Search the Community

Hello! My name is Mariana I collect and make miniatures (sweets and treats for non-scale dolls) along with 1/6 scale and non-scale dolls from Japan (Azone, obitsu, Nendoroid). I’ve been working with the diy dollhouses from China for about 4/5 years now. Last year I made the real good toys gazebo, and now I am currently working on the Aster Cottage as my first 1/12 scale house. I apologize now because I am an extremely visual person and coming from the diy dollhouses where everything has pictures with an instruction step the wall of text instructions is quite intimidating honestly.

Greetings and salutations—as indicated, I live in Massachusetts, about 40 miles northwest as the crow flies from Boston. Remember the line in “Paul Revere’’s Ride” about riding to “spread the alarm/ To every Middlesex village and farm/ For the country folk to be up and to arm?” My town is one of the villages he didn’t reach, because of being captured by the British between Lexington and Concord. I came to miniatures and dollhouses by way of collecting small dolls and their assorted accessories and belongings. I have worked on a couple of roomboxes and a very small dollhouse (the Adams), but my current is my first really big house. Bought it as a shell years ago fron Real Good Toys, and then it sat until shortly before the pandemic began and all my outside activities got cancelled. In its finished form, depending upon whether you added porches or additions, it appears on Pinterest as the Hawthorne, the Woodstock, or the Altamont—generic Victorian with a tower and a big front gable. As none of the finishing accessory packs are available anymore, finishing will require some further purchases, and possibly some kit bashing. I retired from work seven years ago, and have enjoyed the free time to pursue all my interests, which include fiber arts (knitting and spindle spinning), gardening, sewing (aspiring quilter!), birding, and attending to whatever animals are sharing the house at the time, though I’m down to one cat at present. He’s deliberately ignoring me right now, because he got taken to the vet for his annual checkup today and is mad at me. And now I’m off to apply another coat of paint to The Hawthorne-Woodstock-Altamont dollhouse!

I've been admiring the Greenleaf dollhouses online for years, but had never been able to justify the expense, until this spring, when the world got cancelled. I live in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, and for the first couple months of lockdown, you literally couldn't go outside without your face freezing within a minute or two, so I decided I needed a project, and bought the Magnolia. Now I'm hooked! I'll admit I rushed out of excitement and I'm not thrilled with the colour, and I'm just not happy with how it turned out, so I'm giving it to my daughter to play with. I've ordered the Buttercup and intend on doing a much better job. I can't wait for it to arrive. I should also mention that I am partially colour blind, so I typically can't match colours at the best of times. There's a lot I will do different on my next house.

Hi, I'm Laura. I bought the Coventry Cotrage about ten years ago, started building and then... stopped. But, I've picked it back up again recently now that I have some space and I'm really enjoying it. I just put in my first bit of wall paper! I'm looking forward to learning all of the things.

Hello I'm Jill from Osage Beach, Missouri, originally from Omaha, Nebraska. I have been looking at these dollhouses for more than ten years. I originally wanted the Garfield, but it is so big. Maybe I'll do it as my next house? So I saw the Lily, love it, but it is also so big. I decided to make my first house a half scale and I just fell in LOVE with the Fairfield. I am a perfectionist by nature and I hope it doesn’t drive me crazy trying to get it right. I love the “Don’t panic!” in the warm-up syllabus. So I am just going to take my time and enjoy it as intended. I look forward to seeing what all of you have to say. Take care in this time of uncertainty, Jill

Hi I'm Rachael from TX. I have wanted a dollhouse my entire life. I am a DIY kind of gal so thought I should start with a kit. What better time than in a quarantine to start a new project? I will definitely be using this sight for much needed research. Thanks so much!

Hello everyone I'm Cindy.. Happy (belated) Mother's Day to all the beautiful Mom's. Today I opened my 1st "Greenleaf (Orchid) Dollhouse Kit". I broke 2 windows already, but only because I was so excited. LoL..cough-cough.. :P I wasn't sure if I should use wood-filler or glue? I went with the "Gorilla-Glue" which seemed to workout just fine.. Crosses-fingers & holds-breath! I started a video too, so when the dollhouse is done we can watch it together. :) Ok, tty'all real soon. Cindy a.k.a. MayFlower86

So, I am on day two of my Glencroft build. The second floor went in with much finagling, but now I am dealing with the left side of my house. I've read about some of the problems other people have had with this side. I decided to walk away and start fresh tomorrow. So far it's been fun♡ Jeri

Hi. everyone! I'm a newbie in doll house construction I had problems with making furniture, so my husband bought me a doweling jighttps://pickadvisor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Woodstock-D4116-Doweling-Jig-review-300x300.jpg (don't know how to attach the image properly) He's sure I can use it, as it's helpful in his workshop Has anyone any experience using it? If not, maybe you like the idea

Hi I live in Yorkshire in the UK. I'm hoping to do some basic refurbishment on my old Lundby dollshouse (1960s vintage). After that I want to build a Cotswold thatched cottage, based on one in a series of books by Miss Read. I was wondering if there were any really good basic beginner books please? I love sewing and knitting and one of the things I'm really looking forward to is making miniature textiles for both houses, given the era I think my Lundby needs a crochet afgan throw! I'm hoping to make rugs (started a French knot kit), patchwork quilts, cushions etc for the cottage. I am restricted energy wise as I have ME/chronic fatigue which limits things a lot, so both projects will be very slow.

Good morning, not sure I am putting this in the right place or the right way but here goes. I got addicted to minis eons ago drooling over pictures in a Miles Kimball catalog. My dad finally built me a little shadow box thinking that would cure me not! That was followed by a Pepperwood Farm. I have 4 'completed' (nothing is ever really finished is it?) and several Greenleaf kits that will be bashed one day into a village.

Hi everyone, I have just started my very first dollhouse for my two daughters. It is the Fairfield Dollhouse 1/2 size. I'm so excited that I want to rush in and I know I need to be more patient! A question I have is that I have read people use hot guns to glue the wooden pieces together but others use Aleene's tacky glue. Which one is better? It seems I'm making a bit of a mess with the glue gun... so I'm wondering if tacky glue is smoother and easier to manage? Thanks for your advice! Libby

Just wanted to introduce myself here! When I was 10, I got a Willowcrest Kit for Christmas. My dad was supposed to help me put it together... It is still in the box almost 30 years later. I’m looking forward to putting it together with my daughters. We’re going for a subtly haunted look.

Hello and help!! Lol, not lol...I'm completely overwhelmed!! I inherited about 500 different miniature items...no houses or rooms, hardly any furniture, lots of handmade really cool stuff, different scales...I don't know what to do or where to start. I began cataloguing about a year ago, and was so overwhelmed with the quantity and variety that I tapped out. I have tried to figure out what my Mom's plans were , but we dont see what she did. Help, ideas, advice, guidance needed and appreciated. I have some REALLY interesting items, with amazing detail and can only imagine what she had in store.

Hi! I'm Sofia (24, from Washington State) and for my birthday today my mom got me my first dollhouse (a Greenleaf Corona Orchird). When I was younger, I loved playing with dollhouses, and now I'm really excited to try and build (and decorate!) my own! I would love any advice from veterans on how to make detailed and realistic houses! I'm so glad to have found a communitty dedicated to this endeavor! -MiniatureSofia

Hi from Murrieta, California. I just received my “Lily” dollhouse for Christmas. I have absolutely no experience, but in the meantime am quite excited. I have tried watching some YouTube videos, hoping for ideas. But they all just seem to skim through things. I read on the directions how you should work one sheet at a time and not pop pieces out until you get to that sheet. And then see a video with all pieces out and spread around. I would appreciate any tips you can share, especially if you have worked on the Lily! Thank you Karen

Hey everyone! I am new to dollhouses and miniatures (and this site). I have already posted in the welcome/introductory forum, but I know I will have a bunch of questions, so I thought I would start my own thread here. I have been reading and researching non-stop about the Fairfield, and how everyone has done it. I have read so many blogs, and forums, and looked at pictures until my eyes felt like they were going to bleed. I think what overwhelms me so much is how everyone is just like, "there are so many ways to do it, just do whatever you want!". That is not how I operate lol. I like to know exactly what I need to do at what time to get the best results. I don't like experimenting and "trying as I go" so this is going to be tricky for me. Anyways, I digress. I have already started putting together my dry fit, to try and figure out which wallpaper I want in which rooms, etc. I don't plan to "bash" this kit as I'm already overwhelmed enough, but there are a few cosmetic things I know I'd like to do to make her a little prettier. I do not have a miniature store near me, so shopping in person is out of the question. I have gone to a few sites suggested in many of these posts, but I am finding that each of these stores seem to only offer a couple of things. None of them have all the things I think I need. So, in order to try and simplify this process, and not spend a million dollars in shipping from 5 different stores, I was wondering if anyone could recommend an online store that has a very large selection and may carry all (or most) of these items. So far, what I am looking for (in 1:24 scale): - brick paper - siding sheets - interior doors - baseboards and moulding - stair handrails, spindles, and newel posts - beadboard - ceiling carvings / textured ceiling paper For example, miniatures.com has the staircase items, doors, and the brick paper, but none of the other stuff Thank you so much for your help!

Hello, fellow forum members - My first exposure to Greenleaf was the Harrison that my mother built for her grandchildren in the early 80s. It was well loved by our families and most of the neighbor children. The dollhouse traveled a bit and was given first to my niece and then my eldest daughter, whose five year old daughter is attached to it at the hip. When my newest grand daughter was born last year her mother said, "Great! Now it's OUR turn for the dollhouse!" To forestall the inevitable battle (ever tried to pry a five year old from her favorite toy on the planet?) I decided to make a new dollhouse for the other set of grandbabies. I joined the woodshop in my retirement community, found the best mentor on the planet, and dived in. It's been twenty years since I tackled a doll house but it's been a joy. I'll share pics soon - promise!

Hello, I am fairly new to minis, but have always had an affinity for interior design. My husband & I have flipped/restored a few homes, so working on a tiny version has been a nice little adventure. I have an antique dollhouse my grandpa built my mother that I have been WAY too terrified to touch, but just recently found a Newburg for $3 at a thrift shop. I figured for less than I spend on my coffee I wouldn't be too upset if the whole thing was a wash. It's been fine so far. Lots of prep work & research into building some miniature items to fit the space better. I currently have an attempt at some kitchen cabinets gluing in our dining room Thank you in advance to everyone who helps me along the way!

I am a total newbie working on a Beacon Hill.. i am a slow worker but loving every minute. I’m planning to turn it into a Haunted House with a Harry Potter inspired style. I know it is ambitious, but I am attempting to customize the staircase because I simply despise the cookie cutter look of the trim that comes with the kit. I’m sure I will have lots of questions as I progress.. any advice/support is greatly appreciated! I am obsessing over everyone else’s beautiful creations and hoping my skills are up to par one day ❤️

Hi, I'm Melanie. I was given this massive dollhouse from a friend, and I'm so pumped to start working on it. I have two little girls and I'm hoping to have it up and running in a few years (right now they are 2 and 2 mos). Evidently the dollhouse is my friends' great grandmothers and was brought over from Europe. It has water damage, missing pieces, warped roof, lead paint probably, but I'm still super pumped to do what I can and make it functioning (but not a masterpiece) for my kids. Would love to show everyone, but I guess I need to do 5 posts before I can ask for advice?

I bought an fh505 for $30 from Craigslist about 2 years ago. I love making miniatures and finally have time to build the house. This is my first build and I am having a little bit of issue with construction. I have read the instructions many times over, and I've examined the pictures, but I'm still not sure I'm assembling it correctly. I don't want to mess it up. Does anyone happen to have any pictures of their progress AS they are building? Im a visual person and hope if I can see the way someone else is doing it, it might help me to figure out if I'm doing this correctly. Thanks in advance!

Hello from Canada - My husband gave me an unfinished doll house 10 years ago and my excuse for not working on it has always been 'just too busy at work'. Now I am no longer working and bored silly so it has come down to working on this doll house which came with zero instructions. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to start working on this but I have no idea what to do first. The house is put together so it is the finishing and decorating I need to complete. It hasn't been under cover so it is a little dusty and will require some clean up. I should add I am creatively challenged but I am open to learning. On the positive side, I am project driven and pretty determined to complete this one. This house is a little unique with two front entrances, one leading into a single room with a bay window and the adjacent entrance leads to a stairway going upstairs. It is three stories, the roof lifts up and the front opens out. I thought the downstairs with the bay window could be a shop of some sort and the upstairs could be a living area for a small family - no pun intended. Also, I have a 3 year old grand daughter and I would like this house to be friendly to her under supervision, of course. Lastly, back to the not working so limited income for now so would like this project to be cash friendly. I am looking forward to getting started and thought being part of this forum would be a good first step. Lastly, I don't know the maker of this doll house. I think knowing that could be helpful. I haven't been able to find any pics on pintrest of similar houses.

Hello! I've only perused this forum a couple of times, but my mom and I both adore miniatures. We worked on a house when I was a kid, but unfortunately, we were both utterly hopeless at decorating the interior. Recently, we've come into possession of another very large, very beautiful, mostly finished Hofco house. I love looking at others' work, and am actually hoping to find someone in our state to potentially hire to assist us with the process of finishing the interior of our house, and was wondering what the appropriate section in the forum to post that sort of thing might be? Of course, if this forum doesn't allow that, I will absolutely refrain from bringing it up again. I'm looking forward to seeing the work of lots of talented miniaturists and dollhouse artists either way.

Hi there! I'm new to the world of miniatures, and building a house for my niece. Greenleaf Orchid seemed like a good first-timer house. So far, I'm completely obsessed, and love working on it. The only thing I'm struggling with is trying to find a faster way to sand all the parts. I've been looking at pen sanders, Dremels, and I'm not sure what's right for me. Any pointers? Thanks to all!