Step by Step.

 "There is no one giant step that does it, it's a lot of little steps". Peter A. Cohen

I have never done a work in progress like you see on blogs a lot. Step by painful step.
But might as well do one for the record.

This is a Trompe L'oeil called Le Pate after Jean Baptiste Oudry. I had done this one years and years ago but this was a request so did it again. Have to admit I have not painted in a few years so, something different. Keeps the old brain from getting tics, hopefully...

This one below was done long ago and I found it  on Google. Not the best lighting. For sure, it was not that yellow. I would love to see them side by side. See how close I came each time...

Let me know what you think. 
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Mini Love,

TEN Tips for Finding the BEST Miniatures in Your Pajamas. (and at a bargain)

I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best. Oscar Wilde

You don't need the expense of traveling to miniature shows when the very best miniatures are no farther than your keyboard. We all came to earth with gifts and one of mine I know for sure is that I can find the best things in just about anyplace. And I know who has what gift. So when it comes to miniatures I am pretty good at ferreting out great stuff. To add to my own collection. And here are some tips to help you find treasures of your own:

1) Don't Overlook Ebay.
There are wonderful artisan miniatures available there every day often going for way below original cost. Check under 'Artist Offerings" in Dollhouse Miniatures (under Dolls and Bears). But don't neglect the larger category because many things there are not followed by most.

2) Check out the Artisan.
If you see something on a popular miniature website and are not thrilled with the prices, go directly to the artisan (Google) You may well get the better price. Plus you can find wonderful things from artisans who might not be dealers at the shows you attend.

3) Auctions.
For years I thought I would never be able to afford the wonderful miniatures that were coming up for auction. I did not even know how to sort out bidding on those auctions. So, sadly, I passed up bidding. Eventually when an auction got to be too tempting, I jumped in.  While things are usually sold in lots and you might be interested in only one item, charge in and get the lot. You can later sell off the unwanted bits and in the end come out ahead with your prized item costing nothing.

4) ETSY.
While I find ETSY to have a lot of miniatures less than top, artisan quality (lots of decal-ed plates and crockery, computer printed books, paper watering cans etc), there are quality pieces there, you just have to look.  As new artisans emerge with wonderful things you can score amazing miniatures for great prices. These artisans eventually move on for some reason, often showing up on eBay where there is great competition for their work. Strike while the iron is hot. (And hey, nothing wrong with decals and computer printed stuff, I use and make it myself,  but that stuff will not bulk up the pocketbooks of your heirs)

5) THE CAMP. 
This is a Yahoo group consisting of over 1800 members at the time of this writing. Its a great place to share anything about miniatures and ask for help with your projects or locating a item. Lots of help from many well informed artisans and collectors. When one finds something fabulous it gets shared and you can find great deals and great artisans by word of mouth. I believe it to be the ultimate miniature online group. Join HERE.

6) Facebook. 
While not for everyone because I have heard that joining scares some people into believing their information might be shared, its still one of the biggest if not the biggest social media sites. There are many miniature groups there and you will find wonderfully talented artisans coming out of the woodwork from all over the world and many sell their work. I would start with IGMA: The International Guild of Miniature Artisans.Go HERE.

7) Pinterest.
Another social media venue full and I mean FULL of miniature eye candy. Again, you can find wonderful creators of minis there and many do sell their work. You can also leave a message asking to place an order.

8) Blogs.
Yes, there are millions of blogs these days. Just another sign of the times that the internet is where it's at. It can happen this way; you find something on Pinterest that links to a blog. That blog lists favorite blogs they happen to follow - miniature related, of course, and you can scroll through several at a sitting, see what the owner is doing and how they do it. Many show step by step photos of their own personal projects. But in and among this information is reference to items they collected and where to find the artisan.
 
9) Show schedules with dealer links.
Whether you go to shows or not, you can always visit the show's website. There posted are dealers for upcoming shows with links directly to the artisans. Click around and you will find something to please you in your budget directly from the artisan. Since you saved a pile of money not traveling to the show, spend away.
 
10) And last but not least THE IGMA Fine Miniatures Forum. This is an online forum of the very finest miniatures but anyone is welcome to view and post their work. You need not be a member to participate. But once there, you may well be inclined to be part of a group promoting miniatures as an art form. Which indeed they are. Check it out.

Did I miss anything? Found anything wonderful yourself off the beaten path? 
Tell all below.

Perfecting the Art of Customer Service, (or how not to treat your customers.)

"Take good care of your customers and they will take care of you".
 Biju Paulose

I am a miniature artisan and I do sell my work and have been selling it for over 30 years.  I pride myself on the quality of customer service I deliver.  I have rarely had an issue with anything I have made, so, grateful for that. Rarely, something arrives broken and I either repair or refund according to my customer's desire. Once a customer, who purchased something years, YEARS, earlier told me that a piece had warped and I actually gave them a full refund. A pricey piece. And, yes, they did return the item.  Miniaturists tend to be so pleasant and always happy with their purchase because miniatures so delight in them and making a customer happy is pretty much THE NAME OF THE GAME.

BUT I am also an avid collector and have been for even longer.  In all that time in dealing with artisans and dealers at shows and through catalogs and now via the Internet I have to say that miniaturists in the business of selling miniatures are the nicest, sweetest and happiest of business people. I don't think many of you could disagree.

Way back a good many years ago I did run into a less than pleasant dealer at a show.  She was not nice and I never purchased from her again. But recently I have run into a few nasties and thought I just might out them here.  I hope its not some kind of Karma following me. I tend to be a picky consumer. And I have every right to be. Maybe its just some sellers think they know better than their customers.

I purchased some flowers from an online miniature show and when they arrived they were not much like the photo, very messy and sloppy and well, I let the 'artisan' know. She went crazy. First telling me how wonderful everyone thinks she is, then turning it up to disparage my work and then for some odd reason IGMA as well.  Then claimed she was reporting me to IGMA so they could revoke my Fellow status. Remember here, it was me who was the CUSTOMER. She gave me one day to return them and would then refuse the return and my refund. I figured I had better steer clear of crazy. I have plans for those flowers...

Next comes a doll maker. In fairness, I purchased the doll a few years ago. It arrived broken and I suspected something was wrong with either the polymer clay or the baking time. I let the seller know and she did offer to fix it, but it was an easy fix and easily hidden so I fixed it myself. Problem was it broke every time it was touched. I have had it lying around for all these years and finally contacted the seller. Who said she would make me another one if I paid for it. A bit testy, too, I might add. We went back and forth and finally I came here to post this. I am unhappy. I will never be a customer for either of these two ever again. Serious examples of BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE.  I have had other dolls break and the makers happily fixed them and for FREE and guess what? I went on to purchase more dolls from them both.

 If you are not a fan of great consumer service, then you are not a fan of business ultimately not making you a fan of money. K. Abernathy

What's wrong with, "I am sorry you are not satisfied. Please return the item"?

How about you? Any frightful experiences? Do tell. 
And do you think I should post photos? Call them out by name? Surely they deserve it.

*** I welcome your comments, but if you post anonymously as a troll or claim to know the parties involved, your comments will be deleted. 
This blog is about CUSTOMER SERVICE.  Not individuals which is why they are not named.

Here's a great video about bad customer service. Consumers of anything deserve to get what they pay for, be satisfied and not treated like shit. Enjoy.

WHY ?

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how"  Friedrich Nietzsche

I'm in a bad mood today so I'm really glad I have miniatures.  Mention just about anything and it will piss me off.  Right now I am thinking about those dismissive people who think miniatures are toys for little girls.  And right now I can see their eyes glaze over. Or roll. And right now I'd like to see their eyes rolling under my desk.

Simon Sinek says, "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."

I make miniatures (and sell them) because I get up in the morning and can't wait to get into my studio and create something. I love the creative process. I love designing a miniature and going bit by bit through the process taking the twists and turns until something that pleases me comes out.  And thankfully my customers are pleased as well. I love taking a blah piece and transforming it into something beautiful and unique.  I consider what I do making art. And miniatures are my medium.

Right now Halloween is on the way. So right now I am transforming my stash of commercial, yes, commercial, 1:12 scale chairs into something spooky in honor of the season. Which is by the way, one of my favorites.

So inspired by my favorite holiday and my love of creepy things I express myself through my art. How is that any different than any other more 'lofty' art?  No different.

 

I am also discovering new abilities and improving on old ones in trying to wrangle fabrics to lay believably on the tiny chairs, unearthing new mediums for sculpting, improving my sculpting, and maneuvering images in my photo software into images that will work in 1:12 scale and give the impression of 'eerie'.  I have yet to tackle Photoshop but its on my bucket list. 

Am I expert at any of this?  I am not. There are far better sculptors, far, far better upholstery geniuses and far better digital artists.  Will you see my original one of a kind pieces coming and going? You will not.  Am I having fun? You bet your ass.

This is art. It is MY art. And only one aspect of it. It is miniature and you can put it in a doll house. And you don't have to like it. But don't you dare turn your nose up.

So, what do you do and why do you do it?  Do you think miniatures can be considered ART?  Put your thoughts below.

And oh, by the way, if you like this blog, please share it.
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An Adventure in the Search for Miniature Treasure

"I ransack public libraries, and find them full of sunk treasure." Virginia Woolf

I have recently been ransacking myself.  Not in a library, but rather at the IGMA Show held annually in August in Teaneck NJ.  And not in a search for books but in my constant quest for the best miniatures.  And lo and behold they there were.

But I am not talking about the show exactly - which is in fact a treasure trove of exceptional miniatures crafted by the very best artisans. I am talking about the silent auction that has been held at the show for years and years. The problem was I always ignored it because I could not allow myself to miss the treasures in the show room.  

It was only at last years show that I meandered around the silent auction table and put down a few bids. The thrill of discovering the riches lying there got my heart fluttering. And winning, well, even more thrilling.  And more fluttering. So back I went this year and here are some my fabulous finds.

Dont be jealous. You could have been there too.

Wonderful Wash Tub, obviously artisan make, maker unknown.

Copper cooking pot with stand for fireplace cooking with copper and brass spoon.

Lovely and delicate turned wooden bowl, beautiful

Hand Carved wooden Utensils

Brass moveable Colonial candle stand

Leather covered canteen. Well done!

Look! the cap comes off.

Backgammon Game.

Comes in a beautiful wooden case.

Gorgeous  multi-leveled  sewing box

Sewing box opened. And partially filled with some sewing supplies.

These are all original artisan pieces can't you tell? Totally amazing and gotten for a song. I am perfectly thrilled with myself. The worst part is I missed so many opportunities in the past. I'll just have to console myself with my treasures here and now.  One other thing, the only signed piece here was the cooper cooking pot, signed with an S. So I have no idea who might have made any of this. Such a shame because the makers are lost to history now. (Sign your work!!)

How about you? Find anything awesome unexpectedly? Tell me about it in the comments below.

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Flora Gill Jacobs, Serendipity and A Prepared Mind

Serendipity: Accidentally finding something wonderful while not looking for it.  Adriana Law

One of my first encounters with an expert in collectible dolls' houses and miniatures was Flora Gill Jacobs. I purchased her first book early on in my miniature collecting days, back in the early 80's.  And although her books focus on antique dolls' houses, skimming the book was certainly an education in the history of miniatures.

In fact, I was delighted to discover the existence of a primitive doll house made in the 1700's right here in the Bronx via Flora's book. The house was adorable in the photo so I made my way to the  Van Cortlandt Mansion Museum where the doll house was stored in the house's attic at that time. The guard let me behind the rope to measure the house and see all sides and I recreated the house in miniature. That would never happen today. The house has been moved into the children's room since the trust spruced up the place some time since I saw it. The day I went the place was empty and no one seemed to care much, probably because NYC was in financial trouble. Come to think of it, back then most museums were empty because the city was considered a dangerous one. Now they are mobbed, so I guess I miss those dangerous days.

This is a shot of the house taken from the museum's website video. 

So that was my relationship with Flora. I knew she owned a museum, The Washington Dolls' House and Toy Museum,  dedicated to antique toys, dolls and dolls' houses and unfortunately I never went to visit.  I was not really interested in antique miniatures and had seen plenty here and in the UK.  But of course, I met Flora at miniature shows and purchased one of her children's books for my daughter.

I managed to purchase several lots from the Adell Venus Estate auction (which btw, had one of the van Cortlandt miniature doll houses of mine) and in among the lots I wanted were quite a few antique pieces which I did not want, so on eBay they went. Clueless as to what they were I was shocked at the prices the pieces garnered. Shocked. And happy.

So while everyone was in Chicago at the big miniature show in April this year, I was sitting at my computer or on an iPad watching the Flora Gill Jacobs Auction of her personal collection presented by Noel Barrett. The stuff I recognized as desirable went for out of my budget  prices as I was buying for resale so did not want to overspend.  I knew that those who know were watching that auction and buying. And some affordable lots slipped way because my internet bid did not go through.

Nevertheless, I managed to secure a few lots and will certainly keep a few things since they came out of such an historic collection. Below are some photos of my wins.

Early Kitchen with ceramic and pewter accessories - late 19th early 20th Century

 

Early German Bathroom Set

Cleaning Brush Holder

This is a bin for onions, so says the lettering in German

The above items are from a German tin kitchen possibly made by the Marklin company.
These are much larger than the usual 1:12 scale items we are used to today and I think the kitchens came in a variety of sizes. After awhile the charm of these very old miniatures, made to be playthings start to grow on you. While I will resist with all my might, I would not mind having an antique doll house filled with these captivating miniatures.  I do love antiques because there is so much wonder in imagining who used them and what their lives were like and that certainly applies to dolls' houses.

"In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur.

While luck was not always with me I was aware of those pieces I discovered to be desirable by collectors and did catch a few. While not hysterically profitable, those early porcelain pieces do fairly well possibly because they got lost over time. They are kind of clunky and crude but again, charming.

Below is an actual working oil lamp. Imagine giving that to a child today? You'd be arrested for child endangerment. (And I'll bet not a few doll houses caught on fire.)

Ernst Plank Painted Tin Wash Stand C. 1890

Tobacco Rug - Cigarette Premium c. 1900

 I know those tobacco rugs are very easy to come by but the several I got are the first I have ever handled. They are actually quite nice.

My favorite lot of all is the desk set below. This one is definitely 1:12 scale and reminds me of the set found in Queen Mary's Doll House in Windsor Castle. I know nothing about it except its wonderful and hopefully from that time period. The calendar is not part of the set, but at one time lived its life as a key chain. It works, too.

I would appreciate any information about these items. While Flora wrote extensively about the antique dolls' houses she discovered she left very little information regarding the furnishings and accessories.

The Elephant in The Room

"Nature's great masterpiece, an Elephant; the only harmless great thing." John Donne


I can't begin to tell you how much I love elephants and I can't begin to tell you how often I have loved seeing art made out of ivory. And I'll bet I'm not the only one.

One of my favorite museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, has incredible things carved in the most intricate detail out of ivory. Certainly there are collections worldwide. I don't believe any of them have any inclination to rid themselves of their ivory masterpieces. Even though the killing of elephants for ivory is a travesty.  Something that is more in our consciousness now, when in the fairly recent past I think it fair to say we all took ivory for granted and never questioned how it came to be the artifact we so admire.

Ivory Memento Mori  Rosary Circa 1500 - Metropolitan Museum of Art

So what does one do when one loves elephants and owns beautiful things made of ivory?
I don't have an answer. Ivory miniatures and ivory used in making miniatures are centuries old.  And we love them. But the very sad fact remains that today love for ivory is not helping elephants. 


This piece is about ivory miniatures that I want to share here. I wish I could say they were made from the tusks of my pet elephant who passed away in sleep after a very long and happy life. Who lived out on the African plain with family and who came to visit me once a day to be petted. But I can say that the magnificent miniature pipes below came from ivory scraps used in restorations and subsequently sold on eBay. Where the selling of ivory is now banned. 

Enjoy the photos and think about the elephants who gave it.

All these meerschaum pipes are carved by Cliff Feltrope. They came out of the Adell Venus auction and they are breathtaking. Hard to believe they were made by human hands. With help from elephants of course.

Hand Carved Meerschaum Pipe by Cliff Feltrope

 

 

 

 

This meerschaum pipe by Cliff Feltrope has a gold helmet that opens.

The following photos are some other ivory miniatures in my collection. I was told that the tiny netsuke came from mammoth ivory so thought they were OK to buy.  The tiny animals are antiques. The snuff bottles, which have removable tops, were done by Ligia Durstenfeld.

I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding this touchy subject. Please comment below.

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