Daily Mini Interview: Miniature Characters by Longefellowes Designs

Miniature Sculptures and Accessories by Longefellowes Designs

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koiyama_bk_pngDescribe your background in the arts and your first memories with sculptures.

I’ve been doing something artistic and/or crafty since probably around the age of three. I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t doing something, whether it was painting, drawing, needlework, drafting, sewing, designing, building…the list goes on. I have a lifetime of skillsets and muscle memory built up by now, and though I’m largely self-taught, I’m always looking to learn new skills and apply what I know to new tasks and challenges. I’ve taken classes on a variety of techniques and subjects throughout the years to augment my skill sets. Sculpting didn’t actually begin for me until fall 2006 when I decided (mostly on a lark) to take a polymer clay dollmaking class. Prior to that, I hadn’t sculpted anything (I don’t count the pinch pots ubiquitous to grade school art classes). I discovered that I had a talent for it, and over the course of a year or two, made the switch from cloth dolls to polymer clay sculpting. In winter 2008, I made the switch to 1:12 scale.

Do you remember the first miniatures that made a lasting impression on you?

That’s tough, but I can think of three things that definitely stayed with me through the years and paved the way for a return to miniatures. We had a train set when I was little… I can still smell that rank ozone the transformer puts out. I loved all the tiny details in the cars and engine… itty bitty pistons and wheels, ladders, hatches… the works. I wouldn’t let my parents get rid of it when they downsized, so I have all the cars in a box in storage. I hope to be able to rig up a display track someday.

11057747_749821460270_4375559361798221310_nI was also fascinated with the accessories that went along with Barbie: the tiny shoes, handbags, clothing, all sorts of ephemera. In fact, I was usually more interested in them than the dolls themselves; the dolls were more a means to an end than the actual focus of my machinations.

I also still have some of the very first actual miniatures I can remember from when I was little: tiny pot metal figures (one was a dog, I believe), a couple of turned jugs/vases, and a few other random things. I can recall exactly the fascination I had with how wee the jugs and goblets were, and the realization that “someone made that. How did they make such a tiny thing?” Miniatures still fascinate me to this day, and mostly for the same reasons.

What scale do you enjoy working in the most?

I’m most comfortable working in 1:12 scale and slightly smaller, probably 1:18 or 1:24 at the smallest. Partly because there’s far more accessories and scale-related items that I can use with my sculpts, or use as inspiration. I occasionally do 1:48, but that’s a real bear.

moorish_merch_bk_pngI didn’t have any difficulty transitioning from 1:4 down to 1:12 and smaller – it was a very natural thing for me. Working large is just uncomfortable, physically and mentally. I’m short, and have tiny hands–not kidding, I have to buy children’s gloves–and I just find smaller proportioned things to be more relatable, I suppose.

When I took a sculpting class recently (I took it because it offered a chance to learn to use a new sculpting medium), the bust was worked in near life-size, and it was…difficult, at least at first, because everything just felt ginormous and awkward. I guess you can get used to almost anything, really. Mostly, I’ve found that when switching scales (regardless of how big or small you’re going) keeping things in proportion is probably the thing that requires the most attention; the methods are largely the same regardless of how big/small you’re working.

Daily Mini recently visited the Longefellowes Designs studio — see the photos here!

Do you ever create works of miniature sculpture without the intent to sell them? 

Not generally, no, unless you count gift-giving, and I rarely give my sculpts away. I mean, what would I do with all this stuff? The challenge and fun for me is in the making, not so much the keeping. As to favorites, I have a few that I’ve kept (not including class work, which I keep as a matter of principle). One is called “I Need a Jump,” featuring the Bride of Frankenstein’s Monster as a partially bandaged pinup (of course), holding miniature jumper cables. I didn’t make her with the intent to keep her, but I liked her well enough that I decided that if she hadn’t sold by a specific date, I was retiring her and keeping her. And now she supervises me from my “trophy
shelf.”

What’s your favorite style of fireplace to create and why?12190979_749821355480_5444496937381252009_n

Not sure I have a favorite. Visually I like the ornate ones (think Rococo and Baroque), but those are a pain to paint. The flatter-surfaced types are easier to paint with the faux marbling, but don’t have quite as much “presence.” Eventually, I’ll make one in a hybrid style, but I’m going to have to teach myself how to carve wood first. Oh no! I have to learn something new!

Tool, technique or material you could not live without?

That’s tough! I use almost everything! Seriously, that’s the fun of figures; I get to nerd out over the anatomy, and the physics required to get them to balance. And then I get to play with fabric, trims, metal findings, beads, accessories, furniture, or whatever else I decide needs to go with the figure, and all the various tools and techniques that go into all of the above. True multi-media, including sound; I usually wind up swearing at the little buggers at some point.

But back to the question, I’m not sure there’s an answer. Because, other than my eyes and hands (which might be a cheap and possibly pompous sounding answer), I can’t think of anything that I couldn’t figure out how to replace or find another way to make it work. If I think about it, if you take away my favorite knife, I can go find a saw or some other implement of destruction that equally results in bandaged fingers. If you take away my favorite clay, I can go find another clay to use. In fact, I’ve had to do that when manufacturers changed the formulation of their product, so….yeah. Doesn’t mean I’d be happy if you took away my favorite stuff, but I’d learn to cope.

What’s the most challenging aspect of creating a miniature sculpture?

That depends on the scale. The smaller it gets, the trickier it is overall. Half scale figures take almost the same amount of time as a 1:12 scale figure. SONY DSCGlobally though, while getting them to balance on their own is often hard, I’d have to say I have the most difficulty with hands – the clay pieces are so thin and small at that point, the heat from my own hands makes the clay sticky; it’s like trying to sculpt with joint compound (I’ve tried that – it doesn’t work well). So as a result, it’s tricky to get the right proportions and detail level without ruining all my effort due to the tools or my hands melting, sticking, or squashing everything.

What’s the most unexpected material you’ve used in one of your works?

I don’t tend to think of media as anything other than “this fits the purpose, so use it,” so I don’t go out of my way to consider putting something into a piece just for the novelty of having it there. Miniaturists are weird that way; we all just sort of see new purposes for things – a marble might become a crystal ball, jewelry findings become candlesticks, bullet casings get turned into beer steins, wristwatch parts get re-imagined into a variety of steampunk creations. And yes, I’ve done all of those things.

Have a favorite miniaturist you’d like to mention?

Oh, there’s a huge list of people whose work I admire – but if I start listing artists, I’ll inevitably leave someone out accidentally, and I don’t want hurt feelings. But I do have a couple of particularly good friends within the miniatures community. The sort of people who act as a sounding board, give “attaboys” when earned, inspire nefarious ideas, are willing to plot and scheme with me, and most importantly, give a reality check and/or a kick in the ass when I need it, whether or not I’ve asked. You know, the type who stick around even after they find out just how insane you really are. Everyone needs friends like that. So yes, public thanks to both Bill and Deb for the shenanigans and even the occasional boot. You both are awesome.

Advice for beginner artists?

Stop trying to convince yourself that you can’t do something, especially if you’ve never even tried. Just go do it. Everyone starts from ‘zero,’ and it’s not a competition, except against yourself and whatever you just finished. Go try [insert skill here]. And then do it again. And again. I guarantee your second one will be better than the first, and your third better than your second. Take a class, try it out. Heck you might find out you hate [insert thing here], and then you can then take a class in [insert next thing here]. Or you might discover you love doing it. This is why workshops at shows are such great ideas; try before you buy, as it were.julia png

Just go do it. Because you know what? If you wait until you think you’re “ready,” you’ll never do it. Because no one is ever ready for anything. DO IT.

What inspires you?

I get inspiration everywhere. Inside jokes, regular jokes, off-hand remarks during conversations, people watching, even random things I see on the telly, in print, or on the Internet. Doesn’t mean I turn every idea into a sculpted figure, but I keep adding to my list.

Motto that keeps you creating?

I have two that immediately come to mind: “If you don’t ask, the answer is automatically ‘No.’” and “What If…”

In addition, just the desire to continue to learn and improve keeps me moving forward. Every piece I make, the first thing I see once I’m done is where I could have done better—outside of any deliberate exaggerations or makers marks—and, I try to address those issues in the next piece. And the next, and the next. It’s a constant process.

What’s to come from Longefellowes Designs?

I have three upcoming sculpting classes: a full day class at the Philadelphia Miniaturia on Thursday, November 5 (plus I’m also vending at the show), a half-day workshop at D. Thomas Fine Miniatures on Sunday, December 13, and just announced, a half-day workshop at the Sturbridge Miniatures Festival on Saturday, June 4, 2016 (plus I’m also vending at the show). I even occasionally remember to update my website, so as I add shows and classes for 2016, I’ll be listing them.

Stacey pngUpcoming projects include some new original fireplace mantel designs that I’m currently building, and of course new sculpts. I have three dolls in progress right now. I also have some commission projects I’m working on.

Other hobbies and activities you enjoy?

I have more things I like doing than I have time for, both in miniature and in real life. I could probably fill three lifetimes just with the stuff I want to do!! But outside of the impossible (unless someone gives me a TARDIS), I enjoy baking, watching most sports, spoiling the hell out of a few select people, and, not related, cuddling up on the sofa with my weenie dogs. Oh, and the occasional dram of Single Malt Scotch. Purely medicinal, of course.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

Maybe to correct a common misconception, since everyone seems to assume my business name is named after the poet. The truth is, it’s named for my weenie dogs: they are the Longefellowes! As an aside, and not that anyone will really care, but I do not generally like poetry. Longfellow’s or anyone else’s.

Longefellowes Designs was created by Bev Gelfand. You can see many more of her miniature characters and fireplace mantel designs on the Longefellowes Designs website! Have a little look inside Bev’s studio here.

Daily Mini Interview: Characters in Miniature by Colvin Dolls

Characters in Miniature by Colvin Dolls

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Colonial SoldierWhat’s your earliest memory with miniatures and dolls?

My earliest memories of dolls was the Ideal Toys Crissy doll whose hair grew when you gave it a tug and retracted when you pushed a button in the back. She was all dressed in orange! And Mattel‘s Dancerina Ballerina all dressed in pink with a plastic crown that you pushed to make her spin! Not miniatures of course.

My earliest memories of miniatures were dollhouses from that same era and the occasional clothespin dolls we made in Girl Scouts.

When I was studying figurative sculpture, I was always drawn to maquettes, (small scale studies for larger works). I believe that is where my interest in smaller scale representation may have been peaked. They seemed magical to me. In my late twenties, I saw some of Bernini’s and Camille Claudel’s maquettes on a trip to Europe and they made a lasting impression on me.

How did you first get started making lifelike dolls?

CowboyI needed occupants for a dollhouse I was making for my nieces. In 2005, my sister-in-law asked me to make a dollhouse for my two young nieces. I have a background in architecture so that intrigued me. I custom designed it, made the cabinetry and even custom crafted Georgian fireplaces with over mantles. The house became very elaborate, in fact too elaborate for the girls who were then 2 and 5. I built it in my father’s workshop frequented by his retired friends. They were actually very interested in the construction the dollhouse. One day, one of them asked, “where are the people?” That was when I started making 1:12 scale figures for the house.

What was the first doll you created?

The first miniature doll I created was a papier-mâché 18th century lady with a Marie Antoinette-style wig totally from my imagination… face, costume, and all. I still have her in my workroom staring down at me from the doll case.

How has your work evolved over the years?

The first doll I made is nothing like the dolls I make now. Today, I work in polymer clays and artist’s resins and almost never make a face or costume without some sort of real life reference.

Miss MarpleWhat keeps you creating?

The desire to improve keeps me creating. I am motivated more by the process than the end product but the two are intricately linked. I am always looking for ways to better my technique and I experiment a lot.

Do you have a favorite character that you create?

I suppose I am partial to sleuths like Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes but I don’t have a favorite character that I create. I often do re-make doll characters. Sometimes because customers ask me to and sometimes because I want to see how my eye has developed over time and I will compare them to the previous ones that I’ve made.

Any favorite characters that you have yet to make but are on your t0-make list?

I want to make Queen Elizabeth I and her court. Then Henry the VIII, all those great Tudors. My dream would be to collaborate with someone to make the environments! And to have the leisure of taking all the time I need to get to every last detail.

Elizabethan GentHow did you first become involved with IGMA and the annual Guild Show?

I was asked to be in the show by one of their members from my home state who I knew from other miniature events. I knew of IGMA‘s excellent reputation early on from forums online and then when I started selling dolls at shows from talking to other doll makers and miniaturists.

Advice for beginner dollmakers and artists?

My studio professors taught me valuable lessons about hard work and persistence. I used to believe artists were somehow divinely gifted and great work was magically produced by their hand any time they picked up the tools. I had no idea the amount of hard work and study that went into art to make magic happen.

Work at it often. The more you do it the better trained your eye becomes. Creating art is no different from any other task, you need to do it on a regular basis in order to improve. Great work comes from hard work.

Mr. CarsonWhat is the most memorable doll or miniature you have ever seen by another artist?

A maquette by Bernini in the Vatican. It was in a glass case in a hallway, so not a prominently displayed piece of art, more artifact from the work room of the sculptor. I can remember seeing the straw like fibers mixed in the red clay to create an armature or perhaps to strengthen the figure. It was extraordinary how a small study for a larger work could have so much intensity and power of expression.

What do you want doll and miniature fans to know about you?

I love running, kayaking, and boating. I would love to learn how to sail.

Colvin Dolls is based in Wilmington, NC and headed up by Sherri Colvin. To shop the collection or view more dolls, visit the Colvin Dolls website or follow along on Facebook.

The Dowager Countess

Daily Mini Interview: Miniature Miniatures by Nell Corkin

Nell Corkin’s Miniature Miniatures

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What’s your earliest memory with miniatures?

My earliest memory is I was 5 years old or so and had a shoebox. 3f2693c2f623f0cb89ff4150b90bbdaf_4mn0_xhc8I wanted to make a house out of it, so I did. That was just me. I always loved working with my hands. At Christmas time around that age, I received a kit to make doll hats. I made them all day and all night. And when my parents told me to go to bed, I cried and cried. I was just so absorbed in making hats for my dolls.

I’ve made miniatures all of my life. There honestly hasn’t been a time in which I haven’t done them. When I was about 12 years old, I was reading through House Beautiful magazine and came across Chestnut Hill miniatures ads. I saw them and said “wow!” because I didn’t know anyone else who made miniature things at that time.

My mother had a dollhouse that had been hers and a few years earlier, she gave it to me and my sister for Christmas. It was a 1920s style house, created by my grandfather who was an engineer. Little ChristmasIt was made by loving hands at home, complete with ceramic sockets in the ceiling, screw-in light bulbs, and furniture from England. Much of the furniture was from England.

This beloved dollhouse is currently in my sister’s possession, and we’re decorating it for the umpteenth time. Though she has it at the moment, it belongs to both of us.

Could you describe your transition from making miniatures for your family dollhouse to making miniatures as a profession?

I was steered away from going to art school by my family, so I  was an Art History major in college. I didn’t know what I wanted to do afterwards, so I did all sorts of different things for a number of years. I managed a clothing boutique and ran a shoe store before moving to Los Angeles, where I worked first at Sotheby’s and then with an independent appraisal firm.
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I continued to make miniatures for myself all throughout the years. Eventually, when I was in LA, I saw The Making of ‘Star Wars’ documentary that featured special effects models. After seeing some of the models used, I realized, “I can do that.” I had a friend from art school who was then an Art Director in Hollywood who came over to my house to see my work in miniatures. I showed him a miniature Victorian apartment building I had constructed as well as some mini sushi. Soon after, he helped me secure a job interview, so I brought photographs of my work and some things I had made. After hearing, “have a nice day, we’ll call you,” I decided now was the time for persistence. I went by the shop and talked to the guys in the shop. I showed them my work and spoke to them at great length. They put in a kind word for me, and the shop owner called me back to discuss my salary.

For the next 12 years, I worked on films and television. I worked at all kinds of model making there, including what are called “hard edge” models – space ships and such. We did a lot of models of the space shuttle for movies and museums. I made a tiny shuttle cockpit that you could hold in the palm of your hand, and the whole crew worked on a full size replica of the cockpit that Sally Ride told us was better than NASA’s! 86404c66728a4b8ba76863deb1025b73Because the size of the models depended on how they would be used, I learned to adapt to the size of the model requested, and became very adept with a paint gun and airbrushing techniques. I used all the equipment available through the shop.

The next shop where I worked, Apogee Productions, was a particularly great place, full of talented people who worked closely together. You felt more like a creative partner than an employee, and we had a lot of fun together, along with all the hard work. I learned so much during my years in Hollywood, but the most important thing I learned was that it was possible to make just about anything.

What other projects did you work on with the Apogee team and others?

I created a number of landscape models. It wasn’t all spaceships, cars and tanks at the time. On the contrary, I became quite well known for my landscaping technique. The Australian director Peter Weir once told me how much he liked my trees.

During my time in the film industry, I worked with other directors such as John Dykstra, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and more.170d7dfcee304fe0a0d3c332647071b3

I worked on the 1988 Child’s Play movie, about an evil, killer doll named Chucky. Since digital effects weren’t much used yet, they used an animatronic Chucky for much of the film; but the action required things the animatronic doll couldn’t do. We had to build giant furniture so that a little person in a Chucky suit could do those scenes, and appear to be the same size as the doll.

Each project had its own time range. One time, we worked for 6 weeks on a house that was supposed to explode and burn down in one shot. If things didn’t work properly in the first (and only) take, it was back to the drawing board.

A time later, in the late 1980s, things slowed down in Hollywood with the influx of digital effects. I went to Doug Trumbull‘s Berkshire Motion Picture in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The shop was located in a wonderful old mill building. We created extensive 1:12 scale models for Back to the Future: The Ride at Universal Studios in Florida; I was the foreman for the Hill Valley segments.

How did you then transition from the film industry to the world of miniatures?

Later, I moved to New York, and worked on tabletop projects for food commercials and such. I worked on and off and eventually left film to work at a toy company, where I became operations director. I was making miniatures at home during my free time.

69f3b5262f3f46ceb236be4b0468ede6I always kept 1:144 scale works I had created during my time in the movies, that I had made just for me, just for fun. I held on to those works and looked at them fondly. I created replicas of vintage dollhouses and one day bought an unpainted one made of resin. I kept it on my workbench and would sit there and have a bit to eat at lunch and work on it. I eventually finished it and thought, “I could do that some more!” I created three houses by modifying N scale model railroad kits, and a friend took them to Philadelphia Miniaturia in 1992. It was a challenge to see what I could do and what I could be happy with. To this day, it continues to be. For any artist, we love coming across something new to figure out.

Advice for new artists?

Don’t make too many duplicates. If it becomes routine, it ceases to be art.

New projects in the works?

I just spent some time in England after the Kensington Dollshouse Festival. I saw many Elizabethan houses and gardens. I will likely be working on one of those in the future. I also visited Saffron Walden and was inspired by countless pargeted houses with fancied plasterwork. 909ebdc8b37a4eb1a410797fa681036bFew remain from the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of urban fires.

Career highlights you’d like to recount?

Way back in the 1970s, I was making miniatures at home hadn’t started to do shows yet. I was living in LA at the time and attended a show in Santa Monica with my husband and we were looking at a woman’s table who made food. He looked at her stuff and said, “you can make something better than that.” The woman looked up and asked me, “oh, are you an artist too?” I didn’t need validation, but I thought, “yes, that is what I am,” and was delighted by that truth.

One time I was sending out a little box to a customer and was insuring it at the post office. The postal clerk asked what I had been working on, and he ended up recognizing my work from an earlier show.

34ace644bed4423ca3a40bd11684d8d1Over the years, I tried to do other things aside from miniatures, but in the end, I came to this because it was what I was meant to be doing. This is what I’m supposed to be doing. If something is in your heart, then that’s what life is for.

It’s always been houses for me. Even when I came across miniature pumpkins, I would say “They would be a great little house!” and my friends would respond “Everything is a little house for you, Nell.”

A few years ago, I made a walnut house with an extensive landscape under a dome, and took it to Philadelphia Miniaturia. A woman who had been enjoying it earlier came back and said, “I’m going to buy that for myself. I’m turning 50 next week and when I look at this, I’m at peace.”

eaeacfcabcc84e78b7c604b4dbb5615bIt means a lot to me to sell to customers and get to know them and speak to them. A short time later, in the mail came a letter filled with 50 miniature origami paper cranes. The woman who had bought the piece said she would sit and look at it for hours, and lose herself in that piece. It meant so much to me that it meant so much to her. And that’s part of it all. The connection you can make with another human being.

I have a Pre-Columbia piece, a pot from about 500 years ago and I can feel the finger grooves. It’s as if I’m touching that person across centuries. And I enjoy the creative experience of an artist sitting at home. I love that too. But the work has a life of its own. So when you start making art, and it goes in a different direction, that’s fabulous too.

Nell Corkin has been a member of the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME) and of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) for many years. She was awarded the title of IGMA Fellow in 1998, and previously served as IGMA President. She’s now the 1st Vice President.
 For more on her wonderful worlds of miniatures and miniature houses, visit her website or check out Nell Corkin’s blog.

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Emi’s Bakery

Miniatures by Emi’s Bakery

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

dMy love and interest for miniatures started when I was around 6 years old. My parents bought me a lot of PLAYMOBIL sets and my dad made me a dollhouse for my PLAYMOBIL family. That was also the time I got in touch with polymer clay, as I used to make little snacks and accessories to go along with my sets. The love slowly faded away, and after a few years, my dollhouse and miniatures were relocated to the attic.

I rediscovered the world of polymer clay miniatures in 2013. One day, while watching videos on YouTube, I found a few channels with all sorts of polymer clay food tutorials. I immediately became enthusiastic again, and decided that I wanted to give it another try. I got hooked ever since.

What materials and tools do you use to make miniatures?

sThe main material I use is polymer clay. I use the brand FIMO as this is the only brand that is available in craft stores in my area (The Netherlands). Besides clay, I also like to make miniatures from paper, wood, or plastic.

My tools range from store-bought items like ball tools, needles, X-ACTO knives and brushes, to random items I have lying around (such as toothpicks, bottle caps, drinking straws, and more). For shading, I use chalk pastels.

Advice for new miniaturists?

  • Have a look around on YouTube and Pinterest, there are loads of free and easy tutorials to get you started with polymer clay and making miniatures.
  • Your work doesn’t have to be perfect at once. Making miniatures is a learning process, and you learn by trial and error.
  • Look around you, you can make miniatures from the most random items. The question “what can I use this material for?” pops up often in my mind.
  • Do not compare yourself with others. You are you and you have your own unique style, be proud of your work.

Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

PetitPlat, Toni Ellison, and Bon AppetEats. Toni Ellison was the first to reintroduce me to the miniature food world with her tutorial videos on YouTube. I really enjoyed all her tutorials as it helped me when I just started making miniatures. Not long after that, I got in touch with the amazing work of PetitPlat and Bon AppetEats, they have been an inspiration ever since.

aWhat is the most memorable miniature you have seen by another artist?

The miniature brand Nunu’s House made by artist Tomo Tanaka are all very unique and memorable to me.

Why miniatures? 

One of the reasons I love miniatures so much is because you can make whatever you want. One of my childhood dreams was to have my own bakery or tea room with my own pastries, cakes, pies and treats. Even though I will not be able to realize this, I am able to realize it in miniature by making my own bakery roombox.

Upcoming projects planned? New minis in the works?

I have not done any shows or exhibitions yet and I’m not planning on doing so in the near future. As for my planned and ongoing projects: I’m currently working on my own miniature ice cream parlour roombox and have some more ideas for other roomboxes (bakery, garden, etc.). Besides roombox ideas, I plan on making more little set-ups and just random food miniatures. I would also love to make more non-food related miniatures (i.e. the garden roombox and anime-themed miniatures).ffff

Next to my personal work, I take commissions. I have not had many sales yet, but the miniatures I did make for commissions are all around the world now. I’m also a contributor of tutorials for the miniature and dollhouse magazine of The Netherlands.

Other hobbies you enjoy? 

I’m currently working at a primary school where I help children who fall behind a bit with reading and math. Next year, I will continue my student life as I’m enrolled for my master’s degree in Educational Science. Hobbies I enjoy are: being creative, cooking, baking, reading, watching manga and anime, and gaming.

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

I’m always up for a chat about miniatures!

Emily Leenes lives in The Netherlands. You can enjoy her Emi’s Bakery miniatures on DeviantArt and Facebook.

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Ludwina Mini Carpet

Miniatures by Ludwina Mini Carpet

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How did you first get started in miniatures? 

ludwina silk carpet petit point pillows chair made in Kari bloom workshopI am originally from Belgium and studied textile art in Antwerp and Ghent. From a very young age, I loved to paint and craft. I wanted to try all kind of crafts. It was so bad that my mom used to say my hobby was changing hobbies. Until I discovered weaving. There are so many different techniques and possibilities that it never becomes boring for me.

After marrying my Turkish husband, we moved to Turkey, and I left my looms in Belgium. Once in Turkey, we opened a real size carpet shop, and I started knotting carpets in the shop, because that was the only loom I had. A carpet loom is different from the weaving looms I had before, but in my textile art training I had used a very similar loom.

I started with a medium size carpet but after working on it for several weeks, I decided to make it a square—to finish a bit faster—and after doing this, I learned to make the carpets smaller because it takes so long to finish a piece that it started to be boring. And also because customers asked for smaller sizes and nobody made these small sizes at the time. One of the first real small carpets I finished was sold to a Dutch customer for his dollhouse. And here the idea was born to make dollhouse carpets. It must have been around 1997.ludwina smaller scale silk carpes

It was a long way to make smaller, better and finer carpets, not only small carpets but real miniature sized works. In the beginning, I made wool carpets for 1:12 scale, but when I wanted to make finer and finer pieces I began also to use silk. Some of those smaller fine silk carpets work well in smaller scales.

After some time, when I started selling on eBay, I began making miniature crochet. And when I saw the possibilities with petit point embroidery when I was at the Chicago International Show, I wanted to try this. I really love to make pillows and now and then a carpet. The designs I make for my knotted carpets are perfect for petit point carpets in smaller scales.

What can’t you live without?

My crochet needle, a box of silk sewing threads, and needles is always close by. Often times, I will take a project in my bag if I go somewhere. It is easy to take with me, and here in Turkey, it is not strange to sit somewhere and do some handcrafting… although the younger generations are not as interested in crafts anymore.ludwina wol carpet crochet and  pillow

What inspires you?

When I was working in our carpet shop, I was surrounded by carpets and had inspiration all day. Now that I am retired from the shop, I still have my books and I can find a lot of information and inspiration on the Internet. I am not weaving as much anymore but I’m creating more and more embroidery and crochet. I’m enjoying life, my cats and my garden.

Here in Turkey we do not have much dollhouse miniatures and surely not in the days I started. So I am happy I found miniature friends online. I am member of the Yahoo! group The CAMP where we share ideas, show our miniatures, and have a lot of miniature-related fun.

Ludwina knotting carpetsUpcoming projects planned?

At the moment, I am not doing any shows. Making my carpets takes so much time that it is not possible to have new work every year. Maybe in some time, I will be back at a show again, because it is so nice to see all the beautiful work I can see there…. and to meet new friends!

Ludwina Akbulut lives in Turkey. For more handmade work from her ludwinaminicarpet brand, visit her website, check out eBay, Facebook, Etsy or take a peek at miniature carpet designs on her blog.  

Ludwina my loom

Daily Mini Interview: Hungarian Miniatures

Hungarian Miniatures by Erzsébet Bodzás

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

I wanted to give my daughters a dollhouse for Christmas but the available ones on the market were so impersonal and way too expensive. I decided to make a dollhouse by myself. apple peelingI had no clue how to start, so I started to search on the Internet and I accidentally found some very impressing miniature works. I had never heard about miniatures before. It was love at first sight.

I’ve been making miniatures for five years, and I’m self-trained although I capitalized on everything I could find online. Any time I have aside from caring for my family and my garden, I use working in my workroom.

How has your work in miniatures evolved over the years?

Through the years, I meddled in almost every territory of the miniature world. I made foods, furniture, roomboxes, scenes, and more. Although I enjoy creating all of them, after a serious inner debate, I opted for miniature food making as my specialty. I prefer the traditional homemade foods, rustic breads and pies, heirloom vegetables, and fruits. I also love arranging my foods into little scenes where I can set together the elements like in a three dimensional still life painting.country kitchen

What materials do you use to make miniatures?

I use polymer clay, paper, wood, fabric—practically everything except glass and precious metals. Nowadays my personal favorite is paper. You can’t believe how many things you can do if you have proper templates and apply some layers of acrylic paint.

Advice for new miniaturists?

It’s never the perfection that makes a miniature real, but the natural flaws. I like to show the little imperfections, the brown spots on the apples, the scratches on the fresh pear skin, the pale places of the cucumber where the sun couldn’t reach it. So use your eyes to find the unique features in everything to make it alive.

Tool you can’t live without?roast chicken on rice bed

My X-ACTO knife is my best friend in the workroom, I use more toothpicks than a restaurant, and I am emotionally attached to my lathe tool.

Most treasured miniature you’ve made?

I made an old cottage kitchen with a furnace just like my great grandparents had. I filled it with all the things I remembered from my childhood. It was great to make, and this is the only miniature work I could never part with. It’s in my living room now and I look at it every time I go past it.

What’s been the most difficult miniature to create?

My kryptonite was making early cherries. Half yellow, half red with the slight groove on one side and the thin light green stem. My first attempts were terrible. I tried to get the coloring by applying chalk powder with a brush on the tiny cherry balls. I used polymer clay and wire for stems. cherries on a scaleBut my cherries were just fake polymer clay cherries, nothing more. It took me three years to figure out my own method to copy nature. Now I brush my palm over with red, orange and yellow chalk powder and I rolled the tiny light yellow balls on it, then press a groove and a hole into them with a pin. The result is a bunch of perfect, various shades of yellow-red cherries. For the stems I use painted sisal fibers. Many times I wanted to give up, but I couldn’t get over it. I had to find a way to make realistic cherries because I had a miniature still life with them in my head and I desperately wanted to make it real.

Artists you look to for inspiration?

I admire some Russian photographers, Elana Tatulyan (Елена Татульян) and Карачкова Татьяна. Their still life photos are wonderful, just in the same country style I love to try to show in my miniature scenes. Another favorite artist is a Russian painter, Николаев Юрий Викторович, who I like also for his still life paintings.

Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

My first shock was when I found Kiva Atkinson’s works. I couldn’t believe my own eyes. I didn’t know it’s possible to make such realistic foods in miniature. The quality of her miniatures was a real goal to reach in my own works.

eggplantsAnd I think everyone just loves Tomo Tanaka’s Nunu’s House and his miniature foods. I still think there is a magic wand involved.

What is the most memorable miniature you’ve seen?

Lori Nix‘s miniature scenes are a fantastic mix of art and precise engineering. Choosing the post-apocalyptic world as a theme is very interesting. Her dioramas could be sad, but they are oddly invigorating and sometimes humorous for me.

Why miniatures?

I feel like a genie in a bottle or a wizard with a wand. I’ve always been a creative person. If I had time and money in limitless amount, I would try every craft in the world. I would make furniture, pottery baskets, and more. Since I’m not that lucky, I had to find a close enough substitute. In miniature, I could do anything I couldn’t do in real size.

Upcoming news you’d like to share?peppers

I’m one of the five new IGMA Fellow members that the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) elevated this year. That means a lot to me. I worked hard on my miniatures application, and fortunately it paid off.

There’s an exhibition in October in Budapest where some miniaturists including myself show their works. This will be my first exhibition, so I’m very excited about it.

Other hobbies you enjoy?

My other love is my garden. Actually I’m a landscape architect, but after the births of my daughters, I couldn’t work as an engineer in an office anymore. The necessary overtime, the travelling and the stress of imminent deadlines couldn’t work for me as a mother. But my green thumb still exists and I spend long hours in my garden almost every day.

IGMA Fellow Erzsébet Bodzás lives in Hungary. You can shop her work in miniature on Etsy and eBay. Check out her latest work on her “My Tiny World from Hungary” blog or Pinterest.

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Fanni Sándor

FannimiNiATURE: Miniatures by Fanni Sándor

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

I have always loved miniature things since my childhood. I made my first dollhouse out of a shoe box when I was 7 years old. I first saw professional 1:12 scale miniatures 10 years ago on the Internet, and it was love at the first sight. In my country, this art form is totally unknown. il_fullxfull.762749966_8r2iSo after that, I started to try to make my own miniatures, and after a few years I became a professional miniaturist. I have been making miniature things since my childhood, but professional 1:12 scale miniatures now for around 5 years.

Were you trained in the arts?

I learned drawing and painting through 7 years of art school. But I learned how to make miniature animals by myself, no one taught me. I have two miniaturist idols: Beth Freeman-Kane and Kerri Pajutee. I think they are the best wildlife and animal miniaturists ever, in all the world. Their art gave me lots of inspiration to become a professional miniaturist. Thank you to them both.

IMG_7074Do you create & sell miniatures full-time?

I have a three years old son and a one year old daughter. So now I’m a full time mother at home, and making miniatures part time for hobby, and for sell. Any free time what I have (it’s not too much because of my children), I try to do my craft, because it’s relaxing me totally. But I plan in the future I become a full time miniaturist.

How has your miniature work evolved over the years?

Nowadays, I mostly make birds, insects, and small mammals, but I used to make accessories and dolls. Thrice my dolls won the second price in an international doll exhibition and doll making competition in Hungary. My first exhibited 1:12 scale miniature work was a shadowbox, called Queen Elisabeth’s Kitchen. It was the beginning of my professional miniaturist life. In the kitchen there were foods, vegetables, fruits, pheasants and mounted deer trophies. Making the pheasants and the trophies were most enjoyable, so after this creation, I wanted to make more and more animals. It’s not a surprise, because I’m a biologist, so nature inspires me principally.

What materials do you use to make miniatures?

I don’t need too many supplies. I just need polymer clay, acrylic paint, feather and cotton thread in a various color, paper wire, and glue. IMG_7235All of my sculptures are made out of polymer clay. I love this material very much, because I can make really fine, detailed and lifelike figures with it. All of my works are hand sculpted, without the use of any mold.

Advice for new artists?

You have to do it with your heart and soul, and then any piece of your work will be unique.

What can’t you live without?

My hand, eyes, brain and polymer clay.

Favorite miniature you own by another artist?

I have a framed diorama by Beth Freeman-Kane, called The Racketeer, which includes a hummingbird and orchids. I love it and cherish it so much.IMG_6623

Most treasured miniature you’ve made? 

I have a lot. All of my miniature sculptures contain a little part of my heart. I love all of my creations, I can’t choose a favorite.

Upcoming projects you’d like to share?

In Hungary, dollhouse miniature making is an unknown art form. Almost no one knew about it. In this country, there are just 12 of us making miniatures. This year, we established the Hungarian Miniature Guild. We started to organize the first miniature exhibition of Hungary, which will be held in September 2015. We would like to promote and popularize the professional miniatures as an art form in Hungary.

IMG_6526Other activities you enjoy?

I love to take trips in nature. I love cooking, reading a book, painting, drawing, and sculpting.

Anything else you would like to add? 

In 2014, I received the IGMA Artisan title in Animal Figures category. It was the greatest honor for me. I’m 34 years old. I married the most fantastic man in the world four years ago. We have a 3-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter. I’m a microbiologist, but now I stay at home with my children. Beside making miniatures, I love to paint, draw, and sculpt.

Fanni Sándor currently lives in Hungary. Shop her FannimiNiATURE miniatures on Etsy, or check out new creations on her “Parányi valóság” blog.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Drew Leshko

Miniatures by Paper Sculptor Drew Leshko

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What’s your very first memory with miniatures?

My first memory of miniatures would have to be from attending an annual church auction. There was this woodworker who built the most amazing custom dollhouses. They were unfinished, but the detailing and precision was on point.

studio working watermarkedHow did you first start working in miniatures? 

I always think back to building dioramas for middle school English class as a component to a book report… but I think the first real experience working this way was in 10th grade. I had a serious surgery to correct pectus excavatum, a chest deformity. After having my ribs spread apart, xyphoid process shifted, and sternum moved around, I was stuck in a bed for a while. My father had purchased a kit for me to build a miniature half pipe. The half pipe was for fingerboards, those mini skateboards that were popular for a minute. I never found any interest in fingerboarding, but have really vivid memories of building ramps, then covering them with pencil drawings of skate brands and punk music imagery. A technique not too far off from the way I’m working now when applying street marketing and graffiti to my miniature dumpsters.

Not Grim watermarkedWere you formally trained in the arts?

I studied fine art in college and feel that I developed some strong composition and design skills, but honestly the way I work isn’t taught in schools. My 3-D design class really opened my eyes and focused my attention on making dimensional objects. However, now I make my sculptures mainly out of archival papers and paper sculpture, which just doesn’t fall into any of the class programs.

How long have you been creating minis?

I’ve been creating small sculptures for the past 10 years, but I feel like I’ve really focused my work and found a strong rhythm in the past 5 years. Now, I predominantly work at 1:12 scale with a variety of acid-free materials.

What types of miniatures do you make? How has your work evolved?

I started making architecturally based miniatures to be displayed on a tabletop or pedestal. I realized that I was running out of storage space in my studio and that any potential collector would need to devote so much space to show the works in a domestic setting, so I needed to make a revision. Eventually I came up with the idea of creating the works as only facades so that they could be wall mounted. My thought was that people are able to clear wall space much easier than floor space. At this point, it’s not much different from the way a painting or photograph is hung.

new orleans watermarkedThe buildings are huge undertakings and take a lot of time and patience. Additionally, they can be brutal to ship around the country. So I began to think about some smaller sculptures I could make, but most importantly, what type of objects can be constructed of paper? Thinking about some of the detailing on the buildings, I realized that recreating sheet metal with paper is great. I started to think about tractor-trailers, vans, food trucks, and similar vehicles when I landed on camper trailers. My work has always included commentary on the temporal nature of things, so the transient nature of “RV culture” fits right in to that idea.

MEANDER-1 watermarkedLeshko-Trailer-6 watermarked

 

 

 

 

 

 


You’ve created a number of documentary studies of architecture from your Philadelphia neighborhood. Do you foresee creating building replicas of other cities?

It’s hard to say. Right now, I’m very happy to be done with the buildings and to be working on a new series. I spent a portion of my life designing and creating the 17 buildings and I’m a bit burned out on them.

What materials do you use to make miniatures?

I love using paper. It’s extremely versatile. It can be easily manipulated, folded, cut, sanded. Illustration board, mixed archival paper, wire, plaster, varieties of wood, and inkjet prints are the main materials for most of my projects. I then finish them with enamels, acrylics, airbrush, oil pigments, and charcoal.

Tool you can’t live without?

X-ACTO knife, without a doubt.

Unexpected material you’ve used in your work? 

I learned of a rusting technique from an amazing artist, Alex Lukas. Mixing hydrogen peroxide, iodized salt, and white vinegar results in a solution that will rapidly rust steel. It can be sprayed on surfaces, or applied with a paintbrush. Sometimes I’ll add pieces of metal to the works. This is a great solution for weathering.

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If you could only describe your work in one of these words, which would it be? Art. Miniature. Design. Architecture. 

Art. This isn’t a hobby, this is my job and I am a sculptor. They aren’t models for something to be designed or constructed either. Actually they are the opposite. A recreation of what was. With that mindset, they are documentary studies similar to a painter rendering a scene or a photographer capturing an image.

What’s a day in the studio look like?

A day in my studio is an exercise in patience! Everything is a slow process, so patience is a virtue. Typically it’s me cutting, gluing, and folding paper to create individual components that become integral parts of the overall sculpture. I try to break down the objects into manageable pieces and then apply them like a collage to the panel I’m working on. All of this typically happens to a soundtrack of hip-hop and punk rock, though I listen to a wide variety of music.

Favorite miniature or work of art you own?

Oddly enough, I don’t collect miniatures, but I have a pretty nice art collection. I own two hand-woven tapestries from one of my favorite young artists, Erin M. Riley. If you don’t know her work, you need to.

Most treasured miniature you’ve made?

I think Ampere Electric is my most treasured artwork, though I didn’t treasure it enough to keep it, haha! This piece was collected by Kasseem Dean (Swizz Beatz), and is now installed in his home; part of an amazing contemporary art collection, The Dean Collection. I love the balance of beauty and decay in the piece.

me and swizzy watermarked

Non-miniature artists, designers, books you look to for inspiration?

Thomas Demand, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Walker Evans, Roxy Paine, Alex Lukas, and William Christenberry.

Miniaturists or mini makers that inspire you?

EVOL, Tracey Snelling, Lori Nix, Lois Renner, Kim Keever, Thomas Doyle, and Patrick Jacobs.

Most memorable moment in your miniature making career thus far?

Last December in Miami was amazing. Art Basel, Miami, is always a great time but last year was wild. Philadelphia’s Paradigm Gallery + Studio sold Ampere Electric to the Dean Collection and I was able to meet the legend, Swizz Beatz. He was the most genuine, nicest, collector ever. At a party Swizz was DJ’ing, I then got to hang out with 2 Chainz. 2 Chainz and I had a nice conversation about one of my sculptures Caring Pharmacy and the impact of pharmaceutical dependency and addiction in urban areas. I think that trip will stick with me for a long, long time.

me and 2chainz

Advice for beginner artists?

You only get out of it what you put into it. Making a go at an art career is difficult at best. If you’re not willing to 100% of your focus into the work, then you should find something else to do with your time. Don’t get frustrated, it took me years before I was starting to get included and invited into good exhibitions.

What is the most memorable miniature you’ve ever seen?

Lee Stoetzel created miniature McMansions entirely from McDonald’s food products. The finished work is a photograph, but definitely a weird one.

Why miniature studies of your neighborhood? Why miniatures? 

I’ve always been interested in documentary studies in art, capturing moments in time regardless of media. My project with the buildings in my neighborhood is just that, a documentary project or archiving project.

“Why miniatures?” is a great question, one that I really can’t answer. It just feels right. There is something inside of me that pushes me to take on these works, but I can’t identify what that is.

News about upcoming exhibitions and shows?

Yes! I have a solo exhibition, Relics, with 11 building sculptures at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, that will be up through mid-August. Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles has curated my work into upcoming exhibitions in Detroit, Fort Wayne, Indiana, London, Miami, Honolulu, and Los Angeles. In June, I have a summer group show at Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco. Paradigm Gallery + Studio will be taking my work to Art Basel, Miami, in December and also hosting a solo show in Philadelphia in March of 2016. Beyond that, I will have a small solo show in Portland, Oregon at Antler Gallery in the fall of 2016.

What’s the best way to purchase your work?

My work can be purchased online through Paradigm Gallery + Studio. Additional works are currently available through Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles and Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco and the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington. For works at these galleries, inquire for a price-list as they’re not listed on their web shops.

Other activities you enjoy?

When I’m not in the studio, I like to enjoy family time with my wife, dogs, and cats. Cycling, camping, and fishing are some of my hobbies.

Motto that keeps you creating?

“They don’t finish themselves.”

Want to dive into more of Philadelphia-based Drew Leshko’s miniature worlds? Check out his website, latest blog posts, and follow along on Instagram, which Drew uses to show daily process images as well as a vehicle to promote work to a new audience.

Daily Mini Interview: Fairchildart Miniatures

Fairchildart Miniatures

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

mc4I credit my mom as she’s always been an avid collector of miniatures. There’s something inherently magical about tiny replicas so real you’d think there was a shrink ray gun lying around.

How many years have you been making minis?

Since the summer of 2008.

What materials do you use to make your miniature food?

Sculpey and Fimo brands of polymer clay. Since I stick to mostly food, my collection of pastel squares has come incredibly handing for blushing fruit and “toasting” pastries.

Advice for beginner artists?

Don’t stress about your first miniatures being perfect! As Adventure Time’s Jake the Dog wisely said, “Dude, sucking at something is the first step to becoming sorta good at something.” The Internet has a wealth of information when it comes to miniature making.mc7

Tool you can’t live without?

My trusted needle.

Favorite mini you own?

A pink tinted hand-blown glass bowl (a gift from my mom).

Where do you look for inspiration?

Lately, I’ve been studying Casey Baugh‘s charcoal portraits. The light captured in his subject’s eyes is incredible.

fv13Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

From the beginning, I’ve admired Stéphanie Kilgast of PetitPlat, Betsy Niederer and Tomo Tanaka of Nunu’s House. There are so many more but they were my welcome into the mini world.

What is the most memorable miniature you have ever come across by another artist?

Paris café fare by Nunu’s House: a tiny suitcase fashioned to hold sweets, jars of candy and cup of tea. His eye for detail is uncanny.

Why miniatures? Why miniature food?sw18

I love being able to complete a sculpture in one sitting (the instant gratification is a big pull). I’ve gotten amazing feedback from the miniaturist community and being able to send my miniatures all over the world is completely surreal. Food is always appealing from the sheer variety of textures and shapes involved (and the references are delicious).

Kim of Fairchildart Miniatures hails from Minnesota. Is your interest piqued? View many more miniatures on Kim’s website, Etsy shop, Instagram, and DeviantArt accounts.

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Daily Mini Interview: Ella-Rose Miniatures

Ella-Rose Miniatures

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Where does your interest in miniatures stem from?

I have always had an interest in dollhouses and miniatures. In 2004, a new shop opened up on our local High Street that sold dollhouses. il_570xN.747890578_565gI saved up funds and was soon able to purchase my first “grown-up” dollhouse.

How has your work in miniature evolved?

I began making my own miniatures in 2004, immediately after purchasing my first dollhouse. I found that I enjoyed creating these minis immensely: it was very rewarding and also something that I discovered I had a talent for. Soon after, I opened up an eBay shop and began selling my handcrafted miniatures. Then I opened up my Etsy shop, launched a blog, Facebook fan page and Twitter account. The rest, as they say, is history.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

I mainly use Fimo, liquid Fimo, acrylic paints and genesis heat paints.il_570xN.736047038_71oy

Advice for beginner artists?

Find your niche. Have patience and persevere. Your work will improve over time as you begin to use new and interesting techniques. Buy a few good books on making miniatures (I recommend any miniature food books by Angie Scarr) and simply add your own unique touches.

Material you can’t live without?

I cannot live without Fimo, white in particular. I use a lot. Liquid fimo is also a must for me.

il_570xN.693124706_1a65Favorite mini you own by another artisan?

I have a small pumpkin with a rat on it from the wonderful Mags-nificent Miniatures that I simply adore.

Artists, designers, books you look to for inspiration?

I take most of my inspiration from real-life bakers and cake makers, in particular Miss Lola’s Bakehouse and her amazing creations. I also created a Marie Antoinette collection after watching the film of the same name. Inspiration can come to you in many forms, maybe a color combination that you have seen or a certain design of furniture. Inspiration is all around us if you keep your eyes open and have a creative imagination.

What is the most miniature you have ever seen?

I think it would have to be anything by Ron’s Dollhouse’s. He creates the most beautiful, unique and interesting abodes for dolls.

Why miniatures?11147009_811997145522102_1128196356130336959_n

I am fascinated with creating real-life items and food in miniature form.

What’s to come from Ella-Rose Miniatures?

I am exhibiting at the Dolls House & Miniatures Fair in York next month. I exhibit twice a year at York. I am always creating new minis and strive for perfection.

Other activities you enjoy?

I enjoy watching films, horror films in particular. I also enjoy reading, training my two dogs, cooking, baking, oil and watercolor painting, as well as spending quality time with my loved ones.

il_570xN.768787740_t84mWords you live by?

“Being creative is not a hobby, it’s a way of life.” I love that saying.

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

When I bought my first dollhouse as an adult many of my friends and family didn’t understand the interest and would ask, “what on earth do you want that for?” However, now that they have seen the end results of my work with miniatures, many of my family members have more dollhouses than I do and are just as enthusiastic about the hobby as I am! My biggest fan (and critic) has always been, and will always be my son.

Kerry of Ella-Rose Miniatures hails from Great Britain. If you’d like to view more of her marvelous miniature creations, head on over to her shop, blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

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