Aida’s painted pieces reflect glorious past

welcome

Summer’s drawing to a close and the evenings

Kensington showcase

After a Covid-enforced break of two years miniatures are back at Kensington Town Hall. The KDF London Showcase takes place on September 17 and 18 and one thing won’t have changed — the high standard of wonderful miniatures. Here we preview some of the talented artists who will be there

WHERE i WORK

WE TALK TO DANIELLE MULLER ABOUT HER WORKSPACE THAT’S RESERVED FOR MINIS

How Peter Pan nursery became a family affair

Karen Bond’s house is still a work in progress but she has let us into the finished nursery which is based on one of her favourite childhood books

Make little twine covered jars with packaging nets

You’ve taken out the garlic and satsumas from the bags and you’re wondering how to use the netting in a mini project? Elize has the answer

Finish first

Getting the right finishing effect can take some

Step up with these fun welly planters

These little welly boots are fun to make out of polymer clay and will be a great addition to a front porch or summer scene

Create beautiful curtains with swags and tails

Curtains add warmth and elegance to any room. Jane shows how to make the perfect pair, but she says choosing the right fabric is key

Quick and easy

Sandra has another quick & easy idea for you to make: posies

Make wicker baskets the easy no-weave way

If you thought making wicker baskets meant tackling tricky, waxed linen cord then think again. Judy has come up with an easier way

Mini air plants — fun to make

Air plants require little maintenance in a full-size home so they shouldn’t cause any problems when you add them to your doll’s house

Tear up egg cartons to make a brick fireplace

Jodi uses old egg cartons, torn up and painted, to create the brickwork for her fireplace and then adds that to a foam core base

Baking in progress in your mini kitchen

Deri creates a worktop scene of chocolate croissants being made. Add your own personal touches and use her ideas to create a busy kitchen display

Quick and easy

Sandra discovers some fun wooden house fronts that you can transform easily

Art studio is a perfect gift to lifelong friend

Quarantine has inspired many artists to create beautiful work, and that’s exactly what Kelly Little has done with this roombox made with her heart and soul

Agnes loves tiny, secret world she’s discovered

We chat with Agnes Horvath of Aggies Miniatures. She works 16 hours a day, with no days off, making minis and selling a new invention. And she couldn’t be happier

Izabela loves details in flowers and minis

We meet Izabela Kononowicz who tells us about her love for miniatures and how the passion for the hobby has given her the strength to keep fighting her cancer

Bird boxes began Alan’s love of working in wood

Alan Cottington, who describes himself ‘a miniature woodturning addict’, creates beautiful little pieces with the help of big Betsy in his crowded shed

Annmarie named Manor in honour of Olympics

The year Annmarie LaBella was working on the broadcasting team for NBC Sports, covering the Centennial Olympics, just happened to be the year she bought a new doll’s house

Happy ending for Suffolk House after a long wait

When Valerie bought an old house she had to wait a while to start work on it but she’s kept it shabby and filled it with happy people

Jane has tower power creating tiny castle

Jane Crosland had a steep learning curve when she started on a card kit designed for model railways, but her efforts have paid off handsomely

show & tell

MAKERS SHOW THEIR WORK AND TALK ABOUT THEIR MINI LIFE

Jackie’s jewellery store sparkles with ideas

I am regularly left in awe at some

Brock House has such a warm, lived-in feel

Claire Mitchell’s eye for interiors is reflected everywhere in this beautiful house, and the attention to detail even extends into the garden

Wanda’s grocery store is loved by generations

This detailed grocery store, built in an orange crate, took a year to put together but its heritage has lasted for nearly thirty years

Painted conservatory in Ikea terrarium

ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHERE READERS SHARE PROJECTS THEY’RE PROUD OF, HOWEVER SMALL. EMAIL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO RICHARD@ASHDOWN.CO.UK

Mini gamble paid off for Streets Ahead

We talk to the team at one of the UK’s leading wholesale suppliers of doll’s houses and miniatures and find out what goes on behind the scenes

Knit a lovely shawl to drape over shoulders

Designed by Desna Tysoe, this delightful knit wrap would make a lovely gift and looks gorgeous around a lady’s shoulders in any doll’s house scene