My hope is the Dollhouse Decorating Blog will encourage miniature enthusiasts to be adventurous in decorating schemes, while adhering to authentic design principles of the era in which they are working. My posts will concentrate on the history, and eras of dollhouse miniatures and the artisans that turned a child’s plaything into an art form.
I have had a life-long love affair with miniatures, beginning when I went to an exhibit of Christmas miniatures at my daughter’s day school. An elderly lady who made room boxes, dollhouses and furniture said we were so lucky to have a miniature store in town, the Cabbage Patch, where I met Douglass Bitler.
Having little money to spend on my new hobby, Douglass and other enthusiasts taught me to fabricate miniatures items out of ‘found’ objects, such as making toothpaste tubes out of metal tubing from the hardware store.
Keeping Memories Alive
Most of my ideas for projects come from the desire to keep memories alive. My great-great-grandfather Will Hunt ran a general store. He was part of a posse that ran Jesse James out of Huntington, West Virginia, and lived long enough to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. While you watch this 1 ½ minute video, think about the memories you want to keep alive.
Making New Memories In A New Era
There is a worldwide resurgence of interests in dollhouse miniatures. I am especially happy that young people are finding the joy of recreating life in a small space. One of my granddaughters recently expressed interest in having her own dollhouse. I sketched a Victorian beauty, just like the one I had at her age. Her reaction shouldn’t have surprised me, I guess, the way kids have changed.
“Gee, grandma! It’s so old-timey. I’d rather have something I’d like to live in.”
Hooray! That attitude will keep this art form alive and well.
Susan Downing
