Jump to content

Where to buy accessories


Holly11176

Recommended Posts

Hello all- After a twenty plus year hiatus I am back to building dollhouses. Back then you could go to stores like A.C. Moore or Michaels to get furniture and accessories but now I can’t seem to find anyplace to buy them. Any suggestions? 
Thanks!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hobby Lobby is one of the few chain brick-and-mortar stores that still carries a small selection of miniatures. With their 40% off coupon, their prices can’t be beat, but the minis they offer are minimal and the inexpensive price mostly matches the quality. 

Some of my favorite online retailers, in no particular order, include:

minimumworld.com - based in the U.K., nice selection, very reasonable (sometimes free!) shipping

miniatures.com - lots of goodies to explore

miniaturedesigns.com - great for artisan/unique items

dollhousejunction.com - vast array of unique items

miniland.ca -based in Canada, a great source for battery-operated lights, both in terms of variety and cost

Ebay and Etsy can be quite the treasure trove for minis as well! 

Happy shopping!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello from another holly and I hope you'll take a few minutes to post us an introduction on the Newcomers' Forum.  Hobby Lobby still carries a few pre-made things, and a lot of folks including me starting out used Hobby Builder's Supply.  I found it was slightly cheaper and a lot of fun to make my own stuff and I started out with Patricia King's books because she makes really nifty dollhouse furniture, etc, from "found" objects.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am always on the lookout for furnishings and accessories. I sometimes find them in the most unexpected places. Christmas is a good time to score some miniature pieces intended as tree ornaments. I have found great surprises at dollar stores and thrift shops. Hobby Lobby, Joanne's and Michael's sometimes have pieces in their fairy garden section that work, as do large plant nurseries. Hobby Lobby also has some dollhouse things - though not a huge selection. If you live near a sizable city, do a search online for miniatures, dollhouses, and similar words and specify that you are looking "near me." But the biggest variety I have found is online. You can find many companies that specialize in miniatures as well as looking on Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. When searching online, it is common to find the identical item at various prices - some twice or three times the amount of the lowest. And look out for shipping costs. It is sometimes a saving to pay more for the item and getting free shipping.

That's my two cents worth. Looking forward to seeing what others say.

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

factorydirectcraft.com

dollhousesandmore.com

Both are good about sending coupons via email. FDC sometimes tucks in a free gift with an order though not always mini related but a nice touch.

Dollhouses and more ships lightning fast!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yesterday my wife and I took a field trip to scope out a miniature shop about an hour away. We are so glad we did. For anyone within a reasonable drive of Cleveland, OH it is well worth the time. The name of the shop is Doll and Minis in Olmsted Falls. Dawn says she has the second largest inventory of any brick and mortar store in the US. We had a wonderful time browsing the Dollhouse kits, finished houses, furnishings, accessories, materials, tools, dolls, and other toys. We made a couple of purchases - one of which was planned - and had a hard time limiting ourselves. Great selection, good prices, knowledgeable and helpful proprietor, and nice location in a quaint village setting.

We had lunch in a collection of 19th century buildings that have been turned into a group of specialty shops and restaurants and then browsed the "antique" stores in the area. And to illustrate my point in my post above, in two "antique" shops I found some great deals - a set of 7 blue enamel spatterware pans for only $2.00 and a group of 13 pieces for $15.00, including a porcelain tub, sink & toilet, as well as a sofa, love seat, arm chair, ottoman, wall clock, table, straight chair, washstand, pitcher and bowl. We were very pleased with the day's haul. 

So - specialty merchants and serendipities - they're both good!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...