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Joe Carlton, aged 11, was very, very upset. His grandma’s dolls’ house, which he cherishes and has decorated and looked after, has been given to his cousin. Joe’s outrage prompted him to write to the Managing Director of The Dolls House Emporium, as his favourite dolls’ house is the authentic 1:12th scale collectors’ house called Oak Hurst Gardens ‘because it looks so modern’

Sympathising with Joe’s predicament, and prompted by the Government’s recent commitment to promote traditional toys to develop all-important social skills, Jackie Lee arranged for Joe to be presented with an Oak Hurst Gardens QuickStyle dolls’ house as a special early Christmas present, on Monday 19th November at the company’s headquarters on High Holborn Road, Codnor Gate Business Park, Ripley, Derbyshire.

Joe is interested in interior design and could even be a budding architect. In assembling his fully-painted dolls’ house, he will be developing his manual dexterity and three-dimensional understanding, as well as his creativity in choosing his interiors. All these elements encourage a self of achievement which in turn, of course, develops self esteem and confidence - so important for young people today.

Joe and his family were delighted to receive a VIP tour of The Dolls House Emporium headquarters in Ripley, Derbyshire, followed by a ‘power lunch’ with Managing Director Jackie Lee and her creative team. A most enjoyable pre-Christmas treat for the whole family.

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he Dolls House Emporium are delighted to be working with BBC television’s ‘DIY SOS’ programme, bringing Christmas joy to a Doncaster foster home this Christmas.Foster mum Doreen has cared for around 50 children over many years, and lost everything in this year’s catastrophic floods. DIY SOS is coming to the rescue and is helping Doreen rebuild her shattered home and in the process will be creating a magical playroom with our fully painted and decorated Orchard House dolls’ house taking pride of place.

Don’t miss this heart-warming episode of the nation’s favourite DIY makeover show, due to be broadcast in the run-up to Christmas. Check here for transmission date.

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This year we’ve been spoilt for choice! Your competition entries were so good, we have two runners up. (click on the images to enlarge)

You can also download this article as a PDF document.

First Prize-Winner - The Cuckoo Clock

Jane Lansdowne of Derbyshire was inspired by her purchase of a 1:12th scale cuckoo clock for her dolls’ house, when suddenly she realised how wonderful The Retreat would look as a traditional Swiss cuckoo clock.

Jane spent several days researching her project, before reducing the depth of The Retreat, to make a more attractive wall hanging building. The ground floor is the perfect workshop for the village clock maker, kept busy repairing and restoring the timepieces belonging to the locals.

The workshop and upstairs bedroom have working lights; the clock face is made from turned wood and always keeps perfect time, along with a charming cuckoo that is on permanent watch. Jane’s cuckoo clock is a stunning creation, well deserving of her first prize, and a ‘timely’ inspiration to us all.

First Runner-Up - The Chocolatier - Good enough to eat!

Our first runner up, Ingrid Germonprez of Belgium has created a mouth-watering mini masterpiece. Ingrid always wanted to own her own chocolate shop, so this became the inspiration for her delectable entry in our 2007 Creative Competition.

The ground floor is taken up with the shop area, where an impressive variety of chocolates are displayed.On the display counter there are colourful marzipans and truffles waiting to tempt the customers. The furniture was originally bare wood, painted and decorated by Ingrid; she also added the mirrors and a large illuminated shelf unit. Upstairs the master chocolate-maker is hard at work, surrounded by his creations. Yum!

Second Runner-Up - The Pearly Gates - Divine Inspiration

Stella Graham of Guernsey was encouraged to enter the Creative Competition by her good friend Ruth, but it was her husband Peter who came up with the idea of a house for his saintly namesake. Stella applied pearlised and glitter finished paints to the whole building with details picked out in gold.

The ‘Stairway to Heaven’ was purchased locally and sprayed gold. The unique doorway is decorated with hundreds of tiny seed pearls, each meticulously glued on by hand.

The desks and chairs were all hand made and painted gold. Below in St. Peter’s office, the walls were panelled in cream and gold and the furniture painted to match.

The St. Peter doll was originally a likeness of Stella’s husband, and was adapted to become a convincing St. Peter. We are sure you will agree, this creation is totally unique and very deserving of its prize-winning status.

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When Molly Edwards, 10, couldn’t find the doll of her dreams, she decided to do something about it! She sent in her suggestions for a fashionable Molly doll to The Dolls House Emporium and was overwhelmed to be offered a VIP tour of The Dolls House Emporium headquarters and design studios in Ripley, Derbyshire. After an exciting day Molly was presented with a certificate to commemorate her visit, and was delighted to be named the company’s first ‘Junior Designer’. Molly and her family were thrilled to be invited to join the Managing Director Jackie Lee for a ‘power lunch’ and to share advice and designing tips with the creative team in their digital design studio, where some of Molly’s designs were developed into commercial prototypes. A most rewarding day all round!

Download the press release as a PDF document here.

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The Dolls House Emporium are pleased to announce their brand new catalogue for 2007/2008, For enquiries about reader offers, competitions, photographs and editorial assistance, please contact;

Jenny Edlington, Marketing Department
Telephone: 01773 514 485
Email: jenny.edlington@dollshouse.com

Download a copy of the press release in PDF format here.

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If you are planning a visit to the Autumn Trade Fair at the NEC, come and visit us! The fair is on from September 2nd to 5th, and we will be in hall 4, stand A30. We look forward to seeing you there!

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