aim mag december 09

Regular Features… 5 Editor’s Note: Read Bea Broadwood’s introduction & welcome to this month’s edition of the Artisans In Miniature FREE ‘downloadable’ magazine! 22 New On The Web: This month we take a closer look at the website of Maia Bisson. 46 In Season This Month: Welcome to the third instalment of this popular ‘miniature food’ feature. This month Vicky Guile and her fellow AIM food artisans take a closer look at Turkey, Duck & Goose. 56 Through The Keyhole: Ever wondered what it would be like to be able to have a closer look at the working environments of AIM members? This month we take a peek at the South African work space of Barbara Brear. 62 Aim Pleased To Meet You: Get to know more about AIM member Mary Williams, when you read her answers to our questions. 66 Well, It Happened To An Artisan: Read about the often strange lives of AIM members. 80 Antique & Vintage Corner: Celia Thomas takes an in depth look at a 1930s German ‘Wagner’ Dollshouse. 84 Mini Aimers: Written and compiled by Margaret Pitts especially for younger miniaturists and the artisans of the future. 92 The Miniature Grapevine: Catch up on all the latest news and announcements from the international miniature world.

Special Features… 6 Cover Feature ‐ For The Love Of Art: Find out more about the fabulous work of top doll artisan Eileen Sedgwick. 12 A Tale Of Winsford House: AIM member Celia Thomas tells us all about her first book, which records a particularly unusual story of dollshouse restoration. 15 My Inspiration To Paint Santa: AIM member Barbara Stanton tells her story of a surprise encounter with Santa at a wedding! 18 Seasons Greeting: Happy Christmas from everyone at AIM

Artisans In Miniature 2

12

Contents… December 2009: Issue No 18, Cover Image: Eileen Sedgwick

74

20 Competition Time!!: Don’t miss your final chance to enter our competition to win a farmhouse table in 1:12th scale. 24 ‘1:12’ ‐ Kensington Dollshouse Festival organiser, Charlotte Stokoe tells us more about her new documentary. 40 A Journey Into The Blogosphere: AIM member Sandra Morris lifts the lid on a whole new area of the internet. 41 The New AIM Blog: AIM member Debie Lyons proudly announces a new and very exciting arrival in ‘blog land.’ 44 El Origin De Santa Clause: AIM member Cristina Alberti explains more about the history of this very special man. (In Spanish & English) 53 Dollshouse Fair Report: AIM member Sandra Morris reports back on the Charmandean Dollhouse show. 54 Christmas Floral Traditions: AIM member Kathryn Gray tells us more about the origins of these seasonal decorations. 60 Oh Christmas Tree: Professional artist Susanne Newstead shares a very special discovery. 69 Hungarian Christmas Traditions: Food artisan Orsolya Skultéti tells us more about this ‘mouth watering’ international cuisine. 74 A Dickensian Christmas ‐ The AIM Gallery: This month we bring you a nostalgic gallery of AIM members’ character dolls, all inspired by the pen of the famous author, Charles Dickens.

Free Projects… 16 Treasure Box: AIM member and author Jane Harrop shares her project to create a nostalgic treasure box in both 1:12th and 1:24th scales. 18 Christmas Stocking: AIM member Frances Powell shares her traditional 1:24th scale knitting pattern for these timeless Christmas accessories. 27 Robin Redbreast Tutorial: AIM member Anya Stone teaches her fabulous tutorial to create this much loved garden bird. (Introduction by Jane Harrop) 42 A Victorian Inspired Paper Doll: Doll artisan, illustrator, author and AIM member Jill Bennett brings us the delightful ‘Lucy’. 64 Snowman Soup: An adorable seasonal project by AIM member

and food artisan Vicky Guille.

83 Christmas Pom Pom Teddy: AIM member Cheryl Clingen shares

her delightfully fun seasonal project.


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64

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Artisans In Miniature ?


CLICK…on Artisans In Miniature

How did you find the Online Magazine??

Did you follow a link? Did a miniature friend tell you about it?

...and do you already know about the Artisans In Miniature Website, and the talented members who have all helped create this Online magazine.?

If not, copy, paste and CLICK now – www.artisansinminiatures.com and come and meet us all. Founded in 2007 by Bea (Fiona) Broadwood of Petite Properties, the site has been created in order to showcase the fantastic work of the individual professional international artisan members who create beautiful and original scale miniatures for sale to the public. Together they form the Artisans In Miniature association. Since its launch the AIM association has rapidly grown and now boasts membership of well over 200, including some of the most talented artisans within the miniature world! On the website you will find further information about them and their work; however, please note new pages are constantly being added and there are many members who are not yet included on the site... If you are a professional artisan who is interested in joining the association, you will find all the information there..... If you are wondering what Fairs may be on in your area – that information is there too… We have lots of links…to Fairs and Events Organizers…Magazines…Online Miniature clubs….Historical reference sites…..Workshops…and more… it’s all there!

If you’d like to contact us, copy, paste and CLICK... we’d love to hear from you!

www.artisansinminiature.com

Editor’s Note...

The AIM magazine EditorialTeam (in 'first name' alphabetical order)

Bea (Fiona) Broadwood Editor, Layout & Format Designer

& AIM Columnist: Editor's note

office@petite‐properties.com

Celia Thomas AIM Columnist:

Antique & Vintage Corner & New On The Web

Debie Lyons AIM Columnist & Gallery Coordinator

Project writer [email protected]

Jane Harrop AIM Columnist & Projects Coordinator

Project writer

Margaret Pitts AIM Columnist, Proof Reader &

Coordinator of AIM Please To Meet You Mini AIMers

Robin Britton AIM Columnist &

Miniature Grapevine Coordinator: Crafty Tips, Yes It Happened To An

Artisan

Sandra Morris AIM Columnist:

Tales From The Toy Cupboard

Vicky Guile: AIM Columnist & Coordinator of

In Season This Month Project Writer.

[email protected]

(Regular 'author of' information given in italics)

Dear Reader Welcome to the December issue of the AIM magazine!

As 2009 ticks down to a close... so it seems that the season of tinsel, carols

and all things 'Christmas' is at last upon us. To be honest I don't mind

admitting that Christmas and the end of the year is the time within the

calendar that I enjoy the most.

Somehow, whether snow falls or (more than likely) not, this special time of

year is seemingly infected with something very magical. In fact as the year

finally draws to a close, it often seems as if almost everyone takes solace in

a collective and often reflective ‘virtual' deep breath.

AIM members have also been collectively reflecting on what has been for

them; a very busy year within the miniature world. 2009 has seen AIM not

only grow from strength to strength, but also the AIM magazine has

consistently drawn a HUGE number of readers, month after month...!

It is certainly no secret that all of AIM’s successes to date have been the

result of a ‘sum of its parts.’ At this point I would like to thank the

moderating team, the editorial team, and all AIM’s members, for their

unending determination, drive and ‘unseen' hard work, without which or

whom the association, forum or magazine simply could not function.

Thank you to each of you, for all that you do...

However, before 2009 marches toward its close, AIM members have been

hard at work putting together this fantastic December issue for you all to

enjoy…

So as December knocks lightly and yet somewhat excitedly on the door, on

behalf of AIM and its members I would like to take this opportunity to thank

all of those who have supported and worked so hard for the association

during 2009.

May I also whole heartedly wish readers, customers and fellow AIM

members a like; a very happy Christmas and a wonderful, safe and

prosperous new year.

Bea

Editor (& General whip cracker)

December 2009 www.petite‐properties.com

Artisans In Miniature 5 Please note all AIM members contribute to the magazine…

I had a doll’s house for my birthday, and made a lady from a kit to ‘live’ in it. She was a bit ‘bland’,

and I remembered somewhere I had some polymer clay, and decided to try to make something with a

bit more character. Way too ambitious....but why change the habits of a lifetime… even as a child I’d

never start out with anything ‘small and sensible’!

Back then I was always hauling my huge boxes of ‘interesting stuff’ in and out of the cupboard under

the stairs, tipping them out onto the hearthrug so I could be ‘inspired’ into activity. My family were all

creative, and encouraged me with additions to the boxes, and endless patience, helping me with

anything new I wanted to try. Art was always important to me, right through school, and into college,

where I had the chance to try many new things, like ceramics, printing, textiles, and life‐drawing. I

loved drawing, collage and mixed media...and made a lot of large, quite abstract, and mostly

two‐dimensional pieces.

After graduating I trained to be a teacher. In my

last post I was asked to also take on ceramics

and sculpture in the school. I’d some experience

of working with clay, but there was a lot of

learning for me as well as the children. I was

very proud that some chose to specialise in

ceramics in their exams, and even go on with it

right up to degree level.

I left full time teaching to become a full time

mum in 1998.

When my daughter started school I found I had

some free time, and I began thinking about

doing some of my own art again. I really missed

working in clay, which had been such a big part

of my everyday life over the last 10 years.

Polymer clay didn’t need a proper kiln, which I

didn’t have anymore, and so I decided to

experiment.

For The Love Of Art… Miniature Figure Making

By AIM Member, Eileen Sedgwick

Artisans In Miniature 6 Tinklewink Family


The Duchess


My first miniature figure was finished just

before Christmas 2003. Looking at it now I

can see it was full of terrible faults, but there

was just enough there to see the potential.

The detail you could get with the polymer

clay on such a small scale was wonderful. I

dressed her quickly, and then just sat and

stared. It was an absolutely magical moment

for me...it felt as if the doll had somehow sud‐

denly found a life of its own, and you could

almost imagine it might get up and start

walking about. It was a very strange

feeling, and I couldn’t wait to make

another.

I’ve been interested for a long time in the figures created by ‘primitive’ or ancient peoples, and in

folk arts, and I have often worked from the human figure myself, so I decided to make a doll.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci


My dolls house hasn’t progressed much since 2003,

as I’ve been concentrating on my figures. My hands

have improved most, at least they’re less like the

bunches of bananas I gave my first poor doll.

I love everything about making figures as they

involve such a lot of different skills; sculpting,

fabrics, painting, wigging etc., so you never get

bored. Inspiration can come from many places:

books, music, myths and legends, history, nature,

stage and screen, the news...and of course the

world of Fine Art.

I’ve never found myself short of ideas for new

figures since I began......just short on the time to do

them all justice.

Dame Edna

Bilboe & Gandalf

I like making all kinds of figures. I enjoy the discipline of the historical ones, getting the details

correct, and reading about the history of costume. The portrait ones are always great fun, and

wonderful if people recognise who they are meant to be. I love the freedom of the imaginary

creatures, and the more experimental ones, where you can be as bizarre as you like, and decorate

and embellish the fabric and surfaces. My favourites so far have been ones based on paintings...

cheating a bit I suppose as a lot of the hard work is done for you of course by the original artist!

I have made a few Pre‐Raphaelite inspired ones, and some based on the lovely work of Gustav

Klimt… and I have lots of ideas bubbling away for many more.

Miniature figures are so wonderful to make… you can

go off in an infinite number of directions… the

hardest thing is just deciding which way to go next.

To see more of Eileen’s beautiful dolls, why

not visit her website...

www.eileensedgwick.com

Beatrix Potter

Artisans In Miniature 11 © Eileen Sedgwick ‐ All text & photographs belong to the author.

THE TALE OF WINSFORD HOUSE THE TALE OF WINSFORD HOUSE By AIM Member, Celia Thomas

This little book is the brainchild of Celia Thomas,

who trades as KT Miniatures. During the course of

time, she has seen dozens of vintage dolls houses

come and go but just occasionally something very

special comes along. Winsford House was thought

to be just another English 1960’s dolls house on

first inspection, but when renovation began, a

lovely discovery was made which saw this dolls

house turn into something quite unique indeed.

The Tale Of Winsford House tells the journey that

this little house embarked on during its

restoration including useful renovating tips and

detailed information on how to replicate vintage

dolls house brick paper, which can be a daunting

task but easy once you know how.

Wonderful 1930s brick and tiled paper with that delightful rich patina, which is instantly

recognisable, were found underneath more modern paper on the exterior, but the brick paper

on the chimneys disintegrated on touch so it was this that was replaced with replicated brick

paper. The house consists of four rooms with a central staircase, hall and landing plus two loft

rooms accessed via lift up roofing panels either side. The lovely bay windows contain real glass

and real lead strip, which had been painted in white gloss paint. There are two curious black

painted lion heads either side of the frontage. The name WINSFORD is embossed on a

somewhat tarnished metal nameplate which sits above the amazing 1930s front door.

When layers of 1960s/70s wallpaper were

removed from the interior, original wallpaper

was found underneath. A truly unexpected

magical moment came when each of the very

unusual art deco fireplaces were removed, an

inscription in beautiful pencilled handwriting

was found behind each one stating who made

the house, an address in Bath and the date it

was made… November 1938!



Initiating a little detective work using the power of

the internet – a little more was discovered about the

maker of this wonderful house and you can read all

about it in this little book. Included are some

fascinating emailed communication that ensued

between a gentleman and Celia whilst on her quest to

find out about the maker from Bath!

She says “In all the years I have been dealing with vintage dolls houses, I have never made a

discovery like it. If only all vintage dolls house creators could have left inscriptions like these on

their magnificent creations, my job would be a lot easier, particularly with one off vintage dolls

houses, as they are often so difficult to date. At first glance, when the fireplaces were still in

situ, I assumed they were some sort of 1960s/70s reproduction and ceramic. But the fireplaces

turned out to be cast iron, very rare and each considerably valuable in their own right!”

With Celia’s expertise a large amount of the 1930s wallpaper was salvaged and with the clever use

of acrylic paints, managed to disguise patches where the wallpaper was missing. Original paper in

the bathroom and kitchen sadly could not be saved so these were painted and given an aged look.

Antique lace hangs in each of the windows and

antique 1930s braid runs all the way up the stairs. KT

Miniatures imitation 1930s lino has been laid on the

floors, replacing the 1960s covering. The house

inside and out is now back to its former glory and

more in keeping with how it would have looked in

the 1930s. Winsford Dolls House is at present

currently up for sale in its own right and can be seen

on KT Miniatures website, web address details as

below.

At the handy compact A5 size with 32 full colour

pages and with laminated front and back covers, The

Tale Of Winsford House is the first in what will be a

whole series on not only vintage dolls houses, but

miniature projects based on the 1930’s/1940’s era.

Price £5.99 each plus P&P. Available only

directly from www.ktminiatures.com Artisans In Miniature 14

© Celia Thomas ‐ All text & photographs belong to the author.

My Inspiration To Paint Santa…

By AIM Member, Barbara Stanton

Being in the dollhouse world, I'm always

thinking about subjects that might interest

my collectors and as you know the Christmas

theme is a big one. Being an artist, I want to

come up with something new and original.

Most of my paintings are inspired by people,

places and things in my life. I'm always paying

attention to my surroundings looking for new

ideas. Since Santa wasn't in my life, I hadn't

painted him. I didn't want to make him up. I

wanted to have a real live Santa as a model.

As it happens and life goes on, my best

friend’s daughter got married. I'd known her

since she was four! As usual I brought my

camera to the wedding as a favour to the

bride. One of the first things I noticed was a

man with a white beard, long hair and

dressed in black with red tie, hat and sus‐

penders (braces in the U.K ! ). I thought I knew all of the bride’s family and friends so I was curious about this

gentleman. Obviously he was Santa and I needed to meet him!

I pulled the father of the bride aside and asked him who Santa was. "That's Dave!" he said. "Dave?" I asked.

"Yes, Elana's ex‐husband." Oh Dave! That's Dave? Last time I saw Dave he didn't have any grey hair and had a

huge handlebar moustache but no beard.

Wow! I know Santa!

It turns out that my old acquaintance Dave is a professional Santa who appears at malls and stores across

California. I took his picture of course and later I did this painting of him. Now that I know Santa personally,

I hope to have many future opportunities to paint him again. I've got a great one in my head of him and "Mrs.

Claus" dancing at the wedding.

Thanks for letting me share with you.

Barbara Stanton

“One of the first things I noticed

was a man with a white beard...”


www.barbarastanton.com

© Barbara Stanton ‐ All text & photo belong to the author.

By AIM Member, Jane Harrop

If you enjoyed making Jane’s Salt Box

last month, you will love this little box

for keeping your miniature memories

and treasures safe!

TREASURES BOX Make this tiny painted wooden box in either

1/12th or 1/24th scale to store miniature

treasures and mementoes.

STEP 1…Lightly sand the wood pieces and then stain.

Apply the wood stain sparingly to avoid the wood pieces from

warping. Once dry, position and glue the two box end pieces

on to the short outside edges of the box base piece. The base

is now sandwiched in‐between the side pieces and all outside

edges are flush. Tip: Use a right‐angled gluing jig to ensure the

construction dries square.

Project...

You will need...


In 1:12 & 1:24th...

Method...

To make the box in 1/12th scale you will need: 1/16in (1.5mm) thick sheet wood: Two 1in (25mm) by 5/16in (8mm) for box sides Two ½in (13mm) by 5/16in (8mm) for box ends 7/8in (22mm) by ½in (13mm) for ox base Two 1in (25mm) by 3/32in (2.5mm) for lid sides Two ½in (13mm) by 3/32in (2.5mm) for lid ends 1in (13mm) by 5/8in (16mm) for lid 1/32in (1mm) thick sheet wood: Two 1/2in by 9/32in for lid catches

To make the box in 1/24th scale you will need: 1/32in (1mm) thick sheet wood: Two ½in (13mm) by 5/32in (4mm) for box sides Four ¼in (6mm) by 5/32in (4mm) for box ends and lid catches 7/16in (11mm) by 1/4in (6mm) for box base Two ½ in (13mm) by 3/64in (1mm) for lid sides Two ¼in (6mm) by 3/64in (1mm) for lid ends 1/2in (13mm) by 5/16in (8mm) for lid

You will also need: 1/64in (0.5mm) thick plywood

Tiny heart paper punch Tacky glue

Light coloured wood stain Acrylic paint

.1.

STEP 2… Take the box side pieces and glue on to the long outside

edges of the base piece; again all outside edges are

flush.

STEP 3…

To make the lid, rest the lid sides and ends on their

narrow edges and then position and glue on top on the

lid wood piece as shown. All outside edges are flush.

Leave the constructions to dry thoroughly.

STEP 4… Paint the outside of the lid and box with acrylic paint.

Apply the paint sparingly to avoid the moisture from the

paint unfastening the glue. If necessary apply one thin

coat, allow to dry and then apply another and leave to

dry.

STEP 5… To create a slightly distressed finish, gently sand the

outside of the box and lid using fine‐grade sandpaper.

In some places you will remove a layer of paint and

reveal some of the stained wood below. Position and

glue the lid catches inside each end of the box, which

will allow the lid to fit securely.

STEP 6… Punch a tiny heart out of the plywood and then glue on

top of the lid. If you wish, carefully paint with red acrylic

paint. Once dry, place the lid upside down on top of fine

‐grade sandpaper, and very carefully sand the heart to

slightly distress. Now all you need to do is fill the box

with your miniature treasures and mementoes.

© Jane Harrop 2009

Website: www.janeharrop.co.uk

.2.

.3.

.4.

.5. .6.

www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk

1/24th scale Christmas Stocking

By AIM Member Frances Powell

This is not designed to be worn by a doll, as the stocking has no shaping, but is designed to hang from the corner of a bed or a mantelpiece or be held by a doll. Materials: Size 22 (US size 6/0, 0.70 mm) needles, 25 m No 80 crochet cotton or No 70 tatting thread Abbreviations: st ‐ stitch; sst – stocking (stockinette) stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl); k ‐ knit; p ‐ purl; dec. ‐ decrease by working 2 stitches together; k2tog ‐ knit 2 stitches together; sl k1 psso ‐ slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over stitch just knitted. Knit stocking as follows: Cast on 19 sts. Row 1: k 1, p 1 to last st, k 1. Row 2: p 1, k 1 to last st, p 1. Change to sst: Rows 3‐16: sst Row 17: k2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. (17sts) Row 18: p Shape heel: K 5, work on these 5 sts only. * Work 3 rows sst. Then dec. 1 st at beginning of next and following alternate rows (3 sts remain)** Work 1 row p. (Omit this row when working other side of heel). Pick up and k 3 sts down side of heel (last few rows worked on 5 and 3 sts) Knit across remaining sts on needle. Next row: p 5, work on these sts only, reversing shaping for heel, from * to **. Pick up and p 3 sts down side of heel as before, then p across remaining sts on needle. (19 sts) Work 10 rows sst for foot. Shape toe: Row 1: k 3, k2tog, sl k1 psso, k 5, k2tog, sl k1 psso, k 3. (15 sts) Row 2: p Row 3: k 2, k2tog, sl k1 psso, k 3, k2tog, sl k1 psso, k 2. (11 sts) Cast off. To make up stocking: With right sides together sew down back seam around heel and along foot to toe shaping. Keeping right sides together flatten foot part of stocking, so that foot seam is underneath, then sew up toe seam so it is at right angles to foot seam. Turn stocking right side out, a thick knitting needle or pencil may help you do this.

To make a loop (optional): either make a chain using crochet or sew a loop about ¼‐inch/0.75 cm long and work a row of buttonhole stitch over it. Sew in all loose ends. Stuff about half of the stocking with crumpled paper or tissue to resemble presents, then fill top of stocking with presents.

© Copyright F. H. Powell 2009 This pattern is for private use only and may not be reproduced in any form for commercial gain, including selling any item knitted up from these patterns without written permission from

Buttercup Miniatures


Many thanks to AIM member Linda Master for her kind permission to use her image on our AIM Christmas card.

To see more of Linda’s beautiful carving visit her website:

www.miraclechickenurns.com

From All The Members Of AIM

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!



Would you like to win this fabulous 1:12th scale

farmhouse table created by Jane Harrop and

hand-painted by Bea Broadwood? If so, then we have a fantastic word search competition for you this month!

Simply download the puzzle on the opposite page and clearly identify all the hidden words listed within our

‘topical’ word search grid.

To enter our competition, send us a copy of your completed word search either as an email attachment or as a

printed copy to the relevant address given below.

For email entries – office@petite‐properties.com (Please put COMPETITION as the subject title of the email)

For postal entries ‐ Bumble Bee Cottages, 52 ‐54 Drury Street, Metheringham, Lincs. LN4 3EZ.

(Please note this is a UK address)

All entries must include an email contact address and full name.

Rules of the competition.

Closing date will be 31st December 2009 and any entries received after this date will not be accepted. On the 1st

of January one winner will be picked randomly from all of the correct entries and notified by email. We can only

accept one entry per person. The winner will be published in the February 2010 edition of the AIM magazine.

We at AIM would like to say a big thank you to Jane Harrop of

www.janeharrop.co.uk for the kind donation of this fantastic farmhouse table.

Good Luck!!

N N T D I T A C H T E S A A T E K L T N

S A O C S N R T L O C U T H C N I R I A

N Y I I E R U T I N R U F C I I E S R T

R G L R S D S P U E P A E T E T L A O E

E N F H O U E O G A D O T N R J R P N O

T I O E T T L O T L C I E A A E O I E A

T W B N I N C L T C N C U O B T L R S R

A E E T E S O I I G N Q E M N N H S P I

P S E F L M R M V L D A E S O I O N G T

Y N I T A A C T M O A V R O S C R E F L

I M L M C L I S O I O B S O I O O A E P

O H E W S L M F R N N L O A R R R D D H

C O M P E T I T I O N I T L G C O I O C

S R E W O L F I I A D I A I G M L B E I

M I N U T E E R F O O U A T F N B E A S

O I E R F D A A N N F N T S U Y I L N N

A R T I S A N F L A H T U L T R S S E M

S M I N I A T U R A E Y R O T C E R I D

S F S E S U O H S L L O D I N A N A T O

R A H O R U C R O C H E T U I N C H T A

Accessories

Association

Competition

Dollshouse

Victorian

Miniature

Miniatura

Directory

Furniture

Georgian

Illusion

Knitting

Patterns

Projects

November

Artisan

Replica

Quarter

Flowers

Crochet

Monthly

Petite

Minute

Online

Sewing

Global

Tudor

Scale

Model

Small

Craft

Hobby

Micro

Fimo

Tiny

Half

Inch

Food

Free

AIM


Each month we highlight a particular AIM

member’s new website and to continue this

feature we have chosen the website of Maia

Bisson

www.maiastwinkleminiatures.com

As soon as you click onto Maia’s Twinkle Miniatures,

you know that you are looking at a miniatures website

that is so very different from all others. The attractive

pink musical notes at the top of the page laid over an

off white background with a pale green border either

side, immediately grabs your attention and makes

you wonder about the significance of this musical

header, along with the statement “Add a twinkle to

your scene”.

Very quickly, as you navigate Maia’s website, the

musical note significance becomes apparent, as

miniature music boxes are very much a part of Maia’s

trade.

Maia’s Twinkles Miniatures is the brainchild of Maia

Bisson who lives in Steveston, a small fishing town in

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Maia started

making and collecting miniatures more than 15 years

ago. About six years ago she started selling miniatures

at local fairs and then Maia’s Twinkle Miniatures began

trading a little over two years ago. Her website was

launched in June 2009.

Maia tells us “I worked with Anne Gerdes to create the

website and with my brother‐in‐law to design the

website header. The project of creating the website

was very exciting and a little daunting at the same

time; Anne walked me through the process one step at

a time so it was a very enjoyable experience. My

brother‐in‐law is very good at understanding your

ideas and translating them into a beautiful design. I’m

really happy with the way the header turned out.”

Maia creates different kinds of miniatures such as tiny

dolls on music boxes; paper dolls that you can play

with; little books; vanity items and even holiday

miniatures. She goes on to say, “Many of my pieces

are one of a kind as I like to explore new ideas. I like to

make pieces that can be set out in different ways

allowing miniaturists to add their own touch to them!”

New On The Web


The main navigation bar can be found down the

left‐hand side of the site, and with curious categories

such as “Twinkle Magnets, Twinkle Dolls & Music Boxes,

Holidays, Vanity Items, Miniature Shadow Boxes,

Stationary Sets & Photo Albums, Books, Twinkle Boxes,

Finished Kits, New Products and finally Gift Certificates

(which is a nice touch), there is certainly something

there for everyone!

Many of these main headings are divided into

subheadings e.g. The Twinkle Magnets section is then

separated into three more sections called Twinkle

Magnets, Twinkle Magnet Paper Dolls and Twinkle

Magnet Calendars. All products on each of the pages

are well laid out with a clear photograph, description

and priced accordingly.

Maia’s little items are certainly unique and she has a

very distinct style. My favorite just has to be the tiny

shadow boxes. The last one on the page in particular

called “Paper Doll With Her Clothes Shadow Box” is

delightful, and advertised as ……..“With a paper doll and

her clothes on the line is sure to bring back memories

and a smile!” And you know what…. it did just that! I

couldn’t help but smile plus it evoked all kinds of

wonderful childhood memories, conjuring up images of

those little paper dolls that I used to love to play with for

hours!

For the future, Maia tells us “I have so many ideas and I

always get excited with each one of them. I would like to

work on them little by little, and always bring something

new and different for miniaturists to enjoy. I also want

to learn new techniques and explore different

materials.”

Well, do go check out Maia’s unique website and peruse

the various categories a while. It goes without saying

that we here at AIM wish Maia the very best of luck with

her miniatures and hope she continues to “twinkle”

brightly with success!


How did the idea for the Film 1:12 come about? Miniaturists are passionate about what they did, and would create exceptional work, but were not

really represented as a body. Unless you loved miniatures, you would not even know they existed.

We always used to say that someone should make a film about them, but any programme that

was made about dolls houses, was always focusing on the obvious, how much they cost, who

bought them etc.

Weren’t you nervous about taking on such an unusual project? Not really. I tend not to think that I can’t do something, I just do it and hope it works out. It is only

after I have done something tough that I wake up in the night in a cold sweat realising how wrong

it could have gone. I did start to feel pressure once we had begun filming, as the craftsmen were

so excited by the idea. I felt we couldn’t let them down.

What kind of film were you planning on making at the beginning? When we first thought of the film, we thought it would be an entertaining film about the unusual

people who make miniatures. We wanted it to appeal to everybody, but mostly thought it would

be a great way to promote the industry & draw in new enthusiasts. This changed as we progressed

with the film. As we visited people in their studios, we realised that we wanted a more serious

film. These people were so talented, we knew that collectors would be fascinated to see how they

work.

What part of making the film did you enjoy the most? Definitely our research trips. I had no sat nav in my car, so I printed off

maps from google to follow. This worked quite well, although we got

terribly lost finding Ann High, and of course hers was the one phone

number I didn’t have with me. I ended up knocking on the doors of all her

At last, a film has been made about dolls houses,

that shows the true passion of the people who

make these amazing miniatures.

AIM caught up with Charlotte Stokoe, Producer of

“1:12”, to find out how the film came about.


Charlotte Stokoe...


neighbours, but with no luck. Just as we were about to give up, she called to find out where we

were. I was so pleased to hear her voice. We had known many of the makers for nearly 20 years,

but you only see them at dolls house shows or talk to them on the phone. Stepping into their world

& their workshops was a unique experience for us both. We felt so privileged to see where & how

they worked. Their personal environments were all totally different & what came through was the

passion & enjoyment they got from their work. They all seemed to share the same contentment

with their lives.

How many craftsmen did you end up visiting? We visited around 10 makers & after each visit we were determined that they would be in our film.

Our budget would only allow us to use 7 however, so we chose the ones we felt covered the main

aspects of miniatures.

How was your first day of filming? We started filming with Liz at ELF miniatures. Everyone who knows Liz knows what a great talker she

is, and she was the perfect person to start with. We did almost everything in one take and were then

treated to a plate of delicious pasta. After that we were flying. We finished our filming at the Festival

itself, trying to show work from other makers who we couldn’t visit. Darlene, the Co Producer of the

film and I had a rather stressful couple of days trying to not only get all the filming done & interview

people, but we also had to make sure that the festival itself ran smoothly (my great KDF team were

on hand for that thank goodness).

Filming at the Festival...

www.dollshousefestival.com


What was the hardest part of making the film? Although Darlene and I both knew all the processes that go into making a film, the postproduction was

definitely a shock to our system. Suddenly, the 25th Anniversary of the Festival was looming and we had to

get the film finished. We knew the structure of the film and Darlene had been working hard at sorting

through the 13 hours of footage to find the relevant shots, so we were confident that it would only take 2

weeks to finish it. Michael (Editor) was a godsend. He immediately took hold of the project, listened to

what we wanted, and got on with it in double quick time.

We worked solidly for 2 weeks from a small flat in Camden Town. We could see that Michael was amazed

by the craftsmen featured in the film and this made us very positive. We kept him fed on chocolate

brownies & cup cakes & he did a fabulous job. I had a rather scary morning doing the voiceovers at a

studio in Soho, and then Michael added the music and it was finished the day before the Festival was due

to start.

What was the reaction when you first showed the film? Darlene and I were terrified to show it to anyone, as we really couldn’t gauge if it was any good ‐ it was

such a personal project for us. I decided that the Exhibitors should have the first viewing. If they didn’t like

it then we were in trouble. On the Saturday night after the Festival was over, we had a Premiere of 1:12 on

the big screen at Kensington Town Hall. Over 200 people were present to see our film for the first time (a

huge audience for fledgling film makers). I had to face the audience by myself as Darlene had deserted me

‐ she had to go & do a craft fair of her own in Henley. The lights went down & the film began. I had to

leave the room I was so nervous, but what was that – laughter – I hadn’t expected laughter. Afterwards

we were overwhelmed by the reaction to the film. It really seemed to affect people in a very positive way.

Is 1:12 the film you imagined it would be? May be. We were imagining a light‐hearted look at the craftsmen as they created their masterpieces.

What we ended up with, I think, is a beautiful film about some very unique people, who do something

they love, and give it everything. It is a film that we are so proud of, not only because it is the first film we

have made, but it is a truthful film that shows the passion of the craftsmen & how much time goes into

their amazing work.

Charlotte Stokoe

The ‘1:12’ documentary (featuring AIM members!) will be available to

purchase online in DVD format via the Kensington Festival’s website.

Alternatively please contact Charlotte for more information.


Robin Redbreast

1:12th Tutorial By AIM Member Anya Stone

(Introduction By AIM Member, Jane Harrop)

Robin Redbreast (Erithacus rubecula)

Although most commonly associated with Christmas, the robin redbreast is a familiar garden bird in Britain

throughout the year. Robins establish their own territory and will generally stay in the same place

throughout their lives. Nests are built in sheltered places and robins will aggressively challenge any

intruders. Both the male and female robins sing throughout the year to defend their territory, although the

male robin also sings to attract female robins.

There are many stories of how robins got their red breasts; the most common are linked with the birth and

death of Christ. When Christ was born a brown robin is said to have flown in to the stables and flapped his

wings to fan the embers of a dying fire back to life. The robin burnt his breast on the fire, burning it red.

Mary blessed the robin for keeping them warm, and since then all descendants have been the owner of a

dignified red breast in recognition of such bravery.

Another story tells how a brown robin plucked a thorn from Christ’s head whilst he was on the cross.

The thorn cut Jesus’ head and his blood fell on the robin’s breast, staining it red.

The robin’s main association with Christmas is linked to the Victorian era when postmen were nicknamed

‘Robin Redbreasts’ as they wore red uniforms. During that time, postal deliveries were very frequent over

the Christmas period, so the robin, postman and the gifts he brought all became associated. This is

illustrated on many Victorian and Edwardian Christmas cards which depict robins delivering the mail.

Jane Harrop © 2009 www.janeharrop.co.uk

Tutorial...

'Fimo' clay attracts any kinds of dirt and dust particles very easily, so before you begin

working make sure your hands, tools and work surface are clean.

Since the size of the sculpture is very small your fingers can be especially vulnerable when

using sharp tools, so please do be careful and use a magnifying glass if necessary.

Getting Started...

Materials & equipment...



1 – Knead the Fimo clay until it is soft and roll into a ball approximately 14mm in diameter. One good way to

prepare the clay before working is to wrap the amount of clay you need in Cling film and put it under your

clothing next to your body to warm it up.

2 – Gently begin to pinch at one end of the ball of clay.

3 – To stop the clay being pinched into a point, keep smoothing the end of the clay with your finger into a

rounded shape.

4 – Your sculpture should now resemble the shape pictured in the photo. The rounded end will eventually be

the robin’s head.

5 – Measure the head at this stage. It should measure approximately 3mm in length.

6 – To make the beak, the tip of the head has to be pinched very gently with your fore finger and thumb.

7 – The photo here is showing how the beak should look from an aerial view.

8 ‐ Once the beak is ready measure the birds head again. It should now measure approximately 5mm in

length.

9 ‐ Using the scalpel, make a small indentation across the base of the beak widthways. This will help accentu‐

ate the bird’s profile.

10 – After you have done step 9 begin to push the rest of clay away from the head using gentle downwards

motions. Keep turning the sculpture as you do this so all sides are even, try to keep the back as flat as possible

by pressing gently and smoothing your finger over it. You should also begin to see the neck and breast emerg‐

ing at this stage.

11 – Now your bird should look something like the one in the photo. There will be some excess clay at the

base of the sculpture and the neck should be visible.

12 – Take the scalpel and gently push the clay right behind the back of the birds head downwards, then slide

the scalpel down the back and towards the end. This is to emphasise the top of the and back of the birds

head.

Some of the excess clay on the bird will begin to be removed now.

What you want to achieve is a small amount of clay protruding from the belly of the bird

for you to hold on to, this will also be removed at a later stage. Because the sculpture is

so small excess clay is important at the beginning of sculpting to allow you to hold on to

something and stops the sculpture getting squashed by your fingers.

Making & Colouring the sculpture..


9a 8 7

6 5 4

3 2 1

9b 10a 10b

13 – To create the belly, begin to pinch and squeeze any clay that is just

below the breast of the bird as pictured in the photo. Do make sure that you

leave enough clay to form the rest of the body.

14 – Now begin to remove clay from beneath the tail end of the bird with

your scalpel.

15 – At this stage your bird should now look like the one pictured in the

photo and should have clay protruding from the belly.

16 – Measure the sculpture along the back. It should be around 11mm in length at this point.

17 – Very gently begin to pinch clay at the end of the bird’s tail end so it ends up looking like the bird in the

photo. The reason for doing this is that the more clay that is pinched away from the sculpture the smaller it

will get, eventually until it is the right scale.

18 – Cut the excess clay off at the base of the bird’s body including all of the tail. Your bird should now look

like the one picture and now measure around 9mm in length.

19 – To make the wings take your scalpel and make a very shallow cut starting at the shoulder and down

towards the tail end. You will have to hold both sides of your robin when you do this so apply as little

pressure as possible. You could also dip your fore finger and thumb in some corn flour starch to stop them

sticking to the sculpture. Make sure not to cut the wings off entirely.

20 ‐ If you have found that your fingers have stuck to the sculpture, use the handle of a spoon to push the

skin on your fingertips down and away from the sculpture. This way the sculpture should come away from

your fingers.

21 – Make two small holes in the base of your sculpture for the leg holes, followed by two eye

indentations. The leg holes should be approximately 3mm deep and the eyes should be no more than

1mm. The tip of a cocktail stick can be used to make the holes.

The sculpture must be coloured with pastel prior to baking, this way the pastel will adhere to the

sculpture once it has been cured. Apart from painting the beak and eyes, paints are otherwise too thick

to use on smaller sculpts and can distort the size.

If you have used a dental pick or any other metal tool to support your sculpture up to this point, it will

have to be replaced with a cocktail stick before the baking process. Metal tools can heat up too quickly in

an oven causing it to affect the colour of the sculpture or possibly melt it

To remove the sculpture dip your fingers in corn flour and gently pick up the sculpture holding both sides

with your fingers after it has been coloured, or place the sculpture on the cocktail stick prior to colouring


11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19a

19b

20 21a

23 21b 22

24 25

26

22 ‐ To make a small amount of chalk pastel into a fine powder, use a

scalpel to scrape one end of the pastel into a container. You will need

your red and brown pastel at this point, each scraped into separate con‐

tainers.

23 – Insert a cocktail stick securely into one of the leg holes of the sculp‐

ture. This part can be very tricky so take extra care not to lose the sculp‐

ture. It is advisable to colour the sculpture over a container of some sort just in case it falls.

24 ‐ Begin colouring the back of the sculpture with a very fine dusting of brown pastel powder using a

paint brush. You literally have to just touch the sculpture without having to apply too much pressure.

Gradually build up the colour very gently.

25 ‐ Once you have finished the back, brush red pastel powder on to the bird’s breast.

26 ‐ When the bird has been coloured put it in the oven on a cocktail stick stuck into some scrunched up

foil for 15 ‐ 20 minutes following the clay manufacturer’s instructions.

The foil acts as a supportive base for the cocktail stick to stay upright during baking.

27 ‐ When the bird is cured and cooled paint the beak in one coat of black acrylic paint.

Dip the tip of another cocktail stick in the paint and then dip the cocktail stick into the eye holes so they

both have a black dot inside of them.

27



A face mask must be worn when making/applying flocking and cutting feathers...

Feathers should be washed the day before in soapy water and sprayed with an anti‐bacterial solution and

left to dry over night or dried with a hair drier on a low setting.

From this point keep the sculpture on the cocktail stick at all times whilst working over a container

1 – Take the Canada goose feather separate the barbs so that you expose the rachis and the tip of the

feather as pictured.

2 ‐ Cut approximately 10mm away from the tip of the feather. The cut feather MUST include the rachis

which is a stem that runs all the way up the centre.

3 ‐ Cut the feather again so it is 8mm in length. This should now be the right size for your tail.

4 ‐ You will also notice that some of the barbs fall away from the sides. Because barbs make up a feather,

when they are separated from the rachis they can separate into single strands if pulled apart so do try to

keep them as intact as possible. Put these barbs somewhere safe as they will be needed later.

5 – Using a paint brush apply glue to the tail area of the bird, then with tweezers put the top of the tail on

top of the glue as shown in the photo. Press down gently using a toothpick making sure no glue seeps

through the feather. Let it dry

6 – Using tweezers pick the barbs that were mentioned earlier and make sure that the barbs do not come

away from each other.

7 ‐ Add glue to the wings of the sculpture then carefully stick the barbs on to the glue, starting from the

bird’s shoulder and ending at the wing tips. Allow to dry.

Once the sculpture is dry measure the length, it should now be 12mm long. If the wings are uneven in

length, trim them until they are in proportion.

8 ‐ Depending on whether you are left or right handed, tape the surgical plaster to your index finger, just

above the bend. Fingers can get very sore because of the abrasive action of the comb repeatedly going over

the finger; the plaster stops this from happening.

9 – Unravel the roving and hold it in‐between your index finger and thumb allowing approximately 127mm

of roving draped over your finger.

10 ‐ Using the flea comb start to de‐tangle the wool using gentle combing motions, going away from your

body, try not to pull the wool too roughly. Once all of the tangles have been removed you should be able to

run your comb through the wool without any snags.

11 ‐ Cut the tip off the roving so that all the ends are blunt and even, now the roving is ready for cutting.

Feathering & flocking...


6

1

2

3

5 4

8

7

9

12 ‐ To cut the roving into a very fine powder, hold the

end of it into a dense bunch and just keep snipping the

roving letting the powder fall into the container. For the

robin you will only need half a spoonful to a spoonful

sized amount. It’s always best to have a little more just in case.

13 ‐ Once this is done apply glue to the body of your sculpture and apply the flocking using tweezers

starting on the sculpture’s back and then finishing off by applying flocking to the breast and rump.

14 ‐ Leave the sculpture to dry for 30 minutes. Once dry brush off any excess and snip away any stray

roving using small scissors.

15 – With the cocktail stick still in place, gently turn your sculpture upside down and dip its back into

the fine brown chalk dust until the back is fully covered.

16– With a small bristle brush or eye shadow applicator dab the sculpture very gently to work the chalk

into the flocking. Clean the applicator.

17 – Whilst supporting the sculpture’s back, gently dab the red chalk dust on to the robin’s face and

breast, followed be one fine layer of the orange chalk dust which is applied over the red.

Clean the applicator again and apply the grey chalk dust where the leg holes are below the red and

orange chalk.

18 ‐ Afterwards directly apply the white pastel stick around the edge of the red breast creating a fine

band of white.

Stick the toothpick back into the foil you used earlier and spray the sculpture with extra strong hold

hair spray. Make sure that you leave a distance of at least 300mm between the sculpture and canis‐

ter whilst spraying.

10

11


12 13 14

15 16 17

There are a number of ways to make bird eyes. You can use

clear nail varnish, glass rounds and black enamel paint works

well too. For a quick and effective way I am using 3D gloss varnish over a black acrylic base

colour to add depth 1 – Dip the tip of a cocktail stick into some 3D gloss varnish and gently add a tiny blob amount over the

eyes about the size of the eyehole you made earlier. The varnish may appear to be cloudy before it dries

this is normal. Leave it to dry following the manufacturer’s instructions. The legs are made from 34

gauge jewellery wire.

2 – Using wire cutters cut a 35mm length of jewellery wire

3 – Bend the wire in half making sure both ends are level with each other.

4 – Twist the wire. A loop will form at one end. At the other end separate the two ends of the wire by

unravelling the first twist. These will be the feet.

5 – Hold the loop and paint the wire with dark brown enamel paint. Leave to dry and paint the other end.

6 ‐ Once completely dry cut the twisted wire in half. Both pieces of wire should now measure

approximately 8 – 9mm long. These are now the legs. One leg will now have a loop at the bottom of it.

Cut this evenly in half to make two more feet (toes).

7 ‐ Place a small blob of superglue gel at the centre of each foot. Make sure one toe is pointing in front

and the other is pointing backwards for balance.

8 ‐ Locate both leg holes that you made earlier in the sculpture and add another small blob of superglue

gel to the top of each leg. Insert the legs into the holes making sure again that one toe is pointing

forwards and the other backwards. Trim the wire feet if necessary.

9 ‐ Your robin is now finished

Eyes & legs...

18


© Anya Stone

Creations in Miniature 2009

www.anya‐stone.co.uk

Any redistribution of this work

for commercial purposes or

otherwise is

prohibited

without consent

from the artist

1

2 3

4 5

6 6

7

8 9


Are YOU a professional miniature artisan??

Do you sell quality handmade miniatures to the public??

Do you want to showcase your work and talents on a global platform??

Do you want to be part of a supportive professional association??

AND do you want it all for FREE???

If you answered 'YES' to EVERY question…

Then look no further, AIM is the professional miniaturists association for YOU!!

AIM is completely FREE to join and completely FREE to be part of.

So...if you are a professional miniature artisan and you would like to find out

more about joining the AIM Association,

please email AIM’s Membership Secretary: Mary for more information:

[email protected]

Or alternatively visit our website…


AArtisansrtisans IInn MMiniatureiniature “An association of professional artisans, dedicated to promoting a high standard

of excellence in original handcrafted scale miniatures…”

NEW www.artisansinminiature.com

artisansinminiature.blogspot.com

A Journey into the Blogosphere…

By AIM Member, Sandra Morris As you are reading this AIM magazine online, the chances are you will already be aware of blogs. Blogs

have become very popular over the past few years and there are now hundreds of thousands of blogs

updated on the internet every day.

So, what exactly IS a blog? A blog (short for web log) is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog

is “blogging” and someone who keeps a blog is a “blogger.”‘

Often blogs focus on a particular “area of interest”. There are blogs on virtually any topic you can think

of. From photography to spirituality, recipes to personal diaries, travel tales to hobbies ‐ blogging has as

many applications and varieties as you can imagine. Whole blog communities have sprung up around

some of these topics putting people into contact with each other in order to learn, share ideas, make

friends with and even do business with people with similar interests from all around the world.

The world of miniatures has many bloggers, ranging from collectors and enthusiasts who blog about their

current projects, houses, visits to fairs etc, to artisan makers, who blog about their work and its trials and

tribulations.

Blogs provide a fascinating insight into the working lives of miniature artisans, illustrated with

photographs and even videos! They are also interactive, as it is usually possible to leave a comment on

individual posts, so a dialogue can be carried out between the blogger and anyone reading their blog.

You can ‘follow’ your favourites, and get automatic email notification whenever the blog is updated.

There are many bloggers among AIM members and AIM now has its very own blog, showcasing member’s

work. Check out the AIM Directory Pages where many members list their blog address.

Also look out for our regular Blog of the Month starting soon, which will feature a different AIM member’s

blog each month.

Well….what are you waiting for? There’s a whole new world of fascinating miniature possibilities waiting

for you out there in the blogosphere.

I’ll see you there!

Sandra Morris You can read my blog, Tales from a Toymaker at http://towerhousedolls.blogspot.com


The New Blog

By AIM Member Debie Lyons Over the years the Internet has provided many places for artisans to showcase their websites, photo

galleries, groups and more recently, blogs. There are many

artisans now who solely use blogs to promote their work and

some who use both blogs and a website jointly.

Taking this into account the AIM Magazine Editorial Team felt

that it was now time to take the promotion of AIM, its

members and the Magazine to a new level.

Moderator and editorial member Vicky Guile came up with

the idea as she has been a blogger for some time, so helped

by some of the team, this has now become a reality. Members

will be able to promote their work and showcase new pieces

and projects through the AIM blog.

To quote Vicky...

‘The 'aim' (excuse the pun) of the blog is to promote our member’s NEWEST creations through blog posts featuring a single image accompanied by links to where the item is available.’

The team is proud to introduce the new Artisans in Miniature

Blog:‐

http://artisansinminiature.blogspot.com/

BLOG of

the MONTH... The AIM editorial team are proud to introduce a new

monthly feature to the AIM magazine, ‘Blog of the Month’.

Starting in February, we shall begin the series featuring the

personal blog of one of our Artisans and finding out how it

came to be created….

Artisans In Miniature


NEW FEATURE!


A A ‘Victorian Inspired’ ‘Victorian Inspired’

Paper Doll... Paper Doll...

By AIM Member, Jill Bennett

Dear Reader…

Following on from the huge success of Jill’s first paper doll;

‘Arabella’ which was published in the September edition of

the AIM magazine (Issue 15), the AIM editorial team are

delighted to bring you the second doll from this nostalgic

new series.

‘Lucy’ is a beautiful Victorian girl and as you can see she

comes complete with a stunning and versatile wardrobe of

outfits. So whether you are young or old, why not grab

your scissors, start snipping, and bring this stunningly

traditional paper doll to life! ...Enjoy!

If you would like to see more of Jill’s beautiful work,

why not visit her website:

www.jillbennettdolls.co.uk


Project...


EL ORIGEN DE SANTA CLAUSEL ORIGEN DE SANTA CLAUS By AIM Member, Cristina Albertí

Santa Claus, el hombre bonachón de larga barba blanca que viaja por el cielo en su trineo, es una de las fi‐

guras más representativas de la Navidad. Niños de todo el mundo le escriben cartas pidiéndole los juguetes

de sus sueños. Suele entrar por la chimenea para dejar sus regalos debajo del árbol de Navidad.

El mundo hispano le conoce como Papá Noel, aunque también le llaman Santa Claus.

Pero la imagen del personaje de traje rojo, botas negras y gorro con borla blanca es muy distinta a la figura

que en realidad inspiró su mito.

En el siglo IV, en la región de Licia (actualmente Turquía), vivía un joven llamado Nicolás. Siendo muy pe‐

queño, quedó huérfano y heredó una gran fortuna que repartió entre enfermos y pobres. A los 19 años se

convirtió en sacerdote y con el tiempo llegó a ser Obispo. Al

morir, le hicieron santo, convirtiéndose en San Nicolás de

Bari, y su popularidad se extendió por toda Europa.

Holanda se convirtió en uno de los países con mayor admi‐

ración por San Nicolás. El nombre de Santa Claus fue una

evolución del nombre holandés del santo, Sinter Klass, que

es una abreviación de Sint Nikolaas.

En el año 1624, los inmigrantes holandeses que fundaron

Nueva Amsterdam (actual Nueva York), trajeron una imagen

del santo. En el año 1809, el escritor Washington Irving, en

su libro Historia de Nueva York, nombró a Santa Claus como

“guardián de Nueva York”, incrementando su popularidad.

En el año 1822, Clement C. Moore, esribió el poema navide‐

ño Una visita de San Nicolás que convirtió a Santa Claus en un icono de la cultura estadounidense. En este

poema se construye la imagen de Santa Claus viajando alrededor del mundo en un trineo volador que lleva

ocho renos para repartir regalos a todas las casas. En el años 1881, el humorista Thomas Nast, dibujó la pri‐

mera caricatura de Santa Claus y le dio la imagen que conocemos hoy en día: añadió los detalles del borde

blanco en el traje rojo, el saco repleto de juguetes, el taller del Polo Norte y sus ayudantes, los duendes.

En los últimos años del siglo XIX, se deja de asociar a Santa Claus con una religión o nacionalidad específica

y se convierte en el patrón de todos los niños en muchos países de alrededor del mundo.

Actualmente se cuenta que Santa Claus vive en el Polo Norte junto con su esposa, la

señora Claus, quienes dirigen un taller de juguetes donde, con la ayuda de cientos de

duendes, se fabrican todos los regalos que los niños buenos y obedientes recibirán en

Navidad. Se dice que Santa Claus sale la noche del 24 de diciembre viajando por el cielo

con su trineo. Mientras los niños duermen, entra por la chimenea o por la ventana y

deja los regalos en el árbol de navidad o en los tradicionales calcetines.

Artisans In Miniature 45 © Cristina Alberti ‐ All text & photos belong to the author.

THE ORIGIN OF SANTA CLAUSTHE ORIGIN OF SANTA CLAUS By AIM Member, Cristina Albertí

Santa Claus, a good‐natured man with a long white beard who travels through the sky in his sleigh, is one of

the most representative images of Christmas. Children from around the world write him letters asking for

the toys of their dreams. He is believed to enter through the chimney to leave presents under the Christmas

tree.

The Hispanic world knows him as Father Noel, but also call him Santa Claus.

But the image of this character dressed in a red suit, black boots and hat with white tassel is very different

from the figure that really inspired his myth.

In the fourth century, in the region of Lycia (now Turkey), lived a boy named Nicholas. When he was very

young, he was orphaned and inherited a large fortune, which he distributed among the sick and poor. At 19

he became a priest and eventually became bishop. When he died, he was made a saint, becoming San

Nicolas de Bari, and his fame spread throughout Europe. The Netherlands became one of the countries with the greatest admiration for St. Nicholas. The name Santa

Claus was derived from the Dutchman's holy name, Sinter Klass, which is short for Sint Nikolaas.

In 1624, immigrant Dutchmen who founded New Amsterdam (now New York), brought an image of the

saint. In 1809, the writer Washington Irving, in his book History of New York, named Santa Claus as "keeper

of New York", increasing his popularity. In 1822, Clement C. Moore, wrote the Christmas poem A Visit from

Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus became an icon of American culture. In this poem, Santa Claus travels

around the world in a flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, to deliver presents to every house. In 1881, the

cartoonist Thomas Nast drew the first cartoon of Santa Claus and gave him the image we know today; he

added the details of the white border on a red suit, the bag full of toys, the North Pole workshop and his

helpers, the elves. Over the last years of the nineteenth century, Santa Claus became less associated with the customs of a

particular nationality and became the patron saint

of all children in many countries around the world.

Currently, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with

his wife, Mrs. Claus, who runs a toyshop where,

with the help of hundreds of goblins, all gifts are

made that good and obedient children receive for

Christmas. It is said that Santa Claus comes on the

night of December 24, travelling through the sky

with his sleigh. While the children sleep, he comes

down the chimney or through the window and

leaves gifts on the Christmas tree or in the

traditional socks.

Cristina Albertí -


by AIM member Vicky Guile

When we think of a traditional

Christmas lunch many of us recognise

turkey as the synonymous roast bird for

the festive season, prepared with sage

and onion or chestnut stuffing; it’s a

stalwart on many festive lunch menus.

It’s thought that the turkey made its

first appearance in Britain around

1523 when it was brought from the

newly discovered Americas by a

Yorkshire‐man named William

Strickland. On one of his return

voyages to the British Isles Strickland

brought with him six turkeys, which

he went on to sell in Bristol for the

then princely sum of tuppence each.

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In the days before the turkey dominated our Christmas table, goose and duck were also popular choices for this

festive feast and back in medieval times, geese along with swans were the birds of choice but only for the

wealthiest of the nobility. Goose would be

roasted with saffron, an expensive

commodity, and butter to give the finished

roast bird a warm golden glow.

Swans would have their feathers and skin carefully removed by the kitchen staff who would then go on to roast the

prepared bird. After cooking, parts

such as the wings and thighs would

be removed; this meat would be

prepared with herbs and spices and

quite often with other poultry and

game too, then be encased in an

ornate pastry coffin. The remainder

of the roasted swan would be

carefully redressed in its skin and

feathers and placed atop the

finished pie.

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www.artisansinminiature.blogspot.com


Queen Elizabeth I (1522‐1603) ordered that goose be served at Christmas by all throughout England following the

English victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588. Roast goose was the first meal that Elizabeth ate following that

victory and she thought it a fitting tribute to honour the English sailors that had fought so bravely in her name.

Upholding this decree was

problematic for many

citizens as goose was far

beyond their budgets.

Unless you knew of a kindly

goose farmer or had the

facilities to rear your own

geese, you would have to

make do with a more

everyday substitute such as

rabbit.

By the time King George II (1683‐1760) came to the throne, turkey was gaining popularity amongst the upper

classes. King George adored turkey so much that he had a flock of some 3000 birds established at Richmond Park in

Surrey. The Royal party would gather to hunt and shoot the birds on a regular basis, but by the time of King George

II’s reign, controlling the livestock and discouraging poaching had become such a mammoth task that he ordered a

cull of all the turkeys.

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It wasn’t until the 1860s that the turkey was

established as standard livestock on farms across

Europe. In those Victorian times, turkey (and

chicken) were still too expensive to be enjoyed by

all and there was a great north/south divide

concerning Christmas menus. In the north of

England roast beef was now the traditional fayre,

whilst in fashionable London and the south of the

country, goose and duck were still high on the list

of favourites.

The goose and duck would be prepared with

rich stuffing of apples, oranges and plums (or

prunes), the skin rubbed with a mixture of

spices that included cinnamon, allspice, ginger

and cloves, resulting in a heady aroma whilst

cooking that we now associate with the scent of

Christmas.

Turkey and its farming were steadily gaining popularity and by

the turn of the century it was the roast that most people

feasted on at Christmas. With most of the poultry and bird

farms in England based in Norfolk, the farmers would have the

huge task of getting their stock of turkey, ducks and geese from

their farms to market in London. The turkeys, with their feet

clad in tiny specially made leather shoes, would be escorted by

the farmer and his staff on foot for some 80 miles to the capital

while the ducks and geese were quite often transported in cages

on carts. Arriving in London undernourished and more than a

little scrawny the birds would then have spent a couple of

weeks in the lap of luxury being fattened up ready for their

appointments with the chopping block.

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For all in England, turkeys, ducks and geese remained a

costly luxury foodstuff and reserved for special occasions

right up to the 1950s when the introduction of refrigera‐

tion resulted in less expensive birds that could be enjoyed

by all. The widespread eating of turkey over the festive

season has nowadays produced a market that sees some

22 million turkeys sold in the United States over the holi‐

day season alone and it’s possibly

through the phenomenon of the celeb‐

rity TV chef that the demand for the

older tradition of goose and duck is

gaining popularity once again.

In modern society we are probably all

familiar with the wide variety of duck

and goose recipes available today.

One of the most widely known is Pe‐

king Duck, one of the national dishes of

China; it is made from the Pekin duck

which is specially reared and slaughtered when 65 days old. After washing, the skin of the duck is loosened from

the fat underneath, coated in syrup and then hung for at least 24 hours before roasting. It is this separation, drying

and coating of the skin that gives Peking Duck it’s famous crispy golden brown skin.

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Other products that we may be familiar with include Foie Gras – made from the

fattened liver of duck or goose. The birds are fed on an excessive diet of corn, which

causes the liver to enlarge and fatten up. After slaughtering, the liver can be used

whole or in part, as it is, or prepared into a mousse or pate. French cuisine claims foie

gras a delicacy and it is also France that produces over 70% of the world’s foie gras.

Duck and goose fat are also highly prized in many

talented cooks’ kitchens. The fat is rendered from the

excess or melted fat from the birds. Both of these fats

have higher burning temperatures than regular

cooking oils making them perfect for the roasting and

frying of potatoes and other starchy vegetables.

This festive season, before I automatically add yet

another turkey to my

shopping list I shall be

contemplating the other two nominees. Duck with its

crispy skin and delicious dark meat or goose, the

traditional Christmas bird from centuries gone by with an

equally delicious dark meat and the best fat for making

those crispy roast potatoes... I think the goose is going to

be the winner, but there is one question that still

remains...

...Who will get the drumsticks?

All text ©2009 Vicky Guile – NJD Miniatures – www.njdminiatures.com

Photos 1 & 10 ©2009 Sarah Maloney – www.etsy.com/shop/sarahmaloney ‐

www.cdhm.org/user/willow ‐ http://miniature‐dollhouse.blogspot.com

Photo 2 & 3 ©2009 Mags Cassidy – www.mags‐nificent.co.uk – http://mags‐nificentminiatures.blogspot.com

Photos, 4, 6 & 11 ©2009 Philippa Todd ‐ www.toddtoysandminiatures.com

Photos 5, 9 and 14—18 ©2009 Kiva Atkinson – www.kivasminiatures.com – http://kivasminiatures.blogspot.com

Photos 7 & 8 ©2009 Linda Cummings – www.linsminis.com ‐ www.linsminis.etsy.com

Photo 12 ©2009 Daisy Carpi ‐ http://miniaturasdaisy.blogspot.com

Photo 13 ©2009 Linda Master – www.miraclechickenurns.com

Title Photo ©2009 Maria Teresa Espanet – http://terry‐minihouse.blogspot.com

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Charmandean Fair Report By AIM Member Sandra Morris of Diminutive Dolls

It takes a special kind of entrepreneurial spirit to start a new venture in the challenge of a global

recession. The tumultuous financial crises which have beleaguered businesses over the past year

have inevitably had an effect on the miniature world, and specialist shops, artisans and fair

organisers have all experienced the impact in one way or another.

It was in these uncertain times that a new doll’s house fair was launched earlier this year which,

against all the odds, was an immediate success with both collectors and exhibitors alike.

Organised by AIM member Jacqui Sillence and her friend Ginny Walser, (known as Elite Miniature

Fairs) the second Charmandean Fair held in Worthing on Sunday 8 November, was eagerly awaited.

Happily, the initial success of the April fair was repeated and over 40 exhibitors were in place when

the fair opened to welcome the throng of excited enthusiasts who poured into the hall. With over 95% artisan exhibitors, each with a varied selection of hand‐crafted miniatures for sale,

there was a wide variety of miniature items from which to choose, from the wonderful period doll’s

houses of Trigger Pond, to the exquisite furniture of Beith Miniatures. Other top rank artisans

included Annie Willis of Fine Designs with her amazing birds and animals and Ellie de Lacy with her

incredibly detailed paintings.

AIM members were out in force, and many visitors commented on the variety and quality of the

exhibitors, many rarely seen outside the major fairs, which lifted the Charmandean Fair well above

the run‐of‐the‐mill miniatures fair.

In addition to the fair in the main hall, there were also displays by the Southdown Miniaturists Dolls

House Club and the Chichester & District Dolls House Club in the adjacent Lounge area. Another

innovative idea was a morning workshop, also held in the Lounge, where Tanya from Thimbleberry

Cottage taught students how to make a beautiful traditional 1/12 scale cane picnic hamper.

The venue itself is fully accessible, with excellent facilities and free parking.

Elite Miniature Fairs will be introducing two new fairs in 2010, in Midhurst and Crayford, as well as

continuing to build on the success of the Worthing fair. 2010 dates for the Charmandean Fair are 4th

April and 7th November.

For full details of all fairs visit www.eliteminiaturefairs.weebly.com

Sandra...

CHRISTMAS

FLORAL

TRADITIONS

A Brief Introduction… By AIM Member, Kathryn Gray

It was during the Tudor period that celebrations in the mid‐winter first came to prominence, prior to this

most of the rituals involved the oak tree and mistletoe. An oak tree was cut down and used to heat and

light the home during the festivities, it was always lit from a piece of the oak saved from the year before as

this was considered to be lucky. As mistletoe grows on oak trees it was considered to give protection to

the oak and therefore give protection to any home it was placed in – it was also a love symbol – the mistle‐

toe was placed over a door and anyone coming in out out was asked for a kiss – after each kiss a mistletoe

berry was removed – the bough became bare very quickly !!!

The Tudors liked lots of gaiety and fun and Christmas celebrations were really loved as they came at the

hardest, coldest period of the year – the larger houses were filled with lots of greenery especially pine,

which must have made the great halls very sweet

smelling.

The Georgians really only celebrated the religious

traditions of the Christmas period and their homes

were largely undecorated maybe just a small amount

of ivy placed on the main dining table, by and large

the tradition for mistletoe died out during this

period, only to be resurrected by the Victorians.

Christmas traditions as we know them really started

in the Victorian era, the Victorians really loved deco‐

rating their homes with evergreen boughs even the

modest of homes were decorated. The Victorians like

to go to town with their decorations and every door,

fireplace, mirror, staircases and picture frames were

decorated with branches of pine, fir, holly, box and

laurel. In the larger households flowers were forced

Wreath by Mags Cassidy of www.mags-nificent.co.uk

© Catherine Davies

© Mags Cassidy

Snowdrops by Catherine Davies of

www.dollshouseheaven.co.uk


into flowering by the head gardener and were replaced daily so that they always looked fresh. Flowers

used were, camellias, poinsettias, gardenias, hyacinths, snowdrops and other spring bulb flowers.

Forced flowers would be orchids, lilies and roses and because they were so rare at that time of year,

they would be placed in prominent positions in the home as a status symbol.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, at the start of the Edwardian period, it became fashionable

to intersperse the fresh greenery with dried flowers, this fashion meant that long ropes of greenery

were formed – the greenery bound by sisal or wire to a long rope and decorated with cones and dried

flowers, which were formed into swags and used as over mantle decorations. Wreaths were formed by

wiring bunches of pine, holly and fir into a round, on damp moss and then flowers were pushed into the

moss, this made them easy to remove when they were wilted and replace with fresh ones.

It is commonly thought that Prince Albert – Queen Victoria's husband introduced the fashion of

decorated Christmas

trees into the UK,

however it was Queen

Victoria's grandmother

that brought the first one

into any of the royal

palaces, Prince Albert

loved the tradition so

much and that it was he

who popularized them

and they became

fashionable in many

homes throughout this

period. ‐ decorations for

the trees often consisted

of patriotic flags, beads,

nuts and sweets plus lit

candles.

Kathryn Gray Templewood Miniatures

© Kathryn Gray

www.templewoodminiatures.co.uk

Poinsettia by Emma & Neil Martinot of www.parisminiatures.com

© Paris Miniatures


This month AIM member Barbara Brear from South Africa, shows us her workroom.

I have never understood anyone who suffered from ‘empty nest syndrome’. When my beloved daughter

first left home to go to America as a Rotary Exchange Student, I waved her goodbye at the airport, drove

home, walked into the house and down the passage and started stripping her room. I had to PAY someone

to get off all the boy pictures that she had stapled to the pine ceiling!

I then had a multitude of plugs installed along two walls, put in a tiled floor and wallpapered the room.



The colour scheme was inspired by a card that some long‐forgotten

miniaturist had sent me to enclose her cheque. I loved the colours

and the peaceful but warm ambience of the old building featured

on the card. I had carefully stored the card and now had it framed

to be the anchor point for my colour‐scheme.

The other pictures on the walls are my IGMA certificates and some

cartoons featuring yours truly.

Two worktables and a filing cabinet and I was all set. As you can see

the filing cabinet (which stores all my paperwork) is also the display

corner for the project I made with Noel and Pat Thomas at Guild

School in 2006. Migs, my cat, of course

thinks it is made for her.

Her other favourite spot, because it is

under the warm light, is right in the middle

of my cutting mat. Fortunately I can still

work on the tiny corner that she leaves

me. It is just as well my miniature books

are small!


Although I closed the blinds for the photographs, if I look up from my workbench there is a beautiful view of

the Helderberg mountain which is always

inspiring.

There are two specialist pieces of equipment

that I need to make my miniature books. The

first is this beautiful old book press that I

bought from an antique shop, but because of

the weight it cost me more to get it home

than to buy it!

The other fairly recent acquisition was a set of

tools made in England (where else) that are

specially made for miniature book tooling.

Here you can see a selection of them resting

on the hot plate that is

used to heat the tools

before embossing the

patterns onto the leather

covers.

My dollshouse has its own workbench on the right hand

wall and I often sit in the darkened room with only the

dollshouse lights on. Sheer magic.

I am very lucky to have my own space in which to create

my miniature books. But don’t worry – my daughter,

although she now lives and works in London, is always

welcome to come home and it takes only an hour to turn

the workroom back into her bedroom.

A bunch of flowers and fresh linen and we are all set. The dollshouse, however, STAYS!

Barbara Brear in South Africa Why not take a closer look at the beautiful miniatures that Barbara creates

by visiting her website: www.bbminiatures.homestead.com

© Barbara Brear ‐ All text & photos belong to the author. Artisans In Miniature 59


As some of you will know, I am a dummy board fanatic and paint tiny 1/12th versions of the larger historic

ones for display in your dollshouse.!

These are ( for those that haven’t come across my previous articles on AIM ) usually life ‐sized or slightly

smaller, cut out paintings on wood in the style known as trompe l'oeil ( which means deceiving the eye ) in

the form of people, animals and inanimate objects. They were designed, and placed in the right light

conditions, to fool you into thinking they were the real thing and since their invention in the late 17th

century, they have been doing a very good job of doing just that.

They went on being made right up until the 20th century when photography rather killed them off. That and

the fact that houses got lighter and friendlier and it was more difficult to achieve that kind of deception in

the modern home.

Some were made for very specific purposes. My spies (well that is what I call them.... other dummy board

fanciers scattered all over the world, who scour the museums, private collections and junk shops here, there

and everywhere to find examples of this fascinating and little known art form) have done it again!

Just in time for Christmas, one of my French connections...(ahem!) has found in a Brocante in the Paris area

of France, the most beautiful 19th century life sized dummy board Christmas Tree in fabulous condition and

has sent me a photo of it.

It’s five feet tall including the base, probably English, painted in oils on pine and shows all the sorts of

bibelots and playthings one might imagine adorning the Victorian Christmas Tree. Of course these sorts of

decorations are becoming popular again with reproductions found out there in shops such as PastTimes.

Here we can see waxed cones in gaudy colours, baskets with celluloid fruits, angels made of spun glass with

tiny brass trumpets and tin drums (In fact I am the proud owner of an 19th century original painted tin drum

and watering can handed down through the family. Here too are fragile glass baubles often lined with real

mercury (a nasty 19th century health and safety problem!) as are the LIT candles. There are gingerbread

houses, paper flags, mirrored lanterns and wooden hearts. Of course... not a glimmer of garish modern tinsel

anywhere, but the soft sheen of old hand‐ cut and

stuck tin ‐foil tinsel, much less gaudy to look at. In

fact, the tree itself is a false one...oh yes...even back

then, they had fake ones.

“ OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE...” By AIM Member, Sue Newstead

It would have been made of green dyed feathers....as was my Grandfather’s family tree where reposed the

tin drum and watering can and many other lovely pieces which I am lucky enough to be able to get out each

year and carefully‐ very carefully, put onto my own tree. Some of them are over 150 years old and it’s a

scary job I can tell you!

The toys themselves are strange to us too. Not a Nintendo or IPod in sight.... elephants on wheels, tin

soldiers and wax dolls. Tin trumpets and horns sit at the base of the tree and a book printed in a few muted

colours‐ all terribly educational of course, on which leans a Punch figure with his characteristic hump and

nobbly nose.

Now we must ask why was

something like a dummy board

Christmas tree made when it’s

much more fun to have a real tree

with real decorations?

It’s very likely that it was made as

an advert. Today we can see just

such things in our High Street

shops; photographic dummy

boards advertising everything from

mobile phones to cough medicines.

This tree would have been made at

the end of the 19th century by a

sign painter and may have stood in

the window of a shop to entice you

in. It’s written that just this sort of

thing was often dotted around the

showroom of furniture shops, to

add ambience, to make the place

look like home. Who knows? We

will never really know why

someone went to all the trouble of

creating it. But we are glad they

did. It gives us a peek at another

world....one where it didn’t matter

how long one spent on a

project‐ for it will not have been an

easy or quick subject to paint, even

for a professional. I suspect the

painter had great fun with it.

As have I.

Susanne M. Newstead

www.pastmastery.com © Pastmastery ‐ All text & photograph belong to the author.

This month we are delighted to find out more about talented dollmaker, Mary Williams.

Can you tell us a bit about your life before Miniatures? I was born in Wiltshire and then moved to London in the mid ‘70s to join

the Metropolitan Police. I worked in Kentish Town, Holloway and served on the Special Patrol

Group and was at the Broadwater Farm and several Notting Hill riots when they happened. I

ended up as a Detective on the Fraud Squad and worked at the Serious Fraud Office during

that time. I retired after 30 years service 3 years ago.

As a child, what were your favourite toys? My favourite was Sindy. When she first came out I was given one for Christmas; I had a red‐

head and my sister had a blonde. I still have her and some of her clothes. I had an aunt who

made me loads of fabulous clothes for her. I used to save my pocket money and go and buy

her a new outfit every couple of months which was a real treat.

What attracted you to miniatures in the first place? Well to start with, I thought it was something that didn’t take up much room. How wrong I

was about that! I’ve always loved small things; I have a cabinet full of cut‐glass antique salts,

which are small but incredibly detailed. I’ve always loved things that are small but beautifully

made.

What was your first purchase? My first purchase was a doll kit. A friend dragged me along to a Dollshouse Show and I had no

interest whatsoever until I saw the dolls.

What miniature item do you most covet? Teresa Yu’s doll collection and display, doll heaven!

pleased to meet you!


Who do you most admire in the miniature world? I think it would have to be Marcia Backstrom, I just love the faces of her dolls they have such

character and I would love to be able to paint the way she does. Marcia is a lovely lady too

and very helpful with hints on how to paint.

What made you decide to specialise in dolls? I’ve always loved costume and design ‐‐ I almost studied to become an Art teacher. I

haunted the Museum of Costume near Bath as a youngster, and my idea of heaven is a day

out at the Victoria and Albert Museum costume section. I suddenly realised this was a way

of making one of my passions come to life but in a small way.

Have you had any unusual commissions? Well I’ve had to make several boudoir ladies for a couple of gentlemen collectors but nothing

that unusual really.

Do you have any hobbies unrelated to miniatures? Gardening and cross‐stitch are my other hobbies although I rarely get the time for

cross‐ stitch these days. I have made quite a few of the Lavender and Lace series, ladies in

costume of course!

Any phobias? Cockroaches! They are the most disgusting, revolting

things in the world. Whenever we go abroad, the first

thing I do is go to the supermarket and buy a tin of

Cockroach spray just in case I see one. I hardly ever do

but just in case I have to have my spray!

Fantasies? I would have loved to have lived in Edwardian times

and been able to afford to buy all my outfits from

Charles Frederick Worth. He was the most amazing

designer. I would love to go to the Metropolitan Mu‐

seum of Art in New York and see their collection of his

costumes one day.

You can see some of Mary’s beautiful dolls on her website: www.dollshousedolls.co.uk Artisans In Miniature 63


Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...


By AIM Member Vicky Guile

Snowman Soup... A fun and delicious way to present hot

chocolate, with added chocolate buttons for extra creaminess,

mini marshmallows for fluffiness and candy cane for a minty

twist on the traditional chocolatey flavour that we all love.

To make a miniature version of Snowman Soup you will need:

A miniature ceramic cup or mug.

Polymer clay in brown, white, red and translucent.

Liquid polymer clay.

Ceramic tile for mixing and baking on.

Ice lolly stick for blending clay.

Craft knife.

Step 1: Condition a small amount of brown polymer clay and press inside your

miniature cup or mug, avoiding gaps, until the cup is 2/3 full.

Step 2: Mix a small amount of the

conditioned brown clay

with liquid clay until a

smooth consistency is

achieved. Use this brown

liquid mixture to top up

the mug to the

desired height.

Step3: Condition a small amount of white clay and red clay

separately. Roll each amount into a long thin log. Place

the red and white log next to each other and pinch one end

together. Twist the two logs together along the length so

that they spiral around each other then roll with your

fingertips until the two logs form a smooth candy striped

log.



Step 4: Cut the log into lengths, for whole candy canes – 15mm long and

a couple of shorter lengths which we will use for the candy canes

in the mugs. Gently bend and curve over one end of each length

to make the crook shaped cane. Place the whole canes onto

your ceramic tile ready for baking.

Step 5: Taking one of the

shorter canes, measure it roughly against the side of the mug and trim

the end so that only a short piece will be dipping into the liquid clay.

Place this shorter cane so that it hangs over the side of the mug.

Step 6: Mix a small amount of

white and red clay

together to make light pink, add the same quantity again of

translucent clay and mix until a uniform colour. Roll into a log

approximately 1.5mm diameter and cut into 1.5mm segments. Do

the same again but this time with white and translucent clay only.

Place a couple of the ‘marshmallow’ clay pieces into each mug so

that they look as if they are floating on top of the chocolate

mixture.

Step 7: It’s not necessary to make the chocolate buttons unless

you would like them for extra decoration but to make

chocolate buttons roll out some of the chocolate clay

that we used to fill the bottom of the cup or mug into a

log approximately 1.5mm diameter and cut into slices

less than 1mm wide. Roll each slice into a ball and

press down onto a ceramic tile with your fingertip, this

will create the classic chocolate button shape.

Place your filled mug, candy canes, extra marshmallows onto the ceramic tile along with the chocolate buttons and

bake in a preheated oven as per the polymer clay packet instructions. Let your dolls house inhabitants enjoy on

cold winter evenings!

All text and photos ©2009 Vicky Guile – NJD Miniatures – www.njdminiatures.blogspot.com


Well, happened to…

A Miniature Artisan

Off with her head… We have some interesting ‘conversations’ on the AIM forum …members are all generous with tips and ad‐

vice to each other, and every now and again a question sparks a bit of a discussion… sometimes we have

such a chuckle!

Barbara Davies is a doll‐maker; the question she asked, was ‐ ‘if your head was being chopped off ‐ would

the neck still be attached?’... Clearly, these kind of questions are run of the mill for miniaturists… where else

would you find concerns for the aesthetics of the severed neck!! We had a bit of a think, gave a few

opinions, on the basis that Barbara was probably making one of Henry VIII wives and not planning murder,

and had a good giggle… A few days later she came back with the following…

I was sitting making nice even cuts on the neck, and all of a sudden I saw spots of blood on the part I had

cut. A shudder went down my spine, but guess what ‐ when I looked I had cut my little finger!

What’s the percentage of that happening?’

Really… Babs, that is taking authenticity a little too far!

If you’d like to get in touch with Barbara, and see what other characters she is making, you can contact her

on: [email protected]

AIM Member Hazel Dowd is a doll-maker too, and tells a couple of amusing stories from Dolls

House Fairs. So, when you've had a chuckle – do go to Hazel's website and see her wonderful dolls.

I once had a customer ask me how much the flowers were on my stand?

I knew I had no flowers to sell so looked at her, and she pointed to some flowers I had decorating my

stand!!!! Due to it being a slow fair I promptly gave her a price and she bought them!

Another time I had a lady pick out all the 'red' ribbons.

I asked if she was making roses and she picked up her little Yorkie dog and pointed to the ribbon saying her

doggy kept losing them… she bought the lot… www.hazel-dowd.co.uk

Sadly, you can't please all customers, although we do try....this from Carol Smith......... I had a lady ask me if I had any fireplaces. I said that, no I only make food related items and witch/wizard

stuff.

She said 'yes, but do you have any fireplaces?'

I didn't know what else to say!

Carol has really been in the wars too... No matter how I try and be organized before Miniatura I can guarantee that I end up neglecting housework

and getting into such a mess.

A few days ago I decided I really should tackle two jobs specifically. One was to sort out and clean my

freestanding larder unit in my kitchen as it had got to the stage where, when I opened the top door, loads of

stuff fell out. The other was to clear my kitchen table.

I emptied the lot and wondered how had I managed to fit so much in. I was regretting having started but was

determined to carry on until I had finished. It got to 6.30pm and all I had to do was clean the top of the unit .

The table would clearly have to wait. I picked up odd items including the packaging for my razor saw.

Looking forward to a cup of tea and something to eat I got the steps and climbed up to clean the top of the

larder unit. .I am 5'1 and struggled to reach the far corner of the unit. The next thing I knew the steps

wobbled and I had nothing to hold onto when I fell. I fell into the non sturdy kitchen table knocking it over.

Not only that, but my razor saw was sticking out of the bottom drawer of the portable drawers I have next to

my table (why had I not put it into the packaging I had in my hand earlier?!) It sliced straight into my leg.

The table had been piled with goodness knows how much stuff including what seemed to be thousands of

tiny beads and a huge amount of poppy seeds which I had promised people for their gardens for next year.

I have a cord carpet in my kitchen which is not easy to vacuum.

I finally picked up and vacuumed the worst of it by 11pm.The cut from the razor saw took two days to stop

bleeding.

This was how not to clear a table of mini related stuff!

....that does sound VERY painful… but check out the fabulous food Carol makes... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6590817

Lydia Murphy, creates wonderful crochet in miniature… recently she's had a truly special treat!!

Last year we were having lunch with a friend out of town...we've known about each other for years but never

really got to KNOW each other...in chatting over Chinese food it turns out her husband (they're in their late

60's) has an aunt that lived next door to Den, and Den never knew they were related...then it turns out one of

her closest friends is my daughter's mother‐in‐law… and to top it all off, when she found out I loved minis and

designed crochet she nearly choked on her egg roll… she's a miniature lover and mini maker herself ‐ what a

SMALL world.

So we drove to the next town and spent a lovely afternoon ‐ the guys talking and Pam and I looking at her

yard sale ‐ Lundby and other house renovations ‐ plus some of the wooden furniture, she enjoys making

using nothing but an xacto knife, coping saw and very fine sandpaper, for the most part.

Over the past year we've gotten together whenever they come to town for supplies (they live

100 miles down the road and Kingston is the biggest place close enough) ‐ I've added to her

mini stash with extra books, patterns, findings, fancy papers, wood and many of the

duplicate accessories that I had from a Pierce dollhouse yard sale find, plus some of my

mini crochet and we both felt like kindred spirits ‐ each understands the other and loves

minis. Artisans In Miniature 67


Well, in September she called and said they were coming to town with a belated 40th anniversary gift ‐ a

little something for me she had made...when they arrived she was carrying her mint green shoebox that

she always transports little things in, for me to see what she's been up to. And inside were a number of

wooden furniture pieces she had made for her Lundby ($25.00 yard sale price btw) and a memory trunk

for me.

I was touched, amazed and thrilled with how perfect it was, including a leather catch that snaps closed

over 2/3 of a metal snap fastner she had snipped smaller… and tiny brass hinges and tiny leather handles

on the side. Then my heart stopped when I opened it. Not only did it contain a lift out insert like the old

fashioned trunks, but nestled in the insert was an album titled Memories, handmade and filled with

photographs selected from the memory book from our 40th anniversary. Unbeknownst to me she had

called our daughter Barb and asked her to pick a few dozen special ones and reduce them to about

3/4 inch square, print them and mail them to her…

Below you can see the results.

This last picture is my favorite and I'm so happy she included it. Rocking my little girl to sleep at night. She

is now 36, married and living next door, but it's one of the sweetest memories I'll ever have.

Lydia - Website: http://home.cogeco.ca/~minicrochet/miniaturecrochet/

Many thanks to the AIM Members who have shared these anecdotes – the photographs used, and the

text, remain the Copyright of the individuals mentioned.

Very many thanks also, to all the AIM Members who have shared their amusing, and sometimes startling or personal, anecdotes with everyone, this last year -

A Very Happy Christmas and Bright New Year to you, and all our readers.

Robin Britton.

When we talk about Christmas preparations we might want

to highlight a difference between urban and countryside

feasts.

Christmas is about beautiful lights and fancy fairs in the

towns, but it is about peace and faith in the countryside.

20‐30 years ago the winters were much colder, usually we

had ‐20 Celsius (‐4 F) and tonnes of snow; snow covered

the meadows, the streets, the roofs, the trees hardly could

bear the weight of the frozen snow. The kitchens were

filled with spicy flavours; every housewife baked

gingerbread and a traditional Hungarian

Christmas sweet, the "beigli" and

prepared mulled wine for the guests and

visitors. The "beigli" is

the same to Hungarians as the Christmas

pudding is to the

Brits.

There's no Christmas dinner without it. The beigli is actually a rolled

pastry filled with poppy seed, nuts or chestnut cream, greased with

egg or milk and baked well in the oven.

Hungarian Hungarian Hungarian Christmas Christmas Christmas TraditionsTraditionsTraditions By AIM Member Orsolya Skultéti


In the countryside, pig

slaughters usually took

place before Christmas

because of two reasons:

the families could

produce enough meat

for the feast and the

weather was cold

enough to preserve the

meat until spring.

The Christmas feast always contains fresh roasted meat, roast

sausage, black pudding and stuffed cabbage, which means white

cabbage leaves filled with a mixture of minced meat, rice and

spices (garlic, paprika, salt and pepper), cooked with sauerkraut

and served with sour cream and fresh bread. Women baked milk

loaf, "beigli" and

gingerbread, and the

family ate apples and

grapes.

A good housewife

could preserve the

grapes in the cellar

until Christmas. The

sugar accumulated in

the grapes and the

fruit was sweeter

than honey. Artisans In Miniature 70

Urban Christmas starts in October, and festive decorations

appear in the shop windows around that time. Later in

November, Christmas lights begin to appear on the trees of

larger streets and Advent fairs open their gates. Budapest's

biggest Advent fair is located down‐town, at the city's most

famous square, Vörösmarty place, where the world‐famous Cafe

Gerbeaud is located. Only traditional craftsmen can participate

in the fair as dealers, while visitors drink mulled wine and taste

traditional Hungarian dishes. The Cafe Gerbeaud's windows

serve as the biggest Advent Calendar of Hungary: 24 Hungarian

artists create paintings, which are hidden behind the red covers.

Every day at 5 p.m. an

orchestra starts to play

and a new window

opens to reveal a

painting.

The Christmas dinner can

vary in the different

parts of the country, but

it is usually made of fish

or goose. The menu

comprises a hot soup

made of goose, a roasted

goose garnished with red

cabbage and potato with parsley.

Potato with parsley.

One of the easiest and most popular garnishes (serves 4)

You will need 1.8kg potatoes (suitable for cooking), water,

salt and parsley. Peel the potatoes, cut them into cubes (1

inch x 1 inch size) and cook well in salty water. Chop the

parsley leaves. Pick out the potatoes from the water and

put them into the baking pan, which was used to roast the

meat, so that a little grease left in it would add flavour to

them. Add the chopped parsley, stir it well with a wooden

spoon and put it into the preheated oven for 10 minutes

(150 C will be suitable). Artisans In Miniature 71

The main courses are followed by delicious sweets; the beigli

is part of the urban dinner too, together with different linzers,

petit fours and gerbeaud. Beside the petit fours, fancy cakes

have become very popular as well.

We can eat a tasty home‐made cake, like the marzipan

covered pinetree‐shaped rum cake, or buy an amazing festive

cake in a confectioner’s. Whether bought or home‐made

cake, the most important thing is that the families come

together on this heart‐warming feast.

Here is the easy recipe of the black and white

linzer, it is really worth a try.

Mix together the flour with the egg yolks, the sugar, the vanilla,

the baking powder and a pinch of salt. Separate approximately

200 grams of the mixture and add the grated bitter chocolate

and the cocoa to it. Put the pastries into plastic foil and let them

rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Take first the half of the white pastry and stretch it to 5 inches

wide. Stretch the other part of the white and the cocoa pastries

to 2 inch wide and 1/2 inch thick. Cut them into four strings (1

inch wide each). Brush your 5 inches wide white pastry with egg white, lay a white string on it, then a brown one

next to it, then a white again in a row. Start the next row with a cocoa string, continue with a white and then cocoa

again. Repeat it 3 more times, so finally you will get 5 rows, which will be similar to a chess plate. Fold it with the 5

inches wide pastry, cover it with plastic foil and put the roll into the fridge for an hour. (You can leave it there for a

night too.) Slice it into 1/4 inch thick slices, lay them onto a baking plate and bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven

(at 180 Celsius). If you keep them in a metal box, it will be fresh and edible for a month.

Orsolya Skultéti IGMA Artisan, AIM and CDHM member, lives in Budapest, Hungary.

Email:

[email protected]

www.picturetrail.com\sorsika

www.bbminiatures.uw.hu

All photos and text in this item

© Orsolya Skultéti 2009


A Dickensian Christmas…

‘AIM Gallery’

In the miniature world inspiration can come from many places and at this time of year Charles Dickens’ seasonal tale ‘A Christmas Carol’ is much loved and read by all. AIM’s doll artisans have certainly found the pen of Dickens to be particularly inspiring. So why not join us in this month’s gallery, as we wander back through time and meet many of the much loved characters, made famous in Charles Dickens’ classic tales…

Artisans In Miniature 75 Marley visits Scrooge by Julie Campbell.

Scrooge by Nancy Cronin.

“Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.” - A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens...


Tiny Tim & Bob Cratchett

by Julie Campbell.


Fagin by Julie Campbell.

“Surprises like misfortunes, seldom come alone.” - Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens...



“Why, it’s Nancy!’ exclaimed Oliver; who now saw her face for the first time...” - (Oliver) Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens.

Nancy by Debie Lyons.

Photo 10… Snow Queen (Beatrice Thierus) Artisans In Miniature 77

The Arful Dodger

by

Robin Britton

Dickens’ Boy & Fagin. by Robin Britton

“What has become of the boy? Speak up!”

- (Fagin) Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens...

Oliver & Fagin By Annemarie Kwikkel-Smit

“You’d like to make pocket handkerchiefs as easily as the Artful Dodger,

wouldn’t you my dear?.” - (Fagin) Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens...


Bill Sikes by Julie Campbell.

Thank you to all the AIM members who allowed their stunning characters

to be featured in this gallery.

To view more of these doll artisan’s beautiful work, why not visit their respective websites.

Nancy Cronin of Nancy Cronin Dolls - http://creativedoll.blogspot.com/2008/03/remarkable-characters-of-nancy-cronin.html

Julie Campbell of Bellabelle Dolls - www.bellabelledolls.co.uk

Debie Lyons of Piskies & Poppets - www.piskiesandpoppets.com

Robin Britton of Coombe Crafts - www.coombecrafts.co.uk

Annemarie Kwikkel-Smit of By Annemarie Dolls - www.annemariedolls.com

Elisa Fenoglio - www.elisafenoglio.it

All photographic © belongs to the individual artisans listed above.

“Fair or not fair, give it ‘ere you avaricious old skeleton.”

- (Bill Sikes) Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens...

Dickensian Lady By

Elisa Fenoglio

TÇà|Öâx 9 i|Çàtzx VÉÜÇxÜ By AIM Member, Celia Thomas

1930s German Wagner Dolls House

This month, do have a peek at a truly lovely little vintage dolls house that has just been sold and is now

residing in the States. The exterior particularly, evokes pure nostalgia and this is quite a rare model that

does not come along very often.

The dolls house that you can see here is a German

Wagner Dolls House, made in the early 1930s.

D.H.Wagner & Sohn had been trading in the toy

market for many years already by the 1930s; by the

mid 1930s they started to import dolls houses and

other toys such as forts, into England via a London

company called Messrs. Fred H Allen Ltd. The

Wagner dolls house featured in this article is an

earlier 1930s model with thick cut card windows.

Other models of Wagner houses had lithographed

windows; some of the later models had opening

metal windows not unlike the Tri‐ang metal

windows, along with card or simple plastic sheet

windows.

All of the exterior on this old house is in original

condition and retains its gorgeous muted colours,

which is remarkable seeing that it is at least 70

years old and been kept up in a loft for years. Much

of the original interior is still present too.

Refreshingly there was no sign of woodworm or

damp, two common problems with vintage houses,

particularly those that have been stored away in a

loft for decades.

This all‐wooden dolls house was built in a fairly

traditional 1930s style, with slight European

connotations. The latticed panel windows are fully

intact and even the original curtain material is still

in place, albeit a little moth eaten! The exterior

detail has either been hand painted or stencilled

on. If you look at the front door, classic stencilled

details can be seen quite clearly, which although

quite crude are still effective. The garage door

opens fully, the garage roof has a textured finish

and there is definitely plenty of room to park the miniature family

motor car in there!

Access to the interior is gained via one large door at the front that

opens out to reveal four rooms. Three of the rooms have original

1930s wallpaper and flooring papers. Note the bright colours and

designs which are very typical of the Wagner style and so very

1930s. Sadly on this model, a previous owner at some point, had

decided to have a go at interior decorating in the bathroom....and

painted it bright yellow! But it would not take much to redecorate

this room with matt emulsion or acrylic paints. As you can see in

this case, there was nothing to salvage in the bathroom so it could

be decorated without any fear of devaluing this old treasure. **

(See “Did you know” at the end of this feature).

This house is petite and suitable for the smaller 1/16th scale

furniture or even 1/24th scale. I have seen furniture in both of

these scales in Wagner dolls houses, and both look equally quite

at home. The downstairs ceiling height measures 5 1/4" (13.5cm)

and the upstairs ceiling height measures 4 1/2" (11cm) so as you

can see, it is quite tiny. Overall Measurements ‐ 21" (53.5cm) wide

x 8" (20.3cm) deep x 16 1/2" (42cm) high to top of chimneys

approx.

I just love the exterior of this house, as it is extremely attractive

and gorgeously nostalgic in appearance. The little upper bay

window of the bedroom and the stencilled brickwork around the

base are just lovely finishing touches that help to make this

Wagner house very special. This particular model is quite rare and

I was quite sad to see it depart but know it will be much cherished

in its new home over “the pond”!

**Did you know ....that a vintage dolls house is worth far more with all original decor and paintwork present,

(even if it is badly flaking and half hanging off), than if all original tatty decor was removed and replaced with

more modern reproduction wallpaper/paints? I would always advise

customers never to redecorate their vintage dolls house unless there is

hardly any or no trace of the original present and even then I would

strongly recommend redecorating cautiously, sympathetically and in

keeping with the style of the house. Otherwise, the value of the antique

house could be drastically affected and not in a positive way!

See www.ktminiatures.com for a selection of antique and vintage

dolls houses that are currently for sale plus details on how to buy Celia

Thomas’ newly released book “The Tale of Winsford House” which is

about a very special 1930s dolls house indeed (includes tips on renovating

old dolls houses).

I would just like to wish all the AIM magazine readers a very Happy

Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Thank you for your fascinating

emails and comments you have sent me concerning topics in this column

over the past year, it has been lovely to hear from you.

Celia Thomas © KT Miniatures ‐ All text & photograph belong to the author.


By AIM Member Cheryl Clingen MDM

Here is a project for everyone, young, old and everyone in‐

between. This little teddy, created from pom‐poms, makes a great

stocking filler.

What you need

Strip of polystyrene / Styrofoam to pin the Teddy to <shame, poor

Teddy>

3 sizes of pom‐poms, colour of your choice .

Large black bead for the nose.

Two no‐hole beads for eyes.

Circles punched from coloured lightweight card (for ears and pads

on feet.)

Smaller punched circles (in a darker colour for ear definition.)

Pins

Tacky glue, white glue, craft glue or fabric glue. Your choice.

Tweezers for applying little itti‐bits.

Scissors

Body ‐ 1. Place a bit of glue on the large pom‐pom (body) and attach the head. Push a

pin through the head and body and press down tightly into the polystyrene /

Styrofoam for a firm attachment. Allow to dry.

2. Glue legs into place, and again, press with a firm pin‐hold (sounds like a wrestling

match..LOL) . Allow to dry. Meanwhile prepare the snout.

Snout ‐ 3. Take a medium size pom‐pom and cut in half with scissors. Half of it will no

doubt crumble away, but not to worry, you need the half that is still held together by

the glue centre. Trim this snout piece to the right size then glue it in place on the

head. Press hard with your finger to flatten it out shaping at the same time, pin it and

let dry.

Ears ‐ 4. Glue the small punched card dot to the center of the larger, lighter one. Once

dried, cut carefully down the centre. Curve each ear inwards slightly and glue into

place on the head. Now you can go ahead and glue the pads onto the ends of the feet

and glue the nose and eyes into place. From here on you can dress him/her up as you

wish. I chose a tiny silk bow with a “sequin hole” for some

sparkle, and seeing as it’s the Christmas season, I jollied

him up with a red Christmas hat (see main photograph). A

little gathered lace around the neck looks very cute too!

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you have a happy holiday filled with mini‐fun and

MEGA love and happiness!

Photos and Text ©2009 Cheryl Clingen ‐ www.minidollsfromafrica.com



Compiled By AIM Member, Margaret Pitts (MiniMilliner)

I expect you have all caught the Christmas Celebrations bug by now (and avoided all the nasty flu-type ones I hope!) and are getting into the swing of all things festive. There are so many creative aspects to the season, but I thought we would start with a little project that I’m sure you will love…..and it’s very easy Are you familiar with Christingles? Take a look at the picture and you’ll see what I mean.

The first Christingle was made by a Moravian Bishop in Germany more than 260 years ago when he was telling small children about Jesus. He used an orange to symbolize the world; he tied a red ribbon round it

to show how Jesus’ love stretches right round the world. Next, he stuck four small sticks into the orange to represent the four Seasons. Onto these sticks he put dried fruits, nuts and sweets --- these were the fruits of the earth, God’s gifts to us all. Lastly, he pushed a candle into the centre of the orange, lit it and held it up to show the children that Jesus is the Light of the World.

For the last 50 years, children in England, as well as other countries, have made Christingles to light at services held on the Sunday before Christmas. They look truly magical when they shine in the darkness and light up the faces of the children holding them. Here, you can make both a real Christingle from an orange and a miniature one for your dollshouse or Xmas scene.


For the miniature one, you will need:

Orange Fimo (and whatever colours you wish to make the ‘fruits’ and ‘sweets’ from – I used red, brown and white or cream)

Narrow strip of red paper or foil Fine wire

Miniature candle

Step 1...Take a small piece of the orange Fimo and soften it in your

hands. Now roll it into a small ball, the size you want your miniature orange to be. Remember, in real life oranges vary a lot in size, so you decide when it looks right. Press lightly on the top so that it will have a flat base to stop it from rolling away. Now take your candle and make a hole with it in the top of the orange, but remove it again at this stage or it will melt when you cook the Fimo. Step 2… If you look at a real orange, it has quite a dimply skin. You can make your miniature orange like this by either rolling it gently on very coarse sandpaper; or use an old toothbrush and dab the bristles up and down (don’t pull the brush over the surface) to make tiny marks.

Step 3... Wash your hands before you handle any of the other Fimo colours, es-pecially cream or white. Now decide what ‘fruits’ and ‘sweets’ you want to put on the four sticks (wires). I made cherries from red Fimo (just roll tiny red balls), raisins (brown Fimo rolled into slightly elongated shapes) and sweets from cream or white Fimo pressed into squares or oblongs. You can of course use other colours to make other things for the sticks, but three items is enough for each stick. Just remember to make four of each thing.


Materials needed...

Instructions...


Step 4… Cut four pieces of very thin wire, each about 1cm long. Slide one of each thing down the stick, leaving enough wire to poke into the orange. It looks good if you finish with a cherry on the top of each wire. Now space out the wires round the orange (near the top) and carefully push them in at an angle.

Step 5… Ask an adult to bake the orange for you.

Step 6… When it has cooled, you can glue a strip of red paper (I used a narrow strip of red shiny foil) round the middle of the orange, then glue the candle in the top. I gave mine a coat of matt varnish, but this isn’t necessary.

If you want to make a real size one too, use cocktail sticks, dried fruit, glace cherries, soft sweets (e.g. marshmallows), a birthday candle, red ribbon….and of course a big, juicy orange!

Those ROOM-BOXES!

Last month we launched a great series featuring these three very talented youngsters who, encouraged by their grandma, artisan Debbe Mize, produced some fantastic room-boxes. We started off by focusing on Tristan (in the middle) and her “High School Musical” box. This month, her brother Caden, not to be out-done, shows us what a wonderful job

he made of his room-box. Caden is 9yrs old and like his sister, he spends time during the summer vacation with Mimi (the children’s name for their Grandma). Inspired by all the miniatures at Mimi’s house, he loves to make something for himself. This year, he chose a Spiderman theme and decorated his room-box accordingly. When asked what the hardest part was, he said that gluing the wallpaper border on was quite difficult…..I expect it was hard to get it perfectly straight, but here you can see he managed it beautifully:


You can also see that he has installed the carpet, which had to be carefully measured and cut to make it a perfect fit. Caden is a great fan of Spiderman, so had no trouble collecting together all the things he wanted to put in the box. However, what he did find tricky was deciding exactly how to arrange all the things to fit them in. You can see from the following pictures how brilliantly he achieved it. I love the Spiderman bedspread and matching pillows…..even the pillow on the sofa matches!

The next picture (middle right) shows more Spiderman motifs on the rest of the furnishings…..and even a few things scattered around on the floor! I wonder if Caden’s real bedroom looks anything like that!

The final photo (right) shows the finished room-box.

What an achievement! Well done Caden! I asked Caden about school and whether he gets time to make any models there. He attends West Jackson Intermediate School in Braselton GA, where the only craft-type work he does is pottery using clay. His favourite subject is Maths… not an easy subject, Caden, so I guess you are an ‘A’ student too, like your sister! When he grows up, Caden’s ambition is to be a professional footballer.

I’m sure you will be successful at whatever you do Caden… and thanks for letting us see your terrific Spiderman room-box!

We can’t keep Emma waiting, so let’s see what she has been up to!

Emma is Debbe Mize’s youngest granddaughter. She is just six years old, but you wouldn’t believe it if you saw the miniatures she has produced! She is a very talented young lady and here we shall have a peep at the room box she made.

When I asked her what theme she had chosen for her box and why, here’s what she said:

“Disney Princess -- it is my favourite thing & I am a princess, too!”

Here she describes how she started:

“I measured with a ruler for the pink carpet & glued the carpet in & then I put my Disney Princess dolls on the shelves. “

“The hardest part I would say, was measuring the carpet & putting the glue on it. The easiest part, I would think, would be gluing my Hannah Montana & princess books on the desk.”

Altogether, it took me about six days to finish the room box.”

The standard of Emma’s work is amazing for her age, so I asked her when she first started making minis.

“I have been watching Mimi a long time making her minis & one day when I was, maybe, 3 she taught me how. I am a great mini artist!”

(We wouldn’t argue with that, Emma!) I have made tiny clowns, flowers & a beautiful girl doll out of clay & pompom animals out of tiny fuzzy balls.”

Emma’s enthusiasm for everything shines through, including school: “I attend Matt Elementary School in Cumming GA & I am in the 1st grade. I make models at school and we have just made a map out of cookie dough & cooked & ate it !”

“My very favourite subject is PE, but art is my next favourite one.”

Emma is already thinking about what minis she would like to make next:

“I'd like to make a little doll with a dog & some more food out of clay and lots more room boxes!” Emma also added this....”.My favourite food to eat is Chocolate cake with chocolate sprinkles and vanilla ice cream! My favourite thing to do is play outside & ride my bike. My favourite animal is Izzy the cat who is my Mimi's little cat. I love to sing & dance and I love my boom box.”

When I grow up, I should like to be a mini teacher, a vet & a Subway sandwich maker! (What a variety Emma! One thing’s for sure, you will never be bored )


Trash to Treasures Have you ever needed a little table, bench or bed-tray …….immediately…., and not had one to hand? Well this need never happen again, because Mini AIMer Sarah and Grandma Leilani have a brilliant idea for making one (or all) of these and all you need is a polystyrene (foam) tray, scissors and glue.

You have probably got something like this in the fridge, with vegetables, fruit or meat in it, and if you ask nicely, you may just be able to have it for this project. (Remember to wash it thoroughly first!!) Step 1. Cut off the edges/sides of the foam tray where the flat part of the foam tray ends but save them, as these will become the feet or sides of your project.

Step 2. Decide how big you want your table top and cut a piece this size from the flat part of the tray. Take one of the edges you cut off earlier and measure two pieces exactly the same size for the sides/legs. You will probably have enough to make two tables, perhaps a small one and a larger one.

Look at the next picture to get the idea:

Step 3. Smooth off all the edges/sides of your three pieces using a pencil carefully so as not to break or dent your pieces, this is just to clean up the sides a little.

Step 4. Glue one leg to each side of your bench with the curved part out.

Trash Treasure

Step 5. If your tray was white, you can paint the whole table with acrylic paint, or use a colour marker. We used felt tip markers to colour these tables and we think they look pretty cool :

Experiment with a piece of foam and see which works better for you, the paint or the markers.

We suggest you make a template/pattern for your tables, maybe from a thick cardboard so you don't have to guess the size next time.

NOTE: Remember you can also make these in any size you want, smaller or larger. It is all up to you!.


Method...

You might like to make a festive Christmas Cake like the one on the table (see previous page). Here’s how:

Materials Plastic bottle-top or foam tube

Fast drying spackle (Polyfilla in the U.K.)

Red ribbon

Red air dry clay (or Fimo etc)

Glitter, tiny beads & other decorations of your choice

Green paper

Toothpick (cocktail stick)

Glue

Step 1. If you are using foam, cut a slice to form the cake circle. Glue it to a circle of card the same size, to make a firm base.

If you use a bottle-top (a cap from a water bottle would be perfect), glue the open edge to a card base as above, so you have the flat top uppermost.

Step 2. Cover the ‘cake’ with spackle or polyfilla, smooth the top and leave it to dry. Then add some more spackle to make the cake look like it has vanilla frosting -- no need to be neat here as we want it to look like frosting would in real life, all fluffy and yummy! .Now add glitter or beads around the sides of the cake before it dries.

Step 3. Cut out holly leaves from the green paper and glue in a pattern on top of the cake

Step 4. Make tiny balls for holly berries using the red clay or Fimo. and glue to the centre of the cake.

If you want to, you can add a touch of glitter to the top of the cake., just dab a little bit of glitter glue here and there with your toothpick and your cake is done!

Here are some more ideas for cake designs...

Christmas Cake Project...

Copyright of text and photos belongs to their authors. Please note – although the projects in this column are for children, adult supervision is recommended at all times.

The authors cannot be held responsible for any accidents arising from these projects.


Don’t forget to arrange it on a plate with a pretty doily…. or to make your own plate, see below!

You will need:

Flattish Buttons

Xmas pictures (tiny)

Glue

Gold pen

Step 1. Choose a button the right size for your cake (it will need to be slightly larger).

Step 2. Cut out a picture of something Christmassy to fit on the button. You could use old Xmas cards, wrapping paper, or a printie from the computer.

Step 3. Glue the picture into the button and use a gold pen to make a fancy edging to the plate.

If you want to make a stack of plates, choose three different sizes of similar buttons, so that you have a large, a medium and a small to make a neat pile.

Copyright of text & photos belongs to Sarah & Leilani

With many thanks to Sarah & Leilani for all their wonderful ideas! Don’t forget to

send us your pictures of anything you make….we should love to see them.

We should like to wish all Mini AIMers a very Merry Christmas and look forward to bringing you more fun things to do in the

New Year!

Easy Button Plates...

The Miniature...

New AIM Members

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the

following new members who have joined AIM in the

past month:

AIM Editorial Team

I am really sad to have to announce that Celia, Robin,

Sandra & Margaret have decided to step down from

the AIM Magazine's editorial team.. They have

collectively and individually given AIM an incredible

and immeasurable amount of their own time and

energy to work on behalf of AIM and its members.

On behalf of AIM members and readers of this

magazine, I would like to thank them all for all

that they have done and for the successes

they worked so hard to help achieve.

CONGRATULATIONS...

To AIM Members – both

Artisan Doll‐makers ‐ Julie Campbell,

and Tiggy Goldsmith who have been

awarded IGMA Artisan status recently.

More congratulations to Kiva Atkinson and Linda

Cummings ‐ both artisans who specialize in making

food, for achieving IGMA Fellow status.

A really great achievement!!!

Buttercup Miniatures 1/12th scale Advent

cot cover This year we have decided to have a special Advent

calendar for miniature knitters and will be featuring

a knitting pattern for a 1/12th scale cot cover on our

blog pages at

http://store.buttercupminiatures.co.uk/newsblog/

The cot cover is made up of 24 small squares which

when stitched together will make a cot quilt for a

dolls house doll. Knitting instructions for one square

will be posted each day of Advent, with the final

square and finishing instructions being given on 24th

December.

The designs of the squares are kept simple so no

matter how rushed you are preparing for Christmas

this year, you can find ½ an hour a day to sit and

relax with some miniature knitting. This also gives

you the option, should you prefer not to knit certain

types of pattern (such as cables/Aran or multi

colour knitting), to duplicate a pattern for a square

you like in another colour. This makes the project

suitable for both novice and more experienced

knitters. Due to the limited number of stitches and

nature of the cot cover lace stitches have been

excluded from the designs.

Alberto Gozzi Pablo Leal

Julie Dewar Erika Van Horn

Sandie Coe Evelyne Fontaine Monica Lavoie

Patricia Cabera Sue Gutheridge Pearl Button

Celia of Sorceress’ Hollow

Paul & Dean Davey

NEW

GRAPEVINE

BRAND NEW LITTLE BOOK,

IDEAL FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS STOCKING! THE TALE OF WINSFORD HOUSE

This is the first little book

written by Celia Thomas of KT

Miniatures and is available to

purchase exclusively from her

website:

www.ktminiatures.com

News from Josephine Parnell of Original Design Dolls House... I am to be having a feature article about my work published in the

American Miniaturist magazine Feb. 2010 issue.

Do check out Josephine's website and see her super bears!

www.dollshousebears.free‐online.co.uk

This December the

members of AIM

have put together a

very special advent

calendar, in order to

say a big thank you to

all our readers, customers

and keen supporters. Each

day of December a new FREE miniature

project will ‘go live’ behind one of our

special advent doors… So don’t miss a

thing, visit the AIM website today!!


Featured Rising

The Award Winning

AIM Magazine!!

The AIM editorial team are delighted to

announce that the November issue of the AIM

Magazine was yet another award winning issue!

Issue 17 won the following 2 awards from Scribd

...and as a result, November’s AIM magazine was

also featured on the Scribd homepage and like its

predecessor, held the coveted ‘No1’ spot in their

magazine charts!

So huge ‘congratulations’ to

EVERYONE who was involved with

this award winning issue!

THE DOLLS HOUSE MAGAZINE –

December Issue 139 features a Christmas Gift

Guide, within which is a splendid two page Gallery

devoted entirely to members of Artisans In

Miniature.!!

NEW 1:48th Book & Kit Package From Petite Properties Ltd

IDEAL FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS STOCKING! Petite Properties Ltd are delighted to officially

announce that Toadstool Cottage (Property No.3

from their 1:48th scale series)

has now been officially released

for worldwide sale.

The Toadstool Cottage Kit &

Book package is now available

to order online, via the Petite

Properties' web site.

www.petite‐properties.com

Blowing our own trumpet…? Us? Never!! Each time a new issue of the AIM magazine is released many of our readers get in

touch with us to tell us what they think and we thought we would share a tiny fraction

of them with you !!

I have been blown away by the latest issue. The AIM magazine is officially my favourite miniature mag, please please please keep up the good work! (Name & email address supplied ‐ UK)

It's a delightful overload of images and information… so glad someone had this brilliant idea of AIM magazine and thanks so much for sharing it. Well, have to run and get back to drooling. (Name & email address supplied ‐ US)

And you know what I also really like about it - it's not a 'Christmas Special'. I shall look forward to that edition at a time when I'm beginning to feel it's the proper Christmas season, not the retail Christmas season, which seems to last 3 months these days. (Name & email address supplied ‐ UK)

Having quickly "looked" can I be the first to say a massive congratulations to all concerned! It really is quite awesome how the magazine grows month by month - this issue particularly excellent. Thanks for the great amount of work that must go into it. (Name & email address supplied ‐ UK)

Yet another fabulous issue! Thank you, thank you, thank you! (Name & email address supplied ‐ US)

This is a great issue for one of my 1/12th projects. And I love advent calendars. The doors are great. We don't generally have doors like that in Northern California. (Name & email address supplied ‐ US)

I didn't know about AIM until a couple of months ago and have now downloaded everything so far for 2009. What a wonderful resource and so generously offered! I am sure there are enough projects there to keep me busy and teach me much at the same time. Please thank your production team and your contributors. That this great magazine comes free is so good for the many home-bound or fixed-income miniaturists who must be so grateful - and inspired by the many projects, pictures and informative articles about miniaturists and the items they create. Keep up the good work. (Name & email address supplied ‐ NZ)

The Future...

As AIM members have worked so hard on the magazine throughout the year, we

have decided to again make this December issue a ‘double issue’ to cover both

December and January. However, this does not mean that AIM will not be publishing

something special to welcome in the new year!...

2010 will kick off with a fantastic project supplement – available to read online or

download. Packed with 25 fabulous projects all written by AIM members, it should

certainly give you all something to enjoy after the sparkle of Christmas has faded.

The AIM magazine will be back in February, with a new look, brand new features and

much much more… all still FREE of course!


Don’t Miss A Thing!

PROJECT SUPPLIMENT SPECIAL!!

All FREE and fully downloadable at:


All the projects from the AIM advent calendar

combined in one bumper project supplement! Written exclusively by

AIM members!!!

Written by artisans Enjoyed by miniaturists...!Please Note:

The projects included in this publication are not suitable for children under the age of 14* The miniatures featured in this magazine are collectors items and therefore unsuitable for children under 14*.

All projects are undertaken at your own risk. AIM does not accept responsibility for any injury incurred. All articles and photographs used in this magazine are copyright of their authors.

The AIM magazine’s content is for private use only and it must not be reproduced in part or in full for commercial gain in any form.

Each artisan contributor is responsible for their own work / contribution to the AIM magazine and retain full responsibility for their published work.

The authors/self publishers cannot be held legally responsible for any consequences arising from following instructions, advice or information in this magazine.

*with the exception of the Mini AIMers feature which is written especially for children under 14.

COMING nEXT MONTH…


See you again next month…!

Annemarie Kwikkel-

Smit

Anya Stone

Barbara Brear

Barbara Stanton

Bea (Fiona) Broadwood

Catherine Davies

Celia Thomas

Cheryl Clingen

Cristina Albertí

Daisy Carpi

Debie Lyons

Eileen Sedgwick

Eileen Sedgwick

Elisa Fenoglio

Emma & Neil Martinot

Frances Powell

Jane Harrop

Jill Bennett

Josephine Parnell

Julie Campbell

Kathryn Gray

Kiva Atkinson

Linda Cummings

Linda Master

Mags Cassidy

Maia Bisson

Margaret Pitts

Maria Teresa Espanet

Mary Williams

Nancy Cronin

Orsolya Skultéti

Philippa Todd

Robin Britton

Sandra Morris

Sarah Maloney

Susanne Newstead

Vicky Guile

Guest Contributors Grandma Leilani

& Sarah

Tristan, Caden & Emma

Charlotte Stokoe

This issue would not have been possible without the generous contributions from the following AIM members…

Many thanks therefore go to...

aim mag december 09

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