Gail Wilson Designs

The first project began in 1987, when I showed a small setting of things to some customers of my dolls and let it be known I was going to do a whole dollhouse. Little did I realize in my excitement to begin that it would turn out to take nearly ten years to complete with the enormous mission requiring design all the pieces and then figuring out how to make them. If it hadn't been for the belief in my work by some wonderful patrons who placed orders for the first ones, and were willing to wait all that time in spite of my protests, there would never have been a dollhouse at all. Now that all of that is well behind me, the length of time needed to complete a few dollhouses working all the pieces in groups is about 18 months for the first ones, with the others following along in about 2 month intervals. This allows for payment plans on the part of the customers, usually a necessary detail in something that costs as much as my first real house back in 1976 (real as it was with no electricity or running water - but then, the dollhouse does not have these amenities either).

Making dollhouses began as an idea that since I have always spent so much effort on accessories for my dolls, that I should put it all together into a "house". I chose a cupboard style for the house itself so as to be a "frame" around the real work, which is all the individual things. There are over 125 individual pieces and sets including two dolls whose house it is and many of the pieces are to be seen on pages 3 - 6. Everything that goes into the dollhouse is part of a complete artistic statement where all the items, their colors and textures were thought out in relation to each other. The style of the house and all its contents is in an Early American theme - my favorite period of things. This style was humble and simple, but often not without a little touch of the maker say in a curve where one wasn't needed or using pleasing colors to enhance the piece when it was done. Time has shown just how appealing this is as real antiques of this type are amongst the most sought after and carry some of the highest price tags. As much as possible, everything works - drawers open and so do cupboard doors showing shelves within. Everything may be rearranged, including things on the walls (they are not glued) and the two wall cupboards that have special hangers so that they may change locations. Nothing in the house is purchased except the washtub and even this is carefully treated to remove its shiny newness and then painted. Other things such as the pewter silverware, the baskets and the hand thrown yellow ware pottery were designed by me and carefully executed by other craftsmen friends as is the house itself, for being as large as it is, it requires a real cabinet maker to construct its 2 paneled doors, peaked pediment, base and the stool to sit oneself on in order to play within. It has hidden interior lighting and a storage bin for extra things under the stool's seat (a suggestion from one owner of the first edition).

EDITION #2 COMPLETE DOLLHOUSE - ONLY ONE LEFT FOREVER
(Edition #1 was 12 Dollhouses) (Edition #2 has 1 left of 8)
Price - $12,500. Please call to discuss a purchase and possible delivery date. Long term payments are encouraged.

UNFINISHED EMPTY DOLLHOUSES - ORDERING THESE IS STILL POSSIBLE
A few unfinished houses with stools will be available for those who have already been collecting all of the furniture and accessories I make in this scale, but these are only sold under two conditions. One, you must paint and finish it yourself or have it done for you (paint, supplies and basic instructions provided - interior is prepainted for you) and you must be able to come and pick it up.
Unfinished, Empty Dollhouse, Stool and Finishing Supplies - Unfinished, Empty Dollhouse, Stool and Finishing Supplies $2,500 (20% deposit required, balance due at pick up time or in installments). Please call. 6 month wait. Long term payments are encouraged.

SHIPPING? - It is possible to ship the dollhouses but of course adds considerably to the cost). This note was added so that others who live far might realize it can be done.

Please call (603-835-6551) or email (email@gailwilsondesigns.com) for more details. Photos of various small settings can be seen on my website on the Furniture and Accessories page.

INDIVIDUAL SMALL ACCESSORIES Everything is under 1" tall except the slate and peg wooden, which are under 2". All of these came from other places in my dollmaking, but I use them over and over in lots of settings, so you might too. The pincushion has real pins, the peg wooden doll is jointed wood, the flat iron is cast for me in darkened pewter, the spoolrack has 5 spools wound with colorful thread and a pincushion on top, the cow and sheep pulltoys are painted wood with real wheels and the spool set has 4 stacked and wound spools. Everything is under 1” tall except the slate, strawberry and peg wooden, which are about 2” or less.	Tomato Pincushion $12.00 Add to Cart Spool Set $12.00 Add to Cart Flat Iron $18.00 Add to Cart Blocks $18.00 Add to Cart Cow Pulltoy $18.00 Add to Cart Sheep Pulltoy $18.00 Add to Cart Slate $24.00 Add to Cart Spoolrack $32.00 Add to Cart Peg Wooden Doll $28.00 Add to Cart Strawberry Pincushion $22.00 Add to Cart
	DOLL'S SEWIES FOR ACCESSORIES: These items come as a very sweet and fun kit for small dolls or items can be ordered finished. Early American ladies spent much time on their needlework which was often kept in their pockets (a pouch that hung from their waists). This is basically a set of the best working miniature brass fancy scissors with a complementary set of patterns for a tiny scissors case, flat tomato pincushion and a strawberry emery. All items are well under an inch and easy to make from your silk (or cotton) scraps. They are nice to hang from doll's apron waist on a silk ribbon. Kit with Scissors $12 Add to Cart Scissors alone $6.95 Add to Cart Finished Set of tomato pincushion, scissors case with scissors and emery $34 Add to Cart
SPECIAL EDITION NOAH'S ARK This is a favorite revisited from my old discontinued kits. This pulltoy ark set is very small and is a good sized toy for smaller dolls especially the Early American Series or even Hitty, but could be a good toy for any size doll or Santa. Kit has pulltoy ark with wheels, Noah, and 4 sets of animals on small bases plus complete paints and instructions. A pretty easy kit in spite of scale. Ark is about 2 inches long and animals are less than 1/2" tall. 20% OFF KIT UNTIL SOLD OUT Kit $38 Add to Cart FINISHED SET NOT ON SALE Finished Set with book $98 Add to Cart
	TINY WOODEN CLOTHESPINS - These are my own design old-fashioned wooden clothespins for dolls from the Eary American Series.Only 1/2" long and very sweet. Click here to see one way I used them as wearable advertising for my fabrics at a show. Click for Photo The stained finished ones are set to go and the ones that are unfinished only need tiny tabs cut off and staining. Package of 6 finished and stained $6.50 Add to Cart Package of 12 unfinished $4.75 Add to Cart

	Of all my work, the shadowboxes are one of my favorite things because they combine in a small setting lots of small things and lots of color. The painted wood boxes have removable lids and glass fronts that open so you can get at things and rearrange even after it is hung on the wall. The back wall is fabric covered and there is interior lighting to show off the contents. CUSTOM SHADOWBOXES with other items that I make are also available. ORIGINAL SHADOWBOX (16”w x 10”tall x 4”d)- This one is an old favorite that showcases tiny toys and doll outfits on a she lf-pegrack. 15 items in all. (Choice of colors on box) 20% OFF SELL OUT OF LAST ONE $395.00 Add to Cart
	THE SEWING ROOM (13”w x 12”tall x 8”d) The Sewing Room has a handmade basket, and a cupboard filled with fabrics and sewing accessories. Included in the 21 items is a cross stitch sampler, a handmade basket, and a tiny raggedy Ann. A peg-wooden doll waits for doll clothes in her very tiny chair and a coordinating braided rug sits on the floor. $595.00 SOLD OUT
	THE LAUNDRY ROOM (13”w x 12”tall x 8”d) - This theme pulls 16 colorful items together that include a handmade laundry basket with laundry, an antiqued washtub, scrub board, drying rack, stool, clothespins and carrying box, pegrack on the wall with hanging clothes and small accessories. Of course there's also an ironing board and flat iron sitting on a braided rug. $495.00 SOLD OUT
	SMALL THINGS (17”w x 12”tall x 5”d) - Has 13 items, including 9-drawer spice box, fabric cupboard, sampler,two Shaker boxes, peg-wooden doll, iron, spoolrack, pin cushion, slate, set of spools and cow pulltoy. $395.00 SOLD OUT
	THE EARLY AMERICAN DOLL SERIES SHADOWBOX (19"w x 14"tall x 8"d ) - 22 items from this best loved series, including the doll and her doll both in chairs with a mix of items to balance the space and the colors. $595 SOLD OUT



CHAIRS FOR DOLLS ARE NOT ON SALE AT THIS TIME
DISPLAYING YOUR DOLLS ~ The way your dolls are displayed is just as important as any of the other factors about the doll (such as colors and fabrics used). Of course the most charming way to display vintage look dolls is in antique doll furniture, but this is not always possible. Below you will find some chairs to help address the difficulty in finding just the right props. Chairs can be used for more than one doll - for instance, one doll may be sitting in the chair, while another one may be standing just next to the back of the chair and another one or two may be sitting on the floor using the chair to lean on. In other words, a single chair can be then the focal point of a whole grouping. You should not have all your dolls sitting in chairs - it would look like a movie theater, and many dolls do not sit well at all (for example, I do not like to seat my Historical Folk Dolls #1,2 or 7 (see above). I will also be adding some new items in early 2007 to help in displaying your dolls. For instance, my new wooden Joel Ellis doll due to the elaborate work in her wooden joints, likes to be seen undressed, and yet she has wonderful clothing and even a special bonnet, so for this doll, I recommend sitting the doll down, say on a shelf, and next to her, displaying her clothing on my new larger doll dress form (dolls 12" - 15") and her bonnet on the hatstand which will also be available. I will also be adding in some new wooden display stands for your standing dolls who need support. For small dolls, look at chairs in the Early American and Hitty Series.

	DOLL CHAIRS WITH VINTAGE FINISHES Since a lot of my dolls are now in a larger size (for almost 20 years I worked on dolls 8" tall or less), I found that I wanted a size antique chair that is not only hard to find, but very expensive, due to their rarity. So I set about reproducing two in my own small collection. The chair on the left is painted a charming red that has been realistically distressed to look old and the chair on the right, which has a woven split seat, is aged wood. Both are 14" tall and are for dolls in the 14" to 20" range. Click on the illustrations for photos. Red Chair $95.00 Add to Cart 14" Ladderback with Arms $125.00 Add to Cart

	WONDERFULLY TURNED LADDERBACK ARM CHAIR ~ THE MUSTARD CHAIR This chair is best for dolls in the 10" - 12" range. It is a more refined look than any of my other chairs and is painted a pleasing mustard color with real ash splint seats. Chair is about 11" tall. $110 Add to Cart

	BASIC LADDERBACK BENCH AND CHAIR I made these a long time back for displaying dolls but they are still good basic display pieces for 9" - 12" dolls and they are available in kit form too. Easy to assemble and paint (chair old red and bench green) with all materials and wood parts provided. Seat weaving is traditional rush-style and instructions are included. These look like the same chairs as appear in the Early American Series, but they are larger. Bench will hold two dolls. Chair Kit $38.00 Add to Cart Finished $54.00 Add to Cart Bench Kit $38.00 Add to Cart Finished $58.00 Add to Cart

Click here to see photo of Pouting Chair.	PAINTED POUTING CHAIR (for 14" scale dolls). With Heart cut-out back. Antiqued green $42 Add to Cart WOODEN BENCH This painted wooden bench is just right for displaying a pair of dolls (intentionally matched or not) in the 12-14" size range. It is painted a pleasant sage green to go with whomever graces its wide seat and would look especially good with a doll sized quilt draped over its high back. About 11" wide x 10" tall and 4" deep. $48 Add to Cart
Coming soon ~ assorted sizes of tasteful wooden stands for dolls 6" and up.