A Miniature Escape: My Weekend at Europe’s Largest Dolls House Fair

 Hello everyone!

How are you all? I hope you had an amazing weekend. I have to say, mine was absolutely mind-blowing—especially after just getting back from Germany. I'm so thrilled to share that I attended the largest Dolls House and Miniature Fair in Europe for the very first time!

I visited the 1 zu 12 Die Messe 25 in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, and it was simply incredible. There are so many reasons why I love traveling and attending dollhouse and miniature shows, and this event reminded me of every single one of them.

It’s always wonderful to reconnect with artists and old friends—especially those you rarely get to see. Coming from the little (and often forgotten) island of Malta, where dollhouses are still considered a bit of a taboo, I often feel isolated in my miniature-loving world. That’s why visiting these shows uplifts me so much. They remind me that there’s a whole world out there that sees what I see, especially when it comes to miniatures.

When I attend a show, I’m no longer the “weirdo” who loves playing with dollhouses—I’m part of a vibrant, creative community. I meet people who think like me, who share my passion, and with whom I can discuss and exchange ideas freely. It’s incredibly encouraging, and one of the best feelings is when someone recognizes me, we strike up a conversation, and I walk away with a new friend.

My favourite part is always finding the friends I’ve made through the years—and I’m happy to say, that number keeps growing. Two days never feel like enough, but I always leave with a full heart and something to look forward to: the next show.

Of course, the biggest disadvantage of the show—apart from how quickly it flies by—is the temptation to spend! Unless you’re very disciplined, you might as well throw in the towel and wave goodbye to your bank account. 😄

That said, I was more mindful this time—especially since I’m hoping to attend two more shows abroad before the end of the year. I also try to remind myself that I love creating pieces myself whenever I can.

Still, I couldn’t resist picking up a few treasures!

Here’s what came home with me:

• A handmade vintage pram by the Dutch duo Han Goergen and Jeanet Dekker. Han crafts the pieces, while Jeanet adds her charming shabby chic style. 

Han, Jeanet and me.

I’ve known them for years, and it’s become a tradition to collect one of their creations.

• Some beautiful laser-cut kits from Melissa’s Mini World. Melissa Verhoeven is an absolute delight—always smiling and full of positive energy.

• Printed miniature fabrics by Italian IGMA artist Susanna Alberti of Fashion in Miniature. Her warm personality is as lovely as her delicate fabrics.

• Supplies for chandelier-making from Bindels Ornaments by Marijke Bindels. I have a big project in mind and can’t wait to see how they turn out—fingers crossed I do them justice!

• A tiny, intricate pop-up book by Japanese artist Yuriko Kitano of Miniature Pop-Up Book—a true gem that becomes a miniature paper house.

• And finally, some hand-painted miniature pottery by Danish artist Lisbeth Pedersen of Minipot. Her work is always stunning and incredibly detailed.

And now for the biggest surprise of all…

I’ve been invited to exhibit at the fair next year in 2026!

At first, I felt completely overwhelmed by the idea. The pressure! The expectations! I almost said no. But in the end… they won me over. So yes, it’s happening! I’ll be exhibiting for the very first time, and I’m both nervous and excited. It’s going to be a completely new experience, and I can’t wait to share that journey with you as it unfolds.

I’m sure all these beautiful pieces will eventually find their perfect spots in my miniature scenes. But for now, I’m off to get back to my workspace and dive into some mini-making!

Thanks so much for reading, and make sure to stay tuned for the next update—I’ll be sharing a sneak peek of my latest ongoing project and some exciting things on the horizon.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

A Peek into The Folly 1:144 Scale

 Hello Everyone,

How are you all? I hope you’re doing well and finding moments of creativity in your week. Things are good on my end — busy, but in the best kind of way! I’ve been steadily working on The Victorian Miniature Parlour, which continues to be such a joyful (and sometimes all-consuming) project. As always, I find myself getting completely absorbed in the tiniest of details — especially with all the micro-scale dollhouses and accessories I keep adding. They’re fun to make but definitely take time and a lot of patience!

Today, I wanted to share one of my recent miniatures that I’m particularly proud of: The Folly, made in 1:144 scale.

 

For this piece, I used a printable design from Alison Davies Miniatures, which I carefully downscaled to better suit the needs of my project. I’ve admired her work for quite some time, and I was eager to see how the intricate design would translate at such a small size — and I’m thrilled with the result!

Despite the tiny scale, the architectural features came through beautifully in the print, and I couldn’t be happier with how much detail survived the downscaling process.

Once printed, I hand-painted every inch of it — a time-intensive but incredibly rewarding process. I paid special attention to the ceiling and the arches around the doorway, adding layers of color and shading to bring out the texture and form. It’s amazing how even the smallest touches can completely transform a space, no matter how tiny it may be.

I’ve also started adding miniature furniture and interior accessories, all painted by hand. These pieces are almost impossibly small — think match-head size! — but they make a huge difference in creating a sense of life and purpose inside the structure. Eventually, I plan to add lighting, which I think will elevate the atmosphere even further and really make the architectural features pop.

I’ve put together a short video showing The Folly’s progress as it came together. It includes some close-up shots of the interior work and the painting process — I hope you enjoy watching the transformation. Let me know what you think!

Next week brings something I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time — I’ll be traveling to Rheda, Germany to attend the 1zu12 Miniature Show! It’s the largest dollhouse and miniature show in Europe, and I’m absolutely buzzing with excitement. Not only is it a great chance to see some of the most incredible miniatures out there, but it’s also a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends and fellow miniature artists and collectors from all over the world.

If you're attending, please do say hello — I’d love to meet you in person! I’ll be sure to take plenty of photos and videos to share in an upcoming post, so keep an eye out for that.

That’s all for today’s update. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to follow along on my miniature journey. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes look, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon.

Take care, stay creative, and see you soon!

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx