It’s all systems go at Crab Pot Miniatures, as Caroline and Richard Mansell keep busy designing and hand crafting their wide range of miniatures covering life from the Tudor era right through to Victorian Britain and up to modern times.
The couple make refurbished, unique and affordable ooak models usually in 1/12 scale. They’ve also worked in 1/16 and 1/24 scales. Caroline finds that often it all depends on what the customer asks for.
Whilst they are new to Miniatura Online, many people will know Caroline and Richard as they have been involved in the miniature scene since 2006. The couple live in Flamborough, East Yorkshire where they used to run a B&B – Crab Pot Cottage.
Explaining how running a B&B turned into a flair for miniatures, Caroline said that she has always loved miniatures. As a child she would sew miniature mice and give them away to friends and family. At the rear of their B&B was a craft shop, and it was from here that Caroline and Richard began selling their miniatures. Initially starting with model railway items, railway dioramas made by Caroline and dolls houses.
Many will remember Caroline and Richard as Puffin Design
After a time, the pair moved into the old Post Office building and opened a shop. And following that, they formed Puffin Design. “Puffin Design flourished and has now moved to the very capable hands of Jan Kaas and Margrit Nielsen in Denmark,” said Caroline. “And we have returned to being Crab Pot Miniatures.”
These days, she also makes Polymer clay food items. “I used to buy in Polymer clay food, but I found there was such inconsistency I decided to have a go myself just to keep the consistency the same so that customers know what they are getting.”
Having bought Richard a laser cutter when he retired, she now designs items of furniture, Richard cuts them out and she does the finishing. She also makes driftwood art items. Amongst the items they have made recently, have been sideboards, modern glass-topped coffee tables, shop display units and peg boards, tea chests, beer crates, crates of vegetables, also a range of hand painted shop signs advertising the likes of Coleman’s Mustard and Bisto.
Caroline added, “We have built up excellent relationships with our customers. I think this is because we listen to what our customers want, and we do our utmost to give them the item they want for their dolls house or shop.”
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