Here are the participants in Create's Year Long Challenge (CYLC).
Participants are in alphabetical order by last name. This is the first half of the alphabet. Participants with a last name starting with A-L are on this page.
Participants with a last name starting with M-Z can be found here.
Completed projects can be found here.
_________________________________________
From Suzie Aguilar:
I have so many projects to choose from, but I finally decided on this one I’ve been trying the longest to complete. It is a 1/12 scale house for Santa and Noel Claus. I began over 25 years ago. Many life events have caused this to drag on but my inability to make decisions and then stick to them is probably the biggest slow down. The bathroom is the only room that has pieces glued in place and it still needs lighting to be done. The attic is going to be Santa’s workshop office. I worked on it a bit this December. I hope this challenge helps me get it finished this year!
March Update:
I got off to a great start on my Challenge project. I had made a detailed plan to add crown molding, baseboards, and lighting during the first quarter. I cleared the house contents into storage boxes by room. It was almost like a real house reno! I started with the crown molding but work stopped when I received the news that my mom had passed unexpectedly on February 17. Now in mid March all her final arrangements are complete but I will probably not get back to working on the house before the 31st. I am submitting a few progress photos of what has happened so far. My mom and I shared a love of miniatures so I’ll be recalling those happy memories while I finish this project.
June Update:
Finishing Santa’s house is more challenging than I expected. My husband had shoulder surgery in March and I’ve been taking him to physical therapy three times a week starting the day after surgery. I have completed the crown molding and baseboards. The bathroom is finished except for adding lightly fixtures. (I am watching CR2S videos to learn and get brave enough to add them.) The more I do the more I realize there is left to do!
September Update:
I’ve not made much progress but I’ve done a lot of planning and reorganizing. I discovered I didn’t put acrylic in two windows so that’s getting done by month end. I’m still dragging my feet over installing lights. I bought all the tools to make it easier but now I’m not sure I even put the tape in the right places. I just may not put them in at all. 😳
_________________________________________
From Brandi Bacon:
My goal is to finish my Disney scene. I started it a few years ago as a tribute to my kids and my mom. I made the Bippidii Boppidi Boutique. It's the girls favorite thing at DisneyLand and my mom makes them costumes. It is almost finished, lol. But THEN .... I bought samples from Sue Herber at a miniature show and while I used a lot for kids' projects, I could clearly see them as Disney Stores. And so began Fantasy Land. So now I have finished a Disney Pumpkin photo spot, a Mickey Mouse playground is almost finished, a Mad Hatter House, and A Winnie the Pooh photo spot and shop. When it is finished it is going to be all the FantasyLand shops -- the Mad Hatter's hat shop, the Villain's Lair, BBB, a Christmas Store, a Disney Store, and multiple other stores.
March Update:
I have worked a little on the buildings. They are already built, but they need the painting, trims, windows, etc. Some of the styles and colors have changed and I'm trying to decide if I want to redo them. Finished completely are - Winnie the Pooh Meet and Greet and kiosk (except for characters and signage), Pinocchio the real boy puppet theater for the parade, and the chain link the Halloween Pumpkin photo spot.
June Update:
For the first half of the year I focused on the inventory, the decorations, shelves, furniture, etc. There are over 10000 items, so far. The last couple of months have been spent on the exteriors. I've actually added a few extra buildings. I don't have a particular plan in mind for them and may not use them. But I did find that it is much harder to start over mid project -- matching paint colors, wood colors, sizing etc. it is easier to paint and shingle them all at once, instead of trying months or years later.
Most recently I have stained dozens of beams, cut pages of shingles. I am cutting and fabricating windows, doors, and frames from scraps and laser poop. I went back and pulled the "stone" from the Castle (where the princesses will perform) and the meet and greet house. I also completely bashed the Christmas Shoppe, made a roof from scraps, the second floor from scraps, and the railing from trims.
The Villains' Shoppe is done once I place the interior items. I am pleased with the windows (stained glass villainesses). I am on track to finishing!!!!!
September Update:
The Christmas Shoppe is part of the traditional part of Fantasy Land stores. The facade is the same Tudor/European Village that the other shops feature. I have finished all the decorations and am now busily placing them.
The Disney Store is getting decked out with thousands of items. There are toys, clothes, costumes, snacks and more. I finally affixed the Mickey dome. It is a unique store on Main Street (one of the few stores that don’t or haven’t really existed at Disney in this form). But it is designed that the majority of the front is a massive Mickey dome where shoppers and cafe goers can view the parades and fireworks indoors.
My proudest area right now is the Princess Area. This is the area of Fantasyland where the princesses meet and greet. I’m excited about how it’s turning out.
_________________________________________
From Alice Barber:
It was hard to pick just one unfinished project but this is what I’d like to do-Ruth Stewart’s Yule Log House and furnishings. As you can see, nothing has been started yet.
March Update:
June Update:
Here is my progress on the Yule Log House kit by Ruth Stewart. My biggest challenge was the Fimo house covering which I initially burned when my toaster oven got too hot. After chiseling away the worst of the burned areas, I had to reapply and re-bake another Fimo layer. I plan to finish all the interior furnishings in the next quarter.
September Update:
All the furniture is glued and it is electrified. I’m so grateful for this year long challenge to give me deadlines.
_________________________________________
From Cassidy Beeman:
I am hoping to start and complete a Real Good Toys 1:24 scale farmhouse kit. I plan on making it more modern and trying new techniques. I build most of the furniture from scratch because it can be difficult to find pieces that will work. I enjoy the smaller scale because I don’t have a lot of space and this allows me to have a few houses to try different styles on.
March Update:
I haven’t had a lot of time to work on this project but I did order a new double door for the front. I also set up the shell to get an idea of layout: the first floor will have the living room and kitchen, second floor will have the master bedroom and bathroom, and the third floor will have 2 kids’ rooms and a book nook in the middle.
June Update:
I expanded the front door opening and decided on wood doors with white trim. I painted the entire bottom floor, wallpapered the 3rd floor, and am struggling with the 2nd floor. I might end up changing the wallpaper in the bedroom and floor tile for the bathroom, but in the meantime, I’m going to work on painting the windows and priming the exterior.
September Update:
Some progress made on the half scale farmhouse. I expanded the front door opening and decided on wood doors with white trim. I painted the entire bottom floor, wallpapered the 3rd floor, and am struggling with the 2nd floor. I might end up changing the wallpaper in the bedroom and floor tile for the bathroom, but in the meantime, I’m going to work on painting the windows and priming the exterior.
_________________________________________
From Jene Bondi:
My year long project is a cactus boot. It was given to me 10 years ago. My fellow club member bought it in April of 1999. I have never done anything with it as nothing really ever appealed to me as I don't like to do "normal" in an unusual container. I was talking to another mini friend and she gave me some great ideas. It will be decorated inside and landscaped as well.
I got the inhabitants of my stump house, coming up with ideas of how I want to dress the cockroaches and what they are doing in their lives and ideas for the nuisance creatures (fairys), manage to drop the stump house after the picture and break it.🙁 And trying to find a container to fit it in and realized I'm going to have to have one special made unless I stick it in a glass fish tank. That might work now since it's broken.
June Update:
Well the tip of the shoe is broken, but I still am too afraid to cut the cactus boot. I don't want to ruin it. Any suggestions anyone? I have the naked fairies and wing material, have some furniture that I will embellish. Cockroaches don't like plain brown furniture. Leaves they like leaves. Just need to actually get cutting ... after I finish a few more other projects ...
September Update:
Here are prototypes of my fairly wings for the annoying fairies that is bothering my cockroach family. I like about 2 or 3 wings so far and will tweak them so my fairies can be as annoying as they possibly can to the poor cockroaches.
Right now all the cockroaches have insisted that they aren't wearing clothes. Wrong .. they WILL be dressed like good little proper cockroaches. After all they won't be scurrying about in the dark.
_________________________________________
From Cindy Bottasso:
I’d like to attempt to finish something each deadline. I like to build houses and never finish them/decorate them.
Betterley's Petalstone -- it’s missing pieces so I need to laser cut the sunroom and finish furniture.
March Update:
- Debbie Young’s Cape Cod beach house, all the furniture and landscaping
June Update:
-Debbie Young’s Aurora, all furniture and finish porch and landscaping
September Update:
I’m keeping up with all this. I do love actually completing something for a change so thank you for doing this!
- Michelle Miller’s steampunk train, fix lighting and all the furniture
If I could finish these I’d be so proud and feel good about starting one of the many other kits I’ve already bought.
_________________________________________
From Barbara Bower:
Bramble Wood from Indy Houseparty
March Update:
I need to add more accessories and then I will glue the appliances into the kitchen. I am also working on one bedroom and the dining room. I have been having trouble with the roof. Hope to get it on by June.
June Update:
I need to add accessories and finish dressing the beds. Also I need different glue for the lamp -- which is laying on its side.
September Update:
Here is the Living Room of my house. I need to put the cushions on the sofa and the rocking chairs.
_________________________________________
From Jackie Browder:
My husband's family once owned a house of some small fame. Built in 1872, the outside of the house was the filming location for a movie in the 1970s, and was the subject of a painting by a distant cousin of some artistic renown. All we have left of the house is an artist's print hanging on our wall, a commemorative plate illustrating the house, a mantle clock that once lived inside the house, and clips from the movie. The house is now gone, and so are the memories of its interior. I have drawn a rough interior floorplan in a manner that will function as a dollhouse with fifteen rooms. I have NO kit, and NO cut pattern for this house. My goal for this year to to draw a dollhouse pattern, hire someone to laser cut the pieces (or cut them myself), and assemble the house (no furnishings, out buildings, or landscaping).
March Update:
I started by doing some research and gathering all the old photos and movie clips that I could find of the house. None of the historic photos had the chimney that was shown prominently in the painting. Since the finished dollhouse would be displayed near the framed print, and the second chimney would be useful for wiring, I decided to add it. I got a few small hints from family members, like "I remember rain on the roof being very loud" (It had a tin roof!). I measured all the scanned photos, to get dimension estimates. I was surprised to discover that the first floor had ten foot tall ceilings, but the second floor ceilings were less than eight feet! I made a computer drawing of the entire house's floorplan, taking a few small liberties to make it work as a dollhouse, or guessing when my research left gaps. I assembled all three floor bases, printed wallpaper and fabric rugs, and started collecting furniture (love the peacock chaise lounge!). The floorplan is complete, and the first floor only lacks the staircase.
June Update:
For the second quarter, I finished the wallpapered interior walls for all three floors, two interior fireplaces with hollow interiors for wiring, interior doors, and two staircases. The doors are layers of printed paper with "cut glass" broken jewelry doorknobs. I have also continued to collect furniture and accessories (not part of my year long goal). I decided to alter the floorplan to include two more rooms for a total of 14 rooms. I have not decided how to decorate or use most of the rooms, but I intend to stage the house for a family of seven with parents, four boys, and one teen girl.
September Update:
For the third quarter, I finished the interior floors/walls/ceilings, added most of the unfinished exterior walls, and did the electrical wiring. I had to custom draw and 3D print the front windows, which were very distinctive. In the real world they would be two feet wide and seven feet tall. I held the dollhouse up to the print of the old house to check the window design, and was shocked to discover that the print of the house painting was almost exactly quarter scale! Did the painter enjoy O scale trains as a hobby in the early 1900s? I think that I will add a trainset to one of the upper rooms. The house now has 15 rooms, and the back lean-to addition will be removeable to access the main bedroom. Only three months are left to finish this project. I need to fix a few more wall/trim issues, do staircase railings, finish the roof, add shingles, build the entire front porch including the very unique gingerbread trim, design and 3D print the exterior doors, add the chimney with two more fireplaces, and install all the exterior siding.
_________________________________________
From Pam Carroll:
This was a garage sale find in Indy Winter Wonderland. I am hoping to finish the structure and furnish with my already made furniture.
March Update:
Being that this was a garage sale item I have sorted and labeled all the parts first. It looks like they're all here so now I'm ready for the build.
June Update:
Pat use to laugh at me as I always built the insides first before the structure. I was trying to be good and do the structure first but I just couldn’t break my backwards ways. So here is the rest of the furniture kits I made. Every cottage has to include a rocker, too. (Editorial: It isn't backwards if it works for you!)
September Update:
Finally getting to the construction of the cottage. I had to change some things because of stairs. The windows are 4 separate layers that took a lot of time -- glad I did them first.
_________________________________________
From Nancye Claypool:
March Update:
Making progress!!
June Update:
Work in progress!!
_________________________________________
From Brenda Colby:
A miniaturist friend gave me a half scale unfinished house that she no longer wanted. Because I love this scale, I was happy to give it a home. Thank you Pat! I disassembled the original structure and will add a floor or so to what will be a Charleston style house. I hope to finish it (mostly) during this challenge!
March Update:
Order is beginning to emerge out of chaos. The architectural details of the lowest floor of this half scale house is generally finished, and the wiring is in place for the other floors. There is a lot of work yet to do, but I am hoping to have the next floor completed by June.
June Update:
I completed the interior of the 2nd floor of this house just before the June deadline. It took longer than expected because of the wiring and the porch rails. My goal is to complete the 3rd floor and to begin work on the rooftop garden for the September update.
September Update:
I have finished, as promised, the architectural design of the upstairs rooms of my Charleston-style house. Furnishings, where shown, largely relate to lighting design. I am moving on now to the "rooftop" garden and roof structures, which I hope to have completed by the December deadline. Furnishings will be added after all design work is completed. Hint, hint - I am hoping there will be a 2024 Year-Long Challenge which would most likely be dedicated to furnishings and finishing touches for this home! Thank you NAME; this project would still be languishing in the March update state if not for this challenge!
_________________________________________
From Debbie Colombo:
I have been working on this together with Alician Pearce, on and off for 2 years!!!
March Update:
These are the kits I got done for Cranberry cottage this first quarter.
June Update:
This quarter's progress on Cranberry Cottage.
September Update:
Working on the landscaping components.
_________________________________________
Tai Corraggio:
I'm attempting to build a 1:24 scale model of the Popular Mechanic's Famous Concrete Block House, using as many real materials as possible, including real concrete. It isn't very far along yet, since I just started making blocks at the beginning of the year, and it takes about 24 hours to make one batch.
March Update:
Since January, I've made 940 concrete blocks out of the 2024 I'll need. I also laid footings and drainage pipes, and started building up the foundations and air ducts. (Editorial: Love the people sitting on the concrete blocks!)
June Update:
I finished the foundations, cold-air returns, and underground piping, so now I'm building the main walls and the main heating system. I'm hoping to finish the walls and maybe start the roof this quarter!
September Update:
This quarter, I finished the exterior walls, including installing homemade windows and doors. The exterior walls are coated in stucco. To complete this challenge, I intend to build the roof and finish the heating system this quarter, leaving the house ready for its new residents to move in. (Decorating and building furniture will be next year's challenge!)
_________________________________________
From Pat Creagh:
I have been putting this 1” scale project off for a long time. It is the Twin Shops designed by Connie Reagan. I need to build it, choose all design elements and fill it. Here is a picture of my newly opened kit.
March update:
June Update:
I plan to replace the sidewalk. I have partially dressed the one shop as a bakery. The second side will be a gift shop.
September Update:
I have replaced the sidewalk, “baked” some new items for the bakery and significantly redesigned the floral/gift shop.
_________________________________________
From JoAnne Cutting:
A friend picked this house up at a yard sale for me a couple of years ago. I got as far as stripping out the interior (there was purple fake fur glued as carpet on the top floor and all the wallpaper was mildewed and stained). The shingles on the mansard roof had been hot-glued on; the glue had dried out and the shingles fell off in clumps at first touch.
My goal is to finish the house with a nod to "Frozen" -- the colors of blue, silver, and lavender mainly, with wintery decor -- and then donate it to my church Harvest/Christmas Fair as a raffle. I have just about everything I expect to need on hand already. I just need the boot in the backside to get it done. Having regular progress deadlines to meet may be just what I need to work on it regularly instead of stalling until the two weeks before the Fair and rushing to get it done.
March Update:
There is not much visible progress to report. The interior has been stripped sanded and primed but more sanding is needed. (Editorial: Maybe not much "fun" progress, but that was a lot of effort that went into it!) Sudden renovations to my full-size house have gotten in the way of the mini stuff. Now that spring is coming and the days are getting longer I'll be able to put in more time on my hobby.
June Update:
I am plugging away at endless sanding and repair of the poor Frozen house, which suffered some from the storms of spring. (My workroom is my open - although generally weather-resistant - front farmer's porch). The main visible progress is the start of stucco-ing the exterior (photo 1). The pink is the wet stucco which will dry white and then be painted. Texture is the fun part - I pound the wet surface with the side of a very old dry sponge for several minutes until I like the way it looks. The other photo is of the tape holding storm-damaged bits flush while the glue dried. Now that summer is here, I'm hoping for time and decent weather to put in more time. Sanding and gluing with heavy rain falling a foot away doesn't go well.
September Update:
I finally have visible progress to show on my 2023 Donation Dollhouse. The exterior is mostly done, with the exception of some trimwork and the front door. I'm playing with fitting in windows and trying out different designs. Overall I'm pleased with how it looks. The front door is going to change to a custom made one since the opening doesn't fit standard size stock doors. My favorite part is always the exterior paint and finishing and I've had lots of fun - and learning - with this one.
_________________________________________
From Judy Doe:
I plan to build, furnish and hopefully landscape the Hart’s Desire Miniatures St. Beckham Gothic Victorian house kit. It is still in the box. Having just been in Galveston Texas at Christmas, and seen the beautiful Victorian homes there I plan to make it a Galveston Seaside Mansion from the late 1800’s.
March Update:
Here is my house - coming along, but at a standstill now because the next step involves contact cement. And because that has to be used in a well ventilated space, I am waiting for the weather to improve so that I can do it outside.
June Update:
My Victorian house is built and landscaped, and the interior is wallpapered. Now I have to furnish the rooms before the end of the year.
September Update:
I have furnished 4 rooms in my house - the bathroom, 2 bedrooms, and the eat-in kitchen. I still have the living room/dining room, the child’s room, and the 3 stair wells to finish before the end of the year.
_________________________________________
From Pam Doran:
I would like to complete this roombox inside and out as a bookstore. I started with making some bookshelves a few years ago and then stalled from there. This challenge (and especially the quarterly “reports”) is the push I need to continue to work on it throughout the year and finish it.
March Update:
I’m finishing up the bookcase to put in the roombox. I started out small, but the bookcase started to evolve and grow. I now have to add 2” to the wall height and 4” to the wall length just to get the bookcase to fit in the roombox. You can see the “now too small” roombox just behind the bookcase. I’ve now put myself on a schedule so that this project will get completed by the end of the year. Next up - complete the bookcase, enlarge the roombox, decide/install flooring, and install the bookcase. June is going to come very fast!
June Update:
Roombox enlarged by 4” all around, wallpaper done, flooring done, chimney breast done. Staining everything next. Real life got in the way, but I'm ready to finish interior this next quarter and hopefully most of exterior.
September Update:
This was a challenging quarter working on miter cuts for the baseboard and ceiling, but with Murphy’s Law and numerous boards to keep me company the inside “bones” are now completed. Now to work on the facade and top, then onto finishing touches.
It’s coming together! 😊
_________________________________________
From Vicki Dukes:
Here is my project that I have been working on for 2 years. As you can see it is still in several pieces. I am hoping this challenge will inspire me to get it finished.
March Update:
In the past 3 months I have painted the inside walls, ceilings, truss, and window trims. I stained the flooring and have cut it to fit. I’m in the process of installing the bay window. Next step will be to decide on where lights will go and do some wiring. I got side tracked with the project several times. In the last 3 months, I put lights in my first NAME project and then I completed a second NAME project. I also bought a 1938 table top radio that I gutted and will make it into a room box.
June Update:
This has been a slow process. I got the wood flooring installed on the main floor and the walls wall papered. Installed the large bay window. I covered the bay window roof with copper but waiting to install just for easy access to the room. Painted more trim.
_________________________________________
From Carolyn Eiche:
I'm going to work on my Debbie Young Lemonade and Lace house. I started it last year and stalled out when I had a problem with the bathroom walls. It needs all the furniture, accessories and possibly landscaping.
March Update:
I added the bed loft to the house and painted installed the kitchen pieces (sink, frig, stove and cabinet) and the bath fixtures.
June Update:
Some of the completed furniture pieces for my Debbie Young Pink Lemonade house. Getting there, just a few more pieces to go plus accessories for the house.
September Update:
I've finished and upholstered the sofa and 2 chairs and made the entertainment center. All the furniture is now finished, I just have to accessorize.
_________________________________________
From Kellie Ellison:
I will be assembling a witch’s cottage in 1/4 scale.
March Update:
This is the progress of my Witch's Cottage. Slow going but I am determined to get it done.
June Update:
Well, slow as usual. Planning my wedding got in the way. Lol
September Update:
_________________________________________
From Jean Ellsworth:
My project is a 1:12 scale replica of the Dollhouse/Miniature Shop I owned from 1976 - 1982 in Madeira, Ohio. It was called Manor House Miniatures. Two local men made the room boxes I sold in the shop. They made me a replica of my shop. I kept the unfinished shop box safely put away for 40-45 years. In the spring of 2021, before my move, I got it out and painted the outside. It is time to get it finished. Hopefully the challenge will encourage me to accomplish that goal.
March Update:
I have found all the kits I have been collecting, for 40+ years, for my dollhouse shop. They are finally all together. I have not counted them, but it is obvious that I cannot use all of these in my shop. Guess I will have to pick and choose. Hope I can get a few of them put together in the next 3 months. This is beginning to feel like a 5 yr project!
June Update:
I have been working on the contents for my dollhouse shop. Some are kits I have put together and a few of the items were gifts I received.
September Update:
Been a busy summer, but finished a few more Mott Miniatures kits for my dollhouse shop.
_________________________________________
From Kirsten Enzinger:
1. Remake 3 horses plus English tack for one. One will be a replica of my daughter’s horse, another a replica of a friend’s horse, and then to try to remake the 1/4 scale horse (its so tiny!}.
2. My other big project for the year will be to finish my tiki bar. Will it be on a base, or in a room box? I don’t know yet. I will have to dress and wig two dolls representing me and my husband on our diving vacations. Needs a thatched roof table, lounge chairs, drinks – lots of drinks! Lots of plants need to be made – palm tree, hibiscus, etc. I have lots of ideas, now just need the time!
3. The contemporary furniture set was bought many years ago, waiting to go in a doll house. I still don’t have a dollhouse and I’ve been in miniatures for over 30 years!! So, I’ve decided to make room boxes instead. I hope to make a roombox for this furniture set but will not plan to complete the scene this year. Next year’s project!
4. And Heather wants her room finished too! This is the other roombox I want to make this year, and again I’m not sure I can manage anything besides getting the box made. Decisions still need to be made about electrifying or not, plexiglass lid or wood lid, etc. before the design of the boxes can be made.
Whew! It’s going to be a busy year!
March Update:
I haven’t made much progress on my goals for this year yet ... too many side tracks! I have started working on one of the horses but waiting for better pictures of the real horse before I can continue. A little work has been done on the tiki bar-- roof supports have been installed and the roof cut and stained. Cabinet door installed. Made a cocktail shaker, blender, drink umbrellas, cut and punched leaves and petals for hibiscus, finished the cooler. Still trying to decide if this will go in a room box or on a platform. Most of the year has been focused on designing and making a patio which is being taught to my local club. Prototypes made, 18 kits made by Suzanne Spooner Munch and me, and first part taught at last meeting.
June Update:
I worked on my tiki bar, the thatched roof took a long time! The two flamingos sharing the rum punch are Barney and Wilma ... they have many interesting stories to tell!
September Update:
I made two coconut palm trees and taught this to my club over two workshops. I finished one bay horse. Two more have had all the prep work done and are now in the process of getting painted.
I also decided on how to display the tiki bar, so can now go forward with getting the scene finished.
_________________________________________
From Bev Fleming:
I want to finish my unfinished kits from the 2022 calendar club. Here is what I have left to do -- the last six buildings and the first four months furnishings only The first four buildings are done.
March Update:
Here's my progress on Robin's traveling village. I've finished #5 & # 6.
June Update:
September Update:
I finished the roof and the first floor. I got some of the 2nd floor furnishings done.
_________________________________________
From Paula Francis:
Thirty-two years ago at a local flea market, I noticed the saddest of sad dollhouses sitting in the back of a truck. Since I can never pass by a once loved dollhouse, I instantly bought it. It has been silently sitting in my basement all these many years, waiting to be loved again. This challenge is the perfect time to bring it back to life.
March Update:
So challenging and rewarding … seeing a discarded dollhouse start to come back to life. Rotted, warped wood, rooms that are not square, screws, and nails sticking out everywhere. I refuse to be discouraged. New roof, reinforced sides and base, and one room finished (the kitchen). See you in 3 months with more updates.
June Update:
Moving along with the restoration of my Baby House. I have finished 2 more rooms … the Dining Room and the Parlor. I have one more room to complete and it’s on to the front which will be a center opening, two door facade.
September Update:
I'm getting so close to finishing my year-long project. All the rooms are finished, the exterior is sided and painted and the apex of the house is done. The only things I have left are the 2 large front doors that will show the windows and the front door. I can't believe it's been 9 months since the challenge started. What an adventure.
_________________________________________
From Julie French:
I want to finish my unfinished kits from the 2022 calendar club. Here is what I have left to do and I can’t find November and haven’t received December yet so I can’t include them in the picture.
March Update:
I finished April!! I made progress lol
June Update:
Here is my proof I made progress again.
September Update:
I'm making progress on the June kit. Slowly but surely this roof will be complete and fit into the exterior box.
_________________________________________
From Carol Gambrill:
My big project for 2023 is to construct and furnish my Pickett Pond kit. Attached is a picture of the furniture and accessory kits in their pristine packages. It will take me a few days to unearth my kit for the Pickett Pond structure, also still in a box, so I’m just sending the one picture.
March Update:
February 3, 2023 I opened the large parcel post box from Betterley Miniatures. The postmark date was January 6, 2014! I reviewed the instructions and ordered, again, paints for the Pickett Pond structure and for all the furniture kits. To get back in the swing of quarter scale I decided to start with the furniture kits. So far I’ve done the bathroom and the stove. Moving onward!
June Update:
I made great progress on the Pickett Pond structure! The main building is almost complete. The inside just needs the fireplace and upstairs railings. The outside needs railings, chimney, aging and landscaping. Many thanks to those who've posted tips on completing this kit. Most notably Jenn's Mini Worlds and whoever advised installing the bathroom furniture before adding the room to the house!
September Update:
I finished the Pickett Pond structure - WooHoo! Then I was totally distracted by Debbie Young's shepherd's hut. Since my craft table was full of paints and supplies from Pickett Pond, I used them for the hut. Soooo, now I have to rethink the landscaping. In the next few months, I'll work on the furniture kits.
_________________________________________
From Jean Gibson:
These are two complete house kits that I have been meaning to do but the process is a long one and I haven't taken the time. Now I have to! One is the Veranda house including a garden, and the other is the Pocket babyhouse.
March Update:
I started with the 144th Baby House by Volker Arnold. There were 6 rooms of furniture and all the extra toys that needed to be painted. There is still quite a bit of work that needs to be done on the furniture before moving into the house and I am curious to see how much is going to fit. Then the plan is to decorate the interior and fill the window boxes outside for the next time.
June Update:
The kit was a cute idea and involved more hours than I thought. Very fun and challenging. Even though it is 144th scale, it was a huge project! I love the smaller scales and thank you for offering the challenge.
September Update:
My progress on this 144th scale House with a Veranda. Everything is assembled and ready to arrange on a base and to decorate the house interior. There are four rooms of furniture and an outdoor garden area that are included in this complete house kit by Volker Arnold.
_________________________________________
From Ruth Goodger:
I’ve had the kit since before pandemic and then could not find the paint I wanted. I have it now so it is time to move on it.
March Update:
Waiting on furniture to add the roof on Creekside Studio project.
June Update:
Have the kitchen area and landscaping to do.
September Update:
Did the landscaping. Still have to finish the kitchen. It’s so tiny.
_________________________________________
From Sherry Graf:
When my grandmother was a young woman, in the early 1920’s, she made beautiful ladies' hats and was always very proper with gloves, purses and shoes to match. I plan on making a lady’s shoppe with items from the last 100 years to showcase her wonderful 50+ year old hat box.
March Update:
I’ve laid out my base and side walls, have my lights, and have been collecting items for the ladies’ shop. I also took Ginger Landon-Siegel’s Annabelle Goes to Paris darling luggage and hat course which will be one of the main displays in the shop! So elegant and fun!
June Update:
I’ve done more on the structure so it is stable. It is 24”wide x 12” deep. As this is kind of a fantasy shoppe I am loving all the white wicker but will definitely build shelves as well. This is just a taste of all the items I have and have been working on store signs as well. Hopefully Nana is looking down from above and loving her shoppe!
September Update:
The work on the shoppe is nearing completion. Now to start on all the little kits and finishing touches.
_________________________________________
From Evelyn Gumina:
The Pickett Hill House Kit is my goal for the Year Long Challenge. I purchased the kit a few months ago.
March Update:
I am working on the electrical part of house. House with one coat of gesso. Not so appealing right now.
June Update:
Unfortunately, I have no progress to report this quarter due to unforeseen circumstances.
_________________________________________
From Sandra Hambley:
I have my childhood dollhouse made by my dad (55 years ago). Thought I’d aim for renovating the whole house but it was daunting to think about. I think I will aim for just redoing the living room. It needs it!
March Update:
I keep thinking I’ll make a wee bit more progress before sending my update photo in, but the time has come. Added flooring, wallpaper, and wainscoting. Next up baseboard, chair rail, and fireplace! Great idea for a challenge. It keeps me going!
June Update:
Coming along, slowly! The curtains and fireplace are just perched there right now. I have to figure out how to attach them.
September Update:
Pretty much done! I'm going to have to start another room!
_________________________________________
From Pat Hartman:
Well, nothing like a deadline for motivation so, I’m up for the challenge. I’ve been planning to do one more large project and this is the perfect opportunity.
I’ve been collecting (for a long time) to make a Santa’s workshop based on a picture I saw of a Christmas window display in Toronto, Canada. Primarily it is in a very large box in its current condition🤪
March Update:
I've been building the main furniture pieces.
June Update:
I haven’t had time to do much but will have more time to work now that many of my prior commitments are over.
September Update:
Here is a picture of my Santa’s Workshop as it is now. I have completed the construction, the next thing is to decorate and finish a few kits to go in the structure.
_________________________________________
From Bonnie Helterhoff:
I am hoping that since this is sort of a competition and I happen to be extremely competitive that this will spur me on to do this project. I found this Real Good Toys house for $40 at a miniature flea market. It has some but not all of the floors, no wallpaper, and the outside is just primed. My goal is to redo it as a Mary Engelbreit themed house. I would love to see this happen but I just keep putting off starting ... We all know how that goes…lol. I’m hoping that by committing now I’ll get it done!
March Update:
I have gotten the exterior painted white; the trim painted black, and the roof shingled with black paint wash and a wash of red over that (may need to add more red later). I’ve decided which rooms will be what; bought wall paper, and found some furniture that I can redo in the Mary Engelbreit style. Real life has taken much of my time and will also dominate the second quarter so most of my progress will be the last half of the year. I’ll do what I can the next quarter and then one room each month along with unfinished bits for the balance of the year.
June Update:
Second quarter was hard as I had two shows; two classes, a fun day, plus projects I needed to complete to display at my club's show ... so actually pretty proud of myself for making some progress. I decided I needed to paint the roof red and did that. Painted and added the porches; wallpapered inside (actually so that I could just glue in the windows); added tiny checks and other trim; got the cool windows with flowers (Miniature Designs) - painted and added gallery glass. The door is missing the plexi as I hope to do a leaded design on it if I can figure out that something that will work. I made shutters; glued them on, and hated them. Sometimes life goes that way. I've found a couple more pieces of furniture that I will be redoing in Mary style. There are places that need touching up but I plan to catch all of them at the end. Actually pretty pleased with where I'm at and looking forward to some interior design.
September Update:
I added the staircases and walls next to the stairs on the first two floors and enclosed the stairway on the third floor for more wall space. I printed some rugs (need a few more). I’ve used mostly furniture found cheaply and painted it/added paper detailing. I dressed the bed and recovered the living room set. Built the kitchen cabinets from illustration board. The kitchen table was a plastic set painted and the dining room was from Hobby Lobby - painted and trimmed.
For the fourth quarter I plan to complete furnishing, add lamps, accessories, and wall décor. It’s exciting to see the house taking shape and I hope that I can manage to finish this by the end of the year.
_________________________________________
From Eileen Herrstrom:
I started this Jamestown dollhouse from the Real Good Toys New England collection in 2021. Its current state: the exterior is done; some rooms are nearly complete, one is barely started, and most are somewhere in between. I plan to complete the interior this year, although I suspect the house will never be “finished”, and landscaping will be added later.
March/April Update:
I had intended to work on completing my big dollhouse for the Year-Long Challenge. However, we had a house fire three weeks ago. I haven’t been able to inspect my dollhouse closely and in good light, but it’s definitely damaged. My husband and I are living in a small apartment temporarily, where there is no space for the 1” scale dollhouse.
All of this is a long way of asking, may I switch my focus for the challenge? I’ve started working on a 1/2” scale Japanese dollhouse kit and will continue with that for the remainder of the year. (Editorial note: Special circumstances are ALWAYS considered!)
June Update:
Here is the completed tea house for my Japanese dollhouse. I’m still working on the main house, but the tea house will be in one corner of the garden.
September Update:
My 1/24-scale Japanese dollhouse project is coming along, although work space is tight. Since our house fire in March, we have been living in a 1-bedroom apartment while we rebuild. Our real-life house now has walls and a roof, and so does my dollhouse. Electrical work comes next. The inhabitants of both houses are eager to move in!
_________________________________________
From Kimberly Hood:
I have packed this through the last 3-4 moves. Every time some helpful person tries to toss it in the bin, I explain that I have plans for it. Well this challenge is just what I need. My hope is to convert this radio into a living space with a grand library and huge stained glass windows. All with a steampunk vibe. We'll see....
March Update:
I finally dug the radio out of the closet, had cleaned it up, and was just about to start taking it apart. When my son came in and said "What are you doing with my radio?" After several minutes of "no this is mine" going back and forth like toddlers, he reminded me that his works and he's been looking for it and mine is in the greenhouse. Oh ya 🤔 Which happens to look like a before picture from Hoarders after I stuffed everything in it when my dad moved in with me while we waited for his shop to be built. (Which is delayed as my contractor is currently in the hospital recovering from brain surgery. You can't make this stuff up.) So back to the closet and pick another project. That's right I have a closet full of untapped potential. 😁. I will now be turning this curio cabinet into a 3 level Alice in Wonderland multi scale thing. It's going to be great.... really. So far I've dug it out of the closet cleaned it up, glued it all back together, and replaced one of the shelf brackets that was missing with the stained top of a fancy toothpick. I'm excited to get going on this.
June Update:
September Update:
I would love to say "I have done so much" but mostly all I have done is a few sketches and a lot of research trying to decide how I want it all to look. I keep changing my mind ... there are so many options I call it "Possibilities Paralysis". I know some pieces and the big picture but not all the details. I am confident that I will finish by the deadline, I often find the most inspiration in the 11th hour.
_________________________________________
From Kristie Horrell:
I am going to complete Carpathian Cottage. I want to have it completed by the end of this year. It is still in the package.
March Update:
June Update:
I completed a little more on the house.
September Update:
_________________________________________
From Carol Johnson:
My goal is to complete the Picket Hill house and all its furnishings. My kits finally arrived and here they all are.
March Update:
I have attached a couple of photos of my progress on my Pickett Hill house. I have completed most of the interior accessories and am about to install the second story in the Picket Hill house. I am enjoying every moment of this challenge. 😊
June Update:
I was able to do some work on the first floor of the Pickett Hill and installed the hallway on the second floor.
September Update:
I have completed the Pickett Hill house and accessories and am now working on the landscaping.
_________________________________________
From Julie Johnson:
This beauty is a Joseph Angel house signed by Clell Boyce, #10. I purchased this at the NAME convention in Alexandria. I had to dismantle it to get it home. A year later I put it mostly back together and did some work on it. It has now sat for two years. It survived a move, but the electrics didn’t fare so well. I have spent last year trying to wedge my minis in a small garage space. Everything I unpack needs fixing, so that’s what I do. Unpack, fix, and try to find a spot for them. Here are pictures of my storage house.🤣😂 it became the repository for everything I didn’t know what to do with!
March Update:
Thanks for doing this.
June Update:
I have made progress. First picture is an almost finished laundry room. Next a chandelier has been painted. Installed a pie cooling window in laundry room. Siding going on. Repainted the shingles … only for the third time🤣
September Update:
Laundry room, done! Turret railing is hard! I cut it wrong, didn’t have any more, glued my pieces back together, fingers crossed, but the floor and walls are done. The kitchen is progressing ... stove and sink installed. The game room is close too. I'm painting the window frames. The floor is laid in the turret. So much to do and lots more painting!
_________________________________________
From Laura Johnson:
I intend to finish a bridal accessory shop.
March Update:
My latest photo. The challenge was a great idea!
June Update:
September Update:
Here is what I've done so far.
_________________________________________
From Tina Kase:
I spent a lot of time last year thinking about this project. I'm hoping this challenge and just knowing other people are waiting to see what I can finish, will provide the additional incentive I need to let me finish the first part of it. (The whole project should take me and my grandkids years. 😂) The first part of the project is to create the base of a tree that will contain living quarters for my grandkids Sylvanian family (calico critters) dolls. Aside from building and decorating the tree house it will also involve creating a lot of the furniture. There will be the additional challenge of making it playable and safe and engaging for toddlers and up. It would be nice, but unlikely, if I could start on some of the structure for the rest of the tree, which will include spaces for me to create rooms and houses thereby satisfying my miniature hobby (perhaps with the help of my grandkids as they grow up if they become inspired to join me in my hobby.) I will consider this year's project project complete if the toddler section of the tree is completed this year. I have no photos. I've not started. Everything is in my head.
March Update:
I have tested materials, methods and "playability" by making a set of chairs and a table for the (Sylvanian Family) tree dollhouse and squirrel drey -- which ultimately will sit on the tree. I discovered a few things that really will work, and quite a lot that won't. Also discovered that it's a very time consuming project. 🤗 Looking forward to getting rid of the huge pile of cardboard boxes that I've collected for the tree.
June Update:
A very busy couple of months, wherein I completed 2 projects unrelated to this challenge, (Ramadan box and 3 x 2023 advent calendar gifts) and now I'm on a month holiday. For this year long challenge I finished off a few minor details on the squirrels' drey and constructed the framework for the tree base. (That's the part of the tree I want to complete for this challenge.) It completely monopolizes my craft space. It feels a little daunting and more than a little crazy. This segment is hopefully going to fit through the doors to get to its home place if it is turned on it's side. It's made of wood, hard and soft plastic water pipes, and joints and is nailed, screwed, and wired together. I had some assistance from my son with this part.
September Update:
The skeleton of the tree house and 5 of the 6 sylvanian family dollhouses (the 6th house is the squirrel drey completed first) have been covered in paper, some also with joint compound. I've started on a few pieces of furniture and decor like these stained glass bits that are pretty much child poking, dropping and punching resistant. (She writes with crossed fingers.) I've also completed one 'stone' and 'wood' floor covering for one of the houses. I plan to have at least one 'architectural feature' and one 'personality imbued' piece of furniture per dollhouse completed by the end of the year, even though I want the entire structure to be "complete" and playable by then too. (Having said that, Miss 2.5 (oldest grandchild whom I babysit daily) now regularly plays with one dollhouse or another and daily asks if her house is finished yet. 😂) My current big challenge that I'm grappling with is making child safe doors on all the future secret nooks and rooms that I'm trying to provide all over the project. These will be "filled in" with scenes from books etc (I have a bunch of ideas for these including automata and holograms😂😂😂) as my grandkids grow and have favourite books or interests. 2 or possibly 3 will be completed this year, including lighting. Lighting is the other enormously challenging problem my brain is focusing on now too... As it is now time that I should have figured out how to put child safe, and yet still accessible (for maintenance) lighting everywhere. 🙄🙄😂😂
_________________________________________
From Kim Kehoe:
I want to build the living room and kitchen from the TV show Home Improvement. All I have done is take a picture of my wood and making a list of ideas and sketching it out.
March Update:
I am working on the Home Improvement TV show house. This is the stairs and the desk area that is behind the kitchen in the show.
June Update:
September Update:
The living room and dining room for the Home Improvement house.
_________________________________________
From Carol Kira:
This is a department store window which I started a couple of years ago. This is a great opportunity to get me started on it!
March Update:
I completed the class offered by Ginger Landon Siegel “Annabelle Goes to Paris” luggage which will be an integral focus of my project.
June Update:
This quarter I added to walls, framed out the window space, and base coated the outside. Much more to do - watch for September report!
September Update:
It’s September and I thought I would have my project finished, but some medical issues slowed me down. One quarter to go. Moving along and still a bit of finishing touches on the building needed and complete the window dressing.
_________________________________________
From Katie Kirby:
In 1976 I became involved in two lifetime pastimes - miniatures and genealogy. For the past 15 years I have been planning (in my head) a way to combine these two pursuits. I will be kit-bashing Laser Dollhouse Designs’ Craftsman Garage into my dream genealogy space with an office/workroom downstairs and a sitting/reading room upstairs. I expect to make 90% or more of the furniture and accessories. Time to get started!
March Update:
It doesn’t look like much, but I scanned, printed and assembled copies of 150 books in my “real” genealogy collection, cut, sanded, and stained all the furniture and started assembling some of it, scanned, printed and framed family photos, artwork, and painted the marvelous Esther Marker Tiffany lamps.
June Update:
The building is 99% finished; now on to the furnishings and landscaping!
September Update:
Both the exterior and interior are finished, as is the furniture. Now I need to add more accessories. In the last quarter, I also plan to make a winter landscaped base.
_________________________________________
From Kathy Koons:
In 2021, I was fortunate enough to get one of Petite Properties' 1:48 scale Advent calendars. I faithfully built them until the middle of December, when I realized that I did not know what color to paint these pieces of furniture because I didn't know what I was going to put them in. I got the 2022 Advent calendar, too. During 2022, I got their June Cottage, as that is my birth month. My resolution is to build the June Cottage and all the rest of the Advent calendar kits and fill the cottage with as many as will fit. Some are exterior items and I hope to get landscaping done to include them.
March Update:
I've made my Petite Properties' bathroom fixtures, most of the kitchen ones, and the dining table and chairs. I discovered that I have no stove, so I ordered one from PP. I've decided that this June cottage will be "Rose Cottage" for me -- my favorite flower and the birth month flower for June. Planning the actual construction and look of the cottage has been exciting!
[I work on this project as a palate cleanser after working on my backlog of Robin Betterley's Secret Traveling Village from last year. I have 3 more of those to go!]
June Update:
I am still working on the Challenge each month after completing one of the buildings from last year's Robin Betterley Secret Traveling Village. Well, not last month, because the second half of May was spent cruising the Rhine and Mosel rivers. But, here are the photos of the April and June completions.
September Update:
A trip in July and another in September plus doing the Bunny House project for the Quarter Connection have really cut into getting things done on this project this quarter. I began to be concerned about how much of the furniture would fit into Rose Cottage and went ahead and built it. The front is removable and the side room was a lean-to shed that I had to seal the door of and hide to become the bath that will be glued on the right side, but needed to be off for you to see. The outside needs a finish of spackle and I was right - a lot of the currently finished furniture will not fit in these rooms. Luckily, there is plenty more to make.
_________________________________________
From Debra Kuckuck:
I’m so excited for this challenge to give me the push I need to finally open some of my many, many kits! If I can get these finished this year I will be a happy camper. Of the three dozen unopened kits I chose for this year, 29 are 1:12 scale. Six Cat’s Paw trunks, two Mini Cousins kits, and a bunch of miscellaneous. The final 7 will be my first attempts at 1:48 scale! (gulp!)
March Update:
I still have a ton of kits to finish for my challenge, but here are a few I got accomplished so far!
June Update:
Progress continues! Thanks for the continued motivation!
September Update:
At the end of the year I’m going to be so happy to have all of these kits finished! This challenge has been so helpful.
_________________________________________
From Sherri Lackey:
I have decided to do the Elegance Book Nook by Petworth Miniatures. It was a Christmas present from my husband.
March Update:
I had the inside and outside walls prepared. I wanted the outside walls maroon and used Rustolium 2 in 1 on them. I felt the maroon was too red so I gave them another coat of Expresso Rustolium and I am happier with it. I really like the details on the inside walls.
June Update:
Slowly but surely!
September Update:
I was able to get almost all of the furniture made except for 2 chairs and my chandeliers and wall sconces. Still need to be painted and upholstered.
_________________________________________
From Lisa Lehr:
My year-long challenge is to complete my Tiki Bar. It was started, but now all the pieces patiently sit inside a container waiting for completion. The goal is to finish the structure pieces, place it on a suitable base, and add accessories along with landscaping.
March Update:
-chose a base
- decided on placement of Tiki Bar components
- laid wooden floor
- removed barbeque from Tiki bar structure and made it freestanding (with hot dogs grilling!)
Still very much a work in progress!
June Update:
The second quarter was mostly spent planning and taking stock of what I have for the Tiki bar and what is still needed. There are a few more items I need to make before I can permanently place everything. I am currently working on propane tanks for the barbeque. The third quarter will be spent making a surfboard rack, tables & chairs for customers, and a roof/cover for the actual Tiki bar.
September Update:
The third quarter has been spent planning and preparing to add in the last details. Still need to put the surf board stand in place, customer tables on the platform, attach roof and add the final details. Stay tuned for the final reveal!
_________________________________________
From Lesia Lennex:
I've agonized over which of my projects should be tackled for 2023. While this won't be the only project, it's a large one and has never been out of its mailing box: The Pickett Pond and furnishings. I have several of the interior and exterior furnishings kits and subbed others that I thought might look good. None of them have been started. I felt awful when I looked at the box mailing label -- June 2017. It's time to work on it and hopefully finish it this year.
March Update:
My photo doesn't show this but I've also glued together the house frame. I'm happy with the progress!
June Update:
Since I've been in TN, I've been mostly doing the furniture for the Pickett Pond. I've completed quite a lot of furniture. Good thing I brought the structure with me so I can work more on it!
September Update:
I'm making progress! I've shingled the downstairs, installed the first floor paper, and finished the chimney. I'm ready to start first floor wallpaper and planning the lighting.
_________________________________________
From Doreen Lindsay:
I have decided to enter the year long challenge with two kits - the Summer Cottage by Debbie Young and the Rivendell Cottage by BJ Miniatures. Hopefully this will get me back to doing miniatures again after the loss of Pat.
March Update:
I have built the first house and am working on the interior kits.
June Update:
I have started on the second house. Next are the windows. As I have asthma I cannot spray them so I am waiting for my niece to help.
September Update:
Not much has been done over summer - life sort of got in the way.
_________________________________________
From Cindy Loman:
I am so excited by the year long challenge. After all the holiday madness, it is just the kick in the pants I needed to work on my mini projects. I bought the Emily Flower Shop kit recently and it has a zillion pieces. It will certainly take a year to finish what with all my other hobbies and sewing projects.
March Update:
I was so intimidated by my kit that I kept putting it off until I knew that I had a quarterly deadline coming soon. In the beginning of March I started laying out all the pieces and parts. It was confusing at first, but now that I’ve got it figured out, I am so addicted and having so much fun! Thanks for organizing the challenge. Working on it has been such a joy that I’ve barely noticed the dreary weather outdoors.
June Update:
I finished more of small items and furniture. I especially like the rack that holds ribbons and paper and the little oil can and lantern which I have sitting in the foreground for now. The shop looks crowded and cluttered, but I have a lot more stuff to make!
September Update:
This quarter I focused on making the flowers for my flower shop. It will be a challenge to get it all together by the end of the year, but I look forward to finishing it. It would be nice if I finished it before the holidays hit, but I doubt it!
_________________________________________
From Sally Lonn:
I've put this off long enough ... this is a home for my many, many dolls that I have collected around the world, made, and had kits for. The dolls got finished during Covid, now they really need to be displayed.
March Update:
No progress update from me for one reason, I am working on the centerpiece for the convention, and if you haven't seen it it is a complicated piece with many, many little cubbies to fill on two sides. It can't be done haphazardly, so my project is sitting there yelling at me!
June Update:
Today I laid out all of my pieces for my corner store. Sealed both sides and went to trial fit it all together! I AM MISSING a whole wall on the right side. I am so bummed!!! Anyway, here are my trial pictures. I've contacted the company online, they are in Victoria BC, online only. So maybe I have a chance. I think when I bought it ... it was a close out. Waiting to hear.
Working on corner shop with missing wall ... all painted, ready to floor and wallpaper. I decided there is plenty of light and may not need electrical.
September Update:
Being gone most of the summer hasn't helped my miniatures. Here is what progress I have been making. The Corner Doll shop is coming along, tricky flooring with the angle to work on. Hope to complete it soon.
_________________________________________
