Putting On The Ritz with a Miniature Polymer Clay Cheese Platter
“Thank you for all the help Cindy. I don’t no how you get the time to deal with everything.” ~Ritzs
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I often wonder where the time comes from, too, Ritzs. It certainly helps when you enjoy what you do… which is definitely true for me. That being said, there never seems to be quite enough hours to get everything done. But I try.
This time of year is especially busy for me because 3 out of the 4 in our household celebrate birthdays, all within 2 weeks of each other. That means there are a few parties to plan and attend, in addition to everything else.
Since I had to make a cheese party platter today (for real), I thought it would be fun to show you guys the miniature version in polymer clay.
The photo above is a tiny cheese and grape platter on a wooden cheese board. The cheese board is actually a small wooden button with a flat back, turned upside down. There would have been a glass of wine too, but I made the food for Barbie, and that girl just gets too wild when she drinks! :-P
I’ve made some other miniature food items if you want to check them out too. Here are the links:
By the way, I’ve noticed that whenever I blog about miniature food, the number of comments is usually lower than for other articles. That’s fine. I don’t mind. Just curious to get some feedback about why miniature food topics are less interesting for you guys.
Is it because you don’t ever see yourself making miniature food with your polymer clay? Do you think the techniques will be too hard? Too easy? Not into dolls or doll houses? Don’t like your beads and charms looking edible?
On the other hand, if you do like the topic of miniature food, let me know that too. I’m a bit hesitant to create video tutorials about this topic at this time, since I’m unclear about the level of interest.
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I, for one, am going to go against the grain for everyone here and say I am VERY interested in doing mini foods. My sister and I, actually. She’s wanting to make a cheese and wine tray for her Italian Christmas village display and the cost to purchase these are exorbitant! I’m researching the different methods so that we can do these before Christmas. Thanks, Cindy, and do keep them coming! They’re so cute, and it looks like it’s a lot of fun making them.
And it’s so cute! I love all of the “mini” stuff!
Welcome to the blog Betty… and thanks for sharing your story. I agree… making miniature food IS great fun!!! :-)
I have to let you know that right now making miniature food is great fun!!! Though I do not have a dollhouse, my 13-year-old daughter and her friends LOVE my mini food jewelry! And it’s not just the kids… I know of many people that look forward to my latest “recipes”. It’s probably not something you wear everyday but great fun!!!
Thank you everyone for the fantastic feedback! It is great to hear from both sides of the fence on this one. It is very important for me to hear how you all truly feel, in order for me to give you what you want.
If there is anymore of you who would like to see more info on miniatures do let me know. What I may be able to do is make some separate mini-course on the subject, if there is enough interest.
Keep the excellent comments coming! I very much appreciate the opinions of each and every one of you! Thanks!
Nina, I’ll be odd too! lol I got into making dollhouse miniatures about 6 months ago. I had seen picture after picture of the fabulous mini cakes and thought I would give it a try. I made 2 layer cakes, a pizza, some fruit tarts and ooh candles! I still make larger items but I have really enjoyed the challenge of making tiny things. As a matter of fact I just finished a set of miniature ‘stuffed’ animals that are barely 3/4 of an inch tall! I really enjoy seeing what you do with clay regardless of what it is! I hardly make beads any more, but love seeing them! Keep up the great work Cindy!
I guess I’m the odd woman out, here :) I’m working on a dollhouse (actually a doll castle) project with some kids, and we’re having a great time making all kinds of miniatures, especially food, with polymer clay.
I have no interest in making polymer beads and such — I just want to work on 1:12 dollhouse miniatures :)
I am with the majority of the group too. Not into miniature food. I went to a Chocolate Festival here in Denver last year and someone was selling ceramic fake chocolate. I thought they were cute but thought, why would anyone want to buy ceramic chocolate. I only want the real thing when it comes to food and especially chocolate. :)
Miniature clay projects look to be to time consuming for me! I do like Maureens idea regarding Holiday canes, I would be interested in learning how to make them.
Same for me Cindy – thought your platter was really nice, but I’m just not a doll kind of person (teddies are my thing, I dry needle-felt and sell collectable bears in the natural shetland sheep colours). I do like fruit and flower beads though, loved your pear beads.
I am not that interested in miniature food either Cindy. But what I would like is some holiday bead tutorials, such as Halloween beads, Christmas beads etc. Like beads/canes with a holiday theme to make holiday jewelry with. Possibly you did these tutorials before I was a member? Love your site and everything you do, but I am basically a jewelry person.
I share the question with Elizabeth, with the limited time I have to clay, how do the miniatures sell as charms, that’s why I’m so into the fauxs. Of the two designs I’ve created so far the faux jade has sold infinitely more than my first, which I think has more visual interest. To me, it’s how can I best use the limited time I’ve got to clay, not that I dislike miniature food.
And I’m with everyone else too. I have no interest in dolls or dolls’s houses, and don’t have kids. I do think some of the miniature food looks awesome though, one of my flickr contacts does the most amazing realistic food and I love looking at it.
As for food charms, they’re a bit cute for my tastes (see what I did there?)
I see a lot of UK clayers making Liquorice Allsorts and Dolly Mixtures and other sweets, and the occasional cupcakes and chocolate bars as well as the ever-present orange and lemon slices.
I have actually made a “5-a-day” fruit and veg charm bracelet with lots of different charms so you could attach a different 5 fruits/veggies every day. But it’s really just not my style.
Guess I just don’t do anything trendy or fashionable, lol!
I’m with the majority on this issue. I think they are as cute as can be but I don’t know what I would do with them if I did make them. Does anyone offer them for sale at craft fairs or on line? Do they sell?
Sorry Cindy but i go along with the rest on that as well the Grandchildren are not into dolls and things and i only want to make beads and copper findings
While I find the sculptural properties of the miniature food very cool I really don’t have an interest in it. I’ve seen many food look-a-like pieces on etsy and while I think they are fabulous in theory but it doesn’t really interest me.
My most popular polymer clay item on Deviant Art is my “Waffles” lol :P Miniature food is the most popular among the polymer clay deviations there.
I agree with Squash and Lisa. I’m not into miniatures. Just have no interest in them.
Yup – I’m in the same group with Squash and Lisa. No kids – and need to cut my nails even though they are really short now. That being said it made me wonder the other day – I’ve seen some videos with long fingernails and how do they do it?! :0)
Spending all that time on making miniature food for a charm just isn’t for me either – not at the moment anyway.
Although your cheese platter is really cute – I have to agree with squash… I don’t have kids (and all my friends kids are grown up), or a doll house and I just don’t wear jewelry that looks like food.
~Lisa
Dear Cindy,
My level of interest for the miniature food is low for many reasons. First of all it seems to me that I should have a doll house to put them in. And for now I don’t even have kids. I just don’t see these tiny things laying around the house, without a proper arrangement.
Then everytime I sculpt something I noticed that keeping fingerprints out of the object is quite hard. And that I have to cut my nails, otherwise I keep leaving marks on the miniature. That wouldn’t be such a problem.
And again, what can we do with the miniature food if we don’t have children or friends with children?
Of course they are all cute and, more than that, some are quite impressive in imitating real food.
I just don’t see myself spending a lot of time to make a very little pizza to turn it into a bracelet charm.