Home is in Essex, UK with her partner Phil and their two little girls, six-year-old Kitty and Livvy, 18 months.

"Kitty has been inspired by my mini making and loves to make things with her air dry clay; mostly animals and food. She is also incredibly supportive of what I do and will give me ideas and suggestions for pieces to make."

Hazel also has a whimsical side she explained

"I also enjoy making spooky Halloween items such as pumpkins, creepy cakes, and witch's potions, complete with poisonous toadstools."

Her biggest hobby outside the miniature realm is music.

"I play several instruments and really enjoy listening to all kinds of music. Before the kids came along Phil and I played in a 5 piece folk band. I often relax by singing while Phil plays his guitar or mandolin, or I will join him on the whistle or recorder."

Her first encounter with the world of miniatures was about twelve years ago when a friend's Georgian dollhouse.

"I was totally fascinated by this tiny world; it had real lights and glowing fireplaces!"

Hazel's initial idea was to create a traditional English Pub or Inn. While attending miniature shows and collecting pieces to use for her pub, fate appeared in the form of an instructional video on making polymer clay miniatures. Watching the video she thought, "I can do that!," purchased some clay and started making miniature. The rest, as they say, is history.

A self-taught artist, and avid reader, Hazel learned much from books and instructional DVD's from the likes of Angie Scarr and Sue Heaser.

"I also get a great deal of inspiration and tips from the CDHM forum and tutorials; particularly from Betsy Niederer, Sandra Palesch and Kiva Atkinson."

With an eye for detail and a keen sense of scale, Hazel's mini food can sometimes be too realistic.

"Once had an inquiry through my website asking about the miniature fruit that I make".

"The customer asked, in all seriousness, if the fruit tasted the same as full size fruit! I was very flattered that they found the fruit so realistic, but did point out that it was all made from polymer clay and was not edible."

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