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:
-
Building materials from Houseworks, MiniGraphics, Northeastern, and Handley
House.
- A full line of electrical supplies
to wire your project.
- Falcon Miniatures,
including animals, foods, plants, and flowers.
-
Chrsynbon general accessories, presenting a line of furniture and accessory
kits.
- Reutter's Porcelain, featuring
world-renown porcelain miniatures.
- A full
line of books and magazines to help you with your projects.
-
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, or email:
miniaturescale@aol.com