I had grand plans for Valentine's day last month; a marble fireplace, a city view, and chocolates! I knew I needed a new project to inspire me. I recently read 10 Newbie Dollhouse Mistakes and How to Fix Them by Small House models and realized I'd actually made a bunch of them. Building a huge dollhouse just wasn't helping my creativity and I needed something smaller.
A room box seemed like a good bet, I've made plenty before. I always remember foam board being an easy go-to material for building... but I guess my love of modern interiors and the precision of MDF has changed me. I just couldn't seem to get my cuts square or straight without wallpapering the entire thing.
This is as far as the scene got before I left it. I loved the fireplace but the large windows to the left (no shown) just weren't fitting together. 
After four weeks I decided it was time to move on. I took a previous room box I'd made and outfitted it into a studio of sorts just to keep me busy (looks nothing like my workspace in real life because it's way too tidy!) I added a mini paper version of the room box I had been working on using my Silhouette Portrait (electronic paper cutter machine) along with some pieces from a 1:24 farmhouse kit. The light and tripod are based off of Pepper's tutorial here!
That night I sat down at the computer and finally decided it was time to buy a pre-fab dollhouse kit.
And not just any house, a smaller house!
I loved the HBS Craftman Cabin the moment I saw it months ago. It's the first small dollhouse I've really liked enough to even consider buying. As much as I love designing my own spaces from scratch and using the laser cutter I am so excited to have something I know I will be able to complete in a reasonable amount of time and has a build plan. That said... it sure won't look like the kit for long!
Hope you're all having a great weekend! Please let me know if you're doing this kit too, I'd love to follow along!
PS: I was left speechless at how quickly this dry-fit went. I have never experienced such easy miniature construction in my life. No wonder people love kits!! THE WINDOWS LITERALLY GLIDE IN.
Yay! I love your work, and am excited to see what you'll do with the kit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Keli! I've loved watching what you do with their kits every year and I knew this was the right one for me to jump into. It's so great to see what everyone comes up with!
DeleteI LOVE your mini studio!!! Wish mine looked like that... but it really is my dining room! LOL! I'm having a hard time believing my eyes that yours is a mini one!!! Great work!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Oh don't be fooled, my real workspace is crammed in my bedroom and usually I'm left working on the floor! :)
Deletesuper job! I had to look twice and read your text to ensure it was really mini size ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Marion! A studio space is definitely something that's been on my to-do list for a long time so I've had lots of ideas for it!
DeleteUn trabajo genial. Me gusta mucho la estructura de la casa.
ReplyDeleteThank you Isabel!
DeleteI'm excited to see what you do with the kit!! I'm generally too lazy to work on a big project, hence my affinity to room boxes and small projects.
ReplyDelete....and as if you wont be busting out your laser cutter for this one!! Just wait till you get into it ;)
Thanks Kat, I'm really excited to start something new! It's now been a couple days with the kit though and I've already doubled the size :O so I may have been a bit hasty saying I was going to do something small! And yes I for sure will be back at the laser cutter!
DeleteThe studio is absolutely charming! Looking forward to your new house!
ReplyDeleteOh to think I'll actually have a completed house! Thanks for commenting!
DeleteYay, I hope you'll be entering the HBS competition. I love these types of small builds - really gets you thinking about how to fit everything into the space and they're manageable on a desk top. Looking forward to seeing more :0)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am hoping to enter, I love knowing everyone is starting from the same starting point and seeing where people take it!
DeleteDid I say small build? Haha! It's been three days and its already doubled in size! Opps! :D
Can't wait to see the what you create with the HBS kit...the studio is cute.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I can't wait to see your progress pictures as well! :D
Delete2017 just got a lot more exciting! I am so glad that you're doing the kit! Don't keep it too secret - it's so fun to build and share along with everybody!
ReplyDeleteThe studio is freakin' amazing! Sometimes a thing practically builds itself, and sometimes the best ideas just poop themselves out.