Saturday 26 March 2016

Celebrating 20 Years of Dolls Houses!

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. My kids are all off to bed waiting for Easter Bunny to leave his goodies. I just wanted to pop in to wish you all my friends and fans a Happy Easter with something a bit different from the usual. 

Time does fly big time and I still can't believe that it has been 20 years since I started my very 1st Collectors Dolls House called The Chestnuts. I can still remember it like it was yesterday, starting my first few miniatures and furniture. Deep down it will be my favorite and I will never part from it. Even if I was a beginner and today I can see faults in it which I've learnt not to do in the long years, I wouldn't change any of it for the world.  There are so many sweet memories in the makings. Chestnuts took me 6 years to finish and complete. I had started it at the age of 16 turning 17 years and I was still under my loving parents roof. When I got married and moved to my new home it was the first thing to join me besides my cat. Since then a lot has happened. One by one I started off my dolls house collection and so far I have built over 20 dolls house projects and there is still so much more to do. 

Eventually all my dolls houses will be moved to a more appropriate place where they will be displayed for the public to see. Hopefully, if things work as according to plan, it will be all set up by the end of this year.  The one dolls house that will remain in my home is The Chestnuts. 

Here is a small video of my first Dolls House The Chestnuts


Thinking about it, Chestnuts is not actually my first dolls house and I am surprised at myself that I actually never shared any pictures of my very first dolls house that I had as a child. I might have mentioned it somewhere but I think that was pretty much it. 

My very first dolls house was given to me on Christmas Day in 1983 by Santa (or what I believed at that time) when I was only 4 years old.

My 1st Dolls House and I on Christmas Day 1983
I fell in love with it immediately and I guess I remember that day so well. It was the Little People's Cottage by Fisherprice. A 4 room doll house with a car garage too. I am very proud to say that this toy I still have and it is in a very good condition with all it's furniture and people. 

Here are some pictures of how it is today. It still has it's original wall papers. It might not be much but after all these years I think I should give it all my thanks to it. It gave me so much fun, joy and wonderful memories of my playtime. I guess it started the spark to love my hobby as much as I do now.

The Little People's Cottage by Fisherprice

Inside the cottage

The main bedroom with bathroom

The Kitchen

The Children's bed room

The Sitting room

The garage

Play time
The best thing ever is that this dolls house got it's second chance to be played with. My three children got to play with it. Obviously they play with it under my observation but as they are good kids and never break their toys, they are quite free to enjoy it.  Sometimes I end up joining in the fun and help them to put away the furniture in their right place or at least were I used to put them as a child. 

I have to admit my little Leah loves dolls house much more than her siblings. She is always playing with it and asking me to join her in playtime. 

My Leah playing with my dolls house.
Watching her play, reminds me so much of myself and deep down I know that eventually she will enjoy the hobby.

Last Christmas both my girls asked for dolls houses and so they got one each from the Sylvanian Families which they share together. Every now and then on a special occasion I get them something new and so they are filling up nicely.

Sylvanian Families dolls houses
Maybe eventually I will create a section on my blog for Children's dolls houses.

Before I close this post I wanted to let you know that we will be having a free give away for Easter.

This time I will be giving away this lovely  miniature ceramic platter dish.

Easter Give Away
All you have to do to participate is to be a follower of our blog and leave a comment below on this post. 

Closing date will be 9th April 2016 and winner will be announced on our blog shortly afterwards.

Greeting from the Fairy's Nook
I wish you all my dear friends and fans a very Happy and Blessed Easter.

Keep tuned for more updates on our Vintage project the Tudor Manor.

Take care and see you real soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx











58 comments:

  1. I love that Little People cottage - I had it too when I was little but I don't have it anymore. You're very lucky. :) Thanks for hosting this giveaway. I hope I win, April 9th is my birthday.

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    1. Thank you so much Sarah. You can count yourself in the draw xxx

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  2. Your Chestnuts Dollhouse is so fascinating. I had never seen it. I enjoyed the video very much. I think it's wonderful that your children got to play with your childhood dollhouse. We certainly don't see that very often. Thank you for sharing all that!

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    1. Thank you so much Lucille. I am really pleased that you liked it. xxx

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  3. Elsie Mentz

    I can only stand in awe Looking at all you have made/bought and bring it all together. As I watched the video, I wish I could see it and touch it. The house is just incredible. Wish That I started this hobby long ago then I might also have such a beautiful house, but I am working on it and maybe, maybe I would also Have a house filled with treasures.

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    1. Thank you so much Elsie. Don't give up I am sure your dolls house will look gorgeous xxx

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  4. feliz pascua, me apunto a la celebración y subo enlace a mi blog

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    1. Esperamos que hayan tenido un gran Pascua . Gracias tanto xxx

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  5. Enjoyed the video & love to check in to see what you are doing on your Blog x

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  6. Happy Easter!! So many wonderful memories and what a beautiful first dolls house. Thank you for sharing xxx

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    1. Thank you so much Alexandra hope you had a wonderful Easter. xxx

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  7. I really love The Chestnuts - love how you have the dolls just going around their lives. Here's to the next twenty years in the hobby :)

    Sue Beard

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  8. Happy Easter. I look forward to when you display them I will be one of the first in the queue.

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    1. Thank you so much Sonja. You can rest assured that you will be among the first to know about them. xxx

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  9. Love the video. Love your story about you and your daughters dolls house. Brings back memories of the tin one I received in 1960, that me and my granddaughter now share. Happy Easter to you and yours .

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    1. Thank you so much Sandra hope you had a wonderful Easter. xxxx

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  10. Congratulations! The first dollhouse is a good memory.
    Please, count me in your giveaway.

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    1. Thank you so much Faby. Rest assured that you are in xxxx

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  11. The little people cottage was my first dollhouse. I loved it and still do.

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  12. My two granddaughters and I have purchased a cabinet to make our first doll house in. We can't wait to decorate it! Lots of work ahead of us but we will get it done. We all enjoyed seeing your houses and furnishings and they are dreaming of making ours to look similar as some of your rooms. You've done a splendid job!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. I am sure that you will enjoy every moment xxx

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  13. Happy Easter! I love to see little ones creating memories around their dollhouses also. <3

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    1. Thank you Carol for your kind words. Hope you had a wonderful Easter.xxx

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  14. Happy Easter! The platter you made is gorgeous! Count me IN for a chance to WIN! Now to go check out you ETSY page!! Thanks!

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    1. Thank you so much Cheryl for your kind words. Hope you had a lovely Easter xxx

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  15. Carmel Coupland27 March 2016 at 17:09

    Love the Chestnuts. I'm on my first doll's house and seem to be taking years to gather all the nic-nacks. Would absolutely adore the platter. please add me as a chance. Carmel C

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    1. Hi Carmel don't give up. That is the fun of dolls housing collecting nice minis for it. Count yourself in for the platter. xxx

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  16. Wonderful blog, dollhouses and platter.

    Happy Easter to you and your family.

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    1. Thank you so much for your wonderful comments. Hope you had a great Easter xxx

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  17. Congratulations on your 20th anniversary since you started your hobby and wishing you more wonderful years. I have enjoyed watching the code of your 1st Dolls House. If only mine would look half as good. Your girls must definitely love your Dolls House. Love your Miniature plate. Can I join in? Xxx

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    1. Hi Denise thank you so much for your kind words and wishes. Don't give up on your dolls house. It will look lovely whatever you do. You can definitely join in. xxx

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  18. This brought back memories: my first dollhouse was a TOMY when I was five. Santa brought me mine too. 14 years later Santa brought my sister a Fisherprice dollhouse. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

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  19. I love your blog! Really glad it showed up on my FB page.

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    1. Thank you so much Virginia. FB has made quite a difference. xxx

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  20. Hi I have a Fisher Price house with a yellow roof among my toy collection. I am a child minder and the little house has been very popular with all my minded children both boys and girls

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    1. I totally agree with you Gwenllian. These dolls houses are so beneficial for children both boys and girls. I find the children express themselves through play and they learn so much. They grow up so responsible even in their every day life. x

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  21. About twenty years ago we purchased a fully furnished Fisher Price dollhouse
    for our first born grand daughter. It's vintage now but still in good shape.
    You can learn how a family lived at that time. So it becomes a piece of history.
    Thanks for sharing these lovely photos and thanks for hosting this wonderful giveaway. Please count me in.

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    1. Thank you so much Drora. Yes I totally agree with you. Thank you so much for participating for the free give away.xxx

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  22. When I was a child, I got my mother's dollhouse. It was beautiful. But unfortunately it was thrown away. :( So now I have to build one. :)
    Please count me in. Your link is on my blog. Hugs

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    1. Don't give up Melli and enjoy your dolls house. Thank you so much for the link and participating in the draw. xxx

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  23. Hola agradezo el deseo de compartir tan bello platon. en cuanto a las historias enlazadas con casitas y la familia, como vivo en frontera con USA es lo normal comprar Fisher Price o kits de muebles para Barbie. y tambien en la familia tenemos historias como haberles construido un departamento a tamaño barbie pero en carton con muebles incluidos jejeej uff pobrecitos de mis dedos

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    1. Que son muy bienvenidos y gracias por participar. Soy un canadiense nacido y mis primeros años fui criado en Canadá, así que supongo que no es una sorpresa que me dieron un precio de Fisher casa de muñecas. También he querido Barbie y tienen un montón de muebles y piezas.

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  24. Please count me in for your lovely Easter giveaway.
    Thanks and a hug,
    Drora

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  25. I would Love to win that platter :)

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  26. Have just looked around the site and the blogs, very interesting

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    1. Thank you so much maggie. I really appreciate it

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  27. I have seen quite a few of those Fisher Price dollhouses at garage sales. They are an all American classic toy for children many years ago. Now they are collectors items. I would love to win that platter, it is gorgeous! Love your Fairys, they look so adorable & happy. I hope I'm not to late for the drawing.

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    1. Hi Kimberly thank you so much for your kind words and thank you for participating in the draw.

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  28. I love this miniature ceramic platter dish! It sure will be handy in my Amstersam canalhouse.
    Kick's Miniaturen

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    1. Thank you for participating for the free give away.

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