Primrose Cottage - The Electrical System

"The Little (Lil') House"

Being a detail person, I usually start a project with some sort of plan. The Primrose Cottage "Lil' House" has proved that one needs more than a plan. A little bit of knowledge "DOES" go a long way and prevents a lot of RE-working.

My initial vision for the Lil' House started as a small, house with siding, shutters and window boxes. After measuring, I used an old fashioned can opener to score lines in the first and second floor floors. They were stained a warm brown. Next, the base seemed a little flimsy, so a piece of wood was added across the back to stabilize and strengthen the dollhouse.

Support in place, tape wire was added - starting on the exterior, tape wire was run around the first floor, under the windows and outlining the perimeter of the door. .Without cutting the wire, it was attached to the ceiling - and carried across one wall of the second floor. 

The zig-zag pattern on the ceiling allows the tape to be run without making any "joins" (running connecting line). Sometime, I use my own terminology, may be a word, may not - but it makes sense to me.

The tape wire was wrapped around the left-hand corner of the second floor. Luckily, this will be hidden by the back-side wall construction of the dollhouse. When the roof is attached, the tape wire will be run across the second floor ceiling and down the opposite wall.

We have light!  For now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Noelle's Cottage

"Victoria's Cottage Jr" Dollhouse

This small cottage was my very first attempt at making a dollhouse. When I began the project, I had no idea it would take so long to complete - nearly 6 months. It was intended as a gift for my young niece but became a keepsake and not a toy. Noelle did receive a dollhouse that year, a four-story play scale house into which she immediately moved her dolls.

I learned a lot completing this house. FIRST - this can be a very expensive hobby. Although I attempted to purchase  the least expensive items (the dollhouse kit was less than $50), completing it totaled more than 5 times the initial cost. Only a few of the pictures and a couple of the picture frames were hand made. As a" newbe", I just didn't know any better.

The next big realization came when I realized that many of the items I was purchasing could be made from found bits and pieces in my home. You just have to change the way you look at things. Now when eating breakfast in a restaurant and I have jelly in a square tub, I don't see garbage, I see a miniature kitchen sink (round margarine tub - miniature vanity sink.).  As I dig through my projects and figure out this computer program, I will share the money saving and artistically fulfilling techniques I have learned.

The First Day

Although I am new to much of the 21st century's technology, I am looking forward to working my way through this program and learning to Blog. As indicated by the title, one of my passions is miniatures. Currently I only work in 1:12 scale. I fear the smaller scales while more appropriate for my physical space, may be too small for my aging eyes. It is my desire to use this space as a platform to share my completed works (and many works in progress). As well as a place where I can share the many tips and techniques I have learned throughout the years.

The very first dollhouse, I completed, was an expensive process because I had not learned many of the money saving hints I will share in this blog. For example. the wallpaper in that first dollhouse cost about $9.00 per room. Five (5) room dollhouse - $45.00. Scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, and for us older hoarders, stationary is available for less than $3.00 a room. One third the cost - a big savings.