Creatin' Contest Winners Appear on Meet the Miniaturist!

I was thrilled to host a special Meet the Miniaturist featuring winners from the annual HBS/Miniatures.com annual Creatin' Contest on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 4pm ET. The replay is available now to watch here.

For the last several decades, Miniatures.com has sponsored an annual contest to challenge makers everywhere to design and build a miniature structure starting only with a single kit. This year, makers began with 3 walls and a floor and the end results were astonishing!

This broadcast included interviews with several winners of this year's completion including Cathy Jones (pictured above) from Jones.4.art on Instagram who came away as Grand Prize Winner for The Art Gallery, an awesome 2 story structure filled with small scale reproductions of full scale artwork on display made her family of artists including her daughter and mother!

This is the first time Ms. Jones has crafted a piece for the competition and she has already started work on her entry for the next contest!

We also got to chat with Gina Zetts, from Letties Dollhouse on Instagram who received Honorable Mention for Botanist’s Folly, an incredible 1/12 scale environment featuring tall leaded glass windows, an multiple drawer apothecary cabinet and shelves filled with jars, books and potions. Gina is a 4th time champion in this contest and is a (full size) glass sculpture artist, educator and museum worker from Richmond, California. If her name sounds familiar, you may remember we had Gina on last year for her previous Creatin' Contest win for the miniature glass shop she created and won Honorable Mention for.

And finally, we had a terrific chat with Kait Moran from Acorn for Elms on Instagram who hails from Massachussets and created The Antique Shop inspired by the family owned business which she has worked at for over 20 years. The miniature replica is filled with memories and miniatures owned by those she has lost over the years and has become a source of comfort for her after breaking both legs and dealing with Covid over the past few years!

This was a terrific Meet the Miniaturist - we look forward to seeing more work from crafters and creators everywhere when the winners of the next Creatin' Contest are announced in 2023!

A big thank you to HBS/Miniatures.com for sponsoring this event. Miniatures.com is an Atlanta-based company that has been exciting and delighting makers and enthusiasts everywhere with hobby and building supples and materials since 1975! Their annual Creatin' Contest encourages makers from around the world to craft wonderful work!

###

Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!

#FindTheJoyInMiniatures

#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

#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/

7. Tiny Tagging https://www.instagram.com/le_ptit_train_de_psl/

8. Small still life by Greta Na https://www.instagram.com/greta_ancientclayfactory/

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/

#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/

#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/

###

Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!

#FindTheJoyInMiniatures

Selling Your Miniatures Collection and Finding Happy New Homes for Them!

I’m a miniatures empath; Some may call me the "Dollhouse Whisper". I’m able to guide, manage and calm collectors and their families once the important decision has been made to sell a treasured collection. I also connect collections with collectors to ensure that a prized assortment of miniatures find “happy new homes” where they can equal delight and be fully appreciated while honoring the memories the original owners and artists. Hit the link below to register for my next free webinar about how to best go about selling your adored collection of miniatures, I'll take you through 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!

(Photo Above: Work by Neil Corkin from my Buckalter Estate Sale (Fall 2021)

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.

After one estate sale, my client (Jill S.) had this to say when I told her we found new homes for all of her aunt's treasures (and exceeding all sales expectations!) "Wow! That's incredible! You have the magic touch and inspiration for this special mini-world! Thank you so much!"

I'm excited to be sharing my knowledge a about 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. click the link below to join my upcoming webinar or feel free to reach out by phone 914 - 548 - 1984 or email!

Photo: Collection of Miniatures from the Buckalter Estate from my Fall 2021 Auction

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 so 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 and to usher the pieces into the hands of those who would have an appreciation for and understanding of its value including the time and energy it took to curate the collection.

Photo Above: Evelyn Proper Strouse Collection/Estate Sale 2020

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!

Photo Above/Below: Donna Kabbas/Debbie Kabbas Estate Sale Early 2020

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.

Join me for a free talk about how to best manage your adored miniatures collection when thinking about making it ready for sale (or for donation!) on Saturday, April 23 at 10am ET via Zoom.

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

#FindTheJoyInMiniatures

###