Growing up, my Nana was one of the coolest people in my life (she still is). She could paint, draw or create anything in the world. And she always had the best snacks. She has the imagination of a child and always had new activities (whether it was crafting, baking, creating, exploring) planned for each of our visits. My Nana is the reason I discovered what it felt like to laugh until your tummy hurt. When I wanted to make something, Nana was the one I called – and she always came through. I wanted to grow up to be just like her.
I can’t remember the year, but there was one Christmas that my parents got myself and my two siblings a dollhouse kit. Over the next year, my entire family would gather for a few hours at a time, and put this dollhouse together. My Dad got many of my Nana’s creative traits, so when the dollhouse was completed, it was perfect.
I remember calling my Nana to tell her about it. I remember telling her of the dream I had that she and I were small enough to live in the house. I can still remember the dream and how excited I was to walk up the stairs in our creation.
The next Christmas, My Nana had a surprise for us. It came in a big heavy trunk that she had constructed herself. Inside, were three large compartments with carefully wrapped hand-made dollhouse furniture. There was everything a kid could want for her dollhouse…. and more. For the kitchen, there was all kinds of food on the counter, a table made out of a coaster and some clothespins with even more food and table settings. In the living room, there was a pull out couch with a TV, and a tray of lemonade and a checker board. Upstairs, there was a bedroom with the cutest bed and a dresser that was stuffed with all kinds of treasures. That was my favorite part of the whole gift, opening the different compartments and finding even more detailed miniatures. Also upstairs, there was a sewing room – this was my favorite because it was the kind of room that always remained untouched. It was special, just like Nana’s sewing room. Nana included chairs for the porch, trees with birds and nests in them and more furniture for the attic. We could play for hours and still discover that there was something we hadn’t seen before.
What I didn’t really know at the time of receiving the gift (but I know now) is that most of the furniture was handmade… with such care for detail. I can only imagine how long it took her.
Over the years, we played with this furniture… and played with it. I remember always debating with my sister who would get the dollhouse, and who would get the other barbie house. I always hoped that I would get the dollhouse… and I usually did. As you would expect, the furniture wore from our years upon years of play… pieces fell off, food disapeared (only because we HAD to open the little packages she made, and tear the apples off of their basket), until soon, there were only a few pieces left for me to discover almost a decade later.
It was one of the most incredible gifts…. and a HUGE part of why I do what I do now.
While many of the original pieces that Nana made were destroyed (in a great way filled with memories)…. there are little bits and pieces of my Nana’s original dollhouse furniture placed in each set. In the bathroom, there is a fern she made along with some shells. In the craft room, a sewing machine and some material she cut sits on the shelf. In Mocha’s bedroom, some of her original bedding is tucked into the closet.
Today, I get to call my Nana for advice when I am stuck on a design idea… or how I can accomplish what I am trying to do. She always pulls through. I get to look forward to her visits because they always mean a few moments going over my new sets, or new miniatures that I’ve added to my collection. If there’s anyone that I know will spend a moment imagining the possibilities and sharing my passion and excitement for a new miniature, it’s definitely Nana!
