This story began with a visit to an on-line auction site in mid-July.  I was immediately drawn to a handmade vintage dollhouse that was constructed using plans advertised in the September 1945 issue of Woman’s Day magazine.  An added bonus was the original building instruction booklet that was purchased for 3 cents in 1945!  The house looked structurally sound, but definitely needed a major makeover.  I wouldn’t have typically bid on an item without seeing it in person, but that didn’t work out so I just decided to take a chance.  The big surprise on pickup day was the actual size (36” long, 23” deep, and 34” tall with the chimney) of the house. The Colonial style house was designed by noted New England architect, Cameron Clark.  The only history I know about this house is that it was made by a Maryland man for his granddaughter.

Cleaning and then painting the interior was the first priority. There were some salvageable pieces of furniture that came with the house, but I decided to make as many of the new furnishings as I could. I talked to a friend who does woodworking for advice and watched a lot of YouTube videos before starting. That same friend printed out the two 1945 Woman’s Day magazine articles that featured the house and furniture.

I decided to go with a contemporary style – a house that felt like home to me.  I’m a crafty and creative person at heart, so I found myself looking around my house for things that could be repurposed for the dollhouse.  For instance, I made the light at the front door from a miniature bell and plastic garland ball.  Some of the other items I made are the platform bed and cover, knitted rug and afghans, sofa, dining room table and benches, shelving, stove and sink (with an oyster shell as the basin), and other accessories. I have no idea how many hours I actually worked on the house, but it was definitely a labor of love and I enjoyed every minute.

As I neared the end of the project, friends asked how I could possibly part with the dollhouse. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to donate the house to a local non-profit and after meeting with Jenny Schmidt and Ann Ingram, the Habitat for Humanity Choptank fundraiser seemed to be the perfect fit.  I hope my donation helps contribute to the Habitat fundraising goal and that someone has as much fun with the dollhouse as I had renovating it.

Written and Donated by Beth Kline