Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2023 i Dolls House & Miniature Scene

YOU WILL NEED Materials required ● White and translucent polymer clay ● Yellow, brown, dark cadmium orange and golden ochre pastels ● Kitchen foil ● Gloss varnish ● Crushed seashells Tools required ● Small paintbrush & craft knife ● Needle tool or sewing pin Sadie’s Top Tip “Made from dark brown polymer clay, add tiny ‘chocolate chips’ to the loaf for a fun twist on the traditional brioche.” 1 Made with egg, real brioche has a sunny golden yellow tinge. Recreate this in small scale by mixing two parts white polymer clay with one part translucent, adding grated yellow, golden ochre and dark cadmium orange pastel with a touch of brown. 2 Take a 1.3cm ball of the finished mixture and mould into a traditional loaf shape. Twist a length…

As miniaturists, I think it is in our DNA to like tiny things. Of all the popular dolls house scales, 1/144th is by far the tiniest, but that doesn’t make it the most popular. Often also referred to as ‘micro scale’, 1/144th dolls houses are frequently seen as miniature accessories for 1/12th scale houses; giving rise to the term ‘a dolls house for a dolls house’. Indeed, a multitude of PP’s popular 1/144th shabby chic dolls houses now grace 1/12th scale nurseries and toy shops all over the world. But I think these teeny tiny creations can be so much more than that! A recap of the maths bit… Before I go any further, I’ll just pause and recap on the maths behind the scale. 1/144th translates to; 1ft in…

Starting in the capital, London, you will find a treat in store at the V&A Museum of Childhood (but note that this museum is in a totally different part of London to the V&A in Kensington). Here you will find dolls houses galore, as well as toys and games of yesteryear. The museum houses the United Kingdom’s national collection of childhood-related objects, one of the finest in the world. As the museum offers free entry, this is a day out that won’t break the bank! The museum has been closed for three years for refurbishment, but is due to reopen in July 2023 – but check that it has re-opened before you visit! V&A Museum of Childhood Cambridge Heath Road London E2 9PA Our next port of call is Kent,…

New challenges When Swedish artisan Josie Rosell told her 18,000 followers on social media that she was literally pulling her hair whilst building a miniature staircase you know that not only are you safe in the knowledge that even our top miniaturists struggle with these fiddly aspects of creativity, but you also realise you’re in great company. Fun and vibrant, Josie’s enthusiasm for her craft is infectious. She first came to miniature art after her beloved mother suffered what she describes as a devastating stroke in early 2020, changing their lives. She cites her newfound passion for smallscale as a cathartic lifeline during what was an emotional and challenging time. “It became a way for me to deal with the situation and it was very therapeutic,” she tells me. “Being…

Above all else, choosing a dolls house is a matter of personal taste, but I’d like to offer a few things to think about when considering buying one. It is generally a pretty sizable investment, so a little forethought is warranted. What style? What size? Kit or assembled? Start small and work up or go for broke from the get-go? Front opening or open back? Modular or complete in one go? Should there be a basement? An attic? Where will the stairs be? Single storey or two, or three? What scale? There are so many questions, and what is right for one person, won’t be for everyone! When I was working in an office, I had a friend who was really excited by my introduction to miniatures and dolls houses.…

Anne-Marie Parkin, the miniature patchworker behind LTW Miniatures, combines her love of miniatures and her love of patchwork quilts to create 100s of 1/12th scale patchwork quilts, cushions and kits – and she has been creating these mini makes for over a decade. Using traditional quilting techniques, only smaller, Anne-Marie captures all the detail of a full-size creation in her pint-sized work. For all of you lovely people who are signed up to our emails, you’re in for SUCH a treat! In our August email, Anne-Marie provides you with her 6 top tips on working with fabric! Not signed up yet? Make sure you do so now and you’ll receive more advice, top tips and interviews from those heating up social media right now! “We promise you’ll not want to…

Up against the wall Whether it’s about comfort, style, cosy nights in front of the television, or making sure the kids don’t spill ink across that plush fabric, the couch tells the story of any home. And for Marloes of Mini Couch, renowned for her exceptional contemporary styling, family is at the very heart of her creations. “I had this romantic idea when my daughter was born to make my own dolls house for her. A true gift from mother to daughter,” she says, describing how, after designing a moodboard, the period era miniatures she found repeatedly during the course of her extensive research didn’t fit the contemporary feel she was looking for. Nor were they practical and sturdy. “I met a woman during my online search that had a…

*To make ball-shaped topiary trees, stick three clay balls onto a piece of wire whilst the clay is still soft. YOU WILL NEED Materials required • Air dry clay (any colour will do) • Fine dry sand • Thin wire • PVA adhesive • Dark green paint • Cold melt glue gun (optional) 1 Mould tiny pieces of the clay into the required shape*. 2 When dry, paint with PVA adhesive. 3 Sprinkle dry sand over the wet adhesive, until all the clay is covered. Leave to dry. 4 Apply two coats of dark green paint. Allow the paint to dry between coats. 5 If you want to add super fine flower scatter, sprinkle the scatter over the topiary whilst the second coat of paint is still tacky. 6 Stick into…

Why oh why have I never visited the York Dolls House and Miniatures Fair until now? I’m a regular visitor to Miniatura, and an occasional visitor to the Kensington Dollhouse Festival (mainly because it’s so far from my home in Scotland), but for some reason I have never visited the much closer York show, and now I could kick myself! I’ve been missing soooooo much! I was unsure what to expect, but delighted at what I found. The fair is big – bigger than I had realised – and the venue is fabulous. It’s roomy, light and airy, with lots of space between the aisles (often an issue for those who need to use a wheelchair) and there’s ample free parking. But for me the real highlight was the fantastic…

YOU WILL NEED Materials required ● Translucent, white, red and black polymer clay ● Spring green, lemon yellow, sunflower yellow, brown, red, orange, golden ochre and white pastels ● Gloss varnish ● 1/12th scale white ceramic plate or dish Tools required ● Roller ● Small paintbrush ● Craft knife ● Needle tool or sewing pin 1 Mix translucent polymer clay with grated spring green and lemon yellow pastel to make a shade resembling green grapes. Bake a small piece to make sure you’re happy with the colour before rolling into individual grapes. 2 Dip a needle tool or sewing pin into brown pastel and use it to make a small hole in the top of each grape. 3 Mix translucent clay with orange pastel, adding in a little sunflower yellow.…

New Zealand born Norma Bennett is a retired legal secretary with a lifetime passion for miniatures. Norma, who has lived in Sydney for 25 years, explains how she rediscovered the joy of dolls houses: “My father made me a very simple 1/48th scale single level dollhouse when I was a child, but I didn’t think about miniatures as an adult until the mid-1980s, when I came across a ‘how to’ dolls house book in a book shop. Shortly after that, I found the Venus and Martin Dodge book of plans for houses and furniture and I was intrigued enough to try making one of my own.” Unfortunately, the Tudor-style farmhouse Norma attempted wasn’t very successful, as she explained: “I used plywood of a thickness I could manage to cut, but…

YOU WILL NEED Materials required ● Matt board ● Lightweight card ● Clear stiff acetate ● Round wooden cocktail sticks ● HO 2x6 and 6x6 stripwood (or additional cocktail sticks) ● Suede-textured paper ● Finely corrugated card ● Shiny silver card ● Grass-cloth paper ● Tiny green pom-poms ● Green felt ● Brown, black and grey scrap paper ● White, brick, light grey, charcoal, cream, brown and beige acrylic paint ● Gold and brown ultra-fine tipped Sharpie pens ● White gel pen & white glue Tools required ● Knife and steel ruler ● Ball stylus ● Emery board ● Scallop-edged scissors ● Painter’s tape TOWNHOUSE 1 Cut two 1-3/16in (30mm) by 3in (76mm) side walls, a 1-1/4in (32mm) by 1-3/4in (44mm) roof, and a 5/16in (8mm) by 1-5/8in (41mm) basement…

YOU WILL NEED Materials required ● Lemon yellow, crimson, purple lake acrylic inkpads ● Drawing gum (or masking fluid and ruling pen) ● A palette, old plate, piece of sellotape or plastic lid from your recycling ● Two pots of water ● 300gsm (or heavier) NOT surfaced watercolour paper Tools required ● Size 2 small round watercolour brush 1 Using your steel ruler and craft knife, cut out watercolour paper to a suitable size for your display. Mine is 55x25mm. If you’re planning to frame your painting then I recommend adding at least 5mm all around the edges to allow for overlap – you can always trim this off later if your chosen frame does not require the extra allowance. 2 Begin by drawing the horizon, just 1 or 2mm…

Not so long ago, Angela Kinnunen, who is originally from South Wales but now lives in Finland, was making instruments of horror – designing and creating such delights as an Iron Maiden, a witch’s ducking stool and Marie Antoinette’s guillotine. She’s also made a Child Catcher’s wagon, a roombox depicting Nurse Ratched’s treatment room from the novel and film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. And, with the intention of appealing to men in miniatures she’s been making Wild West items such as Prairie wagons, roomboxes of a Wild West Saloon, a general store, the jailhouse and an undertaker’s complete with coffins. “I had to do a lot of research and watch a lot of western movies,” said Angela. “Clint Eastwood is practically my best friend!” Balancing up the horror…