They made Hogwarts out of matchsticks!

Matchstick Marvels took viewers on an enchanted trip to J.K. Rowling's world of Harry Potter last year when Patrick Acton displayed his 602,000 matchstick version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the Matchstick Marvels museum in Gladbrook, Iowa. The model is based on Hollywood's version of Hogwarts seen in the Harry Potter blockbuster movies.

Now Action's wondrous miniature creation of the much loved story tale school has been sold and moved to it's more permanent home in Majorca, Spain a new museum "The House of Katmandu", officially opened in April of this year. It took Action nearly 3 years to complete and is his largest matchstick model to date. When finished in December of last year, it contained over a half-million matchsticks held together with 15 gallons of carpenter's wood glue. Now complete with a clock tower and many more details than originally were featured back in 2006 from tinycrafts.com.



Patrick an Iowa artist painstakingly glues together genuine but rather ordinary wooden matchsticks to make models of life-like sculptures, intriguing machines, and famous and world renown architecture.

Action's work has been seen on television, televised on ABC's Home Makeover Home Edition, High definition TV, Home and Garden TV, in magazines like AAA Travel and on display in museums and featured in places such as Ripley's Believe it or Not.

Since 1977 Patrick has glued together more than 3 million matchsticks to create many of the models that are on display in his own museum.

See more images of this truly magnificent model by clicking on the following link:
http://www.matchstickmarvels.com/Comingin2005-2006.htm

By Cre8

Mary Ann Stage and Harry Potter

I am quite obsessed with Harry Potter, and it seems I am not the only one. I spent much of the weekend visiting friends' websites and found some awesome Harry Potter castles. This is the 1:24 scale Hogwarts Castle by Mary Ann Stage. It was displayed at the Cleveland Miniature Show in August of 2006.

My favorite has got to be the bathroom and the greenhouse. As part of the Hogwarts Castle project, Mary Ann has created Hagrid's Dragon Hut and a Wizard General Store, photos of which can be viewed at: http://www.picturetrail.com/ssmaryann

Hard to believe They are Miniatures

Today I had the pleasure of stumbling "yes stumbling" upon a wonderfully amazing website of an artist who creates fascinating scenes in miniature. Hila Rosenberg Arazi is the miniaturist and her site is simply as amazing as all her artistic creations are. She is not only a wonderful mini artesian she is also an illustrator, animator an graphic artist. At only 27 years young, she certainly is an inspiring person to be featured here in the Dollhouse Minis blog.

I spend quite some time ewing and awing over all the tiny creations Hila creates. I am almost sure she is very talented with the use of polymer clay. There is lots to see there so get a cup of java or other preferred beverage of choice and take some time to look at her site. http://www.hilarosenberg.com/index.html

I have been quite inspired to make such things as her wonderful "Handed Tub', much the same as a footed tub but you will see with the tiny hands and tiny purple painted fingernails as the tubs feet makes it very difficult to call it a "footed" tub.

http://www.hilarosenberg.com/cluttered/batcu/batcu.html. You will see many versions of perfume bottles and atomizers, lotions and notions, artwork, toiletries, faucets and even tiles I am sure were all created from polymer or air dried clays. If you did not know it from an artists or other miniaturists point of view you would not realize at all what many of her creations are made of. In fact you would be hard pressed to believe that what you are viewing is as tiny as she claims they are. Take a look and you will see what I am bragging about here. Then come back an comment on what you thought about it all.


I am sure you will just love Hila's website, its just filled with a montage of artistic eye candy, inspiration and lots of WOW factors. Whimsical furnishings and amazement an wonder of just what is that made from questions. Be sure to click on all the thumbnail images for a bigger picture. Everything right down to the friends and families sites and blogs she links to is just amazing, so plan some time to go and check it out. Again do come back and tell us what you thought of it.

By Cre8!

Rik Pierce and Hogwarts

I watched the new Harry Potter movie last night, and if there is anything I admire more, it is the monumental Hogwarts castle by Rik Pierce! That is the dollhouse that first introduced me to the magic of paper clay. I never had a chance to take one of Mr. Pierce's workshops, but had the pleasure of meeting him at the Texas Miniature Showcase.

The Hogwarts castle and more of Rik Pierce's creations can be viewed at:
http://www.frogmorton.com