Here are the participants in the Create Year Long Challenge (CYLC2025).
Participants are in alphabetical order by last name. Participants with a last name starting with Q-Z are on this page.
Participants with a last name starting with A-C can be found here.
Participants with a last name starting with D-K can be found here.
Participants with a last name starting with L-P can be found here.
Completed projects can be found here.
From Susan Skinner:
My goal for 2025 is to fully furnish my Federal style house and paint the exterior.
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March Update:
For the first quarter of the year long challenge I've been shopping my furniture and accessory stash and putting together several kits including the master bed and upper cabinet in the master bedroom. Right now it's a gathering and rearranging of things to start filling out the rooms.
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June Update:
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Kirsten Smolensky:
For 2025, I would love to finally start and complete a “standard Victorian roombox” by Goliath Miniatures that I won at the NAME Winter Wonderland conference in Indianapolis 2 1/2 years ago. I am imagining a contemporary art gallery in a quaint touristy town with a Victorian storefront. I’ve been collecting things for years, but I need a place to put them! And then I will probably also create some artistic additions of my own.
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March Update:
No progress. It’s been a rough start to 2025. I did at least pick out the floor I want to use. :)
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June Update:
No June update.
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September Update:
So it has been a slow going, but I have the exterior mostly completed along with the hand laid parquet floor (from Tom Walden). Now I need to work on wiring and finishing out the exterior details. I also need to complete the interior molding. After the basics are done, I can start to put the art gallery together.
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Final Update:
From Christiane Starks:
I decided a “Challenge” is just what I need to finish this lovely Robin Betterley cabinet. I keep putting it aside in favor of other projects! I plan to get together with two mini friends during the year (they need to finish their cabinets as well). Thank you for organizing this YLC!
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March Update:
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June Update:
My update for the second quarter is minimal. I am working on the little kitchen to the Secret Cabinet. My hands are not cooperating lately, so everything I do has to be slowed down - a true test of my patience. Thanks to my son, I started working with rubber tipped tweezers! They are fabulous for holding on to the tiny bits.
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Jodi St Pierre:
This 50+ year old dollhouse spent the last 30-ish years in the back corner of a garage (not climate controlled).
It was in use as a nursery for a squirrel family for a few seasons, and also suffered some water damage ... and the effects of time. For 2025, I hope to finish all the decorating and furnish inside and out!
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March Update:
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June Update:
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Fran Sussman:
Two more rooms to fill — this year I really will finish!!
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March Update:
Withdrew March 2025.
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June Update:
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Leslie Swager:
My first plan is the Wonky house with the boat underneath. I got the kit 3 1/2 years ago but still have a lot to do as you can tell by the picture. The second one (in case I finish the wonky house) is a workshop from the Charleston, SC convention. I haven't done anything on it since I left there. I'm really planning on getting them done! I guess we will see!
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March Update:
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June Update:
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Janet Swanson:
I’m going to try to work on another level of my Maitlin Smith bar cabinet. I need to finish first floor first. 😊
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March Update:
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June Update:
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Julia Tchikine:
This year, I want to find a final layout for my dollhouse, set it up, and make progress on at least six roomboxes, and hopefully finish them! Making progress on more than six roomboxes would be nice, but six is my goal!
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March Update:
It's been a very busy first quarter! I have found a final layout for my dollhouse (which is massive - 37 rooms - I have four finished :-D), and I have set it up. I have also made some progress on three roomboxes (shown in picture), and hope to continue this productivity in the next quarter!
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June Update:
Unfortunately I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked on the six roomboxes this quarter. Ideally I'd have had one or two completed by now, but there is always next quarter! However, I have completed a lot of work on two of them, and I should have it done by the next quarter.
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Wanda Waterfield:
Figured I would jump in again this year and try and complete this house that I started to renovate two years ago. I had to move it out to the center of the room again to be able to access all sides of the project. Here goes!
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March Update:
Here’s my first quarter progress. Completed the curtains in the bathroom, started the flooring on the third floor, and tested out furniture placement in the master bedroom.
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June Update:
It’s been a little crazy quarter. We’ve sold our real house and are moving to a condo. So only started a little work on my CYLC.
Started carving the stonework for the fence around the house.
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Celeste Wiley:
I've been trying to restore/remodel the dollhouse my father built for me 45 years ago. It languished in my parents' uninsulated attic for decades, which caused the glue to dessicate and the house to implode on itself. I brought the remaining pieces to my home last year but I've struggled to stay on track with the project. I feel like the Challenge would be a great way to motive me to stay on top of it. There is a lot to be done and my goal is to complete the entire first floor this year.
I'm attaching two photo collages. The first shows (clockwise from the top left): How the remaining pieces arrived, pieces precariously stacked to show what the house looks like, digital sketch showing what the front facade originally looked like, digital sketch of what the interior layout looked like. The second photo is the current state of the exterior and interior of the first floor.
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March Update:
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June Update:
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Dot Winchell:
This is a dollhouse I received ~1980ish. I’m hoping to get at least 4 rooms rehabbed this year.
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March Update:
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June Update:
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September Update:
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Final Update:
From Marty Young:
This year I am going to work on my first project. This is a Hofco Victorian Farmhouse which I started many years ago. As Ron’s was closing, I purchased furniture and lighting in the sales. The outside needs refreshed after many years and then onto the windows and the interior. Should be a very challenging year!
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March Update:
All I managed to accomplish this quarter was to get sliders so I can move the house and cabinet around. Need to be able to move it so I can work on all sides. I also selected the paint so I can sand and repaint. Life got in the way this quarter. Next quarter I plan to do better.
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June Update:
I still want work on my yearlong project but have not made any progress this quarter.
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September Update:
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Final Update:
