How to Start the Dollhouse Miniature Hobby as an Adult: A Guide from D. Thomas Miniatures

Discover the Dollhouse Miniature Hobby for Adults with D. Thomas Miniatures

At D. Thomas Miniatures, we believe that big creativity can come in very small packages. The dollhouse miniature hobby for adults has exploded in popularity in recent years—and it’s easy to see why. From tiny furniture to hyper-realistic miniature food, adults are embracing the world of artisan miniatures as both a relaxing creative outlet and a collectible art form.

Whether you’re completely new or returning to the hobby after many years, this guide will help you get started with confidence—and inspire you to explore the curated collection available at our popular estate sales and online auctions at DThomasMiniatures.com. For a preview of our latest estate sale of tiny treasures, click the link below.

ESTATE SALE PREVIEW

Why Adults Are Drawn to the Miniature Hobby

The dollhouse miniature hobby is no longer reserved for children’s playtime. Today, it's a thriving world of scale artistry, craftsmanship, and storytelling that attracts collectors, artists, and enthusiasts of all ages.

Key reasons adults are exploring dollhouse miniatures:

• Stress relief & mindfulness: Creating in small scale is soothing and immersive.

• Creative expression: Design dream interiors, fantasy spaces, or historically accurate scenes.

• High-end collecting: Discover one-of-a-kind artisan dollhouse miniatures made by leading miniature artists—many of whom are featured at DThomasMiniatures.com.

• Community: Join a welcoming network of makers and collectors from around the globe.

Getting Started in the Miniature World Tips from D. Thomas Miniatures

1. Choose Your Scale

Most dollhouse miniatures are made in 1:12 scale, meaning 1 inch equals 1 foot in real life. Other common scales include:

• 1:24 scale (half scale)

• 1:48 scale (quarter scale)

• 1:144 scale (often used for dollhouses within dollhouses!)

  

2. Pick a Project That Sparks Joy

Start with a focused scene:

• A cozy living room

• A modern miniature art gallery

• A vintage kitchen with handmade miniature food items

Explore our artist features at D. Thomas Miniatures to find inspiration from real-world miniature artisans.

3. Gather Your Miniature-Making Tools

To begin crafting or customizing your own miniatures, you’ll need:

• Precision cutting tools

• Tweezers and glue

• Paint, brushes, and hobby materials

• Miniature furniture kits or accessory sets

Tip: We recommend starting with artist-created miniatures to set the bar for quality and scale realism. Explore our curated selection of artisan miniatures for sale at D. Thomas Miniatures.

Learn from Master Miniaturists

One of the best ways to grow your skills and appreciation is to study the work of professional miniaturists. D. Thomas Miniatures proudly features a rotating selection of artists whose work pushes the boundaries of small-scale craftsmanship.

Popular artists in the community include:

• Marcia Backstrom– Celebrated for artistic and expressive character dolls

• Obadiah Fisher – A master of miniature silver

• Susan Scoggins – Character doll artist with museum-quality work

• Casey Benz – Cool, contemporary and joyful miniatures

  
  

Click on the artists above to explore their stories and more on our Miniature Artist Blog

Your First Miniatures: Build or Collect?

Some hobbyists prefer to collect artisan miniatures crafted by skilled makers. Others dive into building their own pieces from scratch or kits. You don’t have to choose—you can do both!

Start with:

• Miniature furniture kits

• Room boxes or shadow boxes

• Collectible artisan accessories from D. Thomas Miniatures

Connect with the Miniature Community

As you begin your miniature journey, be sure to follow and engage with the growing online community:

• Use hashtags like #DollhouseMiniatures, #MiniatureCollector, and #DThomasMiniatures

• Follow us on Instagram @dthomasminiatures

• Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive artist interviews and collector tips

  
  

Final Thoughts: Why the Miniature Hobby Is Perfect for Adul

In a fast-paced world, miniature making and collecting offers something rare: time to slow down, create, and marvel at the tiny details. Whether you're customizing your own scenes or building a curated collection of the world's best artisan dollhouse miniatures, D. Thomas Miniatures is here to support your small-scale journey.

Sign Up!

Written by AI and Edited by Darren Scala/D. Thomas Miniatures

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Meet the Miniaturist: Kristine Hanna from Paper Doll Miniatures!

I'm thrilled to be chatting with Kristine Hanna from Paper Doll Miniatures on Sunday, October 2 at 4pm ET. Register now to join this free livestream - the chat box will be open throughout for questions!

Kristine creates one of a kind custom miniature homes with a blend of modern and traditional styles using laser cutters and 3D printers. Her innovative work is encouraging for the miniatures movement by providing a fresh perspective on contemporary design and imaginative builds. More of her awesome work can be found on her popular instagram account here.

Kristine’s most ambitious (and most awesome!) project to date is The Brentwood Dollhouse crafted in the transitional style with 8 rooms, including a walk-in closet(!). The house was created in a manufacturing partnership with miniatures.com and is available as a kit for the dollhouse DIY enthusiast.

We’ll hear all about Kristine’s design process, the tools she uses to craft and customize her work and the challenges she faced (and solved for!) in the development of her latest project. We’ll also get an exclusive walk-through of The Brentwood including the interior design work she has completed which provides even more inspiration!

This special Meet the Miniaturist is sponsored by miniatures.com, a family-owned company that has been fueling the small-scale hobby world with tools, materials, and supplies for over 40 years!

Can't wait - see you there!

Can't make the livestream? No worries, head over to my YouTube Channel to catch the replay usually available a few days after the livestream. Like and subscribe right now so you alerted as soon as new posts appear!

#dollhouse #dollhouseminiatures #museum #mini #miniatures #tinythings #artsandcrafts #makersgonnamake #FindTheJoyInMiniatures #museum #museumminiatures

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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!

#FindTheJoyInMiniatures

The Sawtell Miniatures Collection: A Life of Learning and Love

Tom and Lois Sawtell spent their retirement years sharing an interest in history and a passion for miniatures. They married, purchased an historic home built in the 1800s and raised a family in the ideally New England community of Guilford, Connecticut. There they built and collected miniatures which now seek new happy homes at my next estate auction which starts on Sunday, September 18 at 7pm ET and will end on Sunday, September 25 at approximately 7pm ET* on my eBay site here.

The Sawtell's were so involved in the miniatures world and crafting and collecting that they built an extension to their home with acted as their shared studio workspace and filled it with specialty tools, materials and supplies for making miniatures.

The pair spent time taking expert level classes at the famed Guild School in Castine, Maine and at the annual Guild Study Program in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and other locations along the East Coast. Some classes they took together and some separately but always with one thing in mind:learning how to make awesome miniatures...and succeeding!

The Sawtell's paid very careful attention to the history behind the pieces that they crafted, taking copious notes on their background and stories. They were maticulous in their attention to detail when putting these pieces together in the classes they took with IGMA instructors. ABOVE: Corner Cupboard and Ladder Back Chair crafted by the Sawtell's in a class taught by IGMA Fellow Mark Murphy. William Clinger Chair (middle photo).

They were quite social and had an extension network of friends they took class with and learned from.

I'm pleased to present the Sawtell Collection Estate Sale. Many of the pieces available in this sale were masterfully designed and prepared for the Sawtell's to build by Guild Artisan and Fellow instructors (and some of the best educators on the planet) including Mark Murphy, Carol Hardy, Sally and George Hoffman, Sue Rountree and others.

Additionally, there are a number of other yummy miniatures the couple purchased for their collection inlacing works by Mary McGrath, Elizabeth Chambers, Stokesay Ware, The Arnells of Bermuda, Pete Acquisto, Obadiah Fisher, Jane Graber, Carol Hardy, Al Chandronait as well as unsigned, high-quality, artisan works. ABOVE: Paul Revere tea pot on monogrammed footed plate by IGMA Fellow Obadiah Fisher.

Above: Soup Tureen (Amanda Skinner), Miniature Dollhouse (Unsigned), Wildlife Sculpture (Mary McGrath), Area Rug Needlepoint (Unsigned), Teddy Bear with Red Bow (Unsigned) and Hand-painted seascape by Sachem Studios.

This sale also includes several historical room boxes and vignettes imagined and designed in miniature by IGMA artists and crafted by the Sawtell's in classes taught at various Guild Study programs including the above kitchen vignette designed by Allison Ashby and Steve Jedd inspired by the Governor's Palace Kitchen in Colonial Williamsburg and crafted by Tom Sawtell in a 2005 class taught by the Jedds in 2005.

This sale goes live on Sunday, September 18 at 7pm ET and will end on Sunday, September 25 at approximately 7pm ET* on my eBay site here. Click link below for to preview more of the lots offered in the sale. Happy Bidding!

#dollhouse #dollhouseminiatures #museum #mini #miniatures #tinythings #artsandcrafts #makersgonnamake #FindTheJoyInMiniatures #museum #museumminiatures

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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!

#FindTheJoyInMiniatures