Saturday, May 16, 2009

Inside the Alison Jr. Dollhouse Apartment

Above is a picture of the inside of the Alison Jr. dollhouse that I am turning into a small apartment building. I already have several dollhouses and had wanted to create an apartment building for quite awhile. I thought of using one of my small bookcases but none of them fit my requirements. I am doing the hall, living room and bedroom of three apartments. On the first floor apartment lives an elderly lady. She has a lot of vintage furniture. She loves to sew. In her bedroom is a sewing machine and a tall cabinet for sewing stuff. On the second floor apartment lives a single guy. He is a typical young single male who loves beer, sports and music. On the third floor lives a single girl. She has very modern and nice furniture considering she has a good office job. I am not done with the apartments. I still have to finish gluing in trim around the doors and windows and making doors between the living rooms and bedrooms. This apartment has been really fun to do. It gives you a chance to use a mix of different dollhouse furniture by creating different styles.
This is the horse version of the zebra riding toy.
One of the ladies in my club, Helen, came up with this riding toy. She made horses as well as zebras. They are also made from Popsicle sticks.
The above picture is a bench made from Popsicle sticks.
The above is an ottoman. It is very easy to make! Just start with the top of a spray can covered with material and trim.

Pictures of some of the things made in The Small World Daytimers Club

One of you told me that you would love to see pictures of what I have made in The Small World Daytimers Club, although I had planned to post pictures of some of the great things I have made from the club.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Pictures from the TWIGS Dollhouse & Miniature Show in Columbus, OH

The TWIGS Dollhouse & Miniature Show in Columbus, OH

A few weeks ago, I went to a dollhouse and miniature show in Columbus, OH. It was a small show, but I don't mind. I am posting pictures of some of the miniatures I bought there. I am also posting a picture of a miniature floor lamp I won as a door prize. For someone who hardly wins anything, I was excited and happy. Now, to electrify! None of my houses have electricity, but one of my smaller houses, a Cape Cod, has lights but it is a mess. I have wires everywhere and don't have them hidden as I should. I wish I could afford to hire someone to help me with the electricity!

My Webshots Page: Pictures of my Dollhouses & Roomboxes

Click here for The Three Blind Mice Show Website

Small World Daytimers Club

I belong to a dollhouse and miniature club called Small World Daytimers Club. We meet in the daytime at Small World in Dayton, OH. Small World is owned and run by Sally Miller. Since we meet at a dollhouse and miniature shop, we usually shop while we are there. We started the club back in the late summer of 2007 with about 4 members or so. We have had as many as 21 people show up for the meetings. Starting last summer, we have been participating in The Three Blind Mice Dollhouse and Miniature Show. Currently we have shows in Dayton, OH ~ Louisville, KY ~ Knoxville, TN ~ Toledo, OH and 3 in Chicago, IL. I have posted the link above to the Three Blind Mice website. The Daytimers Club had a table at last summer's show in Dayton. We sold over $300 of mostly club made miniatures! This summer, we will again be participating in the show in Dayton. We actually have two tables, one is for the children and is for the adults. This year's show will be August 8 and 9, 2009. Later I will post more info on the show for those who wish to attend. Of course, you can attend any of the other Three Blind Mice Shows in Louisville, Knoxville and Toledo. The Daytimers Club has been meeting on a weekly basis making miniatures to sell at the show this August. Some of the things we have made to sell are paper towel holders, benches made from Popsicle sticks, riding toys also made from Popsicle sticks, decorated straw hats and decorated baskets. We have a nice bunch of women. Everyone has their own talent to contribute. We take turns teaching the other club members how to make projects. I will be posting pictures of some of the nice things I have made in this club.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Figuring Out This Blogging Thing

I wish I were a teenager, because teenagers think they know everything! Kids these days are so good at doing things on the internet and setting up their websites. I am muddling through this new blog, still figuring out how to post this and that. My husband thinks that my new blog looks good. I am not so sure, but I must admit, it has been easier than I thought. I have many pictures on webshots, and tried to link with them here on my blog, but it is not working, so I might have to save them elsewhere to link up. It might take me a few days or so to figure things out, but of course, I welcome advice from other miniaturists who have a blog. I wish to link with your blogs once I figure out how to do that. So, bear with me while I work out the kinks. It will get better.

The Alison Dollhouse Apartment Gets a Makeover!

Sometimes I have to really look at a dollhouse or roombox (I make those too) to figure out what colors "call to me". My favorite colors are blue and green, and lately pink has also been a new favorite color of mine too, but you don't want to paint all your dollhouses the same color or colors! I wanted a modern look. Modern day is my favorite theme, and basically the only theme I use in my scenes. So, I chose shades of light brown/tan/reddish brown.

My Latest Dollhouse Project: The Alison Dollhouse Apartment

I bought this Alison Jr. dollhouse from my local Craig's List. I got it for $20! The first pictures show what the dollhouse looked like when I first got it a few months ago. It was missing some trim and the inside third floor had some wallpaper border pasted on the walls, some had already been torn off. The third floor was a pain to fix up as the wallpaper was real hard to remove.

The Look A Like Dollhouse That Started It All

This is the dollhouse I bought at a garage sale for $3.00! It is exactly like my very first dollhouse, circa mid to late 1960's.

Welcome to my first blog!

Until recently, I didn't know what a blog was, but after viewing some great dollhouse miniature blogs, I figured "I can do this!" First of all, let me introduce myself. I love dollhouse miniatures! My first dollhouse was a basic wooden one made of thin wood. I no longer have this dollhouse, but a couple of years ago I was surprised to find an exact replica of it at a garage sale for $3.00!!! I had to have to have, so I bought it. It has been in my attic ever since, waiting for the day when I figure out what to do with it. I will be adding a picture of it. I received my second dollhouse when I was about 10 years old. It was a Lundby. I was hooked from then. I still have that Lundby dollhouse, circa 1973. I recovered it from my mother's basement about 10 years ago. My husband added an extra floor to it, making it four levels. Currently, it is in a closet, waiting for a space to display. After I added to to the Lundby, I was hungry for more! So, I bought a Dura-Craft Farmhouse they no longer make. My husband helped me build that farmhouse. I decorated it in Victorian style, mid 1880's. I have tried to sell it on Ebay and locally with no luck. It is big! Since that first kit, I have acquired other dollhouses, most of them from garage sales, Ebay and Craig's List. I live in a small house, so I don't have much space. Still, I have a dollhouse in the dinning room, the living room, two in my bedroom and two in my spare bedroom! No wonder my old Lundby is still waiting in a closet for a place to display!