I am so excited!!!

It was my birthday this week - a half-round one as the Czechs say - and I had some simply wonderful presents.   But one in particular I cannot wait to share with you all.  And I don't even have to write a whole blogpost to do it since its creator has done it for me!

Before Small Worlds opened in 2013 I was lucky enough to find a haul of dolls houses in Essex, of which this was one.   Since then it has been standing on the windowsill in the museum, with the upstairs almost empty, a semi-furnished kitchen, and in the other downstairs room, the beginnings of a dolls house maker's workshop.

After my daughter-in-law Laura's successes with jewellery and corsets - all to be found in Gosthwaite's Department Store, though sadly there is no photo of the corsets in situ - I mentioned the need for a supply of dolls houses for this workshop.   

One very good reason for enlisting her help on this project was that she had already given me a delightful little room box with a similar theme, which is probably what gave me the idea of a bigger workshop. 

 

Empty now!

I was a little taken aback yesterday, almost at the end of the present opening session, to be handed a plastic cauldron brimming with red and silver tissue paper wrapped parcels, all neatly labelled and numbered, coupled with the instruction to open them over a tray....

I soon saw why, and if you go straight to Laura's blog you too can read all about it and admire the delights that I unwrapped.

Thank you so much Laura - I can't believe how lucky I am to be surrounded by such talented family and friends, so many of you willing to have a go at whatever I suggest might be possible - even if you had had no idea that you might have miniature skills at your finger-tips!

I had intended to end with a photo of the contents of the cauldron, beautifully set out in their temporary home here in England.   I have decided, however, to hold it over till the next blogpost because I think some of you might see the photo before reading Laura's blog and that would spoil the delightful suspense!

So watch this space.....