Shrunk: Issue 8

ISSUE EIGHT

Miniatura

®

15th & 16th March 2025

Stoneleigh NAEC, Coventry, UK “Where the miniature world meets”

Set in the Heart of England Top Quality Miniatures Workshops & Demos Free Nearby Parking Excellent Catering Easily Accessible & Spacious Venue 100+ Exhibitors 2000+ visitors

Lots more at www.miniatura.co.uk

Work by John Hodgson & Sue Hodgson Designs - Photo by Rob Tysall

Editor’s Note

Welcome to Issue 8!

Dear reader, it’s been quite the year here at Shrunk. HQ! After the relaunch in the Spring and an unexpected, but very welcome, return to Brighton, Sussex, we’re about ready to let our hair down and celebrate.

Kat Picot, Editor kat@shrunkmagazine.com

Emilia Kalyvides, Designer designbyemilia.co.uk

To pop things off, new contributing writer, Taylor Tomlinson, speaks with artist, Aspen VanHoosen, about iconic furniture design, cool mid‑century style and creating minis with champagne corks — our new favourite medium! Erica Meade of Tiny House on the Line invites us all to a cosy New Year’s celebration, complete with holiday decor, before walking us through the DIY to recreate a stylish 1:12 shelving unit. We also meet Lucy Clayton, one‑half of Kensington Dollshouse Company, channelling quintessential British style into the most charming doll’s houses that are bursting with layers of pattern and unexpected colour palettes.

We welcome new contributor, Lu Herd, sharing a sweet Gingerbread house DIY with a mini mid‑century twist. Then things get a little dark and twisty with Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses as our columnist, Abi Trotman, explores a surprisingly macabre use for miniatures!

Shrunk. has also been lucky enough to welcome not one, but two amazing new team members aboard for this issue! Nina heads up admin and editorial support, while Amelie takes the lead on digital content. It’s turning into quite the party!

I hope you’ll join myself and the team in getting a head start on some mini, holiday cheer, we’re super excited to see what 2025 has in store!

Amelie Tu, Digital Editorial Assistant amelie@shrunkmagazine.com

Ka t

Nina Hjorth, Assistant Editor nina@shrunkmagazine.com Shrunk.

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Issue Eight Contents

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Features 16 Mini-Century Modern Design Aspen VanHooser creates iconic miniature interiors using recycled items.

Aspen’s signature material? Champagne corks! Guess how many it takes to make a tiny couch?

26 New Year’s Eve at Erica Meade’s Erica’s hosting a cosy NYE evening and we’re all invited! Read how Erica’s annual traditions informed this stylish mini living room.

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42 The Family Business Taylor Tomlinson meets Lucy Clayton, one half of the Kensington Dollshouse Company. Enjoy the breathtaking interiors of these high-end, Britishmade doll’s houses.

48 Dirty Rotten Dollshouses Abi Trotman takes us down a moderately disturbing path this issue!

Learn how miniatures have played a key role in murder investigations.

52 Bringing Blockbusters Back Ethan Goodbody, of Mon Studios, in conversation with Amelie Tu for Shrunk. Ethan’s talent for invoking 80s nostalgia through hyper-realistic miniatures resonates with a huge online audience.

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Issue Eight Contributors

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

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Erica is the artist and miniaturist behind Mini House on the Line, based in Berkeley, California. By day, she works in tech leadership but finds creative joy in crafting intricate 1:12 scale miniatures in her spare time. Erica’s passion for mini‑making began as a hands‑on remedy for pandemic burnout in 2023. Inspired by that experience, she is now building a start-up dedicated to spreading joy through creative hobbies and craft. Find Erica on Instagram @minihouseontheline

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31 DIY: Display Shelving Unit 36 DIY: Mid-Century Modern Gingerbread House

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Lu is currently at University studying criminology and criminal law and lives in a house-share with two humans and Lola the pug!

Lu’s favourite things to make in miniature are retro furniture, polymer clay food, and mini macramé and is a self‑described magpie for ‘rubbish’ that can be recycled into art. Connect with Lu on Instagram @littlebitsbylu

Taylor Tomlinson is a lifestyle journalist and recent graduate of London College of Communication.

With a passion for interior design and DIY projects, she loves having interesting chats with creative people. Connect with Taylor at taylor.tomlinson@ymail.com

12 Shrunk. Loves 14 House Hunter 24 Reading List 62 Suppliers Shrunk.

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Journal Autumn/Winter 2024

The Shrunk. guide to mini happenings Let’s get cosy!

Image credit: Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston Doll’s House New for Christmas 2024, the much‑loved, British, brand Cath Kidston has created a doll’s house for the festive season as part of their Home of Heartfelt Gifts campaign. The house can be seen on their social channels (although, sadly, it’s not for sale), with some beautifully detailed rooms decked out in true Cath Kidston style — think traditional florals, stripes and pretty pinks with a festive twist. And it was none other than Hannah Lemon, amazing miniaturist and Shrunk. pal, working her magic to create the tiny homeware and furniture! The Cath Kidston, hand‑painted, Christmas Doll’s House print also features on a collection of gifts that anyone would be pleased to find wrapped under the tree (hint, hint).

Take a look here: instagram.com/cathkidston instagram.com/hannahlemon_art Many of the furniture and accessories recreated in mini were made by artist, Hannah Lemon Image credit: Cath Kidston 8

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The cutest lamp Image by Cath Kidston

Shopping carts at the ready!

Image credit: The Designer Dollhouse

Mini Mall: Launching Soon!

Seasonal workshops with Hobbycraft

Standby! A new mini‑shopping experience is about to drop. The Mini Mall, brought to you by Amanda Dillon aka The Designer Dollhouse. The Mini Mall promises to play home to a carefully- curated, online collection of stylish miniatures for the discerning doll’s house collector. The Mini Mall will be comprised of multiple vendors, offering a wide range of covetable miniatures to suit a range of interior styles. The full list of Mini Mall stores is pending release.

With a variety of in‑store and online options, you’re sure to find a workshop to scratch that creative itch. We’ve had our eye on the FIMO Autumn Pumpkin Earrings Workshop, and think the skills learnt could easily lend themselves to plenty of seasonal mini‑makes.

They’ve also added festive‑themed workshops to try your hand at a variety of different crafts, many from the comfort of your own home.

To ensure you don’t miss any launch updates, or if you’d like to apply to be a Mini Mall vendor, make sure you’re following over on Instagram! @dollhouseminimall and @thedesignerdollhouse

Get creative with seasonal workshops.

Image credit: Hobbycraft

The easy‑to‑digest sessions could be the perfect helping hand for anyone getting started or needing a refresher on topics such as content creation, PR and marketing.

Find out more here: classbento.co.uk/hobbycraft

Any small (miniatures) business owners put your hands up!

Hobbycraft Plus are offering a selection of on‑demand seminars covering topics from Business Basics to Social Media Strategy.

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

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Events Autumn/Winter 2024

Microscale kit by Birdhouse Miniatures at Miniatura. Image provided by Kat Picot

Glass blowing by Entranced Glassworks at Miniatura. Image provided by Nina Hjorth

Marina’s Minis shown at Philadelphia Miniaturia. Image by Holly Curran

Here are a few dates for your diary — come and say hello if you spot the Shrunk. stand at the shows we’re attending! Details are accurate at the time of going to press, but do check up‑to‑date information with organisers before travelling.

Kensington Dollshouse Festival: 30th November 2024

US Events:

UK Events: York Dolls House & Miniatures Fair: 10th November 2024 Kicking off the winter season with top exhibitors from around the country displaying quality dollshouses and miniatures. Stock up on essential supplies, and get industry inside tips or perhaps learn a new technique or two from the various demonstrations on the day.

Visit yorkdollshousefair.co.uk to find out more and book your tickets.

From exclusive exhibitors to new names attending for the first time, the one‑day extravaganza will leave you suitably inspired for the Christmas season and beyond.

For further information and to book tickets visit dollshouseshowcase.com Miniatura: 15th–16th March 2025 The Midlands showcase will be back for spring 2025, playing host to a wide selection of makers and miniature artists across the weekend.

A firm favourite with the Shrunk. team, we’re already looking forward to what the next show has in store!

To find out more visit miniatura.co.uk

Philadelphia Miniaturia: 8th–10th November With 120+ exhibitors, the Philadelphia show is anything but mini. Visitors will enjoy a weekend packed with workshops, meet makers of all scales and feel the joy, excitement and creativity that comes from a show experience.

Visit philadelphiaminiaturia.com for tickets and further information.

International Market of Miniature Artisans: 22nd–23rd February 2025 Back again for its fourth instalment, the IMOMA in Las Vegas is sure to be a spectacular showcase featuring both retail and wholesale exhibitors.

Visit imomalv.com to find out more.

Get in touch!

Do you have a mini event to share?

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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. goes digital

Shrunk. magazine is now available to purchase via Issuu.com No more waiting for the postman!

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

issuu.com/shrunk

Shrunk. Loves TinyTV 2 by TinyCircuits

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t Shrunk. we’re always on the hunt for the coolest miniatures, and Tiny Circuits has hit the mark with their latest marvel: the TinyTV 2.

It’s a perfect throwback for retro tech lovers, packing a punch of modern‑day functionality into a bite‑sized design. Measuring just under 2 inches, this tiny television lets you load your favourite videos directly onto it. That’s right!Personalised viewing at your fingertips!

TinyTV 2 isn’t just a static showpiece; it’s interactive. The front of the device sports rotary knobs that let you switch between videos and adjust the volume with a satisfying click.

The package also comes with a working, miniature remote so you can channel surf like it’s the 90s.

Just on a much smaller scale!

Whether you’re a collector or simply looking for a unique conversationstarter, TinyTV 2 delivers both fun and functionality. Get ready to experience a big screen in the smallest of ways!

Follow TinyCircuits on Instagram: @tinycircuits Find original pieces stocked: tinycircuits.com Shrunk.

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House Hunter Unwelcome Home

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n this issue we’re spotlighting a doll’s house with a difference.

Many of you reading will recognise the FLISAT dolls house

by Swedish furniture giant, IKEA. A popular choice among hobbyists for its versatility, low price-point and the space‑saving element of being able to hang the house on the wall, thanks to its dualpurpose of serving as both a doll’s house and functional shelf.

As part of their three‑year partnership with UK housing and homelessness charity, Shelter, IKEA has installed custom versions of their well‑known FLISAT doll’s houses in three of their UK stores.

Customers are invited to take a look inside the Unwelcome Home, but where they might have expected to find a clean, comfortable and

inviting scene, they will instead see the shocking living conditions experienced by some of the children and families who are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, here in the UK. They hope that, by raising awareness they can encourage visitors to get behind their campaign and sign an open letter to the UK government, calling on them to commit to building 90,000 social homes a year for 10 years.

IKEA says “The Unwelcome Home doll’s house was based on Shelter’s 2023 landmark report* into the realities of living in temporary accommodation, which found three‑quarters (75%) of households live in poor conditions. One in five (21%) experienced a safety hazard, such as faulty wiring or fire risks. More than two thirds (68%) of people have

inadequate access to basic facilities, such as cooking or laundry facilities. More than one in three (35%) parents said their children don’t even have their own bed.” *Editors Note: Shelter’s 2023 Still Living in Limbo Report is based on landmark research with 1,112 homeless households living in temporary accommodation in England. The survey was delivered in partnership with six local authorities across London, the South West, Midlands and the North. The survey was conducted online and over the phone between 19 May–10 August 2022. The sample was broadly representative of the temporary accommodation population in England, including on the measures of family type, ethnicity, length of time in accommodation, location and type of accommodation.

All images by Ikea The Unwelcome Home can be found in IKEA Wembley, Birmingham and Manchester. To learn more and to sign the open letter you can visit: ikea.com/gb/en/this‑is‑ikea/communityengagement/shelter‑pubdaf4eb60 Shrunk.

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Feature Aspen VanHooser

MINI‑CENTURY MODERN DESIGN with a bubbly twist...

Pop the champagne! Shrunk. met with multidisciplinary artist, Aspen VanHooser, to discuss her latest project: Furnishing an entire Mid‑Century Modern, miniature home using recycled champagne corks.

Words by Taylor Tomlinson Images by Aspen VanHooser

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spen VanHooser’s miniatures have us reminiscing about the 1960s New Year’s Eve parties we never got to attend. Her Instagram profile showcases a carefully-crafted highlight reel of Mid‑Century Modern design with colourful bar carts and recreations of top‑selling chairs in miniature form. For the Texas‑based designer, her sustainably-created miniatures are a physical manifestation of pure, artistic joy.

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In Aspen’s former corporate design job, crafting interior displays and window installations for popular American retailers, Anthropologie and Altar’d State, she described an “ah‑ha” moment during the COVID‑19 pandemic that caused a change in perspective.

“I had this opportunity to pivot. Of course, at the time it was wild and scary and ‘where is life going’? But I knew I was done with the industry I had been in.

What was so beautiful about that was I had a breadth of knowledge on materials and execution and, you know, creativity.

And I knew that that was always really important to me but I didn’t know where it was going.”

Aspen is a well‑practised artist in multiple disciplines, boasting illustration and painting in her artistic repertoire. After leaving the corporate art world, she produced custom watercolour portraitures of beloved, family pets, wedding photos, and childhood homes, with over 2,500 works under her belt.

When a flyer from furniture brand Design Within Reach arrived in her

Feature Aspen VanHooser

mailbox, advertising a contest for a miniature chair design competition using only a champagne bottle, she entered and won. Winning, for the second time, with a hand palm chair, Aspen knew she’d found another calling: “It was just sort of this click in my brain where I was like, ‘I miss so much doing 3D work’.”

The project that solidified Aspen’s love for miniature making: A 1:12 scale model of the Pretty Pretty Princess role‑play board game, fully playable. Harnessing the powerful tool of nostalgia, Aspen understands the joy of seeing your favourite childhood board game remade into a miniature model.

Whether it’s a pet portraiture, a miniature princess‑themed kids’ game, or a Mid‑Century Modern 18

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Finding and appreciating Mid‑Century Modern design, I have further honed my particular voice, which is a beautiful thing. champagne cork chair, Aspen’s signature retro‑style was all a matter of finding her artistic voice. Her miniatures, inspired by a long‑founded appreciation for Mid‑Century history and crafting in 3D mediums, feel like a natural arrival point in Aspen’s career.

“One of the big things we do as artists is, we find our voice. It’s scary at first.

Sure, you’ve got the talent, skill-set, and experience but what is all of that without your specific voice? Finding and appreciating Mid‑Century Modern design, I have further honed my particular voice, which is a beautiful thing.”

Mid‑Century Modern is distinctly retro, yet ageless and simple.

Regarded by its monochromatic pieces, clean lines, and funky shapes, the design style works best, paired with a geometric-patterned rug and sprawling plants. Aspen’s main inspiration is American designer, Adrian Pearsall, whose work was prolific in the late 1950s.

For the curious Shrunk. readers who wish to know if Aspen’s real‑life home is a Mid‑Century Modern haven

Previous page: Behold, the Mid Mod Mini Bar! Aspen was inspired by the cocktail culture of the Atomic Age. Champagne corks, a pill bottle and paint lid were all repurposed to create this showstopper. The mini bar was entered into the Makers Challenge Central Scroll Saw Challenge on Instagram. The technical work used to create the cork lattice and curved bar top make for total, mid‑century mini perfection!

Opposite page: Left; Aspen is fitting out an entire dollhouse using eco‑friendly materials to create handmade, mid‑century style furniture. One mini sofa can use up to 17 corks!

Right Top; Once glued, cut and sanded the champagne corks take on an almost sculptural quality and even include tiny, cork throw pillows.

Right Bottom; A Mini Danish Armchair made from reclaimed wood and cork. This natural material takes stains and paints well, making for a superb finish.

This page: A handmade, limited edition miniature of the iconic 1990’s board game, Pretty Pretty Princess. The game includes a working spinner, necklaces, impossibly tiny rings and a crown.

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Feature Aspen VanHooser

like her miniatures, you’re in luck.

“You definitely do see the influence in the work of what I enjoy doing in the furniture and artwork around the house,” Aspen reveals. “I wouldn’t say we are obnoxiously on‑theme, but I do love a really well‑designed and polished home.”

“This is a Herman Miller (referring to the chair behind her). I want to make this one, eventually, out of cork. It’s called the Eames Chair and both my husband and I have them in our offices. Then, for the Brutalist era of Mid‑Century Modern, which I’m super inspired by, we have a gorgeous console (table). It’s a Brutalist console. I also hand-built our walnut dining table. It’s very Mid‑Century Modern.”

As if Aspen wasn’t productive enough, her Instagram account, with nearly 31k followers, allows 20

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her to explore content-creation on her terms. In her mission to outfit an entire Mid‑Century Modern home, she documents the process for her audience in short‑snippet videos.

“I’m still doing me, but now it’s not just me in my room, making. Now, a lot of people are invested in it. It’s kinda a weird thing. But I’m really working hard to stay grounded in my beliefs. The general foundation of the (social media) channel is not getting conflated with what the trends are and me just doing what I believe is joyful and reaping the benefits from that.”

Although it was mid‑August when Shrunk. sat down with Aspen, she already has exciting plans for the upcoming holiday season.

Aspen will be producing miniature

furniture Christmas ornaments for purchase on her website, an appropriately festive use of her preferred medium, champagne cork.

As for her other, future creative endeavours, Aspen holds a simple philosophy: “Going forward, if a career decision is not bringing me joy, then we’re just not going to do it. I’m at a position in my life where I want to only seek joy and I want to share that joy with others.”

Find Aspen’s creations online: aspenvanhooser.com Contact Aspen on Instagram: @aspenvanhooserstudios

Opposite page: Left Top; Sign of the times: Miniature cigarettes and an ashtray on the night stand are giving big, Mad Men vibes!

Left Bottom; This incredible suspended fireplace is made from plastic ornaments that Aspen found at an estate sale.

Right; It took 9 champagne corks to make this chaise rocker. Aspen says: “Every piece I make is fuelled by the celebrations of people sipping champagne together. The stories, the laughter, the wild shenanigans all contribute to the final design.”

This page: Top; Tiny Ball Chair, inspired by the work of Finnish designer, Eero Aarnio. Complete with a wall‑mounted, rotary phone.

Bottom; A solid, walnut wood frame supports the sculpted seat and cushions, fashioned from 17 champagne corks! This piece was inspired by the mid‑century designs of American Architect, Adrian Pearsall.

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Cooee...

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Reading List Clayful by Sophia Cai

Clayful: The big world of tiny ceramics Clayful by Sophia Cai, published by Smith Street Books, £15, available now in Hardback. ISBN 9781923049512

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here was an audible gasp at Shrunk. HQ when this one landed on the desk! Clayful: The Big World of Tiny Ceramics, is a beautifully curated collection of ceramicists, focusing on miniatures and playful whimsy.

Allow Clayful to introduce you to some incredible international talent, as well as celebrate some familiar faces! The eagle-eyed among you will spot the wonderful Cielo Vianzon (Shrunk. cover star alumni!).

It is an excellent addition to your bookshelf or coffee table. Perhaps start dropping some hints to Father Christmas and leave a book-shaped space in your stocking this year!

Showcasing work from 32 international artists, Clayful is an absolute delight from cover to cover. From perfectly proportioned, hand‑thrown vases and tiny teapots, to enchanting, sculpted characters there’s tiny pottery for everyone!

About the Author: “Authored by curator and writer, Sophia Cai. Sophia Cai is a curator and writer based in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia.

She is the current Artistic Director of Bus Projects, one of Australia’s longest‑running artist‑run organisations, while maintaining an independent curating and writing practice.

From 2020 to 2023, she taught as a lecturer at the Victorian College of Arts, University of Melbourne and Monash Art Design & Architecture, Monash University.”

Images used with permission of Smith Street Books 24

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Feature NYE with Mini House on the Line

New Year’s Eve at Erica Meade’s

Miniaturist, Erica Meade, invites Shrunk. over for a cosy New Year’s celebration. Curl up on the couch, sip some champagne and indulge in some tiny takeaway with your nearest and dearest.

Words & Images by Erica Meade

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i Shrunk. , I’m Erica, the face behind Mini House on the Line. I started making minis a little over a year ago and I love the mix of techniques it takes to build a tiny room or doll’s house.

I have a design background so I design most of my furniture and decor in Adobe Illustrator and cut it with either my Cricut machine or laser cutter but also make many pieces entirely by hand.

I like to use a mix of materials to create more of an illusion of realism.

One of my favourite materials is polystyrene which I used to build 26

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the light fixtures, coffee table, fireplace tools and shelving unit (see the DIY on page 32). I also used basswood, velour paper (perfect for printing realistic mini rugs!), lightweight fabrics, polymer clay and more.

I love repurposing full‑size items in my mini scenes, like the flickering LED votive candle that I used to simulate the flames of the fireplace, and a screen patch to create the caning on the side chair. I also like to source natural materials, like the sticks I split into miniature logs for the fireplace, the tiny rocks I bought from a rock and crystal store, and

the preserved lycopodium moss I used to make my Christmas tree.

My husband and I usually host my parents and sisters for Christmas.

By the time New Year’s Eve arrives, my family will have left but we are usually exhausted and craving a quiet night in. We’ll order some takeout, watch the New Year’s countdown on TV, and enjoy some bubbly. We’ll probably be thinking about how we really need to take the Christmas tree down but will likely succumb to an evening on the couch.

This is why this New Year’s Eve scene is more about relaxation and togetherness than a festive party!

Feature NYE with Mini House on the Line

Wait, Let Me Take A Shelfie! Mini Stylings I am a maximalist who loves a shelf full of stuff, so I really enjoyed making all of the tiny details and decor. I made all of the items on the shelves with the exception of the dragonfly basket from Big River Miniatures, the ceramic bowl from Dans La Petite Maison, the woven basket from Giulia’s Miniatures, the silver box, which I inherited from my grandmother, the mini vintage compass, and the panther, which is a plastic toy.

I created mini books of my husband’s travel photos, my friend Koshi’s art, and mini replicas of my sister, artist, Alexa Meade’s actual coffee table books.

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I whittled the wooden torso sculpture out of an oak dowel. The aqua pitcher is a few wooden beads and some posterboard and the potted plants are polymer clay in pots made from beads, posterboard and chair leg protectors (a fun hardware store find).

The tiny red clock is in honour of my sisters‑in‑law who were one of the first same‑sex couples to get legally married in the state of Maryland, saying their vows on midnight of January 1, 2013, when gay marriage became legal in the state. So, of course, I needed to include a symbol of their wedding in my sister‑in‑law Sara’s favourite colour: Red.

Previous page: The glowing fireplace was created using a repurposed, battery-powered votive. The fizz and party decorations are ready for the big countdown!

Download the file for these cute 2025 glasses from Erica’s website.

Opposite page: Left; Erica’s apartment shelves are styled to perfection with covetable, miniature pieces and just a touch of festive decor.

This page: Top Right; Erica incorporates many sweet, family moments and memories into her miniatures.

Top Left; Time to celebrate!

Bottom Left; Staying in and hunkering down with your loved ones and some great takeout — is there anything better?!

Bottom Right; The great divide: Do you keep the tree up until New Years? Or are you taking it straight down after December 25th? Erica created this perfect miniature spruce using dried Lypodium moss.

Join the party!

We’ll be holding an online holiday party over on Instagram this December!

Make sure you’re following Shrunk. and Erica @minihouseontheline for all the details!

For downloadable files of Erica’s DIY visit: minihouseontheline.com/shrunk Password: cheers

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DIY: Display Shelving Unit This modern display shelf is the perfect addition to your miniature living room

Words & images by Erica Meade of Mini House On The Line

Ma terials o

1mm polystyrene sheets

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1mm x 2mm polystyrene strips

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1mm x 6.3mm polystyrene strips

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2mm x 4mm rectangular polystyrene dowels

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3.2mm diameter polystyrene rods

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Plastic glue

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2 black metal head pins Superglue (Cyanoacrylate)

Tools o

Wire cutters

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Ruler

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Pin vise

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Tweezers (optional)

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Glueing jig and 3‑2‑1 blocks (optional)

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Utility knife or mitre cutting tool

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Pencil

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File or sandpaper

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Glue applicator (optional)

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Tape (optional)

Connect with Erica online: Website: minihouseontheline.com Instagram: @minihouseontheline Shrunk.

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DIY Display Shelving Unit I first made this shelving unit for my “New Year’s Eve at home” scene. I based it on a modern, modular shelving system and made it out of polystyrene; a type of plastic that comes in sheets, rods, tubes and strips in varying widths and thicknesses. It is used in model-making by architects and train hobbyists and I’ve found it to be a perfect material for making dollhouse miniatures. It’s a lightweight, sturdy material with an opaque, satin finish that can be sanded and formed into any shape. I’ve used it to make mini faucets, countertops, sinks and in my New Year’s Eve scene: the light fixtures, coffee table, and, of course, this shelving unit.

shelf and taking care to ensure they meet at a 90° angle. Repeat for all shelves. You can use tape and a glueing jig to help keep things square. The glue should set enough in 5 minutes to move on.

Att ach the side p anels ⇨ Apply glue to the left-side edge of the shelf and left edge of the back strip and attach a side piece to the shelf. The side-pieces are 1mm longer than the width of the shelf but this is by design so they can form a flush corner with the back strip. Take care to ensure they meet at a 90° angle, nudging the back strip as needed to keep things neat.

The hardest and most time‑consuming part of the project is cutting all the polystyrene pieces with precision. However, once all of the pieces are cut, the rest of the project will come together very quickly. The only non‑polystyrene material in the build is two metal head pins (used for jewellery making) which I use for the faux “self‑levelling feet”.

They are a tiny, low‑effort detail that adds a big dose of realism to the project. I’ve used black head pins but silver would work as well. You could also use straight sewing pins but note that they will be harder to trim to size.

Trim the p ins

Cut The Shelf P ieces

⇨ Using pliers, trim the head pins to your desired height (I recommend 3mm)

⇨ Trim polystyrene to size. I have a handy tool called ‘The Chopper’ that makes it easy to cut multiple pieces the exact same length — I highly recommend it! But you can also use a ruler and pencil or the provided template to prepare your pieces for cutting. ⇨ To cut polystyrene you can either score the material and snap it on the score line or make multiple, shallow cuts with a utility knife. See templates on page 34.

Assemble the back p anel ⇨ Apply glue to the back edge of the shelf and attach the back strip, aligning it with the edges of the 32

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⇨ Repeat with the right side of the shelf and then the rest of the shelves. Let shelves dry for a few minutes.

Att ach the fron t shelf lip s ⇨ Apply glue to the front edge of the shelf and attach the front lip strip, aligning the top of the strip with the top of the shelf (it should overhang by 1mm).

Put aside the shelves to dry.

Drilling holes for the head p ins ⇨ Select a drill bit size that’s slightly thicker than the head pins. Drill 1mm-deep holes on the bottom center of the support beam dowels. ⇨ Use a file or sandpaper to remove any drill shavings or rough spots. ⇨ Dry fit the head pins to make sure they can go in straight and to the same depth. Put aside (it’s easier to glue these in place last).

Att ach the support beam ⇨ Use glue to apply wall-mounting rods to the support

DIY Display Shelving Unit beam, 2.5cm, 12.5cm and 15 cm from the bottom of the beam, ensuring that you glue them to the narrow side of the beam (the rods will intentionally be wider than the beam and overhang on the left and right). Use the template or a gridded cutting mat as a guide. Repeat with the second support beam, ensuring they’re symmetrical.

Glueing the shelves ⇨ Align the left support beam with the template, with the wall-mounting rods touching the paper. ⇨ Use blocks to hold the beam in place, optionally applying tape to help keep it steady. Add scraps of polystyrene or other material that is 2mm thick to the right of the support beam to create a spacer to make sure the back of the shelves don’t touch the wall when hung. ⇨ Apply a dot of glue to the left side of the bottom shelf, where it will touch the support beam. ⇨ Using the template as a guide, adhere the left edge of the shelf to the support beam. Take care that it is on the spacer and that it is straight. Repeat with the other shelves.

Aligning the shelves ⇨ Apply a dot of glue to the right side of all of the shelves, where the right support beam will hit them. ⇨ Carefully align the right support beam and make small adjustments to the shelf position and support beams to ensure they are as aligned, straight and perpendicular as possible. ⇨ Use blocks to apply light pressure so the glue adheres the plastic together. Let it dry for 5 min.

Att ach the fee t

Qualit y con trol ⇨ Leave the shelf for a few hours so the glue completely dries. If any joints are loose, you can touch them up with more glue. ⇨ To install the shelf in a mini scene, I like to put tiny balls of sticky‑tac/museum putty on the wall mounting rods and then lightly press them onto the wall, ensuring the levelling feet are flush with the floor. This way you can remove the shelf (carefully) when rearranging your mini furniture or move it to another scene without damaging the wall or the shelf. Now you get to the fun part: Styling the shelves!

Modifica t ions ⇨ This DIY shows how you make a single shelving unit and the template indicates a specific shelf placement. But just like in real life, this shelving is modular so you can choose to adjust the spacing between the shelves to better fit your intended decor, add or remove a shelf or adjust the width of the shelves. ⇨ In my New Year’s Eve at Home scene, I combined 3 shelving units together to fill the wall and I chose to make the middle unit narrower than the sides (the shelves in the middle are 5.2cm wide). When combining units, repeat the steps above to build out the individual shelves for each add‑on unit.

You only need to create a single support beam per add‑on unit which you’ll attach to the outside edge of the shelves. The inside edge will attach to a shared support beam with another set of shelves. I find that it’s easier to build one complete shelving unit first (except for adding the head pins) so you can easily align and connect the shelves of any additional modules.

⇨ Pick up a head pin with tweezers. Apply a dot of super glue to the end of the pin and put it into the pre‑drilled hole at the bottom of the support beam. ⇨ Repeat with the other head pin, ensuring they are straight and equal in height. You’re done!

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DIY Display Shelving Unit — Cutting Guide Cut from a 1mm sheet

Cut from a 2mm x 4mm dowel

7.7cm

7.7cm

2.1cm

Cut from Ø 3.2mm rod

6.3cm

4 x shelf pieces

4 x back pieces

0.2cm

7.7cm 4 x front lip strips

0.32cm

8 x side strips

6 x wall mounting rods

2.2cm

0.6cm

6.3cm

0.4cm

16.5cm 2 x support beams

Top Glue Tips The best glue to use for polystyrene is model maker’s plastic glue (like Faller 170492 EXPERT Plastic Glue). It fuses the polystyrene and sets up quickly.

But, a warning: It smells terrible! You only need a tiny drop to create a quick, strong bond between two pieces of polystyrene.

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It comes in a bottle with a metal tip, but I prefer using model glue applicators as they give me better control. If you can’t find plastic glue, you can use a standard super glue (Cyanoacrylates) but I find it’s more messy and hard to work with, and the bond isn’t quite as strong.

DIY Display Shelving Unit — Illustrated Guide

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DIY: Mid‑Century Modern Gingerbread House Mid‑century style, but make it mini gingerbread!

Words & images by Lu Herd

Ma terials

Tools

o

Fimo Soft Polymer Clay in white, caramel and chocolate

o

Rolling pin

o

Fimo Liquid in translucent or white

o

Blade, e.g. stanley knife blade

o

Aluminium tape/foil

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Stiff brush, e.g. toothbrush

o

Flat silicone tool (optional)

o

Small piece of card/thin wood for the base

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Lollipop sticks or roller guides – I used jumbo sticks which are 1.6mm thick

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Cornflour (optional)

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Chalk pastels in reddish brown and dark brown shades

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Matt varnish

o

o

Craft knife

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Pointy tool, e.g. cocktail stick or pin

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Soft brush to apply pastels

o

Brush to apply varnish

Gloss varnish

Connect with Lu online: Etsy: etsy.com/uk/shop/LittleBitsByLu Shrunk.

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DIY Mid‑Century Modern Gingerbread House There’s not much sweeter in this world than miniature gingerbread houses, but this mid‑centurystyle home may just take the biscuit! Lu Herd shares the steps to create your very own tiny gingerbread home, the perfect, festive touch in a doll’s house kitchen or even as a standalone decoration. Get ready to try your hand at sculpting, shading and decorating with polymer clay.

Crea te a base ⇨ Cut the base template (I) out of cardboard or thin wood with a craft knife and cover it with aluminium tape or foil.

P repare your clay ⇨ Roll caramel clay to 1.5–2mm thick, using lollipop sticks on either side of the clay as guides. If the clay is sticky, you can use a small amount of cornflour on the work surface and roller to make this easier.

Add texture ⇨ Create a biscuity texture by dabbing lightly with a stiff brush. ⇨ Transfer the clay slab to the surface you wish to bake on, such as a tray or tile. Ideally, you don’t want to move the pieces once you have cut them.

S culp t ‘chocola te’ de tails ⇨ To make the chocolate bar for the door and garage, roll a small amount of chocolate clay out. Use lollipop sticks as guides again. Mark a grid, using the blade, about halfway deep into the clay. ⇨ Push the blade or flat silicone tool in each line and wiggle side to side to widen the groove and make it a V shape, creating the bevelled edges of each square. ⇨ Cut to approximately the size of template J and place on the baking surface.

Bake The Clay ⇨ Bake all pieces at 110°C for around 15 minutes. We are aiming for the clay to be firm but still flexible (I use a small convection oven – baking times may vary for different clays and ovens). ⇨ Once the pieces have cooled, mark and cut out a window in piece A using a small craft knife and short, shallow cuts.

P repare The ‘I cing’ ⇨ Mix small pieces of white clay with liquid clay to create icing. The consistency should be like royal icing: Stiff enough that ‘strings’ of it stay visible on the surface for at least 10 seconds when you drizzle it.

⇨ Cut around the templates; try to avoid dragging the blade through the clay, just cut by pressing it down along the lines.

⇨ Prepare the wall pieces, see template pieces (A,B,C,D,E,F,G), using icing applied to the edges.

Lay a thick ‘string’ of the icing along the bottom and sides with a pointy tool; be generous here as this is structural icing.

Add shading

Assemble the H ouse

⇨ Shade using a soft brush with chalk pastels – apply reddish‑brown, haphazardly, all over and dark brown around the edges of each piece. Amounts vary depending on how ‘well done’ you want it to look.

⇨ Position each wall on the base, then press together gently until the icing squeezes out a little at the joints. Bake at 130°C for 10–15 minutes to set the icing. You can do this as often as you want throughout the construction process.

Cut out your sec t ions

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DIY Mid‑Century Modern Gingerbread House

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DIY Mid‑Century Modern Gingerbread House — Illustrated Guide

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DIY Mid‑Century Modern Gingerbread House — Cutting Guide Cut from cardboard

Cut from soft polymer clay

1.6cm

1.6cm

2cm

2cm

[D]

2cm

[C]

1.6cm

[B]

2.6cm

[A]

2cm

2.6cm

2.6cm

[E]

3cm 2cm

2.4cm

3cm

1.6cm

2cm

2cm

2cm

5cm

2cm

[J]

2.4cm

[H]

1cm

[G]

2.4cm

[F]

1.6cm

2cm

1.6cm

[I]

[K]

Time to Decora te ⇨ Once the walls are baked in place and cooled, cut the chocolate bar into two pieces: A smaller, vertical one for the door and a larger, horizontal one for the garage. Attach these to the front walls with icing.

Add a little more icing along the tops of the doors to create a snow effect. ⇨ Apply more icing to the bottom of the walls, about 5mm high, and in a strip between the door and garage, extending to the roof line. ⇨ Take gingerbread piece J and cut it into random chunks approximately 1–3mm big. Use the tip of the craft knife to pick up and press the chunks of gingerbread into the icing, creating a stone pattern. ⇨ Attach the roof pieces (H, K) using plenty of icing along the tops of the walls. ⇨ Bake at 130°C for 15 minutes.

⇨ To add icicle effects to the roof, lay an icing string along the edge. Very gently, tap the icing with a

pointy tool and drag away in a downward motion, allowing the ‘string’ of icing to break from the tool. ⇨ The icing will shrink back up a little and create a nice drip. If you pull away quickly, the icicles will be shorter; if you pull slowly, they will be longer. ⇨ Add more ‘snow’ to the base by swirling blobs of icing, randomly. Of course, you can decorate however you like, such as using the icing to create patterns or attach as many sweet treats as you wish.

When you are happy with your creation, bake one last time at 130°C for 20 minutes.

Finishing Touches ⇨ Finally, once cooled, add a thin coat of matt varnish to any exposed gingerbread, and gloss varnish to the chocolate and sweets.

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Spotlight On Kensington Dollshouse Company

Following their recent pop‑up with Harrods, the Kensington Dollshouse Company co‑founder, Lucy Clayton, reflects on her company’s meteoric launch year and the inspirations behind her imaginative, classically British‑style dollhouses.

Words by Taylor Tomlinson Images by Rebecca Reid

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Spotlight On Kensington Dollshouse Company

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f you ask Lucy Clayton what makes her dollhouses unique, it would be the combination of charm and whimsy. An eclectic mix of patterned wallpapers and ornate gold furnishings, the Kensington Dollshouse Company’s houses are a fun twist on British stately homes. With the Kensington Dollshouse Company’s recent partnerships with some of the UK’s most established brands and an exhibition at Homo Faber 2024 in Venice, Lucy’s work moves the wider perception of dollhouses away from child’s plaything, to works of art.

“I think they have one job, and that’s to delight,” Lucy says of her dollhouses. Kensington Dollshouse Company comes from surprising, unintentional beginnings. At the Kensington Dollshouse Festival, London’s biannual miniatures event, bringing together dollhouse enthusiasts and craftspeople, Lucy ambitiously bought a 12‑room, completely gutted house. “That’s how my brain works. It goes immediately to the kind of, most over‑the‑top version of something, which is both a blessing and a curse,” said Lucy.

Despite having no prior experience with miniatures (and no plan of even attending the fair), Lucy dove head‑first into the project and fell in love with the process.

With the massive project catching the attention of House & Garden magazine and now faced with a deadline, Lucy got her mother, Rebecca’s assistance on the house, 44

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and the Kensington Dollshouse Company was born.

“When we were working on that first house, we just loved it. We felt like we learned so much in every room. It was, as anyone who enjoys this kind of genre knows, completely addicting. I think we are real examples of that kind of instant addiction. And what can happen when you follow something you really love.”

I think they’re tasteful, but they’re tasteful, kind of on acid. I think we’re drawn to the over‑the‑top and flamboyant.

The flagship 12‑room dollhouse, complete with a fully decorated exterior, helped define the style of the Kensington Dollshouse Company.

Lucy and Rebecca combine the historical elements of aristocratic homes, nestled in the English countryside, with the contemporary finishes found in swanky London townhouses. Working in a 1:12 scale, the dollhouses feature commissioned pieces from international miniaturists, along with hand‑crafted embroidery and upholstery for luxurious finishing touches.

On her dollhouse interior style, Lucy describes it as “Exuberant, there’s nothing quiet about it. I think they’re tasteful, but they’re tasteful, kind of on acid. I think we’re drawn to the over‑the‑top and flamboyant.”

Kensington Dollshouse Company lends some of its fantasy to its partnering brands, including Vinterior, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint and Harrods. Their recent Harrods collaboration, located in the Toy Department, showcases three distinct dollhouses, each representing a different home-style, notable to classic English architecture.

The Manor House, the Townhouse and the Cottage were all created in partnership with Lucy’s real‑life architect, Will Creech. With eye‑catching colour combinations and fine‑tuned embellishments, the 1:12 scale dollhouses feature customizable elements for Harrods customers, such as monogrammed pillows and a unique front door.

Lucy describes the project as the “Ultimate, fantasy real estate street. They all look very much like our style. But then we also wanted them to be a universe in its own right.”

A full circle moment for the mother‑daughter duo, the Kensington Dollshouse Company commission with Harrods reminds Lucy of her own childhood.

“We would come to London once a year, at Christmas, and we would go to Harrods.

And as a really young child, my sister and I really believed that the real Father

Page 43: Quality control is taken very seriously at the Kensington Dollshouse Company!

Three‑year‑old, Bunny, gazes up at the magnificent Manor house, one of three stunning houses created for an exclusive pop‑up event at Harrods department store in London.

This page: The rich, colourful dollshouse interiors were created in collaboration with artisans and suppliers from all over the world.

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Feature Kensington Dollshouse Company

Christmas lived in Harrods, not in the North Pole. The toy department was just a place of wonder and magic. And so is the idea then, that we have been able to almost recreate that feeling through these houses.”

Although some warn against mixing family with business, Lucy is the “Yin” to Rebecca’s “Yang”. With Lucy taking more of a lead with Kensington Dollhouse Company’s art direction, Rebecca focuses on bringing to life the company’s signature details, taking on all the upholstery and fabric aspects.

On the 14‑hour days of crafting right before a deadline, there’s no one you can really rely on like family. Even Lucy’s teenage son, 46

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Kit, lends a helping hand, making Kensington Dollhouse Company a true family business.

most likely be filled with family time, creative‑directing and plenty more dollhouse making.

“I think we have a very similar kind of crafting DNA, so that’s why she was roped in to help with that first house,” Lucy said about Rebecca, referring back to their first house. “We both love just making things and also love the process of learning on the job.”

“I think we’re at a very exciting moment where we had this extraordinary launch year, and now it’s about what is the next direction and the next collaboration.

We don’t quite know what’s coming next but it’s been such a crazy time.

I’m really proud of everything we’ve achieved in such a short time and now it’s strategically making smart choices about what happens next.”

Following a whirlwind launch year, the Kensington Dollhouse Company duo are ready to take on their next challenge: decorating two large vintage houses tucked away in storage. While a Kensington Dollshouse Company original would make the perfect Christmas gift, the upcoming holidays for Lucy will

Contact Lucy at: kensingtondollshousecompany.co.uk

Previous page: Left; This gorgeous, green kitchen feels homely with real wicker baskets and a perfectly scaled wood burner.

Right; Toys, knitted on the finest of needles, sit upon handmade bed linens.

This page: Top; An airy bedroom showcases exquisite, hand-painted bamboo-effect furniture from Anthony Dunham.

Bottom Left; The Kensington Dollshouse Company makes combining layers of intricate patterns and colours an art form in this vibrant and bold children’s room.

Bottom Right; Classic meets contemporary in this family kitchen.

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Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

DIRTY ROTTEN DOLL'S HOUSES Abi Trotman explores a macabre use for miniatures

Words by Tobacco & Regrets (Abi Trotman) Image credits: Nutshell Studies images by Lorie Shaull Frances Glessner Lee images by The Glessner House Museum, Chicago

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e would rarely utter ‘dolls house’ and ‘forensic science’ in the same breath, yet Frances Glessner Lee revolutionised the use of miniatures for this very thing and was duly crowned “mother of forensic science” before her death, aged 83, in 1962. Although our shared love for miniatures is great, many would struggle to argue that our passion is ‘useful’. Yes, we could promote that miniatures bring joy and therefore benefit our mental health, yet the medical community hasn’t yet caught on that they should be prescribed on the NHS and I fear we’re a way off from that becoming true! Miniatures are, undoubtedly, to be admired but can they also be used practically? Frances Glessner Lee thought so.

Born in Chicago in 1878 into a wealthy family, Lee had a privileged upbringing. Her home‑schooling resulted in her lacking friendships and social activities with her peers. Her early education was varied and her parents introduced her to the arts, as well as eminent academics in science and politics of the time. She balanced her creative skills, traditionally regarded 48

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as feminine pastimes; including sewing, metalwork, knitting, crocheting, painting and embroidery; with a shrewd and logical intellect. She longed for more than the traditional and expected path of a Victorian lady, only to be later refused entry to college by her father, with him believing it to be ‘unladylike’. She wished to leave behind a legacy that benefited the community and longed to study medicine or nursing but was left shackled by the societal and familial expectations that were imposed on wealthy women of the time.

Following her marriage, the birth of her children, divorce and the eventual deaths of her brother, mother, daughter and father in quick succession, it wasn’t until the late 1930s that Lee, now in her 60s, felt able to gain real control of her life and, without the judgement of her family, felt able to follow her passion and forge a name for herself in legal medicine. She used her sizable inheritance to endow Harvard University with its first Department of Legal Medicine and it was through this and a close relationship with her brother’s friend, George Burgess Magrath (who later became Suffolk County’s medical examiner), that Lee established herself as a

Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death notable influence in the field of forensics, even though she herself never received formal training.

Through countless conversations, Lee and Magrath recognised the need to improve training for those responsible for investigating sudden and violent deaths. At the time, coroners, who diagnosed the cause and manner of death, didn’t need a medical degree to perform autopsies so many murders went undetected due to a lack of knowledge and experience. Through her generosity and influence, she was able to grow the Harvard Department of Legal Medicine into a ground-breaking school that finally ensured that homicide investigation was always underpinned with medical science.

Lee understood that although students would undoubtedly benefit from ‘hands‑on experience’ of investigating crime scenes, this proved impossible for obvious reasons. So she used the premise of the dolls house. A piece of her childhood and historically designed by the aristocracy to teach young women how to run a household, could be used as a teaching tool called The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death.

The Nutshell Studies comprised twenty intricately recreated miniature crime scenes, each based on actual cases, that taught students to take nothing at face value and to investigate even the tiniest of seemingly unrelated details. The studies were so-named due to the well‑known police mantra: “Convict the guilty, clear the innocent, and find the truth in a nutshell”. The cases depicted within the dioramas were unable to be solved just by looking at them. Instead, they forced the students to link information from medical examiners, forensics investigators and law enforcement to ‘paint a bigger picture’ of what may have happened. Each study was presented in a seminar created and led by Lee, with her aim to train police officers, often the first to enter a crime scene, to develop an acute awareness of their surroundings and their possible effect on it (e.g. the ability to contaminate evidence).

Each nutshell study was meticulously created, using Lee’s lifetime of skill in sewing, painting and handicrafts 50

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along with the assistance of talented carpenter, Ralph Mosher. She was able to create three studies a year and, never phased by time or money, was obsessive in her attention to detail and pursuit of realism. Everything within the diorama functions as in real life; lights switch on and off, shades can be drawn, and even mouse traps work as they should. Wallpaper, fabrics, furnishings and food in the cupboards are created with the victim’s lifestyle and societal standing in mind. All dimensions are perfectly to scale and proportions are replicated with precision, as Lee felt that imperfections within the craftsmanship would have distracted the students from the clues at hand. The dolls within the scenes, painted with skin tones specific to their manner of death, were all lovingly knitted underwear and full outfits by Lee, utilising lace‑making needles and thread pulled from fabric.

These remarkable feats of miniature craftsmanship, and Lee herself, are part of the reason that police procedures and forensic investigation are intertwined as holistically as they are today. In fact, despite incredible advancements in the world of forensics, The Nutshells are still actively used within the current FBI training and are housed within the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, Maryland.

In turn, The Nutshell Studies showcase something that all of us in the miniature community know to be true, but perhaps others may not have caught on to; that miniatures are powerful, important and incredibly useful in our society. Whether as a teaching resource, for storytelling or simply to spark joy, miniatures are part of our past, our present and, undoubtedly, our future.

Connect with Abi Trotman online: Website: tobaccoandregrets.co.uk Instagram and TikTok: @tobaccoandregrets Etsy: tobaccoandregrets

Previous page: Murder most horrid!

What’s befallen the poor lady in the bathtub?!

This page: Top to bottom right; While these images may not be the most enjoyable to look at, the role that the captured miniature scenes have played in numerous investigations is as fascinating as it is grizzly!

Bottom left; Frances Glessner Lee, ‘the mother of forensic science’

Ready to Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about The Nutshell Studies and Frances Glessner Lee, I recommend The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death by Corinne May Botz (Monacelli Press) which includes detailed images of all of the studies.

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Feature An Interview with Ethan Goodbody

BRINGING BACK BLOCKBUSTERS: AN INTERVIEW WITH ETHAN GOODBODY Shrunk. meets the founder and model maker behind Mon Studios Words by Amelie Tu All images property of Ethan Goodbody

A

s Ethan Goodbody sits at his workbench, meticulously crafting a miniature version of the E.T. bike, the familiar hum of *Back to the Future’s* soaring soundtrack fills the room. It’s his go‑to music when he’s lost in the intricacies of model‑making, a perfect accompaniment to the nostalgia that fuels his work.

breathing life into them. Since his debut at Spring Miniatura, Ethan has quickly become one of the most talked‑about artists in the model‑making world. His creations, inspired by films like Forrest Gump and E.T, combine a love for practical effects with modern‑day electronics, making his miniatures not only visually stunning but also interactive.

For Ethan, it’s more than just a nod to his favourite ‘90s blockbusters– it’s about capturing the magic of those cinematic moments and

In our conversation, Ethan shared the journey that led him to this fascinating craft. “I’ve always had an interest in crafting things and

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putting them together,” he recalls.

His journey began with Lego as a child, evolving through school projects and elaborate family fancy dress costumes. “One time, I created a full‑size Flintstones vehicle,” he laughs. This passion led him to study Product Design Engineering at Loughborough University. Despite pursuing a career in furniture design and facing the daily grind of a long commute, Ethan continued to work on model‑making in the background. “October last year was a turning point,” Ethan explains.

Feature An Interview with Ethan Goodbody

Previous page: Mon Studio’s 1:24 scale model of a Blockbuster video store sparked a viral wave of nostalgia, garnering over 6 million views on social media!

This page: Record Breaking is an artistic interpretation of the perfect record room, housing a mini record collection of 27 albums. The goal was to inspire the viewer to settle into an armchair, pour a good whiskey and lose themselves in their favourite album.

Opposite page: Detail from the back office of a 1:18 scale miniature arcade model. Each item is handmade and hand‑finished to a hyper‑realistic quality.

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Feature An Interview with Ethan Goodbody

“I decided to leave my job and go into model making full time. It was a big leap, but it was a risk worth taking.”

He started sharing his work on I wasn’t a ‘90s baby– I Instagram and by the start of this was born in 2000–but year, his career began to take off.

“The social media aspect really kicked I’ve always loved the in,” he notes. “The content, especially style of how films were time lapses and short‑scale videos, has been crucial in boosting my visibility.” made back then.

Ethan’s fascination with ‘90s blockbusters comes from a deep but I’ve always loved the style of how appreciation for practical effects. “I films were made back then,” he says. wasn’t a ‘90s baby– I was born in 2000– “Modern films rely heavily on CGI, which

often feels less immersive. I admire the craftsmanship in films like Harry Potter, where you can see the human touch.”

This admiration for behind‑thescenes artistry inspired him to blend miniature models with his love for classic films.

When it comes to incorporating electronics into his work, Ethan reveals a journey of trial and error.

“I took an electronics module at uni but it wasn’t until recently that I really dived into it,” he explains. “I started with the basics – soldering, coding and learning Shrunk.

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from YouTube. The coding, especially for arcade screens, was challenging but rewarding.” His self‑taught skills in electronics have added a dynamic element to his miniatures, enhancing their interactivity and visual impact. Ethan also shared his approach to choosing which movies to recreate in miniature.

“I focus on iconic, visually striking props that I can feasibly recreate in miniature,” he explains. “Some elements are too complex or time‑consuming, so I choose projects that balance impact with practicality.”

Among his favourite pieces is the miniature Pizza Planet car from Toy Story. “Toy Story is iconic, and I loved the challenge of converting an animated object into a real‑life model.

Integrating stop‑motion with it was a highlight of the project.”

When asked about the challenges of transforming screen elements into miniatures, Ethan highlights the difficulties with materials.

“Replicating textures and materials on a smaller scale is tough,” he notes. “It’s often a process of trial and error to find the right materials that match the look and feel of the original.” Ethan’s work is also deeply intertwined with music. “With the blockbuster piece, I found myself listening to a lot of ‘90s music, even if it wasn’t directly related to the films,” he shares. “It’s funny how my playlist would shift to reflect what I was working on. The algorithms on platforms like Spotify and YouTube would start recommending more of that genre, which kind of guided my work mood.”

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To stand out, you’ll need to push boundaries and create something truly original. The exposure and creativity in this space are expanding, and that will drive more people to explore new ideas.

Reflecting on his first Miniatura event experience, Ethan describes it as a pivotal moment. “I reached out just two weeks before the event, asking if there was any space available. I got a small table, and it was a whirlwind of preparation. The event was fantastic.

I met so many people, got valuable feedback, and made connections that boosted my confidence. My follower count skyrocketed from 500 to 3,000 in a month, and it really pushed me to engage more with the Instagram community.” Looking ahead, Ethan is eager to expand beyond miniatures.

“I’ve started doing more prop work, and that’s something I’ve always wanted to explore,” he says. “My goal is to eventually venture into film sets and larger‑scale projects. This is just the first step in that direction. As I continue to grow and receive more enquiries about props, I see this as an opportunity to evolve my craft and get more involved in the film industry.”

Reflecting on the future of modelmaking, especially with the rise of platforms like Instagram and events like Miniatura, Ethan predicts an evolution in the craft. “As the community grows, I think we’ll see more unique and innovative pieces. To stand out, you’ll need to push boundaries and create something truly original. The exposure and creativity in this space are expanding, and that will drive more people to explore new ideas.” For aspiring model makers, Ethan offers this advice: “Just dive in and start creating. Experiment with materials and techniques, trial and error is part of the process. Buy some supplies, cut them up, and see what works. There’s no substitute for hands‑on experience. The more you practise, the better you’ll become.”

Ethan Goodbody’s journey from a passionate hobbyist to a sought‑after artist is a testament to his dedication and creativity. As he continues to bring cinematic magic to life in miniature form and explore new horizons, it’s clear that his love for the craft and the films that inspire him will keep driving his success.

Find Ethan’s creations online: monstudios.co.uk Contact Ethan on Instagram: @monstudiosofficial

Top; Ethan’s attention to fine, hyper‑realistic detail, such as this aged brick wall interior, is what breathes life into Mon Studio models.

Bottom Left; The electronic components make this miniature arcade completely believable, casting an eerie neon glow across the room.

Bottom Right; The 1:18 scale arcade machines were based on real, iconic games, such as PAC‑MAN. The machines were designed in CAD and the panels were 3D printed, painted and assembled to brilliant effect.

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Your next issue of Shrunk.

Coming up in our next issue: · A Bed & Bath special — relax and unwind with inspirational, mini interiors · A close up look at some of our favourite modern miniatures. · Learn new techniques — Curious about digital crafting? Us too!

We explore the capabilities of cutting machines.

We’re already so excited to put issue 9 together. With a print subscription, you’ll never miss an issue, coming March 2025!

Image by Erica Meade

Subscriptions are currently available to readers in UK, USA, Canada, Australia & New Zealand

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Issue Eight Suppliers & Stockists Spotted something you love?

Here are all the retailers featured inside the issue.

Aspen VanHooser Studios aspenvanhooser.com

Miniette miniette.com

Jane Harrop janeharrop.co.uk

Mon Studios monstudios.co.uk

Kensington Dollshouse Company kensingtondollshousecompany.co.uk

Tiny Circuits tinycircuits.com

Little Bits By Lu etsy.com/uk/shop/LittleBitsByLu

Tobacco & Regrets tobaccoandregrets.co.uk

Miniatures.com miniatures.com

UK Stockists You can now find Shrunk. at the following stockists: Available online :

Available in‑store :

Miniatures.com miniatures.com (based in North America, worldwide shipping)

Box of Delights Open 10am–2pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Other days by appointment: jane@boxofdelights.uk

Pics & Ink picsandink.com (UK, worldwide shipping)

42 Long Street Wotton‑under‑Edge Gloucestershire GL12 7BT

Newsstand newsstand.co.uk (UK, subscriptions & worldwide shipping)

boxofdelights.uk

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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.

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Front and back cover images

by Aspen VanHooser

shrunkmagazine.com Independently produced in Kent, England