I never focused on the fact that I was drawn to miniatures until 16 years ago. How did that fact go unnoticed? Odd, for if you open my powder room medicine cabinets you won't find room deodorizer or Advil...instead an outstanding collection of fast food meal toys–going back to the miniaturized McDonald's French fries that makes into a kid's transformer fighter. In the other cabinet can be found souvenirs from my childhood including a tiny glass bottle of gold water...Senator Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign handout (not an indication of my political proclivity).

My younger sister, Cordelia, is actually the force that got me started on Paper Minis. She has spent years populating a wonderful Victorian house our Father built for her as well as many room boxes. One day she showed me her latest dollhouse accessories purchase. I was impressed, but felt that the little kitchen groceries could be improved. Having worked as a graphic artist for many years, and with Cordelia's encouragement, I quickly became obsessed with creating the perfect 1:12 scale miniatures. A task that took many years longer than I thought it would. The resulting Paper Minis' process is my special "secret recipe" -- 10 years to figure out how to bring out color, texture, crisp lines and readable typesetting at a scale 1/12th our human size! If you have been following Paper Minis over the years on-line (from the end of 2002), you know it has been an interesting journey.

Paper Minis' format has run the gamut of high-tech on-line downloading...to honor-system on-line downloading...to auto-executable CDs. Paper Minis became known all over the globe, and how exciting for me to have e-pals from as far away as Australia! Anyway, each of those systems had its virtue, and customers liked Paper Minis regardless, but I was always trying to perfect the product line.  With the downloadable types of delivery I couldn't control how customers' printouts were looking. Each customer's printing situation is different of course...different paper, different ink...all these elements impact the quality (or lack thereof) of a finished Paper Mini. So my next logical step in developing Paper Minis products was to develop pre-printed, pre-cut kits. Armed with a new computerized cutter I was cutting morning, noon and night. All that labor meant higher priced Paper Minis and took me away from the creative part–designing!

Then came the light-bulb moment. From customer feedback, I learned hobbyists like to cut their own Paper Minis. It's therapeutic (translation: fun). So back to the drawing board I went and shortly thereafter Paper Minis Easy-to-Make DIY Kits (formerly Cut 'n Glue Kits) were born and were well received. In tandem with the Easy-to-Make DIY Kits, I spend a great deal of time writing the Paper Minis Newsletter and designing monthly sample projects in many doll scales. These are enjoyed by literally thousands of club members – I like to whet members' appetite with club projects so that they can't resist the catalog of available kits. It's also a great way to learn the hobby before making a purchase.

Now Paper Minis are available in pre-assembled versions. Great for those who are not crafty by nature or just plain too busy to be crafty. These are beautifully handcrafted by my friend and fellow artisan Elizabeth Calderon. In 2010 Paper Minis introduced Elizabeth's first fine art paintings in miniature. The paintings are very lovely and unbelievable in their miniature detail.

I believe that Paper Minis kits  and handcrafted items will be collectible items in years to come, so take care of your little treasures. Keep them safe in one or more of the little mini vignette shadowboxes available through Paper Minis printie CDs. I think you will enjoy making Paper Minis as much as I enjoy designing them. Collect one each month and sign and date the bottom. Your great-grandchildren will be enthralled with your collection. That reminds me of the "little things drawer" my Grandmother Woodruff kept in her kitchen to keep us busy when we visited!

Ann of Paper Minis