Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas at Dad's Dollhouse

You may remember that I collected dollhouse miniatures as a child, after my father built me a dollhouse, and then I mostly left miniatures behind for several decades. Since February or March, I've been refurbishing and decorating Dad's Dollhouse. I left the original wallpaper, since it was wallpaper from my childhood home, which coincidentally was also a country Victorian house just like the dollhouse.

Miniature Christmas tree from earlier days.

So for several months, I've been ripping out old carpet, purchasing furniture and accessories, and making minis from kits. I've also received several beautiful gifts and giveaway prizes to help complete the dollhouse. Several dollhouse miniatures that I kept from all of those years ago included a Christmas tree and a few other decorations, such as wrapped presents for under the tree, made by my younger self.

Kitty stealing cookies--one is already missing!

Then recently I built a key piece of furniture from a kit (more about that in a future post!) and FINALLY made curtains for the parlor and the kitchen. Then I found this sweet Mama Mouse (Mavis Mouse) at a thrift store!

Mavis Mouse working her paws to the bone baking Christmas goodies!

Look what Mavis Mouse baked--yummy Christmas cookies and cakes!

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it! Happy Holidays! Until next time.... xoxo Jennifer

70 comments:

  1. Hi Jennifer,
    I love the story behind Dad's Dollshouse, It warms my heart.
    I'm so glad you kept the original wallpaper and the presents you made :0)
    Sweet Mama Mouse is adoreable, I LOVE her, what a find!!!
    Big Christmas hugs
    Vicky xxx

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  2. merry Christmas! It is so beautiful to see your old house!

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  3. La casa è stupenda e i tuoi dolci amici ancora di più!
    Buon Natale anche a te e a tutti i tuoi cari,
    Mely

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  4. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas to you and yours and all the best in 2012
    Hugs Maria

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  5. Thank you for bringing me in the right christmas mood - I've just finished trimming our christmas tree and am now relaxing a little bit before the celebrating of christmas eve begins (you know, in Germany we get our presents this evening *smile*)- and this beautiful post was perfect, especially the well-made food in the last pic made me hungry... ;O)

    Have a merry christmas!
    Hugs
    Birgit

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  6. Muy felíz Navidad y buen año 2012

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  7. Merry Christmas!
    It must be great to have a house that was built by your Dad in your childhood! And good you are still taking care of it!So many memories.:)
    Hugs

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  8. ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨★
    ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨***
    ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ *o*
    ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ *♥*o*
    ¨¨¨¨¨¨**o**♥*o*
    ¨¨¨¨¨**♥**o**o**
    ¨¨¨¨**o**♥***♥*o* “
    ¨¨¨*****♥*o**o****
    ¨¨**♥**o*****o**♥**
    ¨******o*****♥**o***
    ****o***♥**o***o***♥ *
    ¨¨¨¨ ___!_!____
    ¨¨¨¨\_________/¨¨¨


    Feliz Navidad, besos, Narán.

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  9. Merry Christmas to you!
    It's nice to see all the Christmas preparations in this house.
    Geneviève

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  10. Cuánto me alegro de ver fotos de la casa de papá, con el árbol y decorada de navidad, es una joya
    Felices fiestas Jenni
    Besos

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  11. How Lucky you are to have your childhood doll house made by your Dad! I love your Mama mouse busy in the kitchen, it looks so warm and inviting.Merry Christmas Jennifer!

    Hugs,
    Victoria

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  12. Hi Vicky! Great to hear from you! I'm glad you like the story behind Dad's Dollhouse! I consider it a family treasure now. Mama Mouse was such a thrill to find! I like thinking that some crafter's legacy is living on! Thank you for your lovely comment. Big Christmas hugs back to you! :-)
    Jennifer

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  13. Thank you so much anna! It is always lovely to hear from you! Merry Christmas! :-) Jennifer

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  14. Hola Mely! It is great to hear from you! Thank you for your kind words! The inhabitants of Dad's Dollhouse are really sweet, huh? :-) Merry Christmas! :-)

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  15. Hi Maria! Thank you for your words of blessing. It is so nice to hear from you. Merry Christmas! :-)

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  16. Hi Birgit! Oh, I'm so glad that my post put you in the right mood for your celebration. Happy present-opening!!! We always open one present on Christmas eve in our family. Enjoy the presents and all the tasty food!!! Merry Christmas! Jennifer

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  17. Hola maria l.! It is great to hear from you! Merry Christmas and happy new year to you! :-) Jennifer

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  18. Hi The Old Maid! So nice to hear from you! Yes, the memories of this dollhouse are really sweet! :-) Merry Christmas! Jennifer

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  19. Hola Naran! I love your beautiful tree! Thank you so much! Merry Christmas and happy new year! :-) Jennifer

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  20. Hi Genevieve! It's nice to hear from you! Glad you like to see the Christmas preparations in Dad's Dollhouse. Merry Christmas to you! :-) Jennifer

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  21. Merry christmas Jennifer, i love your little mouse

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  22. Hola Rosamargarita! I'm glad you like to see photos of Dad's Dollhouse. Your precious words are gems. Thank you, and happy holidays to you! May the coming year be filled with many blessings! :-) Jennifer

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  23. Merry Christmas, Ascension! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment during this busy time! :-) Jennifer

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  24. Hi Victoria! It is great to hear from you. That's what I was going for--warm and inviting! Thank you for your kind words! Merry Christmas! :-) Jennifer

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  25. Hi Klara! Thank you! I'm glad you like Mama Mouse! :-) Merry Christmas to you, and happy new year too! :-) Jennifer

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  26. Beautiful Christmas decorations.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours.
    Kiss Faby

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  27. Hi Fabiola! Thank you very much! Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! :-)

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  28. Hi Jennifer, what a lovely house it is, all dressed up for Christmas, such joyful atmosphere.
    Mama Mouse is so sweet, I hope she gets along with Kitty, but as long Kitty only eats (steals )cookies and no mice):) everything will be alright.
    Dear Jennifer I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas !!

    Warm hugs Mieke xxx

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  29. It really is so adorable and perfect.
    Merry Christmas!
    Cyndy

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  30. Your house looks so wonderful. I love the story behind it - it makes it all the most precious. Merry Christmas!

    xo
    Claudia

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  31. Hi Mieke! Great to hear from you! I just spent a lovely time with my family on Christmas eve! I like what you said about Mama Mouse and Kitty getting along--you are so funny and cute! :-) Thank you for your sweet blessings. I wish a merry Christmas for you and your family too! :-) Jennifer

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  32. Hi Cyndy! Great to hear from you! Thank you for your sweet comment! :-) Jennifer

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  33. Thank you, Claudia! What a thoughtful comment--I appreciate that so much! :-) Merry Christmas! Jennifer

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  34. Lovely scene with a vintage touch! And I can imagine, how important the house is, as it's built by your father. I have one too built by my own dear father. And I adore the mouse!! I wish you a happy Christmas! Hugs from Sanne

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  35. me encanta tu escena tiene un aire calido como antes en las casas,felices fiestas¡¡¡¡,besos

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  36. Have lovely holidays! I am in love with your little mouse, she looks very much at home and she is a great cook, too, it seems.

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  37. Merry Christmas and my best wishes for the new year! A big hug

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  38. Very nice scene!
    Happy, peaceful Christmas!
    Anda

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  39. Dear Jenny, I wish a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family and a New Year full of wonderful things. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
    Big, big hugs from Sevilla

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  40. ¡Feliz Navidad! La casa es linda y ha quedado preciosa con su decoración de Navidad...Me gusta mucho..Un beso

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  41. Mama Mouse is a doll! And she's got baking skills! Definitely a keeper! Merry Christmas!

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  42. Thank you, Sanne! You and I both love the vintage, don't we?! :-) How wonderful that you have a dollhouse built by your father too! Have you shown it on your blog? I would love to see it. :-) I'm so glad you like the mouse--I adore Mama Mouse too! Merry Christmas! :-) Jennifer

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  43. Hola becky! Thank you! Yes, it reminds me of Christmases from my childhood or even earlier times. Felices fiestas!!! :-)

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  44. Happy holidays, Elly! Glad you like Mama Mouse--she reminds me of my grandmother, who baked all kinds of cookies and candies at Christmas time. Thank you so much for your comment! :-)

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  45. Hola PAKY! Nice to hear from you! Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and yours! :-) Jennifer

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  46. Hi ANDA! Great to hear from you! Thank you for your nice compliment about my scene! Merry Christmas! :-) Jennifer

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  47. Hola MARU! Merry Christmas, and big, big hugs back to you! :-) Jennifer

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  48. Hola Maria Blanca "AyamontinoMaria"! So good to hear from you! Thank you very much--I'm glad you really like my little scene! Merry Christmas! :-) Jennifer

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  49. Hi TM! "Definitely a keeper"--I totally agree! ;-) Thanks so much for your fun comment--I so enjoy hearing from you. Happy holidays to you and yours! :-) Jennifer

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  50. Jennifer!!!!!
    Felices Fiestas y Felíz Año Nuevo te desean las Malu´s.Besos.

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  51. Hola malu2! Merry Christmas and happy new year to you! Thanks for leaving a sweet message! :-) Jennifer

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  52. o my goodness, how lovely! I must show this to my daughter who's mad on dollhouses and such. so glad to have discovered your blog! a blessed Christmas and new year to you and yours :)

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  53. Felices fiestas para ti y los tuyos. Esos pasteles están increibles. Besos.

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  54. Hi BIKBIK AND RORO! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a lovely comment! Happy new year! :-)

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  55. Hola Eloisa! Happy holidays to you and yours! Aren't those cakes beautiful? I bought them from miniatures.com. :-) Thanks for stopping by and leaving a lovely comment! Jennifer

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  56. La petite souris est ravissante et cuisine fort bien, ses gateaux sont merveilleux on en mangerait bien quelques uns!!!!
    Isabelle

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  57. Great to hear from you, isabelle! I'm glad you like the mouse and her food. Hope your tummy is full now! :-) Welcome, and thank you for becoming a member of my blog! :-)

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  58. Hi Jennifer! I think the rescue of the house made ​​by your father's wonderful! It is beautiful prepared for Christmas. And Mama Mouse prepared delicious dishes!
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
    Hugs

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  59. Hi Eliana! It is great to hear from you! Mmmm, I just finished eating all of Mama Mouse's cookies and cakes--I am so full! ;-) Thank you for your lovely comment. I hope you had a merry Christmas, and may you have a happy new year full of many blessings! :-) Jennifer

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  60. Your dollhouse is amazing. And Mama Mouse is quite a cook! Those look delicious! Hope you had a Merry Christmas too, Jennifer! Thank you for sharing your amazing, plush and miniature world with us. Happy New Year!!

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  61. Great to hear from you, Miranda! Thank you for your kind words! :-) I hope you get over your cold soon! I love reading your fun posts! Happy New Year! :-)

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  62. Me encantan estas escenas.
    Felices Fiestas!!!
    Besos desde España!!!

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  63. Hola cristall! Thanks for stopping by! Thank you for your kind words! :-) Jennifer

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  64. How kind of your father to build you a dollhouse! And to think that you still have it. It's so unusual! You were so lucky. I always wanted one but it never happened. I love that little mouse. She's too cute! She reminds me of this book that I have. It's called George and Matilda Mouse and the Dolls' House. The day after their wedding, George and Matilda find this abandoned dollhouse in a garden and they fix it up and live in it. I still read it from time to time. I used to read it to my grandchildren and I always kept this one.

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  65. Hi Lucille! Great to hear from you! Yes, I've been lucky in many ways. I must get that book--thanks for telling me about it. Another fun one along those lines is A Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter. The illustrations are so sweet! Two mice become squatters in a dollhouse that belongs to two dolls. Funny and cute! Thanks for your lovely comment! :-) Jennifer

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  66. I love that you still have your treasured dollshouse made by your dad. I wish I still had mine (which never had a door or glass in the windows!)
    The tin of cookies is so cute, did you make them?
    I've tried again to join your blog, I hope it worked, Gill x

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  67. Hi Gill! Thanks for your lovely comment and extra effort with Google Friend Connect. I appreciate it very much! Thanks for being a friend of Plushpussycat! The cookies in the tin were made by Sue's Little Things, the one who made the cheesecake in my giveaway. She sells minis on ebay. Here's her link: http://stores.ebay.com/sues-little-things

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  68. ¡¡¡¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAAAAADDDDD!!!!
    ¡¡¡¡¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

    Gracias por tu visita Jenifer, tu blog me encanta y esas escenas de Navidad son una pasada.
    Besotes amiga mia.

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  69. Hola Fatima! Happy new year!!! Thank you for your lovely comment and for becoming a friend of Plushpussycat blog! I so appreciate your kind words and look forward to visiting your blog more and seeing you here again. :-) Jennifer

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Thank you for commenting! I LOVE comments! And I read every one of them. :-)