(Bobbie Johnson)

A Trove of Tiny Treasures and Trinkets

by Pam North

Each is exquisite, a tiny crystallized moment, whether it be a set of miniature jewelry, a stylized perfume bottle, an accessory or an ornament, her array of mini treasures is a delight. Bobbie Johnson is a skilled miniaturist, and her artistry makes picking just a few of her creations a real dilemma when the instinct is to sweep them all into a shopping bag.
Bobbie grew up with her parents and three siblings in Omaha, Nebraska, and later moved to Colorado in her late teens where she finished high school. After graduating, she worked as a veterinary technician in an animal hospital, then moved on to the printing industry, where she did four-color separation work, an endeavor she thinks helped her develop her eye for detail. It is also where she met her husband, with whom she later had two children. She chose to stay home with her growing family, and when her children were still young, her sister-in-law received a dollhouse for a Christmas gift, and Bobbie became very intrigued. She decided to make some items for the dollhouse, and that was the beginning of her passion to create tiny things. Her mother also developed an interest in miniatures, and started to create some items for her own dollhouse. They enjoyed their shared interest, visiting miniature shops together, and eventually selling their handmade items at local miniature shows.

Bobbie’s interests are varied, and besides making minis, include crafting, searching for and using fabrics of all kinds (especially vintage and antique), thrift shop and flea market hunting, antiquing, and anything else she finds intriguing, such as animals and vintage dolls. Her biggest challenge and favorite part about miniatures is seeing something in real-life and figuring out what materials would be needed in order to recreate it in 1:12 scale. “I always am inspired by a piece of new fabric or lace that I find, to see how I can incorporate it into my work in small scale. That’s why I am always on the hunt for more. I find inspiration in magazines, shopping, antique stores, movies that have period clothing, and current fashions. Unfortunately, this has led me to become a fabric and lace hoarder!”

She started making anything and everything she could think of in miniature. She experimented with every kind of craft from needlepoint, macramé, knitting, watercolor and acrylic painting, doll making, jewelry making, and clothing. “In miniature I have made clothing, and reupholstered furniture with a touch of whimsy,” she explained. “I like all the feminine accessories. I always have loved old things and have translated that into my miniatures by aging and antiquing them. I have had an attic line that has been displayed - anything that one finds in an attic I have made, including Christmas boxes, clothing, old trikes, and rusted roll-away beds. I get the most satisfaction from bringing something to life in 1:12 scale. Creating miniatures calms my restless mind and allows me to be in a peaceful state of enjoyment.”

That sense of calm does not quite extend to her  creative space. “My work room is in constant chaos with fabrics and supplies in disarray until I am ready to start the next project. I try to be disciplined enough to clean up after each project, but my brain works faster than my hands can clean up!”

She credits several people who were instrumental in her development as a miniaturist. “My mother, who was an expert seamstress, was a big inspiration to me. One year for Christmas when I was a child, she bought me a bride doll; for which she then made a whole wardrobe. There were formal dresses with mink stoles, and day dresses with hats. She even included a nightgown and robe. What I know of sewing I learned from her. There also was Mary Gukich, a maker of original porcelain dolls, who taught me the basics of dressing, wigging, and making miniature shoes for 1:12 scale dolls. She always has challenged my creativity, collaborating with me on many projects over the years, and I am fortunate to have her friendship. Others include the late Susan Harmon Hatler, whose style of aged realism and use of vintage and antique fabrics bring me inspiration; Janet Middlebrook. whose clothing items look like real garments shrunk down, with impeccable draping and manipulation of fabric, and flawless detail; and Maritza Moran, whose  unique style and coordination of fabrics is a delight to the eye; they are just a few of the artists who have inspired my journey.” She also cited Norm’s Dollhouse, a Denver miniature outlet that is now closed. “They were a source where I was encouraged to pursue a creative outlet and to make more tiny things. She began wholesaling her creations to Norm’s Dollhouse, then she expanded to the two local miniature shows put on by the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys. She started her Etsy shop in 2013, after which she began traveling around the country, going to about six shows per year. Due to the pandemic, she has been selling mainly on her Etsy shop.

Optimistic about what’s to come in the months ahead, she said, “I think there is a bright future for collectors and artists. Because of the current situation with the pandemic, there has been a shift on how people purchase, view, and celebrate miniatures, with the Internet being the prime focus. I am looking forward to the  return of the miniature shows because the collectiveness of items and the artists’ camaraderie have been missed while the shows have been postponed, and will be embraced enthusiastically when the shows are rescheduled for attendance. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to create miniatures and having met so many wonderful people in the miniature community.”

Contact Information:
Name:  Bobbie Johnson
Website:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/BobbieJMinis?ref=search_shop_redirect
Email:  bobbie.johnson12152@gmail.com
Etsy.com/shop/BobbieJMinis 
Address:  3710 Lewis St. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Telephone:  (303) 525-2802