a teeny bit
C hristmas Brought to you by Robin Betterley’s Miniatures and True2Scale Miniatures
goodies inside: how-to articles artist profile tips , tricks & more!
winter 2015
Hello...
and welcome to our teeny world!
The idea for a teeny bit came in 2014, during a breakfast with friends after the Philadelphia Miniaturia Show. We wanted to collaborate on a project that showcased not only our miniature art, but gave us the opportunity to incorporate other creative interests: writing, photography, cooking, etc. Our family jumped in with both feet; one hubby contributing an article about tools, the other about travel. Robin offered a peek at her childhood toys. We realized that we were off to a great start!
In addition to delivering fun and unique projects to a teeny bit readers, we want to promote the work of other professional miniature artists. We hope that you’ll enjoy the artist profile of Suzanne and Andrew’s Miniatures, found on page 27. We are offering a teeny bit in hopes that it will inspire you to...
Make something teeny!
We are
collaborators • artists • partners • writers • photographers • team players • brainstormers
2
true scale Robin and Shawn met at summer camp as kids and have remained fast friends even after dating, marriage, children, animal pals, grandchildren and 40 years in the miniature business. Taryn, their oldest daughter, joined the team in 2012 or should we say…re-joined the team— some of you probably met her at various shows when she was just wee-high (probably playing under the table). Scott (Taryn’s hubby) joined the miniature team in 2013. Although his background is in education, he has always loved working with his hands. They feel fortunate to work together as a family and have customers love what they do. They are thankful for that everyday!
Tomas and Carol Kubrican have been designing and developing miniature kits since 2010. Based in Northern California, we sell our 1:12, 1:48, and micro scale kits and LED lighting components through our website and at miniature shows around the United States and Europe. Carol is the CMO (Chief Mini Officer). The creative force. Designer. Thinker upper. List maker. Sketcher. Loves: fun purses, new technology, and a lap kitty. Hates dull X-ACTO blades. Often heard asking, “Honey... can you help me?” Tomas is the CFO (Chief Fun Officer). The supportive force. Traveler. Quickbooks whiz. Loves a strong espresso and the Packers. Hates snow shovels. Patches up X-ACTO blade cuts. Often heard asking, “Does Delta fly there?” Together, they are living the mini life in a big way!
Comments or Questions? Please get in touch with us: taryn@robinbetterley.com or carol@true2scale.com. ©2015 Robin Betterley’s Miniatures and True2Scale Miniatures. All rights reserved. All content of this publication photos, text, and 2015 artwork a including: teeny bit Christmas are protected by copyright. The content in this publication as well as the downloadable patterns and instructions are solely for personal use.
|
2
a teeny bit
C hristmas Brought to you by Robin Betterley’s Miniatures and True2Scale Miniatures
Gingerbread Post Office
9
Just a Little Bite....
13
Travel Tips from Tomas
Merry & Bright
A peek at the latest addition to the 1:48 scale Gingerbread Village series.
These micro scale gingerbread kits are so sweet; a tiny bite is delightful!
Visiting London and the Kensington Dollshouse Festival.
A celebration of Christmas baking traditions.
special features
7
3
|
21
Teeny Project: It’s Only Natural Create a mixed media miniature scene for the holidays. a teeny bit Christmas 2015
17
24
Teeny Project: Winter Lullaby Shadow Box Make a display for a winter village.
oh my!
Table of...
39
Tiny Tool Tips from Scott 10 must-have tools for the miniaturist’s toolbox.
35
Welcome to the Wonkies Holly House
43
49
Teeny Technique: LEDs
A New Look at an Old Toy
A 1:48 scale house with a heartwarming story.
How to incorporate LED lighting into miniature projects.
27
34
Artist Spotlight: Suzanne & Andrew’s Miniatures Listening to the inner miniaturist.
Teeny Project: A Fun Use for Chenille Stems Easy-to-make sisal trees for tiny glitter houses.
Robin creates a Christmas presentation card.
52
Events Calendar Plan your next mini outing.
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
4
Spice
twice the
2014 Ornament Shop
5
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
2013 Cafe
2015 Post Office
True2Scale offers quarter scale & micro scale Gingerbread Village kits. a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
6
1:48 GINGERBREAD POST OFFICE KIT The third kit in the 1/4 scale Gingerbread Christmas Village series. The Gingerbread Post Office (Postamt) is a charming addition to the village collection. It is inspired by European holiday scenes: a snow capped antique mail box, piles of packages containing goodies, and post office boxes stuffed with holiday greetings. We’ve included a few details that mimic post offices in Germany. For example, yellow is the color associated
7
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
find it
with the German postal services. Like the color blue in the U.S., yellow mail boxes may be seen throughout Germany. We’ve carried the color through the interior decor of the Postamt. Yellow LEDs shine through the horn-shape cutouts in the attic (fun fact: the post horn is a symbol of the German postal services; it was used to signal the arrival or departure of a post rider or mail coach during the18th and 19th centuries). We hope that you’ll enjoy these details in the Gingerbread Postamt!
true2scale.com/gingerbread-village-kits
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
8
Bite
just a little
9
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
True2Scale has introduced
micro scale Gingerbread kits!
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
10
micro scale gingerbread kits So tiny and oh, so cute! Just like their larger quarter scale siblings, these gingerbread structures are a little reminder of holiday traditions. The kits include laser cut icing, “gingerbread� furniture, wallpaper, landscaping, and glitter. ABOVE: Micro Gingerbread Cafe Kit. FACING PAGE: Micro Gingerbread Ornament Shop Kit, Micro Gingerbread Post Office Kit.
11
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
find it
true2scale.com/gingerbread-village-kits
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
12
Travel Tips from Tomas
If you are reading this, it’s likely that you are a miniature enthusiast, and perhaps a travel enthusiast as well. So allow me to share my travel tips for London, where one of the most prestigious miniature shows, Kensington Dollshouse Festival, takes place twice a year.
Contributed by Tomas Kubrican, True2Scale Miniatures. It’s safe to say that most of us like to travel. This interest seems to go hand-in-hand with having the miniatures bug! My wife, Carol, and I also enjoy traveling. We’ve been fortunate to be able attemd miniature shows and sell our work around the U.S. and Europe; therefore combining our love of travel with miniatures. 13
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
There are a myriad of travel options — from going with a tour group— to creating an independent trip based on our individual preferences. It’s my hope that the tips that I’m about to share may come in handy —whether someone is considering traveling with a tour—or planning an independent trip from beginning to end.
So allow me to share my travel tips for London, where one of the most prestigious miniature shows, Kensington Dollshouse Festival, takes place twice a year (May and December).
ACCOMMODATION
Kensington is a very popular place to visit, with several areas of interest to tourists. Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that accommodation will be more expensive in Kensington. A good place to start the search is on the Kensington Dollshouse Festival website, kensingtondollshousefestival.com. There are a couple of hotels within walking distance of the Kensington Town Hall where the festival is held: The Copthorne Tara and Kensington Close Hotel. Luxury and budget options are located a little farther from the town hall. If booking one of the budget hotels/bed and breakfasts, travelers may want to note if the bathroom is shared and if free wifi is available.
Another option for accommodation is renting a flat. This is especially convenient when traveling with friends. More privacy, a kitchen, and possibly laundry facilities are some of the benefits of renting a flat. Airbnb.com can be good place to start looking for rentals. TIP: If traveling on a budget, stay near the town hall while attending the show, and change to another hotel near a tube station while exploring different parts of London.
crossing the pond
If earning miles on a frequent flyer program isn’t of concern, comparing flights for convenience and/or costs is easy using flight search engines like Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak etc. When flying back home, it’s a good idea to aim to be at Heathrow Airport 3 hours before the departure time. .
pack a bumbershoot?
When packing bags, comfortable,
multi-purpose, clothing is the best for traveling. Maybe it’s just our luck, but every time that we’ve travel to London for the May dolls house festival, we have encountered rain. We’ve learned to pack a waterproof jacket and shoes that will get us through puddles. A small umbrella may also come in handy. Several times, we’ve had to hoof it in the rain to a tube station or back to the hotel because the cabs are full of people trying to stay dry. TIP: Pack scarves in lieu of jewelry. Scarves are great because they not only function as less conspicuous accessories, but they pack well and help serve a practical purpose too! The baggage allowances for flying to the UK from the United States is one checked bag and one carryon bag, plus a small hand bag (purse, briefcase, etc.). Additional luggage can incur costly fees by the airline. TIP: Leave room in a carry-on for miniature purchases! Checking in a carry-on bag at the gate is common practice if the
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
14
plane is low on space for overhead luggage. Therefore it’s a good idea to take extra packaging materials to keep miniature purchases safe, in the case that they must be checked in for the trip home.
for short term service options with/without data. He/she will also be able to replace the SIM card in a smart phone with a UK SIM card. After returning from the trip, the SIM card purchased in the UK may be removed and the original SIM card put back in the smart phone. When traveling abroad, free wifi spots are rare. McDonald’s is usually a good bet—if one doesn’t mind spending his/her After landing at Heathrow Airport, there are a few options for getting to an accommodation. A pick up by private time in London hanging out in an American fast food chain! Some hotels offer free wifi in their lobbies; but the wifi may livery may be arranged through the internet before a trip. Grabbing a cab is more expensive than public transportation, not be reliable. Using credit cards, passwords, and providing other personal information over open wifi networks is never but if there is a small group of travelers, the iconic black cabs are very spacious and can easily fit several people with a good idea — in any country. luggage. For a less expensive mode of transportation, the “tube” is a great way to travel. Purchasing a 1-day ticket for the tube is a convenient way to get around. Tickets are We love using apps on our smart phone and tablet when we available for from an automat at the entrance to the station. travel: checking with Trip Advisor to find the best local pub; I advise studying the underground routes before arriving in using the Metro app to locate the nearest tube station and London so that travelers don’t have to deal with figuring out figure out our routes; the Weather app to decide how many a plan to the hotel while feeling jet lagged. layers to wear that day; the airline’s app to keep abreast of flight changes and to keep our boarding passes handy. To make the most of our time in London, we check museum Gone are the days when Carol and I could unplug from hours, ticket information, and any details that could change our itinerary before we set out each day. TIP: Some museums the world while we were overseas. Now, it’s necessary for us to stay connected to our jobs and family, as well as offer download-able audio tour apps (we prefer this over renting an audio tour from a museum). All manner of travel be able to use the GPS maps on our phones for getting apps can be found in the app store! around. Purchasing a SIM card for a smart phone is the easiest and most convenient way to stay connected while overseas. A smart phone already has a SIM card installed in If currency exchange is a concern, my recommendation is it that allows the phone to work in the country where it is purchased. However when outside of that country, a smart to use ATMs in the UK instead of exchanging money in a phone needs a SIM card from a company that offers mobile bank or using traveler’s checks. Checking to see if there service in the country where it will be used. After arriving in are withdrawal limits and/or fees that apply to a debit the UK, we make a stop at a mobile store (Vodafone is one card when using international ATMs is always a good idea reputable carrier which has stores readily found in shopping before leaving the U.S. In general, we use ATMs away from areas). The clerk at the store will be able to offer suggestions the airport because the exchange rates are more favorable.
getting around london town
Appy trails to you
staying connected: phone, email, texts, etc.
dropping pounds
15
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
Credit cards are accepted at most places, but cash is more commonly used. Smaller establishments may not accept plastic. TIP: Making purchases with cash at the Dollshouse Festival is a good plan. As of this writing, point of sale systems (like Square) are not common at the festival even though there is a possibility to accept credit card payments through the show organizer (for a fee to the artist).
JUST TRY IT. . YOU’LL LIKE IT!
Carol jokes that my stomach decides much of our travel experiences. If that is the case, then London is delicious! A number of great things are waiting to be tried just by walking around. Eating some local specialties is a great way to learn about the culture and to meet people. We like to ask waiters and fellow diners for suggestions on the menu. We try to do what the locals like to do. British cuisine, in my opinion, is quite bland but there is always something good to be had.
Fish and chips is the “thing to try” in London. Going to a typical English pub will add another dimension to the travel experience. A cold pint of Guinness or a cider can be a nice exclamation point after a tasty dinner! More conservative food choices are easy to find—including fast food, small cafes and traditional restaurants. Ethnic restaurants taste a little different from those in the U.S. (we like to ask for a recommendation for an Indian restaurant while visiting London).
Advisor app (discussed earlier) which can provide very comprehensive, visitor reviews of a variety of places. London has some of the best museums in the world! The British Museum (mummies, the Rosetta Stone, Lindow Man, the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (one of the world’s greatest collections of decorative arts) are among the museums not to be missed. Of special interest to miniature enthusiasts is Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House located at Windsor Castle. This is a short train ride from London to the City of Windsor. A walk around the City of Windsor will uncover unique It is always a good idea to look into health insurance while traveling abroad; shopping and charming architecture. For travelers who may be looking for this is especially true for travelers with an alternative to spending the day at a chronic health condition. a miniature show, the RAF (Royal Air Force) Museum is full of history! The museum is a 30 minute tube ride from In addition to going to the show to Central London, but it is certainly worth enjoy the amazing craftsmanship of many miniaturists, a plethora of famous the trip and free admission. tourist destinations are to be found in London! We often rely on the Trip Happy and safe mini travels!
health considerations soOO much to see!
CHECK OUT OUR PINTEREST MAP!
We keep a visual travel log of miniature shows and interesting destinations on Pinterest. Our pins include miniature-related museums, shops, restaurants, and other fun things to see and do while traveling.
find it
pinterest.com/true2scale/ traveling-for-dollhouse-miniatures
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
16
1:48 spice tin room box Kit
ABOVE: Complete Merry & Bright Project (4 kits). FACING PAGE: Merry & Bright Part Deux Kit, Merry & Bright Part Trois Kit, detail of Merry & Bright Part Deux. 17
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
Merry & Bright a celebration of christmas baking traditions Contributed by Taryn Reece, Robin Betterley’s Miniatures. Most of my favorite childhood Christmas memories have occurred in either my mother or grandmother’s kitchen. Nothing made me happier than to help with the Christmas baking, especially the sugar cookies. At Christmas, the special cookie cutters, pretty decorations and sugar glitter would be pulled out of the cupboards. I would look at all of it with wide-eyed anticipation, being careful not to sample any of the french silver dragees, lest my mother be displeased. With an oversized apron tied tightly around my waist, I’d kneel on a chair and help stir
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
18
a big bowl of batter. I’d always grab the “special spoon” (if I could beat my sister to the silverware drawer). It was really nothing special, but had been passed down from generation to generation and had the marks to show for it. Baked goods always tasted better if they were stirred with the “special spoon.” With a pinch of this and a spoonful of that, the dough would be complete and ready to roll. After dusting the board with flour and sugar, we’d roll the dough out, then press our favorite cutters here and there. A star, a tree, a reindeer, a bell, a santa, an angel…as the familiar shapes emerged, they would be carefully arranged on baking sheets and put in the oven. Oh, the waiting! To our childish minds, it seemed positively endless. Often to break up the time, my mother would make us special treats. We called them “squirrels” (not sure exactly why!) but really they were just scraps of dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, rolled into pinwheels and then baked. Finally, the baked cookies were sufficiently cooled and ready! Each cookie was like a 19
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
miniature blank canvas, begging for us to adorn it. Arranged on a pretty platter, glistening with icing and glittery bits, it was almost a shame to eat them…almost. After one bite, you kinda forgot about the time and effort. These cookies are GOOD. Somehow crispy and chewy at the same time, each bite is filled with buttery, sugary goodness.
merry & bright kits Spice Tin Room Box Kit Scale: 1/4” INCLUDES: Laser cut wood, electrical kit, wallpaper, flooring and all of the artwork.
Vignette Kit Scale: 1/4” INCLUDES: the hutch, the chair, stacking boxes, little trees, ornament basket and ornaments, the rug and all of the artwork.
Vignette Part Deux Scale: 1/4” INCLUDES: the stove, the ironing board, the iron, utensils and crock, pots and pans, little trees, tree cutting board, the rug and all of the artwork.
Vignette Part Trois Scale: 1/4” INCLUDES: the table, a chair, the wall shelf, utensils, napkins, all the accessories, the rug and all of the artwork.
8 Holidays in the Series - COLLECT THEM ALL!
find it
robinbetterley.com/collections/holiday-vignettes-1-4-scale a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
20
a teeny project 21
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
it’s only
Natural
Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things… Based on the It’s Only Natural Kit by Robin Betterley’s Miniatures. Project contributed by Robin Betterley.
creating holiday cheer with red, green, & kraft Have you been noticing the trend toward natural? I see it happening in decor, clothing, holiday decorations and packaging. Why not in miniature, or more specifically, why not in miniature holiday decor? The project that I have in mind is one that you can make on your own with a few straight cuts and some craft basswood. I’ll give you all the measurements. Alternatively, you can always order from us (the complete kit with pre-cut wood, to make these really cute little boxes and the little bits displayed inside), but have a go of it on your own. I’ll bet you might already have some really cute minis to set inside the packages. We’re going to cover them with brown kraft paper either from paper bags or you can buy paper sheets at your local craft store. A few strands of ribbon and string, some tiny dried cones, holly, berries, perhaps some moss or tiny leaves…I can’t wait to finish our project! a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
22
free project download Transform craft basswood into these adorable boxes, ready to fill with your miniature goodies. Complete measurements and instructions may be downloaded from the Robin Betterley website.
find it 23
|
robinbetterley.com/pages/ free-download-its-only-natural
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
or purchase a kit This complete kit includes: • laser cut box pieces • laser cut accessory kits • little wood mushroom • artwork and instructions
find it
robinbetterley.com/products/ its-only-natural-kit
Winter
Lullaby
As artists, we often draw upon memories to create our miniatures. This project is based on a Winter scene from my childhood. Contributed by Carol Kubrican, True2Scale. The Winter nights – especially those during the first months of the year – are long and cold in the Upper Midwest. Like other children when going outdoors during those extremely cold nights, I bundled up, slid into my heavy hand-me-down boots, knitted mittens (supplied by a well-meaning, although chromatically-challenged grandmother) and ran faster than the wind; before the cold caught up with my nose and toes. It wasn’t necessary to take a flashlight on those trips; the moon and stars illuminated the glittering landscape. In the cold hue of night, everything lost its color and became a monotone of darkish whites. Every living thing around me seemed to be in a deep slumber. The only sound was the crunching of my boots on the frozen snow. As I came nearer to the house, my frosty nose could smell the woodsmoke from the puffing chimney. The yellow glow of incandescent lights streamed through the windows and traced shadows on the cold ground. I counted down my steps as I approached the porch, and savored the moment when I stepped inside and felt the warmth rush over me.
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
24
a teeny project 25
|
WinterLullaby Shadow Box
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
A Winter lullaby has put this small village into a deep and tranquil sleep. The moon sparkles above the hills of glittering snow. Create your own Winter Lullaby.
Based on the Winter Lullaby Shadow Box Kit by True2Scale. Project contributed by Carol Kubrican, True2Scale.
free project download This mixed media project is a great way to use up or re-purpose old sheet music, fabric, decorative papers, beautiful calligraphy, etc. by creating a shadow box for your village of glitter houses. The template and instructions for the shadow box may be downloaded from the True2Scale website.
find it
true2scale.com/ teeny-bit-download-shadow-box
or purchase a kit This complete kit includes:
• 3 laser cut card stock houses • laser cut archival board shadow box pieces • artwork and pre-printed fabric • materials to make trees, garlands, and wreaths • glitter • instructions
Instructions are included for lighting the houses with LEDs.
find it
true2scale.com/ winter-lullaby-shadow-box-kit
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
26
artist spotlight 27
|
Listening
Miniaturist
to the inner
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
artist spotlight: Suzanne & Andrew’s Miniatures Known for their quarter scale (1:48) houses and items to furnish them, artisans Suzanne Larson-Tamburo and Andrew Tamburo have combined their talents and dedication—with a few laughs thrown in for good measure—to build a miniature empire. Suzanne and Carol sat down for a chat about Suzanne and Andy’s distinguished and prolific, 26-year miniature gig.
Contributed by Carol Kubrican, True2Scale. Carol: So, Suzanne, tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get interested in miniatures? Suzanne: My first experience with miniatures was as a child. I read a lot. I was enamored with a book about these two Japanese girls and just had to have a house like they lived in. My Dad and I worked with a cardboard box and created a Japanese house complete with sliding doors! As the years went on, my creative side took a back seat to the career side. Finally, in the early 80’s, I re-connected with hobbies as I needed a creative outlet to relieve the job stress! A family friend came over to our house one night and wanted to use my husband’s saw. He had plans and plywood. He was building a dollhouse for his wife. We watched this sheet of plywood turn into an incredible dollhouse with working windows, hardwood floors, and siding – a beautiful
LEFT: Picket Pond Kit
Victorian mansion. I was so envious. I started making things for it. My inner miniaturist was crying to be let out! So, my husband gave me a dollhouse for my birthday and thus the obsession for all things little was born. Carol: So, your husband supports your miniature interests? Suzanne: Oh, yes, we support each other. Several years ago, Andy was extremely unhappy in his career. He came from a long line of entrepreneurs and wanted his own business. We explored an art store franchise and a card store franchise. After much soul searching we decided to open a miniature shop. Andy loves woodworking and I love miniatures so we thought we would try that! And, we had certainly visited enough miniature stores that we had an idea of what we wanted to see in a full line miniature store.
In 1989, we opened a miniature shop, Suzanne & Andrew’s Miniature Shoppe, in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, we did about 10-12 miniature shows a year. We found that it was a good form of advertising. But, we were doing all that while we were both still working full time at our corporate jobs! Talk about exhausting! Eventually, Andy left his corporate job to work at the shop full time. Carol: How did you get started creating miniatures to sell? Suzanne: We soon found that we had to generate business. One way we could do that was to teach classes in the shop to get customers to keep coming in and doing projects. As we came up with classes, we created some pretty neat kits. We started selling these kits at shows. In the early 90’s, I became enamored with Quarter Scale. I wanted to share this new love with our
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
28
customers in the shop. While you could find Quarter Scale at N.A.M.E. National Conventions, there wasn’t much commercially available. I decided to fill the void for our customers. My first structure was a scaled down version of a 1” scale project I had taught in the shop, “Sunflower Sue.” I made it into quarter inch and taught it as a class. Well, the students wanted furniture for it, so I created furniture. But the challenge there was making each little piece. So, I decide to make an original and then cast it in resin. This was a great way to make kits at that time. We started creating our own line of quarter scale houses and furniture.
29
|
Carol: Do you still have your miniature shop? Suzanne: No, we closed the shop in 2001. Our property had been sold and the new landlord was going to double our rent. I had an opportunity to take early retirement from my corporate job. We were specializing in quarter inch so we decided to expand our website and do shows. Carol: Any regrets? Suzanne: No, no regrets. It was the right decision. But, it wasn’t without angst. We really missed the daily interaction with our customers because they had become friends. We were also founding members of a NAME club,
the Nashville Area Miniature Club. The club met in our shop. So, we had to find a new home for the club and that change can always be challenging. But, it also opened us up to more time to create and explore new avenues. Carol: So what were some of those new avenues? Suzanne: We have met marvelous people through miniatures. With shared likes, comes shared ideas, which led to collaborations. Our first collaboration was with Shawn and Robin Betterley in the late ‘90s. As shop owners, we had carried their wonderful products. Well, they had created a Book-in-a-Bag series called
ABOVE: Trio of kits: Le Lapin Saute, Bella Rustica, Vignettes House; shown on The Park and Base Kit. RIGHT: Creekside Studio Kit. a teeny bit Christmas 2015
“A Time and a Season.” The art for 1” and ½” scale was designed to work with some existing Houseworks LTD products. But, for ¼” there wasn’t any ready made furniture. So, I created some furniture for it and cast it in resin. I contacted them to see if they wanted to offer the furniture with their art. They did and that was the beginning. We enjoy the same things and, as it always is with friends, the creative juices always flow when we are
let your inner child out to play! have you ever noticed how children jump into projects unafraid?
together. We feed off of each other. And, what one of us can’t do, the other can. The next large project we did was “Pickett Hill.” This is a quarter scale house that was designed to hold their Lydia Pickett furniture line. We were at dinner one night after a miniature show. I looked at Robin and said, “You have all that lovely Lydia Pickett furniture – have you ever considered doing a house for it?” She said, “Do you want to do one
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
30
– let’s!” And that’s how it started! The four of us worked on the project off and on for a year and a half. It was a real joy – the truest form of collaboration – no egos, just an exchange of ideas, mutual trust and respect. And, that was so much fun that we tried it a third time with “Pickett Pond!” Carol: That sounds ideal. How do you come up with your ideas? Suzanne: I love the creative process. I had lived many years abroad and had always loved how each area had different architectural styles. I wanted to live in all those houses. So, I decided the way I could do that was to start building houses. I like looking at all kinds of houses. When I fall in love with a house or a concept, then I love
“creativity.. it’s like caffeine for the senses!” figuring out how to miniaturize it. And, since our business is kits, then I have to take it to the next step, which is to figure out how to make it into a kit that others will find interesting and affordable! I think that is always the challenge. It is easy to make just one of something. The challenge comes in
making many. Carol: So how does your husband, Andy, figure into this business? Suzanne: Well, I am the creative end of the business: coming up with the projects, designing the structures, furniture, and creating a “list of things to do” for my dear husband. Andy is the business end: taxes, spreadsheets, drawings, invoicing, shipping, and finisher of the “Honey Do List.” The Betterley’s gave him a T-shirt with the saying, “Employee of the Month” – and he is that! We have often said that we could only do this together; separate, it wouldn’t work. Carol: So, I know that you are multicraftual. What other crafts do you enjoy? Suzanne: I like bead embroidery, card
ABOVE: Story Book Cottage Kit and Crooked Stick Lane Kit. 31
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
making, stain glass, assemblage, china mosaic, etc. I use to make my own clothes (tailoring) and did cross stitching...not anymore. Carol: Can you share some of the places where you find inspiration for your work? Suzanne: I really get my house ideas from real life houses or pictures in magazines (gasp – how old school!). As to some of the dome scenes, room boxes, etc. I’ve done over the years, I was inspired by unique containers I would find at craft stores. Also, I love anything Mary Engelbreit so all those checks, flowers, and whimsy have made their way into many projects. The inspiration I get from fabric stores, bead stores and scrapbooking stores is really all about the
find it
color and texture. I just want to pull up a chair and let the creativity flow over me – it’s like caffeine for the senses! To date, I have enjoyed Pinterest for eye candy but not much yet for inspiration. But the two most recent structures – Creekside Studio and C’est la Vie are directly attributable to Pinterest. So, I guess I’m a-changing with the times! LOL. Carol: What advice do you have for anyone interested in starting in miniatures? Suzanne: Let your inner child out to play! Have you ever noticed how children jump in to projects, unafraid? I find adults agonize over perfection. I always tell my students to just have fun. So find what you love and just do it!
andrewsmini.com
upcoming workshop at 2016 chicago Int’l For the first time ever, Suzanne & Andrew’s Miniatures and True2Scale have joined together to create this special Art Nouveau inspired quarter scale boutique, C’est la Vie! Their vision is a Parisian women’s boutique and cafe. Don’t wait to sign up for this exciting, new project to be taught at the Chicago International Miniature Show on Thursday, April 14, 2016!
find it
bishopshow.com
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
32
A Guide to suzanne & andrew’s kits
1998
• Sunflower Sue house
2000
• The Little Chapel • Waiting for Santa • SeaSide Cottage
2001
• A Door for All Seasons • A Cherry Place to Be dome scene • The Artist Bungalow • The Bungalow • Liberty Cove – Lighthouse
2002
• After the Hunt clock case • Dancing Bear Emporium • Lizzy house • Sunflower Sue dome
2003
• Bedford Square – An English Townhouse • For Girls Only dome scene • Little Cabin Up North dome scene • ME Recipe Box • Strawberry Lace • The Villa • Very Mary Christmas clock case
2004
• French Country Kitchen room box • Primrose Lane
2005
• Autumn Afternoon room box • Gingerbread House • Happy Heart Cottage • Mary Cottage house in a dome
ABOVE: Picket Hill Kit. 33
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
2006
• 21 Rue de Fleur Shop and House • By the Sea room box • Framed Elegance framed room box • Mary Halloween room box • ME Halloween clock case • Red Kitchen room box • StoryBook Cottage* • The Villa Guest House/The Venetian • This Olde Shoe House cottage, shoe • Wisteria Lane dome scene
2007
• Ferndale Cottage • Gingerbread House in a dome* • Mary Place dome • Tea Rose Cottage • Pickett Hill* • The Vanity Set: talc, crème, soap box scenes
2008
• Portland Cottage • La Petite Connecion café • Lincoln Book scene on a book • The Queen’s Work Room a dome scene • State Dining Room room box • Woodland Cottage
2009
• Cobbles dome • Fairhaven Cottage • Home for the Harvest dome • La Belle Femme Shop • Petite Chateau house • Stone Briar Manor
2010
• Back to the Garden house and garden • Crooked Stick Lane cottage, witch’s shoe*
* denotes still available
2011
• Choices • Somewhere in Thyme
2012
• Americana House • Celebrate bakery in a cupcake box • FairyTales house • Frozen in Time kitchen in a vintage food storage box • Mary Vintage Kitchen I
2013
• ABC room box • Lil’ Buckaroo playhouse, cowboy boot • Mary Heart Cottage • Pickett Pond* • The Ridgewood • Sweet Bebe Steps house, baby shoe*
2014
• Bella Rustica* • Cobweb Cottage* • Le Lapin Saute* • Mary Vintage Kitchen II • Petite Patissere • Touring Tuscany with Tillie scene in a matchbox • Vignettes* • Vintage Photo Album framed room box
2015
• Mary’s Kitchen Garden dome scene • Creekside Studio* • Market Stalls; celebrate seasons & events (ongoing)*
Coming in 2016 • C’est La Vie • Mary’s Garden
Decorate your Mini Home with
These little trees are so simple to make. They are a perfect complement to the true2scale glitter houses!
Tools and Materials Chenille stems (your choice of color) Very fine, crystal glitter Small, sharp scissors White acrylic paint Old paintbrush No-hole beads White glue Wire cutter
Directions
1. Trim the top of the chenille stems to a point with the scissors. Turn the chenille as you trim, holding the scissors parallel to the tree. 2. To add snow, thin white acrylic paint with water and apply to the ends of the branches and the top of the tree. Allow to dry. 3. To add a frosted look, thin white glue with water and apply to the ends of the branches. Sprinkle fine glitter onto the glue mixture. 4. Decorate with no-hole beads, if desired. 1. Using a wire cutter, cut the chenille stems to the desired height of the tree.
a teeny project
Frosted Sisal Trees
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
34
35
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
Welcome to the Wonkies
Holly House I once knew an older couple, their names really don’t make a difference in the story, but I want you to know them, a little bit... a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
36
This older couple lived in the same house, were not married, which of course was scandalous at the time, but they had an agreement which worked for them. Their bedrooms were in different parts of the same house but they ate together and they worked on jig saw puzzles during the long winters. Bessie was an incredible cook. Frank built things. The only thing that was remarkable about Frank was the tiny houses that he built. He tried to eek out a meager living building and selling his little houses but he may have been an artist before his time. Each house had a distinct twist and color flair, you might say they were a little crooked. He didn’t sell any. Nevertheless, Frank soldiered on with his love of the tiny crooked houses and built them in the nooks and hollows all around Bessie’s big farm. When Frank and Bessie passed away, the tiny houses, most of them tucked into the woods, were forgotten. One day there was an auction to sell the farmhouse and the land. While walking through the overgrown woods and fields, a young woman discovered the neglected houses. She was entranced by the colors, the tiny misshapen windows, the tilted walls and crooked roofs. An offer was made and accepted and the renovations for the little “Wonkies” artist retreats began. In an old notebook found in the workshop at the farm, Frank had carefully conserved all the drawings and plans for all of the houses which had been named for Bessie’s favorite flowers and trees. After the finished construction, she would follow him out to each build site, and walk all around each tiny house exclaiming that it was the “best one yet, Frank”, and then simply say the name she thought best. 37
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
“Holly” was the first house to be brought back to life. The young woman decorated it with warm winter reds and snow whites and ivory, little trees, all her favorite things…this was to be her own tiny house. The appeal of the “Wonkies” spread. Artists from all around the country traveled to see the renown tiny houses in the artist’s community. And so all the other little houses…”Ivy” and “Forget-Me-Knot” and “Petunia”…etc…….would also be reborn, lived in and loved.
The wonkies: 1:48 holly house kit The first in The Wonkies collection, the 1/4� scale Holly House is filled with Christmas cheer. This kit includes almost everything you need to make your own tiny crooked house! Kit includes: all of the laser cut wood, windows and doors, artwork, shingles, topiaries, wallpaper and flooring, laser cut furniture and the materials to make all of the accessories shown.
find it
robinbetterley.com/collections/the-wonkies-1-4 a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
38
Tiny Tool Tips from Scott Contributed by Scott Reece, Robin Betterley’s Miniatures.
where is my hammer? Sometimes, it is amazing how quickly life changes. I guess you could call me a bit of a journeyman in life, working many types of jobs throughout my career including construction, masonry, as well as an antique dealer. Growing older, along with a serious back injury, brought me to the realization that at the rate I was going (moving antique dressers and 300 lb hutches down a flight of stairs) I was destined to end up in the hospital (or probably never walk upright again). Recently, I was reminiscing with my wife Taryn about my first two years in the miniature business. I quickly discovered how happy and fortunate I was to be able to continue working with my hands on many of the same type projects, only on a much more manageable scale. Luckily, I had the opportunity to join Robin Betterley’s Miniatures in 2013 and believe I have truly found my new calling. Although it will take time and patience to accumulate all of the skills Robin and Shawn have acquired through the years, I figured that it should be easy to accumulate the right tools for the job. I assumed that the tools were the same, only smaller. Or so I thought! My lack of experience quickly surfaced during my first miniature build… as Robin chuckled when I asked 39
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
10 MUST HAVE TOOLS I realize that many of you seasoned veterans may have several of these tools already in your arsenal or some version that works well for you, however, I have found this group of ten tools to be indispensable and relatively inexpensive. In the miniature world, one never knows what the day will bring or what tool we may need.
I assumed that the tools were the same, only smaller. Or so I thought! her for a hammer. She wondered what in the world I could possibly need a hammer for while building miniatures. Looking back it might have been a little overkill for putting a brad into soft basswood. Although most would still consider me “green” in the miniature field, I really have learned a lot from some great mentors over the past two years. I wanted to share a few must have tools that I have acquired. Whether you are a veteran miniaturist or a newbie, these will hopefully make your miniature building fun and rewarding.
1. Drill Press Vise Everyone can use a hand sometimes. Although this may not be practical for you microscalers, this vise comes in handy when tape just won’t do the job. Originally used with a drill press, this baby can clamp squarely and securely and allows you to clamp one area while still working on another. You can pick one up for around $10.00 at your local tool surplus store. This is the one and only time I will recommend buying a cheap tool from China. Notice that I unscrewed the “factory” clamp plates and replaced them with wood. This allows you to clamp firmly without damaging your piece. 2. Dewalt Mini Clamps This is one area I would gladly spend a little extra money (and no I do not have stock in the company). There are many name and no name brands of these out there, but these mini clamps
10 Must have tools
1
for both miniature beginners & experts
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
40
are by far one of the nicest on the market with a squeeze trigger clamping system. Dewalt has a front release system that seems to work much better than many other brands I have used. You should be able to find these at your home improvement big box store.
an “X-ACTO Knife” that you use on a regular basis. This name can be compared to the “Kleenex” or “Q-Tip”, where every tool that looks like the original (which is round with a silver handle and sharp interchangeable blades), is referred to as an “X-ACTO.” The original “X-ACTO”, as well as many of its 3. Glue Syringe competitors knives, are all made the All of us have been there with a toothpick and glob of glue, quickly racing same way. The blade slips into the to finish one side of a larger piece before collet (the piece inside that holds the blade straight) and is tightened by the other half dries. Sometimes we win screwing the outer collet cover. It and sometimes we don’t. The syringe is one tool that I have found to help speed seems no matter how much you tighten, the two will somehow up the process, especially in grooves or become loose within minutes of other hard to reach areas. Available at use and require re-tightening. The your local craft or hobby shop. only thing worse than this constant interruption, is the time spent 4. Fiskars Fingertip Craft Knife Some of us are born with small hands looking for this tool on the floor. It that fit right into a tiny pair of scissors, is completely round like a pen and like a pea in a pod. Others, like myself seems to roll away on even the flattest surfaces. and most other men, have battle A few years ago, I was lucky enough wounds on our large bulbous mitts to find an alternative. Notice in the that prevent us from accurately using picture that there are two major such a simple tool as scissors. This craft knife has helped me out of many differences between this knife and an “X-ACTO.” First, my green knife tight spaces, especially those hard to cut sharp angles. I usually have a little has a completely superior blade more control with this tool. I also find locking system. The blade is inserted and changed the same as a regular it more comfortable than a regular knife, however, my green knife locks X-ACTO knife when cutting for long periods of time. Available at your local in the blade by turning the silver tip on the TOP of the handle. This system craft or hobby shop. squeezes the blade, while it also pulls the blade back into the handle itself. 5. The Non-X-ACTO “X-ACTO” I change my blade on this beauty Knife and never have to re-tighten the I’m passionate about this one, so blade again until it is time for a fresh excuse me if I am long-winded. I blade. In addition, this knife has an am sure that every one of you has 41
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
octagonal nut spacer that prevents it from ever moving an inch once you put it down. Unfortunately, this “new” knife was secondhand and lacks any name or brand identifier anywhere on the tool. You should be able to find one at your local craft/hobby store. If you can find one I am sure you will never go back to your old one. 6. Angled Sanding Stick Although we all sand every little miniature piece over and over (or at least we should for a nice, smooth finish), there always seems to be one area that somehow gets missed. Is it just me? Sometimes a piece is glued into place without noticing that one little spot that could be a little smoother or smaller. This is where the angled sanding stick comes in handy. This puppy lets you reach into those tight spots for a quick adjustment without having to disassemble some part of your project. Hopefully this sanding stick can save you as much time and frustration as it has for myself. Available at your local craft/ hobby shop or online. 7. Dental Pick Some of you may be repulsed by the dentist. And the thought of using a tool that has been in that many mouths over time…shudder to think. You are missing out! The dental pick is a great tool with a variety of shapes and tips that you can easily find cheap (and brand NEW) online. The pick can be used as an extension of your finger to reach tight places. It is a great clean
out tool for glue gobs from those really tiny, deep corners. These are also wonderful to use when shaping small pieces of clay. 8. Adjustable Interior Gauge Ruler You may not use this every day, however, when you do need it, it will save you from some serious frustration! Perfect for when you need a precise ruler measurement of a glued in piece or space, that is confined by walls or other obstructions, which prevent the use of a standard ruler. Available at most hardware stores.
9. Adjustable Squaring Ruler When perfectly square is your only option. The adjustable squaring ruler allows you to place your project piece against the side stop and make an accurate measurement, followed by a straight and square cut. The results of using this tool versus a rough “eyeball” with a regular ruler can be the difference between your piece looking professional versus amateur.
cannot be achieved with a Dremel or regular drill. As some of you may have experienced, a Dremel can do a lot of damage to a miniature piece, in the blink of an eye. A pin vise, with multiple collets, allows you to interchange drill bit sizes with little effort. A quick twist or two from a pin vise can open up the perfectly sized hole for that brad/pin acting as a handle, knob or axle. I hate to admit that I was wrong, but this tool proved that the need for a miniature hammer may not be as necessary 10. Pin Vise/Hand Drill The pin vise is a tool that enables its as I once thought. Needless to say, user to utilize tiny drill bits with slow Robin got a tiny hammer from me hand control and precision that often for Christmas.
searching for tools? SCOTT’S FAVORITE TOOL WEBSITES: ConsumerCrafts.com CreateforLess.com EHobbyTools.com HighlandWoodworking.com HobbyLobby.com Micro-Tools.com Micromark.com Riogrande.com a teeny bit Christmas 2015
LOOKING OVER THE FILES photo by JD Hancock via Flickr.
|
42
a teeny technique 43
|
LED
Light
there be
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
If you haven’t tried LEDs... you are going to love how easy they are! If you’ve tried LEDs and are looking for more ideas on how to incorporate them into your miniatures... read on!
Contributed by Carol Kubrican, True2Scale. The very first miniature kits that we offered were tiny, paper glitter houses. Not long after, a customer asked us about using LEDs to light our little paper houses. This was back in 2010, and LEDs were fairly new to the miniature hobby. After doing some research and much trial and error, I realized that they were ideal for lighting our tiny glitter houses and many other miniature projects. We started selling battery operated LEDs. I created a tutorial on our website and blog. I taught workshops using LEDs. Soon, we began incorporating them into almost every miniature kit that we offer.
the lights will be dangerously close to flammable and/or fragile items). They last a LONG time - 10 years/10,000 hours. Therefore it’s very unlikely that you will ever have to tear apart your project to replace an LED. They provide a lot of light. In fact, sometimes they are brighter than is needed for our miniature projects. Thankfully, there are ways to cut down the amount of light (discussed later). They are tougher to break than an incandescent bulb because there isn’t a filament.
What types of projects are suitable for this 3V LED system? We recommend any type of project Lighting our miniature projects adds that it very small and/or fragile. an extra dimension of realism and Because the LEDs are so tiny and the perfection, don’t you agree? I love to wires are thin, they fit well into very hear people exclaim, “oooh” and “oh small, tight spaces. Our customers my!” when they see that my teeny use them for all types of projects tiny fireplace contains glowing coals, including: book art, costuming, or a village of 1” high glitter houses dioramas, displays, dollhouses, room magically light up! This is so easy and inexpensive to achieve. Within minutes boxes, model railroading, etc. When working with dollhouse miniatures, (and no soldering) I can have a lovely, we recommend using these systems to lighted miniature scene. light smaller scale rooms or dollhouses (half 1:24 scale, quarter 1:48 scale, So, what makes LEDs so perfect and micro scale 1:144). They also work for miniatures? well for lighting small areas in 1” LEDs are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs. They don’t 1:12 scale dollhouses (china cabinets, become hot (perfect for glitter houses, under cabinet lighting, Christmas trees, fireplaces, glitter houses, etc.) We do Christmas trees, and places where
not recommend using these to light an entire 1:12 scale dollhouse. What kind of power source do I need for LEDs? LEDs for miniaturists are typically available in 3V, 9V and 12V. Depending upon the type of LED, you may use a: • 3V coin cell battery • 9V battery • 9V regulated power adapter (it’s important to check that the adapter is regulated; most are not) • 12V dollhouse power supply IMPORTANT: Make sure that the LED that is purchased is compatible with the power source that you intend to use it with. All of the LEDs purchased from True2Scale should be used with a 3V coin cell battery CR2032, NOT a dollhouse power supply or a 9V battery. The 3V battery is preferred because it is small and allows for the freedom to move the display around without having to worry about hooking it up to a stationary power supply (an outlet for example). Also, the battery allows up to 10 lights to run for about 12 hours. 3 lights will run on a single battery for about 40 hours. The common size battery may be changed. I recommend using 10 or fewer LEDs per battery. The more LEDs used, the sooner the battery will need to be changed. a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
44
How to work with battery powered LEDs Conducting a Trial Test Before assembling a glitter house or other project, you may wish to check the LED. 1. Slip the battery into the battery holder (A), making sure that the plus (+) side of the battery is on the same side as the plus (+) sign on the battery holder. 2. Twist the LEDs red wire to the red wire on the switch (B). Then, twist the other wire to the black wire on the switch. 3. Turn on the switch. If it doesn’t light up, take it to a dark room to see if it is lit (this is a very small light after all). If it does not light, make sure that the battery is in the battery holder correctly. Also check that the solder joints on the red and green wires have not been pulled apart from the LED. 4. Untwist the wires. Changing the Brightness of the LED When I wish to dim the brightness of the LED, I paint over the bulb with a white or cream color paint. Acrylic or enamel work just fine. If a dimmer light is desired, you may wish to use 1/4 watt resistors. These come in a package of varying tolerances. You’ll want to try different color resistors out to see which tolerance you prefer. You will need 2 resistors. 1) Slide the shrink tube over the wires. 2) Twist the red wire of the LED to the first resistor; twist the red wire of the switch to the resistor. 3) twist the green wire of the LED to the second resistor; twist the black wire of the switch to the
other end of the second resistor. 4) Slide the shrink tubes over the connections and heat with a hair dryer until they have shrunk tightly around the connections. Making the LED Wires Shorter Straighten the wire of the LED. Figure out the length that you want the wires to be. Cut. If the wires need to be shortened, the ends may be re-exposed by gently sanding with a piece of fine sandpaper. If one of the wires on your LED contains a black piece of shrink tube, do not cut this off. Underneath the shrink tube is an inline resistor. The wires may be cut up to the point of the shrink tube/resistor. The inline resistors are typically found on red and yellow LEDs. Lighting a Glitter House with an LED Attaching the LEDs to the glitter houses BEFORE assembling the houses makes lighting them much easier! To do so, cut a sliver size piece of transparent tape (a tweezers works well to handle the tape and keep it sticky). Attach the LED to the inside of a PRE-CONSTRUCTED, FLAT glitter house, with the yellow side facing out (a green arrow is printed on the back side of the LED). Clamp the LED to the house with a tweezers and bend the wires to exit the back of the house. Don’t worry about hiding the wires; they are so fine that they will not cause gaps, and may be covered with white paint, glue and glitter to blend into the snow. Glue the base to the house and decorate the house according to the directions supplied with the glitter house kit.
A battery holder LED
switch
D C
45
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
B
shrink tubes
Connecting the LED to the Switch Slip the black shrink-tubes (C) over the ends of the wires on the switch (B). Push them toward the switch. As before, you will twist the red wires together; and twist the black wire and the remaining wire together. Pull the black tubes down to cover the connections. Heat with a hair dryer until the black tubes shrink down to fit tightly around the wires. Enjoy your beautifully lit project!
tube over top of the bundle of the LED wires. I prefer approx. wires. Test the connection. If it 1-1/2” of VERY SHINY copper works without flickering, you’re showing. The easiest way is to burn ready to heat the shrink tube with it off with a lighter. Then use fine a hairdryer. sandpaper to remove the charring. 5. Heat the shrink tubes with a hair The wires should be shiny copper dryer until the tubes have shrunk when you are finished. The key to completely around the connections. a good connection is removing the I recommend using no more than 10 varnish completely. LEDs per battery. The more LEDs used, 3. Hold all of the red wires PARALLEL. the sooner the battery will need to be Twist the wires together VERY tightly. changed. Do the same with the green wires. 4. Strip about 1” of the insulation from Adding Additional LEDs to One the wires on the battery holder/ Battery Holder and Switch Unit switch unit and the wired connector. This is the method that I teach in Put shrink tubes over all 4 wires. workshops: 5. Hold the red wire on the wired 1. Remove the colored varnish (red connector PARALLEL to the bundle and green) from the ends of all the of red wires of the LEDs. Twist wires. I prefer approx. 1-1/2” of together very tightly. Do the same VERY SHINY copper showing. The with the black wire/green wires. easiest way is to burn it off with 6. Fold the twisted portion of the a lighter. Then use fine sandpaper wires down and pull the shrink to remove the charring. Again, the tube on top of the bundle of wires should be shiny copper when Using Wired Connectors with LEDs wires. Test the connection with you are finished. The key to a good and a Battery Holder and Switch Unit the 3V battery. If it works without connection is removing the varnish If a project requires longer lengths flickering, you’re ready to heat the completely. of wires, we recommend using wired shrink tube with a hairdryer. 2. Hold all of the red wires PARALLEL. connectors. The perfect solution for 7. Hold the red wire on the battery Twist the wires together VERY tightly. extending the length of wires when holder/switch unit PARALLEL to the Do the same with the green wires. lighting a project, wired connectors red wires of the wired connector. 3. Strip about 1” of the insulation also provide the ability to easily Twist together very tightly. Do the from the wires on the switch unit. disconnect the wires from a project same with the black wire/green wires. Put shrink tubes over the wires. when moving the project. 8. Fold the twisted portion of the Hold the red wire on the switch To add wired connectors to LEDs and wires down and pull the shrink unit PARALLEL to the red wires battery holders: tube on top of the bundle of wires. of the LEDs. Twist together very 1. Push the female and male ends Again, test the connection with tightly. Do the same with the black of the wired connectors tightly a battery. Heat the shrink tubes wire/green wires. together. with a hair dryer until the tubes 4. Fold the twisted portion of the 2. Remove the colored varnish (red have shrunk completely around the wires down and pull the shrink and green) from the ends of all connections.
I recommend using 10 LEDs or fewer per battery. The more LEDs used, the sooner the battery will need to be changed.
color your mini world! True2Scale offers LEDs in 5 colors and several sizes. How about red and yellow LED “coals” in a fireplace? A jack o’ lantern lit with a yellow LED? Try using a blue light in a Halloween scene and a green light in a Christmas scene. Have fun with the possibilities! a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
46
Frequently asked questions about LEDs How many LEDs may be attached to a battery holder and switch unit? We recommend using 10 or fewer LEDs on one battery holder and switch unit. The more LEDs, the faster the battery will need to be changed. How long will a battery last? 12 hours for up to 10 LEDs. 3 LEDs will run on a single battery for about 40 hours. Where may I purchase additional batteries? These are common coin-size batteries which may be purchased at drug and convenience stores. Do I need to solder? No. Shrink tubes are included with the battery holder and switch unit. A hairdryer works great for shrinking the tubes over the connections. How long are the wires on the LEDs? The wires on the LEDs are 8”. The wires on the battery holders are 4”. If you need a length longer than 12”, we recommend using a wired connector, available on our website. May these be wired to a dollhouse power supply? The LEDs purchased from us are 3V that run off of a 3V battery only. Dollhouse power supplies are typically 12V. Are these wired in series or parallel? First of all, if you don’t know what series vs. parallel means, don’t worry! The red wires of the LEDs should be twisted together and then twisted to the red wire of the battery holder/switch unit. Do the same with the green wires. In other words, multiple LEDs should be wired in parallel. 47
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
Shown larger than actual size.
different sizes for different projects MEGA Perfect for brightly lighting a small room in quarter (1:48) scale. Only 1 LED is needed. When a single, central ceiling fixture is desired, we recommend using a MEGA with a jewelry finding. If using the Mega size LED in a one inch (1:12) scale setting, one LED could be used as a central light in a chandelier. We would recommend using more than one Mega size in a larger one inch scale room. These are super bright! Keep in mind, the amount of light may be reduced by painting over the LED with a white/off-white craft paint. CHIP The most popular size. One chip will light a small room in quarter scale, but it will be a softer light. We typically include chip LEDs in the majority of our kits for lighting our structures. Chips also work well for creating burning coals in one inch (1:12) scale fireplaces and stoves. NANO We love these for lighting tiny areas in one inch and quarter inch scale scenes (glitter houses, bookcases, china cabinets, jack o’lanterns, Christmas trees, burning coals, etc.). They’re also great when just a small amount of ambient light is desired (place an LED behind a window scene, for example). PICO These are incredibly tiny! They work well to light small areas (think rooms in 1/144 scale, a cabinet in 1/48 scale, a firefly in 1/12 scale, etc.).
The houses in the Snow Village Kit have been lit with battery powered LEDs.
3V battery powered leD SUPPLIES LEDs (available in 4 sizes and 5 colors), battery holder and switch units, wired connectors, Base Kit for LED Lighted Structures, and more are available from True2Scale.
find it
true2scale.com/shop-led-lighting
1/4 scale village and glowing coals lit with battery powered LEDs. a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
48
49
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
A new look
at an old toy. . .
a christmas presentation card Contributed by Robin Betterley, Robin Betterley’s Miniatures. Toys, especially Christmas toys, have always delighted children young and old. They are objects for your imagination and enjoyment. Most of us have a unique fascination for the antique toys that have survived intact. It almost makes me sad that a child didn’t have an opportunity to play with some of these toys. I try to believe they were found in a store’s old inventory or a neglected box at a factory.
Toy presentation cards, are a group of intricately arranged parts that speak as one piece. They are a very special art form. Their ephemeral nature is to have the toys snipped off the card for play. There are many versions of antique presentation cards including ones with little dolls and tiny clothes, hats and accessories. Many of the old presentation cards suggest an occupation, perhaps a baker set with a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
50
little breads, a tiny tea set with tables and chairs to play hostess, or a small group of kitchen parts like pots and pans with pretend food and utensils. Some of these may have been an inexpensive nod to the legendary German toy kitchens and stoves, which were a part of a young girl’s housekeeping education through play. When I was a little girl, we went into the city on Friday nights for dinner and a visit to the 5 & 10, a store you might remember. If I did my chores and behaved myself, I was allowed to choose a toy from a certain section of the store. I often picked a new coloring book and crayons, but sometimes the store would have a new selection of My Merry toys. I remember the Hardware Store, the Hostess Closet, and one that included makeup! You could get your own Drugstore,
Supermarket, or Stationery Store. One of my favorites was Dolly’s Diaper Set which sold for 49¢. While these little ephemeral toys from my childhood are really incomparable to the antique beauties, I think even as a child I appreciated the way the contemporary little toys were displayed in their cute boxes and the inexpensive ones on cards. You can imagine how I feel about the antique versions! I found myself thinking a little too much about these presentation cards lately, and since I really shouldn’t invest in the antique ones that I like, (and I played with my own to the brink of non-survival) I decided that I would make one. It would have a doll, some doll furniture, clothes and other toys and I thought it would be nice to display for Christmas. I liked it so much, I thought you might like to make one too.
christmas presentation card kit We have made our version of a Christmas Toy Presentation Card into a kit which measures 8” x 10” and is filled with lots of miniature treasures. It also fits into a standard 8 x 10 frame if you want to frame it and hang it on the wall.
find it 51
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
robinbetterley.com/collections/christmas-presentation-board
UNITED STATES
DELAWARE
DECEMBER 5, 2015 True2Scale Workshop: Chalk Paint a Collector’s Cabinet Petaluma, CA carol@true2scale.com
T2S
FLORIDA JANUARY 9, 2016 DIME’s Dollhouse Miniatures Flea Market Port Orange, FL Helen Sullivan, 386-228-0439 JANUARY 16 - 17, 2016 2016 Venice Fun in the Sun Miniature Show (Formerly Sarasota Festival) miniaturiaunlimited.com
RBM
JANUARY 22 - 23, 2016 Southern California Miniature Show Fullerton, CA bishopshow.com
FEBRUARY 13 -14, 2016 Orlando Miniatures Festival miniaturiaunlimited.com
FEBRUARY 6 - 7, 2016 San Diego Miniature Crafters 42nd Annual Miniatures Show & Sale San Diego, CA sdminiatureshow.com
MARCH 5, 2016 Mini Spring Cleaning Flea Market Sarasota, FL loismarshall@comcast.net
FEBRUARY 27, 2016 Miniatures West 30th Annual Fantasy Show and Sale Culver City, CA miniatureswest.com
OCTOBER 22, 2016 Three Blind Mice Dollhouse & Miniatures Show Largo, FL 33773 3blindmiceshow.com
IDAHO
RBM T2S
COLORADO SEPTEMBER 6 -11, 2016 The Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys: Miniature & Doll Fall Show & Sale Greenwood Village, CO dmmdt.org/fallshow
RBM
APRIL 16-17, 2016 Mini Les Bois 36th Annual Miniature Show and Sale Boise, ID minigalb@aol.com
ILLINOIS NOVEMBER 13 - 14, 2015 WHIMSICAL WONDERLAND Miniature Show & Sale Elk Grove Village, IL weecminiclub.com APRIL 11 -17, 2016 Chicago International Miniatures Show Chicago, IL bishopshow.com
EVENTS ATTENDED BY TRUE2SCALE (tentative)
MARCH 4 - 5, 2016 Atlanta Miniature Show Atlanta, GA bishopshow.com
SEPTEMBER 9 - 10, 2016 CHAMPS Miniature Show El Cerrito, CA champsshow.com OCTOBER 8 - 9, 2016 Good Sam Showcase of Miniatures San Jose, CA goodsamshowcase.miniature.net
T2S
GEORGIA
JUNE 25, 2016 Miniatures on the Waterfront Show Stockton, CA miniaturesonthewaterfront.com
EVENTS ATTENDED BY ROBIN BETTERLEY MINIATURES (tentative)
CALIFORNIA
RBM
MARCH 12 - 13, 2016 Smallworld Miniature Club’s Miniature Show & Sale Phoenix, AZ phoenixminiatures.com
mini events calendar
ARIZONA
MARCH 20, 2016 First State Mini Club Show & Sale New Castle, DE firststateminiclub.org
T2S
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
|
52
APRIL 14 - 16, 2016 Three Blind Mice Dollhouse & Miniature Show Schaumburg, IL 3blindmiceshow.com
MISSOURI
RBM
NEVADA
mini events calendar
APRIL 14 - 16, 2016 The Miniature Show Schaumburg, IL theminiatureshow.com
MAY 14 - 15, 2016 “Miniatures on the Road” Dollhouse & Miniature Show Indianapolis, IN miniaturesontheroad@yahoo.com
MAINE JUNE 11–17, 2016 Guild School Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME igma.org
MASSACHUSETTS NOVEMBER 15, 2015 Handcrafters of Miniatures Dedham, MA handcraftersofminiatures.com
MICHIGAN NOVEMBER 21, 2015 Tulip City Festival of Miniatures Holland, MI Jinny: 616-566-0841
|
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
RBM
MAY 22, 2016 Greater Cleveland Miniature Show Willoughby Hills, OH harvilleproductions@outlook.com AUGUST 12 - 13, 2016 Three Blind Mice Dollhouse & Miniatures Show Dayton, Ohio 3blindmiceshow.com
PENNSYLVANIA
NEW JERSEY
INDIANA
MAY 6 - 7, 2016 Three Blind Mice Dollhouse & Miniatures Show Ann Arbor, MI 3blindmiceshow.com
53
APRIL 9, 2016 Nevada State Day (N.A.M.E.) Cheyenne, NV lvminiatures.wix.com
AUGUST 26 - 27, 2016 Chicago Fall Miniature Show Rolling Meadows, IL bishopshow.com
JUNE 4 - 5, 2016 Sturbridge Miniatures Festival Sturbridge, MA mollycromwell.com
JUNE 3 - 4, 2016 Kansas City Dollhouse and Miniature Show Kansas City, MO miniatureshows.com
NOVEMBER 22, 2015 Karen Aird’s Holiday Dollhouse Show & Sale Warren, NJ karensdollhouse.com FEBRUARY 27, 2016 Dollhouse and Miniatures Show & Sale Sponsored by The Highstown Woman’s Club Highstown, NJ olsenfarr@verizon.net AUGUST 6 - 7, 2016 Guild Show Teaneck, NJ igma.org
T2S
NOVEMBER 4 - 6, 2016 Philadelphia Miniaturia Cherry Hill, NJ philadelphiaminiaturia.com
RBM T2S
MARCH 18 - 19, 2016 “Miniatures on the Road” Dollhouse and Miniature Show Pittsburgh, PA miniaturesontheroad@yahoo.com APRIL 24, 2016 Lancaster/Reading Area Dollhouse Miniatures Show & Sale Lancaster, PA dianafogelminiatures@yahoo.com
SOUTH CAROLINA SEPTEMBER 14 - 16, 2016 N.A.M.E. Small Scales Houseparty Greenville, SC miniatures.org
RBM T2S
TEXAS
OHIO
APRIL 29 - 30, 2016 Texas Miniature Showcase Dallas, TX texasminiatureshow.com
VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 21, 2015 Columbus Miniature Society Show Columbus, OH columbusminiaturesociety.org
JANUARY 15 - 18, 2016 IGMA Study Program Colonial Williamsburg, VA igma.org
APRIL 9, 2016 Ohio State Day (N.A.M.E.) Worthington, OH twonickels53@gmail.com
WASHINGTON
APRIL 9 - 10, 2016 Miniature Society of Cincinnati’s Dollhouse and Miniature Show & Sale West Chester Township, OH cincyminiatures.org
RBM
MARCH 5 - 6, 2016 Seattle Miniature Show Seattle, WA seattleminiatureshow.com JULY 21 - 24, 2016 N.A.M.E. National Miniature Convention Seattle, WA miniatures.org
RBM T2S
INtERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 27 - 28, 2016 Dollhouse and Miniature Extravaganza Brisbane, QLD, Australia dollshouseextravaganza.com.au
MAY 7 - 8, 2016 Sydney Miniatures and Dollshouse Fair Sydney, Australia JUNE 4 - 5, 2016 Dollshouse and Miniatures Extravaganza, Miniature Enthusiasts of Tasmania, Inc. Hobart, TAS, Australia klbwd@bigpond.com JULY 9 - 10, 2016 Melbourne Miniatures and Dollshouse Fair Mt Waverly, VIC, Australia OCTOBER 29, 2016 Ballarat Mini Friends Fair Ballarat
AUSTRIA OCTOBER 2, 2016 VienerMiniaturen Borse Vienna, Austria wienerminiaturen.at
CANADA MAY 14, 2016 Miniature Enthusiasts of Central Okanagan (MECO) Miniature Show & Sale Peachland, BC, Canada
FRANCE JUNE 26, 2016 SIMP Salon International de la Maison de Poupée Paris, France simp-paris.com
RIVIERA
NOVEMBER 21, 2015 Miniaturen Markt Mannheim, Germany miniaturen-markt-mannheim.de
JULY 30 - AUG 14, 2016 Tour: The Rivieras: France, Italy and the Isles mollycromwell.com
JUNE 4 - 5, 2016 1 zu 12 Miniature Show Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany 1zu12.com
NOVEMBER 28 - 29, 2015 Madrid Fall Miniature Show Madrid, Spain bishopshow.com
GERMANY/AUSTRIA
MAY 21 - 22, 2016 Madrid Spring Miniature Show Madrid, Spain bishopshow.com
DECEMBER 1 - 9, 2015 Cruise: Christmas Markets along the Danube from Nuremberg to Vienna mollycromwell.com
ITALY FEBRUARY 6 - 7, 2014 Miniaturitalia Milan, Italy miniaturitalia.it
NETHERLANDS APRIL 2 -3, 2016 Dolls House Nederland dhnshow.com OCTOBER 19 - 20, 2016 Dolls House Nederland dhnshow.com OCTOBER 22 - 23, 2016 Doll and Teddy Bear Show and Dollshouse Miniatures Show Brabanthallen ‘s-Hertogenbosch,Netherlands www.niesjewolters.nl
NEW ZEALAND OCTOBER 21 - 24, 2016 NZAME’s 2016 Convention Tauranga nzame.org
PORTUGAL APRIL 16 - 17, 2016 Feira de Miniaturas e Casas de Bonecas Lisboa Minis Lisbon, Portugal Facebook: Feira de Miniaturas e Casas de Bonecas Lisboa Minis
SPAIN
JUNE 11 - 12, 2016 International Dolls House Show Andalucîa Malaga, Spain feria-miniaturas-andalucia.jimdo.com
UNITED KINGDOM DECEMBER 5, 2015 Kensington Dollshouse Festival Christmas Show London, UK dollshousefestival.com JANUARY 10, 2016 Stafford Doll’s House Fair Stafford, UK doreenjeffriesdollshousefairs.co.uk APRIL 2 - 3, 2016 Spring Miniaturia Birmingham, UK miniatura.co.uk APRIL 16, 2016 Leeds Doll’s House Fair Leeds, UK doreenjeffriesdollshousefairs.co.uk MAY 8 - 16, 2016 Tour: London, the Cotswolds and 2 days at the Kensington Dolls’ House Festival mollycromwell.com MAY 13 - 14, 2016 Kensington Dollshouse Festival Summer Show London, UK dollshousefestival.com
mini events calendar
MARCH 19, 2016 Miniature Fair and Dollshouse Show ACT, Australia
GERMANY
T2S
a teeny bit Christmas 2015
This is not a comprehensive list. Event information may change. Please contact the event organizer to confirm details.
|
54
Last look 1:48 Sweetie pie kit
This kit includes all of the goodies to whip up a super-sweet 1:48 scale vignette.
find it
Twice as Sweet Valentine Stove Kit
This cupcake baking scene contains two scales in one vignette! The large stove is 1:12 scale; the smaller stove is 1:48 scale.
find it
true2scale.com/ twice-as-sweet-stove-collection
robinbetterley.com/collections/ holiday-vignettes-1-4-scale