Jan's Cabinet Doll House - Mulberry Cottage

What is it about dolls houses that immediately grabs our attention and calls us over for a second, third or even fourth look?  Having had my own dolls house for almost nine years, I've done a bit of watching people whenever they're around it.  And following a trip to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., this summer, where I was able to view (and drool over) Faith Bradford's Doll House (fursdonhouse.blogspot.com/2011/08/faith-bradfords-dolls-house-celluloid.html), I've come to the conclusion that no one - male, female, young, old, rich, poor - can completely resist that initial pull, that urge to "just take a peek" into that magical world of make-believe, where anything is possible.


The first entry I have in my journals on the subject of a doll house was on August 2, 2000.  It's a fun entry, one of those where you ask yourself a hypothetical question and have the luxury of answering without giving the consequences so much as a second thought.


My question was. . ."If I had a studio of my very own, to decorate exactly as I chose, what would I put in it?At the very top of my list was "the most elaborate of doll houses."  I remarked that this would be a special place, where my imagination would have no boundaries placed around it, where anything was possible. 


Three days later, on August 5, I purchased a kit for a 10-room Victorian mansion! But that's another story and one which I will tell eventually.  For now...I dedicate this blog to my first (and perhaps first of many) doll houses - my Cabinet House - Willow Cottage.

How It All Began

I think it was this magazine article in Mary Englebreit's magazine, "Home Companion", (the August - September 2000 issue) which first captured my attention.

 It spoke of miniature worlds where anything was possible.  Truth be told, I think I enjoyed the idea of being able to control my surroundings, even if they were of small stature!  Ironically, despite the extreme detail that would be required for such an undertaking, the idea gave me a sense of peace - of being able to control things - at least to some small degree.  And it afforded me the opportunity of decorating to my heart's content without spending an absolute fortune!  Then too - it kept my mind off the fact that my husband was away so much and my youngest child would soon leave the nest.  Add to all this the creative urges it satisfied within me and you have the primary reasons for the creation of my own Cabinet Dollhouse.  That and it was just plain F.U.N.!!!  And still is for that matter, after more than 11 years have passed!

But first, let me take you back to the very beginning, with my first attempt - a Victorian style mansion dollhouse kit, similar to this one shown here:
Beautiful, isn't it?  It had 10 rooms and was full of all kinds of nooks and crannies on the inside, with room for me to make some changes of my own.  I bought the kit ($279.00!!) as well as two additional "staircases".  I also bought this wonderful book (below) on making miniature accessories with polymer clay.

I was ready!!

Till the next post.......Jan