Tag: handmade

Daily Mini Interview: S P Miniatures

admin

S P Miniatures by Carol and Ken Singer

|   Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |

hrlbakerydeliverybikeWhat’s your earliest memory with miniatures?

When my daughter was little, I took her to FAO Schwarz® and they had a lighted dollhouse on display. I fell in love with it and I made a vow that one day I would have a dollhouse with lights.

How did S P Miniatures come to be in 1995? Were you both avid collectors of miniatures?

I was a collector when the shop near me went out of business. The owner asked me if I wanted to buy her inventory and go into business and although I had a “real” job at the time I thought I would try it. Ken figured it could be fun. At the time, the only venues to sell at were shows, so we started selling at shows. In 1999, the Web became a viable place to sell minis, and I set up a crude website which has evolved over time.

Have either of you created miniatures before? 

We have never made miniatures. I put together a dollhouse and outbuildings and decorated them. They were featured in Miniature Collector Magazine in 1999.peteracquistodresserset

What is it about the field of miniatures that so inspires you?

The amazing talent of the artisans who do such detailed work.

What can modern day miniature enthusiasts do to preserve this industry? 

As a dealer, I play an important role in not only preserving the hobby, but also ensuring its future by backing, encouraging, and inspiring artisans. I continue to stress the importance for collectors to avoid the “made in China” copies and to buy artisan pieces. That will both encourage current artisans to continue making work, and will encourage new artisans to enter the field. I believe that online selling is creating a new boom as those who didn’t have access to shops and shows can now be involved in the hobby.

englishkitchencakeWhat is the selection process like when considering a new artisan to represent?

I look at what I buy from a collector’s point of view, not as a dealer. The first thing is that I have to like it and it has to be quality work. Price is important, and it would be an amount that I would be willing to pay as a collector. Of course I would also have to have a price that makes a profit although the profit doesn’t have to be a lot. Sometimes, I’ll buy things that sell for a very small profit because I believe that it will make my website fun to visit.

How many artisans do you presently represent, and from how many countries?

Approximately 200 artisans from 13 countries.

Is there a most popular selling item on your site? 

Food and kitchen utensils are very popular.

sharb9_2vegbasketWhat’s your favorite miniature by another artist?

Barbara Stanton did a painting of a reclining nude that was amazing.

How has the trend of online shopping for miniatures changed from 1999 to today? 

There hasn’t been much change in what people want. Some of the things that were good sellers when I first went online are still popular. I have gotten into “modern” miniatures (1950s and beyond) and those have been well received. There seems to be less interest in Victorian and more interest in rustic or country themes.

How has your work with miniatures evolved over the years?

When I first got into minis as a collector, I bought anything that was “cute” regardless of the quality. After going to shows and seeing the work of artisans my tastes changed dramatically.

Favorite material, tool or technique you cannot live without?

Needle nose pliers and a dremel.

How did you first become involved with the Guild Show presented by the International Guild of Miniature Artisans?

I subscribe to Miniature Collector Magazine and I saw their advertisement.

What other annual miniature events would you recommend that miniature enthusiasts attend?

The Chicago International Trade Show by Tom Bishop should be on every miniaturist’s bucket list.

hand8canistersetappleAdvice for beginner entrepreneurs, miniaturists, artists, or collectors?

For collectors – buy what you like. It’s your dollhouse and don’t worry what others think.

For entrepreneurs, find a niche. The market right now is saturated with mini websites and auctions.

For artisans – work with experienced dealers who know the market, offer advice as to what may or may not sell, and give artisans exposure.

mcqguillotine_01What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?

A working guillotine.

Is there anything you haven’t seen in miniature that you would really like to?

Light switches for each room. I think they were made at one time (and may still be available) but they didn’t work very well. They were a bit flimsy.

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

I see something in full size and it doesn’t do anything for me. I see it in miniature and I’m in love.

What’s to come from S P Miniatures? 

I recently attended the wholesale show run by Aztec Imports in Ohio, will be attending the Molly Cromwell show in Virginia in September and the Philadelphia Miniaturia in November. I continually look for new artisans and unique miniatures.

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

I work very hard to find unique and well-made miniatures at prices that are not outrageous. I don’t think that people are aware of how time consuming selling online is.

Carol and Ken Singer hail from Hightstown, NJ and they are the team behind S P Miniatures. S P Miniatures has been in business since 1995 and online since 1999. You can shop their extensive collection on the S P Miniatures website, or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Daily Mini Interview: Miniature Landscapes by Louise Smith

admin

Miniature Embroidery by Louise Smith
Landscapes in Silk and Thread

|   Website   |   Blog   |   Profile   |

Tell us a bit about your background as an artist.

Free Bee 2 x 2 inchesAs a teenager, I saw an exhibition of free motion machine embroidery on silk, and was intrigued by how the stitched foreground appeared so near and the painted background so distant, making me feel I’d traveled miles while standing on the spot. But a little research on the subject—in books, in those pre-Internet days—left me feeling this was too tricky and time-consuming an art form to learn at the time.

I must have held onto the idea somewhere, though, and seven years ago when I was seeking something creative to do in my spare time, it popped straight into my head. By this time, the Internet, artists’ blogs and YouTube videos had made learning a bit easier. Despite having done neither painting nor sewing since my schooldays, I went all in, buying a sewing machine and a bunch of silk, paint and thread, determined to make a go of it.

R&R 3 x 4 inchesI did some painting on silk first, getting used to that medium, then took on the task of learning free motion machine embroidery. They’re very different disciplines, but they do share a common power to exasperate! When a painting or sewing session goes well, though, you feel like you’ve climbed a mountain.

Nowadays, I also incorporate a lot of other techniques such as hand sewing, gluing, ribbon work, and using thread lint—whatever’s demanded by the scene I’m trying to create.

What unique materials have gone in to your work?

I doubt it’s unique to me, but I use thread lint sometimes, which is just regular sewing thread chopped finely. I use a toothpick to stir different colors together to get the exact shade I want. It’s great for depicting fields or trees in the middle distance, that are too near for paint and too distant for embroidery. I attach it to the silk using acid-free tacky glue.

Blue Plate Special 4.25 x 5.5 inchesSince I work with woven silk, sometimes when I’m looking for a really fine thread, such as for boat rigging, I’ll pull a single strand of silk from the side of the piece and use that.

One piece featuring seagulls had me stumped, because I tried thread, then ribbon, and still wasn’t happy with the look of the gulls. I ended up using tiny slivers of Tyvek, which is used for everything from envelopes to house wraps, but counts as fiber.

I sometimes use snippets of ribbon or cotton. And I’m a fabric store’s nightmare because I’ll drag out a big roll of some fabric with an intriguing texture and buy a quarter-yard of it.

Tick-Tock 3 x 4 inchesAlthough I embroider mostly with regular sewing thread, I do subject it to processes that make it look different. My work should look absolutely nothing like traditional embroidery with its very tidy, recognizable stitch patterns, because nature doesn’t look like that. So, I might do some free motion machine embroidery and then rough it up with an emery board to make it look like windblown grass; or chop into it with scissors. It sometimes feels like hairstyling on a very small scale.

Why do you find yourself predominantly working in a small scale? 

With the medium of embroidery, it’s partly determined by the diameter of hoop that can fit within the arm of the sewing machine. Much larger than a 10-inch hoop, and you’ll find the edge of the hoop bangs into the arm of the machine and compromises your stitching. And even on pieces that don’t involve the machine, I still aim small because it would take too long to hand-sew a large area.

Half Moon 3 x 4 inchesAs for why embroidery as opposed to, say, large-scale landscape painting, I think it’s because I’m compelled to do something different. If embroidery on a small scale suddenly became a very mainstream hobby, I’d probably look for something else to do. There’s something special to me about bringing a relatively obscure art form to light.

Artists that have inspired you?

Alison Holt, who’s based in the UK, is one of the first artists to have inspired me in this particular medium. And Kirsten Chursinoff is a fiber artist local to British Columbia, whose work I’ve been lucky enough to see in person. I’m afraid I’ve never been able to find out the name of the artist whose exhibition originally inspired me as a teenager, but I’m very thankful to them!

I’m also inspired by artists in all media, because they all have so much to teach me about composition and color, and I enjoy participating in art groups both local and online.

Break in the Clouds 1.25 x 2.75 inchesFavorite artist working with miniatures?

Alison Holt creates small-scale landscapes using free motion machine embroidery—and magic, I think—on silk. Janet Granger, a fellow member of Stitchin’ Fingers, creates exquisite miniature dollhouse furnishings.

Advice you’d share with beginner artists or those working in small scale?

I count myself as a beginner still, but I’d say: don’t hesitate to create a website and/or blog to help publicize your work. In real life, miniatures can be overlooked when displayed beside larger-scale artwork, but in the virtual world nothing can be larger than the size of a screen, so your visual presence can be as large as anyone else’s.

What is the most memorable miniature work you have ever seen?

Maarten Meerman’s miniature wooden sculptures are probably the smallest-scale I’ve ever seen in person. I also admire the work of sculptor Willard Wigan; and I can’t name any one above the others, but I’m intrigued by eggshell carvers.

Into Silver Waters 3.5 x 2.625 inchesWhy small scale for your miniature landscapes? 

I love making people look more closely. I love a double-take. I love outright disbelief. But beyond the initial reactions I sometimes see, I love when somebody looks for a long time because a piece makes them feel something.

What’s to come from Louise Smith?

I’m working on pieces now for exhibition this winter in a group show called Positively Petite, featuring small-scale artwork and sculpture. That’s in Coquitlam, BC. The qualifying dimensions are around 3 x 4 inches or smaller, so after that I’m usually ready to bust out and do some comparative whoppers at 5 x 6 inches.

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

Regardless of the scale of my work, my aim is always to create a piece that evokes an emotional response, rather than solely a reaction to the small dimensions or unusual materials. So, as much as I’m trying to master techniques and push boundaries in fiber, my true goal is to move you—miles and miles, and a mood away—through that little scrap of silk and thread.

Louise Smith is based in Vancouver, Canada. View many more of her miniature landscapes on the Threaded Views website, Threaded Views blog, and check out her Stitchin’ Fingers profile.

Fall at your Feet - in 7-inch hoop

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Hadyn’s Charms

admin

Hadyn’s Charms

|   Shop   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |

How did you first get started in miniatures? 

I have always loved art and all of the different mediums there are, but there was still one that I have always really wanted to try: polymer clay.

image1.JPGSo, in the summer of 2013 I got into working with clay. I started out with my first charms, little lollipops, bows, and some coffee charms, and posted them on my art-themed Instagram account with only a couple hundred followers. Soon after, I had an inquiry from a follower that was interested in purchasing my work.

From there, I realized that I could do so much more. People really loved what I was creating, and I really loved doing it as well! I decided to create my own jewelry store, with everything handmade by me. I launched a PayPal, then a website, and so my business started!

I first started selling on third party sites like Shop Handmade, Storenvy, and Etsy, but back in May of this year, I finally decided to be independent from all of these sites and purchase my own domain and website.

Now, in 2015, I have 30,000 followers and counting on my Instagram account. I have shipped my creations to 11 different countries, and 43 of the 50 US states, multiple times each. And have completed over 430 orders to people all over the world.

image2.JPGDo you have a favorite charm you like to make?

I love making miniature foods. I wouldn’t say I have a specific favorite to make, but if I had to narrow it down, I would say mini desserts are my favorite to make.

What are your top sellers?

My top sellers are, without a doubt, my custom works. They can span anywhere from custom-made celebrities, custom-made foods, custom-made animals, and so on.

What inspires you to create?

Organizing. Whenever I organize or rearrange my craft space, it inspires me to start creating!

Advice for beginner artists and miniaturists?

Colors are so very important when making miniatures, especially realistic food. If the color isn’t right, it can throw off the realism of the entire piece.

image1.JPGSometimes it can be difficult, so I would recommend pulling up a picture of the food you are making on Google. Study the image for a bit, and mix the colors to create a color match. Then begin sculpting your mini.

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

I saw a miniature hobbit scape once. It had a little hobbit house in the side of a grassy mountain, with a little door and a pathway of rocks and little flowers, a tree, all inclosed with a miniature fence. It was very unique and very beautiful. I would love to try making one myself someday.

Other hobbies you enjoy?

I enjoy painting and drawing. And I love organizing and collecting things to add to my craft space — it really helps me get inspired to create!

Hadyn Colella is the namesake behind Hadyn’s Charms. Hadyn is 16 years old and currently lives in Idaho. Shop her creations online at HadynsCharms.com or follow along on Instagram and Facebook!

image5.JPG

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Bel’s Mini World

admin

Miniatures by Bel’s Mini World

|  Website  |  Shop  |  Blog  |  Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | 

How did you first get started in miniatures?

From Land and Sea creationWhen I was a child, I never got the chance to own one of those fabulous dollhouses you could see at the shopping centers during Christmas. So that is where it comes from… this feeling was somehow left in my inside. Thanks to my husband’s support of my day to day work, I pursued miniatures and now I love what I do so much. Sending my minis worldwide is very fulfilling as is seeing comments from people asking if my minis are real food or minis. There’s no doubt I may be doing something others can enjoy. Making people happy in turn makes my work so rewarding.

How has your work evolved?

Well, I must admit I have seen hundreds of miniatures by other artists, seen many websites and read some books about how to make minis, but due to my perfectionist nature I did always find something to improve on, with every work. I started making minis about 6 months ago. Since I started, my husband says that I have hugely improved, not only in sculpting the minis but in giving them the correct color and correct matte/gloss shine combination. Vegetables crateI’ve also become more skilled at making imperfections in each mini, as this is what gives them each the real touch. Since I first started, I have replaced my tools several times and evolved my painting process as well. It’s all about evolution and experience. When I’m not happy with a mini. I just try again and again until I’m happy with it. Patience and care is the essence of my minis.

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

The primary material I use is polymer clay. I also love to work with wood (I have some woodwork projects in mind for the future), cool porcelain, fabrics, and sometimes I add some metal wires either for tools or to build a structure for more sturdy minis or whenever the structure requires something stronger than just polymer clay.

BakeryAdvice for new miniaturists?

I’m still an apprentice but the only advice I can give them is try and keep trying. You don’t need to start from the very basics . If you have enough motivation and you love minis, take the time you need to practice and try to learn as much as you can from artists that has been doing minis for years. Nowadays, you can find information and tutorials everywhere on the Internet. Find a challenge and try to improve it.

What inspires you?

Everything inspires me. Every little detail that I find in my day to day. When you cook, when you go to the garden, when you go to the supermarket, every step you take can be part of a wonderful scene. I just open my eyes and try to capture every single, little detail of nature and the real world that we don’t normally notice. It’s challenging to be able to reproduce that in miniature form.

What’s to come from your brand?P1030935

Well, I have so many projects in mind that if I start writing down a list, I may spend a few days with it! Some of the works I want to make include a new bakery, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, traditional dishes, pieces of wooden furniture, and more. What I do enjoy the most is recreating any food or food scenes that my customers have in their minds for their dollhouses – especially work that they have never found anywhere. For example, I have made some food creations from just a photo for some customers. I like to help them find the perfect food creations for their dollhouses so I have new projects almost every day. Moreover, I’m working on an exciting new feature in my shop (New Category: Design Your Own). Now you can design your own creation by choosing how it will be displayed. This functionality is enabled for the miniature oysters, but soon I will add more products for you all to play with.Salmon boards

Other hobbies you enjoy?

As a DIY person, I like to be involved in any project from the garden to house decorating. Less often, I spend time dressmaking and I may apply some of these skills to minis and dollhouses one day. In general, I’m a very active person that enjoys doing just about anything. I must admit that minis are my most enjoyable hobby/work.

Anything else you would like to add? 

For anyone who follows my works, thank you so much!Fresh Apples

I used to ask my friends what mini have they not found anywhere, and would then make the work. This is the kind of challenge I would enjoy more of.

When someone receives my minis, and sends me a message about their delight, I feel that I have not only given them one of my creations, but also a piece of myself. My care and love for minis is the soul of Bel’s Mini World.

Bel’s Mini World is made possible by Bel from the United Kingdom. You can shop her miniatures online, visit her website or blog, or follow along on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

Oysters

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Craftingbeshop

admin

Miniatures by Craftingbeshop

|   Shop   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |

015How did you first get started in miniatures?

I watched the movie 13 Going on 30 when it first came out, and I absolutely fell in love with Jenna Rink’s dollhouse. After I watched that movie, I started making my own dollhouses out of cardboard boxes, foam board, and random household items. I even made my own furniture and decorations. Over time I’ve gradually improved my artistry.

1610978_1038999306110248_4686738076340400397_nWhat’s your favorite miniature?

My “Harry Potter” series is my favorite miniature(s) at this moment. But aside from myself, I was inspired to get heavily into the miniature making business by Tanja from Sugarcharmshop. I love all of her work.

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

I’m really not quite sure why I am specifically drawn to miniatures. I have just always loved them for as long as I can remember. Everything about them is so cute and adorable. I think deep down, somewhere in my subconscious, it’s because I can be a kid at heart when I make miniatures. I’ve always been surrounded by dollhouses and miniature items; I had 3 different dollhouses growing up so it’s also always been something I’ve just “known.”unnamed (3)

What’s to come from Craftingbeshop?

I’m currently making mini movie props for various classic movies that most people are familiar with. If you follow me on Instagram, you can see my daily progress. I’ll have Lord of the Rings mini props in the near future!

Craftingbeshop is currently based in the hills of eastern Kentucky, in Morehead. You can shop her miniatures on Etsy, or follow along on Instagram and Facebook for many (mini) more photos!

11209360_1428408914155055_5592871994646818886_n

Daily Mini Interview: La Belle Cuisine Miniaturas

admin

Miniatures by La Belle Cuisine Miniaturas

|   Etsy   |   Facebook   |   Blog   |   Store Blog   |   Blog II   |

How did you first get started in miniatures? 

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

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

How has your work evolved over time?

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

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

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

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

merceariaZeferino 004What materials do you use to make miniatures?

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

Favorite mini you have made yourself?

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

casinha do Botão para Revista 003

What inspires you?

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

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

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

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

IMG_4835.JPG

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Phillip Nuveen

admin

Miniatures by Phillip Nuveen

|   Website   |   Instagram   |   Etsy   |

How did you transition from art and design into miniatures?

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

Where does your interest in miniature stem from?

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

How has your work in miniature evolved?

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

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

What materials do you use to make your miniatures?

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

TDM5-01

What is the most memorable miniature you have ever seen?

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

Advice for beginner artists?

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

TDM2-01Why miniatures? 

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

What’s to come from Phillip Nuveen?

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

What do you want miniature fans to know about you?

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

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

TDM4-01

Daily Mini Interview: Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures

admin

Mackenzie McAlpin Miniatures

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

What are some of your earliest memories that involve miniatures? 

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

What kind of miniatures did your mom make? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why miniatures?

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

IMG_2066

Do you create miniatures on a full-time basis?

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

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

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

Advice for beginner artists?

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

What’s your most beloved miniature?

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

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

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

What’s to come from Mackenzie McAlpin?

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

What inspires you? -untitled-+2 (3)

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

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

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

Other activities you enjoy?

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

Anything else you’d like to add? 

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

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

IMG_1022

Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by MiniArtHouse

admin

Miniatures by MiniArtHouse

|   Website   |   Shop   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   Pinterest   |

How did you get started working with miniatures? 

Once, turning over the pages of a magazine dedicated to design and decor, I saw a small dollhouse. IMG_4151It had every thing inside: furniture and tableware. It made me so excited. Later, I wanted to make the same house for myself. My husband helped me and we made our first dollhouse. It was a Dutch house from the 16th and 17th centuries.We were interested in recreating some of the details of the interior, typical of that time and country. Upstairs in the bedroom, we did a wood-beamed ceiling, and in the dining room we created hand-painted tiles. Then we created an Italian house. IMG_3184 (1)At that time in Russia, miniatures were not so popular, so we had to do a lot by ourselves. In the process, we gained invaluable experience. Soon after, we set up a small family shop dedicated to miniature. Our store is filled with various miniatures.

Our main focus is handmade miniature. My daughter, Ksenia is an artist who produces miniature paintings and paints furniture. We create posters. My husband, Georgiy is interested in porcelain and ceramics. My husband and I pay great attention to porcelain. IMG_2143He makes the form of vases, pitchers, plates, and more. Then we paint and glaze the works. We try to find historical patterns of majolica and transfer them to miniature porcelain. I paint porcelain. I also create food from miniature polymer clay, and I love to sew and embroider cushions, rugs, tapestries, and paintings.

For the holidays, we make themed dioramas and roomboxes. For Christmas and New Year, I decorate little Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths, and garlands. IMG_2322We also create compositions, including shelves with plates, tables with fruit and vegetables, and still life works with food and flowers.

How many years have you been making minis?

We’ve been in the miniature business for about 5 years. We are always in search of creativity and the mastering of new techniques.

IMG_4173What different types of materials do you use to make miniatures?

In our works, we use polymer clay, clay, porcelain, wood, MDF, fabric, paint, pastel, plaster, paper, cardboard, floss, and more.

Advice for beginner artists?

For starters, we recommend you pay great attention to detail.

Material or technique you can’t live without?MAH-PZ-2c

Embroidery, modeling, ceramics, and drawing.

Why miniatures? 

It’s a wonderful hobby. Miniature is the reflection of the world in which we live. Through miniature, we want to transfer all the forms, colors, and patterns that fill our lives.

MAH-PIL-41zWhat’s to come from MiniArtHouse?

In the near future we would like to try creating miniatures in the scale of 1:24.

Words you live by?

Beauty and creativity make our lives more interesting.

Miniarthouse is a family affair based in Moscow, Russia. Evgenia creates miniatures with help from her husband Georgiy and daughter Ksenia. To view more of their handmade minis, visit their website, shop on Etsy, or follow along on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.