Lisa Schrecengost (Smorgasbord)

Smorgasbord Extravaganza
by Pam North

Do mini-foods have mini-calories? That might be a good question for Lisa Schrecengost, who creates and sculpts temptingly delicious-looking miniature foods for dollhouses.
She has been fascinated by miniatures since she was a little girl. “From the first time I saw miniature food on a television show, I was captivated. I knew from that very moment I had to learn how to make them myself!” she exclaimed.
Lisa’s talents are obvious in this featured array of her work, nicknamed Smorgasbord. All are in 1:12 scale, and despite their tiny size, all are so realistic that the viewer’s taste cravings begin to respond and yearn, no matter the fact that each tidbit is crafted in polymer clay. Lisa has her own favorite pieces, citing Thanksgiving side dishes that were a response to a request from one of her clients to help her dolls have the perfect Thanksgiving dinner. “I also love my scrambled eggs and bacon, and my burgers, medium rare with onion rings,” she added, “but then there’s my picnic foods and everything else, so I simply can’t choose just one! Every item I create is something that I have eaten in real life, or have been asked to make special for someone. My biggest sellers are burgers, and scrambled eggs and bacon.”
It is her ingenious use of polymer clay, ceramic, metal, paint, and paper that so effectively imparts realism. Each piece she creates is made uniquely from the various techniques she has taught herself, and each imparts new challenges for her. “I encounter difficulties all the time, but that is how I learn, and that’s what makes me strive harder to get better. Creating the macaroni salad and making it look creamy was really difficult for me. Sometimes things don’t turn out as planned, and I reluctantly throw them away, but sometimes something turns out much better than I imagined, and I get so excited I want to show the world!”
What is so impressive is Lisa’s ability to make various foods so real and delectable-looking. The fried ground meat patties remarkably show the different stages of the doneness of each as it is cooking. She accurately depicts the richness of sauces and the bits of spices on the foods. Many miniaturists make food items, but it's usually more on the pastry side (cookies, cakes, etc.), and they are finished-looking pieces. Lisa depicts food in various stages of preparation and cooking, which is a unique perspective in her craft. It all looks so real that one would almost expect to feel heat when touching it, and it definitely stirs up one's hunger pangs.
Her goal with her Smorgasbord pieces was to create delicacies that other food miniaturists don’t. “I want to create more savory foods, and for people to look at them and not believe that they are made from polymer clay.” One food she particularly had fun with was the meat for the burgers and steaks. “I totally enjoy bringing things to life, and I want to become even better at it. I learn new techniques every day, and I love the fact that my miniatures bring people joy.”
She sells everything that she makes, with most items made to order, using Etsy. Her prices range from around $16 to $100, depending on the time and work she has invested in each piece.
Working in miniature presents its own inherent challenges, and Lisa shared her own challenges. “Some details are really hard, and I need a big magnifier. It’s all about detail, detail detail; I strive to have as much realism as possible.”
Lisa has had no formal training in the miniature field, but that hasn’t stopped her. As a self-taught artist, she takes pride in learning something new every single day, honing her skills with tools such as her 
X-Acto knife and her paint brushes as she crafts her pieces from her favorite medium – polyform clay. “I create each piece with love and with the buyer in mind. Each piece is a part of me, and it’s fun to see my pieces in their new homes. I have made things that I would like to keep, but I never have, so I’ve been thinking about starting a collection of my own pieces.”
At the moment her workroom is her dining room, but she hopes one day to have a bigger space where she can have her ‘dream studio’.
As a stay-at-home mom, Lisa can indulge her creative forces, sculpting her mini-foods on almost a full-time basis. “I try to find my balance, so I do most of my sculpting during school hours or late at night.”
Miniatures have brought a special joy into Lisa’s life. She had suffered from panic disorder and agoraphobia (extreme or irrational fear of entering open or crowded places) for over 20 years, rarely leaving her home, and feeling depressed. Discovering the world of miniature foods changed all that and became her saving grace. “I believe it was on Food Network, around 2010 or 2011, that there was a miniature clay artist,” she explained. “I went out and bought clay, then started watching clay food tutorials.”  She had found her passion, and she never looked back.
Family support has been encouraging for her. “My mom was the biggest supporter of me and my journey. She encouraged me to follow my dream at becoming a mini artist, giving me support and ideas, and watching me for hours. She has passed away now, but I’m positive she is still my biggest fan. My son and daughter love to watch me as well.”
Inspiration is a constant in her life, inherent simply in the dinners that she cooks, or that her mom once prepared. She watches cooking shows, and looks at food photos online. “At times I get great ideas when I am trying to sleep, and I have to jump out of bed to sculpt or write ideas down.”
She has considered teaching workshops. “I would absolutely love it. People have approached me several times with that idea. It would be so exciting to share my skills and help others.”
The future of miniatures excites her. “I truly believe we have just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the miniature world, with so much more to learn, create, and explore. Things are getting more advanced and much more realistic. With such a following for miniatures, I think the future for them is going to keep growing and growing.”
As for what’s next for her and her creations, Lisa’s sense of humor was evident. “I should open a small shop somewhere, like a restaurant where people can come in and order their favorite meal for their dolls! How cool would that be? Or how about catering for dollhouse parties?”
Contact information:
Name: Lisa Schrecengost
Business Name: Teeny Perfections
Email: Itsallboutmeow@aol.com
Phone: (412) 737-8474
Address: 3930 Monroeville Blvd, Apt K7 – Monroeville, PA 15146