A Hidden Hobby

I have a hidden hobby that many people don't realize.  Lately, time and money restrict me from pursuing it more.  I build and furnish dollhouses.  Miniatures to be exact.

When I was in middle school, I got my first dollhouse kit for Christmas.  My Grandpa and I worked together all winter to complete it.  We worked so meticulously to make sure that every piece was just right, from the shingles to the doorknob on the front door.  It was a time that I will treasure and am grateful that I had the opportunity to build it with him.

  

The dollhouse has moved from Pittsburgh to Annapolis and back again and now resides in our office.  It has survived a crash landing caused by Mittens but withstands it all.

Throughout the years, I have traveled to various miniature stores and shows, collecting pieces for my dollhouse.  I want it to resemble a hat and dress shop, so I have a number of hats and stands.  The best piece in the dollhouse is the mannequin wearing the wedding dress.  My mom made the dress out of pieces from hers and my grandma's wedding gowns.  It's incredible!

(my hat collection)

(the dress my mom made from material from hers and my grandma's wedding dresses)

A few weeks ago, I decided I'd actually unpack the furniture and set the dollhouse up on my bookshelf again.  I opened the box to discover that more than half of the furniture was broken.

My handcrafted and painted rocking chair from a show, the beautiful and very delicate side table and the glass store display were in pieces.  It was devastating to see these treasures that I had saved so much to buy and represented so much of what my mom, grandpa and I had worked on.  Hopefully, my mom can fix it but I was devastated.

Miniatures was such an important part of my life and I hope that one day I can focus on it again but for now I will treasure what I have and hopefully it can be fixed.  It's such a discussion piece and I meet more and more people that collect as well.  That's just my two cents on miniatures.

(it's always Christmas in my dollhouse)

Check out this link from one of the blogs I follow about a life-size dollhouse on display in New York and designed by Target.