AIM Mag February 2010

Contents…
Contents…
February 2010: Issue No 20, Cover Image: Celia Thomas
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!
15 *New Feature!* Blog Of The Month: Each month Debie Lyons will
be looking at a particular AIM member’s Blog. This month it is the
turn of AIM member Marsha Mees of Sassy Mini Dolls...
24 *New Feature!* Aunt Anastasia: If you have a miniature dilemma,
then why not write to our very own agony aunt for her well
considered advice!
28 Through The Keyhole: Ever wondered what it would be like to be
able to have a closer look at the working environments of AIM
members? This month we take a peek at the extensive work space
10 of Patricia Cabrera.
30 Aim Pleased To Meet You: Get to know more about AIM
member Karen Griffiths, when you read her answers to our questions.
32 A Touch Of Winter: This month’s AIM Gallery celebrates winter in
miniature.
36 *New Feature!* Diary Of An Edwardian Dollshouse: Don’t
miss the first instalment of Julie Campbell’s fascinating
miniature dollshouse adventure!
44 In Season This Month: Welcome to the next instalment of this
popular ‘miniature food’ feature. This month Vicky Guile and her
fellow AIM food artisans take a closer look at all things
‘Chocolate’.
58 *New Feature!* Winter Fashion: If you love miniature
18 fashion, then you will love this new regular feature.
This month AIM members showcase their warm attire.
62 Mini Aimers: Mini Makes!! Projects for the
artisans of the future. Written by Debie Lyons
66 The Miniature Grapevine: Catch up on all the
latest news and announcements from the
international miniature world.
68 *New Feature!* The Post Box: Why not write
in and tell us what you think!
Artisans In Miniature 2
Features… 58
6 Cover Story: AIM member Celia Thomas tells
us more about what makes the Thame
Dollshouse & Miniatures show so special.
10 Walking In A Winter Wonderland: AIM
members have come together to illustrate
(in miniature) the words of this nostalgic and
classic winter song.
18 Comfort Food: AIM member and food artisan
Carol Smith shares her very own miniature comfort
food. 10
23 Competition Time: Are you feeling lucky? This month
you can win a fantastic pair of miniature gloves, knitted
by AIM member Helen Woods.
51 Carnival: February may be cold in many areas of the
world, but in some places it is definitely ‘party time!’
56 The History Of The Knitted Fishing Gansey: Frances
Powell of Buttercup Miniatures shares more about this
traditional winter warmer.

Free Projects…
16 Toboggan: AIM member and author Jane Harrop shares
her project to create a tradition toboggan in both 1:12th and 50
1:24th scales.
20 Heart Motif Cushion: AIM member Frances Powell shares her
romantic 1:12th scale knitting pattern for a Valentine’s day
accessory. (Includes tutorial for knitting in two or more col‐
ours)
26 Art Deco Hat Tutorial: AIM member
Mary Williams shares her delightful 40
tutorial for miniature vintage winter
attire.
40 Creating A Snow Covered Ruin: Debie
Lyons teaches her fabulous tutorial to
create this wintery scene.
50 Miniature Chocolate Truffles: Why not
follow food artisan Margaret Cassidy’s
clever project and make your very own
miniature chocolates.
65 1840’s Bonnet Project: Doll artisan and
experienced project writer Viola
Williams brings us her delightful and
traditional bonnet tutorial. Artisans In Miniature 3
CLICK…on Artisans In Miniature
How did you find the Online Magazine??
Did you follow a link?
Did a miniature friend tell you about it?

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

If not, copy, paste and CLICK now – www.artisansinminiatures.com and come and
meet us all. Founded in 2007 by Bea (Fiona) Broadwood of Petite Properties, the site
has been created in order to showcase the fantastic work of the individual
professional international artisan members who create beautiful and original scale
miniatures for sale to the public. Together they form the Artisans In Miniature
association.

Since its launch the AIM association has rapidly grown and now boasts membership of
well over 200, including some of the most talented artisans within the miniature
world!

On the website you will find further information about them and their work;
however, please note new pages are constantly being added and there are many
members who are not yet included on the site...

If you are a professional artisan who is interested in joining the association, you will
find all the information there.....
If you are wondering what Fairs may be on in your area – that information is there
too…

We have lots of links…to Fairs and Events Organizers…Magazines…Online Miniature
clubs….Historical reference sites…..Workshops…and more… it’s all there!

If you’d like to contact us, copy, paste and CLICK...
we’d love to hear from you!
www.artisansinminiature.com
Artisans In Miniature ?

Editor’s

Note...

Dear Reader
Despite the cold weather outside, I would like to offer you all a very warm

welcome to February’s edition of the AIM magazine!

Here in the northern hemisphere, winter has so far brought with it much
The AIM Magazine’s snow and icy weather and many of our members around the globe have also
Editorial Team: been wrapping up and contending with plenty of the white stuff!

Personally I love the snow… I love ‘snow days’… I love wrapping up and
Bea Broadwood walking my dogs across the fields. But most of all I love the sense of quiet and
office@petite‐properties@aol.com calm that only a heavy layer of fresh snow can bring.

It is true that most winter weather is not always so magical, but here at AIM

Debie Lyons we thought we would celebrate all that is good about the snowy season.
Hufflepuffed1048@aol.com So if you have always wanted to try your hand at making a miniature
toboggan or to have a go at creating an atmospheric snow scene – look no

further than this February Issue of the AIM magazine!
Janine Crocker
janine@missameliasminiatures.com For those of you who have kicked off the year with a fresh start and a new
diet, then I strongly suggest that you take my advice and skip pages 44 to 49

as these are simply dripping in ‘diet busting’ chocolate – just perfect for
Julie Campbell
belljulie1@aol.com Valentine’s Day and all in miniature of course!

At AIM, we too have been inspired by the start of the new year and so we

Margaret Cassidy have given the AIM magazine bit of a ‘make over’ (we hope you like it?).
info@mags‐nificent.co.uk If a new look was not enough, we have also slipped some fabulous new
features between our virtual covers for you to enjoy; including Julie

Campbell’s fascinating ‘Diary Of An Edwardian Dollshouse’ and a wonderful
Mary Williams
marysdolls@gmail.com new ‘Miniature Fashion Feature’ collated by Janine Crocker. Alternatively, if
you have a miniature dilemma, why not write to our very own
‘Aunt Anastasia’ or if you would simply like to give us your feedback or
Vicky Guile
thoughts on the AIM magazine, then do check out our new ‘Post Box’ column
vicky@njdminiatures.com
on page 68!...
So whatever the weather where you are, why not grab a cuppa, settle back
and come join us, as we wander though our miniature ‘Winter Wonderland’…
Bea
Editor (& General whip cracker)

February 2010
www.petite‐properties.com
Please note all AIM members contribute to the magazine…
Thame Dolls House
& Miniatures Fair
By AIM member, Celia Thomas
Saturday 20th February 2010
Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2BB

The 4th Thame Dolls House & Miniatures Fair is to be held on 20th February
2010 at Thame Leisure Centre, Oxfordshire. This is an annual charity event that
has grown from humble beginnings into something very special and well
anticipated on the UK dolls house fair calendar.
Organised by AIM member Celia Thomas, who trades as KT Miniatures, the fair is also unique as not only is it
a first‐rate event with “artisans only” exhibiting (no general traders) but the organiser’s aim is to raise as
much money as possible for the charity Breast Cancer Campaign.

There will be 45 high quality artisans attending, more stand holders than ever before, many ranking amongst
the very best in the UK. Celia wishes to promote some of the finest the miniatures industry has to offer and
says, “I am humbled once more by the fantastic support from the artisans and the general public too, for this
event. Yet again, I can truly say that Thame Dolls House & Miniatures Fair is going to be even bigger and better
than in all previous years. We literally will be bursting at the seams trying to squeeze everyone and everything
in!”

AIM (Artisans In Miniature) will, for the second year running, have a showcase of their talents on display and in
fact many of the stand holders attending are members themselves. Several of the exhibits displayed on the
AIM table have been pledged to the charity and later that day at 3.00pm, those will be moved over to the
Breast Cancer Campaign Sales Table and then be available for purchase. Visitors, who are unable to stay on
until 3.00pm but would like the chance to buy any of the lovely donated AIM exhibits, are invited to leave their
details with their monetary pledge on a special list found on the AIM Table. The AIM exhibits created much
interest amongst the visitors at the last event and the members donations certainly contributed greatly to the
previous final total of £3,080.00 raised.

The local dolls house club, MTM of Thame (Market Town
Miniaturists), will have on display examples of their work plus
their now famous charity Miniatures Tombola, for which
talented members will have made most of the wonderful mini
prizes! This is always a big hit with not just the youngsters but
for those “young at heart” too......and it is sheer delight to hear
the “winners” giggles of excitement over their Tombola prizes!
As always, there will be a charity Grand Raffle with some truly
magical prizes; all donated by many of the stand holders at the
event. There is also the ever popular Breast Cancer Campaign
Sales Table with a huge array of donations from the public,
artisans and people within the miniatures industry. Why not
take a peek at a sample of the donations already pledged for
both the Raffle and the Sales Table.... Simply click on the
relevant links on the Thame Fair promotional page.
(see details at the end of this feature)
The prize for the main competition this year is a fabulous second‐hand shop complete with furnishings
created and donated by four Wiltshire talented ladies and from what must be one of the smallest dolls house
clubs in the UK.... “Violets Cottage Dolls House Club”!

The popular Thame Town Crier will also be back to lend his support and will be collecting with an
enthusiastic band of volunteers up in the Thame town centre for the charity during the day, and later
conduct proceedings at Thame Fair.

Then of course there is the popular Breast Cancer Campaign Sealed Bid Auction and this year it is different.
Not only can you bid on the day of the event, but you can place your bid online now – see
www.ktminiatures.com/Auction_BreastCancerCampaign for full details.

The room box this year is called simply “A Box Of Memories” that has been created inside a tiny antique
smoker’s cabinet to depict a nostalgic and poignant scene of a lady of mature years (endearingly named
Florrie) who is up in her old loft room, surrounded by many possessions of great sentimental value. As she
sits, she picks up an old family album and finds memories of days long gone come flooding back.
Several specific items have been donated by some fantastic UK miniature artisans and AIM members…
So Celia says “Please do have a go at placing a bid – this is a sealed bid auction and with a reserve of just
£99.00, could make an extraordinary and valuable heirloom for years to come.”

Celia is donating 50% of any profit made from running this event to Breast Cancer Campaign, as this is a
charity whose mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world‐class research to understand how
breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure. Many families and
individuals have been touched by breast cancer directly or indirectly and Celia’s family too have been greatly
touched, as she has lost both her mum and maternal grandmother to this awful disease. With a daughter of
her own plus several nieces, it is this driving passion in trying to help do her “bit” to help with the research
that continually inspires her to organise Thame Fair each year.

There is no doubt that Thame Dolls House & Miniatures Fair is a very special event indeed.... so do come
along and join in the fun on Saturday 20th February at Thame Leisure Centre in Oxfordshire.... have a
fantastic miniatures day out and help us all raise lots of money for Breast Cancer Campaign too! Admission
fees are £3.00 ‐ Adults/£1.00 – Child (with under‐fives free). Open 10.00am – 4.00pm
See full details of this event on www.ktminiatures.com or ring Celia Thomas on 01844 212520 if you would
like further information.
Thame itself is a quaint little
market town with a lovely array
of shops, restaurants and historic
buildings. It is also close to the
M40 and just a short distance
away from Oxford & attractions
such as Blenheim Palace, so if you
are coming from afar you could
even make a
weekend of it.

Artisans In Miniature
“An association of professional artisans,
dedicated to promoting a high standard
of excellence in original handcrafted scale miniatures…”
NEW

artisansinminiature.blogspot.com
Are YOU a professional miniature artisan??
Do you sell quality handmade miniatures to the public??
Do you want to showcase your work and talents on a global platform??
Do you want to be part of a supportive professional association??
AND do you want it all for FREE???
If you answered 'YES' to EVERY question…
Then look no further, AIM is the professional miniaturists association for YOU!!

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

So...if you are a professional miniature artisan and you would like to find out
more about joining the AIM Association,
please email AIM’s Membership Secretary: Mary for more information:
marysdolls@gmail.com

Or alternatively visit our website…
Walking in a
Photograph: Debbie Dixon‐Paver
Winter
Wonderland...
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?

We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.
Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.
When it snows,
ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose
gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play,
Photograph: Debbie Dixon‐Paver
the Eskimo way,

Walking in a
winter wonderland.
‘Winter Wonderland’
was composed by
Felix Bernard
Lyrics by Richard B. Smith
Copyright of images belongs to the 1:12th Snowman & Children ‐
individual artisans listed below… Making new friends...
By Debbie Dixon‐Paver

144th Half Timbered Tudor Cottage
By Alan Gray of Templewood Miniatures www.cdhm.org/user/debbie

1:12th Large snowman (brown & green scarf)
www.templewoodminiatures.co.uk

1:12th Horse Drawn Sleigh By By Philippa Todd of Todd Toys & Miniatures
Louise Goldsborough of Angelique Miniatures www.toddtoysandminiatures.com

www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk 1:24th Fireside cottage scene, from

‘A Country Sitting Room’ project book

1:12th Robin by Anya stone of By Fiona Broadwood (Bea)
Anya Stone Creations of Petite Properties Ltd
www.anya‐stone.co.uk www.petite‐properties.com

Th e N e w
Blog Of the month
By AIM Member Debie Lyons
Each month we will be looking at a particular AIM member’s Blog.
This month it is the turn of AIM member Marsha Mees of Sassy Mini Dolls...
www.sassyminidolls.blogspot.com

Marsha’ blog is lively, vibrant and informative. Marsha initially started blogging to talk about her dolls and for
her it has evolved into so much more. Her first post was January the 18th 2008 and so far she has amassed over
200 followers.

She has rediscovered her love of antiquing, crafting, etc… so she chats about all sorts of things on her blog and
covers various subjects. Marsha also thinks that it has introduced others to miniatures as their blogs have
introduced her or reacquainted her with things that she didn’t know or had forgotten about.

When asked if she found running a blog easier than having a website Marsha replied, “They are totally
different. I don't ‘chat’ on my website. My website is strictly for selling my dolls. I have a newsletter I send out
whenever I have dolls available for sale. My website takes very little of my time. It's just a matter of uploading
photos. My blog takes a considerable amount of my time. It's not difficult, just time consuming and has
become another ‘addiction’ LOL”

Marsha’s blog not only showcases her ‘Sassy Mini Dolls’, but it also shows where you can buy them from and
has links to her Etsy shop and her tutorial blog.

I asked Marsha what her favourite widget was and she said, “I've never really thought about the widgets.
I guess the translation one so when I visit a blog that is not in English I can easily translate it…”
Marsha’s blog is an interesting, fun and informative blog to visit and I would highly recommend it!

Debie Lyons
‘Blog Speak...’
a
is so rt of an online diary and
Blog - A bl og
bbies.
sh ow ca se yo ur interests and ho
place to
use to
id ge t is tool that you can
Widget – A w d to the
bl og , th ey are often adde
customise a
sidebars...
Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...Project...
Toboggans, long light wooden

sledges (without metal runners
and often home made)
originated in Canada for
transportation purposes during In 1:12 & 1:24th...
the winter.
During the late nineteenth and
early twentieth century, owning
a wooden toboggan to ride
down snow covered hills, would
have been every child’s dream.
You will need...

You will need to make the toboggan at 1/12th scale: You will need to make the toboggan at 1/24th scale:
1/8in (3mm) thick plywood 1/16in (1.5mm) thick plywood
Two 3 5/8in (92mm) by 5/8in (16mm) for runners
Two 1 13/16in (46mm) by 5/16in (8mm) for runners

1/8in (3mm) by 1/16in (1.5mm) obechi strip wood
1/16in (1.5mm) by 1/32in (1mm) obechi strip wood
Two 3 1/2in (89mm) lengths for side slats Two 1 3/4in (45mm) lengths for side slats
Four 2 1/8in (54mm) lengths for seat slats Four 1 1/16in (27mm) lengths for seat slats
Four 7/16in (11mm) lengths for uprights Four 7/32in (6mm) lengths for uprights

1/8in (3mm) by 1/8in (3mm) obechi strip wood 1/16in (1.5mm) by 1/16in (1.5mm) obechi strip
1 1/4in (32mm) length for front bar wood
Two 1 1/8in (29mm) lengths for seat supports 5/8in (16mm) length for front bar
Two 9/16in (15mm) lengths for seat supports
6in (152mm) length of thick thread for steering rope
Tacky glue 3in (76mm) length of medium thickness thread for
Wood stain or acrylic paint steering rope
Tacky glue
Wood stain or acrylic paint
Method...
1. Transfer the template on to each of the runner
wood pieces. Roughly cut out the shape using mitre
cutters. Place the two runners together and sand the
edges smooth.

2. Lightly sand the wood pieces. Gently round the

ends of the side slats and seat slats using fine‐grade
sandpaper. Stain or paint all of the wood pieces,
apply the paint or stain sparingly to avoid the pieces
warping and leave to dry, before continuing on to
the next stage.
.1.
3. Place two upright pieces on
their narrow edges and
position and glue a seat
support in‐between. The top
edge of the seat support is
flush with the ends of the
upright pieces. Repeat the
procedure with the remaining
seat support and upright
pieces.
4. Take a piece of paper and .2. .3.

mark a line a 1 1/4in (32mm)

(5/8in (16mm) at 1/24th scale)
from the edge of the paper. Position the side slats and seat
slats on top of the piece of paper in a gluing jig as shown in
the photograph, so that the slats are equal distance apart
within the measured area.

.4.
5. Take the support constructions made in step 3, position
and glue on top of the slats (using only a small amount of
glue) approximately 3/16in (5mm) ( 1/8in (3mm) at 1/24th
.5.
scale) from the ends of the slats . Take the front bar wood
piece and position and glue approximately 1/16in (1.5mm)
(1/32in (1mm) at 1/24th scale) from the end of the
construction and glue on top of the side slats.

6. Once dry, turn the construction on to its side and rest
the upright pieces and front bar on to a runner, the upright
pieces should sit just above the bottom edge of the runner
and the end of the front bar should sit towards the top of
the runner. Glue into place and leave to dry. Turn over the
construction and repeat the procedure, so that both
runners are in‐line with each other.

7. Complete by tying a length of thread around each end
the front bar to create a steering rope.

.6.
© Jane Harrop 2009
www.janeharrop.co.uk

.7.
Comfort
FOOD...
By AIM member, Carol Smith

What nicer in these cold winter
months to have a delicious homemade
Blackberry Charlotte with
custard. My preparation
board has a packet of
brown sugar, apples, fresh
bread, a grater, a tin of
golden syrup, a messy
spoon, a jug of custard
and a Blackberry
Charlotte pudding.

Bread and butter pudding
is an inexpensive
favourite for many. One is
shown on my preparation
board.

Home baked apple pie is
always popular, whether
served with fresh cream
or custard. I have
decorated mine with
apple shapes and it is
sprinkled with sugar.

Hot buttered crumpets with a mug of hot chocolate are perfect for a cold winter evening.

Homemade soup with fresh bread is ideal for lunch,
I make pea and ham or leek and potato in real life but
the miniature is tomato and basil.

Toad in the hole makes a tasty snack, popular with both adults and children.

The smell of bacon cooking is wonderful and

the bacon, egg, mushrooms and sausage do not
just have to be for breakfast.

Hotpots and casseroles, fish & chips, steak &

ale pie, shepherds pie are firm favourites.
If none of these appeal ‐ there is always
chocolate!
Carol Smith
http://www.etsy.com/shop/STARSGEMINI3
Text & Images © Carol Smith
Miniature Knitting Using Two Or More Colours
Section 1:
Notes for knitters working in two or more colours
By AIM Member Frances Powell
These notes are designed to help people knitting in
miniature only. Some of the notes therefore may
not apply when knitting in full size.

1. Reading the chart
 The knit rows (odd numbered rows) are read
from right to left.
The purl rows (even numbered rows) are read
from left to right.

2. Working with two colours as in the Heart Motif
Cushion pattern
 You may find it easier to place the balls of wool
in separate plastic bags (grip seal bags are ideal as
the wool can be gripped so it does not unravel too
fast), or wind the yarn onto bobbins to avoid the balls of yarn becoming tangled.
 If the yarn does become tangled ‐ stop ‐ and untangle it at the end of every row.
 Always twist the two yarns when changing colour, as this prevents holes from forming in the work, this is
especially important in rows 17‐19 of the following cushion pattern.
If you have to carry a yarn across the back of the work, as in rows 20‐22 of the following cushion pattern,
make sure the yarn carried across at the back of the work lays flat and is not pulled tight as this will cause the
stitches to gather instead of lying flat.

3. General hints when using two or more colours
 When working in more than one colour, carry wool not in use across back and up sides of the work to
avoid too many loose ends that need to be sewn in. This is especially noticeable with dolls clothes, as this
causes extra bulk when the garment is completed.
 Remember some patterns have different numbers of stitches and rows on the front and back; this is most
common when a plain back is used with a patterned front (this is not the case in the cushion pattern below).
 Patterns designed for two or more colours will usually not knit up in a single colour, as the number of
stitches will be too great, therefore the finished garment will be much too big.
 When carrying yarns across behind the work NEVER carry yarns across more than 5 stitches. To weave
yarns in just twist the yarn being carried with the working yarn. The simplest way to do this is to place the
yarn being carried over the working yarn before working the next stitch.
 Before working the next stitch in the colour being carried, slightly stretch the work to ease the carried
yarn across the back of the work, this stops it pulling too tightly.
 Lighter colours being carried behind the work can sometimes show up in the darker colours, this can be
remedied by making sure the carried yarn is not too tight in either colour.
 If working a large area of a different colour (such as the heart in this cushion) it is often neater to use two
balls of the main colour ‐ one on each side of the motif. This means the motif lies much flatter and threads do
not need to be woven in behind the work.
 If you make a mistake in a complicated pattern it is often easier to start again rather than try and unpick
the work.
You may find it easier to place a ruler or strip of paper on the chart directly under the line of the chart you are
reading and move it up the chart as you work.
www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk
Text & Photograph © Copyright F. H. Powell 2010
Section 2:
Knitting Pattern For a 1/12th scale
Heart Motif Cushion
By AIM Member Frances Powell
Materials required: size 19 (1 mm/US 5/0)

knitting needles, 1‐ply cotton in two colours
(approx 25 m main colour [blue] and 5 m
contrast [pink], small quantity of stuffing
material.
Before starting: break off about 10 m blue
yarn for second side of heart, this will save
you having to carry and weave the yarn in
behind the heart motif.

Abbreviations: st – stitch; k ‐ knit; p – purl; sst
– stocking [stockinette] stitch, one row knit,
one row purl; B ‐ blue; P ‐ pink.

Front (make 1)
Using blue cast on 25
sts.
Rows 1‐10: sst
Row 11: (following
chart above) k 12B,
join in pink, k 1P, k
12B.
Row 12: p 11B, twist
blue and pink yarns, p
3P, join in second ball
of blue yarn, p 11B.
Row 13: k 10B, twist
yarns, k 5P, twist
yarns, k 10B using
second ball of blue
yarn.
Row 14: p 9B, twist
yarns, k 7P, twist
yarns, k 9B using
second ball of blue
yarn.
Row 15: k 8B, twist
yarns, k 9P, twist
yarns, k 8B using
second ball of blue
yarn.
Row 16: p 7B, twist
yarns, k 11P, twist
yarns, k 7B using
second ball of blue
yarn.

Row 17: k 6B, twist yarns, k 13P, twist yarns, k 6B using second ball of blue yarn.
Row 18: p 6B, twist yarns, k 13P, twist yarns, k 6B using second ball of blue yarn.
Row 19: k 6B, twist yarns, k 13P, twist yarns, k 6B using second ball of blue yarn.
Row 20: p 7B, twist yarns, k 5P, carry blue yarn across in front of these 5 sts, p 1B, carry pink yarn across
in front this st, p 5P, twist yarn, p 7B using second ball of blue yarn.
Row 21: k 8B, twist yarns, k 3P, carry blue yarn across behind these 3 sts, k 3B, carry pink yarn across
behind these 3 sts, k 3P, carry blue yarn across behind these 3 sts, k 8B.

At the end of this row you may cut the BLUE yarn nearest the heart motif as this will no longer be
required in the knitting. Do not cut too close to the work as enough yarn to thread a needle will be
required when sewing in the loose end of the yarn.

Row 22: p 9B, twist yarns, k 1P, carry blue yarn across in front of this st, p 5B, carry pink yarn across in
front these 5 sts, p 1P, twist yarn, p 9B.
At the end of this row you may cut the PINK yarn, as this will no longer be required in the knitting. Do
not cut too close to the work as enough yarn to thread a needle will be required when sewing in the
loose end of the yarn.
Rows 23‐32: sst using blue yarn.
Cast off and sew in all loose ends around heart motif
Back (make 1 in blue)
Cast on 25 sts.
Rows 1‐32: sst
Cast off
Make up cushion
With right sides together, sew the two pieces of the cushion together, (remember to leave a small hole
for turning right side out). Turn right side out and stuff cushion to your liking before closing the seam.
Sew in any loose ends.

Edging (make 1 in blue)
Cast on 5 sts,
Rows 1‐2: k
Row 3: k 2, p 3.
Row 4: p 3, k 2.
Repeat rows 1‐4 until the edging is the required length to fit around the cushion, without stretching the
edging, ending with a 4th row of pattern. It may be easier to sew the edging in place as you knit. Cast off
and sew cast off edge to cast on edge, sew remaining edging to cushion.
© Copyright F. H. Powell 2010
This pattern is for private use only and
may not be reproduced in any form for
www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk commercial gain, including selling any
Artisans In Miniature 22 item knitted up from these patterns
without written permission from
Buttercup Miniatures
Competition…Competition...Competition...Competition...Competition...Competition...Competition...Competition...Competition...Competition...
The Lost Glove…!
Life behind the scenes at AIM can get pretty chaotic and during the
mayhem, we have gone and lost one of our gloves!...
So we need your help to find it! The lost glove was last spotted,
lurking somewhere in the pages of this magazine…? But where??
Knitting artisan and AIM member Helen Woods has very kindly created a wonderful pair of
12th scale knitted gloves (see below left) which we are offering as a prize for the winner of
our glove competition ‐ so don’t waste a moment longer ‐
Get searching!!...
(The lost glove is the same as the glove shown at the top left of this page…)
To enter our competition, simply tell us the number of the page where the lost glove is hidden...
For email entries – office@petite‐properties.com
(Please put COMPETITION as the subject title of the email)
For postal entries ‐ Bumble Bee Cottages, 52 ‐54 Drury Street, Metheringham, Lincs. LN4 3EZ.
(Please note this is a UK address)
All entries must include an email contact address and full name.
Rules of the competition. Closing date will be the 27th February 2010 and any entries
received after this date will not be accepted. On the 28th of February one winner will
be picked randomly from all of the correct entries and notified by email.
We can only accept one entry per person.
The winner will be published in the March 2010 edition of the AIM magazine.
We at AIM would like to say a big thank you to Helen Woods of ‘Living In A
Miniature World’, for the kind donation her fantastic miniature gloves.
And the winner is…

We are delighted to announce the winner of our
Farmhouse Table ‘Word Search’ Competition…
Congratulations to Patricia Wareing on your winning entry!! Artisans In Miniature 23
Aunt Anastasia
G reetings from Miniscule Manor!
I'm Aunt Anastasia, your very distant
mini relative (sixth cousin, twice
removed and scaled down) and when
I am not making the most fabulous
minis, sipping bubbly or bossing my
butler Trotters about, I just love
helping miniaturists and solving
problems of a miniature nature, so if
your paint won't stick and your glue
won't glue, get in touch:
auntanastasia@yahoo.com
Looking forward to hearing from you
soon. Must sign off now, Trotters is
here with the tea trolley…

Aunt Anastasia
Flying carpets...
Washday Blues… Dear Aunt Anastasia, the carpets in my house
won't behave and lie still. They have lumps and
How do I remove dried acrylic paint from the
bumps that could hide a small dog.
sleeve of my good blouse (I was just doing a little
Please help, my mini people keep tripping!
touch‐up job before we went out to dinner and
didn't notice the blob of "Spun Gold" until wash Answer:
day.) Help!! Please note: NOT recommended for hand‐stitched
artisan created carpets, but great for the woven,
Answer... store‐bought jobbies. The solution is to cut fusible
Sponge with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl interfacing (medium‐weight fabric on one side
alcohol) to soften paint. Keep at it! With a bit stuff) a little smaller than your carpet on all sides.
of rubbing, the paint will come off. Launder as Follow the directions for fusing and there you go…
usual! no more trip hazards!
Aunt Anastasia Aunt Anastasia

Another query I've had this week from one of my students is...

I have a project that requires me to use 3/64in (1mm) wooden dowel which I am having difficulty obtaining,
is there anything I can use as an alternative.

My answer is...
As an alternative to 3/64in dowel, you could use a 20‐ gauge white coloured paper covered wire, which takes
wood stain or paint really well. I have made various chairs in 1/24th scale and used paper‐covered wire for
the stretchers and you wouldn't know it was wire as the ends are hidden in the drill holes in the chair legs. If
you are making something like a rocking horse, where the ends of the wire would be on show, you would
need to dab a tiny amount of tacky glue on to the ends, as it is difficult of paint or stain bare wire, and once
dry cover with paint or wood stain.
Aunt Anastasia
Sticky Situation...
Dear Aunt Anastasia
What to do? I have returned to my craft table after a lengthy absence (shame on me!) to find a wonky shelf
in the bookcase kit I was working on. I know, I shouldn't have been gluing so late at night after that second
glass of chardonnay while watching a DVD. The shelf is well and truly stuck.
Please help! By the way, I used PVA glue (tacky glue).

Solution…
Fill a glue syringe (you don't have a glue syringe?) Hie the hence to your nearest dollshouse shop or hobby
emporium and get one! You will never glue with a cocktail stick again!) with white vinegar/spirit vinegar
(don't try this with malt vinegar ‐ it will make a nasty stain) and drip drops of vinegar along the offending
joints. Be patient! Give the vinegar time to work its magic and it may take more than one application, then
wiggle gently to see if the glue is letting go. Apply more vinegar, wiggle and repeat as needed until Bingo!
Out it pops. This does work on white PVA glue, I don't know if it works on wood glue or not. May be someo‐
ne else might know?
Aunt Anastasia
Dear Aunt Anastasia, despite its brilliance, and how much I drool over every issue of the AIM magazine, I have one
small, very whiny complaint. Here in the U.S., the wood we most often run into is not obeche or obechi or whatever
that stuff is, but rather, basswood. Basswood is a very serviceable wood, stains up to look like whatever you want it
to, works easily and is pretty near both universal and cheap. Your obeche/obechi, however, is some exotic, rare
substance not often found hereabouts. Pray, take pity on those of us 'cross the pond and tell us if basswood is a
suitable substitute for your (to you, obviously very common) obeche, that we may not have to import from foreign
shores and tropical climes something we cannot obtain locally....
This is how I replied...
I am delighted to hear that you are enjoying the AIM magazine. Such a jolly good read isn't it? I was miffed to read that
you are having difficultly in obtaining obeche wood on your side of the Pond, so I consulted my niece who now lives in
Canada (she married a frightfully handsome mountie) and she informs me that basswood can be used in exactly the
same way, and stained and painted as obeche. Apparently, basswood has a much closer grain than obeche wood but
can be a little 'furry' when painted or stained because the moisture raises the grain of the wood. You can get around
this by gently rubbing the surface of the wood on a very fine‐grade sandpaper, once the first coat has thoroughly dried.
So, fear not! Basswood is more than up to the task. By the way, did you know that crumpled brown paper is the most
wonderful sandpaper? It is just the ticket for the final sanding of a piece. Well, I must be off. Trotters has just informed
me that I have a gentleman visitor!
Aunt Anastasia
Do you have a question that you would like Aunt Anastasia to answer?
If so, simply email: auntanastasia@yahoo.com and let her help you!
Image © Mary Williams 2010 ‐ Text © AIM Association 2010
Art Deco Hat

Tutorial
By AIM member, Mary Williams
Materials required...
Doll Torso.
Small piece of soft leather
Trim
Indian Bindi for earrings
Small beads for necklace.
Feathers.
Faux jewels for brooch and trim on hat.
Piece of fake fur or similar for stole.
Glue, toothpick and sharp scissors.
Step 1 ‐ Take piece of soft leather and place over head of doll and pull tightly so .1.
there are no creases or folds, this will form a head shape in the leather.
See picture 1.
Step 2 ‐ Remove the leather and spread glue over the whole of the head. Put the
leather back onto the doll fitting the head shape over the glued area, pull tightly.
See pictures 2a and 2b.
.2a .2b. .3.
Step 3 ‐ Trim the excess leather so you are left with a leather bathing cap look. Make sure the bottom of
the ears are not covered by the leather. You can draw a line on the leather as a guide if needed.
Don’t worry about the edges being too neat as you are going to cover them with the trim. See picture 3.
Step 4 ‐ Place a line of glue around the

edges of the ‘cap’ and then starting at the .4a. .4b.
nape of the neck place your trim.
See pictures 4a and 4b.

Step 5 ‐ Put a dab of glue on the trim and
place your feathers, add another dab of
glue on top of the feathers and add a faux
jewel or bead to cover it. See picture 5.

Step 6 ‐ If you are going to put earrings on
the doll do this now, glue the earlobes and
place the Bindi. See picture 6.
.5. .6.
Step 7 ‐ Next put a line of glue under the bust of the
torso, make sure the holes where the arms should go are
covered. Place your first line of fake fur/trim over the
glue. Put another line of glue above the first layer and
place the next line of trim over this. Place a dab of glue
at the front where the trims meet and secure. Place a
rose or brooch at the centre. See pictures 7a, 7b and 7c.
.7a. .7b. .7c.

Step 8 ‐ You may like to add a necklace or some beads
now.

Step 9 ‐ You now have a pretty Art Deco Hat stand for
you shop or house.

To see more of Mary’s beautiful work,
why not visit her website:
www.dollshousedolls.co.uk
Text & Photographs © Mary Williams 2010
Through
The Keyh le...
Ever wondered what it would be like to be able to have a closer look at the
working environments of AIM members?
This month we take a peek at the wonderful working environment of
Patricia Cabrera in North Carolina...
My name is Patricia Cabrera and I am originally from Brazil, where I
was born and raised on a coffee farm. About eight years ago, my
family moved from Miami, Florida to a rural town in the south. We
now live on a farm in Peachland, snuggled in the rolling hills of the
piedmont of North Carolina.

I am very fortunate to have several different work spaces due to
the fact that I am involved with various forms of art. Whenever I
am working with wood, making furniture or a room box, I use
the wood shop. Because I live on a working farm, this is the
main farm shop. I take advantage of it because it is equipped
with all tools imaginable.
My second shop is called The SevenKidsMudhole. Before I
started making miniature porcelain dolls, I was a potter, so
now this shop serves two purposes for me. Although I continue
to occasionally turn pots, I mainly create porcelain dolls and
house ware in the Mudhole...
My third workplace is a small outbuilding. What I love about
this place is that it sits in front of my garden, and during the
summer months I am able to look out my window and enjoy
the view and my visitors (the birds *grin*) It is also next to
one of our pastures where my dairy cow Hershey can greet
me whenever she sees me coming...It is in this workshop that
I keep my sewing machine and most of my supplies. I keep
three tables; this gives me plenty of working space.
Although I don't do miniature work in this next
workplace, I wanted to mention it because it is
one of the places that I do work. It is my barn
loft. There, I do all my large oil paintings. It is
one of my favorite places to paint because the
lighting is perfect when the loft doors are open.
A lovely breeze floats into my painting "atelier",
and I am able to look out and see the beautiful
shimmer atop our pond. ..

My last workplace I like to call my *nest*. It's a room in my own home which under normal circumstances
is our family's baking room. I do most of my miniature animals in here because I do not like to be away
from my children during their daily activities, and throughout the years I have learned to work with
interruptions. *grin*

There is a window next to my work table that during the summer months allows me to look outside and see
the hummingbirds that visit my feeders. This room also has a fireplace which keeps me warm during the
winter.

I think what I like most about my workspaces is the fact that I can concentrate on each aspect of my
creations wholeheartedly. I couldn't possibly work with wood and porcelain in the same room, without
cleaning entirely before starting a new project. That I can work in each space and devote my attention
entirely without worrying about how I will prepare the room for my next project is a great relief for me.
I don't think there is anything that I would change to my workspaces; I feel that I am very privileged to have
the amount of space that I have to work with.

These workspaces were added one at a time, as I slowly increased my art repertory. From pottery to
sculpting, I have been able to develop my interests and thus create the need for space to work in my
collection of rooms and workspaces spans over eight years time.
If you would like to see the stunning miniatures that Patricia of Wooly Tales
creates, why not visit her website: www.woolytales.com

‘AIM’ pleased
to meet you...
This month we are delighted to find out more
about the very talented, Karen Griffiths
of Stokesay ware...
Can you tell us a bit about your life before Miniatures?
I started making miniatures as soon as I left college, and Peter
came to help me when he finished his history degree.
We both thought it would be a temporary arrangement, but
that was nearly 30 years ago.
As a child, what were your favourite toys?
I was a bit of a tomboy. My dad made me a fort with a brilliant
canon that fired match sticks and I had a train set and a Meccano.
But my favourite toy was a Bayko building set, ‘a fascinating pastime for all
ages’, with which you could construct a model 1930’s villa with detached garage.
I still have it.
What attracted you to miniatures in the first place?
Financial necessity. I left college in 1981 with a masters degree in ceramics
at the height of a recession. Stoke‐on‐Trent was working a three‐day week,
and unable to get a job I made my first miniatures. I took them to show
Michal Morse and Kristin Baybars, who luckily both placed orders.

What was your first purchase?

When I first started in the business I tried not to buy miniatures as the rent was pressing, but I did occasionally
give in. Two of the first items I bought were a perfect broom by Laurence and Angela St Leger and a smoker’s
bow chair by David Booth.
What miniature item do you most covet?
Probably that working bacon slicer.

Who do you most admire in the miniature world?

I admire people who do things well, with creative ingenuity and
attention to detail, whether that is making miniatures or organising an
event.
What made you decide to specialise in ceramics?
It was what I knew.
Have you had any unusual commissions?
As a rule we don’t accept commissions as the work involved in originating new shapes and artwork is enormous,
but very occasionally we make an exception. We had had a long working relationship with David Kilpatrick so
we made the china for his model of the dining room at the Garrick Club.
Do you have any hobbies unrelated to miniatures?
Not until recently, when I started making a full size patchwork quilt using Liberty Tana Lawn. Sometimes it is
nice to do something big. Time will tell if this is a proper hobby or just a passing whim.
Any phobias?
Slugs and heights. Worst scenario – the top step of a ladder with a slug on it.
Fantasies? You can see more of Karen’s beautiful china on her website:
Johnny Depp.
www.stokesayware.com
Food shown above by Mags‐nificent Miniatures: www.mags‐nificent.co.uk
Main Photograph © Stokesay Ware 2010 / Filled China Photographs © Mags‐nificent Miniatures 2010
AIM Gallery...
A Touch
Of
Winter...
Children Playing
In The Snow…
By Julie Campbell
Of Bellabelle Dolls
www.bellabelledolls.co.uk
W elcome to
February’s ‘AIM Gallery’.
This month members have
come together to celebrate
and reflect the best of winter…
all in miniature of course! Artisans In Miniature 33
Left:
‘Winter’ hats by
MiniMilliner,
Margaret Pitts
www.minimilliner.co.uk
Right: Pauline Everett

www.12thhousebridalcouture.co.uk
Below: ‘Snow Queen Scene’

By Louise Goldsborough/Bird
Angelique Miniatures,
www. angeliqueminiatures.co.uk
Left:
Furry Winter
Friends…
By Kristy Taylor
Of
Mini Menagerie
www.minimenagerie.com
Left: Snowman Pillows

By Wendy Smale of
Wendy’s Miniatures
www.wendysminiatures.com
Below Right: Polar Bear & Cub
By Patricia Cabrera of
Woolytales Miniatures
www.woolytales.com
Left: ‘Snow Queen’ By

Jain Squires Of
The Giddy Kipper
www.giddykipperdolls.com

Copyright of the images included in this feature
belongs to the individual artisans, as listed...
DIARY OF AN
NEW
FEATURE!
EDWARDIAN
DOLLS HOUSE
By AIM Member, Julie Campbell
As a miniature doll maker and dolls house enthusiast it has always been fun for me to photograph the little
people I make inside my own dollshouses, the perfect backdrop!

When I started to write stories around one of my characters who lives in and runs an Edwardian toy shop
I realised it would be a lot of fun to actually make the toy shop a reality and a place where I could
photograph the characters to illustrate my stories .
A seed had been planted in my mind and the possibility of making “Belle’s Toy Emporium” a reality had me
immediately searching for just the right kit house to build.

The decision was an easy one ! I have always wanted a Sid Cooke dolls house kit and the “Empire Stores”
was just right for my stories. A large Victorian building with a spacious shop floor and living accommodation
upstairs was just what I needed. It has a side entrance, a
tradesman’s entrance and even a little loft space with a
tiny hatch to get up there.
I bought the kit in the run up to Christmas and it sat
temptingly in its huge box under the stairs until I was able
to claim our dining room as my workroom.
I even started a blog where I could chronicle the progress
of the house being built and decorated and where I would
eventually introduce my characters and stories :
www.diaryofanedwardiandollshouse.blogspot.com

So this is the diary of my Edwardian Toy Shop. I hope you will enjoy
seeing me work on the dolls house kit and turning it into a wonderful
toy emporium ! You may pick up some useful tips along the way and
possibly learn from my mistakes too...
I also hope to be able to spotlight some of the wonderful work of other
AIM members when it comes to purchasing items to fill my emporium.
The not so grand box opening...
Today I opened the box !


My initial excitement was instantly
replaced by a daunting sight... The supplier
of my kit had opened all the packets to
check everything was there and then
packaged it all together. This was the box
as I opened it with pieces everywhere and
three damaged parts of my shop front.
Not one to be deterred I put the damaged
strips aside and sorted the contents…
As you can see after half an hour I had a
lovely neatly set out table of bits...
I think they are all there but as the packages of trims
were opened and everything had fallen out I am not
sure really what's what with the smaller bits, so
fingers crossed.
Another half hour was spent reading the instructions
( 19 pages ! ) and I'm almost ready to start.
Despite there being a few problems with the kit I

decided not to return it. I’m a seasoned kit basher
and as the characters I have planned to live in the
house are not rich and the house would be a little shabby I feel sure it will be okay.
First for the repairs, the damaged parts were split but as I am planning to paint them and they are
decorative parts I think they will fix just fine. I used a little wood glue and have placed a weight on top of
them as they dry, hopefully they will be good as new.

Top Ti p !
The first step with this kit is to attach the doors with the hinges provided. In my
experience it’s always been best to paint the doors before attaching them . It’s the only
way for a neat finish without ending up with hinges covered in paint. It also means you can test the
painted doors for fit and sand as necessary, thus avoiding "sticky" doors.
So work is halted for today as I dither over paint colours ! ( Burgundy is the firm favourite so far...)

DAY Preparation begins...
1 I have a confession to make... I'm a bit of a botcher ! Well, that should read I WAS a bit of a
botcher. Having made more than a few kits up previously I have not been known for my
patience. The excitement of a new kit usually results in a fully built dolls house by the end of
the day, with more than a few accidents , a few nails poking out here and there and then weeks
struggling to get into the nooks and crannys to decorate it all.
This time its all different ! I have prepared !!!!

In an unheard of move I actually took the sandpaper provided and sanded down the parts I was going to
prepare.
I hate sanding ! The raspy sound of it, the feel of it on my fingers, everything about it makes me shudder
so it’s a step I always skip but what a difference it has made doing this properly. Once my three outer
walls with door openings were sanded I sanded the doors too then coated the wood on all sides and
edges with sealer.
Feeling very proud of myself I then began to tackle the shop front window.
This went together very easily and as you can see, the damage to the corner of the top is barely
noticeable after a little sanding.
Then my enthusiasm got

the better of me and I
started on the paint work…
then realised
MDF needs
priming too !

As you can see from the picture below, my lovely aubergine enamel
paint just sunk right into the MDF in a very uneven fashion.

Well you live and learn so once dry a coat of sealer sorted that out and
I'm now busy painting over it with the enamel paint. 2 coats should
have my shop front looking beautiful.

Before assembling the front of the shop I will be painting the inside of
the window too, a lovely antique creamy white . The shop name plinth
will be left till last as its almost impossible to decorate it without lying it flat.

I have the shop doors to paint too before I can start assembling the house. Double doors at the front, a
door for the tradesman’s entrance at one side and the side door leading to the accommodation above
the shop.

All this preparation takes time but it will all be worth it and I have learned its almost impossible to paint
the doors properly once they are fitted into the frames.
So far so good...!
To see more of Julie’s beautiful work, why not visit her website:
www.bellabelledolls.co.uk
Text & Photographs © Julie Campbell 2010
Creating a Snow Covered Ruin... In 1/24th scale

By AIM Member, Debie Lyons
This project will show you how to

create a snow effect. The snow effect
is made up of several layers of various
materials and the technique can be
used for all sorts of miniature scenes
and settings.

Do not use spray on snow it can ruin
your project!

Please read through all instructions
before starting and I would advise you
to practice first before attempting to
use these techniques on your building
as the effect is permanent and cannot
be removed.
Materials...
Foam Board 1cm thick.
Glue
Scalpel
Cocktail sticks
Air Dry Clay – Rolling pin or pasta machine.
Paint – Black and white
Green Ink
Brushes
Snow Tex
Glitter
Powdered snow
Spray glue
Filler
Method...

1 ‐ Decide what shape you would like your ruin to
have. Cut out the walls twice and glue together
(the foam board is double thickness). Use cocktail
sticks in the corners to pin them together.
Cut out the base making sure that there is an edge
all the way around and attach the walls to the
base. .1.

2 – Working one wall at a time, roll out some air
dry clay using a pasta machine or use a rolling pin
till its about 2mm thick and place it on the foam
board. Mark out the stones using a cocktail stick or
press molds and distress with an old stiff brush.
It doesn’t matter if they look distorted.
Continue till all of the walls are covered and the
ends of the wall. On the top of the wall rough up
the clay, to create texture. Let it dry. If the clay
cracks while it is drying don’t worry this will add to .2.
the effect.

3 ‐ Cover the floor in the corner of the ruin and
cover with clay.
Draw out the flagstones with a cocktail stick and
distress.
Draw some cracks into them, distress with a
paintbrush and leave to dry.

.3.

4 ‐ Make a rough pile of stones with the air‐dry
clay and put them by the broken wall.
They don't have to be perfect, as they will be
partially covered in paint and snow. Let dry.
.4.
5 – Mix up some filler with PVA and water till you have a smooth thick paste.
Spread the paste in some areas of the base and
around the stones. Use the paste around the edges of .5.
the foam board to cover all the edges and leave to
dry.
Put some on the top of the wall and in the window
recesses.

6 – Using the black and white paint, mix up some
different shades of dark grey and paint the walls and
flag stones. Make sure that the darker shades go in
‐between the stones.
.6. .7.
.8a. .8b.
7 – Take some white paint and dry brush the walls and flagstones. When you are dry brushing you only have a
tiny amount of paint on the brush.

8 – Using thick white paint, paint all the areas where the snow will be going. Use green ink to get the stained
effect on the walls and floor. Leave to dry.
9 – Take the Snow Tex and apply it where there
is going to be snow. .9.
Build it up more in some areas than others,
paying attention to the top of the walls, the
bottom of the walls and the snow in the corner.

10 – Cover the flagstones with paper and spray
with spray glue. Then sprinkle the snow powder
over the top.
Tap off excess onto paper to reuse. Spray again
and lightly sprinkle glitter on, tip the off excess.
Then spray for a third time sprinkle on the snow
powder and tip off the excess.
Repeat on all areas that have been painted
white and covered with Snow Tex.

11 ‐ Spray the glue into the window recesses at
the bottom.
Repeat the snow building up process. I used
Christmas decorations to recreate mini icicles.
If you are going to put in mini icicles do these
first before applying the snow powder.
Your scene/ setting is now ready to use. .10.
.11a. .11b.
Where to buy:
Snow ‐Tex – from good arts and craft stores (I got mine from our local garden centre)
Powdered Snow – Woodland Scenics make this product a lot of miniature railway suppliers stock it or an
equivalent. This project is to be used as a guide only and I cannot take responsibility for a finished item.
To see more of Debie’s beautiful work, why not visit her website:
www.piskiesandpoppets.com
Text & Photographs © Debie Lyons 2010
Stéphanie Kilgast - www.PetitPlat.fr
Written by AIM member Vicky Guile and illustrated
with images from AIM’s food making members.
Chocolate, I know, is not readily classed as a seasonal food but
the temptation of letting a February issue go by without so much
of a sniff of the melt in the mouth food of the gods was
unthinkable. Valentine’s Day of course sees an influx of luxury
chocolates onto shop shelves in the real world, as does both
Christmas and Easter. In the miniature world however caution
Arla Johnson - IGMA Artisan
can be thrown to the wind and we can indulge our eyes in a feast
www.picturetrail.com/photos/arlamj
of choccie goodness that won’t make an inch of difference to our
waistlines, cause cavities or a sugar buzz throughout the year.
Agnes Turpin
www.creationsinminiature.net
It is in South America where
we can find the origins of
chocolate and it’s thought
that cacao beans have been
harvested there by its native
people for over 3000 years.
These beans of the cacao tree
would be made into a drink,
unlike our modern day hot
chocolate this had a strong
bitter taste and was quite
often flavoured with chili
peppers or vanilla. The
fermentation of cacao beans
resulted in an alcoholic drink
and cacao was also readily
used as an ingredient in many
daily meals.

After the fall of the Aztec empire chocolate was
brought back to Europe by the Spanish conquistador
Hernan Cortés in the 16th Century. The bitter taste was
disliked by the European palate until it was discovered
that sugar and spices, such as cinnamon, could be
added for a more pleasant taste. This initial European
chocolate drink was coveted and enjoyed by only the
wealthy, noble and royal throughout the continent.

Carol Smith - IGMA Artisan

www.etsy.com/shop/STARSGEMINI3

Within one hundred years
however the popularity of
chocolate had surged and
unfortunately to meet the
demand this resulted in the
enslavement of m a n y
Mesoamericans by the Spanish to
work in the fields of the cacao
plantations. In the late 1600’s Sir
Hans Sloane, founder of the
British Museum, whilst on a trip
to Jamaica found that adding milk
to the chocolate drink produced
and even more palatable
beverage. With a smoother
flavour the hot chocolate drink as
we know it today was born.
Carol Smith - IGMA Artisan
www.etsy.com/shop/STARSGEMINI3
Ernesto Baldini
www.puntosurminiaturas.blogspot.com
In 1657 the first ‘chocolate house’ opened in London,
England, similar to coffee‐houses, these were places of
socializing, gambling, discussion and of course...
drinking chocolate. Many chocolate houses were only
open to those who could afford to pay the entrance fee
and quite a few were only open to men.
Kerry Fawcett
www.ellaroseminiatures.com

Across continental Europe chocolate remained a luxury
enjoyed by the wealthy. Chocolate there would be drunk
from highly decorated and
ornamental cups or bowls, a
symbol of status and wealth
underlined by the fact that one
could afford to drink chocolate.
Maia Bisson
www.maiastwinkleminiatures.com
1828 saw the patent of a cocoa press by the Dutch
chocolate manufacturer Casparus van Houten. He
discovered that pressing the centre (or nibs) of the
cacao beans and therefore squeezing out the cocoa
butter resulted in a cake that in turn could be
pounded into cocoa powder. This cocoa powder
could then be used to more easily produce drinking
chocolate and could also be remixed with some of the
cocoa butter along with sugar to produce chocolate
bars!
Sarah Maloney
www.etsy.com/shop/sarahmaloney
English company Fry and Sons pounced on the

idea of solid plain or dark chocolate bars in 1847,
once the patent for van Houtens ‘Dutch press’
had expired, producing what is thought to be the
first commercially available chocolate bars.
Other European chocolatiers such as Daniel Peter
in Switzerland invented ‘milk chocolate’. He
found that
a d d i n g
condensed milk
to the cocoa
powder formed
solid m i l k
chocolate. Peter
later went on to
found the Nestlé
Company in
partnership with
Henri Nestlé,
producer of
condensed milk.

Another Swiss chocolatier, Rodolphe Lindt,
invented a process where the chocolate mixture
would be processed over 3 days in a grinding
machine. This process, called conching, warmed
and folded air into the mixture creating a
smoother blend of chocolate which was also
more liquid than its rivals. This liquid chocolate
could be poured into moulds whereas
previously the chocolate would have to be
pressed firmly by hand.
Stéphanie Kilgast
www.PetitPlat.fr
This new found process led to further growth and

evolution of the chocolate making process throughout
Europe and the rest of the world moving us towards the
standards and varieties of chocolate that we see today.

Text ©2010 Vicky Guile – NJD Miniatures –
www.njdminiatures.blogspot.com

All photos ©2010 by their respective artisans.

Miniature Chocolate Truffles...

Would you like to make a box of chocolates, a sweet shop or
counter? Then you might enjoy this quick way to make lots
of 1:12th chocolate truffles to fill them.
(Plain, Milk and White chocolate)

Materials...

 Peppercorns
 A pin
 Small rolling-pin or glass bottle
 Craft mat and ceramic tile (to bake on)
 Polymer Clay: I have used ‘Fimo’ Soft:-
White, code 0 – Chocolate, code 75 –
Sahara, code 70 – Sunflower, code 16.
Method...
1. Take some clay and work it, ‐ roll it out.
2. Gently press peppercorns into the clay and then flip them
out with the end of the pin. This will form the moulds for your
truffles.
3. Bake in the oven. Always follow the baking instructions on
the packet.
4. Work some chocolate clay (for plain chocolate truffles) and
push a small piece into each ‘chocolate’ shape in the mould. Flip
each chocolate out with the end of the pin.
5. For white chocolate, I mix a tiny piece of yellow and a tiny
piece of beige clay with a larger piece of white until I get the
correct milky shade.
6. For milk chocolate, I mix some white with the chocolate
coloured clay.
7. Place your chocolates in lines on your tile and bake.
To see more of Mags’ realistic miniature food, why not visit her website:
www.mags-nificent.co.uk
Text & Photographs © Margaret Cassidy 2010
Introduction by AIM Member, Janine Crocker
Here on the small island of Lanzarote things are heating up…and I don’t mean the weather. The last gift
has been unwrapped, the last Christmas tree bauble packed away and in many countries this would be a
quiet time of recovery but not here.

The shops are starting to fill up again ‐ this time with a riot of colours and textures. Bolts of shiny lurex,
gauze, and sequinned materials line the walls of normally sedate fabric shops. Tiger, lion, and leopard furs
can be cut by the metre and a sea of rich colours in velvet, metallics and satin conjur up images of
emperors, pirates and clowns. Dusty boxes of feathers, buckles, swords and wigs are dragged out of storage
and ready to be rummaged through. Shelves of knitting wool are cleared to make way for witch hats,
bonnets, pirate hats, wings, and gloves.

In the shop windows full sized jewelled Tudor costumes find themselves squeezed in beside Spiderman and
Cinderella. Huge masks with horrific faces will happily snuggle in beside Winnie the Pooh or a giant baby
outfit complete with oversized bottle
and dummy. Face paint, huge false
By Janine C
eyelashes and sparkly stick‐on nails ro cker Of Mis
s Amelia’s M
suddenly appear on the chemist iniatures...
counters amongst the cold cures.

And amongst all this is the

excitement of the preparation.
Elderly ladies stand in line waiting to
buy stately Regency wigs, teenage
boys can be seen comparing colours
of fishnets tights and feather boas
and more than once the local bank
manager has been spotted trying on
a large lace bra and stiletto shoes.
There is a buzz in the air as everyone
hunts down that perfect costume
and in the evenings when you walk
through the small capital you can
hear groups of ‘Murga’ singers
practising their cheeky songs for the
competitions and parades.
All around the island on small pieces of
wasteland a selection of rundown
Antoinette...
vehicles are undergoing a
transformation…an old school bus
becomes the Titanic ship complete with
mast and prow…a small Toyota van
becomes Cinderella’s glittering gold
coach…the lorry that last week was
taking goats to the market will shortly
be unveiled as a mobile Sultan’s palace
with brocade cushions, chiffon curtains
and…um…a full bar onboard!
Supermarket trolleys become prized
treasures ready for conversion to a
baby’s cot or a small spaceship.

This is a celebration that involves

everyone in the community and infects
both tourists and locals alike with the
creativity and imagination that it goes
By Viola Williams into it. The program lasts a full two
weeks with competitions for the best
costumes, The Carnival queen, Drag
queen, Child queen; parties and
concerts; and of course the huge
procession through the streets of
Arrecife which continues on into the
night and is then repeated each
weekend in various towns around the
island. Not for the fainthearted but
enjoyed by locals and tourists alike,
whether from the terrace of a small bar
By or right in the midst of the procession in
Mary full costume.
Williams
I have always been fascinated by the

Carnival celebrations around the world.
The magnificent, regal costumes of
Venice with their slightly spooky masks
have always been one of my favourites.
By Elisa Fenoglío
New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro each
By Sandra Morris
have their own magic and must be
breathtaking to experience in
person. I believe that there are
wonderful Carnival celebrations in
parts of India, Greece, Austria and
many other countries around the
world, each with it’s own traditions
and themes.

But hidden away on a little island in
a corner of the Atlantic, just off
Africa…we have a ball!
Janine Crocker

Candy Floss
By Gilles & Muriel Ro
che
ask
Carnival M
a rga ret P itts
By M
Carnival Masks
By Julie Dewar
Carniva
l Masks B
y Julie D
Elisa Fenoglío ewar
www.elisafenoglio.it

Gilles & Muriel Roche of Le Coffre d’Emilie
www.miniatures‐poupees‐emilie.eu
www.lecoffredemilie.blogspot.com
Janine Crocker of Miss Amelia’s Miniatures:
www.missameliasminiatures.com

Julie Dewar of Westwind Miniatures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/westwindsminiatures

Margaret Pitts the MiniMilliner
www.minimilliner.co.uk By Janine Crocker
Of
Mary Williams of Miss Amelia’s
Mary Williams Dolls House Dolls Miniatures...
www.dollshousedolls.co.uk

Sandra Morris of Diminutive Dolls
Www.diminutivedolls.co.uk

Viola Williams
www.violasdolls.com

Introduction text © Janine Crocker 2010
Photograph © belongs to the individual artisans
as credited.
r y o f...
Histo
Inverness gansey
Knitted Fishing
Ganseys
By AIM Member, Frances Powell
This article takes a brief look at the history behind

the origins of the Fishing Gansey (sometimes known
as a Fisherman’s shirt).

Fishing ganseys were once common sights in any sea‐
port around the British Isles and North Sea coasts, but sadly many patterns were lost (along with the
fishing fleets) in the early 20th Century. Commonly, patterns were not committed to paper and were
passed on from generation to generation by observational learning.

Each region (and some towns) of the British Isles has distinctive patterning on the gansey. Within
these patterns further unique village and family variations are so distinctive that if the fisherman was
unlucky enough to be shipwrecked, his body when eventually washed ashore could be identified by
the gansey allowing the fisherman’s corpse to be returned to his family for burial. (Although not for
the squeamish, the idea was that the knitted gansey could survive better in the water than human
remains and was often the only distinguishing feature remaining)

The earliest ganseys were completely hand made from local sheep’s wool and were often dyed with
Indigo (although some of the Scottish fishing fleets preferred natural white or black). Most
fishermen’s ganseys today are believed to be the descendants of early shirts, which were first knitted
in the Channel Islands and exported during Tudor times, hence the word gansey which was a
corruption of Guernsey. Our word Jersey has a similar origin in a simple fisherman’s shirt from the
Channel Islands, although it now means a knitted jumper or sweater.

These ganseys were knitted in the round working from the bottom up and down the sleeves from the
shoulder. This lengthened the life of the garment, as when the cuffs of the sleeves wore out it was a
fairly simple job to unpick and re‐knit the damaged parts. The garments were knitted without seams,
although underarm gussets could be added to give extra width. Fishermen often owned 3 gansey’s
(one for sea, one for shore and one for best) as can often be seen in old photos.
The areas across the chest and upper arms were often intricately patterned, this served two
purposes: the main being to keep the fisherman warm, as the patterned area produced a thicker
texture; the second gave the knitter chance to use local patterns. It was often customary to knit a
‘mistake’ into the pattern to distinguish one gansey from another, especially if there was more
than one man in the family. Patterns related to the sea and boats such as ropes, pennants, sheets
(sails), ladders, anchors and cables were the most favoured and still remain popular today.

To knit a full sized
adult gansey usually
takes about six weeks
and they were always
made by hand, even
after the advent of
machines. The knitting
is made with 4‐5
needles in the round
using 3 or 5‐ply
worsted wool. The
gansey’s were knitted
very tightly to make
them weatherproof
and hopefully water‐
proof. Indigo dye was
used as the dye did not run when the gansey got wet, Indigo as a dye was difficult to use as it is
not soluble in water, when removed from the dye bath and dried the dye again becomes
insoluble. (In very early days Indigo was obtained from Woad, which also has mothproofing
characteristics – very useful when working with wool! Later Indigo was imported from India.)

To get the most benefit from the gansey it was worn next to the skin with no undergarment or
shirt (again this made sense, as wool retains its insulating properties even when wet, whereas
cotton doesn’t). However a silk scarf was sometimes worn at the neck to prevent chafing.
Frances
To see more of Frances’ fabulous miniature knitting, why not visit her website:
Text & Photographs © Frances Powell 2010
Miniature FASHION...
WINTER
FASHION .1.

Photo 1: (above)
.2. Winter white velvet accessories by Kathi Mendenhall.
Stole lined with mint green satin. Matching cloche hat and muff
with charming holly details. All for display in 12th scale scene.
Make it in your choice of fabric from La Petite Belle pattern
2011 $5.00 + p/p
www.minipatterns.com
Photo 2& 3 Modern winter outfit by Kathi Mendenhall
Make this suit jacket, pants, shoes and sweater
and tam in a variety of fabrics and colours.
Very easy production for a contemporary
winter wardrobe. Handbag instructions
included. Make the turtleneck sweater from
your own sweater knits.
No knitting instructions. Belt included.
La Petite Belle Pattern 4006 $7.00 + p/p
.3.

Photo 4: Cable Jacket by Helena
Bleeker .4.
A beautiful short jacket for a lady
doll
Venne Colcotton Multi colour 8‐3000.
Linen White 7‐7007.
Pattern £ 3.25 + p/p.
Venne Colcoton £1.80 + p/p per
Reel.
www.helena-petitefashions.co.uk

.6.
.5.
Photo 5: A selection of unique 12th scale
knitting patterns and top quality yarns .7.
from Buttercup Miniatures. A pattern
design service is also available. Photo 6:
as for 5

Photo 7: Faux leather outfit by Pauline
Everett
Cream faux leather jacket with decorative
stitching and black fur trim. Matching
boots and hat complete this smart casual
combination

Photo 8: Assortment of glove designs by
Kathi Mendenhall.
La Petit Belle Pattern no 1013 $3.00 + p/p

Photo 9: ‘Virginia’ by Helena Bleeker
Easy sweater to knit and timeless with a colour change .9.
from the 1940 to now, from drab grey’s to bright colours.
Venne colcoton Multicolour 8‐4009 and a small amount
of Red.
Pattern £3.25 + p/p. Venne Colcoton £ 1.80 + p/p per
Reel.

Photo 10: ‘Grace’ by Helena Bleeker
Elegant Dress and Cape for a Lady Doll, this is a
pattern for experienced knitters.
Venne Colcoton 34/2 colours 7‐7099 Black and 7‐7001
White.
Pattern £ 3.25 + p/p. Venne Colcoton £ 1.80 + p/p per
Reel.

.10.
Photo 11: Luxury 1920’s ‘Fur’ coat by Miss Amelia
Full length silk velvet coat with gold silk lining and
swirl clasp for display.

.11.

Photo 12: Original Design Dollshouse Bears by .12.
Josephine Parnell

Lady Sprout models an ankle length chocolate
wool cape with sumptuous silver collar.
A jaunty olive felt hat completes her outfit

www.dollshousebears.free-online.co.uk

Photo 13: Original Design Dollshouse Bears by
Josephine Parnell.

Lady Marmalade models a stunning velveteen
animal print dress with buff fur trim and a
magnificent hat with sweeping feather.
Handbag is models own.

Lord Armstrong sports a dashing wool suit of
cherry red and sky blue on a cream background
over a cherry red waistcoat and matching
tartan cap.
www.dollshousebears.free-online.co.uk
Photograph © belongs to
the individual artisans
as credited.
.13.
Mini Makes! By AIM Member, Debie Lyons
I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and Happy New Year to
you all.

The theme for Mini Aimers this month, as its February already,
will be Valentines Day !!!

Using the FREE pintables on the opposite page you will be able to
make your own miniature Valentines Day cards, decorate boxes
and your own miniatures using the hearts and words.

Mini Makes...

Mini Makes for this month include: ‐

Heart Shaped Cookies
(for a plate or box)
A cookie box
Valentine Heart Lollipops
Materials needed... Cocktail Sticks (useful for applying glue
to small areas)
Heart Shaped Buttons ( mixed)
Paper
PVA Glue
Wire (paper covered wire if you have it)
White/Cream/Pink paint
Heart shaped beads
Nail decorations (if you have them)
Glitter
Tissue Paper/fancy paper
Miniature plate
A small box
Clear Nail Varnish
Instructions – Please read carefully before you begin!
Firstly, print off your FREE pintables on good quality paper or thin card. You can seal some
of the hearts and words with clear nail varnish (this also makes things look glossy).

Cookies...

There are two ways to make your buttons look like
frosted/iced cookies.
Paint the tops of the buttons or use PVA glue with
tissue paper or a white fine glitter on.

Step 1: Cover top of button with glue and let dry, .1.
making sure the holes are filled in. When PVA is dry
paint the top of the cookie the colour of your choice
and decorate (Nail decorations are good for this).

Step 2: Arrange some of your cookies on a miniature

plate if you have one or a little tray. .2.
Box...

Step 1: Paint your box
the colour of your
choice inside and out.
Let paint dry.

Step 2: Leave your box plain or decorate it using your FREE pintables

Step 3: Put some tissue paper or fancy paper in your box. In the top of the lid you might

want to stick in the Valentines Day verse

Step 4: Place some of the larger dry cookies inside the box.
Valentine Heart Lollipops...

Step 1: Fold over the end of the wire till it will fit in the hole of
the bead. Test it to make sure it’s a tight fit.

Step 2: Dip the end of the wire in PVA glue and put the end of
the wire inside the bead and let dry.

Step 3: Cut off the excess wire carefully.

Top Tip…! If your wire is strong you can also make miniature balloons this way

using various kinds of beads!

Where To Buy…?

Little boxes, paint, buttons

etc Hobby craft. I got my
buttons from my local
garden centre craft section,
they were £1.50 and you
can make lots of things
with them.

I got my nail art

decorations from my local
pound shop and if you can find them they are really good value for money and very useful.

NEW!
Mini AIMers Gallery...

We would love to feature any of your minis that you have made
recently or your miniature projects.
If you have something that you would like to show us, please send your pictures to...
Debie Lyons: hufflepuffed1048@aol.com

All projects are intended for children 14 years old and over.
Please note – although the projects in this column are for children, adult supervision is recommended at all
times. The author cannot be held responsible for any accidents arising from these projects.
Text & Photographs © Debie Lyons 2010
Artisans In Miniature ??
By AIM Member Viola Williams

Materials needed:
Tacky glue, silk ribbon, pleated lace or ribbon, lightweight
cardstock, silk taffeta fabric , miniature ribbon or faux flowers,
fusible Pellon and a wax paper covered piece of Styrofoam.
Pattern Pieces and Illustrations:
Step One: Cut the pattern pieces from lightweight cardstock.

Step Two: Rub glue over one side of the ’BACK’ cardstock piece and lie it on the wrong side of the silk taffeta (or
similar fabric). Iron the two together so that they fuse. Cut around the adhered cardstock piece leaving
approximately 1’8” all the way round. Fold this fabric edge over onto the uncovered side of the cardstock piece and
glue in place.
Step Three: Iron a 1” square of fusible Pellon to the wrong side of a piece of silk taffeta (or similar fabric). From
this cut out another ‘BACK’ piece of fabric and glue it to the unfinished side of the cardstock piece (covering the
folded over edge).
Step Four: Finish the ‘BRIM’ in the same way as step 2.
Step Five: Glue pleated lace or ribbon along the unfinished side of the brim.
Step Six: (see illustration A) Rub glue along the edge of the ’BACK’ piece, match the notches, and wrap the
’BRIM’ around the back where shown by the heavy line on the pattern. Hold in place for a few moments until the
glue has adhered.
Step Seven: (see illustration B) Cover a piece of Styrofoam with wax paper and set the assembled bonnet on it.
Hold the two together by supporting them with toothpicks stuck into the Styrofoam and leaning towards the
bonnet.
Step Eight: (see illustration C) When dry, gather a piece of lace or ribbon and glue it across the back top of the
’BACK’ piece, standing upward, then glue flowers along that at the back edge of the brim. To finish, add silk ribbon
ties at the bottom edge of the brim.
©2010 Viola Williams - www.violasdolls.com
The Miniature... MGM Fairs News

GRAPEVINE Many of you already know that I have now retired
from organising the Dollshouse and Miniature Fairs
I have been running for the last 12 ‐ 13 years as
MGM Fairs, but I am delighted to advise that our

NE W New AIM Members
Dollshouse fairs held in Crickhowell, Matlock and
Chipping Sodbury have been bought by Liza and

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the Josie Lawrence of PMP Fairs, and that our
following new members who have joined AIM in the Dollshouse Fairs held in Tewkesbury and Devizes
past month: have been bought by Wendy Hobday of Wendy's
World Fairs.
Hayley Bedells
Pauline Everett I know that Liza and Josie are also adding some
new Dollshouse and Miniature Fairs for 2010 and
Louise Win
that traders interested in taking stands, and cus‐
Shelley Norris
tomers interested in finding out more, need to go
Amanda Speakman
to their website, call 01562 637520 or email:
pmpfairs@googlemail.com
New Patterns…!
Wendy has mentioned to me that she will be

Kathi Mendenhall is releasing
moving her Marlborough Dollshouse Fair in 2010
three new patterns this month.
to the Corn Exchange in Devizes and I am sure that
4016 Contemporary evening
show will continue to be a very popular and
fashion
successful Fair.
4017 Edwardian tennis fashion
4009 Hansel and Gretel or, with I wish to thank all my customers and traders over
change in fabrics and treatments, Victorian Children. the last 13 years for making my fairs such a success,
La Petite Belle Patterns sold I shall probably miss you all but look forward to
exclusively by these fine compa‐ seeing many of you, as I continue to come
nies: Doll Artist’s Workshop, Kitz! out occasionally as Merry Gourmet Miniatures.

Online, Dragonfly International.
I now plan to spend more time making period food
In England: Sue Gutheridge
for Merry Gourmet and to seek new challenges and
Miniature Kits.
interests through our websites, including keeping
In Spain, Casa de Muñecas.
the information sites of Miniature Fairs, Miniature
Visit Judi Gerth of Tiny Threads at the IMA show in
Traders, The Tiny Times and Step By Step
Chicago – April
Workshops up to date.
Kathi Mendenhall
Gail Tucker
AIM Member & IGMA Artisan,
AIM Member & Ex‐Fair Organiser of MGM Fairs.
La Petite Belle Patterns.
www.minipatterns.com MGM Fairs, Lyndhurst, Beckford Road, Bath, Bath
and N.E. Somerset BA2 6NQ, UNITED KINGDOM
A Miniature Dustbin… Miss Amelia’s Miniatures…
AIM member Catherine Davies has created a "Miss Amelia is pleased to announce the release
wonderful dustbin full of rubbish
of a new range of Victorian

The dustbin will be
cloaks and mantles.
Following original designs
featured in the shopping
section of the March

from the 19th century
edition of these elaborate silk and

lace garments are hand
The Dollshouse
Magazine,
made by Janine Crocker
Issue 142 and each one is entirely

unique. They can be worn
www.dollshouseheaven.co.uk by a 12th scale doll or displayed as part of your

miniature scene. These and more can be found at
Miniatures Only…
New AIM member Shelley
in the Dress Collection"
Norris runs the Miniatures
Only Auction site, a place to
Fundraising Auction...
buy and sell miniatures. Jain Squires aka The Giddy Kipper has made a

They are holding a contest to wonderful new character inspired by the Harry
encourage new members to Potter books. Miss

the site with the prize being a
Gwendoline Stout will be
beautiful doll by Diane
auctioned on Ebay
Pietrocola during the first week of

February to raise funds
Visit the website for more details… for her daughters forth
www.miniaturesonly.com coming trip to Tansania
in Africa. The trip is
New from organized by World
Literature in Miniature... Challenge and will
Taxidermy Thrush involve charity work in a
Very realistic stuffed Thrush school there in need of
perched on a branch and much repair.
surrounded by greenery and a
Jain’s daughter has to raise £3500 herself to make
primrose. The thrush has been
feathered using real feathers. the trip and is hoping to do this by fundraising,
Size: Dome is 1.75" tall x 1.25" working and finding sponsors.
across. Jain has made this fabulous character complete
with a mandrake
www.literatureinminiature.co.uk\TaxidermyIndex.htm
potting bench and her
daughter will be listing
Cernit modeling clay the auction herself.
Ellie’s Dolls have been chosen as a UK stockist of To find out more visit
Cernit modeling clay. They stock 7 colours and can Jain’s blog...
be contacted at :
Elli’s Doll Workshop, 1526 Wimborne Road,
Bournemouth, Dorset. BH11 9AF www.giddykipperdolls.blogspot.com
Telephone : 01201 572626
NE
FEATUW
The Post Box RE!
Now, over to you…!

At AIM, we love to hear what our readers think of our magazine and of our
member’s wonderful miniatures.
Maybe you have followed a project and are thrilled with the results ?
Maybe you have been inspired by something you've seen in the magazine ?
If you would like to share your news and views with us, please email Julie at
belljulie1@aol.com
(Please remember to put ‘The Post Box’ in the subject header of the email)

So whatever your thoughts, we look forward to hearing from you and will print a
selection of your letters each month in this new section of the
Miniature Grapevine page.

To start the ball rolling here is a letter recently sent to one of our members
Margaret Pitts: www.minimilliner.co.uk

Dear Margaret,
My husband, Rhys, just loves lighthouses and when I saw your
lighthouse on page 50 of Issue 14 August 2009, I just knew that
I had to build one for him.

Now you have to understand that I am a newbie to miniatures
and my first project in 1:12, Blossom Cottage, is only a few
months along and is of my own design. I knew I was being rather
over‐adventurous with this lighthouse but I was just sooooo inspired.

Well, I worked like a demon for over 4 months with an A3 print of
your lighthouse on page 51 in front of me for motivation.
When I gave Rhys the 1:24 lighthouse for Christmas, he was
blown away. He has taken many photos and has put them on
our website www.castlehillcc.co.za

So I want to say thank you for contributing to the free
magazine, I find it so informative, motivational
and inspiring that I just can't help myself.

Belinda

COMING nEXT
MONTH…
Don’t Miss A Thing!
‘SPRING TIME’
GARDENING SPECIAL!!

All FREE and fully
downloadable at:
All the projects from the AIM
advent calendar
combined in one bumper
project supplement!
Written exclusively by
AIM members!!!

Written by artisans Enjoyed by miniaturists...!

Please Note:
The projects included in this publication are not suitable for children under the age of 14*
The miniatures featured in this magazine are collectors items and therefore unsuitable for children under 14*.
All projects are undertaken at your own risk. AIM does not accept responsibility for any injury incurred.
All articles and photographs used in this magazine are copyright of their authors.
The AIM magazine’s content is for private use only and it must not be reproduced in part or in full for commercial gain in any form.
Each artisan contributor is responsible for their own work / contribution to the AIM magazine
and retain full responsibility for their published work.
The authors/self publishers cannot be held legally responsible for any consequences arising from following instructions,
advice or information in this magazine.
*with the exception of the Mini AIMers feature which is written especially for children under 14.
This issue would not have been possible without the generous
contributions from the following AIM members…
Many thanks therefore go to...
Agnes Turpin Helen Woods Margaret Pitts
Alan & Kathryn Gray Helena Bleeker Mary Williams
Anya Stone Jain Squires Patricia Cabrera
Arla Johnson Jane Harrop Pauline Everett
Bea (Fiona) Broadwood Josephine Parnell Pearl (Literature In
Carol Smith Julie Campbell Miniature)
Catherine Davies Julie & Brian Dewar Philippa Todd
Celia Thomas Kerry Fawcett Sandra Morris
Debbie Dixon Paver Karen Griffiths Sarah Maloney
Debie Lyons Kathi Mendenhall Shelly Norris
Elisa Fenoglio Kristy Taylor Stéphanie Kilgast
Ernesto Baldini Louise Goldsborough Vicky Guile
Frances Powell Mags Cassidy Viola Williams
Gail Tucker Maia Bisson Wendy Smale
Gilles & Muriel Roche Marsha Mees
See you again next month…!

AIM Mag February 2010

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AIM Mag February 2010

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What new features are introduced in the magazine?

What new features are introduced in the magazine?

What winter projects are showcased?

What winter projects are showcased?

Contents…

Do you sell quality handmade miniatures to the public??

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

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

AND do you want it all for FREE???

He'll say: Are you married?

the Eskimo way,

Toboggans, long light wooden

You will need...

2. Lightly sand the wood pieces. Gently round the

4. Take a piece of paper and .2. .3.

mark a line a 1 1/4in (32mm)

The smell of bacon cooking is wonderful and

Hotpots and casseroles, fish & chips, steak &

Materials required: size 19 (1 mm/US 5/0)

mayhem, we have gone and lost one of our gloves!...

lurking somewhere in the pages of this magazine…? But where??

And the winner is…

Aunt Anastasia Aunt Anastasia

Art Deco Hat

.2a .2b. .3.

Step 4 ‐ Place a line of glue around the

.7a. .7b. .7c.

To see more of Mary’s beautiful work,

why not visit her website:

creates, why not visit her website: www.woolytales.com

about the very talented, Karen Griffiths

What was your first purchase?

Who do you most admire in the miniature world?

Right: Pauline Everett

Below: ‘Snow Queen Scene’

Left: Snowman Pillows

Left: ‘Snow Queen’ By

Today I opened the box !

Despite there being a few problems with the kit I

DAY Preparation begins...

Then my enthusiasm got

Creating a Snow Covered Ruin... In 1/24th scale

This project will show you how to

Carol Smith - IGMA Artisan

English company Fry and Sons pounced on the

This new found process led to further growth and

Miniature Chocolate Truffles...

And amongst all this is the

This is a celebration that involves

I have always been fascinated by the

This article takes a brief look at the history behind

Materials needed... Cocktail Sticks (useful for applying glue

Step 2: Arrange some of your cookies on a miniature

Step 3: Put some tissue paper or fancy paper in your box. In the top of the lid you might

Top Tip…! If your wire is strong you can also make miniature balloons this way

Little boxes, paint, buttons

I got my nail art

Mini AIMers Gallery...

By AIM Member Viola Williams

Step One: Cut the pattern pieces from lightweight cardstock.