Daily Mini Interview: Miracle Chicken Miniatures

Miracle Chicken Miniatures

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

2Loving all things miniature is my oldest memory. As a child I loved to draw and create things. So as I grew up, I discovered I could make my own dollhouse miniatures. I began carving animals from wood for a sculpture art project at the end of 12th grade. I hated that orange clay on my hands so I rummaged through a drawer in the art room and found an X-ACTO knife and some wood. I carved animals for my project and never looked back! My mother also loved miniatures and bought me every piece of 1964 Petite Princess furniture.

Where does the name “Miracle Chicken” come from?1

Miracle Chicken is the name of a beautiful, sweet, little hen that I hatched. I was her mother, I brought her into the world. I named my business after her. You can read her short story here and see pictures of her.

How long does it take you to make a miniature? 

I make so many different kinds of miniatures… carving animals, carving fine furniture, even toothpick and match stick carving. One example would be it takes weeks to carve an animal in 1:12 scale and then painstakingly applying the fur.

1-1What materials do you use to make your miniatures? 

Mostly wood. The wood I use is Jelutong for the animals. Cherry and pear for the furniture.

What inspires you?

Seeing a picture of a particular animal or pose that I want to do.

What’s to come from Miracle Chicken?

I plan to keep making and furring animals. I do custom commissions: your pet from your photographs.tray

Advice for beginner artists and miniaturists?

1) Trust your gut.
2) Necessity is the mother of invention.
3) Junk is your friend!

Miracle Chicken Miniatures is made possible by Linda Master of Dexter City, Ohio. Check out many more of her wonderful miniatures on the Miracle Chicken website, Miracle Chicken blog, or head on over to Etsy, eBay and Facebook to see what’s new.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Petitpunt

Miniatures by Petitpunt

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What does “petit punt” mean?

IMG_0443When I first started out on social media I joined a platform with the extension .punt.nl and as I wanted to share my tiny work I called myself petit.punt.nl. after the French word for small‚ “petit.” I soon diverted to Blogger but since the username “petit” had already been taken, the name “petitpunt” remained for practical reasons.

How did you first get started in miniatures? 

As a child, I’d always had an interest in tiny things. At the age of ten, I’d painted my own stamp collection, and I even contemplated to become a watchmaker. But life took its course, and I studied graphic design. I did build real life furniture, did a lot of DIY but nothing small.

Around 2007, my mother-in-law at that time shared her childhood dream to own a very specifically crafted dollhouse. Because of her arthritis and the specific design of the house, I offered to build it for her. When that was finished, I continued to build furniture to her liking, to fill up the dollhouse.

Do you have a favorite type of miniature to make?

There’s no specific thing I lean toward. I’ll build whatever grabs me or seems challenging. For the past few years, it’s been mostly furniture. Still… one of the last things I’ve built was a pair of snowshoes and they were lots of fun to do too!IMG_0135

What inspires you?

When it comes to new projects, it can be anything! A trip to a museum, a window display, or a story someone tells me. But the biggest one was probably coming to the IGMA Guild School for the first time. The exhibit of fellow participants’ work just blew me away! To see what people were capable of just opened up everything for me, made me realize I had only just started and it inspired me to believe that anything was possible if I pushed myself. Nowadays, it’s my latest build that inspires me most. I see the things that went wrong, the things that turned out not as good as I wanted to, and that sets me to do better the next build.

How did you become involved with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA)?

Sharing the build of my mother-in-law’s dollhouse on the Internet made me discover the miniature scene here in Holland. Next thing I knew, I was going to a miniature show here in Apeldoorn, and that’s where I met Josje Veenebos. She told me about IGMA and their amazing Guild School. She’d just received a scholarship herself and although I was very insecure if I’d fit the bill, she really pushed me to apply for a scholarship too and, for that, I’ll always be grateful to her. If you’re eager to learn and grow, nothing beats a week long experience of being submerged in knowledge and surrounded by people sharing their miniature skills.

wVY20R2xYQn8v6vqtzch_hRk38EE_THcLhZPW5vsGXgAdvice for beginner miniaturists?

First and foremost: enjoy what you do! Second: stop comparing yourself. In all honesty, everyone started out the same! Remember that even the people you and I look up to today started out as beginners. They simply have had 30 or odd more years of practice. So, don’t be intimidated by where others are right now. Look at it as a journey you’re on, and realize that it’s your journey! Build whatever you like, make it the way you want it to be, and if it doesn’t happen the first time that’s perfectly fine too! For certain you practiced a technique, discovered what worked and what didn’t, and maybe you even learned a few new skills along the way. But never let your faults or flaws discourage you… just keep at it, build whatever you love to make, and simply take on board what you learned the last time. Embrace your mistakes because they can show you where you have room to improve. And then there’s no doubt you and the people around you will love the unique pieces you’ll come up with.

What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?

The one that straight comes to mind is a 1 :144 scene made by Nell Corkin. It was in 2010, my first time at Guild School, and I was in constant awe of all the awesome miniatures I had seen so far. During sale night, Nell had various scenes on display and that’s where I saw her Gourd House. I recognized it from her blog and although her pictures were great, seeing it for real hit a cord deep within. It was so much better, a thousand times better to see it for real, it had so much detail to take in… the shrubs and plants surrounding this mystical house. The acorn dormer rooms… this delightful interior… It was the epitome of a miniature and the embodiment of creating your own fantasy.

Why miniatures?fJO_4DSCo7bP5rAU9TKZGBrlIK-da6FX-TO1DKFGk8w

Looking back I’ve always had a fascination for all things small. Miniatures in nature or even in engineering… My guess is what makes you tick never leaves you and when the time was right in my life, it came back to the surface again.

What appeals to you most about what you do?

The research, there’s no doubt about that. I love how my knowledge increases with each new project, as I venture into the unknown and investigate the life size object that I want to reproduce. For instance, the snowshoes I’ve recently made… I dived into the Internet to learn how they are built and, along the way, I discovered the history of these shoes. How they played a major role in the lives of Native Americans. How the surrounding nature led to specifically suited sizes and shapes; how various groups developed their own distinct decorative patterns into the weavings; and many more little details. As a European, this tiny part of American history was completely unknown to me and by taking on this shoe project, I gained even more appreciation for all the variations in culture we can find in our beautiful world.

IMG_0453New minis in the works?

I have a few commissions to finish before I can turn to my own list of things I’d like to build. One of them is Jane Austen’s writing table. It’s a very simple piece but I can’t wait to make it. But first, a logo stamp and a revolving book case with five shelves for my clients.

What’s to come from Petitpunt?

My plan is to keep on building pieces that are challenging to me. Whether a new technique, material,or construction… so I can learn and grow, develop my skills, meet new people along the way and share my journey through miniature land on my blog.

Debora Beijerbacht of The Netherlands heads up the Petitpunt brand. To see many mini more of her miniatures, head on over to the Petitpunt blog!

Daily Mini Interview: La Belle Cuisine Miniaturas

Miniatures by La Belle Cuisine Miniaturas

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How did you first get started in miniatures? 

La Maison du Chocolat 012Miniaturism isn’t my professional work, although I regret that. I’m a wife, mother of two lovely girls, nurse at a hospital, miniaturist, and also a painter (oil on canvas). I also do cross-stich, crochet and fabric dolls.

My interest for miniatures started in 1998 with the construction of a dollhouse (by kit). Since then, I have collected and changed other kit collections, and worked on a miniature kitchen and room boxes. Soon I decided to stop collecting and to become a miniaturist, creating my own pieces. That’s when the passion really started.quintal da miquinhas para revista 001

How has your work evolved over time?

After building 3 dollhouses from kits, I thought it was time to create my own pieces, almost entirely done by myself. I started then with “Zeferino’s vegetable market” with grocery packages, fruit and vegetable crates and that’s where the taste for the grocery packages was born. Scanned from the real size boxes, IMG_5492.JPGI have since then built 63 grocery boxes and a total of 145 Portuguese grocery products, including the typical salted codfish, smoked ham, crates of fruit and vegetables, and more.

Next, a chocolaterie (pâtisserie), called in french “Maison du chocolat,” was born. Inside it there are various cakes, bonbons, and chocolate boxes which turned into a real passion and are a tribute to chocolate. I looooove chocolate!

IMG_8450.JPGA haberdashery called “Casinha do botão” (Button’s home) and “Quintal da miquinhas” (miquinhas’s backyard) followed. They were both created and built entirely from scratch.

Sometimes, I feel a little lost with so many ideas and the strong wish of turning them real. At present, my creations are mainly directed to kitchen articles such as boxes of food, fruit and vegetables, groceries, and also some pieces of furniture in miniature, such as beds with their bed covers and bathroom towels.

merceariaZeferino 004What materials do you use to make miniatures?

I really enjoy working with polymer clay, but also with other materials, like fabrics, wood, cardboard, and more. Many times I use common daily materials in my miniatures. I usually say that other people’s “garbage” is our good fortune.

Favorite mini you have made yourself?

I love my market stall “Horta do zeferino” (Zeferino’s vegetable market) and the chocolaterie (pâtisserie) I mentioned above.

casinha do Botão para Revista 003

What inspires you?

Sometimes, just a common little thing is enough to suggest an idea for a new creation, such as a roombox. In the case of “Miquinhas’s backyard” it was that character doll, Miquinhas, that I bought from the talented doll maker Alicia Volta, a friend from Argentina, but living in Portugal, that inspired me to create a garden corner where Miquinhas is planting some pots. Chocolate inspired “La maison du chocolat” and thread reels led to the creation of the haberdashery “button’s home.”

https://www.facebook.com/LaBelleCuisineMiniaturasOther hobbies you enjoy?

I have two more passions, as I mentioned before: oil painting and fabric dolls that can be seen at Shabby Paris Dolls blog, Shabby Paris Dolls Etsy, Shabby Paris Dolls Facebook.

La Belle Cuisine Miniaturas was created by Paula Marina Vasconcelos Barbosa of Portugal. You can shop her miniatures on Etsy, or head to Facebook for more photos. Don’t forget to check out three of the La Belle Cuisine Miniaturas blogs here: Blog IBlog IIBlog III.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Phillip Nuveen

Miniatures by Phillip Nuveen

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How did you transition from art and design into miniatures?

TDM1-01I’m a really creative individual, so my entire life is art and design. I work and create in so many mediums which I think is extremely helpful to my miniature work. So the transition is fluid and always happening.

Where does your interest in miniature stem from?

I absolutely love architecture. I love all art and design but buildings and interiors hold a special place in my heart. Everything is connected, of course, when it comes to aesthetic mediums. When I was a teenager I wanted to be an architect, but I was bad at certain types of math. My brain just doesn’t understand numbers. I excelled in geometry, but that’s about it. Which makes sense to me now because my mind works in a very visual way. I think in shapes and images. I’ll get an idea for a miniature, picture it my mind, build it in my mind and then execute in real life. I very rarely have to sketch out a concept. So not having the proper training to be an architect, I decided to start making the models to show the world that I can imagine beautiful buildings and interiors! Even though they are a scale version.

How has your work in miniature evolved?

Two years ago, I first embarked on an at-home project to make myself a miniature apartment. I gathered raw materials and just started from scratch. With each new miniature, it pushes my skills and perfectionist qualities further. I’m always hunting and keeping my eyes open for new materials.TDM3-01

The first few models I made were of a Mies van der Rohe inspired aesthetic. My mantra is “Less is more,” and I’m really into minimalism and modernity. So, the past few structures I’ve made have become more organic in shape, mainly drawing inspiration from my favorite architects Norman Foster and Zaha Hadid.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

It’s really all about the materials. An artist is only as good as his materials, right? Well, at the few art supplies stores left in NYC, I’m a regular! My basic building supplies are foamcore, balsa wood, crescent board, and acrylic sheets of plastic. There are a few different adhesives I’ve narrowed down that work best for me. I also use acrylic paint and decorative wooden surfaces, which I generally just print out from the Internet. I have my BFA in visual communications from Columbia College Chicago, where I studied design. Having developed design software capabilities allows me to design all kinds of things: book jackets, magazines, computers screens, framed art work images, decals, unique surfaces, miniature packaging, shopping bags, and more. Which all really bring a miniature space to life.

TDM5-01

What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?

I’m honestly so obsessed with miniatures and models that I’ve seen too much to narrow it down! I feel that the art form is having a real resurgence and will be in the spotlight for a while, or at least I’m hoping it will!

Advice for beginner artists?

Take your time while creating and working. The more perfect you get it, the better it looks and photographs!

TDM2-01Why miniatures? 

I just am in love with architecture and I started miniature work because it’s a way for me to show my ideas and concepts, rather than just using drawings or CAD renderings. Plus, I think the skills are the most impressive part. It’s one thing to have an idea for a structure, but then to actually craft it from raw materials and to be able to hold it and show it is my favorite part.

What’s to come from Phillip Nuveen?

As always, I’m trying to land larger freelance projects highlighting my miniature work or the other mediums I work in. I just did a fantastic series of miniatures for a large well known furniture brand to be used in an advertising campaign. The miniatures came out amazingly, they really pushed me outside my comfort zone and I’m very proud of them. However, the campaign is put on hold so I can’t show photos of the miniatures – so disappointing! I’m always thinking up new designs and updating my website and Instagram with fresh work!

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

I would just like to thank everyone that is a part of the miniature art world. I really enjoy playing with scale and working in miniature. We all have to stick together and share our ideas and work to keep the medium alive!

Phillip Nuveen currently lives in Brooklyn, NYC. His impeccably designed and executed miniatures can be viewed on his website or on Instagram. Shop Phillip Nuveen miniatures now on Etsy!

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Calico Jewels

Miniatures by Calico Jewels

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

studded medieval chairsMany years ago, I used to be a quilter. I thought it would be amusing to start a collection of fancy thimbles. The catalogs that sold thimbles also had a few miniatures. It was love at first sight. First, I bought a tiny brass wine carafe with goblets and a tray. Then, I needed a table to put them on. Then I needed a room to put the table in. But a room needs to be within a house. See how easy it was to get sucked in?

How many years have you been making minis?

I started when I was 30, and I’m retired now (although I’m still 30 in my head)… And there were a few multi-year breaks from the hobby.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

Mostly basswood, but I also use various hardwoods such as purpleheart, tulip, walnut, cherry, and others. I also make mini tapestries and rugs, so fabrics and textured paper is used a lot.

Advice for beginner miniaturists?

Don’t be afraid to experiment, and be prepared for a few mistakes. It’s only wood (or clay, or whatever else). You can start again. Oh, and that fancy manicure? Forget about it. It’s extremely difficult to sand those tiny bits of wood with long, elaborate nails. You’ll need the money for more supplies anyway.walnut phoenix chair

Tool you can’t live without?

My Dremel Stylus takes first place, with my MicroMark scroll saw a close runner up.

What’s your favorite mini?

I’ve long since sold it, but my favorite mini that was made by another artist was a 1684 court cupboard by the late Warren Dick. I had several of his miniatures and his work was amazing. My favorite that I’ve made myself was a medieval scriptorium. It was suggested to me on Facebook that I consider building one. It’s now in a private collection in Texas.

What is your non-miniature inspiration?

I’ve used the ancient Book of Kells as inspiration for some of my tapestries and rugs. I’ve also gotten ideas for mini furniture from some RPG computer games such as Skyrim and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Yes, I like to play computer games. You’re never too old to have fun.

apothecary chestWhat is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?

I’ve never seen it in person, but I think the most memorable miniature for me would have to be Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle.

Why miniatures? 

I love the romantic image of the medieval era – despite that I wouldn’t actually have wanted to live there. No coffee machines, cheeseburgers or modern plumbing! I can recreate that in miniature, with my own spin on how it might have been, with a bit of fantasy mixed in.

What’s to come from Calico Jewels?

Much of my furniture is one of a kind, so there’s almost always something new on my worktable.rustic livery cupboard

Other hobbies you enjoy?

I love to read, and if George R.R. Martin doesn’t finish book #6 of the Game of Thrones series soon, I may explode.

Anything else you would like to add? What do you want miniature fans to know about you? 

I’m a serious introvert – but that doesn’t mean I’m shy. I also rather enjoy being a bit weird. I don’t know if those usually contradict each other, but it doesn’t really matter. Despite the typical aches and pains of being over 30 (cough cough), I’m happy with my life.

Calico Jewels by Linda Sweigart is based in Pennsylvania. You can shop the Calico Jewels collection online via Etsy or check out new images on Facebook!

dragonscale chair & maps table

Daily Mini Interview: Micro Miniatures by Nanotray

Micro Miniatures by Nanotray

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fWhat does Nanotray mean?

Smaller than a big tray! As an engineer designing technology for small spacecraft, I was making everything smaller, to fit more technology into a smaller satellite. A regular telecoms satellite might be around 3000 kg (the size of an SUV) and we were building micro satellites, around 50 kg (the size of a microwave oven). Those were full of what we called micro trays that held the electronics and space experiments. Then we moved down the scale to nano (up to 10 kg, basketball-sized) and pico (under 1 kg) satellites. That required devising a way to reduce down the size of the structure, and with electronics parts becoming smaller, too, I designed a new standard packing unit which I dubbed a nanotray, just to distinguish it for the other engineers to house their particle detectors and space radios in. Nanotray became the general term I used for anything smaller than small, and it transgressed into wooden satellite models and anything nano-sized I did.

How did you first get started in miniatures?

If you design a car or a cell phone, you get the pleasure of seeing your creation after it’s been launched. With a spacecraft, once it’s launched, it’s gone! I guess I started building models of my satellite designs before they went into space so that we’d have something to remember them by. They were also useful to help visualize actual operations of the satellites in operations centers.

I have always liked detailed things and working with wood, so that became the medium for my models. Typically, my model spacecraft would be scaled to end up with a suitable sized unit to display on a desktop, scaled from 1:10 for smaller satellites to 1:288 for a few models I made of the International Space Station.ffw

I started turning wood as a teenager, initially with a lathe fashioned from an old kitchen appliance and some plywood. It wasn’t until one day in 2010, that I was inspired to reduce down regular, every-day objects, like this table setting, complete with flowers, crockery and a champagne cooler.

As I was making this table I kept replacing items with smaller ones, ending here at 1:72 scale.

How has your work evolved?

As a member of the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild, you are challenged to interpret a particular statement every month through woodturning. That table was turned in response to Valentine’s Day, and so I kept turning, improving the small lathe I built for the miniatures, and the scale kept getting smaller.

ttI’m not quite there yet – the turnings are still visible – but sometimes I do offer a magnifying glass to view the wee ones.

However, the size that particularly caught my interest was 1:144 scale – thanks in part to the beautiful work of Nell Corkin – and I became part of an online microminiature community addicted to sweating the small stuff. I started modeling pieces of furniture that had a woodturning element – such as the legs of a table or chair – and soon I was trying out furniture sets, rooms, and even complete houses.

The Pauline Vanier Room in Rideau Hall (Canada’s version of the White House) became the center of my universe at the end of 2010, when it took me several months to put together the near 1000 pieces to replicate a small piece of Canadian history.

DDSASA

What materials do you use to make your micro miniatures?

I work mainly in wood, although I might add a piece of brass or other material from time to time. DASHardwoods like ebony and lignum vitae are best for really tiny turned items, down to below 1/1000” (about 20 microns), but for regular miniturnings (those under 1/16”), birch works very well, too. Sometimes boxwood, for small chess pieces of course. For micro-carving, I tend to use maple and cherry, with sometimes walnut, padauk and purpleheart for contrast. I cut scale 2×4 lumber from sanded paper-thin maple veneer to frame up buildings, makes for much nicer walls than using plywood.

Describe your process.

Well, you need a steady lathe: I built my own, and it includes a head rest. Some of the small pieces take a long time, and if your head moves too much it becomes difficult to see the little details after a while. Especially while sanding.gaag

For the really small pieces, I have to work carefully in time with my breathing – you can go into a sort of trance, taking swipes with a tiny sliver of 2000-grit sandpaper, hoping that the next stroke does not destroy the piece (as often happens, and then I start again). I don’t try it after carrying heavy items or pulling weeds from the garden, so in reality a small item like a goblet or a spinning top that’s almost invisible might take a whole afternoon to complete.

Advice for beginner artists?

Do what you like doing, and keep pushing the boundaries. Show your work to others, both online and in real life (photographs never quite do it justice). Interact with others and discuss their work, too. Take feedback. Agree that some pieces that you worked on for a long time are just not quite right and should be redone after all. And at some point, people will start saying that you have developed your own style and techniques, they recognize your work. And then keep going. That’s only the start.

Tool and materials you can’t live without?

Fresh scalpels and fine, good quality needle files. Not those you can buy at $5 for a set of six, but the ones that cost $20 per piece. Then a dental pick for moving tiny drops of glue around, and sandpaper: for coarse shaping I use 600 grit, finer detail shaping with little strips of 2000 grit. And of course my nanolathe with a selection of fine woods.

safgsFavorite micro miniature you’ve ever made?

My favorite mini is actually carved, rather than turned, a 1:144 scale copy of Rietveld’s Red and Blue chair. It is currently on loan to the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands, who have a large Rietveld collection. The picture of it sitting on my finger is the most viewed picture on my blog by far.

Most difficult micro mini you’ve ever made?

Two most challenging pieces: one a 1:144 scale chess set. The whole board is 1/8” (about 3 mm) across, with the squares 1/64” (~0.4 mm). I lost several kings and other pieces just while transferring them to the board, and had to make new ones. Carving that cross on the top of the King’s crown takes a steady hand. gggsThe table it sits on is based on the chess table from Daumier’s The Chess Players, and the setup is a few moves into a famous game called “The immortal game”, from around the same time.

The other piece was the 1:144 scale copy of a room in Rideau Hall. I chose the Pauline Vanier “Canadian Room,” full of historic Canadian furniture, and all scaled from photographs. It takes days just to analyze and build a chair to look like the original, even though the volume of the wood is about 3 million times smaller and lighter. And there are several chairs, all quite different, from spindle-turned to upholstered with cabriole legs. Not to mention all the other cupboards, desks, art pieces and the wooden floor!

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

There are not many microminiature artists around, so I rarely see other people’s work in real life, but I have met a few online! A while ago I saw some miniature silk embroidery by Louise Smith that looked just like a series of photographs, unless you looked right up close. And I once met Dalton Ghetti, who carves lead pencils into amazing detail. I presented him with a goblet turned into the tip of a pencil lead. After getting a magnifier out he exclaimed some unprintables, followed by “There is a goblet there!”

What inspires you?

Going as small as possible while still being able to see a piece. Photographs never do the smallest pieces justice. Every time I look at a real piece I am shocked again by how small it is compared to the photos I see on my computer screen. I like to work off a theme. gfgfgLast winter I made a few musical instruments, like a grand piano the size of my thumbnail, with strings, followed by a concert harp, stringed at the same 1:144 scale as the grand. I’ve made guitars and violins at 1:144 and even smaller at 1:288 – putting the strings on those took some practice! One was for guitar-playing Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield, as part of a commissioned model of the International Space Station at 1:288 scale.

Why miniatures?

I can pull a complete scene from my shirt pocket, and people go, “wow!” Makes it all worthwhile. The other day someone came up to me at a woodturning meet and shared pictures of the miniatures she made for her family after taking one of my Lee Valley classes. That was really neat.

What’s to come from Nanotray?

Every year I exhibit at Place de Arts in Coquitlam. They have a miniature art exhibit called Positively Petite, bringing together miniature painters, potters, and this nano-woodworker. I also teach miniature woodturning classes at the local Lee Valley store (next one in November). For several years I have made a fundraiser piece for the worldwide MicroMiniature conventions, typically a scene in the theme of the convention, e.g. Gepetto’s workshop with all the tools, and Pinocchio being worked on, all fitting inside a one-inch circle. And I have just been invited to give a talk and demonstrate my nano turning at another woodturning guild, so let’s see how many people I can convert to microminiaturism there!

saasOther activities you enjoy?

I used to do technical things, electronics and the like as a hobby, but then I made that my work, designing and building satellite missions and spacecraft. I like to design and make things big and small, from orbits of Venus to real-size furniture, down to miniatures. And I write analysis software, which tells you where satellites are, how much power they need to work, and what solar panel they need to get that power from the Sun. That software started out as a hobby project, although I now use it for real projects too. And then I escape into the wood studio to make another miniature.

Anything else you would like to add? What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

I’m as much a fan of any other miniaturist as they could be of me, and, if I may say so, the @dailymini Instagram page is the one that really gave me the kick to get an account! Keep going as long as you’re enjoying it.

Maarten Meerman, originally from Holland via the UK and the U.S., now resides in British Columbia, Canada. His microminiature work continues to get smaller and smaller, and even more detailed. Check out many more photos on the Nanotray website, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Daily Mini Interview: The World’s Smallest Portfolio by Michael William Lester

Michael William Lester Creates The World’s Smallest Portfolio
A tiny book of visual ideas

Website + Portfolio  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Behance  |  Tumblr  |

How did you devise such the brilliant concept of The World’s Smallest Portfolio?

13The idea came from a great little self-promo brief by London illustration and animation studio, jelly London. The studio team asked students and graduates coming to their D&AD New Blood festival talk to get people talking about their own work. I knew I wanted to not just get people talking about my work as a whole, but specifically about the concepts rather than the style. So I set myself a challenge: “How could I present more of my ideas and less of my visual style?” My answer was to make something so small that only a really strong idea could still be communicated.

How long did it take to make each miniature portfolio?

The actual making took around 3 hours once I got the hang of it, but getting the first one right took a couple of days. The designing and prepping took about a week. I made 5 portfolios, each by hand, and each hand-signed.4

What type of work is featured in The World’s Smallest Portfolio?

The work inside is a mixture of work I’d made previously and work that existed as a quick sketch or idea. A few of the ideas were created as part of my ongoing illustration work for IBM and Ogilvy, for example the Brazil flag eye was made during the world cup last week for their blog, and the Europe flag was a poster and animation I made earlier this year for them. The girl keyhole was literally just a sketch I had lying around. So it was a fun process to take these pieces of work, all at different stages and try and bring them together.

7What materials went into the creation of The World’s Smallest Portfolio?

Here’s the complete list of things I used after printing, in the correct order: cutting board, craft knife, ruler, Wenger swiss army knife (reamer to score), bookbinding awl, needle, thread, bookbinders tape, magnifying card, Sharpie, and an elastic band. Having a bit of prior book binding experience was useful, but like most things in the creative world, skill is only a small part of it.

An interesting fact: the rainbow-esque strip at the end of the book was created by accident, the thickness of the card meant each page stuck out a little bit more. I originally planned to crop this down but in the end it became a memorable part of the design, I guess it’s good to not completely know what you’re doing!

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Career highlights thus far?

Having the opportunity to work in Paris for a year with Ogilvy straight from graduation was incredible and I wouldn’t be where I am without it. I’m still incredibly grateful to Chris Rowson (now creative director at Ogilvy NY) who saw my work, believed in me, and got me over there.

Advice for beginner designers?

The only thing you should be focused on is making good work. In this age of social media, it’s easy to look around and think you’re behind everyone else. To think you’re not doing enough and spend too much time trying to promote yourself or gain a following to catch up…. Relax! Focus on making great work and everything else will follow.

6Fellow designers that inspire you?

One of my favorites is Alan Fletcher. His book The Art of Looking Sideways is an incredible homage to imagination, and really got me into visual playfulness. There’s no order to the pages, it’s just a huge collection of stray (but very intelligent) thoughts. I actually found it lying abandoned on a street corner which is the perfect way to discover a book of randomness!

Plans to work with miniatures in the future?

The World’s Smallest Portfolio served an idea. It came from a problem and that was the best solution I could devise. If another brief requires some small thinking, then I’d definitely go in that direction again, but we will just have to see what crops up!

Other miniature work you enjoy?

As a kid I was obsessed with Kinder egg toys (okay, I still buy them from time to time). My studio desk is full of all kinds of little plastic figures.3

Other activities you enjoy?

I dabble in guitar and enjoy reading existential philosophy.

Upcoming projects planned?

I have a big exhibition coming soon which right now I can’t say too much about but it’s very exciting!

Flip through The World’s Smallest Portfolio by Michael William Lester, a freelance designer and illustrator currently based in London, UK. You can check out more of his work online, or follow along on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and Behance.

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Daily Mini Interview: Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures

Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures

|  Website & Shop  |  #mackenzieminis & Instagram  |  Daily Mini Studio Visit  |

What are some of your earliest memories that involve miniatures? 

-untitled-+2 (5)My mother made miniatures, so I remember watching her make all kinds of things. One of the coolest things she did was buy cheap Santa Claus figures and then she’d make a new face and sometimes even change their clothes, and then fill Santa’s bag with miniatures themed around a family’s hobbies. I always thought that was such a great way to make money and get to do what she loved. Mini making was just something she did on the side.

What kind of miniatures did your mom make? 

Besides the Santa dudes, I remember her having a friend make a wooden Noah’s Ark and she made all the animals, two of everything she could think of. She made a lot of holiday-themed things, it was a way for her to earn extra money. -untitled-+2 (1)She was a single mother with 5 kids so, she really needed the extra. Heart necklaces for Valentine’s Day, mini Santas and snowmen or snowwomen for Christmas, pumpkins with willow tree branches as the stems, Fourth of July flags with glitter… you name it. I still have some of the little guys she made, I have a Santa, an alligator, a bird, and a few others. She was so fun to watch. She worked with polymer clay and acrylic paints. That’s what I use too, I didn’t stray far from what I knew.

How did your mom’s work in miniatures inspire you to create your own?

-untitled-+2 (2)Making miniatures was something that I just happened upon. I wanted to be a part of a group art show and decided I would make a miniature orange tabby cat. That was the first mini I made, as an adult. While I was making it I felt like my Mom was there helping me. It made me laugh… as if she was sooo happy that I picked her medium to work with. That felt really amazing. Doing something my Mother did. I feel a huge connection to her when I work. Also, I should mention that my Mother passed away 6 years ago… so it feels extra special to feel a connection with her through something she did, it makes the work even more important to me.

How long have you been creating works of art and photography?

-untitled-+3I have been making art for so long. I feel like we are all artists starting out. Some of us choose different paths, but creativity is so strong in us as children. I was lucky to have a mother that nurtured that part of me. She loved every little thing we made, even if it was leaves and sticks in a paper bag, she loved it.

I started to get more serious about art in high school, because my art teacher, Tryon, ruled. She let me get into photography, but we didn’t have a photo department. We had to work with what we had, so I did a lot of collages with my photos (developed at CVS) and magazine cut-outs (National Geographic mostly). I loved them. I ended up going to college for Fine Art Photography and I still loooove making collages.

As for miniatures, I’ve been creating them for 2 years now. It’s still really new for me.

-untitled-+2Describe the pieces from your most recent collection.

The mini boob pots that I make are a collaboration with my friend Isaac Nichols, he makes life-sized boob pots for actual plants. I always wanted some of his pots, but I couldn’t afford them, so I decided to make mini versions of them. Turns out, the minis were a big hit. I also make lots of food and handfuls of jewelry, little mugs, plants, beauty supplies, naked ladies dancing, animals, pretzels, and… and… and, well… I like to make lots of things. I’ve also just started a series of shadow boxes, so hopefully I’ll have a gallery show at some point.

Daily Mini recently visited Mackenzie’s Studio — see the photos here!

Why miniatures?

Without feedback from friends and family, I probably wouldn’t be making miniatures right now at all. They are who makes this a “thing” for me. I can talk myself out of everything pretty quickly, so having support from them keeps me going.

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Do you create miniatures on a full-time basis?

I do not. I am a full-time odd job kinda gal. I babysit, I am a bookkeeper for a couple different companies, I work as a Production Assistant sometimes, I help teach little kids art… oh man, I have a long list of things that I’ve been doing for the past 10 years in Philadelphia. This is a rad place to make art and make a living. The community here is so supportive and I am lucky to have the friends that I have and be surrounded by people who understand my lifestyle. I am so very lucky.

IMG_7397Tools, techniques or materials you can’t live without?

Cheap acrylic matte finish paint, tweezers, music (I consider this to be a tool, without it, I get nothing done), sarcasm, my cat, and this weird little pencil that helps me shape each mini and at this point is coated with old clay and paint… it’s the best.

Advice for beginner artists?

Make what you want, how you want it, and keep at it. DO NOT try to be perfect. Let your personality shine through; that’s what people are drawn to in art, or at least that’s what I’m drawn to. Oh, and always work with good light.

What’s your most beloved miniature?

I don’t just have one. That’s the best part of miniatures! You can have a million beloved teeny things and they don’t take up that much space. BUT, I would say all the minis my Momma made, they are very dear to my heart.IMG_0239 It’s cool to look at the way she made them and compare it to how I would make the same thing. I also have these really weird little pieces my boyfriend made me. One is a little mouse-like thing made out of clay and feathers. I call her Face Veil. And the other is a peanut on a piece of wood… I absolutely love them. They are the first gifts he gave me, and they make me smile.

What’s the most difficult mini you’ve ever attempted to create?

Custom miniatures are rough for me. I feel a lot of pressure and anxiety because I want the animals to look right, I want the person to be happy with their mini. Somehow they always turn out well, and I end up loving them, but it’s a hard thing to get started. red+bikini+1I’m sure I overthink it. I have to take my own advice here and stop trying to make it perfect, because that’s impossible. Also, I’m sure my most difficult miniature is still to come.

What’s to come from Mackenzie McAlpin?

I’ll be working on updating my website off and on, as well as working on custom mini orders and OH! I’ll be selling minis at Art Star Pop Up Market at Spruce Street Harbor Park on July 25 (I will update my Instagram and my website accordingly). I also have a piece in the Fleisher Art Memorial Faculty Show right now.

What inspires you? -untitled-+2 (3)

I can’t think of any one thing in particular as a source of inspiration… but I am definitely influenced by Miranda July, my family, Amy Sedaris, Billy Dufala, Isaac Nichols, LIFES HAPPENINGS, Gabriel Orozco, dollar stores, childhood, animals, boobs, women’s bodies, flowers, the sky, my cat, the moon, the sun, nature in general, people who work their butts off, Nan Goldin, routines in life, food, relationships, mistakes, children’s encyclopedias, sustainability, Mexico, Africa, music, rocks, Outsider Art, Folk Art, love, laughter, and that list could go on and on and on…

IMG_2531What are some of the most memorable miniatures you’ve seen?

Dalton Ghetti’s carvings are so perfectly wonderful. Also, Anatoly Konenko’s smallest aquarium in the world is crazy. I went to the Philadelphia Miniaturia in New Jersey last year and those people are no joke. They blow my mind.

Other activities you enjoy?

One of my favorite hobbies is Windowkitty on Tumblr and @windowkitty on Instagram. I get soooooooo much joy out of this. I started doing it probably 8 years ago and still love it.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

Everyone should know that I like to laugh, love and have fun ’cause life is so short.

To see many mini more Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures, visit Mackenzie’s website or check out #mackenzieminis and @kenzaloolee on Instagram! To see photos from a recent Daily Mini Studio Visit, click here!

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Iulia Chin Lee

Miniature Woodwork and Micro Woodturning by Iulia Chin Lee

|    Website    |

How did you get started in miniatures and micro woodturning?

fromLog029_LI met Johannes Michelsen at my first Northeastern Woodworkers Association annual showcase in 2001. He was the judge and demonstrator. In that show, I won first place in the miniature category. He also gave me the inspiration for miniature turning.

In 2010, I won ‘Best of Show’ along with one first place in ‘Case Furniture,’ one first place in ‘Table’, one second place in ‘Spindle Turning,’ and one first place in ‘Miniature.’ Those first three pieces competed and were judged against full-size work.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

I use lots and lots of different kinds of wood. It all depends on the piece I’m making. I’ve used acrylic, rosewood, ebony, brass for candlesticks and so much more. I prefer wood because every piece is different. The wood speaks to me and determines what the shape should be. Sometimes a nice pattern might be visible on the surface of the wood, but you might need to cut out that beautiful pattern to make your piece. I prefer to keep that pattern and figure out what shape will go with that particular pattern of wood.

Were you formally trained in the arts?pagePhoto_01d

I have a double masters degree in oil painting and ceramics. As for woodworking, to cut the wood is one process, but to finish it is a whole other process. It can take me up to 2 days or more to finish a miniature woodturning. I’m most known my furniture. I started making miniatures in 1992. I prefer to spend time making miniatures rather than naming them. And so, I don’t name my pieces. I finish them on the lathe. Once I’ve removed a piece from the lathe, you can’t put it back on again.

What types of miniatures do you make?

As for the scale I work in, the scale of a miniature truly depends on the person’s perspective. I’ve been working in artistic woodturning for 20 years now. You simply cannot make two identical pieces because you can never find two identical pieces of wood. I use dried wood that’s been treated.

Favorite memories in your miniature woodturning career thus far?

There was a young boy who was fascinated with my work at a show. One of the pieces of furniture had a spinning top inside the drawer. I took tweezers and placed it in his hand. Turns out, years later he became a woodworker himself.

NewWork_001_LWhen I worked with cupboards, I made real joints, all dovetail joints. I won first place for my miniatures in a full-size woodworking competition.

One of my earliest miniatures was a Chippendale chest of drawers and a Queen Anne stool for my son.

What’s been especially challenging thus far?

Sometimes it’s very hard for people to get over the miniature scale of my pieces and those of other artists working in miniature. For the Northeastern Woodworkers Association, I always entered the miniature category and always won first place. However my works were becoming lost in the exhibition space. People didn’t even go to see my works. So I entered to be judged along with the full scale wood pieces.

Woodworking is a very competitive industry. It’s important for me to see my work and not think it’s a toy. I think that’s been the biggest challenge. When I show my work at a miniature show, they think it’s a toy or dollhouse. But my work is not just that. I’ve made brass turned drawer handles and so much more.

As I mentioned, I love to challenge myself. In addition to entering my work in the category of Miniature, I enter my miniatures to be judged against full‐size work. Below are some prizes I have won:

  • 1st place in Spindle‐turning, 2007 (spiral candlesticks)
  • 1st in Case Furniture (blanket chest)
  • 1st in Table (colonial walnut table)
  • 1st in Marquetry, 2011 (room box)
  • 2nd place in Chair (ladle‐back chair)
  • 2nd in Vase‐Hollowing (lidded vase)
  • 2nd in Bowl‐Hollowing (nestled bowls)

NewWork_004_LWhat inspires you?

I have an interest in arts and cultural history. This interest comes together when I make furniture. I make only historically accurate pieces. I came across a Dutch Kas cupboard from 1730 at a local shop in Kingston, NY. It was a full size piece, so I made some drawings of the work, found the appropriate wood, then made a replica myself.

In 2012, there was a special exhibit in the Museum of the Connecticut Historical Society. The title was ‘A Craft of Tradition ‐ Current Work by The Society of American Furniture Makers.’ My miniature Dutch Kas was chosen among the 34 national, full‐size finalists.

What’s your favorite piece?

Whenever we as artists create a piece our mood (physical, mental, emotional) is always different. Sometimes everything simply comes together to break a record, as athletes in the Olympics might do. specialty-turning009_LEverything is combined together in that one moment to create greatness.

Wood is like a jewel. When the wood speaks to me, I have to decide how to cut the wood.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

I have a few favorite pieces that have taken me months or more than a year to create. Sometimes when I encounter a roadblock in my work, I have to breakthrough somehow. I know that if I created three beautifully jointed doors of a dresser one night, I should not go to sleep and work on the 4th door in the morning. It’s a true challenge, but when I’m on a roll and in a creative state of mind, I do not sleep. I know that by going to bed I would lose whatever magic I had that day. I have good days and bad days. When I have a good day, I don’t want to stop. And that’s why artists have very irregular hours.

To see more of Iulia Chin Lee’s miniature woodwork and micro woodturning, visit the Chin Lee Miniature website.

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Daily Mini Interview: Atomic Miniature

Atomic Miniature by Michael Yurkovic
Classic Mid-Century Modern Furniture and Accessories in 1:12 Scale

|   Website   |   Facebook   |   Instagram   |

DSC09549 copyMy brand in this world is Atomic Miniature, dedicated to producing museum quality Mid­‐Century Modern furnishings and accessories in 1:12 scale for the discriminating collector and miniaturist. I recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to support my craft with new tools and machinery. You can learn more and donate here!

Campaign Update: The Daily Miniature will match your donation to Atomic Miniature’s GoFundMe campaign! Contact dailymini@thedailymini.com for more information.

My formal training as an Industrial Designer exposed me to the world of design in general, and especially to the great designers/inventors of the mid 20th century, including Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Eero Saarinen to name but a few. I grew up in a middle class, blue­‐collar family, and really didn’t have the exposure to these works of contemporary art in my everyday world. As I became more experienced as a designer, my appreciation for detail evolved, and I began to realize what made some of these deceptively simple designs so special. That is the major challenge for me in depicting designs from this era in scale: there are few elements to portray, but they must all be done with precision, and sometimes according to the eye and not the raw dimensions.

R8 copyOne of my careers to date has been as a professional toy inventor. I worked with my partner in all aspects of the discipline, from brainstorming initial concepts, to sketching, prototyping, and finished concept renderings. Then there was the presentation aspect, presenting to high­‐level management from Hasbro, Mattel, and more. We sold a few concepts, and even managed to have an item included in the Museum Of Contemporary Art store in NYC. I learned tons about prototyping, electronics, mechanisms, materials, and various processes while doing this. We built all our own demonstration prototypes, so I had to learn many new things, especially about lighting and electronics. Very cool and challenging stuff.

Enough about me for a minute, there are some miniaturists out there who really do it for me. Bill Robertson, whom I had the pleasure of studying with for 6 days in Castine, Maine this past June. So much in the way of pure skill, historical knowledge, and teaching abilities wrapped into one. Add to this a great sense of humor and un­‐rockable patience. It was an amazing time! Another idol of mine is Ichiyoh Haga from Japan. 3 copyHis work, like Bill’s, is so delicate and sensitive. Blows me away. His work in metals, wood, and any number of other materials cooks my mind. I especially like his Parisian shop fronts from the early 20th century. Lovely work!!

Ok, back to me, besides Mid­‐Century, I find myself drawn to any number of styles. A bit schizophrenic yes, but having done a 17th century sewing stand in Bill’s class recently, I had a whole new appreciation of that era. Same with the work of Mark Murphy. His cabinetry is so beautiful and delicate; I want to know more about that. Nell Corkin and her wonderful work in 1:144. I’ve dabbled in that a bit, but she makes me want to dive in headfirst. Then there is Elizabeth Gazmuri and her wonderful claw foot cabinets. Mind-blowing, and something I’d love to try. Beth Freeman­‐ Kane and her wonderful petite dioramas, so delicate and wonderful. I am so drawn to all that goodness.

Ash3 copyI’ll be showing again with Tom Bishop at his fall Chicago Show, come by and say hi. Tom puts on a great event, and I’m happy to be there. Later on in November, I’ll be in Philly, where I hope to play some serious ping pong again with the dailymini team.

Advice is such a curious thing, but if there’s one thing I can suggest, and it may sound cliché-ish, but do what you love. If it’s art deco great, if it’s tiny animals, do it. If it’s something completely different like surfing, do it. There is only one you, damn it!

Industrial Designer and artisan Michael Yurkovic has over 33 years of experience. To support the development of his museum quality miniatures, you can now donate to his GoFundMe campaign. For more information and images, visit the Atomic Miniature website and make sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

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