I am a Collections Manager in the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium here at NYBG. My job entails managing our vascular plant type collection and helping researchers with loans and information requests. I’ve always been a detail-oriented person, which helps greatly in my job and in crafting miniatures.
Since I was small, I’ve always been into miniature versions of things and spent a lot of time as a child in cardboard boxes I decorated to be houses, stores, and restaurants. My favorite part about getting a Barbie furniture set as a gift was assembling the pieces and carefully applying the stickers. So, it was no surprise that when I randomly came across a DIY miniature dollhouse kit in 2022 I thought it looked like fun plus it was something I could accomplish in my tiny apartment. I’ve built many kits since then and I always enjoy adding a personal touch or two.
Since I spend so much time with the NYBG collections, it seems only natural that these collections seep into my miniature builds. One of many great things about digitized collections is that you can use these images to turn them into miniatures. Here I’ve taken books available on Mertz Digital and created 1:24 scale miniature versions. This is a scale smaller than the one used in standard dollhouses (1:12 scale) or by fashion dolls (1:6 scale), but is the scale used in many of the miniature dollhouse kits that I build.
Celia Thaxter.
An Island Garden by Celia Thaxter, with Pictures and Illuminations by Childe Hassam
Boston, Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1884
Andorra Nurseries
Catalogue of Andorra Nurseries, ... Choice Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Roses, and Fruit.
Philadelphia, PA. : Andorra Nurseries, N.D.
Flora Salvadorena
Publicacion del Ministerio de Instruccion Publica de la Republica de "El Salvador", C.A.
Einsiedeln, Suiza Benzinger, 1926
John Lewis Childs (Firm)
Rare Flowers, Vegetables & Fruits.
Floral Park, N.Y. : The Company, 1898
Allen, W.F.
Salisbury, MD.: W.F. Allen Co., 1917
Lord & Burnham Company
Amy's Herbarium Office
Two- Book Themed Kits
This exhibit was created by Amy Weiss under the guidance of Stephen Sinon. Kelsey Miller worked to design and install the physical component of this display in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library.
Images courtesy of Amy Weiss.
Thank you to everyone who worked on this exhibit.
Library
libref@nybg.org
(718)-817-8827
Archives
archives@nybg.org
Plant Information
plantinfo@nybg.org
