British Miniature Doll Makers Guild
Featured
Artist of the Month!
Congratulations to
Nicky
Bott's Dolls
|
The
Interview! |
  .jpg)  
|
  How long have you been involved in the miniature world? I had to give up work 13yrs ago because of Chronic Arthritis and wanted to find something to do with all the spare time I had, so I started doing cross stitch pictures which led to Miniature carpets and of cause I had to have a dolls House to put them in. What was it that first got you hooked on miniatures Once the idea of a Dolls House had lodged itself in my mind I discovered all the magazines, fairs and clubs devoted to the Hobby. Who are the people that have inspired you in your work? Both my parents were interested in hand crafts, my Mum was always sewing and knitting and my dad made many models. When I was a child he made my first Dolls House and then a Circus complete with fully rigged big Top, then when he retired he spent most days in his workshop building models. Have you made a doll you cannot bear to part with ? The doll I am working on is always my favourite but I did have a doll which I called ‘Charlie’ and though not intentionally he resembled my Dad . I was keeping him but I took him to Miniatura to display and hopefully get commissions from. A lady from Ireland fell in love with him and placed a commission but because all my dolls are hand crafted the doll I made was not quite the same so I eventually let her have him, I know he has gone to a good home. What has been your most memorable moment in miniatures so far? and what has been your lowest? The most terrifying experience I had was doing my first fair, having to put your dolls on show for the public to pass judgement on, however by the end of the day I was buzzing with all the lovely comments and sales. The worst time was when my puppy chewed up a note pad that had the details of a customer who had placed a commission for a ‘Victorian drunk’. I made the doll and hoped the customer would get in touch but they never did. What is your least favourite part of doll making? Legs and feet, they have no redeeming features and you have to make two to match. Are your family supportive? My husband is my driver and will carry all the heavy boxes and help set up the stand at fairs, and my Mum assists at all my fairs she knows how to sell which gives me the chance to chat to customers and browse the rest of the fair. Do you find it easy to combine home life and miniature life? My son has now left home so there is only the two of us plus the dogs. My work station is in the kitchen so I can keep an eye on the dinner and keep working, however the dogs dictate how much time I’m allowed to spend working. If they get bored I have balls dropped on my lap. Do you have a collection of miniatures or do you just make them? I have a Toy shop and 1.24th scale Cottage which I do intend to work on but dolls take up most of my time If you had not found miniatures what do you think you would be doing now instead? I would have to do some kind of craft related hobby though arthritis has taken it’s toll on my hands it was my doll making that assisted in my recovery when I had an operation on both wrists. The mobility in my hands may not have been so good if I hadn’t been making the dolls. How do you usually relax? I can’t relax without doing something so I turn to ‘Sudoku’ if I’m at a loose end, I even have a book of them in the car. Is there anything you would like to do, in any area of your life, that you haven’t yet? When my husband retires we intend to travel all over the British Isles in either a motor home or caravan. What is your biggest love? My family my dogs and my life. If you had one wish, what would it be? That’s a big one and impossible to answer should I be selfish or ask for world peace, or a cure for Cancer or the answer to global warming. I could go on.  Click Here To View Nicky
Bott's Dolls
Contact
page |
    
|
Previous awards:
