I remember building kits of airplanes when I was around 10 years old. Then I moved to really historical themes with armored vehicles and figures.
At this period in time, I started to learn methods of aging by master modelers and, at the same time, my focus slowly switched to what I call the urban landscape from old times (1940s to early 70s), as well as traces that remain nowadays. I thus oscillate between nostalgia and sensitivity regarding to an era which is no more.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
I think the term hyperrealism or utmost realism would perfectly fit. I have an obsession with that, in scale, regarding overlooked structures of an urban landscape. Specifically I mean those “traces” from pastimes: abandoned vintage storefronts, disused workshops, old sheds and other antique wall-ads. I really don’t know where it comes from, but I’m a passionate hunter for this kind of thing, photographing as many things as I can when I unearth one. I greatly enjoy incorporating strong effects of aging more particularly, not as they should appear on the model in scale, but having always in mind the way I should let them appear “through” the pictures. For me, this is the ultimate and last step of my work: macro photos with natural lighting and side angles as if you are in front of a real building. I should say I’m half miniaturist and half photographer, perhaps the best way to qualify me is a “painter” in 3D. Yes, I like to “compose” pictures with my miniature sculptures.
Describe your process.
Well, first of all, I never copy a precise structure in scale. I think it’s perhaps interesting to duplicate the front of a building closely, but this doesn’t leave you any possibilities to improve details, erase others or to bring much more weight to a peculiar effect which doesn’t appear in the real situation. Of course, I took my inspiration from original situations, but I’m used to only “extracting” what seems interesting to my point of view (should that be a typical peeled door, worn shutters, a part of wall, tiny details, and so on… ) to completely reimagine a façade, a building or a street scene. My philosophy is to make walls or structures as they should appear or could have appeared “somewhere” or in a more precise area, but in fact nowhere else than in my mind and imagination.
What materials do you incorporate into your structures?
I mainly create them from foam board and plastic card of different thicknesses, depending on the scales I work in. I also use water-based coating and very fine small commercial items to mimic tiny details such as nuts, bolts, and so on. For my paintings and aging processes, I employ enamel paints as well as acrylics, and always involve experimental advanced methods of weathering with new products, or at least to improve some “old” techniques in order to perfect the effects.
Do you remember the very first miniature you created?
If you’re talking about a real piece of art — yes, of course. This was a showcase box depicting a part of an old industrial siding in the Parisian suburbs of the 1960s. It was a combination to perfect the old techniques I used at scale modeling when younger and an experiment at hand-making buildings in the same time. I sold it with another piece in the same style to the Musée Miniature et Cinéma located in Lyon, France.
What is your favorite miniature to make?
Frankly speaking, I should say just a strongly aged patched door or a slice of wall of the same. These offer so many effects of aging, contrasts and variations of textures that I should spend hours to work at perfecting the way they should appear at end. That’s just as simple as that!
What advice would you give to new artists?
Patience to never let up.
Always think once the work seems to be finished, it should have been better, and will be better next time. You must always have a very critical sense towards your own work once it has come to its end so that you can progress. Now if you really turn your miniature work into art and want to succeed, you know years and years of practice will not be enough. You have to “feel” the things, you have to be completely impregnated by the things you want to mimic in scale, and let your emotions appear through the work you present.
Not strictly speaking of miniatures, there’s an artist who, in my opinion, is the best in the category of working effects in scale. It’s mind-blowing. Check him out: Chuck C. Doan (California, USA).
Favorite sign or sign company?
There are too many I enjoy so I can’t pick only one! The palimpsest (various layers of old ads) is certainly the most exciting sign in my opinion. It often looks like accidental art, offering sparkling graphic pictures with bold colors and typeface from a bygone age.
Favorite building or façade in France?
As in my previous response, there are too many! However, I would choose a scenario that gathers a lot of elements that I like to work within, and which aspects really remind us of an urban landscape from a bygone era… frozen in its state of deliquescence.
Upcoming projects planned?
Yes of course. You know I spend all day long at my display, and I’m used to working on many things at the same time.
What’s planned for the next few months is the end of my series “Closed,” featuring 10 framed French vintage storefronts in a strongly decayed style.
In the next year or so, I’ve also planned to complete a first series of in-boxed street scenes focusing on the urban landscape from a bygone age, in a very small scale.
Besides these rather ”classic” framed boxes, I continue my experiments at re-using small, old, metallic, wooden or cardboard vintage boxes as casings for some “slices” of walls in 1/43 and 1/35 scales. I’m actually thinking about new concepts, but can’t reveal anything at the moment. My aim is to be able to organize my own exhibitions at the end, mixing 3D artworks and art prints from them.
Emmanuel Nouaillier is a self taught miniaturist and photographer. He’s 52 years old and lives in a 19th century house located on the Normandy coast of France. To see more of his miniatures and miniature buildings, check out his blog and follow along on Instagram. Stay tuned for info about his forthcoming website!
My miniatures were born after an evolution with polymer clay, which gives me a lot of hours (years) of satisfaction. Mainly, I use it to make costume jewelry, but at a certain point, I felt the need to make something else. In researching how to make jewelry on the Web, I discovered how many things are possible to make with polymer clay.
It has opened a world right in front of me, and it kicked off something that stimulated my creativity in an irreversible and always new way, guiding me every day in new creations.
What advice would you give to new miniaturists?
If you are master of a material, I advise you to see all the possible things that other artists are able to do. Follow your instinct and try something new. It may then become a passion. Everything comes naturally.
How has your work with miniatures evolved?
I started following the tutorials of other artists and began making food miniatures. But, after several attempts — some good, some less — I realized it wasn’t what I’m passionate for. Meanwhile, my sister asked me to create a pair of miniature shoes, and I had so much fun to see the final result, without following any tutorial or indication. I understood I can create whatever I want without any help and I started to imagine how many things I could possibly make… after all these years, I am still continuing to imagine and create!
What miniatures are most challenging for you to create?
The fact that I find a way to exceed my limits, leads me to find something challenging with each of my creations. I try to eliminate the barriers of possibility and in doing so, the dedication is always a lot.
Do you have a favorite miniature?
All are significant and all contain the emotions that I felt when I created them. And they contain the emotion that I felt when people saw and appreciated them.
What miniatures do you most enjoy making?
I enjoy making reconstructions of environments, in scale, creating everything as realistically as possible. I like to contextualize and assemble miniatures to create decorations that have a utility, such as business card holders, bookends, doors, or more. The single miniature is fun only if it is unique.
Do you ever make the same miniatures again?
Just for sales, I remake objects I already created earlier, but I don’t make them identical. I always put in some variation and avoid rebuilding it in the same way. I try to remake creations that each have their own soul.
Favorite miniature(s) by another artist?
Every day I see the fantastic work of so many artists, and what most strikes me is the inspiration that guided them.
When I first got started in this fantastic world of miniatures, each artist seemed extraordinary. When I made my first attempt and followed a tutorial, I began to understand who is really good. Now, I recognize artists who have good manual dexterity and who have something extra. Some of them still leave me amazed.
What miniatures would you like to make in the future?
They are many, too many! I love challenges and I know the limits of the materials I use. In any case, I’d like to build a large diorama, where you can put many objects that still have yet to be created.
Where does your inspiration come from?
In the real world, I do not know anyone who collects or creates miniatures, but I’m happy to let people fall in love and discover this little world which fascinates them too.
In the rest of the world, however, there is a widespread passion that kidnapped me.
What is the greatest satisfaction you receive from making miniatures?
In addition to the sense of freedom and pleasure in creating them, the reaction of those who see my creations in person. It gives me something that no words can explain.
With much of the world finally recognizing the beauty and artistry for all things small, last fall the fashion industry—in all its fickleness—previewed what trendy women will be wearing this Summer of 2017.
Large luxury houses such as Valentino, Fendi and Hermès had models walking the European runways with the most captivating and intricately-designed mini handbags.
Let’s try to overlook the costs and concentrate on the genius. These designs show fashionable women that you don’t need to walk around with a cumbersome feedbag to be in style this upcoming summer season.
Miu Miu bag in miniature by Phillip Nuveen
My favorite mini handbags were shown by the British fashion accessory designer Anya Hindmarch. Her attention to detail and color along with her sense of humor provide a much-needed change in a rather boring-lately handbag industry.
Some may wonder what can possibly fit in one of these minis. As a devotee of the look for a long time, my answer is a lipstick, cash, your driver’s license and keys.
What more do you need if you’re going on an evening walk with your neighbor, catching a new movie with your honey or attending your favorite cousins wedding?
It’s just another reason to think mini.
Maria Buonagura has more than two decades of experience in the fashion industry, previously working as a stylist, buyer and fashion photographer’s assistant. Check out her Coroflot profile to learn more. Like what you see here? Stay tuned for more “daily mini trends” to come! To add miniature handbags to your collection, check out Phillip Nuveen miniatures today or browse Etsy for new mini handbag designs.
Anya Hindmarch mini handbagValentino mini handbagFendi mini handbagChloe mini handbagArmani mini handbagAkris mini handbag
I actually used to make plastic model dogs for my Barbie dolls when I was still a child. My first miniature work that I still make today started in the late 1990s.
How did you first get started making miniatures?
I first started making the little furred dogs to create one for my parents that lost their little Yorkie. I have always been more interested in dogs than anything else.
Do you remember the very first miniature you made?
The first piece was just yarn. Later, I used my dog Ted’s fur. The piece turned out to be amazingly like Ted. I still have it.
What is your favorite type of miniature to make?
Dogs. I do make other animals but dogs are what I know intimately in real life that aids me in my creations.
What is the most challenging miniature you make?
Breeds with many markings are the most difficult because I don’t use paint or pastels and doing detailed markings with fiber is tedious. People’s pets can be quite varied.
What do you wish someone had told you when you first got started?
Don’t judge yourself too harshly and realize you are one of a large talented group of people most are there willing to help you learn. Keep at it and keep trying new methods to make the pieces better and better.
Favorite miniature you own by another artist or have made yourself?
I have a roombox made by Erik Goddard that I cherish. I keep the dogs I have owned in the past in that room. It’s filled with special furniture made by Kari Bloom and Maritza Moran. Other small pieces that have been given to me by other artists help me remember many special times.
What inspires you?
Dogs and their owners love for them.
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen by another artist?
I hope that more people can be exposed to what the artists in miniature create. The more exposure artists get in media so people can see this is not about toys but about pieces of collectable artwork.
Favorite miniature artisans?
I know the UK has as many wonderful shows and artists as anywhere. However, as I mentioned my Iraqi friend that now lives in Turkey is known all over the world. Ali Alamedy is always the first to come to my mind because he is possibly the only Iraqi miniaturist he started his craft in the midst of that turmoil with no ability to purchase tools or supplies to produce his vision. However, he did make them and he made them so well that he is now famous and his incredible journey is an amazing story.
What is your favorite period of art history?
I enjoy the mid-19th century. This was the turning point with how humans viewed canines, as many moved inside homes and became pets, rather than work helpers.
What would you like to see replicated in miniature?
I would actually like a large outdoor area created in miniature. Not just a yard in front of a structure but a large outdoor scene with possibly a façade of a garden in the background. I would use it for photo shoots but I think it would be really nice. Realistic grass and trees and bushes. We know realism is always key.
What appeals to you most about what you do?
It started with realistic dogs that worked for Barbie. When I learned about 1:12 scale and the huge world of miniatures I knew that dollhouses and room boxes needed pets. The appealing thing for me is I get to communicate with animal owners that are as passionate as I am and I can help with loss easing some suffering. I see people happy when they see their dog again in miniature. For me I continue to try and make them as real as possible. I like the challenge of the tiny scale.
What’s to come from Designer Dog Miniatures a.k.a. Dogartist?
I am making my two current dogs for filming in an upcoming documentary. I want to have the miniatures and the real dogs together. My new animals are more and more made with real dog and cat fur. People love their real animals fur included. I have horses planned for my own displays.
Motto you live by?
Trust your instinct and always act with kindness and love.
Favorite miniature quote?
The miniature world is huge.
Other activities you enjoy?
I enjoy hiking with my dogs. Road trips, antiquing, reading, and gardening.
What do you want miniature fans to know about you?
I am passionate about dogs and animals. Each piece I make is done with great love and passion to make sure I capture every animal’s essence. It can’t leave my studio if I don’t see that essence in each face.
Would you like to share a dailymini exclusive with readers? If so, what’s something people don’t know about you?
I started making dogs for dog owners and accidentally found the miniature world. I had no idea this huge world of miniature artists existed.
Making a miniature sculpted 3D picture of flower arrangements for a girl scout competition when I was 11.
How did you first get started making miniatures?
My mom was into different crafts and had my sisters and I work with her. We first made jewelry and craft items and sold in flea markets, and eventually art fairs. Then a miniature shop owner saw our miniature apple earrings and wanted to sell them in her shop. We sold wholesale to her, and eventually started selling in miniature shows. That was about 40 years ago.
What scale do you work in?
I work in 1″, 1/2″, 1/4″, and 1/144th scales.
What’s your favorite scale to work in?
My favorite is 1/4″ because I don’t have to put a lot of detail in each piece. A lot is left to the imagination.
What is your favorite type of miniature to make?
I love sculpting birds. I never get tired of it. I love teaching birds especially in art fairs to kids. I say, “it’s just 4 easy steps,” and then I show them, and they do it. And they get all excited. It’s wonderful!
What is the most challenging miniature to make, and why is it so difficult?
Favorite miniature you own by another artist or have made yourself?
I have two hand sculpted sitting babies about 1″ high and they are laughing. I smile every time I look at them. Unfortunately they are unsigned. I’d like to give credit to the artist.
What inspires you?
Originality and nature.
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?
A nudist colony!
What is your hope for the field of miniatures?
My hope for miniatures is that more people will get inspired to create, because it’s so much fun. We can exhibit our work in art and craft fairs. Also, we can exhibit online.
Favorite miniaturists?
Too many to mention. Everyone is so nice!
What would you like to see replicated in miniature?
I’d like to see (and it probably has been done already) a beautiful formal castle garden with running fountains.
Why miniatures?
I love sculpting and I love animals, so somehow I fell into this wonderful hobby.
Upcoming projects planned?
This year I want to make a giraffe, witch, and eagle (for starters). In 5 years, my husband will hopefully retire, and we will travel the country in an RV with our little dog, doing miniature shows.
Words you live by?
I remember this one quote when I worry too much: “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its strength.”
Favorite miniature quote?
“Miniaturists work as little as possible.”
Other activities you enjoy?
I love to swim.
What do you want miniature fans to know about you?
If there are fans of mine, I really appreciate them!
Would you like to share a dailymini exclusive with readers? If so, what’s something most people don’t know about you?
I’m not patient. Miniatures is teaching me patience because I love animals, I want to do a good job sculpting them, so I have to be patient.
Barbara Ann Meyer of mini-gems is always creating something new! Have a look at her show schedule to see where she’ll be selling minis next.
The team over at MayLina have done it again. They recently created a “miniature-in-frame” painting concept you have to see to believe. This 3D painting features handmade miniatures in a beautifully designed scene. Their first featured miniature-in-painting, titled French Morning, is available for purchase now through Etsy. Next up? A hippie girl morning scene!
The concept behind this piece was to open the world of miniatures to art fans and collectors. Often times those that love miniatures might not know what to do with them. MayLina has created a unique option and great gift idea. Miniatures fans alike can appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a three-dimensional work of art like this.
Find more photos below, and contact MayLina on Etsy or Instagram to learn more about miniature-in-frame pieces or to commission your own.
When I was 8 or 9 years old, I remember visiting the Museum of Miniatures with my mother. The museum featured an intricate collection of dollhouses from around the world. In the museum’s gift shop they sold handmade miniatures and houses that I would admire for hours. During the holiday season, my mother gifted me with a custom colonial style dollhouse (equipped with electricity) and the journey towards collecting miniatures began.
Where did you find the Asian Oasis house?
Twenty years after having my first dollhouse, my passion returned. Late one night, I went on Craigslist and stumbled upon photos of the miniature house. I purchased the Asian Oasis house with the intention to restore it and incorporate it into my art practice. This dollhouse then sat in my art studio for some time until I was inspired to start collecting handmade antique furniture and accessories. It took a few years to gather the items and restore the home to complete my artistic vision.
What is your intention with this house?
My intention is to display the house in a gallery setting with accompanying photographs of each room. I imagine spectators spending time actively meditating upon each room and discovering the intricacies of the home’s architecture and design elements.
Who photographed the Asian Oasis house?
Photographs of the dollhouse are by Connor Helm. To see more of his photography, check out @connor_helm on Instagram.
How do miniatures influence your art practice?
After a conversation with the curator of Angels Attic, a nonprofit miniature museum in Santa Monica, CA, I learned that dollhouses and miniatures were used as training tools for little girls to run a household. This fact really made me think of my past associations with my own dollhouse; spending hours alone rearranging my home, pretending that I was the lady of the house and everything was always in order. I am utilizing the Asian Oasis house to heal my subconscious childhood programming of running a household and societal expectations of a traditional house wife. Working on this home has been a meditative art practice of assemblage, interior decorating, and narrative development. I imagine retreating to this home with my best friends having a rest in the upstairs wedding bed, playing piano downstairs, having tea in the tea room, admiring the birds in the cage, putting on our makeup in the vanity mirror, and watering the various flowers and plants around the home.
What is your next project?
I will be collaborating with artist Sara Claire Chambless to assemble and curate Barbie houses. Our intention is to spark a visual conversation regarding beauty, identity and sexuality.
My mini adventures began fairly recently in 2015. Like many mini makers I have a long-lived affection for things made small and mine was rekindled whilst visiting the famous Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House at Windsor Castle, London. It is a miraculous object and in the dim light of its exhibiting room a tiny fire inside me was lit. On returning home I bought my first house and began to build.
I have a 2-year old little girl and desperately needed a creative outlet, something just for me. Having a creative background and training, I was missing it dearly, and soon I found myself pledging to make every element of my dollhouse myself. It’s a long journey and still a work in progress! I began to share my progress on Instagram and began getting requests for items and so my little shop was born.
What is your favorite type of miniature to make?
Although I’m seriously impressed by realistic miniatures, I embrace the fact that the things I make get played with. Most of my customers are mums renovating a dollhouse for their children and they get as much out of it as their kids do! This means that durability is really important to me, that the mini’s bought from me will last and become a treasured heirloom. I enjoy the balance of styling an item to become appealing for use by adults and children while retaining rich details that tell a story.
What advice would you give to new artists and beginner miniaturists?
Being that there are so many skilled miniaturists out there it can be overwhelming and intimidating knowing where to start. I have done the hard work for you and after many, many hours trawling the internet for every little bit of information I could find, I have complied some really useful links to DIY’s and tutorials on my Pinterest board for those interested. I think the most important step though is defining your style, work out what ticks your boxes and go from there, the rest falls into place. Watch this space for my e-course which addresses this in a series of helpful worksheets and activities.
What materials do you use in your work?
I have always enjoyed woodworking and textiles and have a degree in ceramics so it feels natural to bring those textures into my mini work. I love using raw timbers and natural linens that I think bring a warmth and richness to my pieces. I often create minimalist pieces so all these details become the hero. I’m currently experimenting using brass and marble and playing with vacuum forming.
What inspires you?
I’m hugely inspired by contemporary interiors, especially Scandinavian and Mid-Century Modern styles. I love fresh, bright spaces with lots of timber, artwork and plants so that’s what I create in miniature. We are currently renovating our home so I often model my items on full scale design pieces I wish I owned.
Any interesting miniatures or mini community out of Australia?
Australia has a thriving modern miniatures community. There’s still the old guard of Victorian collectors but we are carving out a new niche and it’s amazing. Instagram has been the social connector for us as it’s a hugely supportive network of women empowering each other. It makes me proud to be a part of it. Come join us!
What’s to come from Mostly Miniature?
I have a few exciting projects up my sleeve including modern porcelain bathroom items… I’m finally putting my training in ceramics to good use! I also have something top secret yet to be revealed so if you’d like to discover more you can visit me @mostlyminiature on Instagram or sign up to my VIP list via my website and grab a free printable wallpaper while you’re there.
Tell us a bit about the concept behind the eHow series Real Tiny DIY.
Jerri Farris, Senior Director of eHow Content: Like so many people, we’re captivated by the tiny food videos, especially Tastemade’s Tiny Kitchen. Tiny DIY seemed like a natural evolution but every idea we came up with was extremely labor intensive until we discovered Mini Materials. When we saw the miniature concrete blocks and lumber, we knew exactly how we could go tiny. We call the series Real Tiny DIY because, although we produce the projects in miniature scale, the very same methods can be used to create the project in full size.
How did you first learn about the team over at Mini Materials?
JF: A colleague happened to see a link to Mini Materials in a newsletter and forwarded it to me early one morning. My first glance at their website set my brain on fire — I was deep into planning the first Real Tiny DIY video before breakfast that morning. Megan contacted Mini Materials right away, and when they agreed to supply materials and help promote the series, we were off to the races.
How many videos can fans expect on eHow social media?
Megan Beauchamp, eHow Lifestyle Editor: We’ve posted four videos to Facebook so far, but we have four more in the works. We’d consider extending the series indefinitely, if people love it as much as we do!
What goes into the production of one of these miniature videos?
JF: Hours and hours and hours of prep work. We’re lucky because the basic instructions for each project exist in eHow articles. We spend several days thinking about the best way to present the project, and then the fun begins. We find many props in the world of miniatures, but we make most of the tiny tools ourselves.
For example, many people have commented about the working hose in the Concrete Block Planter video. To make that, I prowled the aisles at a hardware store for an hour, searching for something the right size. My sister, who happened to call while I was searching, suggested green electrical wire. Perfect! That night, I spent several hours with tweezers, pulling the copper from longer and longer pieces of wire, figuring out how long we could make the hose before it was impossible to get the copper out. When I hit the limit, the next puzzle was how to make the hose actually deliver water.
After several failed ideas, a colleague suggested using a syringe. My daughter, who’s a Type I diabetic overnighted one of hers to us, which worked but was too small to create much force. In the end, we found that an infant’s medicine syringe delivered just the right flow of water. When we shot the sequence, Megan “watered” the flowers as I crouched under the tabletop — just barely out of frame — pushing the syringe.
Who is the actor featured in these miniature DIY videos?
JF: Megan does an amazing job of handling the tiny tools and materials. She actually builds these projects on camera — not an easy task.
How do you get the idea for each video?
JF: We start by looking at articles that are popular on eHow — projects that have been pinned or liked thousands of times on Pinterest or Facebook. Then we evaluate the necessary tools and materials to see if we can make or scrounge or buy what we need to accomplish it in miniature.
What’s been the most challenging aspect of shooting these miniature DIY tutorials?
MB: For me, it’s using the tiny tools in a tiny set. I try not to let the challenge make its way onto the camera, but sometimes it sneaks in! You don’t have to look too closely to notice my hands shaking a bit in the concrete planter video while I’m squeezing out glue from the caulk gun.
JF: Working on a tiny set can be a huge disadvantage! Megan has to squeeze into some very small spaces, one camera hovers directly above her, and she often has to work sort of upside-down and backwards so the camera can see the action rather than just the backs of her hands. It’s not as easy as she makes it look, by any means.
Any favorite memories to recount?
JF: This may sound odd, but one of my favorite memories started with a failure. For the first video, the Simple Outdoor Bench, we needed a tiny caulk gun. Amazingly enough, we found a replica in a miniatures store only an hour away and scurried right down there to buy it. When we saw the rough cut of the video, we all knew that pretending with the replica didn’t look real. Over the next week or so, we experimented with ideas for a tiny working caulk gun — dozens of attempts that didn’t work. At one point, we had everything but a way to make the glue squirt out. I carved a pencil eraser to fit inside the “tube,” but that only worked once and the eraser got stuck inside the tube every time we tried it. Finally, at 4AM on the morning of the scheduled reshoot, I was standing in front of a set of shelves in my work room, staring at the dozens of containers and hundreds of items, saying to myself, “Something here will work. It’s here. I just have to see it differently.” My glance landed on three miniature bottles, and I realized the answer had been right in front of me all along — a tiny cork from one of those bottles! Wouldn’t you know, it fit as though it had been made for the purpose. I shaped a paper clip into a handle, and it became the perfect plunger.
MB: Shoot days are always so fun! Adam, our Director of Photography, puts on 80s music and Jerri always has something fun up her sleeve. Perhaps my favorite moment, if I had to choose one, would be when our producer, Kat, hopped behind the tiny set and peered through the window when we were shooting the pallet couch video. The set was so skillfully built to scale that she honestly looked like a giant!
What are some of the most popular DIY projects that people rely on eHow for?
JF: One of our creators, Beth Huntington, does sewing tutorials that draw me in every time. She made a bucket bag out of a thrifted leather jacket that you’d swear came from a high-end boutique.
We all love the videos created by Trisha Sprouse and Maya Marin, former colleagues who now produce content for us as freelancers. It’s a joy to see their talents come to life and find such large audiences.
MB: Anything Jonathan Fong creates is inspired. From time to time, we’re lucky enough to have him come into the studio for Facebook Live video shoots, or Fun Fong Fridays as they’re known around the office. For St. Patrick’s Day, he made matcha milkshakes that were surprisingly delicious. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!
How did your work on the Real Tiny DIY campaign reframe your thinking about the world of miniatures?
JF: I’d always thought of miniatures as being the province of true artists. Working on this series proved to me that, while I’m always going to admire those artists enormously, there’s also room for crafters like myself in the world of miniatures. With enough inspiration and the right materials, everyone can enjoy making and/or working with miniatures.
What did you learn about miniatures in the process of creating these miniature DIY videos?
JF: Almost anything you can think of is available! When we first started looking for a miniature caulk gun, I didn’t really think it would exist. But lo and behold! It not only existed, we could find one at a local miniatures store.
JF: I’m partial to the lumber. Anything you can build with full-size lumber, you can build with mini lumber. When we first found Mini Materials, it took about 5 minutes to make a list of fifteen eHow projects that were completely doable for Real Tiny DIY. Since then, our list has expanded to dozens of ideas.
MB: The pallets are so charming, and I love how the set looked for the pallet couch video, so I’d have to go with the mini pallets.
Favorite mini makers or miniacs you’d like to mention?
JF: One of the first miniature artists to reach out to us after the first Real Tiny DIY was posted was Darren Scala from D. Thomas Fine Miniatures and SquintBox. Our whole team lost its collective mind over the Easter vignette Darren put together.
What would you like to see replicated in miniature?
JF: So far, I’ve found wonderful examples of everything I’ve searched for in miniature. The talent and ingenuity of miniature artists leaves me in absolute awe.
What can miniature fans expect in the forthcoming Real Tiny DIY videos?
JF: All the projects we’ve posted so far have been outdoor projects, and we continue to expand our tiny patio set. In the next couple weeks, we’ll post some indoor projects built in the cutest possible tiny workshop — complete with a tiny work bench and tiny working power tools.
What inspires you?
JF: I’m inspired by the incredible creativity of the people around me. One of the things that keeps me creating is that, in some ways, crafting is a problem solving exercise. I’ve been making things since I was 6 or 7 years old, but the thrill of solving a creative problem never gets old. For example, we needed a BBQ grill that could withstand an actual flame long enough to shoot several minutes of video. After at least a dozen failures, when we got it to work I screeched and danced around like a wild person. Anyone watching might have thought I’d invented fire rather than a tiny grill to hold it.
MB: Working with creative people every day is incredibly inspiring and motivates me to push myself creatively every day. Spending time perusing Pinterest doesn’t hurt either!
What advice would you give to someone about to tackle their first DIY project of the season?
JF: Perfectionism kills inspiration. And joy. To all of you out there criticizing or doubting yourselves, we say, “Let go. Have fun. You’ll surprise yourself with what you can do.”
Favorite quote about getting your hands dirty or the DIY movement?
MB:Maya Angelou’s quote about creativity comes to mind: “You can’t use up creativity, The more you use, the more you have.”
JF: In my family we say, “Done is better than perfect.” That’s not to say we don’t set high standards, but we try not to let those standards paralyze us. It’s a universal truth: perfectionism kills creativity if you let it.
Words or motto you live by?
MB: It’s not a motto per say, but I strive to learn something new each day.
JF: My personal motto is, “Say Yes to the Universe.” Inspiration is the world, asking us to dance with beauty. Say yes. Try something new. Take a risk.
What do you want miniature fans to know about this collaboration?
MB: Most people (ourselves included) watch Facebook video without sound, but we commissioned special music for Real Tiny DIY. The composer, Jonathan Grossman of Night Shift Audio, used all tiny instruments and there’s a special surprise at the end. So, turn the sound on for these! You won’t regret it.
JF: We post a new Real Tiny DIY video each Tuesday at 12PM EST. Then, at about 2 PM EST, we do a Facebook Live, “Behind the Tiny,” to show how we made some of the tools or props in that day’s video.
Would you like to share a dailymini exclusive with readers?
JF: Another caulk gun story: When we showed the working caulk gun to the Leaf Group COO, he teased us that it would only last through one video. As we were prepping to shoot the second video, I tested it. When it worked, I thought, “Ha! Still works!” At that very moment, the paper clip broke through the cork, stranding the plunger inside the tube, which meant I had to take it apart and start over. Hubris. Gets you every time.
Tune in Tuesdays for more Real Tiny DIY tutorials from the Leaf Group team over at eHow! To follow along, check out the latest on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. For more information on DIY tutorials or to start your own project, check out the eHow site. To make your own miniature DIY scenes, shop the Mini Materials site today! Massive mini thanks to eHow, Jerri Farris, and Megan Beauchamp for sharing their story here on dailymini.
How did you first get started making miniatures?
Describe your process. 
What is your favorite miniature to make?
Favorite miniature artisans? 
Upcoming projects planned?
