Hi everyone!
I wanted to talk a little bit about the process and behind the scenes of The Mini Bookshelf Bar. Our virtual Mini Bookshelf Bar has been a big hit, so I thought it would be fun for you to hear about how it all started. In January of 2025, I was inspired by the mini bookcases I saw on Pinterest and wanted to design my own. I had the idea of making a bookend, so it would blend in more with my other home decor. One of my big goals was to encourage myself to read more, so this fit in perfectly. As we were prototyping, we would often make miniature versions of the larger bookcase to save on material and time. I ended up creating a large 1:6 scale bookend that looked like a bookshelf and had different color palette books. It was big enough to fit my Calico Critters/Sylvanian Families and display them, which was part of my goal too! During this time, I was also teaching elementary school. One of my coworkers was my very first customer for the mini bookshelf bookend which was really special. I remember dropping it off to her at school, and my students saw it on my desk and fell in love with the mini books too. I quickly realized that making miniature items and designs was something I really enjoyed.
After some time, I decided that I wanted a smaller bookcase to display the actual books I’ve read. I’m a big library user, and I listen to a lot of audiobooks, so I don’t get to keep a lot of the books I read. I had seen people make paper or foam mini books or book trophies before, and I felt like it was something we could definitely 3D print. I thought a 3D printed version would also make the mini books stronger. I recruited my dad to help with the more technical designs for the mini bookshelf and the sizing of the books, and we even added a cute ladder! This whole process took a lot of iterations and modifications. Once we had something we were happy with, we printed everything in our signature colors. I loved seeing how each color emphasized different parts of the design or gave off a different vibe. The design process is one of my favorite aspects of being a small business owner. I love each step of the process for turning an idea into a physical product I’m proud of.
In October of 2025, I did a pop-up event at The Busy Bee Boutique in Loveland, Ohio. Sort of last minute, I decided to experiment with my setup. This was only my second in-person event I had ever done. I decided that I wanted to create something interactive, and decided to do what I called “The Mini Bookshelf Bar.” I was inspired by the charm bars I had seen before for necklaces, bracelets, and bookmarks. Our Mini Bookshelf Bar looked very different compared to how it does now, I had far less accessories and bookcase options. We also just had things laid out in small baskets, rather than our Skadis display. At this point, I had ladders, dragons, plants, cats, signs, and tiny bookshelves as accessories. Now, we have way more variety available. The Mini Bookshelf Bar ended up being a big hit, and I loved seeing everyone’s combinations!
For my next event, at Running on Blooms in Liberty Center, I decided to do a dedicated mini bookshelf bar event. This was only my 3rd in person event, and my first time planning something all myself. I was really nervous to see if people showed up, but I made sure to advertise a lot on my social media accounts. I was shocked by how popular the event was, we had an amazing turnout!
After Running on Blooms, I was asked to participate at The Cozy and Bookish Market in Dayton. This was my first ever market type of event and I was nervous about a lot of things. I didn’t know how much stock to bring, how to set up my booth, how to promote myself, etc. I started to post TikTok videos for the event, and one of them ended up gaining a lot of traction! At the event, The Mini Bookshelf Bar was a big hit. I had people lining up for my booth, which was something I had never expected. I felt so fortunate and grateful for the opportunity. This event has definitely been one of the highlights of running my small business so far. I’m so excited to attend again this year. This was also the first event that I ever created our Skadis board display for, which is often seen in the background of my reels and TikToks. I was sharing my table with my friend, Your Book Nook, so I wanted to maximize my space. I really liked having the accessories organized this way, because it made things much easier for people to sort through and see.
Since then, The Mini Bookshelf Bar has become one of my signature components of my business. I am continuously improving things and creating new designs. My favorite part is how customizable it is. I love seeing everyone’s unique creations and their personalities through their creations. Now, I have added everything to my website so you can build your own mini bookshelf virtually. I also am offering special packs for parties, book clubs, and events. I’m really excited and grateful for how well our Mini Bookshelf Bar has been received. I can’t wait to see what we make next, and where it takes us!
0 comments