Christmas Emporium

The original and distinctive work of miniaturist Sally Wallace is for the second time featured in her new book, Christmas Emporium; and the book is as luscious as her work itself. Working with some of the most talented specialized miniaturists in the world, Sally has composed an expansive and complete environment both inside and out, inspired by her love of Christmas and memories of years gone by when Christmas shops were as fun to visit as to actually purchase items. The exterior has windows in stained glass, two nutcrackers standing guard over the front door and 25 small doors on the outside that serve as a very special advent calendar, among other architectural delights. Every element of the interior, from 18 Christmas trees to tiny wrapped presents under them, I offer up an interior festooned with every detail from working toys to children gazing at them and ornaments to hang on trees-each lovingly placed in an elaborately appropriate room with all the architectural details and interior design exactly as it might be in "real life." This sumptuous environment is unique in all its facets and readers entering this magical entity for the first time will find the world of a unique talent, the result being a creative process so replete with extraordinary details that the reader him- or herself will wish that they, too, were 1/12 size.