Many of you have asked for a list of my miniature/dollhouse sources. The truth is, I’m constantly finding new ones. There are a lot of blogs, websites and online shops out there. There are generous bloggers who post tutorials. There are online forums. There’s a wealth of material and inspiration out there.
I’m gathering together all of my current sources and will add new ones as I discover them. This will eventually be a link on the Dollhouse tab in my navigation bar.
By the way, I started my next project, which is my first-ever dollhouse build. Don was away all day yesterday, so I snuck upstairs when Scout was sleeping and built the base for the project. A big thank you to reader Janice who sent me the link to a fellow blogger, experienced at building dollhouses, who posted a tutorial about this particular build. Very, very helpful for someone like me. For instance: the tip to use weights, like you see in the photo, was something I wouldn’t have thought of.
I’m glad they’re finally getting some use.
Okay. Here we go.
Online Dollhouse/Miniature Shops
HBS/Miniatures.com – Great store, with nearly everything you need to build a dollhouse, to buy a dollhouse, to furnish a dollhouse. They have frequent sales, shipping is fast, and they have a catalogue that I keep right by my side.
Dollhouses and More – Another great shop. It was there that I found the blue overstuffed chair in the DH living room and the sofa in the den – both extremely realistic pieces.
DeJoux Miniatures – an extensive inventory of all things miniature.
The Dolls House Emporium (DHE Minis) – based in England. Great, great site.
The Little Dollhouse Company – based in Toronto. Fabulous shop.
Itsy Bitsy Mini – the source for all of the wallpaper I have used in the dollhouse. Fast shipping, extensive inventory.
Mainly Minis – I bought several of my miniature Roseville Pottery pieces there.
Train Sets Only – where I bought the ballast for the roof garden.
Elf Miniatures – based in England. My new favorite. The design work is incredible. Their tag line is “High Quality Modern Dolls House Furniture.” You have to check them out.
Chautauqua Miniatures – love this shop.
PRD Miniatures – miniature modern furniture and room boxes – great site.
1″ Minis – great tutorials by the incredible Kris Compass. So much information here!
Other Online Sources:
Etsy and eBay are great sources for dollhouse miniatures. I’ve purchased wonderful pieces from both sources.
I’ll list my favorite (so far) Etsy shops:
Flora Dollhouse – Flora made my living room sofa. She’s based in Italy.
A Lavender Dilly – Carrie lives in Australia and is the source of many of my rugs, pillows and china, as well as kitchen and baking utensils. Love, love her shop.
L. Delaney – a wonderful artisan who makes books, oddities, wall hangings – all sorts of things.
Twelve Times More Teeny – Sofia lives in Spain and crafts beautiful miniatures – I purchased several china plates from her.
Atelier de Léa – This is the fabulous Léa’s shop. She owns a dollhouse shop in Paris (I can dream) and is also the author of an incredible book with all sorts of tutorials, Le Grand Livre de la Maison Miniature – now available in English. Mine is in French, which means I have to translate every tutorial. Sigh.
Weston Miniature – another great shop, fast shipping, lovely work.
Into the Woods – some great minis, including the stand mixer I have in the kitchen.
Green Gypsies – a great mini shop, where I purchased the little rug that is in front of the sink in the kitchen, as well as the large rug in the bedroom.
French Vellum – a great source of Shabby Chic style minis. The ottoman in the bedroom was found here.
Dale’s Dreams – wonderful handmade minis – great rugs
In the Twelfth Scale – Gabrielle (from Australia). Her creations include the sofa in the TSP/Studio.
Petals and Brims – full of wonderful minis, including record albums.
Liluminiature – located in Thailand, this miniaturist makes computers, cell phones, appliances – incredibly detailed work.
L.A. Little Artist – he made the wood guitars that are in the TSP/Studio. Wonderful work.
MiniMyEye – she makes framed mini art from postage stamps. One of them is in the TSP/Studio.
Otterine – my friend Brae’s Etsy shop. The pillows on the sofa and the boxwood plants in The Studio came from her shop.
There is also the Greenleaf Dollhouse Forum where miniaturists share information. Join here.
Great Blogs
This will be a long one. I’ve recently discovered even more wonderful blogs and I’m thrilled to share them with you. In no particular order.
Note: Miniaturists tend to blog less often than other bloggers – I suppose they’re busy creating. I just updated this list today (3/26/19) and noticed that several of them haven’t blogged in quite a while. Nonetheless, every blog has tutorials and valuable information in the archives and I urge you to explore each of them.
Otterine’s Miniatures – I bow down in awe. The woman behind this blog, Brae Oktober, is incredibly skilled. She builds dollhouses, she takes a dollhouse plan and bashes it to create something even better, she builds furniture. She’s the bees knees. I’m currently reading all of her posts – great and inspiring reading material. Based in Chicago.
Minibase – Susi’s blog She is amazingly talented. And generous, to boot. See her record shop that she made for last year’s Creatin’ Contest at Hobby Builder’s Supply. Unbelievable detail.
1:12 Modern Miniature Houses – Marian Russek’s blog – she lives in Switzerland. She is a gifted miniaturist. Explore her blog and look for the video tour of her most recent creation. You’ll be amazed.
Kitty and Kat Miniatures – another relatively new blogger with delightful posts and lots of info.
Casey’s Minis – My longtime blogging friend, Casey, is an extraordinarily talented miniaturist. She blogs daily and she can do just about anything. The wicker chair in my dollhouse den was made by Casey. She’s also a generous source of helpful information.
Dollhouse Miniature Furniture Tutorials – 1 inch minis – Kris generously shares her skills with us, writing countless tutorials for making your own minis. She is extremely gifted.
Fabulously Small – Monique’s blog – full of great information and tutorials.
Nancy Enge Design – wonderful miniaturist, who is, coincidentally, currently working on the Creatin’ Contest build (the one I’m making for Don) – lots of wonderful information here.
The Shopping Sherpa – another wonderful blogger based in Australia.
Miniatyrmama – Lena’s blog – lots of beautiful creations. Based in Sweden.
Call of the Small – a wonderful blog focused on miniature modern design.
Kilmouski & Me – fabulously talented miniaturist with a great writing style.
MitchyMooMiniatures – Pepper’s blog, chronicling her amazing mini creations with helpful hints and tutorials (one of which I’m hoping to try very soon.)
Atelier de Léa – I mentioned her Etsy shop earlier – this is her blog.
Nono Mini Nostalgie – Nono’s blog, which is a relatively new discovery. She’s based in France.
Studio E Miniatures – Elizabeth is based in Canada. She’s a talented miniaturist who passes on a lot of great tips and she’s a hoot!
MiniModPod – I’ve recently been drawn to a group of bloggers who blog about mini modern design and am in awe of their talent. Her tag line is: A blog about modern miniature dollhouses and things related.
Liberty Biberty – Mercedes’ blog. She has been a source of information and inspiration for me since the beginning of my dollhouse journey. She lives in New Zealand.
Garden of Miniatures – Jeanette crafts extraordinary minis – all things garden and flowers.
Modern Mini Houses – tag line: chronicling my obsession with modern mini dollhouses and miniatures. Love this blog. Lots of info here.
Paper Doll Miniatures – Kristine is a relatively new blogger with lots of mini style. Lots of wonderful posts with tutorials, as well. She also takes great photos of her minis, creating wonderful moments in time that become art.
Sabs Mini Interiors – another longtime read. Sabs is unbelievably talented. She builds minis, builds dollhouses, each of them with such a great sense of time, place and style. She’s also an interior designer in her real life.
Mini Confessions – tag line: Capturing life in small scale. Another informative and inspiring blog.
A Lavender Dilly – my favorite Etsy source, Carrie Lavender, also writes a blog.
Mini Modern – Another blogger who loves modern minis and is based in California.
Make Mine Mini – my dear friend Norma’s blog. Norma lives in Australia and New Zealand and is a talented miniaturist. She is also stunningly generous. She gave me the bed that is in the dollhouse bedroom. She also made all the bed linens.
Miniature House – She doesn’t post often, but there is good information here.
A Beautiful World – Josje’s blog. She is one of the most talented miniaturists I’ve encountered online. Simply stunning work. Read and be amazed.
Une Petite Folie – Linda Carswell’s blog. Linda has long been an inspiration to this dollhouse enthusiast. The house she crafted and decorated is simply incredible. She’s also a generous source of helpful information, taking the time to write me back when I asked about tools. She supplied a list of all her favorite tools, along with a photo of them. She’s based in Tasmania.
Lotje’s Dollhouse – Sylvia’s blog. Another extremely talented miniaturist who I’ve been reading for years.
A Miniature Obsession – She writes detailed posts about her projects and works in all scales. Love this blog.
A Miniature Life – Kim Saulter’s blog. Kim is a gifted miniaturist, specializing in all things mini baked goods.
Cinderella Moments – Caroline constructs a lot of dollhouses and she does it beautfully. Lots of valuable information here.
Cynthia’s Cottage Designs – a stylish mini blogger. Love her creations.
Miniatures by Annina – wonderful posts with all sorts of information and help for the mini enthusiast. Check her archives as she has a little one right now and isn’t blogging as often as she has in the past.
Pipi’s Miniatures – thanks to Barbara for this link. She has constructed a dollhouse inspired by the one in Léa’s book. I’m already a fan!
That’s all. As I discover more sites, I’ll add them to this list.
If any of the links aren’t working, I’d so appreciate you letting me know about them. My right hand is tired from writing this post, clicking back and forth and adding all the links, so I’m going to trust that they’re working.
Hope this gives you lots of reading material and inspiration.
Happy Sunday.
I am amazed by the talent and patience you must have with this hobby. Doris
I probably couldn’t have done it when I was younger – I was too impatient in those days.
I am going to check out some of these links. You have made miniatures so appealing!
hugs,
Linda
I hope you enjoy them, Linda! Have a great day.
Wow, you started your new build! I think HBS started a Pinterest board that some of the competitors can post to as they work – might be a helpful link to other miniaturists working on this build.
There are some very talented people in miniland. I feel humbled when I look at their work and then it turns out they are as nice as they are talented. (By the way, I didn’t see your name on the list..)
I have another blog for you to peruse – Pipi’s Miniatures (the blog is in German). Pipi built a French house from scratch based on Lea’s book. It will truly knock your socks off.
Happy building!
Thanks for the information on the Pinterest board and for the new-to-me blog. I’ll add it to the list. Much appreciated, Barbara!
I’m fascinated by miniatures and awed that miniaturists can craft the extraordinary from the ordinary. Looking forward to watching and reading about your new build.
I’m crossing my fingers that I can execute it, Wendy!
Thankyou so much for the info. I love your mcbh dollhouse and the way you decorated it.
Well..I can see what I will be doing the rest of the day..lol..thank you for all of this information…and links with each one!!…”She owns a dollhouse shop in Paris”..swoon…also I do enjoy stopping by Casey’s Minis now and then..I love her stories about Tessie…
I do, too. Casey has found a wonderful way to share her tutorials and her mini work by using Tessie and Zar. Inspired idea!
thank you so much for this list. I have a question but I don’t know how comfortable you would be answering it. I have no trouble with you just saying that but here goes. If your money to spend on dollhouse was limited, who would be your top source to go to for basic furniture? I intend to visit your whole list bit by bit but a heads up would be great.
I just love these dollhouse blogs
sue
I have limited funds myself, as you know, so my first piece of advice would be to take your time and buy as your funds allow. That’s partly why it’s taken me 6 years to rehab and furnish the dollhouse. (Another reason is that I enjoy the process.) Check out auctions on eBay for used, simple pieces of furniture. Also, there are basic pieces on miniatures.com that are very inexpensive.
thank you so much :)
xo
lolololol….yes??? Where are those weights?? That I had to have!!!! Mine actually get very hard workout on hotter days…….. at holding the door open to get a breeze!!!!
Good luck on the new project……love the old one…will be anxious to see the new!!!
Addie
They’ve been tucked away inside a covered bench – for YEARS!
I am really impressed you are building this yourself! Are you quite sure Don never looks at your blog?
Also, thank you…MANY THANKS…for the long list of wonderful doll house resources. I’m sure it took you some time for posting all that, so it’s really appreciated!
It’s going to be challenging to cover up your work so that he doesn’t see it when you’re both around there together most of the day. I don’t like it when my husband goes away for days on business but one thing it does allow is for me to spread out with projects without having to put them away before he gets home (out of my respect for the fact that he doesn’t like that type of clutter and when BOTH of us are in our small place, we’ve got to have enough room to move around in without my projects scattered around). When I say ‘projects,’ sometimes that’s nothing more than setting up a portable table and spreading out bills so that I can catch up on filing! Or going thru old magazines, etc. I’m still unpacking boxes of my mother’s things, even though she passed away two years ago.
But a hobby project is often sort of difficult to stash/move and what you’re doing is quite fragile. Can you set the frame, when it’s dry, on a flat board or something, so that you could take up the whole thing as if it’s on a tray, and stash it under something, like a bed, bureau, etc., when you’re not working on it?? My elderly parents enjoyed jigsaw puzzles…always works-in-progress…and they’d start them on a large piece of masonite they’d set on the kitchen table. When they wanted to have a meal, they simply carried the board to another temporary location without disturbing the unfinished puzzle.
No place to stash it other than on the desk in my little craft space. Every inch of space in closets and under beds is already taken.
Have I said before that our cottage is small?
I don’t mind if he sees today’s photo, it will tell him nothing. And I know Don. He won’t peek at the project here in the house…he’s usually walking around with some song going through his head anyway. I’ve already told him that there are times I will instruct him NOT to read the blog. He does read it, but not all of the time.
Wow, who knew?? Even though I’m not inclined to build and/or furnish a dollhouse of my own, I LOVE looking at other people’s, hearing construction stories and about the choosing of furnishings etc. And I’m amazed at how much is out there, resource-wise!! This is one of the GOOD things about the Internet, like-minded people from just about everywhere can connect and share. PS – your list was about 5 times longer than I expected it to be when I started reading, and I’m sure there are more resources out there that you haven’t come in contact with yet. So there’s even more to look forward to! Hope you’re staying cool down there in the Valley… :>)
Thanks, Janet! It’s very humid and stormy here and when I looked at the weather forecast for the next 10 days, at least 7 of those days are going to be over 90 degrees. I guess I’ll be inside the house a lot!
Hi, I can’t believe this wonderful list of sources. You are truly one of the most generous people I know. Thank you so much, I can’t wait to begin browsing and learning. xxoo
I’ve already added a couple of new-to-me sites, Ann Marie. I’ll be using this list, too!
Aw, thanks a million for your sweet comments!!! :D I do so enjoy miniature building and sharing that tiny world with people all over the world. I’m eager to see what you do with this build. There are so many interesting and imaginative ideas going on with the kit. Thanks again!! :D
Thank you so much for stopping by, Brae. You inspire me with your incredible attention to detail. As always, in every post of yours, your love for this miniature world shines through. Thank you.
Some of these I know, but many are new to me. Exploring these will keep me busy for quite awhile! Thank you so much, Claudia!
You’re very welcome, Sharon!
Thank you Claudia for including me in your list! When I started building and making minis I never thought it could be so addictive and fun.
I was casually reading your blog, catching up, and bam! there I was. You made my day =:)
I’m so glad! I love your blog and your love of minis. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.