Shrunk : Issue 6

ISSUE SIX

Advertorial

May Your Christmas Be Mini & Bright Treat your doll’s house to something special this holiday season with beautiful, modern miniatures from Minimum World.

The UK’s largest miniatures retailer has designed an original line of 1:12 scale products with contemporary styles and collectors in mind.

Featured Products: o

Happy Holidays framed print MC409

o

White zigzag rug RUG202

o

Flower in white frame MC506

o

Pink sofa GS0541

o

Christmas tree framed print MC408

o

Tripod lamp LT7456

o

Gold home in frame MC604

o

TV D4016

o

White side table DF2002

o

Calathea houseplant D4131

o

Table lamp LT7450

o

Brass globe D4183

o

Wall mounted fire LT7455

o

Skirting board DIY012

o

Green and gold wallpaper R019

o

Flooring paper DIY2006

For more information visit: minimumworld.com 2

Shrunk.

Shrunk. magazine is a quarterly print publication, with Issue 7 coming to you in Spring 2023.

Why just 4* issues a year? Well, we’re currently a very tiny team. We also believe that less is more. More original features, more projects, more fun. It also means less waste.

We’ll only print what we really need, so pre-orders are important. We want our print copies to be treasured by the paper-lovers among you, enjoyed and passed around to friends, well-thumbed.

And if you miss a print issue, don’t panic! Digital editions are available via issuu.com This issue was made possible by the 250 backers who pledged to our Kickstarter campaign in the Autumn of 2022.

Thank you so much for helping bring Shrunk. magazine to life. shrunkmagazine.com *Ahem… It’s actually been just 2 print issues this year thanks to the big life change that is welcoming a tiny human!

Published quarterly by Shrunk. Magazine.

Mailing address: c/o The Alexander Centre, 15–17 Preston Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8NZ, UK. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, distributed or reproduced without permission from both its publisher and original author.

4

Shrunk.

Front cover image Back cover image

by Tiny Eclectic by Åsa Strand

Editors Note

Welcome to Issue 6, The Festive One! I’m so thrilled to bring you Shrunk.’s first-ever seasonal edition.

Before we go any further, I’d like to take a moment to thank every single person that got behind our second, successful Kickstarter campaign.

Once again I’ve been blown away by the encouragement and enthusiasm from the miniature community. This issue is for all of you.

Kat Picot, Editor kat@shrunkmagazine.com

Emilia Kalyvides, Designer designbyemilia.co.uk

So, without further ado, onto Issue 6. We’ve packed as many DIY projects into this issue as possible to help get those mini-scenes ready for some big celebrations. We have our most challenging miniature food projects so far with Esha Bijutkar’s stunning cocktails & canapés, the perfect additions to any holiday party! Shake things up with Kayla M Domeyer’s sparkling snow globes and brush up on your 3D painting skills with a technique feature from Amanda Kelly. We’ve also got two brilliantly simple but effective Christmas tree projects. Will you choose an aesthetically pleasing pampas grass or a lush, ever-green moss?!

I chat with London-based artist and founder of Black Girl Dollshouse Club, Elizabeth Joseph, about her miniature work and inspirations. We meet two artists each exploring storytelling through miniatures. Swedish artist Åsa Strand invites us into Margaux’s eclectic apartment and gallery, while designer, Ruchika Nambiar, shares the multi-layered narrative of The Dollhouse Project.

We hope you enjoy the latest instalment of Shrunk. and wish all of our readers a very happy and healthy 2023.

Kayla M Domeyer, Consulting Editor Ellie Kime , Subbing Editor

Ka t

Laura Picot, Customer Care customercare@shrunkmagazine.com

Shrunk.

5

Issue Six Contents

30

16

26

40

Features 16 Margaux’s World Explore the emerging property portfolio of the unseen but everpresent, Margaux. An eclectic, Parisian apartment with an engaging back story created by Swedish artist, Åsa Strand

26 The Dollhouse Project Designer, Ruchika Nambiar, shares her innovative approach to miniature storytelling and sharing the narrative with her mini alter-ego, Little R 6

Shrunk.

Make 48 Q&A with Elizabeth Joseph The artist and founder of Black Girl Dollshouse Club, discusses her work and the inspirations behind her characterful, miniature pieces

52 Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses Columnist Abi Trotman is serving dust and junk with a seasonal twist.

Create your own attic boxes with personalised detail

22 DIY: Snow Globes 29 Idea: Gift Card Holder 30 DIY: Cocktails & Canapés 40 DIY: Pampas Grass Holiday Tree 44 DIY: Succulent Wreath 56 Technique: Finishing a 3D Printed Miniature 58 Technique: Scenic Snow Bell Jar

ot

ma

n

e lly aK

Aman

58

d

A bi

Tr

Issue Six Contributors

Wi

lk

A st r

i

d

48

52

Christin

a

22

Shop

i ju

vak

Christina Spivak is based in the U.S and has a creative background that includes photography, styling, film making, jewellery and art. She loves the challenge of hand-making and photographing miniatures, and her work can be seen on Instagram under the name @tinyeclectic

i n so n

Rhenee Robinson builds incredible miniatures and dioramas from scratch in scales 1:24, 1:48 and 1:144 from her Californian home.

Head to page 29 to read the ‘Miss Mini Life’ column. Connect on Instagram and YouTube: @missminilife

13 Shrunk. Loves 14 House Hunter

Rhenee

Astrid Wilk is a full-time artist based in Germany, specialising in creating very detailed plant themed miniatures from polymer clay.

She’s always interested in pushing the material to its limits and developing new techniques.

Follow Astrid on Instagram: @astridwilkstudio

Esha Bijutkar is an engineer by profession and an artist at heart! A self-taught miniaturist currently based in India, she works in 1:12 scale creating one of a kind miniature food, furniture and dioramas. Follow Esha on Instagram: @pink_petit_rose

12 Reading List

62 Suppliers

Amanda Kelly creates 1:12 scale miniatures and dioramas that challenge the idea of the ‘traditional’ doll’s house, drawing inspiration from her personal experiences with mental health, pop culture and her environment.

Connect with Amanda at pandaminiatures.com

tkar

Es h a

B

14

Spi

Abi Trotman, otherwise known as Tobacco & Regrets, is a full-time professional artist and miniaturist based in South Wales (UK). Abi uses miniatures as a way to celebrate life and all its quirks and intricacies. Connect with Abi at tobaccoandregrets.co.uk

b Ro

Shrunk.

7

Journal Winter 2022

The Shrunk. guide to mini happenings Shrunk. magazine has moved!

Image by Kat Picot

News from the Kensington Dollshouse Festival

selling your creations to collectors and enthusiasts.

Show owner, Charlotte Stokoe, shares exciting news and updates from the UK’s most prestigious doll’s house and miniatures events.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Charlotte at info@dollshouseshowcase.com.

The LDF team are there all the way, helping new exhibitors prepare for the show and advise on any logistical problems.

LDF Debut Award Throughout 2022, London Dollshouse Festival has been on the look-out for new talented makers to join our shows. Many of the skilled craftsmen who have been attending our events are now retiring and we need to find some new stars of our tiny world. We have teamed up with Emma Waddell of Dolls House Grand Designs to fund a new award for new exhibitors who attend our shows. We will select one exhibitor from the Christmas 2022 and Summer 2023 shows who we feel stands out as the best new miniaturist. The winner will receive a free table for a future event and £500 to help with the expenses of attending a show.

There is no better time to turn your hobby into a profession and start 8

Shrunk.

Children’s Activities: The popular KDF Golden Treasure Hunt taking place throughout the show and the Gingerbread Craft Club running from 2pm–5pm where you can have fun making something for your dolls house (both kids activities are free for ticket holders).

Tickets: £5–£20 (if you book tickets before 20th Nov, you will Christmas Show 2022 automatically be entered into a draw to win £50 of vouchers to spend at Dolls houses and miniatures are definitely having a renaissance, partly the show). Family tickets available thanks to the discovery of miniatures for entry after 2pm only. To book tickets and for more information, on social media during lockdown and partly due to the The Great Tiny please visit dollshouseshowcase.com Design Challenge shown on Channel 4 earlier this year, which brought Shrunk. has a new mailing address! miniaturism to a new audience.

Earlier this year we relocated from Displays: This time we have a Brighton, our beloved seaside home and have since found a new home in wonderful display of Triang Dolls Houses from Jennifer Kallin’s private Faversham, Kent. collection. These houses were Any snail mail and order returns popular between 1930–70’s when should now be directed to: almost every household would have Shrunk. Magazine a dolls house in the nursery/ c/o The Alexander Centre playroom. We also have a display 15–17 Preston Street of miniature food made from some unusual ingredients by Plate Button. Faversham, Kent, ME13 8NZ, UK

Whistler’s Mouse by Rachel Hinds Image provided by London Dollshouse Showcase

There’s nothing quite like being in a room bursting with miniatures is there?! Here are the dates for your diary. Details are accurate at the time of going to press but please do check up to date information with organisers before travelling.

UK Events: London Dollshouse Showcase Kensington Dollshouse Festival : Christmas Show 3rd Dec 2022 It’s almost time! The Christmas KDF show is the highlight of our year and we know the same is true for many of you reading. Marvel at the incredible, international talent on display and pick up some incredibly special, small-scale gifts.

Plants by Lemon Miniatures Image provided by London Dollshouse Showcase

Visit dollshouseshowcase.com for full information and ticket bookings.

Miniatura Spring Show 18th–19th Mar 2023 Something to look forward to in the coming Spring! The show will be held at Stoneleigh NAEC and promises to be a fantastic weekend of miniature fun!

Visit miniatura.co.uk for further information.

USA Events: International Market of Miniature Artisans — Las Vegas Wholesale Show : 22nd–24th Feb 2023 Retail Show: 24th–26th Feb 2023 Fancy a trip across the pond? We know we do! The much anticipated

return of the IMOMALV show is coming! With an amazing line-up of modern miniature vendors in addition to dedicated dates for retail and wholesale shows, this is set to be quite the event!

Visit imomalv.com for further information and booking.

San Diego Miniatures Show & Sale 4th–5th Feb 2023 The 48th San Diego Miniatures Show will take place at the University of San Diego this Spring.

Tickets available online and at the door. Free on Sunday with paid Saturday.

Visit sdminiatureshow.com for booking and information.

Get in touch!

Do you have some mini news to share?

kat@shrunkmagazine.com Or good old‑fashioned snail mail: Shrunk. Magazine, c/o The Alexander Centre, 15–17 Preston Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8NZ, UK

Shrunk.

9

MINIATURA

®

Thank You!

Mayhem, Magic & Me Beetlejuice House

The Autumn Miniatura Show at Stoneleigh was amazing and we want to thank everyone who made it so special.

Pocket People

Your messages after the show have been 100% positive and we are delighted you like the new venue so much.

Over 90 exhibitors showed us 1000’s of lovely miniatures and we are looking forward to the next event in Spring!

18th & 19th March 2023 Stoneleigh Park, UK Between now and then don’t forget you can search through 200 makers on our website.

Rob Crouch Miniatures

www.miniatura.co.uk - 0121 783 9922

Michael R Miniatures Enchantedolls

Reading List Angie Scarr

Simple Mold Making & Angie Scarr’s Colour Book Find both titles, and more, at angiescarr.co.uk

Y

ou know what’s better than one new addition to your crafting library?

TWO new additions to your crafting library. Prolific polymer clay artist, creative author and entrepreneur, Angie Scarr, has created these two most recent titles to complement each other as a pair, offering a real doublepronged attack on creating in polymer clay and exploring the exciting possibilities presented when working with molds.

and light can become really complicated subjects, as Angie discovered while writing this book.

This is her exploration of, and attempt to simplify, the subject and make it accessible to all, while still providing some meaty questions for the professionals among her readers to get their teeth into.

This book will be of interest to miniaturists and artists in polymer clay who wish to add serious realism to their art and are prepared to work to get it.

Angie Scarr’s Colour Book: Nature’s Colours For Polymer Clay

Simple Mold Making

This Colour Book is a distillation of Angie’s 30+ years of finding out she was just a little more obsessed with the colour of fruit and vegetables and other elements of nature than most ‘normal’ people!

When reproducing the colours of nature in polymer clay, pigment

Quick molding ideas for miniaturists, model makers, jewellery artists, cake decorators, potters and animators. Making molds at home can be very easy.

You can develop an idea from the initial concept to the finished mold without having to learn any ‘darkart’ techniques.

12

Shrunk.

Extract from Simple Mold Making

Extract from Angie Scarr’s Colour Book

Shrunk. Loves Gleaming Primrose Mirror

I

f you’re someone who spends any amount of time scrolling interior accounts on Instagram then chances are you’re already familiar with the modern cult classic, the Gleaming Primrose Mirrior.

This highly coveted mirror range by international lifestyle brand, Anthropologie, is named as their best selling style of all time. With the now social media-famous piece taking pride of place on mantels around the globe you can bring this little beaut home to your doll’s house too! Those smart cookies at Anthropologie have created a miniature replica of their iconic mirror, intended as a tree ornament, but miniaturists everywhere will be able to re-purpose it for maximum, mini interiors joy!

It’s not too late to pop a note to Father Christmas! (Or perhaps just helpfully leave this page of Shrunk. open somewhere to be seen!)

Gleaming Primrose Mirror Tree Decoration by Anthropologie £22. anthropologie.com Shrunk.

13

House Hunter The Brentwood

T

he search is over, we’ve found the one! Introducing The Brentwood, one of the latest luxury doll’s house kits from miniatures.com. This beautifully designed kit is the result of a collaboration with American retailer, Miniatures.com and miniaturist, and influencer Kristine Hanna, of Paper Doll Miniatures.

Kristine looked to the design of transitional homes in the southern states of the USA for inspiration.

She says “I was particularly drawn to the neighbourhoods within Brentwood, Tennessee with their all-brick exteriors and multi-pane windows.”

The Brentwood is a generously proportioned kit, offering a sizable project for collectors. According to Matt Campbell, Product Designer at miniatures.com, its unique features include 9+ possible room combinations; 10" ceilings, full-sized attic rooms with 9" ceilings; easy access to all the rooms, including an access panel to allow getting into the deepest space; extra-large custom windows for lots of natural light; a custom modern staircase with contemporary railings; and custom doors which include a double front door with six pane windows and two panel interior doors, as well as an optional fullsize walk-in closet or laundry room.

As a limited edition design, there are just fifty of these stunning doll’s houses available, with 98% of their production based within the United States. Shown here, decorated and styled to perfection and featuring exclusive miniatures (also designed by Hanna to complement this 1:12 scale home), The Brentwood doll’s house kit will truly become the jewel in the crown of any miniatures collection.

Overall dimensions: 36 1/2"W x 33 1/2"H x 25"D Available exclusively at: miniatures.com International shipping quotes available on request.

Shrunk.

15

Feature Margaux’s World

Swedish artist, Åsa Strand, shares how she tailors her eclectic interiors for a discerning, miniature resident.

Words by Kat Picot Images by Åsa Strand

W

hen it comes to creating art, Åsa Strand is a firm believer that anyone can, and should.

Speaking from her home in Sweden following a night shift, Åsa says, “When you have the fear, ‘Oh no, I’m not good enough!’ or ‘I can’t do that!’, no, of course you can! Put the fear away, everybody can do it. The only thing you need is knowledge and knowledge is on the internet! So if you don’t know something, just look it up. Be it how to make a cabinet or how to do sculpture or how to use resin or whatever, everything is out there, everyone can do this! And that’s the most amazing thing!”

16

Shrunk.

A creative for the majority of her life Åsa is a talented gouache artist.

Her gemstone paintings have to be seen to be believed, though she doesn’t like to limit herself to just one discipline, exploring ceramics, sculpture and, of course, miniatures, where all these mediums result in colourful, textural 1:12 scale interiors. After reuniting with her childhood doll’s house Åsa embarked on a remodel, giving herself permission to do whatever she wanted with the space with a self-imposed deadline of one year to work on the project. This, she explains, is essential, otherwise

she’d continue to tweak designs and details forever!

“I had some ideas, so I just ripped everything out. I love French châteaus, I love Parisian apartments but I also love a modern twist, combining traditional architecture with contemporary furnishings, styling and art. So I just thought, ‘OK, go ahead and do whatever you want! Do the antiques; do the ultra modern kitchen. This would be the house I would love to live in if I lived in Paris.

You’re making your dreams come true, but on a small scale!”

Still a work in progress, the apartment is already a visually

Feature Margaux’s World

rich mix of colourful interiors, statement lights and objects d’art. A perfectionist, Åsa has so far created everything in the house from scratch aside from the radiators, light switches and toilet. Curating the furnishings has provided her the opportunity to let her imagination run riot, though creating an empty show home didn’t excite her. Åsa dreamed up an imaginary character to help inform her creative decision making. Having a character in mind has helped her to build a narrative into the project and its interiors, and the house is all the richer for it. Åsa says; “She’s Margaux ! It’s a sweet name. She’s living there alone, she has a lot of money, and she buys very expensive antiques. She has a French coffee press I made (based on the real thing that I think costs 160euro in real life! I was 18

Shrunk.

This would be the house I would love to live in if I lived in Paris. You’re making your dreams come true, but on a small scale! like ‘Oh! Yeah, she’s gonna have that one!’ The ornate cabinet. I found that on an auction online for like £3k or something, so I made a copy and put it in there. Everything I find that I like and can’t afford for real, I make it for her. It’s a small house so I have to think when I create the pieces, it’s a fun challenge.”

Explaining the decision to keep

Margaux as a fictional entity rather than represented with a doll; “I think it’s very easy to destroy the realism of a good doll’s house with a bad doll, and it’s very hard to find a doll that doesn’t totally spoil the scene. If I did do a doll it would have to be very, very lifelike.”

Keeping Margaux as ‘unseen’ provides scope for a lot of fun, staging the house and creating scenes, storylines even, and adds an extra dimension to the doll’s house. Åsa says: “It’s really a fun house to stage.

I’m also making balloons for the gallery right now. When I had a cold the other week I made up the bed in the doll’s house with tissues. It doesn’t need to be perfect all the time. You can make a mess. It’s a good reason for me to make tiny toilet rolls and do that or I made aspirin packs.

That’s the most fun for me to do, to make those scenes.”

Previous page: Åsa took inspiration for her doll’s house interior from quintessentially Parisian apartments, creating much of the decor herself, from scratch to ensure each element is just as she wants it.

Opposite page: Left; A 1:12 scale creative workspace sits ready for the resident artist to return to the drawing board.

Right Top; The living room features gorgeous panelled walls and an inviting looking, handmade sofa.

Right Bottom; Margaux’s bedroom, a haven for curling up with a good book.

This page: Contemporary flourishes, such as the light fittings, sit alongside more traditional fixtures. The colourful gemstone artwork are original paintings by Åsa.

Shrunk.

19

Feature Margaux’s World

A few months into the house renovation the project stalled slightly, Åsa had many ideas that she wanted to try but not all would work within the confines of Margaux’s apartment. Åsa’s husband detected her creative block. She says; “I didn’t want to do anything [with the house], I didn’t have any ideas. My husband, he’s always pushing forwards, he asked me ‘Yeah but what do you really want to do?’ and I said, ‘I want to do a gallery!’ I’d made a temporary exhibition in the unfinished bathroom of the doll’s house because I wanted to exhibit my own artwork and he was just like ‘Yeah, this would be a box! Do an art gallery!’ So I made it in like three days.

I had a very solid idea of how I wanted it to look, I knew I didn’t want it too big, and it was going to be a room box and I wanted the front facade of it. The main thing was to exhibit my own art. I don’t do one thing, I do ten things!” Margaux is also now the proud owner of Dantika, the gallery. Quickly the new project took on a life of its own with Åsa deciding to do a call 20

Shrunk.

out for artists wishing to exhibit in the space. She had an enthusiastic response from miniaturists, painters, photographers; the appeal of a small exhibition space reaches beyond doll’s house collectors alone.

lighting and everything! The perspective is very important too. Not just taking a straight-on photo, you have to have the wall coming back and forth, see the light hitting stuff, to make it feel real.

Everything is an illusion.”

Second to the creation of Margaux, photography plays a key role in both the doll’s house and gallery projects.

Having studied lighting design at university, Åsa has a finely honed eye for what makes an effective shot, utilising light and shadow to add depth and realism to the scenes. She says; “When you go in with a camera you can see everything and just setting things up with the light and everything, it’s madness! I have lights everywhere, we don’t get much daylight here in Sweden.

I’m living up north. The sunset in midwinter it’s about 3–4 in the afternoon so I have to be very creative! When you’re working in miniatures you’re an interior designer, you’re a photographer.

I take pictures as if they were for an interior design magazine. There’ll be fifty pictures before I’m happy with the

With the year for the house renovation passing rapidly, Åsa is already thinking ahead, planning to add to Margaux’s property portfolio with a Mexican villa, a second home in the sun for the affluent mini collector. She says; “It’s looking at other cultures. I live in Sweden. I’m supposed to be doing mini cottages like the one I live in; a red cottage with white accents, but I want to do something with my imagination, so that Margaux can live there, I can experience it with her.

It’s all a fantasy!”

Connect with Åsa Strand online: Instagram: @dantikaminiatures

Previous page: Left; A study for Margaux. Åsa approaches the photography of the doll’s house as if it were real interiors and often will take as many as fifty images before feeling she’s achieved the right look.

Middle; A floral flourish in the doll’s house apartment.

Right; Åsa has created depth and realism with creative use of the angles and light. The contemporary style, spiral staircase was built from scratch to fit the space.

This page: Top; The intricately decorated cabinet was based on a real piece of furniture that Åsa found on an online auctioneers site. Margaux has excellent but expensive taste!

Bottom Left; The Dantika art gallery is set to host a number of exhibitions from real artists in the coming months.

Bottom Right; The gallery room box is a bright, airy exhibition space. Åsa regularly shares callouts to artists of all disciplines interested in exhibiting.

Shrunk.

21

DIY: Snow Globes Shake things up with a sweet miniature snow globe

Words & images by Kayla M Domeyer

Ma terials

Op t ional Ma terials

o

Polymer clay in wood tones, as well as additional colours for sculpted figures

o

o

12–15mm single hole glass dome, often sold for jewellery. Take care to choose globes with an opening at least 5mm wide

o

o

Bakeable adhesive suitable for polymer clay

o

White glitter

Water

o

Vegetable glycerine

o

Waterproof adhesive

Washing-up liquid

Tools o o

Rolling pin and mat Sculpting tools; knives and cutters as needed

Connect with Kayla online: Instagram: @saynotsweetanne Crafting tutorials at saynotsweetanne.com Shrunk.

23

DIY Snow Globes

DIY Snow Globes — Illustrated Guide

The sweetest snow globes we’ve ever seen!

Personalise your globes with a festive motif and treasure as part of your small-scale decor, or delight your loved ones with this adorable gift.

P repare the base

1

2

3

4

5

6

⇨ Roll the wood-toned polymer clay to around 3mm.

⇨ Using a knife or a round cutter, cut a circle the same diameter as the glass globe. ⇨ Make a mark in the visual centre of the clay circle, then use that reference to place the globe on top.

Press down slightly to make an indent in the clay that hugs the mouth of the globe. Remove the globe. ⇨ Bake the clay circle according to brand directions.

S culp t a figure ⇨ When cooled, use the impression on the clay circle to guide you in sculpting a figure for the centre of the globe. Stay within the indentations to ensure your figure will fit inside the globe opening. Details are beautiful, but even a simple shape will look stunning in the globe. You could try a tiny tree or little house. ⇨ Adhere your figure to the clay base with bakeable adhesive. Bake both pieces according to brand and package directions. This is now the base of your snow globe.

Op t ional wa ter-filled globe ⇨ The water is a wonderful addition, but it can be tricky to pull off. It’s important to choose glitters that will sink in the water; typically, plastic based glitters perform better.

⇨ Optionally, you may paint the base once cooled.

Avoid painting in the indent where the globe will be glued. If you’re adding water, skip ahead.

⇨ Mix a spoonful of water with 2–3 drops of vegetable glycerine and 1 drop of washing-up liquid. Add this solution to your globe until it is almost full.

Add sparkle

⇨ Insert your figure and attach the base. Be sure the base is firmly seated on top of the upended globe and the bead of glue appears intact all around.

⇨ Add your chosen glitter to the globe. On the base, apply a thin bead of glue to the indent. ⇨ Carefully hold the globe with mouth side up, and insert your figure into the globe, resting the base on top of the upended globe. ⇨ Allow to cure at least 24 hours before moving the completed snow globe.

24

Shrunk.

⇨ Allow to cure for at least 24 hours before moving the completed snow globe and checking for leaks. If you do find a leak, use a sharp knife to cut away the base and re-attempt.

Feature The Dollhouse Project

A doll’s house, and its inhabitant, take on a life of their own.

Words by Kat Picot Images as credited

B

angalore-based artist, designer and writer, Ruchika Nambiar, introduces her innovative approach to combining interactive storytelling with contemporary miniatures.

Ruchika describes the project as; “A whimsical comedy drama set in miniature, The Dollhouse Project follows the life of my miniature alter ego, Little R, on Instagram as she makes her way through the trials of homeownership, clandestine robot pigeons, the COVID-19 pandemic and more.

Planned and designed by Studio Slip, the house is filled with miniaturised versions of furniture from real brands, artwork from real artists, rugs from Jaipur and more. Recreating everything in miniature down to the last detail, my goal was to create an intricate, believable environment in which Little R’s life and stories could unfold.”

26

Shrunk.

The house itself has been designed with a contemporary industrial aesthetic. Ruchika collaborated with interior designer friend and founder of Studio Slip, Kamini Rao, to bring this 1:12 scale home to life from the foundations up. Starting with mood boards, Ruchika opted to mix materials and finishes such as exposed brick and polished cement. She says; “We created floor plans, electrical drawings and schematics. Basically I have all the plans if I ever wanted to build this house for real, I have all the information to do it.

I just don’t have that kind of budget!”

Keen for the structure to appear like a real home rather than a traditional doll’s house but also functions similarly to a film set, much of the structure of the house is dismantlable.

Opposite page: Top; Ruchika with the house at Little R’s house warming event. Image credit: Ruchika Nambiar Middle; The windows of the dolls house are large to let in a lot of light, they are also removable to allow Ruchika to easily take photos. Image credit: Alok Utsav Bottom; No detail has been spared and the interiors have been finished to a fine standard for their small-scale resident. Image credit: Alok Ustav This page: The Dollhouse Project has captured the hearts and imaginations of many friends and followers. When Ruchika held the Gruhapravesh (‘dollhousewarming’) guests arrived with gifts for Little R’s new home, including hand carved wooden salad spoons and a lovely wine and cheese board. Image credit: Alok Utsav

Shrunk.

27

Feature The Dollhouse Project Ruchika chose large windows to allow plenty of light, the frames are removable to allow her to easily access the house with her camera and to photograph different angles. The house splits into four quadrants, the top and bottom floor separates into two parts and the ceilings are removable, despite this adaptability, the finished MDF house is quite imposing, very heavy, Its design is constantly evolving.

Ruchika says; “I’m constantly thinking of more ways to make it easier to manoeuvre and make it even more modular. I do have a problem when travelling anywhere with it. At best I can take it somewhere within the city for an exhibition. That is quite a tedious task!

Usually if people wish to see it I organise a private viewing in my home.”

When it came to the interior, and furnishings, inspiration was taken from real brands. The rugs feature throughout are replicas of designs by Jaipur rugs, an iconic, Indian brand and one of the largest manufacturers of hand-knotted rugs. Ruchika printed the designs onto fabrics and added a thin layer of foam underneath to give a luxurious cushioned look.

It was important to Ruchika that the house contain many links to the real world to help further bring the story, the house, and Little R, to life. An eye-catching gallery wall hangs above the staircase, consisting of flowers and plants taken from cuttings in Ruchika’s garden; dried, pressed and individually framed.

All the art found in Little R’s home 28

Shrunk.

is from real artists, including one colourful piece, purchased from British comedian and artist, Noel Fielding, arriving with its own little certificate of authenticity.

The way Ruchika has shared Little R’s stories has proven very engaging. Early in the project Ruchika held an online book drive with followers making suggestions for titles to add to Little R’s miniature library. Some followers even sent inscriptions to add inside the tiny covers. Ruchika collated them all, scanning and printing before creating the tiny books.

The story has always been a defining feature and driving force of the project. People get really into it!

Once the build was complete, Little R celebrated with a Gruhapravesh (‘dollhousewarming’), sending her guests miniature invites, serving tiny food and sending them home with miniature sweet boxes as party favours.

Many of the guests got into the spirit and the playfulness of the project, arriving with tiny gifts for Little R, from a tiny cheese board to a delicate bouquet of real, mini flowers. Ruchika says; “The story

has always been a defining feature and driving force of the project. People get really into it!”

Most recently, the story has taken a dramatic turn! In the Fall of this year, Ruchika travelled to Providence, USA to begin her MA studies with the Rhode Island School of Design. Little R remained behind in her house in Bangalore, and she’s pretty furious about it to be honest! Ruchika laughs, as she details her plans for this exciting next chapter. The separation between her and her mini alter ego presents some opportunities to explore and develop her character and The Dollhouse Project in a new way, sharing their ‘WhatsApp’ conversations and insights into Little R’s ‘life’ as she strikes out on her own. It’s a delightful, multilayered story. Ruchika says; “What helps me to keep the project going in some form is that it’s not static and it has some kind of life force that keeps it going on its own now, despite everything else that might be happening. That makes it more interesting, and engaging for myself than a static dolls house, you make it, you build it then put it on a shelf and it’s kind of done with. This will keep evolving.”

Connect with Ruchika and Little R: Instagram: @thisruchika

Website: ruchikanambiar.com

Idea Miss Mini Life

Give the gift of mini this holiday season!

Words & images

by Rhenee Robinson

I

’m a big fan of giving and receiving gift cards, usually paired with a heartfelt, handwritten note in a card.

This year I’ve thought up a crafty way to help make gift cards more personal; diorama gift card holders!

I decided to miniaturise a holiday scene, and I wanted to keep it pretty simple so that I could make many different versions to give out to each of my friends and family. I love that I can add something personal to them or change the scene to make it unique to the recipient (especially since I got married last year and my family got really big, really fast!)

First, I made a holiday tree using string that I twisted in wire and covered in static grass. Static grass

is awesome! It can be used with an electric applicator that charges the grass and makes it stand up on surfaces, but I even love using it without the applicator when I need to make trees or shrubs. I used nail design pearls for the holiday tree ornaments. Next, I cut a few miniature sticks of craft wood into squares and painted them to make tiny presents.

For the main structure of the card holder, I made a sandwich of craft wood pieces to go on either side of the gift card, and glued them in place to a wooden base.

On the front of the holder, I used watercolour paper to create a fake board and batten wall and door. I drew floorboards onto the front of the wooden holder, and used

a pencil to draw mini bricks on a piece of foam for the fireplace. The last piece of the holiday room was a tiny armchair which I made out of polymer clay.

The holder could be made with substituted materials like cardboard instead of wood, and could be decorated with anything from tiny paper snowmen, to intricate miniature scenes. I’m really happy with how it turned out and now I have handmade gifts to give during the holidays.

Find out how Rhenee make things this tiny on her Youtube channel @missminilife Shrunk.

29

DIY: Cocktails & Canapés Get the party started with two highly detailed resin and polymer projects

Words & images by Esha Bijutkar Blueberry & Lemon Cocktail

Smoked Salmon Canapés

Ma terials

Ma terials

o

Polymer Clay — translucent, green, alizarin crimson, scrap polymer clay.

o

Cold porcelain clay (I have used NARA Flower Clay, but polymer clay will work too)

o

Air dry clay — white

o

Polymer Clay — white, translucent, orange, blue, red

o

Acrylic Paint — sap green, burnt umber

o

Acrylic Paints — white, chrome yellow, sap green, raw sienna, burnt umber

o

Epoxy putty

o

White glue

o

A piece of crepe paper

o o

Plastic/styrene/acetate sheet Silicone mold putty

Tools

o

Gloss glaze Water

o

Needle Tool

o

Heat gun

o

Paint brushes

Tools

o

UV resin

o

Scissors

o o

Metal clamps

o

UV lamp

o

Blade

o

Soft Pastels

Connect with Esha online: Instagram: @pink_petit_rose

o o

Small circle cutter/Tip of an old brush Old Toothbrush

o

Needle Tool

o

Paint brushes

o

Silicone tipped tool

o

Cocktail Sticks

o

Fine sewing needles

o

A piece of Cling Film

o

Craft knife

Shrunk.

31

DIY Cocktails Cheers to what is perhaps one of our most challenging DIY’s yet! Stretch your skill-set creating a tiny cocktail, from the glass to the garnish!

Crea t ing the glass shape ⇨ First, we need to make a prototype of the glass to mold the plastic around. Begin by rolling some scrap polymer clay. Put more pressure on the end of it so it turns into a conical shape. Try to maintain symmetry. Then, bake it. ⇨ After baking, cut the ends of the conical form so you get a glass shape. If your cuts are not sharp or neat, rub the ends of the glass on some sandpaper to smooth the edges and level it up.

Hea t ing the plast ic ⇨ Using sticky tack, clay, double-sided tape, and a barbecue skewer, set up the form of the glass.

The idea is to fix it at some height, so it doesn’t move easily. ⇨ Cut a square of plastic and put metal clamps on either side of it. This will help you get a secure grip. ⇨ Turn on the heat gun and hold the plastic sheet above the form. Move the heat gun in a circular motion so it directs the heat evenly. ⇨ Within a few seconds you will start seeing ripples on the plastic as it softens. As soon as it starts sinking in, swiftly place the plastic on top of the form and press it downwards as shown in the picture. You need to be very quick as the plastic will harden up in seconds. ⇨ After it cools down, carefully remove the plastic from the form and cut the glass shape from the plastic. Trim it to your desired length. You can even out the top using a nail file. If the plastic glass is too thin and lacks strength, you can add a layer of UV resin to it and cure it to add some strength.

S culp t ing the lemon & blue berry garnishes ⇨ To make muddled blueberries, make tiny balls out of some dark reddish blue clay (I have used the colour Premo Alizarin Crimson). Add texture.

To make lemon slices, mix equal parts of a two part epoxy putty. (Polymer clay can be used as well).

Roll it out and cut a small circle of 2–3 mm thick. ⇨ Using a craft knife, make 8–10 segments. Press the edge of the segment inwards with your knife so it looks more rounded. ⇨ Using a needle, texture the lemon slice by lightly drawing on irregular broken lines. Make a blunt hole in the middle of the slice. ⇨ After the epoxy putty lemon slice has cured, make a mold out of it using silicone putty. ⇨ Now, to make the lemon slice, pour some UV resin and add a small amount of lemon yellow soft pastel powder to it. Mix it well. More pigment = less translucency. ⇨ Put this mixture in the mold and cure it under UV light for 1–2 mins. Remove it from the mold. Repeat. ⇨ Roll out some white clay into a thin sheet. Apply some glue around the resin slice. Cut a strip of clay and wrap it around the resin slice. ⇨ Firmly, join the white strip to the slice. Trim the excess off, so you only see a very thin white strip along it. Texture the edges with a toothbrush.

Add some clay in the centre of the slice. Add a bit on the slice itself and press it with your finger.

Scrape most of the clay out and leave some white clay along the sections of the slice. ⇨ Using a yellow marker pen, shade the edges of the slice. ⇨ Brush some UV resin on top of the slice and cure it, so it looks juicy.

Please Note: This project uses a heat gun to mold plastic. Please ensure you are working in a well-ventilated area. Extreme care and safety precautions should be taken when working with any heat element. This project is intended for adult hobbyists with an intermediate to advanced skill level.

32

Shrunk.

Assembling the cocktail

S culp t ing a rosemary garnish

⇨ To make the blueberry vodka drink, mix some maroon soft pastel with some black in UV resin.

⇨ Mix translucent and green polymer clay. Roll it out very thinly. Cut a bit of it using your needle tool and place it on your finger. Roll the clay snake again and cut another bit off, place it on the finger and squish the ends of it using your thumb or needle.

Repeat this process until you get the desired length and thickness of the rosemary and then pre-bake.

After pre-baking, turn it over and add more leaves so it doesn’t look flat on the other side. Bake again.

⇨ Add a drop of plain UV resin inside the glass so it looks like it has a thicker base. ⇨ Add the muddled blueberries into the glass and the dark red resin. Mix with a cocktail stick. Add one lemon slice and cure it for 3 minutes. ⇨ For the next layer, mix pink soft pastel with UV resin and add this on top of the previous layer.

Then add a tiny drop of plain UV resin to it and cure it for another 3 minutes. ⇨ To make the shaved ice, take some UV resin, turn the UV light on, but place the resin slightly away from the light. As soon as you turn the light on, start making texture in the resin using a needle tool.

Do this quickly. When you get the desired texture, cure it again for a minute.

⇨ Shade the leaves using dark green paint diluted with water.

Finish and serve ⇨ Assemble the drink by layering some plain UV resin (to stick), shaved ice, rosemary and a lemon slice on top. Apply some gloss glaze on the rosemary and your miniature cocktail is done!

Shrunk.

33

DIY Cocktails — Illustrated Guide

34

Shrunk.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

DIY Canapés Prepare a board of these delicious looking canapés for your miniature holiday party. Learn to sculpt and texturise blini’s, salmon slices and the most delicate chopped chives.

Colouring and storing the clay ⇨ Add a little bit of the acrylic paint to the cold porcelain and knead well. Cold porcelain dries translucent, so it is important to add some white paint to it to reduce this. Store this clay in an airtight container or a zip lock bag to prevent it from drying. If your clay seems dry, add some cold cream and knead it well until soft and pliable.

P repare the clay ⇨ Add a little bit of white and a dot of chrome yellow paint to some cold porcelain. Knead it well until the clay turns into a pale yellow colour. ⇨ Roll out the clay in approx. 3–4mm thickness.

Using a small circle cutter/old brush tip cut out a few circles. (The final width of my canapés is around 4mm).

Adding texture ⇨ Draw a line all the way around the thickness of the circle. Instead of dragging your needle tip, try to press the clay inwards whilst creating a line all over.

This will be our base/blini. ⇨ Gently add texture all over the blini with a toothbrush. ⇨ Poke random holes along the edges of the blini with your needle tool to mimic air bubbles. ⇨ Cold porcelain tends to dry out quickly, but if you need to soften it you can rejuvenate it by brushing a bit of water on the surface. Using the flat end of a cocktail stick make different sized holes/circles (these should look like potholes) on the surface.

Don’t forget to add detail along the edges of the blini with your needle tool to mimic air bubbles.

Adding colour ⇨ After it has dried, take some raw sienna and paint it on the elevated edges of the circles on the blini.

Make the outer edge of the blini a bit darker. This little step will make the blini look nice and crispy.

Make sure to paint the bottom of the blini. ⇨ Paint the elevated circles with some burnt umber.

Try to keep it very minimal as we don’t want our blini to look burnt.

S culp t ing the cucumber ⇨ To make a cucumber, add a bit of white, yellow and green paint to some cold porcelain. Roll it out until it’s around 2–3mm. ⇨ Whilst it is soft, put it in between a piece of crepe paper and roll it so the texture of the paper transfers on the clay. Let it dry. ⇨ After it has dried, paint the exterior with a mix of white, yellow, sap green and burnt umber. Once it’s completely dried, cut thin slices using a craft knife.

Making sour cream ⇨ To make the sour cream, mix some white paint to a bit of cold porcelain. Add some water. Using a cocktail stick, start mixing thoroughly to make a smooth paste. Put some sour cream on the blini. ⇨ Apply a tiny dot of glue on the sour cream and apply a slice of cucumber. Save the remaining mixture.

Crea t ing smoked salmon ⇨ To make smoked salmon, mix translucent polymer clay with a bit of pink and orange clay. This will give us a pinkish salmon colour. This will be our colour 1. (Note that the colour of this shade will get a bit warmer and darker after baking, as it has lots of translucent clay mixed in it). ⇨ Mix translucent clay with a bit of white clay.

This will be our colour 2.

⇨ Let the blini dry.

Shrunk.

35

DIY Canapés ⇨ Roll out Colour 1 into a 4mm thick sheet. Put a 2mm thick sheet of Colour 2 on top of it. Cut a section of it off, and place it on top of the original sheet as shown in the picture. Repeat once more, so you have three stacks on top of each other. ⇨ Gently start pulling the ends of the stacks whilst maintaining its shape. ⇨ Cut in half. Place the two halves next to each other and press gently. Then start pulling the ends again to elongate the shape. ⇨ Again, cut it in half and place one half on top of the other. Then start pulling and stretching out your polymer cane until the end is about 4mm thick and 6mm wide. ⇨ Let the cane rest for some time — you can even put it in the freezer so it hardens a bit. ⇨ Cut some thin slices and put them on a bakeable surface. ⇨ With a silicone tipped tool, start pressing the slices to make them thinner. ⇨ Next, texture the slices of salmon with a bit of cling film. ⇨ Gently lift the ends of the slices with your craft knife and bake. The colour will darken and turn more orange after baking.

36

Shrunk.

Making a chopp ed chive garnish ⇨ To make the chopped chives, take the remaining sour cream mixture and add more water to it to create a thinner paste. Take some fine needles and brush this paste on the needle using a paint brush.

Add one coat of it and let it dry. o

Tip — Pierce the needles into a sponge so that it acts as a holder whilst they dry.

⇨ After the clay layer has dried, paint the surface using sap green and another needle with light green. Let the paint dry. ⇨ Gently slide the clay off the needle so you have a fine tube. Slice it into tiny pieces.

Assembling the canapés ⇨ Assemble the blinis by adding the smoked salmon and the chopped chive garnish. Stick everything with glue. ⇨ Finish off by adding gloss glaze on the chives, smoked salmon, sour cream and the blini itself.

Add the gloss glaze only on a few spots on the blini so it does not look oily. The smoked salmon blinis are done!

DIY Canapés — Illustrated Guide

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Shrunk.

37

DIY Canapés — Illustrated Guide

38

Shrunk.

13

14

15

16

17

18

Shrunk. goes digital

Shrunk. magazine is now available to purchase via Issuu.com Download the app for a seamless viewing experience.

Connect with makers and retailers with just one tap of the page.

Read us on issuu

issuu.com/shrunk

DIY: Pampas Grass Holiday Tree Create this stunning, boho-inspired holiday tree in just a few easy steps

Words & images by Christina Spivak

Ma terials o o o

Mini bottle brush tree 1–2 stems of pampas grass White or tacky glue

Tools o o

Scissors Ruler or tape measure

Connect with Christina online: Instagram: @tinyeclectic Shrunk.

41

DIY Pampas Grass Holiday Tree

DIY Illustrated Guide

This natural grass tree provides maximum impact and uncomplicated style. The perfect neutral, seasonal decor to compliment a modern, miniature interior. No doll’s house? No problem! This would make a charming stand-alone holiday project to display in your full size home.

Crea t ing your tree ⇨ Cut pampas grass into 2–3 cm long sections.

⇨ Starting at the bottom of the tree, dip the end of the grass stem into the glue, then insert it into the bottle brush tree branches.

1

⇨ Continue to insert grass sections, until the tree is full.

⇨ Add a couple drops of glue to the very top to adhere the final few grass sections, which should measure approximately 1 cm each. o

Tip — Glue is optional for most of the tree because the bottle brush tree texture naturally holds the grass in place.

2

3

4

42

Shrunk.

DIY Alternative Tree: Lycopodium Moss

Prefer an ever-green for your holiday tree?

Let’s get mossy!

Words & images by Kayla M Domeyer

Tools & Materials o

8–10cm Sisal bottle brush tree

o

Preserved lycopodium moss 4–5 ounces

o

Hot glue

o

Scissors

o

Battery powered small ‘rice’ size light string, preferably with green wire (optional)

o

Beads, ribbon, strings etc. to decorate the tree (optional)

Creating Your Moss Tree ⇨ Begin by trimming the bottle brush tree. Trim approximately 2.5 cm off of the total width of the tree, leaving more bulk near the top. ⇨ If using lights, add them now before attaching the moss. Carefully place the light string on the tree, beginning at the top. Use the light string’s wire to place the lights securely, but sticking out approximately at the same length as the sisal tree spokes. Secure the light string at the bottom with wire or hot glue to prevent unravelling. ⇨ Carefully sort the moss branches. Longer branches will need to be placed near the bottom of the tree, with shorter ones near the top. Use scissors to trim large twigs into smaller branches. You may even choose to hot glue some smaller sprigs together in order to create more full looking branches. ⇨ Begin placing the moss branches. Apply a dab of hot glue to the interior of the bottle brush tree,

and then place the end of the moss sprig into the glue, holding until cured. Repeat in levels, finishing all of one tree height area before moving to the area above. ⇨ Nearing the top of the tree you may need to glue individual sprigs of moss in order to get a natural, pointed tree look. ⇨ Once all branches are placed, inspect for gaps. It is a good idea to turn on the lights and see if any are too obvious and need more greenery. Add more moss branches as needed. ⇨ Trim the tree branches. Be sure to rotate and view the tree at different angles until it looks full and cone shaped. ⇨ Add beads and baubles to finish the tree. Start with strands that can be draped and tucked in the branches, and then finish with bulbs that can be glued or crimped in place.

Shrunk.

43

DIY: Festive Succulent Wreath Sculpt the perfect centrepiece for your doll’s house table with this polymer clay project

Words & images by Astrid Wilk

Ma terials Wreath o

Oven-hardening modelling clay in brown

o

Meadow/moss

o

o o

Scatter material for landscaping White glue Brush

Succulents o

Oven-hardening modelling clay in dark red and different greens

o

Micro cutter — round, teardrop, flower

Candles o

o o

Pearl-coloured clay Wire Transparent liquid clay

Optional o

Pastel or acrylic paint for shading

o

Extruder tool

o

Small brush

Tools o o

Glass or ceramic work surface Tweezers

Connect with Astrid online: Website: astridwilkstudio.com Shrunk.

45

DIY Festive Succulent Wreath Give your holiday wreath a contemporary look with beautifully sculpted succulent plants. Add finer details to your miniature centrepiece with delicate foliage, the tiniest of candles and, if you wish, a sprinkle of festive sparkle. Customise your design to suit the changing seasons throughout the year.

Wrea th Create a base: ⇨ Roll an even length of brown clay approximately 0.8cm in diameter. You could use an extruder to achieve an even thickness. ⇨ Form a circle around a round object (diameter 2cm) and bake the clay according to manufacturer’s instructions. Let it cool down. ⇨ Coat the wreath with white glue and sprinkle with the scattering material. Let the glue dry well and repeat the process again to achieve a dense, green covering.

S ucculen ts — S culp t the plan ts

Assembly

⇨ Mix different shades of green together. Roll out your clay very thinly in the succulent colours and cut out small circles with a cutter. I made a Skinner blend (a blend of multiple colours) with red and green to get two tone leaves.

⇨ Arrange the candles and succulents on the wreath however you like. I use liquid clay for this and always bake the part for a few minutes in between to fix the smaller elements. This technique has proven to be the most stable for me. Alternatively, you can use epoxy glue.

⇨ Make a small ball for the centre.

⇨ Arrange the leaves around the ball until you have the desired size. o

Tip — Use different cutters such as hearts, teardrops or flowers for different leaf shapes.

Candles (No t Shown I n Step s) ⇨ For the candles, roll out pearlescent clay into an even stick, cut the baked clay into four 1cm long pieces and attach a small piece of wire to each for a wick.

46

Shrunk.

⇨ Decorate the joins between the base and the attached succulents and candles. Here they have been attached to the wreath with liquid clay mixed with scatter material and moss, and baked one last time.

Finishing Touches ⇨ Shade the succulents with pastels or acrylic paint diluted with water. ⇨ If you want, you can now also add a few Christmas details, such as berries, glitter, snow or small candies.

DIY Festive Succulent Wreath — Illustrated Guide

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Shrunk.

47

Feature Q&A with Elizabeth Joseph

Q&A with Elizabeth Joseph Shrunk. caught up with artist and founder of The Black Girl Dollshouse Club, Elizabeth Joseph, to chat mini’s, finding inspiration and what’s on the creative horizon for 2023.

Words & images by Elizabeth Joseph

Hello! Thanks so much for chatting with us. Let’s start with a little intro!

I was born and live in London and I love our ever-changing scenes and places, history of art, textile and interior design. I regularly visit flea markets to source unique vintage and miniature finds that can be used in a doll’s house. My vision is for people of all backgrounds to start creating a family heirloom that is full of a family’s stories and miniature versions of items that no longer exist, and for that dollshouse to be handed down the generations as a family possession with a history. I started making miniatures seriously during lockdown, but I’ve always been interested in them.

What inspires your miniature work and designs?

I love artists such as my friend Sue Kreitzman and the American artist Mickalene Thomas. Their use of colour, texture and movement influences what I make. I regularly visit galleries with friends, collect fashion magazines and keep up to date with modern trends via YouTube or Instagram.

I’m influenced by fashion trends, interior design, my travels around North Africa and my Ghanaian ancestry. I’ve recently started incorporating Adinkra symbols (Ghanaian symbols that represent concepts and meanings) into the surface of my miniatures. I’m also inspired by the creativity and power of influential women including Maya Angelou, Grace Jones and makeup guru Pat McGrath. I’ve made a miniature pot of hair

ointment based on the one created

by Madam CJ Walker. She was the first American, female self-made millionaire after she franchised the treatment and products for Afro hair in the 1920s.

Right now adult dollshouse appreciation has something of an established image, mostly reproductions of Victorian and Georgian houses, which I do love, but I also want to create a space where I, as a Black woman, and people of all races, can express and reflect our tastes and histories through our miniatures. I still love looking at people’s ‘Regency’ style dollshouses. But the anonymous framed portraits of random, Victorian landowners? I don’t really relate to them that much.

Shrunk.

49

Feature Q&A with Elizabeth Joseph

Congratulations on your TV debut! How was your experience being part of the Great Big Tiny Design Challenge?

It was a really great experience and very different from how I usually make miniatures. We were on a time limit and had to work as a team which is really the opposite of how we usually work. Taking maybe days to finish one item and designing things on my own at a co-working space on my laptop.

The ten of us really bonded as we were all going through the same strange experience. It was a bit of a buzz, with the stress element, but I was being creative and making dolls house furniture so it was fun as well. I was really pleased with everything I made.

50

Shrunk.

What are some of your favourite materials and techniques to create miniatures with?

I am completely self-taught, apart from what I learnt whilst doing my design degree. I make mostly furniture, such as cabinets, chairs, and tables. Also I like to laser cut some items such as plates and wooden circles that can be stacked up to make vases.

I make miniature Afro combs, pots of Afro hair ointment and perfume bottles. The chairs and tables are Victorian/Regency style but I cover them with brightly coloured African fabric and paint. I use Photoshop to reduce the patterns and use an online company to print the fabric, which they post to me.

When I make a piece of furniture for a workshop, I work in 1:10 scale.

This is so the item is not too fiddly for people who don’t usually do crafts. But I also make items in 1:12 scale, for example for my own dolls house. I mix 1:12 and 1:10 scale in my dolls house. If I like something, I’m not too worried about scale.

What inspired you to create Black Girl Dollshouse Club?

I founded Black Girl Dollshouse Club during lockdown 2021. My aim is to disrupt the world of dolls house appreciation from the traditional aesthetic, to include fabrics, images and objects that reflect each person’s background and heritage. I think there’s a need for a space for people like myself, people who don’t own dolls houses but like the idea of

also planning a solo show, possibly at The Africa Centre in Southwark.

All my workshops are personalised, so people can bring in pieces of fabric or photos and they can be used on the surface of what they are making, so no two pieces will be the same. For example: my miniature Caribbean Drinks Cabinet, miniature Art Deco Dressing Table, and miniature 1830s Chair which uses African Wax print fabrics and small collages using images of influential women such as Josephine Baker and Grace Jones.

Your role as Resident Miniaturist with the Museum of the Home sounds like a mini making dream job! Can you tell us a little more about it?

What I do is design a workshop around whatever theme the Museum of the Home is holding.

For example, at the time of writing, they are running The Festival of Sleep, so they commissioned me to make a miniature bedroom called Dreamscape:Past:Future. This contains a miniature Georgian bed covered in Harlem Toile Girl fabric, which is a fabric and wallpaper design by Sheila Bridges, and a Georgian dressing table covered with African Wax print. The wallpaper is copied from the (real world sized!) Georgian Parlour at the museum and the carpet is copied from the Caribbean Front Room. So my miniature bedroom is a mashup of styles including Georgian, African and Caribbean. It is a concept bedroom that I would love to have, I would spend all day in it feeling creative and dreaming! The Dreamscape is on permanent display at the museum.

2023 will bring more workshops as experiences with Caribbean food and music. I’m looking for a permanent space to hold them regularly. My last workshop sold out all tickets so that was really encouraging. October was (UK) Black History Month and I planned a miniature chair workshop, using Adinkra symbols in the back. I’m

Can you tell us a little about your existing, personal dolls house projects? If budget and resources were no object, what would your dream miniature project be?

I’m currently revamping the front of my dolls house using yellow and green paint and bold, Adinkra patterns. I’ll decorate it with silver diamantés to give it some bling.

My aim is to disrupt the world of dolls house appreciation from the traditional Victorian aesthetic, to include fabrics, images and objects that reflect each person’s background and heritage. making a miniature item to keep on their mantelpiece.

I’m also taking part in an exhibition in a gallery on Columbia Road which is all about neck shrines: large, bold necklaces made with found objects, using anything from dolls’ heads, knitting, sewing, whatever the artists wish to put on a necklace. I’ve decided to make a miniature dressing table in honour of Grace Jones using symbols she had painted on her body in the 1980s. My neck shrines will be miniature ones using tiny wooden beads and gold jewellery findings.

Budget-wise I like to use plywood offcuts whenever I can, not only to save money on materials but I like reusing things that might otherwise end up in landfill like broken jewellery and purses. For Earth Day 2022 I ran a workshop in my home studio where each person made a miniature armchair from a broken purse.

I’d love to design and create bespoke dolls houses but not necessarily reproductions... I’d like the rooms to be more conceptual and use people’s memories, photos, fabrics etc.. so it can tell a story and be added to from generation to generation. I would love to create a doll’s house that can be walked around while wearing a VR headset.

Connect with Elizabeth elizabeth@blackgirldollshouseclub.com Instagram: @blackgirldollshouseclub Website: blackgirldollshouseclub.com Shrunk.

51

Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses Dust & Junk

DIRTY ROTTEN DOLL'S HOUSES Dust & Junk — How to make realistic miniature ‘attic boxes’

Words by Tobacco & Regrets (Abi Trotman)

W

ith Christmas on the way, I know a lot of you may be planning on decorating not only your full-size homes, but your doll’s houses too. So I’ve put together a little tutorial to add some festive (as well as some year-round) realism to your scenes. I like to call these ‘attic boxes’.

Imagine the slightly damp, dusty and scrawled upon packing boxes left abandoned in your household storage space full of seldom seen (often forgotten) objet d’art, textiles, ephemera, memories and, of course, Christmas decorations. The good, the bad and the ugly (*cough* angel made out of a toilet roll tube *cough*). Can’t you just imagine the dust covered tinsel and tangled fairy lights stuffed into an old biscuit tin? Let’s get making.

⇨ First, have a rummage around in your miniature stash, as well as drawers, storage tins and jewellery boxes for scale-appropriate bits and pieces. Some good things to collect for this project:

52

o

Lace and ribbon

o

Old (inexpensive or broken) jewellery and jewellery findings

o

Beads and buttons (especially strings of small beads) Shrunk.

o

Small wires

o

Small birthday candles (you can chop these down to look like miniature pillar candles).

o

You can even run off some simple Christmas cards, gift box and wrapping paper printables — there are loads of free resources online (I like flickr.com and thegraphicsfairy.com).

⇨ Craft a miniature cardboard box from either thin cardboard or thick kraft card. (Why not use your Shrunk. mailer?!) As a rough guide, aim for a box that’s a maximum of 4.5cm wide by 3cm deep by 2cm tall. I like to glue my boxes with super glue or tacky glue. To give your box a bit of extra realism, give it some rips and add some masking or brown paper tape. Use some sandpaper or an emery board to scuff the edges and corners. If you like, you could add some brown watercolour, tea/coffee staining or alcohol ink to give an aged look too. ⇨ Once your box has been glued, distressed, and dried completely, start to assemble your collection of ‘bits and pieces’ inside. Don’t glue them down straight away. Take some time to experiment with the placement of your items Consider realism again: have the items been thrown in the box? Have they been placed neatly? Is anything sticking out of the

Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses Dust & Junk

box or hanging down the sides? Once you’re happy with the placement, glue the items down. ⇨ Write onto the front or one of the flaps of the box with your chosen wording. ⇨ You can stop here and your attic box will look great, but if you’re looking to push the realism a little further, consider using your emery board or sandpaper to rough up the edges of your items within the box. Just some light distressing works well. You can also apply some more watercolour, tea/coffee stain or distress ink at this point but remember less is more. Work slowly in layers. ⇨ As a final touch, I spray a very light amount of spray glue or hairspray over the finished box and then sprinkle baking powder over the whole thing to mimic dust. Tap off the excess and use a small paintbrush to reveal areas of interest and places 54

Shrunk.

where dust may have been wiped off. Once you’re happy, seal the ‘dust’ in place by spraying with another coat of hairspray, colourless fixative or Dullcote clear lacquer.

And there you have it: your finished attic box. These are so much fun to make and of course, can be made with different types of objects and items so you can amass a collection of different size boxes for your doll’s house. If you make one of these, I’d love to see your creations so please tag me on Instagram or Tiktok!

Keep up to date with Abi’s work and the latest from Tobacco & Regrets at: tobaccoandregrets.co.uk Instagram and TikTok: @tobaccoandregrets Etsy: tobaccoandregrets

Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses Dust & Junk — Illustrated Guide

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Shrunk.

55

Technique: Finishing a 3D Printed Miniature

Not sure where to begin with 3D printing?

Learn the basics for producing a resin print and applying a quality, paint finish Words & images by Amanda Kelly Supplies & tools o o

A computer with 3D modelling software A Resin 3D printer White resin Nitrile gloves Washing tank or pickle strainer Isopropyl Alcohol Curing station or UV nail curing lamp Paper towels

o o

o

Sandpaper or sanding sticks Flush cutters Paint — either acrylic or spray paint

Creating a 3D model Design the 3D model in a 3D modelling program like TinkerCAD or Blender. Here I’ve used a 1:12 scale advent calendar. ⇨ TinkerCAD is free, browser based and is easy to use, Blender is a more advanced program and has a higher learning curve. ⇨ I created this tree advent calendar in TinkerCAD ⇨ Export the model as an .STL file.

Printing the 3D model and post processing ⇨ For this tutorial I’m using an Elegoo Mars 2 resin printer. ⇨ Make sure to wear protective gear like nitrile gloves and a mask. Uncured resin is a toxic material that you should not be touching with bare hands or inhaling the fumes. ⇨ Once printed, the prints will need to be washed.

I use a pickle strainer filled with isopropyl alcohol.

I then wash them in warm water to clean off any excess resin. ⇨ After washing, cut off the supports with a flush cutter. ⇨ Place them in a UV nail curing lamp to cure them fully for 90 seconds.

Finishing the miniature ⇨ After the prints are fully cured, they are safe to handle without gloves. ⇨ Using a little water, wet-sand off any bits left on the print from the supports with fine sandpaper.

Dry the prints with a paper towel. ⇨ Use light coats of spray paint or acrylic paint. If using acrylic paint, a sealer is recommended but optional, for best results.

⇨ Import the .STL file into your 3D printer’s slicing software and add supports as needed. I usually rotate my models to 45° for easier printing.

⇨ Add further detail using a tiny brush.

⇨ Save file to a USB drive or SD card depending on your printer.

Connect with Amanda online: Instagram: @pandaminiatures Website: pandaminiatures.com

56

Shrunk.

Technique: Finishing a 3D Printed Miniature — Illustrated Guide

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Shrunk.

57

Technique: Snow Scene Bell Jar

Let it snow! Bring the winter weather indoors and try your hand at creating realistic scenic effects.

Project kindly supplied by 4D modelshop

Materials o

Flock adhesive 4D 250ml Green — Oil based AG00015

o

Flock 100cc: Mid green LG20013

o

Conifer green tree 85mm LT20112

o

3M Photo Mount 400ml AA00008

o

Conifer green tree 60mm LT20110

o

Conifer green tree 100mm Special

o

Texture 100cc medwhite LG30085

Tools o

Bell jar

o

Hand drill

o

Sieve or tea strainer

o

PVA glue

Method ⇨ Paint inside the base of your bell jar with an oilbased green paint. While the paint is still wet, use a small sieve or tea strainer to sprinkle the midgreen flock material and leave to dry for 8 hours. ⇨ When dry, knock the excess flock off onto a clean sheet of paper. o

Tip — This material can be retained for your next project.

⇨ Decide on the arrangement and spacing of your trees and mark where you plan to drill guide holes. ⇨ Carefully drill into the base leaving enough room for the wire of the conifer trees. Glue the trees in place using PVA glue and leave to dry. ⇨ Protect the surrounding edge of the base with masking tape then liberally spray the whole model with photo mount fixative. ⇨ Now it’s time to make it snow! Using a sieve, sprinkle white texture from above to cover the whole model and leave for a while to settle. Any loose excess texture should be knocked off before giving the trees another coat of spray glue and applying more white texture.

Connect with 4D modelshop online: Instagram: @4dmodelshop Website: modelshop.co.uk 58

Shrunk.

⇨ Leave the scene to dry for an hour or so then carefully knock off any remaining excess white texture. Add any figures or additional details to complete your scene, then lift the bell jar lid to enclose.

Technique: Snow Scene Bell Jar — Illustrated Guide

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Shrunk.

59

Cooee...

Your ad could be here To discuss rates and opportunities, email: kat@shrunkmagazine.com

shrunkmagazine.com

Freebie paper! Deck your walls (or floors!) with some weathered wood effect

⇨

Shrunk. Mini Mag We couldn’t forget the mini mag!

We loved seeing how Shrunk. readers use their mini mags!

How will you style yours?

Tag us on Instagram @shrunkmagazine #myminishrunk 1.

@casita.charisma.lane

2.

@shrunkmagazine

3.

@miniature_interiordesign

1

2

60

Shrunk.

3

Issue Six Suppliers & Stockists

Spotted something you love?

Here are all the retailers featured inside the issue.

4D Modelshop modelshop.co.uk

Miniatura miniatura.com

Astrid Wilk Studio astridwilkstudio.etsy.com

Miniatures.com miniatures.com

Fernando Setien fernandosetienshop.etsy.com

Minimum World minimumworld.com

Forever Framed by Emma foreverframed.org

Panda Miniatures pandaminiatures.com

London Dollshouse Showcase dollshouseshowcase.com

Tobacco & Regrets tobaccoandregrets.co.uk

Stockists You can now find Shrunk magazine in Amsterdam!

Available in-store and online at : Athenaeum Boekhandel athenaeum.nl

62

Shrunk.

DOLLS HOUSES

ACCESSORIES

THOUSANDS OF PRODUCTS

Looking for inspiration?

@minimumworld @minimum_world_miniatures

EXCLUSIVE MINIATURES

LIGHTING

WORLDWIDE DELIVERY

RATING B O E L

20

Find our social media community on Facebook and Instagram:

DIY

R U

CE

FREE UK SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER £50

FURNITURE

TH YEAR

Build Small, Dream Big!

www.minimumworld.com

We're here to help...

Got a question for our dolls house experts?

Contact us! info@minimumworld.com

shrunkmagazine.com Independently produced in Kent, England