Do you remember the very first miniature you ever made?
My first miniature was a roombox where almost everything was made with polymer clay: flowers, pots, the door. My only problem was with furniture: I had no idea how to make it. My first item was a wicker armchair. It was far from perfect, that’s why the first thing I bought after that was a scrollsaw.
One chair is lost, but I still have that very first roombox, though I’ve never taken any photos of it.
What is your favorite type of miniature to make?
I enjoy making furniture, probably because when I started making miniatures, it was the most challenging work. I didn’t know anything about woodworking back then, so every item was very difficult to make, and I only had a scrollsaw and a lathe at the time. Making furniture makes you study lots of things like woodcarving, marquetry and inlay, different decoration techniques, and more. It’s never boring and you can tell a story with every item you make. I also enjoy making bobbin lace in miniature. I don’t have enough time for that, but I don’t want to give up; it’s a beautiful craft.
What is the most challenging miniature to make?
I’m self-taught, so every item has something new for me. It can be difficult in construction or I need to make a complicated marquetry design. I think the most challenging work was a roombox I made for a museum of art miniatures in the Czech Republic. It was a copy of a painting by Cornelis De Man, and we had to be precise in historical details and the color palette. The whole project took about a year, but it’s one of my favorite works. I’d do something like it again, no doubt.
Who are some of your favorite miniature artisans?
I have lots and lots of names on my mind. My first inspiration was Ferd Sobol‘s fantastic furniture. I could look at the work in progress photos for hours, literally. All those jigs looked fascinating! Then I started building my own, but I still love checking Ferd’s website to check his new work, I wish I had a chance to see it in person. I was lucky once to get an email from him!
Why miniatures?
Miniatures are universal. Miniaturists from all over the world can appreciate the craft and hard work that goes into creating a universally known object in miniature form.
What’s to come from InchScaled?
On my to-do list is a roombox in Russian style, something that I was hoping to make for years. There will be beautiful decorated windows, furniture, and traditional textiles. I’m inspired by Chekhov short stories and his life. I also want to explore Russian modern furniture style (our Russian art nouveau style) and make my own interpretation of it.
Motto or words you live by?
Dream big, work hard!
InchScaled Miniatures is based in Moscow, Russia. To see more miniatures created by the artist, Victoria Morozova, check out the InchScaled website, Instagram, and Facebook page.
How did you first get started working with miniatures?
I only discovered them around 10 years ago when I bought a souvenir and gifts shop in the Georgian city of Bath in England. There was a tiny cabinet of children’s miniatures which I assumed was just another gift line.
A chance meeting with an author of miniature books, who was visiting my shop one day, introduced me to a friend who had been interested in miniatures for over 30 years and has the most exquisite collection I have ever seen. From that moment on, I was hooked. I am a self confessed miniature addict!
What qualities of a miniature work do you take into account as a dealer?
I have a few basic and simple rules when looking for miniatures: quality of workmanship, perfectly to scale (normally 1:12 scale or 1 inch), and most importantly, “do I like it?”
What is the selection process when considering a new artisan to represent?
As a reseller or general dealer of other people’s work, my first thought is for the artisan. After all, it is their work I am selling. I try my best to attribute the artist to every miniature that I have in stock.
You must remember, handmade miniatures are just that, hand made by one person, the artist. Therefore, there is only a certain number of pieces they can make in a given time. Many do not like to travel. Some ask me to take a selection of their pieces to shows they do not attend, others I buy from and report back on their response. Especially from other countries, the artist is always interested to know how their miniatures are accepted abroad.
Approximately how many artisans do you presently represent? How many countries are represented?
I have miniatures that have been made in over 15 countries around the world by over 350 artists!
Fingers delicately hold a Regency Side chair hand-made by David Booth with an embroidered seat cover by Nicola Mascall. The chair’s scroll top is turned on David’s homemade lathe. Photo by Ben Birchall/PA Wire.
What are some of the more popular miniatures on your site?
One of the things I hear often from my customers is that I have a lot of different and sometimes unusual miniatures. One said and I quote, :If you are looking for something unusual then go to Karon Cunningham’s site.” I guess it’s because I travel so much; I come across so many miniatures and their makers.
Do you make miniatures yourself?
I do not make miniatures for sale, just for my own pleasure. I take many workshops and classes as I can find time to do so. I love finding out how much goes into the making of these tiny things.
How did you become involved with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans?
I was approached by the Guild‘s President, Teresa Layman, who asked if I would consider standing in on an open place on the IGMA Board of Trustees. The Guild plays a vital part in the promotion, education, and encouragement of miniatures and miniaturists. I wanted to help in any way I could.
What is the value of Guild Show and Guild School?
Two highlights in the Guild’s calendar are the annual show and the school. The Guild Show is held on the East Coast of the U.S. in August. It is an opportunity for those makers who have been awarded Artisan and Fellow status by the Guild to gather together to sell their work. There are also many other makers of exquisite work there too including some from overseas. I attend the show myself, bringing with me a huge array of pieces from some of the best makers in England and Europe. It is definitely an event to mark in your calendar.
The Guild School is an annual event in June and is an intense, highly enjoyable and rewarding week of classes taught by many experienced and talented Artisans and Fellows of the Guild. I attended the Guild School for the first time this year. Wow! What an experience. You leave the week feeling exhausted but elated all at the same time. I was so proud to come home and show off the miniatures that I made. I’ve already enrolled for next year and can’t wait for it to come round again!
A box of 2 Parker pens, costing £9, made by Klaas Schultz of South Africa are dwarfed by the nib of a ball-point pen. Photo by Ben Birchall/PA Wire.
Highlights of this year’s Guild Show and other miniature events such as the Philadelphia Miniaturia?
Where do I begin? I don’t think I can put my finger on the ‘highlight’ as such, as the whole experience is one big high for me. From the moment I start packing my stock at home, to driving to the airport and boarding a plane, setting up my table at a show, the selling and the buying, meeting old friends and making new ones, attending classes and bidding at the auction… There is nothing better in the world for me than arriving home after a show and looking back on my trip and enjoying every minute of it.
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?
I’m really interested in weird and wonderful curios and the miniatures made by Jessica Wiesel of Weazilla — these are at the top of my list at the moment. I recently collected a unicorn skull trophy head, a mummified cat, and a jackalope (across between a rabbit and an antelope) from her. How unusual is that!
Anything you haven’t seen in miniature yet?
I don’t know if it has already been made, but I would love to see a silver music box with a singing bird that comes out from a lid on the top. Would that be a wonderful sight!
How has the trend of online shopping for miniatures evolved over the years since you’ve been in business?
The Internet has played an important role in how we all shop today, but when it comes to our hobbies and collections, there is no better way than going to a show and meeting the makers, browsing the tables and selecting your pieces. It is retail therapy at its best!
What can modern day miniature enthusiasts, dealers and miniaturists do to preserve this industry?
As in all areas of collecting art, it is the artisans that need encouragement, acknowledgement and the ability to sell their work. This can be praise from their peers to the gratitude of their collectors. The International Guild of Miniature Artisans is a perfect example of all three, plus a few more. They acknowledge the artisan through their Artisan and Fellow awards, their annual Guild Show is a highlight in the year for these miniaturists to gather together to sell their pieces. They also give opportunities for the makers to share their knowledge through the school and study programs, encouraging others to create wonderful miniatures.
Without the artist, there would be nothing to admire and desire. Without the collector, there would be no one to buy miniatures. I think of this every time I go to a show. I love to see the new ideas miniature makers have had, and the new miniatures they have created.
Why miniatures?
I was originally a company accountant. I didn’t go looking for miniatures, they found me and now I travel around the world meeting wonderful people and finding amazing miniatures. I work from home, a quintessential English cottage with my two dogs. I count my lucky stars every day! I really enjoy what I do.
What’s to come from Karon Cunningham Miniatures?
I’ve been filling up my 2016 calendar and the year is looking very busy already. The Christmas Kensington Dollshouse Festival in London fast approaches on December 5. It’s the last show of this year, and a highlight on my calendar. I have a cupboard full of kits and projects to make, and my i
nvolvement with IGMA is keeping me out of mischief. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Karon Cunningham Miniatures offers a wide and varied collection of miniature furniture, accessories and figurines made by some of the world’s leading miniature makers. Karon Cunningham herself hails from a tiny hamlet of 13 houses called Mile Elm in the South West of England. To see her latest collection of miniatures for sale, have a look at the Karon Cunningham Miniatures website. Make sure to follow her shop on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest!
When I was a young girl, I use to visit my grandmother for the summer and helped her at antique shows. I was about 15 when I fell in love with a miniature ironstone chamber set. My grandmother purchased it for me in payment for my help at the antique show in Farmington. Later that summer, we visited a museum in New Hampshire where there were a couple of dollhouses on display. I couldn’t pull myself away, and everytime I looked, I saw something different. I was in awe. Many years later in about 1978 when I had two young girls, I came upon a Dollhouse Shop in Margate Florida, where I first met Tom and Leni Bishop. A few years went by and my husband was transferred to Vermont and there wasn’t a miniature shop around nor the Internet. I pursued another hobby, which was hand quilting. Once again we moved to Connecticut and I heard about a dollhouse show in Boston where I ran into Tom Bishop again after 20 years. This time nothing was going to stop me. My true passion had come full circle.
How did you first get started making miniatures of your own?
I have always loved country and primitive furniture, and decorated my dollhouse that way. I haven’t always made furniture. I started making fruits and vegetables and selling them on eBay making a good sum of money. I even tried my hand at making a doll or two, which I must say I will definitely leave that to the dollmakers. I didn’t start making furniture until I lost my miniature collection in a fire which was in December 2001. I still continued to collect accessories but had a very hard time finding country and primitive furniture. I decided to make my own cupboard with an exacto saw and miter box a very rough piece I have to add it wasn’t to scale. The drawers were too big, the doors hung crooked. I still have that first cupboard I ever made.
My very first show was in Sturbridge, Massachusetts in 2005, I attended the IGMA Guild School in Castine, Maine the following summer. I learned a lot of different techniques at Guild School. It is not just a place for artisans to get together but for anybody who has a passion for miniatures as I do. It’s a place to learn, meet new friends, see old friends, relax, and most of all have fun. The Guild has been a big part of my life since I joined.
There are a couple of Guild members I feel the need to thank: Pete and Pam Boorum, and Teresa Layman for their constant encouragement. Without them, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.
What’s the value of IGMA membership?
In 2012, I received my Artisan status with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. The Guild as a whole encourages and promotes artists in miniatures. The Guild means a great deal to me, and I am proud to be a member. I still find that I want to continue perfecting what I make, and with IGMA, I know I can!
Where does the name Bubba’s Minis come from?
I get asked all the time, “why the name Bubba?” My father first called me Bubba when I was a young teen. He had me lifting weights to build upper body strength for swimming. I was lifting the sofa with one hand when he walked into the room and he shouted out “that’s my Bubba” and the name has stuck. So when I started my business, I wanted a catchy name that people would remember. And so my father said, “why not Bubba’s Minis?”
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?
The most incredible miniature I ever saw was a castle that was made, and each room in the castle was dedicated to different sins, such as gluttony, jealousy, etc… I really want to start making structures, but mostly run down and abandoned houses. I also would like to do a western town. Someday when I have the free time.
I was unable to attend this year’s Guild Show my son had the nerve to schedule his wedding that weekend, but I will be back for 2016 and I am looking forward to the show there is a lot of excitement in the air about the 2016 show.
Why miniatures?
When I am working with my miniatures or even playing with my miniatures, I enter a whole new world. I don’t think about anything but the task at hand. I enjoy it to escape; it is my own little sanctuary. I turn on the oldies and sing out loud and create. I would say that working with miniatures is therapeutic in many ways.
Advice for beginner artists and miniaturists?
My advice to beginner miniaturist is never give up! Find your niche and don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help. Asking for help was my biggest hurdle to cross, I was afraid of rejection like so many others are. But I have found out that the Guild and it’s members are more than happy to help a person to strive to do their best.
What’s to come from Bubba’s Minis? Feel free to preview!
I always have something new up my sleeve. My newest creations will be debuted at the Chicago International Show in April. In the future, I will be selling completed roomboxes and vignettes along with my furniture and accessories. My very first one was bought by a very special person! I sold my second at the Philadelphia Miniaturia this year.
What do you want miniature friends to know about you?
People who know me know I have the gift of gab. I always try to have a smile on my face and not to be negative. When you’re negative, it has a trickle down effect. I am a very positive person and always, always look for the good in everybody. I love being with people.
Bubba’s Mini Country Cupboards is made possible by Barbara Vajnar, who lives in a very small, rural town in Lebanon, Connecticut, which has more cows than people. If you’re interested in seeing more works from Bubba’s Mini Country Cupboards, visit the Bubba’s Minis website or follow along on Facebook.
The first miniature I ever made was a slice of watermelon when I was 5 years old. My auntie used to make ceramic flowers out of an air drying dough she used to make herself. She used to give me pieces of the dough to create miniatures while she made flowers. I loved her work and creativity, and she inspired me to work with clay and be creative.
How did you first get started making miniatures? How has your work evolved?
In 1995, I got my first dollhouse as my birthday gift from my uncle. I was so excited to play with it and decided to make whatever I didn’t have, using clay. I made a roasted chicken out of DAS clay, and this was my first creation later in life. Then my mother bought me a Play-Doh set with a vegetable mold that was about the size for a dollhouse. I didn’t use polymer clay until 2010. It was not available in Kuwait at that time, and I had to make an order for international shipment.
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?
Before learning about polymer clay, I went through a site called pincstuff by a young girl who used to make ice cream cones out of polymer clay. I was so touched by her miniature work and details.
Advice for new miniaturists?
Details makes all the difference, even the smallest detail that you wouldn’t think matters.
Why miniatures?
I loved playing with dolls in my childhood, and my dream was to mimic real life activities. Even now, I find it very challenging, yet amazing to be able to recreate natural effects and have them exist in miniature scale. Every new miniature project for me is an interesting challenge!
Upcoming projects planned?
I’m planning to open my Etsy shop soon. I’m also sketching for a complete set of mini restaurants each by theme: Italian, Mediterranean, Chinese.
What do you want miniature fans to know about you?
I love making miniatures that challenge me, rather than straightforward, easy miniatures. After all, it’s all for fun!
Totally Handmade Miniatures are created by Israa from Kuwait, who now lives in Maryland, U.S. Have a look at some recent miniature creations on Instagram!
I think miniatures have always been a part of my life in one way or another. As a very young girl I can remember loving the feeling of holding something small in my hand. One of my earliest memories as a child was catching a teeny, tiny frog and trying to talk my mother into letting me keep it. She wasn’t persuaded.
How did you first get started making miniatures?
That’s an easy question to answer. My interest in anything creative comes from, and was nurtured by, my mother. She was always making something; our kitchen table was never really fit for eating on. Whether it was making dollhouses, or Christmas ornaments or Halloween costumes for my sister and me, the creative process was just a normal part of my childhood.
I was always interested in small things, and I had a whole collection of miniature animals, tea sets, and other knickknacks. However, I didn’t start feeling a need to make miniatures until I came across an article in Dolls House and Miniature Scene about Betsy Niederer. I saw all her wonderful miniature food scenes filled with Christmas and Halloween goodies and I knew immediately I wanted to make miniature food. My only sadness comes from the fact that I lost my mother, Sue, to pancreatic cancer four years ago, and she never really got to see any of the miniature food I made. It was something I’m sure we would have bonded over.
How has your work with miniatures evolved?
I’ve been making miniature polymer clay food for a little over four years now. When I first saw that article about Betsy Niederer, I didn’t even know what her miniatures were made of; I had no idea what polymer clay was. It was, what felt like, a long process doing research and learning as much about the craft as I could through the Internet, magazines and Stephanie Kilgast’s wonderful how-to book. I think the one thing I make that has improved the most since I started has been my cupcakes. For some reason, I just love miniature cupcakes, and I really focused in on trying to make the best one I could. It took me about two years before I was happy with the cupcakes I made, so that was definitely an interesting journey.
Favorite mini you own by another artist.
I really adore the cupcakes I have from Cindy Teh of Snowfern Clover. She is just the most amazing artist and person. I have also been lucky enough to be able to make a miniature wildlife scene under the instruction of Beth Freeman-Kane. I completed a framed kit with a pair of chickadees on a barbed wire fence and I really treasure it. In my humble opinion, Beth Freeman-Kane is the gold standard for miniatures, it just doesn’t get any better for me. If I could figure out how to get my hands on anything made by the incredible Tomo Tanaka of NuNu’s House I would be over the moon, but so far I just have his books, which are invaluable to me.
What inspires you?
As far as miniatures and art in general, this may not sound very unique, but I am so inspired by other artists. To see what people have created with their hands and minds really gets me going and in the mood to sit down at my little table in my bedroom and get to work.
To think that when a polymer clay artist begins their work all they have is a hunk of clay and somehow they end up with a beautiful little piece of art is just an amazing thing to me. The process from raw material to finished product is a thing of beauty. In everyday life I’m very inspired by people who face adversity in their lives with dignity and grace. Life can be harsh and unfair a lot of the time, and I always try to remember how incredibly lucky I am to have a wonderful healthy family and a fairly comfortable life when so many people all over the world have such great challenges to face.
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?
I once saw miniature marital aids in an online store (you know what I mean) for the bedroom. It was a little kit complete with fuzzy handcuffs and a riding crop. I laughed so hard, and thought, now I’ve seen everything in miniature!
Words you live by?
When I am going through a particularly tough time in my life–and I have had several pretty bad ones–I try really hard to not think life is conspiring against me. I try to remember a quote by one of my favorite authors, Christopher Hitchens, ” To the dumb question ‘Why me?’ the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply: why not?” In other words, don’t take it personally, its just life, and none of us get out of it alive.
Advice for beginner artists and miniaturists?
Wow, this is a tough one. I suppose my reluctance to offer advice may stem from the feeling that I’m still very surprised to receive any attention at all in regards to my miniatures. If I can say anything, it would be to get online. I’m sure not everyone lives in a city where there aren’t any other miniature artists, but I am fairly certain I do. I swear for the first year, I thought it was me and half a dozen artists I read about in magazines. I was fairly certain I had the weirdest hobby next to those people who collect potato chips shaped like the U.S. Presidents’ faces. When I signed up for Facebook and started seeking out other polymer clay miniature artists I was pleasantly surprised to find a whole community of people who shared my interests. I guess it never dawned on me all the people who build dollhouses need to fill their kitchens with something. It was wonderful to find a supportive group of awesome artists ready and willing to offer advice, friendship and exchange ideas and techniques.
The Internet is also a well of information, you really can learn how to do almost anything from YouTube. I would also recommend sculpting what you like, or what you enjoy sculpting. Don’t force things; if you like desserts then sculpt desserts. If you like savory foods, then sculpt them. There’s no need to try to force yourself into making something you’re just not that interested in.
Upcoming projects planned?
I’m currently working on my first roombox scene. It’s the first time I’m trying to put the food I make all together in a cohesive scene and I am finding quite challenging. Making single items is one thing, but trying to put them all together in a collection that’s trying to tell a story or make a bigger picture is a horse of a different color. At the moment all four of my sons, Colton, Logan, Jonathan and Harrison, are all in school which would make one think there is more time for art, but I find it the exact opposite. Between laundry for six people, feeding six people, homework and trying to fit everything I need to without children at my feet in the hours they attend school, there isn’t much time for being creative. Luckily I have an ally in this, my husband David is incredibly supportive and does his best to get the kids out of the house to give me time to turn my brain off of mommy mode and into mini mode.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to thank all the artists I’ve met online who have offered their friendship, advice, and kindness to me. I wouldn’t still be making miniature food if I hadn’t met them. And I wouldn’t be anywhere near as happy with what I’ve created so far without all the knowledge I’ve gained from what they’ve shared with me.
Megan Larayne Hess lives in Pueblo, Colorado. To see more of her amazing miniature food and mini creations, head on over to Instagram, DeviantArt, or Facebook!
We moved to Hawaii when I was six and my parents bought us a top opening Hawaiian-style ranch house. Although it was 1:12 scale, over the years the five of us made it home to Barbies, G.I. Joes, Lone Rangers, and all their friends. The house was given away long ago but I still have some furniture, lighting, and accessories.
How did you first get started working with miniatures? Where does the interest in miniature lighting design stem from?
When Jim and I were first married, I saw an ad in the back of a magazine for the House of Miniatures kit-of-the-month club. When I had enough furniture kits made, I needed a house for them. So, I took an evening woodworking class at our local college and made a 5-story 15-room bookcase-style dollhouse that I designed. I still love to do miniature woodworking, and to the amazement of my friends, I actually have table saws in three sizes.
When I built my dollhouse, I wasn’t going to light it because of the expense. But when I finished the first floor, it was obvious it needed light to show off all the details in the rooms. Jim helped me come up with a hard-wired system that worked for such a big house. Years later, I made a chandelier in a lighting class taught by Scott Hughes and another in a class by Phyllis Tucker, both fabulous lighting artisans, and was inspired by the results. Now I can’t do a project without lighting it, no matter how small it is.
Tell us a bit about how Lighting Bug Ltd. came to be.
Lighting Bug Ltd. was started in 1976 by Isabel and Tom Thompson. We bought the business from them in December 2005 and have been delighted to continue the legacy they started. We have two major milestones coming up. In December, we celebrate our 10 year anniversary and in 2016, Lighting Bug Ltd. will celebrate 40 years providing handcrafted lighting to dollhouse miniaturists. It feels pretty special to be a part of this history.
Did either of you previously work in the field of lighting design?
I was a small business accounting consultant and tax accountant which has the same mindset needed for detail work. Jim was an air-traffic controller which means he’s pretty good at details too. We’re both happy that making dollhouse lighting is less stressful than our previous careers.
Who designs Lighting Bug Ltd. miniature lights?
Jim is the techno-guru, web-master, photographer, and customer service for the business. Linda is the lighting artisan and business manager. We handcraft all of our lights and they are either our designs or designs we bought with the business. We were fortunate to buy a popular line of light designs that are still in demand today. We’ve added quite a few new designs since we bought the business and Jim and I have fun collaborating on some of the artsier ones. As small business owners, we wear a lot of hats and our skills blend very nicely.
What are some of your best-selling works?
Our signature light is the bare bulb with the pull chain. There are so many places it can be used in projects and it’s just so cute. What sells best goes in phases. In the last few years anything Moroccan or Tudor sells very quickly. We make the largest selection of handcrafted dollhouse lighting in a variety of styles from Tudor to Contemporary in 1”, ½”, and ¼” scales so we have lights for just about any project.
What inspires you?
I watch HGTV in the background while I’m making lights, and pause the TV when they show the lights in the reveals. I also do a lot of custom work inspired by photos or drawings customers send us. And when I have the time, I like to play around with the hundreds (maybe thousands) of parts we have on hand and see what fun new light I can come up with.
Advice for beginner artists?
Don’t start as big as I did!
The whole idea of lighting and electricity can be very intimidating and prevent miniaturists from trying to light their projects. The good news is that there are quite a few new techniques for lighting available now that make it so much easier than it used to be. We love to show customers how to wire their projects and we do offer advice by email and at shows. My advice: start with a small project like a roombox to gain confidence; and take a wiring class to learn tips and techniques. Our favorite saying is, “Lighting brings your miniature projects to life.”
What’s to come from Lighting Bug Ltd.?
Our next show is The Miniature Show in Chicago in April 2016. It has an unbelievable list of dealers and should be great fun. We are always working on new lights that we add to our online store and expect to reveal new ones at the show. We’ll start posting teasers on Facebook and other social media as the show gets closer.
What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?
I am a miniaturist just like our customers. A fun time for me is working on a mini project in the company of my mini friends. I usually have two or three projects that I’m working on, and at least as many more in the queue. My current obsession is ¼ scale but I still love one inch scale best. Jim thinks our house looks like a miniature museum because of all my projects, but enjoys giving the mini tour when we have visitors.
Linda and Jim Orleff live in the beautiful state of Tennessee, in the lovely town of Fairfield Glade. To learn more about the work they do with Lighting Bug Ltd., head on over to their website, shop their online store, or follow along on Facebook.
Tell us a bit about your background in jewelry design.
I have wanted to be a jeweler for my entire life; since I was about 4 specifically. I never really wanted to do anything else or experiment with anything career-wise. My dad’s a jeweler and he would take me to his shop, give me little jobs to do when I was a kid. I’ve loved it ever since then. I left school at age sixteen to immediately start training with another jeweler. After a few years, I left that jeweler, and would frequent my dad’s shop to create tiny models for fun. Eventually, I became qualified to work alongside my father, and I can officially say I’ve been a jeweler for twelve years now.
What’s your earliest memory with miniatures?
I can remember when I was four, I was given the duty to sort stones out by color. I enjoyed sorting through sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and more.
How did you get started with miniature pencil carvings?
At first, I would see pictures of pencil carving sculptures on Facebook as well as around the Internet. On the 30th of November last year, I thought I would give it a go myself. My first pencil carving was a little red heart, which I made purely because I had found a red pencil.
Do you have a favorite carving?
I created a Batman vs. Superman carving, I guess that could be considered my “favorite” since everything seemed to fall into place just perfectly for that one in a rapid amount of time.
Do you keep all your carvings?
I do keep all of my carvings, apart from a few which I have given away to people. I do not do these for money or anything, but for my own leisure.
And do you have a favorite work of jewelry?
I had made a ghostship that was being attacked by a giant squid. It was a model that I had entered into a Goldsmiths competition a few years back. This piece resonates with me because it marked the first time I had ever had my work compared to others. It was also really cool because I won a Senior Modelmaker silver award, which was really special since I only made the model for a bit of fun.
How has your work with jewelry design evolved over the years?
When I had started experimenting with Discworld models, I eventually began to branch out and create more detailed pieces. I’m currently working on a commission which I can say has definitely been the biggest thing I have ever worked on: taking up over six months of my life.
What’s a unique material you’ve used in one of your jewelry designs?
The most unique tool or material I’ve resorted to using was one of my eyelashes, which was effectively used as a paintbrush to paint a miniature stained-glass lantern.
Technique you can’t live without?
When I am doing carvings, my hands need to remain in a certain position for the process to take place. I brace my blade in a certain way to hold the pencil, so that both of my hands are braced and only the blade moves to carve most efficiently. It’s steadier opposed to your hands moving backwards and forwards when they are not braced tight enough and holding the pencil in place.
What inspires you?
Mostly, it is seeing other things that peers make. Also, whenever someone throws out an idea that something cannot be done, it pushes me that extra bit to give it a go and see what may come of it. Willard Wigan is my favorite artist hands-down. And a recent friend.
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?
The most memorable miniature I have come across has to have been something from Willard Wigan’s work. It is just nuts to say the least, in a good way. His fairy on a toadstool in particular is probably my favorite that he has done.
What appeals to you most about your work with jewelry design and pencil carvings?
It’s my passion, it’s not work. It could be classified as more of a hobby, really. I just enjoy making pieces and seeing what I can come up with using my imagination and my own two hands. I’m very lucky to be in my position. I enjoy being there to lend a helping hand to a friend who may have some broken jewelry, or need something constructed as a gift for a loved one. Not to mention, it’s a huge honor to make engagement rings for couples, truly.
What’s to come from Tom Lynall?
I am on a commission at the moment–the details of which I cannot fully disclose–but I can say it will be ready by April 2016. It will truly be one-of-a-kind, and by far the most complex piece I have ever worked on. After the commission is finished, I will be primarily focusing on projects for my own interest.
I’m quite amused by juggling; it can serve as an excellent stress reliever when I need a quick break. For the past 12 years, I have done a form of gymnastics called tricking. In my spare time, Super Mario is always a fun alternative.
What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?
The biggest point I’d like to get across is I don’t do what I do for profit. I find it intrinsically fulfilling. I do it for my own personal satisfaction, which to me is a much better catalyst for any artistic motivation.
Tom Lynall is a specialist bespoke jewelry manufacturer located in Birmingham’s prestigious Jewellery Quarter. Having been in the industry for over a decade, Thomas has produced high quality sliver, gold and platinum pieces to the highest quality. To see more of his jewelry designs or miniature carvings, visit his website, Facebook or Instagram.
How did you first get started making paper miniatures? Where does the interest stem from?
Oddly enough, my model-making stems more from an interest in (obsession with) aviation rather than my art background. I have a relative who is a WWII veteran. He was a Navy pilot and when I was younger, he told me about the planes he flew and all the experiences he had in the war. One day I was trying to figure out how to fold paper airplanes that looked like real planes, and I realized that I could do more than just fold the paper. I grabbed some cardboard and tape and scissors, and I made my first model plane. That was probably around 8th grade, and I’ve been honing the craft ever since. Until recently, I had only made model aircrafts.
How have your studies at Pratt influenced your miniature designs?
The best thing about being at such a high caliber art and design college is that I am constantly surrounded by incredible people who are doing incredible things, both staff and students. Even if it isn’t miniature work specifically, I’m always learning about new techniques and processes from my peers. Also learning design and art from talented working professionals doesn’t hurt my craft either.
Do you have any favorite miniature projects you’ve created?
My favorite creations tend be the ones that allow me to try something new. It could be a new material, technique or subject matter. One of my favorites has to be the food cart. It was the first time I used digital printing and clay in my miniatures, and that opened the door to much smaller and more intricate works. I definitely want to do another one like it soon (possibly a newsstand).
Any new miniature paper designs in the works?
I’m always thinking about what objects around me I can shrink. Lately, I have been working on some collaborative pieces with a couple of peers who do awesome small-scale clay models. I’m excited to show those off soon. I also had a lot of fun using light in my minis recently and I want to play more with that soon as well. My goal on that front is to somehow figure out how to make a tiny illuminated neon sign for a model. I have no idea how I’m going to do it.
What different materials do you use to make your miniatures?
I’ve probably tried everything you can imagine at some point. The work I do now is largely composed of Bristol paper, chipboard, clay and wire. The one thing I couldn’t make a mini without is glue (Locktite super glue is my best friend).
What is the most challenging aspect of working in small scale?
In short, hands and eyes. My hands are too big and my eyes are too weak.
Advice for beginner artists and designers?
Always be looking. When you’re walking around, look up, look down, look behind you. Look in places that seem like they have nothing to look at. Ask questions, talk to people. Inspiration is found at the oddest moments and in the oddest places. And then when that inspiration comes, make sure you have a notebook or sketchbook handy, or at least take a picture with your phone. Oh, and draw… a lot!
What inspires you?
Inspiration comes from the weirdest things. I have moments in my everyday life where I stop in my tracks and look at something and think, “I have to figure out how to make that tiny.” I’ve gotten in the habit of snapping pictures of all kinds of things that give me ideas.
Who inspires you?
Anyone that wastes his or her time doing art inspires me. But specifically: most of my professors, most of my peers and everyone who’s ever been featured on @dailymini.
What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen by another artist?
What appeals to you most about your work with miniatures?
My favorite part of making miniatures is problem solving. Every project presents new challenges and I enjoy the process of tinkering and experimenting to figure out the right material or tool for the job. It is also extremely satisfying to be able to shrink my world down and put it on a shelf. It’s almost like a super power. Sometimes I find myself staring at a building or a vending machine or something and thinking, “what tool could I use to make that thing the size of a golf ball?” It is a fun way to look at the world.
Upcoming projects or exhibitions planned?
I would love to exhibit my work somewhere, I just don’t have the connections yet.
Other activities you enjoy?
I’ve been doing a lot of animation lately. I’m taking an animation class as an elective and I spend a lot of my free time doing that. Besides that, I always draw. I can’t tell you how many sketchbooks are piled up in storage back home. And the guitar is good for relieving stress.
Jon Frier is a PrattComD student currently studying Graphic Design. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he now lives in Brooklyn, NY. Check out his portfolio on Behance, and see what he’s been making in miniature on Instagram!
From an early age, I collected miniatures and wanted to get more into the dollhouse hobby, but when I was younger, it was very difficult to find houses and other pieces that weren’t designed to look 200 years old! So my interest stopped until I decided to create my own miniatures based on the world today, with modern meals, shabby chic decor, and food from around the world.
Do you have a favorite type of miniature you enjoy creating?
I like creating preparation sets, and have a couple I am working on at the moment. At the moment, I am enjoying creating savory pieces, which is slightly against the curve as bakery designs are very ‘in’ at the moment. I love creating seasonal pieces such as for Christmas, and I love spending time looking at others’ work to inspire me. I also like surprising my partner by creating his favorite meals and putting them in front of him at dinner time.
What unique materials have you used to make your miniatures?
Not unique materials as such, but the most inane household products can sometimes create the best effects or become makeshift molds when starting out on an idea. Hello, toothbrush, tin foil and sponges!
Advice for new miniaturists?
Enjoy what you do and add your own creative flair! And don’t overdo it, as I found when I had carpal tunnel-like symptoms and had to rest my hands for three months.
Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?
There are lots! Instagram is the best way to find similar artists, and a great way to communicate through your work.
What inspires you?
I tend to spend half my time at restaurants taking photos or jotting down menu items to try and recreate at home in a smaller scale.
Why miniatures? What appeals to you most about what you do?
It’s whimsical. I don’t have a dollhouse or own any dolls, but I just love working on tiny little pieces and try my hardest to make them look as realistic as I can. They’re like an illusion if you get the effect right.
What’s to come from Sweetbriar Miniatures?
I am working hard on new pieces to showcase and hope to open my Etsy shop soon. I am currently on maternity leave though, so my spare time is sparse at present!
Sweetbriar Miniatures is the work of Amy from Cambridge, England. To see many (mini) more of her lovely miniature food creations and more, follow along on Instagram!
Do you remember the very first miniature you ever made? 
What is your favorite type of miniature to make?
What is the most challenging miniature to make?
Why miniatures?
