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

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.

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!

Join me as I talk to Crystal Cox about her business selling ”spooky cute” and tiny things. Halloween has long been Crystal’s favorite holiday - she even got married in an abandoned building lit with candelabras on Halloween (Dracula vibes anyone). We also get serious for a moment and talk about an artist’s worst fear, which is someone stealing their work. Crystal talks about her experience and how you can educate yourself to get what you deserve. Crystal is on Instagram @spookshowbabe and I’m Becky Gannon on Instagram as @madaboutminiatures.

Join me as I talk to Niki Faller about her work with indigenous artists in the Amazon rainforest. She is coaching them to make miniatures of their traditional arts (basket weaving, carving, tapestries, etc.) thereby opening up a new market for these talented artisans. The journey hasn’t been easy as many of the communities are isolated and building relationships and trust take time. But, now in year three of this project, Niki has made great strides. We talk about her adventures, the beautiful miniatures being made in the rainforest, and the artists who make them. Niki is on Instagram @bigriverminiatures and host Becky Gannon is @madaboutminiatures.

Master Miniaturists Kevin Mulvany & Susie Rogers are an English husband and wife team. They create magnificent miniature palaces and historic mansions that are displayed in miniature museums and private collections all over the world. They are known for their incredible precision and accuracy in recreating historical architecture, as well as their ability to create a sense of life and beauty in their miniature buildings. Mulvany & Rogers talk about their start in miniatures right out of university, their favorite projects, the key to working successfully with your spouse (spoiler alert - it’s separate workrooms!), techniques, processes and much more. Enjoy this fun and lively conversation with the world renowned duo. Kevin Mulvany & Susie Rogers are on Instagram @mulvanyandrogers, and host Becky Gannon is @madaboutminiatures on Instagram.

Kia is rescuing the 111 year old dollhouse made by her great great grandfather and passed down and played with for several generations. Besides scraping away paper and mildew, she has big plans for new ways for it to reflect her family history, including making furniture out of the family tartan, and turning old hand painted wallpaper scraps into art for the dollhouse walls. Kia is on Instagram @windyhillwhimsy, and host Becky Gannon is @madaboutminiatures.

Author Renee Rosen takes us behind the scenes to the absolutely incredible story behind Barbie’s creation as detailed in her new book ”Let’s Call Her Barbie”. This story proves that truth is indeed stranger than fiction and is full of more gossip, in-fighting, and twists and turns than the juiciest soap opera. A fun & fact filled interview that will leave you wanting more! Host Becky Gannon is on Instragram @Madaboutminiatures and Renee is @reneerosen_.

They are both miniaturists, they both live in Poland, and they just collaborated on a an incredible collection of miniature cakes. Join me as I talk to Anna & Gosia about their friendship, their hopes and dreams regarding miniatures (and how they plan to accomplish their goals) and much much more. Gosia’s Instagram is @gosiasuchodolska and Anna’s is @minimaniabyania. Host Becky Gannon is on Instagram @madaboutminiatures.

Esther Marker is the first miniaturist to be awarded artisan status for miniatures printed on a 3D printer by the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA). Join me as Esther details the artistry and mechanics of her process for making those amazing stained glass Tiffany inspired lamps. And yes that includes her famous 3D parrot chandeliers! Esther is on Instagram as @esthersminiatures and host Becky Gannon is on Instagram @Madaboutminiatures.

One day Robin’s young son scribbled a drawing of a sweet mini robot. This inspired the creation of Pocket, the mini robot of leather & bolts who inhabits a world that is rusty, distressed & ”beautifully broken”. Robin talks about a whole range of mini subjects - from distressing tips to how she copes with her anxiety through creative mini play. Robin is on Instagram @robindavisstudio and I am on Instagram @madaboutminiatures!

YouTube sensation Ara Bentley is known for her fantastic miniature recreations of pop culture icons such as the Addams Family House and the Beatlejuice House. Ara also built an incredible miniature house and furniture out of nothing but cardboard during Covid (when art supplies were in short supply in some places), creating a great community as people built and shared their own miniature cardboard creations with her and each other. She gives the best advice I have ever heard on how to organize minis and miniature supplies. Join us for a great chat about tiny things! Ara is on Instagram @bentleyhouseminis and host Becky Gannon is @madaboutminiatures.

One day watercolorist Shannon Taylor walked downstairs to her art studio to find it flooded. Reduced to making art in her tiny California apartment on a small side table, Shannon started creating tiny multi-dimensional worlds in antique compacts - and the response was overwhelming! We talk to Shannon about her inspiration and process for making these mini masterpieces, her job as Art Director for Children’s Fairyland in California, & more! Host Becky Gannon is on Instagram as @madaboutminiatures and Shannon is on Instagram as @magicmakerdreamweaver.