AIM October Magazine, Halloween Special

Contents… October 2009: Issue No 16 Cover Image: Jodi & Richard Creager

Regular Features… 5 Editor’s Note: Read Bea Broadwood’s introduction & welcome to this month’s edition of the Artisans In Miniature FREE ‘downloadable’ magazine! 30 New On The Web: This month we take a closer look at the website of Shepherd Miniatures. 33 Tales From The Toy Cupboard: AIM member Sandra Morris brings you another instalment of her regular column. 48 Antique & Vintage Corner: Celia Thomas takes an in depth look at ‘Kleeware’ plastic dolls house furniture of the 1950’s and 1960’s. 59 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 Kathi Mendenhall’s beautifully organised work space. 65 Well, (Spooky Things) Happened To An Artisan: Read about the often strange lives of AIM members. 69 In Season This Month: A brand new regular ‘miniature food’ feature. This month Vicky Guile and her fellow AIM food artisans take a closer look at Pumpkins, Squash & Gourdes. 82 Aim Pleased To Meet You: Get to know more about AIM member Wendy Smale when you read her answers to our questions. 90 Mini Aimers: Written and compiled by Margaret Pitts especially for younger miniaturists and the artisans of the future. 96 The Miniature Grapevine: Catch up on all the latest news and announcements from the international miniature world.

Special Features… 6 AIM’s Halloween Gallery: A collection of AIM member’s spookiest creations. 12 Trick Or Treat?: ‐ AIM members and food artisans Emma & Neil Martinot take a closer look at the meaning of Halloween. 19 Never Say Thank You To A Fairy: Doll Artisan and AIM member Louise Goldborough explains more about fairy etiquette.

Artisans In Miniature 2 53

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20 An Intriguing Dollshouse Theme: Jana Rowntree shares her interpretation of Egyptian revival, in miniature of course. 28 The History Of Aran Sweaters: AIM member Frances Powell lifts the lid on the history of these famous jumpers. 32 Do You Believe This One?: AIM member Helen Bleeker shares her tale of a very unusual commission. 38 The Burial Pit: As part of our Halloween celebration doll artisan, illustrator and author Jill Bennett brings us a delightfully spooky short story. 43 Diamonds & Toads: AIM member Maia Bisson explains more

about the magical world of fairytales. 53 The Macabre: AIM member Carol smith shares her scary miniature creations. 84 Once Upon A Time ‐ The AIM Gallery: This month we have a packed gallery of AIM members’ creations which celebrates fairy tales from our childhood, captured in miniature.

Free Projects… 16 A Guide To Miniature Apple Bobbing: AIM member

Catherine Davies explains how she captured this

traditional party game in miniature.

24 Ballgown Tutorial: AIM member Marsha Mees teaches

how to create a stunning, yet simple ball gown.

29 Child’s Knitted Jumper: AIM member Frances Powell

shares her versatile 1:12th scale knitting pattern of a

traditional jumper.

34 Toadstools: AIM member Vicky Guile shares her fabu‐

lous project for creating this seasonal fungus.

44 A Flying Witch’s Broom: AIM member Debie Lyons

teaches how to make this highly original witch’s broom.

56 Halloween Pumpkin Cookies: AIM member Alison

Brand shares her delightful seasonal cookie project.

79 Pumpkin Bear: New AIM member Ernesto Baldini

explains how to create an adorable ‘Pumpkin Bear’ in

1:12th scale.

Artisans In Miniature 3

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Artisans In Miniature ?


CLICK…on Artisans In Miniature

How did you find the Online Magazine??

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

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

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

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

www.artisansinminiature.com

Editor’s Note...

The AIM magazine Production Team

(in 'first name' alphabetical order)

Bea (Fiona Broadwood) Editor: Editor's note

(Layout & Format Designer) office@petite‐properties.com

Celia Thomas AIM Columnist:

The Miniature Grapevine / Antique & Vintage Corner [email protected]

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]

Vicky Guile:

AIM Columnist: In Season This Month

[email protected]

(Regular 'Author of' information given in italics)

Please note all AIM members contribute to the magazine…

Dear Reader Welcome to the October issue of the AIM magazine, which as you will see

has been filled to the brim with fantastic articles, features and projects for

you to enjoy.

I am not sure if there has been a little magic wafting around the AIM forum

or whether AIM members have simply been particularly inspired by this

issue’s magical fantasy theme, but whatever the motivation this

‘Halloween’ edition of the AIM magazine boasts more pages than ever

before!

This month I am also thrilled to announce that AIM member and food

artisan Vicky Guile has joined the AIM magazine’s editorial team and we

are delighted to have her on board. Vicky will be co‐ordinating a fantastic

brand new series for the magazine entitled ‐ ‘In Season This Month…’

which will focus on and promote the fascinating area of miniature food…

Vicky has kicked off this new series on page 69 with a wonderful

celebration of ‘pumpkins’ that should certainly not be missed!

Every time I flick through a finished issue of the AIM magazine I am always

astounded by the way that AIM members’ work together, month after

month, contributing articles, projects and features which are the vital

building blocks that support this very unique and totally free magazine.

So whether it’s down to ‘magic in the air’ or not, something very special

has come together behind the cover of the AIM magazine this month and

we hope you will enjoy all 99 pages of it!

Bea

Editor (& General whip cracker)

October 2009 www.petite‐properties.com


We’re having an AIM HALLOWEEN PARTY… and you’re all invited!!

When you’re having a party – you need a venue, so welcome to the very, very tiny, Haunted House – the party is in full flow, we have an spooky selection of guests, some great hats and presents and we do wonder just what those witches are brewing up to eat and drink. Pop into the Witches Boutique and pick out a costume……


2 Witches Boutique...

1 Haunted House...

3 Witches Hat..


4 Dark Lord..

The guests are arriving, with presents… and the table is laid.

5 Headless Anne Boleyn...

6 Witches Table... 7 Halloween Towels

& Slippers...

8 Snowy Owl Cushion...


More spooky guests and the cauldron is bubbling…

9 Skeleton...

10 Cauldron...

11 Witch...

12 Haunted Mirror...


Spells are being cast and some very unusual books have been consulted…


13 Witches...

14 Spooky Hand & Book...

15 Book With Face...

16 Recipe Books...

18 Hard spell...

17 Bruja...


The following artisans have been kind enough to contribute to this Gallery and Copyright for all the photographs is held by them, individually, as listed – none may be used without expressed permission. Do take time to have a

look at other examples of their original work.

1 & 16. Pat Carlson – http://www.cdhm.org/user/skywind The Haunted House is in 144th scale, but the witchy recipes are 1/12th.

2. Debbie Dixon‐Paver – www.cdhm.org/user/debbie

The Witch Boutique

3. Janine Crocker – www.missameliasminiatures.com Witch’s Hat

4. & 14. Debie Lyons ‐ http://www.piskiesandpoppets.com/ The Dark Lord and the Spooky Hand

5. Louise Goldsborough ‐ www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk

The headless ghost is Anne Boleyn

6. Mags Cassidy ‐www.mags‐nificent.co.uk A witch’s table

7. Maia Bisson ‐ http://maiastwinkleminiatures.com

Halloween towels and slippers

8. Wendy Smale ‐ http://wendysminiatures.com Snowy Owl cushion

9. Carol Smith ‐ http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6590817

The Skeleton in a habit

10. Vicky Guile ‐ www.njdminiatures.com A witch’s cauldron

11. Kathi Mendenhall created the costume for this magical witch, who was made by Nancy Cronin

‐ http://www.minipatterns.com and http:///www.picturetrail.com/nancyc1938

12.Marsha Mees – www.sassyminidolls.com

Haunted mirror

13. Jain Squires ‐ – www.giddykipperdolls.com The Witch and her assistant

15.Barbara Brear – http://www.bbminiatures.homestead.com

The idea for the cover came first and then the story for this three‐of‐a‐kind book was specially written by Wanna in El Paso, who is an internet friend of Barbara's. One book was sold on a charity auction,

one was sent to Wanna and one is retained by Barbara. The title is 'The Reluctant Character' ‐ and as you can see ‐ he is trying very hard to get out of the book.

17. Eileen Sedgwick ‐ – www.eileensedgwick.com

Bruja

18. Nicola Cooper ‐www.nickycc.com Hard spell

Trick or

Treat ? A Brief History

By AIM Members, Emma and Neil Martinot Of Paris Miniatures.

Tap, tap, tap...a knock at the door.

Suspecting an attack from a group of

terrifying three foot high "monsters", I grab

the only effective defence known to

mankind ‐ a big bowl of candy.

I open the door and my fears are confirmed!

It's a tiny Dracula!..... Except the blood running from his mouth is rather too red (and smells of tomato

ketchup!). He's accompanied by an even shorter "ghost" who, far from being scary, seems to be seeking

reassurance by holding Dracula's hand (and appears to have fallen victim to the same ketchup that Dracula is

wearing, if the stains on his sheet are anything to go by...). And my goodness, Darth Vader is with them!...

Although I don't remember Mr Vader trying to conquer the galaxy wearing a pair of green Wellington boots.

And his light‐saber is crooked...

Their united cry of "TRICK OR TREAT!" sees me offer forth

a generous quantity of candy treats to grateful, tiny

hands. I tell them that they all look wonderful, and as

they thank me and run off to do the same with my

neighbour, I wonder why the act of giving candy on this

one particular night has just saved me from potential

bruising from a twisted plastic light‐saber attack by an evil

Sith Lord dressed as an amateur gardener...hello

internet.. Artisans In Miniature 12

Although regarded as an American tradition, the origins of "Trick or Treat"‐ing lie in medieval Europe. The

practice of "souling" ‐ with adults going from door to door on or about All Souls Day (November 2) to solicit gifts

of food, in return for prayers for the dead ‐ evolved from a pagan ritual that was practiced all over Europe,

possibly as early as the 10th century. As a Christian tradition it goes back to at least the 14th century, when it is

mentioned by Chaucer. It is still commonplace in many Catholic countries, notably Ireland, where soul‐cakes are

left out for the departed.

In Ruth Edna Kelley's 1919 history of the holiday, The Book of Hallowe'en, there is no mention of "trick or treat"‐

ing in the chapter "Hallowe'en in America", so it's safe to assume it didn't exist, at least as we know it today.

Indeed, the modern‐day phenomenon of trick or treating seems not to have taken hold in America until the

1930's. The earliest known citation of trick or treat in print is from an item in the Oregon newspaper The Oregon

Journal, 1st November 1934, headed 'Halloween Pranks Keep Police on Hop': "Other young goblins and ghosts,


employing modern shakedown methods, successfully worked the 'trick or treat' system in all parts of the

city."

Today,” Trick or Treating” is a huge commercial activity in the U.S., with an estimated 5.77 billion dollars

spent on candy, costumes and decorations in 2008. And how much on miniatures? We need to know!

Before the "arrival" of Halloween here in France in the early 1990s, it was relatively unknown to most French

people (who do however mark the 1st November with a National Holiday honouring the departed).

Hallowe'en was given a huge commercial push by American companies in France (Disneyland Paris, Coca

Cola, McDonalds) in 1997, but its success is on the wane now, with people preferring to keep their budget

for Christmas.


Although nowhere celebrates Hallowe’en like America, the prevalence of American culture in our

cinemas and on our TVs means that everyone is familiar with “Trick or Treat‐ing”. Who doesn't

remember a confused E.T. being dragged along for a session?!

Despite its mixed origins, one thing is for sure; everyone can enjoy this festive evening. The shyest

of kids can disguise themselves, become someone else for a few hours and reap generous amounts

of candy as a reward, and adults can become immortal by giving out the best candy treats

(or become infamous for not doing so!).

Over the years we've enjoyed making our own unique Hallowe'en treats in miniature and we hope

you've enjoyed looking at some of them while reading this article!

© Emma and Neil Martinot 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this feature belong to author.

www.parisminiatures.com

http://parisminiatures.blogspot.com


A Guide to…

Miniature Apple Bobbing

By AIM Member Catherine Davies

Bobbing for apples is a traditional game played at Halloween, where apples are put in a bowl or bucket of

water and people (usually children) try to catch an apple with the teeth. This tradition possibly goes back to

Celtic times when apples were considered to be a symbol of love and fertility, and may then have been

incorporated by the Romans into the worship in October, of Pomona, goddess of the harvest, fruit and

trees.

Whatever the true origins of apple bobbing, what is certain is that the addition of a miniature version would

be brilliant for any dolls house Halloween party.

At this point I must make a confession.

When I offered to write this article on how to make a bobbing apple scene, I’d never actually made one

before and didn’t, therefore, really know how to do it myself. So I started by dropping some real apples

into a real bowl of water to see how far they would sink/float. The result was, that half floated, half sunk,

some with stalks up, some with stalks down.

This provided the visual effect I needed, to try and

reproduce in miniature for this article

The materials needed were

straightforward enough... A bowl.

Resin/hardener (water substitute)

Fimo/polymer clay for the apples with optional

coloured pastel chalks and tiny stalks.

The method, however, needed to be worked on, bearing

in mind that real apples are less dense than real water –

which is why they float – and I hadn’t got a clue about

the relative densities of the miniature alternatives.


Project...

What I initially envisaged resembled a scientific experiment, with a discussion on “water substitute”

density and setting points, accompanied by a line of test‐tubes, each filled with resin/hardener mix at dif‐

ferent times in the setting process. Each of these would contain an apple, which presumably would be

sinking or floating to a greater or lesser degree depending on how far the mixture had set.

Complicated and boring – yes. And I could never have done it anyway. I haven’t got any test‐tubes.

Fortunately for us all, my sub‐consciousness must have been working on a better method while the rest of

me went shopping for full sized food. There at the checkout with purse in hand, I had that Eureka

moment. I knew precisely what to do. Fake it.

So here it is in a nutshell. How to make your apples bob successfully, minus the

difficult science bit.

• Half fill your bowl with the resin/hardener mix and let it set.

• Make apples

• Once resin has set, stand your apples on top, then pour on more resin until they are half covered.

• Wait for the second lot of water substitute to set and you will then have perfectly positioned apples

ready for your dolls house Halloween party.

• Now let’s add some detail.

Bowl; I cheated. I bought one.

Water; Apple Bobbing ‐ Solid Water Mixing

I used the “Solid Water” two part resin/hardener

from Deluxe Materials. Once set, this is solid and

totally clear, with no visible shrinkage. For this to set

properly, you must make sure you measure the

amounts/ratio of resin to hardener accurately

(2:1 parts) ideally using the two syringes included

with the set. This is because it will be sheer luck if

a rough two splodges of resin added to an equally rough splodge of hardener actually works – and I know

that from experience! You must also mix the two together very thoroughly before half‐filling the bowl,

then put it somewhere warm to harden, which, be warned can take up to 2 days. The instructions state a

temperature of around 20o C, which for me, equates to my south facing kitchen window.

As an aside, for cleaning of the utensils used, afterwards, use acetone. Nail varnish remover containing

acetone will also remove any traces of resin, but it will also take the measurement markings clean off from

the syringes as well. Not what you want. And I speak from experience – again.

Apples; You can make your apples as simple or as complicated as you want. They can be

straightforward balls of a single colour or a mixture of colours, since apples come in such a variety.

Method...


For my apples, I mixed translucent, golden yellow and yellow

Fimo together for my apple “base”. From these, I chose some to

have tops/stalks (those to be bobbing the right way up in the

bowl) and others to have “bottoms” (the “upside down” ones in

the bowl).

I gave the tops an indentation using a ball tool, and the bottoms

a slightly smaller indentation with the addition of a tiny amount

of dark grey clay pressed into it.

All the indentations were lightly brushed with a damp mixture of

ochre and pale green crushed pastel chalk on the tip of a

paintbrush, and I pushed very fine twigs scrounged from a bush

in my garden into the tops for the apple stalks. The apples were

then blushed red using red chalk. You can obviously do as much

or as little of this colouring as you want, depending on how you

like your apples.

Bake the apples in the oven strictly according to the instructions on the clay you are using.

Completing the Scene: Assuming your “water” has set successfully and you haven’t got a sticky mess, you can now place your

apples exactly where you want them in the bowl on top of the clear solid surface.

You will now need to mix together some more resin/hardener and add carefully so that your apples are

half covered, genuinely appearing as though they are bobbing in water.

Leave to set. Again.

I agree that this may all seem to take a long time, but believe me, you finish up with a very authentic

bowl of bobbing apples, which you can then add to your miniature Halloween party for your dolls house

folk to attack with their teeth.

Which reminds me – shouldn’t I have added

teeth marks to at least one of the

apples?????

www.dollshouseheaven.co.uk

[email protected]

Plus my telephone number:

02476 690182

© Catherine Davies 2009

‐ All text & photos in this feature

belong to author. Artisans In Miniature 18

NEVER SAY THANK YOU TO A FAIRY! By AIM Member Louise Goldsborough

The 'Little People' are often very keen to be helpful, if a little mischievous, to humans, especially if asked for

specific help. They love to help with gardening problems in particular and also with relocating bee and ant

nests.

However, if they do answer your plea for help, please make sure that you never, ever use the words 'thank

you' to thank them.

Fairy Folk although often small in size, have absolutely huge egos and for some reason are prone to being

offended by words of thanks…they much prefer a

gift!!

But don't panic! Gifts can include food (natural

like fruit or nuts), shiny pebbles or pretty stones.

Simply leave in a secluded place for them to find.

This way, you should avoid any bruised fairy

egos!

See more of Louise’s work at

www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk

©Copyright – Artisans In Miniature 19


An Intriguing Dollhouse Theme: Egyptian Revival Style

By AIM Member, Jana Rowntree (Grimdeva) of Cauldron Craft Miniatures

If you are looking for a unique period to decorate your dollhouse or room box in, you may want to consider

Egyptian Revival Style. The modern Western reinterpretation of Egyptian design covers a wide range of

actual historical periods. It begins with Napoleon’s campaigns in Egypt in 1798‐99. The subsequent British

occupation of Egypt brought Egyptomania to Europe. At this time, the term ‘Egyptian Revival’ was first

coined as motifs like scarabs, pharaoh profiles, sphinxes, and lotuses found their way into elegant European

homes. Animal prints, gilding, and exotic woods also became the rage for the well to do. An unusual African

1


and Oriental flair in general had resulted from Colonialism and the attraction of the ‘exotic other’ creating a

rich, if fanciful, interpretation of these far off places.

As trends do, Egyptian style faded and then come back. The Egyptian Revival in particular was sparked once

again in the 1820s by the burgeoning field of archeology in Egypt. At this point, the discovery of ancient

Egyptian tombs and art was public knowledge, accessible through daily newspapers. Egyptian design could

now be found in all aspects of fashion, décor, and architecture. There came to be a wide demand for

elaborately carved and gilded furniture. Beautifully bound and illustrated books concerning ancient my

theology and art became popular. In New York Central park an obelisk dubbed ‘Cleopatra’s Needle’ was

erected in 1880.

Egyptian Revival really does not have one distinct look but represents more the infiltration of perceived

Egyptian symbols, patterns, and architectural lines in existing Western aesthetics. In America in the 1880s,

the Revival look blended with the new and unfortunately short lived Art Nouveau movement to create a

flowing and organic style. Incredibly beautiful clothing and jewellry resulted. Egyptian Revival also had al‐

ready merged with Neo‐Classical trends influenced by Greek architecture to create another very elegant

interpretation of the style. With the advent of Art Deco, a period lasting from 1900 to about 1930, Egyptian

Revival then took on linear lines and strong, unlikely colour combinations, such as melon and turquoise.

The fascination with Egypt reached a frenzied pitch throughout America and Europe with the sensational

discovery of King Tutankhamun’s royal tomb in 1922. Cemeteries, theatres, super markets, banks, and

apartment high rise buildings in Egyptian Revival sprouted all over the landscape. Look closely around any

mid‐sized American city and you may well be able to spot relics from this time!


2

Personally, I decided to make

my first miniature Egyptian

Revival piece, an ornate bed,

after seeing gorgeous carved

furniture in a Toscano Design

magazine. I had never seen any

other dollhouse miniatures in

this theme and so felt very

excited but unsure how to

proceed. With a little research,

I found out that a wide variety

of traditional Western furniture

shapes would do. King Tut did

not sleep in a four poster bed or

have a mantel clock shaped like

a sphinx, but these typical

Western items became

‘Egyptian’ with the addition of

carved motifs, jewel and enamel

inlays, gilding, and the choice of

exotic woven and animal hide

upholstery.


I dug around in my stash

boxes and found shimmering

tiger prints, furs, and jaguar

velvets in small prints. I

purchased both new and vintage

Egyptian jewelry findings after

an extensive search. Charms,

Czech glass, and pressed tin

designs can be found all over the

net. I also spent a bit on actual

semi precious stones and beads.

I glued my chosen designs onto a

basic wooden bed, making sure

it was sanded and dusted first. I

put a large winged scarab upon

the headboard and smaller lotus

symbols on the footboard. The

whole piece was then base

sprayed a matte black. I dry

brushed gold then inked it with

chestnut wash, and dry brushed

it again. Details like ’copper’ and

’ebony’ inlays were added with

paint. The bed was then given

its linens, going for an exotic and

layered look. Finally, tiny gold

ropes and tassels were looped

about and a little gold ankh was

added.

This was my very first Egyptian

Revival piece and I have since

made several others. I’ve also

expanded my Egyptian themed

miniatures into the more

scholarly realm, making

archeological dig kits, museum

crates of mummies and jewels,

and a scholar’s desk. It has been

a lot of fun exploring this style!

I do tend to make batches of

Egyptian pieces every month for

my Etsy store, see details below,

stop on by and take a peek! 4

3


PHOTO CAPTIONS…

Photo 1: My first miniature in Egyptian Revival style, a 1:12 scale queen bed.

Photo 2: My second miniature Egyptian bed with actual obsidian beads.

Photo 3: After a visit to the San Antonio Museum of Art's Egyptian exhibit, I was inspired to make this miniature

Egyptian antiquities set, complete with handmade shipping crates and certification papers.

Photo 4: This is my miniature 'Vintage Egyptian Portfolio' of the discovery of King Tut. I constructed the bag from

vintage glove leather and papers. The set includes maps of the Nile region, photos of the dig's archaeology

team, images of the tomb's treasures, hieroglyphic tables, and etchings of the Egyptian cosmology.

Photos 5 & 6: This 1:12 scale Egyptologist's desk was made with a very busy and slightly absent minded Professor mind. Every

drawer is stuffed with maps, photos, pot‐ sherds and other little treasures. I make my books with a variety of

techniques and materials, such as paperclay and wood, cut post‐its, or leather and vintage papers.

Jana Rowntree’s Etsy store link: CauldronCraftMinis.etsy.com

www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7402273

© Jana Rowntree (Grimdeva) of Cauldron Craft Miniatures 2009 – Copyright of all text and


5 6


Tutorial...


UtÄÄ ZÉãÇ gâàÉÜ|tÄAAA

By AIM Member, Marsha Mees

of Sassy Mini Dolls

I found this wonderful silk dupioni at Joann’s Craft Store.

This pattern is very basic and very EASY!

• Take your pattern and cut out the skirt and bodice. I used a piece

of velvet for the bodice.

• Fray‐check your fabric.

• Hem skirt. Glue/sew centre seam but not all the way up. Leave a bit open at the top so you can slip it

on your doll or mannequin.

Level: Beginner


Pattern...

• Run a gathering stitch.

• Slip on mannequin / doll. Gather so front is flat. Secure

and close seam.

• For the back of the bodice I just cut a strip of velvet

about 1/2‐inch wide and glued it to the back of the man‐

nequin.

• Sew/glue side darts on bodice. Make adjustments as necessary. Glue on mannequin/doll.

I used flat back Swarovski beads to embellish the gown,

but nail art works fabulously too!

Now take your chain or other trim and glue around top and bottom of bodice!

Voila! You are done! Now wasn't that easy!!!

As always, this tutorial is for your personal use only. Please do not duplicate or sell

this tutorial.

If you have any questions,

please feel free to

contact me!

To view Marsha’s work,

go to:

www.sassyminidolls.com For more of Marsha’s tutorials

please visit:

www.sassyminidolls‐tutorials.blogspot.com/

© Marsha Mees of

Sassy Miniature Dolls 2009


Traditionally knitted in white báinín colour, these intricately cabled sweaters are surrounded by myth.

They are said to have originated in the Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland, where a group of women in

the 1900s started to knit highly intricate ‘traditional’ fisherman’s sweaters to earn some extra money.

Admittedly, the designs used in Aran jumpers can often be found on the traditional fisherman’s ganseys,

but these patterns are thought to have originally been taken to Ireland from Scotland (where these

patterns were being used as early as the 9th century)

The earliest known surviving knitted Aran sweater dates from the 1920s and is knitted in the style of a

traditional ‘fishing shirt’ or ‘wedding shirt’. It has been noted by some people that these sweaters would

have been too heavy for fishermen to wear, as once they were soaked through, the untreated wool would

become very stiff and restrict movement.

Although the intricate patterns were originally handed down by word of mouth – jealously guarded in

families (and Clans in Ireland) ‐ the first commercially printed Aran patterns became available in the 1940s

and became increasingly popular in the 1950s, as wool rationing was lifted. (Aran patterned sweaters use

a lot more wool than a normal sweater, due to the number of travelling stitches, which necessitates more

stitches on the needle per row).

The patterning causes the knitting to be much thicker than normal sweaters and traps warmth in small air

pockets, plus the natural oil in the wool makes them waterproof. Aran sweaters quickly became popular

with people who pursued a lot of outdoor activities. Today Aran sweaters are more likely to be made from

Acrylic yarn with just enough wool to give it the spring required to hold the pattern in shape. In miniature

Aran knitting works best in wool, but can be knitted in cotton or acrylic yarn (although this will result in a

considerably larger garment, as neither of these yarns has the natural springiness of wool to pull the

stitches together)

Aran patterns (sometimes referred to as Irish knitting) remain popular today and designs have spread to all

types of clothing.

See more of Frances’ work at www.buttercupmianatures.co.uk © Copyright F. H. Powell 2009


The History of Aran Sweaters

By AIM Member Frances Powell

www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk

1/12th Scale knitting pattern for a child’s simple jumper

By AIM Member Frances Powell

This jumper is designed to fit a

4-inch/10 cm doll

Abbreviations: st‐stitch; k‐knit; p‐purl; sst‐stocking

stitch [1 row knit, one row purl]; sl 1‐slip next stitch

from one needle to the other without working it; ( ) ‐

repeat instructions between brackets as shown in

text; inc‐increase by working twice into next stitch to

make 2 stitches.

Materials required:

size 19 (1 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles, 1 skein 1‐

ply wool (using cotton or acrylic will give a larger fin‐

ished garment).

Back (Make 1)

Cast on 20 sts.

Rows 1‐2: (k 1, p 1) to end,

Rows 3‐22: sst

Rows 23‐24: (k 1, p 1) to end.

Cast off in rib.

Front (Make 1)

Cast on 20 sts.

Rows 1‐2: (k 1, p 1) to end,

Rows 3‐18: sst

Shape neck:

Rows 19‐20: k 8, turn, sl 1, p 7, turn, k 20

Rows 21‐22: p 8, turn, sl 1, k 7, turn, p 20

Rows 23‐24: (k 1, p 1) to end.

Cast off in rib.

Sleeves (Make 2 alike)

Cast on 14 sts.

Rows 1‐4: (k 1, p 1) to end.

Rows 5‐8: sst

Row 9: inc in 1st st, k to last st, inc in this st. (16 sts)

Row 10: p

Rows 11‐14: sst

Row 15: inc in 1st st, k to last st, inc in this st. (18 sts)

Row 16: p

Rows 17‐22: sst

Cast off loosely.

To make up:

With right sides together, join shoulder seams at top

of front and back for about 1/8th inch/0.25 cm on

each side. Fold sleeves in half lengthwise to find mid

point. Pin this mid point to shoulder seam

(making sure right sides are together)

Sew sleeves in place, taking care to match them up so

they will be level when the side seam is joined. Join

side and sleeve seams turn right side out and press

seams gently with a warm iron and damp cloth if

required.

© 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

Each month we highlight a particular AIM

member’s new website and to continue

this feature we have chosen the website of

Chris Shepherd of

www.shepherdminiatures.co.uk

As soon as you click on Shepherd Miniatures

website, you realise immediately that this site is

HUGE! The selection of quality handmade 1/12th

and 1/24th scale miniature items on offer is

extremely comprehensive and varied.

Chris, trading since 1992, is based in Cobham,

Surrey in the UK and sells through their website

and at dolls house miniature fairs all over country.

A full list of fairs that they attend can be found on

the website. Chris’s daughter Hannah, who

completed a degree in product design last year, is

chief designer and also helps Chris out at fairs.

On the Home Page, you are welcomed and

introduced to the website which just about sums

up the items on offer, by the statement “Here you

will find a wide selection of recognisable and

nostalgic products to fill your house, shop or

whatever your current project may be”.

Chris tells us that a web designer put the site

together for them, after telling him what they

wanted ie. layout, colour, logos, content etc. She

says “We designed the website based on our old

site using similar colours but it is updated and

cleaner looking. We also added extra features like

customisation where the customer can upload

images of, say a photo, which we can miniaturise

and frame for them. All the photos were taken by

us and painstakingly touched up so they come up

on the site as true to life as possible (we have had a

lot of comments about the quality of the photos

and ease of use of the site).”

This site is relatively easy to navigate as down the

left hand side you have an extensive list of 23

various sections to choose from (far too many to

state here in their entirety), laid out in alphabetical

New On The Web


order commencing with Art & Photography, with

numerous others such as Food & Drink, Medical and

Chemist etc. and finally ending in Sale Items. Many

of these sections are split into sub sections… so as

you can see, the selection is vast! I am impressed

with the wide variety of items on offer, with some

quite unusual objects such as the Phrenology Head,

which has been exclusively designed by Hannah and

can be found in the Medical & Chemist section.

A nice touch is at the bottom of the left hand side,

there is a heading called FEATURED PRODUCT, and a

different item is highlighted as you click through the

different pages. I have to say, and it must be the

child in me still, but one of my favourite pages is the

Fireworks Page, fascinatingly full of mini replicas of

life size fireworks, and this comes under the

Seasonal Section, alongside Christmas and Halloween

at the moment.

Along the top navigation bar are general pages such

as Contact, Links etc., plus there is a shopping cart.

At checkout the customer is given the option of

paying by cheque or Paypal. Chris adds, “We also

have customers who are paying weekly for more

expensive items, which we can arrange through

emails. We try to get orders sent out the following

day so most people in the UK receive their items in 2‐

3 working days, however if we need to make

something specially, it may take a day or so longer.”

The website layout is crisp, simple and easy to read;

the white backdrop is perfect for these wonderful

tiny items. Chris goes onto say “We are continuously

adding new products to the site as we make them

and are making on average 5 new products a

week. At the moment we have got the site to a place

that we are happy with although I’m sure it won’t be

long before we think of something else to change.”

This is a very impressive and welcoming website

with good quality products, and lots of interesting

items. If you have not already done so, then do go

visit www.shepherdminiatures.co.uk Here at AIM,

we wish Chris and Hannah the very best of luck with

their outstanding new website.


Do you Do you believe believe this one? this one?

By AIM Member,

Helena Bleeker

Our ISP does a very good job at sorting our

mails but is sometimes a bit too efficient and I retrieved the following mail from the Spam Box.

A year ago, an email came from a young man by the name of Paul living in the Midlands (UK). He asked me if

I could knit a sweater for his pet goldfish.

Alarm bells rang. I have over the past years received quite a few “funny requests” but never anything like

this.

Was it a hoax or was somebody trying to wind me up?

I decided to reply and asked him if he’d got things wrong and was looking for a “wetsuit” for his fish.

After this, the conversation got going and I very promptly received a reply saying that he was serious and

thought that a sweater would make a lovely Xmas present for “Cosmo” who was getting on a bit and would

stay nice and warm during the coming winter !

At that stage Paul also brought his ex‐girlfriend into the game and explained that “Cosmo” was still in the

pond at his ex’s house and it would serve as a gentle reminder to her to look after his beloved fish!

Who could refuse his request now???

I set to work and produced a Sweater, T‐shirt and Bath mat, all very simple and where possible decorated

with a goldfish. I also tried to find a plastic 10 cm (4”) goldfish but did not find one in the end and decided to

use a paper cut‐out.

The sweater, which had openings for the fins, was fitted onto the cut‐out and packaged very nicely in a small

cardboard box, together with the T‐shirt and Bath mat and shipped to Paul.

I received several big Thank You mails from Paul including a spoken one from “Cosmo”.

The last mail I received from Paul was earlier this year in which he informed me that “Cosmo” had gone to

the animal kingdom at the other side of the rainbow!!!

To view more of Helena’s work, see the following websites:

www.helena‐petitefashions.co.uk www.MiniatureKnitting.eu © Helena Bleeker 2009. All text and photos in this feature belong to the author.



By AIM Member, Sandra Morris

of Diminutive Dolls I am always wildly over‐optimistic when it comes to forward planning. Way back at the beginning of this year, I thought it would be an excellent idea to exhibit at not one, but two fairs during November, just two weeks apart from each other.

Of course, in January, November felt like a lifetime away. The long months of spring, summer and autumn stretched out ahead, seemingly endlessly, with the promise of lots of unhurried time for researching and developing new miniature projects. Now, in late September, just weeks away from self‐imposed deadlines, I ruefully wonder just where the year has gone, and why I have transformed pitifully few ideas into reality. My work project notebook is crammed with ideas for dozens of different miniature toys and games, of which perhaps a handful have made it ‘off the page’ and onto my work table, there to be developed, refined and taken to the point where I am happy to offer them for sale. Yes, I still have time to get more done, and yes, I do work best under pressure, but as the days slip by, often with little evidence of progress, and my ‘to do’ lists multiply, I have to ask……..”Why do I do this?” Many of my AIM counterparts probably think along much the same lines from time to time, and most of them attend many, many more fairs than I do! I compare exhibiting at a fair to the tip of the iceberg. Apart from the miniatures on display, there is little evidence of the weeks (or months) of preparation, or of the myriad decisions which have to be made prior to each fair – layout, packaging, brochures and flyers, cash float….often each decision spawns several more, spiralling and gathering momentum with each passing day, as the countdown to a major fair continues. Then on the day of the fair itself, I may appear to be swan‐like, gliding along serenely, whereas the reality is that I am frantically paddling like a clockwork duck under the surface to keep on top of everything. Of course, come November, I WILL be ready. My stand will (hopefully) be well‐stocked with lots of wonderful little toys and dolls and I will (hopefully) appear cool, calm and collected. Above all, I will have a great day, chatting to customers new and old, catching up with artisan colleagues, and become re‐enthused and re‐energised, to return home, my head buzzing with new ideas for miniature projects. So maybe THAT’S why I do it…

Sandra

Project...

By AIM Member, Vicky Guile

you will need...

Toadstools...• Polymer clay in red, white and brown.

• Liquid clay or tacky glue.

• White acrylic paint.

• Brown chalk pastel.

• Paintbrush & Cocktail Sticks.

• Ball Stylus tool.

• Craft knife.

• Ceramic tile or baking tray (it’s important that you don’t use a tray that might get used for real food preparation).

• White paper (the regular kind, not specially coated or high gsm printer paper).


Step 1. Make a ball of white clay about ½” in diameter, then a

ball of brown clay about 1/8” in diameter. Mix the

brown clay with the white until the colour is even, you

are looking for a very slight off‐white. This will be used

for the stalks and the underside frills of your toadstools.

Step 2.. Take a small piece of the off‐white clay and roll into a

long sausage, you want this to be very thin, less than

1/16”, with your craft knife cut the sausage into lengths

around ¼” long. These will be used for the stalks of your

toadstools.

Step 3. Scribble some brown pastel onto a piece of paper, then

using your paintbrush, pick up a tiny amount of the chalk

dust and dab gently onto the stalks, you are aiming for a

patchy/muddy in places effect, so don’t shade in the

whole of each stalk.

Once shaded, carefully pick them up and place onto

your baking tray/ceramic tile. I find that its best to line

the tray or tile with a sheet of plain white paper, it stops

the clay becoming shiny on the areas where it is in

contact with the tray/tile.

Step 4. Take a piece of red clay, enough to make a ball about ½”

in diameter. Roll the clay into a sausage shape about ¼”

in diameter, then cut into slices of various thicknesses,

no thicker than 1/8”. Roll each of these slices into a

ball.

Step 5. This is the tricky part...place one ball of red clay into the

palm of you hand and using your ball stylus tool, make a

firm indentation in the centre. Now you want to slowly

and firmly ease the stylus around in circles, pushing the

clay as you do. It takes a little practice at first, but what

you should end up with is a cup shape. Once you have

shaped all of your balls of red clay, place them on the

tray/tile with the stalks.


Step 6. Preheat your oven to the correct temperature as on

the polymer clay packet instructions, this varies

with each brand of clay. When your oven has

reached the required temperature, bake your clay

for required amount of time as per the packet

instructions. Once it has finished baking, leave to

cool and then we can continue with the toadstools.

Step 7. Using your remaining off‐white clay, roll into a sau‐

sage about 1/8” diameter. Cut slices about 1/16”

thick and then roll these slices into balls. Take your

baked red tops of the toadstools and insert a ball of

off‐white clay into each. Gently push the clay down

so that it is flush with the rim of the toadstool top.

Step 8. Using your craft knife you can now make the frills

on the underside of the toadstool. Place the point

of you knife at the centre of the off‐white underside

and gently indent a line outwards, keep doing this

from the centre pivoting outwards around the

whole of the underside.

Step 9. Using some of your brown chalk pastel dust, gently shade around the edges of the off‐white underside, again it doesn’t have to be perfect and you only want a very light dusting of brown chalk to help accentuate the detail of the frills.

Step 10. Take your toadstool stalks and trim with your craft knife on one end to the required length. Place a tiny dot of liquid polymer clay on the trimmed end

(use a cocktail stick to apply) and then push the stalk into the centre of the toadstool. Do this with each of your toadstools and then place back onto the tray/tile and bake again in a preheated oven.

This will be the last time your toadstools visit the oven so make sure that the oven is preheated to the correct temperature and that they bake for the required length of time as per the packet instructions.

Step 11. Once your toadstools have cooled it is time to add

the dots with your white acrylic paint.

The easiest way I find to do this is to attach the

toadstools to a piece of scrap wood with tiny bits

of blu‐tack, if you are nimble fingered you could

just hold them while you paint them, or even use

tweezers, unfortunately I am not that adept, and

anything smaller than a mini cabbage tends to go

pinging off in all directions if I use tweezers.

Dip the end of your cocktail stick into the white

paint and then dot it straight onto the toadstool,

after each dot load up with more paint before

doing the next. Try to make the dots appear

randomly placed, you don’t want them in neat

rows.

When you have finished the dots, leave to dry for

at least 24 hours before removing from the blu

‐tack.

If required you could paint a thin layer of matte

varnish over the toadstools to seal the dots

(recommended if you are going to place them in a

mini jar of faux water) but this is not necessary if

they are to be placed in a basket.

Step 11. Arrange your toadstools as required!

See more of Vicky’s work at

www.njdminiatures.com

©Vicky Guile 2009 – All text &

photos belong to this author

The Burial Pit By AIM Member, Jill Bennett

Moll Jenkins lay helpless on the damp earth, gasping for breath. Her fingers opened and shut convulsively, barely conscious of the mud and stones that tore her hands,. The field, ragged with recent digging, was empty of any other life besides hers, and that was fading fast. Even the excruciating pain under her arm was like a memory ‘Walt,’ she whispered into the mud. ‘Little Walt!’ They had taken her man, her Roger, to the pest house, strapped, helpless in the carrying chair. On the same dreadful night they came for her little boy. She watched them toss his little body into the death cart, already heavy with people lying together in a tangled, ungainly heap. The warden gripped her arms till the job was done, or she would have jumped upon the cart to reach him there and then. Moll knew the plague was in her too. She knew that soon they would come back and lock her up, in her own house, to die of it. Determined to follow her dead child, she slid away as soon as she could and hid from the warden when his attention was elsewhere. Her Walt was not going to lie in that dreadful pit without a word of mother’s love to help him on his road, wherever it would take him. So, stumbling after it, she kept the cart in sight as it wound its way along the narrow roads between the dark houses. Rain made rivulets around her feet, but she did not notice. When, at last, the cart left the houses behind, its weak lantern lighting up the hedges and trees of open country, she prayed for it to stop. She couldn’t go much further. She could hardly put one foot in front of the other now, and her breath was coming in laboured gasps.. Finally the cart, with its ghastly burden, reached the open pit prepared for it. In the shadow of a low wall, Moll watched the two drivers rein in the horses and get down to tip the cart up. With long sticks, they prodded and pushed the limp bodies, helping them into the open ground already prepared to receive them. She fainted. When she came to herself again she saw, through blurred eyes, the men were beginning to cover the pit with a shallow layer of earth. They worked fast, and soon they were able to leave the wet, bumpy field, and hurry back to the city. She listened until their empty cart, light of its burden, rattled away into the stillness of the night. Moll gathered her remaining strength. Heavy wet garments weighed her down, but she crawled, bit by bit, towards the place where the rough grass gave way to fresh dug earth. Reaching it at last, she gave up and stretching out her bleeding hands, struggled to say her son’s name for the last time, as she let the plague take her. It was raining. Jeanie stood outside the tube station and tried to keep warm. Not that it was bitterly cold, but the dampness got under her skin and made her shiver. Pete was later than he said. Five o’clock he said, and now it was nearly six. The streetlights had been on for ages and rush hour was well under way. A small group of children rushed by, dressed in cloaks and witches’ hats, their faces painted with vivid reds and greens. With a start Jeanie remembered it was Halloween. Little brats she thought scornfully. She refused to think that once she too had loved to ‘trick or treat’. She shivered. Had she loved it, or had she just wanted to be a part of a group and not always by herself, always alone. Jeanie always felt alone. Only with Pete was it different. When she was with him she felt warm and, well…wanted. Where was he? She needed to have his cheerful, exciting company so much. Inside she was trembling at what she had done. She hadn’t thought it would make her feel like this. Bunking off, leaving, going away from the family she had lived with for the last four years ‐ and hated. She tried to cheer herself by imagining what her foster mother would do when she didn’t come back. What would she say to the Social? Would she blacken her character? Say she was all sorts of bad things? Would she feel just a little bit guilty? Some hopes! She shifted her back pack off her aching shoulders and put it on the street. It would get wet, but she couldn’t help that. A hurrying figure of a woman bumped into her and rushed on without a word. Jeanie stepped closer to the wall and felt her throat constrict with the onset of tears. ‘Hey, Jen!’ Pete was standing at her elbow. ‘You tosser Pete! I’ve been waiting for hours!’ Jeanie’s relief turned to anger. Pete grimaced and ran his hand through his damp hair. ‘There was a late lunch party, Guiseppi was in such a foul mood, I had to do everything and I couldn’t get away. He just sulked, sod him! But, I got my pay!’ Pete stooped and picked up Jeanie’s pack, ‘ ‘Come on, girl, let’s get out of here – I got a plan that’ll save us a load of cash, but we got to be quick.’ He helped her put the pack back on her shoulders and led her away from the tube station.


‘Where’ we going?’ Jeanie panted, trotting to keep up with his long legs striding down the pavement. ‘Not far, trust me,’ Pete called over his shoulder. He marched away with Jeanie following him for a block or two, suddenly he dived down a side street and came to a stop outside a wide open gateway. A large sign on the gate read, ‘Porter’s Transport’ and Jeanie could see it opened on to a tarmac covered parking space in front of a low building. There were three lorries already there and in one of them a man was just climbing into the driver’s seat. ‘Fingers crossed,’ Pete said this under his breath as the lorry’s engine came to life. ‘Just keep back till he’s close. And leave it to me.’ The lorry nosed its way through the gate and stopped as the driver waited for a break in the traffic. Pete stepped forward and tapped on the driver’s window. The man looked at him and as Pete stuck up his thumb to beg a lift, he shook his head and turned to shift a gear. Pete rapped a little louder, looking pleading and Jeanie, on impulse, stepped forward putting both her hands together and said, ‘Please, sir, please.’ The driver hesitated. There was something so appealing about her little figure next to the lanky, tall boy, almost comical. He gave in and gestured with his hand for Pete to open the door. Gratefully the damp pair clam‐bered in beside him and slammed the door, their back packs clutched between their knees. ‘You running away or something?’ The driver grinned as he moved the lorry into the traffic. ‘Where are you heading?’ Pete gave a nervous laugh as he felt Jeanie tense beside him. ‘Birmingham will do nicely.’ He laughed again and hoped he sounded as if he knew it was a joke. The driver raised his eyebrows. ‘I’m going west, you want north of here,’ he glanced sideways at them. ‘If Birmingham is really where you want to go.’ ‘Yeah, well,’ Pete tried to sound confident. ‘I got an aunt just outside the city. My name’s Pete, by the way, and this is Jeanie.’ ‘Dave’ said the driver. He looked thoughtful. ‘I’m on my way to Wales,’ he said. ‘But I tell you what, there’s a caf I stop at when I get out of the traffic here. Other chaps stop there and you might be lucky, want to try?’ ‘Yeah, great,’ Pete turned to the girl beside him, ‘OK, Jeanie?’ ‘Yeah, great’, Jeanie echoed. Then she added, ’thanks Dave.’ ‘She speaks!’ Dave mocked her with a grin. The lorry made its way through the busy streets and the two young hitch hikers stared out of the window, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar landmarks. Dave broke the silence, ‘Sometimes I don’t always go the regular way, see. My sister runs the caf just off one of the roads I take. Not a motorway, so, if I’m not in a hurry, I stop there. But it’s a good place where you might well find what you need. I’m gasping for a cuppa by the end of the day.’ ‘Sounds good to me,’ Pete replied and Jeanie took one of his hands and held it tight feeling so excited and so glad to be going with him to a new unknown life. She could never have done it alone. Pete’s aunt might not want anything to do with them, but it was a goal to make for and then, between them, they could look around, get work, and a new, free life could begin. It seemed so simple. After a bit Dave turned his lorry into an opening. There were still houses and street lights but the buzz of a busy shopping centre had been left behind and the houses here were mainly residential. A low building lay away from the road with a wide parking space in front. SUE’S CAFE in large red letters was painted on the sign above the door. Dave parked near it, there was plenty of space, in fact there was only one other vehicle there. He stretched across and opened the passenger door. His two hitch hikers clambered out. ‘Not much here,’ said Pete looking round the almost empty park. Dave groaned and struck his forehead. ‘Dock strike! I forgot the dock strike.’ He felt cross with himself for misleading his hitchhikers. ‘Come on,’ he said, ‘we’ll get that tea and think.’ He led the way to the door. Inside the café the tables covered with their red checked cloths were empty, only an older man sat at one, holding his cup in both hands. He nodded to Dave who raised his hand in greeting. The woman sitting behind the counter looked over the paper she was reading. ‘Hi, Bro’, she smiled as she saw Dave. ‘Wales again then?’ Dave leaned over the counter full of waiting cups and glass cases holding pasties and large pieces of cake. ‘Just checking up on you,’ he said and hugged her. ‘See you have a friend.’ He nodded at a large, orange Jack o’Lantern grinning at them from the counter. Sue shrugged. ‘Something to do,’ she sighed. ‘Wretched strike!’ Dave studied the hollow pumpkin with its grinning, ghoulish face cut out of the rind allowing the yellow candlelight to glow through it.


‘Hmm…’he said. ‘Talk about ‘bumps in the night – better watch it kids, it’s Halloween you know.’ He beckoned Pete and Jeanie across. ‘Three cups of tea, love, and three of your muffins – right folks?’ They nodded happily and sat down at the table Dave pointed out, close to the counter where he joined them, carrying the tray when their order was ready. ‘What d’you think?’ Pete asked him, spooning sugar. ‘Looks quiet.’ Sue leaned across. ‘Dave says you want Birmingham? Well I reckon your best bet is to walk across to that big road. You can see the lights from here, it’s not far. Then, turn right for a step and there’s a big service station. They have a lorry park and you may be lucky. ‘Sue’s right,’ Dave said. ‘You just have to walk over that bit of common ground and you’re there.’ He turned to his sister. ‘Thought there was going to be a block of flats there?’ Sue grunted. ‘Block of flats, children’s adventure playground, you name it. Now there’s an application for a supermarket! I’ll believe it when I see it.’ Pete finished his tea and stood up. ‘Better get going,’ he picked up his knapsack and Jeanie did the same. ‘We’re going to be late enough, c’mon Jen.’ He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out some coins. ‘Put it away,’ said Sue. ‘You’ve got a way to go yet.’ She smiled warmly, wondering about the two youngsters and wishing them well. Jeanie impulsively gave her a hug and Pete shook hands with Dave. Feeling full of tea and hope, they waved goodbye and left. On the other side of the busy road they stood looking across at the piece of empty ground in front of them. It was very dark but the bright street lights beyond it were reassuring. Pete took Jeanie’s hand, sensing her reluctance. ‘Look Jen,’ he said. ‘It’s OK. Once we’re at the service station we’ll get a lift, if not, I’ve enough money for a Travel Inn, don’t worry.’ Jeanie squared her shoulders, sighing. ‘OK, fine’, she said, not meaning it. ‘Let’s go fast.’ Only a couple of benches and a rubbish bin marked the boundry between the pavement and the grass, so, hand in hand, they began to walk across. ‘What did Dave mean about ‘bumps in the night?’ Jeanie asked, deciding to fill the next few minutes talking. The sounds of the street they had left were beginning to fad. Dave chuckled. ‘It’s just an old rhyme about ghoulies and ghosties. Halloween was supposed to be the time when dead people could come alive again for a night – old wives tale, take no notice, Jen.’ ‘Oh, Jeanie paused. ‘I thought it was just a fun time.’ ‘Oh, it is, don’t think about it. Look, we must be nearly half way.’ Jeanie looked behind to see how far they had come but a black curtain seemed to have fallen between where they stood and the lights they had just left. She tugged Pete’s hand. ‘The lights have all gone,’ she said in a whisper. Pete turned to look. ‘We must’ve gone round a bit of a bend, that’s all. Don’t be….he stopped abruptly for the words froze on his tongue. The black curtain was all around them, behind and in front, shutting out the lights, sounds, everything. Pete struggled to say something comforting to Jeanie, but a chill was creeping up his legs and settling about his heart. He felt afraid. ‘I’m cold, Pete.’ Jeanie’s teeth were chattering. ‘What’s going on?’ ‘It must be a sudden fog –‘ it was all he could think of. ‘Look – there’s someone there, it’s OK.’ Jeanie gasped. ‘It’s a child!’ The little figure became clearer. A small hunched form, sitting on the ground with its head buried between its arms. ‘He’s crying!’ Jeanie instinctively knew the child was a boy. ‘Poor thing, he must be lost.’ Forgetting her own fear of the moment before, she ran to him. Low sobs were shaking his thin little body. ‘Hello, she said. ‘Are you lost? Can we help?’ Pete came up beside her as the sobs stopped and the child was still. ‘He’s nothing but skin and bone,’ he whispered. ‘Hey kid,’ he raised his voice. ‘Do you live around here? Can we get you home?’ The child raised his head and looked at them. His face was smeared with mud and his tears had washed a path down his bony cheeks. His voice came so quietly they had to bend down to hear. ‘Mother….I want….’ Jeanie held out her hand.


‘Come on, then, let’s find her, right? What’s your name?’ ‘Walt, it’s Walt.’ His voice was like a shadow. ‘Come on then Walt.’ Jeanie took the odd little figure’s hand – and nearly dropped it. It was like ice, bones made of ice. She gasped. ‘God, Pete,’ she said. ‘He’s like an iceberg!’ A scream of pure rage suddenly rang out from the still darkness behind them. ‘Leave him!’ A woman was shouting. ‘You leave my Walt alone!’ Stunned, Jeanie dropped his hand and they both watched as a shadow of a woman swooped down and grasped the little boy to her. Her back was towards the teenagers, and ragged clothing hid her shape. Walt peered from the safety of his mother’s arms and looked towards Jeanie and Pete who were clutching each other helplessly. He smiled, and as his mouth curled into a grin his lips drew further and further back from his teeth, his bony cheeks burst through the taut skin and both his eyes bulged till they hung loose, dangling from their sockets. It was horrible. Jeanie’s knees gave way. She fell against Pete who buried his face in her shoulders as her arms clutched him round the waist. This is a nightmare, Jeanie thought. This can’t be happening. Then the sounds began. First came the tap, tap, tapping of a drum which was followed by the wail of a pipe. This rose and fell in time to the beat, creating a sound of terrible sadness and despair. Terrified by now both kids were on their knees. Shaking with cold and frozen with fear they watched the tall shape of a man come out of the blackness. A wide hat hid his face, but his bony hands, one holding the pipe, one beating the drum hanging about his neck were visible. As he walked forwards fragments of his rotten clothing dropped away, revealing ribs and bones dripping with decaying flesh. If I ever see his face, thought Jeanie, it will kill me.. Pete looked behind and grabbed her shoulder hard. Jeanie turned and they saw they were now surrounded. Shadowy form of human beings filled everywhere they looked, as if they had been summoned by the Piper’s drum. Men, women, children, women holding babies in their arms all stood there silently. The note of the pipe suddenly shrilled and the beat of the drum became a faster tattoo of sound. With one movement the surrounding forms began to dance. Pete and Jeanie could only watch the ghastly figures as they slid and looped around each other, all the while keeping to the Piper’s rhythm and with this came a smell too horrible to describe. Then they became aware of a repeated word rising and falling with the wail of the pipe – dance – dance –dance till it became hypnotic….dance – dance – dance…. Jeanie’s head began to swim and her eyes grew fixed as the circle wove its way closer and closer to where they stood. With an effort she pulled her eyes away to look desperately at Pete. But he, too, was staring with glazed eyes and his body swayed slightly to the repeated rhythm. She was alone…once again, she was alone. Jeanie gave in, she couldn’t fight it any more and the Piper’s drumbeat filled her head. She no longer felt cold, in fact she no longer felt anything other than the music and the movement of the circling people. A hand, as light as wind, touched her arm. Dance, she said to herself, dance…and moving like a zombie, she stepped forward into the deathly circle. Time no longer meant anything to her as she looped and wove in and out of the crowd of the dead. Sometimes a face passed her looking fresh and young, only to crumble her eyes into the mask of a skull. But nothing seemed strange any more. Jeanie just went on and on and on… The shadow of a wide hat fell across her face and Jeanie recognised the Piper. He stood before her, stopping her in her dance. With one movement he lifted the hand holding the pipe and swept off his hat. Jeanie found herself staring into a pair of black eyes sunk deep into a very beautiful face. Tendrils of black hair fell around his shoulders and his lovely curving mouth smiled at her. He stuck his pipe in his belt, dropped his hat and held out his hand. Jeanie took it. The circling figures stopped when the music did and silently they stood watching, and waiting. Jeanie, still staring into the Piper’s eyes, twirled with him into the centre of the circle. His hand gripped hers so fiercely it hurt. Looking down at it she tried to loosen his hold, but she couldn’t. Stop, she tried to say, pleading into his eyes. Stop, you’re hurting me! But she had no voice. Looking down again at the gripping hand she saw, with a shock, there was no skin on it. Only white bones were crushing her numb fingers. With terrible dread, she raised her eyes to his face once more. From the hollows of his dull black eyes a putrid coloured liquid oozed, flakes of scalp showed through thin mats of black hair and, worst of all, she watched as maggots crawled round the corners of his mouth, no longer beautiful, now a gaping toothy skull. Closer the Piper pulled her to him, and closer yet. Jeanie was helpless as his face drew ever nearer hers. With horror she felt one of the maggots fall upon her cheek and straining with her silent mouth to scream, she fainted.


Siren blaring, the police car came to a halt. ‘Looks like they had a good Halloween!’ The officer who was driving remarked, opening his car door. His partner sighed and did the same. ‘This is our third lot and it’s not even six o’clock,’ he muttered. ‘Kids!’ The two policemen walked over and looked down at the figures collapsed on the side of the road. Pete, eyes crazed, was sitting on the pavement cradling Jeanie’s head in his lap. She was completely motionless. After a closer look at them both, one of the officers got on his radio and summoned an ambulance. These kids needed more than a scolding he thought. Paramedics arrived swiftly and Jeanie was gently carried into the ambulance. They helped Pete to stand and got him in as well with one attending officer. The ambulance drove away leaving the still dark field behind, strewn with the belongings of two now empty knapsacks. In a hospital bed, in a small white room, Jeanie stirred. ‘Pete,’ she whispered hoarsely. A watching nurse leaned over the bed and took her hand. ‘He’s gone, dear,’ she said kindly. ‘His Auntie came and took him back with her, Birmingham I think. You’re in quarantine, you see. You mustn’t have visitors.’ Jeanie gave a helpless sob. A pain, like nothing she had felt before, was nestling in her left armpit and her head was swimming. ‘Shhh…dear,’ said the nurse, stroking her hot forehead. ‘The doctor is coming to do some tests. We have to find out what’s the matter with you. He won’t be long now. You just go back to sleep.’

Jill Bennett

Jill, as many of us already know, is famous for her exquisite dolls, all individual characters from a range of historical periods and social strata; but she is also well known in other fields. As a writer, she has not only produced short stories, but also books for teenagers, including horror, mysteries and ‘who‐done‐its.’ Her artistic talents also shine in the many books she has illustrated for authors as diverse as Charles Dickens and Roald Dahl. Linked with this are her visits to schools where she encourages children in literary and artistic pursuits. We feel extremely privileged and delighted that Jill has allowed us to share one of her short stories with our readers of this month’s AIM magazine.

To view Jill Bennett’s website go to www.jillbennett.co.uk

© Jill Bennett 2009


Diamonds and Toads

By AIM Member, Maia Bisson

In 1697, Charles Perrault wrote “Histoires ou contes du temps passé, avec des moralités: Contes de ma mère l'Oye”; (“Stories or Tales from times past, with morals: Tales of Mother Goose ”). It was the first time that these traditional tales had been written and the book was a success. It contained eight fairytales which have become classics and have been loved by many generations of readers. “The Fairies”, also called “Diamonds and Toads”, is one of the fairytales written by Perrault in this collection. It has always been one of my favourite stories. Here is a summary of the story. It is the story of a pretty and sweet girl who lives with her mean widowed mother and equally mean sister who make her work and do difficult chores. One of them is to go to a fountain and bring back a pitcher full of water everyday. One day, as she is filling her jug at the fountain, an old and poor woman appears and asks for water. Kindly, the girl fills the jug and helps her drink. The old woman, who is actually a fairy, rewards the girl with a gift for her kindness: each time she speaks a flower or a jewel will fall from her mouth. The girl comes home and when she speaks, diamonds, pearls and flowers fall from her mouth. When the mother sees this, she wants to know how this happened and after hearing the young girl’s story she immediately sends her other daughter to the fountain with instructions on what to do. The daughter goes, complaining. A very elegant lady appears and asks for water. The sister is very rude to her and the lady, who is the same fairy as the one before gives her a gift too, this time for her rudeness: each time she speaks a snake or a toad will fall from her mouth. When the mother sees this, she accuses the pretty girl and drives her away from the house. The girl hides in the woods where the King’s son finds her crying. When she answers his questions he sees the pearls and diamonds, and after hearing the story he falls in love with her and takes her to the castle to marry her. The mean sister dies alone in the woods after she finds no one who will take her in when her mother turns her out too. I continue to enjoy the magical world of fairytales; they often offer me inspiration for my miniature work.

To see more of Maia’s tiny music boxes, see her website at http://maiastwinkleminiatures.com

©Maia Bisson 2009 – Text and photos belong to author


Project...

materials...

Materials... • One broom‐shaft made from polymer

clay (fimo) or a wooden stick. For the

purposes of this tutorial I have used

one that I made previously from

polymer clay. If you choose to make

one from polymer clay, use a bamboo

skewer and cover with the clay; this

supports the clay and makes it

stronger (bake as per manufacturer’s

instructions.)

• Heavy gauge wire or green, garden wire about 6 inches long– it needs to

be thick enough to support the

broom’s weight but not so thick that

you can’t bend it.

• Pliers

• A wooden base of your choice

• Raffia

• Glue ‐ I use Magnatac and 2 part

epoxy

• Scissors

• Scale Scenics ‐ Field grass, light brown

• Green alcohol‐based ink

• Faux soil

• Moss

Step 1… Take your wire and wrap it around the

bottom of your broom’s stick, cover

with a small amount of epoxy glue and

leave to dry. Don’t worry if the end of

the wire is quite long this can be cut

when you have decided the height of

the broom.


method... Step 1

A Flying Witch’s Broom

By AIM Member, Debie Lyons


Step 2… Drill a small hole in the base and insert the wire. Check

the wire is high enough for you, and then cut it to the

correct height. When you are satisfied, glue the wire in

place with a small amount of epoxy. Leave to set.

Step 3… Arrange the material for the end of your broom and start

to apply it. I find Magnatac great for this, but UHU would

work just as well. Do not worry if it looks messy at this

stage you can trim all the rough bits off later.

Step 2 Step 3

This is how your broom should look...


Step 4… Trim your broom into shape and add some raffia or twine to make it look realistic. I also singe the end of mine,

very carefully.

Step 5… Colour or paint your wire green

(I use alcohol based ink) or

brown and then arrange

vegetation‐like material around

the wire to disguise it.

Step 4


Step 6

Step 6… Cover your chosen base with glue and apply

your chosen floor covering; sometimes I use

black sand or tea leaves to represent

fake dirt, then I add some moss and

little stones if I have them.

Hey Presto,

one finished broom.

To view more of

Debie Lyons lovely work,

see her website:

www.piskiesandpoppets.com

©Debie Lyons 2009

All text & photos in this

feature

belong

to this

Author.


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

Kleeware Plastic Dolls House Furniture 1950s & 1960s Many of us who were lucky enough to have possessed a dolls house as a child, probably owned at least one or

two plastic pieces of dolls house furniture, if not more. And the chances are that they would have been

marked with the name KLEEWARE.

These plastic dolls house pieces were first manufactured by a British company called O. & M. Kleemann Ltd.

in 1947 and whole ranges of Kleeware furniture sets began to appear, quite prolifically during the 1950s and

1960s. These were deemed cheap, cheerful and most definitely pocket money affordable. They were made

predominately in 1/16th scale plus some in 1/24th scale; the 1/16th scale being the most popular scale at that

time. (So if you are collectors of 1/24th scale.... please note that these vintage 1/24th dolls house items could

be used in your modern reproduction houses too....there are still quite a lot about!).

The Kleeware furniture was made out of moulded plastic and although the detail would often be basic, some

pieces in particular were quite impressive. The earlier pieces tended to be made from a more brittle type of

plastic so sadly, there were many casualties as they had an inclination to crack or snap. Later versions were

manufactured in a more flexible & durable plastic.

PHOTO 1.

Being a child in the 1960s, some of my dolls house

furniture, inevitably, was plastic and I do remember my

entire dining room furniture being the Kleeware red

plastic set, that consisted of an oval dining table, chairs

with white seats, a sideboard with shelves and a

bookshelf, the same as the set that can be seen in

PHOTO 1. I vividly remember being very irritated as a

youngster in not being able to open any of the mock

doors on the sideboard or cupboard as they were

purely there for effect. And shock horror, in one

bravely artistic, or was it a thoroughly mad moment,

got a pair of nail scissors and cut the doors open on my

sideboard. This resulted in parental fury ....thinking that

I was being destructive; however I knew differently....I

thought I was actually being imaginative!! One plus side

of the sideboard and bookshelves was that they did

have plenty of real shelf space so I was able to put

those to good use; but somehow the sideboard never really recovered from my bit of impromptu DIY!

Also seen in PHOTO 1. Is the more formal Kleeware dining table and matching chairs. These were made from

the harder plastic but quite attractive, the table having a grand pedestal leg.


PHOTO 1.


PHOTO 2 & PHOTO 3

Although I had a lovely Combex plastic kitchen

in my childhood dolls house, in later years as

an adult collector, I have become quite fond of

the Kleeware 1950s kitchen, as seen in PHOTO

2 & PHOTO 3.

The gas cooker is charming and although it has

a mock door, there is a shelf for displaying

pots and pans, plus the moulded detail is just

super. I like the way the cooker top has a

white gas hob which goes well with the pale

green. The sink is equally as impressive plus

there is a simple white plastic fridge which is

so very 1950s in design!

PHOTO 4

There are various lounge furniture sets in diverse styles and colours. The blue and white chairs, as seen in

PHOTO 4 (overleaf), come with a standard lamp and are quite sturdy due to the plastic being the more

flexible type. The rather grand settee seen above in the same photo has been made from the more brittle

plastic but the detail is quite superb. Also in PHOTO 4 you can see the red version of the Kleeware piano

with accompanying stool & fixed sheet music; these pianos were also available in black (maybe other

colours but as yet have not come across any). The pianos were regular causalities as they warped very

easily.

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3.

PHOTO 4

PHOTO 5

More favourites from the Kleeware

plastic range is the radiogram and

tiny little lamp, as seen in PHOTO 5.

Again, these pieces come in various

colours but in particular the brown

radiogram looks very effective &

quite realistic, plus of course quite

evocative of the late 1940s/early

1950s era. The lamp is so simple

and yet attractive.


PHOTO 5

PHOTO 6

PHOTO 6

Another real old Kleeware favourite with my customers, which I can never get enough of, are the

bedroom sets. The beds themselves consist of a coloured bed frame with a separate moulded patterned

white bed cover that simply clicks into place over the top of the frame. One slight problem with the beds

is that they do have a tendency to lose the ends of their legs (TIP: you could always prop one end up with

a pile of miniature books if necessary)! I have seen them in various colours including not just pastel

colours, as shown in PHOTO 6, but darker colours such as red and brown too. The bedroom range also

consists of dressing tables, stools and bedside cupboards.

PHOTO 7

Many other pieces of furniture were manufactured by Kleeware, far too many to mention in this feature,

including various designs of bathroom furniture sets (see PHOTO 7 ) and nursery pieces such as a cot and

high chair. There was even a see‐saw with a plastic child at each end!


PHOTO 6

PHOTO 7

PHOTO 8

So far in this feature, all photos

show 1/16th scale furniture, so I

thought it would be worth

showing you this bathroom set

in PHOTO 8 which is in the tiny

1/24th scale. They are actually

remarkably detailed, are quite

charming and could look

somewhat at home in many tiny

abodes.

One piece of advice and well

worth bearing in mind if you do

collect these old plastic pieces,

is that they must be kept out of direct sunlight, damp conditions and extreme heat (ie. away from hot

radiators), otherwise they have a tendency to bow out of shape. If handled with care though, these lovely

Kleeware plastic items should last forever....!

To see more, please visit my website: www.ktminiatures.com

©Celia Thomas ‐ KT Miniatures 2009.

All text and photos belong to the author of this feature.

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 AIM’s Membership Secretary: Vicky for more information:

[email protected]



PHOTO 8


The Macabre...

By AIM Member, Carol Smith

I initially began making 1:12

scale wizard/witch related

miniature items because of my

real life experiences of the

spirit world.

My absolute favourite materials

for making some of these items

are leather and real snakeskin.

I own a real crystal ball so

mini crystal balls had to be

included in mini projects; I have

a love of books and leather, so

leather covered mini books are

a must.

In real life I am not a fan of

ornaments but absolutely love

crystals. So, of course real

crystals just had to be included

in the miniature projects.


The shelves with working drawers are all different,

but include brass candlesticks, candles, maps, crystals and a snakeskin

covered book. One has a brass bell, two have crystal balls and two have a scroll. These are all ooak (one of a

kind). I never plan anything, so using my box of bits & pieces I start by putting something on the shelves and

just see what happens! The leather‐covered books are made from the leather jackets I buy from charity shops

or donated by family. I thin the leather down with a scalpel knife always taking care to move the blade away

from my fingers, for safety.


The dresser (pictured below) has glass jars of

potions, leather‐covered books, snakeskin covered

books, a scroll, a toad, a mouse, candles,

candlesticks, a goblet, real crystals, documents,

ammonia, poison, pestle& mortar with herbs, maps,

keys, a knife, spell books, tiny seashells, scissors and

a crystal ball ‐‐ not to mention cobwebs!

Inside the cupboard is a jar of ‘gemstones’ and a

skull. The leather‐covered box in front of the

dresser is decorated with a jewellery finding.

The wood box (above) with

engraved lid has a crystal ball,

snakeskin‐covered book, a

wand, maps and documents.

I have two boxes full of

jewellery items kept aside,

many are broken jewellery

findings which I use to decorate

little boxes.

Now is the ideal time for you to

start looking round for bits and

pieces for your spooky project.

All it needs is some

imagination!

All these items will be on my

stand, Carol Smith at

Miniatura 3rd & 4th October

STARSGEMINI3 Etsy shop

Email:

[email protected]

©Carol Smith 2009 ‐ All photos

and text belong to author.

By AIM Member, Alison Brand

To make 1:12th scale cookies, you will need:

Step 1 To make the cookie base – please make sure your

hands are clean, you are going to be mixing light

coloured clays and they will pick up any speck of dirt

on your hands ‐ mix 1 part white with 1 part

translucent and ¼ part beige, then roll out on your

tile to approx 1mm thick.

Use a little corn flour/starch to stop the roller sticking to the clay.

Tip – If you don’t have a pasta machine to roll out your clay evenly, use pieces

of card that are approx. 1mm in width and lay them at either side of your clay

and roll down till you are on the card.

Project...

materials...

Halloween Pumpkin

Cookies...

• Polymer Clay ‐ White, Translucent,

Beige, Orange and Green

• Liquid Polymer Clay

• Ceramic Tile

• Craft Knife

• Cocktail Stick

• Bottle lid (optional for mixing liquid

clay in)

• ¼” cutter or a drinking straw

• Roller

• Corn Flour/Corn Starch

• Artists Pastels – Yellow Ochre and

Brown

• Small Paint Brush

• Plate to display your cookies on


Step 2 Take your cutter, dust with a little corn flour/starch and cut out as many cookies as

you wish to make. Carefully peel away the unwanted clay to leave your cookies on

the tile.

Step 3 Now you need to make these cookies look a little more pumpkin shaped, so take a

cocktail stick (you may need to blunt the end a little) and make indentations at the

opposite sides of your circles.


Step 4 Rub or scrape your artist’s pastels to make a golden brown colour;

then use your paint brush to apply some colour round the edges of

your cookies to make them look nicely browned.

Don’t bother to colour the tops as you will be covering them with

‘icing’

Step 5 Bake the cookies on the tile in a pre‐heated oven according to your

particular clay manufacturer’s instructions.

I bake mine for 20 minutes, as they will be going back into the oven

later anyway. Please leave to cool completely before going onto the

next step.

Step 6 To make the icing ‐ take a small piece of orange

clay; if your orange is very bright you can add a

tiny pinch of beige clay to tone it down a little.

Then adding a drop at a time, mix in the liquid clay

until you get a soft mix. Use the cocktail stick to

place a little drop of the icing mix onto your cookie

and spread around.

Tip – use an old bottle cap and cocktail stick to mix

your liquid clay in, then you can just throw away

after without having to clear up a sticky mess.

Step 7 To make the stalk ‐ take a small piece of green clay

and pinch off a tiny little ball, flatten the ball onto

your tile with your finger and use your craft knife

to cut out a little stalk. Carefully use your craft

knife to lift the stalk off the tile and place onto

your cookie.

Step 8 To make the tendrils ‐ take a small piece of the

green clay and roll out to a thin snake. Cut off

approx. ¼” pieces and place them onto your

cookie in coils and swirls.

Step 9 Now you need to bake your cookies again in a pre‐

heated oven according to your particular clay

manufacturer’s instructions. I baked for 30 min‐

utes. Leave to cool completely, then using your

craft knife, lift your cookies off the tile and display

as you wish!3h

Text and photos Copyright Alison Brand

www.cdhm.org/user/alimin


By AIM Member, Kathi Mendenhall

This month we take a closer look inside the work space of

Kathi Mendenhall of La Petite Belle Patterns

Why? As a “military brat” I learned how to take care of my things and prioritise but being a kid, I was kind of messy, a pack rat if you will. During a house showing to a prospective buyer, my mother opened my closet. All the flotsam and jetsam of my life tumbled around me. I was so embarrassed I cried but was forever changed. I dried the tears and dug out from under the embarrassing mess, cleaned it up and became the Shoebox Queen! I then knew what I had, how to pack it, store it and keep it. When I married my husband, a U.S. Marine, the skills fared me well during his career. By the time he retired, we had travelled enough, lived in an assortment of houses so I knew what I needed and wanted in a “craft room.” When we purchased this house, the first thing we did was paint and have cabinets installed. That was 11 years ago. It took all this time to get to this point and now that it is perfect for me, we are moving, again.

My name is Kathi Mendenhall, creator of La Petite Belle Patterns; fashion patterns for miniature dolls. I also create custom dolls for collectors and teach classes. With the many demands on me, my creative time is precious. Working “part‐time” on designing and creating means I need to be as organized and efficient as I can. I curse time lost in miserable searches; I want to put my hands on things when I need them.

Living in different countries and moving around in the States gave me a lot of trial and error opportunities. Maybe some of my ideas will work for you. At one time the shelves and drawers were full of “stuff”, some nice to have and others completely unnecessary, all taking up too much space and leaving nothing for show. The disparate hobbies were distracting. I thought about my goals for my business and once I looked at it realistically, the decisions were easy. I am a seamstress, a doll costumer, an embroiderer, but I still wanted to learn to paint with watercolours and other disciplines in the miniature world. There you have it, my place in a nutshell. Miniature doll costuming was my main “job”. (In the doll world 12” and under is a miniature; I knew I needed to organize to those needs.) I have not missed all the excess.

How I started... Not liking clutter, but not quite a minimalist meant making an outline to get to my “in‐the‐middlest” goal. I examined each discipline and outlined each item breaking it down to the method, the tools and the space required for each. The process took a while and the list was long. I started sorting with one drawer or box or shelf at a time and used the following method: A. Examine everything.

1. What is it? 2. Do you use it? Is it used every day, once a week, a month, never or rarely? 3. Sort items into like groups.



B. Decide what to do with it. (This was my thought process, what’s yours?) 1. If you use it every day, it goes on top of the desk. 2. If you use it every week, it goes into the drawer. 3. If you use it a few times a year, place it in a shoebox with a label and put it in the closet. 4. If you don’t remember it, it is unserviceable, don’t use it, then it is time to sell or donate it.

The trash is also an acceptable solution. (Though I know how difficult that can be.) C. Proceed to the next drawer and Start at A. This room is the result. Yes, it took away from creation time, but it was not wasted time.

The Workroom From a dressmaker’s

view, it’s all about the

fabrics and they were

organized first. I sorted

by colour in shoe boxes

neatly stacked and

labelled. As money

would allow, I replaced

shoe boxes with acid free

picture boxes. It was

workable, but I still had a

problem. I could not see

the fabrics and laboured

to pull out boxes, sort

and match, and put it all back. I read about fabric winders in Vogue Patterns and ordered a sample

package. I was hooked. I could now store more fabric in less space, see fabrics at a glance, pull only what I

needed and store them in a drawer for cleanliness. I sort by the colours of the rainbow because it’s pretty

and do not stress over stripes, prints and plaids. Inventory control is a benefit as I am less likely to repeat

a purchase or buy what I do not need. Very expensive cuts are wrapped in tissue and stored in a box.

(Winders can be purchased from Debbie at Minikitz. http://www.minikitz.com/store2/enter.html (click

on fabric, lace and trims, then click organizers)

My sewing centre I have had since 1991 or so. The drawer and shelf components can be rearranged to suit

and all still fit under the lift off top. The sewing machine sits on a lift and can be lowered and a solid piece

added to render a complete 3’ by 6’ surface.

The built in desk has a traditional arrangement of drawers with an

addition of easy to reach cubbies and a cork back wall which is

extremely useful. The work basket is where I can store a current

project if lookers are on the way or if I wanted to carry the project

elsewhere. (Big benefit – discourages kitties who love to mingle

among the ribbons and laces.) The carrying case on the right is my

“tool box.” It is also a “grab and go” case and I cannot stress

enough how great it is for travelling. You might find the contents

interesting. I have detailed the contents on the blog. http://creativedoll.blogspot.com/search/label/Tools%20of%20the%20Trade

And just in case you are wondering, yes, I can still work myself

down to the last four inch square with a project.

To keep a neat appearance along the wall, I have used baskets and

boxes to organize projects. I also make clothes for 4” mignon‐

ettes, 6” French Bebes, 8” and 12” French Fashion Dolls. The bas‐

kets are my way to sort projects that are size specific and contain

working projects, supplies needed readily, mannequins and com‐

pleted dolls.

The closet contains

irons, porcelain parts,

extra tools, cameras,

and boxes for shipping.

(Not all wonderful to

see.) No open door

goes uninvestigated by

cats.


The drawers in the small midsection contain inventory. But the bottom drawer contains yet another basket.

“A basket within a drawer?” you ask. “Overkill,” you say. Au contraire, mes amis, I can pull out the basket

and have all those itty bitty goodies right at hand for sifting and looking and deciding, then pop them all back

together and into their own drawer tidy and out of the way. Another plus, the loose pieces, if spilled, will

drop into the bottom of the basket and still in their correct space. (Rarely am I looking for items skipped on

the floor or caught in the carpet.)

In the hallway I have placed a convenient cutting table that moves

on casters. Folded up it is a tidy 6” X 36”, fully extended is 36” X

72” and a comfortable 34” tall. This has been an invaluable tool

especially when moving as each home is different. I have a rolling

case for ease and travelling with a sewing machine.

Inside the closet is more shelving leaving a cosy 3 feet for moving

about. The adjustable shelves are different depths as the shelves

are built under the stairs. Pretty boxes hold fabrics I have not yet

sorted, or are filled with ribbons, laces, and braids, straw,

feathers, and the accoutrements of fashion.



My other craft loves are located in the closet with dedicated shelves. Scrapbooking and keepsakes are on

the back section and in the drawers on the back wall. There is a pegboard to facilitate large cords, and other

items for neatness. (My husband keeps some electronics and computer items there as well.)

Luggage is kept in the deep recesses under the stairs with items

that we need handy but want to be kept out of the way.

Honestly, one entire wall was nothing but books, most of which are

in storage right now. I have amassed quite a research library, but

had to painstakingly cull the books for FAVOURITES in order to keep

the closet neat. Also stored by use are paper and printer supplies,

notebooks (where I keep magazine articles, lessons (organized by

subject) and patterns. (Organized by era, all ages and sexes

together) There is a space for a small china painting kiln, slip for

pouring moulds and you can see another carry all for china painting

supplies. (I buy these things with coupons and half price sales.)

Unfinished projects went into storage while three nearing

completion were kept. Each is on the shelf with its supplies. This

was a good idea as I am really getting those projects completed.

It is a great feeling not being overwhelmed by unfinished projects.

The final shelving area is “other interests”, Christmas

in miniature, miniature stained glass tools and

supplies, silk painting and calligraphy, water‐colours

and embroidery.

I have a tray of items all junked up that doesn’t know

where it wants to go. I’ll sift through it one cold or

rainy day.

The big carrier on the bottom contains “gardening

supplies.” (Papers, punches, notebooks filled with

ideas, directions and samples.)

I hope you have enjoyed taking a trip around my work

area. I know that many of you like your corners of

chaos, it’s all good. There’s room for everyone, even

us “neatniks.”

To view more of Kathi’s work,

go to www.minipatterns.com

http://creativedoll.blogspot.com

www.minidolllist.com

© Kathi Mendenhall, IGMA Artisan

La Petite Belle Patterns 2009



Spooky things ^ Well, happened to…

A Miniature Artisan If you were reading the Magazine last year, you may remember the Gallery of Spooky Witches and Wizards.

The Editorial team had endless fun, trying to coordinate this Gallery…emails vanished, witch pictures

disappeared into the ether and we did begin to wonder…….. believe it, or not, this year the same thing has

been happening…….

But we weren’t the only ones that strange things have been happening to, although Margaret Pitts, one of

the Editorial team has been having some fun and spooky games…she tells us:

“We've had several odd things happen in the house over the last few months....glasses falling off shelves

(three at a time, and no‐one anywhere near!), pictures falling off walls etc. The funniest thing happened last

week: I'd hung a new bunch of bananas on the stand, went out and when we came back, all the bananas

had peeled themselves and were lying on the worktop with the skins hanging on the stand!! “

Comment from 6yr old grandson: “ Those bananas are naughty because they took all their clothes off when

no‐one was there!

And in case you are wondering; Cheryl Clingen eventually found the doll that

had disappeared (see Sept issue of AIM magazine.)

“Believe it or not, I found her, face down in the middle of my large drawer of

viscose hair between layers of hair!

Hmmmmm, this is becoming more suspicious! A hint for all miniaturists:

If you lose something, don't waste time looking for it. Make another one

from scratch and you are sure to find it along the way! Worked for me. !

To top it off, I had an extra doll to sell at Parkhurst, and they all sold! I had a

prosperous weekend, enough to buy a new dollhouse and then some.”

Cheryl Clingen Thanks to Carol Smith for sharing the following very personal stories:

Scarier Than The Movies... The first experience of scary things happening was approximately thirty seven years ago but I can remem‐

ber it clearly. I had just moved into a house and on the very first night there I had a terrible dream. I

dreamt that the front door crashed open with violent force, more than anyone could have used to kick the

door in. Outside was a terrible blackness. It wasn’t dark like night time and it wasn’t dark like looking into a

very deep hole. It was something awful. I had a feeling of foreboding.

Just over a year later my husband died of cancer; he was 23yrs of age. My son was one year old on the 7th

December as his father passed on the 18th.


It was only two years ago that I was sitting in my son’s flat when suddenly, his father’s face appeared on

my son’s (superimposed). I looked away three times and each time I turned back, it was still there ‐ then it

just disappeared.

After a few years when I had moved again there was a huge amount of activity. My son was in the front

room watching TV and I had been in the kitchen doing the washing, using a twin tub (remember those!).

I had just finished and all I needed to do was empty it and put it away. I decided to go and check my son

was o.k. (He was only a toddler). When I walked back into the kitchen the washing machine was empty

and the hose had been put away!

I had a friend stay over one night because she was having marital problems. The next morning, I cheerfully

asked her if she had a good night’s sleep. She could barely speak as she said she had been terrified all night

as the light switched on and off all night.

There are too many incidents to mention, but in more recent years I did do psychic readings. I usually felt

spirit to the right side of me. I am o.k. with smelling something (usually smoke ‐ I don’t smoke), or feeling

spirit there but I don’t want to see a spirit!

I have some hearing loss but at one time when I went to town everything would suddenly go very loud ‐

people’s voices ‐ and in particular people’s footsteps such as the sound high heels make. It would be so

unbearable I would have to go home. I mentioned this to a medium who said that I was like a bright light

attracting lots of spirits and I should tell them that I cannot hear them when they are all trying to ‘talk’ to

me at once. These days I choose not to listen.

One thing I did not like was feeling my mattress depress as though someone was getting into bed. I never

dared look round!

I did like visiting Bodmin Gaol in Cornwall and quite happily walked round on my own. A local lady had told

me about an experience she had in one particular cell in the part where all the floors have disappeared. I

decided to take a look. As I approached this cell all the ravens started swooping and screeching, it gave me

a fright! Nevertheless I walked into the cell, but it was o.k.

Carol Smith

Dave Williams, as we all know, is an accomplished miniature painter, but once upon a time, he was a milkman… read on...

The Milkman’s Story... It was about two in the morning when I turned my milk truck into the drive of Warstone House; the house

is around two hundred years old and the drive must be a couple of hundred yards long. It was a very cold

night with just enough of the moon showing to give a slight hint of light.

As I got near the house it started to feel colder, but as it was winter that was no surprise. I got to the end

of the drive and the security lights from the house came on. I parked the truck up and jumped out and got

two bottles of milk from the back and just as I turned towards the house all the lights went off ‐‐ the

truck’s lights, the security lights, the lot had gone and with a lot of tree cover it was as good as pitch black.

I quickly grabbed my torch but that wouldn’t come on either, damn it, but I’d delivered here that often I

could do it blind‐folded anyway.

Well, I moved off towards the house, very slowly, my eyes

though were gradually adjusting to the light, then all of a sud‐

den I heard someone running towards me. It gave me quite a

start, at two in the morning. I wasn’t used to seeing many peo‐

ple about, but I stopped and turned and looked down the drive,

the moon showing just enough light for me to realise there was

no‐one there, but the footsteps were getting nearer and

nearer; I must admit I froze and just stood there, the footsteps

were right on me now and all of a sudden I felt someone brush

against my shoulder. It scared the living daylights out of me, my

eyes had well and truly adjusted now, but I could see no‐one. The steps were right by me, but still I could

see no‐one. The footsteps then slowly got further away from me; to say I was a little frightened would be

an understatement.

What did I do? I put those milk bottles down just where I stood and ran like hell back to the truck and with

the bare amount of moonlight available (still no lights on my truck) I managed to speed back down that

drive!

On reaching the main road I drove a few yards and then pulled in to the side and got out a cigarette. On

lighting up, the truck’s lights all of a sudden came back on ‐‐ what a relief that was! Then a shudder up my

spine made me look up towards the house; the security light was back on again and at the top of the drive

I could see a figure standing there, apparently staring straight at me! I put my foot down and I was off,

back to where there were street lights … I felt so much happier in the light. I sat there and finished my fag,

then jumped out of the truck and readied myself for delivering again, but I ran over the road for my next

delivery.

I never even gave it a thought where I was delivering to, I knew that milk round like the back of my hand, I

just did it; but the next house was the old lodge house to Warstone House… if only I’d have thought.

I opened the gate, no security lights here, just moonlight, they have a couple of children here, and I always

had to watch my step ‐‐‐ swings, a slide, footballs, always something there to run into! After putting the

milk bottles on the step, I turned to go back and all of a sudden the swings started swinging; they were

swinging so hard the chains were rattling! Now this was a cold, frosty morning, not a breath of wind about,

but what really scared the life out of me was hearing children shouting to each other; I was out of there

like a shot.

I don’t think I stopped shaking for a couple of hours. My next move was to change the round a bit, so I

drove down to a large housing estate and started working again from there.

From that day on I always left those two deliveries till the end of the round.

Warstone House, is an old house, it’s listed I believe and it’s only occupant was a very old lady.

A few days later I was chatting to the home help who also worked at Warstone house. I told her of my

experience; it didn’t seem to bother her, but later in the week I was talking to her husband and he told me

that since I had spoken to her, she hadn’t been back to the house. It seems she’d had a few strange

experiences herself.

Dave Williams Artisans In Miniature 67

And here are more spooky ‘goings on’

from Jana Rowntree...

Hi there! I'm Grimdeva of Cauldron Craft

Miniatures and I have a spooky little story.

When I'm working on miniatures upstairs

in 'my space', my little pets always laze

about watching for a chance to steal bits

of lace or knock my sparkles over. Well, I

lost my dog Rocky to cancer last

summer. I was very sad to see my little

guy go, he adored me so. I have his urn

and his collar still and possibly this is part

of the connection.

My boyfriend has sworn he has seen a little animal shadow moving about upstairs. I will catch my cats

looking intently at nothing sometimes but cats do that right? Hmm... I didn't put much thought into it until

some funny things started happening.

First, I was working on a small paper project and the kitty water bowl which was about 1 yard away

suddenly appeared right by me. This was odd because there were no pets present to move it. I pushed it

back. About a minute later, it was right by me again with no sound. I moved it back again and stared at it

for a long time. Going back to work finally, I noticed that once again it was sitting next to me. For the first

time, I saw that it was empty. I filled it and put it back in its place and there it stayed! Some 'thing' was

letting me know my kitties needed water.

Another instance occurred when I had glittered a miniature over my plastic black tray. I then set the tray

on another table. This suddenly flew in the air and flipped over, getting sparkles everywhere. The table

was perfectly flat and there was no reason for this to have happened!

Finally some of my minis went missing inside their protective plastic cases. Having sneaky pawed

creatures, I have a whole collection of these to prevent such thefts! I couldn't figure out what happened. I

gave up and went on to another project, getting a little tin box out to ship something in. Inside this

random tin were all my missing miniatures! I have no clue how they got there, these were not being

shipped anywhere and not even similar themes. I wouldn't have stored them together much less out of

their plastic containers. I don't know exactly what's going on, but something is tricky!

Well…now you’ve read their spooky stories…do also take a look at the wonderful miniatures, these AIM

members create. Copyright for the text and illustrations is held by the individual artists and may not be

used without expressed permission.

Margaret Pitts—www.minimilliner.co.uk

Cheryl Clingen – www.minidollsfromafrica.com

Carol Smith – [email protected]

Dave Williams – www.harvington.com

Jana Rowntree – [email protected]

Etsy shop: CauldronCraftMiniatures.etsy.com Artisans In Miniature 68


this month... In season

NEW

REGULAR

FEATURE!!!!


Halloween

Pumpkin Cookies

By AIM Member, Alison Brand

O.K so these are not made from pumpkins ‐ but

they are pumpkin shaped! I was inspired to

make these in miniature from a real life recipe

that my kids and I make each year. One of our

neighbours usually holds a small Halloween

party for the kids and we all bring something

along.

To make pumpkin shaped cookies just use your

favourite cookie recipe I use an Imperial biscuit

recipe. Roll out your dough to approx ½ cm

thick and cut out as many circles as you can

from the dough. Place the circles onto a pre‐

pared tray and using either your finger or a teaspoon make small indentations at opposite ends of the circle to

make the cookies more pumpkin shaped. Bake for the recommended time for your cookie recipe.

When completely cooled, take your preferred icing/frosting and colour ¾ of it orange and spread on the

cookies. Now colour the remaining icing/frosting green and place into a small plastic bag and snip off a corner,

use this to pipe on the green stems. This is the bit my kids like the best ‐ adding the sweets to make the

faces. We use Smarties but you could use whatever you like! Have fun!

www.cdhm.org/user/alimin

© Alison Brand 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this feature belong to the author.

‘To make miniature polymer clay versions of Alison’s pumpkin cookies, please see her project on page 56 of this issue.’

By AIM Member, Mags Cassidy

I have never really been into Halloween and carving pumpkins was not something that I ever did when my children were small. However I love many of the 'Fall' scenes that I have seen created by many American Artisans and decided that I would make a few. I loved them so much that I couldn't bear to part with a couple and they have pride of place in my workshop.

www.mags‐nificent.co.uk http://mags‐nificentminiatures.blogspot.com

© Mags Cassidy 2009

All text & photos in this feature belong to the author.

By AIM Member,

Arla Johnson

Whilst looking back through the files

on my computer to find these

photos of my crates, filled with the

tiniest of handmade polymer clay

pumpkins, squash and gourds, my

mind got to thinking…

In the future when I am gone, my

dear daughter will be the recipient

of my miniature collection and, it

goes without saying, my massive

collection of mini‐making materials!

I wonder if like me she will appreci‐

ate the boxes upon boxes of materials quite often

labelled by miniature artisans as ‘useful stuff’. Bottle

corks, toothpicks, scraps of fabric, dried flowers, tiny

beads, off‐cuts of wood; did I mention boxes upon

boxes?

Or will she be sitting amongst it all, with a baffled

expression and wondering....grape stems ‐ why?

dead flowers ‐ what for?

And what are these....tomato tops ‐ who on earth?

Arla Johnson – IGMA Artisan.

© Arla Johnson 2009

All text & photos in this feature belong to

the author.


By AIM Member, Barbara Stanton My husband and I were visiting a friend and his family for

Thanksgiving, a few years ago. We had driven for about seven

hours to get to Oregon from our place in Livermore, Ca. The

weekend was going great because we hadn't seen Tom in so

long, and hadn't met his sister or her husband. While waiting

for dinner to be served, I ventured outside to their rustic deck

and on an old picnic table was this simple centrepiece made

up of three pumpkins. They were wet from a recent shower

and giant maple leaves from a nearby tree were scattered

everywhere. The air was fresh and clean. The perfect fall moment. I had my camera with me (of course) and I

shot several pictures from many different angles.

I take a lot of photos when I'm in a beautiful location and that weekend I probably took at least a hundred

shots. I was using a film camera. Nowadays I have a digital and take even more pictures!

When I got home and had the film developed I was a little disappointed with the quality of the pictures. They

never seem to capture my memory of the moment. I put my favourites in a folder I keep for future painting

resources, and there the picture of the pumpkins sat. It's funny how time can bring back the memory

sometimes, because one day while looking for a new subject to paint I came across those photos again.

The memory of that damp day came flooding back and I knew it was time to paint those beautiful pumpkins.

Why had I put it off for so long? When a memory is fresh it can't compare to a mere photo but over time it

fades a little and then the photo doesn't look as bad as I thought. Besides, I'm an artist! I have the license to

exaggerate the colour and contrast, to change the composition just enough to make that awful photo a sweet

little painting that reminds me and others of that cool fall afternoon. I hope it brings back a memory for you

too.

www.barbarastanton.com © Barbara Stanton 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this feature belong to the author.


It started with the witch hat...

By AIM Member, Maia Bisson I remember one Halloween when my brother and I made our witch hats to go trick‐or‐treating. My mother cut

the templates from paper and we decorated them using stickers,

drawings, yarn, stars… Inspired by how much fun we had, I started

thinking about making tables for different Halloween activities. What

kind of table would be fun for children to work on? How about a pumpkin

shaped one with orange legs and a pumpkin motif on top? Next, I chose

the colors, the paper and the trimmings and spent several afternoons

making hats and craft materials. It was so much fun to set everything on

the little table when I was finished, everything set and ready for another

afternoon of miniature fun!

www.maiastwinkleminiatures.com © Maia Bisson 2009 All text & photos in this feature

belong to the author.

Pumpkin Soup By AIM Member, Debie Lyons

Ingredients 1 ripe pumpkin 2 drops of essence of dead fly 1 gurdy root Dittany to taste. Method Mash pumpkin Stew pumpkin Add Deadfly essence & gurdy root Stew for 15 hours Add dittany to taste

Email: [email protected] Web: www.piskiesandpoppets.com Blog: http://piskies‐and‐poppets.blogspot.com

© Debie Lyons 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this feature belong to author.

Recipe...

By AIM Member, Nancy Cronin

I was on my way to market on a bright and sunny day, when strolling past a field of corn I heard somebody say, "Pumpkins, pumpkins, get them here, a penny to the pound, Get them fast, get them today, please do come around!" A penny to the pound thought I, a bargain not to miss! I jumped that fence and walked on in, no way I could resist...

Well there he stood, so big and bold! Quite true to the legend told by crows of old... ...that... " When a scarecrow does not get respect he will do what you least expect"

http://www.minipatterns.com

© Nancy Cronin 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this feature belong to the author. Artisans In Miniature 73

By AIM Member, Kiva Atkinson Growing up, my sister and I, like all children everywhere in

the US, looked forward to the holidays, with all the goodies

and gifts and fun anticipated. Every Halloween, Mom would

make our costumes and dress us up, and off we went to see

what treats were in store. We never did any tricks. It never

entered our minds! Anyway, we always scored!

Now that I'm grown ‐ I think ‐ Halloween is a distant memory and I forget all about that fun holiday, until I

hear the kids outside yelling "Trick or Treat!" I even completely forget about making Halloween miniatures,

until someone reminds me that it's coming, and I'd better make some fun things.

I also love to make mice, even though it drives me crazy and I swear each

time that I'll never make another mouse again. So I put them in silly

situations, or often leave them by themselves for when someone needs a

mouse for a dolls house, or for a laboratory scene.

If I saw a real mouse, though, I would be a stereotype and scream and

jump off the floor!

Isn't Halloween fun?

www.kivasminiatures.com © Kiva Atkinson 2009

All text & photos in this feature belong to the author.


October Feast By AIM Member, Orsolya Skultéti

October is not about Halloween and carved pumpkins in Hungary. Halloween has in fact only gained

popularity in the last few years. The last day of October is "All Souls' Day"; this is when the souls of the dead

visit their families. The next day is called "All Saints' Day", when families visit the cemeteries, bringing flowers

and candles to their dead relatives. When twilight comes and you are on the road, you can see thousands of

tiny, dancing lights, like wildfires. It is the most heart‐warming and sad view at the same time.

October in Hungary is about the rich harvest: the gardens a full with delicious grapes, juicy plums, ripe

apples and pears and sweet pumpkins. The mornings and evenings are dark and chilly but the daytimes are

mostly sunny and bright, just suitable for a harvest. And

what can be a better afternoon activity then baking cakes or

biscuits with Mum or Granny in the warm and spice‐scented

kitchen, and nibble on the freshly baked sweet delights,

with hot cocoa?

This table contains a wide selection of popular pumpkin and

squash meals.

Who can resist a hot, sweet and creamy, baked pumpkin,

made from ham‐looking Canadian pumpkin (which is of a

much sweeter variety than the regular pumpkin)?

The stuffed butternut squash is suitable for lunch or dinner

and when prepared this way, our meat‐loving relatives will

eat some vegetables too! It is best served with dill sauce and fresh rye bread.

The pumpkin cake is based on the classical carrot cake recipe, but we use pumpkin instead of carrots and it’s

decorated with tiny marzipan pumpkins.

The pumpkin pie is a classical recipe with rich butter pastry and pumpkin filling.

What about an orange‐pumpkin jam? It is perfect with your morning toast or potcake.

Last but not least, the simple and easy‐to‐make pumpkin biscuit, tiny, sweet delights, good for picnics or tea‐

time.

Stuffed butternut squash

1 small butternut squash Salt

Pepper Lemon juice

2 onions 1 clove of garlic

Ground sweet chilli pepper 500g minced leg of pork or chicken breast

4-5 tablespoons of rice Water

4-5 tablespoons of tomato juice

For the sauce: 1 bouquet of fresh dill

Water Salt

Lemon juice Sugar Flour

Sour cream or clotted cream


Cut the butternut squash into two halves,

scrape out the seeds and gently cook in water

with a pinch of salt and the lemon juice. In the

meantime cook a stew from the 500g minced

meat ‐ braise the 2 onions (cut them into

small pieces beforehand) in a little vegetable

oil or fat, add the clove of garlic and then

sprinkle in the ground sweet chilli pepper (less

than one teaspoon). Add the minced meat to

the pan and stir well, when it is medium‐

cooked pour over the tomato juice and then

add the rice, stir well, flavour it with salt and

pepper and cook well.

Put the squash halves into a baking dish and flavour with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stuff it the squash

halves with the meat mixture, sprinkle with cheese and bake for 45 minutes on 200 C.

To prepare a dill sauce ‐ cut a bouquet of fresh dill into pieces and cook in water (so that the dill infuses into

the water). Thicken the dill‐infused water with flour and sour cream (or clotted cream). Flavour with salt,

sugar and some drops of lemon juice. Serve with rye bread.

Pumpkin biscuit

Beat together the butter and the brown sugar, then mix in the egg, add to that the vanilla, 2 teaspoons of

ground cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Then add the flour, cornflakes, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, chocolate,

chopped nuts and the pumpkin and mix well. Place spoon‐size, round shaped piles onto the griddle or

baking sheet and bake for 15‐20 minutes in preheated oven at 160C.

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

Email: [email protected]

www.picturetrail.com\sorsika www.bbminiatures.uw.hu © Orsolya Skultéti 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this feature belong to the author.

Recipe...

300g butter 1 cup of brown sugar 1 egg Vanilla 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Pinch of salt

400g flour 250g cornflakes 2 teaspoons baking soda 100g chocolate cut into pieces 1 handful of chopped nuts 400g roasted pumpkin


"Disdainful Pumpkin”

By AIM Member, Stéphanie Kilgast In France, Halloween isn’t very popular, so usually I don’t

have much inspiration for this holiday. This year though,

I’m lost in the Harry Potter Saga and so I was in the mood

for witchy and spooky items!

While making this pumpkin I thought about a living grumpy

pumpkin which would always complain and make other

lives more difficult. I tried to put all these feelings into a

little amount of orange

clay which was lying

around.

It’s one of my very first

pieces of facial

expression sculpture,

so it’s very special to

me.

www.petitplat.fr © Stéphanie Kilgast

2009

All text & photos in

this feature belong to

the author.


Pumpkin Bear

By AIM Member, Linda Master Being known as a woodcarver/woodworker, this is

something completely different! The pumpkin is

polymer clay and is 1 inch. I learned to stitch and

stuff teddy bears about 10 years ago from a

how‐to article in a miniature magazine. This bear

is about 2 inches. The little spoon is from my

childhood mini collection.

Miracle Chicken Urns

www.miraclechickenurns.com © Linda Master 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this

feature belong to the author

Pumpkin Bear

By AIM Member, Ernesto Baldini

Maybe because I have a little son, 20 months old, maybe from inspiration provided

by Anne Geddes’s photos or maybe just by chance, I don’t know; the point is that

recently I was making several miniature bears, about 2,5 cm high (1 inch).

First I made “plain” bears, then I started to make some dressed in funny costumes,

like a bee or a ladybug. I’m now working in some “adventurer bears”, with pirates

sailing a boat made with a nutshell, a wizard and a snail rider.

The pumpkin bear is one of the bears in funny costumes, and since it’s so easy to

make (of course, further detail can be added at will) it was my choice for a project, so everyone from starter to

experienced clayer can make it. Besides, it fits with the magazine general topic.

It was first born as a bear hidden inside a pumpkin, using polymer clay, and then I made this little one hatching

out of the pumpkin using cold porcelain.

It’s a versatile project ‐ once you have the basic shape of the pumpkin, you can make a lot for a harvest scene,

and simply by changing the pumpkin body for an oval shape, you’ll have a mini teddy…

I’m always looking for new ideas and inspiration, and if you’d like me to do a special bear, feel free to contact

me.

Now, with quite a lot of mini bears on my worktable playing with my tools, I’m thinking about building them a

tree house with a nearby stream for the boats, so I can concentrate on more mini projects without having to

look after them while they run all over the place…

The truth is, that anytime I get to sit at my worktable I have a little darling boy playing with daddy’s tools, and I

love it (though I have to admit sometimes he drives me crazy, LOL).

So, let me say that this project is made alongside my little son Lucas (and of course, my wife Florencia, the 50 %

of what we ended up calling “Punto Sur Miniaturas”).

Hugs from Argentina!!!

our email: [email protected]

Also, our work gallery: www.picasaweb.google.com/ernestobaldini © Ernesto Baldini 2009 ‐ All text & photos in this feature belong to the author.

Pumpkin Facts...

• Seeds from plants related to pumpkins have been found in Central America which can be dated back over 7000 years!

• It used to be said that pumpkins could cure freckles and snakebites? • The world’s largest carved pumpkin weighs in at a staggering 1469 lbs and the most

pumpkins carved in one hour is 42. • The largest pumpkin ever grown weighs in at a very hefty 1689 lbs. • Pumpkin plants bear both male and female flowers and both are edible. • Antarctica is the only continent where pumpkins can not be grown. • Pumpkins are 90% water.



A HALLOWEEN

TEDDY…

By AIM Member, Ernesto Baldini This is a very simple project for anyone

starting in the art of making clay figures, or

even for kids. I made it with cold porcelain,

but you can make it with the clay of your

choice. Since cold porcelain clay is air‐drying,

it’s great for kids to use as they’ll have no

need to use the oven. However, polymer clay

is a good choice for this project too.

When working with cold porcelain, you have

to consider a few things. As it’s air‐drying, it

shrinks from 10 to 20% the original size (how

much it’ll shrink depends on the stiffness of

your clay, the softer the more it’ll shrink).

Also, colours darken as the clay dries, be

aware of that, or you’ll have too dark, tones. To attach each part, you will need to place a drop of white glue

where the parts meet each other. Depending on your climate, this project will be dried in 24 to 48 hours.

Of course, if you are going to use polymer clay instead, you won’t need to use white glue and you’ll have to

bake the finished piece according to the clay manufacturer directions.

• Cold porcelain clay in brown, black, orange and green.

• A knife tool. • A needle tool • White glue.

Step 1… Start by rolling a ball about 1.5 cm diameter with your orange clay.

Step 2… Use your knife tool to mark creases from pole to pole.

This way you’ll have a pumpkin shape that’ll be the body for our

teddy.

Project...

You will need... Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3… Take some brown clay about 2/3rds the body size. Roll it into a ball, and

using your needle tool, make an indentation alongside the bottom half

of the ball

Step 4… Smooth edges with your fingers . Roll three tiny balls in black clay and

place them as the eyes and nose of the bear.

Step 5… Place the head on top of the pumpkin.

Step 6… Roll two balls of brown clay, one half the size of the body and the other

a bit smaller. Take the bigger one and divide it into halves.

Step 7… Roll each half into a short log and then thin 2/3rds of the log

(you’ll have a log with a ball at one point)

Step 8… Curve the log, right where the ball starts, to form the foot. Use

your knife tool to mark toes if you want to.

Step 3. Step 4. Step 5.

Step 6.

Step 7.

Step 8.


Step 9… Attach legs to the side of the pumpkin.

Step 10… To make the arms, we’ll use the smaller

brown ball. The procedure is the same as for

the legs, but instead of curving to form the

feet, make a little pressure on the ball at the

point, to shape the hands. Mark fingers if

desired.

Step 11… Attach arms to the side of the pumpkin and

place two pieces of clay shaped as drops to

the sides of the head to form the ears.

Step 12… Take some green clay and make a cone.

Place it on top of the head as both the hat of

the bear and the stem of the pumpkin. Let dry

Hope you liked this project!

Email: puntosurminiatu‐

[email protected]

Gallery:

www.picasaweb.google.com/

ernestobaldini

Text and photographs ©

Ernesto Baldini 2009


Step 9. Step 11. Step 10.

Step 12.

This month we are pleased to catch up with Wendy Smale and find out a bit more

about the person behind those amazing shell & fossil collections, not to mention

her gorgeous silk cushions.

Can you tell us a bit about your life before Miniatures?

Well, I’m English but I have been living in the USA since coming here for graduate school in 1985. After

university my husband and I had two daughters, and I was a stay‐at‐home mother for them. I had a small

business teaching hands‐on science programmes in pre‐schools and have also worked as an instructor for a

local environmental group and as an instructor and special exhibit tour guide for a science museum.

Miniatures came into my life when my elder daughter was about nine.

As a child, what were your favourite toys?

A toy farm and zoo. I used to buy the Britain’s Zoo Animals with my pocket money from what was billed as

the smallest toy shop in England. I had a stamp collection too. Actually, I still have it tucked away in a

drawer.

What attracted you to miniatures in the first place?

I sort of came to miniatures indirectly. My daughters received small bequests from their great‐grandmothers

and we decided to get them each a dollshouse. My husband built the kits and then the houses needed

furnishing. One weekend when my husband was away on a business trip I took the girls to the Philadelphia

Miniaturia Show, having no idea that this was one of the top shows in the country, and I was just amazed at

the quality and variety of the miniatures, and the friendliness of many of the artisans. Shortly after, I was

browsing a thrift shop (charity shop) for bargains and neat stuff, and found a gorgeous silk tie with a tiny

woven design. I reckoned that I could do straight sewing and make little pillows from it, and I did. Things

have just grown from there.

What was your first purchase?

Actually, I’ve only bought a couple of miniatures for myself. The first was a delicate Bristol blue glass

decanter from Glass Craft as I just love that intense colour.

What miniature item do you most covet?

I try not to covet things, as it will only make me unhappy not to get them!

pleased to meet you!


Who do you most admire in the miniature world?

No one person specifically; those who are creative, meticulous artisans and also friendly, approachable and

helpful. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to get to know quite a few people like this through

internet miniatures groups.

What made you decide to specialise in natural items as well as your beautiful silk

pillows and cushions?

Actually, I have been interested in fossils and shells in “real” life since I was a child, but for some reason it

took years for it to “click” that I could work with them in miniature too. I was sorting out duplicate shells

from my collection when I looked at some of them anew as a miniaturist, and realised that they could work

in 1:12 scale. I’d already found some tiny fossils in material discarded by a palaeontologist I was working

with but had just kept them for myself. Then I went to a local gem and mineral show, and I was hooked by

the potential. In many ways the crystals and minerals have the same sort of appeal as the silk does for me –

colour, lustre, texture. There are some really fascinating miniature natural items too, such as fulgarites

(“fused lightning”) and the beautiful patterns and variations of some shells. It all came together as an

overall focus on natural history in miniature.

Have you had any unusual commissions?

Not really. The closest is probably a group of pillows for a wonderful room box featuring a reclining

courtesan.

Do you have any hobbies unrelated

to miniatures?

No; within miniatures I can really try

anything that I want, and now I even collect

in miniature. I keep a specimen of each kind

of crystal, mineral, fossil and shell for

myself.

Any phobias?

I have a healthy fear of things that can eat

me in this country – bears and mountain

lions!

Fantasies?

Being able to go to the IGMA Guild School

to take classes.

To see more of Wendy’s work have a look

at her website:

www.wendysminiatures.com

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/wendysminiatures Artisans In Miniature 83

Once Upon A Time... These magnificent characters and magical objects could have stepped straight out of a book! Maybe the child in us all can still remember the magical wonderment that these characters from our own story times gone by, could evoke. From Kings and Queens, to goblins and fairies, white rabbits and mad hatters, big bad wolves and princesses - we have many of them here in miniature. So without further ado, sit back and enjoy… a brief peek at the land of “mini make believe”...where mini dreams can come true!

Photo 1…Badd et Glimm (Beatrice Thierus)

Photo 2...Red Riding Hood & The Big Bad Wolf- “What big teeth you have granny!” (Julie Campbell)

Photo 1…


Photo 2…


Photo 3 & 4… King Arthur & Queen Guinevere (Nicky Cooper)

Photo 3…

Photo 4…

Photo 5…

Photo 5… Owl & The Pussycat (Jain Squires)

Photo 6…

Photo 6… Poor Cinderella! “Oh I wish I could go to the ball!” (Louise Goldsborough)


Photo 7…

Photo 7…. Alice In Wonderland At The Mad Hatters Tea Party (Christa Chayata)

Photo 8... Snow White (Louise Goldsborough)

Photo 8…

Photo 9... Snow White Silk Dressed Four Poster Bed (Linda Toerzey)

Photo 9…


Photo 10… Snow Queen (Beatrice Thierus)

Photo 11… Tinklewick Family - Woodland Fantasy Creatures (Eileen Sedgewick)

Photo 11…

Photo 12…. Rumplestiltskin (Julie Campbell)

Photo 12…

Photo 13…

Photo 13… Fairy Slippers (Louise Goldsborough)


Photo 14... Beauty & The Beast (Eileen Sedgewick)


Thank you to all the AIM members who submitted their characters and items to this gallery. To view more of

their work, see their respective websites.

Photos 1 & 10 ‐ created by Beatrice Thierus of Les Miniatures de Béatrice ‐ http://myminiatures.net

Photos 2, 12 & 16 ‐ created by Julie Campbell of Bellabelle Dolls ‐ www.bellabelledolls.co.uk

Photos 3 & 4 ‐ created by Nicky Cooper of Nicky’s Dolls & Critters ‐ www.nickycc.com

Photo 5 ‐ created by Jain Squires of The Giddy Kipper – www.giddykipperdolls.com

Photo 6, 8, 13 ‐ created by Louise Goldsborough of Angelique Miniatures ‐

www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk

Photo 7 ‐ created by Christa Chayata of Christa’s Dolls ‐ http://home.wanadoo.nl/ichayata/dolls.htm

Photo 9 ‐ created by Linda Toerzey of Simply Silk ‐ www.simplysilkminiatures.com

Photos 11 & 14 ‐ created by Eileen Sedgwick ‐ www.eileensedgwick.com

Photo 15 ‐ created by Christine Shearer ‐ www.dandelionfair.com/dollhouse

© Copyright for all photographs in this feature is held by each individual artisan

and may not be reproduced without their expressed permission.

Photo 15... The Littlest Mermaid (Christine Shearer) Photo 16… The Beast From Beauty & The Beast (Julie Campbell)

Photo 15…

Photo 16…

Compiled By AIM Member, Margaret Pitts (MiniMilliner)

Hi Kids! What do you think about when the month of October arrives? Autumn half-term holiday? Conkers to collect? Halloween?

This month we have some great ideas for Halloween miniature projects and to start us off, our own Mini AIMer, Sarah, together with her mentor and general inspiration, Grandma Leilani, have some fantastic tutorials in their TRASH to TREASURES series.

Another proud Granny has been in touch about the miniatures her three young grandchildren have produced and over the next three months we shall be show-casing each of them in turn; but we are going to give you a ‘taster’ here:

AIM Artisan, Debbe Mize has three grandchildren and during the holidays she has them to stay with her. Needless to say, all Debbe’s own wonderful miniatures provide a great inspiration for the ‘grandies ’ as she affectionately calls them, and

they love to try their hands at making some of their own.

This summer, Debbe gave each of them an empty wooden room box and let them go wherever their imaginations took them. The results are stunning! Starting next month, the oldest of the three grandies, Tristan, (12yrs), is going to tell you about the room box she made.

So watch this space!


Pumpkins For the first project, you need a nut of some sort. This was made using hazelnuts (or filberts, to give them their other name), but you could look out for others, such as conkers, when you are out for a walk.

Hazel/Filberts nuts

Orange paint

Black marker

Glue

Green felt or plastic leaves (small) five per pumpkin

Scissors

Toothpick (cocktail stick)

Small piece of sponge

Small piece of cardboard

Step 1. Cut a piece of cardboard and glue to the nut on the pointed end (the bottom) and trim to size. You only need a very small piece to help the nut stand firm.

Step 2. Paint the whole nut and cardboard bottom orange using a small piece of sponge and leave it to dry.

Step 3. Paint triangle eyes, a nose and a mouth, with black paint or marker. We used a black marker and it worked well. You can put a white dot on the inside of the black eyes if you wish or leave them all black.

Step 4. Cut a tiny piece of toothpick and paint it green for the top stump.

Step 5. Cut out your felt leaf shapes, make these small, you need five per pumpkin.

Step 6. Glue the little green piece of toothpick to the top centre of the head. The top of the pumpkin is the larger round part of the nut.

Step 7. Glue on five little leaves around the toothpick leaving a little space in between each one.

You are Done!

See, we told you it was super easy!


Trash To Treasures...

Materials needed...

Instructions...

NOTE: We didn’t give ours spooky faces but you can make yours as spooky as you like! You can even put little hats on yours if you like to dress them up or add yarn or paper hair to make girl pumpkins too. These are your pumpkins so use your imagination! Enjoy your little pumpkin nut creations! Remember we would love to see how yours come out, so share your photos.

Still on the subject of nuts, do you remember the pistachio nut shells we used for planters and sailboats ?

Well there are lots of things you can do with them, including making tiny masks:

For the Pumpkin mask, just paint the shell orange and draw a face on as you would a pumpkin.

I also made a red one with just a goofy fun face so you can get an idea.

If you would like to try the clown mask, you will need: Pistachio nutshells Glue Markers - (To paint the shells with) Scissors Paper (for the Clown's hat) Q-Tip cotton buds or tiny pompoms (for the Clowns nose and hat ) A bit of gathered lace (for the Clown's collar) Decals (Optional) Step 1. First, clean out the nutshell and paint it then paint a clown's face on it.

Step 2. Glue the little pompom to the nose. Since I didn't have tiny pompoms on hand I made mine with the cotton from a Q-Tip cotton bud. I painted the one for the nose red and the one for the hat purple, using regular markers.

Halloween Masks

Materials needed...

pistachio shells


Step 3. For the hat I cut a small square from a piece of blue paper, or you can paint your hat paper any colour you want.

Step 4. Make a cone shape with the paper and glue in place, trim off any extra pieces now. You can add a decal to your hat or scribble something on it like I did. You can also add a bit of ric rac braid.

Step 5. Put your pompom on the hat point and glue in place.

Step 6. Cut a piece of the gathered lace to fit around your Clown's neck and glue in place.

Step 7. Now glue a piece of wire or trim on the back of the mask and hang it on the wall.

You can have lots of fun with yours like adding crazy yarn or wool for hair for example. You can give them funny faces and dress them up with sparkle/glitter if you like.

Just have fun..!

Finally this month, how about making a spooky container for a creepy plant or flowers? Just the thing for Halloween!

This is what you need:

An adult to help!

Thick marker pens (felt tips)

All purpose scissors

Dried leaves or seeds that take on a weird and creepy shape when dry

Florist foam or dry oasis (plasticine or Fimo would do)

Paint

Toothpick (cocktail stick)

Sponge Artisans In Miniature 93

Spooky Planters...


Step 1. Paint the various sized pieces or caps in different colours (such as white for a ghostly one), using a piece of the sponge and let it dry.

Step 2. Draw and paint the faces on your pots; use the toothpick (cocktail stick) to paint the eyes, nose and mouth. Make them as creepy as you like - see ours for ideas!

Step 3. Put a bit of the floral foam (dry oasis) into the pot and push down. You could also use plasticine or Fimo instead.

Step 4. For the leaves, we used the tops from strawberries that you pull out before you eat them. Let them dry out and they will twist and curl into weird shapes. Lots of leaves and seed pods will do this -- have a look in your garden at this time of year.

Add a dot of glue to your dried leaves and push them into the pot. Remember these are dry and brittle and will break easily.

Step 5. You can add a little bit of watered down paint to your leaves here and there to give them a little colour but do not paint the whole leaf.

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.


You may notice that one of the pots has eyeballs and cobwebs.

I made the cobweb with a hot glue gun (do not do this yourself -- ask an adult to help).

The eyeballs are tissue paper balls painted to look like eyeballs. I also made spider eggs just by adding dots of white paint here and there and wiping a little off with a tissue so there is barely any paint on the leaves.

What fantastic projects, Sarah & Leilani!

Thanks for sharing…!

Why not take a photo of your Halloween projects and send it to me,

Margaret, at [email protected]

You might get it published in the next issue!

Photos in this article are copyright of Margaret Pitts (www.minimilliner.co.uk) and also Sarah & Leilani.

The Miniature... GRAPEVINE

New AIM Members

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the

following new members who have joined AIM in the

past month:

Congratulations Debbie! All of us here at AIM would like to give our warmest

congratulations to talented South African AIM

member, Debbie Dixon‐Paver who has been awarded

an IGMA Guild School scholarship for 2010.

So “Well Done Debbie” – it is all so well deserved!

To see Debbie’s work, go to:

www.cdhm.org/user/debbie

NEW NUMBER FOR BUTTERCUP MINIATURES Please note the new phone number for Buttercup

Miniatures is now: 0844 251 0590

(UK only overseas customers please e‐mail us:

[email protected]

as the phone number only works within the UK) Following new regulations the old 0870 number is no

longer in service. www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk

SEE SASSY MINI DOLLS AT SHOWCASE OF

MINIATURES SHOW! Sassy Mini Dolls will be at

t h e S howc a s e o f

Miniatures Show in San

Jose, California on

October 10th & 11th! If

you're attending the show,

please stop by and say

hello!

It's being held at new loca‐

tion this year, the Double‐

tree Hotel San Jose. Opening times as follows:

Saturday 9.00am. to 4.00 pm. and Sunday 10.00

am. to 4.00 p.m.

For more information see the organiser’s web

address… http://goodsamshowcase.miniature.net

or Sassy Mini Dolls website:

ww.sassyminidolls.com

HANDY TIP ON HOW TO PRINT AIM

MAGAZINE. Printing advice: for the best printing results it is

best to download a PDF version of the relevant

issue and then print from that…

Just An Example Of What Is Being Said

About AIM Magazine! "Seriously, it just gets better and better so another

big thank you to all involved and I'm not going to

spare anyone's blushes. It really is the best

miniatures magazine around, ecologically sound

(print only what you need to), AND all for free."

Marianne Cook

Joyce Bernard Julia & Hywel Jeffreys

Sally Watson Stephanie Kilgast Lauretta Carol

Ernesto & Florencia Baldini Pam & Pete Boorum

Carolyn Mohler

Linda Berkemeier Lydia Murp Tess Elliothy

Ineke Marinussen Montserrat Riqué Bellver

Kristy Taylor Cristina Diego

Linda Gale

NEW


Josephine Parnell – Dolls House Bears… is featured in a 4‐page article in the November

issue, 185, of The Dolls House and Miniature

Scene magazine, which is now on sale.

Josephine tells us that it includes a selection of

photos of her fairly recent work, none of which

have been published anywhere else.

They are mainly of her Bears but there is also an

unusual commission of some Dragons.

“The Dragons were a

special commission

from a customer who

has had work from

me in the past and

was doing a Harry

Potter type scene.

They were quite a

challenge because I

had to devise the pattern myself, fortunately I am

fairly good at being able to visualise how a pattern

will look in 3D, which is really useful.

I made the

first one and

then found I

had the size

wrong so

then made

the smaller

one; I sent

pictures and

the customer

had both of them. They were a challenge to do but I

do like to have the variation of special commissions

and the satisfaction of doing something very

unusual. I am also always blown away with some of

the ideas and projects that people get involved in

behind their own front door.”

Josephine

www.dollshousebears.free‐online.co.uk

[email protected]

Boston in the UK. Telephone 01205 723637.

New Murder Mystery from

Dateman Books Dateman Books have moved into the world of

murder mystery with their latest miniature

volume. Following negotiations with Chorian, who

represent the literary estate of Agatha Christie,

they have obtained a license to produce a

miniature version of her “Murder on the Orient

Express”.

The book, which contains

the first chapter of the

story, has readable text and

is hand bound in black linen.

With the kind permission of

Harper Collins it is finished

with a coloured dust jacket

featuring the original art

work from the 1934 first

edition.

“We are very pleased to have been given this

opportunity to produce a novel from this popular,

mystery writer and hope in the future to produce

more. Our aim is to produce as wide a range of

miniature books as possible and to have Agatha

Christie in our catalogue is a great honour.”

The book is available priced £7 plus £1 p&p (UK,

£1.50 overseas) from our website, by post,

telephone or e‐mail, all major credit cards are

accepted or you may

pay by cheque (UK

banks only) or through

Paypal.

Dateman Books,

16 St Bridges Close,

Kewstoke,

Weston‐Super‐Mare

BS22 9UN

Tel: 01934 632995

Email:

[email protected]

Website: www.datemanbooks.com


Don’t Miss A Thing!

Catch the latest news from all around the miniature world…

All FREE and fully downloadable at:

www.artisansinminiature.com Loads more fantastic

‘quality’ 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.

COMING nEXT MONTH…


See you again next month…!

Kiva Atkinson Ernesto Baldini

Jill Bennett Maia Bisson

Helena Bleeker Alison Brand Barbara Brear Robin Britton

Bea Broadwood Julie Campbell Pat Carlson Mags Cassidy

Christa Chayata Cheryl Clingen Nicola Cooper Janine Crocker

Nancy Cronin Catherine Davies

Debbie Dixon-Paver Louise Goldsborough

Vicky Guile Arla Johnson

Stephanie Kilgast Debie Lyons

Emma &Neil Martinot Linda Master Marsha Mees

Kathi Mendenhall Sandra Morris Margaret Pitts Frances Powell Jana Rowntree

Eileen Sedgwick Christine Shearer Chris Shepherd Orsi Skulteti Wendy Smale Carol Smith Jain Squires

Barbara Stanton Beatrice Thierus Celia Thomas Linda Toerzey Dave Williams

Guest Contributors Grandma Leilani

& Sarah

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

Many thanks therefore go to...

Documents

AIM October Magazine, Halloween Special