Inspecting The Chantry Manor and a Hidden Discovery

 Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to the workshop for another exciting update on our newest arrival! Since introducing The Chantry Manor to you all, I have spent a lot of time carefully inspecting every single corner of this beautiful vintage build.

 

My main goal right now is to plan out the restoration process. I want to be very clear that my intention is purely to restore the dollhouse, not to renovate or change its original character. I would love to keep it exactly as it is to honour the original builder. It definitely needs a very good clean up, and I spotted a few errant paint marks on the roof that will need some gentle attention, but overall the bones of the house are absolutely fantastic.

 

Another testament to the incredible craftsmanship is the windows. I was absolutely thrilled to discover that all the window panes are made of real glass! It is such a beautiful and delicate feature to find perfectly intact on an older piece, and it adds a wonderful sense of realism to the exterior.

 When I first started examining the outside, I immediately noticed that both of the chimney stalks appeared to be completely missing. I made a mental note that I would probably have to build replicas. However, as I moved my inspection to the interior, I noticed something incredibly interesting. 

Every single room had tiny ceiling bulbs, indicating that the house was fully wired for electricity. Naturally, I started trying to track the source of the wiring to see if the system was still viable.

 My search led me to the top of the house, where, to my absolute delight, I discovered a hidden compartment built right into the roof. 

Inside this secret space, there was a designated area where batteries can be fixed, complete with a switch to turn the lights on. But that was not even the best part. 

To my absolute biggest surprise, tucked away safely inside that hidden roof compartment were both of the missing chimney stalks! I was so incredibly happy to find them there.

 It means I have the original exterior pieces and I will not have to worry about replacing or colour matching new wood.

Moving back down to the rooms, I took a closer look at the décor. I am thrilled to report that the original wallpaper and flooring are all in remarkably good shape. While the retro patterns and shades are certainly not my usual colouring, I am determined to embrace them and make them work perfectly for my vision. The layout itself is what truly captures my heart. I am completely in love with the top floor design. 

The staircase cleverly hides behind the central room, and you can see a beautiful line of sight looking straight through the doorways.

Down in the main hallway, there is a lovely mirror fixed to the back wall which adds so much depth to the space. I did notice one tiny flaw, as a small piece of the stair railing has been knocked off, but that will be a very simple fix during the cleaning process. 

The more time I spend with The Chantry Manor, the more I truly love it. It is full of surprises and character, and I cannot wait to start the delicate process of bringing it back to life!

Here is a short video of part 2 of The Chantry.

So this is all for today. Make sure to keep tuned for next update and latest news.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

Introducing The Chantry Manor

Hello Everyone,

How are you all? I hope you are doing well. Welcome back to the workshop for a very special update! Today I have the absolute pleasure of introducing a brand new project to My Miniature World. 

Recently, this beautiful vintage dollhouse was passed down to me from The Catechism Centre right here in Marsaskala. The house was most likely given to them as a donation at some point, and unfortunately, they simply no longer had the room to keep it.

When they realized it needed a new home, they contacted me directly. They expressed a strong desire for the house to remain within the Marsaskala community, and knowing that I operate the only dollhouse museum in Malta, they felt they could not imagine it going to a better place. I am incredibly honoured to welcome it into the collection, especially since I do not actually have any old dollhouses in the museum! This makes it a completely unique and exciting addition to our displays.

Finding the right name for such a special piece is an important first step. I decided to name this wonderful house The Chantry Manor. The word chantry refers to a building, chapel, or endowment dedicated to religious and community purposes. Choosing this name is my way of honouring the fact that it came to me from The Catechism Centre.

I have to say, I am completely blown away by the craftsmanship. Whoever built this knew exactly how to construct a sturdy, beautiful dollhouse.

Looking at the exterior, the manor is a beautiful solid wood construction featuring a natural wood grain finish, a wide pitched roof, and a wonderfully symmetrical façade with multiple paned windows. The architecture has a very distinct British influence. This does not surprise me at all, considering Malta spent over a century as a British colony. Especially around the time of World War II, we had a large number of Royal Navy officers and British families living on the island, and those architectural tastes clearly is visible in this dollshouse.

The front panels of the house swing open like grand doors to reveal a fantastic interior layout. The centre of the home features a beautiful main hallway complete with a wooden staircase leading up to the second floor. Surrounding this central hall are five spacious rooms, some of which still feature vintage floral wallpaper.

Having a hallway and five full rooms gives me an incredible canvas to work with. I am already brainstorming how to restore these spaces while respecting the vintage charm of the original build. I absolutely cannot wait to share more of this restoration journey with you all as I bring The Chantry Manor back to its full glory!

Here is a short video too

This is all for today. I hope you'll like it and follow the journey with me. Make sure to keep tuned for the next update and latest news. 

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

The Disney Dolls House Exterior is Complete

Hello Everyone.

Welcome back to the workshop for a very special update! After a few years of incredible patience and careful crafting, I am absolutely thrilled to finally share the completed exterior of my Disney Dolls House. Building this miniature masterpiece has been a true test of endurance, but seeing it fully assembled makes every single moment worth it.

Because this build was a part work collection, I had to wait patiently for all the individual magazine issues to arrive before I could truly make significant progress. On top of the waiting game, this particular dolls house has a permanent home in my summer quarters. That meant I only allowed myself to work on it during the summer months. It became a beautiful seasonal tradition, adding piece by piece while enjoying the warm Maltese summer weather, but it certainly stretched the timeline!

Now that the exterior is fully complete, the results are simply enchanting. The architecture captures that quintessential whimsical Disney charm perfectly. The vibrant yellow siding provides a cheerfully bright base, which is perfectly offset by the striking teal and blue trim surrounding the large, elegant windows.

A sweeping view of the completed exterior featuring the incredible turret and the delicate white roof cresting.

One of my absolute favourite features has to be the roof. The intricate, scalloped tiles in varying shades of pink and red give the house a truly magical storybook quality. Capping off the left side is a stunning, towering turret that draws the eye upward to the delicate white metal cresting running along the main roofline.

The ground floor features a welcoming front porch with beautifully detailed white railings and steps, leading up to a charming double front door inset with pink panels. The entire structure sits on a beautifully patterned cobblestone style base, anchoring the vibrant colours of the house.

A closer look at the beautiful porch details and the bay windows that bring so much character to the ground floor.

Taking a step back and looking at the finished exterior, I am so incredibly proud of the dedication it took to see this through. It stands as a proud new addition to My Miniature World. 

I can't wait to share with you the interior of the house. So this is all for today. Make sure to stay tuned for the latest news and updates.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

A Grand Finale for The Bon Bon Emporium

 Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to the workshop for a very exciting and emotional update! Today is an incredibly special day, as it marks a double celebration. Not only are we wrapping up the final stage of The Bon Bon Emporium, but today we are also officially celebrating the 8th Anniversary since the opening of the My Miniature World museum here in Marsaskala!

Reflecting on eight beautiful years of sharing this tiny universe with all of you makes this particular project reveal even sweeter. After weeks of meticulous planning, crafting, and decorating, the market cart is finally complete. We have spent a lot of time recently looking at the interior decor and meeting Mr Ambrose Fetherstone, but today is all about stepping back and admiring the spectacular exterior.

The completed exterior of The Bon Bon Emporium! The vintage signage and rich colors bring the whole cart to life.

The outside of the cart is just as intricate and visually striking as the inside. I wanted the exterior structure to truly capture the magic and charm of a bustling Edwardian street vendor. The rich colours, the delicate painted trim, and the elegant vintage signage all work together to draw the eye and invite tiny customers to step right up and buy a sweet treat. Every single architectural detail was designed to complement the heavily stocked shelves inside, creating a perfectly balanced visual experience from every angle.

To properly complete this project I decided to do something extra special for the final reveal. I set up a temporary, sprawling display that brings the cart straight into the heart of a bustling historical city. I placed The Bon Bon Emporium right in Regent Street at the Market Hall, providing the ultimate dramatic backdrop for the finished piece.

Setting up this temporary display was an absolute joy. To bring the Regent Street scene completely to life, I brought out a few of my beautiful miniature dolls and positioned them around the cart alongside some of my classic miniature houses. Seeing the sweet cart sitting among the elegant architecture and the sharply dressed Edwardian figures truly transported the whole piece into another era. It felt like walking right onto a cobblestone street during a busy shopping day over a century ago, with the smell of spun sugar lingering in the air.

The temporary Regent Street Market Hall display, featuring my beautiful dolls visiting Mr. Ambrose Fetherstone for some sweets.

This officially marks a wrap on another finished project here at My Miniature World. From designing the initial structural pieces to sculpting the very last polymer clay toffee apple, building this sweet cart has been a completely rewarding journey. Thank you all for your wonderful support over the last eight years. Here is a small clip capturing a few moments during the launch of the museum.

I hope you enjoy all the final photos of the exterior and the Regent Street display throughout this post! Ant that's a wrap. Stay tuned for the next updates and latest news. 

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

The Art of Miniature Display: Decorating the Interior of The Bon Bon Emporium

 Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to the workshop! I am absolutely thrilled to announce that the interior design of The Bon Bon Emporium is officially complete. After weeks of meticulously sculpting, planning, and arranging, the inside of this Edwardian market cart has been completely transformed into a visually stunning confectionary wonderland.

The true magic of any miniature build always lies in the interior styling. Decorating a space this small requires a delicate balance of colour, texture, and historical accuracy to ensure the eye flows naturally across the scene. The visual centrepiece of the cart is now a sprawling, beautifully arranged display of glass jars. Every single jar is brimming with hand sculpted polymer clay sweets, but what truly grounds the décor is the addition of tiny, authentic vintage labels on every piece of glass. The visual impact of those repeating labels against the vibrant, jewel toned candies creates that classic, bustling apothecary style aesthetic that is so iconic to the Edwardian period.

To build height and visual interest across the counters, I focused heavily on the display pieces. The delicious tray of toffee apples sitting alongside a fresh batch of intricately frosted cupcakes and miniature cakes. The soft pastel colours of the baked goods perfectly offset the  vintage silhouette of the fairy floss machine.

A beautifully decorated room must also feel functional. I spent time detailing the practical corner of the cart, adding a custom crafted faucet to the sink to anchor the layout in reality. It is these structural décor choices that make a miniature feel like a genuine, lived in space rather than just a static display case.

My absolute favourite styling choice inside the emporium is a carefully curated vignette resting right on the main counter. I placed a set of vintage weighing scales perfectly balanced with a scoop of colourful sweets, ready to be wrapped for a customer. It acts as a beautiful focal point that draws the eye directly to the action and purpose of the shop.

The beautiful three tier plate is now artfully arranged with textured sugar coated doughnuts gleaming right next to the embossed brass of the ice cream box and wafer cone stand.

To complete the atmospheric styling, this beautifully decorated establishment needed the perfect proprietor. I am delighted to introduce Mr. Ambrose Featherstone.

He is the ultimate finishing touch, anchoring the space and tying the entire visual narrative together. I will be taking a few more photos of the exterior set up. 

I hope you like what I have done with the interior. This is all for today make sure to keep tuned to the last posting of The Bon Bon Emporium and latest news.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx