The Phantom of the Opera
In the movie of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera, the Phantom is seen with a little model of the theatre, including the chandalier, and the actresses. Many of the fans of the show and miniaturists alike have been interested in the concept of him sitting in his lair making miniatures of his surroundings and his obsessions.
Friends: The One With The Doll House
This is an episode that all miniaturists remember. The one where Monica inherits a big dollhouse from her aunt, and where Phoebe brings in her hand made dollhouse and everyone likes it better because they're actually allowed to play with it.
The dollhouse was a Walmer Nob Hill.
Monica complained that her aunt would say it was to be looked at and not to be played with by a child, and that everyone could play with hers as much as they liked, and then she got possessive. I think that actual miniaturists can understand the aunt's point of view and then later Monica's!
I assume that this aunt had to have made it at least in the 80s, because there's no way it's an antique. And then she just didn't touch it again, and that explains why the wallpaper's a little faded and the carpet's a little loose. It has hardwood floors though!
Phoebe wants to put a ghost in the attic, that's made out of a handkerchief (well, making things out of other things is what we do best!) and Monica doesn't approve of that. I've seen some 'real' miniaturists put ghosts in their attics and I do consider that fun! But I do understand that each miniaturist has to do what they want to do with their own houses- sharing only rarely works. DINOSAUR ATTACK! (You'll get it if you saw it)
Don't worry Monica, I still think your dollhouse is cool. (But Phoebe's is cool also, licorice room!)
What happened to Monica's dollhouse?
If you know more details about the dollhouse in the episode, or would like me to include anything, just email me.
The String Family By Patricia Cleveland-Peck
For: Children
Illustrated by Jacqueline Sinclair
Published: 1980s
Books In The Series: The String Family, The String Family at Home, The String Family in Summer
How it Relates To Miniatures- The main characters, though made out of string, are tiny, and so are their accessories.
I was constantly borrowing "The String Family" series by Patricia Cleveland-Peck from my school library.
The String Family was about a family of people made from string. When they were 'alive' they were plaited into the shape of a person. When they were observed, they could unravel themselves. I think one of the characters had a job tying up vegetables in the garden. I know that for a while they lived in a potting shed, but I think there was also a time that they lived behind a couch.
The family consisted of Mr and Mrs String, and children Hemp, Flax, Twine and the baby, Skein. They live in Miss Floribunda's cottage in the country. They had various adventures, including with a human girl called Sally who is the only person they reveal themselves to.
It was quite creative, and it caught my imagination. I was more interested in them than The Borrowers for a while, because The String Family was aimed at younger people than The Borrowers, and also... I thought that I didn't need to play Borrowers, because that would defeat the whole idea of them being real. Playing Borrowers involved me leaving stuff out for them to find and take away, or imagining them within the walls. The String Family, on the other hand, I felt in control of.
In the back of one of the books were instructions on how to make a String Person. So I made six of them, and they lived in one of my drawers. While cleaning my room the other day (pulling everything out of the room) I found them. And you bet I kept them. And I discovered that at the bottom of the drawer I'd chalked 'room divisions' into it. So, lines, dividing up the areas of their home. I made them seats out of corks with a few sewing pins in it as a back support, and the cushion was a scrap of fabric. They'd 'eat' seeds that I'd 'steal' from my pet rat's food bin.
I made them a chest of drawers from three matchboxes stuck together. The handles were beads on a wire, and I covered the chest of drawers with a piece of fabric.
I'd love to see these books reprinted so that more children can find something else miniature related!