THE DURBAN ASSOCIATION OF MINIATURE ENTHUSIASTS HAS BEEN PROMOTING THE CRAFT OF BUILDING AND COLLECTING DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES FOR OVER 40 YEARS
Story Candice Botha
Judging by the popularity of the Checkers’ Little Shop promotions where shoppers receive tiny versions of groceries when they spend, people love miniatures. The members of the Durban Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (DAME) take this interest to the next level, though, creating an array of perfectly scaled items to adorn miniature rooms, houses, gardens and even a few caravans.
“A miniature is a collector’s item or scene that is a scaled down replica of the real thing,” explains Julie Mayo, co- ordinator of DAME. “Each genre has its own scale. For instance, dollhouses are most commonly 1:12. There are many different scales for model trains, cars, ships and aircraft. One thing to note about miniature dollhouses is that they are for ‘grown-ups’ and not children!”
An architectural technologist by profession, Julie’s interest in miniatures started with building scale models for project proposals. Then in 2001, the rediscovery of a book about building detailed dollhouses ignited her passion and she began working on a London Georgian-style dollhouse which has developed since her discovery of DAME in 2017. Other members have similar stories of encountering the world of miniatures. For Mount Edgecombe’s Jill Du Trevou it was reading The Borrowers as a child, and for Dale Muir of Hillcrest it was an article about DAME. They all agree that the hobby is addictive. “It’s never boring as one day you are an architect, the next a carpenter, then an electrician, a sculptor or a dressmaker, a hairdresser or a cobbler,” says Jill.
The association meets monthly to admire each other’s work and workshop skills. “Each member is unique and has her own ‘style’. Some enjoy making and dressing dolls for the houses, some prefer building and decorating, some love making the tiny accessories such as books with pages you can turn, perfume bottles out of beads and jewellery findings, tiny paper flowers, food made out of polymer clay, and much more,” says Julie.
The members’ projects are varied and range from building and decorating individual rooms to whole houses and even a French chateau. “My most challenging project was the very first one I chose to do,” says Dale. “It was a Clock Shop and I had to learn how to create all the finishes including the wood panelling and stained glass windows, how to do the electrics, make moulds, dress a doll and of course create all the clocks by upcycling buttons and lids, washers and nuts.”
Coming up with creative solutions is par for the course, and Jill explains that creating a wooden wall for her Beach Cottage involved cutting, varnishing, preparing and gluing a couple of hundred popsicle sticks to use as wall and floor boards. “My next project will be to build and furnish the Borrowers’ home as described in the book that started it all for me,” she says.
Although members enjoy the creative side of miniatures, Julie explains that it is possible to enjoy the hobby without being crafty. “You can buy a dollhouse in a kit or ready-made, and everything you need to decorate it, including the furnishings and accessories.”
But, Julie, Jill and Dale all agree that joining a club would be the best first step. “You’ll learn all the tricks! Make your first little miniature and you’ll be hooked,” says Dale *
FOR MORE INFO
The Durban Association of Miniature Enthusiasts meets on the last Saturday of each month at the Westville Library. facebook.com/ durbanminiatures or email Julie on juliemayo@mweb.co.za