A Beginners' Guide to the Dolls' House Hobby: Revised and Expanded Edition Paperback – December 1, 2005

I noticed there are mixed reviews for this book. I love this book. I borrowed it from the library and referred to it so much in just reading it that I finally purchased my own copy from Amazon. Though, not a thick book, all the pages are in color, my favorite kind of book. There are tips for about everything you can imagine doing for your dollhouse/diorama with photos and instructions to carry them out into your dollhouse or diorama. The photographs are clear and detailed. The book does a thorough job in planning and practical matters for your dollhouse. I have bookmarks in it now to use for reference, follow up later on.I've read it over a dozen times already and still refer to it while decorating my dollhouse or just to enjoy a good read for further ideas. I admit I'm no expert in the world of dollhouses. Though, I've owned a dollhouse, a mansion since 1986, I really didn't start working on it until this past winter. This is one of the books that I turned to for reference.I don't like to copy other's ideas. I like to create my own works, though I do find other's suggestions and ideas useful for inspiration. Such as with this book, the author remarked how wonderful a hallway is in a dollhouse, though a rarity. I thought so too. I have a large living room in my dollhouse mansion and realized that I could place a hallway, which I did. I wouldn't have given it much thought had I not read about it in this book.I highly recommend this book as part of your book collection for dollhouses and dioramas.

I recently got bitten HARD by whatever bug it is that causes people to become obsessed with dollhouses and miniatures. I am interested in reading pretty much anything even remotely related to dollhouses and the building and furnishing thereof. So I bought this book and it satisfies that desire. I also bought a dollhouse kit to build, and what this book does not really do is give you any detailed information about how to do anything, it's all sort of general. So I recommend this if you just want to read a bit about dollhouses and see some very nice pictures, but do not recommend if you are looking for useful, practical information about how to build a dollhouse which is what I was expecting. I so far have not found a book that does good job with that, so I've just been muddling along and searching the internet when I have specific questions.I do recommend a book called "The Dollhouse Sourcebook" by Caroline Clifton Mogg - but this is for when you are ready to decorate. It is an absolutely GORGEOUS book filled with pictures of drool-worthy dollhouse rooms.

PA problem I have with this book is that it talks about using things that are not available to me. Emulsion paint and gouache are things I've never heard of here in Australia. I have to assume the author is British and that these items are available over there. Much of the language is obviously British, making it a bit hard to understand if you're trying to follow the instructions to work on your dollhouse. Having a glossary with alternate suggestions would be very helpful.

Very interesting and informative books with some great images that are really inspiring. As a beginning dollhouse enthusiast, this book was perfect for me - it introduced me to the basics and helped me feel confident about buying my first dollhouse kit, and the tools I'll need to assemble it. Once my house is assembled, the book contains lots of images and ideas for her to decorate and furnish the house. It discusses different types of house - Victorian, etc, and goes over the basic styles you should try to follow for each.

While obviously written for someone new to making dollhouses, I have to second what a few of the other reviews said-that this isn't really an instruction or technique book. It's more of a reference or a way to give you some new ideas that take you beyond the doll house kit. Honestly Googling "Dollhouses" will probably yield just as much, if not more info.

I am not a beginner but I learned how to make many things including furniture as well as exterior and interior finishes.I am very interested in Interior decoration, including tips on how to find and use wallpaper. Very informative and easy to follow.

I work in an assisted living facility and we are putting together a doll house project for a fun purposeful and brain activity. We plan to donate this finished project to our in house Alzheimer walk and silent auction. This book is full of great ideas and information to streamline our project and keep us out of trouble doing something for the first time.

A good overview of the hobby of doll's houses, but it will not tell you how to build a house. See "How to Build a Doll's House" for that info. Lots of good information on room decoration, furniture selection and decoration, floors, paneling and scale.

As a newcomer to miniaturism, I found this book to be an excellent introduction to the practicalities involved in renovating and decorating my own miniature house.This is the book to get BEFORE you start on your first house.This book is an excellent resource that I will be returning to time and again throughout my project and I have particularly bookmarked the "Twenty Steps to Basic Decoration" chapter.Rather than prescribing her own personal preferences, the author discusses and instructs us upon the various options available in every respect - whether it be acquiring a house, choosing decor, decorating, etc. Collectors' Houses, Shops and Children's doll houses are all covered. Jean Nisbett assumes that you are a complete novice and guides you to create a dolls house to treasure.

Arrived promptly in good condition considering it's not new. Has useful ideas about doing up a dolls house.

This book was a pleasant surprise. It's just what I wanted - a brief description of a variety of topics to help decorate your doll's house with advice on periods, character ect

The books has templates for both 1/6 scale and 1 /12 scale dolls house furniture. It is informative and has lovely photography.

I found this book very interesting and explains the downfalls a beginner at miniature craft may happen upon. Well written by an expert.