Out of the comfort zone...

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By Robin Britton of Coombe Crafts...

I make original character dolls, sculpting head and hands, and legs and feet if I have to, from polymer clay, costuming according to the appropriate century, or quirky character, or requirement of the customer – that’s my comfort zone. Way back, I worked in many different craft areas and it was the making of traditional apple-head dolls that led me to the dolls I make now. I painted (anything and everything that stood still), made cards and decoupage and a variety of things that we see on traditional crafts stalls. So, for light relief, and to stretch or challenge myself, I continue to make a small variety of things, other than dolls – only now I make them in miniature.

"I've learned to make rats, but that's another story..."

My other huge interest is gardening, so I can indulge myself, in miniature and create weed-free vegetable patches and the cottage garden I dream of, in 1/24^th scale. While I don’t plan to put the brilliant miniature flower-makers out of business, I can make a passable poppy or primrose and create a tiny scene with a broken plant-pot or two, a bird and a mouse. I’ve learned to make rats – but that’s another story… A doll will take me a few hours or perhaps a day or two to complete, but a 1/24^th cottage can last me weeks, or months and I have huge pleasure in the various different stages. I like to be able to do a bit – make some dolls –go back and do a bit more. I can sit out in the garden, slap on the cottage walls and leave it in the sun to dry. Paint a wall or two, pull up a few weeds, and paint another wall. Magic. Then, in between the dolls, I get to poke miniature ferns in my cottage walls, moss the roof and give it a garden!

Did I mention I enjoyed painting? Pictures, yes, and murals, as the children called them. I’ve done Noggin the Nog to the Battle of Britain on various walls in my time - goose eggs and furniture; there’s no stopping me with a brush in my hand. It is very satisfying, however, to paint fairyland on a 1/12^th wardrobe or old roses all over a 1/24^th chest, and doesn’t take as long.

I always wanted to be a potter! I tried and failed, so buy great pots made by other people in real size as well as miniature. But I can make miniature teapots.As one of life’s great hoarders I cram whatnots and cupboards and shelves with pots, collectables, teapots and shells. In miniature I can do that too; they take up far less room, and fortunately appeal to other likeminded miniature hoarders.

I enjoy writing and love my camera, so it wasn’t too hard to be persuaded to write this little piece. I happen to know that many of my friends in AIM are multi-talented, multilayered artists, with a wide variety of talents and interests who actually make much more than the things they are best known for – I hope some of them will share them with us.

www.coombecrafts.co.uk