Marilyn Ketchum
Email: sket175431@aol.com
Phone: 831-726-1971
Address: 3820 SAN DOMINIC COURT
AROMAS CA 95004-9134
MARILYN KETCHUM

What is the name of the piece we are highlighting from the 2016 Creatin’ Contest? “A MEMORY FROM DAYS GONE BY” 

How did you come up with the idea for this piece? Were you inspired by one certain item or moment, or was it a gradual accumulation of ideas?

AS SOON AS I SAW THE 2016 YEAR PROJECT I COULD SEE IT AS AN OLD FASHION GAS STATION. AS A CHILD ON A FAMILY VACATION WE STOPPED AT THIS ONE GAS STATION AND MY BROTHER AND I WERE NOT ONLY ABLE TO GET OUT TO USE THE RESTROOM BUT WE’RE ALSO ABLE TO PLAY AND RUN ON THE GRASS. AFTER BEING IN THE CAR FOR HOURS, IT WAS GREAT. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO EAT BEFORE LEAVING.

How much of this piece was made, and how much was bought or collected? 

THE RESTROOM AND THE DINNER BUILDINGS I MADE FROM SCRATCH. MOST OF THE ITEMS INSIDE ALONG WITH THE ITEMS ON THE OUTSIDE I BOUGHT FOR THIS PROJECT. I ALREADY HAD THE DOLLS AND SOME OF THE SMALLER ITEMS IN THE DINNER.

Are there any other artists whose work is included in this piece?

YOU COULD SAY MY GRANDDAUGHTER, TIFFANY KETCHUM. I WAS ONLY GOING TO ADD THE RESTROOM BUT SHE SAID THAT I HAD TO ADD THE DINNER TO MAKE IT COMPLETE, I’M GLAD I DID.

What materials did you use to make this?

I USED A VERY THICK FOAM BOARD TO MAKE THE RESTROOM AND DINNER WALLS AND ROOF SECTIONS. I THEN USED WOOD STRIPS ON THE INSIDE AND WOODEN SIDING ON THE OUTSIDE. THIS MADE THE ADDITIONS NICE AND STRONG. IT WAS ALSO MUCH EASIER FOR ME THAN TRYING TO CUT PLYWOOD.

Can you share your technique for creating the piece?

BEFORE I PUT THE GAS STATION TOGETHER, I HAD TO RECUT THE WINDOWS AND THE DOOR OPENINGS AND PATCH UNUSED HOLES.
I MADE DRAWINGS OF THE LAYOUT. I THEN BOUGHT THE THICKEST FOAM BOARD I COULD FIND AND DOUBLED IT FOR THE BASE. I ALSO ADDED BOARDS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE BASE FOR SUPPORT.
AFTER I PICKED THE LAYOUT I WANTED TO USE, I MADE POSTER BOARD WALLS AND THE ROOF SECTIONS JUST TO BE SURE THAT EVERYTHING I WANTED TO PUT INSIDE WOULD FIT AND THAT IT WOULDWORK ON MY BASE. THIS TOOK SEVERAL TRYS.
I USED MY POSTER BOARD WALLS AS PATTERNS TO CUT MY FOAM BOARD.  

Did you use a unique process or unconventional method for creating this piece?

WHEN I WIRED THE GAS STATION WITH THE COPPER TAPE, I PUT PLUG INS ALL ALONG THE TOP OF THE WALLS. THESE I COVERED WITH THE CABINETS THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE. I CUT HOLES IN THE TOPS AND RAN THE WIRES AND PLUGS FOR THE RESTROOM AND DINNER LIGHTS OVER THE GAS STATION WALLS UNDER THE ROOF AND USED THESE PLUG-INS SO THAT I WOULDN’T HAVE TO RUN THE COPPER TAPE ON THE FOAM BOARD. THIS WAS THE FIRST BUILDING THAT I EVER ADDED ELECTRIC LIGHTS TO.
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What was the hardest part about making this miniature? Did you encounter any insurmountable difficulties?

THE ELECTRIC GAVE ME SOME TROUBLE, SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK SOMETIMES NOT.

Did the idea for this piece morph over time, or did the final piece turn out exactly as you had envisioned?

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HOW MUCH SPACE THE BUILDINGS TOOK UP,
I HAD WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ADD A PICINIC TABLE UNDER A LARGER TREE FOR A FAMILY TO BE EATING AT. THERE WAS JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM.

What’s your favorite part about this piece?
I LOVE THIS WHOLE PROJECT, BUT I REALLY ENJOY HOW IT LOOKS AT NIGHT WITH ALL THE LIGHTS ON.

What part of this was the most fun to create?

ADDING ALL THE ITEMS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, ALSO SETTING THE DOLLS UP.

Are you going to sell this piece or display it? If you sell, what price range will it be?
 
I’M SURE THAT I WILL KEEP IT. I ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD AN OLD FASHION GAS STATION.

5. What specifically do you make?
SMALL ROOM AND OUTDOOR SCENES, DOLLHOUSES AND SHOPS AND TREES.

6. When did you first become interested in miniatures or how were you introduced to the hobby?
WHEN I WAS A CHILD I LOVED MY MARX METAL DOLLHOUSE. 
MUCH LATER IN LIFE I SAW A LARGE VICTORIAN DOLLHOUSE THAT THE WOMEN’S CLUB HAD BUILT AND FURNISHED TO BE RAFFELED OFF. I JUST STOOD THERE AND TOOK IT ALL IN. THE DAD WAS IN THE LIVING ROOM WITH HIS FEET UP, READING THE PAPER. THERE WAS A PIPE IN AN ASH TRAY ON THE LITTLE TABLE BESIDE HIS CHAIR. THE MOM WAS IN THE KITCHEN MAKING COOKIES. IT WAS LIKE LOOKING INTO A REAL WORLD ONLY IN MINIATURE.
FROM THAT DAY ON I STARTED TO COLLECT MINIATURES AND OF COURSE I BOUGHT SEVERAL TICKETS BUT DID NOT WIN THAT HOUSE.

7. What does your family think about what you do for your career?

I’M RETIRED FROM WORKING IN AN ANTIQUE TOY SHOP.

8. What does your family think of your interest?
THEIR NOT INTO MINIATURES BUT THEY HAVE COMPLEMENTED ME ON MY DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

9. Who is your biggest fan?
MY 2 GRANDKIDS

10. Is it easy combining home life and miniature life?
YES, VERY MUCH SO.

11. Where do you find inspiration?
THE MINIATURE CLUB THAT I BELONG TO. THE OWNERS
AND THE BUILDINGS AT THE SMALL SEA MUSEUM. I ALSO LOVE READING MINIATURE MAGAZINES.

12. Have you made anything that you can’t bear to part with?
OH YES, MY GRANDDAUGHTER’S DOLLHOUSE THAT I BUILT FROM THE BEACON HILL DOLLHOUSE KIT.

13. Describe your workplace.
MY DINNING ROOM TABLE WAS WHERE I BUILT THE BEACON HILL HOUSE AND SOME OF MY ROOM AND SCENE PROJECTS.
NOW I HAVE MY BEDROOM SET UP WITH A WORK TABLE AND DRAWERS FOR MY TOOLS. ALL MY OTHER SUPPLIES I KEEP IN CONTAINERS IN MY BEDROOM AND MY HOBBY ROOM.

14. Where do you sell your products?
I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO SELL ANY OF MY MINIATURES, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MONEY DOING WHAT I LOVE TO DO.

15. What is the price range for your products?

16. Do you belong to any groups or clubs?

I BELONG TO THE SMALL SEA MINIATURE CLUB.

17. Do you run workshops?  If so, please tell us about them.  If not, do you plan to?

18. Have you made any special items (i.e. something for a celebrity, a piece on display at a museum, etc.)?

OUR CLUB HAS HAD OUR PROJECTS DISPLAYED AT THE SMALL SEA MUSEUM.
19. What do you love most about miniatures?

THE TINY DETAILS AND HOW REAL YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PROJECT LOOK.

20. Do you have any formal training in your miniature field (i.e. art instruction for a painter, architecture for a dollhouse builder, sculpting for a doll maker, etc.)?
THE OWNER OF SMALL SEA, DIANE BIRNBERG, IS THE PERSON WHO SHOWED OUR CLUB HOW TO SCORE THE FOAM BOARD TO USE AS THE WALLS IN OUR PROJECTS. SHE’S ALSO SHOWED US HOW TO DO MANY OTHER MINIATURE PROJECTS SUCH AS WIG MAKING, DRESSING DOLLS, WIRING OUR PROJECTS, PLUS SO MUCH MORE.

21. What is your most valuable tool or what tool could you not live without?
WOW, THAT’S A HARD ONE. MY KNIFE, MY LITTLE SAW AND MITER BOX, SAND PAPER, RULER AND LEVEL.

22. What’s the biggest difficulty involved with working in miniature?
WORKING WITH THE TINY PARTS.

23. What do you think about the future of miniatures?
I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LOVE FOR MINIATURES. CHILDREN LOVE TO LOOK AND PLAY WITH THEM. ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN ARE FACINATED BY THEM. 

24. What’s next for you and your creations?
I HAVE 2 SETS OF THE STREET OF SHOPS THAT I WANT TO BUILD AND DISPLAY ON A BASE WITH A SIDEWALK AND STREET LAMPS SO THAT I CAN DECORATE THE SHOPS AND LAMPS FOR EACH HOLIDAY. I JUST HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT EACH SHOP WILL BE. I KNOW THAT I WANT A BABY & CHILDREN’S CLOTHING SHOP, A TOY SHOP, A LADIES DRESS SHOP
AND A BICYCLE SHOP. 

25. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you?

HOW MUCH I LOVE MINIATURES!