Kat Hazelton, also known as Kat The Hat Lady has been a Milliner for over 14 years. Kat designs and make hats ranging from 1:12 scale (dolls house), to full size hats, headdresses and Fascinators. Kat creates her hats using her own hat blocks and patterns and spends a great deal of time researching millinery in old books, fashion plates, and visiting libraries and museums. Kat makes all sorts of hats from historically themed hats to fantasy hats for the discerning 12th scale witch.
Kat's hats are available in her Etsy Shop which will open again after her summer vacation on the 22nd August
Kay from Kays Mini Dolls has been telling us at AIM how much she has enjoyed repainting and dressing BJD dolls. Kay explains;
"I have been making costumes and doing repaints on the large BJD fashion dolls for a while now along with making miniature costumed porcelain dolls. I looked into moulds for the ball jointed miniature porcelain dolls but they are VERY expensive and I HATE stringing dolls. A few weeks ago I discovered the Heidi Ott miniature ball jointed doll! Of course I bought a few and started the repainting process as the factory paint was nice but not as I wanted it. That accomplished I began making patterns for removable historical and very fancy costumes. Many paper towel patterns and mock-up costumes later, I was finally able to complete two costumes and underwear and two hats. These little BJD dolls are such a delight to pose!"
I'm sure you will agree with us that Kay's work is truly lovely!
Kay's wonderful work can be purchased from her website www.kaysminidolls.com or from Ebay under the seller name of little_bluestudio.
Wouldn’t the lady dolls in any doll’s house covet these tiny handbags – just launched in kit form by Janet Granger. There are eight designs available altogether, to be stitched on either 32 or 40 count silk gauze, depending on the design, using tent stitch (like half cross stitch).
The series covers day bags and evening bags, for several different historical eras. There’s even an Art Deco one called ‘Jazz Age’.
Each handbag kit contains a piece of silk gauze (32 or 40), Anchor stranded cotton threads, a colour block chart (the design is not printed on the fabric), detailed instructions, suitable needles, a tiny bead for the closure, beading thread, and fine gold thread for the handle. The bags measure approximately seven eighths of an inch across, when finished.
If you are a beginner to mini-stitching and are unsure as to whether you would be able to make one of these handbags, why not have a look at the free online tutorial section of Janet’s website first? It guides you through every stage of stitching and finishing the kit, with detailed photos to show you exactly what you need to do. You'll see just how easy they are to make!
Ann crochets the most delightful 24th and 12th scale accessories and also sells over 300 patterns or kits, yarns and crochet hooks for you to have a go at miniature crochet and knitting yourself. If you are new to Crocheting in miniature, you will find free Crochet Patterns featured in Ann's Newsletters.
If you don't want to knit or crochet yourself, then Ann is happy to take 12th or 24th scale commissions for any crocheted items not listed, just send her an email through her website at;
For me the rhythmical ticking of a cuckoo clock, 'gold top' milk, sherbet lemon sweets and the comforting smell of a dinner roasting in the oven all bring back an ocean of wonderful memories of my much loved Nanna...
In the miniature world our shared nostalgia for past times and our treasured recollections of days gone by often in turn become our silent muse, inspiring the miniatures which we love to collect or make.
In the modern minature world, scenes, settings and locations from our past are fast becoming a popular starting point for our new miniature projects. Indeed it seems that for many, submersing ourselves in the miniature world allows us to create tangible recreations of our own personal memories.
Since the birth of the internet there has been an ever increasing interest in genealogy and researching our personal family tree is now common place. For those of us in the miniature world there is also an obvious cross over between our nostalgic memories and discoveries of our own personal past and our (enviable) ability to recreate them in three dimensional form in the present.
I personally am no exception to this kind of inspiration as I have recently been working on small scale kits which reflect furniture or homes which were present in my own personal childhood. So if you are considering recreating 'Granny's house' you need look no further!! AIM members have filled the pages of this issue with myriad ideas, inspiration and countless projects that just might help you bring your own memories back to life!
Louise of Angelique would love to hear your feedback, both on the blog and the doll so please feel free to leave a comment on the blog if you would like to.
In 1981, when a certain prince’s mother walked down the aisle of St. Paul’s Cathedral, despite being only nine, I sat for the duration of that historic royal wedding with my nose twelve inches from the television screen, utterly mesmerised. So you can imagine my excitement when the news was announced that there was to be another royal wedding and it seems I was not alone!
In the weeks leading up to this April issue, AIM members have also been captivated by the sense of anticipation and excitement that has been generated by the imminent Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, due to be held later this month.
However, as with any professional media publication the themes which the AIM magazine’s issues are built around, are voted upon and intricately planned months in advance, but, from time to time the real world interrupts the harmonious ebb and flow of the world of miniatures and when it does it is fun to respond. Therefore, as we are a ‘real’ time publication, the AIM editorial team decided that we must ‘seize the mood of the moment’ and transform our April issue into a veritable celebration of the forthcoming royal nuptials.
So this month the AIM imag is ‘a tale of two halves’ as alongside our Royal Wedding inspired features, we also take a closer look at ‘add on’ or additional rooms of the home. From the history of conservatories to the quiet solitude of the humble out door loo, AIM members have provided articles, features and projects, which we hope will inspire you.
Our ‘Royal Wedding’ pages are packed with AIM member’s miniature interpretations and predictions for the big day. So much so that I think it is fair to say that it seems deep down everyone loves a ‘love story’ and everyone loves a good wedding! Combine that wedding with the ‘fairytale’ element and it leaves the hopeless romantics amongst us collectively reaching for the union jack bunting.
So…Where will I be on the 29th?
The same place I was in 1981: twelve inches from the television screen, armed with a full box of tissues, quietly surrounded by copious amounts of union jack bunting.
AIM member Louise Goldsborough of Angelique Miniatures has posted a review on her blog showing just some of her favourite projects of 2010! Just one of her creations is the Regency Era ensemble shown below...
I grew up surrounded by miniatures made by my mother, Jill Bennett. I have always loved making and designing clothes and after my marriage decided to stop working as a theatrical agent and embarked on a dressmaking and pattern-cutting course. I made clothes to order, specialising in women's tailoring, until the birth of my son and our move out of London. It became impossible to have large amounts of beautiful fabric in the house, especially after my daughter was born, so I scaled down and started dressing dolls for mum. She encouraged me to think about my own business and after a trip to Miniatura I became very excited about the 1/24th scale.
The dolls are cast in pewter with twisted steel joints, so that they are fully poseable and robust. They have painted faces and hands, shoes and hair. I enjoy making all periods and will happily make any doll to order. I use a variety of materials and am surprised at how adaptable the scale is. I try to make real people, capable of having a story all of their own, who look as if they live in their clothes.
Accessories
I now have a small range of accessories - cats, babies and some baskets - and hope to develop more in the future.
I love the 1/24th scale - it has a special charm all of its own.
My mother was a dressmaker by profession and my father a metalwork teacher who could make just about anything so I grew up in an environment where ‘hand made’ was normal. My childhood dolls house was a modern bungalow built by my father with my mothers help and I can remember sneaking downstairs and hearing them talking about tiling the roof not long before Christmas day arrived and it became my pride and joy. My older brother was banned from touching it but I could not stop our Persian cat from wedging herself into the sitting room on top of my precious furniture and magically she never damaged a single thing. I cannot remember exactly when I started to sew but it was definitely to make clothes for my dolls and of course as I grew up for myself.
Over the years I have made everything from soft toys, curtains, and loose covers to lingerie, fancy dress outfits, ballroom dresses and wedding gowns, but I had never contemplated making them in miniature until my enforced retirement allowed me to recapture the magic of owning a dolls house. I try to make my miniatures look and feel as realistic as possible whether to fit a doll or for display and am proud that they are sewn together with needle and thread. I do hope you will visit my website at...
...and enjoy looking through my photo album. I love making ‘one of a kind’ garments of all types and welcome a challenge so if you are looking for something special please contact me, Pauline Everett, by email at...
My husband John and I live in Victoria B.C. Canada.
After receiving my B.Ed in Art and B.F.A., I taught Art for a number of years. Before teaching I had worked at our Museum in the display department painting flora and fauna and helping to create dioramas. I painted Coats of Arms for a Heraldry Company and painted a number of the backdrops for the Miniature Museum here in Victoria. Weaving became a passion for me, for about twelve years and I gave workshops in tapestry weaving .
Then in 1980 I discovered Miniatures. We bought out a miniature shop and I started selling full line miniatures through my home and by mail order. This included my work with porcelain dolls, portrait dolls and original designs for teapots and figurines. I have given many workshops in most of the miniature arts from porcelain doll making and dressing to painting, fimo items and even a fairy theater. I sold at shows and through my mail order business which was called Daydream Miniatures.
More recently I was asked to display one of my miniature dolls at the Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec as an original Canadian doll artist, the show ran over five years so that was such an honour. I've also been delighted to have been featured in many publications. After many years looking over a magnifier my back kept acting up and I had to find some other miniatures to design. The computer was the answer, I started web designing and computer graphics mostly using Corel.
Brooke Tucker came to our studio to give a workshop and she thought I should write a miniature book. When she returned the following year to give another wonderful workshop, Imade her a miniature book instead and that was the start of my miniature book making in 2000.She was such an encouraging miniature artist.Making mini books turned out to be such a joy for me and has been a wonderful experience and a way to combine my love of collecting antique children's books, photo albums and miniatures. I broke my wrist in 2003 and couldn't make the mini books for a while and started designing fabric panel kits on the computer instead.I now sell miniature reproduction books and albums from my originals and fabric panel outfits for mini settings, quarter scale furniture and outfit kits, dolls in presentation box kits and many more items.
My husband now helps with my miniature business since he retired and I enjoy working full time with him, we are delighted to sell to dealers too in many locations. We really enjoy every minute of our mini lives together, it give us freedom to travel as well.I enjoy working on my blogs too and recently I have been offering a watercolour workshop using the techniques I enjoy for my mini and larger paintings. I'm very pleased to be a member of AIM.
As I sit here trying to write a piece about how it all started, I really do wonder where to begin… Looking back, I guess my whole life has been a preparation for doll making. I always knew I wanted to be an artist and as a child I spent many hours with my father in his studio drawing or painting. Following in his footsteps I attended Art College where I trained as a Graphic Designer/Illustrator for four years. filling my portfolio with many paintings of faces & fashion illustrations. I worked as a serious artist in the Advertising field, before leaving only to start a family some eight years later. With the birth of each of my children came beautiful Christening gifts, gifts which were hand-crafted by my father. The first was a Rocking Horse for Christian, the second gift, a dolls house for Rebecca was a very special gift indeed as it opened the door in to the wonderful world of miniatures for me. Doll making soon followed and if I am honest it was something I ‘knew’ I could do – however, with each newly completed piece I am continually amazed that it actually came from my own hand.
I sculpt in to the wet clay which originally came from a commercial mould and this is a constant struggle to me - yet an affirmation of my talents & skills. Painting is a time when I breathe life in to my dolls using special techniques I have developed during the 10 years I have been creating my dolls... which allow me to create life-like appearances. Only when I am entirely happy do I begin costuming preferring to use only vintage materials which somehow spill out of my numerous drawers in my studio. To me, doll-making, is such a multifaceted art form, thus it allows me the opportunity to utilise every skill I have within me to create a beautiful work of art. Very possibly the reason I cannot imagine doing anything else is because I find it deeply satisfying and I continue to grow as an artist as I keep searching and learning with each new piece… Lisa
Myself Sara Scales and my sister Kate Milton are who make up Minidreamz. Between us our skills are quite eclectic, Kate is the knitter and I have a go at everything. My main areas though are cross stitch and bead work and am aiming to move into crochet. I also like to work in felt for mini toys, cushions and and christmas bits. All our products are hand made. We are brand new to the business side and have only done to fairs to date but we are now hooked.
I am a contributer to Dolls House World magazine and recently have been given a monthly chat and project page. The first one of those is in this month coming (october edition). I have done my chat type page "Twelth Scales" yes I know its corny but it was their idea and also a cross stitch spooky castle picture and a trick or treat bag. Still waiting to see if they are going to use it all but i have been told I can have two pages.
I started dressing 1/12th scale dolls house dolls in 1986; from this I exhibited at Pudsey, Miniature and most north of England fairs since then I have exhibitedtwice a yearat Arnhem and also at Soest in Germany.
On Jan 2000 Istarted minis4all dolls house group on the internet which is still going strong, from this Istarted arranging weekends of workshops and also travel to clubs giving workshops.
Visit my website www.hazel-dowd.co.uk for dolls, gowns, hats, kits, miniature haberdashery patterns and tutorials.
Recently I started to work in conjunction with a friend making scenes and adding dolls to these, we work mostly from Victorian paintings.
To read the story behind the inspration and creation of these and other ballet costumes and dolls please visit Louise's blog - which now also offers an email subscription option at...
Miss Amelia has just added a new range of ornate hatstands to her collection. For more information on these and the latest designs in miniature millinery please visit
