Tiny Valentines

Posted on by janonlife

We have a few suggestions for those of you who would like to give a very small but unique and special gift this Valentine’s Day. 

Here are our top 5 suggestions from the Steampunk Dolls House, our online Etsy shop. 

  1. Miniature wand with crystal Boxed handmade 12th scale wand image 3An amazingly small magic wand with a real crystal in the handle.  It even comes in its own little gift box!  Each is a one-off design and wands and boxes are all made inhouse.  The wands measure between 1 and 1.5 inches.

 

2. Miniature Book of Spells and Potions Tiny Leather-bound image 2 Ye Book of Spells and Potions would make a very special present.  Each page of this tiny, leather-bound book has been individually hand-distressed to make it look ancient.  The cover has a metal trim and can be tied shut with the contrasting lace. (You can never be too careful with ancient spell books!)  The spells and recipes can all be read with the aid of a magnifying glass or phone camera zoom.  The book is 1.25 inches tall. 

3.  12th scale Steampunk Tinker's Shelf Dollhouse Accessory image 0A perfect gift for anyone who dabbles or dreams of dabbling in making steampunk oddities:  A tinker’s shelf, complete with an array of tiny, but very useful, items.  You’ll find a book, a bottle of something interesting, a box of odds and ends, a tool, along with a glue pot and brush.  

 

4. 12th scale Holographic Hand Mirror Steampunk Dollhouse bronze with top ring The holographic mirrors are always popular.  You can buy them with a ring on the top, for using as a pendant or charm, or without one if you’d prefer to give it as a miniature for a dolls’ house or ornament.  

 

5. If you don’t live in the UK, You may have noticed that the items above can’t be posted abroad at the moment, due to lockdown measures.  However you are not forgotten!  There is an ever-growing range of digital portraits and miniature books which can be downloaded and printed at home.  Then you just need some glue and scissors or craft knife to create a miniature masterpiece for your Valentine.  There are steampunk fashion books for ladies and gentlemen, a time-traveller’s companion, a book of undersea creatures, steampunk stories and much, much more.

Do head across to our shop and have a rummage through the tiny treasures there.

And a very happy Valentines Day.

Zen and the Art of Selling Steampunk Miniatures

Posted on by janonlife

“Tier 4,” Mrs S told us.

“What does that mean?” asked Holly.  “All these tiers – they make me think of wedding cakes, but that’s not it, is it?”

“No Holly,” Mrs S smiled.  “I know it’s confusing.  Basically the virus is spreading very fast in this area and we are advised to stay home except for essential outings.”

We all sat around looking pensive as we nibbled at mince pies and sipped that organic cassis that’s kept us cheerful during our quiet Christmas.  Were trips to the post office to ship our items around the world essential?  Should we use couriers who would collect directly from Steampunk-Shrunk Towers?  Should we give up and close down altogether for the time being?  It was really Mrs S’s call.  We, after all, rely on her to do the posting, since she is the only one of us not shrunk to 12th size.

“The way I see it is this,” she said, finally.  “We’ve had an amazing autumn and winter – higher sales than ever before, working 12 hour days, piles of parcels to ship almost every day, and I for one am exhausted.  I’m not in the first flush of youth – in fact about 10 weeks off reaching ‘clinically vulnerable’ according to this website I’ve been reading.  Every journey, whether by me to a post office or by a courier to here, is not – in the strictest terms – essential and is adding to the risk of further infection spreading.”

Image may contain: people standing“So we’re furloughed?” asked Serge.  “I didn’t even make it into the shop!”

“Yes, Serge.  I’m afraid so,” she sighed.  “We will use this cold, dark time to create some new lines – items that can be posted in the postbox I pass on my essential exercise walks, we will stay open to sell all the smallest things to UK customers and of course the digital stock.  Perhaps you have some ideas?”

“I was in five people’s baskets,” said Iris the Fortune Teller, wistfully.  “Although how that was possible, when there is only one of me, I don’t fully understand.”

“They’re etheric baskets,” Henry explained.  “Etherically you can easily be in 5 places at once – and here.”

“Oh I see!”  she laughed.  “Thank you, Henry.  I more than anyone should have known that.  Well then, if people are keen to buy esoteric items, let’s make some trays or little shelves with crystal balls, tarot decks, candles, pendulums and so forth.”

“Excellent idea,” agreed Charles.  “I’ll go and find some wood stain.”

Keep watching the shop, dear friends!  We are working to extend our range and adding to it all the time.  However more time is being spent in quiet contemplation, on crisp winter walks in the Somerset countryside and on resting after the busiest season we have ever had.

Thanks and New Year greetings to all our friends and customers.  We will be back to full service before too long.