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Are you looking to sell your adored collection of miniatures? Join my free webinar on Saturday, April 23 at 10am ET when I will talk about all of your options if you are interested in selling your adored collection.

Perhaps you are downsizing your assortment or looking to make room for more miniatures (who knew little things take up so much space?!). Maybe you are helping a friend or family member find happy homes for their miniatures or looking to make sure that your collection is ushered into the right hands after you’ve moved on to a bigger and better mini world!

I'm excited to be sharing my knowledge of the options you have for guiding your collections to a protected and cherished home while answering as many of the questions you might have about best ways of handling your adored treasures.



While my seminar will take you through all of your options for selling your collection, you may decide to choose my services. Here is a bit more about me and my experience selling miniatures:


I’ve been a passionate about miniatures virtually my entire life. While I collect and craft miniatures as a hobby, I mostly promote and sell tiny treasures as a business. Over the years, I've developed a keen ability to connect collectors with buyers who share the same understanding of the love, dedication and hard work it takes to curate a personal collection of miniatures; I've learned how to join sellers with enthusiasts who share a common appreciation for the joy, respect and care that miniatures deserve. I’m often called a “Miniatures Empath” or the "Dollhouse Whisperer.”I'm excited to be sharing my knowledge of the options you have for guiding your collections to a protected and cherished home while answering as many of the questions you might have about best ways of handling your adored treasures.

Miniatures are so often misunderstood and dismissed as “toys” or mere “playthings” and sellers want to ensure that their estates are handled with the proper care and respect they deserve. Through the process of learning about the collectors and their collections, I find out about their specific passions, their favorite artists and where they made their discoveries. I ask questions and create an emotional connection while developing strong relationships with my clients, building trust and providing comfort in knowing that their collections will end in the right hands. Photo Above: Fall 2021 Buckalter Estate Sale)

A few years ago, I worked with the family of a miniature collector. I learned that the collector was born in Philadelphia, was the wife of a prominent businessman and that she spent over 50 years putting together her collection. I discovered that a portion of her collection was gifted and exhibited in an East Coast museum and that it appeared on the cover of a miniatures magazine.

It was terrific to meet with the granddaughter and great granddaughter to review the collection and talk about bringing it to market. They were excited to know that I would care for it as much for it as their grandmother did.

The balance of the collection consisted of, among other objects, miniature metal, pottery, flowers, and a pair of oversized, hand-crafted, antique hardwood secretaries. Through research, I found the original gallery in New York City which handled the sale of the piece and discovered that it was quite a rare object. When I began the auction, I connected with a buyer who had been looking for a similar piece for a long time and was thrilled when she discovered one had existed. She was overjoyed as the winning bidder!

More recently I connected with a woman who was handling the estate of her sister who had passed several years ago. Her sister was an avid collector with a passion for food miniatures and had commissioned and purchased an extensive assortment of fine scaled polymer clay bakery and confectionary pieces.

This included individual cakes and cookies as well as vignettes overflowing with scrumptious treasures created by artists like Mary Broaddus and Kim Saulter.

My client expressed how delighted she was that her sister’s collection would be treasured, cared for and loved as much as her sister loved them. I’m still working on finding new homes for this wonderful collection!

I do love the miniatures world but what I think I love most is how it can bring people together through a shared love of tiny objects and respect for the craft.



This is a reprint of my feature in the March 2021 issue of Dollshouse and Miniature Scene magazine.

I look forward to seeing you all at my upcoming seminar!

See you there!


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Be sure to sign up at www.dthomasfineminiatures.com so you never miss event updates a and follow me on my social media channels here: https://bit.ly/DThomasLink


Thank you for being a part of the D. Thomas Miniatures community!


- Darren

D. Thomas Miniatures

SMALL TALK * ESTATE SALES * GALLERY


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I scoured the Gram this week and found the #10BestMinis with great spaces in miniature crafted by artists with some serious interior design skills! Oh, and I threw in a full size space just to show you how perfectly scaled the rest have been designed (can you tell which one it is?)

1. Regal red small space: Rosanne Brathwaite @suitecitywoman https://www.instagram.com/suitecitywoman

2. Tiny summertime fun: Teresa @theminibeachhouse https://www.instagram.com/theminibeac...

3. Delightful #DollDiorama by Micreabea from @micrea_miniature https://www.instagram.com/micrea_mini...

4. Uh-mazing art assemblage space: Yvette Driver from @littlepapa_dollhouse https://www.instagram.com/littlepapa_... with hand screened print of @davidbowie by @lukepantelidou

5. Conservatory creation: Cary Goodrich @cpgoodrich https://www.instagram.com/cpgoodrich/

6. Color expression of diminutive drama: Galina Abramova @mebeldliakukolok https://www.instagram.com/mebeldliaku...

7. Room of warm red tones: Marloes @minicouch https://www.instagram.com/minicouch/

8. In the mini groovy: Heidi @heidi_dollhouses ww.instagram.com/heidis_dollhouses/

9. Forever orange: Gemma @minimadehome https://www.instagram.com/minimadehome/

10. Casa Bancha by Kathleen B @smalltimedecorator https://www.instagram.com/smalltimede...



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#10BestMinis: Super Tiny Edition!

I scoured the internets this week and found the #10BestMinis which are super tiny to share as well as the artists and accounts you need to be following right now!

1. Grand mini piano by Miriam K @Tiny Rooms Therapy

2. Super small snake plant by Merriweather Miniatures

3. Vintage wee wheelchair by JF Creations

4. Tiny tall grandfather clock by Fran Sussman Some Like it Small Too

5. Barely-seen sheep by Ryan Todd Uncomfortable Creature

6. Pretty petite umbrellas @akiko.1512

7. Micro house by Irina Plakhotina @plazotinarina

8. Crazy small kitchen by Marina Paredes

9. Bitty baby carriages @iklefingz

10. Cozy Christmas chair by Dennis George @dagminiatures


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#10BrstMinis Week ending March 25, 2002

1. Pile of ashes (and butts) in tray by Gaetano Damiano https://www.instagram.com/nitros_diorama_custom/

2. Retro terrarium by Gemma https://www.instagram.com/minimadehome/

3. Classic water fountain by Jon Frier https://www.instagram.com/jon.frier/

4. Tufted comfy chair by Anna https://www.instagram.com/mama_mamadiorama/

5. Oh too Real Bison head by Maartje Ampts https://www.instagram.com/echo_taxidermy/

6. Mille-feuille in miniature by Misaki https://www.instagram.com/misaki_miniature/

9. Petite painted chest by Craig LaBenz https://www.instagram.com/craiglabenzminiatures/

10. Gallows for pencil necks by Rob Crouch https://www.instagram.com/robcrouch73/


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#10BestMinis Week Ending March 19, 2022

1. Classic riding play horse by Lydia Ricci instagram.com/lydia__ricci/ 2. Summer cooler with Sprite by Andreas Rousounelis instagram.com/rousounelis/ 3. Fab Felted Frenchie by Linda Facci instagram.com/faccidesigns/ 4. Sitcom Etch-a-Sketch by Ryan Monahan instagram.com/what_thehell/ 5. Plated flan by Juan A from instagram.com/espacioenminiatura/ 6. Essential fashion brands by instagram.com/littlebutterflydollhouse/ 7. Bucket of white lilies by instagram.com/mofutamofuko/ 8. Portrait of cat royalty by Masaya Okada instagram.com/masaya_okada/ 9. Still life fruit and flowers by Irina Borisova instagram.com/polimlrina75/ 10. Uggs Patrizia Santi instagram.com/patriziasantiminiature/


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#10BestMinis Week ending March 11, 2022:

1. Undersized tufted lazy boy by Instagram.com/signesmini

2. Cruelty-free taxidermy by Instagram.com/vanalan_miniatures

3. Washed up coin operated laundry machines by instagram.com/masayuki_haga 4.

4.Babydoll by Instagram.com/karensminibears

5. Urban graffiti tableau by instagram.com/okyell

6. Tiny camper by the tree by David Davydov instagram.com/michael_davydov_/

7. Bath essential by Instagram.com/rebeccamade

8. Pantry under the stairs by Julie from https://www.instagram.com/little_bits_n_pieces_by_julie/

9. Wine themed shadowbox by Instagram.com/lilliputtreasures

10. Assortment of self-portraits by instagram.com/cosmechurrucaminis/



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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!

The celebration of the arrival of Spring continues at the Hudson River Musuem in Yonkers, New York with my spring flower show on view through May 2022.

I've partnered with several very talented floral miniaturists this year to help adorn some of the rooms at Nybelwyck Hall, the fantastical miniature manse in the permanent collection at the museum located in the historic Hudson River Valley, just north of New York City.

Nybelwyck Hall is the extraordinary 26-room dollhouse built over a 10-year period starting in 1990 by Mark O’Banks (1956-2002). Along with the miniature home, Mark created the story of the Van Nybelwycks, a fictitious family occupying the home, during the Victorian period in the Hudson Valley region of New York.

To set the scene, The Van Nybelwyck family is about to celebrate the engagement of Celestine, the daughter of Old Bostwyck, the family patriarch, to Roderick. Drama ensues as Celestine plans to profess her love for Tosca, her music teacher, and elope with him.

Each floral arrangement for the show was carefully curated, created specifically for or chosen from the D. Thomas Miniatures Collection with The Language of Flowers in mind, the popular “bible” used during the Victorian era to help guide which flowers to choose in arrangements by providing meaning and symbolism for the occasions.

Yellow Roses and Blue Hyacinths in a glass vase by Maria C. from Dollhouse Miniature Flowers (Spain) takes center stage in the Great Center Hall and represents the hopes, dreams and good wishes for all of the inhabitants of Nybelwyck Hall, both past and present.

Pink and White Peonies in a tall white vase with a gold rim by Christina Hampe (Germany) placed on the dining room table in the Golden Dining Room, where dinner will be served to celebrate the engagement of Celestine and Roderick. The flowers represent Love, Honor, Happiness, Wealth, Romance and Beauty and the good wishes that family and friends have for the newly engaged couple.


An assortment of white and pink Peony with large green leaves in a white vase by Olesya Arnyscheva from Miniature Clay Flowers (Russia), positioned on a plaster column at the front of the Golden Dining Room and help to extend additional good wishes to the bride and groom in celebration of their engagement and upcoming nuptials.

Glass vase filled with a bouquet of daisies, carnations and pink anthuriums by unknown artist (D. Thomas Miniatures Collection) atop the sideboard in the Golden Dining Room symbolize hospitality as the guests are invited into the home for the engagement celebration as well as the anticipation and excitement of the pending nuptials.


Glass mason jar with dandelions by Olesya Arnyscheva from Miniature Clay Flowers (Russia) sits atop the kitchen table expressing hope, love and happiness as well as the commitment and care Mrs. Griggs, the family housekeeper has for the couple and the entire family as she prepares the meal for the celebration.

Fuller Teaser, pink and white carnations and Artubus Branch in square glass vase by Yevheniia Kudriavtseva from Floral Decor Minis (Russia) are atop the fireplace mantle in the Zuber Living Room. The red carnation represents a broken heart Roderick will experience when he finds out that Celestine would rather marry Tosca, and the Fuller Teasel signifies Tosca, Celestine's one true love.

Star Gazers in a marble urn with gold embellishment by Sandra Henry and Vince Stapleton (D. Thomas Miniatures Collection) atop a wood column in the Zuber Living Room refer to innocence and purity and a tribute to the many children who fill the Nybelwyck home with joy and youthfulness.

Rose bouquet wrapped with a crimson ribbon by Yevheniia Kudriavtseva from Floral Decor Minis (Russia) is placed besides a tiny flute and mandolin in the music room and symbolize Roderick's love for Celestine and his bride to be.


Arrangement of Jasmine in Asian-inspired hand-painted vase atop ornate gold embellished marble column (artist unknown), part of the D. Thomas Miniature Collection is featured in the corner of the Gothic Library on the first floor, where Old Bostwyck , Nybelwyck's patriarch, spends much of his time. This arrangements symbolizes hospitality which Old Bostwyck is known for as he opens his home to friends and family but also sensuality, which refers to thoughts around his first wife who he has lost.

Red and yellow Tulips in glass vase wrapped with a red bow by Olesya Arnyscheva from Miniature Clay Flowers (Russia) sits on the dresser in Celestine's bedroom and represents the passion, dedication and love Celestine has for her true love, Tosca, with whom she plans to elope.


Yellow and pink roses with Eucalyptus in tall bucket decorated with a graphic pattern by Kristina Lavrinaytis from Wermut Art Dolls (Russia) are atop the glass table in the Scherherazade Sitting Room on the second floor and represents strength, protection and abundance, and an acknowledgement of Old Bostwyck's care for his family and how he provides those who fill the Nybelwyck Hall home.


Bouquet of pink and coral Roses with stems wrapped in white satin by Patio Escondito (Spain) appear on the floor in the Nook on the upper level of the home and reflects love, happiness and innocence, all of which was lost by Glencora, after being jilted at the alter by her finance.


Assortment of pink Roses in fluted glass bowl on the dresser in Nana Cinquefoil's Bedroom on the third level mean joy, gratitude, happiness and the love, joy and fulfillment she receives as care giver for the Van Nybelwyck children. Artist unknown from the D. Thomas Miniatures Collection.


The Spring mini flower show will be on view at the Glenview, the Victorian Mansion on the campus of the Hudson River Museum through May 2020. Check the museum website for more details.


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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!


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