Inside the "Frankenstein" Mock Up

I made foam board copies of the 2nd and third floors to test openings for the new stairs. The stairs to the basement will be underneath the curved staircase.

I am going to make the opening wider for the sidelights

living room

front door and dining room/kitchen?

up to the second floor

master bedroom

girls bedroom and hall

attic steps

attic and door to the bathroom

A New Daughter for the Family

She just arrived today! When I bought the family I couldn't afford all of them at the time, so I decided against the youngest daughter with hopes of finding a replacement one day. I asked Debbie, the owner of Debbie Dixon-Paver Dolls if she could let me know if she ever made one...and she did. So also sent me a replacement for the mother's lost hanky. She's younger but I think she looks sweeter than the original daughter.  I am thinking of naming her Charlotte, in honor of the new princess.

The original family group

New family group

I think the family will love her even more especially her big sister. I can just see her playing with her Alice in Wonderland doll in the bay window.

I picked up these little doll figures 50% off at HobbyLobby. I plan to paint them to look like china dolls.

"The Frankenstein House"

The reason why I call it the "Frankenstein House" is because it is constructed mostly of parts left over from other kits and semi-scratch built. This is the great bargain house I bought from Hobby Lobby for under $50.00, which was originally $229.00! 

Well... again you get what you pay. All of the bay walls and windows, oval window, both doors, parts of the foundation, a tower roof panel and wall, trim, front steps are missing from the kit. But other than that everything else is all there. LOL! I still think it was a great deal.


So I decided to give it a try and figure it out myself with a foam board mock up (my 3D sketch). I have the entire main roof and the tower ceiling present, just not attached in the photo due to weight. I didn't have the all the parts I need for the railing on the second floor, so these are just placeholders. I need another window in the tower and I need to make windows for the second floor. I'm considering getting the new walls professionally cut out instead of doing it myself. (I"m still learning how to cut a bevel and use a router.)

You get what you pay for

I bought the cheaper one and the door on the lower right will not stay close but its a good compromise. The Roper is metal and mine is wood. I like the style more than the material. The one I bought seems tall for my little cooks. It's wood and I'm thinking about cutting the legs down.

http://www.miniatures.com/Roper-Range-P17302.aspx

$59.99

and the cheaper one I own http://www.miniaturesmarketplace.com/1920s-White-Stove-P104583.aspx

$29.99

 

Out of Africa! They made it!!!!

My new dollhouse family, they made it all the way from South Africa. They were made by Debbie Dixon Paver https://www.etsy.com/shop/DixonPaverDolls  The attention to detail, even the undergarments are wonderfully made. The mom even has on real earrings and a ring. Their hair styles are well made and secured in place but still soft to the touch. The mom and son have on leather shoes. She has on slippers and his shoes even have laces.  I think I have found my new favorite doll maker. They were well packaged and arrived quickly without any damage. I was able to track their journey the entire way. They are posed with their future living room furniture from miniatures.com. I feel in love with the settee before I found the dolls, when I saw the mother I knew she would look beautiful sitting there.

I love miniatures.com, their customer service is awesome. The fretwork chair arrived with damage to the legs but miniatures.com is sending me a free replacement and I get to keep the damaged one. I will strategically place it so that it is not noticeable in the dollhouse. I am planning to build the "Pained Lady Dollhouse Kit" for them but for now they are staying with family friends in the New Orleans Townhouse.