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I have a 10 year old daughter that would like to start a miniature dollhouse. She's like to work on it throughout the year to enter in the fair next September. Does anyone know how to go about ANY of this? Where to find the Dollhouse Kit, the furniture, etc? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
First, check the fair's rules for entering the competition. There may be specific rules for different divisions of the judging. Wouldn't it be awful to put in a lot of work, only to discover some condition wasn't met, and your daughter's work was disqualified? Assuming kits and prebuilt houses are acceptable, then, your best bet is to find a simple kit.
Search for Dollhouse Miniatures.
You'll find several listings come up. If you're lucky, there is a miniature shop near you. These shops are wonderful resources, not only for supplies, but for information.
Also, take a look at the website for National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts. They are a national organization, with dues, but have a listing of clubs across the nation.
For vendors:
http://www.miniatures.com/
http://www.miniaturesandmore.com/
http://www.mountainminiatures.com/
http://dollhouseminiatures.net/
just to name a few
for information:
http://miniatures.about.com/
http://www.miniatures.org/
For an online group that is FULL of knowledgeable people
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/THECAMP/
you have to join, but it's well it. Ask Any question, there will be someone there with an answer.
When she finds a kit, prepare the parts well, sanding and priming are really important.
The above websites, or a brick and mortar store will have a large selection of wallpaper, and usually have guidance about how much to buy. (always buy one more sheet than you think you need)
Shows are a great resource for ideas and for old magazines (at a fraction of the cost of new ones). Be careful, this hobby can become expensive, but there are a lot of ideas and ways to achieve great results without spending great amounts of money.
Tudor Era Dollhouse Kits: What to know before you begin
Tudor style homes features some very distinct architectural designs. The same can be said for the Tudor inspired dollhouse miniatures. Whether you build the dollhouse yourself, or accept a little help from a dollhouse kit, Tudor houses must highlight these techniques to maintain authenticity.
Originally, Tudor houses were popular in England during the 1500s and the Tudor Dynasty in England. In other countries, as well as in miniature dollhouses, "Tudor" simply means that the home or dollhouse was designed as a revival of the style.
The most common features you should consider when building your Tudor style dollhouse include half-timbering (for decorative purposes), narrow windows with small window panes, massive chimneys and steeply pitched roofs.
Half-timbering is when the dollhouse has exposed internal wooden structures (I.e. the dollhouse kits that appear to have wooden support beams on the outside of the dollhouse). This has shifted from a once-practical use to a decorative approach to imitate Tudor homes through the use of dollhouse miniatures.
The narrow windows with small window panes were very common in Tudor styles houses, both originally in England and in the Tudor revival homes in the United States. Because of this, you should make sure that whether you Build Your dollhouse or use a dollhouse kit, this popular technique is used.
The massive chimneys serve dual purposes: they are both functional and beautiful. The chimney is necessary (although not in a dollhouse) to let smoke escape from the fire. However, in the Tudor era, architects used fluted tops as a way to decorate and enhance the necessary structure. Leaving out this type of detail on your dollhouse will surely give away your lack of expertise.
The final quality to include in your Tudor-inspired Dollhouse Miniature is the steeply pitched roof. This concept is also popular among Victorian style homes and dollhouses, but if you use the rest of the techniques properly, no one shall ever confuse the two. If you're going to create a Doll House Miniature, whether by hand or with the use of a dollhouse kit, be sure to adequately research the style of the home so as to make the most authentic dollhouse possible.
About the Author
Jade Greene is an expert in dollhouse miniatures.
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