Dolls house dilemma

Willow500 Sat 13-Jan-18 19:44:48

In years gone by I was spent many happy hours making and furnishing dolls houses - my dad made me the first one as well as making my mum a shop. I subsequently made 2 more. Fast forward probably 15 years and I now have the shop and two more houses. I no longer do anything with these and we really need the room - one is stuffed on top of a wardrobe and the others are taking up room in the conservatory. I just don't know what to do with them. They're not toys and wouldn't be suitable for young children to play so I couldn't donate them to a hospital or nursery - equally I can't just throw them out as so many hours (and £'s) were spent on them. There is also the sentimental element given my parent's involvement. My granddaughters are grown up and anyway already have another one I made which resides in their garage and I have no one else to pass them on to. Does anyone have any suggestions what I can do with them? Part of me doesn't want to part with them but I'm pretty sure I'll never go back to the hobby and they should be put to better use than just gathering dust.

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Auntieflo Sat 13-Jan-18 19:52:51

Would a children's toy museum be interested in giving them a home. They are such a link to your childhood, that parting with them will be a struggle I should think.

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Jalima1108 Sat 13-Jan-18 19:53:08

Oh dear, I do sympathise - I have spent the afternoon trying to ~~throw out~~ rationalise everything in the little bedroom - toys and books, some of it accumulated over several years, and some of it mine from when I was young.
When DGD arrived later I asked her what I should keep and she only mentioned two things that she would really like to keep at our house.

Sorry, but I don't have any sensible suggestions, only sentimental ones (keep them, let someone else make the decision).

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Jalima1108 Sat 13-Jan-18 19:55:23

The Museum of Childhood?
Or the one at the NT Property at Sudbury Hall if you are near either.

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Jalima1108 Sat 13-Jan-18 19:56:27

Can you put them on display in your house somewhere? They sound lovely.

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NanaandGrampy Sat 13-Jan-18 19:56:46

Maybe donate to somewhere like a quirky tea room for display? Or is there a market for them? Maybe sell them and buy something to remember them by ?

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suzied Sat 13-Jan-18 19:59:14

You could sell them to someone who will enjoy them or donate them to a charity shop to sell. Sounds like you don’t enjoy them anymore. Take a photo of them for the memories and let them go,

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Chewbacca Sat 13-Jan-18 20:04:01

Would you lije to sell them? There is a keen doll's house collectors society who would possibly be interested in buying one or more.

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Chewbacca Sat 13-Jan-18 20:04:38

Like. Not lije.

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Deedaa Sat 13-Jan-18 20:18:49

There are several magazines around for doll's house enthusiasts. I would have a look at one and see if there' a market for yours.

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MissAdventure Sat 13-Jan-18 20:19:01

I think I would put them on eBay. People who are interested will soon bid, but how much they might fetch is anyone's guess. At least you would know they went to an enthusiast.

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Tegan2 Sat 13-Jan-18 20:40:59

Yes; I was thinking of Sudbury but there's also another stately home that has a room full of dolls houses [can't remember which one it is]. You could ask a craft/antique type shop to sell them for you in a sale or return sort of way; at least you know that, if someone pays for it they will look after it. However, I think Miss Adventure's idea is the best as long as you put a reserve price on it; don't want them going to someone that will make a huge profit on them. Could you put a photo on here [I love dolls houses]..

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MissAdventure Sat 13-Jan-18 20:45:21

I'd love to see them too.

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Tegan2 Sat 13-Jan-18 20:47:12

...this one lives in my living room; was passed on to us many years ago for renovation and is now a home to the Sylvanian family. DGD loves playing with it although she rarely visits. I'm afraid it's only one of several [I bought another one for £4 from a charity shop a few weeks ago thinking DS would like it at their house but they don't seem keen on the idea....]

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Greyduster Sat 13-Jan-18 21:36:13

Take them to an auction house for a valuation - it may be worth putting them into a specialist toy auction.

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Tegan2 Sat 13-Jan-18 21:41:26

I do know someone who deals in toys [but not dolls houses]. I'll ask him when I see him next week. He may know someone. Yes; auction houses are very helpful.

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Willow500 Sat 13-Jan-18 21:43:16

These are some of the (many) pictures I've got. Thanks for the suggestions - I'm not sure where the museum of childhood is but that sounds a possibility and I'll have a look at the magazines. I forgot I did actually have the big house (below) featured in one of them years ago. I look at them all now and wonder that I made all those things! Tegan my eldest granddaughter used to love playing with an old house my MIL had in their attic when she was little. Sadly they grow out of these things as they get older!

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Tegan2 Sat 13-Jan-18 21:45:41

The thing is, I can keep the dolls house tidy...whereas my own house is, well, I daren't show it blush ....