin-injected piece of oak. About 21/2” tall from base to top of lid on the jar.

My favorite materials are exotic burls such as amboyna and malee. I am also experimenting with impregnating woods with colored resin. My wife and I visit many old stately homes and antique shops. Sometimes I will see something unusual and make notes. Other times I will see something and think to myself, “I must make it.” The one tool, which is “a must” for me is a chisel, which I made myself and is about 2mm wide.

Left: These five bottles of spirits are turned in solid transparent acrylic. The tallest is 7/8” high.

Right: This beautifully handcrafted spinning wheel has 24 turned parts, and is just over 2” tall. It was made using three different types of exotic fruitwood.

Above: This little honey pot complete with a dipper is turned in red mallee burl and is 1/2” (12mm) tall. American Miniaturist 57


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Turning Gallery

Maurice Sauve

Cupertino, California “I do my turnings in high detail and use woods from other countries. Mostly, I work in 1:12 scale. If the turning has a lid, it is hollowed out to very thin walls. I do the majority of my designs at night when I lay awake. I also find inspiration in magazines, watching TV shows, and shopping at malls. I consider turnings to be an art form and hope buyers will pass them down to future generations.”

Above: Red acrylic, ebony lids/bases. On Ironwood table, square turning has Cocobolo lid/base. Vessel on right has Ironwood lip/base. Below: Yellow acrylic with black swirl. Left bowl: Ironwood top/base. Front square turning: Ironwood top. Mini Tower on right: Ebony lid/base post. Above: Left: Can from China, 3cm stripes glued together. Right: 1/8” square walnut and maple pieces glued together.

Left: This vessel is made of black acyclic with gold swirl.



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Turning Gallery

Above: These miniature canisters as well a the vase are made from king wood.

Right: This exquisite bowl is a turning of compressed wheat straw.

I like to work with Ironwood from just over the Mexican border. Ebony is a good wood for lids and bases. I use Ivory for some. I like to work with Cocobolo for its grain. I am particularly fond of tight grain woods and use a wax on my turnings to bring out the grains and the color. I also use acrylic for many of my turnings. I make all of my tools. I get dentist tools and rework them as they are made from good steel. I also make tools out of hardened nails because they stay sharper longer, which helps as I detail my turnings to a high degree.

Robert J. (“Rob”) Tukham, RJT Miniatures

British Columbia

“My turnings are eclectic in nature and draw on a variety of genres and time periods for inspiration. Mostly, I work in 1:12 scale, but also do 1:24, 1:48, and some commission work in “Barbie” scale. I find inspiration everywhere, from full size pieces I own or in shops. I try to work in areas in which other artists are not working, but also try to produce pieces that compliment other artists’ work. I endeavor to take risks and remain fresh in my work.” Right: This beautiful formed vase is turned out of Spalted Maple.

Above: This rice bowl set is turned out of boxwood, then finished with red and black lacquer. The chopsticks have been turned on the lathe as well. American Miniaturist 59


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Turning Gallery

Above: Rob’s take on “art glass” in an assortment of pieces turned out of acrylic.

Above: Inspired by Japan. Hand-carved and turned pieces using a variety of hardwoods and burls.

After fifteen years of miniature turning, it is impossible for me to pick favorite woods or alternate materials. European Boxwood is a lovely wood to turn, but doesn’t have a lot of character. Yellow cedar burls have a great look, but are difficult to acquire. The art glass look requires a variety of “plastic,” bought or hand cast. For the smallscale pieces, aluminum holds great detail and can be finished in a variety of ways. The palm nuts are fun and every one is different. When I was accepted to teach at the Guild School, I realized I would need a tool set that matched what I used. I needed something that wasn’t cobbled out of old drill bits and pieces of tool steel. I developed a fivepiece tool set that I make and use when teaching. I find that I now use that set for 95% of my turning. These tools are not small versions of full size tools, but are developed from the tools that I made myself to turn miniatures.

Left: These three lidded vessels are turned out of Boxwood and then lacquered and covered with gold leaf.



4/25/14 5:22 PM

Wedding gowns

A search for the Perfect Dress Felma Jackson’s mini creations were inspired by the quest to find the perfect wedding gown for her daughter.

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y husband and I live in a small desert city in Southern California. We are both retired and have the most fun when we take joyful walks exploring nature in the surrounding mountains with our seven and four year old grandsons. After twenty years of working for a major telecommunications company I was offered an early retirement package. I took the pack-

roundings is what I created in miniature. Now I am in my mid sixties and I enjoy attending clubs and belong to a few miniature groups. Most nights, from 10 pm to 3 am, I can be found in my

“When I was in my mid forties, a whole new world opened up for me to explore, the world of miniatures.”

Right: This elegant 1:12 scale wedding dress is adorned with tiny pearls.

age and never looked back because it was around that time that I discovered I was a very creative person and was good at making dolls. When I was in my mid forties, a whole new world opened up for me to explore, the world

of miniatures. Loving it so much, I was making and shopping for miniatures so fast that I didn’t have the time or patience to study any particular era. What I saw in my surAmerican Miniaturist 61

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Wedding gowns

Above: Three little fashionable purses made from silk and lace that perfectly match Felma’s gowns.

giving others tips that help to make their miniature journey a celebration. I also use the motivating comments I receive to push my creativity. As a breast cancer survivor of fourteen years, complica-

tions from surgery haunt me every day. Although I’ve learned to live with it, I suffer from lymphedema in my right arm. I am right handed and will wear a special sleeve and glove every day for the rest of my life. The lymphedema is very painful at times and limits my range of motion.

workshop making miniature dresses as well as other miniatures. Through my blog, my hope is to encourage the miniature hobby that I love so much by

Above and right: White silk, lace, and soft ruffles create this dreamy gown that any mini bride would love to wear.



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Wedding gowns My husband built my workroom to perfection for this disadvantage/advantage. Everything I need to make miniatures is at my fingertips. Despite this condition, I feel grateful and happy most days. Making miniature wedding gowns came into my life eight years ago when my daughter was shopping for her own wedding gown. I watched her try on so many that I became enchanted with all of the beautiful things that are found in a bridal shop.

Right and below: A black and white lace gown complete with a matching posh hat that is accented with feathers and gems and a tiny handbag.

Her wedding gown was the most beautiful lace gown I had ever seen. I thought finding a motherof-the-bride-dress to compliment her gown would be a snap. I was so happy when a dress couldn’t be found for me. It is called “caught up in nuptial heaven!” On a hunt with my friend we found the perfect pattern and ivory lace fabric. After finding a seamLeft: A stunning low cut, long sleeved wedding gown adorned with crystals to add that extra shimmer. American Miniaturist 63


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Wedding gowns a world helps to keep me healthy and enchanted. I make dresses from the Victorian era and as well as other tims in history. These wedding dresses are not from a particular era except the one we are living in, but in miniature, you can make them anything you want them to be. I must thank my grandsons for most of my inspiration. J. Howard Collection, Jared Collection, Mark Collection and Mark J Collection are all named for them. AM

Below and right: This off the shoulder dress overflows with elegance and romance. It is beautifully made from a creamy silk material with a delicate floral pattern. The perfect bow adds to the flow of the gathered train.

Right and below: Tiny embroidered accents and a side bow add a touch of sweetness to this slim fitting lace wedding gown. An ideal dress for an outdoor ceremony.

“Making miniaturewedding gowns came into my life eight years ago when my daughter was shopping for a wedding gown.” stress, the perfect dress was made! Although wedding gowns on mannequins are my favorite miniatures to make, the enjoyment of making little girl

dresses, dresses on hangers, suits on hangers, and a variety of miniatures in a world within



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Mini nightgown

A frilly mini nightgown A tiny nighty made from lace is easy to make. Follow along with Felma Jackson and create your own little negligee.

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ou may just change your life by taking the time to make this miniature project. What you can do with a small piece of lace, cotton, silk, or trim is amazing! Do you think the bride will want to pack a nightgown for her Honeymoon? Since I am a just-incase type of person, I made her one. You can make one too, in just four easy steps.

Tools & materials:

I used ¼” silk trim that I found at fabric shop. AM

l Lace l Sharp scissors l Trim l Your favorite fabric glue l Toothpick l Ribbon l Beads or flowers - optional

Step 1: Measure and then cut a piece of 4” by 3” lace material.

Step 3: Overlap the cut edges by ¼” and use a toothpick to run a thin line of glue to seal the edges.

Step 2: Fold the two cut edges towards the center of the piece of lace. This will become the seam in the back of dress.

Step 4: Use the trim of your choice for around the waist and the top of the dress. Accessorize with bows or beads and flowers. American Miniaturist 65

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Japanese room box

A miniature house warming Eva Perendreu took on the challenge of making a Japanese style room box for a house warming present for her niece.

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y beautiful niece, Ainhoa, started a life on her own a few years ago in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. She was absolutely thrilled to start making decisions on how she would decorate her first flat. When I asked her how I could help, she answered that she would love it if I could make a miniature Japanese room box. I was absolutely surprised and thought it was a good challenge for me.

“I offered a SWAP to all the miniaturists around the world that wanted to help me with my Japanese/Oriental miniature project.” So through my blog site I made a request. I offered a SWAP to all the miniaturists Right: Many of the items in this room box came from other miniaturists from all around the world.


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Japanese room box around the world that wanted to help me with my Japanese/ Oriental miniature project. Sonya, Susanne, Susan (Sans), Mª Carmen, Eva, Caterina, Paky, and Yolanda answered my call by sending me many wonderful items: the sofa, the table, food, decorative items, the small geisha that is on the floor, lamps, pictures, and the gong as well as other items. So this is a room box made from friendship. The room box was based on two colors as you can see, red and black. I painted the box and made the rice panels

A small origami paper book along with a tiny paper bird is just beside the tray of food.


Above: Eva made the Japanese rice panels that are in the back of the room box, which she opted to leave open to show the snowy Japanese garden.


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Japanese room box Left: Eva made the tiny bonsai tree that sits atop the little cabinet. Below: A small pair of traditional Japanese wooden geta sandals complete the theme.

On the right side, you can see an orchid that I made with a kit from Templewood miniatures. The mask on the upper of the wall belongs to the Chinese opera. Beside the sofa, there is a Zen garden with candles and in front of that are a pair of Japanese shoes. On the lower table there are chopsticks, a teapot, some sweets, a bamboo tray, a bowl, and an ikebana book. On the floor there is origami paper, and very tiny origami bird.

on the back that have been left open to show a snowy Japanese garden. I built a step to go out to the garden where I placed the traditional Japanese winter boots that my dear friend, Susan, sent me from Singapore. The floor looks much like a carpet and two bookcases made by myself are on the back at both garden sides.



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Japanese room box On the left side of the room box is a wonderful red and black peice of furniture I bought. The doors are open to show the red drawers. On top of the drawers are a Buda and a bonsai tree made by myself. The Gong is also wonderful and it’s next to the book of Madam Butterfly opera and a big dish. Books, tradi-

“The room box is framed and has a glass front to protect it from dust.” tional boxes with Japanese food, vases, and other decorative items lay around the rest of the room. I also wanted to add the small kokeshi doll in the blue dress. The room box is framed and has a glass front to protect it from dust. I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed making it and also as much as Ainhoa loved it! AM Left: The finishing touches include an orchid, various Japanese products, and a decorative paper lamp. Below: This beautifully detailed miniature room is such a wonderful addition to Ainhoa’s first home!



4/24/14 9:41 AM

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arizona Kitz! www.minikitz.com Phoenix 85044

illinois Lolly’s 1054 Dundee Ave Elgin 60120

california Elegant Dollhouse 1120 Fulton Ave Sacramento 95825 Larrianne’s Small Wonders 3457 Telegraph Road Ventura 93003 Miniature Cottage Shop 1260 Main St Morro Bay 93442 Ms. Peggie’s Place 5063 Cass St San Diego 92109

colorado Denver Museum of Miniature Dolls and Toys 1880 Gaylord St Denver 80206 Norm’s Doll House 7300 S Colorado Blvd Centenial 80122

connecticut Time Machine Hobby, LLC 71 Hilliard St Manchester 06040

florida Ron’s Miniature Shop 751 W. Colonial Dr. Orlando 32804 The Toy Box 419 Brevard Ave Historic Cocoa Village 32922

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michigan Rau’s Country Store 656 S Main Street Frankenmuth 48734 Miniature Makers’ Workshop 28120 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak 48067

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AM’s news page is devoted to keeping busy miniaturists up to speed. Please submit items of mini interest to auralea@ ashdown.co.uk or to American Miniaturist - Itty bits, 68132 250th Avenue, Kasson, MN 55944.

Nursery pillows Giveaway Auralea Krieger has donated this little set of pillows with a whale and sheep theme to giveaway. You can win this pillow set by entering this contest! Send your entry to Nursery pillows Giveaway issue –134 American Miniaturist, 68132 250th Ave., Kasson, MN 55944, or fax them to (507) 634-7691, or email them to auralea@ ashdown.co.uk. Please be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and email address. The deadline for this contest is Friday, June 20, 2014.

Where’s Arthur was found on page 12 visiting Gabriele’s Easter stand in the April issue (AM132)! We have randomly selected Debra Elwood of Central Point, OR to be our winner for this month’s Where’s Arthur contest. We will be sending her a Garden Furniture Project DVD for helping us find Arthur, that little rascal. We hope you enjoy this mini gift! But as you know Arthur never sits still for too long and we are afraid he has

Photo credit Kim McKisson was the photographer for the Savage & Sons article on page 16 in (AM133) May issue. Kim lives in Kentucky and is a professional photographer as well as a water color artist. She will be taking the time to share great tips with our AM readers in an article on how to photograph miniatures later this year.

Arthur? run off again! Can you help us find him? He is located somewhere on one of the pages of this magazine. Send your sighting to Where’s Arthur? – Issue 132, American Miniaturist, 68132 250th Ave., Kasson, MN 55944, or fax them to (507) 634-7691, or email them to auralea@ ashdown.co.uk. Please be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and email address. The deadline for this contest is Friday, June 20 2014.

Full name listing In the article on page 42 of our April issue (AM132) the talented artist was listed as Lorrie Anderson. Her full name is actually Lorrie Plasko-Andersen.


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ittybits Konnichiwa and Grüezi - 150 years of Japan and Switzerland 19 April 2014 – 5 October 2014 A special exhibition will take place at the Toy Worlds Museum Basle to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Japanese-Swiss diplomacy and friendship. The first documented reference in Switzerland to Japan dates from 1522. In 1864, Switzerland finalized one of the first bilateral trade and friendship treaties with Japan, giving rise to a dynamic economic exchange. The exhibition has been made possible with the cooperation of the Japanese Information and Cultural Centre of the Japanese Embassy in Berne, and the Japan Cultural Institute in Cologne.

The sophisticated contemporary dolls originate from the traveling exhibition Dolls of Japan – Shapes of Prayer, Embodiment of Love and are provided by the Japan Cultural Institute in Cologne. Japan looks back on a long and unique tradition of dolls, which is still alive today. The dolls in the exhibition are in the tradition of

their predecessors and are captivating with their many delightful expressions, which help us to learn, understand and appreciate the Japanese dolls. The contemporary ceramic objects and decorations including the lacquer ware provide a fascinating insight into hundreds of years of Japanese history. They are characterized by both ancient traditions and modern influences. The Japanese tea ceremony ceramics are famous in Japan and that is reflected by the very high prices for objects made by recognized potters. The craft is appreciated as much as painting as in Japan no particular art form is preferred. The collection Contemporary Japanese Crafts is part of the Japan Foundation Traveling Exhibitions. Film presentations will give visitors to the exhibition an insight into the unique artistic manufacturing processes of Japanese dolls and ceramic objects. Website: www.toy-worlds-museum-basle.ch

Name correction and a missed step. The wonderful vegetable garden tutorial on page 48 of our May issue (AM133) was by the talented Amanda Phillips. So sorry for that oversight Amanda! As it turns out, Amanda also wanted to add this to Step 9 in that tutorial - Bake the dirt covered TLS and clay for 15 minutes at the temperature suggested by manufacturer. We also want to wish Amanda a speedy recovery!


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Baking for baby

Celebrating with mini desserts Natalia Antonelli combines a modern baby shower and an old-fashion Italian baptism party with delicious treats.

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wo things food miniaturists greatly love are big parties and colorful foods. Every party needs a wonderful variety of cakes, pastries, and candies in fun festive colors to properly honor birthdays, weddings, Independence Day, Christmas and so on. The birth of a baby boy or girl is one of the sweetest, most delightful events to celebrate in our real lives. In my miniature world I

could not miss the opportunity to create a lovely setting that represents the hope and joy a new life brings to this world. My inspiration comes from different sources: family, national traditions, pastry shop delights, TV shows, magazines, and my own imagination. When I first thought of a baptism for a new born baby these thing came to mind; big cakes in soft pink and light blue, decorated with fondant teddy bears and little toys. As

well as scrumptious trays filled with traditional Italian pastries. This vision reflects the past and the present. My country with its old food specialties and the modern world gloBelow: A fun party table with endless baby themed treats.


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Baking for baby

Above: This pink clothed table was made to celebrate the birth of a girl.

balization, which allows us to expand our views, change our habits by importing and exporting foods and fashions to broaden our culture and enrich our way of life. Very simply, we do not have baby showers here in Italy. It is not a custom here because we simply do not feel at ease giving a party before the baby is born. You could say we feel it maybe bad luck. “Let us be sure there is a little boy or girl in the room, then we can party all day!” And talking about knocking on wood, only few decades ago parents did not even put the

empty cradle in the baby’s room, at least not until the baby was actually born and safe at home. Our baptism party is a very private family reunion where family members meet after the service and gives a present to the new born to wish him or her good luck and to welcome the little brother, sister, cousin, or nephew into the family. Jewelry with small medals with the baby’s name and date of birth, a guardian angel or a patron Saint on them, embroidered baby’s outfit, bibs and knitted shoes are the traditional gifts that will be kept for the babies entire life. Because the service usually takes place at the beginning of the afternoon, the party is

Above: This is one of the first tables Natalia made and it’s inspired by the theme of baptism for a boy. Below: On a silver tray, a mix of sfogliatelle and baba pastries.

given at teatime. In Italy we serve our traditional pastries and teatime cakes.

“In my miniature world I could not miss the opportunity to create a lovely setting that represents the hope and joy a new life brings to this world.” A few years ago we did not even know what fondant was and our cakes were very simple sponge-cake buns and jam tarts. Each Italian region has its own special foods and the pastries from the South of Italy, especially from Campania and Sicily, are always present in every special occasion. American Miniaturist 75


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Baking for baby

Left: These cakes hide the gender of the baby until you cur into them and see the colored cream.

Sfogliatelle and baba come from Neaples, while cannoli and cassata cake come from Sicily. They are all rich, tasty, and scrumptious pastries made with the most genuine ingredients, such as ricotta cheese, marzipan, essence of orange blossoms, and candied fruit. In the last few years, however, something has changed. A new baking phenomenon has spread all over old Europe and its name is cake design.

Following this new trend, many cooks have started using fondant to decorate enormous colorful cakes and add many kinds of ornaments. This makes baking a cake more similar to sculpting. Fondant is handled and molded like our polymer clay and we miniaturists handle and mold polymer clay like fondant. Reality and the miniature world get closer together and somehow confound

each other. We even use the same tools and silicon molds. In my miniature baptism party I tried to combine both modern and old fashion treats. For example, on my miniature baby shower party table I added cupcakes and cakes that would not be hard to find in a contemporary pastry shop. For the two big rectangular cakes, as well as the cupcakes, I chose two traditional American recipes: a red velvet cake and a chocolate cake filled with butter cream then covered with light pink or light blue fondant and cute fondant decorations. The two round sponge cakes are very similar to each other if you look at their outward appearance. The white fondant and sugar flowers do not give you any clue about the baby’s sex. Once you slice them, however, the soft pink or light blue cream will reveal the secret. In the end, whether you celebrate before or after the baby’s birth with your family or with friends, it is always going to be a sweet party! AM

Above : Small, traditional Sicilian cassata cakes topped with fruit. Right: Even more delicious sweets that truly look good enough to eat.



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Mini pastries

Make your own mini rum baba Natalia Antonelli shares her fun and easy technique on how to make a miniature version of delicious Italian rum baba.

E

ven though rum baba was invented in the middle of the eighteen-century by King Stanislao Leszczynski of Poland, who added rum to the traditional “kugelhupf” cake. This pastry is now one of the most famous desserts of Naples. In this tutorial we are going to make the classic version of the original Italian baba, a small yeast cake in the shape of a slightly tapered cylinder without any whipped or pastry cream added. The name “baba” comes from the book One Thousand and One Nights and one of its protagonists, Alì Baba. Step 1: Mix together a 2:1 ratio of sunflower yellow clay with white clay.

Tools & materials:

Step 3: To achieve the proper effect, don’t blend the two too much. Just roughly mix them, so that in the end some yellow clay will still show. l Sunflower yellow polymer clay l White polymer clay l Cognac polymer clay l Single sided sharp blade l Coarse sandpaper l Needle l Light brown chalk pastel l Dark brown chalk pastel l Liquid polymer l Clear gloss varnish l Razor blade

Step 2: Now mix together the yellow clay you have obtained with cognac clay (2:1).

Step 4: Roll several little balls of clay, all approximately 0.6mm in diameter.

Step 5: Take each piece of clay and stretch one end of it, gently squeezing it between you fingers, American Miniaturist 77

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Mini pastries so that the top will remain round, and plump. This is to achieve the effect of a well-baked baba.

sure to adjust the end every time you cut off the excess.

Step 6: Gently press your fingernail around the round top of the baba to make it even more prominent. The top must be rough, irregular, and bumpy, so don’t bother trying to smooth it. Just leave it as it is. Step 9: To emulate the texture of a real baba, take some coarse sandpaper and press it on the entire surface of the clay.

Step 7: Using a single sided sharp blade, cut off the pointed end and make sure the bottom of the baba always stays flat. If it gets pointed again, you can cut off the excess or press your fingernail onto the end to flatten it.

Step 8: Since we don’t want a sharp cut, adjust the bottom to make it look more natural. Be

Step 11: Mix some dark brown chalk powder with some light brown chalk powder and use your fingertips to add the color only on the top of the baba. Don’t press too much. Start by using more of the lightest brown, and then add the darkest brown if it is still too light. We want the baba to be well baked and not overcooked or burnt!

Step 10: To accentuate the spongy texture, use a needle and lightly press the tip of it on the clay to leave tiny holes. Be gentle, we don’t want to leave big holes.

Step 12: It’s time to add the rum! Take some liquid polymer and add a drop of it just on the rounded top of the baba. You can



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Mini pastries add it directly from the bottle, or use a cocktail stick to be more precise.

Step 13: Put your pieces in the oven to harden. Bake at 220° F or 105° C and after 10 minutes take them out.

Your rum baba are ready! They look shiny and delicious!

Step 14: Now to make them shiny. Add a coat of clear gloss varnish all over, especially focusing on the rounded top where you put the liquid polymer.

Then add them to a miniature pastry shop or on a miniature party, or tea-time table. This tutorial is for individual servings, but if you have a proper miniature mold you can give the clay a ring shape and make it in the larger form of a bundt cake as well, then fill the middle hole with whipped cream and candied fruit. AM

Once you have several baba, you can place them on a tray alone or with other types of delicious Italian pastries, such as sfogliatelle or cannoli. American Miniaturist 79


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Baby boutique

Teensy toys for your wee one

Gabriele Layne’s Bambino Baby Boutique is the place to go to find everything you will need for your one-inch scale baby.

B

eing born in Germany and growing up there, I was exposed to the traditional environment of many different handicrafts. In the late 80’s I started collecting miniatures because everything

small fascinated me, especially dollhouse furnishings and accessories. For years I would read the miniature magazines that were available overseas. I enjoyed attending shows in Germany and I also visited the Birmingham Miniatura show in the U.K.

When I see my items that were purchased there so many years ago they remind me of all the talented artisans and how excited I was to see every single display. Since 1992 my love for making


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Baby boutique tiny objects has grown. For some reason, making shops and stores are the most intriguing for me. I guess it is because so many things can be placed inside them.

“For some reason, making shops and stores are the most intriguing for me. I guess it is because so many things can be placed inside them.” With a bachelor’s degree in cartography (mapmaking) I enjoy the detail of everything being reduced in size. I resided in Frankfurt am Main, Germany until 1997 and now my husband and I live in Texas. Who would have thought that all of those miniatures would travel all the way to the USA packed in with our household goods and not get damaged or lost! For nearly two years, my collection of miniatures and room boxes were tucked away in moving boxes before they were finally unpacked. Meeting other miniature collectors and artisans here, I have discovered that the love for miniatures is contagious. Left: Gabriele’s passion for miniatures absolutely shows in this wonderfully crafted baby boutique. Top right: Everything a new mother would need can be found at the Bambino Baby Boutique!

I was so happy to find such enthusiasm for this hobby that is enjoyed by so many? The coming years were spent working in a corporate environment on a computer all day, which left very little time for my hobby. By 2010 I was fortunate enough

to be able to retire and finally enjoy my passion for creating miniatures more often. Having joined the miniature club of San Antonio “Inching Along”, I attend their monthly meetings and activities. I joined NAME and the Society of American Miniaturists (SAM) American Miniaturist 81


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Baby boutique Left and below: The counter on the boutique is filled with miniature goodies like powder, rattles, cards, books, figurines, lollipops, a pink plush bear, and a piggy bank!

here in Texas. This has opened up a whole new world for making and collecting miniatures as well as traveling to shows where I can meet other enthusiasts. During 2010-2012 I traveled to Germany to visit my fam-

ily and friends this resulted with me participating in a show called “Schoene kleine Welt”, which I had last attended in 1996. While there, I met many fellow artisans from the past and was able to see miniatures made by many other talented artisans. I have many plans for upcoming projects and I look forward to every free moment, which I can devote to this pastime. Welcome to the Bambino Baby Boutique. It is a place to

shop for baby gifts with a special touch. The soft butter cream color of the furnishings and the light blue color of the wallpaper harmonize with the pastel colored baby items. The dark brown cabinet is from an estate sale and the beautiful hand-painted cabinet and dresser were found tucked away in a cabinet at an antique store. Some of the items for welcoming a newborn into the world were created, others were purchased. From large items such as a bassinet, cradle, a round table with accessories, blankets, quilts, and pillows to smaller items such as tiny shoes, and baby clothing, a little bit of everything is available, even baby care products. There are jars of cream, baby bottles, plates, and baskets of baby toiletries, as well as rubber ducks, and soaps for bath time. Not to be forgotten, of course, are also toys such as bears, dolls, a doll carriage and cradle, alphabet blocks, rattles, and a piggy bank. A Noah’s ark set complete with all the animals as well as pull toys made of metal or wood are for sale here. The



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Baby boutique

beautifully hand-painted pull toys were made by Karen Markland. Some of the fancy boxes were found in magazines or were printouts. Gift-wrap paper and cards made it easy to complete a present for a baby shower. The gift shop is well stocked and inviting for all customers including grandparents or mothers-to-be to come in and browse. To make the counter, I used an odd piece of furniture that

previously had doors and then I added woodturnings for the legs, which raised it up. The three-tier display on the top of the counter, to the right, is made from three round wooden discs that were painted in different colors. This is where I put the small gnome. The jars are beads and some are covers from erasers that I

Above: A bath set with everything needed for babies first bath! Neatly wrapped gift boxes in a dinosaur pattern with a pretty yellow bow!

took off of mechanical pencils. They were so colorful and had a little edge on the top making them look like the perfect jar. A small flower from nail art, a tiny bow, gold metal findings, and some teddy bear polymer cane slices complete the tops of these crème containers. The little baby rattles were made using a wax bead and a small piece of a woodturning. Different wood shapes were wrapped with gift-wrap and placed under the counter along with purchased metal baby shoes and a display gift box. In the brown cabinet I took two porcelain plates and glued on a punched-out print and then brushed on a glaze. Left: The little bunnies that were hand-painted on this tiny dresser add a touch of whimsy. American Miniaturist 83


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Baby boutique Left: Such a great collection of miniature figurines; dollies, kitty cats, horses, and to top it all off a remarkably tiny Noah’s ark set.

Nada Christensen made the porcelain painted dolls wearing colorful dresses, the teddy bear, the jointed doll, the bunny in a jester’s suit, the doll in the cradle, and the kewpie dolls. She is a wonderful artisan that I have known for several years. The quilts, pillows, and the wall décor, which I draped over a toothpick with two wood beads on the ends, are all computer printouts on fabric with the edges tucked under then the backings were sewn or glued

on. The pillows are stuffed with cotton balls. A German artist friend of mine, Wolfgang Michel, made several of the books and they open and are readable. These

are mini copies of original vintage English and German full size books. The black and white cow is from a train display that I placed on a strip of wood and then added polymer clay wheels to it and a piece of string with a bead. The baby baskets are embroidery cloth soaked in liquid starch, which was then draped over lotion lids to give them their shape. When they were dry I cut off the edges and glued on fancy lace trim, then filled them with baby items. The large boxes by the dresser are made from scrapbook paper that I cut, scored, and folded. Then they were filled with rolls of gift-wrap, baby blankets, and gift boxes. Framed playful prints are on the wall and a small black and white dog is peeking around the corner of the front shelf. AM

Right: A pull-along moo-cow toy made from a miniature train display is such a creative addition to all of the fun items in this baby shop.



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Images may be cut out or copied for personal use only Asian inspired wall art

Snippets Children’s drawings

Wedding photos and invitations

Father’s Day cards

You are Invited

You are Invited

Vegetable seed packets

A Wedding

Tiny birds for the project on page 92


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Caroline Dupuis showcases a beautiful miniature butterfly cottage.

Savor whimsical miniature cakes by Manuela Michieli

IGMA Artisan Lynda Ulmer’s accessories for elegant mini ladies

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showdates May 31-June 1 Sturbridge, MA

July 13 Fogelsville, PA

Sturbridge Dollhouse Miniatures Festival. Host Hotel on Cedar Lake, 366 Main Street/ Rte 20, Sturbridge, MA. For directions and to reserve your room at the special show rate, call: (508) 347-7393. Arrive at Boston Logan or Hartford/ Springfield airports. For additional information or dealer contracts, contact: Molly Cromwell. Address: 2455 Crispin Court, Sarasota, FL 34235. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (941) 371-3193. Web: www.mollycromwell.com.

The 37th Annual Dollhouse and Miniatures Show and Sale, sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Miniatures Club “Small on Scale.” The Holiday Inn, Exit 49A off I-78 onto Rt. 100 South. First right on Penn Drive, then turn right. GPS info: 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville, PA 18031. Phone: (610) 391-1000. Sunday, 10am – 4pm. Admission: $5 adults ($4.50 with coupon), $1 children under 12. Exhibits, free parking, food available. Saturday, pre-registered, pre-paid workshops held at the show site. Free children’s class on Sunday. Show proceeds benefit charities and educational endeavors. For show and workshop information, contact: Jo Roseberry. Phone: (570) 6200810. Email: jolen1@verizon. net. For show information, contact: Mary Breidinger. Phone: (610) 762-8370. Email: mbreiginger4547@ gmail.com. For more show and workshop information and to print a discount coupon, visit website: www. lehighvalleyminiatures.com.

June 14 Stockton, CA Miniatures on the Waterfront. University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, 110 W Fremont Street, Stockton, CA 95202. University Waterfront Hotel Room Rates are available at $99 per night. For reservations, call: 877-9572378. Saturday, 10am – 4pm. Admission: $6 at the door, $3 Children 12 and under. For more information and to register as a vendor, call: Leslie Flint. Email: stocktonmarina@ aol.com. Phone: 209-4624200. Web: www. miniaturesonthewaterfront.com.

July 26 Mooresville, NC The Charlotte Area Dollhouse

We always advise checking times and dates before traveling. We wouldn’t want you to drive 500 miles to a show that’s been canceled. Clubs of North Carolina will be hosting the First Annual Mooresville, NC Dollhouse Exhibit and Sale. South Iredell Lions Club, 630 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, NC. The Lions Club is conveniently located just off Rt. 77 at exit 35 on Brawley School Road West just after the traffic light at Williamson Road. Saturday, 9am – 3pm. Admission: $1. Door prizes will be given hourly and there will be free classes for children hourly on the half hour. Dealer tables are $10, and space is limited so call early for a reservation. Please contact: Maria Cannizzaro, (704) 2300569 for reservations and any questions. Donations will be made to NAME and the Lions Club. Show your NAME card at the door for a free gift.

September 13-14 Portland, OR Exhibit Hall, DoubleTree Hotel Portland (at Lloyd Center), 1000 NE Multnomah St., Portland, OR. Door Prizes; Workshops for Children and Adults; Red, Blue & Green MAX rail stops at the door. Admission: $7; children under 12 Free. For more information, contact: Pat Bennett. Email: PatBennett@ PortlandMiniatureShow.com. Phone: 503-362-6012 nights.


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September 21 Edmonton, AB, Canada A show by the Miniature Enthusiasts of Edmonton, a non-profit club. Executive Royal Inn West Edmonton, 10010 – 178 St., Edmonton, AB, T5S 1T3, Canada. Sunday, 10am – 4pm. Admission: $5 ages 16 and over, $2 ages 6-15, free under 6. No strollers please. For more information, please contact: Maureen. Email: mheucher@ shaw.ca. Phone: (780) 418-5198. Website: www. camacdonald.com/MEE/ ShowandSale.html.

October 11–12 San Jose, CA 39th annual Showcase of Miniatures (Good Sam Show) at Doubletree Hotel. Super workshops Friday (Oct. 10). Exhibits, children’s activities, auctions and drawings. Sunday: Free Tools and Techniques. 2nd annual Good Sam Academy of Miniatures, 9 classes following the show. For more info, please contact: Barb Jones. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (408) 257-9385. Website: http://goodsamshowcase. miniature.net.

October 17-19 Fenton, MO St. Louis Dollhouse and Miniatures Show, previously the Gateway Miniature Show.

Stratford Inn, 800 South Highway Drive, Fenton, MO. Friday, 4pm – 9pm. Saturday, 10am – 4pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm. Admission: $5 adult, $2 children 5-15. The Gateway Miniature Museum will be hosting exhibits and a silent auction. Free gifts for first 100 people each day. Special kids giveaways. Free raffle for half-scale dollhouse kit and other items. Come enjoy the world of miniatures and be a kid again. For more information, contact: Teresa Zwiener. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (314) 277-2601.

October 19 Winnipeg, MB, Canada Miniature Enthusiasts of Winnipeg Annual Show, Dakota Lawn Bowling Bldg., 1212 Dakota St., Winnipeg, Manitoba. Sunday, 10am – 4pm. For more information, please contact: georginawood2011@gmail. com.

November 15 Columbus, OH Columbus Miniature Society show. Bethel United Methodist Church, 1220 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220. Saturday, 10am – 4pm. Admission: $5 for adults, $2 for children under 12. No strollers, please. Free parking. Food provided by TWIG. Exhibits may or may not be based on the theme. All profits

donated to charity. For more information, contact: Mary Barrett. Email: artist1118@aol. com. Phone: (614) 792-2723.

2015 March 7-8 Seattle, WA Seattle Miniature Show. DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Seattle Airport/Southcenter, 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Seattle, Washington (located in Tukwila). Doors open both days at 10am. Free parking! Handicap accessible. Food on location. Workshops. Childrens’ classes - free. Exhibits. New website: http:// www.SeattleMiniatureShow. com. Contact: Pat Bennett. Phone: 503-362-6012 evenings & weekends. Email: PatBennett@ SeattleMiniatureShow.com.

To add your event to the American Miniaturist Show Dates calendar for a nominal fee, please contact Sara Vix. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (507) 634-3143 Fax: (507) 634-7691 Mail: Show Dates American Miniaturist 68132 250th Ave Kasson, MN 55944 American Miniaturist 89

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Man rooms

A place for the men to relax

This month Danielle Muller shares the two rooms in her Grosvenor’s Hall dollhouse that were made especially for the men.

J

une is the month to celebrate Father’s Day and I think all the father’s out there deserve to have a day when we can show them how much we appreciate them. In my Grosvenor’s Hall dollhouse there are two rooms that are very suitable for the “men” of the house. They are both in the basement and Michael, as well

as his friend’s, love to spend time there while the women gather together upstairs. When I built the house, I thought about what kind of rooms would be in the basement. Of course, the first one I made was the laundry room. There is also a room down there for Emma, the daughter of the house. But the two other rooms I am showing to you in this issue

are the bar and the billiard room. So let’s start with the bar. In fact, the bar itself as well as the counter were made entirely from scratch. I always have a lot of leftover pieces when I’m working with wood and I never throw them away. As you can see, this is a good idea because there’s always something that you can make from those left over pieces. On the front of the counter there are recipes of several wellknown drinks. I thought it might be a cute idea to add those to the bar scene. I also made a nice leather chair to add to the room. Left: Danielle made this little bar and counter from scratch.


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Man rooms There’s even a little corner where the guys can play darts. I added a television on top of the bar just in case they want to watch the sports channel and the bar is, of course, well stocked with everything one might need. The second room is where the guys can play a little billiards. I thought since there was enough space in the house, why not add a second room for Michael and his friends to spend some time Below: Danielle made all the curtains in the house and all the decorative bottles you see on the shelf in the back of the room.

alone without the girls. Although, I must say, Stephanie loves to play a little pool and she’s very good at it, which seems to be annoying for Michael. The furniture in this room is from Eurominis. I used these unpainted pieces a lot in this house, because although they are already assembled, being unpainted gives you more freedom for your own decorating ideas. I wanted to use darker tones of wallpaper here, because tiny roses or feminine wallpapers wouldn’t have been suitable for this sort of

room. I added the carpet and the two resin leopard chairs, which I had found a year earlier on the Internet. From there, I started painting the furniture and discovered the dark red, black, and gold tones were just perfect. It was really fun to make these two rooms and I would love to dedicate them to all the fathers who either love to play billiards or enjoy a little drink in the bar from time to time and especially to those who are, like myself, miniature lovers. Happy Father’s Day to all of you! AM


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Bird nest

A tiny place for birds to perch Marianne Colijn has discovered a delightful way to turn a miniature teapot into a tiny nest for some fine feathered friends.

W

hen I saw a picture of a little bird building a nest in an old teapot I knew I had to try and make that scene in miniature. I happened to have a brown teapot, so I started working on the project right away. This is a project that is fun to do and can add a little extra touch of whimsy to your scene or garden. I mounted the teapot on a piece of wood. The lid of the teapot is used as a kind of porch to protect the birds against rain and the sun. Step 1: Lets start by creating the little porch using the lid. Thread fine wire through the hole in the lid and then twist it.

Step 2: Thread the wires crosswise through handle of the teapot.

Tools & materials: l A teapot with a lid that can come off and has the usual tiny hole in it l Craft stick or scrap of wood l Fine wire l Paint to match your lid l Tiny bits of moss, stretchable vine, or lichen l Flower foam, your choice of color l Craft knife l Tacky Glue l Optional - small picture of bird to decorate wood l Mod Podge

Step 3: Cross the wires around the handle and twist again until the lid stays firmly in place.

Step 4: Paint the wire to match your teapot and leave it to dry.

Step 5: Cut the wood to size. The teapot looks best with the spout pointing downwards and no wood showing behind the spout. Place your teapot on top of the wood and check for size. Cut with the craft knife.


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Bird nest to find any birds that were small enough I resorted to a little trick.

Step 4: Glue the clay shape to the back of your bird using a little Tacky Glue.

Tools & materials:

Step 6: Glue teapot to wood and leave to dry. Step 7: Add a little bit of lichen, vine, or moss into the teapot for nesting material.

l Pictures or cut outs of tiny birds that fit the scale of your project. l Air-drying clay l Tiny scissors l Mod Podge l Paint brush l Tacky Glue

Step 1: Cut out the birds. Don’t loose them! See Snippits, page 93.

Step 8: Decorate with the flower foam, but use it very sparingly or there will just be clumps of it, which will not look good. Apply glue and sprinkle foam on top.

Adding birds I wanted to add some birds to my tiny scene as well. Not being very good with clay and unable

Second birdhouse For the second version, I replaced the wood shape with a little wreath and omitted the porch. Tools & materials:

Step 2: Paint the front and back with Mod Podge to protect the picture.

Step 9: Optional - Cut out a tiny picture to decoupage to the top of the wood shape. It just adds a little extra. Glue the picture with Mod Podge and add a layer of Mod Podge on the top as well for a nice finish.

Step 5: When dry, gently rub over the picture so it shapes over the clay shape and then you are done. Add one or more birds to your little teapot birdhouse using Tacky Glue.

Step 3: Make a little tear drop shape out of your clay that will fit behind the bird so you will not see it from the front. Leave to dry.

l A teapot with a lid that can come off and has the usual tiny hole in it l Wreath, I used a heart shape l Moss, lichen, stretchy vine, and flower foam as before l Tacky Glue l Optional - birds

Step 1: Decorate the wreath using the moss, stretchy vine, and flower foam.

Step 2: Glue the teapot to the wreath. American Miniaturist 93


4/9/14 10:15 AM

Bird nest it is nice to give them a little roof so they stay dry. What better thing to use than the leftover lid to create a little bird feeder? Step 1: Glue the hook to the lid as in the photo. Use glue that is suitable for ceramics.

Step 3: Build a little nest inside the wreath using the lichen and moss. Step 4: Add the birds if you like. Tools & materials: l Teapot lid l Tiny foam ball, or a bead that will fit into the lid l Bits of cork or model railroad gravel l Tacky Glue l Mod Podge l Fine white net or tulle l A sizable hook from a hook and loop closure l Ceramics glue l Moss, etc for the teapot and wreath l Paint to match teapot l Sewing thread in white and brown

Bird Feeder Now we have a leftover lid, but I found a use for that too. When you hang suet balls in the garden

Step 2: Glue moss and flowers to the lid. This will also help to keep the hook in place. Paint the hook in a color to match the lid.

Step 3: Paint the foam ball with Tacky Glue and dip into gravel or cork. Pat the gravel into the glue making sure the entire ball is covered. Leave to dry. Step 4: Paint the ball with Mod Podge. This will hold the gravel into place even better. Step 5: Wrap the ball into net or tulle and tie with white sewing thread. Cut off excess material, but leave a little tail of thread.

Step 6: Glue the tail of thread into the lid making sure the ball will hang nicely. Leave to dry. Add a little loop for hanging, using brown thread. It will look very good hanging from a branch. Now add a bird! If you do not have a teapot there are plenty of other things you can use to make a fancy little birdhouse. In the Netherlands where I live, people often use an old wooden shoe and the birds seem very happy about living in them. I have even seen birds nesting in rubber boots! Other things you could have fun with are an old flowerpot, pieces of crockery like a coffee pot, a pitcher, or a jar. I used a rather big sugar bowl for one of mine and decorated it with a tiny wreath to make it look pretty. I think the real birds in the garden will be jealous now. AM



4/9/14 10:15 AM

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Plants, kits, and furniture in 1/144th, 1/120th, Lolly’s ............................................................................. 69

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For more information or to order, please visit www.craft-club.com 96 American American Miniaturist Miniaturist 96 004JUN14_p096.indd 96

4/30/14 10:50 AM

Miniature grapes

Make the fruits of your labor Amanda Phillips was determined to come up with a simpler way to make miniature grapes and here is how she did it!

G

rapes have always looked like the most challenging miniature to make. They’re delicate and beautiful, and the prospect of creating something with so much detail can seem daunting. I knew I’d have to tackle this, so I put my brain to work and found an easier way. Tools & materials:

l Red, Purple, Green, Yellow and Translucent polymer clay l Translucent liquid Sculpey l Real life grape stems l A miniature bowl (optional)

Step 1: Soften all of the clay colors and make mixtures according to the photo. Four different mixtures are needed. • 50% Translucent, 25% Red, 25% Purple. • 50% Translucent, 50% Red. • 50% Translucent, 25% Yellow, 25% Green. • 50% Translucent, 50% Green.

Step 2: Make tiny grape shaped balls from each of the clay mixtures. These will be your grapes and they should be about the size of the head of a hairpin. Bake the grapes according to the clay manufacturer’s instructions. Then allow the grapes to cool. American Miniaturist 97

AM134_Amanda Grapes_Tutorial.indd 97

4/28/14 11:07 AM

Miniature grapes Step 3: Break your grape stems into small pieces. Step 4: Pick up a small piece of your grape stem and coat the end in Translucent liquid Sculpey. You may wish to use tweezers for this step.

Step 5: Roll the coated grape stem into a pile of finished grapes. All your tiny grapes should grab hold to make a perfect grape stem.

Your miniature grapes are now finished and can be displayed in a fruit bowl or even in the hand of a doll. Experiment with shapes,

sizes, color mixtures, and stem materials to make even more beautiful fruit. You could even make enough grapes to make your very own wine vineyard! AM

Step 6: Carefully lay the bundles of grapes on your baking tile or tray. You can add more grapes/ liquid clay if needed. Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes.


AM134_Amanda Grapes_Tutorial.indd 98

4/28/14 11:07 AM

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