Tiny Things

As a little girl, I was always enchanted by tiny things.

My friend Sindy and I loved visiting the drugstore to pick up miniature sample sizes of shampoos and lotions. We’d take them home, excitedly admire the tiny bottles, and then stash them in our "collections"—seldom actually using them.

I also loved making accessories and furniture for my Barbie dolls. Some of my first crafts were miniature furnishings and decor for my Barbie houses, and I would spend hours perfecting the details.

One of my favorite childhood book series was The Littles by John Peterson. Similar to Mary Norton’s The Borrowers, The Littles tells the story of a tiny family living in the walls of a regular-sized house. These little characters would repurpose everyday objects like bottle caps, buttons, and spools into tools and furniture for their miniature world. I was fascinated by their creativity and resourcefulness—sometimes I found myself enjoying the inventive ways they used common items even more than their actual adventures.

Over the last few years, I've rediscovered my love for miniatures as a creative hobby. I’ve always admired the talent of those who elevate miniatures into a true art form. Shows like The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge and my personal favorite, CBC’s Best in Miniature, have only fueled this interest further.

I draw, I paint, I make vintage assemblage greeting cards. I knit, I crochet, and I even try to write a little on this blog. I certainly didn’t need another hobby! But the idea of making miniatures myself has always intrigued me.

In 2023, for my birthday in March, my sweet husband bought me a miniature kit—a ROLIFE kit from a local hobby store. It sat on my shelf for months, waiting for me to find the time, and honestly, to build up the courage to try something completely new. Of course, there was always something else to be done, and with grandkids and puppies around, I found plenty of excuses to put the project off.

But after the holiday rush of Christmas, I found myself with some quiet days at home during vacation. I decided it was finally time to dedicate myself to the kit.

To be honest, at first, I saw it more as something to check off my to-do list. After all, I’d had the kit since March, and now it was almost the new year!

I sat down at my dining room table and began working on the kit. I can’t explain how much I loved the process! It was completely different from anything I’d worked on before, and with everything included in the kit, it was a perfect place for a beginner to start. I was fully immersed in the task, and before I knew it, hours had melted away as I assembled tiny cabinets and packages. It was a candy shop, filled with bright colors and whimsy—two things I absolutely love!

The project took me about three days to finish, and I was thrilled with the results! It now has a proud spot on my bookshelf, where I get to enjoy it every day. My first miniature assemblage—what a joy!

Another busy year passed, and I had received another ROLIFE kit from my husband. This time, it was a coffee shop (so perfect for me!). I had set it aside and looked forward to the quiet days after Christmas to work on it. A few glorious days in my art room later, I completed this little gem. It was so much fun, from assembling the flowers in the tiny vase to creating the coffee machine.

As I immersed myself in the assembly of these tiny things, I didn’t think once about the troubles of the outside world. It was the perfect mindful task. And that, my readers, is what a hobby should do!

Like the first kit, putting this one together made me so happy! And when I look at my little coffee shop, its tiny light glowing in the evening on my bookshelf, it fills me with joy all over again. I’m already excited to choose another kit to try, maybe even before next Christmas vacation.

Do you have a hobby that takes you away from your worries? Have you done any miniatures? I would love to hear from you!