A FREE MONTHLY Dolls House & Miniatures magazine written exclusivley by AIM members for dolls house collectors and e...
Contents… September 2009: Issue No 15 Cover Image: Sandra Morris of Diminutive Dolls
Regular Features… 1 Editor’s Note: Read Bea Broadwood’s introduction & welcome to this month’s edition of the Artisans In Miniature FREE ‘downloadable’ magazine! 20 Antique & Vintage Corner: Celia Thomas takes an in depth look at a nostalgic 1930s Toy Theatre. 23 Crafty Tips: Learn the tricks of the miniature trade. 30 New On The Web: This month we take a closer look at the website of AIM member Pearl Hudson. 45 Well, It Happened To An Artisan: Read about the often strange lives of AIM members. 60 Through The Keyhole: Ever wondered what it would be like to be able to have a closer look at the working environments of AIM members? This month we take a peek at Elizabeth LePla’s unusual London work space. 64 Mini Aimers: Written and compiled by Margaret Pitts especially for younger miniaturists and the artisans of the future. 74 The Miniature Grapevine: Catch up on all the latest news and announcements from the international miniature world.
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Special Features… 6 Cover story: Tiny Dolls In The Making ‐ AIM member Sandra Morris tells us about her fabulous tiny dolls. 8 A Tale Of Three Editors: Three professional editors take time out of their busy day jobs to give us an insight into their magazines. 12 Babies Of A Truly Miniature Kind: Doll Artisan and AIM member Ulkrike Leibling shares her adorable babies with us. 14 Happy Birthday AIM: This month the AIM association celebrates its second birthday, whilst we look back over the last two eventful years. 24 Our Journey To Miniatures: ‘World renowned’ doll artisans and AIM members; Jodi and Richard Creager, tell us in their own words how they accidently stumbled into the world of miniatures. Artisans In Miniature 2
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51
32 Simply Silk: AIM member Linda Toerzey shares her beautiful miniature creations with us. 38 Meet The AIM Team: As part of our second birthday celebrations, find out more about the people whose hard work behind the scenes keeps the AIM Association ticking. 55 46 The AIM Gallery: This month we have a packed gallery of AIM members’ creations which celebrate the nostalgia of a childhood captured in miniature. 50 The Inner Peter Pan: AIM member Maia Bisson explains more about her work and the inspiration behind it. 54 The Lowther Arcade: AIM member Sandra Morris takes a closer look at the famous Lowther Arcade, in London. 56 Folk Art: AIM member Joyce Dorothy Hamill/Rawcliffe shares her love for this fascinating style of painting. 70 Miniatura Preview: Join us as we take a sneaky peek at some of the new ‘miniatures’ that will be on offer from a selection of AIM members at October’s world famous ‘Miniatura’ show.
Free Projects… 46
16
16 Blackberries: AIM member Vicky Guile shares her fabulous project for creating this seasonal berry. 19 Shopping Basket Crochet Pattern: AIM member Frances Powell shares her versatile 1:12th scale crochet pattern for a traditional shopping basket. 36 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: AIM member and professional author Eliza Bentley shares her beautiful 1:12th scale cross stitch pattern for a traditional miniature sampler. NEW Ser 51 Paper Dolls: AIM member, ies!! doll artisan and professional illustrator Jill Bennett kicks off her new series of traditional paper dolls with an adorable Edwardian child named Arabella. Artisans In Miniature 3
CLICK…on Artisans In Miniature How did you find the Online Magazine?? Did you follow a link? Did a miniature friend tell you about it?
...and do you already know about the Artisans In Miniature Website, and the talented members who have all helped create this Online magazine.?
If not, copy, paste and CLICK now – www.artisansinminiatures.com and come and meet us all. Founded in 2007 by Fiona (Bea) Broadwood of Petite Properties, the site has been created in order to showcase the fantastic work of the individual professional international artisan members who create beautiful and original scale miniatures for sale to the public. Together they form the Artisans In Miniature association. Since its launch the AIM association has rapidly grown and now boasts membership of over 200, including some of the most talented artisans within the miniature world! On the website you will find further information about them and their work; however, please note new pages are constantly being added and there are many members who are not yet included on the site... If you are a professional artisan who is interested in joining the association, you will find all the information there..... If you are wondering what Fairs may be on in your area – that information is there too… We have lots of links…to Fairs and Events Organizers…Magazines…Online Miniature clubs….Historical reference sites…..Workshops…and more… it’s all there!
If you’d like to contact us, copy, paste and CLICK... we’d love to hear from you!
www.artisansinminiature.com Artisans In Miniature 8
Artisans In Miniature ?
Editor’s Dear Reader
Note...
As September swoops in, it brings with it not only new teachers and new school uniforms, but it also marks the start of a new season of miniatures too. The AIM magazine productionTeam (in 'first name' alphabetical order)
Bea (Fiona Broadwood) Editor: Editor's note (Layout & Format Designer) office@petite‐properties.com
Celia Thomas Features Editor Coordinator: The Miniature Grapevine / Antique & Vintage Corner
[email protected]
May be it is the old and familiar ‘new term feeling’ that still echoes from our childhood, which always makes September feel like a fresh start? Or perhaps for those of us in the northern hemisphere, it is the lengthening of the shadows and the cooling of the summer sun, that draws us back inside to refocus once again on our wonderful ‘miniature’ hobby. Whatever it is, September certainly has a buzz about it and this month we take a closer look at the nostalgia of childhood, from the exquisite tiny babies made by Ulrike Libelling to the launch of Jill Bennett’s fabulous new series of traditional paper dolls.
September also brings with it AIM’s second birthday and on page 14 we
Margaret Pitts AIM Columnist New children's feature: Mini AIMers
[email protected]
take a look back at what has turned out to be an eventful 2 years and if you
Robin Britton AIM Columnist: Crafty Tips / Yes It Happened To An Artisan / Artisan Street
[email protected]
Sandra Morris AIM Columnist: Tales From The Toy Cupboard
[email protected]
(Regular 'Author of' information given in italics) Please note all AIM members contribute to the magazine…
have ever wondered ‘who’ keeps the AIM Association ticking over, all is
revealed as we invite you to ‘Meet The AIM Team’ on page 38! (Be warned they are a motley bunch!) So, as AIM members collectively sharpen their pencils, open their books, ready to begin a new season of miniatures, why not join us for a piece of ‘virtual’ birthday cake and settle down to enjoy this fantastic new issue of the AIM magazine?!
Bea Editor (& General whip cracker) September 2009 www.petite‐properties.com
Artisans In Miniature 5
Tiny Toy Dolls in the Making
By AIM Member Sandra Morris of Diminutive Dolls
Few things are more thrilling to the doll’s house enthusiast than tiny toys. Who can resist the fascination of a
Victorian or Edwardian Toy Shop, filled to bursting with all manner of vintage playthings?
I spend my working life striving to recreate vintage toys, games and playthings from many different periods. However my first and abiding love is the Jumeau doll so beloved of generations of little girls, from the 1880’s onward.
My own homage to these porcelain masterpieces, tiny toy dolls which range from just 1” to 1 ¾” tall, take many hours to complete. They begin life as just a thimbleful of porcelain slip and undergo a magical metamorphosis to emerge as a finished miniature work of art.
The range is constantly changing and evolving with many weeks spent in ‘research and development’ both for the dolls themselves and their various costume styles. There are many technical challenges, so I have had to develop new techniques and design and engineer tailor‐made miniature tools to perform the delicate tasks involved in creating these tiny dolls.
A recent project has been to perfect a doll with real glass eyes which measure just 2mm in diameter! To say the least, this presents an ‘interesting’ challenge. Artisans In Miniature 6
Imagine trying to work inside a head cavity no bigger than a pea, manipulating tiny eyes only slightly larger than a mustard seed.
Cutting the tiny eye holes requires surgical precision. Indeed I use a specialist ophthalmic scalpel, whose tiny, incredibly sharp blade in conjunction with a powerful magnifying lamp, enable me to excise the eyes with pinpoint accuracy.
My tiny dolls are made in much the same way as the porcelain dolls of yesteryear, and go through many painstaking stages to produce an authentic miniature replica.
After a low‐temperature firing to produce a stronger, non‐soluble ceramic casting, the inside of the eyes have to be bevelled to the exact size and shape of the glass eyes, so that they will fit snugly into the eye sockets. Again, I have had to make my own specialist tools to achieve this.
Other dolls are meticulously hand‐painted, using up to 7 different colours of china paint, which require 3‐5 separate firings. Cheeks, lips, eyes, (iris and pupil) lashes and brows are all painstakingly painted, bringing each tiny doll to life.
Designing the costumes also requires extensive research. I use only the finest silks and cottons, including delicate silk trims and soft, pure silk ribbons. In order to achieve just the right, mellow antique shades I often hand dye silks, ribbons and lace so that costumes will be fully coordinated. I also have a boxful of lovely original antique lace and trimmings dating back to the 1890s which are used for the most special little dolls.
The attention to detail is continued throughout the entire costuming process. For example, dolls are fitted with silk underwear, a tiny chemise and silky trimmed pants or drawers. They wear either tiny, delicate lace socks, or the softest silk net stockings, often dyed to match their outfits.
Shoes or boots are made from tissue‐thin leather, or silk ribbon, according to style, and may be decorated with tiny buckles or minute ribbon rosettes.
The costumes themselves are painstakingly researched from original sources and images depicting dolls from the heyday of porcelain dollmaking including Jumeau, Steiner and Bru.
Wigs are created from tiny handmade ringlets and curls. Pleated silk bon‐ nets are festooned with ribbons and feathers to complement each outfit. When the final finishing touches have been added, each doll is nestled in its own bespoke box and issued with a numbered, dated and signed certifi‐ cate. They have found homes all around the world, from Japan to Canada, Australia to Finland and hopefully, with the passing years, my little toy dolls will become the doll’s house family heirlooms of the future ☺
www.diminutivedolls.co.uk ©All Text & Photos In This Item Belong To Sandra Morris
A Tale Of Three Editors... 3 Editors give us an insight into their magazines.
We are delighted to bring you a feature this month that includes input from editors of three UK dolls house hard copy magazines, which can all be purchased from newsagents or by subscription directly from the magazines themselves. These three magazines & their respective editors have played a vital role in the UK miniatures industry for many years now, and practically anyone who is anyone within the miniatures world have been featured in them at some time.
These magazines provide up to date information on the miniatures scene, including features and miniature projects for their readership, whilst also acting as a gigantic retail window for us the artisans and other people within the miniatures business.
We thought it would be fun to ask each editor the same eight questions. Their answers are varied and extremely interesting. (The editors are featured in alphabetical order of surname.)
CHRISTIANE BERRIDGE... Editor of the Dolls’ House Magazine How long has this magazine been running? The first issue of The Dolls’ House Magazine was in April 1998, so we’re in our 11th year. When did you become editor? I took over from Jay Myers as Editor in September 2000. So I’ve been at the helm for nearly nine years.
How far ahead do you plan each issue? I plan at least three months in advance, but also keep a seasonal view on issues beyond that – so Christmas, spring and summer ideas are kept on file.
What are the main changes (if any) you have seen in the miniatures industry since you have been editor? The most obvious change has been an increase in interest in 1:24 scale. Now that more furniture and accessories are available in this scale, more people are buying the houses (rather than just admiring Artisans In Miniature 8
them) and filling them. This scale also enables hobbyists to continue
collecting when they can’t accommodate a 1:12 scale house. More retailers are going on line. You have to have a web presence today – and there has been an increase in miniatures’ websites. This also reflects our growing use of Internet shopping as it becomes part of everyday life. As with any business the current economic situation is challenging everyone, and the miniatures business is no exception. Sadly more high street dolls’ house shops are closing and some businesses are diversifying. I suspect that this reflects a general decline in what could be termed ‘home handicrafts’. Interestingly the top end of the market continues to do well. I suspect that people are spending money on what they really want rather than making do, before upgrading. I guess you can’t beat quality!
Do you have an interest in a particular area of miniatures yourself? I am a very creative person and enjoy making everything from dolls’ houses, furniture, food, dolls – you name it and I’ve made it! I’ve been lucky to have two dolls’ house project books published (through The Guild of Master Craftsman) to share my ideas with others. My second book reflects my favourite historical period – projects for the Victorian dolls’ house. I love finding miniatures in unexpected places – in art forms, in film productions or stage sets. Where I can, I feature these in the magazine. My favourite so far has been the use of miniature crime scenes to train policemen to be observant – a fascinating story!
Do you own a dolls’ house? I own one large Victorian style dolls’ house, which I built to my own design. Over the last ten years though, 15 dolls’ houses have passed through my hands, as well as numerous room boxes and individual scenes. I also have commissioned scenes on display in two local tourist attractions.
What do you enjoy most about your job? Because the subject of my job is also my favourite hobby it doesn’t always seem like work. I love showing off the sheer diversity of miniature architecture and encouraging miniaturists to embrace all aspects of the hobby. I get to handle some amazing miniatures even if I can’t own them! I particularly enjoy designing the page layouts – I have a great team here who help me do that. I also want the magazine to be a showcase for non‐miniaturists – to let them see just what quality and fun the hobby encompasses – and I particularly enjoy the challenge of making sure our front cover design reflects that. And of course – meeting fellow enthusiasts – both makers and collectors. You can’t beat talking about dolls’ houses with those who also love them like I do. I’ve met some amazing people – and catching up with some of them at Miniatura is always a joy.
What is the most difficult part of the job? Balancing the needs of the reader (beginners and long term hobbyists) with the commercial aspects that make the magazine economically viable. Working to a tight budget can be frustrating so every decision is checked and double‐checked. The strict deadlines can be frustrating – planning the Christmas issue at the end of the summer seems bizarre – but being highly organised is the way that I cope. Artisans In Miniature 9
JOYCE DEAN ... Editor of the Dolllshouse World magazine How long has this magazine been running? Since March 1989 – 20 years.
When did you become editor? This is my second time as editor ‐ I took over again in June 2007.
How far ahead do you plan each issue? Each year we produce a features list, so everyone is aware of themes that will be running in each issue. Articles start being planned at least four months in advance.
What are the main changes (if any) you have seen in the miniatures industry since you have been editor? I think the main change has been that there is a much younger age group that is now involved in the hobby. It is great, because they want new, modern houses and so this has a knock‐on effect across the market; new ideas, new miniatures, and definitely a much higher standard of quality.
Do you have an interest in a particular area of miniatures yourself? Just about everything. I love collecting beautiful pieces, especially miniature paintings ‐ but I also love working on my next project, making items that I can share with other miniaturists. Do you own a dolls’ house? Yes, I do have a number of them.
What do you enjoy most about your job? Talking to other miniaturists ‐ finding out what they are doing, or their plans for their next project. Also I get invited to meet some incredible people, miniaturists that just want to share their passion for the hobby with our readers. What is the most difficult part of the job? Deadlines! It is so easy to get side‐tracked ‐ when a new story comes along I just want to follow it up immediately. Artisans In Miniature 10
JANET KIRKWOOD ... Editor of Dollls House & Miniature Scene Magazine How long has this magazine been running? Nearly 16 years
When did you become editor? September 2001 How far ahead do you plan each issue? For certain articles and regulars I can plan at least a year
ahead. For more current articles and projects, at least 6 months ahead. It varies so much as you are always forward planning. I am now looking at our 200th issue which is in 2011!
What are the main changes (if any) you have seen in the miniatures industry since you have been editor? The quality of the work has escalated. More, younger makers are evident with fresh designs and ideas, which is good; as the older ones retire the younger generation takes over, which in return keeps this hobby alive.
Do you have an interest in a particular area off miniatures yourself? I have to say I do like the Art Deco and Arts & Crafts era. But then I do find the Tudor period fascinating. I love delving into the history of a period, it conjures up so many ideas.
Do you own a dolls house? Sadly I don't have room but I do have lots and lots of miniatures.
What do you enjoy most about your job? Providing enjoyment for miniaturists through the magazine. Meeting people, pleasing people, helping people pursue their favourite hobby. What is the most difficult part of the job? Not being able to fulfil everyone’s request at one time. There is just so much I want to do but have to be patient and take each issue as it comes.
We here at AIM sincerely hope that each of these magazines continues to flourish for many more years to come and would like to thank all three editors Christiane, Joyce & Janet for contributing to this feature. • Dolls House & Miniature Scene Magazine: www.dollshousemag.co.uk • The Dolls’ House Magazine: www.thegmcgroup.com • Dolls House World Magazine: www.dollshouseworld.com Artisans In Miniature 11
Babies Of A Truly
Miniature Kind...
By AIM Member Ulrike Leibling
My name is Ulrike Leibling and I live in Thuringia ‐ the “Green Heart of Germany”.
I make baby dolls in real size and miniatures. All my miniature dolls are made from polymer clay in sizes from 40mm to 170mm.
Last year I concentrated more and more on working in 1:12 scale. I am a self‐taught artist. Over the time I developed my own techniques using polymer clay for clothes on fully sculpted dolls and love the creative process of making each one of my sculpts unique in detail and charac‐ ter.
All my work is one of a kind ‐ you will get a unique creation.
I am happy to accept commissions. Feel free to contact me to discuss your ideas for a little baby and I will make your own. Artisans In Miniature 12
You can see more of Ulrike’s work on her website www.ulrikes‐ooak‐babies.de
email:
[email protected]
Ulrike also sells her work in her CDHM gallery ‐ www.cdhm.org/user/kulrike and by private contacts. ©All text and photos by Ulrike Leibling
Artisans In Miniature 13
By AIM Member Bea Broadwood As the AIM Association marks its second year since its founding, we felt that we should take the opportunity to use this month’s edition of the AIM magazine to not only promote the miniature hobby, but also to celebrate our birthday and the success of AIM to date. Founded in September 2007, the AIM Association initially began with a small handful of professional artisans. However, like a snowball rolled over fresh snow down a steep incline, AIM has been consistently gathering members and increasing its membership ever since. With membership of AIM now standing at well over 200 and boasting many of the most talented miniature artisans from the world of miniatures, AIM has surpassed everyone’s initial expectations. Through AIM, professional miniature artisans are brought together and are able to support and encourage each other. This unique, creative ‘online’ melting pot has also introduced international artisans to one another and many exciting collaborations between members have followed and new friendships blossomed. With members covering 6 of the 7 continents, AIM can truly be classed as a worldwide success.
AIM’s beautiful birthday cake was made by AIM member Catherine Davies of Dollshouse Heaven!!
The current global economic climate has affected all areas of business and the miniature industry has indeed been no exception to tough times. Over the last two years AIM has worked hard to provide its members with the opportunity for FREE promotion and has always had a very simple ethos and focus; to promote the work of the real ‘makers’ and ‘crafts people’ of the miniature world and to help support and showcase their amazing work on a truly global basis. The jewel in AIM’s crown is certainly this wonderful free monthly magazine, which allows members to give something back to the miniaturist community that supports them. In such a relatively short space of time,
AIM members have really seized on the concept of the AIM magazine and have surpassed themselves with their contributions to it. The magazines now stands as a testament to the members of AIM and will hopefully build, issue by issue, into a wonderful free online resource for miniaturists everywhere! We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the miniature community who has given their support to AIM over the past two years. Although there are simply too many of you to mention, we would however, particularly like to thank the staff and editors of the following fabulous magazines: The Dolls House Magazine, Dolls House World and Dolls House & Miniature Scene and of course show organisers Andy Hopwood, Doreen Jeffries, Gail Tucker and Charlotte Stokoe for their continued involvement and support of both AIM’s ethos and its members.
Thank you.
Finally… I know that I am biased, but I am personally immensely proud of how AIM has grown and developed into the professional association it is today. What started as a simple vision has turned into a strong, global community. AIM members are an amazingly talented and friendly lot of people, a unique group, who together have achieved so much over the last two years. Rest assured, we will not be resting on our laurels… AIM has many fantastic plans for the future and no doubt many, many more birthday celebrations to come!
Happy Birthday AIM!! “Congratulations to A.I.M. on reaching their second birthday. It comes as no surprise to us at Miniatura that this great online community has gone from strength to strength and we are proud to have supported the group from it's early days. We recognise that A.I.M. gives miniaturists a secure forum which in turn allows top quality makers to enjoy a free exchange of knowledge and support unhindered by many of the more negative and invasive aspects of the internet. Many of the A.I.M. members are exhibitors at Miniatura and anything that helps our exhibitors to flourish is always going to be something we want to encourage…” Andy Hopwood (Miniatura Organiser) www.miniatura.co.uk
Artisans In Miniature 15
Project...
Blackberries By AIM Member, Vicky Guile
Legend and folklore tells that blackberries must be harvested and eaten by Michaelmas (29th September). It is said that each Michaelmas the Devil returns to bramble patches, where he landed when forced from Heaven, to spit and curse the fruit and therefore leaving them completely inedible.
Of course this legend does not apply to miniature dolls house blackberries ‐ you can create and serve these in your dolls house at any time of year.
you will need...
To make 1:12 scale blackberries you will need…
•
Polymer clay - black and translucent.
•
Liquid polymer clay.
•
Craft knife.
•
Miniature ceramic bowl (or any other suitable heatproof miniature container).
•
Cocktail stick.
•
Baking sheet or ceramic tile.
•
Polymer clay safe gloss varnish (if required).
Artisans In Miniature 16
Step 1. For the blackberry mix ‐ blend 1 part translucent polymer clay with two parts black. Take a small amount of this mix and roll into a cylinder approximately 1mm in diameter.
Then cut into slices approximately 1mm thick, for each blackberry you will need around 20 slices.
Step 2.. Roll each slice into a ball in the palm of your hand until you have enough for one blackberry. You will need to keep each piece in your hand for the next step.
Step 3. Dip the end of the cocktail stick into the liquid clay and use to smear a tiny drop very, very thinly over the end of the index finger of your other hand (the hand not holding the clay!). Pick up the balls of clay by gently pressing your index finger on top of them.
Step 4. Carefully roll together in the palm of your hand, applying a little pressure to manipulate into one blackberry, too much pressure and each individual part will blend into the other and you will end up with one large non blackberry shaped ball. Your resulting blackberry should resemble this , as seen above. Repeat steps 1 – 4 until you have enough blackberries for your requirements.
Step 5. If you are making a bowl of blackberries pad‐out the inside of your bowl with blackberry clay mix leaving enough space for the top layer of blackberries. This step does not have to be perfect, a dimpled padding under the blackberries will help create and uneven and more realistic arrangement. Apply a tiny dot of liquid clay onto the padding and use this to “glue” your blackberries into place one by one. Continue until your top layer is filled. Place the bowl and any spare blackberries onto your ceramic tile or baking sheet and bake in a pre‐heated oven as per your polymer clay packet instructions.
Step 6. After cooling, if required – this depends on your brand of clay ‐‐ lightly varnish your blackberries. Take this project one step further with more ideas for blackberries... blackberry pies, crumbles and tarts, preserved in jars, or a miniature basket filled with blackberries freshly picked from miniature hedgerows... enjoyable all year round!
See more of Vicky’s work at www.njdminiatures.com ©Vicky Guile 2009 – All text & photos belong to this author Artisans In Miniature 18
1/12th Scale
Crochet shopping Basket By AIM Member Frances Powell An ideal basket for collecting blackberries in…! Abbreviations: Rnd –round; ch – chain; tr – treble crochet; sl – slip; st‐stitch; ( ) – repeat instructions between brackets as detailed in instructions; dc‐ double crochet; sp –space; Basket Materials required: Small amount of No 80 crochet cotton or No 70 Tatting thread, 0.75 mm crochet hook. (For stiffening instructions and materials see below) NOTE: This is worked in rounds apart from the handle
Rnd 1: 4 ch [last 3 ch forms 1st tr of round], 11 tr into 4th ch from hook, join with a sl st to top of 1st tr. [12 tr] Rnd 2: 3 ch [1st tr], 1 tr into same sp, (2 tr into next tr) around, join with a sl st to top of 1st tr. [24 tr] Rnd 3: 3 ch [1st tr], 2 tr into next tr, (1 tr into next tr, 2 tr into next tr) around, join with a sl st to top of 1st tr. [36 tr] Rnd 4‐8: 3 ch [1st tr], (1 tr into next tr) around, join with a sl st to top of 1st tr. Rnd 9: 1 ch [1st dc], (1 dc into next tr) around, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc. DO NOT FASTEN OFF, Handle 20 ch, then sl st into 18th dc from start of chain [on opposite side of basket], turn and work 25 dc over the 20 ch of the handle, join with a sl st to same place as start of 20 ch, turn and work 20 dc loosely over dc just worked and original 20 ch. Join with a sl st to side edge of basket in same place as handle and fasten off. Sew in all loose ends.
To stiffen basket: A. Traditional sugar solution method 1. Make a solution of two teaspoons boiling water to one level teaspoon sugar. 2. Stir until sugar is dissolved. 3. Place crochet in the solution until the crochet is completely wet through. Wring out excess solution or sugar crystals will form on the finished work! 4. Pin the crochet out on a piece of corrugated cardboard or polystyrene covered in cling film, using rustproof pins (as normal steel pins will rust and leave unsightly marks). Make a cylinder shape of plasticine or blu tak covered in cling film, with a slightly rounded end (to go inside and shape the basket). If necessary pin around the top edges of the basket to hold in shape. Pull the crochet into shape as you work around, making sure edge of the basket stays flat where the pins are put in. Pull the handle up into shape so it is curved as shown. 5. Leave to dry in a warm place for 24 hours minimum. Do not place anything in the basket until it has dried out completely B. The item can be starched with laundry starch Work as above starting at 3 C. PVA Glue © Copyright F. H. Powell 2009 A solution can be made from PVA glue and water, however this will dry clear This pattern is for private use only and and slightly shiny. Proceed as from point 3 on sugar starching.
www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk
may not be reproduced in any form for commercial gain, including selling any item knitted up from these patterns without written permission from Buttercup Miniatures
TÇà|Öâx 9 i|Çàtzx VÉÜÇxÜ By AIM Member, Celia Thomas Mathew's Animated Empire Vaudeville Toy Theatre circa 1930s ‐ 1940s
This month, I am bringing you something quite different! I know this is not a dolls house or a dolls house miniature in any shape or form, but I think that many of us who are passionate about dolls houses and miniatures, could not fail to find this little toy theatre interesting. Just occasionally, along with a vintage or antique dolls house, I am offered other vintage items too and this is how I acquired the Mathews Animated Empire Vaudeville Toy Theatre.
I obtained it from an elderly lady who was downsizing her home and reluctantly selling her childhood toys including her dolls house, but who also wanted this theatre to go to a good home too. Initially I hesitated and was thinking of turning it down until I actually saw it – how could I refuse?
There is something fascinating about items from the 1930s/40s era. The previous owner was given this in the
very early 1940s when she was still very young and remembers it being brand new and in immaculate condition. It is thought that it originates from the late 1930s as it is unlikely that these would have been manufactured much later during the Second World War.
On the whole, it is in good condition, with only just one or two little tears and child’s pencil scribble. It appears to have been manufactured from a reinforced cardboard, very similar to the leatherboard that the 1930s Dinky Dolly Varden collapsible dolls houses were made from. The original box still remains and it tells us on the front “Life like variety artistes”.... and goes on to say “A never ending source of amusement for boys and girls.” The box is in a slightly battered condition and all the edges have been heavily taped over the years to keep it all together.
Artisans In Miniature 20
The theatre itself measures 171/4" in width x 131/4" high x 4" deep and the stage is easily erected by gently pulling into shape to stand upright. Similarly it is easy to put away again, by gently folding it in concertina style. This has been stored well over the years, up in its box in the loft I gather and the colours are still glori‐ ously vibrant! There would have been ten puppets originally and most are
still
in
existence,
although all that’s left of poor “Humpty Dumpty” are his legs and "Sylvette " has lost a foot. The others are in excellent
condition
and
each have a taped loop on the back that a metal rod is inserted into. These
rods
a r e
replacements but I am told by the previous owner that these
are
practically
identical to the original. Due to modern health & safety issues these days, it is unlikely that these rods would be allowed in a youngster’s toy! In the wrong hands, they could undoubtedly be a little dangerous!! The puppets are constructed in such a way that they can jig and dance when moving the rod. There are such delightful characters as Jolly Jinks‐The Pierrot, Pauline & Her Performing Pony “Snowdrop”, Goldy Locks & Her Performing Bear and Sylvette ‐ The Glittering Transformation Dancer , amongst others. My favourite is TOM ‐ The Piper's Son With His Pig, fully clad in his Scotsman’s regalia including his sporran; a character from the old Scottish nursery rhyme.
Artisans In Miniature 21
There is an open groove along the back of the theatre wall so I guess the rods were meant to be inserted through this in order to manipulate characters alternatively c o u l d
the or they b e
manipulated from above.
To
be
honest, after much experimenting and “playing” I found that
c e r t a i n
puppets were more versatile if the rods were held from up above, as seen in the photo with Tom and his pig. Enchantingly, also included in the box is a small sheet of paper which is the "Programme" listing the characters in order of appearance, starting off with an "Overture" and ends in "GOD SAVE THE KING"! Hope you enjoyed this little peek of what is quite a rare and lovely little vintage toy. To see more, please visit my website:
www.ktminiatures.com ©Celia Thomas ‐ KT Miniatures 2009. All text and photos belong to the author of this feature. Artisans In Miniature 22
Dear Readers… Miniaturists are the world's best unrecognised recyclers! At least, they are in Cheryl Clingen’s opinion and she could well be right. Take her latest idea for re‐using something that would otherwise be thrown away:
X‐ray sheets make wonderful pattern pieces that will last forever. I soak an x‐ray in strong bleach for about 5 minutes, then with a rubber glove on my hand, I used a cloth to wipe all the black stuff that comes off. Rinse and you have a sturdy piece of clear, bluish plastic.
Trace pattern onto x‐ray using a permanent marker, marking each piece with details.
If you have a paper pattern, use white craft glue to glue the whole pattern page onto the wrong side of the x‐ray plate (you will be able to see the pattern through the plastic).
Cut your pattern pieces out and save them in a plastic bag or photo album or a flip file with a label describing the pattern.
Using the plastic pattern, place on wrong side of material and draw around the shape. After sealing cutting lines with some of the above glue, cut out just INSIDE the pencil mark and you'll have a perfect cut‐out to work with.
I have lots of old x‐ray plates, but most people throw them away. Recently I visited an x‐ray dept in a nearby hospital and asked if they had some that were being thrown out, and they gave me a HUGE packet of them.
Don't bother trying to use scans or MRI x‐rays. The black stuff does not wash off. Cheryl C (Certified South African Artisan and M.D.M NY)
[email protected] www.MiniDollsFromAfrica.com Now that summer is drawing to a close in the northern hemisphere, nature has some free gifts to offer if we keep our eyes peeled.
Robin Britton suggests a few things we might look out for:
If you're out for a walk and see wild poppies, the seeds are worth collecting for 'currants' in fimo currant buns, fruit cakes and for putting in storage jars. They also make wonderful centres in miniature flowers, such as sunflowers, tulips and of course poppies. Take a look at the seed heads in your garden; some like nasturtium, clematis and pot marigolds, make interesting and weird contents for jars in your local miniature Witch and Wizard Shop. If you are worried about using ‘natural’ things in your miniature scenes, you can zap any unwanted ‘extras’ by sealing the seeds in a zip‐lock bag and leaving it in the freezer for a couple of days. Or you could put them in the microwave for a few seconds, but beware of exploding seeds!
A close look at the Herbs and Spices shelf in your local supermarket produces lots of ideas for filling storage jars. I particularly love the jars of mixed peppercorns with their wonderful colours, sesame seeds look like tiny almonds for putting on top of your fimo cakes, and so on. …. There is no end to inspiration if you are a Miniaturist!
Robin Britton Coombe Crafts www.coombecrafts.co.uk
Till next time… happy mini-ing!
'Our Journey to Miniatures' By AIM Members, Jodi & Richard Creager
Professor
It was a Dark and Stormy Night, the winds were howling
Mc Gonagall
mournfully through the tall pines … the rain beat against the windowpanes with unearthly tappings.
OK…I admit, this sounds like the beginning of a dime store Horror novel but in reality I am describing an Oregon night in 1977 when I first started to make Dolls.
Up to that point I had never even thought of making anything that even resembled a Doll in either cloth or clay. However, that night when everyone else was fast asleep, I grabbed a pair of knee‐high stockings, opened up a pillow on the couch, removed some ‘stuffing’ , grabbed a needle and spool of thread…and the rest, as they say, is History! That quite literally was my first venture into Doll Making. 32 years later and Richard and I are still at it… though with different media and style. Our goal still remains the same; to create art from the heart filled with character and personality, charm , humour, and always with a ‘Makes you think’ approach.
e Professor Dumbledor
The next morning, even with Richard’s first remark, “What the heck is that?” upon seeing my ‘Stormy Night Creation’, our doll‐making journey was set in stone and oh what a journey it has been.
Richard and I were both Fine Artists working in Oils, Water Colour, Photography, Pastels and Pencil. Our subjects were portraiture, trains, old Ghost Town Buildings, and landscapes. From almost the time we met and married in 1975, Richard and I have been involved in some form of Art.
Richard earned a degree in Photography from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California and an art degree from UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am self taught in all forms of Art but I come from a family of Musicians, Scenic Painters, Set Designers ,and Lighting Directors. So I did a lot of watching and learning as a child… Artisans In Miniature 24
taking in everything.
So a couple of years beyond the Dark and Stormy Night, Richard and I are both fully involved with our new Soft
Mandrake
Sculpture Creations, myself with stitching the figures, designing and making the clothing, Richard with all the accessories and doing all the photography. We had great teamwork going which is really one of the beliefs we had from the beginning…build a good foundation first and the building lasts longer.
Back then, our cloth characters were very much like today’s clay figures ‐‐ each with its own personality, humour, lots of detail and accessories.
Richard hand‐ carved pipes, fashioned brass and wooden working parts, from cannons to shotguns, duck decoys to Viking shields. No character was left out. We wanted to try everything and it seems that we did.
With many years of Cloth Doll success under our belts, as well as travelling to numerous shows, we had no way of knowing we were about to make a Big Directional change in our career once again.
We were designing works for a California History Museum Show we would
Luna Penumbra & Teeter
be attending in the Fall of 1989 and I was having trouble getting enough character into small, cloth ‘Tommyknockers’ I was creating for our display. While at the art store, I picked up a box of clay that I had never heard of, called ‘Super Sculpey’.
Seems it was a perfect clay to try, as it could easily bake in a home oven…. this suited me just fine as I didn’t have a kiln!! Artisans In Miniature 25
This was the New Medium for me!! I got the character in the face I was after, and was even able to get the size I wanted…around 8 inches. So not only did our medium change that day…but so did the scale in dolls. In 1991 we were elected into membership of NIADA (National Institute of American Doll Artists). This new adventure opened up a world of life‐long friendships and introduced us to new, original and innovative works in the field of Doll Art. Richard and I felt very blessed during the 1990s, receiving wonderful and generous coverage in various Doll Publications and Books, which helped tremendously in our Doll Making Career. This also was a time when we were expanding our character base to more detailed historic pieces from African Tribes, Historic European, Asian, as well as Native American cultures. Our true love of research helped to guide us in so many wonderful directions.
Professor Flitwick
Artisans In Miniature 26
As the ‘90s drew to a close we were yet again looking to another change in our doll designs. With
The Ghost of Abigail Brays
a move to Arizona we were commissioned to create our very first ‘miniature dolls’. Working in 1:12th scale seemed almost impossible to me at first. Richard kept drawing out on paper the exact size/ height the doll must be …and I just kept saying “You have got to be kidding, there is no way anyone can create this small”. Well, our eyes were in for a Big Surprise. Richard and I were introduced to the Wonderful World of Miniatures at the Phoenix Art Museum and we were completely and utterly blown away with amazement. Like two kids peering through a candy store window we saw our first Miniature Settings …the lovely ‘Thorne Rooms’. Our breath was officially taken away and we did not even realize it at the time but once again our creative paths were being altered.
Seeing something so small and so perfect like this leaves its mark on you and we
Ebenezer Scrooge
wanted to learn as much as we could. We finished the commission and enjoyed each learning step, but wanted to learn more. It was not until a few years later that we began working miniature dolls into our Doll Making repertoire on a regular basis.
As Halloween has always been a favourite holiday of mine, it seemed very fitting that some of our first characters should be Wizards, Witches and Ghosts. There was no turning back now as we were officially hooked on the world of miniature dolls and accessories.
We still created in Polymer Clay and even though our dolls now ranged from 5 ½ inches to 6 inches tall, as with our 15‐16 inch dolls, each contains a full armature throughout…. including hands, fingers, legs and feet.
Artisans In Miniature ??
Jacob Marley
Artisans In Miniature 28
The challenge of learning new techniques and retraining your brain to think ‘Really Small’ … Richard and I found to be both exciting and exhilarating. Richard creates all of our doll accessories from either wood, brass, steel, stone, bone, paper or air dry clay. After all these years, I am still Richard’s biggest fan…and I swoon still over each piece he creates, thinking he is the neatest thing since sliced bread. Over the last several years, Richard and I have been very involved with one of our true passions… anything Harry Potter!!! We love the Books, the Movies, the Art …this is what inspired us to visit Hogwarts on a weekly basis if only in our minds. Oh, to be Professors of ‘The Magical Arts’ …well you can’t blame a couple for dreaming!
So the next best thing is for us to create many of the characters from the story. We feel we have only just begun…there are so many other directions to travel in the world of Magical and Muggle Arts including building our very first ‘Setting’ and backdrop…this is something we have dreamed about for years now. We are pretty sure that this will be yet another portkey for us in our doll making career.
To work as a couple, side by side, 24/7, for so many years tends to amaze some people … in truth…it is not that amazing if you know your partner inside and out, can anticipate creative direction, learn from each other and first and foremost choose as your partner your very best friend that you can laugh with, share with and enjoy long journeys through new territory with… this is the making of a Beautiful Working Partnership…and marriage.
Email Address:
[email protected] Web Site: www.creagers.com Blog: http://creagerstudios.blogspot.com
Bellatrix LaStrange
©All Text & Photos In This Feature Belong To Jodi and Richard Creager
Artisans In Miniature 29
New On The Web
Each month we highlight a particular AIM member’s new website and to continue this feature we have chosen the website of Pearl Hudson of www.literatureinminiature.co.uk
Pearl tells us that she created the website herself, and in fact was an IT professional before she gave it all up in 2007 to concentrate on miniatures full time, as this is her passion. She says “I chose the design of my website as I liked the layout. The pastel green shows off the clear‐ cut images of the products and to give more detail to my customers I have created links to show the items in a dolls house setting. I use my own dolls houses to show off the miniatures so I have many settings in which to place them.” Literature in Miniature began in 2000 as Pearl embarked on producing 1/12th scale books with a realistic print size as she wanted books like this in her own dolls house. Pearl goes on to say, “The pages are printed on both sides of the paper just like a real book. At that time there were other book producers around but they either produced books with a concertina page effect or the print size was large enough for me to read and therefore unrealistic in 1/12th scale.” Since 2007 she has expanded the range of items to include ornaments and other decorative items and has also introduced a range of furred animals and furred taxidermy. Artisans In Miniature 30
Pearl’s website consists of seven main headings down the left hand side of each page, which makes her site very easy to navigate. As you click on SHOP, you will find several more subheadings clearly labelled, which helps the shopper greatly in choosing which section to click on. With sub headings such as Miniature Books, Albums, Realistic Furred Dogs, Furred Cats, Furred Other Animals, Realistic Taxidermy Animals & Fish plus several others; there is certainly a wide variety to choose from.
Pearl’s GALLERY shows us an array of items that are available on commission and tells us on the website “We do cater for special commissions and we will consider any request for furred or feathered animals for the dolls house in 1/12th, 1/16th or 1/24th scales and can work from photographs.”
The other main headings are the usual necessary sections such as CONTACT, SHIPPING etc. although there is an interesting heading called THE HOLIDAY SEASON. Pearl says “I do a special seasonal page e.g. EASTER, FATHERS DAY, CHRISTMAS. I try to put together items that are appropriate for the time of year as it could help some miniaturists who are doing projects which relate to the season ... a sort of follow on from the themes run by the dolls house magazines.”
New items are continually being added to the website so it worth checking back from time to time.
This is a charming, easy to navigate website, simply laid out and straightforward to read with some lovely and unique items – worth checking out. So if you haven’t already, do go and see Pearl’s website at:
www.literatureinminiature.co.uk
Artisans In Miniature 31
by AIM Member, Linda Toerzey
Many people I talk to, stumble upon this hobby by accident. I was no exception. At the time I was running a busy pub and restaurant. One evening, a regular customer came in carrying her latest Dolls House Magazine. I just couldn’t believe that I was looking at dolls houses and was astounded at how real everything looked. She offered to take me to a fair the following week and needless to say I was totally hooked. If anyone remembers their first visit to a fair they will know exactly what I mean. Artisans In Miniature 32
My husband then conspired with another customer to make me a dolls house for my birthday. It wasn’t the most sophisticated one I have ever seen but it was mine and I loved it to pieces.
I have always been a crafty person and over the years have tried my hand at everything from dressmaking, cross stitch, knitting, crochet and working for an interior designer. I realised that with my new hobby I could continue to do all of these things, albeit in a much smaller scale. Twenty years later, my husband and I have decided to give up the pub trade and for the past few months I have been concentrating on my miniatures full time. Several years ago I started with a few pairs of silk swags and tails which I listed on ebay. At the time there were virtually none around and certainly not in pure silk. They went surprisingly well but after a while became very repetitive to make. So as my confidence grew I branched out into four‐poster beds, festoon blinds, mannequins, furniture and the list is now endless. As a rule, I prefer to work only in pure silk. It pleats and drapes beautifully, and is exactly the right thickness. I do occasionally add a little floral cotton, but it has to be an exceptional design. Artisans In Miniature ??
I am known for being very ott with all of my creations. I love gold trimmings, diamante, marabou feathers and often cover a piece with hundreds of minute gold beads.
Cottages and humble dwellings are definitely not my forte!!
Surprisingly, I have only exhibited at one fair so far. To be honest it was a complete disaster. My alarm clocked died and we arrived with just an hour to set up. The hall was very uninviting as they so often are, and the organiser very sheepishly explained that a lot of the exhibitors had cancelled because of illness, hence we were plonked in the middle of this draughty room with very few stands either side of us.
The doors opened at 10am, well at least I think they did, but there was definitely no sign of a rush to get in. I did get a lot of wonderful comments about my work but the general opinion was that it would go much better at a larger fair where the emphasis would be on handmade items.
Needless to say, after several hours, many gallons of coffee and endless smiling like a Cheshire cat I did not sell much at all, and my husband was in grave danger of slitting his wrists!! So for now I sell on ebay... My website has many pictures of my past work which I hope will give inspiration to others who are looking for ideas on what to put in their own houses. Most of my commission work comes from here and I hope to improve on it now that I have more time. It also has a Gallery section where I can add pictures kindly donated by my customers showing their dollshouses and any creations I have made for them. Fairs are still something I hope to venture into, but I think I need a lot more advice on the do’s and don’ts before I risk my husband’s sanity for a second time. If you have a house that needs a bit of glamour I hope you will take a few moments to look at my website. All of my contact details are there together with a price guide and details on commissions.
www.simplysilkminiatures.com Ebay – User id ‐ honeycuddlybunny © Linda Toerzey 2009 Text & photos in this feature belong to author
Cross stitch Project...
Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star... By AIM Member, Eliza Bentley This little bear sampler is very quick and easy to make – I stitched it in a little under 2 hours. The bear isn't as complicated to stitch as it might appear. Basically it's just a roughly bear‐shaped block of cross‐stitch; it's the backstitch outline which gives it definition. It is stitched over 1 thread of 32 tpi evenweave fabric with 1 strand of cotton thread (plus a little metallic thread), so it doesn't use many materials.
I have specified the colours I chose to stitch the sampler, but any oddments of stranded cotton you have to hand would do just as well. If you prefer a little blue bear, just reverse the colours and outline in a darker blue (for the colours I have chosen, I would use Anchor Stranded No. 122 to colour match with the paler No. 120, Pale Blue). You may, on the other hand, wish to stitch a traditional brown bear, in which case his nightcap can be any colour you chose – from shocking pink to dayglo orange!
You will need...
• 1 x 5" square 32 count Evenweave Fabric in White. • Anchor Stranded Cotton: 24 Pale Pink; 20 Pale Blue; 896 Deep Pink. Anchor Lamé 301 – Silver. • 1 No. 28 (fine) Tapestry Needle. • 1 x 4" embroidery hoop or frame. • 1 small square (to fit frame) of thick white card. • 1 small square of Photomount (clear double-sided self-adhesive sheet). • 1 Miniature Frame with at least a 1¼" x 1½" aperture. • Superglue for attaching your frame to your picture. Fix your fabric in the embroidery hoop. If you don't have an embroidery hoop or if you want to use less fabric, you can take a piece of mount card, cut a 2” x 2½” aperture in the centre and fix your fabric to the back of the card with masking tape. (I prefer an embroidery hoop because it holds the fabric more firmly, but this method works perfectly well for miniatures). Artisans In Miniature 36
To make...
Stitch the sampler following the chart, starting with the bear, and working the cross‐stitch block first before the outline. One square of the chart equals one thread of the evenweave fabric and each cross‐stitch is worked over one thread with one strand of the stranded cotton. The backstitch outline of the bear and the text are also stitched with 1 strand of the stranded cotton, worked over 1 or 2 threads at a time, as you prefer. For the moon and stars I have used 2 strands of Anchor Lamé 301 Silver but any metallic silver thread could be used instead. If you use a different metallic thread you may need one or two strands, depending on the thickness of the thread you chose.
Finished
stitched
size
sampler
is
x
1”
of 1¼”
approximately. Mount the finished stitched sampler as follows: Measure the aperture of your frame and allow about 2mm extra to overlap at the back. Cut your fabric to size, making sure you have your picture centred. Cut your white card and your Photomount to the same size.
Peel off one side of the back sheet of your Photomount and place your picture, right‐side up, on top of it, making sure you avoid getting any creases in your fabric as you mount it.
Peel off the other backing sheet on your Photomount and fix your picture to the piece of white card. Smear a little superglue to the reverse side of your frame (I use superglue gel and a sharpened matchstick in order to put the glue exactly where I need it). Centre and stick your frame to your picture and allow to dry.
And that's all there is to it! Your sampler is now ready to grace the wall of your nursery! I hope you enjoy making it. Contact Eliza Bentley at
[email protected] © Eliza Bentley 2009 – Copyright Of Text & Photos Belong To This Author
Artisans In Miniature 37
Dear Reader… As part of our 2nd birthday celebrations, we thought you might like to find out more about the small team of artisans, who work behind the scenes of the AIM association. The AIM team, as they have become known,
Meet The Team...
are perhaps the core of the association; their collective hard work, creativity and constant dedication, ensures that AIM continues to grow from strength to strength…. and of course enables us to bring you this fantastic FREE online magazine, each and every month! I am proud to be both a member of AIM and also part of this dedicated and inspiring team.
Bea... 1. What is your role within the AIM association? I am the (very proud) founder of AIM. I am also an AIM forum moderator and the editor of the AIM magazine, so I have plenty of work to do behind the scenes. I am a regular contributor to the AIM magazine and also have the ominous responsibility of running, editing and updating the AIM web site too.
2. What does the role entail? As far as being an AIM moderator is concerned, my main duties are to keep AIM members informed and up to date with any news or information that is relevant to the AIM association. I am also responsible for helping members with anything they need, as well as keeping the discussion threads active, engaging and ongoing on the AIM yahoo forum.
od Bea Broadwo
Being the Editor of the AIM magazine, I work closely with the fantastic 'AIM' team who collectively enable each issue to be published every month. Celia and I also work together to
plan / co ordinate future content and generally bring existing plans to fruition, again with the support and input of the magazine team too! I am ultimately responsible for the layout and formatting of the magazine and then subsequently, the technical wizardry that publishes each issue and enables us to offer our FREE magazine, online, to miniaturists all around the globe.
3. How long have you been a member? As the founding member I would have to say that I was the first to 'join' when the AIM association was set up back in September 2007.
4. What is your professional trade name and what do you make? My miniatures business is called Petite Properties Ltd, but I also run my own publishing company called LUMO Publishing. I am a professional dolls house builder, specialising in smaller scale authentic Artisans In Miniature 38
architecture. I am also the author of a number of 'how to books' written especially for DIY loving miniaturists.
5.What do you like /enjoy most about being a part of / member of AIM...? I love the friendship and professional support that AIM offers. I work alone, so contact with other artisans really helps to brighten my day! Being part of AIM is a real honour and I think that the AIM magazine is a fantastic showcase for the association, one that really helps AIM to stand out in an
www.petite-p roper
often crowded miniature world!
ties.com
1. What is your role within the AIM association? I am a member of the Editorial team and also an AIM Moderator 2. What does the role entail? As an Editorial member I take part in discussion and planning for the magazine, and work with our contributors. I look after 'Crafty Tips', 'It Happened... to a Miniature Artisan' and 'Artisan Street' and write some features and articles.
Robin Britton
As a Moderator, together with Mags and Vicky, I assist Bea with the administration of AIM and do my best to be 'about' most days on the forum; welcome new members, and help members with any queries that may arise.
3. How long have you been a member? I'm a very 'old' member and joined in October 2007
www.coombe cr
afts.co.uk
4. What is your professional trade name and what do you make? Coombe Crafts. I make character dolls in 1/12th and 1/24th scale using polymer clay, and some accessories to go with them and the furniture made by my husband. 5.What do you like /enjoy most about being a part of / member of AIM...? For me, Aim brings the excitement of being in regular touch with others who are as passionate about individually handcrafted miniatures of all kinds, together with the enthusiasm and support of the whole community ‐ and the opportunity to see wonderful artisan pieces that I might not otherwise see. I like scribbling ‐ so I love my work on the magazine too.
1.
What
is
your
role
within
the
AIM
association? Moderator of Aim and a regular contributor to the magazine. 2. What does the role entail? Keeping members up to date with relevant information and helping them with their enquiries/
Mags Cassidy
needs. Helping to keep the forum active, informative and fun. Helping and assisting the team in any way I can.
3. How long have you been a member? A member since October 17th 2007, one of the oldest members (in age too!)
4. What is your professional trade name and what do you make? I trade as Mags‐nificent Miniatures. I make Period Food and many other related ac‐ cessories, working mainly in 12th scale and some 24th.
5.What do you like /enjoy most about being a part of / member of AIM...? Friendship and camaraderie with like‐minded people, many of whom work at home, alone,
o.uk www.mags-nificent.c
plus the ability to promote the work of Artisans and to give and receive help, information, support and feedback.
1. What is your role within the AIM association? Member of the AIM Moderators Team and AIM Membership Secretary.
2. What does the role entail? As a member of the Moderator Team my duties include assisting members with any technical queries concerning the AIM forum or with any other issues where my help may be useful, keeping discussion threads flowing and working closely with the other AIM Moderators to ensure a successful future for the association as a whole. My role as AIM Membership Secretary puts me in the position of being the first point of contact for prospective members. I liaise between the Moderator Team and prospective members from the initial contact through to the ‘formal’ AIM membership invitation (and I am always on the look‐out for new members!).
Vicky Guile
3. How long have you been a member? I’ve been a proud member of AIM since August 2008
4. What is your professional trade name and what do you make? I trade under the name of NJD Miniatures. Working in polymer clay, I create realistic 1:12 scale food as well as OOAK miniatures with a magical/witch theme.
5.What do you like /enjoy most about being a part of / member of AIM...? What do I enjoy most about being a member of AIM? Not only are AIM members friendly, fun and caring, AIM is also a fantastic place to gain support and advice from fellow artisans, whatever the problem or query. With such a wide variety of artisans working in every genre of handcrafted miniatures from far reaching corners of the globe, you can guarantee that someone will be able to help with expert advice. The community spirit and respect that members have for each other is outstanding, from wishing each other well before big shows to offering a shoulder when
www.njdminiatures.com
things aren’t going quite as planned. In a nutshell, AIM is a warm and welcoming community of professional artisans and I am proud to say that I can readily class each and
every member as a friend.
1. What is your role within the AIM association? Member of the AIM magazine editorial team, regular magazine contributor and author of 'Tales From the Toy Cupboard'. 2. What does the role entail? Brainstorming with other members of the editorial team, discussing ideas/themes. I also maintain the AIM members’ database and work alongside the other members to promote AIM. 3. How long have you been a member? I've been a member of AIM since February 2008 4. What is your professional trade name and what
Sandra Morris
do you make? I trade under the name of Diminutive Dolls and make tiny vintage playthings for the discerning doll's house child!
5.What do you like /enjoy most about being a part of / member of AIM...? It is good to be a part of, and contribute to, an association that promotes high standards of excellence among miniature artisans. It's a really friendly, helpful group, with lots of very talented members from all corners of the globe. AIM provides a forum for artisans, and through the free online magazine, also gives something special back to the collectors and enthusiasts who form the core of our fascinating hobby.
www.diminutivedolls.co.uk 1. What is your role within the AIM association? As part of the editorial team, I put together the children's section of the magazine each month (Mini AIMers). Today’s youngsters are the artisans of tomorrow and I passionately believe in encouraging them to take an interest in miniatures from an early age. I also contribute articles (particularly with a historical
Margaret Pitts
bent) and projects for the main section. In addition, I proof read every article that is submitted for publication.
2. What does the role entail? Being a team member involves contacting AIM members to coordinate articles and ideas within my remit; designing, carrying out and photographing suitable projects for Mini AIMers ; doing research for my own articles; having a good English Dictionary to hand when proof reading! I also try to tidy things up where necessary and maintain the high standard that our contributors have set for the magazine.
Most of all, it involves working closely with the other team members, so that roles can be interchanged when necessary e.g. when one of us is ill, or on holiday.
3. How long have you been a member? I joined in the early days when there were still only 16 members.....so probably since November 2007.
4. What is your professional trade name and what do you make? I trade as MiniMilliner and as the name suggests, I make hats! I also make lots of accessories, which can be seen on my website.
5.What do you like /enjoy most about being a part of / member of AIM...? So what do I enjoy most? …Being part of such an enthusiastic, energetic, inspirational group of people. We may never have met in real life, but our common bond of miniatures is the cement that binds us together. The AIM magazine is the culmination of this cooperation
www.minimil liner.co.uk
and dedication. 1.
What is your role within the AIM association
Member of the AIM magazine editorial team with the official role of Features Editor Co‐ordinator. Also regular author of The Antiques & Vintage Corner, Miniature Grapevine, and have joint responsibility for the AIM Gallery and assorted features.
2. What does the role entail? The role of Features Editor Co‐ordinator is to collate editorial and accompanying photos from members each month and put in file ready for proof reading; to ensure that editorial comes in on time by the copy deadline; to encourage and communicate with potential contributors; answer queries, generally brainstorm with
Celia Thomas
the rest of the editorial team and occasionally nudge Bea if she forgets anything!
Artisans In Miniature 43
3. How long have you been a member? I joined AIM in November 2007 as Member No 13!
4. What is your professional trade name and what do you make? I trade under the name of KT Miniatures and specialise in making 1930s/1940s miniature items, commissioned room scenes and also sell vintage/antique dolls houses. Also organiser of the annual Thame Dolls House & Miniatures Fair.
5.What do you like /enjoy most
www.ktmin iatures.com
about being a part of / member of AIM...?
5. To be honest, I am very proud to be an active member of AIM and to have been part of the AIM magazine right from the very beginning. I love the friendship and support from fellow artisans and the opportunity to communicate with very talented artisans from all over the world. As I am passionate about what I do for a living, it is very heartening to be able to converse with like‐minded individuals who can truly understand what it is like being a self‐ employed miniaturist, as we can support each other in the good times as well as the bad.
Artisans In Miniature “An association of professional artisans, dedicated to promoting a high standard of excellence in original handcrafted scale miniatures…”
www.artisansinminiature.com The AIM website has been created in order to showcase the work of the individual artisan members whom together form the international Artisans In Miniature association. AIM was founded in 2007 as an association for professional artisans who create beautiful and original scale miniatures for sale to the public. Since its launch, AIM has grown rapidly and now boasts some of the most talented artisans within the miniature world!
On the AIM website you will find further information about the work of these international artisans and artists who provide further information about their work in the AIM online directory, which is free for all AIM members and can be found on the AIM website. New member’s pages are constantly being added to reflect our growing worldwide membership. So why not bookmark the site today!
Are YOU a professional miniature artisan?? Then why not join us?? AIM is completely FREE to join and inclusion in the AIM online member’s directory is also uniquely completely
FREE!
So...if you are a professional miniature artisan and you would like to find out more about joining the AIM Association please email AIM’s Membership Secretary: Vicky for more information: Artisans In Miniature 44
[email protected]
Well, it Happened to… A Miniature Artisan We have heard some lovely stories about the misunderstandings that arise from selling on‐line. This happened to AIM member Carol Smith when she first started selling on ebay.
I actually have a collection of real life‐size collectable tins and items such as an old Oxydol soap powder box with contents. Some were very expensive so I have some idea of potential high value and desirability.
I listed some miniature Mazawattee tea tins clearly stating that they were 1.12 miniatures and gave the measurements. They were very inexpensive. I had someone buy one and they complained strongly that it wasn't a full size tin. I replied that I fulfilled what was needed, provided correct, specific information. After that, I could only rely on a potential buyer reading this. Common sense should have come into it. Mazawattee tea tins are highly desirable and very expensive, if you can find one. Surely someone buying these minis would wonder why I had so many, why were they ridiculously cheap (if they were real thing) and how on earth could I charge so little shipping for a 'heavy' tin!
I listed a box of kippers, once again clearly stating that they were a 1.12 scale dollhouse miniature. A man bought one and requested that it be sent to another address. I queried this as you are only supposed to send to the buyers address. He explained it was a present for his parents so I agreed and posted. Turned out he thought they were real kippers.
Yet again, someone not bothering to read the description‐or even looking at the category. Yet again, logic and common sense did not come into it. If I were to buy what I thought were real kippers I would want to know why they were so cheap, how could the postage for a heavy wood box be so little, how fresh were they, how would they be packed?...
And you probably won’t want to know about the buyer who bought a 1.12 clothes‐ horse with string vest & y‐fronts draped over it! I checked out his feedback and he only bought full size y‐fronts, often from sellers with fetish interest in their description. I mailed him to confirm that he realized it was a mini ‐‐‐ he did. One ebayer asked me how my pea & ham soup would be packed!!! Carol Smith Email:
[email protected]
Losing things seems to be a hazard of being a Miniaturist…..well our things ARE tiny! Here’s a frustrating tale from AIM member Cheryl Clingen: Seriously I need help! I was working on an order to be collected from Parkhurst Fair at the end of this month, and decided to make two dolls at the same time, different styles, to see if I could be more efficient.
WAHAHAHAhahahaha! (hysterical laughter). Who am I kidding?
One of them just is not on my work table anymore. The other doll is there sitting on a chair looking smug. What happened? Did they have a cat fight? Or did something more sinister happen?
I worked on the missing doll on Monday and Tuesday, then she left the building, or so I think. My hubby and I have searched every room in the house, and I even got down and dirty and went through all the trash (yeuk!!!!). So, I've decided to just make a new one from scratch.
So much for being efficient! I've wasted 2 days looking for this bad, bad lady. Parkhurst Mini Fair is just a few weeks away and I'm fighting a losing battle getting stock to sell!
Any advice for me?
Cheryl Clingen (Certified South African Artisan and M.D.M NY) Email:
[email protected] www.MiniDollsFromAfrica.com Artisans In Miniature 45
1
The Toy Maker...
AIM Gallery For September The AIM gallery theme for this month is based around childhood and toys etc. Here is a tiny selection of just some of the work of our many talented AIM members who have some true delights to show you. From toymaker and paper dolls, to exquisite dolls and babies etc....even a tiny school calculator and mini train set! Do take some time out to feast your eyes on our gallery of childhood.
8
2
Paper cut out dolls...
Artisans In Miniature ?? Artisans In Miniature 46
3
My Baby Sister...
4
5 Rose & Poppy with their dolls... 6 Baby in dress, plus “ooops a daisy” ....diaper and undies! 7
Artisans In Miniature ??
10
Partie de Colin Ma illard
9 The Playful Puppy, a carved and jointed wooden dog doll Model train table
Toy shelf for toy 11
store 12
13
15 School calcula tor
Boite Poupées
Toy shop sign
14 Some children called rose & Lisa 17
Child’s play table
16
To view more of each artisan’s work, see their websites below: Photo 1, 4, 5 & 8 created by Debbe Dixon Paver www.cdhm.org/user/debbie Photo 2 & 3 created by Cristina Alberti of Tot Petit
18
www.totpetit.es.tl
Photos 6 , 7 , 17 & 18 created by Gina Gagnon of Lone Wolf Mini Creations www.lonewolfminiaturecreations.com
Photos 10 & 14 created by Beatrice Thierus of Les Miniatures de Béatrice http://myminiatures.net Photos 11, 12 & 16 created by Debbe Mize
www.cdhm.org/user/trisscade
Photos 13 & 15 created by Carol Lester of The Dolls House Mall www.thedollshousemall.com Photo 9 created by Christine Shearer of DandelionFair DollHouse
www.dandelionfair.com/dollhouse
Artisans In Miniature 49
Our Inner Peter Pan By AIM Member, Maia Bisson Imagination, make believe, play, wonder; all these words take us back to when we were children. As I read these words again I realize my world is still full of them; my miniature world, a world that keeps our inner child young and full of life.
A look at a single miniature toy can spark our child‐like creativity and imagination. How delightful it is to suddenly find your favorite toy perfectly reproduced in miniature! Or, maybe it’s a tiny doll you always dreamt of owning, perhaps a game that evokes a sense of nostalgia or a stuffed animal that is simply impossible to resist.
Not so long ago, I created a miniature toy which made me recapture the joy I felt while playing with its real version: Paper Dolls. I used to love playing with them, creating stories or enacting my favorite ones, especially Cinderella. I wanted to make a paper doll that one could play with. I then spent many nights thinking of a way of
making her clothes so that they could be changed, a very important feature to be able to play with her! Finally the solution came to me and I made a magnetic paper doll. I was so excited to see the first tiny doll, only 9/16” tall with a wardrobe of six different outfits ready for her to try on! I became a child again, back in my room, inventing adventures, playing with my doll!
Now, many months later, I’m just as excited as that first day. Each time I make a paper doll I look at her, invent a story and then design her box accordingly. Some are made to look like a book; others come with different backgrounds, another with a booklet. They can all be set in many different ways because the important thing is that you can play with them.
A dear friend used to tell me: “You must never loose your inner Peter Pan”. As miniaturists, I think it’s safe to say that we’ll always have a special place for one. There will always be something to amaze us, inspire us and make us dream; just like when we were kids.
There are more Twinkle Magnet Paper Dolls ready to meet you at my website:
http://maiastwinkleminiatures.com e‐mail:
[email protected] Artisans In Miniature 50
©All Text & Photos In This Item Belong To Maia Bisson
PAPER DOLLS
Project...
Project By AIM Member Jill Bennett Introduction by AIM Member Margaret Pitts
A fantastic new project for you to try! We are delighted to bring you a super project this month from the multi talented Jill Bennett.
Jill needs very little introduction in the world of Miniatures, as she is famous for her exquisite dolls, all individual characters from a range of historical periods and social strata; but she is also well known in other fields.
As a writer, she has not only produced short stories, but also books for teenagers, including horror, mysteries and ‘who‐done‐its.’
Her artistic talents also shine in the many books she has illustrated for authors as diverse as Charles Dickens and Roald Dahl. Linked with this are her visits to schools where she encourages children in literary and artistic pursuits.
Her interest and achievements in Stage Design laid the foundations for miniature creations and a detailed knowledge of historical costume.
As an acknowledgement of her contributions to hand crafted pieces of outstanding quality, Jill was made an Honorary Life member (Platinum) of The British Toymakers Guild .
So, with all of the above, aren’t we lucky to be able to present you with Jill’s specially designed cut‐out paper dolls? They are produced in two scales, 1/12th and 1/24th and each doll has its own set of clothes. When I first saw them, I time‐travelled rapidly backwards (a long way!) to my childhood, when I spent many a rainy day cutting out and playing with similar dolls. When the tabs eventually tore and the clothes no longer stayed on the doll, I got out my crayons and paper and made a whole new set of clothes. Would that it were so easy (and cheap) to produce a new wardrobe in real life!
Even better, is the news that this is just the first in a whole series of Paper Dolls from Jill Bennett. This one, Arabella, is Edwardian and Jill plans to make dolls dressed in costumes from different periods of history and with other themes for future issues.
Whether you have come across paper cut outs like these before or not, I’m sure you can’t wait to get started printing out these lovely dolls, so it only remains for us to say a big thank you to Jill for this contribution to AIM magazine. You can see more of Jill Bennett’s work here: www.jillbennett.co.uk
Artisans In Miniature 51
Artisans In Miniature 52
The Lowther Arcade By AIM Member, Sandra Morris
As a miniature toymaker, I spend many hours unearthing sources and references to toys and games from many different historical periods.
During my extensive research into toys from the Victorian period, I found references to an entire arcade of toy shops, right in the heart of Victorian London.
The once famous Lowther Arcade, which was situated in the Strand in London, housed a whole street of high quality toy and curiosity shops.
Sadly, only a few engravings remain of the glory days of this wonderful edifice, but there are a few contemporary reports from the mid‐1800’s which document the heyday of this cathedral of toys.
“Nearly opposite the railway station, and running diagonally towards Adelaide Street, is the Lowther Arcade. It is nearly 250 feet in length, and has shops on either side for the sale of fancy goods. As the admission is free, and
the place is considered one of the "sights" of London, it is continually thronged with children and their attendants, buying toys at the French, German, and Swiss shops. The Lowther Bazaar, which flourished for a time at the period of the great Exhibition in 1851, was on the other side of the Strand. Besides stalls for the sale of fancy articles, it had many other objects of interest for the amusement of visitor”.
In particular, an article by the Victorian journalist, George Augustus Sala in 1859 describes the Arcade with glowing praise in his article “Arcadia”.
“The Lowther Arcade is a tube of shops running from St. Martin's Churchyard into the Strand, very nearly opposite Hungerford Market. This tube is light and airy, and roofed with glass. It is resonant with the pattering
of feet, the humming of voices, the laughter of children, the rustling of silken dresses, and buying, selling, bargaining, and chaffering.
Enormous, preposterous, marvellous is Lowther in respect of toys. Look around upon the toys of all nations, and for children of all ages, which give children such exquisite delight in playing with them ‐ which give papa and mamma delight scarcely less exquisite in buying them. Cosmopolitan toys, too. Look at the honest, hearty, well‐meaning toys of old England. The famous cockhorses of such high blood and mettle, that the blood has
broken out all over their skins in an eruption of crimson spots; so full of spirit that their manes stand bolt upright, and their tales project like comets; such high and mighty cockhorses, that they disdain to walk, and take continual carriage exercise on wooden platforms, running on wheels. The millers' carts, so bravely painted, so full of snowy sacks, supposed to contain best boulted flour; but, in reality, holding sawdust. Artisans In Miniature 54
The carriers' carts, the mail phaetons, the block‐tin omnibuses, the deal locomotives with woolly steam rushing from the funnels, the brewers' drays, and those simple, yet interesting, vehicles of plain white deal ‐ exact models, in fact, of the London scavengers' carts ‐ so much in request at Brighton and Margate for the cartage of sand, pebbles, and sea‐weed, and sometimes used as hearses for the interment of a doll, or as Bath chairs for the exercise of an unwilling poodle.
Can you look unmoved on the great Noah's arks ‐ those Edens of wooden zoology, where the mouse lies down with the cameleopard (and is nearly as big) where the lion is on such familiar terms with the jackass as to allow
him to stand atop of him, with his hoofs in his jagged mane; where the duck is neatly packed (for more commodious stowage) in the bosom of the tigress, and then stands on his head between the fore feet of the elephant? Can you passively inspect the noble fluffy donkeys, with real fur, and the nicely equipoised panniers, and harness of softest, brownest leather? And those desirable family mansions, the dolls' houses, with the capital modern furniture, plate, glass and linen. And the glorious kitchens, with that bottle‐jack and meat screen and dripping‐pan, at which was roasted the wooden sirloin of beef, painted and varnished. The boxes of red‐handled carpenters' tools, which cut, and sawed, and chiselled nothing but children's fingers. The boxes of tea‐things ‐ now of wood, now of more ambition, tin and lead. The dolls ‐ from Missey's flaxen‐headed beauty, with the moveable blue eyes and the elegant pink leather extremities, swathed in silver tissue paper, to Master Jackey's
favourite policeman, blue in attire, and very stiff, with a very glazed hat, an intensely legible number, and varnished wooden boots. The fierce Hungarian hussar on horseback, with that cruel curved wire and counter ‐weight stuck through his entrails, with which he maintains an unceasing see‐saw. The drummer with moveable arms. The musical toys, the accordions, the marvellous kaleidoscopes regarded at first as phantasmago‐ ria of delight; but, breaking, or being broken, soon disclosing to our great disappointment and disgust, nothing but a disc of tin, a fragment of smoked glass, and some tawdry coloured chips? And such is life.
An infinity of other jou‐joux, such as India‐rubber balls, whips of all shapes and capacities for chair or cock‐horse flagellation, skipping‐ropes, flutes, spades, rakes and hoes: all these are to be found in the toy department of the Lowther Arcade.
These toys are sold by bright‐eyed damsels, and they are bought by plump married couples, and pretty cousins, and prim yet benignant old aunts, and cross yet kind old grandmothers ‐ yea and by cross‐grained bachelors and sulky misogynists, and crabbed City men. I have seen a man ‐ one of those men who were he but five‐and‐twenty you would immediately feel inclined to call, mentally, an old fellow‐ enter Lowther Arcadia by the Strand, looking as savage, as ill‐tempered, as sulky as the defendant in a breach‐of‐promise case, dragging rather than leading a child; but I have seen him emerge ten minutes afterwards with an armful of toys looking sunny with good humour.”
What I wouldn’t give to be able to travel back in time to a sunny day in 1860, and wander through the Lowther Arcade…..armed with notebook and camera of course!
www.diminuativedolls.co.uk ©All Text & Photos In This Item Belong To Sandra Morris
“Folk art” Decorated Wardrobes, Toy Chests, Game Boards & More...
By AIM Member, Joyce Dorothy Hamill/Rawcliffe
Artisans In Miniature 56
Many cultures around the world have their own style of folk art. I have always been fascinated by the many styles of "folk art". Folk art is sometimes called the "Age Old Craft". When you hear someone say the word "Folk Art", several definitions might come to mind. Such as, painted by the people, painted by the working class, or by peasants. A hundred and fifty years ago when someone said folk art you may have thought of the travelling, itinerant portrait painters. These folk artists from the different cultures around the world were our artisans of the past, and we are the artisans of the present. There are different styles of folk art in every culture. Folk art painted on furniture has origins as early as the 13th century in Europe. Many fine examples of decorated furniture and household goods are presently in museums, castles, and homes all across the globe. Other areas of art that overlap with folk art are: Naive Art, Pop Art, Decorative Art, and Outsider Art. All these forms of art have their own individual definition of the type of art or style they define. You will find the name of these specific styles of art used interchangeably with the term folk art. There are other styles of art from many different cultures that I have not listed, as the list is long and varied. Every artist designs and decorates their choice of items with their own style of adapted folk art. Some things the folk artist considers are: surface, object, layout, design, brush strokes and colour. Most folk art styles are based in traditional craft techniques within each culture. As an artist develops his abilities to paint these different techniques in the different styles, he also introduces his own individual patterns and ideas within the traditional form. Traditional forms of folk art are based in the specific cultures. You can on occasion determine the type or style of folk art by the colours of the paint and how it is used. It may also tell you the specific region or cultural area it comes from within the traditional style. The traditional background colours of several cultures are the darker ones, such as: black, green, blue, and sometimes red. Other cultures prefer lighter backgrounds, such as blue, yellow, and white to off white.
Artisans In Miniature 57
Folk art can be painted with pictorial inserts that may include: full‐masted ships to boats, elaborate castles to cottages, lighthouses to bridges, and may include portraits of people, children, and animals. The profuse clusters of flowers that may also dominate the decorated items occasionally are roses. There are other flowers that may be added and they sometimes include naive daisies, prancing primrose, to hybrid flowers that come from the strokes and imagination of the artists themselves, called fantasy flowers. Decorated pieces of folk art may commemorate different anniversaries in our lives. Such as a birth, baptism, engagement, marriage, a
special gathering, retirement, and even a death. The items that are traditionally hand painted and decorated with patterns of folk art are: wardrobes, dressers, plates, crates, trays,
game boards, boxes, chests, wooden kitchenware, but especially children's items and toys. There are many fine examples of folk art today in our homes of the present and homes of the not so distant past. Folk art has always been
associated with children's rooms or nurseries. Folk artists have decorated wardrobes, cribs, layette tables, dressers, toy chests, and toys for children, for many centuries. Some of the toys they have hand painted and personal‐ ized with many different patterns and motifs include wooden trains, planes, automobiles, dolls and teddy bears, to the game boards and game chests of the older children and adults. The game boards may include the games of Chinese checkers, checkers, and chess. The other hand‐painted toys that inspire imaginative play are: the sets of Noah's arks, dollhouses, and wooden castles with all Artisans In Miniature 58
the trimmings.
Parents, family members, and friends like to give special gifts to special people. These special gifts can be decorated and embellished with many different patterns that may include nursery rhymes or fairy tales. Every culture has their own version of these stories. There are many versions of Snow White and the apple, the Snow Queen and her chariot, and Wynken, Blynken, and Nod who sail away in a wooden shoe. Many pieces of folk art such as game boards and chests have been played with for a while then put away till the next generation comes along to play. Some items may be saved and passed down to their children, or maybe to their children's children. The items themselves are unique pieces of cultural art. They have many stories and memories attached to them. Folk art is very desirable and highly collectible. Collectors, so to speak, are the keepers or protectors of the next generation’s memories. Many game boards will hang on the wall, others will be put away in special places, such as a hand painted or decorated toy chest for a rainy day. Maybe… just maybe… when you least expect it… did you hear that? It was not more than a whisper… did you hear a voice? It was coming from the doll house over there… will you come play with me?.... and the rest is up to you! To view more of Joyce’s work, go to: www.minilisticly.com ©All text and photo's are property of Joyce Dorothy Hamill/Rawcliffe " Minilisticly "
The small world of ELF By AIM Member, Elizabeth LePla
This month we take a closer look inside the miniature world of ELF and see where Elizabeth LePla works at her home in London near the heart of the capital of the UK. My small London flat has the dimensions of a good‐sized living room in the average family home – but then you need to allow for the kitchen, the bathroom and my daughter’s room! Forget the purpose built workshop and the garden shed‐converted‐to‐workshop, the space in the attic or the spare bedroom, MY workshop is also my sitting room, dining room, bedroom, office, store room and computer station, TV room and of course...spare bedroom! You might say that my entire life is lived in miniature! Living and working in such a small area means that every inch of space must be utilised to the full, and to this end I have built most of the furniture myself using IKEA flat‐pack units! My main workbench is a kitchen worktop that runs right along one wall under the window. To either side of the window are bookcases that house my files, records and reference sources. A series of doors beneath the worktop conceal the contents while the room is in “sitting room mode” but behind those doors are the raw materials that I use to create my furniture. I’ve used a mixture of kitchen and wardrobe units to create purpose built storage. Wide wardrobe drawers are perfect for timber, and kitchen
pan‐drawers
house plastics, metals, laminates, paints, glues, mirrors, sinks ‐ and the saw when it’s not in use! Kitchen storage boxes fit perfectly in the pan drawers, making excellent use of all the available space. Artisans In Miniature ?? Artisans In Miniature 60
On the opposite side of the room is my bed, built on yet more kitchen units. Cupboards at either end support the slatted bed frame
leaving
a
large
enclosed storage area in the middle. Here are the displays I use at Fairs, and yet more supplies. There are even cupboards above the bed – these are also kitchen units, this time fan cabinets, painted to match the walls – this little trick makes them “disappear” and means they don’t make the room feel claustrophobic. Nearby is my computer – a laptop (no room for a desktop!) on which I do a lot of the designing for the fitted kitchens and bathrooms and process the orders from my website.
The “real” work is done amidst chaos on the table. At one time this was a proper table – a folding table that could be pulled out and seat six....but as my business grew I began to run out of office space and so the shelf unit made its appearance ‐ and that made it difficult to move the table. Then I needed room for kit components and another kitchen cupboard took the place of the table legs! Now if we have more than three to eat, it’s finger food only – or eat out!
Everything is a little topsy turvy in my flat. The bed is built on kitchen units, but at the entrance to the kitchen I’ve used shallow bathroom units! And even here living and working are combined because along with the
Artisans In Miniature ??
drinks and the cat food, the breakfast
cereal
and
the
biscuits, are the spray paints and adhesives.
I share my workspace with our cat Pud whose entire life is dedicated to sleep . She does occasionally wake up and watch what’s going on outside the window...but it’s soon back to sleep again!
Although I live within 15 mins of the centre of London and one of the main roads out of the city passes within 100 yards of my flat, large Victorian houses muffle all sounds from the road and I live in a little oasis of peace.
In the summer, the view from my window almost resembles a tropical forest. There is no traffic, just the sound of birds and the breeze in the trees, and because I face south, the sun streams in – highlighting the inevitable dust that covers every surface! I usually have a big clear‐up when I come to the end of a project, but in between whiles, the dust accumulates and fragments of wood and scraps of paper litter the floor. If I stopped to clean up every five minutes – and believe me, with the electric saw in regular use, the room is rarely sawdust‐free ‐ I’d never get any work done and I’d spend a lifetime vacuum cleaning, so I content myself with the old adage that “a tidy house is the sign of a wasted life” and my own belief that there are better things to do in life than housework!
Of course there are disadvantages to living and working in the same space. It’s all too easy to sit down with the morning cup of coffee – espresso in my case ‐ still in my nightwear, and once I’ve dealt with the morning emails, start on the day’s work without a second thought. I don’t think I have a single item of nightwear that isn’t liberally spattered with paint! It can also be difficult to stop working; I can’t simply close the door and put it all behind me as work is everywhere, a constant invitation to “just finish that” or “see if this works”. However, there are advantages too. I don’t have to go elsewhere to answer the phone, or check my emails. My files and order books are always to hand, and I can cook the meals and deal with the washing without having to desert my workshop. As summer turns to winter and the cold weather arrives and those with outdoor workshops retreat indoors struggling
to
keep
warm, and wondering when they will be able to get back to work, I can
relax
a n d
appreciate the benefits of living and working in the same space. And just occasionally, I do clear the decks, and simply sit down and relax! If you would like to see more of what Elizabeth makes in her miniature world, why not visit her website www.elfminiatures.co.uk ©Copyright on all text and photos in this article are the property of Elizabeth LePla
Artisans In Miniature 63
Compiled By AIM Member, Margaret Pitts (MiniMilliner)
Hello again Kids! Have you heard the strange story of the Fairy Doors that started appearing in a town in America a few years ago? You can read all about it here in Mini AIMers and also find out how to make your very own fairy door. But first….. …do you remember last month how Mini AIMer Sarah and her Grandmother, Leilani, showed you how to create things from pistachio shells ? Well this month they have more brilliant ideas for you in their Trash to Treasures series! All you need to get started is an empty Chiclets box or a Tic-Tac box, which is similar.
Trash To Treasures... Materials needed:
•
Small Chiclets box or a Tic-Tac box
•
Glue
•
Scissors
•
Scrap paper
Luggage
Instructions Step 1 - Glue the open part of the little Chiclets or Tic-Tac box in place. Step 2 - Cut a piece of paper to go around the long part of the box and glue in place. Step 3 - Cut another piece to go around from the front to the back of the box and glue in place. Step 4 - Cut two thin strips and glue one to the top edge all the way around and another to the bottom edge all the way around for trim. You could use ribbon or ric-rac braid as trim if you prefer. .Step 5 - Cut a piece for the handle and fold sides in to make the handle neat and glue in place. You can also make your luggage using fabric or soft, thin leather or suede. Artisans In Miniature 64
Or how about some pretty hat boxes?
To make the hat boxes, you will need: •
Wide ribbon ( I used yellow cotton and pink satin without wire for the yellow and pink hat boxes. The blue one has wire and that part I used for the handle so it could hold the shape better).
•
Narrow ribbon
•
Tacky Glue or Superglue
•
A few assorted flowers
•
scissors
•
A piece of thin card for handles
•
Two water bottle caps/tops per hatbox
Instructions Step 1. First, glue the two caps with the open sides facing each other. Tacky glue is easier, but if you use Superglue, ask an adult to help. Step 2.
Using the wide ribbon, cover the top and bottom of the caps making sure to
overlap a little bit of the ribbon over the sides of the caps so when you add the other ribbon no part of the caps are showing. You can cut tiny slits along the ribbon so it folds over nicely. All you need is a little over the edge as the rest will be covered. Step 3. Cut a piece of card for the handle and cover both sides with the narrow ribbon then glue one end of the ribbon to each side of the cap. Step 4.
Glue another piece of ribbon all the way around the caps using just a little bit of
glue. Your caps should be all covered up now. Step 5.
Make a bow and glue it to the handle on the sides and add a flower to the bows.
Step 6. Glue beads to the middle of the hat box for decoration. You can add the beads either to the middle or to the top just a little below the rim . Step 7.
Glue a few silk flowers to the top and you are done!.
You can see how I used the different beads and things on mine so use your imagination and add what ever you like to yours.
Artisans In Miniature 65
Smart handbags/purses Materials needed: •
Binder clips (check photo if you aren’t sure what these look like)
•
Wire ribbon
•
Scissors
•
Glue
Instructions: Step 1. Cut a piece of ribbon to cover all sides of the binder clip making sure you have some to go into the sides. The ribbon should be longer at the sides so you have fabric to push into the side. Step 2.
Put a little glue along the top edge just under the metal loops on the clip and glue in
place. Do this to both sides, front and back. Step 3. Once the glue dries you can fold and push the sides in but not all the way as you want to cover the sides up nicely so fold the ends into a triangle shape . Smaller on the top and wider at the bottom, the shape of the clip. Step 4. Cut two pieces from the part that has the wire in it for your handles. TIP: Sometimes the wire will have lose thread and you can trim it off and it will stay neat but if it still doesn't behave then try this. Cut two pieces of the fabric the length you want your handle to be and fold the sides in then fold again and you have perfect little handles. The handles don't have to be wide so all you need is a very small piece of fabric. Step 5. Holding the clip open put a little glue on the wire/handle ends of the two handles and push them inside the handbag so they are in place. Once you close the clips, the handles will not come out. Step 6. Remove the binder clips by squeezing them towards the centre and you are done. Note/Tips:
Remember that you are not
limited to just using wire ribbon as you can also use any other type fabric you like or have on hand. You can add little bead feet to your purse if you like by adding a tiny bead to each corner on the bottom of your handbag. You
This picture will give you some more ideas...
can also add a bead pearl to the top/centre of the purse to represent a closing clip. Enjoy! See you next month ! Projects And Ideas Created By Sarah & her Grandma Leilani
WOW! Wasn’t that great? Many thanks to Sarah and Leilani for their wonderful project ideas.
FAIRY DOORS...
a true story! There is a town in Michigan, U.S.A. called Ann Arbor, where fairy doors seem to spring up all over the place…..and no-one knows who makes them! A resident of the town, Jonathan Wright, may have been the first to spot one. He lives in a house that is over 100yrs old and often has to repair or renovate parts of it. One day, when he was busy building a cupboard under the stairs, his children spotted a tiny door about 6” high. They opened it and saw a tiny staircase leading up to yet another door, but this one was always locked. Another time, he was putting in a new fireplace and the children discovered another tiny door! This one opened into a room with a curving staircase leading to a balcony……and another door! Then they noticed a second door in the room with a tiny window and sometimes they have seen a light go on and off through this window. They have also heard rustlings and muffled sounds. Spooky, eh? ….or have fairies moved in? Artisans In Miniature 67
Soon after that, more fairy doors began to appear all over the town, often in the street, in walls, lamp-posts, outside shops etc. The townsfolk were intrigued and the local children started leaving presents for the fairies: coins, sweets, tiny hats, books etc, which all seemed to have vanished next time they came by! Everyone loved it, the story spread around the world and now people in the U.K want fairy doors too. If you would like to make your own fairy door to put in your garden, here’s an easy way….and it just might tempt fairies to visit !
To Make A Fairy Door... You will need: •
Air drying clay or polymer clay
•
Small pebbles or shells
•
Cocktail stick (toothpick)
•
Card
•
Paint
•
Varnish
Decide how big you would like your door to be --- 5 or 6 inches is big enough --- and draw it on a piece of card. I decided to curve the top of mine but you could just have it straight if you wish. Cut out the shape --- this is your template. Roll out your clay slightly bigger than your template and about ¼” thick. Lay the template on top of the clay and trim round it. You could use a lolly (popsicle) stick or cocktail stick or a blunt knife to do this. Remove the template from the clay and use your cocktail stick to outline whatever you like on the door ---a handle, hinges, bolts, a pattern perhaps. I also marked out where I wanted to put tiny pebbles. You could use shells instead if you have some. Then I pressed them into the clay (I didn’t use glue). I made a door knob and hinges from clay. I used the air-drying clay, so I dampened it and pressed them straight onto the door. If this doesn’t work with Fimo, say, you might have to bake the door first, add the extra bits, then bake again. Artisans In Miniature 68
When the clay has dried (or baked), you can paint the door and add other touches, like moss, lichen, or even dirt! Finally, you will need to varnish the door with a weatherproof varnish if it is to be outside, and glue it in place. I suggest asking an adult to do this for you as they could use a VERY robust glue like araldite. (Tacky glue would wash off in the rain.)
Why not take a photo of your fairy door and send it to me, Margaret, at
[email protected] You might get it published in the next issue! My grandchildren love my fairy door and always take something for the fairies, like flower
petals,
shells,
coloured
stones
and
anything shiny. The strange thing is, these things have always disappeared in the morning! If you want to find out more about Fairy Doors, here are some websites to explore: http://urban-fairies.com/OBSERVATIONS/ SIGHTINGSpages/SIGHTINGS1.html http://urban-fairies.com/locationspages/ locations.html http://urban-fairies.com/background.html
Photos in this article are copyright of Margaret Pitts (www.minimilliner.co.uk)
Copyright of text and photos belongs to their authors. Please note – although the projects in this column are for children, adult supervision is recommended at all times. The authors cannot be held responsible for any accidents arising from these projects. Artisans In Miniature 69
Preview...
By AIM Member Bea Broadwood
Anyone who has been lucky enough to visit the world famous Miniatura show will already know what a fantastic celebration of dolls house miniatures it presents. Held at the NEC in Birmingham, the autumn show will bring a huge number of quality exhibitors together under one very big roof. At the forthcoming Miniatura show in October almost one fifth of the total number of exhibitors will be AIM members, giving the AIM Association an extensive and tangible presence at this prestigious event.
For most of the exhibitors at Miniatura, preparations for the show begin way in advance of the doors opening and AIM members who will be exhibiting there next month are certainly no exception. Over the last few weeks the anticipation and workloads for these artisans has been steadily building and their collective stocks of midnight oil, much depleted! On the AIM forum there has also been a definite ‘buzz’ in the air amongst those members who will be exhibiting at what they affectionately call ‘The Big M’. Many of them will have new products, ranges or limited edition miniatures to showcase and we thought you might enjoy a little taster of what is in store for Miniatura visitors. As AIM members create mainly hand crafted ‘one of a kind’ miniatures – sold on a first come, first served basis ‐‐ visitors to the show on Saturday (when there is only a limited number of entry tickets) will certainly benefit from having not only the first, but also the widest choice of these unique artisan pieces. AIM members can also be easily identified as they will be displaying their AIM logo on their exhibition stands. So do keep an eye out for them! For me personally, each ‘Miniatura’ show is a high point in my busy fair schedule and like my fellow colleagues at AIM, it is also one that I look forward to enthusiastically! I do hope that if you can, you will take the opportunity to visit this very special show. Over the years Miniatura has become a flagship for the miniature community, no matter which side of the exhibition table you stand and a place where, collectors and miniature enthusiasts can find almost anything they desire, all in miniature of course!
Bea Broadwood Petite Properties Ltd / LUMO Publishing Artisans In Miniature 70
Mags-nificent Miniatures As always, something new especially for Miniatura from Mags of Mags‐nificent Miniatures... Set of Medieval Stocks complete with 'splattered' offender and basket of rotten eggs and fruits, plus new Shabby‐chic and Delicatessen ranges. Good selection of Tudor and WW2 items available as normal
K Designs K Designs will be exhibiting at Miniatura and will be showcasing Kate’s new modern 1:24th scale family along side all the ‘old favourites of course. Kate will also have some
1:24th Scale Sweep
1/12 children characters, such as a sweep… So lots for visitors to see on the K Designs stand!
Tudor Pedlar L ady
Artisans In Miniature 71
Petite Properties Ltd Along side ‘streets’ of new 1:24th scale property designs, author Bea (Fiona) Broadwood will also be launching her much anticipated second 1:48th scale book & kit ‐ Washtub Cottage.
The Corner Shop Book & Kit will also be on sale and is priced at £19.99 There will also be a limited number of completed quarter scale ‘Corner Shops’ made by Bea herself and available to purchase exclusively at the show. As always Bea’s half scale houses will be sold on a first come, first serve basis, so why not visit the Petite Properties’ stand early, to avoid disappointment!
Carol Smith In addition to a wide range of beautifully made food, AIM member Carol Smith will have three new projects on her stand at Minaitura; Two small room boxes, a toilet and a walk in pantry and also a sweet shop.
AIM Members who will be exhibiting at Miniatura, NEC Birmingham
Nicky’s Dolls & Critters Nicky will be exhibiting at Miniatura with a series of dolls based on the illustrations by Norman Rockwell as well other well known artists. She will also have a whole new series of birds and animals ‐ making Nicky’s stand at the show a definite ‘must see’!
Tudor Cook...
on 3rd & 4th October 2009 ANN MARIE MINIATURES ANRO MINIATURES ARTFORGE BAGS OF CHARACTER GALE ELENA BANTOCK BELLA BELLE DOLLS JILL BENNETT COLIN BIRD COMPLEMENTOS PARA CASAS DE MUÑECAS CAROL COOK MINIATURES COSTUME CAVALCADE CRUMPLED & RUMPLED DATEMAN BOOKS ELLIE de LACY E.L.F. FIONA'S MINIATURE WORKSHOP GRANDAD'S MINIATURES ANN HIGH ‐ FINE MEDIEVAL MINIATURES DEB JACKSON DESIGNS K DESIGNS THE LITTLE HATTER MAGS‐NIFICENT MINIATURES MALCOLM'S MINIATURES MARY MYRTLE MINIATURES MERRY GOURMET MINIATURES THE MINIATURE GARDEN CENTRE MISS SALLY WORLD NICKY'S DOLLS AND CRITTERS NIKKI NAKKI NU OLDE CHARM MINIATURES (formerly Grandads Playroom) JOSEPHINE PARNELL PETITE PROPERTIES PLATT'S MINI PACKAGES GEORGINA RITSON HELGA SADOWSKI SHEPHERD MINIATURES CAROL SMITH STOKESAY WARE FINE FLOWERS IN MINIATURE / TEMPLEWOOD MINIATURES MARY WILLIAMS DOLLSHOUSE DOLLS WILLOW MODELS
AIM members who will have their work displayed at the show: Coombe Crafts Eileen Sedgwick Ooak Diddy Dolls
To find out more about visiting Minaitura visit their website: www.miniatura.co.uk
The Miniature... GRAPEVINE CONGRATULATIONS TO
New AIM Members
NE W
THREE AIM MEMBERS!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to the Three AIM members have recently won following new members who have joined AIM in the significant awards from CDHM’s 3rd Year Anniversary Celebrations.
past month:
Elizabeth Bentley
Cynthia Howe
Vynette Van der
Helga Sadowski
heijden
Larry Marshall
Sandra Keller Palesch
Carol McBride
Michele Kelly
Paul Taylor
Charlotte Deadman
Richard Kuehn
Cindy Teh
Jana Rowntree
Huge Congratulations to the following:
*Elisa Fenoglio of Italy has won the Miss CDHM Doll Universe award under the Miss CDHM Miniature Doll Universe Pageant category.
*Annemarie Kwikkel from the Netherlands has won the CDHM Best Dressed Doll award under the Miss CDHM Miniature Doll Universe Pageant category.
*Nathalie Gireaud of France has won the CDHM
HAT TRICK FOR AIM ONLINE MAGAZINE!
Best Cake Maker under the The CDHM Cake
Scribd have told us that our online AIM Magazine ‐ Extravaganza category. Issue No. 14 has made their 'Hot' List .....yet again! An achiemvent indeed! To find out more about That means we gain extra exposure on the scribd these awards and winners, see www.cdhm.org
site...and that makes it
three months in a row
Coombe Crafts Have Now Moved!
for a 'Hot ward'
.....whoooaaa!!!
Coombe Crafts have moved to: 8 Windmill Road, Thame,
Well done to the team and
thank
everyone
you
who
has
to
the
contributed
Oxon,
to
OX9 2DR and Yippee!! Now have a landline telephone again!
continued success of
To contact us please telephone 01844 213022
this magazine!
Email and website addresses are unchanged:
[email protected]
Artisans In Miniature 74
www.coombecrafts.co.uk
tiny white metal buttons and a fixed breast pocket with handkerchief (the shirt and tie are the Model's own and are not for sale).
Also pictured is the latest in my Signature
Diminutive Dolls Unveils New Range
range of 1/12th‐scale
Of Wicker Toy Pram & Crib Kits!
Pure Wool bowler hats ‐
Over the summer we have been hard
here, in a classic soft
at work perfecting our new wicker kits which
grey to compliment the
include toy prams and cribs in different sizes and
suit ‐ accented with
styles, from 1/12 child‐size down to teeny weeny!
pure silk and lined with
Kits contain everything needed to complete your leather and pure silk, plus Maker's name. Again, chosen toy, including pre‐drilled wooden base, the bowler is completely hand‐stitched wire uprights, waxed linen thread, pre‐drilled (absolutely nothing is glued). turned wooden handles, See Charlotte’s brand new website at wheels
with
assemblies,
axle
www.bear‐faced‐lies.com
p l u s
comprehensive step by
News From Pamela J
step
instructions, illustrated in colour Pamela J tells us that her “Labor Day Picnic throughout. See the full range at
Display” is in the September Issue of American Miniaturist,
along
www.diminutivedolls.co.uk
with three tutorials
and on our sister site
on making the Picnic
www.towerhousedolls.co.uk
Table from clay, the Hamburgers (raw and
New Additions From Charlotte Deadman
cooked)
and
the
I am a specialist designer/maker of 1/12th‐scale Devilled Eggs.
millinery and in the 'Profile' on me in the July 2009 She also tells us that edition of DHM I noted that I her feature “ My Ladies planned to expand my range
Boudoir” is in the Sept/
to
Oct. Issue of Dollhouse
include
1/12th‐scale
garments.
Miniatures. It includes
Accordingly, please see an
a Tutorial on making
image of one of the first
the curio shelf that's hanging on the wall.
additions to my forthcoming
Pamela J Nicholson http://pamelajminis.com
new range: An entirely hand‐
stitched,
c o m p l e t e l y
Change of Email Address
removable pure wool worsted
Fran Casselman tells us that her new e‐mail
suit, lined with a striped, pure
address will now be
[email protected]
silk taffeta and accented with Artisans In Miniature 75
COMING nEXT
MONTH…
Don’t Miss A Thing!
Catch the latest news from all around the miniature world…
All FREE and fully downloadable at: www.artisansinminiature.com
Loads more fantastic ‘quality’ projects, articles & features written exclusively by AIM members!!!
Written by artisans Enjoyed by miniaturists...! Please Note: The projects included in this publication are not suitable for children under the age of 14* The miniatures featured in this magazine are collectors items and therefore unsuitable for children under 14*. All projects are undertaken at your own risk. AIM does not accept responsibility for any injury incurred. All articles and photographs used in this magazine are copyright of their authors. The AIM magazine’s content is for private use only and it must not be reproduced in part or in full for commercial gain in any form.
Each artisan contributor is responsible for their own work / contribution to the AIM magazine and retain full responsibility for their published work.
Artisans In Miniature 52 The authors/self publishers cannot be held legally responsible for any consequences arising from following instructions, advice or information in this magazine. *with the exception of the Mini AIMers feature which is written especially for children under 14.
This issue would not have been possible without the generous contributions from the following AIM members… Many thanks therefore go to... Cristina Alberti
Joyce Dorothy Hamill/
Beatrice Thierus
Jill Bennett
Rawcliffe
Celia Thomas
Eliza Bentley
Jane Harrop
Linda Toerzey
Maia Bisson
Pearl Hudson
Robin Britton
Ulrike Leibling
Bea Broadwood
Elizabeth LePla
Mags Cassidy
Carol Lester
Cheryl Clingen
Debbe Mize
Jodi & Richard Creager
Sandra Morris
Catherine Davies
Margaret Pitts
Debbe Dixon Paver
Frances Powell
Gina Gagnon
Christine Shearer
Vicky Guile
Carol Smith
Guest Contributors Andy Hopwood Christiane Berridge Grandma Leilani & Sarah Janet Kirkwood Joyce Dean
See you again next month…!
www.artisansinminiature.com
