all of my miniatures are handcrafted with personal touches and a genuine love for art, which means that they are not made of pre-fabricated materials (think: no 3D printer, no laser cutting, no CNC machines!)

there is nothing wrong with artists who provide pre-fabricated products or designs, or companies who mass produce miniatures—they can achieve far more detail and accuracy than i can with a steady hand! but for me, my values are focused on:

the beauty of craftsmanship

i put my heart and soul into carefully constructing each miniature scene using only hand operated tools. as a former perfectionist* i struggled at first with the imperfections i encountered when i started to work at such small scales—rough edges, jagged lines, less-than-90-degree angles, etc.

but i have come to love and appreciate these elements of each build, knowing that every minor imperfection is a sign that this is truly a labour of handmade love! i have developed a minimum acceptable standard for creating accurate and detailed scenes, especially for products advertised in my shop, to ensure the product you receive matches what is advertised online.

committing to these standards ensures orders are turned around in a timely manner (*otherwise, i would never be satisfied sending out a single piece... the struggle is real)!

the magic of one-of-a-kind designs

not only are imperfections embraced in the spirit of handmade art, i also delight in the opportunity to add a unique element of magic to each piece i create. i fell in love with "functional minis" (think: a micro masking tape roll that really unrolls, a tiny toy box that really opens, a pint-sized paint palette with real water-activated paints).

again, to keep things in production and manageable, not all minis move—not every door opens, and not every feature is interactive. however, i make sure to add a surprise in every miniature scene i craft (if time permits, maybe multiple surprises!)

if you are the more cautious type and purchase a scene encased in a cover, your order will include EITHER:
-an interactive element that can be accessed without opening the protective cover; OR
-a bonus interactive miniature on the side
...free of charge! i take the magic of it all very seriously :)

the importance of recycling and upcycling

lastly, i use as many recycled products as possible when constructing miniature builds. i harvest scrap plastic, old cardboard, and leftover building materials to transform goods into whimsical creations. in the old british spirit of "make do and mend," i prioritize upcycling once-loved materials before purchasing new materials. this means that if you took a craft knife to one of my scenes (eek!) you might find a local newspaper repurposed as stuffing, or a name brand cereal mascot staring back at you :)

importantly, not all materials can be repurposed... i NEVER recycle:
-used bathroom materials (e.g., old makeup bottles) for obvious hygiene reasons, OR
-materials that have come in direct contact with food (e.g., candy wrappers) to avoid attracting bugs

recycling and upcycling are wonderful practices, and prioritizing these values means acknowledging that there may be slight differences or imperfections between products—see my notes above about one-of-a-kind designs! i hope that like-minded, environmentally-mindful folks are finding their way to my store to support converting "trash" to treasure.

that's all for now, but if i have missed something, please reach out!

XO, lo