I received my Emerson Dollhouse by Brinca Dada today. For some reason, I wasn't expecting the house to arrive unassembled. I had imagined that the box would arrive as a fat cube with the magical structure wedged in with custom styrofoam. Well...that isn't the case. The box that arrived on my doorstep actually looks a lot like the box carton that I got my Kaleidoscope House in years ago from Bozart Toys.
When I opened it up, I whispered "Whoa" and just stared at the numerous pieces in the box. My little one sidled up to me, widened their eyes and said "That's a two-man job"...
Speaking of September---most of you know and have written me about the DWR miniature modernism exhibit in San Francisco on September 16th (see News...and blah blah blah for details). I'm still trying to find time to fully prepare for that event, but I am looking forward to meeting people from the miniature blogdom in the 1:1 world...okay, okay and a little nervous too. I heard from Wes Christensen and he's going to try to come out and "kick it" that evening. Hope he does. I wish all the folks from around the globe could come out for the affair but we'll have to look into making that happen at a later date.
UPDATE: 8/14/10
Aww man...This build is not gonna happen for awhile. I finished going through the inventory this morning and didn't luck out as well as I had hoped. Looks like I'm gonna need some replacement parts...
Feel your pain...got mine and I was floored about all of the pieces! That's OK...it really is beautiful. The stairs alone are art! I haven't gotten around to putting mine together yet! As far as protecting the floors, I don't know how to protect them. I don't think you would want to seal them with anything because I would be afraid it would peel up the floor. The other alternative might be to cut very thin plastic (think of the plastic that covers the really cheap poster frames at a craft shop..really thin stuff) to size of floor. Don't know if that would work or not. I might try it and see how it looks. Melissa
ReplyDeleteoh god! Christmas in summer!
ReplyDeleteWish you great fun to build it!
Anne, the french one
Thanks for the pics of the Emerson!! These are the first ones I've seen of it NOT assembled. I'm kind of happy to see that it's a bit more like a kit than I had imagined (for me building is half the fun!! Please post updates of how the assembly goes :)
ReplyDeleteThere is a clear adhesive film that you can get at Kinkos, or any Office supply store. I use it on some of my images, such as the decals for the Viking fridge I made you. All you do is peel, stick, and use an exacto knife to cut off the excess. This should make them easy to be wiped down, and somewhat tear/fade resistant over time. Hope that helps! Paris
ReplyDeleteCan I do it?
ReplyDeleteI love putting stuff together.
I'm looking forward to seeing how you decorate it.
Once again I have dollhouse envy...Looking forward to seeing your progress. Was shipping expensive?
ReplyDeleteWow how exciting. Should you have a Mini bee, like an old fashioned barn raising or quilting bee where everyone got together in the village to help? Looking forwar to meeting you in Spet. Cheers! My reality or leftcoastminis
ReplyDeleteOK...just spent 2 1/2 hours putting the first half of this together. No, you do not have to have a Phd to put it together....just a lot of time and patience and a nice carpeted area to work on!!! Had to take a break, have two beers, and eat food to get my brain back into gear! Still, the stairs are sooo cool! There are quite a few pieces for this dollhouse to put together and it probably would be helpful to have another set of hands to assemble it...and a couple of beers. Oh...and plyers or tweezers and maybe a bit of sandpaper to smooth down areas where the pieces don't slide in well. And beer. Melissa
ReplyDeleteI'm on the same boat as mini me. The building part of it is indeed half the fun! So long as its not like the greenleaf kits, its not a bad thing I think. I hope you document the assembly part of it since that would be really interesting to see. Also, I can't wait to see what you decorate it!
ReplyDeleteOkay Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI'm cracking up about your beer notes. I wouldn't trust myself with spirits while trying to put something together. I suck at building--ha ha! Yeah, I didn't expect so many pieces but I'm happy to have it. I'll probably order a second one because I need a back up. Truth be told, I was totally playing with the stairs. They are awesome.
Hello Anne "the French one"!
ReplyDeleteThat moniker is so funny to me. Yes, I will be having beautiful fun as I construct this gorgeous model. It is like Christmas---except I need the Bennett also under my tree. Oh---I wonder how many pieces will be in the Bennett box...
Hola Mini Me!
ReplyDeleteYes, I will post pictures of me sweating over the build. ha ha!
Oh Paris!
ReplyDeleteEverything sounds easy to you when it comes to building stuff. I don't have your talent, man. Something as simple as cut and paste is ripe with disaster for me. However, I love your idea and am going to probably use it. I just hope I don't ruin this house in my attempt.
Thanks Mini Pig,
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna "man up" and build it. Smiles!
Doris,
ReplyDeleteYou should totally get one of these. It would look awesome as a display for your pieces. The shipping was about $30 I think. Typical freight ground price for the weight and size, I believe.
Ha ha My Realitty,
ReplyDeleteI wish I had it like that to have the barn raising---except I'd let everyone else work on it while having a beer with Melissa. Chuckles!
You are right, Ann (not the French one?)
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of kit that I can handle. No glue, etc. I'll take better images of the documented assembly process. Yeah, it's a great space to play in so I'm looking forward to the decorating part.
After reading all these comments, I simply opened the original shipping box to make sure there was a kit included and immediately repacked it. Will wait to see the postings of your build out! Love the house though.
ReplyDeleteSuckage!!! I had really thought it was pre-assembled as well. Maybe after seeing the prototype on ebay, I just assumed. But in what I've read on the house, I never saw mention of the word "kit". Oh well. I'm still holding out for the Bennett. See you in September. Happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWow MC, what an amazing house! I'm looking forward to watching you built it!
ReplyDeleteWhat about mod podge? or some similar product? btw so jealous of your new house.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photos sets my mind racing seeing it 'as delivered'. Would be interested to see how long it talkes to build.......
ReplyDeleteCheers
From across the pond
Jus
I just nominated you for a strange award over at my blog. Please come on over to pick it up! :D
ReplyDeleteOK..just finished putting the 2nd half of the Emerson together. Took about 4 hours. A couple of the screws would not go in..had to go to hardware store and find smaller ones to use. Some problems with electrical wires. Also, some of the plexiglass windows did not fit and ended up leaving two out. Actually it's better so I can reach into different areas. All and in all a beautiful dollhouse but very involved putting together. Whew. Pina Coloda. No beer. Melissa
ReplyDeleteHa! Melissa!
ReplyDeleteMy build will have to wait. I'm on round 2 of replacement parts. I haven't been as lucky--though I guess you had some problems with your kit too. I love this house design so it's kind of torture waiting for parts to build it to its full potential. Egad--I really only want to decorate it. Chuckles.
Whew! Thanks for the update! I'm still undecided as to whether I'm getting the Emerson or the Bennett. But knowing its a kit cuts some of the anxiety for me - knowing that such a gorgeous dollhouse was sitting, fully assembled, in my parents' basement would have killed me.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd still be totally chuffed. I want moderns to break out more and get people to realize there is more to dollhouse life than silly Victorians. Must be my love of simplicity because I admire Colonial just fine.
ReplyDelete