Sunday 5 December 2010

In the Doll's House

One Christmas, a long time ago when my daughters were small, Father Christmas brought them a doll's house. They loved it and played with it for years, so when they grew up I kept it in the attic instead of giving it away like lots of other out grown toys.
 When we finished decorating the New Bedroom I brought the doll's house down and had a good look at it. Not too bad - it had lost a chimney and was a bit dusty, the old Laura Ashley curtains looked shabby (not in a good way) and the front door had fallen off. But with a lick of  paint, a new chimney made by Mr P, a new door ordered from The Doll's House Emporium ( where Santa got it from originally...) and some pretty  curtains- it looked fresh and as good as new so we put it in the New Bedroom ready for the grand babies to play with.
When my girls saw their old doll's house again they were thrilled and sooo nostalgic. The little pieces of toy furniture inside strongly evoked  their childhood memories. They especially remembered putting Thomasina, their pet hamster in the house and gleefully watching her run up the stairs, like the Two Bad Mice in Beatrix Potter's tale!
             Here's a little peek in the nursery window at night - all seems peaceful in there...
                                My favourite thing in the doll's house, both then and now is this:
 The teeny tiny Christmas cake which lasts indefinately! Speaking of which, how are your Christmas preparations getting on? I've been a bit side tracked this weekend with a magazine project for spring to finish, but now it's done and we are going out for a refreshing walk - we have sunshine, blue sky and a thaw here now.
When we get back I'll be having a nice cup of tea and sorting out the decorations...Thank you for visiting me, and for all your kind and interesting comments which I so love reading! I send you  warm wishes for a happy week ahead, filled with the all the cosy pleasures of the countdown to Christmas! xx

11 comments:

Marigold Jam said...

Oh how lovely that house is. And especialaly the dear little cake. I had a dolls' house once many years ago don't know what happened to it and my daughter had a Sylvanian Families House which I have still got along with all the furniture etc but it's not the same as the real thing! We too have had a thaw and some blue sky and sunshine but I've just been out to the compost bin and the lid was frozen on and the grass all crispy underfoot so it looks as if we are not out of the woods yet!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Jane

Jane said...

What a beautifully restored dolls' house Helen, your grandchildren will love playing with it.It's so great to have some heirlooms for the family.I don't have my original dollshouse but I do have some of the furniture...I love the mini Christmas cake too.

My Christmas preps are going well, today I have been trying to finish off my hand made Christmas crackers,only 1 more to go now.
We are also having a good thaw here and even had a glimpse of the sun this afternoon.
Keep crafting,
Jane x

sylviesgarden said...

Oh my, what a pretty dolls house.
Do you mind me asking how you did the roof? Both my girls have dolls houses and I would love to put on a similar roof to yours.
Stay warm.
x

Mia said...

This is wonderful dolls house! Me and my Sis had a Lundby-dolls house when we were little, and I would love to have an another for myself to decorate and furnish *blush* Maybe Santa can hear me?

Happy Sunday, Helen!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful doll's house! I would have loved to have seen the hamster in it, very Beatrix Potter indeed. :) Such a cute little cake too! It's lovely that another generation is going to enjoy it.
Vivienne x

Teje said...

Dear Helen, what a wonderful dollhouse! Fortunately you have kept it - with lovely memories it's unique and especially with the cake!
I love your red heart with white bird! and I'm happy you have sunshine and blue sky!
xxx Teje

Naturally Carol said...

I always wanted a doll's house. I used to make shoe boxes into little houses, with cardboard furniture and tiny clothes for tiny dolls! Yours is georgeous. It's wonderful that a new generation gets to enjoy it now as well.

Barbara said...

I especially like the front door and pretty curtains ... what a lovely post.

Anonymous said...

Oh that is such a sweet story! I love that they put their pet hamster in to run about ala B.P. Thank you for telling us. I too have my daughters doll house put away for the very same time of life (she's 12 so it won't be soon - not it WON'T be!!) Have a great week.

Scented Sweetpeas said...

what a fantastic little house, i love this blog post so much as Father Christmas is due to bring little sweetpea a dolls house this Christmas and I just can't wait to see her face!

Aunt Spicy said...

So glad you kept it, it is precious! And it looks lovely all spruced up!