It was years, I mean years ago, even before I opened my blog, I wanted to build a dollhouse for my daughter and didn't know where to start with, at the same time didn't want to buy a kit. I found a booklet "Pepperwood Farm" Doll house
construction plans.
My Sweetheart and I bought wood and we cut main pieces in one day. We put shell together, also built a stand on the wheels for this dollhouse, and... put it in the garage. Nataly was 5 months at that time. Today she is 7. The same is the house. I never intended to get rid of it hoping that one day I would start working on it. Since we moved to the new house that we bought last April, Nataly couldn't stop bugging me to finish it and give it to her and her friends to play. Here I am, bounded with a promise given to my daughter to finish the Pepperwood House as fast as possible.
The house has 8 rooms on 2 levels and 2 rooms in the attic, total 10 rooms. It opens at front, back and right roof. The size of the house is 38"H x 33" deep x 26" wide. And it is soooo heavy!
It would be not me if I didn't decide to search the information about the dollhouse Pepperwood Farm. The booklet stays that the Pepperwood Farm house is an original design of Jacqueline Kerr Deiber and published in 1976 by Craft Publications Inc.
Then I found very interesting information on (guess where?) Ebay.com in the listing "1979 Doll House" (http://www.ebay.com/itm/190710572093?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649). The listing stays that it is "an original photo from 1979 featuring Frank and Esther Hand and the miniature Pepperwood Farms house they designed and built. This photo originates from the archives of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Daily News, Detroit News, and Sport Magazine."
So, I am a little bit confused now and don't know to whom to give credits. Probably, all of them. You might ask me why it does matter. I like accuracy. I did consider to buy that original photo. I couldn't find on-line any other Pepperwood Farm dollhouse that were built. May be I am mistaken, may be you know more. Then share what you know!
Have a great weekend!
Natalia
14 comments:
Natalia, I will add to the confusion. The first dollhouse magazine that I bought was "The Miniature Magazine". It was either 1978 or 1979. I remember that it had the Pepperwood Farm on the front and plans inside. The magazine went out of business a few years later. That magazine was where I found out that it was ok for adults to like and collect miniatures.
I think that I read that magazine until it fell apart. By then I was hooked. I do believe that it was by J K D. Not sure though.
Sorry that I can't be of more help, but that sure brings back memories of my start in miniatures. Thanks!
I just went back and looked at the photos. I noticed that the J K D book was the same publisher as "The Miniature Magazine". That would lead me to believe that JKD was the designer.
I am guessing that the other couple used her plans and made a lot of changes. Then took credit?
Casey, logically I was leaning towards the fact that J K D was an original designer of the Pepperwood Farm since the plans for this house were published in 1976 when the picture from Ebay is dated 1979. I also Googled "Frank and Esther Hand" name and couldn't find any results on them. The article on ebay says that these couple used to live and work in Seattle, WA. I hope the miniaturists from this area will bring the light, or I probably will request the information through the Camp.
Anyway, thank you for your input. I appreciate it. have a great weekend! Mini hugs,
Natalia
Quel merveilleux cadeau pour votre fille!!! c'est une superbe maison,bon courage pour la suite des travaux!
Isabelle
creo que es una casa preciosa y seguro que encontraras toda la informacion que necesitas , yo no la conozco , espero seguir los progresos
besitos
Mari
Great work, Such a lovely house =) I would be trilled if I were your daughter ;)
Hannah
Ух, такой масштаб, впечатляет!
Наталья, я от души завидую, что у вас такой грандиозный дом. Представляю, сколько прекрасных дней проведёте за работой, создавая уют.
А тем более, как я поняла, дом раритетный.
Желаю вам успехов в творчестве!
С наилучшими пожеланиями из России. Елена.
Well, I can't add to the confusion and I can't add information about that house - but I can truly say that it's good you're finally working on that house again!
Hugs
Birgit
This is indeed an amazing house to own. You have quite a collector's item here no matter who designed it.
Like you, I love knowing the origins. I am therefore very curious as well to the responses in this post. Casey's for one, was very interesting. I can't help thinking the newspaper article might not have said they designed everything especially if the kit came without the frills. Maybe they used the word "design" quite liberally just to mean that the finishing touches or frills were added by the couple?
I love the name "Pepper Farm" :).
Que bien!!!! nueva casa y se ve muy bonita.
Hello Natalia! I use to own this house! When I got it, it was already built and all according to the plans. I can't recall who gave it to me, but I didn't have it for long because it was way too big and much too heavy for the space that I had available at the time. This was in the late 70's. I think that this house was quite popular and like Casey, I too first saw it in The Miniature Magazine.
I wish you all the best in getting it together for your daughter. My daughter has never been the least bit interested in miniatures (sigh) This will be something that both of you can enjoy together.!
elizabeth
Hi!
We just bought this house, completed, from someone who was selling it who acquired it in some estate auction. We also got the book from Craft Publications with the original plans still inside! Ours is not finished at all on the inside, so we are voraciously reading everything to find out how to finish it properly and looking forward to the project! It will be a first for us!
Kim
Hi Kim, I know what you are talking about. I am still working on this house (very slowly, enjoying). It would be great to see yours and the process of your decorating. Do you have blog? pictures? facebook account? Mini hugs, Natalia
I was given this beautiful dollhouse as a Christmas present in 1980. I did a lot of remodeling on it in 2002. I would love to share photos of it with anyone interested here. I do have a Facebook account if you would like to look me up. (When you 'friend' me just mention the dollhouse. :)
~ Laura Dorsey Aubuchon
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