6 Miniature Surprises Discovered This Week....

As I scour the internet each week I am continuously surprised, delighted and awestruck by the amazing miniatures I find online. This is just 6 of those I discovered this week!

This awesome vintage inspired oil lamp by TS Trinh from @miniaturesintheory (now who didn't have one of these in their homes growing up in the 1970s?) . Extra credit for the faux greenery popping out of the base!

This working pull-out kitchen spray faucet nozzle by the mother/daughter team over at My Miniature Life @MyMiniatureLife_YT. The kitchen gadgets we live to obsess over are now available in miniature!

This 18K gold painted wine glass by Thai Miniature House @Thai_Miniature_House . Run, (don't walk!) over this Instagram account for images of the complete set and take a look at the video showing how theses glasses are blown by hand!

More mini glass! Take a look at this Chihuly-inspired chandelier by Beth Carl Picard from @bethacarlpicard who is currently building a dollhouse from scratch with details on her website: www.minimansionsbybeth.com

Excited to see real working miniaturists creating work for commercial media projects! These tiny treats were by created Erika Anne Pitera from @PetiteProvisionCo and were featured on very last contest during S1E2 of Small Fortune, NBS's new competitive game show featuring contests using miniatures!

This little BIG Wheel by Nashville art director and prop fabricator Devin Drake from @devinsdrake.

I hope to make this regular feature so if you like what you see, let me know! In the meantime, sign up here so you never miss an update.

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Until Next Time: #LiveYourBestMiniLife

The Frasier Project: Set in Miniature

Like many of us, Preston Poling, a miniaturist from Louisville KY, grew up watching television sitcoms and reruns. He particularly enjoyed shows that not only made him laugh, but also made him think; smart, engaging, often controversial programming which challenged social norms like All in the Family,Dharma & Greg and Frasier.

Frasier was the critically acclaimed sitcom that ran in the United States from 1993 to 2004 and earned multiple Emmy Awards including wins for Best Comedy Series 5 seasons in a row. The show is a spinoff of the wildly popular comedy, Cheers, that centers around Frasier Crane, (played by Kelsey Grammer), a psychiatrist and radio personality. He lives in an upscale Seattle apartment with his father, a disabled and retired police officer, Martin Crane (portrayed by John Mahoney). The plotlines hit themes like social class, wealth disparity and mental health. Preston, an avid fan of this ensemble sitcom, streams reruns of the series online; the show continues to entertain and inspire him.

Despite not having any formal art training and just some experience building models from kits as a teen, Poling set out in 2017 to recreate a 1/12 scale version of the contemporary stone fireplace from the Frasier apartment set. After several iterations, using floral foam and plaster of Paris, he was finally happy with the piece but remained unsatisfied. With the creation of the iconic fireplace under wraps, and his desire to work in small scale, Poling set his sights on recreating the entire Frasier set in miniature. He is scratch-building virtually everything including the framed paintings, statuary and eclectic furniture with a priority on accuracy and attention to detail.

One of the most challenging parts of the project is replicating the aged and worn reclining chair belonging to Martin Crane (an eyesore in Frasier’s opinion!). Poling wanted to ensure the scaling of the pattern and the texture of the unique fabric was as close to the studio prop as possible, and after an extensive search, he found the perfect material from a shop in Paris.

Last year, Preston formed The Frasier Project, a Facebook group dedicated to this project and to document his creative process. The group has since grown to become a place where members not only chat about the show but offer tips, helping with research and contributing to project developments. One enthusiastic group member gifted a replica of Eddie Crane, Martin’s beloved companion, a Jack Russel Terrier also adored by show fans. The Frasier Project group now boasts over 2,000 followers.

Frasier’s apartment is nearing completion and Poling has already started working on Café Nervosa, and the KACL-radio studio sets featured in the show. This keeps fans and followers engaged and keeps Poling busy working on miniatures! It has been reported that a reboot of the show is underway for 2022 and undoubtedly would include an update to the classic set décor from the original show’s run. Now this makes miniacs and Frasier fans alike wonder if there will be a mini reboot of a miniature version of the set by Poland Preston to follow.

Stay tuned!

Follow Prestin Poling on Instagram here or join the Frasier Project Facebook Group here.

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Until Next Time: #LiveYourBestMiniLife

Jed Voltz Unveils New Contemporary Miniatures

Our own Badass Miniaturist Jedediah Corwyn Voltz (@Jed_Voltz), best known for his awesome miniature treehouse sculptures , shared photos and details of a new commission he recently finished for a client, a super awesome roombox in 1/24 scale with a modern/contemporary retro feel in his signature playful approach.

The self-contained environment is fully lit, sits on turned legs and features a whimsical brick fireplace with an extended chimney peeking through a pitched roof. A wrought iron hanging chandelier extends a calm glow throughout the piece and a display cabin is overflowing with decorative art in miniature. There is lots to see and lots to miss if you don't spend time looking at every element in this work.

The roombox and all of its contents were scratch built by the artist using various techniques. There are pieces which were hand turned on a lathe made of acrylic, vacuformed thermal plastic objects, minis sculpted with polymer clay and things twisted up made from wire and tape.

The back-lit built-in fish tank set in the wall and landscaped with plants and rock formations may just be my favorite part... maybe.

The brick fireplace is decorated with a number of tiny treasures including tiny sculptures, books, an orchids and a tic tac toe game. The decorative pattern of the fireplace screen works so beautifully well with the painted mirror and the carved curio cabinet.

Voltz 's incredible attention to detail extends to the outside of the piece which is decorated with a intricate mosaic design. A small paint brush for dusting hangs gently on the back panel which serves a dual purpose by hiding the electrical wire system.

More work by Voltz can be seen here.

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Until Next Time: #LiveYourBestMiniLife