As a child, Toronto-based maker Roxanne Brathwaite loved to play with her dollhouse. More specifically with what adorned its interior—Roxanne threw out the dolls and played with the furniture. That fascination with furniture continued into adulthood. In 2015 she began an apprenticeship with master upholsterers and eventually started the company Hollis Newton. When the first Covid lockdown forced her to shut down production, she rediscovered miniatures and quickly became immersed in the miniature-making community.  Roxanne creates miniature spaces that are rich in textures and design history. But her objective is always to create a warm, inviting and safe environment––someplace where the only rules are: come in peace, take off your tiny shoes and use a tiny coaster. Her miniature spaces have also become an artistic medium to raise awareness on social issues such as intimate partner abuse, Dementia, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.  Roxanne was a Season 1, CBC Gem “Best In Miniature” contestant. Her work has appeared on CityTV’s Cityline and CBC Arts, in Shrunk Magazine, Designer’s Today Magazine and the Toronto Star. She has exhibited her miniatures in window installations with DesignTO. Roxanne is a 2023 International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) scholarship recipient