It All Starts Here

Sometimes our ideas flow from an existing kit to bash, a house style to scratch (aka custom) build, or from an interesting doll who needs a place to live. Our settings are always modern-day (ca. 2001 when we started this hobby). We try to create things that will make people smile and feel good.

We think that if we had to build the same house twice, we literally could not do it! Fortunately, we have very unique little people who have definite opinions and so far, no one has wanted a house “like so-and-so” has.

We work as a family unit: my wonderful husband, my beautiful sister, and I. We don't always agree as to the direction of the build, but I think that we end up with a better dollhouse because of all our grumblings -- and we do have a lot of fun!

The Purpose of this Blog

We needed a place for all we wanted to say about the background of the build and the nuts and bolts of the design and build process. Thus this blog.

All our dolls' homes have families living in them and a story is built around their personalities and lifestyles. This story is an integral part of our building process. We would like to share these stories -- actually, the little people insist upon it!

Many of our houses are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia because that is my sister's favorite place.

Also, we have started a Rouges' Gallery with photos of our little people and information about the dolls.

If you would like to start with the dollhouse that "started it all", it is the Original Rowbottom Manse; if you would like to see the scratch-built Georgian that our first build gave us the confidence (or fool-hardiness) to do, it is Sunnybrook Farm.

Let the stories begin!

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Monday, December 20, 2010

MacPherson Farm - Pre Christmas Party

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**** MacPherson Farm - the home of Anne & George MacPherson
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The MacPhersons are all going out to the Holiday parties of family and friends--so they decided to have a small, informal pre-Christmas party. Next year it will be their turn to host the big bash!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas at Westerly

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****Westerly -- the vacation home of Sarah Spencer and Franklin Wells:

Just wall-to-wall people and tons of food and drink and a good time was had by all. Some of the guests decided to enjoy the ocean view and party on the porch!



Don't forget, more pictures on Webshots!

Christmas Parties - Toad Hall, Badger's Hollow, Wells

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I finally finished decorating the interiors for Christmas and New Year's parties -- just in time -- my little people like to party! The pictures for Westerly will be in the next post.

And don't forget, more pictures for all homes on Webshots!

****Badger's Hollow - the home of Iris March and Roderick Alleyn:


****Toad Hall -- the home of Max de Winter:




****The Wells' Home (the "Original Rowbottom Manse") -- the home of Martha and George Wells:


Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas and my little people

In 2001, We decided that it would be fun to decorate the dollhouse for Christmas. Of course, in the beginning this was easy since there was only one dollhouse (The Original Rowbottom Manse)! In 2002 though, we added Badger's Hollow to the Christmas party. Now that there are eight houses, we do a selection, trying to decorate a different group each year. Although since 2004, Toad Hall and Badger's Hollow are always included--I just like that grouping! Maybe it's because it looks like a neighborhood: This year, besides of aforementioned two, it will be The Original Rowbottom Manse (now the home of Martha and George Wells) and Westerly, the vacation house of Sarah Spencer and Franklin Wells.

(The years when the "Big G" (real name, Sunnybrook Farm) hosts the partying, anywhere from 75 to 100 little people gather there! Now that's a holiday bash!)

Even though MacPherson Farm is not completed yet, I decided to let them have a small pre-Christmas gathering.

So far, I have decorated the exteriors of all the chosen houses, and the interiors of Toad Hall and Badger's Hollow. It is slow going--my big fingers get in the way!