Minis By Melanie
A little bit about a big passion…
By day, I tell big stories, speak on big stages, and work with creators who want to make a big impact.
By night, I’m a passionate creator of miniature dioramas that bring tiny worlds to life in delightful detail.
Inspired by the charm of little things, a love of crafting, the autistic ability to hyperfixate, and an uncanny ability to see reinvention potential in otherwise overlooked scraps, I create one-of-a-kind scenes that tell a story, in 1:12 scale.
Whether it’s a cozy café scene, an apocalyptic hideout, or a whimsical wonderland, each miniature is designed with meticulous attention to detail and a lot of heart.
Some Minis By Melanie
Wanderlust Books
Inspired by a real-life bookstore, Wanderlust Books, this miniature scene took more than 7 months of nights and weekends to complete. The mini books are made by folding printed covers over foam board and wood scraps, and they were arranged (with tweezers) to mirror the real store’s genre layout. The pillow is my smallest ever sewing project, and the shopping bag is my smallest ever completed origami.
Effective November 2024, you can now visit Wanderlust in North Raleigh to see this art piece on display!
[Work In Progress] Curious Study
I imagine this is the interior of a cabin deep in the woods, where a solitary intellectual packs the shelves with the many treasured books and artifacts she acquired while studying people, animals, plants, alchemy, and the broader world. She’ll undoubtedly be branded as a “witch” for her collections and her curiosity. And maybe she is…
[Work In Progress] Back Alley
My latest project (and my largest to date) is this diorama designed to emulate the back alley behind a strip mall, complete with dumpsters and a corner where employees take their breaks. Texturing the sidewalks and cinderblock walls was a fun undertaking, as was building the dumpster from wood scraps. Much of the work to come involves dirt, debris and other things to make this scene as dingy as it would be in real life.
Wanna chat a bit?
If you want to contact Mel about Minis, this is the place to do it. Here’s a little inspiration:
Itty-bitty inquiry
Pint-sized praise
Quaint little question
Compact commission request