I’m getting oh-so-close to completing my 1955 Betsy McCall DIY Dollhouse — the last challenge is to find those all-important final touches. Reader Janet offered to share some of her vintage dollhouse accessories, and I took her up on her gracious invitation. Wow, are these tiny drinking glasses just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? They remind me of my grandmother’s vintage silver leaf Libby drinking glasses. They seem to be made out of real glass! Just amazing!
Inside the package from Janet I found:
- Two sauce pans
- A cookie jar with cookies inside
- Two cans of soda
- One bottle of soda
- One bottle of beer
- One bottle of ketchup
- A can of corn
- A butter dish with removable top
- A turkey
- A pie
- A loaf of rye bread
- A marionette pupet
- A Captain America book
- A shoe box
- A box of aluminum foil and a box of wax paper
- A roll of twine
- A clear tall vase
- An empty green bottle and a small red bottle
- A cloche with flowers inside
- A small purse or bag of some sort
- Two candles
- Four drinking glasses
Janet writes:
I have a shoebox full of old dollhouse accessories that my Aunt Louise gave me; she collected them for many years. My aunt’s daughter is a renowned doll auctioneer, and she started collecting the dollhouses for her mother. My aunt had an amazing collection, and these were extras her four daughters didn’t want. She had antique type boxes full of the stuff! She also had a number of very elaborate Victorian era doll houses that were just incredible.
Aunt Louise just died in November, three weeks short of her 100th birthday. I wonder where those dollhouses are now? I wish I had gotten photos of them.
Wow, Janet, we’d love to see the treasures inside those antique boxes, too!
Above: All the the accessories that look like glass — really do seem to be made of glass.
The glass cookie jar is adorable — and filled with chocolate cookies. Yum!
I just love the tiny packaging.
The tiny aluminum wrap and waxed paper packages even open!
I was shocked to see such a tiny little marionette in the package. Those ‘strings’ are made of sewing thread. The Captain America book has “copyright 1966” stamped on the back.
In addition to the fabulous vintage goodies sent by Janet, my own Mom — who has been super excited about the project as well — found a tiny set of 4 plates, forks, knives and spoons at her local craft store and sent them for the dining table. Thanks, Mom!
Naturally, I had to set these new goodies up in the kitchen and dining room right away.
The refrigerator is stocked with cold drinks — and ketchup — ready for company.
Hey look, there’s a pie in the oven too…
It looks like turkey will be on the menu this evening…
The vase, candles and cloche look great on the credenza…
The table is set and ready to go with placemats made from a fabric sample, plates and silverware from Mom, and glasses, bread and butter dish from Janet. Note: It was extremely difficult to set a table this small with my ‘giant’ fingers!
Mega thanks to reader Janet for sending me the absolutely fantastic package of adorable vintage miniatures for the dollhouse — and thanks Mom for thinking of the table setting, too!
I’m so close to being ready to give you the full dollhouse tour — stay tuned!
Kim says
Oh my lord, Kate, the entire dollhouse project just makes me green with envy–my fingers just itch to get in there and play with it! And I am in my mid-40s, so there’s that. It is straight-up amazing. Those glasses! Those eensy cookies!
Also, Nina–the tiny box of Kotex is HILARIOUS. This dollhouse needs one, don’t you think?
nina462 says
My old neighbor used to have a doll house -the bathroom even had a miniature box of Kotex.
Carole says
So cool! My husband saw this and said, “That’s flippin’ incredible.” 🙂
Kate says
🙂
Jacki says
So adorable! Now if you could only get that little telephone to ring like you did the door bell it would be complete :^)
Karen Klinedinst says
Love the teeny, tiny table settings. One question: I was taught that the spoons go on the outside, the knife closest to the plate. That’s how I set my table, but maybe they’re set differently elsewhere?
Kate says
Nope, you are right Karen — the spoons should be on the outside of the knives. I was concentrating so hard on not knocking over or bumping these tiny place settings that I didn’t realize I set the table ‘incorrectly’ — good catch! I’ll have to try to fix it for the final photos — if I can get my giant fingers in there without messing everything up! It was really hard! Maybe I need tweezers! 🙂
Jan says
What you need is a hematocrit – a really long set of tweezers with scissor handles that has the capability of “locking,” if needed. I have a set for just those tiny little things!
Robin, NV says
Squee!! Those itty bitty accessories are adorable! The aluminum foil and wax paper rolls are a crack-up. Such attention to detail. Kate, you’re killing me with these tantalizing glimpses of the house, can’t wait for the big reveal.
Here’s an old archaeologist trick – if you want to know if something is glass, tap it gently against a front tooth. You’ll know by the sound it makes and how it feels against your tooth. If it “rings” it’s glass. It might be tricky with such small items but just be sure to hold it loosely in your fingers so the material can vibrate a little.
ElectraChime says
Such fabulous detail! Great finishing touches. I want a cookie!
Lynne says
Oh my goodness, this does bring back memories! Was anyone else involved in the dollhouse craze back in the 80’s and early 90’s? There were clubs, and dollhouse shops and shows, all over the US. There were at least two magazines published devoted entirely to the subject.
I myself had two huge dollhouses and countless “room boxes”. Room boxes were what you created when you ran out of room in your real house for the doll houses! I have pictures somewhere…and a couple of my favorite room boxes stored in the basement.
Kate says
I do remember there being more dollhouse furniture and accessories available in craft stores back then. I was a kid and I absolutely LOVED going to look at all of those tiny things! They seemed very expensive to me though, so I didn’t buy too many of them. I think it was because I only got 50 cents a week for my allowance (If I helped Mom around the house like a good girl) and I had to put half in my savings bank. I also had a mild addiction to My Little Ponies back then — so my hard earned $1 per month of spending money usually went towards getting a pony. 🙂
Lynne says
Ah, yes, I have a huge Rubbermaid bin downstairs FULL of my daughters’ My Little Ponies. Which is right next to the equally large bin of Polly Pockets. I miss those days…..
Roundhouse Sarah says
Those my little ponies are hot right now. I looked through my parents attic for my old ones but they were already gone. Otherwise I was going to sell them. Even had one who’s bottom smelled like pie! Lol
Kate says
I sold all but my three favorite My Little Ponies a few years ago on Ebay. They sold like hotcakes. I made several hundred dollars even after ebay and paypal fees!
virginia says
Amazing, truly. All of it! A real labor of love and Janet is, well, uh — amazing! The house itself looks adorable — so pristine and detailed. Love it. Your mother’s items also really, really great. Love the colors used also — reds and greens in a house are always so inviting and look fab with your light woods.
Jay says
Priceless! Now I’m getting hungry and its only 8:30 AM. Thanks to your contributers for those great additions. The kitchen is really fitted out. The set dining table is great. Thanks for the update. Looking forward to the grand tour.