Little World Miniatures & Miniatures Museum in New Hampshire

This last week I fell in love with New Hampshire. We rented a house on Lake Winnipesaukee with 8 adults and 6 kids from my mister's side. Vacation dreamland! Bumper boats, ice cream, mini golf, sluicing, kayaking, swimming, bumper cars, ice cream, hiking, go karts, beach, Fun Spot (where they filmed the Donkey Kong world record setting documentary "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters") oh did I mention the ice cream? So much fun!

I even met Bill Clinton!! Well, Bill & Julie Clinton of Little World Miniatures. We drove an hour and half to Ossipee to visit their shop that they run out of their home. Bill & Julie are an adorable and friendly couple who have been running their shop for over 30 years. They spent many years and earned many awards doing the miniatures show circuit on the East Coast, but after serious injuries from a car accident they have been unable to attend the shows. Back in the hey day some of the shows had 3,500 people in attendance.

Their living room is the museum portion of the shop filled with Bill's mother Esther's collection of houses from the 30s - 50s along with houses they have built and decorated themselves. They have one of the first wood dollhouse kits that replaced the tin houses when metal was in demand for the war effort during World War II. Esther lived into her 90's and played with her houses up until she passed.

Little World Miniatures has a wide variety of miniatures, supplies, electric lights and dolls along with kits and assembled houses for sale. Bill & Julie were wonderful to talk to. Every miniature had a story. It was great learning the history of so many of the vendors, and a little sad that many items are out of production due to artisans passing away with no apprentices to take over, along with the smaller audience of collectors.

If you can, I encourage you to take a trip this summer to your closest dollhouse shop, and if you're in New Hampshire, definitely stop by and meet Bill & Julie in Ossipee. Here are the goodies I purchased.

Little World Miniatures
Bill & Julie Clinton
103 Route 28 (off Route 171) at the "Log Cabin"
Ossipee, NH 03864
603-539-6136
Open 7 days a week 11am-5pm

Sofas and Sectionals added to minimodernistas 20% off sale

Doris just added her classic sofas and sectionals to her 20% Off Summer Sale. Her signature Long&Low sectional and sofa, Tufted, Tootsie Roll and V-Leg Day Bed sofas are all on sale for 20% off until July 13. These are hands down the best and highest quality sofas in this price range.

Check out all of the sale items and sofas on her sale page here: minimodernistas.com/dollhouse/index.php?route=product/special

I have and love her new Slant Sofa, Big Sphere Lamp and Rug 23 in this scene. Also minimodernistas in this room are the Platform Chair and both Ottomans. SLICE Tilt Coffee Table and book are PRD Miniatures. Sideboard is MiniModels. Pillows are by me. Accessories are by Modern Minis, Dotsan, Re-ment, Ray Storey, CW Lubin, Bucky Balls, Lolly's, and Shellie's Miniature Mania. I have to finish setting up the kitchen so check back for more photos and details on the kitchen and dining room.

Contemporary Dollhouse Furniture on Kickstarter

I'm excited to see a miniaturist reach their goal on kickstarter. Smallhouse Models got funded to buy a CNC router to help produce a new line of contemporary dollhouse furniture. If April gets more funding she'll purchase a 3D printer to open up even more possibilities. Check out her kickstarter at http://kck.st/1iMdlTw.

20% off New Items at minimodernistas!

Minimodernistas is having her summer sale, all new items are 20% off until July 13th. (Oops. Corrected, I put June the first time, but the sale ends in July. Kids are out of school and I have no idea what day it is.)

Check out the sale here: http://minimodernistas.com/dollhouse/index.php?route=product/category&path=52

Real Good Toys Build-Along Project

Who is working on the Real Good Toys 4th Annual Build-Along Project 2014? It's a non-competitive build where people share their progress on Facebook (or their blogs). A Miniature Obsession and Mini Confessions are making good progress on their CCs, is anyone else building along this summer? I'm really tempted.

"The Collectibles Cabinet" for this project costs $49.99. The Build-Along ends Aug 15, 2014.
For more details click here.

I have been following the Build-Alongs over the years, but have yet to join in. Mini2B almost talked me into the 2012 kit that was the "Puzzle Dollhouse Kit" where you had a bunch of walls and roofs and just figured out what you could come up with. I wish I would have done that one, as the kit is no longer available. Here are some highlights from the first 3 kits in case you missed them. Definitely follow the links to see the other amazing creations. I can't wait to see what people come up with this year.

2011 RGT Build-Along

The first Build-Along hosted by Real Good Toys had people building along side Jen and Jodi as they posted updates on their progress. It's a fun way to ask and answer questions and see how other people tackle similar problems while building.
Check out the 2011 pictures on the RGT Facebook page or in the RGT photo gallery. Below are just a couple of the projects from Claudia Heckart, Deb M. featuring Lynlott Miniatures, Linda Burkell and Linda Vallejos. Click here to see more.

2012 RGT Build-Along Project

The second annual Build-Along featured the Puzzle Dollhouse Kit with an array of parts that could be assembled to create a variety of structures.

Check out the 2012 pictures on the RGT Facebook page or in the RGT photo gallery. Below are a just a few from Brenda Bourque, Jean Potter and Ninalu Bovensiep.


Jodi's bakery/cafe along with Marjie Oetinger and Megan Kasper's houses. Click here to see more.

2013 Build-Along Project

Featured JJ's Dollhouse Cottage in both 1/2 inch and 1 inch scale.

Check out the 2013 pictures on the RGT Facebook page or in the RGT photo gallery. Below are finished houses by Cindi Barbeau, Jodi and Stacy Thibeault.

I love the pool by Marjie Oetinger. Click here to see more.

For more details on the 4th annual Build-Along click here

Real Man's Cave

If I were a man, this would be my cave.

Happy Father's Day to all the baby daddies out there.

Deets: Entertainment unit, console table, bolero bench, tribal cubes, picture frames, buddha head art are PRD Miniatures. Sofa by MIAIM Miniatures. Pillows and plant from minimodernistas. Stag and rhino head are by Dotsan. Coffee table is Peter Tucker. Mirror and rug by Pepper. Large planter and tray by me, Modern Mini Houses. Accessories are BuckyCubes lilu miniatures, Red Dragon Pottery, William Maranville, Gilbert Mena, RJT Miniatures, CW Lubin, and craft store beads.

Man Cave Make Over

"Lake front property with gorgeous view. Needs a little TLC. Quick sale. As is."

The listing was right about the view, but the small Lake House was in need of a LOT of help. Only one station worked on the TV; the beer fridge made a loud humming sound that drowned out the birds. The beer and cup-o-noodle stains could be cleaned, but the "art" and recliner would have to go.



A major scrub down later, and the Lake House was as good as new.

Deets: Neville House by CB2 sold in 2011. Chairs, credenza, lamp are MaryAnn Roy. Table is Paul MacAlister. Ball clock is minimodernistas. TV is Hallmark ornament, has lights and plays ESPN theme jingle. Accessories are Re-Ment, Kaleidoscope House, Studio 7, HBS Miniatures, and for the life of me I can't remember who made the glass bottles (I bought a bunch of them and can't find the artist's info). Anyone recognize? Updated: Okay, thanks Callsmall, it is Ray Storey. When I saw him in Chicago he only had lighting and no more bottles so I thought they weren't his. I'll have to email him to see if he'll make more.