Bonnie L. Cross -  Mike's Paint and Auto Body

The Perfect Little Body Shop

by Pam North

Union City is a very small rural town in northwest Peennsylvania, and is where Bonnie L. Cross calls home. She labels her career as ”homemaker”, and squeezes time into that to make an assortment of dollhouses, buildings, and room boxes, primarily in 1:12 scale. “My family have always encouraged me in my hobby/obsession,” she said. “My husband is my biggest fan, and he comes up with many great ideas for projects. I have a wonderful basement workroom that he had built for me. One wall is all shelving for supplies; the other three walls have a workbench, worktable and a desk. It isn’t easy sometimes to combine home and miniature life, because we like to travel; when we do, that is time away from my passion! So it is a matter of priorities, but I find inspiration in everyday life, and in seeing unusual sites when traveling, so that is the other side.”
She always has had an interest in all things small. Even in elementary school, when she would finish an art project, like a construction paper Easter basket, she would make a tiny one as well. “I have had no formal training, but I’ve logged nearly 40 years of experience in making miniatures! The biggest difficulty that I have with working in miniature is when I am working in a smaller scales such as 1:48 and 1:144 - sometimes I feel like I’m all thumbs! My most valuable tools are my xacto knives.”
She tends to keep many of her creations, but does sell some by word of mouth through friends. “Most everything is still in my possession though, much to the chagrin of my wonderful husband! My favorite piece is my Tyvek® cabin. It is sided in Tyvek® home wrap, so it’s pretty unusual.”
“What I love most about miniatures is the whole process of making them from start to finish. I enjoy creating and collecting them.  In fact, I live and breathe them, as ridiculous as that sounds to most people, but what else can I say?”
Cross belongs to NAME (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts), but unfortunately there are no groups or clubs in her area to which she can belong. She expressed concern over the future of miniatures, “I wish more young people would become involved; we need to ensure the future of our hobby.” As for what’s next for her and her creations, she shared the focus of her current project, “Right now I am working on a stone cabin which is quite unique. I always try to imagine something very unusual, more than just your standard dollhouse.”
A recently completed piece of hers, from the 2016 Creatin’ Contest, is Mike's Paint and Auto Body.
“This is a replica of my cousin Mike's paint and auto body shop,” Cross explained. “His place is next door, and it’s quite unique. It’s sometimes a total mess, although I did not make my recreation of it as messy. My husband was the one who suggested that I tackle the project, and I ran with the idea. I used two of the required kits for the contest, combining them together while adding to the rear, and I bought two model kits for the cars. I made all the paint cans, shelving units, both mechanics’ tool boxes (using spice tins), paint can shakers, power lift system in the paint room, and paint mixing system in the rear of the paint room. Some items were purchased and reconfigured by me. I used mostly wood, although some cardstock was used for the small, stacking  storage cabinets. My technique for this and all of my projects is picturing a finished piece in my mind’s eye, and then I start work, winging it, so to speak. I don’t believe I have used any process or method that is unique or unconventional, although working without much of a plan may seem unconventional to some!”
“The hardest part about making this miniature project was that it did take an extended period of time. I never record hours spent, although I probably should, but it took me eight months of work time on this miniature. The interior pieces were built before the structure itself, because I was not certain how some of the tools and accessories would turn out. The piece finished out as I had envisioned it, although the office took a bit of figuring to accommodate the swing-out feature, and the opening roof was somewhat challenging. My favorite parts of it are the paint mixing system and the mechanics tools boxes. Creating all of this was so much fun, and it was quite a challenge!”
Cross gave the piece to her cousin, Mike, the owner of the real shop, but said if she had sold it instead, she would have asked around $2000.00 for it.
This project would be so perfect for a Father’s Day gift for that auto-minded man! 
Email: bonmini02@verizon.net
Phone: 814-392-6208
Address: 8700 Hanlin Cross Rd Union City, PA16438