Running Karen's Miniatures, is quite a departure from what
I was been doing a few years ago, as I returned to education
as a mature student and graduated with a B.Sc. Hons.
Degree in Geological Science in 2001. This is one of
my greatest achievements as I struggle with being dyslexic.
Any craft skills I possess I owe to my parents, who where
both very talented. Dad used to make the toy boxes for
many of the wooden toys I sold and Mum is a retired
senior teacher and National Flower and Vegetable Judge
(one of the first women Judges and the only one in the
West Country for many years). Since retiring from teaching
mum has pursued her thrust for knowledge completing
floristry and painting courses that have come in very
useful in the completion of many of our miniature lines.
Recently re-married, she now only makes miniatures on a
part time basis for our shows.
The tiny teddies were the very first things I made and
like Topsy, things have grown from this, very quickly
progressing to the celebration cakes which people so
kindly admired and giving me the courage to have a stall
at my first miniatures fair in Torquay Devon in July 2002
(run by MGM Fairs ) Since then I have had stalls at fairs
all over England, Wales and Internationally and have met
some wonderful people, both customers and other stall
holders.
You may wonder how a geology degree qualifies me to
decorate Wedding and Celebration Cakes. Well, it does not,
but many years ago, when I was first married I made
the full size articles. These were decorated in Royal
Icing for a wide range of clients, from hotels to retirement
cakes and for headmasters complete with the schools'
coat of arms.
This was after completing a course at Mary Fords in
Bournemouth, at which time they were completing one
of the official cakes for the Prince of Wales and Lady
Diana's Wedding (so I got a sneak preview).
So far all the cakes I have completed are unique as
they come from my own imagination and not from books,
but if you have something specific in your mind I will try
to interpret it for you as COMMISSIONS are
UNDERTAKEN.
I make all food items, bookends and most flowers. Mum
arranges the flowers, makes the wedding bouquets (in the
same way that full size bouquets are made with flowers
individually wired) and the desk items. All the rest of our
stock is hand made by myself, or interesting items from
other sources. I am delighted to bring you new items all
the time and hope you like my collection.
2010 © Karen's Miniatures
