CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STAR-BULLETIN.COM Ed Cianflone, owner of Our House Miniatures & Dollhouses at Kilohana Square, specializes in tiny objects that turn a dollhouse into a home.

It’s a small,
small world

Miniaturists believe the key
to life is in the details

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By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com

Building a custom home is just a dream for many. But what if you could do it for less than $1,000? OK, so you may not be able to live in the house.

Miniaturists nevertheless find satisfaction in being able to choose carpeting, wallpaper, lighting and furnishings to express their sense of style.

That style will be on display Saturday at Ward Warehouse, where local hobbyists will show the dollhouses they've created.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@ STARBULLETIN.COM A tiny ironing board is the workspace for a tiny seamstress. It is set with sewing supplies, an iron and a dressmaking project in progress.

Although the items look like toys, miniatures are generally considered the playthings of adults. Little homes can be filled with furniture, stemware, dishes, record albums, candles, furniture, wallpaper, slippers, 12-packs of soda, bags of rice, even tiny boxes of condoms, if you want to go that far.

"It's not necessarily a hobby for kids," said Naomi Losch, president of the Miniature Guild of Hawaii. "These are very precious things, not toys. Sometimes people want to recreate something from their past. Or perhaps they want to build a house that they could never afford. I have koa furniture that's in 1-inch scale in one of my houses.

"I can't afford the real stuff."

At this scale, 1 inch is equivalent to 1 foot in full size. Size is one of the most important factors. Proportions need to be realistic, explained Losch. They are scaled down to create an illusion.

"Anything in real life can be transformed into a miniature," said Losch, who is also a member of the "Over 50 Club," which requires a collector have to amass more than 50 single-room boxes.

"Sometimes I don't start working on them, because it's hard to stop. I'm up until 3 in the morning," she said.

"I've always liked little things. My husband said I like all these small things because I'm a large person."

Dollhouse Miniature Sale and Display Place: Ward Warehouse, Second Floor Conference Room When: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Admission: $1 Call: Frances Kauai-Lynch at 550-4888

THROUGHOUT HISTORY, miniatures have had a special significance as learning tools or religious objects. An interest in miniatures took hold in the United States during the 1970s.

"One of the most memorable times for a small girl is having her father build a dollhouse for her," said Ed Cianflone, owner of Our House Miniatures & Dollhouses at Kilohana Square. "A light comes on and you can see she is taking a trip down memory lane."

He added, "Later in life, when things may not be going so well, they want those feelings back ... a chance to go back to happier times. Some military people lug these dollhouses around the world with them."

A dollhouse can be handed down from generation to generation. Miniatures can capture the past and even reproduce memories, said Losch. "It doesn't have to be beautiful. It's the memory part of building it that is special."

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@ STARBULLETIN.COM A set of spools is smaller than a dime.

Dollhouses start at $30. "There is a misconception that all miniatures are expensive. You can choose to buy a $5 couch or a $100 couch. There is something for everyone. The higher-priced items are usually either handcrafted or imported," said Cianflone.

"There are even people who will reproduce your own house. They fly out to the property and even add the wear-and-tear and weathering marks," he said.

"Others may build a dream home they would never be able to afford. You don't need to buy something expensive ... if you have the talent to mix some nice things together," said Losch.

"The only thing that can't be incorporated into a dollhouse is plumbing," said Cianflone. But as far as lighting goes, "If you can wrap a Christmas present, you can wire a dollhouse."

"There is something magical about a lit house," said Losch, as she displayed lighted curio cabinets, lamps and even a television set.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@ STARBULLETIN.COM A miniature flower shop, above, is fully decked out in pots, plants and other accessories. There's even a Visa sign on the cash register.

Many people in Hawaii create rooms rather than full-size dollhouses because of space limitations, she said. Corner boxes that can be placed on shelving units are available. Some miniaturists create theme boxes such as flower shops, sewing rooms or special holiday boxes.

Jo-Anne Heim creates miniature quilts. "I've always had an interest in quilts. My family made some and others I bought at auctions. I do copies of original quilts, both Hawaiian prints and crazy quilts," she said.

She sells miniature quilting kits with instructions. "It took me years to get the stitches small enough."

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@ STARBULLETIN.COM Ed Cianflone, owner of Our House Miniatures & Dollhouses, shows off one of his shop's larger houses.

Heim recently received an artisan award from the National Organization for Miniatures, and will show off her workmanship at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Quilt Show in May.

"It's now my form of therapy. It's really a pleasure when I sit down to quilt," she said.

Losch added: "Some people don't understand why we would pay so much for tiny things. I don't drink, don't smoke or throw my money around. Some people don't understand why people would spend money to go golfing every week, just to hit a ball all over the place.

"For me, it's a hobby and a very good stress-reliever. Making little things really gives you something to focus on, taking your mind off other problems. And it's such a sense of accomplishment."

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