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Thursday, December 1, 2022

When Your Dollhouse Kit Talks To You...

I've had the Linfield dollhouse kit in my stash for a really long time. My ideas for what to do with it have evolved and changed vastly over the years. Every so often I'd hear it whispering to me, tempting me away from whatever project that had me tangled. Usually, my good sense and all the "shoulds" pushed the thoughts away. But this time, it's like an itch that compels me to scratch it. What's my big idea for it now? I'll save the bulk of the ideas for another post, but for now I'll give you a tiny hint about why I might abandon (or share time with) the Willowcrest for a little while in favor of this pursuit.


When I first acquired the kit I wanted the Linfield to become a sweet and heavily detailed Victorian in the style of Robin Carey's New Gothic Victorian. This dollhouse makes my heart swoon, but how many Victorian dollhouses can a person do before they need a different challenge?


At one point I had also considered ideas on how I could turn the kit into a southwestern style adobe house. Totally nutty, right? I even posted about it and made up a diagram. While looking for that post, I was intrigued to notice that the last time the kit was talking to me, it was around Thanksgiving, too. There must be some connection to this time of year and the Linfield calling to me. It probably realizes that the calendar is about to flip to a new year again, and it sees I'm not getting any younger!!! "Pssst! Hey lady! Did you forget about me?".


I actually opened up the kit box that time, just to see what I could see. It was intimidating. While I have finished one Dura-Craft kit before, it was one of the simpler ones. I know fellow enthusiasts with horror stories about these kits, and have read about many of them being abandoned when a builder got stuck and stumped. So, I chickened out, returned everything back into the box and put it back on the shelf. The assembly video is helpful for the basics, and it looks like I have a complete kit, so that's encouraging.


In analyzing why on Earth my mind is craving a whole new adventure, all I can come up with is structure. Rather, too much structure. You see, my last several projects have been measured, planned and precise ad nauseam. I miss my early days of miniatures where everything was a new discovery, I never had a plan because I didn't know what I didn't know. Things came together either by luck or, sometimes, like they had a life force all their own. When something went terribly wrong, I actually enjoyed the challenge of finding solutions. I suppose I want to let the mysterious creative force use my hands to work through me, no real plan, and just see what happens. With what I have in mind, there will be plenty of opportunity for ad lib.


If I'm honest, there is no good reason for me to start on yet another dollhouse project (except that Miss Linfield will be so excited to finally have her chance!). And yet, the feeling that I have to start creating NOW is almost a compulsion, an obsession. I may live to regret the whole endeavor, but right now, I am excited to begin. I have learned that it's important to harness excitement when it comes, and to ride the creative wave. Hopefully, I'll be back soon with something interesting to share...

xo xo,

Jodi

36 comments:

  1. Estoy deseando que comiences la transformación.
    Estoy segura que va a ser apasionante.
    Un saludo

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    1. ¡Gracias Mariana! ¡Espero terminar con algo caprichoso y divertido!

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  2. A new project is always exciting and daunting at the same time. Harness the excitement you feel and go with the flow. I do not read it explicitly in your post but I have a strong feeling that you may remodel the Linfield as a tree house?

    Huibrecht

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    1. That is good advice, Huibrecht, and so true! After cleaning up my work room and before I committed to starting on the project, I had serious reservations. Did I really want to become entangled in another project, chaos, mess? But one email from a supportive reader put it best: sometimes the only way to begin toward greatness is to jump, eyes closed, into the deep end of the pool. That is what I have done and if it's like childbirth, I'll only remember the joy in the end. 😄😄😄
      It is in my mind part treehouse, part fairy house, part dollhouse and part fairytale. 🤞🤞🤞

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  3. I always admired the Linfield, which does seem to demand Victorian care, but like you, I'm a bit burned on the Victorians, so I'm excited to see what you have come up with.

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    1. The Linfield is such a wonderfully detailed kit and I have seen so many lovely interpretations in my research. I leave inspired and also a little enamored with Victorian. Then I come back to my great desire to allow myself to paint outside the lines, and my ideas completely evolve. I hope however it comes out, I have the most enjoyable time doing it! Here's to DoorDash dinners and ignoring the laundry, lol!

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  4. Me parece fundamental comenzar con la emoción de querer hacer un nuevo proyecto, eso ya lo tienes e ideas también; así que ánimo que estoy deseando ver ese nuevo trabajo.

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    1. ¡Es tan cierto, Rosa María! ¡No hay mayor motivación que la inspiración! Y forzar un proyecto sin inspiración conduce a una emoción plana o peor: ¡arrepentimiento! ¡Me montaré en la ola y me alegro de que estés aquí conmigo!

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  5. A tree house from the Lindfield will be EXCELLENT!

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    1. Oh Elizabeth I hope so! I also hope I am brave enough to take risks and patient enough to keep trying until I love the results! Thanks for coming along on another adventure! 💗

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  6. The Linfield kit plus your 3D skills is sure to produce a winner. I excited to see what results.

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    1. Thanks Sherrill! Me too! I hope I won't miss any opportunities to utilize the tech tools in the arsenal along with all that nature has to offer!

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  7. Hi Jodi! I sure know what you mean about kits talking to you... especially the half-built ones! LOL! But this new (old!) one does look fascinating! And the Tree House pictures you are showing are Dreeeeaaamyyy for sure! If this is where you are headed I can't wait to see more! Yes, the possibilities are endless, and sometimes the "free form" structures allow us to be so much more imaginative! And isn't this hobby really all about the creative imagination? I just Love it! I am anticipating another wonderful amazing creation from you!!! :):):) And, yeah, my poor neglected Tree House has been calling me lately..... :)

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    1. Thanks Betsy! It truly is all about the compulsion to imagine and create! When our dollhouses talk to us I know it is with the best intentions because they see the potential for creative adventure and the joy we will experience in the doing. We are never happier than with paintbrush, glue or in your case needle in hand! I hope you feel inspired to revisit all your fantastic ideas for your treehouse again and that maybe we can make progress together! 💗

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  8. Dear Jodi,
    Why not surrender to your inner creativity that calls for a new adventure? life is full of surprises. I'm sure you'll create something stunning out of the box.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thank you dear Drora! This is The Best advice from The Wisest creator I know! I am jumping in, and ready to see where it leads... Hugs! 💗

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  9. Dear Jodi,
    Whatever you have in mind for the Linfield, it will be fantastic! Don't feel bad about abandoning your Willocrest if you have an idea for something else: "the call of the open box" I call it!
    I know that feeling about missing the early days of miniatures - every other minute I would be learning something new!
    I can't wait to see what you will do on the Linfield - if those images of the houses in the trees are a hint, I can see the Linfield being my childhood dream!
    Julia

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    1. Thanks Julia! I am so glad for your support and to have you along on this adventure with me! It seems like the longer in miniatures I am the less brave I become. I don't want to be stuck in that box. Hopefully, I will take risks, learn a lot of new techniques and end up with something as exciting to look at in real life as it is in my imagination! 🤞🤞🤞

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  10. You don't need any good reasons to start new doll's house projects! I still don't carefully plan my minis, roomboxes, or houses, and it works best for me.

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    1. That is exactly the spirit I am trying to capture! In real life planning is safety. I want to bring more whimsy into my craft room. I hope I have it in me!!!

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  11. I can not wait to see what you come up with and what you do! I am still a dollhouse creator that flies by the seat of her pants! Some things work and sometimes I am scrambling find a solution to my 'oops'. That is part of the fun of it. So i can't wait so watch you let imagination go!

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    1. Thanks MaryFran! There is so much to be said for just going for it! I hope everyone just closes their eyes and jumps into whatever idea they are excited about, too! It is what makes our beloved hobby so fulfilling and keeps us young at heart!

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  12. Jodi: I think you've already shared something interesting with us with the treehouse pictures. Fabulous inspirations! I can hardly wait to see what tumbles from your mind when that little hamster in your head stops spinning the wheel. I know it will be incredible. Hugs! - Marilyn D.

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    1. Thanks Marilyn! I hope it inspires or encourages many ideas in my readers! I know I am happiest when my creativity is flowing and my hands are covered in paint and glue, lol! I hope you are finding time for the same! Hugs!💗

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  13. Si te vas a basar en esos dibujos, va a ser una maravillosa fantasia!!!

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    1. ¡Gracias Isabel! Tengo una colección de arte de fantasía muy inspirador, casas de hadas, casas en los árboles y ejemplos de casas de muñecas de los que me gustaría adaptar ideas. ¡Espero que todo se reúna de la forma en que lo ha hecho en mi mente! ¡Estoy seguro de que estoy haciendo un gran lío en mi sala de manualidades, jajaja!

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  14. Well said, Shannon! I seem to crave a nice themed roombox too when I'm feeling like I need to see something progressing quickly. Or when an idea just won't wait. I am enjoying the treehouse project, so far, but it will be nice to allow myself to bounce around if I want to.

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  15. Jodi, no nos volvemos cada día más jóvenes, pero necesitamos aventuras ya que nuestra niña interior manda en nosotras y hay que hacerle caso! La nueva aventura va a ser fantástica a la vista de las fotos que nos has mostrado, estoy tan impaciente como tú y sé que crearas algo mágico y único!!!!
    Besos.

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    1. ¡Gracias Pilar! ¡Tenemos que aprovechar al máximo cada oportunidad creativa mientras todavía estamos aquí en la Tierra! Realmente me estoy divirtiendo con este proyecto, hasta ahora, probando todo tipo de cosas nuevas y disfrutando de la libertad de imaginar. ¡No puedo esperar para compartirlo contigo!

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  16. And... another beautiful new project, I'm curious, knowing you it will definitely work out, good luck!

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    1. Thanks Gonda! There is no better peace and fulfillment than being at the craft table with sticky fingers! I know you feel exactly the same way!

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  17. When your dollhouse kit talks to you you have no other choice than to listen... *LOL*

    But what I really want to say is: HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! A new project!!!!!!!!! Great... somehow an early Christmas gift for myself. And I really had to smile about all the changes of plans and how many "personality" changes this patient kit had to go through. But according to my modest opinion something including fantasy and fairytale is the best personality this kit could ever receive. However... somebody who builds for talking bearies and magical folk might lack neutrality somehow... ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. Thanks Birgit! I am pretty excited about exploring this fairytale genre myself! And the Linfield really looks like a fairy princess house so it was meant to be! I am always so inspired by fantasy folks like you but have had serious doubts that I could make something worthwhile. Hopefully, I can let the ideas come through me and not let the silly fears push my grandiose ideas away!

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  18. YOU are a creative GENIUS! ❤️
    KEEP
    IT
    COMING!

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    1. Ha! Thanks Elizabeth! Now that this RSV stuff is on its way out my plans can continue! 💗

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