The Mouse House in The Sewing Room

Hello everyone, 

How are you? I hope you had a great weekend. I have been quite busy over the past couple of weeks since returning from the beautiful Netherlands. Once I was back home, I went straight into gear and finally completed a small project that I have been wanting to create for years.

At last, I can say that The Mouse House in the Sewing Room is complete.

A few years ago, through a dear friend from The Netherlands, I acquired a cover from an old Singer sewing machine that had been cleverly turned into a room box. 

I have owned my great-aunty Mary’s Singer sewing machine for many years now, something I cherish with all my heart, and the cover fitted perfectly on top of it. Today, it stands proudly in a small corner of my home.

Originally, the room box had been decorated as a bedroom, but from the very beginning I knew I had other plans for it.

Over the years, through my visits to The Netherlands for various dolls’ house and miniature fairs and shows, I have met many wonderful artists and made dear friends through this beautiful hobby and art. One of them is Mr. Han J. Goergen, together with Janet, his partner in trade. 

One of the very first pieces I purchased from them was the old wheelchair used by the physician in The Apothecary. 

From that moment on, whenever I visited, I would always come home with a special miniature piece—handcrafted by Han and lovingly finished by Janet.

Without even realising it at the time, I had been carefully keeping these pieces safe, always thinking they were meant for a special project, without knowing that they were all destined to come together in the very same one.

Along the way, I had also purchased two adorable mice made by Mirelle Both. They were originally intended for a completely different project, yet somehow they fitted far better here.

 I gently removed the original flooring and wallpaper from the room box and covered the interior with beautiful scrapbook papers, transforming it into a more brocante, shabby-chic style. I immediately fell in love with how it turned out.

Slowly, piece by piece, I began adding the miniatures made by Han, and everything seemed to fall into place as if it had always belonged there. I also added a few old thread spools that once belonged to my beloved Aunty Mary, making the space even more personal and meaningful.

As the story grew, two more mice joined the scene. The baby mouse was made by my dear friend and colleague, and Poppy was created by the talented artist Kamilla Szots. With that, the family was complete, and thus the Nibbleton family was born.

The pieces made by Han include the beautiful buffet cabinet, which holds The Mouse House mantel clock that I designed especially for this project.

The charming toy aeroplane the family uses for their adventures. 

The book stand holding The Mouse House in the Sewing Room, a tiny storybook written and made by me.

The little buggy that Poppy loves to play with.

The two beautiful armchairs placed right at the heart of the room.

My absolute favourite piece is the old rocking horse, beautifully carved and handmade. 

There is also the high desk where Mr. Nibbleton works.

The hanging cabinet holding a small glass jar of cinnamon; one of my favourite scents.

Finally, the pram that cradles the baby mouse.

The only piece not made by Han is the sewing machine used by Mrs. Nibbleton. 

The room is also adorned with two wax paintings by Hazel from Art in Wax, a beautiful tiny teddy by Dutch artist Betty Horsten van Leeuwen, and delicate felted toys made by Margate.

Now the project is truly complete, and I couldn’t be happier with how it has turned out. In many ways, this little Mouse House feels like a tribute, not only to Han’s wonderful craftsmanship but also to our friendship over the years. I am sure that both Han and Janet would be very pleased to see it finished.

Here are a few photos capturing the beauty of The Mouse House in the Sewing Room.

That’s all for today. Make sure to keep tuned for the next new project and the latest news.

Take care and see you soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

The International Dolls House & Miniatures Fair in Houten Jan 2026

 Hello everyone, 

How are you? I hope you are all well. I still can’t quite believe that a whole week has already passed since the International Dolls House & Miniatures Fair in Houten, Utrecht. After months of preparation, planning, creating, and dreaming, the fair came and went in what felt like the blink of an eye and I can honestly say it was worth every single moment. It has been one of the best fairs I have ever taken part in, and I loved every bit of it.

I arrived in The Netherlands on Friday, welcomed by lovely weather; bright and crisp, though a little colder than I’m used to. My first stop was in Gouda, where I visited The Cabinet dolls’ house shop. It had been quite some time since my last visit, so it felt especially nice to walk through the door again, see familiar faces, and enjoy that special miniature atmosphere that always feels like coming home.

Saturday was dedicated to setting up at Expo Houten. The venue is enormous, and with the Teddy and Doll Fair taking place alongside the dolls’ house fair, everything felt even more exciting and full of life. As always, the stand slowly came together piece by piece, and seeing months of work finally taking shape was incredibly rewarding.

During the fair, I introduced several new collections that I had been working on so carefully over the past months. It was a joy to finally share them in person and to see visitors stopping, looking closely, and drawing inspiration for their own miniature rooms. Displays have a wonderful way of speaking for themselves, and I loved watching people notice the details, ask questions, and imagine how these pieces could fit into their own miniature worlds.

One of the things I treasure most about fairs like Houten is meeting fellow artists and catching up with old friends. There is something very special about these moments; sharing stories, laughing, talking about miniatures, and simply enjoying being together again. It always feels like a little reunion, and those conversations are just as precious to me as the fair itself.

Here is a short video of the stand.

Although time passed far too quickly and I didn’t get the chance to buy many miniatures this time, I did come home with a few very special pieces. I was delighted to add a beautiful armchair by Mr. Han J. Goergen to my collection. This one joins the armchair I purchased in Arnhem last October, and both are now destined for the Mouse House, where they fit perfectly together.

I also completely fell in love with a stunning 35 cm teddy bear made by the incredibly talented Ellen van Bakel of Ellence Bears. I spotted her while setting up my stand, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The next day, I knew I had to go back before anyone else did. She came home with me and has been named Wilhelmina, or Mina for short.

And of course, there was one more little companion who simply had to join us. A sweet puppy made by Basic Bears. He is now Posy’s pup, and his name is Pip. He fits right in and has already found his place.

Looking back, the fair was everything I hoped for and more; busy, inspiring, emotional, and full of wonderful moments. I am so grateful to everyone who visited my stand, supported my work, shared kind words, and made this event so memorable.

Now it’s time to unpack, reflect, and slowly begin the next chapter, with new ideas already forming. Thank you all for being part of this journey with me.

Make sure to keep tuned for the next updates and latest news.

Take care and see you soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx