Markella Dawn's Place for Dollhouse Minis & Collectibles. Find Miniature Items for your Real Life Home, too!

 
We are reaching out Worldwide and making things different around here because it has become basically BORING! Always working on new templates and adding features so we can rock 'n' roll!

We introduced Markella Dawn to the World! And, now she is taking over our life!!! This label concept for the handcrafted designs of dollhouse furnishings, doll clothing and our miniature creations has been a long time desire of ours and this opportunity to bring it to fruition is a great joy to us! We think you will like Markella Dawn...everyone does! Oh, how can we describe her...a little bit more aloof maybe, but that is actually because she is very shy. Some people think she may be a younger version of Cruella DeVil, but she really does have the heart and soul of Mary Poppins!!! Honestly !!! And, you'll know Markella Dawn when you see her. She can be a little bit Hollywood, and a little bit South Florida, all wrapped up into one! Sometimes glitzy, and sometimes subdued. Markella Dawn does love her outrageous leopard prints (only faux of course) and her high heel mules. I can't wait for you to get to know her.

Markella Dawn and Ministuff4u will always try to deal fairly with all customers. If you receive delivery of an item that has disappointed you because shipping damages have occured, or if there has been a shipping error (however rare) that has been inconvenient for you, please have the courtesy to contact us before you make your decisions on Feedback. (And this is particularly directed to Newbie eBay Buyers with less than 10 Feedbacks, who have not yet realized there is a very broad range of Seller cooperation that can satisfy an issue for you, if you don't jump the gun, but simply make contact in a reasonable and professional manner with most eBay Sellers.) Feedback is important to any conscientious Seller on eBay and an off-the-cuff remark can be devastating to a good Seller's reputation. Most customer related matters, after the sale, can be resolved in a fair and timely manner. However, we cannot do anything about any concern you may have if we are not made aware of it, before you leave some unpleasant or angry knee-jerk reaction in your Feedback. No one is perfect and anyone can make a mistake. ~~~

PRIMER ON SCALE DOLLHOUSES AND FAQ

Question 1:  How do I know which scale furniture is appropriate for my dollhouse or room box?

ANSWER:  The sky the limit!  1:12 scale means that 1 inch = 1 foot in real life.  And, measure the dollhouse room and consider a floor plan before buying furniture!  The most common dollhouse scale in use is One-inch Scale. This is also known as 1:12 scale and is often seen written as 1 1.  One inch scale does NOT mean the item is 1 high...though I have seen some confused sellers representing their mini items this way.  Be aware though that these scale references are all subjective, depending on the piece and style of furniture and the manufacturer i.e check around in your own home and take note of the many size variations due to style in the furnishings you own. Do you have living room chairs and sofas that are both large and small scale? Do you have cabinetry, case goods and cupboards that are different in scale as well? Larger, older homes with 12 foot ceilings may be able to accommodate a 10 foot tall armoire however, if you live in a more modern construction you may only have 8 to 10 foot ceiling heights in certain rooms and an antique 10 foot high armoire may overwhelm the room or not fit into it at all!  Get the point?!  

One-inch scale dollhouse furnishings are variable in dimensions based on several factors style, manufacturer, and purpose. If in doubt, it is always best to ask exactly what the L x W x H is for a dollhouse piece of furniture that interests you, so you will know if it will fit into your dollhouse floor plan.

Question 2:  Is there any difference among the 1scale dollhouse kits and structures?

ANSWER:  Oh boy, you bet!!!  There are numerous manufacturers of dollhouses and kits, as well as miniature craftsmen and artisans who build from scratch.  A one inch scale dollhouse from one manufacturer may be somewhat different in actual room dimensions and floor space that a similar design of dollhouse produced by another manufacturer.  Another major variation that I personally have experienced is a condensed "feel" to those one-inch scale kits, which are often called ottages  Many of these smaller designed cottage style dollhouses usually have only 2 to 4 rooms, and, once finished, have much less furnishing space and area than a dollhouse mansion with 8 to 10 rooms. Frequently the cottage style dollhouse in 1:12 scale has a roofline that prohibits a second floor furnishing layout that can be done with rue 1:12 scalefurniture.  Specifically, I completed a Greenleaf 2 story 2 rooms style cottage dollhouse that was a REAL pain to furnish with a 2^nd floor bedroom.  The roofline prevented the use of any One-inch scale 4-poster or canopy style beds to be used in the room furnishings.  It is also nearly impossible to stand an armoire or cupboard in that dollhouse bedroom.  The roofline of these cottages is frequently a Cape Cod style house apex roof or A-frame design and, perhaps the only way a 1scale dollhouse bed will fit into the cottage bedroom space is by placing it in the absolute center of the room!  That does not leave much space in the remainder of the cottage bedroom floor plan to place all the other miniature accessories and bedroom style furnishings in any logical layout that one would want to use to recreate a realistic looking miniature setting. 

QUESTION 3:  What other scale dollhouse furniture is available to enthusiasts and collectors?

ANSWER:  Other than 1scale, there are several other popular scales that miniature dollhouse people covet, collect and find great pleasure in using in their designs.

The =12or toy house size;

Half-inch 1:24 scale also close to G scale Railroad miniature size which is 1:22.5;

1:48 scale or quarter inch scale that is frequently seen in scale railroad models;

and, 1:144 scale that is usually a modeler scale in village scenes and the like, but frequently used as /span>miniaturesfor your dollhouse.

:12 This means = 12in real life.  This size can generally be found among the commercially produced toy houses and the vintage tin and metal houses.  Keep in mind before you condemn this scale that these furnishings in scale are often very accommodating to the space available in smaller designed 1scale dollhouses, particularly the cottage designs. In my designs and building experience, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using scale dollhouse furnishings in a 1scale dollhouse, as long as you remain consistent through each room with use of the scale furniture. 

The scale dollhouse furniture can be mixed with 1scale as well, depending on the type of real life furniture that the piece is meant to represent.  Larger cabinets, armoires and cupboards in scale can be mixed successfully with 1scale set of chairs and dining table.  Some of the and 1scale furnishings are impossible to differentiate.  However, do not try to use scale chairs with a 1scale dining table.  It will be an obvious discrepancy that the mind eye will perceive as a contradiction and your room will just appear to be ff balance  The difference in scale becomes insignificant and is not obvious in most cases, though. (That 1 scale cottage I mentioned in a prior answer, is a great place to use scale furnishings, but be consistent in each room.) 

Another genre of dollhouse furnishings that is available, although not usually categorized specifically as dollhouse collector items, is resin cast furnishings.  The dimensions of these items vary so greatly - everything from miniature chairs designed to be Christmas Tree ornaments - to porcelain trinkets that are imports, it is always best to ask for specific dimensions.  These items rarely fit into an easily matched scale.  However, they can make wonderful additions as occasional furnishings in your dollhouse.

QUESTION 4: Can I use railroad model items in my scale dollhouse construction?

ANSWER:  Yes! 

Much of the landscaping materials and some of the exterior construction supplies available to model railroaders will cross over very well to One-Inch scale dollhouse construction. There is another less common (though gaining more popularity) dollhouse scale known as 1:24 or inch scale (1/2= 1.  In half-inch scale settings, the variations and many of the same factors exist as in One-inch scale for your consideration, such as differences in manufacturers.  But, much of the building materials, exterior supply, wall and floor coverings, and landscaping supplies available to the scale (Garden) model (1:22.5) railroader adapt and cross over easily into the scale dollhouse architectural decorating. 

QUESTION 5:  Will I be able to mix scales in my dollhouse or will it look out of balance?

ANSWER:  Ahhh, the paradigm of mixed scales!  This is a matter of your own choice.  Generally speaking, everything in scale is half of the size and dimension of 1scale.  Moreover, some pieces of furniture are actually interchangeable. For instance, a 1scale bedroom end table or bedside table can often make a wonderful scale buffet or sideboard. A half-inch scale dining or kitchen table can frequently make a wonderful occasional table or accessory table in a 1/span> scale furnishing setting. When you are considering a piece of dollhouse furniture for your little house, put aside the scale label for a moment, so that you might just stand back and take a look at whether the scale piece makes the complete furniture setting seem out of balance. It may not!  If you find a unique little 1scale bedside table that looks just right as a scale credenza, then there is no reason to refrain from using it!  It your house!

I believe there is also a misconception, and I would argue that point with the uristof dollhouse building and collecting, that scale is a less desirable scale and not as esthetically pleasing.  I do not believe that is necessarily the case.

QUESTION 6:  Are there other miniatures that I can use in scale dollhouse designs and settings?

ANSWER:  Miniatures are in abundance all around you!  I know quite a few dollhouse collectors who love to utilize common household items as representative objects in their mini settings. Miniatures that are useful in your dollhouse are found among the theme eriescollector sets, the polyresin sculptured and resin cast series, from manufacturers of ornaments, mini pewter designs, gift shop items, craft stores and crafts fairs, and the ubiquitous $1 stores.  Craft items are a great source of mini accessories, designer wall and floor coverings, or just that certain e n'ai se quoi Numerous import items make wonderful cultural accessories in a dollhouse, too. 

If you have an eye for miniatures, you will soon find that most anything inyhas possibilities in your tiny dollhouse world.

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