Featured artist: Marina, Miopupazzo. Miniature art doll brooches

Miopupazzo shop is such a great place for collectors of unique miniature art doll brooches, toys and mixed-media collages. All of them are Marina Druker's (the shop owner) original designs and patterns. 

 The best part, she can create your very own special custom piece of art using your photo!

Marina is also an author of "Enchanting Art Dolls & Soft Sculptures" book.

Here is what Marina share about herself:

There are so many interesting things in the world that a lifetime will not be enough to try everything. I have so many creative ideas but I need to restrain my desires.  I chose the miniature art.

I love a small size of my work. Typically, fabric art works are done in a large scale, a large wall panel or a quilt. I create the same layered textured effect but in tiny dolls dresses and soft sculptures.

I was born in the beautiful city of St.Petersburg, Russia. In my childhood, I learned a lot in various craft classes for kids. From the early age I visited the great museums, such as the Hermitage and Peterhof, many exhibitions of decorative and applied arts.

In 2003 I moved to Israel where I met wonderful people,  great weather and my inspiration to create dolls. I started to work with Paperclay and evolved my own signature style of tiny crazy quilting dolls dresses.

In 2012 I published my first book about doll-making and crazy quilting dolls dresses “Enchanting Art Dolls & Soft Sculptures“(C&T Publishing). 

Even thought my biggest interest right now is creating tiny doll-brooches, in the future I would love to illustrate children's book using these techniques.

Collage and handmade dolls, isn't this fun?

Featured artist: Irene, FancyKnittles. Miniature dolls

Are you familiar with that feeling when you see something really cute, all you can say is: aaaaawh! That's how we feel when we visit FancyKnittles shop. 

All miniature people, animals, flowers, vegetables, holidays ornaments and toys are crocheted by Irene, the owner of the shop who really reaches the top of cuteness in her work while keeping quality at a high level also. These little dolls are full of fancy details and, like Irene says, you will never be bored with them!

 

Naturally, we wanted to know more about Irene and her inspiration. Here is what she shared with us:

 Why did I choose to make miniature crochet dolls? I am a practical person. Miniature  requires less time, materials and money. 

... JUST KIDDING! 

 In reality, I love all things mini since my childhood. I knit & crochet all clothes for my dolls since I was 5 years old. Later I started making miniature toys also. 

Why did I choose to crochet a miniature? Simply because I love to do it and I do it well. I feel happy while I am having fun. No one said the dollhouse miniature have to be 100% realistic. You are a creator of your own perfect little world. Besides, when else can you feel like a Gulliver in Lilliputian!

It is still winter and the weather outside of my window is dark and gloomy right now. What do you usually do when you are bored? Watch a movie, drink hot chocolate or read a book under the blanket?

I miss the sunshine so I decided to crochet a bunch of miniature colorful hyacinths. Then, I  build a little corner garden with a little bench, a garden tools and a watering can... oh, look! Someone forgot their little hat over there! 

 

I took a photo of my miniature garden and I got a sunny happy picture. It made me feel like spring is around the corner.

I hope my little miniature world will make someone else's world a little brighter also. Maybe, one will smile and think: spring is almost here! 

Visit Irene's shop on Etsy to see more of her creations. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  

Interview by Tanya (socksandmittens)

Featured artist: Anna Ryasnova, AnnaRyasnova. Felted miniature

We love our pets so we were happy to see  almost identical figurines of our dog's breeds at AnnaRyasnova shop. There are so many interesting items there. Anna, the owner of the shop, works in a needle felting technique and reached a high level in what she does. 

She loves to make miniature pets figurines, especially dogs and every one of them is unique. A happy customer's reaction is what inspires her to create new figurines. She loves the challenge of working with miniatures and trying to make her work even smaller every time. What a great artistic approach!

 

Anna's works can be seen during Miniaturitalia Exhibition in Milan, Italy, on February 7-8, 2016 or visit her shop to see if there is anything that touches you.

Here is what Anna is telling about herself and her creative vision.

"It fills me with gratitude and pride that by today my creations have reached people from such diverse countries as the United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore, Israel, Bulgaria, Russia, Germany, Ireland, England, France, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Spain. I take inspiration from my three beautiful sons, from nature as a whole and the animal world in particular.
Furthermore I consider it a special honor that so many clients have trusted me with orders to portray their dearest companion animals.

I firmly believe we all can be creators of happiness, for ourselves and for others, if only we allow love and affection to guide us. Everybody can create something, so can make a difference, and help to turn our world in a better place! I hope you will enjoy my works as much as I did making them."

 Interview by Tanya agardencottage