Creative Competition 2009 – Tanzanian Dreams
October 5th, 2009
Here is another of our Creative Competition entries. This one is by Felicity Hey, here is her story of her Summer House.
I have been a dolls house collector for nearly thirty years. I have often looked at the annual competition and felt somewhat overwhelmed by the fantastic creations featured, but this year as soon as I saw the Summer House I knew exactly what it really should be- a Tanzanian Safari Lodge Hut! My husband Grahame and I have enjoyed two fantastic trips to the Tanzanian National Parks, and the hut I have created is a combination of the (very expensive) Tree Lodges that are built into the trees, the tented accommodation found on the Ruaha plains, and the elevated huts on the river banks.
The bathroom facility is very typical- often open to the stars (and rain and insects, but they don’t tell you that!) and the twin basins- but there well might be a slop bucket concealed beneath, as there is often no mains drainage. I have used artistic licence for the animal print furnishings, and deliberately not put a mosquito net up because of the logistics of removing the roof.
My main inspiration for the roof and bathroom extension walls was from a redundant window blind, which not only provided a lovely rustic-looking material, but taken apart it provided narrow wood strips and thin canes, which I used to frame the mirror, edge the vanity unit, and top the bathroom walls.
I have had the greatest pleasure making this house, and it has been a talking point with visitors who have come to expect “something different” when they view my collection of houses, shops and retreats. Thank you for providing me with the raw ingredients!
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- French door off the bedroom to watch the wildlife
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- The animal themed bedroom
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- The “outdoor” bathroom
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- His ‘n’ hers sinks
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- The WC
Feel inspired to make your own miniature marvel? The Summer House and other smaller dolls’ house kits are available at The Dolls House Emporium.
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Hi Felicity, What an interesting display! It looks really authentic to photographs I have seen in holiday sections of magazines. I’m not sure that I would wish to stay anywhere with an open bathroom, as I have a horror of creepy crawlies, but you did make this hut look very appealing! Well done at retrieving so much from the recycled blind!
Best wishes from a fellow miniaturist.