Shrunk: Issue 5

ISSUE FIVE

Shrunk. magazine is a quarterly print publication, with Issue 6 coming to you in November 2022.

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 publication was made possible by the 199 backers who pledged to our Kickstarter launch campaign in the Summer of 2020.

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

Shrunk. Magazine is a trading name of Four Little Walls. Published quarterly by Shrunk. Magazine.

Mailing address: Unit 285, Regency House, 91 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2NW, 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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Cover image by Tiny Eclectic

Editors Note

We’re back, baby! Thanks for being here after our slightly longer than planned print hiatus.

Since our last edition, Eddie and I have welcomed our little girl: my best mini yet!

Thank you to everyone who reached out with well wishes. It’s been a magical, chaotic six months!

Kat Picot, Editor kat@shrunkmagazine.com

So, without further ado, onto Issue 5. Esha Bijutkar is back and she’s baking up some mouth-wateringly good-looking rustic breads with a simple but effective clay project.

We explore the serene miniature interiors of artist and Issue 5 cover star, Christina Spivak, as she shares her journey into doll’s house renovations.

Becca Parker, Assistant Editor becca@shrunkmagazine.com

I chat with London-based artist, Hannah Lemon, about the creation of her miniature dream home and her unique approach to tiny crafting.

We welcome several new contributors to this issue, Abi Trotman is at the helm of the revamped Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses column. Briar Nielsen is walking us through how to create impactful wall niches, while Kayla M Domeyer, aside from being one of the greatest cheerleaders behind the scenes, is also lending her crazy-good, crafty talents to a cute boho side table DIY — perfect for those who’ve been wanting to dip a toe into beginners’ woodworking.

We’re also excited to welcome back a familiar face and features writer, Izzie Price. Izzie interviews internationally celebrated Syrian-American artist, Mohamad Hafez, sharing the inspirations behind his intricately detailed and hauntingly beautiful mixed-media artworks.

Emilia Kalyvides, Designer www.designbyemilia.co.uk

We hope you enjoy the latest instalment of Shrunk.

Ka t Shrunk.

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Issue Five Contents

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Features 16 Tiny Eclectic: Miniature Interiors by Christina Spivak Retreat into the serene interiors of this self-taught miniaturist

36 Small & Smaller Still Explore modern micro-scale minis

40 An Interview with Hannah Lemon The multi-talented, London-based artist shares her mini dream home 4

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Make 48 Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses DRD column is back with a fresh look and new columnist, Abi Trotman, at the helm

52 An Interview with Mohamad Hafez Izzie Price interviews the Syrian- American artist and architect

24 DIY: Boho Side Table 27 DIY: Rustic Bread 32 DIY: Wall Niche

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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.

Ann Evans says the best thing about her work as a writer and novelist, is getting out and about and seeing all the amazing things other people create and collect. Dolls House miniatures being a favourite.

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

Izzie Price is a freelance writer and journalist.

She’s written for the Independent, Cosmopolitan UK, Stylist, Dazed, Refinery29 UK, Glamour UK, the i paper, Metro UK, Vice, the Telegraph and Reader’s Digest, among others.

Briar Nielsen is a miniaturist based in Canada, who focuses on contemporary interiors and furniture. Founder of online miniatures store Revive Minis, you can find Briar’s work on Etsy and Instagram.

22 House Hunter

58 Suppliers

Kayla M

46 Kickstarter Spotlight: Futuro House Lamp

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Kayla M Domeyer is a software Product Manager with an Arts degree. She scratches her creative itch with miniatures, working in everything from wood working to painting and sculpture. She loves to unwind making modern 1:12 scale minis.

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Journal Summer 2022

The Shrunk. guide to mini happenings Learn new techniques!

Image credit: Instagram @Chelseamakes

All the small things: Crafting a miniature abandoned room Ready for mini summer school?

In this exciting new workshop led by artist and miniaturist, Amanda Kelly of Panda Miniatures, you’ll learn the basic techniques of crafting miniatures while building a tiny replica of an abandoned room.

Drawing on a variety of artistic techniques, Amanda will teach students how to create realistic impressions of textures like brick and peeling paint.

With multiple start dates available, this five part, online course is a really exciting opportunity to connect with fellow miniaturists whilst developing your creative skill set.

For full information and booking, visit: www.pandaminiatures.com

Chelsea Anderson brings a new miniature master class to Domestika.

Miniaturist and creative allstar Chelsea Anderson, aka @ChelseaMakes, has joined the pool of incredible talent on Domestika, an online creative community platform offering a wide range of courses delivered by industry professionals. Chelsea’s new course is available from midJune and walks beginner hobbyists through DIY miniature furniture projects, in 1:12 scale.

Detail from ‘Hoarders Porch’, a recent piece

by Amanda Kelly.

Image credit: Panda Miniatures

The course includes 16 lessons, 11 exercises and is available in eight different languages.

Find Chelsea’s online class Miniature Furnishings for DIY Dollhouse at www.domestika.org

Create a tiny abandoned room with Amanda Kelly’s new workshop.

Image credit: Panda Miniatures 6

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Best in Miniature judges, Emma Waddell and Micheal Lambie Image by CBC Media

Hosted by Aba Amuquandoh, Best in Miniature is set to return in 2023 Image by CBC Media

Minis are Big News on the Small Screen!

Here in the UK we’ve just had the pleasure of watching the first season of The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge, hosted by writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig. Each week the contestants split into teams to meet the creative brief set by the judges — interior designer Laura Jackson and artist Dr Willard Wigan MBE, famed for his record-breakingly tiny sculptures that sit inside the eye of a sewing needle.

Since our last issue, the miniature world has been buzzing with the excitement of not one but two doll’s house television shows! Best in Miniature, a Canadianproduced show, hit our screens (in territories lucky enough to have access!) back in February of this year.

You’ll find no spoilers here, but you may recognise the talented cover stars Cielo Vianzon and Phillip Nuveen who featured in Issues 2 and 4 of Shrunk. magazine respectively, as they battle it out among their fellow contestants in the ultimate challenge of building their own dream homes in miniature for the coveted title of Best in Miniature. Season 2 is already in the works and due to grace our screens in Winter 2023, returning with host stand-up comedian and writer Aba Amuquandoh, and judges Emma Waddell, British miniatures expert and Micheal Lambie, an esteemed design specialist.

Streaming via CBC Gem and Discovery + (may not be accessible to international viewers).

The show is a fantastic tour through British historic periods and interiors as each week the teams create a new room to a set brief. This range of styles and tastes results in a fantastic showcase of the amazing variety of skills and creative backgrounds that miniaturists possess; from mechanical engineering to fine art, hand carving and 3D printing, it’s all happening! The timed challenges provide some nail-bitingly tense moments as viewers root for the artists to complete their miniature scenes.

Streaming now via More4 (may not be currently available to viewers outside of the UK).

Get in touch!

Do you have some mini news to share?

kat@shrunkmagazine.com Or good old‑fashioned snail mail: Shrunk. Magazine, Unit 285, Regency House, 91 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2NW, England, UK

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Journal Summer 2022 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. Please do check up-to-date information with organisers before travelling.

UK Events:

USA Events:

London Dollshouse Showcase 2nd–8th September Autumn Online Showcase

Kensington Dollshouse Festival, Christmas Show 3rd December

The London Dollshouse Showcase team has been working tirelessly already this year with the return of the May, Kensington Doll’s House Festival. While we are thrilled that live events are back to stay, the popularity of the Online Showcase over the past two years has secured it a permanent spot on the calendar.

We’re already counting down for a day of festive mini shopping!

Visit: www.dollshouseshowcase.com for full information and ticket bookings.

Fancy a trip across the pond?

We know we do!

Philadelphia Miniaturia 4th, 5th & 6th November Once again there’s already a great buzz among the mini community about the beloved and highly anticipated ‘Philly’ show and we’re suffering serious FOMO! Book your tickets and workshops via: www.philadelphiaminiaturia.com

#ishrunkthis Instagram Edit

@life.in.a.dollhouse

Unbelievably, the #ishrunkthis posts are now approaching 15k?!

Somehow we’ve managed to choose just 10 snapshots to share with you.

The spotlight’s on @life.in.a.dollhouse. Comfy sofas, statement rugs, a wall niche — this little living room is ticking all of our mini interior boxes!

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Show Us Your Minis! @shrunkmagazine #ishrunkthis

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@dollhouse_makeover_australia shares a cosy corner featuring an eclectically styled sideboard.

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@kamilla.dlugowolska’s hand woven baskets are pure mini magic.

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@little.house.of.lights has built this stunning contemporary kitchen, complete with designer cooker and, of course, a jaw-droppingly good light feature.

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@mielen_tila invites us into their bright and airy Scandi-style kitchen.

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@miniscandihome has created a gorgeous hallway with full length windows and a minimalist style staircase.

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@ridiculouslytinythings has blown our minds with this stunning 1:48 scale scene!

Inspired by Moroccan colours and complete with a hand-sewn leather pouffe.

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@smallerthananchovies’ perfectly styled bench pops out against the earthy, yellow wall and natural wood floor.

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@tinysofas’ creative eye transformed this piece of bark into bold, sculptural wall art.

And then there’s the sofa: the stuff of mini upholstery dreams.

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@willowtree_miniatures has gone fifty shades of grey with this minimal dining room scene and we’re here for it!

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Reading List Simply Living Mini Designs

Simply Living Mini Designs Buy the book at: amazon.com. Connect with Rosa online: Instagram: @simplylivingminidesigns TikTok: @rosamoran2020

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here’s a new title to add to your craft library from the brilliant and creative mind of Rosa Moran. The miniaturist behind Simply Living Mini Designs has released her first book; A Beginner’s Guide To Building A Room Box.

The independently produced title is available to order in paperback, offering a comprehensive guide to the novice hobbyist and anyone looking for some guidance and empowerment on simple woodworking projects and tools.

The book is filled with useful information, projects and howtos for building these bitesize projects, where leaping into a whole doll’s house may be that bit too intimidating or, as in the case of the author, when you’ve simply run out of space for new projects! Filled with photography of Rosa’s own beautifully styled mini interiors, this would make the perfect gift for the doll’s house lover in your life. *Adds to basket*.

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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 Shrunk.

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Shrunk. Loves Odi Mini Pottery Wheel

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e’ve made no secret of our love for mini ceramics, and we’re here to double down and declare that there is nothing more satisfying on the internet right now than watching videos of tiny potters’ wheels in motion.

This miniature potter’s wheel is perhaps the most gorgeous one we’ve clapped eyes on. A polished hardwood case houses the wheel components, and its clean, functional yet beautiful design means you can simply unbox, plug in and get to throwing those little lumps of clay.

Created by Turkish artist Mahmut of Odi’s Miniature Crafts, this mini potter’s wheel has already proven a hit among mini makers. It’s available on Etsy. Consider this as your sign to go treat yourself, or perhaps subtly leave this page open somewhere for your nearest and dearest to find…

Connect with Odi Miniature Crafts at www.odiminiaturecrafts.etsy.com Instagram: @odiminitorna

Odi Mini Pottery Wheel £141.98. International shipping available.

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Feature Tiny Eclectic

Retreat into the serene, miniature interiors of Christina Spivak. This road to doll’s house renovation is one of thoughtful design processes and the joy of delayed gratification.

Words by Kat Picot Images by Christina Spivak

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Feature Tiny Eclectic

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hristina’s childhood doll’s house had been languishing in storage when she first reunited with it back in 2011. It was worked on for a time, inspired by interiors blogs and an online challenge “I’m a Giant!” hosted by Emily Henderson, but there was so much to consider and Christina took her time before approaching the little house again. After recommitting to the project in recent years, Christina is now gradually breathing life into this special doll’s house, sharing her creative exploits on Instagram under the moniker Tiny Eclectic — a name that perfectly encapsulates her style.

The heirloom house was hand built

by Christina’s father as a gift for her tenth birthday. A carpenter by trade, he was unphased by the house being intended as a child’s toy. Painstaking attention to detail was paid. Windows and their frames were built from scratch, recesses cut ready for tiny panes of ‘glass’. The craftsman approached the build and its components with the same level of ingenuity and care as if it had been the real thing. Subsequently, the house was not completed in time for Christina’s birthday. Not that she cared, gladly playing with it for years to come in it’s not-quitefinished state. Christina says; “I don’t really think of my house as something that I want to ‘finish’ finish. I want it to be changeable, because my approach is a combination of things. I like 18

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photography a lot, I like the styling a lot and I like the challenge of making the miniatures myself.”

I said to myself I was not going to fill my house with doll houses!

a bag full of bottle caps. My husband’s afraid to throw anything away!”

Hesitant to launch straight into a renovation of her beloved childhood doll’s house, Christina sourced a second pre-loved doll’s house on the buying and selling site Craigslist. She added a Real Good Toys ‘blue plate special’ to her 1:12 scale property portfolio. This house, the guinea pig if you will, was for applying new techniques and navigating some trial and error as she fell further down the rabbit hole of miniature interiors. Does the list of works-in-progress end there?

Laughing, Christina says: “I said to myself I was not going to fill my house with doll houses!”

A creative professional and jeweller, Christina already possessed a skill set that lends itself perfectly to creating finely detailed miniature work. Some of her project highlights from her Instagram profile include a gorgeous Capiz shell light fitting — a statement light feature and, A familiar broken vow among one imagines, an impossibly fiddly hobbyists everywhere! Some custom project to execute! Her miniature room boxes have since joined interiors share a signature aesthetic the two mini home renovations. of seamlessly co-ordinated neutral Initially intended as a loft space, and monochrome colour palettes one cement floor scene presented teamed with layers of textures, fresh avenues to explore with ranging from natural wood finishes photography. Christina explains; of exposed timber beams to high “I had used it for a few pictures when I gloss floor tiles. The final flourishes thought ‘Oh! Room boxes are great! are found in statement pieces of You actually have ROOM to get furniture and decorative flair. A angles and take new photos.’” As for designer daybed, or dried flower future projects? There is one more chandelier. Challenging herself to waiting in the wings, a gift from create her own pieces, Christina Christina’s husband who’d wanted often takes inspiration from to surprise her a few years prior to contemporary furniture designers, the inception of Tiny Eclectic. Her replicating favourites with her own mother’s advice to him was simple, added touches, in stunning detail. (a woman after our own hearts): “Get Her interests are not limited to her the biggest, best one you can find!” contemporary design though. She says; “My favourite thing is making stuff, The result? A brand new Greenleaf especially if it’s made out of trash. I have Garfield kit, a 1:12 scale but

Previous page: Inside the living room of the Real Good Toy’s House.

Christina enjoys restyling the rooms while the renovations are in progress.

This interior boasts a handmade, dried flower chandelier.

This page: Top: A roombox project provided extra space for styling and photography.

Statement lighting fixtures teamed with replica ‘designer’ furniture and a monochrome palette make for an impactful, mini interior.

Bottom: Christina’s beloved childhood doll’s house is being lovingly renovated.

The day bed with tufted cushion is handmade and the perfect spot to bask in the sun!

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Feature Tiny Eclectic simultaneously gargantuan Victorian farmhouse. The scope and commitment of the project has so far kept it in that box which, incidentally, comes with a warning about measuring doorways before the build takes place lest it should get stuck inside the room forever.

Christina, laughing, says; “That’s really scary to me! When a doll’s house comes with a warning, do I really want to go there?!”

Every miniaturist is actually also a photographer, an architect, an engineer, an artist, an interior designer, there’s a lot that goes into it.

While both doll’s house and room boxes thus far are a beautifully executed display of neutral tones, these interiors are anything but beige in character. With their elements styled perfectly together, it’s Christina’s eye for photography that truly sets these miniature scenes apart. Early in her career, Christina landed a job with a photography studio. She says; “I was a ‘shopper’. A photographer or a stylist This page: We know it’s a doll’s house, it’s in a miniatures magazine, but this bedroom really could be the real thing couldn’t it?!

The ceiling lights were customised to fantastic effect and spray painted metallic gold leaf.

Opposite page: Top: The renovated kitchen-diner of Christina’s childhood doll’s house.

Middle: This stunning bedroom and en-suite bath look so inviting!

Bottom: Arched doorways and sunlit windows provide the perfect backdrop for these stylish mini furnishings.

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My favourite thing when I look at other people’s work is the super creativity!

Seeing somebody take something that is just a real-sized object but they see it in a completely different way. They see its hidden possibilities. might send you out to shop, and I got really into watching what they were doing. I started staying late after work and practising in the studio, so I was self-taught. Then when that studio went out of business I actually went back to school. I did take some photography classes but it wasn’t studio photography, so I learned more at night on my own in this studio. There was this photographer that I would show endless pictures to and ask, ‘what about this one? What about that one? How does this look?’ And he was like ‘Oh see you need to heed out a way of breaking down compositions, not just objects but in terms of light and dark, they’re objects too.”

It’s this creative use of light and dark that has become a signature part of Tiny Eclectic’s images. Each photo appears with thoughtful lighting effects, dappled shade or shadows casting dramatic shapes and further layers of interest across the scene.

The rooms themselves look so

inviting; vignettes from boutique hotels or a beautifully styled spa retreat and most definitely a huge departure from what we would traditionally imagine the inside of a doll’s house to look like.

Despite her clear creative prowess, Christina still considers herself a relative newbie to the miniature world and has great admiration for her peers, gleaning much pleasure from the work of others.

She says; “I really like how everybody approaches things so differently and every miniaturist is actually also a photographer, an architect, an engineer, an artist, an interior designer — there’s a lot that goes into it. And no matter what the skill level, there’s always something to appreciate in everybody’s pictures.

My favourite thing when I look at other people’s work is the super creativity!

Seeing somebody take something that is just a real-sized object but they see it in a completely different way. They see its hidden possibilities. There are a lot of amazing things done with Cricut [cutting] machines and 3D printers where people can make things look just like the real deal, but I really LOVE looking at the things that are made up from scraps and creativity. That just adds a layer of magic to the whole thing.”

Follow Christina’s renovations and miniature work on Instagram @Tinyeclectic Shrunk.

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House Hunter Double Layer House

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his laser cut doll’s house kit is an innovative contemporary design, boasting two floors and a roof terrace to showcase your most modern miniatures.

South Korean Etsy store Nstrworks is home to a range of beautifully designed modern doll’s house kits, including this stunning original.

Shown here in 1:24, or half scale, the Double Layer House is striking and wholly original. Every elevation offers unusual vantage points, allowing you to display the interior and furnishings to full effect. The two floating staircases act as the show piece of the house, and the upper flight is situated inside an interior vestibule leading up to the roof terrace. This

unexpected layout really creates the illusion of depth and more spaces to be explored — an exciting departure from more traditional doll’s house floor plans.

This Nstrworks model is also available in 1:12 scale, forming part of a truly unique range of miniature houses, cabins and greenhouses. You’ll also find some contemporary pieces of furniture in their Etsy store.

The Double Layer House kit arrives flat-packed and ready to assemble and decorate. International shipping is available.

Order online at: www.nstrworks.etsy.com 1:24 scale kit £84.86, 1:12 scale kit £189.92 (Prices correct at time of publication, may vary with currency exchange rates.)

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DIY: Boho Side Table Woodwork your way to modern retro with this 1:12 scale canework piece

By Kayla M Domeyer

Ma terials

Tools

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Two precut wooden balsa plywood rounds, 3–4cm diameter

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Handsaw or knife

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5mm wooden dowel, 22cm long

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Sandpaper

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A small amount of double-mesh canvas, 10/20 count

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Scrap paper

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Glue Varnish

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File

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Paintbrush

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Tape measure

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Pencil

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

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DIY Boho Side Table

DIY Boho Side Table — Illustrated Guide

This boho faux caned table evokes the style of plywood manufactured 50s and 60s furniture, repurposed for a modern use. The use of pre-cut balsa plywood rounds and needlepoint canvas make the project good for beginners, but with a sophisticated result. Make the legs shorter to create a plant stand, or swap the rounds for hexagons in order to make a more geometric piece.

Crea te the table legs

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⇨ Cut the dowel into 55mm lengths to create four table legs. Sand down the rough edges with the file. ⇨ On each of the four legs, measure and mark a notch for the tabletop approximately 5mm from one end. ⇨ Using a sharp handsaw, or carefully carving with a knife, cut the notches. Repeat on the other end of the legs, creating notches for the bottom shelf of the table approximately 8mm from the ends. ⇨ Using a file or other sanding method, sand the dowel above the tabletop notch flat.

Att ach the table top ⇨ On both of the wooden rounds, lightly mark four equal spaces for the table legs. ⇨ Glue the rounds into one of the legs. Allow this to dry, then repeat for the other three legs. Sand the unfinished table.

Add the faux caning ⇨ Using a piece of scrap paper to make a template, measure and cut two pieces of the double-mesh canvas to fit between two table legs. ⇨ Glue the mesh to the edge of the tabletop and bottom shelf to create the caning effect on opposite sides of the table. Once dry, varnish the piece with a light varnish.

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DIY: Rustic Bread What could make a tiny house homelier than a couple of fresh sourdough loaves?

By Esha Bijutkar

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Tools

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Cold porcelain clay — I used NARA Flower Clay

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Needle tool

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Oil paint in white, chrome yellow, yellow ochre

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Paint brushes

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Cold cream — I used NIVEA Creme

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Acrylic paint in raw sienna, burnt umber

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Glue stick

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Gypsum powder or a white soft pastel

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Matte or satin varnish

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Old toothbrush or stiff wire brush Sponge

Connect with Esha online: Instagram: @pinkpetitrose Shrunk.

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DIY Rustic Bread Colouring and storing the clay To the cold porcelain, add a little bit of white oil paint and a dot of chrome yellow. Knead it well so the clay changes into a pale yellow colour. Cold porcelain dries translucent, so it is important to add some white paint to it to reduce the translucency. Store this clay in an air-tight container or a Ziplock bag to prevent it from drying. If the clay seems dry, add some cold cream to it and knead it well until it is soft and pliable.

S culp t ing the loa ves ⇨ Take a piece of the coloured cold porcelain. Shape it into a squoval or oval shape, aiming for a final height of about 1.5cm. Apply a layer of cold cream on it to keep the clay moist. The clay needs to be very soft to create the bread-like texture. ⇨ Using a needle tool, gently draw two lines on either side of the clay to make the crust. Take care not to tear the clay. ⇨ To create the round sourdough bread, shape a piece of the clay into a ball and press the edges for a more rounded shape, aiming for a diameter of about 1.4cm. Gently draw a flower shape as shown with the needle tool. ⇨ Hold the needle tool at a 45-degree angle and push it inside the initial line made with the needle tool.

Keep pushing the needle tool along the line to make little pockets and raise it slightly. This will be the crust. Do this on both the sides for the oval loaf and for the flower shape on the round loaf. ⇨ Once more, with the needle tool, start pushing the clay near the crust towards the crust. Pierce the needle into the clay and then move it towards the crust to make tiny lines mimicking stretchy bread texture. ⇨ Place the needle tool at the centre of the bread and repeat the same motion by dragging the needle towards the crust. Don’t make deep indentations with the needle because the texture might look too much for miniature scale.

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DIY Rustic Bread ⇨ Using a toothbrush or a stiff wired brush, stipple the centre of the bread to soften the texture. Repeat this on the sides (crust) of the bread as well.

Shading the bread ⇨ After the clay has dried, you can start painting the bread. Take a sponge and a tiny bit of yellow ochre oil paint. Apply this paint with the sponge on the centre of the bread. Don’t paint the entire centre and be sure to leave some clay near the crust bare for a more realistic effect. ⇨ Next, using acrylic paint in raw sienna, paint the sides / crust of the bread. Paint two layers on the top edges of the crust to make it a bit darker and baked. Using the same colour, gently dry brush random parts on the centre of the bread to make it look baked. Be very light with the shading, as a lot

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of shading would look too much for miniature scale.

Whilst painting a baked effect, less is always more. ⇨ Take very little burnt umber on the brush and dry brush it to the topmost areas of the bread where it would be most baked or burnt. ⇨ Next, dab some glue on the sides / crust of the bread with a finger. Using another finger, dab some gypsum powder or white soft pastel on the crust to mimic flour. The glue will make it stick. Gently blow on the bread to remove the excess powder. ⇨ For the round sourdough bread, draw concentric lines on the crust with the needle tool. The needle will scrape the powder and create lines on the crust.

Clean the needle tool before drawing each line. ⇨ Seal the bread — except the powdered areas — using a matte or a satin varnish and your bread is freshly baked and ready!

DIY Rustic Bread — Illustrated Guide

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DIY: Wall Niche Jump on this arched alcove trend and create a clever recess for display in your doll’s house or diorama

By Briar Nielsen

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Chipboard, 1.5mm thick (or wall material of your choice e.g. foam board or wood)

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Wood veneer strips

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Pen

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White craft glue or wood glue

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Basswood trim (same width as veneer strips)

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Wood blocks for support

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Optional baseboard and crown moulding

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Paint

Connect with Briar online: Instagram: @reviveminis 32

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Tools Craft knife

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Ruler

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Hot glue gun

DIY Wall Niche Construc t the Wall ⇨ With a ruler, measure the height and width of the doll’s house wall you’d like to add a niche to. ⇨ Draw these wall measurements onto the chipboard or chosen material, then use a craft knife to cut it out. ⇨ Now it’s time to draw your desired wall niche shape onto the new wall. Get creative and trace objects from around your house! A roll of tape is great for tracing a curve. ⇨ Cut the niche shape out with the craft knife, taking your time to get the cleanest cut. ⇨ Cut the basswood trim to fit the width across the base of the niche. This will form the shelf. ⇨ Glue the basswood shelf to the wall as close to edge of niche opening as possible, using white craft or wood glue. Add square wood blocks or beads under the shelf for additional support. ⇨ Start adding the wood veneer by gluing it to the side of one of the wood support blocks. ⇨ Gently pull the veneer into the niche cut out.

Working in two-inch sections, run hot glue along the edge of the cut out shape and then press the veneer back into the glue. Keep the veneer as close to the edge of the niche shape as possible. ⇨ Add trim around the outer edges of the wall to fully enclose for a clean look, and add extra support pieces if wall or trim feels wobbly. ⇨ At this stage, you may wish to add a back panel to the niche wall. This is good option if you want the wall to be removable, or to be a standalone item for staging photos. ⇨ Paint the niche wall the colour of your choice.

Painting the wall before installing will give the cleanest look. ⇨ Glue the niche wall into your doll’s house using craft or wood glue. As an optional extra, add baseboard and/or crown moulding to complete the built-in look for your new wall niche.

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DIY Wall Niche — Illustrated Guide

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Feature Micro Miniatures n An

Evans

Small & Smaller Still Come join us down the rabbit hole that is modern, micro-scale miniatures; who’s making them, and where to find them!

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very time I visit a doll’s house fair, I come away awestruck with the quality and craftsmanship of what’s on show. It’s not just the skill, but the imagination and patience these artists have in working out measurements to make a household item just one twelfth of the real thing. It’s not just the height, width and depth, but also the thickness of the fabric, wood, porcelain or other material they are working with that is so impressive.

It’s hard enough to work to 1:12 scale, so going smaller to 1:24, 1:48, 1:144 or beyond, providing doll’s houses within doll’s houses, is amazing! A fantastic range of miniaturists have perfected the art of micro-scales, and a growing number of doll’s house collectors are very happy that they have. Not everyone has space in their homes for large doll’s houses. But now, with lots of options now to build or buy smaller scale houses; and the skilled craftspeople around to build the furniture, kits, 36

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accessories to decorate and furnish throughout, there’s the potential to have a whole street of doll’s houses if you wanted.

UK-based creators Petite Properties specialise in smaller scales, offering a range of charming house kits designed to be displayed on a shelf with roofs and fronts that come off to access the interior. They are also designed to stand side by side, allowing you to easily curate that coveted street. Bea Broadwood who runs the family business has also created a Facebook Community page for owners of PP houses to come together, get advice and be inspired.

Of course, you don’t actually need a doll’s house to enjoy miniatures.

You could create a 1:48 or 1:144 scene which would look great on a shelf or sideboard, or in a room box — or a shoe box — or even a teacup! Angela Kinnunen of Raptoor, based in Finland has created a wide range of room boxes in different styles and periods such as a Middle

Eastern room tiled in mosaics and an Art Deco style room among many others.

Another top artist in smaller scales is Laser Shrink Ray Minis, who makes quality resin dolls house furniture and accessories in 1:24, 1:48 and 1:144 scales. Using digital art skills and high detail 3D printing, artist Amy Scott-Murray’s pieces are available either fully painted and finished or as DIY kits.

Also, Amy’s website has lots of hints and tips on assembling the kits.

Seaside Miniatures, now based in France, design and make unique laser cut miniatures and 3D printed accessories. They also offer a variety of doll’s houses and other dwelling places in 1:48 scale, such as a Kensington town house with a basement. Or, you could go for something more unusual and invest in a lighthouse to convert into a contemporary living space.

If you really want a challenge, check out Little Miss Miniature. Sonia Bethwaite of Haverford West, South

Feature Micro Miniatures

Wales, loves to challenge herself in how small she can go without losing that fine detail. She regularly goes beyond 1:144 to 1:288, and even as minuscule as 1:576. The hardest thing about working in micro scales, she says, is not dropping what you’re working on. Sonia admits to spending too much time on hands and knees looking for pieces she’s spent hours on. But, she says, “it’s all part of the fun.” Just be sure to check all miniatures are accounted for before switching on the hoover!

Do you have a modern, microscale miniature you’d love to share? We’d love to see it!

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Previous page: Image credit; Laser Shrink Ray Contemporary 3 Seat Sofas, 1:144th scale.

Available unpainted or finished in a choice of three colours.

Opposite page: Top: Image credit: Rob Tysall 1:48 scale Moroccan Room Box by Angela Kinnunen Bottom: Image credit: Rob Tysall 1:48 scale Art Deco Bedroom Box by Angela Kinnunen Finnish artist Angela Kinnunen of Raptoor creates a wide range of unusual and beautiful 1:48 scale miniature kits

This page: Top: Image credit; Laser Shrink Ray Retro Style fridge, 1:48th scale Bottom right: Image Credit; Laser Shrink Ray Double Ended ‘Slipper’ Bath, 1:48th scale.

Available unpainted or painted Bottom left: Image credit: Kat Picot, Pair of Retro Chairs by Petite Properties, 1:48th scale, unpainted kit ready for decoration and assembly

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Feature An interview with Hannah Lemon

Shrunk. meets the London-based artist who found escapism through miniatures during lockdown — building the doll’s house she’d always longed for.

Words by Kat Picot Images by Hannah Lemon

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estled among a backdrop of her house plants, Hannah joins our initial Zoom call from her London flat: a home turned workshop, turned photo studio. In part it was Hannah’s frustrated inner interior designer that led to her joyful free-fall into miniature making back in 2020.

“Many of my friends and colleagues own homes, so during lockdown they were painting their bathrooms or making furniture and stuff, but I’m renting so I 40

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couldn’t really do any of that. I thought, ‘I’m just going to combine my two favourite things; I’ll make a house that’s like a home, my dream home, and I love to make small things.’ I basically just brought my retirement plans forward!”

In the two years since first embarking on her house build, Hannah’s mini dream home has garnered international press, tens of thousands of social media followers and an influx of creative commissions. The doll’s house, an unhurried labour of love, remains

under construction, but there’s plenty coming through the creative pipeline for this enthusiastic miniaturist.

As a child, Hannah had loved to make tiny things. She’d fashion small pots from clay or spend hours putting together a miniature insect, delighting in chasing friends around at school with her creepy crawly creations. Growing up in Japan, Hannah was instructed from an early age to take her studies quite seriously. She says; “You’d be

Feature An interview with Hannah Lemon

told you have to study maths, science; very academic subjects. So eventually I got really busy with school work and I stopped [creating mini bugs and tiny objects]. I’d always just thought ‘Oh, one day I’ll get back to it. At the back of my mind it was always there. I’d decided that was just going to be my retirement plan! When I’m done with work and get through all those years of doing other things, then in my retirement I’ll get to make a doll’s house. I’d always planned to do that, then lockdown happened.”

The mini dream home project began life as just a bathroom.

Making short but enjoyable work of it, Hannah then set about building a bedroom scene next. Once the second interior had been built, she decided it was time to sit down and create a floor plan. The mini home almost looks like a piece of set design in appearance: an open-plan layout giving a full, almost bird’seye perspective on the incredible detail of the furniture and decor within. It’s a colourful medley of comfortable modern living with pops of colour, hand-painted miniature brickwork and 42

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I started out just freestyling, so I’m not really following any rules. an endless supply of tiny plants.

The ground floor consists of a kitchen-diner and lounge and was designed retroactively to act as a base support for the existing bedroom and bathroom. Now the grand design includes plans for a third storey — an attic floor to house a mini workshop.

This intuitive approach of building off the cuff, while brilliant, strikes me as being, well, quite difficult.

Perhaps that’s why you don’t see many artists building this way?

Hannah admits; “It’s a real struggle!

I’d made the ground floor then I was like, ‘Hold on a second, where are the stairs?

Where are they going to go?!’ That sort of thing. There is a plan, but it’s fun. The struggle is fun. I guess because it’s not my

job. For the house, there is no deadline for me. I started out just freestyling, so I’m not really following any rules. It’s fun at the moment, but I could imagine if you’d studied architecture or were just into accuracy more than I am it’s going to seem like, ‘Oh wow, that doesn’t really work?!’” On the contrary; this unique doll’s house build has captured the imagination and attention of over 29,000 people and counting since our first conversation back in October.

Recalling how one of her Instagram posts essentially went viral, Hannah says; “It was near to Christmas and I thought ‘I haven’t posted a picture of my house project, or a picture of the whole of the house, in a while.’ So I did. Then for some reason, I don’t really understand IG [Instagram] that well, but the AI picked it up and boosted it or something.

Crazy numbers of people were liking and following and messaging all of a sudden.”

This huge boost to her social media reach quickly generated creative work opportunities, with commissioned pieces and even pitches from advertising agencies requesting scale models for well-

Previous page: Hannah and her mini dream home, joined by her cat, in their London flat.

Opposite page: Left: A Triostar Stromanthe created from clay, wire and paint.

Middle; Hannah’s pet Hedgehog, Snoop, inspects some mini furnishings.

Right; Wooden kitchen hutch with accessories, for the mini dream home interior. Hannah enjoys the challenges of woodworking and furniture projects.

This page: It all started with bathroom! This was the first section of the doll’s house to be built during lockdown before the project evolved into a whole home.

Next page: Top: A model dragon fly, made from a plastic takeaway container, clay, wire and acrylic paint.

Middle: The doll’s house is filled with tiny belongings for its inhabitants. These suitcases are made entirely from paper.

Hannah shares her technique on her Instagram profile.

Bottom: Some of the miniatures for the mini dream home represent special connections between Hannah and her loved ones, this is a replica of her grandfather’s real grandfather clock.

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Feature An interview with Hannah Lemon known brands. Hannah can’t spill the beans on all the projects though, bound by non-disclosure agreements, we’ll just have to keep a close eye on her Instagram feed!

photoshoot and film sets are not allowed to use something that used to be alive.

It had to be fake (to avoid people killing things for photoshoots!), so I realised that there is a bit of a niche market there.”

Just like her life-size London flat, house plants have been added liberally around the mini dream home interior. Plants quickly emerged as her favourite thing to create when she began her project and Hannah now dedicates a significant amount of time to making them, both for her own collection, customer commissions and now also for her miniatures store which, at the time of writing, is in the planning for later this year.

She says; “I’m getting lots of requests for my tiny plants, I’m making lots of stock, which is not a quick thing to do. I just made this one plant today. I’m making five because that’s how many I can make in one day!”

With many exciting projects on the horizon, Hannah is mindful to take her time over the mini dream home that started it all. She plans to create furniture for the doll’s house that can represent connections with her family. She has already made a start with a grandfather clock, a tiny replica of the one owned by her grandfather. Hannah hadn’t been able to see her loved ones in Japan for over two years at the time of our first interview, and credits her absorbing lockdown project with keeping sadness at bay during a tumultuous time.

Alongside a steady slew of creative commissions, Hannah was also able to revisit her childhood love, creating miniature bugs. Far from gleefully chasing people around with her mini critters this time, Hannah has identified a very specific market: “I work in the photography industry and one time a photographer asked me if maybe I could make some insects, and I was like, ‘Oh! Well, I actually used to make insects’!

I tried it and I loved it. I think it really triggered something in me!” Hannah reaches across her desk to bring a stunningly detailed model of a dragonfly in view of the camera.

She continues; “I know a lot of 44

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She says; “It [the doll’s house] was a really good escape for me. I hadn’t ever done anything that would make me forget to sleep or to eat! It’s 100% focus when I’m doing it, and the day goes so fast. It makes me feel ‘Gosh, 24 hours is not enough time!’ I’ve not really had that feeling before! So, I guess I’ve really found my true passion.”

Connect with Hannah Lemon at www.lemonminiatures.com Follow on Instagram @hannahlemon_art

Cooee...

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

www.shrunkmagazine.com

Feature WOLOLOW on Kickstarter

WOLOLOW: The Futuro House Style Night Light

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his August marks two years since the Kickstarter campaign that launched Shrunk. magazine. I found the process to be an overwhelmingly positive experience and an important learning curve. Ever since, I’ve been keeping my beady eyes out for upcoming creative projects that I think our mini-loving community will adore, which is why I’m especially excited to share this new spotlight feature.

The Futuro House Style Night Light is a 1:32 scale model of the original, full-sized, Futuro house, designed in the late 1960s by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen.

The Futuro embodied the excitement, optimism and freedom of the era. It was bold in its design and held promise of new adventures. The Futuro was marketed as the next generation holiday home — with one of these prefabricated dwellings, you could pitch up wherever you wanted. Space age in their appearance and period, the Futuro houses offered modern living for up to eight people at a time with 360-degree views. These lightweight homes were manufactured from modern plastic, so could be easily transported to whatever exciting destination you desired. Unfortunately, the Futuro’s moment never truly came. The 1970s brought a cost of oil crisis, ultimately making the houses too expensive to produce. Although only around one hundred Futuros were ever made, they have endured

in the affections of many with an enthusiastic following considering the homes iconic in their design. Just 63 houses, approximately, are known to still be in existence around the world. Some exhibited for public display, while one is available to book on Airbnb!

The upcoming Kickstarter campaign from collective WOLOLOW offers backers the opportunity to bring home a miniature piece of design history. Scheduled to launch in July 2022, the campaign seeks to raise funds to produce a run of Futuro house models which also serve as decorative night lights with adjustable light levels and colour choices. Backers making pledges of $195 or more (details via campaign preview page, correct at time of publication) will receive one light in their choice of one of four colours. As with most Kickstarters, you are able to pledge any amount without a reward if you simply wish to support the project in reaching its goal.

For updates on when the campaign goes live, follow Wololow on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/profile/wololow Connect on Instagram @futurohousemodel Shrunk.

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Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses Abi Trotman of Tobacco & Regrets

DIRTY ROTTEN DOLL'S HOUSES Abi Trotman of Tobacco & Regrets takes over the DRD column, celebrating the unseen, the flawed and the forgotten Words by Abi Trotman Photography by Alex Sedgdmond

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iniatures are fascinating, aren’t they? I understand I’m asking that question to an already convinced audience, but it’s often not just the mind‑boggling ways they’re crafted that truly capture us. Don’t you find it amazing how, especially when posing a miniature scene or diorama, just one item can change a room’s whole aesthetic or aura? Just like how we choose to display specific items in our full‑size houses that suggest things about our identities, personalities and tastes without having to shout it from the rooftops, our doll’s houses are no different. I guess that’s why we miniaturists can be so fussy about staying as historically accurate as possible with our choices of minis; they should be era‑appropriate,

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conveying patterns, colours, designs and objets d’art that suggest the period without having to scream to the viewer “This is a Victorian Doll’s House!” (for example).

I do a very similar thing when creating my miniature scenes, and although historical accuracy is important, it’s not as crucial to me as the story I wish to convey to the viewer subconsciously. My miniatures centre on people first and foremost; human nature and the human experience. I promise you this isn’t for any grandiose psychological reason other than I find people, from all walks of life, absolutely fascinating (plus, I’m nosey). Everyone has their tale and I love to hear them, good, bad or otherwise. Inevitably, when

Dirty Rotten Doll’s Houses Abi Trotman of Tobacco & Regrets dealing with people, you will often hear things that are unpleasant or even distressing. Unfortunately this is real life, but with the influx of ‘perfect’ social media images of amazing lifestyles, holidays, homes and bodies we’re bombarded with, it’s easy to forget and even dismiss the people and narratives that aren’t quite as palatable.

Take one of my newest pieces, Mother’s Home Cooking, for example.

I wrote a very short excerpt to guide me when creating this scene: “She had decided on the date — 20th June 1968. Her birthday. She prepared his favourite meal — a homemade meat pie.

This wasn’t the time for the TV dinners or canned meat of the norm. This dinner had to be special. He needed to come back for seconds. Her spice cabinet was stocked well: garlic powder, rosemary, turmeric, cyanide, and allspice. She felt it appropriate to even search her cleaning cupboard for a few extra special ingredients; some rat poison or perhaps a touch of lye. She decided on antifreeze as it would add a touch of sweetness to the ragu. She packed a small bag and waited in the kitchen, relaxing with a cigarette as he finished his second slice and slowly slumped in his armchair. She had always known how to be a good housewife…”

Although the kitchen looks worn and dishevelled, suggesting years of use, if you choose to look closer you’ll start to join together the threads of the story I’ve woven, and the subtle and not so subtle clues I’ve left you. There’s the pie’s protruding knife and cigarettes. The date circled on the calendar. The 50

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I often get asked why I choose to create scenes and individual miniatures that are dirty, run‑down, and often disconcerting to look at. My answer: because it’s real and completely based on truth. rifled‑through cleaning products and even more unambiguously, the questionable spice jar labels and her choice of recipe book to bring along on her travels.

appropriately worn to convey their years of sitting and moving? Do they smoke cigarettes or a pipe?

Do the ceilings subtly suggest years of tobacco staining? Do they have little time for dusting and so their mantelpiece is less than clean?

Does their favourite book lie somewhere in the room, and what does the title suggest about their current interests?

Through carefully selected items, we can start to build a picture of their stories and I promise you, your scene will come to life. I hope that, like me, you choose to combine miniatures and realism; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I often get asked why I choose to create scenes and individual miniatures that are dirty, run‑down, and often disconcerting to look at.

My answer: because it’s real and completely based on truth. This is what some lives look like, yet they are so often unnoticed or even deliberately ignored.

So I encourage you, when you next rearrange your doll’s house or decorate a new room, add a little bit of character by imagining the people who would use that space: What are their names and ages?

What are their personalities? What are their tastes? What is their history? Do they have a favourite chair in the room, and does it look

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

Previous page: Top left: Save the date; the sinister plot of this miniature scene was long in the planning!

Middle: An open handbag sits next to some suspiciously titled cookbooks.

Bottom: The pantry shelves are well stocked and there’s plenty of pie for second helpings.

Right: Mothers Home Cooking created as an entry piece for the 2022, Perfection in Miniature Awards

Opposite page: Let the miniatures tell a story. You can fit so much detail into a small scene like this.

This page: Top; The Poisoned Pie. Bottom left: Sweet sentiment sits faded on the walls.

Bottom right; Further details, and evidence, tucked away on the shelves.

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MOHAMAD HAFEZ On architecture, art and diaspora Words by Izzie Price All images property of Mohamad Hafez, used with permission

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t’s kind of like I’m creating my own medicine,” says Mohamad Hafez. The artist and architect isn’t talking about putting together some sort of Covid-19-related concoction in a laboratory; he’s referring to the miniature Middle Eastern streetscapes that he creates and exhibits. ‘UNPACKED: Refugee Baggage’, for example, which was embedded with the stories of real people who have escaped the atrocities of war to build a new life.

When we speak over Zoom, Hafez is sitting in a Spanish garden an hour or so out of Madrid. Towards the end, our call is punctured by a rooster’s insistent crowing. “Noted, buddy — thanks!” Hafez calls over

his shoulder, laughing. “[My in-laws] have chickens, 30 cats…”, he smiles.

Born in Damascus and raised in Saudi Arabia, Hafez moved to the United States in 2003, to get his architectural education. “I wasn’t too much into sports as a child, I just wanted to build things, especially with blocks, and Lego, and so on,” he tells me. “I’ve always loved architecture.”

But our main topic of conversation today is Mohamad’s streetscapes, which incorporate both his architectural and artistic skill. I ask him how, and why, he started to create these miniature scenes.

“It started, really, as a notion of homesickness,” he ponders. “For ten years of my life, as an international student in the United States, I wasn’t Shrunk.

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Feature An interview with Mohamad Hafez allowed to leave the country. It had to do with travel bans that [were] set in place that affected many Middle Eastern nationalities post 9/11.”

“Add to that, having a Syrian passport: it didn’t help,” he continues. “So out of severe homesickness [for] my homeland and my family, I started creating these streetscapes to take myself on some imaginary journeys. Romantic, nostalgic journeys.”

He explains that he’s lucky to have a product that people are interested in viewing; but for him, it’s the process that, in his words, feeds his soul.

“When you’re working in miniatures, you’re starting to create narratives of who lived there, in that house; and, okay, let’s make a water fountain here; and maybe it ran too much, so let me just add some rust to it — and you can just go on and on and on with the laundry lines and the signs and the doors and…ten million ways, you know?,” he says, the words tumbling out of him like water gushing from his aforementioned water fountain.

A common question Hafez gets asked is why he chooses not to include figurines in his work.

“There’s ten million ways to show the human footprint, and architecture can speak volumes about the humans that lived [there],” he says, simply.

“Something about how architecture gets weathered, how it gets lived in, how someone hangs their curtains and so on, speaks volumes about the inhabitants.”

There’s a political side to Hafez’s work, too; which is why he opted to 54

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It’s very emotional, it’s very cathartic and it’s very therapeutic. start including messages of hope in his work: including verses from the Qur’an in the form of spray painted Qu’ranic calligraphy, or audio recordings. “[As] my work [was] responding to the wars that were happening in the Middle East, particularly my homeland, there had to be a notion of hope building,” he explains. “Something uplifting. A lot of the miniatures built in that period of my life resembled destruction [and] wartorn cities. But the uplifting side came through a spiritual language, whether it’s the Qur’an or the Bible or just common verses in society.”

“It’s [about being] encouraged to look for a brighter future, and rebuilding and moving forward with life,” he says.

Such scenes must be emotional to create, and I ask him how he feels while he’s in the midst of the process. “It’s very emotional, it’s very cathartic and it’s very therapeutic,” he answers. “I was struggling with witnessing the damage and the atrocities and the destruction, and the loss of cultural and heritage sites, archaeological sites, and so on. But by incorporating these uplifting verses, [I was] trying to uplift myself a little bit as well. It’s very complicated [and] multilayered; and it’s also very intimate.”

When considering what he wants audiences to take away from his miniature streetscapes, he hopes for greater empathy and sympathy.

“The notions that I deal with — home, nostalgia, diaspora — especially now, with what’s going on in Ukraine, a lot of people — Europeans, especially — can understand now a little more about,” he points out. “How it feels to leave home suddenly, how to restart life; all of these issues that I personally work with, they’re very common [in] humanity, and I hope that people would realise the large common denominator between human experience and architecture.”

I ask if he’s seen an increased interest in his work since the war in Ukraine started.

“I have. I have,” he nods. “The collective memory of humans is very short. We forget very quickly. [When war starts, we’re like:] ‘What is going on?’ It’s like: ‘Have you read history?”’, he says with a wry chuckle.

“And it’s not only Europe, it’s also in the United States, where I live now, and [am] a proud citizen. These issues come and go from the public realm, and I believe so much in the role of artists in pushing [these issues] to the forefront.”

If you would like to learn more about Mohamad Hafez’s work, you can visit www.mohamadhafez.com or view his documentary, which includes the video, Journeys from an Absent Present to a Lost Past by Mohamad Hafez.

Previous page: Far left; Detail from the Journeys collection, c. 2019, Hafez often includes messages of hope in his work.

Far left; Top; A framed piece from Journeys, the scene tumbles out of its confines with tiny clothes lines hanging below.

Middle; Framed piece from the Damascene Athan Series, c.2018, part of the permanent collection at Brooklyn Museum.

Bottom; Framed Nostalgia 1, 2019, an ornate and highly detailed scene.

This page: UNPACKED: Refugee Baggage, c. 2017; “Hafez sculpturally re-creates rooms, homes, buildings and landscapes that have suffered the ravages of war. Each is embedded with the voices and stories of real people — from Afghanistan, Congo, Syria, Iraq and Sudan — who have escaped those same rooms and buildings to build a new life in America.”

— Quote from; www.mohamadhafez. com/UNPACKEDRefugee-Baggage

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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

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Issue Five Suppliers

Spotted something you love?

Here are all the retailers featured inside the issue.

Delph Miniatures store.delphminiatures.co.uk

Petite Properties www.petitepropertiesltd.com

Hannah Lemon www.lemonminiatures.com

Philadelphia Miniaturia www.philadelphiaminiaturia.com

Itty Bitty Mini (M)art www.ittybittyminimart.com

Raptoor www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Raptoor

Laser Shrink Ray Minis www.lasershrinkray.com

Revive Minis www.etsy.com/uk/shop/reviveminis

London Dollshouse Showcase www.dollshouseshowcase.com

Tiny Universe Minis www.tinyuniverseminis.com

Nstrworks www.nstrworks.etsy.com

Tiny Workbench www.tinyworkbench.co.uk

Odi Miniature Crafts www.odiminiaturecrafts.etsy.com

Tobacco & Regrets www.tobaccoandregrets.co.uk

Panda Miniatures www.pandaminiatures.com

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www.shrunkmagazine.com Independently produced in Brighton, England