Friday, April 1, 2011

Tiny Dollhouses

Several years ago I was making small (four inches tall) dolls from wood beads and tiny spools.  The basic doll design was from a kit offered by Hearthsong; I made a few changes and made dozens of these little dolls.  Of course, they wanted a house of their own, so I designed a couple of cottages from cardboard and fabric.  Here are some pictures to share with you.

Bead and spool doll with removable crochet clothing

Interior of single story dollhouse

Living room detail

Bedroom detail
Cardboard can be amazingly strong, if you use two pieces glued together, which is how this doll house was constructed.  All of the furnishing are handmade, some with simple wood blocks and popsicle sticks, or cardboard and foam.

I don't have any patterns for these little houses, but I'm currently working on a cardboard cottage for the Pocket Pixies, and I should be able to share the construction of this with you.  It is a little simpler than these dollhouses, but should offer a lot of play potential :-)

Here is a two story house.

Exterior view of two story house

Interior view
Living room detail

Bedroom detail 
A lot of fun things can be constructed of inexpensive and readily available materials.  These houses were made from shipping boxes cut up, with fabric and trim from my stash.    Maybe looking at these houses will spark an idea in you for a fun project :-)




36 comments:

  1. Very nice! I always wanted a bedroom with a sloped roof, a fireplace, and a pink blanket. It's so true that with simple materials and some creativity we can make unique and lovely things...somehow, it's not the first thing we think of sometimes...instead we go for finished items, and lose the fun of making them. Thank you for reminding us of that, and reinforcing it with your lovely houses!

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  2. Kate, are you sure it's me??

    Lyn, thanks for the great comments :-) My Grandmother's home had an upstairs bedroom under the eaves. My sister and I slept there when we stayed with her as kids. Good memories.

    Beth

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  3. Preciosas y excelente idea!
    Un abrazo

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  4. Yes! Only you could send me scampering for cardboard and other itty bitty doodahs.

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  5. Hi Beth, when you first made the cottage with crochet squares, that sparked an idea in me to do it with fabric...I like having kindred spirits...I'm enjoying looking at the details, it's amazing.

    Thanks for the tip on glueing two pieces of card board for the sturdiness. Sometime in the future I'll make one for the Blossom Petal's.

    Always a pleasure.

    -Carolyn-

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  6. Kate, LOL :-)

    Carolyn, kindred spirits are good; amazing how the internet brings us together :-)

    Beth

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  7. I love this. I have always wanted to try my hand at making a doll house - the two pieces of cardboard is a great idea! I just started following your blog and it is quickl becoming one of my favorites!
    Maria

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  8. Beth you are so talented love the dolls house.

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  9. You are a fantastic creator, beautyful.

    Hilsen Anne-Marie in Denmark

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  10. This is so amazing!! I have wanted a small doll house. Thanks for reminding us that we can make-do with things we have. I want to be like you when I grow up!

    Sandra

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  11. Enchanting! Your house must be wonderful with all of your little dolls and their houses and woodland scenes. I LOVE your blog. Cordially, Colleen

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  12. Beautiful. This is what my sister and I were aiming for all those years ago with our box and cloth houses. You showed me the product of my dreams. Amazing work.

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  13. Beth, I noticed when I click on my blog through your blog it has my old url address...you won't be able to access it because it has changed to www.carolyndolls.blogspot.com. it use to be www.innerworldvisions.blogspot.com. Sorry for the inconvenience.

    -Carolyn-

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  14. Me ha encantado esta casita.No le falta detalle.Siempre me han gustado pero en mi casa no tengo sitio para poner una.

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  15. Supercute!!!! Thanks for sharing!

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  16. I just knew you were up to something wonderful, I could feel it. I love your work. So inspiring. I have only finished the cottage from grannies, still working on the furnishings.

    Thank you so much for your sharing.

    `til next time,
    Connie

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  17. Thank-you Lois!Very precious!
    Juliana

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  18. I love this post! Reminds me of my younger me, always making doll houses from paper for my Liddle Kiddle.
    Way back in the 60/70ties :-)

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  19. Thanks everyone for all the good words! Our little house is actually overrun with dolls and such...just about every flat surface commandeered by something I've made :-)

    Beth

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  20. Wow...that is so so adorable... ;o)

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  21. Your doll houses are not only beautiful but amazing! I love the way you decorate the house with the various fabrics and crochet. I love it!

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  22. Beth,
    I really admire your work, such a pleasure to see whats new. I was wondering what you did with all your dolls and houses.
    Absolutely beautiful!
    Hugs suex

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  23. Thank you very much, Sue, Cindricksbabys, and Jannett :-)

    Beth

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  24. What desirable residences! felicia is still waiting for me to build her a house, I'll show her these.

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  25. This is wonderful!
    Can you please tell me what pattern did you use (if any) for that lovely climbing rose plant on the first picture?
    Thank you very much for sharing your work

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  26. Joyce, thank you as always for your wonderful words, they always brighten my day :-) I'd love to live in one of these little cottages too...

    The climbing rose on the first cottage; the roses are simple rolled roses (you chain 20 or so, sc in the sixth ch from the hook, skip two, ch2, sc in the next ch across. For the last row, work (sl st, sc, hdc, 2dc, hdc,sc, sl st) in each loop. Finish off and roll the rose up, then run a few stitches at the bottom to hold it in place. You can vary the size of the rose by changing the petals (don't use dc stitches for smaller petals, use more dc stitches for bigger petals).

    I made several roses, then just did some chains in green for the vine.

    Fiona, be careful you don't spoil Felicia too much :-)

    Beth

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  27. Thank you, Marie Yvonne :-)

    Beth

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  28. I can't believe I never saw these precious houses before :D
    I love them, I don't know which one I like more!
    I love your little spool dolls! They are so unique!!
    I have never seen them made like this before.
    I like them better this way:) They fit perfectly into the dollhouses.
    Are they made like a standard spool doll without the spools for arms?

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    1. Hi Yasmin!

      I made these little houses years ago, when I was making these spool dolls. I bought a kit from HearthSong that had the instructions and materials to make four regular spool dolls. I modified it a bit after making all the kit dolls, to make the doll smaller, have more fun hair, have remove-able clothes, and be a bit more bendable. The beads instead of spools work nice for this. Thank you for your kind words :-)

      Beth

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