Welcome!

Well, there's a first time for everything....hello! I have followed and enjoyed so many other blogs out there over the years that I thought it was about time I started my own, so hopefully I will no longer be the invisible 'lurker' and will have enough time to write something of my own and post a few pictures. I've been interested in dolls houses and miniatures for as long as can remember, ever since my Grandad built me my first dolls house as a child. I'll begin on here with a list of my current and possible future projects, though time is in very short supply for me as a stay-at-home mum with a fifteen month old toddler. Miniatures provide a just a little relaxation and distraction for me whenever I find a few moments to spare - here goes....
1. Manderley house, inspired by Daphne Du Maurier's 'Rebecca' (this one is my main project, a second-hand Manor House by Dolls House Emporium bought for a bargain price on Ebay, already built and decorated but in need of renovation)
2. Swedish Summer House (half-finished, a little Buttercup by Greenleaf)
3. Vintage/white/Scandinavian inspired house (a cheap import bought on Ebay, this was initially meant to be a 1930's house but I lost track of what I was doing with it and totally changed direction)
4. Gypsy Caravan (recently purchased in a charity shop, not sure if exactly 1:12 scale but I will see what I can make of it - the picture above is the caravan before renovation, although I'd already started to pull off the ugly trimmings. I'm currently very excited about this one!)
5. Sid Cooke shop - a small shop kit I bought a constructed some time ago, but couldn't decide what to make of it...a bakery, a Cornish seaside shop selling beachy things, a 1920's newsagent, a Victorian photographer, an early ironmonger? I'm thinking of reconstructing from imagination one of the shops my ancestors used to run...
6. Shop window display box - this will probably sell Greengate style interior items, maybe some Maileg toys
7. Various boxes and display frames which could end up as anything - I'd like to do some kind of Thai roombox using the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok as inspiration
Those are just the projects I have already in mind and some I have started, but I am constantly picking up new ideas and dreams for future houses....in reality I don't think I have the space, or time! Within this hobby are many 'miniature' distractions - needlework, polymer clay sculpting, miniature painting, wickerwork, flower making and so on, all of which I enjoy. I will try to keep this blog up to date as a record of whatever I'm currently working on.