I have been involved with miniatures for over 20 years, ever since I assembled my first wooden dollhouse at the age of 13.  Working at Once Upon A Time (a dollhouse and toy store) for a total of almost seven years gave me the opportunity to complete several dollhouses, including the 2002 and the 2003 Once Upon A Time's "Race for the Cure" raffle house, as well as numerous display houses which were then sold to customers who did not want to build their own kits.

I've taught classes that ranged from creating Scenic Water fountains to electrification of dollhouses.  A few years ago I conducted two miniature workshops -- one for landscaping a fairy garden and another for constructing and completing a conservatory dollhouse kit.  At another workshop, I instructed a group of children in creating and decorating a "gingerbread" dollhouse (using caulk "icing" and plastic candies).  The last year was devoted mainly to moving our store "Happily Ever After" to the new Ashburn location, but even doing this I've found time to conduct classes at our store for Electrification of Dollhouses, Wallpapering, and a class on Landscaping a Winter or Fall Scene.  In early 2005 the One Room Cottage workshop was a series of classes which I taught different techniques towards finishing a dollhouse.  The result was several lovely dollhouses decorated in different themes made by our customers.  In 2009 we conducted the "Cottage Class" workshops in which our customers produced some adorable Santa homes, Halloween themed houses, and a run-down hunting cabin.

Taking Bill Lankford workshops added both the "Leaky Cauldron/Diagon Alley" and a three-foot miniature treehouse to my personal collection, which also includes 13 dollhouses (in various stages of completion), 34 roomboxes, gardens and small shadowbox vignettes.  Workshops taught by House That Jack Built taught me several landscaping techniques which I've used to create gardens, beach sand scenes as well as landscape accessories (wheel barrows filled with ferns and pumpkins, chairs decorated with flowers, etc.).  Show workshops have expanded my miniature knowledge to include installing miniature tiles (mini mica and Olde World Tile), wigging dolls, basketweaving, and Scenic Water.

We host miniature meetings at the store usually on the second Saturday of each month.  If you are interested in joining NAME (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts) or participating in local meetings please let Lori know, send her an email or call us at the store.

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