A new local publication

Most people in town will know Jill Fraser through her involvement in setting up Murdoch James Estate in 1986, the expansion of the business at the current Murdoch James Estate site in 1997, the refurbishment of Luna Estate which opened in January this year and her tour company Martinborough Wine Tours which has been operating since 2006.
Very few people know she is also an artist and a miniaturist. This is a compelling hobby and despite the name, takes up a lot of space in a double garage sized studio. Her houses are made from scratch as are the people and most of the furniture in them. She likes working in a specific decade or style. Her mother, Dulcie, who is in her nineties also shares the studio.
Jill has been involved in the Lower Hutt Miniature Makers for many years and is currently their Treasurer. Recently retired from the involvement in Murdoch James Estate she conceived the idea of publishing a Miniaturist’s Magazine, prompted by the lack of media representation of numerous talented miniaturists in Australia and New Zealand. The hobby has been largely driven by clubs in the Northern Hemisphere and of three magazines covering this interest that have been lately merged into two.

This is not a difficult job for her, she says. It is utilizing a lot of skills honed as a commercial artist in the advertising industry, her work in Marketing and Advertising, and business and artistic skills.
The first issue which came out in August was received enthusiastically by her miniaturist market and subscriptions are coming in daily. The magazine is also sold on Trademe and Etsy as well as from her facebook page. The second issue of this bi-monthly magazine will be available from the 20th October.