Everyone gathered 'round

while Thaddeus described the buildings, streets, carriages, and grand homes of New York.

The women sighed at the descriptions of the ladies' gowns and shoes. Everything was so grand in New York.

Even Patience the downstair's maid came up to listen and was transfixed by such stories of elegance.

Thaddeus left out the sights of the indentured servants crowded in small rooms and the hardship of the immigrants newly arrived from Holland.

(oh, P.S. The reason Thaddeus didn't take his hat off in the house is because it is glued to his head.)

Sometimes I like to make scenes that look real, but sometimes I also like seeing the dollhouse itself in the picture. Especially in old houses I think this is charming. My other suprise realization was how large the cast of characters was for this house. I know Colonial and Victorian are the most accessible types of dollhouses available but I hadn't realized how many Colonial people I actually had. So this month's posting served as an accounting too.

Goodbye to the Colonial House.

My thought of exploring one of my dollhouses a month has worked out well for me and the Colonial dollhouse.
It was found by the curb 15 years ago. I haven't paid much attention to it recently, so this was a good idea.






I cleaned it, glued broken chairs and even put murals in the livingroom and one bedroom.


As March ends we find George and Thaddeus ready to leave New York.

The family they are staying with is throwing a Ball on their last night.


Girls were allowed to attend beginning at age 13. If you were not married by 25 you were considered a failure.








Abigail, wearing red toile is enjoying her first Ball.
It is 1790.










The men were discussing the French Revolution and the recent death of Ben Franklin.

Everyone knew the French would never hurt their King or Queen...

George was planning to move the Capitol of the new country from New York to the banks of the Potomac River. He tired of hearing New Yorkers complain about the change.

The violinist was in love with the harpist. (She is a widow) But then so is the piano player. Widows were expected to be married by one year after their spouse's death.

The newly married women wore their wedding gowns for one year after getting married.

It was a very festive evening but George and Thaddeus were ready to return to their prospective homes.
Thaddeus had orders to remember everything about the fashions of New York to tell the women in his family when he returned.

Colonial livingroom

Colonial livingroom
Originally uploaded by More2view

Well I think it should have molding on the sides. I never liked the color of these couches but they look better with the colors in the mural. C

American witch hunts

Old Mrs. Revere and her sister, Prudence were talking in her
bedroom.
"You know Revered Mather told us not to slander others by calling them witches. Remember the hysteria of Salem?" she said.

Yes, but that woman is suspicious."Prudence answered.

"Oh really, Prudence...."

What else about her is suspicious?"

"Well..."thought Prudence..."her maiden name is French, Gaspard!" she said triumphantly.

"Oh, Prudence!" her sister shook her head.

Why it's an American tradition to demonize anything we fear.... We can look back at the feelings of societies past and laugh at their prejudices, but what about our politics today? Any demonizationing going on now? (Seen the picture of President Obama as the Joker?)

Here is the dollhouse

The tiny thumbnail is the Colonial dollhouse as it should be. It was offered a couple times recently on ebay, pickup only (east coast, natch). I am using this with the permission of the seller who has become a member of DollshousesPastandpresent Group. I have it posted there too. We wonder if you know the maker. It is possibly by Louis Rich in the1940's-50's as it is made of fiberboard with a stencilled patterned door. The roof is green, the walls white.

I have the roof and porch and columns, they just aren't attached as it has become so wobbly.

I recommend a colonial house if you are buying one for a child because they are so much fun to play with. A plethora of accesories are offered and the long skirts of the dolls enchant. To some it may seem fussy but it reaches that niche of dollhouse owners who like fantasy and dollies.

I realize I have many posts to make of this house. Some of the other houses will be shorter as they do not draw me in as much. This is why I recommend it for a child. It is easy to play with. (Next month it is the Victorian house which is a big seller with dollhouse people too, so we shall see. I can't imagine this many post with my Bliss house.) C

The Children's mother was horrified

at how the young members of the household were pestering her guest.

"Children! Let us entertain Mr. Washington..."

Her son played the harpisicorde and her daughter accompanied him at the harp.

Their mother beamed.

Mr. Washington wondered when dinner would be served.

in New York

Though he was the first President of the new colonies, George was rather disconcerted by the attention of the children in the home they were staying in in New York. The son of their host wanted to ask if Mr. Washington REALLY had wooden false teeth.

in New York
Originally uploaded by More2view

Heidi Ott white haired boy doll, Peggy Nesbit George Washington doll, contemporary dolls dressed by me.

Betsy Revere wants you to see her handy work!

colonial sewing
Originally uploaded by More2view

Little girls made samplers learning the alphabet while mastering different stitches. Colonial women worked alongside their husbands and often inherited their businesses if their husbands died. The girls had to be ready to work as Colonial life was hard.

There is a lot of giggling and singing.

children's sewing circle
Originally uploaded by More2view

colonial children

colonial children
Originally uploaded by More2view

Only boys go to school. The little girls stay home and learn to sew, knit, card wool, and embroider.

By now the other servants are up.

colonial flag
Originally uploaded by More2view

James the old servant from England adjusts the new Colonial Flag. (He thinks little of these upstart colonists but loyalty to Old Mrs. Revere keeps him at his post.)There is one star for each of the new Colonies.
A Gentleman landowner arrived to ride with Thaddeus to New York. James served him tea. James made sure the stableboy readied the horse, and after he gathers his papers the two Colonists will ride off. They will be gone for a week.

Then she tiptoes into...

master bedroom
Originally uploaded by More2view

Old Mrs. Revere's son's room. Thaddeus is important in the new colonies. He is attending the new Congress for New York. The Reveres are not landowners but Thaddeus is a brilliant orator and is respected by the older, stogier landowners for his new ideas.
It is early but he is already awake arranging his papers. He must ride for hours today to reach the Congress. Patience will send a packet of food with him for his journey.

Tynietoy pencil bed and banjo clock. Shackman desk and grandfather clock) contemporary bust of Shakespeare (would he have that? He IS an intellectual...) globe and sphere. Contemporary pictures of sailing ships copies of original English and American art

Then she serves Mrs. Revere her tea

matron's bedroom
Originally uploaded by More2view

It is dim in the early morning winter light because the Revere's seldom light candles. They are thrifty yankees and can waste nothing.

Morning in the Colonial house

colonial kitchen
Originally uploaded by More2view

First up, lighting the fire is Patience the Revere's kitchen girl. She is aptly named because she has to prepare Mrs. Revere's tea in the chilly morning. (oh no! there is one of those Michael's unpainted cupboards in the background!)