the dollhouse

This dollhouse was passed down to my family about three years ago from our Uncle Omer, who handcrafted it for his two daughters around 30+ years ago. This photo shows what it looked like when I started. It had good “bones” but needed a little TLC and so started The Dollhouse Project. Can you spot our cat Ruby in there? 🙂

I designed nearly all the miniatures in the house. There are a few items I didn’t make from scratch (purple bed, stove, fridge, tub, chalkboard and toilet, to name a few) but I did repurpose/up-cycle them to make my own unique creations. Many people ask me if this dollhouse is “kid friendly”….the answer is YES! It makes me so happy to see kids playing with it and changing things around. A messy dollhouse warms my heart, that means it is loved.

Before…

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Before picture
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This is the dollhouse before picture.  The only thing I had done was strip off the wallpaper.

After!

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The House, after!

These little critters have pretty good taste wouldn’t you say? So many hours went into making every little detail of this dollhouse, I lost track.  The pen and ink nature art in the living room and the master bedroom were both made by artist, Katrine Dickau (who also happens to be my sister in law) 🙂

All of the wood floors were made from popsicle sticks.  They were laid piece by piece! Other materials I used: wood (bass, balsa, pine, maple, black walnut) fabric, yarn, foam board, polymer clay, glue- a lot of glue, paint, speciality paper, and various other supplies.

Most of the art displayed was found online.  I am now trying to find the original artists so I can give them credit!!

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kid’s room with bunk beds, I love those dinosaur sheets, the fabric was from a men’s shirt (Harry Potter art by: Mike Maihack)
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playing with blocks (Star Wars art-bluemoonpatentprints.com)
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bathroom, I made the marble floor from photographs of real marble
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detail of bathroom sink
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art studio, I wish my art studio looked like that 🙂 (kids art by: my kids!)
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detail, art studio, the pencils were made from toothpicks
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master bedroom, the bed is a replica of own our Stickley bed, designed and hand made by me (pen and ink bird drawing by: Katrine Dickau, birds on a wire art by: jo clark)
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detail, master bedroom, the dresser was made from a solid block of wood, it doesn’t open
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upstairs hall
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detail of sitting chair with “house guest”
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kid’s bedroom                                                                                                                                                 (baby deer art-Sharon Montrose-The Animal Print Shop, Baby Safari Animals- Zuhal Kanar)
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a dollhouse in a dollhouse (baby deer art-Sharon Montrose-The Animal Print Shop)
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living room (horse print-Eye Poetry Photography)
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living room with Christmas tree (bird drawing-Katrine Dickau)
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downstairs entryway
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detail (cow art print, Jennifer Meyers for Pottery Barn)
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kitchen with little chef
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tea time

 

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