Shrunk : Issue 2 by Shrunk Magazine

Shrunk.

A MODERN MINIATURES MAGAZINE

Shrunk magazine is a quarterly print publication, with Issue 3 coming to you in May 2021. Why just 4 issues a year? Well, we’re currently a very tiny team. We also believe that less is more. More original features, more projects, more fun. It also means less waste. We’ll only print what we really need, so pre-orders are important. We want our print copies to be treasured by the paper-lovers among you, enjoyed and passed around to friends, well-thumbed. And if you miss a print issue, don’t panic! Digital editions are available via Issuu.com

w w w. s h r u n k m a g a z i n e . c o m

This publication was made possible by the 199 backers who pledged to our Kickstarter launch campaign. Thank you so much for helping bring Shrunk magazine to life.

Shrunk Magazine is a trading name of Four Little Walls. Published quarterly by Shrunk Magazine. Mailing address: Unit 285, Regency House, 91 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2NW, UK. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, distributed or reproduced without permission from both its publisher and original author.

Shrunk.

A Modern Miniatures Magazine

Welcome to Issue 2, I’m not going to lie, pulling together a magazine, from home, during two national lockdown’s has been challenging to say the least! On the flip side, however, I’m thrilled to have been joined by two, most excellent humans, Izzie and Valentina, who’ve been incredible additions to the Shrunk team and amazing support behind the scenes. It has been a challenging few months for the team, our contributors, advertisers and I’m sure also for many of you reading. Once again I’d like to say a huge thank you to all involved for their continued support. I’m pretty proud of what we’ve been able to achieve and already looking forward to what’s in store for issue 3! So, whether you’re just getting through another day of quarantine or perhaps need some escapism from the homeschooling, we’ve got six fab editorial features for you to lose yourselves in with a cup of tea. Speaking of tea, Laura Lereveur is sloshing the stuff all over the place in the first of our new Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses features (p. 50) If you’re looking to experiment with some new materials why not try your hand at polymer-clay? Marcella, of Minicaretti, talks us through the basics. Put your new skills to the test with two fun DIY projects. There’s a little treat to be found on p.33 with a fabulous freebie tile paper from the wonderful Tiny Universe Minis as well as a mini version of Shrunk ready to pop into your doll’s house.

Cover image: Cielo Marie Vianzon

I had the pleasure of interviewing Cielo Marie Vianzon, issue 2 cover star and miniature potter extraordinaire. It was so inspiring to hear how this selftaught artist creates such gorgeous work (and I’m now truly obsessed with tiny ceramics!) I hope you love Cielo’s miniature pottery pieces as much we do!

Kat

Editor: Kat Picot Contact: kat@shrunkmagazine.com

Assistant Editor: Izzie Price Contact: izzie@shrunkmagazine.com

Editorial Assistant : Valentina Lyau Instagram @tetracerus

Contents

p. 22

p. 39

p. 30

Contents Read

Shop

10. A Night at The Farm: A Bedtime Party 12. Micro Scales with Miss Mini Life 14. More is More: Doll’s House Tour 22. Throws of Passion 54. All That Glitters 58. Why We Collect

29. Shrunk Loves... 30. House Hunter 62. Stockists

Make 34. SKILL SET: Beginners Guide to Polymer Clay 39. DIY: Raspberry & Rose Layer Cake 41. DIY: Terrazzo Kitchen Island 48. TECHNIQUE: Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses

p. 14

p. 58

p. 41

p.58

Contributors Marcel

Rhenee

inicare tt

inson

-M

b Ro

Esha Bijut

p. 48

Laura L e

Esha is an engineer by profession and artist at heart! A self-taught miniaturist, she works in 1:12 scale creating one of a kind miniature food, furniture and dioramas. Esha shows us how to create a polymer clay layer cake, p.39. Follow Esha on Instagram @Pink_petite_rose

Marcella, owner of miniatures business, Minicaretti, is an experienced miniatures maker, working with papers, resin and polymer clay. Marcella talks us through the basics of working with polymer clay on page 34. Find Minicaretti on Facebook and Instagram @Minicaretti

Rhenee is based in the United States and builds incredible miniatures and dioramas from scratch in scales 1:24, 1:48, and 1:144. Head to p.12 to read her Micro Scale column. You can follow Rhenee’s work on Instagram and YouTube @MissMiniLife.

veur re

Laura is a recovering master of Fine Art. Having renewed her childhood interest in minis, she now does little else. Tabitha, the cat, helps. In this issue’s Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses feature, Laura spills the tea on her magic, mini ingredients. Find Laura on Instagram @lereveur.miniature

#ishrunkthis

1 Well, you’ve been a busy bunch. With over 2k, bloomin’ gorgeous pics now shared using #ishrunkthis, it was tough to choose just a tiny selection. I hope this lovely lot help to keep the blues at bay. From comfy corners,

cozy fireplaces, Parisian mice serving up wine bar fabulousness, and our personal fave, comfy pants (undies/ briefs/ tighty whiteys, depending on where in the world you are!). It’s safe to say you guys have covered all bases here!

3 6

Show Us Your Minis! Instagram: @shrunkmagazine #ishrunkthis

1.Tiny calendar by @minis_by_megan 2. Mini mod dance party by @amcsviatko 3. Peep this stunning corner sofa by @miniatureescape (feeling inspired? See issue 1 for a DIY!) 4. Pulling off chic AND cosy with this built-in fireplace situation, @jujindollhouse 5. Spare pair of briefs, just incase; @tinydollhousenewyorkcity 6. LOVE this retro TV set from recycled materials by @quarantinyhome 7. Pristine interiors = clear liquids only over @miniroomster 8. Millie and Chloe mouse, kicking back with some champers, courtesey of @the-unfinished_dollhouse 9. Celebrations? Commiserations? Either way, @minidwell ‘s supplied the vodka.

9 7

Journal

The Shrunk guide to mini happenings Spring 2021

Charlotte Stokoe, organiser of the London Dollshouse Showcase, shares some highlights from the December 2020 Perfection In Miniature Awards (PIMA)

with Yosh Sagi who produced a beautiful carved Chippendale Settee with hand-embroidered fabric for the chair seat.

Among the highly commended were; GJ Bow Chair by Fernando “Although our LIVE events did Setien. This incredibly simple not take place at Kensington in looking chair is anything but easy 2020, we were determined not to to make. Fernando has a supercancel our popular Perfection in complex system that allows him to Miniature Awards (PIMA) so the bend wood to create these seamless competition judging was postponed pieces of 20th Century design. to tie in with our Online Christmas Showcase. Film Studio Light by Atomic Miniature. Who wouldn’t want The competition is for exhibitors at a real studio light in miniature? our shows only. With extra time for Michael always thinks of the craftsmen to work on their entries unusual & the thought of a due to lockdown, plus an increased complete Hollywood style film 1st Prize of £6000, we had very high studio in miniature is irresistible!” expectations! The standard was definitely the highest we have ever had and I’m thrilled to share just some of the highlights. A full list of entries and winners can be found at; www.dollshouseshowcase.com 1st Place: Working Gents umbrella by Lawrence & Angela St Leger. Lawrence previously won the 1st PIMA, back in 2015 with his 7 blade Swiss Army Knife. His entries are always stunning, but this umbrella was just exceptional. He actually shared 1st Place 8

Image: London Dollshouse Showcase L & A St Leger

Image: London Dollshouse Showcase Fernando Setien

Image: London Dollshouse Showcase Atomic Miniature

Do you have some mini news you’d love to share? Get in touch! Email : kat@shrunkmagazine.com Or good old fashioned snail mail: Shrunk Magazine, Unit 285, Regency House, 91 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2NW, England, UK

Searching for some playlist inspiration? Look no further. Antavia Cherry of My Miniature Loves has launched a podcast series, Mini Conversations. Tune in via My Miniature Loves social channels and hear the latest as Antavia shares her engaging interviews with many fabulous faces from the miniature community.

The events industry at large has been dealt multiple blows throughout the pandemic, and while 2021 is looking brighter, there’s still a great deal of uncertainty for those who would usually be putting together the much-loved doll’s house and miniature show’s that have come to punctuate our calendars throughout the year. Details of events are accurate at the time of going to press, but please do ensure you check with organisers for ongoing updates and details on how we can lend our support to them in the interim.

USA Events :

UK Events:

International Market of Miniature Artisans - Show Cancellation

London Dollshouse Showcase have unveiled a new-look website, serving as a hub of show The IMoMA team has announced the cancellation of information, industry news and home to The List, their Las Vegas event that had been due to take place a dynamic new feature offering a fully searchable this February, prioritising the safety and comfort and shoppable directory of the show’s makers and of their vendors and visitors. The good news is that exhibitors. The List is a permanent fixture, making IMoMA 2022 is already scheduled and the registry is it super easy to find and connect with the artists that open. Visit: www.imomalv.com you love and miss! Meanwhile, ticket sales for the KDF Summer Festival, (pencilled in for 14th-15th Philadelphia Miniaturia - 5th, 6th & 7th May 2021), have been suspended whilst awaiting November 2021 updates from the government on what Covid-19 It’s a little while to wait, but I think we all deserve a restrictions are likely to be in place. weekend full of mini joy! Visit: www.dollshouseshowcase.com for more detials. Visit: www.philadelphiaminiaturia.com for full event details and information on planned workshops.

Coming Soon

The horse tries to bake a delicious apple crumble. But he’s got four left hooves, so it’s a bit of a fumble. Flour, eggs, and sugar fly through the air. He mixes and stirs with his own special flair.

A Night at the Farm: A Bedtime Party If you’re not already familair with the work of digital influencers, C + C Mini Factory, let us catch you up! Quinn Metal Corbin and Chelsea Cates are the creative minds behind the quirky miniature scenes now synonymous with the C+C Mini Factory name. With an Instagram following that currently stands at over 31.5K, their tiny worlds have captured imaginations the world over. Some project highlights include work with Starbucks and Mozilla Firefox. Other collaborations have included 10

Advertorial

Refinery29, Safari Ltd., Boundless Brooklyn, Putnam & Putnam, Miniature Rhino, Brooklyn Comedy Festival, VICE, and Travel+Leisure. Their work has been exhibited in galleries in New York and San Francisco. They were contributing artists in Kate Esme Ünver’s, The Book of Mini and their brilliant book, A Night at the Farm: A Bedtime Party (Running Press Kids), is available to buy from 9th February 2021.

Instagram: @ccminifactory

Micro Scales with Miss Mini Life WOR DS & I M AGES BY R HEN EE ROBI NSON

When I first met my boyfriend he instantly won me over with his cooking. He later told me that the reason he became a chef is because he knew, “One day it would help him steal my heart.” Very cheesy, I know, but we’re like that. He proceeded to create amazing home dinner dates that were a lot of fun and insanely delicious. Thinking back on those early days is what inspired this miniature scene. I tried to capture the cozy setting and interesting food in a still-life of a date night at home. I love creating scenes that are a slice of life, so I added some touches that make the room look as if the couple will walk into the apartment at any moment, like the flowers in water in the sink; grocery bag of ingredients and the open balcony doors to let in the breeze. This tiny would-be chef is trying 12

his hand at stuffed bell peppers and salad. Hopefully he doesn’t mess it up! Putting in all of the little details of their lives is when I get to play dollhouse. It’s my favorite part of any project! I spend hours a day on the internet, window shopping through products and imagining lives for my 1:48th scale imaginary people. It’s always amazing how something that is so microscopically tiny to my naked eye, becomes so finely detailed when captured on camera and blown up on a computer screen.

I’m always motivated to make the objects in the houses as realistic as possible, even if it seems like it won’t matter, because as soon as I’m taking close-ups I realize that it does. Even though I’m working in 1:24th scale or smaller, it often forces me to use different materials and come up with creative ways to represent larger objects. I’m used to working with hobby wood and plastic on my projects but I’ve unexpectedly found that cardstock paper and a printer are fast becoming my most versatile tools. Cardstock can take on the look of so many materials and is thin enough for micro scale work. I had a blast making all of the tiny ingredients for this scene and I know I’ve set this tiny guy up for success on his date!

F O LLOW M I S S M I N I LI FE O N I N S TAG R A M A N D YO U T U B E ; @ M I S S M I N I LI FE F O R V I D E O S A N D U P D A T E S O N M I C R O - S C A L E D I O R A M A S A N D D O L L’ S H O U S E S

Black, white and healthy serving of patterns and plants bring this mini room to life.

More is More Explore mini maximalisim inside this joyful, vibrant doll’s house tour. Images by Lianne Kilroy & EveryTrade Construction

Welcome to the mini house of Lianne Kilroy. A cornucopia of colours, patterns and eclectic furniture, this small scale abode is a feast for the eyes. Starting our tour in the living room, it’s hard to know where to look first. Tiny globes, painted in navy blue hues, crowd onto a shelf situated above a sofa full of plump little velvet cushions. A standard lamp topped with an exposed wire shade pops from the corner, in a 14

Lianne’s real-life, monochrome living room

Lianne has made the most of her six mini rooms

The most joyfully blue, mini play room

contrasting cheerful yellow. Lianne pulls off maximalist style with great aplomb, both in a full-sized home and 1:12 scale doll’s house renovation - the latter being a recent passion project. Though this doll’s house has a dual purpose; whilst the miniature rooms are almost direct replicas of Lianne’s full-sized interiors, they also serve as something of a design lab - a place to experiment with various styles before taking the plunge on a real life renovation project. “The best thing about a doll’s house is it allows you to try things out in miniature before you buy the real thing,” explains Lianne - a sentiment frequently echoed among modern doll’s houses collectors. Lianne shares her interior projects and 16

Bathroom goals, big and mini!

Hand-cut teeny tiles

Spot the mini!

inspirations on her Instagram account, @ bighouseminihouse: showcasing, as the name suggests, both big and mini rooms. The interiors are mostly direct replicas of the 1930s family home Lianne shares with her husband and young children in Macclesfield, England; though the doll’s house itself is in a traditional, front opening Georgian design, painted white with a green front door to simulate its larger counterpart. The simple white facade of the doll’s house gives nothing away before the doors reveal the treasure trove inside. It’s maximalist style on a miniature scale, and a delight to behold. Blues and aquas feature heavily throughout, as do flourishes of gold together with floral motifs and arrangements. The nursery (modelled on her children’s bedroom) has a soft colour palette: Tonal greys, mixed with natural wood and textures. There is, of course, plenty of fun to be found in this interior: a jungle safari theme is infused throughout the little room, with bursts of green from the tiny faux plants to an elephant print papered on the walls. The centrepiece here has to be the little jeep car styled as a bed: Who didn’t plead for a car bed as a kid?! The master bedroom breaks from the otherwise ubiquitous blue-green colour palette with a blush pink wall adorned with birds (a favourite motif of Lianne’s; you’ll be able to spot a number of them around both houses), and the 1:12 scale version boasts a gold leaf ceiling - a feature Lianne hasn’t (yet!) been able to achieve in real life. Lianne is an art director by day, and believes that her love for vivid colours and bold patterns derives largely from repressing her interior design desires when she was a renter. As is so often the case when renting, you’re living inside neutral interiors and you’re usually not allowed to change the walls: sometimes, even hanging pictures is 18

Smaller, and smaller still! In a separate project, Lianne created a shadow box of her amazing family bathroom which, in turn, included a mini shadow box of the bathroom!

Mini art work, ready to hang Vs Big art, being admired in the downstairs loo.

An intricate paper fan.

disallowed by tenancy agreements. Consequently, everything can be very beige, with properties playing it safe but impersonal. It can be difficult to make a mark on a particular space: so when Lianne and her husband found their home, she finally had a canvas to unfurl her interior plans onto. And since liberating the doll’s house from her father-in-law’s loft - before subsequently transforming it - Lianne has been well and truly bitten by the mini bug, turning her talents to the creation of bold, eclectic miniatures for other collectors. Not one to back down from a creative challenge, Lianne takes custom order requests as well as creating pieces in her own increasingly recognisable, eclectic style. A highlight has to be the designer fridge, modelled on a full-sized, wonderfully extravagant private comission. It’s sky blue, and adorned with hand-painted Sicilian lemon tree branches. The real thing will set you back to the tune of multiple thousands of pounds, (Similar hand-painted models from Smeg go for up to £50k!): So, once again - and with Lianne’s help - we’ll happily settle for vicariously living our designer dreams through our doll’s houses. For more of Lianne’s colourful interiors, follow her on Instagram: @bighouseminihouse; and shop eclectic, 1:12th scale miniatures at etsy.com/ bighouseminihouse

Details from the playroom

The mini, children’s bedroom, complete with safari jeep bed.

The hallway; birds are a favourite motif throughout the house.

All images by Cielo Marie Vianzon

Throws of Passion Miniature pottery; it’s officially our next, BIG, mini obsession. Here to fuel the fire is the exquisite, hand-thrown ceramic work of artist and miniatures collector, Cielo Marie Vianzon.

bug last May after investing in a miniature potters wheel. “Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by tiny things. Anything that wasn’t ‘normal sized’! Perhaps it’s the elemental qualities of the material? Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was one of the things that The process starts with clay from the earth, which is then shaped and manipulated with water before being ignited my passion for miniatures! I started this pottery in May 2019. I made a console table for my enveloped in glaze. Finally, you throw it into fire and doll’s house, and I thought, ‘I don’t have any pots wait to see what emerges. Or wait for the air dry clay to do it’s thing, depending on what you’re working [for it] - maybe I could make one!’. I had a mini pottery wheel, so I made a pot. I was terrible in the with. beginning!” Now take that process, and make it miniature. It hardly seems possible that delicate, doll’s house sized Perhaps one of the most satisfying elements of Cielo’s ceramics can be produced from such an intensive miniature ceramics is that the making process is almost exactly that of the full-sized counterparts process; but that makes the results all the more captivating. something that certainly made her initial attempts easier when she first started.“I watched YouTube Shrunk had the pleasure of chatting with Cielo Marie tutorials of real life sized pottery. The theory is just the same [for miniatures], and after dozens Vianzon about her beautifully delicate miniature ceramics, made from her home in Toronto, Canada. A [of attempts], I got the hang of it. [In May], I was long time miniature collector, Cielo caught the pottery making, maybe, one [pot] every day - and by June, I Tiny ceramics truly are the stuff of alchemy.

was starting to make some decent pieces.”

do it again. Because I have that inspiration.”

Practice clearly makes perfect. In just a few short months, Cielo’s ceramics collection and pottery prowess had grown - and with it, an enthusiastic Instagram following. Working predominantly in earthenware clay, Cielo now creates wheel-thrown ceramics in a gorgeous spectrum of appealing colors and finishes.

Not all tiny ceramics are created equal. While all have undeniable charm, the majority of mass produced ceramic miniatures don’t hold up to scrutiny on close inspection. Glazes with an ultra high-gloss finish and chunky proportions on tiny mug handles or bowl rims tend to give the game away when photographing a miniature scene. There’s something about their overall appearance that shatters the illusion.

Prior to investing in her miniature potter’s wheels over a year ago, Cielo had no experience working with ceramics. Graduating with a degree in Electronics Engineering, Cielo’s early career was in information technology. But when she and her family moved to Canada, Cielo chose to make a change. She longed for an alternative to the repetitive, 9-to-5 routine and successfully changed track to graphic design. “Ever since [the career change], graphic design has been my passion. This combination of creativity and science has proven to be the perfect ingredient for creating

Cielo’s beautifully executed miniature vases. The shapes and scale of these vessels vary, as do their finishes: but all are impossibly symmetrical, cylindrical shapes which taper into the narrowest of spouts. The clay is then sculpted and finished perfectly, leaving clean, simple lines. Cielo cites the style of a number of Japanese ceramics artists among her favourite sources of inspiration for her work. “[Their] work is so intricate - I’m [so] inspired by them. When I’m making ceramics, I’m not happy if I feel it’s just a bit...mediocre. I’ll scrap it, and

Cielo, however, has managed to capture so much realism in her miniatures. The glazes range from muted, earthy shades (all of which we’d covet for a full-sized home), through to pops of rainbow colour. When lined up, the rows of ceramics look like bite-sized candies. They have the perfect layer of sheen, glistening just enough to look totally convincing in front of the camera. Miniature ceramics certainly hold big appeal for would-be potters. If, like us here at Shrunk, your own pottery references have previously been *that* scene between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost - or perhaps the sporadic viewing of Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down - you may have developed an aversion to clay based hobbies on account of the mess! Granted, an aesthetically pleasing mess - perhaps some well placed smears of clay across a cheek and brushed through a loose, messy bun - but still more

All images by Cielo Marie Vianzon

than could be safely contained within the confines of, hobby, and we can offer some great tips as to how to say, a carpeted living room. get started. Firstly, thrown pottery (pieces created on a wheel) are commonly created in earthenware clay. As luck would have it, miniature pottery comes with Airdry clay can also work well for miniatures. Then, of a very small-scale clean up. With many miniature course, the earthenware clays - and the all-important potter’s wheels using a USB power connection, the glazes - will require firing in a kiln. This is the part hobby ideally lends itself to a desktop activity (a that gets a little tricky, as we don’t all have a kiln conveniently portable one, at that - Cielo reveals that, readily available...! Cielo has been able to book slots after mastering the technique, she actually produces with a local studio to fire her pieces - so it is possible, many of her pieces whilst watching TV!) though slightly more problematic during lockdown. The combination of so much time at home and the Miniature pottery is actually a relatively accessible ever-growing joy of creating miniature pieces has lead

All images by Cielo Marie Vianzon

Cielo to purchase a small kiln of her own : A very exciting milestone! If, like us, you’ve fallen in love with Cielo Marie’s work, then you’ll be thrilled to hear that you can now connect via her Etsy store: Clayful Miniature Pottery. Follow on Instagram: @minipotteryproject 27

DIY: Mini Ballpit Full instructions available on our website.

Image credit: Small Fun Shop

Mini DIY's, printables & more www.shrunkmagazine.com Instagram: @shrunkmagazine

www.pinterest.co.uk/shrunkmagazine

. . . s e Shrunk. v Lo Tiny Workbench

Has all the extra time at home got you craving a more versatile crafting space? Perhaps Tiny Workbench is the answer. Like Shrunk magazine, the Tiny Workbench crew launched in late 2020 following a successful Kickstarter campaign. “This solid ply case is your work surface, toolbox and studio all in one. Studio space that’s ready wherever you need it.” Sounds pretty perfect, doesn’t it?! It even comes with lighting! Offering a choice of A3 or A2 sizes the Tiny Workbench comes ready built, as a flat pack or, for those after a new project, digital plans are available to purchase for you to build your own. Visit: www.tinyworkbench.co.uk

House Hunter If you’re looking for a truly unique, contemporary miniature home to showcase your most prized minis then look no further than the incredible M112 Pods by Paris Renfroe Designs. The M112 Pods are Artisan quality, highly detailed replicas of converted shipping containers. Choose from the Series 1, Series 2 or contact Paris who’ll work with you to create your own, custom built pod. The pods are available in 20" or 40" lengths, all are 1:12 scale. The Series 1 has a short front wall with two double bypassing doors. The Series 2 is all open in the front with 3 bypassing doors. The Series 1 starts at $475. (Approx. £347) Lighting, flooring and additional 30

Multi-storey, M112 design All images by Paris Renfroe

finishes and details carry extra cost. The Series 2 starts at $495. For a custom-built miniature home combine multiple M112 Pods to create a multi-room or multi-storey contemporary doll’s house. Bringing a wealth of real-world design experience to the miniature industry, Paris Renfroe has been pushing the bar for quality modern miniatures with his creative concepts for over 12 years. Visit www.prdminiatures.com to browse the extensive range of original modern miniature designs.

Follow on Instagram @prdminiatures

A custom, M112 Pod interior

Bespoke, design features

Hands up who wants to move in?!

Freebies! A fab tile paper from Tiny Universe Minis , plus a teeny copy of Shrunk magazine. How will you use yours?

SKILL SET: A Beginners Guide to Polymer Clay By Marcella, of Minicaretti

Fimo, Cernit, Sculpey, Premo, Pardo, Creall-therm, Clay color, Kato… All different brands and names for the same type of material, Polymer Clay. Quite magical stuff that becomes durable and water-resistant after baking but starts out soft enough to be sculpted with simple, inexpensive tools. Let’s explore its main features. [Conditioning] This varies from brand to brand, as clays can be softer or harder to begin with, but they all need to be kneaded a bit before you start sculpting. You can do this by hand or, for larger batches, using the ever-useful pasta machine (more on this in the Tools section). Tip: If it’s a cold day, clay may be harder to knead, so put it in your pocket to warm for a little while before starting work. If it’s dry and crumbly, you can try and salvage it with a drop of baby oil. If, on the other hand, it’s too soft, you can rest it for a day or so on a sheet of paper, which will absorb the excess plasticizer.

very regularly, you may choose to use a small, toaster oven dedicated just to baking clay. Baking temperatures range from 110 to 130°C, ensure you check the package for manufacturer’s instructions. It’s a good idea to invest in a baking pan or tray that’s just for use with baking clay and not mixed with food. It’s also strongly advised to get a thermometer rather than rely on the oven thermostat alone as smaller ovens are prone to wild temperature swings and you wouldn’t want to burn your work. Baking times depend on the size and thickness of your piece. While you’re unlikely to ruin a piece by baking too long, under-baked clay may be brittle and fragile. Tip: The best baking surface is a small, ceramic tile: You can sculpt on it and put it straight into the oven. [Storage] Polymer clay doesn’t dry out in the air like other, natural clays can. However, uncooked polymer clay attracts lots of dust and lint so needs to be protected from it. Your best option is to wrap it in cling film. Over time, polymer clay can melt or ‘eat into’ hard plastic containers while paper and cardboard will draw the oils plasticizer out of the clay, making it crumbly. Polymer clay can become crumbly and hard with age if kept for a long time.

[Colours] You can blend different colours to get the exact shade you need by simply combining two or more colours together and kneading them, thoroughly. Then you can (and definitely should) add more subtle shades and detail with chalk pastels and acrylic paint. As a general rule, you want to brush pastel detail on before baking and paint with acrylics after baking. Tip: If you bake your piece again after painting, [Liquid Polymer Clay] Along with the small, square slabs of clay, brands paint will almost “sink” into the clay such as Fimo, Sculpey and Kato also produce liquid making it totally smudge-proof. polymer clay materials. Usually a clear, translucent liquid though sometimes opaque and colourful [Baking] depending on the brand. They behave in a different There’s no kiln required with polymer clay making way than solid clay and can be used to achieve it an incredibly accessible material to work with, all many different results (including creating miniature you need is a standard home oven. If you have the cake frosting, as you’ll see on p37). space and means or are working with polymer clay

[Tips & Tools] Polymer clay can be baked, added to and baked again, so the sky is the limit for the amount of detail you want your finished piece to have. As long as you pay close attention to the temperature of the oven and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the packet, you can bake your clay as many times as you need. Be careful when baking very thin pieces of clay, especially in white or translucent varieties, as these can turn slightly yellow when baked too much.

Raw polymer clay is very sticky and gets dirty very easily. To avoid that, keep hands and worktable clean, especially when switching between clay colours (baby wipes and alcohol are perfect for this). Another top tip: don’t wear any clothing prone to shed fibres!

Depending on brands, clay can be more or less soft and thus more or less suitable for very detailed work – i.e. when making canes (An advanced technique that inloves a stick of polymer clay with a detailed design running through that you then slice to use) you should avoid the softer varieties, that can distort and ruin the inside motif while you’re reducing the cane.

Baked clay may react with some finishing products, so use only water-based paints and varnishes unless they are explicitly meant for polymer clay. For instance, solvent-based paints such as nail polish may soften and melt clay.

minimize dirt and dust on the clay Believe it or not, the tool you will use most surface often is the humble toothpick. I also find the following tools quite useful: • Small ceramic tile to easily move and work on your piece then bake • Silicone clay/colour shaper tools • Paintbrushes for pastels, paints and • Sharp razor blades and cutter varnishes • Ball, embossing, dotting tools in various sizes

• Rolling pin - acrylic or glass

• Fine sandpaper and nail files for • Needle tool for all kinds of texture work, smoothing baked clay especially that yummy cake crumble • Finally, a pasta machine (dedicated • Rough sandpaper, toothbrush and to working with clay rather crumpled aluminium foil (for more than food) is extremely useful texturizing) for conditioning large quantities of clay, blending colours and • Latex gloves - recommended when achieving thin, even layers. using white or very light coloured clay to 37

Philadelphia Miniaturia 2021 Get a dog sitter and pack those snacks!

November 5, 6 & 7, 2021 Show, Sale & Workshops! Crowne Plaza Hotel Philadelphia/Cherry Hill 2349 W. Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 PO Box 724, Levittown, PA 19058 267-684-6276 Picture compliments of Heart Felt Canines

www.PhiladelphiaMiniaturia.com

TINY WORKBENCH The workspace, toolbox and studio. www.tinyworkbench.co.uk

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DIY: Raspberry & Rose Layer Cake By Esha Bijutkar

Materials

• Polymer clay – (white, translucent, yellow, red) • Liquid clay (Fimo Liquid or Translucent Liquid Sculpey) • Sharp craft blade • Needle tool • Silicon tool • Tooth brush • Circular cutter (220 mm) • Paint brush • Soft pastels • Small piping nozzle • Dried rose petals • Gloss glaze • Ceramic work base

Recipe

You might be confident judging the clay quantities by eye; if you prefer to be more exact, the amounts that Esha used to create x1 cake are as follows: Pink Buttercream Mix White - 3.27 gm Red - 0.05 gm Translucent - 0.94 gm

After cutting your circular layers you will then add liquid clay to the remainder of the mix to create the outer frosting and the piped details. Yellow Sponge Cake Mix • White - 3.27 gm • Yellow - 0.25 gm • Translucent - 0.94 gm

1.Blend For the cake sponge, mix the white and yellow clay. Add the translucent clay and blend together thoroughly. For the pink buttercream, add a very small amount of red to white clay and blend both with the translucent clay. You can always add more red later for a more intense colour. 2.Cut Roll out the sponge mix into a 4mm thick sheet and use your cutter to make three circles. These will form the layers of your cake. Repeat the process with the pink clay mix, this time rolling to approx 2mm thickness, cutting 2 circles for the pink buttercream layers. Save the rest of your rolled pink clay to cover and decorate the cake. 40

3. Assemble Starting with a yellow sponge layer, begin assembling your cake. Place a circular layer of pink icing on top, followed by another yellow sponge layer. Repeat until you have used all of your yellow sponge and pink buttercream layers. Next, cut a strip of your remaining pink buttercream clay. Use the strip to cover the entire outer edge of your stacked layers, smoothing down gently as you move around the cake. Cut another circle of the pink clay with the same thickness as the pink layers and stack it on top of the cake. Carefully blend the edges of the pink clay sections together using a silicone or ball tool.

4. Texture Set the cake onto a small ceramic base. This is going to make it much easier to add texture and fine detail without squashing your work in the process! Apply one drop of liquid clay to the cake and using a blade try to draw a pattern by scraping the clay as you see on real cake frosting. Next, texture the cake using the side of a toothbrush. Using a thin, needle-tool make tiny random holes over the pink buttercream to mimic the look of frosting. 5. Slice Using a sharp blade cut two equal slices from the cake and set aside safely. Texture the sponge layers with a thin needle tool. To achieve this keep moving the needle tool in small circular motions, scraping off the excess clay gently. Repeat step 4 to add texture to the inner surface of the pink buttercream layers and outer frosting. Repeat the process again on the two individual slices. 42

6. Colour To add realistic colour, depth and detail, mix light brown soft pastel powder with water and delicately paint the outer edges of the sponge layers. This is where a real cake will be darker from baking. For the raspberry jam, shade the top edge of the pink buttercream layer using a dark pink, soft pastel powder mixed with water. Repeat on all the layers and the two slices. 7. Piping To decorate, mix your remaining light pink clay with 1-2 drops of liquid clay. The overall consistency of the clay should not be runny. It should just be soft enough so that it can pass through the piping nozzle. The amount of liquid clay you add can vary with the brand of polymer clay you are using and how soft your clay is. Extrude the clay mix through a small star shaped piping nozzle to form a rosette. (You might want to practice this technique a few times before applying to the top of the cake!) 43

8. Fruit To make the miniature raspberries, mix equal amounts of red and translucent clay. Add a tiny dusting of black soft pastel powder to darken the red colour. Take a small piece of the red clay mix on the tip of your needle tool. Taper the top part by pinching it gently with your fingertips to form a teardrop shape. This is the base of your raspberry. Roll tiny balls of the red clay mix and arrange them on the tear drop shape one by one using another needle. Squish the raspberry gently and remove it from the needle tool. Bake the raspberries following the clay manufacturers instructions. 9. Decorate Crush some real dried rose petals and sprinkle the tiny pieces around the edges of the cake. If the clay is not sticky enough to grip the rose petals apply another, very thin, layer of liquid clay. Add the raspberries to the buttercream rosettes. 10. Bake Bake the cake as per the instructions detailed on your chosen polymer clay packaging. After baking; glaze the entire cake with a thin layer of gloss varnish. Use a thin brush to avoid using too much varnish, you can always build up layers for the finish you desire, perhaps adding more to the buttercream than the sponge. You’re aiming for a realistic sheen, rather than a high-gloss finish. Let the varnish dry and your cake is ready to serve! 44

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DIY: Terrazzo Kitchen Island

Terrazzo, it’s the design trend that has endured throughout 2020, and beyond. We’ve seen it adorning everything from homewares to clothing and jewellery, in all manner of colour combinations. With a striking, graphic quality, Terrazzo can be a really effective way of injecting some colour into a project. Here’s how we created a Terrazzo pattern slab using polymer clay, shown here styled as a 1:12 scale kitchen countertop - but it could be just as effective used within tiny bathrooms or cladding for miniature walls and floors where you want a burst of pattern.

Start off by choosing a reference image that you like. Then you have a benchmark of what you’re aiming for when it comes to creating your pattern. Next, decide what you’re going to cover with your Terrazzo slab. The total amount of clay you require will depend on the surface area of your project. Turn to page 34 if you’d like more tips for working with polymer clay before getting started. Materials • Base colour - Approx 100g of polymer clay for your base colour. • Terrazzo colours - Approx 50g of polymer clay, up to 4 or 5 shades of your choosing in small quantities. Unless you’re covering a large surface area you won’t need much clay for these colours. This is a great project for using up any scraps of clay! • Varnish - Ensure this is suitable for use with polymer clay: test first if you’re unsure. • Craft glue • Kitchen unit base Tools • • • • • •

Fine grade sandpaper Kitchen unit kit Modelling knife Acrylic rolling pin - or pasta making machine if you have one! Baking tray Latex gloves - if working with white or very pale colours to minimise dust and dirt appearing on surface of the clay. 47

1. Soften Once you’ve chosen your base clay, knead and mix until the clay is soft and pliable. (See fig. A) 2. Colour Choose your pattern colours and roll clay flat onto a separate baking tray. To avoid colour transfer, clean the rolling pin after each colour. It’s important that these clays are thinner than the base slab: if your slab is 4 mm thick, the terrazzo pieces should be approx 2-3mm thick. The final shape of these pieces won’t matter, just ensure the correct thickness. Put the baking tray in the oven and follow the clay manufacturer’s instructions. 3. Roll If you have a pasta making machine for polymer clay work, this is a great moment to use it. You’ll be able to ensure a lovely, smooth, even surface. Don’t worry if you don’t have one, an acrylic rolling pin will be just as effective. It would be easiest for you to roll the clay out on the surface it will be baked on. Check that your clay slab is rolled to an equal and even thickness. The one pictured here measures at 4mm thick. When you’re happy with the thickness, take your kitchen unit (or a template of the surface that you’re going to cover) and use your modelling knife to neatly slice the clay to size. Now put the slab to one side. 4. Smash When the terrazzo clays are fully baked, allow them to cool before handling. Ideally these pieces should be brittle. Carefully break the clay into small pieces: you’re looking for a snap, rather than a crumble so as to achieve the clean edges; otherwise it can quickly end up looking like a granite effect rather than terrazzo. You should be able to do this easily with your finger nails, or use a modeling knife if you’d prefer. (See fig. B) 5. Scatter Carefully scatter the clay pieces over the surface of the rolled slab. Avoid over-arranging the pieces : terrazzo isn’t a uniform pattern. When you’re happy with your pattern you’re ready to flatten. (see fig. C)

6. Flatten Take something flat, ideally the surface that you’re going to cover with the slab, and carefully lay it directly on top of the clay. Press firmly and evenly. Be careful not to squash your slab: you’re looking to gently push all the fragments into the surface without disturbing the overall thickness or shape of the slab. 7. Tidy If there are any gaps between the fragments and the base, use the blunt edge of a modelling knife to very softly smooth the clay over to close the space. Neaten any slab edges that will be on display. (See fig. D) 8. Bake Following the manufacturer’s instructions, bake your slab. It’s advisable to do a test run to help give you an idea of how to manage the times and temperatures according to your oven, polymer clay brand and thickness of the piece that you’re baking. 9. Finish Once baked and cooled, you may wish to lightly sand any rough areas and edges. Use a very fine grade sandpaper. To seal and give a realistic kitchen counter top look, cover in one or two thin layers of polymer clay varnish and allow to dry. (See fig. E) 10. Assemble You’re ready to fit your slab onto your miniature unit. If you’re working with a longer rectangle, like the one shown here, be careful not to snap the slab! Use a strong craft glue to attach and position your polymer clay. Leave to dry before styling up!

All polymer clay used is Fimo Soft: check availability with your local stockist. The kitchen island is the 1:12, Florance kit from Little and Big House

Technique

Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses

Welcome to the first instalment of Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses; a dusty, rusty, water-stained and wonderful little corner dedicated to exploring what can be used- and how - to breathe that extra bit of life and realism into a small-scale project. This issue, Laura Lereveur takes the helm, sharing her most magic of mini ingredients. As guilty as I am of having a veritable collection of any and every medium, there is one to which I always return. It is, you might say, an immortal substance. An alchemical distillation I would likely choose over most of my other materials and tools, were it necessary. If you are braced to read about another expensive thing you will be helpless to resist, let me reassure you – you probably already have it. You may well be holding it as you peruse this magazine. I write of the humble 50

cup of tea. When I settle into making, it’s invariably with a steaming cup of Drinking Tea nestled amongst a mess of cardboard, clay, glue and paint. If you’ve not heard of that distinction before, it’s perhaps because you’ve never met its fellow, the Painting Tea. Their differences: the latter has no milk (or whatever else you might favour), nor is it replenished a dozen times over one making session. Yet it’s just as valuable to my creative exploits. I’d like to introduce you to this subtle, versatile medium. Tea is a treasure to the miniaturist, capable of creating history atop a coat of fresh paint. It can create or enhance flaws, its light touch achieving an incidental realism we often cannot emulate. It can work with any medium you might use; I’ve yet to find one it doesn’t enhance. Here are a few ways tea has enlivened my miniature work. Time-worn flagstones and antique floorboards – my two main floor projects so far - were both

Laura Lereveur spills the tea .

made of air-dry clay and paint. I worked with the properties of the clay to create convincing texture and painted layers and tones darker washes, dry brushing and highlights. Not until I applied a liberal coating of tea to both was this careful work justified. A light, accidental scattering of tea leaves (freed from rubbing the surfaces with the teabags themselves) settled into seams and crevices like long-gathered dirt. As the floors dried, the tea puddled into the ‘grouting’ of the flagstones and carvings of the faux-wood, realising the careful sculpting with more modesty and authenticity than a deliberate brush would ever achieve. In making a blocked-up fireplace, I hoped to imply a centurieslong narrative of use and disuse. Once water had found a path through the bricks, coaxed in a few instances by a cocktail stick and gravity, I began dropping tea to the trail. It is a beautifully subtle effect. Some parts dried to nothing but an aberration in texture. Others

All images by Laura Lereveur

Technique

Technique gathered and stained just as dirty water would. The result is an organic disrepair, passed through stone and wood and perhaps a little rust, to quietly leave its trace in a room rich with mundane history.

Finally, should you think of this marvellous medium as one limited to large projects. Most of the objects I’ve made owe a debt to tea. Bulbs made of polymer clay and tea-stained tissue paper have roots of cotton thread touched in glue and sprinkled with the ‘soil’ of tea leaves. Pots and crocks that are a little too new and correct find a tea wash adds much needed patina. Cheap, raw wood can suggest a variety of more refined types when stained to different depths of colour. Cured air-dry clay, covered in a fine layer of paper mache´ and given an excessive soaking of well-stewed tea before being rapidly dried in heat, can look like very old, heavily pitted, splintered wood. Sprinkled over salt, it will bestow decades of elemental wear to exterior features. I even add concentrated accents to both uncured and cured polymer clay flowers for the poetry of encroaching decay. My unapologetic splashing of tea always raises remarks of surprise. Every objection to its unpretentious simplicity wavers in the trying. So stew an extra cup next time you boil the kettle, and see what you can splash. I know you’ll evermore need the designation, Drinking Tea.

Technique

Opposite page: Top - Stone floor before tea; Middle - Tea application: this is where the magic happens! Bottom Tea treatment is complete. This page: Top Left - Miniature cobbler’s accessories, stained. Top Right - Air dry clay brickwork with tea added for water damage effect. Bottom Right - Aged and weathered doors with a tea stain pattina. Bottom Left - Air dry clay floor boards show details enhanced with a tea wash.

All That Glitters Enter the magical, miniature world of childrens fiction author, Harriet Muncaster

Words by Izzie Price Images by Harriet Muncaster

When I was little, I used to curl up and read for hours at a time. Now, I still love reading - but it’s harder to lose myself in worlds. I have an iPhone, and actual responsibilities that demand my attention. The worlds I’m reading about tend to more closely reflect my own; adult books relate to adult problems, after all. And that’s why reading Harriet Muncaster’s Victoria Stitch: Bad and Glittering was such a delight. As I read the book in one sitting, I was transported back to those childhood days of total immersion. I blinked hard after I finished it, trying to remove myself from Wiskling Wood and place myself firmly back in my kitchen. And it’s testament to Harriet’s imagination that I struggled to do so. 54

Victoria Stitch places wisklings - tiny miniature people, each barely bigger than a leaf - and their world at the centre of children’s literature. At the heart of the book are the eponymous Victoria Stitch - a spiky, ruthless antiheroine, desperately trying to prove she’s the rightful heir to the throne of Wiskling Wood - and her twin, Celestine, beloved by all wisklings and the wiskling embodiment of kindness. “[It’s] my absolute passion project,” explains Harriet. “The whole world is miniature. And in the second book, [Victoria] actually goes through the magic barrier to the human world [where we’ll] see her interacting with humans. She’s my favourite character I’ve ever created.”

Harriet has nurtured a lifelong love for miniatures, and they became a staple of her everyday life when she first read Jacqueline Wilson’s The Suitcase Kid. “Oh, my goodness, that [book] inspired me so much,” she enthuses. “[The main character] has a little Sylvanian rabbit called Radish, who’s her mascot - it’s [a] coping mechanism for her. But I was entranced by that. Ever since then, I’ve had a little mascot [too].” Over our Zoom call, Harriet shows me her current mascot: an exquisitely detailed little wiskling named Twiglina. Her previous mascot was Celestine, who - you’ve guessed it - was her inspiration for the character. “The whole book really came from my love of exploring the world with this tiny little character. I’d take her everywhere with me,” Harriet reminisces. “I’d photograph her out and about, I created her a whole golden bedroom - I love glamorous miniatures, it’s all about sparkle and glamour for me. Everything in her room was gemmed and gold.” Harriet habitually photographs her mascots out and about, framing them in nature and the human world. “I played with [Celestine] for quite a few years before writing anything down. I would take her out, and just enjoy the play of it...and the world [of Wiskling Wood] would just build and build in my head,” she explains. A love for miniatures is at the heart of Harriet’s work; but she’s keen to convey exactly how her miniature characters relate to the worlds in which they find themselves. “I like to imagine how an actual miniature person would live in our world,” she elucidates. “So nature, for example, wouldn’t be shrunk down because I enjoy seeing nature through a miniature person’s eyes. Getting really close down on the ground, and seeing how big the blades of grass [would be to them]. I like to see miniature people in scale; as being a miniature person, [rather than] having the whole world shrunk down.”

Images, top to bottom; Glitzy gold bedroom from Harriet’s miniature castle; Twiglina goes boating; Tiny rainbow bobble hat, Harriet loves to create miniatures in her spare time.

Harriet writes and illustrates almost all her own books, and she crafts in other ways - she builds intricate sets for her characters (such as a 3D set for her hugely popular series, Isadora Moon), creates tiny tote bags, crafts miniature books and knits miniscule 55

bobble hats, amidst a multitude of other miniaturerelated activities. And it’s these miniature artistic pursuits that she wishes she had more time for. “I want to make a miniature Victoria Stitch bedroom, gothic and sparkly...Celestine wants to be a jeweller, so I’d like to make a jeweller’s shop,” she explains, enthusiasm bubbling up in her voice. “The most amazing thing would be to have a miniature Victoria Stitch shop - an actual miniature shop, with tiny mugs, tiny tote bags with ‘Victoria Stitch’ written on them - basically a whole little merch shop in miniature.” “But...again, time,” she continues, with a rueful laugh. “Hopefully, when I’m older, I’ll have more time, and I’ll just spend so much time making minis!” Harriet is certainly busy - with five books written this year and five to be written next year, there’s no taking her foot off the gas. But for now, I think it’s fairly safe to say that she’s created a haven for children (and, as I can testify, adults) in what has been a fairly havenless year for many. “I want people to enjoy being in Wiskling Wood, and the wonder of being a tiny person,” she explains. “[The wisklings] can surf around on leaves, they live in hollow trees, they have a stream they can swim in...it’s a very idyllic world. It’s like an olde worlde fairy tale.” Such is the idyll of Wiskling Wood that Harriet describes it as being the ultimate place she would live, if she could. “I just want children to enjoy being in the world,” she explains. And if my inner child is anything to go by, then I can confirm: reader, they will.

Above: A miniature copy of Isadora Moon Opposite: A collection of tiny shells gathered whilst on adventures

Isadora Moon’s kitchen is brought to life with carboard and glitter. Harriet creates tiny scenes from her books and takes them to events for readers to enjoy.

Images, clockwise: Tiny Twiglina seetles down with a book and a cuppa; Harriet made miniature goodybags for guests at a book launch event.; Tiny tote bags and mini copies of Victoria Stitch

Why We Collect Exploring the psychology, and joy, behind miniature collections. by Izzie Price

“I can’t imagine my life without my [miniature collection] any more,” says Klara. “I’m a very passionate collector, and my collection has a very special place in my heart. I think most collectors would agree with me. Trust me: if you start to collect something, you’ll get attached to it very quickly.” Collecting is a fundamental part of the miniature world. Searching on Etsy, I found options for miniature Beatles replica guitars, miniature

beach chairs, and intricately detailed miniature pubs (that last one gave me a surge of particular heartache; I’m writing this in England’s third national lockdown). Essentially, there are endless options for me to start a miniature collection of anything at all; anything that takes my fancy.

remente.com). “Miniature things have definitely been having a moment...human beings everywhere are often enamoured with tiny objects and creatures,” he tells me. “Studies have shown that humans often [experience] something called the ‘Kawaii effect’: the urge to act more carefully, systemically and closely with images they perceive to be cute [or small]. Miniature collections may tap into this part of our brains, helping us to find joy in collecting and carefully handling tiny things.”

But why do we collect miniatures? What is it about forming a collection of tiny objects that appeals to us? Where does the satisfaction, and the joy, come from? Is it in the sourcing? Or seeing the collection grow before our eyes? Or is it in seeing a collection grouped Tamara is a collector of tiny chairs. “I didn’t realise I firmly in pride of place, formed as one cohesive unit was actually ‘collecting’ chairs until we moved into that reflects one of the greatest loves of our lives? a 450 square foot apartment and all my minis were in storage,” she says. “I started adding to the col“I’ve never really thought about it before,” muses lection...it grew very slowly over the course of our Klara. “[But] it’s delightful to have [a] collection of seven years in Brooklyn, and now in San Francisco it something. It can be anything you want, and it makes lives on our fireplace mantle.” life more exciting.” For Tamara, the joy of minis comes from the immeKlara collects tiny toys, and now owns approximately diate access they provide to the archives of our lives. sixty. “My personal favourites are nano blocks (like “Collections are lovely catalogues of memories,” lego, but much smaller) and a real tiny working mag- she tells me. “Each piece has a story, even if it’s very netic board, with magnets.” Her collection expanded simple. For example, I have a sweet little wood chair rapidly, in conjunction with her rising passion and en- that I bought at an outdoor market in Buenos Aires. thusiasm. “My collection grew faster than I expected... I [also] remember all kinds of games with my older soon I won’t have any space to store them! But they’re brother where we made tiny things out of paper - the just so amazing that I have to buy new ones.” mini world is my escape and fantasy world.” Niels Eék is a psychologist and co-founder of mental For Arielle, collector of Blythe dolls (among other health and self-development platform Remente (www. collections), her love of collecting is deeply rooted

This page & opposite: Image credit: Tamara Yurovsky: Tiny chair collection.

in the hunt. “Walking down an aisle at a store and seeing all the same things for sale is just not satisfying,” she insists. “When I start a collection, I get a teeny bit obsessed with the research and hunting up the most obscure items or vendors. You can find some amazing artists that way. Also, a lot of collecting tends to come with a certain amount of competition to get the best of the best - sometimes, that can be part of the fun.” Amanda is a collector of miniature perfumes (206, at last count), and she feels the same way. “My collection is growing, and the more I have - and the harder it becomes to find new ones - the more I enjoy the challenge of finding them,” she tells me. Niels agrees that the hunt is a huge part of what makes collecting psychologically appealing to us. “Collections tap into our human nature, giving us something to ‘hunt’ and ‘gather’ as we look for the perfect additions to our personal assortment,” he explains. “They also provide us with a sense of purpose - giving us something to care for, nurture and grow.”

Klara’s miniature toys

Amanda’s mini perfume bottle collection

Of course, it would be remiss not to explore whether COVID-19 has had any sort of effect on miniature collections; whether they existed previously and have grown because of the pandemic, or whether they have started as a direct result of the past year. Arielle’s collection actually 60

Image credit: Tamara Yurovsky

started after the pandemic broke. “I actually started my Blythe collection during the early onset of COVID, last March,” she tells me. “I sort of blame the pandemic [for] giving me so much time to source all the accessories and items people make for these dolls. It’s a bit of an escape, too, from the pressure of working from home and home schooling. Since being social was off the table due to COVID, I used my dolls to unwind from the day, and I found a social outlet in the [Blythe] Instagram community.”

lections. “Despite many elements of life being out of our control this year, collectibles can provide us with some much needed consistency, as well as offering a way to forget about the outside world and focus on something much smaller and more manageable,” he confirms.

seem to be the best resource for miniature artisans who make truly impressive pieces.”

With the future of many of the mini industry’s events currently hanging in the balance the idea of a real-life mini hunting opportunity seems a little out of reach to many of us. If one thing’s for sure, it’s that miniature collections have On the off chance that you’re wondering where to start your the power to soothe, excite and deown treasure hunt?. “Websites like light - and we could all use a little Ebay and Etsy have a great range of bit of that. possibilities because of individuals selling new creations and vintage/ antique items,” explains Tamara. Niels isn’t at all surprised by the “The annual miniature shows, idea that COVID could have inspired many to start miniature col- which are currently done virtually,

Arielle’s Blythe doll and charming shoe collection

Suppliers Spotted something you love? Here are all the mini retailers and event organisers featured in this issue. Atomic Miniature www.atomicminiature.com Big House Mini House

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/bighouseminihouse

C+C Mini Factory www.cargocollective.com Fernando Setien

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FernandoSetienShop

IMoMA - International Market of Miniature Artists www.imomalv.com

Itty Bitty Mini Mart

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ittybittyminimart L&A St Leger www.laurenceandangelastleger.com

Little And Big House www.littleandbighouse.nl London Dollshouse Showcase www.dollshouseshowcase.com

Melody Jane Dolls Houses www.melodyjane.com

Paris Renfroe Miniatures www.prdminiatures.com

Philadelphia Miniaturia

www.philadelphiaminiaturia.com

Tiny Universe Minis

www.tinyuniverseminis.com

Tiny Workbench

www.tinyworkbench.co.uk

Pssst... Here’s a sneaky peek at what’s coming up in Issue 3 May 2021 www.shrunkmagazine.com

DIY 1:12 chair

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