Shrunken World
WHEN I STARTED: It was around 2015 when after buying a ‘thinking skeleton’ ornament from an auction I wanted to add some bits to it that had to be small and then that was when I discovered this whole new world of miniature things and never made it back out of that rabbit hole lol! That actual ornament has now gone on to being part of our stock! I also never did add any of the bits to the ornament lol!
My first build from that discovery was a boot fair table scene in1/12th for my sister-in-law after her mum died to try and cheer her up as we are avid boot-fairers. She inspired me to get it in the reader’s make section of Dolls house and Miniature Scene magazine.
SELLING AT SHOWS: Obviously I’ve never sold at a miniature show before and to be selling at Miniatura really is a dream come true for me and I can die happy lol! I cannot wait to be part of the biggest and best show out there and to be able to meet up with my customers old and new will be an amazing, humbling experience!
WHERE I DO MY WORK: For the actual 3D printing side I work in my long suffering husband’s office as it is easier to block out natural daylight in there. Once printed My office is off the living room overlooking the garden, where I have work desks for where my stock sits in little draws and I do computer stuff, process orders etc then I have another 2 desks I call my dirty desks where I either hand finish the resin models or make other miniature stuff. I love my office it really is a dream space for me. Oh and Darwin my cockerpoo is wherever I am so wishing he could help with the minis but his paws are too big lol!
SKILLS, TOOLS, MATERIALS AND HOW LONG IT TAKES: For all the 3D printed minis I have two 3D printers, 3D scanner, wash station, curing machine. You also need PPE to protect yourself from uncured resin, resins, very concentrated alcohol cleaners, other more specialised cleaners, more kitchen roll than you can shake a stick at, computer programmes and then for finishing items permanent pens, paint etc the list goes on lol!
For one 3D product from start to finish can vary but usually 1-2 weeks depending on the computer gods, it can involve a lot of failed prints or I’m not happy with the quality before a product is ready to sell and it can be very frustrating at times. If I am selling them hand finished that adds another couple of days. For my personal items that I have in the shop such as the 1/144th haunted house then it is at least 2 months, smaller projects may take 2-4 weeks.
RESEARCH: This usually involves both myself and husband as he helps me a lot with the programming side of it (his profession is computer developer) still learning from online sources. For inspiration purposes some of my customer requests have made it into 3D minis or for me it is mainly the world around me and can it be miniaturised, books, online like pinterest and my very busy head!
WHAT AND WHO INSPIRES ME: Everything inspires me but my love of all things spooky especially zombies means horror films and books and all things fortean are my first love followed by medieval history and biological anthropology which I studied at university as a mature student in 2010. My career as a registered mental health nurse has also influenced my love of all things anatomy and the mind! I have come across so makers over the years who have inspired me that the list would be infinite but some of my favourites are Raptoor, Petite Properties, Jean Day, Scale Grail, Laser Shrink Ray, Xavian miniatures, My Miniature Room Box, Jane Harrop, Michelle’s Miniatures, Small World Designs argh where do I stop lol!
REASON FOR STARTING SHRUNKEN WORLD: After being medically retired from the NHS in 2014 due to numerous medical conditions such as having bowel cancer at 37yrs old, many surgeries and then leading to many chronic conditions such as Crohns disease, a rare neurological condition, fibromylagia etc etc the miniature hobby gave me an escape. I quickly went to making the smaller scale minis and found that there were not many actual accessories out there in 1/48th scale so initially an idea was born and myself and my brother started up Shrunken World. I also wanted to assist people with how to decorate resin minis as I was clueless when I first bought some so that has become unique USP for Shrunken World, that everyone can have free info sheets sent out with their orders. I bought my brother out after a few months and now my hubby helps with the computer side of the 3D printing in his spare time and the shop has become so important to me on a far greater level than just money, it has given me back my sense of purpose after losing my career (I was a senior sister by the end of it) and I love being fully immersed in the miniature community and hopefully bringing some happiness to other miniaturists out there. I have been so lucky with all my customers being so lovely and some turning into friends.
FUNNY FACT; Uncured resin can not be exposed to sunlight in any way, so because when you are processing them at this stage you have to draw the curtains and turn the lights on, I call them my little Vampires, my poor husband when he is trying to work has to sit in artificial light until I am finished!
