The Dollhouse That Will Get Completed... Really.

So back in 1990-something. Honestly, don’t remember, which is funny because I’m usually pretty decent at dates but it was when I was little, I decided for Christmas that I wanted a dollhouse and in my little girl head I figured it would come whole… like I wouldn’t have to build it, but alas Santa delivered a beautiful one that had to be put together. It was rather complex though for a little tyke like me, so I started working on it little-by-little with the help of my dad because I was like… in elementary school.

The problem was as I got older and more involved as one does in extra-curricular activities with part-time jobs, basketball practice, and theatrical shows my time for building said dollhouse diminished… so there it sat.

Then my senior year of high school my family moved and there was a nice storage place for it in the basement while I went out-of-state for college, then I moved to L.A. for an internship. There I had roommates and a tiny apartment and stayed for quite a few years until the recession plus other not-so-fun stuff hit, which led me back home. One day I came across that dollhouse, sitting there, gathering dust in the basement and I thought that maybe I should try and finish it. I started with the shingles on the roof. Putting them on one-by-one but then I got another job overseas and left for another two years and it sat again… gathering dust until I broke my foot teaching a dance class and now there was really nothing to do but sit at home, do my physical therapy and try to finish the dollhouse. So I painted and added shutters, a front porch and gingerbread. When my foot healed, I left again overseas and while there got accepted into grad school. Another two years gone. Since getting my fancy master’s degree (I did that in a year and it was far more complex!) I have been looking for work here in the states and starting my entrepreneurship adventure. However, I didn’t know how long it would take… a couple weeks? A few months? More?

Well… it was more than I care to say and now we have this (rhymes with Sharona.)

Because of this, I’m officially not going anywhere for a while and hopefully will now have the time to actually FINISH it. Over the years I’ve collected furniture and a doll family from small mountain stores as well as antique and craft places. I’m obviously waaay past playing with the dollhouse, so it’s now going to be a display piece with a fragile porcelain family sitting in velvet chairs living a far richer life than I probably ever will, but the goal is to get – this – done and by putting it on here you all will hopefully check me on it.

“Are you done, Hollie?”

“Can we see a pic?”

“What kind of wallpaper are you using?”

“I think you should use hardwood floors!”

Me too!

So, join me on the forever journey of finally finishing building the dang dollhouse and the irony of the fact that all craft stores are (supposed to be) closed. I hope it turns out nice so my kids (when I have them) can look at it.

No one’s playing with this thing – I mentioned porcelain, remember?