Daily Mini Interview: Studebaker Miniatures by Bill Studebaker

Studebaker Miniatures by Bill Studebaker

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What’s your earlier memory with miniatures?

Barbara and I had just gotten married. I overheard a conversation she had with her sister about the toys they used to play with when they were little. She never had a dollhouse. I thought, “that’s something I could do!” So I started building. I had no idea you could buy anything for a dollhouse, so I made everything from scratch. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe more I worked on it, the more I fell in love with it. For Christmas, I presented my wife Barb with a box full of parts since the dollhouse would not be done in time. A time later, she bought a house kit while she was waiting for me to finish the dollhouse. In 2 years time, she had finished the kit and refurbished another one!

In the fall of 1990, I created my first 1:12 scale piece. It was a copy of a Victorian era schoolhouse clock that Barb’s father had built. I made it as a Christmas ornament.

How did you transition from making miniatures for your family to a career in this field?

At the 2-3 year mark of creating miniatures, the volume of things that Barb and I were making got out of hand. We looked around the house and thought, “maybe we can start selling these things.” I was a furniture maker in real life so the transition came fairly naturally.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhat’s your favorite miniature you’ve ever made?

The next one. It’s always the one I’m working on next. Or the previous one.

What will you work on next?

I have an outstanding list of commissions and my customers have been very patient with me. I do of course have a bucket list of miniatures I would like to create in due time.

What’s the most challenging miniature you’ve made?

There was a piece I started about a year and a half ago. I have 700 hours into it, and have about 100 hours to go. It’s a copy of a table that was built by the Herter Brothers in the 1890s for William Vanderbilt‘s New York mansion.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERATool you cannot live without?

Tweezers. I have a pair I don’t let anyone else use. I use needle files for everything – I absolutely consume those.

Advice for new miniaturists?

Make the pieces you love. Don’t make pieces to sell. Don’t make the piece you’d think someone else would want. Do what has always made you just stand in open mouth admiration. Don’t worry about making it perfect, because you will love it, and others will love your work, too.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

I love fixing things. If I come across other work that’s broken, I take it and learn how they made it and repair it so that it appears as if it was never broken. So it looks just like their work. That’s very rewarding. And I learn a lot from it too.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI love antiques. And I love old houses. We’re serial collectors and hobbyists. Barb and I have learned craft after craft after craft our whole lives. Essentially, this whole time we’ve just been preparing ourselves to make miniatures.

I will never make 100 of anything. To me, the fun is in the challenge of discovering how to make that piece, and once I have made that piece, I don’t need to make it again. Pretty much everything I make is one of a kind.

How did you first get involved with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans?

It was nearly 20 years ago. We were members before ever attending the IGMA Guild School. Barb couldn’t get away as a school teacher until after she retired, so she came 9 years ago, when I had other commitments. She called me every night, and she was just so excited every day about what she was doing. So the next year I was able to come. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI had received my Artisan recognition from IGMA that same year. I just wanted to learn what other people were doing. What tools and what materials were they using? How were other people making their miniatures?

Do you ever collaborate with your wife, Barb?

We have on very few occasions. One of the few miniatures we have made together was auctioned off in Castine, Maine at the Guild School in 2015. She received Artisan status this year. A collaboration with her is definitely one of the things I want to do more of. Our working styles are very different; we work best together when we work separately.

Bill Studebaker is an Artisan in furniture with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA). You can shop his work on the Studebaker Miniatures website.

Daily Mini Interview: Miniature Rooms and Room Boxes by Robert Off

Miniature Rooms by Robert Off

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When was the first time you realized you had an interest in miniatures?

postcard-LaneI really enjoyed painting lead soldiers as a child. I transitioned from soldiers to miniatures. I used to paint the eyeballs and eyelids of the soldiers – all such small details. I was always interested in miniatures actually. I remember seeing a bar scene at a miniature shop and thinking it was quite interesting. I loved museums and the dioramas there. It doesn’t make a difference to me what scale a miniature is in, as long as it tells a story. Everyone has a story, and people like stories. I know I certainly enjoy stories.

From there, I got into art. I fell in love with art, especially American art. When it comes to learning, I’m quite visual as opposed to instructional. It’s always been easy for me to understand planes, dimensions, and space. American art is all about the genre and the story.

I’ve been building miniature architectural boxes since 1998. I was inspired by the miniature architectural boxes designed and created between 1932 and 1941 by Mrs. James Thorne and Eugene Kupjack.  After seeing these Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago, I made my wife a room box for Christmas.

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How long does it take you to create a room box?

I don’t know exactly how long it takes. A few years back, I bought myself a fancy docking station to listen to music. In my studio, I would concentrate so hard that I didn’t hear the music. As a consequence of that deep concentration, it’s possible to concentrate on your inner self and it takes you to a deeper place. It takes you into a deep thought process. It’s a phenomenon among artists. I don’t hear the phone ring, I don’t know how long I’ve been there. I’ve messed up my back due to that deep, deep concentration.

Most days I work 4-5 hours a day or take breaks in between. I like to walk away from a room box for a few days, then get back to it. The problem with miniatures is that once you get going, you fall in love with the work. And you grow too close to it. There’s the fine line of not overworking it, otherwise you would take away all the intensity.

Do you have a favorite room box that you’ve built?

Winslow Homer’s studio in Panascot Bay. It’s my favorite because Homer is one of my favorite artists. There’s a personal connection. I got to identify with the artist as I was working on it. Because he’s one of my favorite artists. It’s a personal connection. You get to identify with artist you’re working on.

I always design a work first, and I don’t hold back in the design plans. Then I begin to build it. I don’t let the practical interfere with the artistic. Therein lies the puzzle. After walking away for a couple of days, I come back and figure out how to wire a piece.

What’s your definition of art?

Gameroom-site-1My definition of art is that it has to be interesting. It has to be technically good. And it should be transformative. Art should take you to a different place beyond yourself. The art of miniatures departs from the crafts of miniatures. I approach my room boxes as art, not necessarily as an artisan. I work to make the art different. Mel Bochner once said, “Objects are emotions.” So I put those into my pieces, as triggers. I love symbols. Magritte is great and so is the set designer Robert Edmond Jones. When I started making my miniatures, I tracked down every book on stage design because that’s essentially what I’m building. Jones was one of the first to feel strongly that stage design should add to the story. So it’s not necessarily in the arrangement of the chair, but in where it lies. Exactly to the right or exactly to the left. Jones did a lot of work for Eugene O’Neill on Broadway who was considered to be the best with light.

Imperfection is what makes the thing real. Nothing in this world is perfect. When you look at something that’s perfect, it ultimately registers as untrue. If you’re striving for perfect you’re missing the art. The art is in the perfect, yes, but craft is in the imperfection. And so the doors of my room boxes are a little twisted and not symmetrical.

What symbols do you include in your own work?

I often include fruit, such as oranges or apples, as I always had food around the house. I frequently include a dog. And chances are, you can find a spittoon in my pieces as well. I also like to include something in the drawer that no one can see, but I know it’s there. It gives me a thrill.

I make my room boxes for me and hope someone else likes them. I don’t take commissions. I don’t take suggestions. So, I place symbols in my work because they make me feel good.

The reason I don’t take commissions is because this is a second career for me. My whole life, I’ve catered to customers or supervisors and this is not about that. This is for me.

Advice for new artists?

The transition from hobby to career is a tricky one. I made room boxes as a hobby for a couple of years. But you can’t have the house littered with these things. So you have to keep creating new work and offset the cost and production time. So, what did I do? I sat down and wrote a 5 year plan. I mapped out where I would like to be in 1 year and in 3 years and so forth. I developed a list of goals and how I would achieve them. And when I reached the end of my plan, I sat down and wrote another one. If you don’t have a plan, you don’t know where you’re going, and you certainly don’t know how you’ll get there. If you want to be considered and viewed highly by your peers and the industry, then set a lofty goal for yourself. Set your brand and stick to it.

International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) member Robert Off is the owner of Miniature Rooms Company. To view more of his miniature rooms and highly-detailed room boxes, visit the Miniature Rooms website. You may also enjoy his miniature room tutorial videos on YouTube!

audubon-flatboat-275-1024

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Nancy Summers

Miniatures by Nancy Summers

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How did you get started in miniatures? 

yhst-47023519779078_2231_3875877I had a dollhouse when I was little. Early on, I was a dollmaker and made little dolls for the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home & Museum in Greenfield, Indiana. I worked on little orphan Annies.

A customer bought a shadowbox and inquired about a miniaturist who could furnish it. So I made a kitchen for this woman and that was it. After that, I was hooked. My husband gave me an architect’s ruler (1 inch is 1 foot) and I began selling dolls at arts and crafts shows in Indiana. Several women from a miniature shop in Ohio came through one show and bought everything I had. They ordered more for a show in Sandusky, and there was a line of guests waiting to view the works on display.guilded-louis-xv-love-seat-4

Years later, I made furniture for Fox Studio’s 1992 movie Toys.

Latest news or projects in the works?

I was recently featured on the local news morning show regarding my carved woodwork. There was a segment about local artists so I connected with my town’s museum curator who asked me to be on television.

carved-french-sofa-3What miniatures have been most challenging for you to create?

Most pieces are challenging these days. Customers send me orders and send photos. Miniatures can take about 20 hours to create, and I work seven days a week. I used to work from 5 in the morning until midnight. There were many times that I worked through the night. Nowadays, I don’t begin work on my miniatures until after 11 in the morning.

Describe the evolution of your work.

Now I’m getting harder pieces. I recently created a baby bed with roses carved on to it. The back was slanted and curved and it came with a matching bookcase with carved roses.contemporary-sofa-3

I’ve created two copies of Catherine the Great’s bed. It took about 2 weeks to make it. It has cherubs on either end and an eagle on the headboard.

Do you collect miniatures yourself?

I keep the prototypes of the classes I teach. I’m working on several rooms that are not yet completed in four dollhouses I own. One dollhouse in particular is 39 years old. It’s an English Tudor with a shake roof that looks old now – an unintentional aging technique when you just let it sit! I also have two antique display cases filled with miniatures. I love a silver piece I have by Eugene Kupjack whose son Henry is still in business. And I own work by Indiana potter Jane Graber.

sofa-or-daybed-kit-8Did you ever trade pieces with fellow miniaturists?

I used to trade works with my friends. One time my friend from a miniature club made a needlepoint carpet for me and I traded her for a sleigh I made. I did a ½ inch scale room and she made all the food and accessories.

The club, Hoosier Mini-Mizers, meets once a month and they all take turns creating something. Two members are curators of the Museum of Miniature Houses in Carmel, Indiana.

Tool you couldn’t live without?half-inch-scale-camel-back-sofa-4

I could not live without my bandsaw. And my Dremel tool.

Most challenging piece you’ve made?

I made a headboard out of brass for a friend of mine. I’d never do that again, not out of metalwork!

yhst-47023519779078_2231_3655188Why miniatures? Why do you work in this industry?

I like to do it. It’s just me. Very few people have ever been in my workshop. It’s my ivory tower.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?

People don’t think I make the entire piece. Often they just think I upholster. But I make all of the woodwork and the upholstery. I was an artist from the beginning, I was planning to go to college for fashion design but it didn’t work out. I made dolls for a long time, so if I ever quit making miniatures, I would go back to making dolls.

To learn more about Nancy Summers’ work in miniatures, visit the Summerville Miniature Workshop website

Daily Mini Interview: Miniature Miniatures by Nell Corkin

Nell Corkin’s Miniature Miniatures

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What’s your earliest memory with miniatures?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Advice for new artists?

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

New projects in the works?

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

Career highlights you’d like to recount?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Mini Interview: IGMA Guild School Director Barbara Davis

International Guild of Miniature Artisans
Director of the Guild School: Barbara Davis 

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How did you first get started in miniatures? 

I was doing full-size furniture refinishing for my home; as well as being an antique collector. One of the antique stores in town had a dollhouse section. The owner also ran a local miniature show. I began making my own miniature furniture and eventually began selling at shows. I specialized in Early American country, painted, aged furniture.

Guild_School_2014_0100-X3How has your work evolved over the years?

I sold at many shows for a number of years and taught at the Guild School for 8 years. At the same time, I was moving forward in my career and became an elementary school principal, so I was not able to continue with minis.

How did you become involved with IGMA?

I heard about the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) and applied to be an Artisan member. Then I sold at the Guild Show in NYC. Later I taught at the IGMA Guild School. I am now the Director of the Guild School.

Do you have any advice to prospective IGMA Scholarship applicants?

Just do it! It is a simple, but serious process. The Scholarship Committee is looking for artists who have potential to grow (beginners) or expand (experienced). We look for a commitment and passion for quality minis.Guild_School_2014_0084-X3

What advice would you give to a new miniaturist?

Go to the Guild School. If you are an artist, you can learn so much. You can meet like-minded miniaturists. If you are a collector, by taking classes, you learn so much about what goes in to a high quality item – you become a more astute collector.

What have been some of your favorite collaborations?

I have collaborated with Mary Grady O’Brien and Carol Hardy. As a director and collector, I love collaborations. The piece is usually very special and I see the excitement of the artists who collaborate: chatting, researching, planning, and more.

What inspires you?

I don’t “furnish” a dollhouse or a room. I collect pieces that are very fine and can stand alone as a work of art. So many artists inspire me by the beauty and skill they put into their work. That said, I tend to collect paintings.

Guild_School_2014_0128-X3What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?

Mark Murphy and Mary Grady O’Brien’s bird chair. I was outbid when they donated it to our auction.

Why miniatures? 

I just like beautiful and interesting things and miniatures—because they are small—are easier to collect than the real thing. However, it is important to me that they be authentically made.

Anything else you would like to add?

The Guild School is for anyone. You can be a beginner and find a class that is just right for you. Or you can be a very skilled and talented Fellow of the Guild and find new and better ways of creating miniatures. I always hope that miniaturists will come to IGMA Guild School to learn and have fun.

Barbara Davis lives in California. Every June, she heads to Castine, Maine for the annual IGMA Guild School. To learn more about IGMA, visit the International Guild of Miniature Artisans website. You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram!

 

 

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Lamis Minis

Miniatures by Lamis Minis

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How did you first get started in miniatures? Where does the interest stem from?

I already had a dollhouse as a kid and my mom and I bought stuff for it, even when I was a teenager. We never sold it and about 10 years ago, we discovered that there are whole shows only for miniatures. Lamisminis5My first visit was to one in Gießen, Germany, and I did not know where to look first, I was overwhelmed. I never knew you could do stuff for your house on your own. That’s when I started my first attempts with Fimo and other materials. In 2009, I attended a workshop a friend of mine taught: orchids. I fell in love with making flowers and that’s what I’m doing now. I’ve been making miniatures for 10 years now, and working on miniature flowers for almost 6 years.

Do you sell miniatures on a full-time basis?

No, I’m still a student and have a full-time job to pay my bills. But making minis as a profession is my dream. And I’m working on making it come true at the moment.

How has your work in miniatures evolved?

Generally I tried almost everything you can imagine. I did food, I built my own furniture, I did embroidery, I did my own dolls, animals…and so on. But when I did my first flower, I knew, that’s my real passion. I was very proud of my first ones. Today I think, “Gosh, what have I done?” They developed over the years and I was quite satisfied with them until last year. That’s when I first saw Beth Freeman-Kane’s scenes. I was in awe – and terribly depressed at the same time. But I got over this depression and decided that I wanted to get better and as close to perfection as possible. I started doing really high class minis and I don’t regret it.

lamisminis4What types of materials do you use to make miniatures?

Mostly paper and paper-covered wire. But I always use whatever creates the best illusion for a life-like plant.

Advice for beginner artists and miniaturists?

No one is born a master. That’s not only about flowers but everything regarding minis. You have to practice to get better. And no one can master everything. Me for example, I will never ever learn how to knit. No way. So don’t be disappointed, if you’re not satisfied with what you’ve done. Just try it again. It’s all about try and error.

Tool you can’t live without?lamisminis1

My tweezers. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without them.

Favorite miniature you own by another artist?

I own a chipmunk made by Beth and I love it!

Most treasured miniature you’ve made?

I rebuilt my own bedroom. It’s a nice memory, especially since we moved to a new apartment.

What’s been the most difficult miniature to create and why?

I create many miniature plants that are very time-consuming. Some of them take days to finish. But the mini I really hated when I did it was a small stuffed elephant. I bought a kit (huge mistake) and when it came to turning the trunk I really lost my temper and threw it against the wall. But I finally finished it and never ever sewed one again, but I’m good about buying finished ones (made by Shirley Scheibehenne).

lamisminis3Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

Absolutely Beth. I love her creations. She was my inspiration to make my miniatures even better, and it was a pleasure to meet her for the first time this year in Chicago.

Why miniatures? What appeals to you most about what you do?

Even if I don’t have any patience in real life, I can sit hours and hours at my desk finishing just one flower or something else. You can build whatever you want, there are no limits. I think that’s what I like most. Everything is possible, you only have to imagine it.

Upcoming news you’d like to share?

My next miniatures show is in Mannheim this November, so there’s plenty of time to work on different projects until then. And, I just received my IGMA Artisan membership and I’m so proud of it. I really hope to attend the IGMA Guild School some day, and maybe I will teach some classes there one day too.

Other activities you enjoy?

The only thing left except for making minis is decorating our apartment and sleeping. I loooove to sleep.

What do you want miniature fans across the world to know about you?

I really love what I’m doing and I hope you can see that in my work. I hope I can bring some joy with my flowers and plants into your dollhouses.

And I want to encourage especially younger people like me to start with miniatures! Don’t be intimidated by all the great artists out there. They all started at some time. It’s a fantastic hobby and not only for older crafters. It’s so much fun to do, just try it!

You can see loads more miniatures by Germany’s Pia Becker of Lamis Minis. Simply follow along on Facebook or shop her Etsy store! Or, check out the Lamis Minis website

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Daily Mini Interview: TeenyTiny_Things Manila

Miniatures by TeenyTiny_Things Manila

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Where does your interest in miniatures come from?

shortbreadcookiesI very much owe my fixation for miniatures to my grandmother. She has actually influenced all of her children and grandchildren with her various collections. Each of us has a collection of some genre. She has a vast collection of dolls from different countries, eggs–real and manmade–coins, toy cars, animal figurines, commemorative spoons, Swarovski crystals, refrigerator magnets, tea cups, and of course miniatures!

When we were little, her collection was so precious to her that we were only allowed to peek inside her glass cabinets–but never allowed to touch or play with her miniature collectibles. All of us cousins would spend hours sitting in front of her cabinets, exploring in amazement the details inside that we were NOT allowed to touch. I think in some way, it has affected us all because now that we have the means to buy our own and source our own, we go all out to make up for the years of deprivation!

My beautiful, amazing grandmother is currently bedridden due to old age. I recently made a tribute for her on my IG page. I featured 10 of my most favorite things from her miniature collection—please do check it out if you have time! Just key in #forLOLAmaria on Instagram.beachpicnic

How many years have you been collecting minis?

I’ve been collecting minis for as long as I can remember! Friends also know how much I love miniatures, so they try to pick up something for me when they see one in passing when traveling or otherwise. I am particularly obsessed with minis that are part of my everyday life: groceries, food, furniture, household appliances, and more.

As for shooting photos of my minis, it was not since the start of this year 2015 that I decided to put up an Instagram page. Social media has a great effect on collectors, on everyone! Here I was able to share how I see miniatures compared to the world, the BIG world, and also hear from fellow mini lovers such as myself. It started on my personal account where I always put up photos of my minis and I noticed I received more likes posting minis than when I post my personal stuff! So I figured why not put up an Instagram account for my minis so other collectors can see it? It just blew up from there.

makeupWhat’s your style of photography on the site?

I take photos using only my iPhone 6! My shooting style usually comprised of comparing the miniature’s scale to a true size object. When I shoot, I also try to enjoy myself so I seldom go out of my way to shoot something. I just shoot when I feel that I am at the right place, at a convenient time. What’s nice about miniatures is they are so small you don’t need to carry much weight just to do a shoot! I carry miniatures in my purse all the time! So whenever I see a perfect opportunity or perfect spot, I just take them out and shoot there! People look at me funny when we are in a restaurant and food comes out and OH I HAVE A MINI OF THAT… and I bust out my minis on the table just to shoot. It’s great for killing time too! I shoot even when I am stuck in traffic or when I’m waiting on line, haha! People just stare at me when I take out little toys when paying bills.

Favorite mini you own by another artist or have made yourself?

I am very fascinated on how Re-Ment miniatures are made and conceptualized to be a set. They really have mastered making daily household items or food sets in the scale of 1:12 where you can actually appreciate details! For durability as well I commend Re-Ment brand and Orcara. Japanese artists and designers make excellent miniatures.pokertime

Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

Works of Minivenger, Nunu’s House, Shay Aaron, Valentina and Maritza never fail to amaze me. I am in awe of their talent and attention to detail.

What’s to come from TeenyTiny_Things?

Since I get to have a lot of boxes coming in from my orders abroad, I’m planning to put up a YouTube account for when I’m unboxing my new mini orders. I’ll also include videos of when I set them up for a shoot and so forth. I think that would be fun and interesting for mini lovers! I just need to find the time.

1kcelebrateAnything else you would like to add?

My name is Kimberly, and I am crazy about all kinds of miniatures. I run the page as a hobby, but as my followers grew, many were asking if I sell minis so I figured, maybe I should! I now do it part time while I work full time in the fashion retail industry. I am 31 years old, a working mother of two healthy energetic boys. I am a happy wife to a very supportive husband. Aside from miniatures, I love to travel with family, eat generously and lavishly. I love museums, reading books and family time. And yes—please do let miniature lovers know about my TeenyTiny account I would love to share my miniatures with them!

Kimberly del Rosario lives in Manila, Philippines. You can see many more of her teeny, tiny things on the TeenyTiny_Things Instagram or on Facebook.

 

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Emi’s Bakery

Miniatures by Emi’s Bakery

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How did you first get started in miniatures?

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

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

What materials and tools do you use to make miniatures?

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

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

Advice for new miniaturists?

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

Fellow miniaturists that inspire you?

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

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

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

Why miniatures? 

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

Upcoming projects planned? New minis in the works?

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

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

Other hobbies you enjoy? 

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

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

I’m always up for a chat about miniatures!

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

2015 Guild School by the International Guild of Miniature Artisans

The Ripple Effect. Spread the Knowledge. Share the Fun. 

The Guild School is an annual week of instruction by International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) Fellows and Artisans in scale miniatures. Set in Castine, Maine each June, the Guild School features classes and workshops by 33 instructors, all of which are current Artisans or Fellows of the Guild.

BW_Guild_School_2014_0331SQ-X3This year’s 34th annual IGMA Guild School will take place from June 13-19 in Castine. Over 200 miniaturists from around the world (42 states and 11 countries are represented this year) take part in more than 50 miniature-making classes. Guild students are taught techniques in woodworking, metalsmithing, figure sculpting, painting, needlework, room/building construction, plant making, food sculpting, wicker, weaving, mosaics, and pottery. With 6 full days of classes (each class spans from 6-8 hours a day), students work diligently to develop their skills and further hone their miniature craft.

Guild_School_2014_0478-X3In addition, the 2015 Guild School will feature evening seminars, a student and instructor exhibit, live and silent auctions, an exhibit of class projects, a graduation night banquet, lobster cookout, and a miniature sale night. Click to view past Guild School events.

All skill levels are welcome to attend the week-long IGMA Guild School set on a picture-perfect campus in a quaint, historical, coastal village in scenic Maine. The School is just one education component of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. Guild_School_2014_0474-X3IGMA was founded in 1979 to promote fine miniatures as an art form; to increase awareness and appreciation of high-quality workmanship through public education; to recognize and honor qualified artisans and encourage work of highest quality; to encourage the development of new artisans; and to coordinate and serve the interests and needs of the artisan and non-artisan.

To learn more about the IGMA Guild School, visit the Guild School website. You can follow along on Facebook and Instagram. For information about the International Guild of Miniature Artisans, visit igma.org

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Daily Mini Interview: Boutique Miniatures

Boutique Miniatures

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10306639_1617810578431040_82144154618900352_nHow did you first get started in miniatures?

I started making miniatures 5 years ago. For more than 18 years, I had worked on miniature wooden ship models. Though I enjoyed these simple wooden ship models, I wanted to transition to something with more energy, and I’ve found this energy in miniatures. It’s been very fun and exciting for me to create miniatures.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

There is no limit in materials when making miniatures. Any type of material (anything at all!) can be used during the creative process. It all comes down to achieving that “real” appearance with the miniature work. 1523453_1582235665321865_4409708103317702330_oI like battling with different materials. Most typically, I work with pear tree wood, brass, copper, and iron. A variety of my work can be viewed on Facebook.

Advice for beginner artists?

I would advise beginners to place high importance on scaling and achieving the correct scaled down dimensions. A caliper should be used at all times, and with great consideration.

Tool, material or technique you can’t live without?

10420345_1590995117779253_6619052733746069815_nI couldn’t do what I do without the pear tree. It feels like velvet. I also use two lathes, a micro planer, scroll saw, cut saw, thickness planer, table saw, circular saw, bench drill press, and disc sander in my workshop. I don’t use any chemicals in any of my works; all of my miniatures are completely natural.

Other activities you enjoy?

I enjoy photography and have spent time working in graphic design.

Fatih lives in Izmir, Turkey. For more of his fantastic miniatures, visit Etsy, InstagramFacebook or check out his previous work in wooden ship models.

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