The real world is the inspiration for the creative team behind Valbuena Miniatures in La Caruna, Spain.

Maria Jose founded the company and much to her surprise demand grew so great within eight months of business that she brought in a partner, Francisco Losada.

"One night my sister tried to convince me that I would be capable of doing nice miniatures and gave me a number of the Spanish magazines "Miniaturas" in order that I could see something on the topic. I could not leave the magazines until I did finish them and from that moment on, in 2005 I began with the miniatures and I have not left them up to today," said Maria.

Her partner created models of ships, planes and helicopters, another area where attention to detail and painstaking work is a must.

"I was something of a model-maker of ships, planes and helicopters. Having known Maria Jose and her love and work in the miniatures I began to quickly catch on to the dollhouse miniatures and to join this world of the miniatures," said Francisco.

Their talents complement each other very well.

"I work in both scales, but I like the 1:44 scale better and Francisco likes 1:12," said Maria.

"We make articles differently. Some things for scenes, accessories for the bathroom, perfumes, bottles of wine, toys ... but my favorite thing is to decorate the furniture. But we work very wide fields," she added.

Their creations are crafted in a workshop in the attic of Maria's house and sold at fairs and on the Internet from €0,70 up to €260.

Valbuena Miniatures have been published in the Spanish magazine "Miniaturas" several times, in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Their families are proud of their endeavors and thrilled that the pair have found work that makes them so happy.

Not to say that working with miniatures doesn't provide a challenge as well.

"In the 1:144 scale it is extremely difficult to make interior details, and in the scale 1:12 it is a challenge to paint delicate and minuscule details," said Maria.

Getting a creation to a collector has also proved to be a challenge.

"An unforgettable experience was in a sale of one miniature on CDHM. When I tried to send the piece I do not find the collector! It was one of a kind and I then had to go back to my photographs of my work and make another. Fortunately the new piece was impossible to differ from the previous one," said Maria.

The tools neither could live without include a paintbrush and X-acto Knife.

"Plus the eyesight and the ability to be able to decorate minuscule details. And the imagination and the aptitude to combine things tastefully," added Maria.

Next on the horizon for the team are more 1:144 scale items.

"I think little houses, scenes and furniture to continue decorating to scale 1:144. To continue creating new lines of accessories and extending those we already make for the scale 1:12. And to continue with new lines of decoration of furniture and to extend Peter Rabbit's line," said Maria.