Scale Miniatures

Handmade in 1:12 scale

I’m proud to be an Artisan with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. Miniatures have been a passion of mine since I was a kid. You can follow my work on Instagram @craiglabenzminiatures or on my Facebook page, Craig Labenz Miniatures. You can now buy a selection of my miniatures online at store.www.craiglabenz.com.

Online Store Mailing List

Upcoming Classes:

2025 Guild School
June 2025
Castine, Maine
In June I’ll be teaching a 48-hour class at the International Guild of Miniature Artisans Guild School in Castine, Maine.

Upcoming Shows:

Tom Bishop Chicago
April 25 – 27, 2025

Kensington Dollshouse Festival, London
May 16 – 17, 2025

Craig Labenz holding his handmade 1/12th scale electric chandelier

Craig Labenz playing with his handcrafted 1:12th scale croquet set.

1:12th scale miniature croquet set by Craig Labenz

Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to on Instagram:

craiglabenzminiatures

Miniature Artist. IGMA Artisan. In real life, I also build websites @craiglabenzdesign. Bennet has his own account: @big.boy.bennet

I’m excited to announce that I will soon be offe

I’m excited to announce that I will soon be offering an online class to make this 1/12th scale Pennsylvania Bucket Bench!

Students will register on my website, and then I’ll mail them class supplies including precut cherry components, essential tools/supplies and paint. Lessons will be self-guided online with a mix of written instructions, photos and videos.

Initial enrollment will be limited to 10 students. But I plan to release additional class availability in groups of 10.

If you’re interested, the best thing to do is signup for my email list (link in my bio). When class spots are available, I’ll send an email to my email subscribers, and later make an announcement on Instagram and Facebook.

#craiglabenzminiatures

This 1/12th scale tea caddy is a collaboration I j

This 1/12th scale tea caddy is a collaboration I just did with the amazing Daniela Kiefhaber for the @igmaguildschool live auction. I made the box out of figured Swiss pear with brass fittings, and Daniela embroidered the tiny stumpwork panel on the lid using silk thread. If you look closely, there’s a monkey under the tree! The box itself is just over 1/2” long.

If you’re at school this week in Castine, Maine, you can bid on this piece to raise money for Guild School.

#craiglabenzminiatures

Looking inside and behind my Snowdonia Welsh Food

Looking inside and behind my Snowdonia Welsh Food Cupboard that I made for Kensington Dollshouse Festival last week. The Welsh name is “Cwpwrdd Bwyd”.

I made this piece from reclaimed old-growth Douglass fir and cedar as well as Swiss pear.

#craiglabenzminiatures

This is my Snowdonia Welsh Food Cupboard that I ma

This is my Snowdonia Welsh Food Cupboard that I made for Kensington Dollshouse Festival last week. The Welsh name is “Cwpwrdd Bwyd”.

Along with all of the mortise and tenon joinery, there are some wonderful details on this piece like the panes of real glass with dividers, and diamond-shaped, inlaid cow bone escutcheons.

#craiglabenzminiatures

This is my Snowdonia Welsh Food Cupboard that I ma

This is my Snowdonia Welsh Food Cupboard that I made for Kensington Dollshouse Festival last week. The Welsh name is “Cwpwrdd Bwyd”.

Along with all of the mortise and tenon joinery, there are some wonderful details on this piece like the panes of real glass with dividers, and diamond-shaped, inlaid cow bone escutcheons.

#craiglabenzminiatures

One of the pieces I made for the Kensington Dollsh

One of the pieces I made for the Kensington Dollshouse Festival was my Killarney Potboard Dresser, an Irish piece from the second half to the 19th century.

From what I understand, “potboard” refers to the lower shelf where pots and pans would be stored. These shelves get a lot of wear and dampness so often need replacing in old pieces of furniture. I aged my potboard with a blackening formula that reacts with the tannins in the wood.

Along with all of the mortise and tenon joinery, there are some wonderful details on this piece like the large panes of real glass with center dividers, and the tiny nickel-plated brass door latches.

#craiglabenzminiatures

I had a wonderful first day exhibiting at the Kens

I had a wonderful first day exhibiting at the Kensington Dollshouse Festival in London. (@kensingtondollshouse) One of the pieces I made for the festival is my Killarney Potboard Dresser, an Irish piece from the second half to the 19th century.

I made this piece from reclaimed old-growth Douglass fir and cedar as well as Swiss pear.

Along with all of the mortise and tenon joinery, there are some wonderful details on this piece like the large panes of real glass with center dividers, and the tiny nickel-plated brass door latches.

#craiglabenzminiatures

I’ll be exhibiting at the Kensington Dollshouse

I’ll be exhibiting at the Kensington Dollshouse Festival in London on May 17th and 18th (@kensingtondollshouse). Because 2024 is the 100th anniversary of Queen Mary’s Dolls House, I’m planning to have some very rare 100-year old QMDH souvenirs from my personal collection with me.

First off, I’ll have several miniature copies of The Times of London newspaper from 1924. (100-years old!) These are essentially identical to the Times newspapers found in the Queen’s Dolls’ House library on display at Windsor Castle. They certainly must’ve been printed using the same printing plates. The 1/12th scale newspapers are each printed on both sides of one very thin sheet of paper, and folded in half.

These miniature newspapers originally came packaged in Manila envelopes printed with “The Times. A Miniature Facsimile of ‘The Times’ Printed for the Queen’s Dolls’ House”. The newspapers themselves are in quite good condition considering they’re 100-years old — and to my eyes, mine are in better condition than the newspapers in the library.

These are just incredible little bits of history. If you’re in London on the 17th of May, be sure to come to the show at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton St, London W8 7NX, and stop by my table to have a peek.

#craiglabenzminiatures

Just like a full-size case piece from this period,

Just like a full-size case piece from this period, I built my Philadelphia Double Chest in two parts. The original chest was very large — about 7 feet tall — and this separation made large pieces of furniture easier to move. This double chest’s construction was unusual because the molding at the base of the upper chest was attached to upper chest. It was more commonly attached to the lower chest which would form a “nest” that the upper chest would slide into, and also mask the separation.

This piece was based on a full scale example made by a free black cabinetmaker named Thomas Gross Junior in Philadelphia around 1805-1810.

#craiglabenzminiatures

I had to say goodbye to my first Philadelphia Doub

I had to say goodbye to my first Philadelphia Double Chest last weekend at the Tom Bishop Miniature Show in Chicago. But it went home with one of my former students and I couldn’t be happier knowing it’s in good hands.

This piece is based on a full scale example made by a free black cabinetmaker named Thomas Gross Junior in Philadelphia around 1805-1810.

#craiglabenzminiatures

I’m in Chicago this weekend at the Tom Bishop mi

I’m in Chicago this weekend at the Tom Bishop miniatures show. One of the pieces I made for the show was this circa 1760-1800 North Carolina Corner Cupboard. The original cupboard was made of southern yellow pine that had aged to warm reddish brown on the unpainted interior. To replicate that, I made this piece of reclaimed cherry floorboards that had a beautiful natural patina.

These cupboards all sold on the first morning, but I’ll still have one on my table today if you’re in Chicago and want to take a look.

#craiglabenzminiatures

I’m in Chicago this weekend at the Tom Bishop mi

I’m in Chicago this weekend at the Tom Bishop miniatures show. One of the pieces I made for the show was this circa 1760-1800 North Carolina Corner Cupboard. The original cupboard was made of southern yellow pine that had aged to warm reddish brown on the unpainted interior. To replicate that, I made this piece of reclaimed cherry floorboards that had a beautiful natural patina.

These cupboards all sold on the first morning, but I’ll still have one on my table today if you’re in Chicago and want to take a look.

#craiglabenzminiatures

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