BOOKS
MAKING MINIATURE GARDENS

This book is a wonderful example of sharing with others what you're able to do. OK, you might say that writing and selling a book is all about making money and you're probably right. But I learned one other thing about miniaturists : they love to share what they know, so that others can try themselves at doing what they have already accomplished.

On the Internet, there are a whole lot of websites, commercial and personal ones, where people share their know-how with us.

Books about the dollhouse hobby is one of the most effective ways to learn.

A place to get all the books you need is of course AMAZON.






THE DOLLS' HOUSE GARDENER

As you must have guessed already from the title, this is another book about gardens, featuring 8 different garden plans in 1/12 scale. It's absolutely perfect if you want to make a specific project. It has a detailed plan, easy to follow steps, allowing even a beginner to achieve something truly wonderful.

What you'll find here are gardens looking so realistic that you wouldn't believe looking at miniature in some of the photos. It explains how to make the elements first, how to design the garden and put everything together in the end.




DOLLHOUSE FURNISHINGS FOR THE BEDROOM & BATH

Before you start with the projects in this book, I need to tell you that a little sewing is needed here. Since I'm really not good at it and I don't have a sewing machine either, the book was not very helpful to me. But still, the ideas are really good and the projects not to difficult to make.





MAKING DOLLS' HOUSE INTERIORS IN 1/12 SCALE

Honestly, this is not a book for beginners to the hobby. There are a lot of black/white drawings with measurements etc, but the projects are lovely. I found it very hard to follow the instructions and haven't yet managed to realize any of the projects featured in this book.





EASY TO MAKE DOLLS' HOUSE ACCESSORIES

Another book by Andrea Barham. I especially liked this book because it made me discover that with the right know-how, you can achieve some terrific things in miniature. I have tried quiet a few projects from this book. The steps were easy to follow. All you need are a few materials of course. The first pages in the book are giving a very precise idea of what you should collect and you'll be surprised what you can do.




DOLLS' HOUSE ACCESSORIES, FIXTURES & FITTINGS

Andrea Barham shares a lot of wonderful things with us in this book. It has different chapters, explaining what kind of material and equipment you'll need, with a lot of photos.

Every project has the technique, method, materials needed and know-how section explained in detail.




Encyclopedia of Dollhouse-Decorationg Techniques

This is a must to every DIY-Miniaturist. All the hints in that book are just great if you don't want to just buy a dollhouse and some furniture, but really give your house your very own little personal touch. All the techniques are explained in a way that even a beginner might be able to achieve some of these projects.

I loved the DECOUPAGE technique and a few special wallpaper/painting tips.




DOLLHOUSE STYLE

This book by Kath Dalmeny is a great example of what you can do on you own. It might not be the best book for beginners in my opinion, depends on how talented you are, but it still remains one of my personal favorites. There are 3 of the projects in the book that I intend to copy, giving them my own little touch of course. She has wonderful ideas about "how-to" for so many things that I could go over the book again and again without getting tired of it and discovering something new every time.

There is a very detailed INDEX at the end of the book, helping you to find what you looking for in a second, as well as a complete list of suppliers with adresses, phone numbers, websites, etc.

I already tried a few little things out of that books, like making a cute writing desk out of a cheap low chest of drawers. Very fun to do.

She is also the author of "Dolls' House Details" and has contributed many articles in craft magazines.