Introducing Diana Carpenter of Mini Mixtures. Diana says "We call ourselves Mini Mixtures because that is what we are  A mixture of food, bead work, needlework items etc.  Also we are a mixture of Julia Matthews and me and I tend to be on the "mini" side, all 5 feet of me!"...

Tell us a bit of random stuff about yourself (not your miniatures!)…

I trained as a nurse 40 years ago, married and had a son, who is now 36! I then worked part time for a chiropractor and now work for an Osteopath. A very useful place to be when my back "goes". I love making my minis in my spare time and always have a selection of music and audio tapes on hand.

In the rest of my spare time(!) I am in an amateur musical theatre company. I love dancing and enjoying life.

Collector, creator or both?...

Both!

I don't do quite so much "collecting" now but still go to fairs whenever possible. I love my 3 dolls houses but love creating all that lovely food and no calories to worry about.

What do you specialise in?...

I specialise in food! All sorts I'm not fussy. I love to make cakes as this gives me lots of scope to be creative but researching Tudor food etc is very interesting too.

If I get the chance I love Harrods food hall and they are generous enough to allow us to take photos of their wonderful gateaux so I can try to reproduce them in 1/12 scale.

When did you first get interested in collecting/creating miniatures and why?...

I think what first started me off was an advert in a magazine for a dolls house company that supplied kits, this was about 30 years ago. I thought that sounded lovely but couldn't afford one, so my sister made me a Tudor farmhouse, with a big kitchen, back scullery and everything I wanted. She learnt a lot and so did I!

I started to make food when my husband was made redundant and we couldn't afford to but anything. That is when I started to make food items. It was very difficult (still is) to make just one of something so I started to take the surplus along to our Dolls House Club. Members started to buy and liked what I made and then Julia, my stall buddy ,suggested we try a couple of local fairs and it has escalated from there.

Where do you create your miniatures?...

My work room is the small bedroom at the back of house. It looks over the garden where I can keep an eye on the birds. I can leave my desk in a state of chaos when meals call and pick up again later. The cat was always a great "help" but he died and I do miss picked cat hair out of the Fimo!

I have 3 dolls houses, my first one is the Tudor farmhouse, second is a Regency house and the third is a 1920's house, Oh! and a Harry Potter shop.

What is the oddest thing you have created/collected?...

I think the oddest thing to date was a baby dragon coming out of its shell. This was a commission for a lady who saw my food and loved my work and thought I might just be able to come up with a dragon. I said I would have a go and if she didn't like it then she didn't have to buy. Thank goodness she did like it as the air at times, was blue and the language worse!

Who inspires you?

OOh! I think I would have to say Angie Scarr and Kiva Atkinson. How they come up with the things they do is amazing. What sort of a brain do they have? When I look at what they do I feel I have a very long to to go to match them.

When your mind is blank…what inspires you?...

Hmm, well now let me think.

Harrods food hall is amazing and I collect food magazines and the odd cookery book. So when I run dry for ideas I look through all these and something clicks. I have quite a collection of food pics on the computer too so a quick look through usually helps.

Do you do commissions and if so, what sort of things do you get requested to make?...

So far, I have had only one commission and that was for the baby dragon. That was hard to make as there aren't that many dragons around to have a good look at, the lady did want a green one which helped with colour and the shell was no great problem but getting the baby in the shell with its legs sticking through was a nightmare. Should I cook the dragon first or after, that sort of thing.

What’s your “other” job or is it miniatures all the way?...

When I'm not cooking, cleaning, ironing and generally keeping house, I work for a group of Osteopaths.

If you hadn’t started miniatures what would you have liked to have done instead?:

I have always like making things so something in the craft line.

What does your family think of your obsession?...

Oh! They don't mind. My husband is very supportive but does say he is a miniatures widower at times. My son just raises his eyebrows and thinks his mother is slightly mad.

Do you plan each creation or do you run with your imagination?...

I usually run with my imagination. I get a picture in my mind and give it free rein, sometimes I end up with something entirely different to what I started out to do. I think they call that Serendipity don't they?

Do you do fairs?...

Yes, I do fairs in the south of England. Lynhurst, Farnham, Southampton and Portsmouth are the main ones.

If you could change anything about the miniature profession what would it be?...

I do wish the Internet hadn't taken over quite so much.

Pros and cons?...

There is nothing quite like the atmosphere of a dolls house fair. All the crowds and fun and the OOhs and AAhs, you can't beat it. Also seeing an item right in front of your eyes has to be a bonus. Sometimes buying on the Internet can be a big disappointment.

If you could create one particular miniature, what would it be?...

Dolls I think. I am hopeless at doll making they always end up looking like something out of "Close Encounters of the third Kind"

Is there a miniature task/project that you’ve been putting off or procrastinating about for a long time?...

Yes, wedding cakes give me the shivers, all those layers!!

Also I have promised my son (how foolish can you get?) a doll of Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings. As my doll making is not good how did I get into this one?

What is your ultimate goal?...

Erm!! I'm not too sure about this one.

Maybe get as good as Angie Scarr? One can dream can't one?

Describe yourself in 3 words...

I can do that in one INSANE!!

Please use this section to provide us with any other information you wish to add...

I am always happy to do commissions and always say, if the customer isn't happy with what comes out, then they don't have to buy.