Debbe said. "I feel blessed to be able to do what I do in life and to have the full support and assistance of people who love me."

When her youngest daughter moved out of the house, her room was transformed into a studio where Debbe creates not only food displays, but miniature accessories for dollhouses or room boxes as well. Her specialties are Victorian and Modern styles.

"I make filled bathroom cabinets, ladies' dressers, utility and pantry shelves - I guess you'd say I am a miniature 'Jack of all things.'"

The freedom and courage to try a little of this and a little of that are what keeps her going.

"The first thing I think of in the morning is what project am I going to finish or start today. I always have miniatures on my mind."

A perfectionist at heart, Debbe laments that getting the effect and texture that she needs to make a miniature piece as close to the real thing as possible can be frustrating.

"The hardest part sometimes is getting a realistic color. I always put the real food in front of me while I'm mixing clay in order to achieve the most realism. The easiest part is designing where all the items will go on my prep tables."

Debbe's miniature world extends far beyond her studio work table to her grandchildren. The same mini bug that bit their grandma so many years ago has nipped her two granddaughters and her grandson, too.

"Oh yes, my three 'grandies' are big miniaturists. They each do a room box every summer at my house. I introduced each of them to miniatures when they turned three years old, and all three of them were featured in November and December in an online magazine. I am very proud of them!"

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