Bill & Gina Theesfield

Contact information:
Name: Bill & Gina Theesfield
Business name: Calico Garden
Email: Theesfield@gmail.com
Phone: 847-445-1792
Address: 789 Main Street   WI
Website:
Instagram?  Calico_garden
Twitter? Theesfield

4. If you choose to write freestyle please keep your word count at or under 1,000 words and insert text here or send a Word doc with the above information included.

5. What specifically do you make? Miniatures in 1:12 scale.  Primarily polymer clay food, furniture and some small building construction.

6. When did you first become interested in miniatures or how were you introduced to the hobby? 30 years ago, we bought our first dollhouse together.  We spent countless of hours assembling and painting it.  Then, life got in the way.  We never decorated the inside and no minis ever moved it.  It has sat in a few attic spaces for over 25 years. Until just recently when we finally pulled it down.  We are thinking of turning it into a miniature haunted house.  It certainly has all the run down characteristics of a ghoulish abode.  Or, maybe we will turn it into the shining dwelling it was meant to be.

7. What do you do for your career? We own and operate an Auction house in WI

8. What does your family think of your interest? They are pretty amazed at the work we create.

9. Who is your biggest fan?  Both our parents definitely always tell us how proud they are of us. 

10. Is it easy combining home life and miniature life? Now that the kids are grown, there is definitely more time for miniatures.  Of course, our business takes priority.  But, that is only so we can make money to support our miniature life!  We carve out time in the day to focus on any mini projects we might have going on.  It's an incredible source of joy.  We are able to spend quality time with each other and make wonderful things that bring joy to others.  Its a win win!

11. Where do you find inspiration? There is an endless amount of inspiration in our everyday world. We see so many fabulous things that come through our auction house that we would love to turn into miniature.  We get design inspiration from magazines and Pintrest. 

12. Have you made anything that you can’t bear to part with? We absolutely have some pieces we created that we simply adore.  But sometimes, these items are meant to go to someone else to bring them joy.  We can always make another.

13. Describe your workplace. Bill has a small workshop area in our warehouse.  It is like a machine shop and wood shop shrunk down to size.  Its clean and organized.  Gina works primarily on our large office desk with whatever project she is currently working on.  It is an organized chaotic mess.  That is the juxtaposition between an artist and an engineer.  It works for us.

14. Where do you sell your products? What is the price range for your products? We have an etsy store for our miniatures and art.  We have items from $4-$350.  Our main price range for most of our product is about $20. We will hopefully be participating in our second year of Vending at the Three Blind Mice miniature show in Chicago this August.

15. Do you belong to any groups or clubs? No

16. Do you run workshops?  If so, please tell us about them.  If not, do you plan to? Gina has taught several dance and art classes but has never taught a miniature workshop.  We would love to run some miniature workshops one day.  We love sharing our knowledge and art with others.

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

18. What do you love most about miniatures? Gina says "It is easier to collect 100 miniature things than 100 cats."  Although, she would probably rather have 100 cats.  Bill says "The two things I love the most is that it is basically model making and I love making models and I love spending time with my wife."

19. 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.)? We are pretty much self taught.  Bill has a background in engineering, drafting and machining of life sized items which he translates to his miniature work.

20. What is your most valuable tool or what tool could you not live without? With an engineering scale, exacto knife a needle tool, we can rule the mini world.

21. What’s the biggest difficulty involved with working in miniature? Our failing eyesight!  Getting old is not easy.

22. What do you think about the future of miniatures? We love the way that miniatures have evolved.  There are more modern pieces available and the quality of things have just gotten better as people share their knowledge of the art with others.  We can only imagine how more amazing all the little things will be in the future.  We also hope that more of the younger generation pick up the hobby.

23. What’s next for you and your creations?  We want to keep creating and stretching our imaginations.  We are hoping to acquire more mini tools for the workshop.  Maybe work on more outdoor entertaining pieces.  We'd love to work on an outdoor kitchen, pergola and gazebo when time permits.

24. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you? Bill has always been a model builder.  Whether it has been model cars, airplanes or Lego sets.  His very first dollhouse was a general store he made when he was 7.  He is pretty excited to be able to share his love of model building with others.  Gina is an artist in so many mediums and art forms from dancer to potter to miniaturist and more. She is happiest when she is creating.  Her art studio is packed.  Her motto: She who dies with the most art supplies, wins!

Miniature Scenes or Items

1. What is the name of the piece(s) we are highlighting? What scale is it? The ultimate backyard summer party hangout. Cedar wood 3 tier entertaining deck in 1:12 scale

2. 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? We bought several vintage deck kits at an auction a year ago.  After the first initial deck build, we decided it was a good kit, but we we could definitely improve on the overall idea and design. So this better than ever second deck was created using building code to build deck height, railing height, stair height, and spindle spacing.  We made the deck of our dreams, but in 1:12 scale.

3. How much of this piece was made, and how much was bought or 
collected? The only piece that was purchased was the inner plastic to the Jacuzzi.  The entire deck design was entirely our creation.  The patio furniture with fire pit, raised bed garden and garden trug was also our design.

4. Are there any other artists whose work is included in this piece? no

5. What materials did you use to make this? Bass wood, glue, stain, cloth, paper, faux plants, clay.

6. Can you share your technique for creating the piece(s)? We have a tutorial for the garden boxes that could be used for creating your own dream deck.

7. Did you use a unique process or unconventional method for creating any of these pieces? The wicker look to the furniture was created using woven scrapbook paper and painted with acrylic paint.  We used dried coffee grounds for the dirt in the garden beds.  The coal in the fire pit is chopped up plastic bits.

8. What was the hardest part about making this miniature? 
Did you encounter any insurmountable difficulties? It was hard to decide when to stop.  This deck could have easily turned into the Taj Mahal of decks if we didn't force ourselves to just stop.  It was so much fun to create!

9. Did the idea for this piece morph over time, or did the final piece turn out exactly as you had envisioned? This build took a total of 40+ hours.  When we were done, it was exactly what we hoped it would be and more.

10. Why did you make this piece? We built this deck for a couple of reasons.  It makes an excellent staging area for any outdoor items we will make in the future.  And most importantly, Gina has a miniature doll named Olivia with a back story on instagram.  This deck was for Olivia.  

11. What’s your favorite part about this piece? Bill's favorite part is that it's a 3 tiered deck.  Gina's favorite part is the working Jacuzzi.  Did we mention it had a working Jacuzzi!?  It actually holds water and bubbles using an air filter pump!  She also loves that the flowers in the garden boxes can be removed and changed with the seasons.  Oh, and the patio furniture is pretty fabulous.  Were we supposed to only pick one favorite thing?

12. What part of this was the most fun to create? Coming up with the initial design plans.  It was exciting to dream up an amazing deck, put it to paper, then build it.

13. Are you going to sell this piece or display it? If you sell, what price range will it be?
 For now, it's not for sale.  We still have a full summer of photos with Olivia to take on the deck.  Maybe one day we will sell it, but not just yet.

14. What’s next for you and your creations? We have a very cool She Shed in the works. Its nearly finished.  We are also planning on replicating our actual 1911 American Four Square home with dance studio in the back.

15. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or this piece?