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Hi, all... total newbie over here! If there were a name for someone even less informed than a "newbie," that would be me. So, I thought I would introduce myself before I begin peppering you all with dollhouse questions elsewhere in the forums! I'm a freelance illustrator and mom living in Minnesota, and I'm planning to build the Gloucester for my daughter. I love the simple lines and symmetry of the Glaucester and the absence of "extras" -- since my daughter is still quite young, I chose a house that didn't come with any cute little fences or other pull-off-ables! I also love that the Glau can be opened and closed. I am really excited to get started! The incredible amount of expertise and enthusiasm evident in the members of this forum are really inspiring -- I can't wait to learn from you all. If I may ask -- where is the best place to pose general house-building questions that are not specific to any one dollhouse? (Or is there a general dollhouse-building faq for complete beginners?) For example, one of my questions is: when the house description tells you how many bags of shingles or siding you need, can you assume that you can choose ANY of the shingles/siding sold on the Greenleaf site? If not, how do you know which shingle/siding is recommended? Warmest wishes and thanks in advance, Aimee

Hi everyone, It's such a beautiful thing to find a community of miniature hobbyists:)!! I'm ecstatic! I have recently purchased for my younger cousin, a Bellingham Farmhouse (Dura Craft) but the directions that are supposed to come with it are missing... :/ Would anyone possibly have a copy or would know how I can go about getting a copy of the instructions? I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance, Andrea

My husband says I'm a lurker so I decided to introduce myself. I've been fascinated with miniatures all my life. In 1992 I built a DuraCraft Columbian (for myself), and with our kids built a DuraCraft Sweetheart (for them) and an Greenleaf Arthur for their older sister. Because of space issues, I decided I wanted to work in half inch scale and bought a Houseworks Victorian Farmhouse shell. Then, real life interfered, and I boxed it all up to "enjoy someday when I retired." Life has conspired to teach me not to wait. So earlier this year I started hauling out the boxes. I realized I really enjoy building the houses and furnishings, which was part of the reason the Farmhouse isn't inspiring me. Checking Greenleaf's site I found the half inch scale laser cut kits and have been in heaven ever since. The half scale Diana was my first build so far, and I've got a half scale Buttercup mostly finished with another waiting (to be modified into an Orchid--I love the Orchid). My half scale Brimbles is still in planning stages for a law office downstairs, apartment upstairs, and rooftop garden. I gave my completed Columbian to a friend for her granddaughter and was going to sell off the the one inch furnishings, but started feeling sentimental because the kids had built some of it with me. So I kept thinking about some type of wall house, or maybe cutting in half the DuraCraft Lafayette my daughter started but lost interest in (still in its box, but a lot of the sanding is finished), when I found the McKinley and ordered one. I love the style of the McKinley, but when I got to working on the kit I remembered why I really hate die cut kits. I really don't enjoy the endless boring sanding required by die cut kits. But I've built the shell, redid the stairs, and have completed papering and flooring. I have shingles stained and ready, but got stuck at the trim. My kit may have been a "dull cut" because the trim pieces literally came apart (delaminated.) And I really hate rough edges. So after staring at it for six months and trying to make molds for trims and looking for alternatives, I decided to abandon the project for now. But I still wanted a compact one inch scale house for my sentimental stuff (and to decorate for Xmas like I used to do), so I decided on the Tennyson knowing I could get it in laser cut. Yes! But then I made the mistake of buying from an independent seller (to save a couple bucks) who advertised a laser cut kit but sent me (you guessed it) a die cut kit! Oh the disappointment! I had vacation time scheduled to work on it and everything! Sigh. So that kit is going back to its seller, and my laser cut kit is on its way from our pals at Greenleaf. I'm hoping to finish it before the holidays, but it might get decorated while "under construction." Here's my house list: Completed Builds: DuraCraft Columbian (built, 1992) recently given to friend DuraCraft Sweetheart (built, 1992) built with kids as their house Greenleaf Arthur (built, 1992) built with kids for their older sister Greenleaf half scale Diana (built, 2012) Under Construction: Greenleaf McKinley (almost complete, on hold for now) Greenleaf half scale Buttercup (almost complete, seaside artist's cottage, homage to Vincent Van Gogh) About to Start: Greenleaf Tennyson Waiting in the Wings: Greenleaf half scale Brimbles (law office, bed sit, rooftop garden) Greenleaf half scale Buttercup (to become an Orchid, I plan to share my notes) Greenleaf half scale Arthur (undecided) Michel's half scale puzzle house, Tennyson style (undecided) Michel's half scale puzzle house, Arthur style (undecided) Houseworks half scale Victorian Farmhouse (sigh) DuraCraft Lafayette (sigh) Wish List: 3D printer Digital laser cutter I hope that Greenleaf will offer laser cut versions of the McKinley and its other popular houses, and I especially hope they will offer half scale versions of more, or all, of their houses.