The Real Halloween Dollhouse!

This is the first blog entry without any pictures in it! It is because the photo that was supposed to be here killed my other computer. While my computer is being fixed by Shah, I'm writing this from my brother's computer. I tried uploading the photo from this computer several times, but failed. Twice, blogger.com said the photo was uploaded successfully, but the blog itself doesn't show the photo! So, here it is...from my brother's computer... the story of the real halloween dollhouse.

It all started last week, when I asked my friend Vanessa to show me pictures of her dollhouse. She told me a story that sounded almost too strange to be true. I told her to email me the story, and before she went trick or treating with her children, she emailed me today. Here is her email:

This is one of the fascinating stories about my dollhouse. Apparently, she is very camera shy. A couple of years ago, I got everything set up in my dollhouse, just the way I wanted it. So, I decided to take a picture of her with a digital camera, so I could upload the pictures to my website. I took the pictures, uploaded them to my computer, looked at them once and they were fine. The next time I tried to open them, they wouldn't open at all. Other pictures that I took at the same time opened at the same time. Also, that computer had not one, but both its hard drives crash very soon after that.

I didn't realize there was anything wrong with taking pictures of my dollhouse, so I decided to take some digital video of it. When my friend tried to shoot some footage of me sitting in front of my dollhouse, the camera wouldn't work. I had just tested the camera five minutes before she got there and the video camera was working fine. That video camera has never worked right since then.

Last thing about the pictures, I was doing a project about things around the house and by then, I had already realized that the dollhouse wouldn't like her picture taken. I was taking pictures of handles and since the dollhouse is 3 feet high by 3 feet wide by 1 foot deep, she sits on top of my dresser. Accidentally, I took a picture of the corner of the dollhousewhile I was trying to get a high angle shot of the dresser drawer. Within a few weeks, my husband dropped the camera and broke the battery latch.The camera still works but he had to duck tape the opening and you still have to hold it shut or the battery won't connect.

Here is a picture of the dresser with the corner circled. I think it's mostly safe to view, since it's such a small piece of the dollhouse. She probably won't mind, too much.

Well, Vanessa! I guess your dollhouse did mind, since I couldn't upload the photo you sent me! For those of you who are curious, I managed to view the photo on my computer, since it came through OK over the email. In the picture, you could make out a sliver of the dollhouse's corner; and that looked pink! So, maybe another day I'll try uploading the photo from a different computer.

Halloween Dolls!

Happy Halloween everyone! It's a cloudy, chilly day in Plano, Texas today, in keeping with the grim mood of Halloween. Here with me today are my favorite dolls to wish you all a "Happy Trick or Treating!"

Morticia and Charles Addams

Lily and Herman Munster

Want to meet more of my friends? Visit:
http://www.barbiecollector.com/

Wayang Kulit -- Ghost Puppets

The Indonesian word 'wayang' is derived from a word meaning 'shadow' or 'ghost'. These intricately cut and perforated shadow puppets are made from buffalo hide. Wayang Kulit shadow puppets are prevalent in Java and Bali, are without a doubt the best known of the Indonesian wayang.

The stories are usually drawn from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata or the Serat Menak. The island of Lombok has developed its own style of Serat Menak called Wayang Sasak.

To learn more about Wayank Kulit, visit http://minyos.its.rmit.edu.au/~dwa/WayangKulit.html

Which Set Looks Better In My New House?

I bought these two kitchen sets for my new dollhouse, but I can't choose one over the other. Both sets are so adorable! I think the mahogany and cream kitchen goes well with the rest of the furniture, but the light oak kitchen has a vintage look about it.

What do you think? Please help me decide!

My Mahogany Dining Room Set

As I professed before, I love mahogany furniture! This is my dining room set inside my new dollhouse. My most treasured piece is the grand china cabinet with its latticed oriental doors and intricate woodwork! My collection of dollhouse furniture is growing very slowly, but then again, only the best will do for me!

Email from Roberta

Every morning I wake up and wonder, did Roberta email me last night? Getting emails from Roberta is like finding a message in a bottle: they just make my day -- especially when they come with the much awaited photos of the dollhouse! Roberta sent me some more photos last night, and I will just let her email tell the story in her own words ...

Hi Dear Sumaiya,

I received some new items today so I'll send you a couple more
pictures. I still don't have the rugs for the children's room or
bathroom - but notice the rolling shades in the upstairs rooms. Also
the china on the table. I also have a Christmas skirt coming for the
tree and the parents have not been made yet. Also I have a rocking
horse coming for the children's room and I purchased some real cute
Christmas pillows for the furniture in the living room. I am going to
order the white set in cherry wood to match the dining room. I just
borrowed this set from another roombox.

Hugs, Roberta

Roberta's Living Room

Roberta sent more photos of her winter cottage. When I showed my hubby and my brother the photos, they were truly lost for words! They could not believe that this is the same dollhouse that they helped me build: the dolls, the bathroom set, the puppet theater -- all come together to turn my first dollhouse into a home.



Roberta has bought two different living room sets for the house. The first one is upholstered in white and comes in dark wulnut or dark mahogany finish. The rug that Roberta chose for this set is in muted earth tones with intricate Persian styled design.

The second set is a dark cherry set with delicate curvings and gold thread on burgandy upholstery. The rug is in a darker palette of midnight blue and floral patterns.

Roberta asked me which set I liked the best. I think for this house, I like the first living room set better, since it matches the mahogany dining room set with the white cushioned chairs. Also, I like the contrast created by the white upholstery with the mahogany frame. The white cushions and the dark finish make the furniture stand out from the background of the house. The coffee table in the living room is mahogany, so I think the only change I would make would be to change the walnut finish of the first living room set to a richer mahogany stained finish.

Do you agree? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Patricia Rose Studio

Patricia Rose is first and foremost a sculptor. Her love for dolls came only after a quest to combine all of her interests and skills into one profession. She considers herself very fortunate to have discovered this world of dolls which has enabled her to follow her passion for art and also express who she is.

To view her exquisite dolls, visit http://www.patriciarosestudio.com/html/gallery.html

My New Dollhouse

Shah and I have started working on our fourth dollhouse. It started out as a Victorian Cottage Jr. Kit by Real Good Toys. We finished the floor with a Dark Cherry gel stain. For the walls, we used English Rose patterned wallpaper and used glaze to give it a rich and satin finish. But when it came to borders, I just could not find the right one to go with the gorgeous wallpaper. So, I decided to create my own.


I printed out strips of black and white border, fitted them to the top and bottom of the walls, and glazed them for the glass-like finish. Then I created a faux stone-work finish inspired by a Nepalese trinket box my mother used to have. The most fun part, which unfortunately I could not catch with my digital camera, is that the stones glow in the dark! This was achieved by overlaying the pattern with glow-in-the-dark paint. Tell me, do you like my Nepalese inspired borders?

Custom Dolls, Houses and Miniatures

Our Pat Carlson has invited us to take a tour of her favorite dollhouse website: cdhm.org

For the Collector:

Maybe you are looking for unique food items for your miniature kitchen; a pillow to accent your Bespaq or Lundby sofa; a fireplace to warm your miniature library. CDHM offers the collector a visual catalog of some of the finest Artisan made original miniatures in the world, including dolls, dollhouses, fairies, foods, furniture, and a vast array of other miniatures that are limited only by the imagination of the Artists who create them!

For the Artists:

CDHM.org is an online service that offers Artists of custom made miniatures a venue in which to display their unique miniature creations and commissioned services. They offer a showcase of custom art created by some of the most talented Artists in the field of miniatures.

To learn more, visit cdhm.org

Beautiful Contemporary Dollhouse - The Brookwood

My friend Cathy emailed me the eBay link to this wonderful Contemporary Brookwood Dollhouse. The house is handcrafted, electrified and totally finished inside and out. The frame was built from a Greenleaf kit that has been discontinued for many years.

This is how the artist describes the dollhouse:

This house is 'your chalet in the mountains, your get-away at the beach, your home on a quiet cul-de-sac - the Brookwood is the house of your dreams. This lovely dollhouse has all the elements of easy living: sunroom, loft bedrooms, and curving staircase. With three fireplaces, ten skylights, two decks and a hot tub, you'll wish you had this house in real life!'

The following is the eBay link to this house on sale right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item
=320036945017&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:11

To view the artist's website, visit:
http://madiganhouse.com/

The First Snow of Winter

When I stared out the foggy bay window, it was to find a light dusting of snow on all the rooftops. It was the first snowfall that heralded the coming of long winter months.

This is my third Orchid dollhouse. It was inspired by the sudden Texas winters that seem to come out of nowhere: one day it is warm and sunny, and the next day you catch a cold if you happen to go outside without your jacket! But after the blistering Texas summer, the wintery chill is quite welcome.

Heather's Cottage

I had a mind-boggling jaw-dropping experience today. My friend Cathy sent me a link to a dollhouse that was being sold on e-bay. And here are some of the photos of this dollhouse !?!

The artist was commissioned by the Owners of Greenleaf to build their entire line of dollhouses and this is one of those special houses. I am still too amazed and humbled by her works to write much, but I think the pictures speak for themselves. The artist has her own blog at:

http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/blog/
orchid_dollhouse/index.php?&cat=71

More of her creations can be viewed at:
http://community.webshots.com/user/toppdollar

Winter Cottage by Roberta

"Shhhhh .... we must be really really quiet!" Sis said. It was their first night in their new home. Mom and Dad were fast asleep, but the children were too excited. As the snow fell outside, the little ones tiptoed around the house ... exploring each nook and cranny in the magical glow of the Tulip lamps.


Remember my first Winter Orchid Cottage? It was the first dollhouse I ever built. That dollhouse was lovingly adopted by Roberta, a new friend from California. The dollhouse finally reached her last night, and I woke up this morning to find all these photos from her. She was just trying out some different furniture settings ... and promises to share more photos with us after she is done decorating. It might be a while though ... since she is determined to find the most perfect pieces for her favorite dollhouse!

Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle

Colleen Moore was always fascinated by dolls and doll houses. She owned several elaborate doll houses as a child, but later in life her father, Charles Morrison, suggested that she should pursue her passion for miniatures and doll houses by creating the "doll house" of her dreams. Her position as one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood gave her the resources to produce a "Fairy Castle" of fantastic proportions.

Begining in 1928, Moore enlisted the help of many talented professionals to help her realize her vision. Horace Jackson was an architect and set designer who worked for First National Studios. Jackson created the floor plan and layout of the castle with this basic idea, "The architecture must have no sense of reality. We must invent a structure that is everybody's conception of an enchanted castle." Moore also enlisted the help of art director and interior designer Harold Grieve. Grieve had designed the interiors for Moore's real-life mansion, so he was a natural to create the interiors of her fantasy castle. By 1935 over 700 individuals had lent their expertise including surgical instrument lighting specialists, Beverly Hills jewelers and Chinese jade craftsmen. The price tag for this 8'7" x 8'2" x 7'7" foot palace containing over 2000 miniatures was nearly $500,000.

To view the online virtual tour of this dollhouse, visit: http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/fairy_castle/fchome.html

You can also find the book:
Within the Fairy Castle: Colleen Moore's Doll House at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Source: http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/fairy_castle/fchome.html