(Jodi Hippler - Potting Shed)

Potting Shed Perfection
by Pam North
Jodi Hippler, a 52-year-old Washington wife and mother to two grown children, first became enraptured with miniatures a couple of decades ago while decorating and outfitting a dollhouse for her daughter. While the daughter lost interest when she grew up, Jodi’s passion for minis endured, and over the years she completed numerous builds with many themes. “Creativity has become as essential to me as air!” she exclaimed. “I have a blog in which I share updates to my projects. I try to include tips, processes and products that I encounter along the way in order to encourage the creativity in others. The best part of this whole obsession is the connection I have made with fellow mini-crazed kindred spirits, many of whom have turned into real-life friendships, and the support and encouragement we give to one another is unique and special.”

Her family is very supportive of her interest, but uninvolved, and Jodi finds it easier to combine home life with her interest in miniatures now that her kids have grown. She has been able to turn her formal dining and living rooms into a convenient workspace and home office combined.

Inspiration is something she finds everywhere. With no formal training in the miniature field, she learns by simply by trying, practicing, and perfecting. She loves the ability to bring an idea to life in a small scale. “Tools make all things possible!” she remarked.

A recent creation is her Potting Shed in 1:12 scale. Colorful and detailed, it is a perfect microcosm of a gardener’s ideal creation spot. Jodi said that she came up with the idea after she had a dream one night about doing the project, and the next morning she was compelled to raid her odds and ends of craft supplies and immediately get started. The materials she used encompassed scrap wood, egg cartons, acetate, LED Moon Lights string w/battery pack, and assorted items she had collected and stored for future projects. Some items were made from “printies” (printed labels, and forms to be assembled), and scraps cut out with small craft punches from faux plants and flowers. While the project was largely her own work, she also included cow cookies and a seed sack by another artist, Brae Oktoberany. She shared the process on her blog, using the label: Garden Shed.

Originally, she had made the Potting Shed as a gift, envisioning it for her mother-in-law for Mother’s Day, but once it was completed she couldn’t bear to part with it. Possibly conscience-nagged for keeping it for herself, she added, “I have a Real Good Toys dollhouse front porch kit waiting in the wings to make and give to her instead one day - maybe.” She tends to keep her creations, although occasionally she will sell experimental pieces or past projects on eBay to make room for new dreams.

“The Potting Shed is meant as encouragement to seizing one’s ideas.” she added. “Don’t overthink an idea. Just pick up some wood, some glue, whatever’s needed, and let your creativity carry you. The best and most favorite projects come to us naturally.”

Her favorite part about her piece is that the idea and process were completely organic, and inspired outside of herself. She found the structure to be the most fun part to create, saying, “I am fascinated with building structures and bashing kits to make them unique and singular.” She finds that her biggest difficulty involved with working in miniature is physical. “The fact is, as we grow older, our eyesight and dexterity fade. I have been legally blind, without my glasses, for about 7 years now.”

The future of miniatures appears bright to her. “It seems like there has been a resurgence in their popularity, especially over the past three years or so. It is so exciting and inspiring to see the work of so many new and creative miniaturists!”

As for what’s in the future for her and her creations, she shared her plans. “My 33-year-old daughter has finally shown some interest in miniatures, and in secret I’ll be making her a modern kitchen room box that includes culinary marvels from artisans around the world. The goal is to complete it by her July birthday. Additionally. I have many other projects started, partly done, or waiting in the box with most of the components purchased. What’s next is based purely on what inspires me at the moment.”

Contact information:
Name: Jodi Hippler
Email: hipfam@comcast.net
Website: my-miniaturemadness.blogspot.com
Instagram: instagram.com/jodihippler
Phone: (253) 442-4633
Address: 1903 200th St E, Spanaway, WA, 98387P