If necessity is the mother of invention, then miniaturist Debbe Mize developed her talent for making miniatures based on this motto.

"I started out as a collector and eventually morphed into an artisan when I couldn't find what I wanted for my dollhouses. With practice, I realized I was good at making miniatures, so here I am," she said.

'Here' is Cummings, Georgia USA, home to Mize's creations ranging from simple vegetables, cakes, and cookies to full blown displays of miniature food or accessories.

"I specialize in 1/12 scale," she said. "And I make a lot of prep tables."

One such prep table depicts vegetables being prepared and canned, while another display is a perfectly scaled picnic table, complete with hamburgers, baked beans and all the fixings you could want for the perfect day in the sun.

"If I see something in real life I like, I will convert it into miniature," she explained.

Having no formal training in producing miniatures, Debbe has walked down the well-worn path of try it and squash it creativity that most artisans have.

"I have taught myself through trial and error." she said. "I have always been artistic and used to paint and sculpt life-sized items before downsizing to 1/12 scale many years ago."

In addition to shrinking her favorite things from the real world, she's found inspiration from other artisans too, in particular fellow food artists Kiva Atkinson and Margaret Cassidy.

Although Debbe works in the very popular 1/12 scale, those who prefer collecting smaller scales can take heart, there is a Debbe Mize creation available for them, too.

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