What’s cooking? Must be Dundee cake.
Mums and dads out there may agree that one of the benefits to the children finally leaving home is the extra room that becomes available for hobbies. Such was the case for Phyllis Goulding from West Sussex. When she first got a doll’s house many years ago, having wanted one all her life, she was contained to working in the loft space. But as her three sons left home one by one she was able to move from loft to small bedroom and finally to large bedroom.
Phyllis got her first house, pictured here after shopping around and considering her options. It’s a bit like buying a full size house, without the hassle of surveys. The important thing is to make sure it fulfils your requirements, looks good, and is well made and affordable.
For Phyllis the doll’s house and miniatures hobby is the perfect recreation as it encompasses everything she enjoys doing, and has taught her more besides; woodwork, wallpapering, painting, embroidery, knitting, sewing and love it or hate it - working with Fimo.
All the dolls in the house have been given activities to do.
Some skills she learnt as a child, such as knitting, which her nan taught her to do with matchsticks. But other disciplines she has had to learn the hard way. When Phyllis got the house home it was flat- packed. She knows now that it would have been better to decorate the ceiling before constructing the house, ditto the stairs - and not to use gloss paint, but these are all the mistakes and joys of having your own doll’s house for the first time, and they come with no regrets.