My love for the tiny world started when I was 5. I would design dollhouses all day and lose track of time. As an adult, I owned a chain of retail home stores. When I sold the last one and moved to Ojai, I had visions of raising chickens. So the first thing we built was a chicken coop. Breeds were selected to assure an array of blue, green, olive, brown and pink eggs. My obsession with chickens only growing, I began looking for miniature garden and chicken coop accessories. One day, I got the idea of crafting miniature chicken dioramas inside of cigar boxes. . . . First, they began as miniature coops and everyday scenes embodying my love of animals. But they have gradually come to include more sophisticated activities and travels. Some incorporate AI to set a particular landscape or interior, others whimsical art and accessories I have discovered. But they all share something in common; they each feature a chicken. (Recently a frenchie. . .) One, two, sometimes accompanied by a typewriter, a wine cellar, or coffee and a newspaper. I love designing custom boxes for clients to celebrate special occasions. Anything can be committed in miniature. And I call them “Storyboxes” because there is a story and an inspiration behind each one. They are exhibited at art fairs up and down the California coast and permanent collections can be seen at Ten Women Gallery in Santa Monica, Kathryne Designs in Montecito, and Gallery 113 in Santa Barbara.
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- Carey Appel
