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Sam's avatar

Ooh lovely- my grandad made me a very wonky dolls house with a cotton bobbin for a chimney and my nan decorated it with miniature wallpaper; I filled it with an odd selection of occupants and loved it. A bit like Five Dolls in a Doll House- did you ever read that book with little saggy Lupin and the monkey who lived on the roof

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Helen Stephens's avatar

No I don't know that book, sounds like my kind of thing. Do you still have your childhood dolls house?

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Sam's avatar

Ahh I sadly not but I think I’ve still got some bits of the furniture and the lavender bag lady who looked after everyone!

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Kim Barnes Paperstories's avatar

You are never too old to have a dolls house. It will look amazing lit up !

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Laura’s Creative Chaos's avatar

Oh that is brilliant. My mum made me a dolls house at a night school woodworking class, sadly it got broken, some of the rooms were missing doorways and she used samples of wallpaper from wickes to decorate it. Very fun.

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Oh yes, samples of wallpaper is the way to do it! Gorgeous AND free!

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Hannah Kirkbride's avatar

Another banger YouTube recommendation! 🔥🔥Love the dolls house lamp

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Ramona Davey AKA Mo's avatar

Love my doll house - it was my aunties and now sits high up on a shelf and I recently purchased a tiny dolls house to go inside my dolls house. Perfect! There is the best miniature shop in the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia :-)

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Keeley Rees's avatar

Also at Christmas time you could add a little wreath on the door just for funsies. Like the mystery dolls we never see are gearing up for Christmas.

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Oh yes! Or a carpet of cotton wool snow on the roof!

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Keeley Rees's avatar

Ermagersh this is adorable & perfect. 😍

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Katie Chappell's avatar

GENIUUUUS 😍

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Caroline Rudge's avatar

I just played the long game…had a daughter, waited 6 years, pretended to buy one for her….now I have a lovely mini-four room luxury apartment with a basement conversion 😆

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Helen Stephens's avatar

That is dedication!

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Nell Cummins Illustrates's avatar

What a wholesome post Helen! Love your wee dollshouse! 🩵

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Carmen's avatar

Oh thank you so much for recommending her. I have spent an afternoon poorly, under a blanket, tucked up on the sofa with the doggies watching her videos. I also have always wanted a dolls house or to make one. It was the thought of doing all the right sizes that puts me off. Maybe I should think more like Phoebe in Friends with her dolls house 😁 I love the idea of turning one into a lamp!

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Beige Flannel is the perfect S8nday afternoon viewing 😍

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Alana Clohessy's avatar

I too need a doll’s house lamp!!! I love it!

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Do it!

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Nanette Regan's avatar

What a lovely idea to have a glowing dolls house on your shelf! Just the other week I was reading about Tove Jannson’s doll house that she built with her partner and their friend. They had Creative Play evenings once a week where they built the house together!

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Oh what a brilliant thing to do! I love that idea.

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Ruby Wright's avatar

What a beauty! Will it become the first house on the dolls house estate? Miniature things in multiple are even more irresistible as Rachel Whiteread demonstrates!

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Oh now we’re talking! A whole row of them along that too shelf! And you told me it’s allowed, so.

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Anna H Illustrates's avatar

I love your new dolls house! There’s just something special about them isn’t there? I’ve always wanted to visit Beatrix Potters house and those images of her dolls house are just beautiful. I live near Windsor Castle and they have a real beauty that you can go and see.

I think it’s VERY important for a storyteller to have a miniature house on view. It can inspire all kinds of creative thoughts and I bet your bottom dollar there’s a story in there somewhere! Can’t wait to see what you do with it and the lamp idea is genius.

I’m lucky enough to have two daughters, one of which is homeschooled…so I’m thinking this would be a great interior design project (for her honestly!!) ☺️

Enjoy your lovely new (old) purchase and happy Sunday.

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Anna H Illustrates's avatar

Haha, well they’re not so little anymore (12 and 14) but surely that doesn’t matter eh!

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Well you have two little daughters so you don’t even need to justify it to yourself! Go and gather a street if them!

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K.J. Wilsdon's avatar

Love your wee dolls house. There is something enchanting about the miniature furniture and objects. I am so glad you gave yourself permission. Dolls houses are also a reflection of the era they were made.

Have you seen Queen Mary's dolls house? https://www.rct.uk/collection/stories/queen-marys-dolls-house. It is magnificent, though far too posh to be played with. Have fun!

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Helen Stephens's avatar

Absolutely, a reflection of the era. I love that. Queen Mary’s Dolls house reflected her fancy palace and mine reflects my far more modest palace 😂😝

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