Dollhouses Books

Making Doll's House Miniatures with Polymer Clay

Sue Heaser

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This is the most wonderful book 5 out of 5 stars.
22 of 22 people found this review helpful.

I made myself a miniature drugstore since I am a pharmacist and I had trouble finding things like mortars and cylinders. Thanks to this book I managed to make the most beautiful look-alike mortars with pestles and all, also a little turn-of-the-century (last century, of course) telephone. The directions are precise and you can really get what you are looking for (and I had never touched polymer clay in my life!)

Great book! 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

The variety of projects in this book and the step-by-step explanations, make it a great resource for beginners and experienced miniature makers.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in making their own dollhouse miniatures!

Editorial Review:

“Here’s the definitive guide to manufacturers, tools, safety, and crafting. See how to intermix colored clays to obtain an even wider range of hues, and the different types of paints and varnishes...for adornment. Techniques for softening the clay, balling and rolling it, working with a knife, and sanding will assure good results.”—Doll Castle News.

Anatomy of a Doll: The Fabric Sculptor's Handbook

Susanna Oroyan

Amazon Price: $17.79 List Price: $26.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: C&T Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 9 new & used starting at $10.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Frustrating Experience 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

The book follows no particular sequence and leaves much unanswered in basic steps. For example, page 35 which instructs on making a fully sculptural head is initially clear, basically 3 circles are needed and you'll come out with a fully sculpted head with no nose. But, then there is a drawing of a fully sculptured head with a nose. This head appears to have 4 pieces. The increase caused by splitting the face with the nose in half...but, is this nose appliqued or glued on? Is it then covered with another cloth? This is never answered. And what order is easiest in sewing this face together. If you sew parts 1 and 2, the face, then part 3, the piece which hold in the padding to the face should be smaller (remember, you sewed the face together) and now you need a smaller circumference for part 3, or should it be pleated. According to the author, "learning will be quicker and more enjoyable if you allow yourself to have ideas, to play with them, and to experiment with the techniques." She continues and it becomes condescending. I spent more time than necessary trying to determine exactly what steps to take and when.. she never tells the full story and jumps from one subject to another without warning or explanation. I have plenty of ideas but needed help with the basics in order to apply my ideas. You won't get that here. There are many beautiful figures made by the author and other artists and a brief statement of the technique used. The book is a waste of time and money.. I closed the book and started from "Scratch". I will list the book here on Amazon if any of you want to buy it.

Editorial Review:

Basic rag dolls and richly embellished sculpted cloth figures come alive in this construction technique manual.

A Beginners' Guide to the Dolls' House Hobby: Revised and Expanded Edition

Jean Nisbett

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Guild of Master Craftsman Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $7.48

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great Book For Miniature Enthusiasts! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I purchased the original edition of Jean Nisbett's book years ago and absolutely loved it! There are lots of beautiful color photos throughout and useful tables in the book. She provides a handy metric conversion table, a fine description of the different periods of which most dollhouses are designed and decorated, and offers many projects for dollhouse components and accessories. I haven't yet looked through her revised edition, but I'm sure it can only hold more wonderful pieces of information, guidelines and ideas. Inspiring and useful!

Good source book but not very inspirational 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book about a year ago. I have 8-10 doll house books now, and this is not one I look through very often. It is good for checking up details like which colour the wall papers usually had during the Victorian era, and some of the descriptions of how to make for example a fire look realistic are good, but many of the pictures are really boring and they dont make you wanna copy the design. There are lots of other books that are more inspirational.

Editorial Review:

“The perfect guide to select your first project. Includes instructions for a dolls’ house, the interiors, furnishings, fixtures and even miniature gardens.”—DOLLMAKING.

Build Your Own Inexpensive Dollhouse

E. J. Tangerman

Amazon Price: $5.95 List Price: $5.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dover Publications Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $2.22

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

inexpensive hit 5 out of 5 stars.
20 of 29 people found this review helpful.

This book is invaliable for the beginner hobbist. Gives details on how to start and finish simple dollhouse using minimal tools. A must have for the begginer or child hobbist.

Basic Instruction, Simple Design, Not For The Victorian Dollhouse Enthusiast! 4 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book is not for the person who wants a dollhouse with gingerbread trim...I mean, the author doesn't seem to care too much about architectural detail. For the handyman type who wants to build a dollhouse for a child to play with, this book will suit you, but I do think spending a few dollars more on pre-cut pieces of higher quality wood to suit the overall size of the dollhouse would be worth the extra cost. Trying to do the house with a single sheet of plywood creates more work than necessary and the sanding of the cut edges can be tedious. So, my advice is to use the basics provided in this book and modify them slightly to make your own unique dollhouse. Don't be afraid to make it slightly larger or smaller, add a few pieces of decorative trim and create something a little bit prettier than the house on the cover. :)

Editorial Review:

Anyone can build a dollhouse using just six basic tools (folding rule, square, saber saw, rasp, sander, and hammer) plus a single sheet of plywood. Easy-to-follow instructions and tips, plus over 40 diagrams and photographs.

Dolls' House Shops, Cafes & Restaurants

Jean Nisbett

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great idea book - 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

A tremendous amount of excellent photos with a wide variety of ideas. Very useful for anyone who is going to decorate a miniaute shop as a source of inspiration and information.

A cool book for inspiration 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am new to the dollhouse hobby, and have purchased several books on decorating. I like this one especially, since it takes you away from the standard decorating of kitchen, bath, living room, etc. I plan to make my next dollhouse a shop - now I just need to decide what type of shop I want!

Editorial Review:

Bestselling author Jean Nesbitt has assembled an encyclopedic array of stunning and realistic period-style shops, cafes, and restaurants—illustrated with 270 color photographs—for hobbyists ready to move beyond domestic dollhouses. From a nostalgic Georgian sweet shop and an exotic Indian restaurant to a swinging 1930’s nightclub, here are endless projects with techniques for getting started with plans and kits, as well as Room Boxes for beginners. Tackle innovative, economical design and decorating ideas, from a faux marble fireplace and shop signs to display foods and an escalator.

Dollhouse Style

Kath Dalmeny

List Price: $24.95 By: Running Press Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $5.85

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Really interesting period dollhouse rooms 4 out of 5 stars.
30 of 30 people found this review helpful.

This book features dollhouse rooms specializing in certain historic areas including Renaissance (the Tudor dining room), the Colonial dining room, and the 1950's style diner. My favor is the curiosity shop. It is so full of detailed items that you just can't believe it's a dollhouse.

The photos cover two whole pages together and really provide an up close look at the way the rooms were made, etc. In addition to the beautiful photos, the author also includes the basics of dollhouse accessories (how to make miniature food, furniture, etc). She includes selected projects from each period room and shows you how to reproduce it using simple materials such as glue and paint. Her instructions are clear, simple, and easy. Some people might not like the fact that not all of the items are included but that's ok. I think from the selected instructions and the inspiration you're bound to get from this book, you'll be able to figure out how to make them yourself.

Editorial Review:

Devotees of miniature houses and small-scale furnishings will be thrilled with this superb collection of more than 90 dollhouse projects to craft at home. A comprehensive volume on small-scale interior design, it presents 15 authentic and carefully matched room settings, featuring a variety of decorative styles from Shaker to Victorian. Each period interior is faithfully recreated in 1/12th scale, down to the tiniest detail. Hundreds of tips ensure that crafts enthusiasts will create splendid miniature furniture, decorative elements, and accessories, just right for decorating the most stylish and historically accurate dollhouses.

The Big Book of the Dolls' House

Jean Nisbett

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

big dolls house book 4 out of 5 stars.
16 of 19 people found this review helpful.

Pretty good book. It has lots of pictures and ideas in it for your own doll house. I wish that I had seen the table of contents before I bought it. It didn't have much victorian stuff in it.

Editorial Review:

Veteran dolls’ house maker, expert on all things miniature, and prolific author Jean Nisbett presents a comprehensive volume that brings all the elements of her previous work together. The result: a complete guide to the making and furnishing of all kinds of dolls’ houses, large and small, from the leading writer in the field. Incorporating practical advice, expert tips, and inspiring profiles of top artisans, it covers both the standard 1/12th scale and the increasingly popular 1/24th. And there’s an incredible range of styles, from fabulous palaces and elegant mansions to country cottages and Shaker homes. Breathtaking photos display imaginative decorations, period rooms and room boxes, holiday settings, outdoor scenes, and charming collections of diminutive china and other trinkets.
 
 

Food Displays: Step-By-Step Instructions for over 40 Projects (Dolls House Do-It-Yourself)

Sue Heaser

List Price: $14.99 By: David & Charles Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $8.15

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Amazing Book!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 17 people found this review helpful.

This book is great for those who are fascinated with the art of making miniature food. Sue Heaser explains things clearly and tells you what products to use to get that "professional look". Good sized pictures make it easier to understand the steps involved in creating miniature food using different types of mediums. Check out Sue's other great books. She's definately tallented when it comes to sculpting with polymer clay and teaching others how to do the same.

Editorial Review:

An extensive selection of step-by-step projects show how to make miniature food items from polymer clay for the 1/12th scale dolls' house. Create realistic looking food from polymer clay for the 1/12th scale dolls' house. For Tudor, Georgian, Victorian and modern-day dolls, there is simple fruit, vegetables and bread, as well as celebration food and banquets. A comprehensive step-by-step techniques section covers all the essential techniques for working polymer clay in miniature, such as shaping the clay, mixing colours, creating different textures and baking. It also details the tools and materials and how to put them to their most effective use. This information will then be used throughout the step-by-step illustrated projects. Colour photographs show the finished item and presentation ideas and instruction are given, from bread baskets to whole table settings. An essential book for feeding the 1/12th scale dolls' house family.

The Beaded Dollhouse: Miniature Furniture and Accessories Made with Beads

Nobuyo Chiba

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

"The Beaded Dollhouse" is the perfect instruction guide 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Offering meticulous, methodical, 'reader friendly', fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions, internationally-renowned bead artist Nobuyo Chica shows anyone how they can create charming miniature furniture and accessories out of beads in "the Beaded Dollhouse: Miniature Furniture And Accessories Made With Beads. Directions are provided for creating six complete rooms (four living rooms arranged by season and two different styles of bedrooms) that include couches, floor lamps, chairs, tables, beds, bureaus, mirrors, fireplaces, chandeliers, potted plants, and even a Christmas tree. All the items are on a ration of 1/24 in actual size. Of special note is the extensive and illustrated equipment list for the beading enthusiast. "The Beaded Dollhouse" is the perfect instruction guide and a very strongly recommended 'how to' manual for the novice seeking to make dollhouse furnishings out of beads.

Editorial Review:

With meticulous instructions and beautiful, full-color photos, internationally-renowned bead artist Nobuyo Chiba shows readers how to create charming miniature furniture and accessories out of beads. Here are directions for six complete rooms (four living rooms arranged by season and two different bedroom styles--classic and casual) including couches, floor lamps, chairs, tables, beds, bureaus, mirrors, fireplaces, chandeliers, even potted plants and a Christmas tree. Each piece is astonishing in its detail and 1/24 of actual size. In addition, the book features an extensive, illustrated equipment list.

Dolls House Details: Over 500 Craft Projects in 1/12 Scale

Kath Dalmeny

List Price: $22.99 By: David & Charles Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $9.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Perhaps I'm just too fussy? 1 out of 5 stars.
20 of 24 people found this review helpful.

While this may be a good place to start if you are new to the dollhouse hobby, on the whole I was dissapointed with this book. The instructions are simple, and easy enough to follow, and there are neat little pictures to photocopy, but the projects themselves are not as high quality as those from many of my other dollhouse books. Great for those who are dabbling with the hobby, but for more experienced mini fans, I would give this one a miss.

Amazing Projects 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book is packed with the most amazing craft projects, Kath Dalmeny's attention to detail simply breathtaking. I have her next book and if you want to make your own dolls house furniture, rather than buy it in a store these are the books for you.

The stuff may be a bit European looking to American eyes but that simply adds to the charm. Is she English? I guess so with cricket bats and the like maybe she can get over here and produce an American version with mini bleachers and baseball bats!

To the reviewer from Chicago, if you can do better then I look forward to YOUR book!

My recommendation is buy the book, get inspired and try your hand.

Editorial Review:

No doll house is complete until it's been decorated and furnished in its period style--and no house becomes a home until all the finishing touches have been added. Inside, readers will find step-by-step instructions for over 350 fun, fascinating projects in 1/12 scale, including kitchenware, food, crockery, cleaning equipment, toys, board games, floral arrangements and more.

Packed with photos, easy-to-follow instructions and invaluable templates, this book will inspire all doll house owners who wish to bring their finished models to life.