As in the real-life decorating of Mockingbird Hill Cottage, decorating the dollhouse’s rooms has been about collecting things over time, about gifts given and/or inherited and proudly displayed, about re-imagining older pieces of furniture and making them ‘new.’ I looked at each room this week and wrote down the story/source of each item. I wanted to get it all down on real and virtual paper – partly for me, and also for you. I often get emails asking me about where I source things for the dollhouse. I will provide all of the information I can for you. Links will be at the end of the post.
Today? The living room.
Wallpaper: ItsyBitsyMini; Moldings and trim: Hobby Builder’s Supply/Miniatures.com. Flooring: Made by me from popsicle/craft sticks.
Sofa: Made-to-order by Etsy shop FloraDollhouse (Italy); Shutter: from my stash, originally ordered from miniatures.com; Throw pillows: gifts from Marsha, Casey and Flora; Blue table: from a bag of dollhouse items given to me by my friend Heidi – I painted and aged it; Tea cup: from a set purchased at a craft store; Plate and fork: from Etsy shop, A LavenderDilly (Australia); Blue flowered chair: from Dollhouses and More; Aubusson rug: from A LavenderDilly.
Fireplace and andirons: a gift from Don, I painted the fireplace white and the brass andirons black; Logs: from miniatures.com; Flowers and pot: a gift from Jayne (who sent me all sorts of wonderful things when I first started on this dollhouse.) I painted the pot aqua; Blue bowl: also from Jayne; Armillary: a gift from fellow blogger Lady Hawthorne of Canterbury Cottage; Painting over the fireplace: purchased at a dollhouse shop, frame was ‘aged’ by me; Architectural salvage window: a bash from another piece (given to me by blogging friend Rizzi), I painted and ‘aged’ it; Little painting on the wall: purchased at Chautauqua Miniatures.
Chest: from the Ideal Petite Princess Line which was made in the sixties. I have two of these – one I found in a local shop, one was found on eBay; Package and mail: a gift from Barbara; Mirror: a gift from Linda; Tote bag: a handmade gift from Jill.
Botanical Chart: from Etsy shop of L. Delaney.
Sources
Hobby Builders Supply/miniatures.com
Itsy Bitsy Mini
Flora Dollhouse (an Etsy shop)
A LavenderDilly (an Etsy shop)
Dollhouses and More
Chautauqua Miniatures
LDelaney (an Etsy shop)
I hope this helps those of you who are working on your very own dollhouses. Of course, I already have plans to add some things, so the list will change over time. But the basic information will stay the same.
Stealing a little: It takes a village to make a dollhouse come to life. That’s for sure.
More tomorrow.
Happy Sunday.
Well, Claudia, you’re in every corner of the room. It’s as cozy and inviting as your ‘real’ house. I wish I could see it in person!
Thanks so much, Sue.
Spectacular photography! You could go into business as a photographer of miniatures, Claudia.
Aw, thank you, Nancy!
Thanks for the great tour and sharing these links. We can’t work on our two dollhouses right now as we’re moving and have packed everything away. But I have been tucking away names of sites to check out once we’re home and settled and can unpack everything.
Good luck with the move, Chy! When do you officially move to your new home?
I agree with Nancy – excellent photographs. Keeping a record of your sources is a really good idea – plus we get to see more “dollhouse”!
The other day I drove into the next town where there is a Michaels. The mini Christmas items had been pretty much picked over (already!), but when I had a quick look in the children’s section (for our youngest niece) I found a whole section of dollhouse accessories that I had never known was there. I picked up some gardening tools which I later repainted and “aged”. On the way out, I also found some tiny terracotta plant pots in the floral section. It felt a bit like a treasure hunt – surprises in unexpected places. I thought I’d pass this on as it proved to be a good source for inexpensive accessories.
Yes, I’ve found a few things there at times – depends on the size of the Michael’s I think.
Thanks, Barbara.
Your doll house has more detail than any I have ever soon..You have put a lot of thought in to its design..Looks great..Happy Sunday..
Thanks so much, Missy!
Claudia, You have done a fabulous job on this doll house…it is looking real. xoxo,Susie
Thank you, Susie.
I agree with Nancy great photography! Do you put these on your photoblog? I should go there more but forget! I did see a photo on Instagram of your cozy little Living room!
Thank you for linking the resources!
As I said last week I am going to be packing it up- but seeing yours makes me want to play around with mine instead!
I may need to glue the bathroom tiles in place to satisfy my urge and also making sure no pieces are lost in the move! If I play around with it— I’ll for sure be posting about it !
Oh, play with it a little, Pat!!
I love your dollhouse and your photography is “spot on”! I see a book in your future. With your gift of decorating and your language skills I will be looking forward to an excellent book. I wish I was in the publishing world to advance the idea. Stay warm and have a wonderful holiday season. Tracy
Thank you so much for your kind words, Tracy!
Your little house is such a reflection of your taste in your real home..it is just so “you” Claudia..You are becoming so good at taking pictures of it that they do indeed look like a real home..I love that botanical chart..I must go see if she has any more of those..
I hope she does, Nancy!
It’s fun to see the things up close and where they came from. I love that so many things are gifts!
hugs to you!!
Linda
I love that, too. It makes the dollhouse that much dearer to me, Linda.
It’s all just adorable and I never tire of seeing it’s charm.
Think what I could do if I could afford the same sort of thing in the cottage!
You know it’s quite charming…and cozy. I would love to visit…it’s so welcoming! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae!
I always really enjoy your dollhouse posts, and really appreciate the information.
I’m happy to provide it, Debbie.
Hi Claudia, this was such a fun post to read, and the details you have lovingly and patiently included in the dollhouse are wonderful. Even the way the moulding butts right up against the fireplace…I don’t know why that caught my eye but it did. Great photos…and that Popsicle stick floor is precious.
Ann Marie
I love that floor, too!
The Cottage is delightful! Thank you for the links. I went to each of them and “shopped”, oh my.
The cottage really is you. Are you going to put Scout into it?
Maybe….but I don’t put dolls in the dollhouse, so until I find a really believable Scout, I will probably hold off.
As much as I really don’t need a new project of any sort, I’m so loving all you’ve done with this beautiful dollhouse Claudia…………and I may need to be tied to a chair to keep me from going shopping for one to turn into a version of my cottage! So much love and work put into your sweet house – I enjoy your pics and can see everything so well. I know it must give you many happy creative hours, both working on it and then sitting back and looking at it.
Love and hugs – have a good week.
Mary x
It does, Mary. I’ve felt enormous satisfaction working on the dollhouse. It’s been at least 5 years since I found it. I’ve taken it at a leisurely pace – when I’m inspired, I get a lot done. It is one of my very favorite things.
I’m in awe of this – so beautiful and thoughtfully done.