Issue 52 February 2026

Miniature Time Traveller 29 The biggest catalyst in the 21st century for Miniaturists and Hobbyists was Covid. The lockdowns. The isolation for months. Many creative people, people who couldn’t do their normal jobs like retailers, interior designers, had to find an outlet for this creativity and went mainly online for inspiration. à Facebook miniature clubs formed. Some have thousands of members. à Instagram. Web sites. TraƯic increased tremendously to these areas. à YouTube channels. Suddenly people realised that they could learn anything they wanted from a YouTuber specialist. Miniaturists could learn new ways of making things. à The average age group for miniaturists suddenly dropped, with many young people finding a miniaturised outlet for their creativity. à As miniaturists got more and more familiar with Social media, they structured online businesses around their choice of media. à They simplified their work choices and their work places. A new set of objectives. Once again, manufacturers are ringing the changes. More companies are producing total kit sets that have all the details and building parts to make a room box. Miniaturists do not have to have rooms full of stash and collections of beads, plastic caps, ice block sticks, etc. Apply some discipline and a miniaturist can quite happily work in their dining room or spare bedroom. But what are they making and why? Have the objectives changed over the years. Some major changes are: - à Miniaturists are taking more time to produce a very detailed 24th scale miniature that is easily shown oƯ on a shelf, or stored. à Making the miniature piece more meaningful, more ecologically friendly, and perhaps having more of a purpose, like a gift to a friend, a memento from someone who has passed. à Deciding to make a whole house with (a) cardboard and cutting it out with a Brother or Cricut machine or (b) making as much of the house and furnishing with a 3D printer. à Concentrating on making a range of absolutely accurate miniatures of a designer product, a handbag or shoes. In other words, specialising. à Totally involving all new technology in miniature work without preconceived ideas of what is traditional or ‘right’. There will always be opportunities for miniaturists to show oƯ their work and there will always be people who could not handle such a detailed hobby but enjoy looking at it all. The future for miniaturists is not writ small. There are huge opportunities to extend the hobby both physically and online, or digitally. Perhaps the objectives in the 1700s are still pertinent if we drop oƯ the training of young women in housekeeping. Status, showing oƯ to friends, showcasing artisan work, all absolutely relevant. Definitely a future after all!!! J Fraser Reported in The Mirror — artist Hannah Lemon says “ I make finger nail - sized guitars andminiscule plantswithmy bare hands and rubbish”.