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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Friday, May 6, 2011

Behind the Build: Sunnybrook -ungoing saga#3

Original post: Saturday, August 9, 2008

=-=-=- Ungoing saga #3 -May 6, 2011-=-=-=

I decided to give this post a "full" number; obviously this house will go on forever-- so I have come to terms with that. Maybe it's a good thing, I will never run out of things to do and spend my life being bored!

I am still waiting for some new trim so I put the back back together and invited the little people to visit on the terrace.

I would like to have pretty plants in colorful planters on the terrace. There is a narrow strip in front of the terrace that will be grass with some plant borders.

My sister found a wonderful statue of Persephone for the terrace and can be seen between the dining room doors. It will be under an arbor and filled with plants at its base and up and over the arbor.

I have started to think of how to continue the front landscaping along under the Sunroom window and into the back. I have planned a number of "level" changes, sort-of ... maybe ... tis a puzzlement. and I have not gotten very far with that. Also, I am thinking of extending a narrow section of the terrace to along the sunroom, then have some steps going down. I can't see the real plan yet and my helpers are confused also!

We have started to work in the rooms in the front of the doll: ground hall, dining room, and living room adding nicities and doing general prettying up. Pictures will come next time.

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