aim imag 40th issue

The AIM Magazine’s

Editorial Team:

Bea Broadwood (Editor) office@petite‐properties.com

Bev Gelfand [email protected]

Helen Woods [email protected]

Janet Smith [email protected]

Janet Harmsworth [email protected]

Jean Day [email protected]

John Day [email protected]

Kathi Mendenhall [email protected]

Malcolm Smith [email protected]

Marianne Cook [email protected]

Peiwen Petitgrand [email protected]

Sally Watson [email protected]

Barbara ‘Babs’ Davies Pamela J

Freelance Editorial Team Members: Agnes Turpin

Catherine Davies Eileen Sedgwick Jennifer Matuszek

Julie Lawton Lidi Stroud

Marianne Colijn Mo Tipton Nancy Keech

Stephanie Kilgast

Please note AIM is an active association to which all members

contribute.

Dear Reader To be really honest I have sat here quietly at my desk

for quite some time, gazing out across the garden

and pondering what words I should write.

Yet as I flick through cover after cover of this wonderful

ground breaking magazine, I am amazed that it still feels like only the

other day that I sat down at this very desk to pen the first ever

‘editor’s note’ for the AIM magazine.

Now, unbelievably, some 40 issues later – here I am again!

Being the editor of the AIM magazine has always been both an

honour and a privilege. Over the years it has been a genuinely

rewarding, yet time consuming role; one which if I am honest has

sometimes left me wondering why on earth I do it!

However, over the last 40 issues I have been lucky enough to work

with some of the most amazingly committed and exceptionally

talented people that I have ever met. The experience of sitting in the

AIM magazine’s editor’s chair has been one of the biggest learning

curves I think I have ever experienced and I believe it would be true

to say that the last 5 years have been quite a white knuckle roller

coaster ride, where I have shared in the thrill of the imag’s successes,

whilst quietly wearing out a ‘forehead’ shaped dent on the surface of

my desk… And yet throughout all of the late night formatting

sessions, the technical issues, the 11th hour editing dramas I have

been constantly moved and inspired by everyone I have worked

alongside in the production of each and every issue.

For much of that time, I have been supported, inspired and

encouraged by Vicky Guile (Assistant Editor) and I genuinely think

that without her hard work, stoic determination and devotion, the

AIM imag would no longer still be here today. I know that I have said

this so many times and forgive me as I say it once more, but the

production of this free imag requires a massive amount of dedicated

hard work behind the scenes, not only from our wonderful

contributing AIM members, but also from the editorial team

too. Month on month Vicky has been at the core of that

team and her input to it has been immeasurable.

Formatted by Bea Broadwood Text & Photograph © LUMO Publishing 2012

It is therefore with incredible sadness that I have to announce that Vicky has

decided to step down from her role within the editorial team and I am sure

that the other team members will agree with me when I say that our virtual

editorial office simply won’t be the same with out her constant presence. I

would also like to take this opportunity to thank her on behalf of the

editorial team, you the reader and AIM members alike for all of the time,

energy and creativity she has given so freely to this imag over the years.

Thank you Vicky for everything x

Back in 2008 I surmised that the magazine might (if it was lucky) last a year and after its transition

into a fully downloadable imag I wondered whether it would continue to grow in popularity… Now

some 40 issues later I am incredibly humbled by its immense popularity and the enormous scale of

its enthusiastic following. Regular readers will know that of late the work load created by sitting in

the editor’s chair simply became too much for me and with my own business demanding almost all

of my focus, time and attention, something had to give. As a result of this forced sabbatical we

were unable to publish a regular monthly imag over the last few months. However, with the

unerring support of the editorial team and the fresh enthusiasm of four new members, combined

with the support of more than 300 AIM members, I hope that we will be able to bring you yet more

stunning future issues of the AIM imag and rest assured that everyone here at AIM remains

committed to a bright future, one that has the AIM imag taking centre stage!

But before I go and get too nostalgic and choked up, I would like to thank everyone who has worked

so hard on the AIM imag since its most humble and unassuming beginning back in April 2008 and as

is now customary as editor, it is once again my pleasure to welcome you to the 40th issue of the

ground breaking AIM magazine!

Enjoy..!

Bea Broadwood Editor (& General whip cracker)

http://petiteproperties.blogspot.com www.petite‐properties.com

February 2012

I would also like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you on behalf of the editorial team, AIM members and readers to Cee of Oberons Wood for all her hard work on the AIM imag.

Cee, we are going to really miss you in the editorial team’s virtual office ‐ but thank you for making us laugh and for everything you have done; both as a friend and as a colleague too!

AIM imag Issue 40 ‐ February 2012 5

Artisans, by their very nature, are fast

becoming a rare breed and at a time when

cheap manufacturing is booming and the

miniature world is awash with mass

produced products, it could be argued that

they are increasingly an endangered breed

too.

Times are indeed tough and the miniature

world, like any retail industry, has been

negatively affected by the economic changes

of recent years. Miniature artisans have to

work harder than ever before just to keep

going, whilst constantly juggling rising costs

with a highly competitive and tough open

market.

Since the ‘dolls house’ hobby’s glory days

back in the 1980’s there have been many

changes to the miniature industry. The birth

of the internet has proved to be a double

edged sword. The ‘World Wide Web’ has

brought us all exciting new opportunities

through the creation of an accessible global

market, but is has also signalled the end for

many ‘real life’ miniature shows or events

due to the popularity of online shopping.

However, it is probably the rise of the cheap

mass produced miniatures that has hit the

professional miniature artisan the hardest,

as it is simply impossible for them to

compete with production speeds and

‘conveyer belt’ style mass construction. But

here’s my thinking… they shouldn’t even try!

Artisan. noun.

A skilled workman; craftsman.

The artisan makers who work within the

miniature world are by definition, skilled

crafts people and in turn the detailed, hand

crafted and unique miniatures which they

collectively create are so far removed from

their massed produced counterparts.

Sadly though professional miniature

artisans may have all the talent in the

world, but they often lack the opportunity

to promote their work within an ever

expanding global miniature


market or are simply financially unable to

afford the luxury of a generous ‘advertising

budget’... and so, quite simply, this is where

the AIM Association springs into action!!

Back in the mists of time, early in 2007 to be

precise, the AIM Association (Artisans In

Miniature) was founded. Its ethos was

simple; to bring together, unite and promote

the work of professional miniature artisans

within the ‘dolls house’ industry. Through its

24 hour private online forum, AIM members

are able to help and support each other and

through the creation of the AIM website, the

association is able to provide its members

with the opportunity for free online

promotion of their work.

“artisans have to shout very loudly indeed for their product to be heard...”

However, many, many years ago I was very

wisely advised “you can have the best

product in the world, but if no one knows

about it, no one will buy it!” Now in the age

of the ‘World Wide Web’ artisans have to

shout very loudly indeed for their product to

be ‘heard’ and yet attempting to reach dolls

house collectors and passionate miniaturists

all around the world can be a daunting

task. The solution was a simple one…

By coming together, by working together,

by pooling their collective talents and

knowledge, the members of the AIM

were able to produce a unique new

publication for miniaturists all around

the world to enjoy. “Written by

artisans and enjoyed by miniaturists”

the AIM magazine provides a

creative showcase with

limitless boundaries,

enabling the members of AIM to not only

promote their work for free, but also

(more importantly) to give something back

to the customers who support them.

In April 2008 the first issue of

the AIM ‘magazine’ was

launched, however it was not

offered in the same format

that it can be viewed in today.

Initially the magazine was

based on the AIM website;

www.artisansinminiture.com

with each feature, article or

project of issues 1 to 8 being

listed on individual pages on the site.

The new AIM magazine was a huge success,

so popular in fact that the poor AIM

website often struggled to cope! However, despite the success, the original

editorial team very quickly realised

that this medium was incredibly

restrictive to the aesthetic way in

which the magazine was presented.

Luckily timely developments in online

technology presented the editorial

team with the opportunity to use a

global social publishing website as a

hosting platform for the AIM

magazine. This opportunity was quickly

grabbed (with both hands) and with

the release of issue 9 in February

2009; the AIM imag was born!

Over the years the editorial

team have focused their

attention on many areas of

the miniature world, from

unbelievably realistic ‘mouth

watering’ food to stunning

furniture, from authentic

architecture to the very

best dolls house dolls

available. The AIM imag

has also extensively

covered and investigated

many inspiring themes

making each of our 40

issues totally

‘unmissable’!

Between our virtual

pages we have been

honoured to show

case the delights of

‘Shabby Chic’ in issue

31, celebrate the

clean lines of

“The AIM imag has also extensively covered and

investigated many inspiring themes

making each of our 40 issues totally unmissable..!”

‘Modern Contemporary Miniatures’ in issue

36 and nostalgically revisit the comforting

domain of ‘Granny’s House’ in issue 38.

Throughout each issue we have also

championed the smaller scales, delved

bravely into the miniature ‘fantasy’ world,

whilst always trying to reflect the

international diversity of our membership

and readers. All in all it has been nothing

short of one amazing journey through the

very best that the miniature world has to

offer.

Since the publication of issue 1 in April 2008

the editorial team have always been the

driving force behind the success of the AIM

imag. Over the intervening issues many

members have come and gone, but each of

them brought their own distinctive

creativity, energy and enthusiasm to the

magazine and each of them helped the

AIM imag to develop and grow beyond all

expectations!

The success of each issue has always been

the result of the hard work and dedication of

not only the editorial team, but also the

many, many AIM members who come

forward to contribute fabulous content for

the magazine’s THOUSANDS of faithful

readers to devour and enjoy! The work that

goes on behind the scenes to enable each

issue to come to fruition really has to be

experienced to be believed. Even more

unbelievable is the amount of time that

every past and present member of the

editorial team has given to enable you the

reader to enjoy 40 issues of this fantastic

FREE ground breaking magazine.

“Even more unbelievable is the amount of time that every past and present member of the editorial team

has given…”

Text © Petite Properties 2012 Images © AIM imag 2012

Throughout it all the success of the AIM imag

is simple – its success is due to the ‘sum of

its parts’. Each and every member of AIM

who has ever contributed to, or worked on

the imag is ultimately personally responsible

for all it has achieved.

The AIM imag was founded not only to

create a much needed global platform on

which to showcase beautiful handcrafted

miniatures, it was also

intended to be a ‘thank

you’. A ‘thank you’ sent

from an endangered breed

of miniature artisans to

their valued customers for

supporting their work year

after year.

Now, looking back with glassy eyes over the

last 40 issues, I think I can safely say that the

AIM imag has surpassed all of our wildest

expectations and I sincerely hope that you

have enjoyed reading each issue, as much as

we have all enjoyed creating them, especially

for you…

The current editorial team has a very inter‐

national flavour, with its members located all

over the world. In fact I believe that given

the variety of time zones we cover, I think it

would be true to say that that the editorial

team’s virtual office is open for business 24

hours a day!

From initial spark, to the published page, the

editorial team work closely with our

contributing AIM members to bring you

engaging projects, inspiring

articles and international

news from the miniature

world. Collectively they

research, write, proof read,

edit and format every page of

content, with a level of

dedication worthy of any

publishing professional and they do all of this

for free!

Back in April 2008 no one could have

possibly conceived just how popular the AIM

imag would become.

“Each and every member of AIM who has ever contributed

to, or worked on the imag is ultimately personally

responsible for all it has achieved…”

Bea Broadwood Founder of the AIM Association

Editor of the AIM imag

Issue 9 to 40 of the FREE

AIM imag can be found

on the AIM website!

www.artisansinminiature.com

Formatted by Bea Broadwood

AIM imag Issue 40 ‐ February 2012 33 Formatted by Jean Day

© 2012 Photographs & Text Malcolm Smith

Formatted by Malcolm Smith

AIM membership is only available for professional miniature artisans, selling quality handmade miniatures to the public.

Membership is reserved for artisans who wish to showcase & promote their work,

through active participation within the AIM Association. Please note; A waiting list has now been introduced regarding

new membership applications.

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: Tony for more information:

[email protected]

Or alternatively visit our website… www..artisansinminiature.com

Artisans In Miniature“An association of professional artisans, dedicated to promoting a high standard

of excellence in original handcrafted scale miniatures…”

www.artisansinminiature.com artisansinminiature.blogspot.com

The way in which AIM Association membership

is offered has changed!

Due to an overwhelming uptake of membership over recent months, as

from July 31st 2010 the AIM Association now has limited membership places

available…

The AIM Association was set up in 2007 in order to provide a global platform for professional

miniature artisans who wish to actively promote their work and actively take part and support the opportunities and promotional facilities which AIM

uniquely offers for free: notably including... The AIM online forum

Monthly FREE AIM magazine AIM Member's online directory

AIM website AIMs facebook & social networking pages

The AIM blog.

AIM imag Issue 40 ‐ February 2012 47 Formatted by Kathi Mendenhall

Bea Broadwood Bev Gelfand

Béatrice Thierus Carol Mittlesteadt

Christine Verstraete Daisy Carpi

Dianne Yunnie Era Pearce

Frances Powell Hazel Dowd Helen Woods

Helena Bleeker Jane Harrop

Janet Harmsworth Janet Smith Jax Perrat

John & Jean Day

Julia Jeffreys Kate Pinsent

Kathi R. Mendenhall Kathryn Brooke Kathryn Gray Kathy Brindle

Kimberly Hofmaster Linda Master

Louise Goldsborough Malcolm Smith Marianne Cook Marianne Colijn Melissa Boling

Natalia Antonelli Pat Carlson

Pauline Everett Peiwen Petitgrand

Robin Brady-Boxwell Sally Watson

Sandra A Stacy Sarah Maloney

Stephanie Kilgast Suzane Herget Viola Williams Wendy Smale

This issue would not have been possible without the generous contributions from the following AIM members…

Many thanks therefore go to...

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 retains 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.



http://artisansinminiature.blogspot.com/

aim imag 40th issue

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