Dollshouse Days

The Barrett Family

2012-01-07T19:09:00.001Z

This is the lucky family that live in the house. The dolls all German made. Father and Mother are bisque and were made by Kestner, around 1920 or earlier. The daughter, Sally, and Baby Josephine, seem to be made of a type of white china, which has been painted over. The little boy is by Caco and was made in the 30s.

The Inside of the House

2012-01-07T19:03:00.000Z

The dolls house is furnished with a little furniture that came with the house and some pieces I already had. The rooms are quite small compared to the other Hobbies dolls house I have that was made in the late 1940s. So I will pretend there are rooms at the back of the house! The front room is too small for a three-piece-suite and other furniture.

Hobbies Special 186 Dolls House 1930s

2012-01-07T18:57:00.000Z

Another photo of my latest dolls house. I just love the little porch at the side of the house. There used to be curtains at every window- at the top and half way down. I'm looking for suitable lace to replace the ones that are missing.

My New Doll House- A 'Hobbies 186 Special'

2011-12-21T05:54:00.000Z

I remember seeing a 'Hobbies 186 Special' on the internet some years ago- and fell instantly in love! Now I am lucky enough to have my own version of this wonderful dolls house.
The plans were avaliable from 'Hobbies' from around 1934 but I think many people must have added their own variations to the finished dolls house. In the original plans there was a garage on the side- but mine has a porch with a door into the kitchen. I have seen a couple which open from the back- this house has two opening doors to the front, which meant a necessary change to the fretwork design. Recently I saw a photo of a house with a staircase with a little landing half way up- mine had a simple straight staircase which I was able to remove, creating room for a bathroom upstairs and more room for hall furniture downstairs. In comparison to other houses the walls under the windows, both up and down seem to be higher and the front door is longer. All the bay windows had glass panes when the house was first built- now although the side windows are still glass, only one window has glass to the front.
Inside the floors are 'carpeted' with wonderful patterned papers and it retains an original fireplace with bevelled mirror. There is also a bevelled mirror in a bedroom upstairs.
Generations of children have played with the house, but apart from the windows, the house remains in good order although it must have been kept in a room with an open fire as the wallpapers have a brown tinge and it has the most wonderful smell!
The lady I bought it from asked if I would send her photos when I had redecorated it. I explained that to me, the house was perfect in every way- it was a toy of yesteryear- and would stay like that whilst in my possession! I get goosebumps when I look at it- it is definitely my favourite dolls house and I look forward to furnishing it with more treasures and finding that lucky family of dolls who will live in it!

The First Cuppa of the Day

2011-11-15T23:17:00.000Z

Mr Evans' parents have come to meet their new granddaughter for the first time and are staying for the weekend. They are early risers and always enjoy a nice cup of tea first thing.

The New Baby

2011-11-15T23:13:00.000Z

Constance is a lucky baby to have been born into such a loving family! As they stand around the cot, each member of the family is imagining life with Constance. Mr Evans is thinking of the day he will proudly walk his daugther down the aisle. Mrs Evans is thinking of all the things she will be able to teach her little daughter- passing on the knowledge her own mother gave to her. Giles and Gregory are thinking of all the fun they will have with their sister when she learns to walk. Constance just smiles, the sweetest of smiles.

The New Home

2011-11-15T23:03:00.000Z

The Evans family recently moved from a Gee Bee Villa to their new home- a bungalow in a leafy suburb. This has not been the only change to family life. Mrs Evans recently gave birth to their third child - a daughter named Constance. The twins, Gregory and Giles, are totally transfixed by their tiny sibling and cannot do enough to help their mother in the care of their sister.

Bathtime with Bertie and Boo

2011-11-15T22:57:00.003Z

It's bath time for Bertie and Boo

(Yotsuba could do with one too!)

The boys want to play
With bubbles all day

But I'm scared they will catch the mildew!

Discovered!

2011-03-14T17:16:00.002Z

Dear Amanda had a fright
When she turned from the nightlight
Saw at once the figure there
Told her not to stand and stare
But come next time and ring the bell
And share some tea and cakes as well.

(Stories from the point of view of the dolls house are always told in rhyme).

Ssssh!

2011-03-13T13:54:00.002Z

...a bedroom at the other end of the landing. Yotsuba made her way silently into the room. A young lady was reading a story from a large book to two little heads on a big white pillow.

Treasures in the Sitting Room

2011-03-13T13:49:00.002Z

...a room full of treasures! In the firelight, Yotsuba was drawn to a cabinet in the corner of the room. She carefully opened the door and looked at the delicate china within. Yotsuba wondered who lived in this lovely welcoming house. Suddenly she became aware of voices above. A shiver tingled down her spine. The voices sounded so full of love. She could here children giggling. Very slowly, Yotsuba made her way back throught the kitchen to the hall. She climbed the stairs and found the voices were coming from ...

Yotsuba tip-toes through the house...

2011-03-13T13:41:00.003Z

After looking through the open window of the dolls house, Yotsuba noticed the front door was very slightly ajar. She gently pushed the door and it swung open. It seemed to say,' Come on in Yotsuba', so that is what she did! She tip-toed into the house and found herself in a very tidy and clean and oh so cosy kitchen! The soft flickering light from the fireplace lit her way as she tip-toed into...

Little Miss Nosey

2011-03-13T13:36:00.003Z

Oh my! Who is this peeking into the open window of the dolls house? Why it's Yotsuba. Usually a very well behaved doll. What will she do next?

Bertie and Boo and Old Black Jack

2011-03-06T13:18:00.002Z

The boys are scared of Old Black Jack

Who is a most important Cat.

(He's not too keen on little boys

Especially those who play with toys)

Goodnight Dear Boys

2011-03-05T09:17:00.003Z

Now snuggle down deep

It's time to count sheep

Amanda tucks each boy in tight.

'Tomorrow we'll see

What fun shall we three

'Til then dears, I wish you Goodnight'.

Two Satisfied Little Boys

2011-03-05T09:11:00.003Z

The boys are well fed

And now off to bed

Amanda says, 'Stay

Each day you can play'

Amanda

2011-03-03T21:02:00.002Z

The door opens wide

Dear Amanda appears

'Come into the warmth

Don't stand there in tears!'.

Bertie and Boo Arrive

2011-03-03T20:57:00.001Z

Two little boys

Lost on the streets

Find a nice house

Filled with sweet treats.

('sweet' as in caring, aggreeable, delightful and confectionary!)

2011-01-30T18:27:00.001Z

Here is my latest house- a tinplate house by Mettoy- apparently of Northampton- now I remember I told my Mum this and she remembered the factory. My Mum went to live just outside Northampton with her family during the Second World war. I just love the lithographs! It also has a very clean and uncluttered feel to it- clean lines- I suppose this is because it is made of metal and the furniture is plastic. When I first began to collect dolls houses I must admit I wasn't very keen on metal walls and plastic furniture- how can the dolls be comfortable? Then I began to enjoy the pictures on the walls- just as I enjoy the Brimtoy kitchen furniture.
Here are Ester and Frankie outside on the lawn. I had a doll just like Ester when I was a girl- Ester came from ebay-she was dressed in red- actually I think I had two- the other in green... or was it yellow- I don't know what happened to them. Which is strange as all the dolls house furniture I had as a chlld was kept together in a box. Frankie has also been with me from the 60's.

2011-01-30T00:47:00.003Z

Goodness me I haven't been around for over a year! One of my news Resolutions was to come back to blogging- so here I am!

Here is some of the new furniture I recieved this week. I actually had the parcel for a couple of days before I allowed myself to open it. What a treat! I think it may be 'Oriental'- the day bed and the tortoise-shell design gave me the idea. The 'window' in the cupboard was so dirty I had thought it was a television screen. I am sure the children in the house where it will live, would have loved watching such classics as 'Watch with Mother', 'The Woodentops', 'Andy Pandy', 'Torchy the battery Boy' and 'Sarah and Hoppity'- although they would probably have hidden behind the settee when naughty Hoppity was on- just as I did as a child! Luckily I didn't tell them a new televison was on the way so they won't miss it. They have the radio- and enjoy listening to 'Listen with Mother' just after lunch.

Happy Christmas 2009

2009-12-10T18:34:00.000Z

Everyone meets in the village square for the decorating of the Christmas Tree. Mr Carmichael will place the star at the top of the tree. All the children have a decoration to add. When the tree is finished, there will be mulled wine and hot chocolate at 'Audrey's'.

2009-04-29T22:51:00.004+01:00

I dont think I will be adding much to this blog as I prefer to put my photos on Flickr! So check out my photos there-lots of my dolls houses and dolls houses furniture!

Amersham Dolls House 'The White House'

2009-04-16T01:31:00.000+01:00

During this Dolls houses life, it has had a window removed from the front upstairs and a bathroom added over the garage. I think the missing window was put here instead! I'm glad though, as I much prefer to have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. When I was a child my dolls house had only 4 rooms and one was always a bathroom. I never thought to change the rooms- the bathroom was a large room and didn't even have a toilet in it. The poor dolls had to use a linen basket! Although they did have a nice roll of toilet paper!
The 'White House', the name plaque unfortunately missing fom above the front door, has been redecorated inside and out. i had a go at removing the outside paint, but didn't get very far. Although the step is now brown rather than white. i like the colours inside, especially the bedrooms. Amelia's bedroom looks very cosy with the very pretty fireplace. Above her bedshe has a picture of 'Peter Pan', painted by Margaret Tarrant, just as I did. The kitchen looks cold, but I quite like it. The lady of the house is a teacher, and as you can see her husband is the local 'Bobby' with his very fierce looking Alsation. Most of the furniture in hte house was made by Twigg. I love the 'Flying Ducks', they come from KT Miniatures. I'm pretty pleased with the lamp in the bedroom, it's made from a ceiling lampshade and a candlestick! That turkey looks delicious, no wonder the cat, is in the kitchen!

Jake - Our Cardigan Welsh Corgi

2009-04-01T19:17:00.001+01:00

My husband had a Corgi when he was a small boy. So, when we decided to get a puppy, it had to be a Corgi. I arranged it all, knowing a little about them, having researched on the internet. We travelled some distance to meet the breeder and the pups. My husband said, " Nice puppies. Where are the Corgi's?" It was then we realised that he had grown up with a Pembroke, same as the Queen's, and these were the "ones with tails". But my son and I had already fallen in love with Jake, and we brought him home with us that afternoon. That was almost six years ago, and look how he's grown! He loves to be with the family, and as most of our holidays are in the UK we always try to take him with us. He's a hardy little dog, as were his ancestors who rounded up the cattle in the Welsh Mountains. He loves to "talk" usually around tea time. He gets on very well with most other dogs, except for those that try to dominate him with their size! I am often asked if he is a cross between a corgi and a collie -a collie with short legs! He's a great dog, good natured and lots of fun.

Chinese Dough Sculpting- Tang Suguo

2009-03-30T21:23:00.001+01:00

In 1997, whilst living in Singapore, I had read in the 'Straits Times' that there was to be an exhibition of Chinese Folk Art during the celebrations of the Lunar New Year. I had been very interested in anything traditionally Chinese. I'd just bought some dough figures, a mother and child, and wanted to see it done by an expert. Also at the end of the article, it had said that visitors could have sculptures done of themselves for 60 dollars.

The traditional art of Dough Sculpting, had originated in China during the Han Dynasty (206BC- AD 220).

We eventually found the place and watched as ' Dough man', Tang Suguo, 61, sculpted one of his customers.

As a small boy, Tang Suguo had begun his training by using a mixture of wheat and rice, learning from his father, Tang Zibo, also a sculptor and painter. They brought several innovations to the craft, such as sculpting other figures not just the traditional mythological figures, they integrated dyes into the mixture of wheat and rice as it was kneaded instead of painting them when they were finished and mounted them on greeting cards. Tang Suguo grew up to become the Associate Professor at the Central Institute of Fine Arts in Beijing.

And a more pleasant man you couldn't wish to meet. We had decided that we would love a scuplture of our son, Michael, then aged two. I must have forgotten my camera on that day, as we have no pictures of the experience, but Tang Suguo was very patient, and very kind. I don't remember how long it took him to sculpt the 3cm model of Michael, not very long, but thankfully Michael was very well behaved!
Fourteen years later, the model is still as brightly coloured as when it was made, and is one of my most prized possessions!