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Apr 14, 2022

Artist Althea Crome to Appear at Patrons Club Event!

I'm thrilled to introduce artist and IGMA Fellow Althea Crome as the featured guest at our next D. Thomas Miniatures Patrons Club event on Thursday, April 21 at 7pm ET. Althea is best known for her incredible micro-knit sweaters which double as masterful works of art. (Photo: Courtesy of Althea Crome). Hit the "Learn More" button below for more information about becoming a member!


Members will hear about Althea's journey as an artist and see some of her incredible work up close including her newest piece – a 1/12th scale hand-knit sweater (pictured at top) with over 50,000 individual stitches inspired by work by Vincent Van Gogh. The piece will make its formal debut at the upcoming Tom Bishop International Show in Chicago, later this month.

We'll also have a frank discussion about the continued struggle artists have to encourage folks to understand and acknowledge miniatures as works of fine art. This promises to be a wonderful event!

Current members can expect a link in the next few days. Not a member? Learn more about joining the D. Thomas Miniatures Patrons Club so you can gain access to exclusive events (like this!) while contributing to efforts to develop programming which supports the miniatures world including the popular Meet the Miniaturist livestreams!


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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!


Apr 11, 2022

10BestMinis: Happy Caturday!

#10BestMinis: Cats & Minis Edition!

You know what today is…so I found the #10BestMinis which feature felines and accounts you need to follow if you love #cats and #minis:


1. Miss Tibbs @missy.miniatures

3. The Amazing Moro @baytreedollhouses

4. Velvet the Cornish Rex @midlife_minis

7. Mia @bamaluzhome

8. Mainecoon Kittens @minipropertydeveloper

9. Pixie @mini_moderns 1

10. Cat in Room @tinysnowdropz



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#10BestMinis: Interior Design Edition!

I scoured the Gram this week and found the #10BestMinis with great spaces in miniature crafted by artists with some serious interior design skills! Oh, and I threw in a full size space just to show you how perfectly scaled the rest have been designed (can you tell which one it is?)

1. Regal red small space: Rosanne Brathwaite @suitecitywoman https://www.instagram.com/suitecitywoman

2. Tiny summertime fun: Teresa @theminibeachhouse https://www.instagram.com/theminibeac...

3. Delightful #DollDiorama by Micreabea from @micrea_miniature https://www.instagram.com/micrea_mini...

4. Uh-mazing art assemblage space: Yvette Driver from @littlepapa_dollhouse https://www.instagram.com/littlepapa_... with hand screened print of @davidbowie by @lukepantelidou

5. Conservatory creation: Cary Goodrich @cpgoodrich https://www.instagram.com/cpgoodrich/

6. Color expression of diminutive drama: Galina Abramova @mebeldliakukolok https://www.instagram.com/mebeldliaku...

7. Room of warm red tones: Marloes @minicouch https://www.instagram.com/minicouch/

8. In the mini groovy: Heidi @heidi_dollhouses ww.instagram.com/heidis_dollhouses/

9. Forever orange: Gemma @minimadehome https://www.instagram.com/minimadehome/

10. Casa Bancha by Kathleen B @smalltimedecorator https://www.instagram.com/smalltimede...


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#10BestMinis: Super Tiny Edition!

I scoured the internets this week and found the #10BestMinis which are super tiny to share as well as the artists and accounts you need to be following right now!

1. Grand mini piano by Miriam K @Tiny Rooms Therapy

2. Super small snake plant by Merriweather Miniatures

3. Vintage wee wheelchair by JF Creations

4. Tiny tall grandfather clock by Fran Sussman Some Like it Small Too

5. Barely-seen sheep by Ryan Todd Uncomfortable Creature

6. Pretty petite umbrellas @akiko.1512

7. Micro house by Irina Plakhotina @plazotinarina

8. Crazy small kitchen by Marina Paredes

9. Bitty baby carriages @iklefingz

10. Cozy Christmas chair by Dennis George @dagminiatures


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#10BrstMinis Week ending March 25, 2002

1. Pile of ashes (and butts) in tray by Gaetano Damiano https://www.instagram.com/nitros_diorama_custom/

2. Retro terrarium by Gemma https://www.instagram.com/minimadehome/

3. Classic water fountain by Jon Frier https://www.instagram.com/jon.frier/

4. Tufted comfy chair by Anna https://www.instagram.com/mama_mamadiorama/

5. Oh too Real Bison head by Maartje Ampts https://www.instagram.com/echo_taxidermy/

6. Mille-feuille in miniature by Misaki https://www.instagram.com/misaki_miniature/

9. Petite painted chest by Craig LaBenz https://www.instagram.com/craiglabenzminiatures/

10. Gallows for pencil necks by Rob Crouch https://www.instagram.com/robcrouch73/


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#10BestMinis Week Ending March 19, 2022

1. Classic riding play horse by Lydia Ricci instagram.com/lydia__ricci/ 2. Summer cooler with Sprite by Andreas Rousounelis instagram.com/rousounelis/ 3. Fab Felted Frenchie by Linda Facci instagram.com/faccidesigns/ 4. Sitcom Etch-a-Sketch by Ryan Monahan instagram.com/what_thehell/ 5. Plated flan by Juan A from instagram.com/espacioenminiatura/ 6. Essential fashion brands by instagram.com/littlebutterflydollhouse/ 7. Bucket of white lilies by instagram.com/mofutamofuko/ 8. Portrait of cat royalty by Masaya Okada instagram.com/masaya_okada/ 9. Still life fruit and flowers by Irina Borisova instagram.com/polimlrina75/ 10. Uggs Patrizia Santi instagram.com/patriziasantiminiature/


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#10BestMinis Week ending March 11, 2022:

1. Undersized tufted lazy boy by Instagram.com/signesmini

2. Cruelty-free taxidermy by Instagram.com/vanalan_miniatures

3. Washed up coin operated laundry machines by instagram.com/masayuki_haga 4.

4.Babydoll by Instagram.com/karensminibears

5. Urban graffiti tableau by instagram.com/okyell

6. Tiny camper by the tree by David Davydov instagram.com/michael_davydov_/

7. Bath essential by Instagram.com/rebeccamade

8. Pantry under the stairs by Julie from https://www.instagram.com/little_bits_n_pieces_by_julie/

9. Wine themed shadowbox by Instagram.com/lilliputtreasures

10. Assortment of self-portraits by instagram.com/cosmechurrucaminis/



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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!

Apr 5, 2022

How to Sell Your Adored Miniatures

Are you looking to sell your adored collection of miniatures? Join my free webinar on Saturday, April 23 at 10am ET when I will talk about all of your options if you are interested in selling your adored collection.

Perhaps you are downsizing your assortment or looking to make room for more miniatures (who knew little things take up so much space?!). Maybe you are helping a friend or family member find happy homes for their miniatures or looking to make sure that your collection is ushered into the right hands after you’ve moved on to a bigger and better mini world!

I'm excited to be sharing my knowledge of the options you have for guiding your collections to a protected and cherished home while answering as many of the questions you might have about best ways of handling your adored treasures.



While my seminar will take you through all of your options for selling your collection, you may decide to choose my services. Here is a bit more about me and my experience selling miniatures:


I’ve been a passionate about miniatures virtually my entire life. While I collect and craft miniatures as a hobby, I mostly promote and sell tiny treasures as a business. Over the years, I've developed a keen ability to connect collectors with buyers who share the same understanding of the love, dedication and hard work it takes to curate a personal collection of miniatures; I've learned how to join sellers with enthusiasts who share a common appreciation for the joy, respect and care that miniatures deserve. I’m often called a “Miniatures Empath” or the "Dollhouse Whisperer.”I'm excited to be sharing my knowledge of the options you have for guiding your collections to a protected and cherished home while answering as many of the questions you might have about best ways of handling your adored treasures.

Miniatures are so often misunderstood and dismissed as “toys” or mere “playthings” and sellers want to ensure that their estates are handled with the proper care and respect they deserve. Through the process of learning about the collectors and their collections, I find out about their specific passions, their favorite artists and where they made their discoveries. I ask questions and create an emotional connection while developing strong relationships with my clients, building trust and providing comfort in knowing that their collections will end in the right hands. Photo Above: Fall 2021 Buckalter Estate Sale)

A few years ago, I worked with the family of a miniature collector. I learned that the collector was born in Philadelphia, was the wife of a prominent businessman and that she spent over 50 years putting together her collection. I discovered that a portion of her collection was gifted and exhibited in an East Coast museum and that it appeared on the cover of a miniatures magazine.

It was terrific to meet with the granddaughter and great granddaughter to review the collection and talk about bringing it to market. They were excited to know that I would care for it as much for it as their grandmother did.

The balance of the collection consisted of, among other objects, miniature metal, pottery, flowers, and a pair of oversized, hand-crafted, antique hardwood secretaries. Through research, I found the original gallery in New York City which handled the sale of the piece and discovered that it was quite a rare object. When I began the auction, I connected with a buyer who had been looking for a similar piece for a long time and was thrilled when she discovered one had existed. She was overjoyed as the winning bidder!

More recently I connected with a woman who was handling the estate of her sister who had passed several years ago. Her sister was an avid collector with a passion for food miniatures and had commissioned and purchased an extensive assortment of fine scaled polymer clay bakery and confectionary pieces.

This included individual cakes and cookies as well as vignettes overflowing with scrumptious treasures created by artists like Mary Broaddus and Kim Saulter.

My client expressed how delighted she was that her sister’s collection would be treasured, cared for and loved as much as her sister loved them. I’m still working on finding new homes for this wonderful collection!

I do love the miniatures world but what I think I love most is how it can bring people together through a shared love of tiny objects and respect for the craft.



This is a reprint of my feature in the March 2021 issue of Dollshouse and Miniature Scene magazine.

I look forward to seeing you all at my upcoming seminar!

See you there!


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Be sure to sign up at www.dthomasfineminiatures.com so you never miss event updates a and follow me on my social media channels here: https://bit.ly/DThomasLink


Thank you for being a part of the D. Thomas Miniatures community!


- Darren

D. Thomas Miniatures

SMALL TALK * ESTATE SALES * GALLERY


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