TUDOR HOUSE
While a child I received a 2 story ranch style dollhouse that was made of lithographed tin, open in the back, assembled with tiny slots and tabs and filled with monotone colored plastic furniture plus a family of jointed dolls that looked like "Dagwood and Bumsteads' family.
It was rather small scale even from a child's viewpoint. A staircase supposedly ascended from an opening in the back wall of the livingroom on the first floor and ended behind the bathroom in the middle of the second floor. Of course there wasn't really any staircase, but I spent many happy hours stuffing my dolls up through that empty space to get them to the second floor.
It was rather small scale even from a child's viewpoint. A staircase supposedly ascended from an opening in the back wall of the livingroom on the first floor and ended behind the bathroom in the middle of the second floor. Of course there wasn't really any staircase, but I spent many happy hours stuffing my dolls up through that empty space to get them to the second floor.
Naturally 2 floors weren't enough. I had to have at least 3. Then I decided I need a good size attic and then a full basement. And as usual with me, they each evolved separately.
Then a family of 6 moved in, 2 adults and 4 children. Since I only had 3 bedrooms 2 of the boys had to live in the attic, so I had to cut a hole in the roof and install a dormer window.Never mind there is still only 1 bathroom, but at least it has real staircases ascending behind it.
Then a family of 6 moved in, 2 adults and 4 children. Since I only had 3 bedrooms 2 of the boys had to live in the attic, so I had to cut a hole in the roof and install a dormer window.Never mind there is still only 1 bathroom, but at least it has real staircases ascending behind it.
Meet the Reynolds Family
James Reynolds is age 42. I'm not sure what he does for a living, perhaps something in the Market with Futures or Hedge Funds. He must be successful to afford this house.
Anita Reynolds is 39. She likes to dabble in arts and crafts. She once took a ceramics class and made about a dozen teapots. Then she took a china painting class and decorated enough plates for the local YMCA. She does a lot of cooking and canning and preserving food also, so she has to have 2 kitchens. What she needs is a housekeeper.
Anita Reynolds is 39. She likes to dabble in arts and crafts. She once took a ceramics class and made about a dozen teapots. Then she took a china painting class and decorated enough plates for the local YMCA. She does a lot of cooking and canning and preserving food also, so she has to have 2 kitchens. What she needs is a housekeeper.
Eric is 19. He's in college and has already become the family Geek. Every family must have one of those nowadays.
Todd is 9. He's the serious dreamer type, spends a lot of time gazing out the attic dormer window at the sky, especially the nighttime stars. He's hoping to receive a high powered telescope someday.
Becky (Rebecca) is 8. She loves dollhouses and wants every one she owns surrounding her in her bedroom.
Todd is 9. He's the serious dreamer type, spends a lot of time gazing out the attic dormer window at the sky, especially the nighttime stars. He's hoping to receive a high powered telescope someday.
Becky (Rebecca) is 8. She loves dollhouses and wants every one she owns surrounding her in her bedroom.
Scooter (Eugene) is also 8. He's Becky's twin. He has never come across a toy he doesn't like. He loves the family dog also. It's a mixed breed that happily answers to the name Muddy. Scooter and Todd share the attic for their bedroom along with Muddy whenever they can sneak him in.
Eric at his computer. Todd at the dormer window
Eric at his computer. Todd at the dormer window
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The Tudor style house is quite large. It is 36" wide not including a side porch yet to be constructed, 18" deep including the front porch and 50" to the top of the chimney. |
It sits on a sturdy metal cabinet that raises the overall height to 6 feet above the floor. I have to stand on a stool to see what the boys in the attic are up to.
With the exception of a small handful of items, I made everything for this house; the doll family, the furniture, the lamps, the quilts, the rugs, the bathroom fixtures, towels, bedroom closets; as well as all the books, the atlases, the dinner tableware, cookware, appliances in both kitchens, 'glass' canned goods, loaves of bread and cabinets packed with more dishes, tin canned goods and boxes of everything from granola bars to tea bags.
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Only a few of the smallest accessories are glued in place in this dollhouse. |
Also both refrigerators are stuffed with bottles, jars and other food items.
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A thoughtful careful child could spend many hours rearranging everything, provided the house could be lowered to the right height
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