aim mag issue 12

Contents… May 2009: Issue No 12 Cover Image: By Kay Shipp of Heirlooms In Clay

Regular Features… 2 Editor’s Note: Read Bea Broadwood’s introduction & welcome to this month’s edition of the Artisans In Miniature FREE ‘downloadable’ magazine! 7 SHOWing Us The Way: Organiser Charlotte Stokoe tells us all about the organisation and origins of the world famous ‘Kensington Dollshouse Festival, London’. 10 Well, It Happened To An Artisan: Read about the often strange lives of AIM members. 16 Crafty Tips: Learn the tricks of the miniature trade. 21 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 Cheryl Clingen’s fantastic South African work room. 28 New On The Web: Each month we will highlight a particular AIM member’s new website and this May we are delighted to feature the fantastic web site of: Debie Lyons of Piskies and Poppets. 36 Fairy Celebrations & Festivals: Louise Goldsborough explains more about ’Beltane’ or ’ May Day’. 41 Antique & Vintage Corner: Celia Thomas takes an in depth look at the antique miniature fireplaces of the 1920s, 1930s and Post War 1940s. 52 Mini Aimers: Written and compiled by Margaret Pitts especially for younger miniaturists and the artisans of the future. 58 In The Dock: AIM member Margaret Pitts is put into the dock, read her fascinating answers, to our in depth questions.. 60 The Miniature Kitchen: Mags Cassidy opens the door to her virtual kitchen and along with a little help from her fellow ‘foodies’ at AIM ‐ Together they recreate the final meal served on the fateful maiden voyage of HMS Titanic (In miniature of course!) 65 The Miniature Grapevine: Catch up on all the latest news and announcements from the international miniature world.

Special Features… 3 Stained Glass In Miniature: AIM member Kim Sexton tells us about her fabulous miniature lamps and her obsession with all things miniature. 5 Folklore & Customs In May: Margaret Pitts shares her fascinating insight behind just some of the old tales and rhymes about the month. 17 A Feeling for ‐ The Arts & Crafts: AIM member Paul Guichard tells us why he loves this period of architecture and design so much. 20 A Report On… Spring Miniatura: AIM’s roving reporter Jain Squires (albeit for the day!) shares with us her visit to the Spring Miniatura show. 23 The Fairy Scam: AIM member Debie Lyons takes a closer look at the famous Cottingley ‘fairy’ tale, that began one summers day in 1917. 29 It Started With A Pair Of Shoes: AIM member Louise Goldsborough tells us just how inspirational a pair of new shoes can be! 31 AIM Gallery: This month we have a packed gallery of AIM members’ creations from three different design eras which span from the 1800s through to the 1930s. 50 Morris In Miniature: AIM member Robin Britton shares the history behind this traditional dance.

Free Projects… 11 Dress a 1920’s Flapper: Mary Williams shares her beautifully effective method of dressing a 1920’s Flapper, complete with a fantastic competition to win the doll too! 26 Fairy Wings: AIM member Debie Lyons teaches us her simple way to create fabulous fairy wings. 30 Crochet A 1:12th Tray Cloth: AIM member Frances Powell shares her versatile miniature crochet pattern. 37 Ingram street chair by Charles Rennie Mackintosh: AIM member Jane Harrop teaches her effective way to create this fabulous and iconic chair. 45 Hand Tutorial ‐ For Beginners: AIM member Julie Campbell takes us through her step by step guide to sculpting 1:12th ‘hands’. 62 Mobster Hat Tutorial: AIM member Cheryl Clingen shares her method of making an infamous mobster’s hat.

Artisans In Miniature 1

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Competition

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Editor’s Note...

The AIM magazine production

Team (in 'first name' alphabetical order)

Bea (Fiona Broadwood) Editor: Editor's note (Layout & Format Designer)

office@petite‐properties.com

Celia Thomas Features Editor Co Ordinator: The Miniature Grapevine / Antique & Vintage Corner [email protected]

Mags (Margaret Cassidy) Cookery Features Editor: The Miniature Kitchen

info@mags‐nificent.co.uk

Margaret Pitts AIM Columnist

New children's feature: Mini AIMers

[email protected]

Robin Britton AIM Columnist:

Crafty Tips / Yes It Happened To An Artisan / Artisan Street

[email protected]

Sandra Morris AIM Columnist:

Tales From The Toy Cupboard [email protected]

(Regular 'Author of' information given in italics)

Please note all AIM members contribute to the magazine…

Dear Reader The child in me still thinks that there is something innately exciting about the arrival of the May blossom in the lanes and hedgerows, as it heralds the undeniable arrival of ‘summer’… Growing up, the blooming of the May tree signalled to my Mum, nature’s announcement that summer had at last showed its face. To my Mum, this meant that it was officially warm enough to put away my itchy grey pinafore dress, formal shirt and tie and instead liberate my yellow gingham school dresses from the back of the wardrobe. This yearly change of school attire was much anticipated by my younger self, as checked cotton dresses were so much prettier than my drab (and very nylon) winter uniform… But alas, as readers living in the UK will know – our summers are all too brief with sunshine taking on a sadly illusive quality. For this reason my summer dress usually hidden under an over sized and very itchy grey cardigan! But on those few perfect summer days of days in my childhood calendar, when the sun did actually shine and the sky was a beautiful colbolt blue – I still remember vividly that a yellow checked gingham dress was the ‘best’ thing to be wearing, especially when the cardigan could be dumped onto a great pile of ‘itchy woollies’ in the corner of the playground! Of course as an adult, May (sadly) no longer brings me a yellow check dress, instead it heralds the imminent arrival of the Kensington Dollshouse Festival: a prestigious three day show held in London and AIM is very proud to have so many of its members exhibiting there this time around the calendar. The Festival’s organiser; Charlotte Stokoe, has very kindly taken time out of her busy schedule to tell us more about this very special event . For exhibitors at Kensington, preparations for this amazing show begin long before the doors open, but despite the extra workload that the festival generates, AIM members have still managed to find the time to produce a mass of projects, articles and features. So much so, that this edition of the AIM magazine has had to be packed to the rafters to fit in all the fabulous content! So... join us, as we meander through the Nouveau and Deco periods and take a closer look at what made them so very special and celebrate the month of May and all that it brings – in miniature of course! In the meantime, as the hedgerow opposite my cottage is positively brimming over with May blossom, I am off to search at the back of my wardrobe in the hope that I may find some yellow gingham … just for old times sake!

Bea Editor (& General whip cracker) May 2009 www.petite‐properties.com



ftained Zlass ...in miniature

Written by Sue Perrins

AIM member Kim Sexton, is based in Alaska and here we can find out more about her fabulous and unique miniature lamps.

^im Sexton’s obsession with minis began in 2002 when her husband asked what she wanted for

Christmas. After thinking about it for several days, she remembered that her mother had built a

dollhouse when she was a teenager; she thought that would be a fun

project and keep her occupied for a while. When she told her husband

that she wanted to build a dollhouse he thought she had lost her mind!

She started building her dollhouse on the kitchen table, quickly running

out of room, she moved into the spare bedroom that she and her

husband Glen used for an office. She bought a large banquet table and

stuffed it in the closet to work on. Then it happened! She kicked her

husband and his desk out of the office and moved them into the dining

room! She just had to have more room for her growing assortment

obsession!

Walking into her craft room, at first glance you might wonder what kinds of crafts are done in this room.

Then, in short order, you find yourself lured in by your own curiosity

and soon you are snooping into the little white boxes neatly

organized on the shelf. Inside the boxes are amazing miniature

stained glass.

Kim makes miniatures; she has made 6 different doll houses and 8

different room boxes over the past few years. Kim has taken the

original doll house, and room boxes with her very imaginative room

designs to a whole new level by specializing in miniature stained glass

lamps. All kinds of lamps; free standing lamps, hanging lamps,

Christmas lamps, table lamps and even a “Bloody Raven” lamp, a

custom design for a client.

She just loves creating her own designs; although she does use some

designs from books she has purchased. Once the pattern is perfect, it

is reduced to the proper scale and prepared for production. Then,

with the steadiest of hands she etches out true pieces of art. Every

detail is visible, every lead line clean and straight and with colours

that bring out the heart in which these little darlings are made with.


Kim has made dozens of miniature lamps over the years

and has perfected them along the way. She has recently

started making Christmas themed lamps that are turning

out beautifully. Kim has made over 100 different stained

glass lamps; recently asked which one was her favourite,

she said that the “Bloody Raven” lamp she designed and

made for her client was one she was most proud of. Her

client had this to say about Kim’s lamps:

"I am absolutely thrilled with the lamps I bought. They are

unique, beautifully crafted, and very well scaled. I am par‐

ticularly pleased that they are a more realistic thickness

than many of the stained‐glass style lamps available from miniature lighting companies. Why would you

ever buy mass‐produced lamps when you can get some‐

thing so beautifully crafted and unique from this wonderful

artisan? I am hooked! I will certainly be back for more!"

Kim is always on the look out for items to use as lamp bases

for table lamps. On a recent trip to her house, I was shown

2 pieces of hard plastic that her mother had sent her that

came from the insulin syringes she used. She planned to

use these to make a lamp base. A few days later she

brought in her latest creation to show me. It was unbeliev‐

able; the miniature floor lamp with its plastic base made

from the syringe pieces was wonderful.

Recently Kim has discovered replaceable 12v light bulbs.

These new bulbs make it possible to replace the original

bulb should it burn out, thus minimizing the chance of

damaging the tiny shades should the bulb quit working.

This new find makes her stained glass lamps even more attractive to clients.

Kim sells her stained glass miniatures in her online

store at www.akminis.etsy.com

Or you can see more of her amazing creations on her

website www.akminis.com

Go check them out; you will fall in love with these

beautiful tiny works of art.

Written by, Sue Perrins, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

(not a miniaturist, but fast developing an appreciation

for the art!)

Copyright of text and photos in this

feature belong to Kim Sexton.


Were you born in May?…..or married in that

month? If so, perhaps you should read no fur‐ther if you are of a superstitious nature! For folklore has it that anyone born in May would be a sickly child; and if you married in May, the marriage would be doomed.

‘Marry in May and rue the Day’

Even stranger is the superstition that a cat born in May would never catch a rat, but would bring snakes into the house to terrify the occupants!

Another rather sinister rhyme foretells a death in the family:

‘If you wash a blanket in May, You will wash a loved one away.’

But it’s not all doom and gloom ‐‐ there are cheerful aspects to the month too:

‘A swarm of bees in May Brings a load of hay.’

‘A cold May is kindly, For it fills the barn finely.’

There is conflicting advice about washing oneself in May.

Tradition in some parts of the country held that on the first day of May, young girls should wash their faces in the early morning dew. This was thought to have magical properties and would ensure they would have a flawless complexion for the rest of the year.

However, another piece of folklore about washing, holds a chilling message:

‘Those who bathe in May Will soon be laid in clay.’

One rhyme that is still familiar in the North of England causes many arguments:

‘Ne’er cast a clout ’ til May be out’

Some say that in this context, ‘May’ means the may blossom on the hawthorn tree, whilst some argue that it refers to the month of May. So take your pick as to when you shed your winter woollies!

Despite all the old tales and rhymes, the month of May is generally a time for celebrating, especially on the 1st, known as May Day. Many villages still have maypoles and both adults and children delight in performing intricate dances whilst holding the brightly coloured ribbons… woe betide anyone who drops their ribbon and throws the participants into confusion!

Morris dancers are welcomed into village squares to perform their energetic dances… you can read all about them in Robin Britton’s lovely article on page?? ...and other traditional characters such as ‘Jack in the Green’ and Robin Hood can be seen joining in the festivities.

Folklore &Customs In May

By AIM Member Margaret Pitts

Morris Dancers


The colour green is often associated with this month.( For instance the emerald is supposed to be the precious stone for May.) The Anglo‐Saxons’ name for May was Tri‐ Milchi, which translates as three milks. It was said that the grass was so lush and green in May that the cows could be milked three times a day! Garlands fashioned from green leaves are still made by the children in some villages.

‘The First of May is Garland day’

Other customs still upheld today include the decorating of bikes and prams by local school children, with flowers and streamers. These are then paraded through the streets and often culminate in the crowning of the May ‘king’ and ‘queen’.

Text & photo (Robin Hood) copyright of Margaret Pitts: www.minimilliner.co.uk

Thanks to Eileen Sedgwick for the photos of Jack in the

Green & Queen of the May.

See more of her beautiful work at: www.eileensedgwick.com

Jack In The Green

Robin Hood

Queen Of The May

AIM managed to catch up with Charlotte Stokoe who organises the ‘World Famous’ Kensington Dolls House Festival...

SHOWing Us The Way Charlotte Stokoe of

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When and why did you become involved with miniature fairs?

I had been running the Dollshouse Shop in Covent Garden for 9 years, but the costs of running the shop had become too high, so we had to close down. I happened to have a conversation with Caroline Hamil‐ton, and somehow we began talking about the Festival. Before I knew it, I was taking over the running of this great event from Caroline.

Is this a full time occupation for you and what did you do or still do before you started in miniatures?

Up until now I have only held one Festival a year. I was able to fit work into looking after my 2 children, and having most of the summer off. Now we are starting a new Christmas Festival, so work is pretty much full time.

Do you own a dolls house or collect miniatures? If you do what is your most treas-ured piece?

I am not strictly a dolls house collector. When I owned the Dollshouse Shop in Covent Garden I used to love going to the fairs and buying stock for the shop. This seemed to cure me of wanting to collect stuff myself. There were many pieces we sold in the shop that I now wish I had kept. My daughter has a beauti‐ful dolls house however.

Do you have any hobbies? If you do what are they?

I love films, tennis & fashion

Do you read books and magazines on Miniatures? If you do what is your favourite?

I make sure I read as many magazines as I can to keep up to date on new makers. My favourite magazine is probably Dolls House & Miniatures Scene. I work closely with them on certain aspects of the Festival and I feel they are true enthusiasts who are trying to publicise the industry.

If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out in miniature making, what would it be?

Be realistic. You will not become a millionaire making miniatures, but if you can find a gap in the market, and work hard you could make a good income doing something you love. Remember, many of the top miniaturists have been perfecting their craft for up to 25 years.

Do you think there is much if any, rivalry or jealousy between traders?

None that I have seen. They tend to be very supportive & will collaborate on projects together. I often get makers recommending new craftsmen to exhibit at the Festival.

Are there any bad things in the Miniature world that you would like to see put right?

Not really. My main gripe is the attitude much of the industry has towards children. It is vital for the sur‐vival of the industry, to encourage children to make & collect miniatures. We always have a children’s craft club at the Festival where children can come along and try to make things themselves. I feel makers have to be prepared to spend time talking to children and answering their questions.

Do you think the Dolls house hobby needs more publicity?

Most definitely. I am always trying to find new ways of promoting Miniatures. We are currently working on a documentary film about the amazing talents of the craftsmen & the amount of work that goes into making a completed dolls house. I feel that it is difficult to pigeon‐ hole miniatures. Are they toys, craft or Art? As they can be explained simply, it makes it hard to make non‐enthusiasts understand what it is about.

Re the previous question, if you do, what do you think could be done to enhance its popularity?

I think the most important message is to show the general public how much time and talent goes into making a dolls house or miniature, and try to make miniatures accessible to more people.

What do you think to the mass produced imported items now available?

The quality of mass produced items is getting better all the time, and although our show is for mainly hand made items (approx 95%), I do feel, having come from a retail background, that there is an impor‐tant role for imported furniture. Not everyone can afford a £200 piece of furniture, however much they would like to, so I do feel I have a responsibility to have a limited amount of good quality mass produced furniture available at the Festival. However, I do think it is important to encourage quality not quantity.

Do you consider yourself lucky to be able to do what you are doing?

I certainly enjoy my job, but I have worked hard to get where I am, so there wasn’t much luck involved.

Have you ever had an embarrassing moment that has occurred from running a fair?

Not really, although at the first show I organised I had had some plastic bags printed in our uniform black design. After a few hours of opening, we started to get complaints that the black ink was rubbing off on people’s hands and clothes!

One inch to a foot (1/12th scale) is the accepted standard, but several smaller scales are now becoming available. Do these seem to sell as well?

1:24th is definitely on the increase, I suppose because it takes up less space, but I feel 1:12 will always be more popular as it is easier to handle.

Do you think there is anything that cannot be produced in miniature?

No – I am waiting for someone to produce smells for dolls houses though.



Do you get a buzz from running a fair or is it a nail- biting affair?

You certainly get a buzz when the Festival is running. If you have done the best you can to prepare for the show, you should be able to enjoy it.

Do you know if anyone famous has visited or still visits your fairs?

No real celebrities, however 2 regulars are Designer Paul Smith & Children’s Author Lauren Child. Do you think you have any advantage over your competitors? If so, what is it?

KDF is unique because of our high standards. Because of our good reputation, we can select only the top makers to exhibit. We also have high standards in how we look after the visitors who come to the show.

What do you think the world of computers and the Internet have brought to the Miniature world?

As with all areas of life there are positives and negatives. It is much easier to find like‐ minded people to talk about miniatures. It has also made it easier to contact craftsmen directly & see their work, which is good for them, but has put huge pressure on the retail shops, which have been closing down at an alarming rate over the last 5 years.

Do you visit other fairs yourself?

As many as I can. I always try to visit one fair abroad each year

What would you consider to be your greatest achievement in your real life and in the miniature world?

I think taking the Festival over from Caroline Hamilton, who was the co founder of the Festival nearly 25 years ago, was a difficult thing to do, as people were expecting the standard of the festival to go down. But I work really hard to keep the Festival at the top, and am always trying to find new ways to make the Festival exciting for visitors.

And finally, if someone wanted some advice on exhibiting, how would they be able to contact you?

The best way is to log onto our website: www.dollshousefestival.com

All information can be found there. I do have to see samples of work from everyone before I offer a table and there is always a waiting list!

We would like to thank Charlotte for taking time out to answer these questions. Also thank you to AIM member Kathryn Gray for arranging

this and to AIM member Dave Williams for compiling the questions.

The 2009 Kensington Dollshouse Festival

will be held on the 15th, 16th & 17th May. There will be over 30 AIM members both exhibiting at the show and some are also teaching workshops. For more information please see www.artisansinminiature.com Or www.dollshousefestival.com


So…we asked the question – and AIM member Cheryl Clingen told us…all the time!!

Things falling off my table… I've tried EVERYTHING… including working on the other side of the table, but things keep rolling off regardless. Is there a huge magnet under the table? Are there such things as naughty studio elves? Am I attractive? (don't answer that! It's hypothetical!). The good news is that I get loads of exercise crawling around under the table and hopping up and down on and off my chair. The bad news is that I'm developing calluses on my knees!

Help?????????

We have lots of giggles in AIM……..Chris Shepherd tells how she received a complaint from a customer ordering a 99p deckchair, when it turned out to be 1/12th scale and not the full sized one he expected…she did wonder why the postage of 50p didn’t make him think…. Linda Masters makes super little Cuckoo clocks kits and is frequently asked to supply them by customers who didn’t notice the word ‘Miniature’ in her business name and address…… Robin Britton gave one of her dolls to her young granddaughter who showed it off proudly to her friend, telling her that Granny had made it. The friend , not quite believing that her Granny could possibly have made the doll, said ‘prove it!’. After some thought, instead of explaining that she had often seen Granny making her dolls, she said ‘I can’t, we took the label off’ …it’s a modern consumer world folks……..

With thanks for the chuckles…do have a look at our Members’ websites

Cheryl Clingen – www.MiniDollsFromAfrica.com Chris Shepherd – www.shepherdminiatures.com Linda Masters – www.miraclechickenurns.co.uk

Robin Britton – www.coombrcrafts.co.uk

Well, it Happened to… A Miniature Artisan

You will need fabric, tacky glue, toothpick, scissors, 1mm wide lacet trim, trim for skirt, trim for headband, feathers and faux gems.

Choose your doll which should have full arms and if

possible a fairly flat chest, this lady doesn’t have any

underwear as it will ruin the shape of the dress. Paint the

shoes with acrylic paint and allow to dry. Cut out your

pattern and fabric.

Glue seams together, remember to glue right sides

together, DO NOT GLUE SHOULDERS. When dry, turn

inside out, press and try on doll. If the skirt needs to be

shortened, cut to desired length, remove

from doll, fray‐check the hem and allow to

dry. Put the dress back on the doll, apply

glue to the back shoulders of the fabric and

glue to doll. Then apply glue on the wrong


Dress a 1920’sDress a 1920’sDress a 1920’s FlapperFlapperFlapper

By AIM Member Mary Williams

side of the fabric on the front shoulders; fold over to neaten the edges and glue to back shoulders. At this stage trim any excess around neckline with sharp scissors.


Next place a tiny line of glue around the neckline and place lacet trim in place, do the same with the arms. Now we start on the trim for the skirt. Working from the bottom upwards check the width of your trim and place it on the doll so that it hangs halfway below the end of the skirt. Place a fine line of glue around the bottom of the skirt and put trim in place. Gradually work upwards until the final piece of trim is on the hips. Remember to overlap halfway on the previous section. Glue some lacet trim around the final piece and add a bow or rose.

Wig your doll

Glue some viscose hair to the back of your dolls head. Then make two pieces of hair by using a large pin, run a thin line of glue along the pin, place the hair over the pin and fold together, make sure you have a tight hold on the hair and pull off, this will leave you with the look of a parting when placed on the doll. Practice this a couple of times if necessary‐ it will be worth it.

Next glue your partings on the top of the head of the doll, you may have to trim any excess. When dry comb out so that the back mixes in with the two sidepieces. Trim the hair into the style with sharp scissors. Place trim around the head and glue at the back. Add faux gems, necklace, stole and feathers if desired.


You should end up with a lovely 1920s Flapper like this.

To view more of Mary’s work,

visit her website at www.dollshousedolls.co.uk

Copyright on all text and photos

in this tutorial belong to Mary Williams.


Win this fabulous Flapper Doll kindly donated

by Mary Williams of www.dollshousedolls.co.uk

All you have to do is simply answer the following question:

Which period in history is this Flapper Doll from?; is it…?

a) Victorian (1800s)?

b) Art‐Deco (1920s‐30s)?

c) Swinging Sixties (1960s)?

Please email your answer either a/b/or c along with your name, address &email to AIM editorial member:

Margaret Pitts at [email protected] marking the subject line Flapper Doll Competition

Rules of Competition Closing Date will be May 31st 2009 and any entries received after this date will not be accepted. At the beginning of June, one winner will be picked randomly from all correct entries and notified by email. We can only accept one entry per person. The winner will be published in the July/August issue of AIM online magazine. NB. This competition is open for the general public only, sorry AIM members are unable to enter.

We at AIM would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Mary Williams of www.dollshousedolls.co.uk

for the kind donation of this doll!

Good luck!!!!

Competition


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

of excellence in original handcrafted scale miniatures…”

The AIM website has been created in order to showcase the work of the individual artisan members whom together form the international Artisans In Miniature association. AIM was founded in 2007 as an association for professional artisans who create beautiful and original scale miniatures for sale to the public. Since its launch, AIM has grown rapidly and now boasts some of the most talented artisans within the miniature world!

On the AIM website you will find further information about the work of these international artisans and artists who provide further information about their work in the AIM online directory, which is free for all AIM members and can be found on the AIM website. New member’s pages are constantly being added to reflect our growing worldwide membership. So why not bookmark the site today!

Are YOU a professional miniature artisan?? Then why not join us?? AIM is completely FREE to join and inclusion in the AIM online member’s directory is also uniquely

completely FREE!

So...if you are a professional miniature artisan and you would like to find out more about joining the AIM Association please email Bea for more information:

Bea@petite‐properties.com

www.artisansinminiature.com

Dear Readers Lorrie Harvey, http://minilorrie.2itb.com an AIM member who lives in Canada, shares some of her tips with us this month…….

Remember how your hair gets flyaway in the winter? This can be useful, because static electricity has magnetic properties. If you have tiny bits of paper, glitter, mylar glitter, bits of hair or railroad grass, or any other tiny bits of something dry that will NOT come up, use a large comb. Run it through the cat's fur or your own hair a couple of times and then over the offending mess. The static electricity will take it right up. Put a tissue over your hand and en-velope the stuff, pulling it off the comb with the tissue so that it doesn't touch your hand, then throw it away, tissue and all. Glitter that is on a hard surface, especially superfine mylar glitter, will come up with a swipe of a damp tissue. Tissue paper, when applied on walls brushed with wallpaper paste, wrinkles a bit and makes a convincing plaster finish, which can be painted as soon as it is dry.

These are some of the items to use for storage. VHS tape boxes (clear) and you can write what is in them, they stack well. Clear cassette tape or the Cam boxes, for beads; they can be put in a cassette carry case for organized storage. Also, you can see through the box to see what is in them or label them. Clear plastic film canisters work well for some small items. ‘Tic Tac’ containers are great for beads . Shoe boxes (plastic) are sturdy and you can glue in dividers.

Baby food jars. You can watch at thrift stores for one of those carousels that you put the baby food jars in for storage and spin around as you search for what you are looking for.

Our last one is a tip from U.K…… Marianne Cook has allowed us to use her super photograph, which demonstrates beautifully how Lego bricks can be used for holding those right-angled joints while the glue dries, in the absence of ‘proper tools.’

Enjoy and happy mini-ing!



By AIM member By Paul Guichard I started my business as a doll’s house maker at the

beginning of 2008 after a short “experimental” period. I had

a background in furniture manufacture and I imagined that

the techniques I had learned in batch production would

lend themselves to turning out quantities of small houses.

However, I quickly found that mass produced items,

particularly low cost foreign imports, were the best sellers,

and that to become a maker I would have to find myself a

more specialised niche.

My research into houses of the past and the doll’s house

market led me to the Victorian era and I found myself

drawn to the Arts and Crafts movement as well as the allied

Aesthetic movement designs. The more I researched these

movements the more I felt an appreciation for the simple

beauty and crafts work that had originally been produced.

But I found that the Arts and Crafts movement transcended

the mainstream ideas of

making things to sell for

pure profit.

A Feeling for...

The Arts and Crafts

Reproduction of a late Victorian row house from Stafford Terrace in London

It was all about making things that gave the buyer a feeling of

satisfaction that they had a beautiful object and also giving the maker

the freedom to express him/herself and enjoy the process of creating

in an ideal environment.

A socialist movement then, where conditions of work and quality of

finish were as important as profit. These were some of the real issues

which people such as William Morris or Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo

sought to highlight in a pragmatic way. In 1843 the political commen‐

tator Thomas Carlyle had written about how he saw communal values

and arts being crushed by “ruthless capitalism”; followed by John

Ruskin writing on how he s aw mechanisation as leading to an An Abingdon Chair in the style of Arts and Crafts architect

M. H. Baillie Scott

architecture where “intellect is idle and Invention

impossible”. Guilds such as Morris, Marshall, Faulkner

and Co; and A. H. Mackmurdo’s Century Guild of the

late 1800s sought to lead the way in demonstrating

how hand made products were both superior in

quality and design to machine produced goods, as

well as creating crafts people who enjoyed their work,

as opposed to a dismal existence perhaps watching

over a machine to reproduce the same single part

thousands of times. A number of further guilds were

initiated across Europe and America, all trialling this

social ideal: that work should be enjoyed and that

every worker should be able to use their imagination

in this creative environment.

The Arts and Crafts label was actually a later

appellation, but is illustrative of the movement’s

incorporation of a whole host of crafts, including archi‐

tecture, cabinetry, glazing, pottery, the fine arts, and

even gardening, amongst many other crafts. The ad‐

herents and crafts people involved were equally as

diverse, covering Oxford and Cambridge graduates

such as William Morris, and relatively uneducated

workers, who in the capitalist environment might have

been separated by a gulf of importance and esteem,

but through the Arts and Crafts guilds, were able to

achieve equality.

This aspiration towards equality also encompassed

sexual equality, where many of the workers and

leaders of the movement were women, at a time

when industrial production was almost totally male

dominated elsewhere. Candice Wheeler is a notable

example; she founded several Arts and Crafts societies

in America, including the Society of Decorative Arts.

She encouraged women with talents in interior design

to use their abilities in a business‐like way rather than

restricting themselves to their own homes and pastimes. One of the most successful Arts and Crafts

societies, worldwide, has been the Rookwood Pottery in America. Started by talented artist Maria

Longworth Nichols in 1880 following her self proclaimed influence by William Morris, she built her

hobby into one of America’s most recognisable pottery styles, and even trained many of America’s other

notable potters and Ceramic artists including Artus Van Briggle: noted for his Art Nouveau styles.

A tripod table in the style of M. H. Baillie Scott

Arts and Crafts tall mantle in the style of M. H. Baillie Scott


So where do I fit in to this tumultuous social experiment

that is remembered more for its products than its

ethical advances? Well, I simply wish to showcase some

of the “honest workmanship” that was developed along

the way by the Arts and Crafts movement’s adherents

and practitioners, in particular the architects and

designers like C. F. A. Voysey, Charles Rennie

Mackintosh, Ernest Gimson, M. H. Baillie Scott, and

many more. I, like many other crafts people involved in

the miniature business, can also include myself among

the adherents to the venerable movement. With first

hand experience of what John Ruskin might have called

the dehumanising effects of mechanisation in the

workplace, I can happily contrast that with the fulfilling

feeling of taking an object from thoughts in my head

through manufacture with my own hands, to the table

at the craft fair, where an opportunistic buyer will give me payment of what they consider my work to

be worth.

And my future? I don’t think I will get mightily rich following these principles; to do that would involve

dehumanising other people in the workplace and taking a good share of the money that they really

earned, but I can be assured of happiness in my workshop and hope that this translates into a living. And

now that the Arts and Crafts has really gripped me artistically as well as gripping my social conscience, I

hope to diversify into some full size works of wood, making sure that the sought after label “hand

made” can honestly be attached to the finished item.

To view Paul Guichard’s website go to: www.lamaison‐dollshouses.com

Arts and Crafts fire surround inspired by William Morris

Mantle in stone effect and wood, inspired by Richard Norman Shaw.

Copper and Wood style mantle inspired by C. F. A Voysey.



Report On ... Spring Miniatura 2009

Birmingham NEC, UK By AIM Member Jain Squires

I try to attend Miniatura at least once a year as a shopper and this year I was interested to see how our struggling economy was affecting things in the miniature world. Looking at the queue outside on Saturday morning it seems people still have the urge to spend their money on their beloved hobby, as they do with any addiction ‐‐ smoking or drinking to name but a few. Thank goodness for small mercies!!!!!

Not sure whether it was me, but the show looked altogether smaller this year, maybe because it was in the smaller hall and not because there were fewer exhibitors. I'm sure I will be corrected on that observation!!

When I go to fairs as a shopper, I like to find the unusual, different and sometimes really weird!!! I have a fantasy tearoom, which gives me an excuse to buy strange things that take my fancy and have somewhere to put them.

After a quick scout round and a few hellos to old friends I was on the warpath for special pieces. Fellow ‘Aimer’ Deb Jackson was a good place to start, knowing she specialises in unusual miniatures. Found a plague doctor’s equipment (pictured left) and an old weathered beehive complete with bees.

Penny Thompson’s table had her beautiful old house for 24th scale fairies; the attention to detail was amazing. It was so wonderfully fragile looking and just as I

would imagine a fairies’ abode to look!!!

Aidan and Manda Campbell’s table was busy as usual, with Manda working on fairy wings for all to see, glitter and glue everywhere and great to watch. Manda had created a very special country residence inside an old watering can in 48th scale and even had lighting in the form of dolls house fairy lights, an original idea taking up little space. Aidan's very accurate copy of a dodo skeleton was perfect!!!

Another fellow ‘Aimer’ Julie, at Bellabelle dolls had a very original display on her table with an antique dolls skirts displaying some of her fairytale dolls. It looked stunning and provoked a lot of interest, photos being taken by several magazines from home and abroad.

Miss Sally World had some wonderful characters as usual on her table. Her mice are pictured here.

As far as the selling side went, exhibitors I spoke to in the morning were concerned things were going slowly. After lunch the same people were feeling a lot happier and confident the shoppers were parting with their money. Maybe punters were being a little more careful with what money they had got, checking everything out first before choosing what to buy; I know I

was!! All in all the weekend was as enjoyable as usual for me, and it seems exhibitors in general were jolly happy considering!!! I would have liked to have seen more weird and wacky than I found, but there is always next time...

Jain Squires is a member of AIM and a doll maker in her own right. To view Jain’s magnificent work, go to www.giddykipperdolls.com

All text and photos in this feature belong to Jain Squires of Giddy Kipper Dolls

Deb Jackson Designs

Aiden Campbell

Miss Sally World

Manda Campbell

Bellabelle Dolls

“Who works in a room like this..?”

By AIM Member By Cheryl Clingen

AIM member Cheryl lives in Constantia Kloof in Roodepoort, South Africa. Constantia Kloof is on top of a hill ‐ unfortunately we would have to build another floor up to get the view! I live in the province of Gauteng, which used to be called Johannesburg area. This puts us 5 hours drive to the nearest coastline, but I like it here. The weather is the best in the world! When we have a rain‐storm, with thunder and lightning, it is frightening, but we wait until it's over then we go outside and breathe in the most pure, perfectly balanced ionized air. We also have mild winters, and mild to hot summers, so how can a fella complain about that?

South Africa, and especially Gauteng, is known for its high crime rate, so we surround ourselves with alarm systems, connected to private security companies, high spiked walls, burglar bars, electric gates and cameras. I guess we can't have everything. Still, I am happy living here. We've been in this house for 22 years, and although our daughter has left home and married, we still use every room in the house, so I wouldn't move unless I had to.

My studio is my retreat. All I have to do to tidy up is shut the door. It may look a mess, but I know exactly where everything is, and I have a rule that I live by: If I were looking for something, where would be the first place I would look?

That is where my decision comes in as to where to store something. Makes my life so much easier.

This room is divided (virtually) into 4 sections, as it is a very long room. 1. The bathroom, kiln and main storage area which has the only floor space for sorting things out.

2. The sewing/relaxing/dollhouse area. (If you look carefully, you will see a couch in there somewhere.)

3. The work area.

New Regular

Feature..!



I am lucky enough to have this wonderful room all to myself; it’s bright and has lots of huge windows overlooking our front garden. There is a CD player, which I play really loudly when I’m in the mood, and sing along with gusto as I work, sometimes downing tools and dancing around my chair (shhhh – don’t tell anyone!). Oh, life can be such fun sometimes.

When I am sitting at my table, I have everything I need surrounding me, so there is no need to get up, or remove my glasses which are attached to a length of silicon thread so I don’t lose them. All I have to do is swivel my wheeled chair, or push it back a bit or sideways a bit, and reach out and grab what I’m looking for, then whoosh myself back to the working area. Drawers and storage are a huge MUST for me, and I label all of the drawers no matter how small or large. My view is of the garden on two sides; what more could a mini‐maker want?

My two large tables are arranged in an L shape, and I reserve the left hand one for my three little desktop ironing boards, one of which I made myself especially for ironing tiny sleeves. I also use that end for my glue gun. Yes, my glasses can reach those areas too! LOL!

There’s nothing like walking away and suddenly my glasses jerk my head around. I have also tied a pair of glasses AND a pen to my computer so I can never lose them either. Good idea, yes?

The rest is all in the pictures. One thing is missing ‐‐ my moulds. They have their own little room outside in the back yard. In there I have shelves, a table, all my pouring stuff and tools. It is safer to have these things away from the house, as the slip dust is a potential danger to health. I hope you enjoyed this short tour.

See Cheryl C’s

website at:

www.MiniDollsFromAfrica.com

The Fairy Scam...

By AIM Member Debie Lyons

It was 1917 and in Cottingley, near Bradford two young cousins Elsie Wright aged 16 and Frances Griffiths aged10, borrowed a camera to prove to their parents that they had been playing with, and had seen, fairies. The events that took place over 90 years ago are still talked about to this day.

Elsie was a gifted artist and on seeing the second picture, her father was convinced that the girls had been playing a trick and put the pictures in a drawer. He forbade the girls to use his camera again. Even though Elsie’s father believed the girls were playing a trick, the girls were adamant that the pictures were genuine and that they had really been playing with fairies.

Elsie’s mother Polly was a Spiritualist and at a Spiritualist meeting discussing fairies in Bradford, she told people attending the meetings about the pictures that her daughter and niece had taken a couple of years previously. It was ultimately the conversations that she had during that meeting and the subsequent media attention that brought the pictures to the attention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The photographs were examined by several experts and by Kodak who refused to comment as to their authenticity.

A

B Artisans In Miniature 23

D

C

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was convinced that the images were real and as he was such a well‐respected public figure, other people followed his example and were also convinced that the photographs were genuine. By now there were a total of five photographs in all, showing fairies together, on their own and in one case a little gnome. Sir Arthur was an avid theosophist, spiritualist and a well‐respected writer; if it were not for his input then the tale of the Cottingley Fairies probably wouldn’t have become such a popular subject of the time and ultimately a legend in folk law. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that the now elderly Elsie and Frances admitted that they had faked the pictures. They had cut the images out of a book called Princess Mary’s Gift Book and used hatpins and tape to secure the fairies in place. Even though they admitted that they had faked the photographs, the ladies were still adamant that they had seen and played with fairies down at the beck at the back of Elsie’s house in a little village called Cottingley. This is of course a very scaled down version of events. The photographs and copies of the photographs are currently held in various collections in the UK and overseas. There are also some interesting books readily available to read. The photographs are also available for viewing on many US websites as they are in the public domain in America, since they were taken before 1923. In the UK the photographs are sub‐ject to reproduction copyright fees.

So what does all this have to do with miniatures? Artisans In Miniature 24

E

For many years now, doll artists, sculptors and miniaturists have been inspired by images of fairies in one form or another and not just by the Cottingley photos. There are many doll makers who have made at least one fairy if not more, from Julie Campbell (BellaBelle Dolls) to Julie Kendall (Jackdaws Attic) and Jane Longley (Willowshimmer Designs) to myself, Debie Lyons (Piskies and Poppets). We all, at one time get drawn into and inspired by a fantasy world, as have many others.

I for one have found the Cottingley Fairy photographs and the story a source of inspiration and I have made many fairies and elves over the years. I don’t recall who told me the story or when I first saw the pictures, I just know that I have known about it for a very long time and as a small child found the story and the images that went with it exciting.

The image of the fairy seems to appeal to the inner child in many of us; it can instil in some of us, images of freedom, mischief and gaiety. Most of the people who saw those pictures, wanted to believe that the pictures were real and some people are still adamant today that there are fairies in Cottingley.

...Do you believe in them?

You can see more of Debie Lyons’ work at www.piskiesandpoppets.com

(Many thanks to Julie Campbell, Jane Longley and Julie Kendall for their kind permission to use pictures of their work for this article.)

Photos A & B by Julie Campbell of BellaBelle Dolls

Photos C & D by Debie Lyons of Piskies & Poppets

Photos E & F by Jane Longley of Willowshimmer Designs

Photo G by Julie Kendall of Jackdaws Attic

Copyright on text in this feature

belongs to Debie Lyons of Piskies & Poppets

Copyright on photos belong to each individual contributors

as named.

F

G Artisans In Miniature 25

By AIM Member Debie Lyons This is the easiest method I know of making wings for fairies and dolls. They can be used for porcelain dolls as well as hand‐sculpted dolls. For porcelain dolls, form the wires into loops and sew onto dolls costume. For sculpted dolls pre make holes in back of fairy before baking. They could even be used to add that finishing touch to a fancy dress costume on one of your dolls. The wings are in two sizes

Method… (Please read instructions in full before starting) 1) Copy and paste the wings onto your computer. Print the wings using the inkjet transparency film ( the printable side is the rough side) and let it dry. See picture A: The Wing Template below.

2) Roughly cut out wings. See picture B, overleaf

3) With the wings ink side face up, carefully, super glue the wire in place. See picture C, overleaf. 4) Spray wings with spray mount and let dry.

Wing Tutorial

Materials Needed:

Inkjet transparency film

Spray mount

Scissors

Thin wire

(24 - 28 gauge)

Super glue

Pliers

Fantasy Film

Optional:

Glitter

Feathers

Crystals

Micro pearls

Flower soft

A Artisans In Miniature 26

5) Cut a piece of Fantasy Film big enough to over the wings, you can either leave it smooth or crumple it up for additional effect. See picture D. 6) Cut the wings out and decorate with the shiny side at the back. See picture E. 7) Attach wings to your fairy.

(These instructions are only intended as a guide and are not suitable for

children under the age of 14years of age.)

8) Finished wings, see picture F.

To view the fabulous work of Debbie Lyons go to :

www.piskiesandpoppets.com

Copyright on all text and photographs in

this tutorial belong to Debie Lyons of

Piskies & Poppets.

B C

D E

F Artisans In Miniature 27

NEW On The Web…NEW On The Web…NEW On The Web… Each month we will highlight a particular AIM member’s new

website and this May we have chosen: Debie Lyons of Piskies and Poppets.

www.piskiesandpoppets.com is a lively and very visually crisp website that has been created by doll artist, sculptor and miniaturist Debie Lyons and has recently been given a big overhaul and brought up to date. Debie lives near Coleshill in Birmingham, a teacher by profession, who still teaches the occasional Adult Education session and not only is she a mother of four but also fosters her little nephew. She has been making miniatures for about 2 years now from her home and hopes to establish this eventually into a full time business. She attended her first miniatures fair a few months ago at Sutton Coldfield and her main products are 1/12th hand sculpted dolls and fantasy figures plus she is now also working on a range of 1/24th scale dolls. Fascinatingly, Debie tells us that she built the website herself using a second hand version of Microsoft Front Page 98 from a car boot sale… she paid just £1.00 for it!! “It took me a while to learn how to use it and my son Jack helped me out with the hyperlinks. If I need to know anything technical I usually try to learn how to do it myself but if I get stuck I ask my husband Steve and my son Jack.” Once you have everything set up its easy to use. This is the second version of my website as I built the other one some time ago. My old website was a bit messy and all over the place. I wanted something that was simple and easy for visitors to navigate around.” When you click onto Debie’s website, you are immediately invited to “Click on the picture to come and meet the mermaids, fairies, elves, miniature creatures and much, much more!” With such gorgeous pictures in front of you – how can anyone resist?!!!! Once you have clicked on the exquisite Welcome Picture, you then immediately come to a page that has Debie’s news, plus you have three choices to click on – A Gallery, Links & Contacts and Tutorials. Once you have clicked on Gallery, you have a multiple choice of thumbnails to press that encompasses the whole selection of Debie’s talents ranging from fantasy figures of elves, mermaids etc. to fantasy brooches and of course 1/12th scale miniatures. The Tutorial page shows how to make “Fantasy Fingers” plus hints and tips on sculpting – which is super. The design of the website is simple and certainly easy to navigate plus it creates an ideal backdrop to showcase Debie’s fantasy and creative art‐work.

She plans to have a 'For Sale Gallery' and a ‘Fairs/Shows’ page in the future so there is a lot more to come. This website is an example of how it is possible to build a lovely and lively website yourself on a shoestring, in order to showcase one’s exquisite creations –

well done Debie! Artisans In Miniature 28

By AIM Member Louise Goldsborough of Angelique Miniatures.

I have always loved shoes, pretty shoes, unusual shoes, dancing shoes....most kinds of shoes really! Whilst browsing the dance shoe section on a well‐known internet auction site, I came upon a wonderful pair of 1920s style, satin dance shoes that were in my exact size. Finding nice shoes in my size is never easy but to find a pair of dance shoes in exactly the right size and

also in that wonderful 1920's style is almost unheard of in my experience (and I have searched for a lot of shoes over the years).

Being completely mad on the music, dance and costume of the 20s anyway, I could barely contain my excitement as the end of the auction drew near. I just knew those shoes were going to find a home on my feet and was prepared to fight dirty for them if I had to. There were already a couple of bids on them but I swooped in at the very last few seconds and whipped them out from under the others' noses.....and for much less than I thought I would have to pay for them too.

The shoes arrived in due course and fitted beautifully, but what on earth would I wear with them? They really needed a 20s style dress. Out came the patterns and there at the bottom of a very large pile, was the perfect reproduction of a 1927 evening‐dress pattern, sleeveless with dropped waist and handkerchief hem.

On raiding the fabric stash I didn't have anything that grabbed me so I had to find some from somewhere (such a terrible chore to buy more fabric.....LOL!!!) So back to the well‐known internet auction site and there in my favourite Hong Kong fabric store was a length of beautiful black embroidered tulle embellished with gold holographic sequins. Thankfully this was a Buy It Now.... so I did.

The fabric arrived in plenty of time but I felt that the shoes could do with being a deeper colour. So I searched and searched for somebody to dye them for me but to no avail. That is, until I spoke to the nice lady at the place where they make the Strictly Come Dancing costumes and she very kindly told me how to dye them myself. (If anyone wants to know how to safely dye satin shoes without them shrinking do contact me and I shall be happy to tell you).

After two attempts, the shoes were just right and went better with the dress but when I tried both on in front of the mirror something was still not right........my hair was way too modern. There was nothing for it....I simply had to buy a wig! The perfect Marcel Wave wig was eventually found and ordered from America (again via the well‐ known internet auction site!) and arrived just in time for the dancing weekend holiday I was planning to wear it all at. The dress was very much admired and the shoes even more so.

I have worn the outfit to several functions since and, at one, I was even asked to demonstrate the Charleston, which of course I was happy to do (I was taught it by one of my grandmothers when I was a teenager. She used to climb out of her bedroom window to go dancing with her older sisters in the late 1920s). So you can see what an adventure one pair of shoes can lead to but it was all great fun and a chance to wear something different.

Text & Photos Copyright ‐ Louise Goldsborough

www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk

It Started With A Pair of Shoes!



1/12th Scale Crochet

Tray cloth

By AIM Member Frances Powell Historical note: No house from Victorian times to the mid 1960s would have been without tray cloths. These were also used on tea trolleys and small side tables. These were usually designed to complement either the china tea set or match the antimacassars (later known as chair backs) and chair arm covers. Tray cloths were usually crocheted or embroidered, but could also be knitted.

Abbreviations:

English

ch‐chain; dc–double crochet; tr‐treble crochet; htr half treble crochet; st– stitch; sl‐slip; ( ) and [ ] ‐ repeat instructions

between brackets; rep‐repeat.

American readers please note:

dc=single crochet, tr=double crochet; htr=half double crochet

Materials required:

0.60 mm (US size 14) crochet hook, small amount (1/16th ball approximately) of Crochet cotton No 100 crochet cotton or

good quality sewing thread.

Foundation chain: 15 ch

Row 1: 1 tr into 4th ch from hook [1st tr], (1 tr into next ch) to end, turn. (This gives 13 tr in total).

Row 2: ch 3 [1st tr], miss 1st tr, (1 tr into next tr) twice, 1 ch, 1 dc into next tr, (3 ch, miss next tr, 1 dc into next tr) three

times, 1 ch, (1 tr into next tr) three times, turn,

Row 3: ch 3 [1st tr], miss 1st tr, (1 tr into next tr) twice, 1 tr into dc, (2 ch, 1 dc into next 3 ch space, 2 ch, 1 tr into next dc)

three times, (1 tr into next tr) three times, turn.

Row 4: ch 3 [1st tr], miss 1st tr, (1 tr into next tr) twice, 1 ch, 1 dc into next tr, (3 ch, 1 dc into next tr) 3 times, 1 ch, (1 tr into

next tr) three times, turn,

Rows 5‐10: repeat rows 3 and 4 three times or to required length.

Row 11: ch 3 [1st tr], miss 1st tr, 1 tr into next tr twice, (1 tr into next dc, 1 tr into 3 ch space) three times, 1 tr into next dc,

(1 tr into next tr) three times. (13 tr)

DO NOT fasten off.

Edging:

Turn the work so that one long side is now to the top.

Work 1 ch, 1 dc into top of 1st tr, then work as follows:

[(3 dc into side of next tr) to corner, turn corner, 1 dc into corner, (1 dc in space

between trs, 1 dc in next tr) to corner] twice.

Fasten off and sew in loose ends.

Press lightly on wrong side with warm iron and damp cloth.

© 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 www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk

Aim Gallery This month we have a packed gallery of images of AIM members’ creations from three different design eras which span from the 1800s through to the 1930s. We hope you will find them inspiring!

Arts And Crafts Movement And specifically

Charles Rennie Mackintosh The Arts & Crafts Movement which was at its height in the latter years of the 1800s through to the early part of the 1900s, promoted bespoke pieces of furniture and art using old craft techniques. Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a Scottish designer and architect who trained at the famous Glasgow School Of Art, became famous for his Art & Crafts designs of austere rectangular framework, long simple curves and bare facades.

Photo 1: The Orchards - an Arts And Crafts House

Photo 2:Mackintosh Fireplace

Photo 3: Mackintosh Mirror

Photo 4. Mackintosh

Style Chair


Art Nouveau The Art Nouveau era was at its height from approx. the 1880s to 1910 and was about creating a whole new style, synonymous with flowing, sinuous lines, organic shapes, lots of flowers and a distinct and elaborate border.

Photo 5. Mackintosh Style

Screen

Photo 7: Art Nouveau Hats

Photo 8, 9 &10: Art Nouveau Stained Glass Window Panels & Lampshade

Photo 6: Art Nouveau Door


Photo 11: Art Nouveau Dress

Photo 12:Flapper Girls


Photo 13: Flapper Girl

10

Art Deco Art Deco was a popular design style of the 1920s and 1930s, characterised by bold outlines, zigzag and geometric forms. Art Deco evolved after the First World War and designers wanted to get away from the organic images of the Art Nou‐veau era and concentrate on glamour.

Photo 15: Cloche Hats From The 1920s

Photo 16 & 17: Characters From the

1920s & 30s


Photo 14: Art Deco Make Up Counter

16

17

So there you are....we hope you have been suitably inspired by taking a brief glimpse at the varied talents from many of our AIM members and able to see what lovely items they have to offer from these different design eras.

For full information of all the contributors to this feature, along with their website details so you can view more of each AIM member’s work, please see below.

Photos 1, 2,4 & 6 by Paul Guichard of www.lamaison‐dollshouses.com Photos 3 & 5 by Carol Lester of www.thedollshousemall.com Photos 7, 15 & 19 by Janine Crocker of http://missameliasminiatures.com Photos 8, 9, 10 by Kim Sexton of www.akminis.com Photos 11, 12 & 13 by Mary Williams of www.dollshousedolls.co.uk Photo 14 by Dawn O'Carroll of http://aquaminis.piczo.com Photo 16 & 17 by Kay Shipp of www.heirloomsinclay.com Photo 18 by Christina Berry of www.thedollshousebeddingco.co.uk Photo 20 by Marsha Mees of www.sassyminidolls.com Photos 21 & 22 by Virginia Moxley of www.atouchoffancy.com

Photo 21 & 22: Art Deco Rugs

Photo 18: Peach Art Deco Bedding

Photo 19: A Selection Of Dresses From The 1920s

Photo 20: Movie Starlett



Beltane is another fertility festival and is celebrated

on 30th April into 1st May and marks the

emergence of the young God figure into

manhood. The Goddess is by this time a beautiful

young woman and they fall in love.

This fertility has long been marked with the May Day celebrations of maypole dancing. The flowers

decorating the maypole symbolise the Earth Goddess and the maypole symbolises the Sun God.

Many ancient festivities still take place today such as the Padstow Obby Os and the Floral Dance in Helston,

both in Cornwall. Many rural villages and towns all over the UK and Europe still have their own similar

celebrations.

Beltane is a time for looking forward

to Mother Earth’s summer bounty.

Traditional arts at this time include

weaving and plaiting, the joining

together of two substances to form

a third. The Fairy Folk enjoy this

festival as the coming of the

Summer is a great excuse for a

party! To help them celebrate, leave

them offerings of dairy foods and

oatmeal biscuits. Custards flavoured

with flowers such as marigold petals

or rose water are other suitable

offerings.

Copyright of text belongs to

Louise Goldsborough

www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk

Fairy Celebrations 9 Yxáà|ätÄá By AIM Member, Louise Goldsborough

BELTANE / MAY DAY.

THE FAIRY HARPIST By Louise Goldsborough.

Down in the woods where the wild bluebells grow, Hear the fairy harp playing sweet and slow.

To the magical notes the harpist sings, Of love and joy and fairy things.

(Copyright Angelique Miniatures 2009) Louise Goldsborough www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk


Ingram street chair by Charles Rennie Mackintosh

By AIM Member, Jane Harrop

The Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928) is closely associated with the Art Nouveau style. He designed the Glasgow school of Art building and he and his wife Margaret designed the furnishings and decoration for several tearooms in Glasgow.

Mackintosh’s style was identified by its simplicity, the strong

geometry and the striking contrast of light and dark. Particularly

characteristic was the sensuality of decoration, the yin and yang of

male and female elements. The key motif was the stylised rose.

Furniture designed by Mackintosh was rectilinear, with visible joins

and simple straight legs. His distinctively designed chairs were

often domineering in height with decorative openwork. Furniture

was generally made out of oak, and often painted white or black.

This chair was originally designed in 1904 for the white dining

room of Miss Cranston’s Ingram Street Tea Rooms in Glasgow. The

design was later used for a set of dining room chairs in

Mackintosh’s Main Street home, but was painted with insets of

glass.

You Will Need...

Project...

1/8in (3mm) by 1/8in (3mm) obechi strip wood:

Two 4 15/16in (125mm) for back legs

Two 1 7/16in (37mm) for front legs

1/8in (3mm) thick obechi sheet wood:

Two 1 3/16in (30mm) by 1/8in (3mm) for front and

back rails

Two 1 1/4in (32mm) by 3/16in (4.5mm) for side rails

3/32in (2.5mm) thick obechi sheet wood:

Two 3 15/16in (100mm) by 1/4in (6mm) for vertical

back slats

Two 1 3/16in (30mm) by 3/8in (9mm) for horizontal

back slats

1/16in (1.5mm) thick obechi sheet wood:

1 3/8in (35mm) for 1 11/32in (34.5mm) for seat

1 3/16in (30mm) by 1 5/32in (29mm) for base

1/16in (1.5mm) diameter hardwood dowel:

1 5/16in (33mm) for front stretchers

Four 1 3/8in (35mm) for side stretchers

2in (51mm) by 2in (51mm) piece of fabric for seat

cover

1 3/8in (35mm) by 1 11/32in (35mm) piece of

wadding for cushion

Oak wood stain

Beeswax polish

Tacky glue


Step 1. Take the four legs, and from

one end on each, measure and mark

5/8in (16mm) and 3/4in (19mm). Drill a

1/16in (1.5mm) hole centrally and part

way through the wood pieces at each

marked position.

Step 2. Take the front legs and turn so

that the holes drilled at step 1 face

inwards as a mirror image of each

other. From the end measured at step

1, measure and mark 7/8in (22mm) and

follow the same procedures to drill a

hole partway through of the wood

pieces.

Step 3. Take the vertical back slats and transfer the measurements from the template. Use a 3/32in

(2.5mm) drill bit to drill through the wood pieces at each marked position. Shape the holes using a

small square needle file.

Step 4. Take a horizontal back slat and transfer the

measurements from the template. Use a 1/16in 1.5mm)

drill bit to drill through the wood piece at each marked

position.

Join the holes and use a sharp craft knife to carefully

remove this section. Use a small needle file

to shape and smooth the cut‐out section.

1

3a

2

3b

4a

Step 5. Take the remaining horizontal back slat and shape the piece as shown using a piece of sand

paper positioned around a piece of 1in (25mm) diameter dowel or a marker board pen.

Step 6. Take the side rails and transfer the

measurement from the template. Cut off the

excess wood using either a craft knife and ruler or

mitre cutter and then shape the cut angled section

as shown. Sand and sparingly stain each of the

wood pieces with an oak coloured wood stain.

Note: the seat wood piece does not need staining.

Step 7. Position and glue the back section pieces as

shown, with the drill holes in the back legs facing

forwards and at the bottom of the construction. The top edge of

the horizontal back slat is flush with the tops of the back legs. Use a

right‐angled gluing jig to ensure the construction dries square.

Step 8. Position and glue the front rail and front stretcher between

the two front legs, with the two drill holes on each leg facing for‐

wards. The top edge of the front rail is flush with the top of the

legs.

4b 5

6a

6b

7

8


6b

Step 9. Join the two constructions using the

side stretchers and side rails and glue into

position. Note: the widest ends of the side

stretchers are positioned against the back

legs. Position the back rail on the back

construction; the top edge is in‐line with the

tops of the previously positioned rails.

Position and glue the base wood piece inside

the seat opening so that it is flush with the

top of the side rails. Carefully apply a

beeswax polish, allow to penetrate and buff

to a sheen with a clean piece of kitchen

paper towel.

Step 10. Lightly glue a piece of wadding on to

the seat wood piece. Position the wood

piece wadding side down on to the under‐

side of the fabric. Bring the edges of the

fabric neatly over on to the underside of the

seat and glue into place on top of the chair,

with the wider edge of the seat wood facing

forwards. Position and glue on top of the

base piece.

© Jane Harrop 2009

www.janeharrop.co.uk


9

10


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

Antique Miniature Fireplaces Of The 1920s, 1930s and Post War 1940s. Dolls houses & their contents through the different generations often reflected the styles and design

influences popular at the time of them being built – so those created during the 1920s‐30s, right

through to the post war 1940s are no exception. At this time there were various trends and styles

ranging from stylish Art Deco through to mock Tudor and a more traditional look.

In this month’s feature, you will see various examples of these toy dolls house fireplaces from the

1920s through to just after the 2nd World War in the latter part of the 1940s

Three different examples of

1920s Lines fireplaces

Photo 1 shows an original fireplace in a 1920s G&J

Lines Dolls House. The wallpaper and flooring,

although not original to the manufacturer, was put

in when the house was renovated ten years later

during the 1930s with some fabulous real Art Deco

wallpaper.

Note the 1930s portrait fixed on the wall above the

mantelpiece plus a material fringe has been added

to decorate the mantel.

In Photo 2, another fireplace in the same Lines dolls

house but this time without the fringe – same

wallpaper but check out that very old horse motif

fixed on the wall!

Photo 3 was found in a later 1920s Lines House and

is a very different style to the others with a more

traditional wooden fire surround and an insert of a

burning fire with blue brick effect printed on paper.

Seeing as this fireplace is over 70 years old, it is

amazing how the gorgeous blue colour has kept its

vibrancy and it could be forgiven if the card the

paper is attached to has bowed somewhat!

1

2

3


Two wooden fireplaces of unknown origin. Both wooden fireplaces in Photos 4 & 5 came

together and were obviously made by the same person

however whether they were homemade or created/

sold by a manufacturer, is not known.

However what I can say is that they are both

extremely solid and skilfully made, and came along

with some other furniture.

According to the style were

probably from the 1920s

(maybe slightly earlier) and

have a more traditional look

about them.

Two different examples of

Tri‐ang 1930s fireplaces. Photo 6 shows a Tri‐ang “Odeon” style fireplace

which were found in several different models of

Tri‐ang dolls houses built in the 1930s and so

obviously very Art Deco! In the photo, sadly the

wallpaper and flooring are modern but the

fireplace itself is in original condition with white

painted wooden surround and a paper “burning

fire effect” insert.

In Photo 7 you can see another fireplace

which was used in various different

models of Tri‐ang houses during the

1930s. It would consist of a wooden

surround with a printed paper brick and

burning fire effect insert fixed to a

backing card, plus a protruding fixed

metal grate. All these Lines and Tri‐ang

fireplaces are now becoming highly

collectable and sought after. Needless to

say although basic in construction, the

value of them is rising as they become

more difficult to find in good condition.

4

6

5

7


Three examples of 1930s Tay‐

lor & Barrett Metal

Fireplaces. Here we have three different

variations of the easily recognisable

1930s T&B metal fireplaces. They

would have had a curb stone, seen

in Photo 8 but were so easily lost

over the years.

Also, in Photo 9 you can just see that there is a

removable metal fire fret (underneath the

coals)… but again these frets are so rare to find

intact now... probably more rare than the

curbstones, as they were so easily mislaid.

These fireplaces would suit the 1/16th scale

dolls house. They are almost Art Nouveau in

style, a throwback to a past design era, and the

colours can vary.

My favourite of all is the pale green and cream

colour (Photo 10).... as it is so pretty

(the photo does not do it justice).

Two more examples of metal fireplaces. Here we have two more examples of two very different metal fireplaces, both 1/16th scale.

Photo 11 shows a 1930s Charben fireplace, again in a traditional design with all in one moulded and

painted features. The other fireplace in Photo 12 is a post war 1940s Jacqueline metal fireplace so

wonderfully Art Deco in style.

8 9

10

11 12

1930s Tiny Toy Fireplace and 1940s

Jacqueline Metal Electric Fire The green speckled wooden fireplace (Photo 13) is

thought to be a 1930s variation of the Tiny Toy

fireplace, so evocative of the typical 1930s tiled

effect fireplace.

The Jacqueline metal electric fireplace (Photo 14)

was made post war 1940s and is just super and

although meant to be 1/16th scale would not look

out of place in a 1/12th scale house either.

And finally… I thought I would finish this feature with an aerial

shot of the living room in my miniature antique

1930s Bungalow (see Photo 15) and you can just

about make out the 1930s tiled effect fireplace with

the ‘30s mantle clock and mirror above. Everything,

apart from the rug, vases and flying ducks have been

made out of wood and is truly delightful.

None of the sides of the bungalow open and you can

only view the interior by lifting off the roof so sorry

but cannot get a “full on” shot.... no‐one knows if

this was built by a very talented craftsman for a

family member although one theory is that it may

have been a developer’s model as the detail in the

entire bungalow is incredible‐ the style very typical

of the early 1930s.

If you wish to find out more go to

www.ktminiatures.com where you can view this bungalow in its entirety as

Collection 7 in the Old Dolls House

Galleries plus there is a large selection of

vintage and antique dolls house items for sale.

Copyright on all text and photos in this

feature belong to Celia Thomas of

KT Miniatures.

13

14


1:12th Project...

You will need...

.1.


By AIM Member, Julie Campbell

Here is a simple basic hand tutorial.

Dollmaking novices often struggle with

hands and it’s amazing the difference

they can make to a doll. This is how I

started out making hands ‐ it’s very

easy to follow.

Right lets get started! You should have a

clean flat surface to work on. I usually

work on glass as it’s easy to wipe over. I

also keep a supply of baby wipes handy

and wipe my hands frequently during

sculpting.

• Polymer clay.

• Sculpting tools (I use a

darning needle)

• A ball headed pin

• A wooden smoothing tool

(but you can improvise)

• Baby wipes

• Patience!

For Basic Beginners...

First of all condition your clay well. I use prosculpt

which doesn’t need a lot of kneading. Once your

clay is nice and pliable roll it into a long sausage

the width you would like your lower arm to be.

Then cut off 2 logs of equal size. I use a scale chart

for my sizing but for a 12th scale doll the logs are

approx 30mm long and 6mm wide. .1.


Round the ends of each

log then take each log

between your two in‐

dex fingers about

10mm from the end

and roll to give a

waisted effect.

Lay your clay arms on

your board and flatten

each hand slightly.

Now cut a shallow

elongated v shape from

each hand. You now

have your basic hand

shape! Take each hand

and shape with your

fingers rounding off the

finger area and

thinning out a little at

the top and then roll

your thumb to give a

good shape.

.2.

.3.

.4.

Now lay your hands back on the board and make 3 cuts in each

hand to the half way point. This is the start of your fingers.

Make sure you cut right through the clay.

.5.


This is where it gets a bit tricky! Very gently take each finger and roll and ever so gently elongate it. Go

carefully as if your clay isn't soft enough it can snap. I pull very gently from the top of the finger; you

want each finger to taper towards the end. If you snap a finger off don’t panic! Simply use your

smoothing tool to attach it again.

Now take your blade again and cut your fingers to the

size you want.

The lovely thing about making hands is you have 2 of your own, so use your own hand as a guide for the

finger length

Now its time to add some detail and make these look like hands!

First of all round off the fingertips gently so they are nicely tapered. Then take your

smoothing tool and gently push down between each finger to make a little groove.

Now press down on the back of each hand with your smoothing tool to flatten it slightly.

.6.

.7.

.8. .9.

Your hands should already be looking

more realistic. With the flat end of your

darning needle gently indent the end of

each finger for your nails.

Then with your sharp blade very, very

carefully press down either side of the

nail. This gives a lovely nail effect but do

be careful not to slice through the finger‐

tip! Very gently pinch the finger tips a

little to keep their shape. .10.

.11.

.12. .13.

Now it’s time to turn the hands

over and put some detail there

too.

First make a rounded

indentation in the centre of the

palm. I use my wooden tool for

this, as it is the perfect shape.

Then press down slightly under

the palm to flatten the

underside of the wrist

Using your pin or a sharp ended

tool draw in the lines of the

palm

.14. Artisans In Miniature 48


Then draw in the three sections of each finger. Again use your own hand for guidance. Now gently

push the thumb side of the hand down and under a little to give a realistic shape to the hand

To attach the hand to your doll you will need to insert your wire, I use a 2mm knitting needle to make

my wire hole. Cut your arm to the length you want and then push the knitting needle into the end.

Once your hand is on the needle you can shape the arm and pose your hand.

This is when I add any creases to the wrists and take my filbert brush to smooth the hands. If you

brush gently between the fingers and onto the hand you get a lovely effect. This is your basic hand!

Simply bake in your oven at 130C for 30 minutes, allow to cool, and your hands are ready to use.

I hope you have enjoyed this basic

tutorial. Making hands can be a lot of

fun and you will want to carry on and

add more detail. It is easy to add

knuckle detail, wrist bones, wrinkles

and crinkles to make your hands

suitable for a man or woman, old

person or young child.

To see this tutorial with more detailed

photos, see Bellabelle Dolls own

website: www.bellabelledolls.co.uk

Copyright on all text and photos in

this tutorial belong to

Julie Campbell of Bellabelle Dolls.

.15. .16.

.17.

MORRIS in Miniature

By AIM Member, Robin Britton

It’s May – beautiful, bright, energetic and raring to

go! Up and down the country Morris Dancers, every

bit as bright, colourful and energetic are delighting

the crowds in market town squares, village greens

and courtyards, with the exuberant, athletic dances

and traditional music and costume that makes them

welcome wherever they turn out.

The origins of Morris are not clear and still debated,

but the most popular view is that it came to us from

Spain, and the Spanish Morisco or Moorish ( Morris)

dances, and has been danced for at least four

centuries. The revival in this country, when it

seemed that it had almost disappeared by the end

of the 19th century, came about with the Victorian renewed interest in folktales, when enthusiasts

began to collect tunes and dances and seek out the remaining Morris sides. The First World War,

when so many men were lost, again threatened it’s continuance, but gradually the number of dance

sides increased and came together in 1934 as an association called the Morris Ring. Today, it thrives,

and the Ring has over 200 member teams, despite concerns that fewer young dancers are coming

forward. Traditionally a dance for men; now ladies are forming very popular teams and these do

seem to be on the increase – so Morris lives!

These days the music ‐ traditional folk dances, some dances based on old Music Hall tunes and

others on marches ‐ are played most familiarly, on

fiddle, accordion and ‘squeeze box’, but in Tudor

times it would have been the pipe and tabor. Each

side has its own distinctive outfit and these are so

varied and individual that they are worth

researching if you are thinking of creating your own

miniature Morris man. The jingling bells, that adorn

the ‘costumes’ are supposed to represent the jangle

of the Moorish armour.



The dances are traditional too and have local influences. It depends where, and who you are watching,

but Bean‐setting is danced with sticks, and a lot of clashing of the sticks and banging them on the ground

‐ ‘dib, dib’ ‐ to emulate planting beans; dances with antlers, and lots which involve leaping high into the

air waving handkerchiefs with great abandon.

My own interest is two‐fold; I have always loved the music, dance and ‘spectacle’ of my local Morris

sides and my husband, as a youngster, was privileged to be part of the Icknield School Morris side in

Wantage, Oxfordshire. In the 1950s, Miss Mary Shunn. Geography teacher and Deputy Head , introduced

the boys to Morris dancing and a team was formed. During the Second World War, with an obvious lack

of men, she had danced with la crème de la crème of Morris, The Headington Quarry Morris Men, in

Oxford, so she was well qualified. From the early beginnings in school, the renowned Icknield Way Morris

Men was formed and they took for their emblem, that of their old school – the Wessex Wyvern – insignia

of the Kings of Wessex. If you remember your history, you’ll know that King Alfred was, allegedly, born in

Wantage.

A number of years ago I was commissioned to make my first Morris dancer – in 1/24th scale. I needed to

create my own team – so I took The Icknield Way side as my inspiration. A word of advice here – if you

feel inspired, start with 1/12th scale!

I decided on the same basic uniform of white shirt and trousers, black shoes and flower‐covered straw

hats. So far so good – I chose The Uffington White Horse as my emblem, painted on the back of a bright

green waistcoat, which was further trimmed with rosettes in blue, red and yellow and I crossed bands of

bright red ribbon across the chest. It was important to create authentic looking straw hats, and I use

raffia for 1/12th scale and open‐weave embroidery fabric for the smaller scale. Like our modern Morris, I

used silk flowers and ribbons for colourful trimming. The jingling bells, fixed to leather bands, below the

knees was a puzzle until I hit upon using tiny gold beads, threaded in groups of five or six so that they still

moved like the real thing, and attached them to leather, ‘tied’ around the legs with thread.. All I had to

decide then was whether to have them bean‐setting or waving miniature handkerchiefs with an

exuberant flourish!

The first couple of dancers were for a 1/24th village green;

since then, they have moved about all over this and other

countries – as far as Morris itself ‐ to other miniature

greens, and fetes….. and have even been seen propping

up the bar in a few miniature pubs, looking very happy!

Robin Britton The real life Morris men in the photograph, are the

Icknield Way Morris Men in the early 1990s, taken shortly

before my first miniature Morris man was born.

‘Morris in Miniature’, including pictures, is the Copyright

of Robin Britton – www.coombecrafts.co.uk and may not

be used or reproduced without expressed permission.

Compiled By AIM Member, Margaret Pitts (MiniMilliner)

Hello again Kids! As promised, we have an absolutely super project for you to do this month. It comes courtesy of Hannah f r o m S h e p h e r d

Miniatures, who has made her own Pet Shop.

This month she shows you how to make a bed for your pet dog or cat.

If you enjoy doing this, why not try making your own pet shop like Hannah?

But first, let’s have a look in the Tool Box. How is yours coming along?

This month, I thought we would talk about what we need for cutting. Some of these tools will only be in an adult’s toolbox as they could be quite dangerous if not handled properly, but it’s still fun to find out more about them. There are also quite a few you will be able to use yourself if you are sensible. Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is scissors. Now everyone needs at least one good pair of scissors, but when I started counting the number of pairs in my workroom, I stopped at thirty-something…This is totally over the top and quite unnecessary, but I am a bit of a compulsive scissor-buyer! I have separate pairs for cutting silk, leather, felt, paper, card, cotton, wadding…etc, but DO NOT TAKE ANY NOTICE of this! All you really need are two or three pairs: one for cutting paper and card; one for cutting fabric; and possibly a small pair with very sharp points to cut tiny shapes.

The Tool Box...



Mini AIMers Continued…

After scissors, the commonest cutting tool is probably a craft knife..

These are very sharp and should only be handled by an adult. However, with guidance and supervision you may be allowed to try one like the orange one in the picture. This type has disposable blades and is cheap to buy. A more unusual, but very handy tool is the Easy Cutter. It is so good at cutting lots of different things that it could easily chop off your finger…..so this is for grown-ups only! You will find out more about it from this month’s featured artisan, Jane Harrop, so I shall say no more about it.

Now this next tool is one for the junior toolbox since it is called a Junior Hacksaw.

Get an adult to show you how to use it… it’s great for cutting small pieces of wood. You can also get a saw blade for a standard craft knife, but this might be in your Mum or Dad’s toolbox.


You will be familiar with trimmers at school and it is handy to have one of the smaller ones at home if your parents allow it. There is also an even smaller one (grey & orange, above right) which measures about 10” long and is less than 4” wide. The blade is totally concealed and there are guards either side to prevent your fingers from accidentally getting in the way, so it is a safe and easy tool for cutting paper or thin card. My last cutting tool is a pair of wire-cutters. Older children may be able to use these themselves, as they operate like scissors, but with any tools, you should be supervised by a grown-up. I have a small pair for fine wire and a bigger pair for thicker wire. The larger ones are also handy for baring wires that have a plastic covering, but this is quite tricky to do and takes lots of practice.

What is Jane Harrop’s favourite tool…?

When I asked Jane which tool she couldn’t do without, this is what she chose:

“My favourite tool has to be my mitre cutters, which are basically scissors for wood. They will cut and mitre strip wood up to 1/2in (13mm) thick and are used instead of a mitre block and saw. I have two pairs in different sizes, but the pair I like best has to be the smaller ones with the blue handles.

One of my most recent projects was this 1/24th scale Edwardian mahogany dressing table, and my

mitre cutters proved invaluable for cutting the tricky angles at the top of the mirror frame.”



Here, Jane tells us a bit more about mitres:

When following project instructions, you may sometimes be asked to ‘mitre’ the ends of wood. This term means that you will need to cut the ends of the wood to an angle of 45 degrees, so that when two pieces are fitted together they will make a right-angled joint. This technique is especially useful for making frames for pictures and mirrors.

You can use a mitre block and razor saw or junior hacksaw to mitre wood. Mitre blocks have diagonal openings, which the saw can be positioned inside, so that you can cut through the wood at a 45 degree angle.

Alternatively, you can use mitre cutters (see ‘my favourite tool’ above) and press the wood against the guide to cut the end of the wood to 45 degrees. Mitre cutters also have indicators for positioning the wood, so that it can be cut at other angles.

For safety you should always be supervised by an adult when cutting wood.

You can see more of Jane Harrop’s work at: www.janeharrop.co.uk or email: [email protected]

Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves, get out the scissors and glue and get cracking with this month’s project to make a Pet Bed.

All you need is an empty plastic bottle (Hannah has used a glue bottle, but anything a similar shape would be suitable…..except bleach. DO NOT

USE A BLEACH BOTTLE.), paint, tacky glue and a piece of fabric.

Follow the pictures a step at a time and you will end up with a delightful bed for your pet dog or cat. Why not take a photo of it and send it to me

(see email address at the end of Mini Aimers) and we will publish it in the magazine? Or if you have pictures of anything you have made, we should love to see them… don’t be shy!

Project Time...

A big THANK YOU to Hannah for sending us this project!

Copyright of photos in this project belongs to Shepherd Miniatures: You can see more of their lovely things for stocking your pet shop at:

www.shepherdminiatures.co.uk If you have any questions, comments, ideas, suggestions, please email

Margaret: [email protected] 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.


Can you tell us a bit about your life before Miniatures? I was born during WW2 in Sunderland, UK,

which makes me a Makem (this will only be of

interest to followers of football), but have lived

most of my life in Yorkshire. My first career was

as a teacher and ultimately a deputy head in a

Primary school, but deteriorating health led to

early retirement…..and a new lease of life as a

miniaturist.

As a child, what were your favourite toys? My first love was a soft, woolly lamb, which I took to bed with me for years until only its ear was left.

Next came my dolls, which I loved dearly. My mother made all our clothes as things were scarce during

the war, and I always begged the left‐over scraps of fabric to make new clothes for my dolls. Then my

father made me a dollshouse and between the three of us, we papered, furnished and lit it. (I can still

picture those enormous round light switches!)

What brought you back to dolls and hence miniatures? It wasn’t dolls I became interested in second time around; it was dolls houses. Having plenty of time on

my hands after retiring, I wanted a new hobby, so decided to build myself a dollshouse. However, after

much frequenting of libraries, studying of plans and changing of mind, the whole project was put on hold.

To cut a long story short, I visited a Dollshouse Fair, fell in love with a ready built Tudor house made by

Robert Stubbs, fell OUT of love with my husband when he said NO…..but got my own way in the end. And

that was how I entered the world of Miniatures.

What was your first purchase? See above.

What miniature item do you most covet? I would love a twelfth‐scale grand piano that really plays. I know I have read about one somewhere, but

can’t recall who made it.

Who do you most admire in the miniature world? I think of all the wonderful artisans out there, it would have to be the Silversmiths. They make the most

incredible pieces and Hallmarked too! I drool over their work at fairs, yet I don’t actually own any

miniature silver. This is because I am stuck in the Tudor period, and most of the silver is Georgian and

Victorian.

What made you decide to specialise in Millinery? I’ve never been able to resist trying on real‐size hats, so to have the opportunity of creating any style of

hat I choose in miniature is a dream come true. As well as hats of all periods, shapes and sizes for ladies, I

also make hats for men, as there is a bit of a gap in the market there. On the whole, they are much

harder to make than ladies’ hats, which probably explains why fewer hatters sell them.

AIM Member Margaret Pitts


Have you had any unusual commissions?

I was once asked to produce hats that looked as if they have been rescued from the gutter…..grubby,

greasy, battered etc. I found it quite difficult to make perfectly good hats, then virtually destroy them!

But you have to keep the customers happy.

Another memorable sale, rather than a specific commission, happened at a fair. It was the year of the

Queen’s Golden Jubilee and I had made a hat similar to one HRH had been wearing on several

occasions that week. It was displayed centre stage on my stand as a talking point, but not intended for

sale. Towards the end of the fair, a lady approached me and asked if I would consider selling her the

hat. She told me she had once been employed as a nanny in the royal household and so the hat would

be of special significance to her personally. I did sell it to her, but have always regretted not having a

photograph of it.

Do you have any hobbies unrelated to miniatures?

Yes. I am a member of an archery club and own a modern recurve bow and a longbow (my favourite).

During the summer we shoot outdoors in the most beautiful surroundings imaginable…..so relaxing

and fun!

At risk of being labelled an ‘anorak’, I am also an aviation enthusiast! I do NOT log numbers of aircraft,

but I love to spend time around my local airport watching planes and whenever possible, flying in

them. I have had a few lessons, but it is a very expensive hobby, so I am unlikely to be able to afford to

obtain a private pilot’s license on the

income from making miniature hats.

Any phobias?

I hate to admit it, but I am terrified of

birds. And NO, I have not seen the film

and have no intention of doing so! I have

had to force myself to handle feathers, as I

need them in my work, but I don’t enjoy

that part.

Fantasies?

Well the only printable one would be to

experience Space travel. I think the thrill of

being launched into space in a rocket,

perhaps to the International Space Station,

would be the most amazing, exhilarating

sensation imaginable!

Margaret Pitts:

www.minimilliner.co.uk Artisans In Miniature 59

Kiva Atkinson: Oysters


Welcome to the Miniature Kitchen…

This month, in keeping with the magazine theme, we have tried to re-create some of the dishes that were served on the last e v e n i n g aboard the Titanic.

Each month Mags Cassidy of Mags‐nificent Miniatures opens the doors to her very own ‘virtual’ miniature kitchen, to share with readers: top tips, new products, news and fantastic miniature food related projects written by either herself or by her fellow ‘foodies’ at the AIM Association…

H.M.S Titanic

Dinner Menu

VtÇtÑ°á eÉtáà fÖâtu

eÉtáà _tÅu ã|à{ `|Çà ftâvx

ctàx YÉ|x ZÜtá

TáÑtÜtzâá i|Çt|zÜxààx

cÉtv{xw ftÄÅÉÇ |Ç `ÉâááxÄ|Çx ftâvx.

bçáàxÜá T y|ÄÄxw YÜâ|à fàtÇw

T YÜâ|à cÄtààxÜ

Philippa Todd & Mags Cassidy: Canapes


Copyright 2008 www.toddtoysandminiatures.com. Copyright www.betsy-niederer-miniature-food-igma-fellow.com Copyright Kiva’s miniatures 2008/9 www.Kivasminiatures.com Copyright belongs to Vicky Guile of NJD Miniatures Copyright Mags-nificent Miniatures 1998-2009

Betsy Niederer: A filled Fruit Stand

Vicky Guile: Roast Squab Roast Lamb with Mint Sauce Pate Foie Gras: Asparagus Vinaigrette Poached Salmon in Mousseline Sauce

Mags Cassidy: A Fruit Platter

What do you need? Here's the list: 1. Patience!!!!! 2. Small ball of polymer clay (to make mould.) 3. Tin foil 4. Material of your choice – preferably something stretchy or pure cotton. 5. Glue. (I used fabric glue as it is water resistant. I use Tacky glue as well, but don't get your item wet! 6. piece of bukrum about 4" square 7. Pattern made of thin card. 8. Sharp material scissors 9. Paper scissors 10. Trim for the hat band. 11. Bunka to surround the brim in a colour matching the material or the trim. 12. Ceran wrap (clingfilm) 13. Gesso and paint brush. 14. Elastic band.

Make a mould of the hat top out of fimo. It

should be easy enough ‐ take a piece of clay,

make into an oval shape, make sure the size

is small enough, dent and smooth to

make the triangle shape of the indent

on top and it should end up looking

like the first picture. Do not make the

brim, but elongate the sides of the

top. Bake on tin foil in the oven for

about 20 minutes at about 100 C

(about 200F). You're ready to go!!

Wrap ceran wrap (clingfilm) tightly

over your hat mould. This will make it

easier to remove the buckrum with‐

out distorting it.

Mobster Hat Tutorial By AIM Member, Cheryl Clingen

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Dampen your buckrum, then stretch it over your mold. Secure with elastic band, and tug all around until

most of the “gathers” are straightened. You can also trim those folds which you cannot straighten. Make

sure to push the buckrum INTO the dent on top and keep checking until it dries completely. You can use a

hairdryer or leave it in a sunny place, but keep checking the dent. Walk around all day with your thumb

pressing on it if necessary! <grin>.

Once it is dry, you can begin your hat making, and you’ll have your own mould forever too!

Paint inside and outside with Gesso (sealer) then with black acrylic paint.

PREPARE BRIM

NB. DO NOT TRIM OFF THE EXCESS OF FORMED HAT – YOU NEED IT ATTACHED FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO

HOLD ONTO IT WHILE FITTING THE BRIM.

Using Hat Pattern as a guide, cut your two card brims. Turn to the side without the drawing on, and glue

your material onto the card. Allow to dry.

Cut out the brims and the centres of the two brims. Then clip HALF way up the clipping lines. Rather too little

than too much! Use a bald head of a doll the size that will be wearing it. See if you can push the brim over

the head. If not, clip a little more until it fits snugly when pulled onto the head. Put aside for both to dry.

Back to the main part of the hat – now it

should be dry. Place a little glue into the

dent of the hat, wait until it’s nice and

tacky, then place the centre of the material

gently into the dent – be careful it does not

bleed through the material. You have to

hold it in place until the glue dries so you

can get a really nice shape showing.

When dry, place some

glue on the rims, and do

the same thing until it

dries.


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Cover the rest of the brim with glue, allow to dry till tacky, not wet, and gently stretch the fabric around the

hat trying to keep it smooth as possible. Tie an elastic band around the base, and gently tug the material

around until it’s totally smooth with no creases or folds. Keep an eye on the dent – it can easily pull out.

Place a little glue around the base of the hat, about ½” down. Now slide the

top brim over the top of the hat until it’s in place and even. The tabs will bend

upwards, and this will be covered by the hat band.

When that is dry, this is the time to trim

the hat edges level with the brim.

Smooth some glue around the inside of

the hat, and on the cardboard side of the

brim, and glue the two brims together.

Push the tabs inside the hat.

Guess what? Allow to dry!!!!! <grin>

Glue thin leather or bunka around

the edge of the brim for a nice finish.

Glue on your hatband to cover the tabs on the outside, beginning at the back.

Whoohoo – you did it!

To find out more about Cheryl’s work, go to her website: www.MiniDollsFromAfrica.com

Copyright of text and photos of this tutorial belong to Cheryl Clingen 2009 Artisans In Miniature 64

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The Miniature... GRAPEVINE

New AIM Members

The Ranks Of AIM Are Ever Growing!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following artisans who have joined AIM in the past few weeks...

Christening Gown From Helena Bleeker

Helena Bleeker tells us that for this month’s project in the latest issue of Dolls House & Miniatures Scene magazine she has chosen a Christening Gown which is not only pretty and elegant but also easy to knit, per‐fect for the not too experienced knitters. The gown comes complete with a bonnet and pants; it is a perfect fit for a 5 cm Heidi Ott baby but can of course be adapted to fit most small babies.

Helena Bleeker www.helena‐petitefashions.co.uk

Spells and Potions In Miniature From Barbara Brear

Barbara Brear of South Africa is delighted to announce the arrival of her latest fully printed miniature book.

It is a book of Spells and Potions (more home remedies really and results are not guaranteed!) Need a cure for the‐morning‐after? Or a cure for bad breath (I hope not) or a spell for getting a good night's sleep? ‐ it's all here ‐ in miniature. The book has 32 colour plates with pictures of herbs and 32 spells clearly legible. It is finished with marbled end papers and a black leather cover, which has blind tooling on the leather.

Barbara Brear www.bbminiatures.homestead.com

Jan & Karen ‐ Tudor Miniatures Gilles Roche Mary Godfrey Lisa Johnson Richards Shara Lewis Don Thomas Pili Mandelbaum & Laurent Audren

Karina Vrijdaghs Christine of Dandelion Flair Lesley Shepherd Loraine & Brian of Grandad's Miniatures Gail Tucker


NEW

Artisans In

MiniMilliner Hats Some pretty hats from Margaret Pitts (MiniMilliner) are featured in the May issue of The DollsHouse Magazine. You can see more of her work at: www.minimilliner.co.uk

Artisan Of The Month For AIM Member

AIM member Debbe Mize was chosen as artisan of the month for April on the Miniatures Only website. Debbe specialises in miniature food & “in progress” scenes.

Her work can be seen at www.cdhm.org/user/trisscade & http://community.webshots.com/user/debbem101

Coming May 2009 ‐ Brand

new 1:48th series from

Petite Properties

Do you want to make realistic 1:48th scale dolls houses, but don’t know how to get started? Are you looking for an easy to follow guide to help you create imaginative and authentic quarter scale dolls houses steeped in the best of British architecture, heritage and nostalgia? Then look no further!

Create your own quarter scale street scene! Written by a leading name in smaller scale dolls

houses, each book in this brand new quarter scale

series by Fiona Broadwood (Bea) teaches how to make

individual 1:48th dolls house properties. Each Book

comes complete with its very own Petite Properties’

precision cut dolls house kit!

This new 1:48th scale series allows readers to ‘pick &

mix’ property designs in order to create and build their

very own unique quarter scale street scenes!

Each property kit design is presented with a fully illustrated step‐by‐step instructions and stunning colour photography .

...No wood work ! All of the dolls houses featured in this series are built without the use of any hard wood or woodworking skills and you definitely won’t need expensive or specialised materials.

The Corner Shop (Book & Kit No 1) will be launched at the prestigious Kensington Dollshouse Festival this month. For further details visit

www.petite‐properties.com or email office@petite‐properties.com for further details...

Charity Auction At Kensington Dollshouse Festival

Kensington Dollshouse Festival is holding a charity auction to mark their 25th anniversary. Anne Walden‐Mills of Anro Miniatures has embroidered two Victorian aprons. Bids can be made prior to the Festival by email to [email protected]

Many of our AIM members will be attending as stand holders at this unique event...look out for the AIM logo on their stand and say a special “Hi” to them and enjoy their fabulous crafts‐manship!

Latest Miniatura Flyer When you see the latest Miniatura flyer for the October Fair at the Birmingham NEC in 2009, you will see AIM member Mary Williams’ photo of one of her lovely dolls dressed from a Marcia Backstrom kit.

PLUS....WHY NOT HAVE A GO AT WINNING THE FABULOUS FLAPPER DOLL CREATED AND KINDLY DONATED BY MARY WILLIAMS IN THIS ISSUE? All you have to do is simply answer a ques‐tion......go to page 15 to find out more!!!!!!!

Readers Comments It is always good to hear comments from readers of our AIM Online Magazine… here is another one we thought we would share with you all! I just wanted to write and thank you for this wonderful magazine. The quality of the articles and the pictures is superb. It is the only magazine that I really feel like reading from cover to cover. I particularly like the format - that does not use columns for articles - it makes it so much easier to read on line. I strive to one day be able to have all my miniatures look like artisan pieces and I feel like this is the magazine that will help me achieve

that. Please don't stop and thanks so much for all the effort that you put into it. Lisa



COMING nEXT MONTH… A Double edition

Summer

Special!!

Don’t Miss A Thing!

Catch the latest news from all around the miniature world…

All FREE and fully downloadable at:


Loads more fantastic projects, articles & features 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.

Summer Summer Special!!Special!!


See you again next month…!

Kiva Atkinson Julie Bell

Christina Berry Robin Britton

Bea Broadwood Mags Cassidy Cheryl Clingen Marianne Cook Janine Crocker

Louise Goldsborough Paul Guichard Vicky Guile

Jane Harrop Lorrie Harvey Carol Lester Debie Lyons Linda Masters Marsha Mees Debbie Mize Sandra Morris Virginia Moxley Betsy Niederer Dawn O'Carroll Sue Perrins

Margaret Pitts Frances Powell Kim Sexton

Chris Shepherd Kay Shipp Jain Squires

Charlotte Stokoe Georgina Stead Celia Thomas Philippa Todd Mary Williams

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

Many thanks therefore to...

aim mag issue 12

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