ANGEL's MINIATURE WORLD
Soon after I moved to the US in 2000 I started collecting fashion dolls. At first it was Barbie Dolls of the World - my husband Brian gave me Dutch Barbie as a joke (I am Dutch) and that was funny but not life-changing, but then I came across her friends Moroccan and Peruvian Barbie and it opened up a a whole new world to me. These dolls weren't just blondes with big smiles and pink clothes. As a child growing up in The Netherlands I didn't have Barbies - they were too expensive and there wasn't a large selection. I played with Sindy, a fairly cute doll with really nice furniture. I was never terribly interested in the Barbie brand but this Dolls of the World stuff was cool, and doll-sized furniture and accessories that were also for sale in the toy stores got my attention.
Then Fashion Royalty was issued, a beautiful line of collector fashion dolls that you don't give to your 9 year old kid (they are too expensive and limited). They have incredible details in their clothing and accessories, and were designed by Jason Wu (who later designed Michelle Obama's Inauguration Ball gown) for Integrity Toys (IT). Now, almost two decades later, doll collecting and sharing this passion with like-minded people is a good part of my life. I have been to several IT conventions and made doll friends all over the world. There is incredible talent out there. People who repaint doll faces, people who sew clothes, even people who make designer purses and shoes. I can't sew much or paint at all, but I can play with paper, and I can tell my husband what I want him to make for me.
Brian likes to work with wood and in 2013 he was looking for a new project. I told him he could build me a doll house. Never joke with Brian... now we have a stylish doll house that is over 6 feet wide and 5 feet tall. It has real working ceiling lights (Ikea) and battery operated chandeliers. It has three levels: at the bottom are a bakery and purse store, with an elevator bringing you to the second level to Agnes' apartment with living room and kitchen. There you can go up the spiral staircase (an incredible feat of engineering by my husband) to the bedroom suite. All dolls that live in and visit the doll house are Fashion Royalty brand, repaints by amazing artists from all over the world. They all wear handmade clothing and a lot is one of a kind (OOAK). We try to keep things in this doll house unique and different.
This is all in 1/6th scale (or 'playscale' or Barbie-sized). If a life-size book is 12 inches tall, our mini book is 2 inches. We try as much as possible to stay within the right scale, but some times it looks weird or it isn't available and hard to make yourself. Barbie furniture for instance usually is on the small side, Fashion Royalty furniture is of a much better scale, but only a few items are made.
We like to incorporate things in the doll house that have special meaning to us. For instance, the two frames (gifts from my Dutch friend Rosemarije) in the photo at the top of this page hold tatting that Brian's grandmother made. Brian had a tiny green elephant from his childhood and my friend Joan gave us a glass elephant that she had. I bought the goddess statuette when I was at a bookstore in Tempe AZ with my neighbor friend, and the two little Buddhas when I was shopping with an old friend from work in Amersfoort. My mom knitted a throw blanket and my friend Randy gave me the fancy mirrors for the bedroom. It goes on and on like that. For me the doll house isn't only something pretty to look at, it also makes me think of friends and family that have contributed to it. Plus it is a great way for my husband and me to spend time together working on new miniatures and be excited about new additions.
Below is the whole doll house decorated for Halloween (everything on top is Barbie brand). You can find close up pictures of the various sections (with and without holiday decorations) at the tabs.
Go look around and have fun! Feel free to email me with questions or comments at quailcanyon @ gmail . com (remove spaces).
Angel in FL
Then Fashion Royalty was issued, a beautiful line of collector fashion dolls that you don't give to your 9 year old kid (they are too expensive and limited). They have incredible details in their clothing and accessories, and were designed by Jason Wu (who later designed Michelle Obama's Inauguration Ball gown) for Integrity Toys (IT). Now, almost two decades later, doll collecting and sharing this passion with like-minded people is a good part of my life. I have been to several IT conventions and made doll friends all over the world. There is incredible talent out there. People who repaint doll faces, people who sew clothes, even people who make designer purses and shoes. I can't sew much or paint at all, but I can play with paper, and I can tell my husband what I want him to make for me.
Brian likes to work with wood and in 2013 he was looking for a new project. I told him he could build me a doll house. Never joke with Brian... now we have a stylish doll house that is over 6 feet wide and 5 feet tall. It has real working ceiling lights (Ikea) and battery operated chandeliers. It has three levels: at the bottom are a bakery and purse store, with an elevator bringing you to the second level to Agnes' apartment with living room and kitchen. There you can go up the spiral staircase (an incredible feat of engineering by my husband) to the bedroom suite. All dolls that live in and visit the doll house are Fashion Royalty brand, repaints by amazing artists from all over the world. They all wear handmade clothing and a lot is one of a kind (OOAK). We try to keep things in this doll house unique and different.
This is all in 1/6th scale (or 'playscale' or Barbie-sized). If a life-size book is 12 inches tall, our mini book is 2 inches. We try as much as possible to stay within the right scale, but some times it looks weird or it isn't available and hard to make yourself. Barbie furniture for instance usually is on the small side, Fashion Royalty furniture is of a much better scale, but only a few items are made.
We like to incorporate things in the doll house that have special meaning to us. For instance, the two frames (gifts from my Dutch friend Rosemarije) in the photo at the top of this page hold tatting that Brian's grandmother made. Brian had a tiny green elephant from his childhood and my friend Joan gave us a glass elephant that she had. I bought the goddess statuette when I was at a bookstore in Tempe AZ with my neighbor friend, and the two little Buddhas when I was shopping with an old friend from work in Amersfoort. My mom knitted a throw blanket and my friend Randy gave me the fancy mirrors for the bedroom. It goes on and on like that. For me the doll house isn't only something pretty to look at, it also makes me think of friends and family that have contributed to it. Plus it is a great way for my husband and me to spend time together working on new miniatures and be excited about new additions.
Below is the whole doll house decorated for Halloween (everything on top is Barbie brand). You can find close up pictures of the various sections (with and without holiday decorations) at the tabs.
Go look around and have fun! Feel free to email me with questions or comments at quailcanyon @ gmail . com (remove spaces).
Angel in FL