My Dream Doll House........by Carolyn H

I have been asked to write a new blog on an article that was featured in the Autumn/Winter Quimper Club Journal on miniature Quimper.
Some of you will remember it but for those of you who missed it, I hope you find it informative and entertaining.
This all started two Decembers ago, when my dear husband bought me a doll house for our anniversary. He had spotted it in a Hospice Thrift Shop in High Springs, FL and surprised me with it!
My dream of someday, owning a doll house had finally come true! Granted, it took a while----some sixty odd years----But dreams DO come true!! And there it was; my childhood rediscovered.

This was no ordinary doll house. It was a marvellous creation consisting of seven rooms in Victorian style.
The scale of the house is 1:12, or 1 inch is equal to 1 foot.
It had just enough furniture and accessories to perk my artistic imagination and personal taste. Over the last year and a half many changes have taken place. To date no room has gone untouched.
I've painted miniature scenes that now hang in the living room and library, made and painted furniture, etc. All the fun stuff!

My greatest joy has come from redecorating the kitchen. I gave the house "indoor plumbing" by adding a pitcher pump that I made from Fimo clay to the existing dry sink. I filled glass canning jars with clay fruit and vegetables that now sit on a newly made shelf overhanging a new prep table.

A drying rack that I made with the wood from a tongue depressor and cotton bud sticks now hangs over the fireplace from which handmade herbs, onion and garlic braids are also hung. My latest creation was to add a real flickering "fire" to the fireplace.

The existing cupboard looked dismal with it's out of scale accessories.
Something had to be done! Why not Quimper? That had to be the right direction to go with since my "other house" was already filled with my overflowing collection of Quimper.

I decided on the happy color of "Soleil" decor. I located some white mini dishes and a soup tureen at a miniatures shop in Orlando. The fish platter, I made, using a two part epoxy putty that I also use for ceramics' restoration. I spray painted them yellow with lacquer acrylics; then, using a 20/0 brush, I painted on the design with water-based acrylics. A clear coat followed to protect and simulate the shine of fired glaze.
With a few other additions, my cupboard is now complete.
My doll house is a work in progress! Many pieces have been added and moved around since it was first received and It brings me a great deal of pleasure to watch it's metamorphosis! I can highly recommend it as therapy-----At any age!

I will be glad to answer any questions you might have on trying your hand at painting your own Quimper "mini" dishes, or on any other subject that you might be interested in.
Leave a comment by clicking below, or I may be reached through this blog by emailing quimperpix@gmail.com.