I thought that it was way past time to create my own blog. This is no easy task, considering that i am a definite technophobic!!!

My children (and theirs) introduced me to the wonderful world of the internet and all that comes with it!! First google, then ebay, internet groups and blogs!! I have met so many wonderful, charming people that i now call friend. Please bear with me while i blunder and bluff my way through this, until i find my way. Which is how i have survived most of the daunting situations that i have landed myself in!!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

fate... and fancy...

dh/d minus its windows and door...
Hello to everyone.. I have had lots going on lately, so i haven't had much time to myself. But i did find time to buy another vintage dolls house! I have fancied this model for quite some time... it's a Lines DH/D. Funny name, nice house! A few have slipped by me on ebay. Being either out of reach pricewise or distance has thrown up obstacles. I had been watching this particular house, on ebay, it was in the UK, but the seller was reluctant to take overseas bids, so i thought that i was destined, once again to just watch and drool....
Fate is a funny thing.. it so happened that the buyer of this little gem was a member of a dolls house club that i belong to. Long story short... she offered the house to me and i naturally jumped at the opportunity to add it to my slowly growing collection!!!
I was amazed at how quickly the courier service got the house to Australia from the UK. just over 4 days, with a weekend slap bang in the middle and with Wendy's careful packing there wasn't a hair out of place...
It's a great little house with lots of charm, only 2 rooms to furnish, very sweet. A petition had been added to the top floor but this wasn't original to the house, so had to go. Wallpapers were very quickly removed, i was slightly disapointed not to find any remnants of the original wallpapers but i have friends with this model and research has not been difficult. Thanks to technology we can now get copies of a lot of the old wallpapers.
roof papers have been removed.
not sure yet if this had roof paper or was painted?
almost there...
still messy..
black gloss paint, very stubborn..

still some sanding needed..
 i'm happy that the house is complete, i'm not quite sure, but i think its about 90 years old.. I hope i will be in as good condition when i'm that age!!
It's been painted over and the black gloss will take some effort to remove. I have decided to take the windows out to remove the paint. The metal frames are quite fragile and i don't want to risk breaking them.
I have been told in no uncertain terms that the window panes should be replaced with glass, DEFINITELY not plastic..... I consider myself told!
Luckily there are some lovely people out there who have this house and i have been picking their brains and stalking their photo's, getting a feel for it!
It's not finished and probably will take a little while, but already, in my mind, i am sorting what will suit and what won't! Can't wait!!!
Some more news!!  My eldest granddaughter who is 22, and her partner, are going to be parents!!
That will make me a GREAT grandmother..  yay!! yes i know, i am already great!!!
 It doesn't get much better than this! 
Christine xxx

8 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness!!! I can't believe you got one! Well done, Christine! (there aren't enough exclamation marks to express how exciting this is!)I had actually saved the pics from the auction won by the other forum member because I was so taken with this house before I knew who had won it. And to become a great grandmother on top of everything! Does life get any better. :~)

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  2. no, you're right this is about as good as it gets.. another grandaughter(17) got her driving license today.. everything is rosy.. how is it at your place??? :)this house gets under your skin, if it's caught your eye, you won't rest til you get one! :)

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  3. What a great little house and obviously meant for you. It will be nice to watch its progress.

    Congratulations on the baby news. :-)

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  4. How amazing that it only took 4 days! And I bet you'll beat me on scraping and restoring the outside - mine is sitting there papered and furnished (and inhabited) inside, and still half scraped on the outside.
    I'm pretty sure the flat roof didn't have paper - mine doesn't, it was originally a grey-black colour (most of it's still there, just needs a bit of touching up). And I'm pretty sure Marel told me hers was painted too. Tile paper on the sloping bits, and dark grey paint on the flat bit. (Perhaps it's meant to be tar paper, or something? I guess you wouldn't put tiles on a flat roof, would you?)
    Hope you show us your progress - you can inspire me, especially the way you just take it apart, scrape and restore, and put it back together! I've been scraping the door still in place - but it is going to get quite awkward, so I guess I should follow your example and unscrew it!!
    And congratulations on your coming great-grandchild! Wonderful news :-)

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  5. Congrats all around. What a find! An old Lines brother dollhouse! Lucky you. Will be watching the restoration with interest!
    And what a treasure, a Great Granddaughter!
    Keep us updated. Will this baby live near you? C

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  6. thank you all... we have 10 grandchildren, have always lived near them.. its much fun when they are young but the rewards come as they mature into young adults. they visit often and enjoy our company as much as we do theirs.. they all have a wicked sense of humour! life is never dull..the new baby will be just as close, and it makes my youngest daughter, a grandmother..

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  7. rebecca; i thought that might be the case with the flat roof section. the windows and the door hinges were attached with nails. they resemble blue tacks, so it was simple to gently prise them off.. this makes it so much easier to scrape and sand. i love what you have done with yours! you are responsible for my passion with this one!! :) xx

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  8. Well done on getting such a gorgeous house, I am soooo glad I din't spot that on ebay, I need more dolls houses like a hole in the head!!! Lizzie xx

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