1/12th Scale Tiny Shop

This is another small shop I started as a change from larger 1/12th scale projects. I like the idea of being able to wall mount smaller properties and this would be ideal. Great for displaying just a few special items and the duck egg blue makes it look a little bit French - a little bit shabby chic maybe??

1/12th Scale Eglantine Cottage

This is 'Eglantine Cottage', my latest 1/12th scale dolls house just listed on ebay. Isn't Eglantine a wonderful name? I saw it on a house programme on TV and just had to ask Julie Lawton to make me a name plate in 1/12th scale. It means wild rose and it sounds so romantic. No sign of Sam or Miss Marple today - I think they are both away visiting relatives over Christmas - and they will be very disappointed when they find out a new property has come onto the market in their absence!

1/12th Scale Shop

I decided I would like to make a smaller property but still in 1/12th scale and this little shop was the result. I used my favourite duck egg blue for the paintwork. I think this would make a great flower shop or a shabby chic gift shop perhaps? Not a Christmassy photo I'm afraid but I would still like to say Merry Christmas to my followers and a big thank you too for all your kind comments.

1/24th Scale 'Holly Cottage'

This little cottage was inspired by Julie Lawton's wonderful 'Holly Cottage' name plate which she kindly made for me. I didn't have a Holly Cottage in mind when I asked her to make the name but once it arrived I just had to build a little house to match it! Hope you can see the name over the door. As always with my 24th scale houses this was a pleasure to build. Now listed on ebay and looking for a new home for Christmas!

1/12th Scale 'Marsh Cottage'

I was forced to take photos of my latest house - Marsh Cottage - indoors today. The weather was too awful to even think about taking any pictures outside. This little cottage has the benefit of a front porch for storing wellies and coats and also a small front garden - great for sitting and watching the world go by!

1/12th Scale 'Compass Cottage'

Sam is delighted with this new cottage just put on the market today. What could be better for a salty sailor than a house called 'Compass Cottage'? It could have been made for him! There's even space to store his rowing boat. He will have make his mind up quickly though because I've heard it's just been listed on ebay so he might have some competition!!

1/24th Scale 'Sea View' Cottage

I hope this little cottage will cheer an otherwise dark and damp November day by making you think of the seaside, the summer and holidays! This is 'Sea View', a 1/24th scale cottage just listed on ebay. I had a go at making my own windows for the first time in this scale and although some of them have turned out a bit wonky in places I do like the effect. Julie Lawton had made some wonderful name plates for me in 24th scale - how she manages to paint such tiny scenes I just don't know but they are amazing!

1/12th Scale 'Harbourside'

This is the cottage I made as a special order for a customer at the beginning of October, now listed on ebay. It was a gloomy day when I took the photos but I hope 'Harbourside' still makes you think of the seaside and sunshine.

1/24th Scale 'The Lodge'

Here's my latest 1/24th scale cottage, 'The Lodge'. It was a very cold and wet afternoon yesterday when I wanted to take photos but I managed to dodge the showers and get a few pictures done so I could list the house on ebay last night.

Interior Photo of the Shop

Here is an inside view of the shop from my last posting. Quite basic but plenty of space for all your shop stock downstairs and a nice cosy room upstairs.

1/12th Scale Shop with Accommodation

I think Miss Marple may finally have found her ideal property - a small shop with accommodation above. The business possibilities are endless - tea rooms, florist, gift shop - she has so many ideas. I just hope that Sam hasn't seen this is up for sale because I know he would like to open a fishing tackle shop!

1/12th Scale 'Damson Cottage'

Miss Marple was out and about early this morning and happened to spot the details for 'Damson Cottage' in the Estate Agents window. I think she's quite taken with this property - it has two spacious rooms AND a scullery to one side. Could this be the house she has been looking for???? She'd better be quick because it's just been listed on ebay!

'Ty-Draw'

This is 'Ty-Draw' a 1/24th scale cottage just listed on ebay. We spent a wonderful weekend in a similar cottage in North Wales a few weeks ago and I thought I would try and make something like it in miniature. I hope I've captured something of the character of the full-size cottage but I've left out the spiders - they were everywhere!!

1/24th Scale 'Thimble Cottage'

This is 'Thimble Cottage' a 1/24th scale dolls house just listed on eBay. It was a pleasure to build something in a smaller scale again after several larger houses. I have several ideas for more 24th scale cottages - I just wish I had the time to build them all!!

1/12th Scale 'Acorn Cottage'

This is 'Acorn Cottage', a new 1/12th scale dolls house just listed on ebay. As you can see Miss Marple thought she would get there early before Sam in case she wanted to buy the house. After months of looking at properties maybe this could be the one??? If you are thinking this looks a little bit familiar you may have seen a witches house on ebay a few weeks ago which looked very similar. That was an old house I bought a few years ago, gave it the papier mache treatment and then sold it on again to the lady who made such a wonderful job of creating the witchy cottage. I loved the shape of the house so much I decided to make something similar.

Pebble Cottage Again

It didn't tak Sam long to spot the details for Pebble Cottage in the Estate Agents window this morning. He has been looking for a new home for so long now and I think he's found the perfect place - there's even space to store his boat!!!

1/12th Scale Pebble Cottage

This is Pebble Cottage, my latest 1/12th scale dolls house just off the workbench. It has just the two rooms inside, again with false doors, with an additional outbuilding which could be used for a toilet or simply for storage for fishing nets etc. I've just listed it on ebay if you want to take a look.

Inside Barnacle and Harbour Cottages

Here is a photo of the interior of the two cottages. The overall width is 22 inches so each cottage is quite narrow and doesn't really allow room for a staircase. The false doors on the rear walls give a feeling of stairs just out of sight without taking up any valuable space.

1/12th Scale 'Barnacle Cottage' and 'Harbour Cottage'

Here are a pair of houses (semi-detached) Barnacle Cottage and Harbour Cottage, built specially to fit in a small space. My customer wanted two seaside cottages but only had a limited amount of space to squeeze them in so we decided that semi-detached was the way to go. Inside there are two rooms plus an attic in each cottage but no stairs - just false doors on the rear walls to save on space. It's a shame Sam and Miss Marple didn't notice these properties in the Estate Agents window - they would have been ideal for them!

1/124th Scale 'Harbourside' and 'Quayside'

Here are Quayside and Harbourside, two new 1/24th scale cottage built for Ann and Bill - if you attend Miniatura you will probably have met them on their wonderful stall (called Just Ann and Bill surprisingly!) Julie Lawton worked her magic on the teeny tiny name signs for me - much too small for my camera to pick up clearly I'm afraid. I will be delivering the cottages to Ann and Bill at the Nantwich dolls house fair on the 6th November.

The Lobster Pot Again

I didn't mention Julie Lawton's lovely Lobster Pot sign in my last post. Here's a closer photo - you still can't see the wonderful detail in the sign (I'm not a very good photographer!) but it is gorgeous. All her signs are gorgeous!!

1/12th Scale 'The Lobster Pot'

This is 'The Lobster Pot' built for Debbie who had in mind a seaside cafe with living accommodation above. There is a small paved area to the side for one or two tables for when the weather is nice and inside there are three spacious rooms - cafe on the ground floor and living room and bedroom above. Another grey day for the photo I'm afraid - you will have to imagine the sun shining and the smell of the sea in the air!

1/12th Scale 'Smuggler's Cottage'

This is 'Smuggler's Cottage' built specially for a lady in Australia who liked 'Cockleshell Cottage' and wanted a house building exactly the same. I hope it travels safely - it's a long way to Australia!

1/24th Scale 'Harbour Cottage'

This is 'Harbour Cottage', a 1/24th scale four room plus attics cottage just completed. I listed it on ebay this morning if you want to take a look. I managed to take some photos in the garden between showers yesterday. Hope you can see Julie Lawton's lovely little sign over the door and the wonderful bicycle I bought at Miniatura from Willow Models.

1/12th Scale 'Harbourside'

This is 'Harbourside', my latest 1/12th scale cottage just completed. It was requested by a customer who liked Barnacle Cottage but wanted a little yard to the side a bit like Rose Cottage - this is the result! It's a shame it was so gloomy out in the garden this morning when I took the photos.

1/12th Scale Broomstick Cottage

This is 'Broomstick Cottage', a 1/12th scale house made specially for Paula as a home for her witches. The little lean-to at the side is intended to be the workshop/greenhouse where all those witchy potions and plants can be produced.

Some More photos of The Rectory

Thank you for your kind comments on The Rectory! Here are some photos taken this morning when the light outside was a little bit better than last night when it was dropping dark and threatening rain.

Something a Little Bit Different - 1/24th Scale 'The Rectory'

I have an old issue of 'Dolls House World' with the most wonderful house featured on the front cover - made by Trigger Pond. I loved the shape of the house so I used that as the basis for this 'stone' lodge. The windows are made from air drying clay, as is the roof. I added a pale wash of colour all over (which hasn't shown up very well in the photo) to add an 'aged' look. Can you see the tiny tiny pot of anenomes on the door step made by the very talented Marianne Cook? She makes the most wonderful plants and flowers (you will have seen her lovely pot of lavender on nearly all the photos of my 1/12th scale cottages).

1/24th Scale Anchor Cottage

This is Anchor Cottage, a 1/24th scale four roomed house just completed. A little bit like a crofters cottage in style and complete with the lovely sign over the door made once again by Julie Lawton.

Two More Beach Huts

It hasn't exactly been beach hut weather here this week but here are two new huts for you to see. The first one proved to be quite popular when I put it on ebay and I had requests for more to built. It's nice to still be thinking of the seaside and holidays when the rain is being blown horizontally at the windows!

Beach Cottage

Ohhhh - this could be awkward! Sam and Miss Marple both saw the details for this little cottage in the Estate Agents window this morning and they've both turned up at the same time to view it!! Who will be the first with an offer?? If anybody else is interested in buying, Beach Cottage can be found on ebay right now so be quick!!
Whilst I'm posting I must just say a warm welcome to my new followers. I hope you find my little houses interesting!

1/24th Scale 'Sea View' Cottage

This little house is certainly too small for Sam! I really enjoyed making this one - 24th scale cottages are so nice to handle and easy to put to one side whilst I am working on something else. You just pop them on a shelf! Julie Lawton not only makes wonderful house name signs in 1/12th scale - she can do them in 1/24th scale too!!

1/12th Scale Lavender Cottage

This is Lavender Cottage, a 1/12th scale house made especially for Paula. It is going to contain several retail businesses (hence the side door for access to the upstairs shop). The windows and doors are painted with a lovely pale lavender shade which was a bit of an experiment but I think it has worked out well. I'm looking forward to seeing Paula work her magic on the interior!

1/12th Scale Beah Hut 'Beach View'

We haven't really had the weather for using beach huts this weekend but I thought a 1/12th scale version  would be a nice reminder of sunshine as Autumn approaches. Sam has had a quick look round but has decided this is a bit too small for him - he wants somewhere he can sit by the fire and mend his fishing nets in comfort. I think Julie Lawton's 'Beach View' sign looks great on the front.

Beehive Cottage

New onto the property market today - 1/12th scale 'Beehive Cottage'. A four room house plus a scullery at the side. It looks like Sam might have some competition for this one - someone is already looking round with a view to buying. It's Miss Marple, a homely lady made by the wonderfully talented Margaret Tees. As always, the front of the cottage is greatly improved by the lovely sign made by Julie Lawton.

Driftwood Cottage

Here is 'Driftwood Cottage', a new 1/12th scale house hot off the workbench. I saw a similar roof shape somewhere on a real cottage and thought it would be interesting to try in miniature. Just a bit different to the usual pitched roof. The windows and door are painted in a new colour called 'Promenade' which I thought was quite good for a seaside cottage. Once again Sam (made by Robin Britton) is having a look around to see if this house might suit him and is also admiring the lovely name plate on the front made by Julie Lawton.

1/12th Scale 'Rose Cottage'

This is a recent special order built for the very talented Paula. Paula has a real skill for interior design and loves furnishing and finishing off the insides of houses - something I never do as I am always moving onto the next building project!

Two New 1/24th Scale Cottages

Here are two new 1/24th scale cottages made as special orders for customers. The one on the right is a smaller version of my 'Rose Cottage' which I made in 1/12th scale a few weeks ago. I would love to have a terrace of 24th scale cottages with each house a different pastel colour - just like at the seaside in Wales where we used to go when my boys were small.

'Seacrest'

Sam the sailor has found another property new on the market and is having a quick look round before other potential buyers arrive. He is keen to settle on dry land after many years at sea but can never quite make up his mind - he has seen several cottages now but never quite decides in time (Sam was made by Robin Britton). This is 'Seacrest', very similar to 'Crab Pot Cottage' as I had several people asking for something along the same lines. Julie Lawton (Cottage Kitty) has produced a new batch of name plates for me and they are just wonderful.

Some More Houses from my Files

Here are some more houses I've built over the past couple of years. It's interesting to see the garden change from photo to photo - sometimes there are leaves on the trees and sunshine and in other shots it's clear that the garden is bare.