Dream Haus

Oh, boy, this is a beaut! I first saw Haus Kathrin when I was researching the origin of some vintage German furniture I bought on US eBay. Annina pointed me to a page on the puppenhausmuseum website as she found the source, a stunning DDR two-level abode from the early 1960s with a garage and patio. I love the lines and design touches in the doors and windows. While some of the wallpaper and flooring looks damaged, it otherwise appears to be in nice vintage condition -- even the awning is intact! Sigh. A few shots:

I can only dream on this one, since it just appeared on German eBay and will likely go for a pretty hefty sum; it's already up above 20 Euros. My guess is close to 200 Euros. Enjoy more eye candy on German eBay, while the auction lasts.

UPDATE, 3/4/10: The house sold for a whopping 558 Euros (nearly $765.00)!! It looks like there were fifteen bidders and twenty-two bids. The lucky winner swooped in at the last minute to secure the future of this lovely house. I wonder if it was a museum or another collector.

Images courtesy of the eBay listing.

Big Buzz, Mini News: Brinca Dada!

After the recent Toy Fair in New York City, buzz spread very quickly amongst the modern mini community about the Emerson, a stunning 1:16 modernist creation unveiled at the Fair. FromDaddy Types, to ohdeedoh, to my fellow bloggers Mini Modern, Altera, and Rebecca, design and doll house aficionados posted with intrigue about this newcomer, designed by the firm brinca dada (that's "BREEN-kuh day-duh"). Modern MC of Mini Modern recalled that a very similar-looking house sold on eBay for over $400 a few months ago, and it was confirmed that it was indeed the Emerson prototype. See this Daddy Types post for more on this.

The house will retail for $299 this spring, and according to the Brinca Dada website, the home has it all: six rooms including a living room, kitchen, library/office, master bedroom, bathroom and child's bedroom; a large, open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows; many extras including mitered-glass corners, two fireplaces, sliding glass doors, solar panels, and recessed LED lights; and non-toxic and lead-free wood stains and paints.

A press release on the brinca dada website notes that the Emerson's design was inspired by Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House and the ultra-modern home that A. Quincy Jones designed for Gary Cooper, here (courtesy of www.eichlernetwork.com):

I was in touch with brinca dada head Doug Rollins, a dad of three, about the house, and wanted to share some more about this welcome addition to the modern doll house scene.

What's the scale?

The scale of the house is closest to 1:16, although buzz early on said everything from 1:12 to 1:18. Rollins says, "The actual size is 3/4" which I think equates to 1:16. When we originally designed Emerson as 1:12 it was enormous and we thought it would be too big for many playrooms and too expensive. We're learning about scale as we go here. The idea for the company is to make toys that adults love to look at and kids love to play with. For the houses, we are finding that there is a significant market for dollhouse collectors as well. So we are quickly learning how best to give them what they are looking for. We developed Emerson House for kids as the primary user and adults (re: dollhouse enthusiasts) as a secondary target."

By the way, I have to assume a level of durability of this house given it is geared for children, who will likely not be deterred by the lack of stairs!

Are there accessories for the house?

There are dolls and living furniture. The dolls have a minimalist edge and in my opinion might resonate more with the kids and may not suit those adult collectors who use dolls in their scenes, but the furniture is more adaptable for collectors. Rollins said of the furniture and pricing, "We don't have prices for the furniture, but we are hoping to keep them in the $30-$40 per room range. More to come on that. We are still in the design phase so we don't know materials etc. yet." The chair is an absolute definite for me, and it would be great if the firm produced a range of rooms.

Where will the house be sold?

The house will be sold on the brinca dada website and in fine toy stores. Rollins said that he is "...pushing for wide distribution of our toys at retail. We plan to be in toy shops, hobby & doll shops, design stores, museum stores, department stores and maybe even some furniture stores." They are currently seeking a European distributor, but will ship worldwide!

Who is brinca dada and what is the meaning behind the name?

Rollins, a toy industry veteran, co-founded brinca dada with architect Tim Boyle, who as Rollins stated has "designed houses for a number of celebrities (which he can't disclose, even to me)." On the name, Rollins shared that "Brinca dada (it's day-duh) comes from the Brazilian term for toy or game. It's a total butchering of the spelling, though. Tim and I both lived in Brazil at different times and we both always liked the term. It has a great ring to it. Brinca is also Spanish for jump and we like the association with the dadaist movement which was so playful and also with the idea of daddy, which Tim and I both are." Boyle is dad to four, and both he and Rollins reside with their families in New York City. The company is so new that as Rollins said, "...when I say new, I mean new. We launched this last Sunday at Toy Fair."

Will brinca dada continue to produce doll houses?

Rollins said that brinca dada will continue to design houses as part of their line and have some ideas for other toys that he did not want to disclose at this time. Regarding additional items, they have a modern townhouse in the works, the Bennet House, that Rollins hopes will be available by October. "It's truly stunning," Rollins said. "I can't wait to finalize the designs so we can get some renderings out."

We can't wait either!!!

The Emerson definitely fills a niche for modern doll house collectors, including those who prefer working in 1:12, but who might be amenable to working in a smaller scale. I absolutely love the use of materials and the warmth of this house. I am impressed by what looks to be fine finishings and a keen level of architectural detail; I look forward to seeing it in person.

I'll keep tabs on brinca dada, and have a feeling you will too.

Room Box

I did a quick run through IKEA yesterday for a few storage things and came away with a vegetable box...a room box, that is! I would not have known that the Rationell Variera was for veggies if you asked me. I saw it for its mini potential and built-in backdrop and windows!

Here's a few quick shots...

Credits: Room box is IKEA; White couch and doll are Bozart; orange stool and hanging lamp are vintage Lundby; kitten is Playmobil City; egg tables and coffee cup are Re-ment; plant is an aquarium plant; pot is from a craft store.

Pixels

This scene features my first Mini Modernistas purchase: a pixel chair and ottoman. Neat, huh? The quality is really nice, and the look lovely. It's going to be hard not to buy more!

I have been wallpapering the VERO, trying out different things, and wanted to test it out. Thanks again to Annina for scanning her VERO papers! The flooring is scrapbook paper, inspired by the Pixel chair.

The hanging light was purchased from German eBay and arrived in a very sorry state: cracked and scuffed. I repaired it as well as I could, but it does not look as it should. Here is what it should look like (photo courtesy of the puppenhausmuseum website):

And here's how it actually appears:

It's still a neat fixture, even upside down!

The 1:144 house in the back is also from German eBay, purchased as a lot (thanks again for sending, Oese!). Boy, does it need a good cleaning!

Above the tea and treat in bed are Little Red Riding Hood plates by Re-ment. I have not had a good use for them until now...I asked my son to put them in order, and I think he did a good job!

Speaking of kids, my daughter did a nice scene too today of a tomboy's room -- good work, my sweet!

My next "baby" is coming to me from overseas, and I hope to share pictures of it soon!

Credits: Bed, nightstand, wardrobe, plant stand, 1:144 house, sideboard, and mirror are vintage German; table and light fixture are vintage VERO; pixel chair and ottoman are by Mini Modernistas; tea set, tray, Little Red Riding Hood plates, perfume trays, and frog are Re-ment; fabric hanging in back is Marimekko; accessories are Re-ment, Bozart, AG Minis, Manor House Miniatures, and Petite Princess.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with some exceptions. The Little Red Riding Hood Plates are from Fairy Tale Dishes #8, "Trip to Grandma's House," and are large for 1:12, but can work as decoration. The tea set is from Princess Tea Party #2, "The Princess' Late Night Tea," and is large for 1:12. The tray is from Bread and Butter #2, "Free Spirit Bakery," and is good as a large serving tray in 1:12. The danish is from Bread and Butter #6, "Lovely Danish," and is a bit large for 1:12. The red perfume tray is from I Love Kyoto #1, and is good for 1:12. The black perfume tray is from I Love Kyoto #7, and is good for 1:12. The beauty packets on the black tray are from Puchi Drugstore #1, and work for 1:12.

Crafty at Heart

There was lots of Valentine card making for my kids' classroom celebrations today, which ended up not happening. We got hit with mounds of snow (close to 18" by us), along with the rest of the east coast, and the sun shines on all that needs shoveling today. The valentines will still go to their appreciative friends next week, after the snow has cleared.

Here are some pictures taken in the thick of the storm -- can you spot the intrepid squirrel? :)

Credits: Green couch, counter, two chairs, and tomato artwork are Bozart; boomerang table and lamp are vintage German; art mat and accessories, green flowered tables by fireplace, cookies, danish, bread, bowl, fishbowl, bunny purse, clock, and phone are Re-ment; juice is a Japanese eraser; ball chair is Reac; stacked sideboards are vintage VERO; pouf is Lundby; "wallpaper" is scrapbook paper; skateboard is Tech Deck; pillows are AG Minis; accessories by Manor House Miniatures, Tiny Doll House Shop, and eBay finds.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The cookie box is from Megahouse Pop 'N Kitchen #4, and is large for 1:12. The round bread in the bowl is from Re-ment Bakery #5, and is good for 1:12. The danish is from Fun Meals #7 "Morning Grab 'n Go," and is slightly large for 1:12. The art mat, glue, X-acto knife, tape dispenser, stapler, and tub of glue are all from My Favorite Stationery #5, and are all good for 1:12. The tiny jars of paint are from My Favorite Stationery # 8, and are good for 1:12.

Dorm

I never lived in a dorm room in college. Instead, I lived in some pre-war studios and apartments, sometimes alone, sometimes with roommates. Not like this scene, though! Perhaps this is a grad school dorm at the beach -- while the girl looks sassy and smart, she may not always want to study, especially if a strawberry shortcake awaits on her little terrace! :)

I decided to park this student's car in the "garage." Fits nicely!

By the way, the Stockholm now sits on a new credenza, bought for $49 (marked down from $499!) from my favorite Crate and Barrel outlet. It is meant as a piece for the dining room, but did not have its sliding doors. It is a nice glossy white with shelves, so I will be sure to fill them up!

Credits: Terrace: chair is vintage Modella; table is vintage Fisher Price; strawberry shortcake set is Re-ment; bongos are an eBay find; plant is vintage TOMY. Bedroom: Bed, lamp, and desk are vintage German; stool, butterflies on wall, fish tank, laptop, book and holder, bird candle, coffee press and cup, storage cubes, and potted plant are Re-ment; chair is Reac; photos and doll are Bozart; blue painting came with my VERO house; guitar is Nodameggaki; car is Lil' Bratz. Accessories are Re-ment and IKEA.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The strawberry shortcake set is from Puchi Mini Sweets, #9, and is large for 1:12, but can work. The coffee press is from Megahouse Dach's Coffee Shop, #2 and is good for 1:12.

Well Red

Yes, red is the color for me today! I've had this Lundby bed for quite some time and have never used it in a scene. The Jean of West Germany sideboard has made its way into a few scenes already, but never lifted off the ground! It just fit perfectly and slid into space above the bed.

I also decided to set up an office and bath scenes and mixed different scales: 1:10, 1:12, and 1:16. Can you tell which is which?

Credits: Bedroom: Bed is vintage Lundby; raised sideboard is vintage Jean of West Germany; cow rug is by Oese; table at foot of bed is vintage Fisher Price; red rocking chair is Reac; light, red Asian case next to bed, magazine, purse, red/white standing ashtray, and all the boxes above the bed (except Hello Kitty) are Re-ment; Hello Kitty box is Sanrio; black and red vases are Bozart; wall covering is scrapbook paper. Bath: Vanity is vintage TOMY; chair is vintage Petite Princess; brush, lipstick, false eyelash set and "rug" are Re-ment; wall covering is origami paper. Office: Red chair is vintage German; white desk and side drawers are vintage VERO; computer and keyboard are by Lilu Shop on Etsy; pencil sharpener, pencil set, tissue box, clock, book holder on desk, coffee tumbler, boxes on upper shelf, white shelf and bird, elephant, and laptop accessories on the shelf are Re-ment; white pig on upper shelf is a Japanese eraser; plant is vintage TOMY; books are AG Minis, Bozart and from France.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in these scenes with some exceptions. Bedroom: Red Asian case is from I Love Kyoto # 9, and is a bit large for 1:12. It is meant as a bento box, but can be re-purposed as I have done. House-shaped box above bed is from Megahouse Pop 'N Kitchen #9, and is good as a large storage box in 1:12. It is really meant as a lunch box. Bath: Brush is from Merry Strawberry #4 and is good for 1:12. False eyelash set and lipstick are from Cosmetics #5, "Actress," and are large for 1:12, but can work. Office: Tissue box is from Merry Strawberry # 9 and is good for 1:12. Pencil case is from My Favorite Stationery #6, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. Golden bird on shelf is from Princess Tea Party # 7, and is good as an accent piece in 1:12.

Before the Next Flight

I saw the movie Up in the Air recently. George Clooney plays a professional hatchet man who travels over 320 days a year. His "home" was a spare and bare bachelor pad, and was merely a stopping point until his next flight. He used his frequency as a flier to completely distance himself emotionally from others. Eventually, he gets in touch with himself and reconnects with family, but overall it was a bit of a downer movie. Nevertheless, it inspired me to create a scene for the flight attendant who might be on his next journey. I wonder how relaxing that job is...I, for one, likely would be stressed out most of the time, in need of a nice dip in a pool or a soak in a hot tub. :)

Credits: "Hot tub" is a soap dish from Bed, Bath and Beyond; white shelf, shoes, tea set-up on table, thermometer, and "rug" and flight bag inside are Re-ment; table is vintage Modella; white chairs are Reac; towel hook, standing lamp, and pillow on bed are AG Minis; "towel" on hook is Marimekko fabric; chairs inside and cabinet are vintage German (thanks, Oese!); "towels" in cabinet are tissues; flower stand and lights on cabinet are also vintage German; kidney-shaped side table is Ryan's Room; chess set is an eBay find; bed, bed platform, and hot tub platform are from the Villa Sibi; coverlet is Bozart; painting is Lundby. Accessories in cabinet are Re-ment and from dollhouse stores.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The honey jar and honey stick are from Re-ment Bakery # 5, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The cup and saucer are from Megahouse Pop 'n Kitchen # 4, and are good for 1:12. In the cabinet: the pink clock is from Storage Beauty #10, "Pretty Placement," and is good for 1:12. The pink perfume bottle and larger pink jar are from Flirty Pink, #5, and are large for 1:12. The flight bag and thermometer are from Natalie's French Goods #6, and are good for 1:12. The flowered creamer is from Princess Tea Party # 2, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The deer head on the top shelf is from Princess Tea Party # 3, and works for 1:12.

Big Bath, Big Thanks!

This is the first time I have used the K House great room as a bath. I've used it as a bedroom, kitchen, and of course a living space many times, but never a bathroom. Our real "master" bath is anything but - it's a very narrow and tiny space, but at least it is ours and we don't have to share it with the kids. We couldn't anyway!!

In case you are wondering about the backdrop, it is a framed photograph that I propped up to hide the wall behind the house. I've used the vintage German cabinet (thanks, Oese!) as pillow storage, kind of like a linen closet (with less folding to do!).

By the way, today marks my first full year of blogging. THANK YOU for following and for tuning in and leaving your comments. It brings me great joy to write about and photograph my minis, and I love learning from others out there. Cheers!

Credits: Sink, bathtub, and toilet are vintage Bodo Hennig (thanks, Oese!); artwork is Bozart; Eames lounger is Reac; lamp is vintage Petite Princess; side table, wire basket, flower vase on bath, purse, and orange dresser and light are Re-ment; couch is vintage VERO; pillow is handmade by Tarkus; plant is an aquarium plant; cabinet is vintage German; coffee table is Lil' Bratz; vase on coffee table is a bead from Pubdoll; white rug is The House That Jacq Built; dress form is from Pain d'epices. Accessories are Re-ment, Pain d'epices, vintage TOMY, DRAP, Lundby, AG Minis, Manor House Miniatures, Ryan's Room, and Bozart.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with two exceptions: the mirror and brush on the dresser are from the secret set Cosmetics "Actress," #5, and are good for 1:12.

Curator

I've posted in the past on one of my career paths that never took flight: museum curator. I have friends who are curators and like to be friends with them, but would not want to compete with them for a job or an exhibit! These are tough, opinionated, passionate people who tend to work very hard for very little appreciation (or at least that was the art world climate in New York City in the early 1990s). So, this is my conception of a curator's home, likely in a European city.

The lovely little wood scene in glass came from Germany from an eBay seller I work with often, daspuppenhaus. It has amazing detail and I haven't seen anything like this before.

I am very excited to have used this room in the VERO. The wallpaper is courtesy of Annina, who scanned some of her VERO papers for me recently. I decided to print it at 100%, so the pattern may be larger than hers, but I think it looks nice. I have not pasted the paper yet, and thought I would try it out. The flooring is covered with neutral scrapbook paper.

I have decided for now to leave the original acetate windows, even though they are torn in places. They give this a gloomy, solitary feel. Not to say curators live this existence, but when working, they likely do!

Credits: White chair is Reac; rug is AG Minis; cowhide chaise and desk are by Paris Renfroe; desk lamp and standing double lamp are both vintage German; the sideboard is vintage German as well, bought from Oese; the glass box with wooden scene is a vintage eBay find; typewriter, tea pot, pencil and mug are Re-ment; books are handmade by Oese and AG Minis; silver pot is from the Tiny Doll House store; horse bookends are vintage Petite Princess; ball clock is handmade by Pubdoll; plant is vintage TOMY; and black/white vases are Mattel (Jonathan Adler for Barbie).

Time for Tomy

I made some time for my Tomy Sylvanian, which I have not done in a very long time. I had a mini, mini incentive: a Tomy Sylvanian replica doll house for my doll house! It's pretty adorable, and I was able to fit two 1:144 pieces in it.

I have to say that it was a bit easier working in this smaller house than in the K house. There is a straightforward simplicity to the space that makes it very manageable to do a scene! I should come back to it more often!

Credits: Downstairs - Gold drum chair is vintage Petite Princess; wall hanging unit is AG Minis; purse is handmade by Oese; vase is Bozart; shelving units and plant stand are Re-ment; kitchen table is vintage Bodo Hennig; lucite chairs are eBay finds; light is vintage Lundby; plant is Playmobil with a craft store pot; coffee table is vintage German; Upstairs - "rug" is Re-ment; chair is Reac; lamp is Bozart; table is vintage German (Modella?); sideboard is vintage Barton; Eiffel Tower is a laser cut craft from Michael's; mirror came with the house; picture on floor came with my VERO house; mini Sylvanian is a UK eBay find; custom 1:144 furniture is by SDK Miniatures. Accessories are MAR Toys, Bozart, AG Minis, Mighty World, Re-ment, Manor House Miniatures, and Lil' Bratz.

Sunday Night Blues

We joke in my house how I suffer from the "Sunday Night Blues." This means I get a bit gloomy when Sunday night rolls around, because I am sad the weekend is gone and I wonder what I accomplished. The weekend always goes; accomplishments are not as certain!

So, blue was my color today and I gravitated toward the Lundby Stockholm bathroom. I've used it as a bathroom and laundry room, but not a bedroom before. I got some new vintage German bedroom pieces and decided to put them to use here, in addition to some girlie accents. I tried two different kinds of light: incandescent (more shadows) and fluorescent. I think I prefer the latter.

This weekend I actually did accomplish some major organizing in my doll house room. We bought a lovely wood dresser from a Crate and Barrel outlet recently - it was marked down from $799 to $59 (!!), so I figured why not. The catch was one drawer was missing and there were no drawer pulls. I purchased some drawer pulls and filled the two drawers with Reac chairs and some plastic organizers.

I also got some smaller boxes that came in a pack of four...the colors were so similar to the K House, I had to get them.

I was able to re-package and sort by volume and chair all of my Reac, so they are better protected and inventoried. I also filled the organizers (mostly Re-ment) according to some logic. Now I feel I have a better handle on what I have, and it was actually easier for me to put this scene together.

I cannot believe how much stuff I have accumulated over the past year - it was just over one year ago that my husband gave me the Villa Sibi for Christmas. I think he regrets that decision every day! :)

Credits: Bed and night table are vintage German; torchiere light is Playmobil; egg table, globe, lava lamp, pink filing boxes, and pink purse are Re-ment; chair is Reac; backpack is a Japanese eraser; rug and wall organizer are AG Minis; artwork is Bozart; clock is Sanrio. Accessories are AG Minis and Mighty World.

Another Schoenhut Makes an Appearance

Art Deco love...a rare Schoenhut "Malibu" doll house from the 1930s is up for sale on eBay. Quite a lovely, simple house at a not-so-simple price of $499, not including shipping!

I love the simplicity and vintage lines, and it looks to be in very good condition. Another Malibu sold a few weeks ago for just over $400, but it was a slightly more elaborate style and in somewhat worse condition.

If you grab this gem, let us know!

Images courtesy of eBay listing

UPDATE, 1/12/10: The house sold for $499!

Stork Club

I have a fondness for storks. Of course, they symbolize a new beginning (Happy New Year!), but for me have always held some mystique, mainly because my Grandmother and great Aunt often told me stories of New York City's famed Stork Club, a fabulous, lush Art Deco haunt frequented by the elite (see Alfred Eisenstaedt's amazing images for LIFE here). Divorced sisters who both raised my mother, they once took her for an elegant evening out when she was a teenager in the 1950s. No lady could go in unaccompanied, so they were barred from entering at the door. My feisty Aunt promptly recruited a handsome stranger off the street to escort them in and they had a memorable night!

Credits: Swan (not stork!) chair by Reac; black chair is Creative Playthings; sideboard is vintage VERO; shelf and box on floor are Re-ment; black and white vases are Mattel (Barbie by Jonathan Adler); artwork is Bozart; flooring is scrapbook paper; lamp and whirlygig are AG Minis; side table is made of two vintage Petite Princess tables stacked one on top of the other; white poufs are Lundby; plant is vintage TOMY; paper storks are scrapbooking accessories from the Paper Source; tea set and New York City photo album and pictures are from the Tiny Doll House store; mirror is from Pain d'Epices. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, and Manor House Miniatures.

Clearview in the News

I came across this recent article in the London Daily Telegraph about Elaine Shaw's amazing Clearview house. I had not known that she literally tore up a Victorian house to create the Clearview - a lovely metaphor for all of us modern mini lovers!! You can read more about Elaine's creations on the MIAIM website, but it looks like it is currently under construction. Here are some photos that accompanied the article:

To get more of a Clearview fix, check out Linda Gavin's blog -- her photography of the house is stunning, as is her custom Elf Miniatures furniture, based on classic mid century pieces.

By the way, in the article Paris Renfroe is mentioned as one of Elaine Shaw's primary sources for furniture -- I am sure you will be able to spot some of his pieces in the pictures! I emailed with Paris recently, and he let me know he is busier than ever (good for us!). He is focusing on his 1:12 creations, partly as a result of the recession and the decreased need for his full-scale design work, and partly as a result of their incredible popularity, including his amazing Pods. He actually has been doing a lot of custom Pod work (sometimes up to five per customer!), and looks forward to continuing this work after he moves to Las Vegas from the Midwest. See more of what Paris has for sale here. I myself hope to do some custom pieces with Paris for my VERO (as a 40th birthday gift, perhaps?!).

Photos courtesy of the Daily Telegraph website

Roof in Winter

I know, not a typical holiday scene, but I was cleaning up in my doll house room and looked longingly at my very messy Lundby Stockholm and noted that the only uncluttered room was the roof!!

I have to say the concrete walls give an urban vibe, rather than beachy, but it is still a dream scene for some sun and fun. Happy holidays, all!

Credits: Folding chairs are Manor House Miniatures; cafe table and umbrella are Mighty World; flower sculpture on railing is AG Minis; sideboard is vintage Jean of West Germany; plant is an aquarium plant; pot is from a craft store; lounge chair is an eBay find; side table, koi tank, "candle" on cafe table, elephant, and pig are Re-ment; vase is a bead from Pubdoll; "rug" is a coaster. Accessories are Re-ment, eBay, vintage TOMY, Manor House Miniatures, AG Minis, and from France.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The koi tank is from Dogs Enjoy Life, #8 "New Year's Dogs," and is good in 1:12. The Pellegrino-type bottle is from Black Cat Italian Restaurant, #1, and is a bit large for 1:12. The pink panda keepsake box on the sideboard shelf is from Girl's Treasures, #9, and is good for 1:12.

A Different Kind of Tree

Each year, we buy a 12-15" potted herb like rosemary and have that as our holiday "tree," like this year. My youngest usually makes paper or pine cone decorations in his preschool, so those go on the tree, as do ribbons and other odds and ends.

I created this feather tree to illustrate another way people might celebrate and gather 'round in the holidays. The feather and its fixings came on a gift my husband received and I grabbed them, believing I might put them to some use. A craft store-bought pot holds the tree -- I used a silver marker to color it for a more festive look. My children's Legos came in handy for the presents under the tree. Which reminds me...I have some wrapping to do!

The cats have their little corner den to themselves -- their present is being able to frolic without supervision. I wonder if the cake is in jeopardy!

Credits: Couch and table are vintage VERO; trumpet and black cat stool are Nodameggaki; wallpaper is scrapbook paper; green floor trim is vintage Marx; marble head is my husband's; table with cake is vintage Puppenstuben; wall art is a postcard from France; hanging lights are from the Dolls House Emporium; clear chairs are Bozart; orange chair is vintage Bodo Hennig; rug, pillow, cat art, and lamp are AG Minis; side table is vintage Fisher Price; plant is from Lolly's; cat tower and cats are Playmobil City; orange stacking cubes, espresso maker and cups are Re-ment; cake is a Japanese eraser. Accessories are Re-ment, eBay finds, and from my children's collection!

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with one exception. The book on the side table is from Primary School Stationery, #9, and is good as a coffee table book in 1:12.

Sail Away

I am getting accustomed to my new doll house room, and am acclimating to the lighting. So, this scene was more of an experimentation than anything. The ship in the background is a framed piece that I love, so I just propped it up. I realize it looks a bit odd, but haven't quite figured out screening the background. I think I might have a photographer friend take some nature shots and I can place those in scenes. Pubdoll did this with some recent scenes, and they looked great.

The Puppenstuben credenza came this week from eBay, and will soon join some matching pieces that Oese had for sale! Yipee! I always love how people can create interesting tableaux on side pieces like this, with artwork or other items. I don't do this in my real life, of course, but tried to simulate in mini. :)

Credits: "Rug" under credenza is scrapbook paper; Side chairs are vintage Bodo Hennig; credenza is vintage Puppenstuben; wall unit and table are vintage Modella; red chairs and Eames lounger are Reac; white couch and artwork on credenza is Bozart; magazine holder is Re-ment; cow throw and some of the books are handmade by Oese; light on wall unit is vintage German; rug is The House That Jacq Built; ship is from DRAP in Spain; ball clock is handmade by Pubdoll; lamp is vintage VERO; guitar is Nodameggakki. Accessories are Bozart, Playmobil, Re-ment, AG Minis, MAR Toys, and our local craft store.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The apple and tray on the table are from Megahouse Pop 'N Kitchen, # 9 and are good for 1:12. The candelabra is from Princess Tea Party, # 2 "The Princess' Late Night Tea," and is good for 1:12.

More Clues on the VERO

Little by little, I am gathering more clues and information on my VERO house. I saw a house on German eBay this week that looked very similar to my house, and communicated with the seller about it, who dates it to the 1970s. She also sent some additional pictures, which are unfortunately very small.

She wrote: The house looks really like mine ;) wow. It could be clue on the door, what I remember was a plastic glass on it. And after a long time ago we made new wallpaper on the walls, and I drew a pic of a house on the side of the house, but with new color and wallpaper you can renovate the house. I had a lot of fun when I was a child with this house, I just played with it on Christmas time. It's about 1 meters long I think. It was big to me. I´ve really no idea if it´s from "Vero." It looks almost like this from "Moritz Gottschalk." Upstairs I had the kitchen and the living room, and downstairs I had the bathroom and sleeping room.

It's interesting to hear about the door, so it seems very plausible that some plastic was used in the opening to simulate glass. The second floor of my house has a wall of windows, whereas this one does not, and in this way, her house does strongly resemble the Gottschalk house on the Puppenhausmuseum website. The door is very similar, as is the layout, but given the wallpapers and flooring were changed, it is difficult to tell what might be the same.

I felt a bit encouraged by this, but was even more happy to receive a very big clue from Annina, who pointed out this house on eBay now. Wow.

THIS looks like my house! The seller did not have too much to say on it, only that her father bought it for the family in the 70s or earlier, and they have been the only owners. It is apparent to me that the bathroom paper and flooring is not original, nor is the chimney in the same paper. In the listing, the seller states that her father set up an additional room on the roof with lighting, so perhaps that is why this appears here. The other wallpapers, however, offer some interesting clues. I do see some resemblance to my papers, although the flooring looks different.

It is great to see the corner of windows, although my window panes have a different design. And there is a lovely window box under the first floor window, confirming my hunch! The shutters and window frame look identical to mine, and I can see the type of windowpane used. Also, it does look like a terrace with a window is what used to be on the top floor, also verifying my hunch!! This may mean that I try to replicate this simple terrace design.

I was interested to see the pink flowered window drapes in this house, which resemble my blue ones. I did not think mine were original to the house, but perhaps they are! Seeing this door was revealing to me as well, since it looks like an exact match to mine, and there was a panel of glass on the inside -- that is clear in this picture.

Images are from eBay listing.

All in all, it is nice to see such a similar house, although it would be nice to have some verification on the maker and the year. Perhaps my house is from the 1970s, not 60s, and I do wonder about the variations on this particular style of house. This detective hunting has sparked my interest in other vintage German houses, especially the ones I am seeing on eBay. I have been compiling images and information and may put them in a future post.

UPDATE, 12/23/09: The "twin" to my VERO sold for a little over 11 Euros, a lot less than I paid for mine, but it was local pickup only. The other house sold for 30 Euros.

VERO Door and More

After some more vacuuming in and around the VERO house, I came to the front door. It was obviously covered with the same faux wood grain paper as the top rooms, and badly applied at that. Pulling off the sticky paper, I saw the real door emerge...

There is an opening in the middle that was likely covered in acetate or similar material to simulate glass. I assume the door is original -- it resembles the one on the Gottschalk house that I referenced when I originally bought my house.

For the most part, the door is in good condition, but there are stubborn spots of sticky glue on the front and back -- perhaps something decorative used to be applied there? I am not sure how I am going to get it off. I love the door handle, very typical of these houses.

I repaired the window frame to the left of the front door and placed it back. At some point, I may put acetate in there and perhaps put a window box underneath it. It looks like one used to be there.

It also appears as if a terrace or larger window frame was on the top -- not sure if I would do anything on that, not knowing what was really there.

In other news on my house, Annina kindly sent me some high resolution scans of her VERO house wallpapers. Now I need to find the right paper on which to print them. Her papers are lovely:

I may try to scan a good swath of my wallpaper, below. It somewhat resembles the paper in the top left room of this Gottschalk house, although I cannot tell for sure:

Speaking of paper, I quickly played around with some new scrapbook paper and created a corner nursery in the upstairs room. I bought some materials from Blick Art Supplies and set to work with my cutting knife to trim to the right sizes.

I also was able to purchase sheets of an acetate alternative for potential repair of the wall of windows -- that is for another day!!

Gottschalk house photos courtesy of Puppenhausmuseum website.

Credits: Crib is vintage Bodo Hennig; rocking horse and wardrobe are vintage German; rug and whirlygig in corner are AG Minis; table is vintage Lundby; chair is Reac; fabric in back is by Marimekko; accessories are Re-ment, Marx, Lolly's, Nodameggakki, and MAR Toys.