Dear Reader,

It is once again my privilege to welcome you to the October edition of the ground breaking AIM Magazine.  This month AIM members have chosen to celebrate a very special lady in our lives; Granny!

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! 

Bea Broadwood

Editor (& general whip cracker)
www.petite-properties.com
October 2011

"Granny's House"

Issue 38 - October 2011

A Note from the Editor - AIM imag September 2011

Dear Reader,

As a busy summer slips quietly into an exciting autumn, it is once again my pleasure to introduce this latest ‘food filled’ edition of the AIM magazine.

Over the summer I have personally enjoyed a very special family celebration, one which has reinforced to me that there is indeed no greater pleasure in life that to able to sit down and share a leisurely meal with family and good friends and it seems that the highly talented members of AIM agree!



This month AIM members have collectively chosen to focus on our theme:  ‘Come dine with us..!’ and together they have filled the pages of this very special September issue with a stunning celebration of entertaining ‘in miniature’.

The pages of this new issue are crammed full of inspiration and ideas for the international miniature diner!  So whether you are planning to create a realistic dining setting in your dolls house or you simply want to bring a kitchen scene to life with stunning, mouth watering food; look no further we have it all!

This new September edition of the ground breaking AIM magazine is also awash with many fabulous free projects for you to try your hand at, from printable plates (in three scales) on pages 16 and 47 to creating a stunningly realistic salad without the use of clay on page 52!  In short there is something for every miniaturist to try!

So as you enjoy the last of the summer sunshine, why not put your feet up and come dine with us!

Bea Broadwood

Editor (& general whip cracker)
www.petite-properties.com
September 2011

"Come Dine With Us!"

Issue 37 - September 2011

click on the cover to read the latest issue!

Meet our Members - Jean and John Day

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, I  made 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.

Jean Day jday1@shaw.ca and jlday@shaw.ca
Jean Day Miniatures http://jdayminis.com
Jean Day Blog Spot http://jdayminis.blogspot.com/
Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/jdayminis
eBay store http://stores.ebay.com/J-Day-Minis
Miniature Only Auctions http://miniaturesonly.kaqoo.com

The Miss Mouse Teapot House

by Barbara Del Duco - printies.homestead.com

A half-inch scale printable (printie) teapot house available to purchase and download here.

With over 100 pages of graphics and instructions the Teapot Mouse House, with it's very own specially designed interior decoration, is easily and strongly constructed by applying the printies to your own cardboard, foamboard and card.

for price, more information and photos please visit Barbara's website...

printies.homestead.com