The detail is charming, there are two little pond lilies in the water and surrounding the pond is an illusion of rockery and vegetation.
Wednesday, 30 June 2021
c1930s Wagner & Son Stable, Antique Horses On Wheels Plus A Rare Britains' Tin Pond
The detail is charming, there are two little pond lilies in the water and surrounding the pond is an illusion of rockery and vegetation.
Friday, 16 April 2021
A Box Of Memories & Dementia
A tiny room box I made for my stepmother's 80th birthday has suddenly become useful in a way that I had never anticipated when I first made it for her 13 years ago (she is now on the cusp of her 93rd birthday).
Many of her early family photos were incorporated into this little scene, including some of her parents and sister. It never ceases to amaze me how at times she can talk lucidly about her childhood or something from years ago, but bless her, her short term memory is fraught with confusion.
Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Some Inspirational Hand Painted Wallpaper & Other Ideas For Your Dolls House By Jane Parkin!
The other day a customer mentioned that she was making wallpaper for her latest dolls house. I was so intrigued that I enquired on how she was making it. Further communication ensued, resulting in photos dropping into my inbox. The designs were unique and beautiful, and quite different from anything I have seen before. I asked the lovely lady if it was possible to feature her wallpapers on this blog, as I know that many of you would find them inspiring. Not only did she agree to allow her hand painted wallpapers to be shown on here, but she has also shared some other photos plus useful tips that she has discovered along the way.
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| A pastel horse scene by Jane Parkin. |
Jane Parkin is an equestrian artist from Yorkshire. Although the majority of us will not have the level of Jane's artistic skills, you could still have a go at creating your own in some way, perhaps by adapting and simplifying your patterns/designs. I love some of Jane's other creative ideas too, including the thatched roof!
The following text and photos are Jane's...enjoy!
DOLLS HOUSE WALLPAPER
By Jane Parkin

Jane's First House Bought As A Present - A Kit House
I never had a dolls house when I was a girl and often longed for one. It was a complete surprise when the Christmas 5 years ago, my daughter presented me with one. When it came to applying the wallpaper, I made so many mistakes I soon became very frustrated by the whole thing. Eventually after three attempts it was passable (just!)
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| Dolls House With Coir "Thatched Roof". |
The next house I found at the side of the road outside a junk shop in a very sorry state, without windows upstairs. I made new ones out of margarine lids and the roof from coir, which you use for lining hanging baskets.
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| Beamed Dolls House Walls By Jane Parkin |
I decided to try a heavier wallpaper in this house and used the plain side of some paper we had left from our real life size dining room. This was much easier to manipulate, and I realised
by this time that to have any success, I needed to cut each wall out
separately. I then cut strips of floor
covering to make the beams. (Getting better)
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| Tri-ang No. 42 Dolls House - Jane Parkin |
The next
house was my Triang no. 42. I love this house and wanted it to be as authentic
as possible.
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| Kitchen Of Tri-ang No. 42 Dolls House - Jane Parkin |
The exterior was original but had some damage on the side of the roof, however I was amazed how easy it was to put this
right. I made two false internal doors and
found some 1930’s style wallpapers. I added
picture rails and bought most of my furniture of that period from KT Miniatures. The papers were a bit on the thin side and so
I decided that with the next house I would try and design my own paper to get
what I really wanted and a good weight.
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| Lines Bros. DH8 Dolls House - Jane Parkin |
The next dolls house was my Lines Bros. DH8. This house I think has been much loved, it is very grubby inside with not much of the wallpaper still on, and has two new chimneys.
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| Lines Bros. DH8 Before Renovation - Jane Parkin |
The pictures above and below show two rooms that I have done already in the DH8.
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| Lines Bros. DH8 Dining Room With Hand Painted Wallpaper - Jane Parkin |
I recommend using a good quality watercolour paper and cut it exactly to the size of each wall - one piece of paper to each wall. I started by painting the wall facing as that is the focal point. I then marked the other two pieces of paper where the design needs to follow on.
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| Lines Bros. DH8 Dining Room - Matching Up Hand Painted Wallpaper - Jane Parkin |
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| Lines Bros. DH8 Upstairs Room With Hand Painted Wallpaper - Jane Parkin |
I used plenty of PVA glue and with a dry clean cloth smoothed it over. In doing so I used a hair drier to help it dry quickly and avoid bubbles. If you have a go and find that bubbles appear again a few hours later, repeat with the hair drier.
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| Lines Bros. DH8 Staircase Before Renovation |
In my experience I found it best to leave the old remnants of wallpaper on and give the walls a really good sanding down with a medium sandpaper. As the staircase was so narrow I painted it completely with cream matt emulsion, then used a cotton bud and my fingers to try and make some sort of a pattern. The carpet I made myself using a simple design in cross-stitch.
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| Repeat Pattern Idea - Jane Parkin |
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| Design Idea - Jane Parkin |
Good luck if you have a go, it can be great fun!
Huge thanks to Jane for allowing us to take a peek at her images and sharing her tips. We really hope that this has inspired you to have a go, whether you have an old dolls house with none of the original papers left, or a modern reproduction dolls house!
Celia
Thursday, 18 February 2021
NEW BOOK: Miniature Mania II By Sue Passmore
Remember Sue Passmore’s Miniature Mania Book that came out a short while ago in 2020, which featured part of her dolls house and miniature collection?
http://ktminiatures.blogspot.com/2020/11/miniature-mania-by-sue-passmore-new-book.html
Well, with the ink scarcely dry on her first book, I am delighted to tell you that Sue has now brought out her second book - Miniature Mania II.
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| Miniature Mania II By Sue Passmore |
This second book is different from her first, in so much that
the second half of her collection is more eclectic, plus it includes some more recent
examples of houses, as well as one or two not so recent. The book is split into the following sections: Houses,
Shops, Room & Shadow Boxes, Box Files, Book Scenes, Entertainment, Modern
Plastic, Paper houses, pop-Up Books and then finally Odds & Ends.
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| Sue's Prefab House, made from a magazine project. |
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| Sue's French Book Shop made inside an old wine box. |
Among some of Sue’s creations featured is a prefab that she made using instructions from a dolls house magazine project, a French book shop made from a wine box, a furniture warehouse, a school room inspired by one seen in a book, and so much more.
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| Sue's Dowlais House complete with "Mrs Jones, her mop, duster and packet of Craven-A. |
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| Sue's model of a crofter's cottage. |
Sue’s Crofter Cottage was inspired after a trip to the Hebridean islands, complete with sea rounded stones to weigh down the roof and protect from high winds!
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| Back Cover Of Miniature Mania II |
If like Sue, you love dolls houses and all things miniature, and enjoy seeking out bargain mini treasures to collect or use creatively, then you may find this book useful. Sue’s lateral thinking and ability to adapt all kinds of containers and objects into clever tiny abodes or scenes is rather inspiring, and this book may help you kick start your own ideas, whether you are new to the hobby or a well-seasoned collector. Sue has also included some more modern miniature dolls houses in this book such as Fisher Price, Sylvanian, etc.
As with Sue’s first book, this second book is only obtainable direct from the publishers lulu.com.

















































