Wednesday 30 November 2011

AIM Members Showcase ~ Miniatures by Pat Carlson



Introducing Pat Carlson and her beautifully detailed miniature books.

Pat has a variety of 12th scale books in her Etsy Store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Skywind

You can also find Pat's books online at http://patcarlsonminiatures.com/01MiniatureBooks.htm
and in her Ebay Store at  http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/skywind





Monday 28 November 2011

AIM Member Showcase ~ Buttercup Miniatures



Buttercup Miniatures are pleased to announce that the set of two 1:12th scale knitting patterns for a chair set for the drawing room are now complete.


Please note that items from BOTH patterns are shown on the photo above.

The first pattern includes the instructions for the floor rug, afghan/lap rug and cushion. The second pattern includes instructions for a tray cloth/runner, chair arm covers, plus covers (antimacassars) for chair back and settee back. Full details of materials required to knit the patterns and more photos are given on the links above.

Buttercup Miniatures   http://www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk



Thursday 24 November 2011

AIM Member Showcase ~ Kimmi Lou Miniatures



Kimberly of Kimmi Lou Miniatures makes the most exquisite 12th scale food. Here Kimberly explains that the board in the photos has all the makings of a yummy Sunday dinner, complete with a recipe for her mom's "recipe for life!"  A perfectly done roast, creamy mashed potatoes, and sliced cooked carrots and peas all ready to place on the table for dinner!  


You can view more of Kimberly's delicious creations on her blog at;




 


Monday 21 November 2011

AIM Member Showcase ~ Helena Bleeker



Introducing Helena Bleeker, a master at miniature knitting. In the above photo, Helena shares with us "Bella" and a lovely teddy bear made and dressed by a dear friend of hers in Belgium.




The "Connie" and “Bella” pattern above was knitted using the new Bio certified cotton from Venne Holland. Helena tells us that the thickness of the cotton is Nm 50/2 which places it exactly between the 34/2 and 70/2. This new thread knits up beautifully and shows the pattern in great detail. Helena stocks the full colour range available at the moment and the colour chart is now shown on her web site, which also shows the full range of Miniature Knitting patterns in 1/12 and 1/24 scale plus miniature knitting needles and threads. All the threads can be used for crochet and lace making as well, so why not pay Helena a visit at her website; 

Saturday 19 November 2011

December Advent Calendar

There will not be a December issue of the AIM Magazine instead
we are pleased to announce our yearly Advent Calendar will be
starting on 1st December via the AIM Website, 
visit every day and see some of the wonderful projects
our members have produced for you. 
We will be back with a New Years issue of the Magazine in January.

Thursday 17 November 2011

AIM Member Showcase ~ Janet Granger




Introducing AIM Member, Janet Granger of Janet Granger Designs. Janet has been selling miniature embroidery online since 1996 and her wonderful 12th scale Embroidery kits are superb.
Janet has just launched new twelfth scale needlepoint kits on her website, www.janetgranger.co.uk , so why not take a look? Both ranges are called 'Alice' - there is a minty green/beige colourway, and a blue/peach colourway to choose from. Each range comprises nine kits altogether. They can all be bought individually, but the photos below show them together, to tempt you!! The basic 'Alice' design is derived from a Victorian floral motif, but these soft furnishings would look great in a 'shabby chic' interior, too. For those of you who want to know these things, the design is called ‘Alice’, after a friend of Janet's who lives in Edinburgh!
The design is available in all these different types of kit: two sizes of carpet, cushion, round footstool, rectangular stool, dining chair, firescreen, bellpull and bolster cushion. The carpets are to be stitched on 18 count interlock canvas with Appleton’s crewel wool (chart packs are also available, if you’d prefer to make them in a different colourway or a different count of fabric). The cushion is to be stitched on 22 count canvas with two strands of Anchor stranded cotton. All the other kits are to be stitched on 32 count silk gauze, with one strand of Anchor.
Prices start at 4.50 GBP for the cushion kit, up to 21.50 GBP for the large carpet kit. Shipping is free, worldwide, on any order of 10 GBP or over. Under 10 GBP, a flat rate of 1.25 GBP per order applies.
So, why not treat your doll's house to a room decorated in a beautiful co-ordinating range of stitched soft furnishings?


Monday 14 November 2011

AIM Member Showcase ~ Christine Verstraete



Looking for a great book for your miniature projects? Then look no further than AIM Member Christine Verstraete who is offering her 'In Miniature Style II' book via eBook, Print, Kindle and other formats on her website http://www.cverstraete.com


With over 40 projects, including this Halloween Screen, you'll be sure to find something for your special project.




Thursday 10 November 2011

AIM Member Showcase ~ Suzane Herget




Suzane Herget has been interested in miniatures since a young age and has subsequently hand made miniature accessories for her daughters dolls house. In 1981, Suzanne was taught how to hand make Tatting and in 2007 she applied for and was awarded IGMA status. Around 2008, having moved to quarter scale, Suzane started to move into the area of doll making and made a series of dolls for an Anniversary Inn. Her Eliza Doolittle and friends seen above were some of her first creations and continue to be among her favorites.
Suzane sells her lovely work through her blog and enquiries can be made via email at petitentiny9@gmail.com

On Suzane's blog, you will find her beautifully made dresses and petite count embroidery. Suzane tells me she loves to create and is always happy to consider special orders. Throughout the month of November, Suzanne is offering a tiny, round doilie for sale. This doilie measures less than 1" across and is being offered for sale to worldwide customers.



Suzane's Blog can be found at petitentiny9 blogspot


Monday 7 November 2011

AIM Member Showcase ~ K J Dolls Houses



Kevin Jackson has been making unique miniature Tudor dollhouses for over 2 years.  What started out as a hobby has turned into a full-time occupation since he recently retired from building real houses at exhibitions; something he had done for 20 years.
No two houses are ever the same, as Kevin doesn’t follow any plans and the design of each house evolves as he works.  Each 12th scale house takes approximately 4-5 weeks to complete and costs anything from £750.00 to £3000.00 plus.  To see some of the houses he has made visit www.kjdollshouses.co.uk.
The attention to detail and use of good quality materials makes these collector’s houses much sought after.  All the wood for the beams, posts, floor boards, bargeboards and brackets is solid timber as the grain of real wood gives a more realistic, yet miniature, finish.  The wood is then wire brushed to bring the grain of the timber out, the edges are then carefully distressed to give an aged appearance, before receiving at least 3 coats of stain.
The leaded windows are handmade with a special finish on the ‘glass effect’ which gives it a textured relief when touched from the outside, just as Tudor glass would have looked.  The windows come complete with internal ironmongery which is also handmade.
To duplicate how Tudor timber frame houses were originally jointed together, the outside of the houses feature individually cut, drilled and fixed timber pegs, in the positions where the structural joints would occur.  On average this results in 100-130 separate pegs being fitted to every house.    
The internal floor boards are all handmade and then laid one at a time.  To add a realistic touch, each one has joints carefully cut into them, complete with nail holes on both sides of the joint.  All the ‘heavy oak effect’ doors are handmade and have a full set of handmade authentic looking dummy hinges and twisted metal pull ring handles. 
All houses come fully lit with handmade lights.  The roofs, paving and chimneys are plastered and sculpted by hand, all of which are then painted and treated with matt varnish to protect the finish.
Kevin is always happy to discuss customer’s specific requirements before taking the order, to ensure that they are getting the house of their dreams.



Tuesday 1 November 2011

November imag

Due to the amount of Miniature Shows at this time of the year unfortunately the Editorial Team at AIM are unable to bring you the November issue of the Free AIM Magazine.

Many of our team are busy preparing for shows both here and abroad and obviously their businesses have to come first. 

Their time is given freely to produce the magazine and there are obviously times when something has to give way to real life commitments.

We hope you won't be too disappointed.
Don't forget that past issues of the imag are available to read online, just click here to go our library of previous AIM imag issues.

The Ed Team

Any queries please contact
marysdolls@gmail.com