As I'm finishing up the Brimble's Mercantile (photos and videos coming soon) I'm looking around trying to find the perfect display spot and realizing one thing - I have too many future projects! I need to plan properly so I can display them all once they're complete.
Over a short amount of time I have acquired some of my favorite kits on my wish list - now my stack of boxes are piling up. I have plans for them all, my imagination works overtime and as I'm going through my stash of items I'm dividing things up for certain houses. I honestly don't know which house to start next, I'm excited about a few but some I have had a while. Here's what I have, in the order I have purchased them:
Pioneer Log Cabin by DuraCraft - This one I am slightly afraid to open. I understand it is all logs, and I'm used to working with wood. It makes sense, since it's a log cabin, but from what I have read I'll need a good saw and some patience. I've already collected a few things for this cabin, and my plans are to do whitewashed wood with a metal roof instead of the traditional log cabin look.
The Buttercup by Greenleaf - This is a small house that I originally bought when I was looking for something to do a bakery in. I always wanted a Brimble's Mercantile and was getting impatient trying to find one, so when I saw this come up on Marketplace I bought it. Shortly afterwards, I found the Brimble's and set the Buttercup aside.
The Ashley by DuraCraft - This is another small house, which is very similar to the Buttercup but with a "bonus". I had looked at this house several times because it has a spiral staircase, plus it comes with tudor style trim. I believe I paid around $20 so when I received it I stole the trim and the staircase. The wood alone was worth the money I paid. I will still build the house, I may even cut the 2nd floor in half and do a set of floating stairs.
The Princess Anne by Real Good Toys - This beautiful Victorian house was for sale on Marketplace for several weeks. I couldn't stand it anymore and I bought it. I already have an Alison Jr by RGT which is about the same size, so I'm excited to build this one and decorate it to match the Alison.
Victorian Cottage Jr by Real Good Toys - This house was included in the sale with the Princess Anne. It's an adorable smaller dollhouse, I would love to make it super shabby chic. I believe I could build this one pretty quick.
The Highland by Artply - I was so thrilled to find this kit new in an unopened box on eBay. I ended up paying more for shipping than I did for the house but I'm not even bothered about that. They don't come up very often, and this one was mis-indexed, so I feel like it was meant for me to find it. I first saw this house many years ago when I was looking at The Brookwood by Greenleaf. They're both unique A-frame style homes. Since the Brookwood was more common and easier to find, I ended up building that instead and forgot about the Highland. Over the years I have imagined a Spanish style house, so I've decided that's what I'm going to do with my Highland. Other than that it would make a perfect 70's home.
The Mint Julep by Walmer/Lilliput - I have always wanted a regal colonial style plantation home, but the ones I've admired the most are very large. I definitely could not make room for one. So this Mint Julep house is perfect in both size and appearance. I saw it listed on eBay and it was an unopened box, which I have a personal policy of always buying unopened boxes, and I kept thinking about it every day so I took the plunge and bought it. I wouldn't call them rare, but you don't see them very often.
In addition to the kits above, I still have two Greenleaf Harrison dollhouses that need to be either finished off individually, or bashed together. I'd love to bash them together, and I've drawn up some plans, just not sure about my confidence level in making a giant mansion. Or if I have a place to display something that large.
My Alison Jr is empty right now and needs a make-over. The flower boxes are empty and a few of the window panes need to be replaced. I'm planning on repainting it with soft shades of mostly white with mint green, lilac and blush accents. The interior needs a make-over too. New wallpaper, paint, doors and staircase railings.
I also have three room boxes and a 1:144 scale tudor house and log cabin. The tudor house came as a bonus with one of my Harrison's, and I don't work in that scale, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with that one. The room boxes are already set up with furniture etc, they just need to be decorated (walls, floors etc)
I have enough fun stuff to keep me busy for several years. I've always had a goal in the back of my head to have a dollhouse in all different styles of homes. When I have completed all of the above I'll have a pretty good combination of styles. Victorian, Colonial, A-Frame, Spanish Style, Tudor Style, Traditional, Gingerbread and a Merchant. I'll definitely have a neighborhood :-)
Thanks for visiting!
~Mini-Shack
