Lifelike Mini Character Art & Supplies

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                (Roz)                                                                                                                (Aidy)

This site is run by Roz and Aidy. We have been making miniatures since 2003, when I finally persuaded Aidy to buy me a dolls house! It was the best Christmas present ever as it opened up the world of miniatures!

I have ulcerative colitis which is a very painful and tiring condition so it was nice to have a hobby that was not too physically demanding. I also work nights as a home carer so it's nice to make minis while I work!

I have been making full size porcelain dolls since 1993 but I am no good at sculpting! I wanted to make small dolls so I bought some moulds from America and started to make porcelain dolls but I love Character dolls so I had to rethink! 

We started making 1/12th scale Character dolls by accident really, Aidy is art trained and he has a degree in photography. I knew he was very talented so I asked him to make me a character doll. Well, we beamed at each other when our first doll was born (although looking back it looked like it had been mauled by a dog)! I was hopeless at dressing them and although I have done embroidery since I was eight years old, I thought it impossible to sew such small clothes so I used glue!

 

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(Our Workroom)

Determination made us both get better and better at our chosen task.........Aidy sculpts and I dress. In order to make each character doll, Aidy studies people and does lots of research using reference books. He always starts any doll with lots of drawings until he is happy with the face and pose of each little person. He then spends many days sculpting every detail, no moulds are ever used and no moulds are ever taken. each character is truly one of a kind. He also makes eyes to insert into the dolls and this gives a very realistic finish.

I take inspiration for the outfits when I get the finished sculpt as they seem to talk to me. I decided to sell haberdashery and fabric as it enables me to source a wide range of different materials for our dolls, just the excuse I need to buy beautiful fabric and trims!! I always hand sew every outfit and I feel I'm getting better with each doll. I tease the outfits into shape to give the dolls movement and sometimes a bit of staining is required depending on the doll.

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(Elvis the cat - one  part of where we got out name, sadly Lily died and we don't have any pictures)

We are always happy to make commissioned pieces and no request is too strange, so far we have request ranging from a maid milking a sheep to a man having his bottom spanked!

Aidy and I have now started to teach workshops, so if you would be interested in learning how to make your own dolls please get in touch for details. We also sell at fairs all over the country including Kensington, Miniatura and York. We also exhibit at international fairs in 5 countries...soon to be 7!

We have been featured in all the British doll house magazines several times and we also have been lucky enough to have been featured in a few international ones as well!

Don't hesitate to email us with any questions you may have we are always happy to help!