The Bottom Line
Good basic book of achievable beginner's dolls house projects with a well designed introductory range. Well illustrated with simple cutting plans for projects which require them. A number of suggestions are made for further exploration of materials and designs, making this 112 page paperback a useful starting resource. The book covers a number of materials and miniatures which can be used in any type or period of dolls house with minor adaptations.
Pros
- Good projects for a novice in a wide range of materials.
- Very few projects require specialized tools or equipment.
- Projects are suitable for many styles of dolls house.
- Projects give a beginner good basic understandings of useful techniques and finishes.
Cons
- Book explores many topics but none in very great depth.
- Many instructions are in the form of guidelines, rather than detailed tutorials.
- Detailed instructions are not given for all the objects shown.
Description
- Wide range of beginner's projects good for trying out techniques and materials which can be used form many miniatures.
- Projects are well designed and use basic materials and techniques with few specialized tools.
- Good starting points for learning which types of miniature projects you prefer to work on.
- Worth checking for in second hand bookstores or libraries if you are new to the dolls house hobby.
Guide Review - Furnish a Doll's House by Michal Morse - Book Review
Michal Morse opened the first dolls house specialist shop in Britain in 1971 and her book, Furnishing a Doll's House has been in constant publication since 1994. This is a great book for a beginner as it covers a number of areas where a beginner can do a great job on simple furnishings with limited skills and tools.
Book Organization - The book is organized into practical sections, each covering one area of dolls house furnishings.
- Soft Furnishings - has instructions for making mattresses, patchwork quilts, cushions and needlework carpets.
- Doll's Clothes - covers nightclothes and a simple Victorian dress, straw and felt hats, and a knitted outfit and blanket for a baby doll.
- Around the House - has instructions for children's toys including a rag doll, a teddy bear and a felt rabbit. There are instructions for making and covering opening books with hard and soft covers. Foods from polymer clay include breads, vegetables and fruits, cakes and cheeses. There are instructions for making a variety of simple woven baskets from fine cane and directions for simple daffodils, roses, tulips and daisies from quilling paper.
- Furniture - has instructions for ladder back kitchen chairs made from dowel with traditional woven seats, and a matching pine kitchen table with an opening drawer as well as a kitchen dresser. A more advanced set of mahogany Regency chairs and a matching table require the use of a lathe.
- In the Kitchen - has instructions for soldering copper pots and pans from plumbing pipe and descriptions of making china and pottery from kiln fired clays and slips.
- The Household - covers assembly of traditional porcelain dolls and modelling of animals from polymer clay or epoxy putty.
The book covers a useful range of projects, many of which don't require highly specialized equipment or tools to make.
Price $12 - $20
ISBN: 0-7134-7878-0
