Little Armies of Soldiers and Explorers...

        The first American plastic toy soldiers were made by Bergen Toy & Novelty Co. (Beton for short) in 1938. Beton also acquired the molds of another pre-war plastic figure company, Universal Plastics with their figures remaining for sale when lead toy production was stopped in 1942. The Beton figures were painted like metal figures and sold the same as their metal brethren; individually or in a boxed set of around seven figures. Following World War II, Beton modified their figures in an attempt to change the World War I type helmet into the World War II.
       Following World War II, plastic manufacture was seen as an industry with growth potential with many old and new companies making plastic figures that were widely available in the United States. Army men following the war were sold unpainted, usually in a green color corresponding to United States Army uniforms in World War II.
       Beginning in the early 1950s, Louis Marx and Company sold boxed sets of figures and accessories called playsets, such as "US Army Training Center" and the later "Battleground" sets. A rival manufacturer, the Multiple Plastics Corporation (MPC) also sold plastic figures in various colors with different separate accessories, so the same figures could be kitted out as soldiers (green), farmers, pioneers or cowboys (brown), policemen (blue), ski troopers (white) spacemen (various colors), or American Civil War soldiers in blue and gray.
       The economy of plastic sold in bulk, popularity of army men, and competition with manufacturers led to army men being sold in large bags by Marx, Tim-Mee Toys and MPC for as little as a penny a piece in the mid-1960s. During this time, Marx gave the American army men actual enemy soldiers to fight such as German soldiers (molded in gray) in their 1962 "Army Combat" set and Japanese soldiers (molded in yellow) in their "Iwo Jima" set that was released in 1963. In 1965, a "D-Day" Marx set featured Allies such as French (horizon blue), British (khaki), and Russians. One of their last and largest playsets was the multi-level "Fortress Navarone" mountain set based on The Guns of Navarone, which was available in the 1970s and pitted World War II Americans against Germans.
       During the Vietnam War, sales and availability of military toys began to decline alongside the unpopularity of the war and the higher prices of plastic from the 1973 oil crisis. Since 1975 many manufacturers of plastic soldiers in Europe and US closed, for example John Hill & Company, Reamsa, Louis Marx and Company, and Dinky Toys.
       Today most army men are made inexpensively in China and do not include the extensive accessories that were common in Marx playsets. They are also smaller on average, often not much more than 2.5 cm (one inch) high. Most of these figures are generic imitations of model figure sets from such companies as Airfix and Matchbox. They vary widely in quality.
       In addition to army men, other inexpensive, plastic toy figures are also commonly available. Toy cowboys and Indians, farm sets, spacemen, knights, dinosaurs, firemen, police officers and other playsets are often sold alongside army men.
       In September of 2019, BMC Toys, a maker of army men, announced that army women would be sold in 2020. This announcement was made due to popular request from female veterans and toy fans. The most well-known request is from a six-year-old girl who sent a handwritten letter for them to be made. Wikipedia.

 

The History of the Plastic Toy Soldier.

More Toy Soldier Video:

• What Happened To Sarge?
• The Trenches Remastered
• The All-American Army Men

 Return to the Doll Guide Index Page 

DIY Old-Fashioned Miniature Spool Beds

Our finished spool beds ready for the bookcase dollhouse.
Personally, I think they are charming...

       Spool dollhouse furniture is very vintage indeed. It was most popular when threads were commonly wrapped, packaged and sold to ordinary folk who made their own clothes, quilted etc... 

       So little people have been recycling unwanted trash to outfit their dollhouses forever, it seems. But now, you have to purchase wooden spools to return to the craft; it is not expensive if you are patient enough to acquire these wooden parts through second-hand vendors. 

Supply List: 

• a variety of wooden spools small, medium and large
• a wooden platform length cut to fit your sleeping doll
• paint (spray acrylic or acrylic in a tube)
• wood glue
• clear varnish or Mod Podge
• scrap fabrics and notions for the bedding

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. You will need to collect quite a few spools, smaller ones, for this craft. 
2. Cut a thin wooden platform for the mattress of the bed to lay on. Make sure to measure the platform to fit the height of your doll. You can see that I planned the larger of the two doll beds to fit a standard size six inch dollhouse doll below. The shorter spool bed was designed for a child doll.
3. You may glue the spools to stand upright or plan to attach them by stringing a long wire through the spool holes and bending it around the spool bedposts. In the end I decided to leave the bedrails off.
4. Attach the spools using wood glue and let the glue dry overnight. 
5. Use acrylic paints or enamel paint alternatively to finish the spool beds.
6. Because doll beds like these were popular before the world wars and during, I chose to sew very old-fashioned bedding from lace trims and doilies.

Left, I'm thinking about the arrangement of spools for me dollhouse beds. Center, wooden spools
 may be found at resale or purchased online or maybe you could find them in your grandmother's
sewing kit. Right, the platform for your doll's mattress needs to be long enough to accommodate
it's height and wide enough so that he or she won't fall out of bed at night!

Left, I made two beds in different sizes from wooden spools. These stack neatly together for
storage purposes. Center, see the felt bedding with attached bed pillows. Right, the lace dusters 
are sewn directly onto the mattresses so that these won't be lost during play or storage.

Left, old lace trims were collected at estate sales and used to craft vintage looking bedding.
Center, use darker colored silks beneath the lace trim to emphasize the decorative designs.
Right, the old-fashioned dollhouse beds are finished for our bookcase dollhouse.

Vintage cottage decor cabinets make much nicer dollhouses...

Once designed to organize dvds and cds,
these dollhouse themed cabinets will be
filled with furniture and dolls in our
downstairs play room.

        When I first spied these tall, narrow cabinets, obviously intended for the storage of dvds and cds, the first thought to enter my head was... How awful for home decor but how extraordinary nice for doll play! And isn't that often the case? Something that gets marketed for one thing - that it doesn't quite look right . . . can become a perfect fit in an alternative venue. I mean, this designer should have been employed by a toy company!

       What I love most about these cabinets is that when put together, they look like row houses or townhouses in San Francisco, where I once lived.

       The paint needed sprucing up a bit so I brightened the colors and repapered the interior shelves to look like dollhouse rooms.

       These particular rooms are the perfect generous size for 1:48 Scale or quarter scale; this being the furniture size that I chose to work with on this dollhouse project. I could have opted for 1:24 just as easily but the rooms would have felt over-crowded and the decorations limited. 

       If readers find a cabinet or two like these, and plan to give them as a gift to a little person, 1:24 scale may be a better choice for a younger child's play dollhouse. In this scale they won't need as much furniture and durable, wooden peg dolls (1-3 inches) could live inside the ''vintage look'' rooms easily.

       I will eventually include photos here of all my updates once these townhouse dollhouses are finished. 

       So far, I have just finished some of the wallpapers and floor treatments. Tiny 1:48 scale furniture has been purchased for most of the rooms. I will need to make some of the furniture by hand as this project is getting a bit expensive. All of the decor will be altered to match the color schemes of the wallpapers which are a bit flamboyant for my taste but appropriate for Victorian townhomes, especially for those little girls that prefer them in dollhouses.

The Yellow Townhouse for Dolls:

Left, I will either need to name the townhome or change this 'music' sign to a home address.
Right, See the sides of this cabinet are painted with just as much detail, very nice.

Left, wallpaper and 'linoleum' floor added. Left center, just thinking about furniture arrangement. 
This bedroom suite is complete and needs painting. Right center, the wallpaper treatment is for a
pink nursery, I still need to find a faux white floorboard paper. Right, I have a tiny crib, rocking 
horse, dresser and chair for this room so far.

Left, The wallpaper and kitchen tile floor are finished. Center left, all I have for this dollhouse
kitchen thus far is a white table and chairs and one planter. Right center, both stripes and flowers
in purple for the living room walls and a grey checkered floor treatment are finished. Right, all the 
furniture that this living room can comfortably hold will need to be painted to match the purple 
color scheme for this room.

The Pink Townhouse for Dolls:

Left, this door will need a set of front steps for it. Right, there is an extra room for this pink 
doll townhouse. I will turn it into a bathroom.

Left, the pale blue and grey figured wallpaper is finished. The linoleum floor will need to be
reapplied. Center left, a sink, toilet and bath wait to be installed. Right center and Right, before
and after photos of window repaint. I applied highlights to the windows and brightened up the
pink outside walls.

Left, The study/family room has hand painted wooden floor and green wallpaper finished.
Center left, a few furniture pieces: T.V., side table and desk set. The television needs to be painted
for certain and I will craft a couch and chairs for this room. Right center, the rose colored wallpaper
is finished, the floor still missing. Right, see the furniture I have for this bedroom thus far: bed,
two dressers, crib and potted plant. All will be repainted for the decor.

Left, the wall paper and linoleum floor are finished. Center left, the kitchen sink, stove and refrigerator
 are a perfect fit for the room. Right center, the butterfly wallpaper and stained wood floors are finished;
 but, the wainscoting needs to be applied before finished. Right, here you see that I have acquired the
tiny dining room set and a piano for the room. I may alter the dining chair cushions.

More City Living for Dolls:

• Build a doll sized apartment including an elevator and multiple stories
• KPO crafts a working elevator for Barbie's cardboard dollhouse and a pulley system for a dollhouse elevator by Inventor Crafts
• A Barbie Town House from 1979

How to make a matchbox bed for a mouse...

        Here are the craft instructions for the matchbox mouse bed displayed in Rosebud Cottage. It is very easy to make and every little mouse doll needs a cozy place to sleep. The matchbox is a larger size than most; it ordinarily holds 5000 wooden matches. Although our mouse came with a slipcase bed of her own, it was a little too large for her new home, so we made her a new bed to fit just right into her art studio...

Beatrix mouse posed in her matchbox bed
made especially for her very own mouse
house!

Supply List:

• one large matchbox empty
• one acorn for a pillow
• scrap fabric for the bedding
• paper covered wire, green like a vine
• button for trim
• small amount of batting
• decorative scrapbook paper
• white school glue
• hot glue gun and glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. For this little mouse bed, you will only need to use the 'drawer' part of the large matchbox. So remove this and cover all of it's parts with a decorative paper, layering Mod Podge on top to give the bed a durable surface. 
2. Next, cover the wire with white glue and green paper if it is not already in this state prior to working with it.
3. Now bend the wire into a headboard for the bed. You can make any design you like or copy the one shown in the photos below. Use more wire to secure connections between the bent areas. These are obvious in the pictures because they are wrapped with brown wire.
4. Paint the wire head board as you go if it pleases you. This one has been left green to look like a vine.
5. Bend approximately 1/2 inch of the wire frame to attach just beneath the edge of the bed and hot glue the headboard onto the back and bottom of the matchbox to hold everything in place.
6. Sew and stuff a little pillow for your doll mouse to rest her head on. 
7. Cut a fabric scrap blanket to keep her warm at night and collect a small acorn to display as a 'natural' sort of pillow.
   

Left, side view of Beatrix's matchbox bed. She has an acorn for a decorative pillow. Right, the 
view of her 'vine-like' headboard from behind.

More Mouse Fun:

• Go here to see our directions for sewing a little sock mouse to play with.
• Read the Church Mouse Companion for Fun!
• Learn how to turn your acorns into dolls too!
  

Sleepy Dandelions

Illustrated spring and summer flower poem.

Sleepy Dandelions by Harriet Putnam

The dandelion children
Have on their nightgowns
white.
They left their yellow dresses
In cupboards for the night.

And quite forgot this morning
To leave their dewy beds;
So in their lacy nightgowns
They dream-the sleepy-
heads!

My small Asian Gofun doll...

       This eight inch, vintage, boy(?) doll dressed in Chinese folk costume has a head molded using layers of ground oyster shell (gofun) and wood pulp. He also has real human hair braided and attached into one whole in his head at the back.

       The child's costume is embroidered with Buddhist symbols: a red feather, incense burner, and yellow Bon hat. It's coat was once brilliant blue and the pants red still... The doll's shoes are in excellent condition given it's age.

       Doll artists in China made dolls using oyster shell and sold these to an American market during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. However most collectors in the United States are familiar with the Japanese Ichimatsu versions from those decades, 1920s through the 1950s.

Left, the jacket unbuttoned to reveal 'Made In China' printed in red. Center, the hands are very
worn; this must have been a toy well loved. Right, The jacket embroidery includes lucky,
Buddhist symbols.

       This version above is of an Asian doll made using gofun is from China. He or She is most likely older than those Japanese dolls made with the same methods and materials. However, I am unaware of it's exact age, but I do know that the doll is Chinese, not Japanese.

        "Gofun is scrapings from the shell of a Gofun oyster, ground into a fine powder and mixed with glue from Nikawa seaweed. This mixture is painted over a wood pulp composition face or other body parts many many times. The number of coats determines the quality of the doll. If the doll has a gofun covered face, it is much more valuable than the modern hard plastic head of dolls now being made in Japan. One way to determine if gofun has been used is to gently see if there is a small hole where the hair is inserted in the head.'' Judd, Price Guide African and Asian Costumed Dolls, 1995, edited

Tips For Cleaning Dolls Parts Made With Gofun:

• If the doll's face, hands or feet need cleaning desperately, only use very tiny amounts of mild soap and water on the tip of a cotton swab! Do not press down hard, this will remove the top coat of paint if you are not careful enough.
• Some folks will not use water, but gum erasers only. In either case, these dolls are extremely delicate and should be only cleaned with the utmost care.
• The dust on a doll's clothing may be removed with a small blow-dryer on it's cool setting only. Otherwise you may need to opt for a clothing replacement altogether if the garments are beyond saving. 
• Caution, the garments are often not color fast and if washed they will bleed out in the water and discolor other pale colors in the same garment, even if you use a mild soap!
• Many smaller, antique Ichimatsu have clothing that is sewn directly onto their rag bodies. These tiny stitches may be removed and the body parts replaced with duplicates if necessary. You will need to take these apart entirely and trace around the original patterns to restore some cloth body and costume parts. Do this only if the doll is hopelessly damaged as it will affect it's collectible value.
• Ichimatsu can be repainted/restored by a doll hospital that will research it's original history. Of course these cleaning tips are only for the less valuable friendship dolls that are circulating among the general, ordinary collecting public. There are extremely valuable friendship dolls that are museum quality dolls made with wood not wood composite. Those dolls must be cleaned by a museum conservator.
• There are eleven of the original 58 Friendship Dolls given by Japan many years ago (1927) that are missing. These dolls where all 33 inches tall and should be only cleaned and altered by museums. They are very valuable and should be identified by experts and only altered by them.

Learning About Japanese Traditions in Doll Art:

• Painting in Japan by Sandra Grantham
• The art and care of a Japanese Friendship Doll - These are the pricey, 58, historical ones folks! This special collection is housed in multiple museums.
• See what gofun looks like here and read about it's history...

 Return to the Doll Guide Index Page 

The Pink Thrifty-Flip Dollhouse

The finished front and back of my eldest daughter's dollhouse/art supply storage and display.
The dollhouse sits on top of a rubber turntable to that it may be turned for the display of the 
dollhouse when the supplies are not needed. She keeps it on top of a waist height, cupboard 
in her room. The whale shaped weather vane at the top of this dollhouse was crafted like this.

        This dollhouse (mouse house) purchased from a thrift shop was transformed into a kind of shelving unit for my eldest daughter's art supplies. A mouse named Beatrix, after one of her favorite artists/authors of children's books, lives in the studio apartment above the supply shelf!  

       And just like her landlord, Beatrix is also an artist who loves to paint watercolors of simple small things like: acorns, flowers, mushrooms and bugs. 

       Small creatures sometimes visit Beatrix at her "Art Bar'' to learn how to be creative themselves and trade stories about the latest news from other dolls that reside in the community below in our toy room.

She originally swore that none of this project would be painted pink . . . and then this paint job 
happened. I love the painted green tile roof the best! However, the pink is appropriate for a 
cottage called 'Rosebud Cottage,' don't you think?

 

Most of the items included inside and out were handmade by my daughter. On the lower floor
of the dollhouse you can see how my daughter has organized her watercolor supplies. Dollhouses
do not need to be used strictly for doll play. Older teens may refurbish a dollhouse into clever
storage or display a once beloved toy on a bookcase.

Detailed Photos of The Interior

Left, a matchstick box bed decoupaged with vintage paper. It also has a wire shaped headboard. 
Center, painted block dollhouse and painted, folk heart needlepoint.
Right, a handmade easel using skewers with tiny clamp and decorative tags.

Left, a stool or bedside table made with driftwood and skewers glued together; this is where
Beatrix sets her  teacup and saucer. Next to the crude table is her charming little 'chair' made
 from driftwood  and a wooden spool. Right, is a rustic wire 'willow' wreath trimmed with
tiny petals, leaves and a bumble bee charm. Learn more about bees here.

Left, the winding staircase painted brown to match the Popsicle stick floors.
Center, a tiny basket at the foot of the mouse bed has a tiny thimble charm and spool of thread.
Right, Beatrix's art supplies include a set of watercolors with artist palette, brushes and box. Her
easel displays instructions for painting pansies; behind this is a roll of mouse sized canvases
and bobbie pin stored together inside of a jam jar.

Left, tiny clay critters; an earth worm, snail, toadstool and wooden stump are all made from
Sculpey oven-bake clay and painted. A tiny bee skep made by twisting yarn and glueing the edge
together.  Center, tiny lace curtains hung on a toothpick 'curtain rod.' Right, little woven piece of
fabric with hemmed edges serves as a cozy rug for Beatrix feet to land on in the morning.

Left, the front of a folk cupboard with tiny sewing machine. Center, the backside of the same
cupboard painted to look antique. You can see that this piece was constructed with Popsicle sticks.
Right, tiny bolts of fabric for the enthusiastic mouse seamstress.

Detailed Photos of The Exterior

Left, a miniature doll hose with reel and metal fittings was purchased and
also the white picket fence.

Left, the gingerbread trim has hand painted rose designs. Center, the wire wheelbarrow was 
purchased at a hobby store. Right, handpainted spool stools for visitors to the 'art bar'
at Rosebud Cottage.

Left, a miniature birdbath purchased from The Dollar Store was repainted and marble added to it's
center. Center, tiny painted toadstools made from wood were also purchased last autumn from the
same craft store. These are glued to the surface of the dollhouse base. Right, potted, peach colored,
silk flowers arranged on the front porch.

Left, The handmade trellis directions are included on this blog here. The birdhouse was
sculpted from clay and then mounted to a skewer. Center, her Beatrix mouse doll was designed
by Levlos. Right, is the dormer window; my daughter added the windowsill and purchased the
tiny, clay flower boxes at a local hobby shop.

Left, 'Beatrix's Art Bar' sign with rustic painted frame and lace detail. Center, 'The Rosebud Cottage
 has it's own sign with rosebud painted detail. Right, the counter top at the art bar is a faux painted
biscuit; beneath it are the spool stools for guests to sit on and learn how to paint from
 Beatrix the mouse.

Pennant banner hangs above the art bar to decorate the scene. 

A Teeny-Tiny Story

 A Teeny-Tiny Story

Once there was a teeny-tiny lady.

She lived in a teeny-tiny house.

One winter night the teeny-tiny lady had been

asleep a teeny-tiny while.

The Teeny-Tiny house for a minuscule lady and mouse.

All at once she heard a teeny-tiny noise,
''Tap, tap, tap! Tap, tap, tap!''
At first she hid her teeny-tiny head.
But she heard the teeny-tiny noise again,
''Tap, tap, tap! Tap, tap, tap!''
She jumped out of her teeny-tiny bed.
She took the teeny-tiny candle in her teeny-
tiny hand. 
Then she stole down the teeny-tiny stair.
She looked under her teeny-tiny table.
There was nothing under the table.
She looked under her teeny-tiny chair. 
There was nothing under the chair.
She went back up her teeny-tiny stair with her
teeny-tiny candle.
She got into her teeny-tiny bed.
Soon the teeny-tiny lady heard the teeny-tiny
noise again.
She took her teeny-tiny candle.
She stole down her teeny-tiny stair.
She looked under her teeny-tiny table.
Out jumped a teeny-tiny ...!
"A mouse! A mouse! A mouse!
cried the teeny-tiny lady.
And up her teeny-tiny stair she ran.

Wading On The Beach

 Wading On The Beach by Abbie Farwell Brown

I like to go a-paddling
Upon the squishy sand,
And holding up my dress, to see
How close I dare to stand.

A little wave curls very near,
Another laps my toes.
Ugh! How the sudsy foam is cold!
Ah-oo! How fast it goes!

And then I see a great big wave
Far out to sea begun.
His greeny head peers up at me,
He roars, "You'd better run!"

So then I turn and scamper back
To get beyond his reach,
But my! How fast he chases me,
Careering up the beach!

He splashes all my petticoats
As wet as wet can be,
And then he slyly creeps away;
And people laugh at me.

The Lost Valentine

THE LOST VALENTINE by Emma Tuomy

Finally she found the one she wanted.

       Marian was making valentines. Her mother helped to fold the paper into booklets and to tie them with bits of bright ribbon, then Marian pasted in clipped pictures and hearts, and printed in short little verses.
       "I am not going to give Kathleen a homemade valentine," Marian said, stacking up her booklets.
       "Why not?" asked Mother.
       "I do not believe that she would care for it," answered Marian.
       Kathleen lived in the most beautiful house in town. All the children loved to go there to parties and to see all of Kathleen's beautiful playthings.
       Marian felt that the homemade valentines were not pretty enough to go with Kathleen's other things. So she decided to take her own money and buy the best valentine that she could find for this special friend.
       She went to a store where she had seen many beautiful valentines in the window. She looked and looked; finally she found just the one that she wanted. It was a big white card, covered with forget-me-nots, hearts, and a long verse about friendship. She felt sure that Kathleen would like it very much.
       On the way home, Marian met Stella coming out of a grocery store with several packages. Stella and Marian were in the same grade at school. Stella lived in a little green house almost out of town, and she was kept so busy taking care of the baby and helping her mother that she never had very much time for play. Marian helped Stella carry the packages, and the two little girls chatted about valentines. Stella said that she did not expect very many, as she could not give any at all. The baby was getting teeth and he needed her loving care and attention so that she had no time to make valentines, and she had no pennies with which to buy them.
       When Marian reached home, her mother said: ''Where is your valentine?"
       Marian looked down at her hands. They were empty. She had lost the beautiful valentine which she had chosen for Kathleen.
       ''What shall I do?" cried Marian. "I must give her a valentine. We are such good friends."
       "You will have to give her a homemade one," answered Mother. "You cannot buy another one."
       Marian picked out the booklet which she liked best and put it into an envelope. Her brother gave her a stamp and took the valentine to the mail box, so that Kathleen would get the valentine through the mail. The other valentines she got ready to put into the valentine box at school.
       The next morning, Marion waited while her mother fastened her coat. She put her free hand into her muff, which hung from a cord around her neck. She felt something and pulled it out. It was the valentine which she had bought for Kathleen.
       "If I were you," suggested Mother, "I should give it to some little girl who is not likely to get many valentines.''
       ''Oh,'' cried Marian, ''I am going to give it to Stella.''
       Kathleen met Marian in the hall at school, the morning of St. Valentine's Day.
       ''I just love the valentine you sent me,'' she whispered. ''Mother says it shows real friendship if you take the time to make them yourself.''
       At recess time, Stella ran up and hugged her. ''It is the most beautiful valentine I ever saw,'' she cried. ''I can hardly wait until I can take it home and show Mother. It will make her happy to know that you are such a good friend of mine.''
       ''I am glad that I lost it,'' Marian said to her mother that night, ''because, I made two friends, instead of one, very happy.''

Marian waited while her mother fastened her coat.

DIY an Upholstered Tweed Armchair

        Our dolls love to grab a cozy blanket and sink into a big comfortable chair after a hard day's work with a book or warm drink.
       This tweed upholstered chair craft is simpler to make than it looks! It is made in much the same way as the leather club chair posted here. 
       Remember to start by making the arms and bottom in the shape of a "U" with 4 inch by 4inch sized pieces of cardboard to size for a 10 -12 inch doll, layering on multiple cardboard cut-outs to bulk up the chair as you go.

Finished doll armchair.

The doll sized couches our tweed arm chair was made to go with:

• Barbie's Bohemian Patchwork Sofa
• How to assemble a no-sew couch for Barbie

Supply List:

• tweed upholstery, 1/2 yard
• masking tape
• corrugated cardboard
• white school glue
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• matching plaid for pillow, just scraps
• two wood blocks for the base
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut 4''x4'' pieces of corrugated cardboard for the arms and bottom sides of the club chair. Triple these cut layers from cardboard to make them sturdy. 
2. Glue the pieces together to shape a "U" Shape.
3. Cover the surfaces using masking tape.
4. Make the backside of the chair by cutting the cardboard into a "T" shape with a rounded back.
   
5. Glue three of these "T" cut pieces of corrugated together to make the back sturdy and cover with masking tape as well.
6. Glue and shape the tweed fabric around the parts of the club chair using a hot glue gun. (See photos below)
7. Apply glue to the edges of the back piece of the chair and fit it between the side and bottom shaped "U" piece. Use a rubber band to hold these together while the glue dries. (see photos)
   
8. Craft a thick cushion using either Styrofoam and cardboard or layers of cardboard or a stuffed fabric cushion. Any one of these alternatives will suffice! For this chair version I used layers of cardboard for the seat cushion.
   
9. Glue the wooden base to the bottom of the chair.
10. I left the wooden blocks on the bottom of the over-stuffed tweed chair in their natural, original finish and then covered the wool upholstery edges with additional fabric to finish the surfaces.
11. Cut extra thin pieces of covered cardboard to hide the wrapped edges and finish the over-stuffed chair.
    
12. Cut and stuff a plaid pillow to display in the seat of the chair.
    

Left, the parts of the chair without the wooden blocks for it's base. See how the back is shaped to
slide neatly between the arms of the chair. Center, the seat cushion in this instance is just layers
of cardboard. Right, see how the backside of the chair construction looks.

Left, the chair assembled prior to hot gluing on the fabric. Center additional cut pieces for the neat
 finish of the arms and seat. I used only single layers of cardboard wrapped cuts for this technique.
 Always wrap and hot glue fabric to end around the arms and then cut fabric to cover the edges.
Right, see the thin layers of cardboard wrapped with masking tape and tweed.

Left, the finished backside of the arm chair. Center, see the wrapping of the fabric ends with the
 armchair side edges. These will be covered up with the end pieces shown above. Right, one of
our many small dolls is seated comfortably in the finished chair.

Additional Upholstered Furniture for Larger 18" Dolls:

• Wing-backed chairs designed for larger dolls by Mattel
  

The Rhyme of The House

 The Rhyme of The House by Grace L. Klock

This is the house all 
painted white
That the carpenter
builded snug and tight
To shelter the little children.

These are the boards 
that were planed just right
To use for the house
all painted white
That the carpenter 
builded snug and tight
To shelter the little children.

These are the logs of 
sturdy might
That were sawed into boards
 that were planed just right
To use for the house
all painted white,
That the carpenter 
builded snug and tight
To shelter the little children.

The Good Night

 The Good Night by John Martin

The night has soft and gentle wings
That spread sweet magic everywhere
Night whispers many cozy things
To fairies hiding here and there
In woodland, field, and air.

Night tells the Fairy of the Wind
To blow a happy dream to me,
Or move the shade, or hide behind
The window curtains, just to see
How good my dream can be.

Night asks the Fairy of the Rain
To patter on the window-sill;
Or splash against the dripping pane
To take good care of me until
I'm sleeping, still as still.

Night's fairies make a cozy noise
Behind the wall, then take a peep
At all their little girls and boys;
But oh, what careful guard they keep
While we are fast asleep!

The little noises that I hear
Are fairies hidden out of sight;
They love to linger very near
To see that everything is right
All through the long good night.

Night is God's messenger of peace,
And comfort nestles in its breast
Where busy thoughts and troubles cease
Night loves us little children best
While we all sleep and rest.

How to make a faux leather club chair...

Left, finished faux leather club chair for a Barbie or any other 10 to 12 inch doll.
Right, the blocks and underside of the chair have been painted black and sealed with Mod Podge.

      

       This side club chair is a classic addition to our growing collection of Barbie dollhouse furnishings. I covered it with faux looking leather paper instead of real leather. The paper was purchased on sale at a hobby store for a dollar a sheet (I needed two sheets). 

       I chose to give it a coat of Mod Podge in order to keep it clean, however, it looked just as nice without this coating, if you would prefer to leave it "as is."

 Supply List:

• leather look paper (2 large sheets)
• white school glue
• two wooden blocks
• corrugated cardboard
• masking tape
• recycle Styrofoam sheet
• Mod Podge
• black acrylic paint

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut 4''x4'' pieces of corrugated cardboard for the arms and bottom sides of the club chair. Triple these cut layers from cardboard to make them sturdy. 
2. Glue the pieces together to shape a "U" Shape.
3. Cover the surfaces using masking tape.
4. Make the backside of the chair by cutting the cardboard into a "T" shape. 
5. Glue three of these "T" cut pieces of corrugated together to make the back sturdy and cover with masking tape as well.
6. Cut and shape the faux leather paper around the parts of the club chair using a decoupage technique. (See photos below)
7. Apply glue to the edges of the back piece of the chair and fit it between the side and bottom shaped "U" piece. Use a rubber band to hold these together while the glue dries. (see photos)
   
8. Craft a thick cushion using either Styrofoam and cardboard or layers of cardboard or a stuffed fabric cushion. Any one of these alternatives will suffice!
   
9. Glue the wooden base to the bottom of the chair.
10. Paint the base and bottom of the club chair to finish with black paint.
11. Layer on a finishing coat of Mod Podge to all the chair's surfaces to give it protection from wear and a professional look.

Left, see an average size 11-12 inch doll seated and standing next to my club chair.
Right, the finished faux leather club chair without Mod Podge layer.

How the club chair is constructed from different angles. There are essentially two four pieces to the
chair made of three to four layers of corrugated cardboard.

Left, construct a "U" shaped cardboard piece and a "T" shaped cardboard piece  that will make
the back side of the chair once it it glued in place.

Above you can see the two pieces glued together after they have been covered with the paper
and glue. Always cover ''upholstered'' furniture wrapping the ends to the outside edges. The
arms, top of the chair and underside of the chair or couch are covered last. This method of 
wrapping gives a "seamless" appearance to the finished piece. I used a rubber band to hold 
the armchair top and bottom together while the glue dried. 

Left, you can see that I used Styrofoam covered with cardboard to make the chair cushion. 
Center, then I glued on two wooden blocks side-by-side to make a modern base for the chair
instead of four individual chair legs. I also neatly covered the bottom side of the chair
with masking tape to hide wrapped paper surfaces. Both underside surfaces of this chair
will be painted black before the project is finished.

More links to upholstered Barbie doll sized furniture:

• Barbie's Bohemian Patchwork Sofa
• DIY a vanity chair for Barbie
• How to assemble a no-sew couch for Barbie

Make A Miniature Rose Trellis

       Here's how to craft miniature trellis for your dollhouse or fairy garden. Gather wooden skewers, paper covered wire and some tiny little flowers together with a bottle of white school glue to make the versions depicted in my daughter's dollhouse below.

Left, the taller of the two rose trellis to be displayed on her pink dollhouse flip.
Center, the shorter trellis is propped against the cottage behind the wire wheelbarrow.
Right, my daughter wrapped rose vines about her dollhouse banisters on the front porch.

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut two equal lengths of wooden skewers to the hight you desire your dollhouse rose trellis to be. 
2. Paint the skewers to match the brown, paper-wrapped wire.
3. Next wrap the wire back and forth between the two wooden skewers to shape any pattern you wish. The two samples above are wrapped in a zig-zag pattern up to the tops of the skewers then, arch shapes extensions were bent above the top of the larger trellis to give it added height. 
4. Using the white glue attach the tiny roses randomly to the trellis. 
5. Try twisting small pieces of wire around a pencil to then wrap more decorative vine between the trellis openings.

More Handmade Spring Flowers and Fun:

• 30 Tiny Flowers to Embroider for Spring
• Discover a whole flower garden of fun!
• "Little Blossoms'' Doll Summer Camp
• How to make your own felt roses for a spring trellis

How the Plantaganet's found a new home . . .

"The Doll's House" illustrated
by Tasha Tudor.

       Rumer Godden in her book "The Doll's House" explains that dolls may live for a very long time when cared for. The doll Tottie, although a little girl doll, has lived longer than any other doll in her doll family. She has lived for more than 100 years! Her parent dolls, Mr. Plantagenet and Birdie, have lived for fewer real years even though they are doll parents to Tottie; this can only happen in the make-believe world of children. The Plantaganet's in this book also have a baby boy, approximately 3 or 4 years old and his name is Apple. 

       Godden herself, is particularly sensitive to the growth of child empathy through doll play. Her dolls teach their child owners to understand what is means to be kind, to be considerate and to be gentle while they are growing during playtime.

       Dolls 'wish' in order to communicate with their owners and they seem to communicate with some sort of mental telepathy between each other. The Plantaganet family of dolls have many earnest conversations with all of Godden's imaginative characters in her book. 

       Dolls also have feelings, sometimes very strong feelings about the places where they must spend their lives while their child owners are busy elsewhere. In fact, most dolls wish very much for a comfortable little home where they may experience their very own adventures in relative safety, of course! The chapter book "The Doll's House" is an extended story about how this doll family acquires a dollhouse and keep it over time. 

• Rumer Goddens' Book, ''The Doll's House'' read aloud at Quarantine Kids Story...
• Learn about Tasha Tudor, one of the illustrators for Rumer Godden's books - video by You ARE an artist
• Four more doll stories by Rumer Godden...

Beautiful six-pointed star tile printable for dollhouses!

       This printable six pointed star in full color would look stunning on the floors of any dollhouse! It could also be printed on fabric as a transfer and used as a dollhouse quilt. In either case, it is free for crafters and students to use but not sale or give away on alternative websites. Enjoy, from kathy grimm.

Cleaned and restored 6 pointed star pattern tiles in: gold, red, navy, white and baby blue colors.

DIY a basketball fan's dream Valentine mailbox!

The slot for the Valentines is located on the floor of this basket-
ball mailbox. Students may also access their delivered mail from
the end of the box opposite the hoop.

       Sporty girl or boy 18'' dolls will love this example of a Valentine mailbox for their February 14th classroom contest!

Supply List:

• small rectangular box (for the basketball court)
  
• back, white solid color paper, one sheet each
• faux 'wood grain' decorative paper
• black permanent ink marker
• scrap cardboard
• recycled plastic netting bag for garlic cloves
• small Styrofoam ball
• orange and black acrylic paints 
• chenille stem(1) or wire
• Mod Podge
• white school glue
• masking tape
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1.  Cut a slot big enough for doll sized Valentines to fit inside of a rectangular small box.
2. Cut out a basketball backboard and pole from the extra cardboard and glue this to the end of the court/Valentine mailbox.
3. Then cover the court with faux wooden floor paper using white school glue.
4. Mark the court using a permanent black ink pen.
5. Cover the sides of the box and the pole with black paper, or you could paint these areas using acrylic paints.
6. Cover the backboard with white paper and mark it using the same black magic marker that was used to mark the court.
7. Next make the basket by bending a white chenille stem into a ring. 
8. Then sew the netting from recycled net used to package garlic cloves around the ring.
9. I painted a Styrofoam ball orange to represent the small basketball caught inside the basket.

Left, the basic cardboard assembly of the basketball court
Valentine mailbox. Right the finished sporty mailbox.

Left and center the details of the mini basket before I attached this to the backboard. Right, the 
basket attached to the backboard.

• Back to the Valentine Mailbox Contest index page. 

You can cast a vote for this Valentine mailbox entry in the Comments Box Below, if you'd like. It would be interesting to see if people/kids on the internet judge our doll's Valentine mailbox competition in the same way as the children judging them in our home.