As seen in the January, 2005 issue of Miniature Collector

BUILD AN ELEGANT EASEL

By IGMA Artisan, Michele Carter

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Autumn Leaves Wreath

By IGMA Artisan, Michele Carter
PepperWood Miniatures

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Dan Worsham Elevated to Artisan Status

On Saturday, October 17, 2004, the Artisan Selection Committee met to evaluate the current applications of those members desiring the status of Artisan in the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. On that date, Dan Worsham was elevated to the status of Artisan in the Accessories category for his Tiffany Lamps.

Michele Carter Commissioned by Rik Pierce of Frogmorton Studio

In the spring of 2004, Rik Pierce commissioned Michele to make 4 window boxes for a large half-timber frame house called Toadwood Vale. The window boxes ranged in size from 3 to 6 inches long.

His only request was that she use red geraniums and whatever else would look nice with them. Because the house is very asymmetrical, and the window boxes were all different sizes, Michele decided to make each one slightly different, using a variety of flowers and foliage, but keeping in the same color ways. The results were 4 unique window boxes in red, yellow and white flowers including: daisies, geraniums, marigolds, dahlias, black-eyed Susans, impatients, trailing ivy, and creeping groundcovers.

Toadwood Vale was shown completed (including the window boxes) for the first time at the Tom Bishop Southern California Summer Miniatures Show in July, 2004, at the Beverly Garland hotel in North Hollywood. The house was sold on Friday night at the preview.

The 4 finished window boxes. Photo by Kent Clemenco

Three photos of the window boxes in place on Toadwood Vale. Photos courtesy of Rik Pierce

As seen in Miniature Collector Magazine, May 2004

Dan Worsham created the "Good Ship Trundle" from an old wooden shoe he acquired in Holland in the 1970s. It is meant to represent the wooden shoe that Wynken, Blynken and Nod sailed in the Classic children's poem of the same name. Dan made all of the fittings from found objects, or he fabricated them. This piece was exhibited at the Good Sam Showcase of Miniatures in 2003.

Photo by Kent Clemenco.

Blooming into miniatures

A backyard garden inspires Michele Carter's floral arrangements
By Susan Roemer I Photography by Kent Clemenco

Magic is one way of describing Michele Carter's talents in creating floral
arrangements in miniature. But unlike the great magicians, Michele creates
her illusions with paper and wire. "I want people to believe they are looking
at a real plant or flower, not just bits of wire and paper," says Michele.

To create the illusion of reality, Michele first dissects a flower blossom
to discover its architecture. Then she tries different paint colors, applying
them directly to the foliage or petals to determine the exact color. She often
makes a plant or flower several times before she is satisfied with the results.
Although the foliage with its various shades of green may be for some people
the least interesting and often overlooked part of a flower, Michele sees it as
an opportunity for realism. She cites tulip leaves as an example, with their
very soft, almost mint green color.

"Finding the correct color makes all of the difference in the believability of the
illusion," she says. Michele seeks ways to disguise the natural properties of
each paper so that the finished leaves look soft and pliant. She feels she has
succeeded if someone asks, "How did you do that? What is it made of?"

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Create Colorful Poinsettias

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From the April, 2004 Issue of Dollhouse Miniatures, New Products, page 60:

7 Tiffany lamps

Brighten a dark dollhouse corner or room setting with a 1"-scale bamboo Tiffany-style lamp ($195 to $350, plus $3.75 S&H) by Dan Worsham, Dan hand sculpts the bases and hand paints the removable shades in a variety of Art Nouveau styles. Lamps are available in three sizes: 2" X 1 1/8" "pony" lamp; 2 1/2" X 2" table lamp, and 2 1/8" X 1 1/2" hanging lamp. Each lamp includes replaceable bulbs. Order from PepperWood Miniatures. 5350 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, CA 9527; 408-926-3607; [email protected]

Michele's "how to" project from the April, 2004 issue of Dollhouse Miniatures.

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Valentine Treats for the Lady of your Dollhouse

American Miniaturist

Dan Turns Talents to Miniatures

Dan Worsham enjoyed a successful stained glass business for over 15 years, until the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 re-arranged his life as well as all of his earthly possessions. Now Dan is putting his skill as a stained glass artist into miniatures. He has teamed up with his wife, IGMA Artisan Michele Carter, as a partner in PepperWood Miniatures (www.pepperwoodminiatures.com). He is creating beautiful Tiffany lamps with hand-painted shades and replaceable bulbs.

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American Miniatures Showcase

Miniature Collector, Introducing...

Light Style American

Stained glass artist Dan Worsham has launched a new line of 1:12-scale lamps in the Tiffany style. Each lampshade is hand-drawn and hand-painted using classic Tiffany patterns, as well as his own unique designs. The bases are all individually hand-sculpted or crafted from jewelry findings and painted with a faux bronze finish. The lamps have replaceable bulbs with removable shades for access. Prices range from $195 for a pony lamp, $295 for a table lamp, and $350 for a hanging lamp. You can find the lights at PepperWood Miniatures, 5350 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95127, or visit www.pepperwoodminiatures.com.

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American Miniaturist "Here's Helen" Article
(excerpt)

By Helen Cottrell

"I have been ordering stuff on the net, lots of lovely kits. Three packages all came on the same day, gorgeous feminine stuff from Marilyn Coots at www.littleaddictions.com, heaps of different kits from Debbie Jones at www.minikitz.com, and flowery things from Michele Carter at www.pepperwoodminiatures.com. I stood in the kitchen opening packages and, I am told, making curious ecstatic whimpery noises. Huh. Debbie Jones is amazing — one orders the stuff and Ta-ching! it arrives so speedy quick. Bliss. As I stood surrounded by a sea of kits all over the kitchen work surface, my back was towards the kitchen table on which lay my Braxton Payne 1/48 scene awaiting furniture, my mini theatre awaiting more cutting of the scenery, the pasta maker for the Fimo and the heaps of Fimo awaiting Lord knows what — but I have to say so far we have conquered onions (sprouting, strung and loose) and sausages (coiled, strung, and loose). Potatoes next?

I have the deplorable habit when I get new kits of immediately opening the packet and reading the instructions, regardless of when I may actually get round to making the kits up. It was when I opened Michele's daffodil kit that it happened. There was that brown tissue stuff that daffodils have behind their flowers. Now I used to be a professional gardener, and I know the structure of flowers. How wonderful!"

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Tom Bishop Chicago International

On the right had page of this spread, center of page is a vase of Tulips by Michele Carter, PepperWood Miniatures, shown by C&J Gallery at the Chicago International, 2003.

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PRESS RELEASE
October 1, 2003

Stained Glass Artist Dan Worsham launches new line of 1/12th scale Tiffany reproduction lamps and windows

San Jose, CA: Dan Worsham, husband of Michele Carter and creative partner in PepperWood Miniatures, has launched a new line of 1/12th scale Tiffany reproduction lamps and windows.

Drawing from his many years of working on full scale art glass windows and lamps, Dan has developed a new technique that achieves the most realistic looking one inch scale Tiffany lamps and windows ever produced by a miniature artisan.

Because of his love of the medium, Dan was determined that his miniature art glass would meet his high standards. ÒIf I canÕt get the subtleties and richness of color of real opalescent glass, I wonÕt do thisÓ, he warned his wife Michele when she was urging him to make some prototype lamps. After some experimentation, his technique finally met his own exacting standards for realism, and a new product line was born.

Each lampshade is hand-drawn and hand-painted; using classic Tiffany patterns, as well as his own unique designs. The bases are all individually hand-sculpted or crafted from jewelry findings and then painted with a faux bronze finish. All lamps have replaceable bulbs, and the shades are removable for easy access to the bulbs. Wire junctions are soldered for durability.

DanÕs windows are exact copies of real Tiffany windows, hand-painted on real glass. They come with hand-made mahogany window casings.

DanÕs attention to detail is remarkable. His goal was to make the shades and windows take on all of the properties of real opalescent glass not only when lighted, but also when they are not lit. He also wanted the lamps to function exactly the way full-sized lamps do, and having a removable shade with a finial holding it in place was critical to getting the right form and function. His lamp bases even have little green felt pads, which in Victorian times were used to protect furniture from being scratched by the heavy bronze bases.

Even though his lamp patterns can be duplicated, they are hand-painted, so no two shades are identical, making each lamp a unique, one-of-a-kind signed work of art.

DanÕs lamps and windows can be viewed on their website: www.pepperwoodminiatures.com, or at numerous miniature shows in 2004, including the Chicago International, The Guild Show, the London Dollhouse Festival, and the Philadelphia Miniaturia.

For further information, contact:
Michele Carter
IGMA Artisan
PepperWood Miniatures
408-926-3607

As seen on page 26 in the June issue of

Several artisans contributed to this wedding vignette: the wedding cake is by Karen Laisure, the glass compote with candy is by Kim Matthews, and the wine is from Klein's Tiny Wines. Michele Carter of PepperWood Miniatures designed the scene and made the flowers for the table centerpiece, a bride's bouquet and a groom's boutonniere.

Herald of Spring

Add a touch of color with a vase full of tulips
By Michele Carter

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As seen in the Feb. 2003 issue of

Bouquet of Roses

Add a touch of class to a room with a bouquet of roses designed by Michele Carter of PepperWood Miniatures.  Kit includes detailed diagrams, floral supplies, and a vase to make the arrangement. I, AS, AT: 6-8 hours.

– Reveiwed by Judith Palenski

Cost: $25, plus $3.75 S&H.  Order from Michele Carter, PepperWood Miniatures, 5350 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95127; ([email protected])

Michele Carter elevated to IGMA Artisan status

On Saturday, October 19, 2002, the Artisan Selection Committee met to evaluate the current applications of those members desiring the status of Artisan in the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. On that date, Michele Carter was elevated to the status of Artisan in the Plants category. The jury's comments included: "lovely arrangements with excellent use of color; beautiful; lovely variety; great choice of vases; good color choices; nice scale."