There's an app for that - Dollhouses?

There are three dollhouse apps in the app store- no advertisements here- but check them out! I'm not sure if I like the magazines on the Ipad or paper version best. I guess I like to read the paper version better, but hate storing them . I've also found that the Ipad will put a number of items into Ibooks now- for example, anything you download as a PDF I think, and I think I might have seen my download of the Artisan in Miniatures magazine in there. Better check!

An eventful evening here-my impulsiveness ?  First I pinched my finger in the jigsaw (handheld) while removing the dormers. YES! I removed the dormers. I kept looking at them and realized they were too big . I also couldn't stand looking at the messed up roof shingles- so off it all came. 


And then, I set off the fire alarms. It was much easier to get the shingles off with a little heat from the heat gun- but then some glue got on the heat gun. I guess we know they work now! 


Progress though I think. I worked on the door more , then changed the pitch of the roof in front . Which of course put the dormers at the wrong angle . But I'm pleased with the change , although as usual I gave myself work to do.  

The story beginning

I don't know how many people have a story that goes with their dollhouse- but I had a hard time even thinking about the house until I imagined the characters. I'm a dollmaker, and had originally planned to make dolls, but then found 3 wonderful little antique china and stone bisque dolls about the right size. I'll introduce them soon.

Right now their names are Althea, Aurelia and Augusta , but we'll see if I can even remember those names tomorrow! Althea however, will be first, because she has been named for some time.

I remember I said that the era of the dollhouse is 1885 - but that is for the story, not the house. The house is meant to be built much earlier, although I haven't completely thought that out.

The search for interior space and roughing out the story

My mom used to tell me about her "greatmares" , which were usually about finding more and more space in the house she was living in. Wonderful ballrooms, and multiple attics filled with wonderful treasures.

The original Houseworks shell had approximately 4 rooms. I've never figured out why the staircase hole was configured the way it is. When I started planning to redo the house, I realized that there was no way in the world that I could squeeze in the music room, map room, workshop, sewing room that I wanted in addition to the large kitchen  and three women's bedrooms. I was hoping to find a space for the Seamaster's bedroom, but he might need to sleep in the Map room. Here are the original spaces in the house (please forgive the renovation mess) .

On the right bottom is the parlor/music room. Up top is the prissy sister's room. One bedroom is in the attic, along with a small storage room and a nursery converted into a sewing room. 

On the left was originally the kitchen , but it just wasn't large enough when you put the staircase in the place designated (see to the left of the upstairs wall). So you'll see I added an addition onto the right side of the house . But it didn't stop there! 

The better to sand you dear.....

Trying a new color. So far , even though it has had multiple lives, this house has only been cream or white. I decided to experiment with some colors from the Providence Houses - this was a green color.

I'm pretty sure this color might not make the cut, but I like the green idea.

Feeling better

The porch went on well. I experimented with putting the doors on switched, but decided that didn't work. Looking at the doors- I realized that if I really have to , I can strip them down to wood and start the trim again.

Here's the porch - I've built the doors out because I love the look of a mini room on a door- so it looks like the house is set too back on the porch. I haven't decided if the added on kitchen at the bottom left will have stone or clapboard.

Door update And Minnie F. Flylady for Dollhouses

I don't know - I learned a rule from my mother when learning to sew. Make the 3rd mistake, then stop!

So the finishing the door idea to see if I can really successfully fix this house might have been too strenuous. 

I don't know how many people know Flylady? Flylady is a support website/youtube channel/webcast resource for those of us who need support getting through our lives with our shoes on . Her motto - "You don't have to catch up, just jump in where you are", gets me through some rough self deprecating sessions.
So I'm thinking we need a mini-Flylady for dollhouse construction.

Minnie F. Flylady is working on Mottos- See what you think

 Dollhouses are for fun. Don't make them work.Or torture yourself when your work really, really looks bad.

Every dollhouse doesn't have to live on past your lifetime. Some of them need to die to make room for new dollhouses.

Okay- too silly.

Demolish- or try to fix?

When you're working with a house this messed up (and yes I did it, and not even too long ago), it's hard to know how far back to take it. I'm working right now on the front door- I need to know that I actually can make it better!

But look at the dormers- AAHHHH. Although anything small enlarged that much would have to have incredible workmanship to look good at that magnification. And I keep reminding myself- this is for fun, this is for fun....

Let's just see how the door turns out.

I love old houses. I went to Providence to find some colors and doors I like. These are from Benefit Street. 

The way we were - Houseworks Colonial

When I first bought this house, it was with the thought of doing exactly what I have done- to let the kids use the basic shell, which was unbelievably strong for play until I was ready to finish it. The rationalization of spending money begins!The house has been a garage , a fort, a haunted house, a firestation and any other structure needed for imaginative play. This was of course before the first piece of clapboard or shingles had been placed on the house.

By the time my third, a girl , came along, the house wasn't big enough for Barbie, so went to live in my classroom for students with Autism.