Mad About Miniatures

Years ago Troy Schmidt took a pottery class when he was a recent college grad looking to start his career in science. By the end of the class he was obsessed with pottery and  fast forward to now where he has been throwing pottery for more than half his life. He's a teacher of both pottery and mini pottery, and we talk clay, glazes, kilns, and the joy of doing what you love! Troy is also a teacher at the world famous International Guild of Miniature Artisans School where I took his pottery class. 

Troy Schmidt is on Instagram @reddragonpottery and host Becky Gannon is on Instagram  @madaboutminiatures.

Miniaturist Marie-Louise Markhorst wanted to learn how to make tiny metal hinges for her miniature furniture. Before she knew it, she was taking a three year jewelry making class to learn how to work with metal in miniature. We talk about her tiny copper pots, tiny ladles, cheese shredders and more, her time on a miniature tv show in the Netherlands,  as well as her recent project to furnish a miniature version of Anne Frank's famous hideaway during World War II. This piece is in the newly opened @miniatuurmuseumamsterdam. 

Marie-Louise is @smallscaleminidesign on Instagram and host Becky Gannon is @madaboutminiatures on Instagram & Facebook.

After beating two separate types of cancer, Natasha was healthy but had lost her enthusiasm for life (understandbly). By revisiting her childhood love of minis and making it a priority, she found joy in her life again! This past Christmas Natasha was in People Magazine for building a dollhouse from scratch in 3 weeks for her 15 year old differently abled son. The fact that the dollhouse was for a boy caused a surprising amount of controversy and we tackle that head on! Join me as I talk to this talented miniaturist and remarkable woman. Natasha is on Instagram & FB @Vivadesignminiatures and host Becky Gannon is on FB and Instagram @madaboutminiatures.

Miniaturist Hannah Lemon is on a  a great new television program about miniatures, called The Marvelous Miniature Workshop. It's her second tv show - she was previously the winner on Best In Miniature, season two. In this new show Hannah recreates in miniature two buildings that are abandoned and/or gone, to surprise people for whom those buildings hold happy memories. Hannah gives us the behind the scenes scoop on this heartwarming show! 

Host Becky Gannon is on Instagram @madaboutminiatures and guest Hannah Lemon is @hannahlemon_art.

The first Annual Festival of Miniatures is underway in Brattleboro, Vermont, for the entire month of December. There are over 80 miniature window displays and a slew of activities in downtown Brattleboro.  I was invited to be a judge for the festival and was privileged to see how minis transformed downtown - bringing visitors, raising spirits, and causing a whole town to fall in love with miniatures! Join me as I talk to miniaturist Melany Kahn who spearheaded this festival with a lot of help from the Downtown Brattleboro Association and others. We talk about some of the amazing minis that came out of this festival, and how you could replicate this in your town!