Barbara Sanders has been making exquisite doll's houses for 15 years.
She spends hours constructing the tiny artefacts for them, stitching minute rugs and reducing newsprint and family photographs to the correct proportions.
Her beach house invites the visitor to stroll on in and relax while the Christmas house encapsulates the excitement of childhood memories of the festive season. Her attention to detail is backed by extensive research and her version of Monet's house at Giverny is a masterpiece.
Barbara has completed 11 full houses and countless individual room boxes. Her Harry Potter room is a favourite with children and her Rennie Mackintosh room has grown-ups marvelling.
"It all began when I was clearing out the attic and found my daughter's doll's house, dating to the 'Fifties. It was an old Tri-ang and so pretty that I thought I would do it up," she said.
Now she makes the structure and as much of the furniture as she can. She does all the needlework and knitting, which she says is probably the most enjoyable part.
"My only problem is that I have run out of space to put them at home. I have so many ideas in my head but I have nowhere to put them."
To absorb her creative energy, Barbara is constantly restocking her miniature shops. One of her newest is a quilt shop and another favourite is the flower shop,
Every Christmas, her daughter, Helen, brings her children, Jamie (11), Natalie (9) and Matthew (8), for a doll's house-related festive activity.
"Every year I think they may forget, but they seem to love it and we always find some festive project for them to do," said Barbara.
Miniature pictures of her children and grandchildren appear on the walls of some of the grander rooms. Barbara, who works in the family planning department at Alton Community Hospital, is also a keen gardener.
She and some of her neighbours in Gracious Street, Selborne, will be opening their gardens to the public in aid of the Red Cross on Sunday, July 6th.
Barbara, who will be displaying eight of her doll's houses and several of her room boxes as part of the Ropley Fayre this weekend, also takes commissions for suitcases or trunks which she will fill with appropriate pieces for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or christenings.
For more information, ring her on 01420-511358.
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