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Just Miniature Scale
Big Treasures Come in Little Packages
The world of dolls’
houses and miniatures is one of fascination for
many, and nowhere is this artful passion for the
very small more accessible to the public than at
Just Miniature Scale, located at 100 South
Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg, PA. Just
Miniature Scale is home to some breathtaking
displays and irresistible buys, but most of all,
this place is fun! They stock everything from
doll house kits, assembled or custom decorated,
to miniature furnishings, wallpaper, flooring in
carpet, tile, or wood, hand crafted accessories,
and even miniature electrical supplies. Imagine
a fine tea service, a lacquered globe of the
world, or a collection of porcelain so small
they each fit in the palm of your hand. Many of
these pieces are so incredible, even if you are
not a dollhouse or miniatures enthusiast, you
are likely to find something calling your name,
perfect for a desktop or bookcase curiosity.
For hundreds of years, dollhouses were the
prized possessions of royalty and the
well-to-do, and no wonder; it required highly
skilled artisans to prepare these scale model
simulations of palaces and other royal digs.
With growing popularity and mass production, it
has become possible for more families to afford
dollhouses. These days, enthusiasts range from
the very young to the very old, all drawn to the
perfect worlds they can craft in miniature. But
dollhouses are only the start. At Just Miniature
Scale, you will also find the materials you need
to create dioramas, shadow boxes, memory domes,
and other creative means of displaying the
scenes or elements of your collection. This
enjoyable, peaceful hobby is fun for all ages
and abilities.
Just Miniature Scale features dollhouse kits by
Real Good Toys, Celerity Miniature Homes, and
Walmer Doll Houses. They have both the American
style, which are open in back, and the European
style, where the front and roof of the house
open on hinges, allowing access to the interior.
House styles in these high quality products
range from Victorian to contemporary, and kits
include everything necessary to complete the
exterior of a dollhouse, excluding paint and
glue. Dollhouse kits start at $95, but prices
range up to $999 for larger, detailed houses.
To complete your project,
Just Miniature Scale features furniture lines
from Concord, Town Square, Classics, and Bespaq
Fine Dollhouse Miniatures. Also available are:
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Building materials
from Houseworks, MiniGraphics, Northeastern,
and Handley House.
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A full line of
electrical supplies to wire your project.
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Falcon Miniatures,
including animals, foods, plants, and
flowers.
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Chrsynbon general
accessories, presenting a line of furniture
and accessory kits.
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Reutter's Porcelain,
featuring world-renown porcelain miniatures.
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A full line of books
and magazines to help you with your projects
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An extensive array of
artisan pieces from Master Miniaturists such
as Brooke Tucker, Prestige Leather, J.
Getzan and The English Kitchen.
Creative Domes and Containers
The other side of Just
Miniature Scale involves the creation of custom
gifts to commemorate occasions such as weddings,
retirements, graduations, and anniversaries.
Each unique, individually crafted scene is set
off in a beautiful container. They represent a
collage of ideas, telling a story about someone
or about an event in their lives. Prices range
from $70 to several hundred dollars. These
miniature scenes can reflect a life, a teacher's
classroom, a treasure chest of things from a
loved one’s life, even including miniaturized
photographs in tiny frames.
Classes
Children’s classes are a
favorite part of the business. Classes are held
once a month during the school year on a
Saturday, for ages 8 and up. The cost is $10,
and participants must pre-register. Enrollment
is limited to 12 children per session. During
the Saturday sessions, participants make little
things for their dollhouses. During the summer,
Just Miniature Scale holds a week long summer
camp, when larger projects can be tackled. This
year, twenty young “mini” enthusiasts came for a
week in August to craft a small flower shop.
Shoppers in Greensburg had the pleasure of
viewing the completed projects in Just Miniature
Scale’s window the week following the camp.
Customers who come in for the first time are
encouraged to do a small project at first, to
learn the materials and understand the scale
before investing in what can be a lifetime
hobby. A great place to start this holiday
season is with a Christmas Room or a Christmas
House, something that everyone enjoys and can
put in their home.
History
Owner Judy Mizikar grew
up on Pennsylvania Avenue and is thrilled to
have a business in downtown Greensburg. Judy’s
mother was an artist and teacher who always
contributed to her hobbies. Her Grandfather was
an artist also, so she comes by her aesthetic
skills honestly. In College she was an English
Literature major, and so her love of art and
storytelling combine in the creating of
miniature scenes. A typical “mini” enthusiast as
a child, Judy began making dioramas in
shoeboxes. Some 26 years ago, she attended the
Dollhouse and Miniature Show and Sale, sponsored
by the Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary in
Greensburg. As her love of miniatures grew, she
eventually applied to the original owner of Just
Miniature Scale for a job. She first started
working here in 1986, became a partner in the
store in 1999, and finally bought the business
in the spring of 2004.
Today Judy is arranging
her seasonal autumn display, and soon Christmas
miniatures will delight the eye throughout her
shop. So stop in and say hello. You don’t have
to be a collector or a hobbyist to be amazed, or
to pick up something that can sit on your desk
as an object of interest, or make a perfect gift
for someone’s curio cabinet.
Just Miniature Scale takes Master Card, Visa,
and Discover. Judy and her husband George are
always available to offer technical advice, do
hands on displays, or actually build someone's
project for them.
This holiday season, stop by to see a shop of
unique charm and grace in downtown Greensburg.
Stop in to experience Just Miniature Scale.
For more information call
724-838-0505, or visit Just Miniature Scale at
100 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA
15601. Just Miniature Scale is open 10:00 am to
5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday, and Tuesday
evenings until 8 pm.
The fun and fascination of miniatures at
Just Miniature Scale
For more information call 724-838-0505.
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