A little Christmas in July

     I need some advice today.
     I've always had a thing for miniatures. So fun to see something real, in teeny, tiny form. I was part of the Club Little House swaps that Amy started a couple of years ago. *sigh* So.Much.Fun.
     I used to have a very large doll house. It was such a fun hobby. My girls and I went through a time period when they were around eight and ten, where we really had a ball arranging and playing with it. Time passed, the novelty wore off, the doll house got dusty and I sold it. (Good God, what was I thinking?!)
      About two years later, I bought a small doll house kit and decided to create a Santa's workshop.


When I first began this labor of love, I invested many, many hours into the little workshop, building and painting, and making the sign above the door and posted the workshop hours...
 
     I even hand painted, a' la (Sp?) Mary Engelbreit, a work table (there is an identical one to the right of it, still awaiting a paint job...)

     I made an office for Mr. Claus upstairs, complete with his globe and maps for planning his route...

and even added framed miniature photographs of his three favorite children.

     *sigh* Oh, I need some direction here. Why? Because, again, time has passed, and  this little treasure is barely more than half completed.
     I have managed to hang on to the dear little workshop, moving it twice now, although it sits in a lonely guest room closet, waiting for me patiently, to find the time to finish it up and enjoy it.
    I am not even sure where I can showcase this little workshop at holiday time. It takes up quite a sizable amount of space.
     We do not even have a miniature shop in Reno anymore, which means I would have to be shopping online (and in Portland!) should I decide to get with it and complete this project.

    Do I keep it (someday I'll surely have grand babies that will love it too) or do I sell it or donate it now and move on? I'd love your input and ideas. Really.

Comments

[Kathleen]

If you have happy memories when you think of the time spent with your daughters I'd keep it. Down the road your grand children will love hearing stories how you all played with it. You may regret getting rid of it. You could even pass it down to who seems to enjoy it the most.

I know I had a figurine that my grandson LOVED! I thought oh what the heck and gave it to him to put in his room. I just pulled my daughter aside and told her the value of it ha ha. Who knows he may need to sell it one day ha ha. In a few years he won't be interested in it but when he gets older it will bring back memories being at Gram's. I guess my point is some little person or persons will cherish this cause it was yours.
Best,
Kathy

[Heather J]

I'm all about getting rid of stuff that takes up space, but *YOU MUST KEEP THIS* for your grandbabies (sorry to shout). They won't even care if you never finish it. It will be a special, magical christmas memory for them one day. And more so because their grandmother made it. You might even be able to finish it with them. Please keep it. Thanks! ;-)

[B]

I vote for saving it, too. I generally don't hang onto things I don't want/need, but this workshop is just so, so dear, I'd keep it. What a fantastic idea. I've always wanted a dollhouse, even though I don't have a daughter and am many, many years away from grandchildren (I hope!) This seems like a perfect way to have one, without having it take up space all year long. I might have to steal your idea.

[Missy]

I, too, vote for you to keep the house. Why don't you wait to finish it with your grandbabies? Kids usually get bored before a big project like this gets finished, but if they can see some progress from the start, maybe you can keep their attention until it is finished?

[Mrs G]

[in a thunderin' voice] Thou Shalt Not Get Rid of This Darlin' Santa's Workshop...pretty please :)

you just need to go ahead & have a sturdy shelf put up for it or make it its own year-round table...display it year round because it is too precious :)

[Linda]

Oh my, this is the most unbelievable little treasure I have ever seen! You must keep it...your future grandchildren will dub you their favorite granny for it. They'll love coming to your house to stare at it in wonder. Definitely, keep it!! You've done a wonderful job with it.
But...if you really insist, I would be willing to take it off your hands...I'd do that for you...I'm nice like that!! LOL

Linda

[rusty rooster]

Definitely save it! If any of your grandchildren inherit your love of "things" (surely one will!) it will be priceless to them. My grandfather was a craftsman, and although he is gone now, I have some treasured items that he made, and I wouldn't take all the money in the world for them.
Becky

[clarice]

In my best valley girl voice "Yessssss" So cute and perfect for Christmas. Keep it !!! Clarice

[Adrienne]

Yes, keep it. It is such a dear workshop and it will be special to someone -- you or future grandbabies.

Yesterday I posted "Christmas in July". Mine was about some new Christmas books I found while thrifting recently.

[Cindy]

Don't even think about it. It is such a gem. You should be so proud of yourself for that endeavor. I signed up again for CLH. That's how we met in the first place.

[Heartartz]

So cute.
But what a dilemma. What to keep? what to get rid of?
As we become empty nesters this puzzling situation is faced by us all.

I know my boys love the puppet theather and puppets they got from their Gram, that their Dad played with when he was little. It was made by their Great-Grandad. Although it is kinda dated many a grand production was done there by both generations. And I am keeping it all safe for future generations.
My mom threw away all my toys, dolls, doll house and books. It makes me sad because had I had girls instead of boys they would never have had my toys. I did manage to keep my Barbies and the only Ken shared by 5 girls in the neighborhood. WOW, that boy had more weddings than Elizabeth Taylor. Hahahaha!!!
Anyway, if you have a place to keep it safe, I vote for keeping it.
Love
Gail

[Elaine]

That workshop is silently waiting to be filled with happy memories - keep it!

~elaine~

[Lorrie]

It's lovely. And so wonderfully detailed. I'm not a hoarder by any means (19 moves in 30 years took care of that!) but the other comments are right on. Keep it for the promise of a child who will one day be enchanted by it.

[Lucinda]

I'm usually in favor of decluttering but I have a 7 year old daughter who loves to play with doll houses. She can spend hours with one. Keep it you can always review your decision in 5 years, 10 years...you never know when a little person will come into your life!

[Rosemary]

I would keep it,for sure.
Rosemary

[Jenny]

Tracey... This is the kind of thing that is never really finished... there's always something. Suppose you keep it and finish it someday with your grandchildren.

[mom2fur]

Don't you dare sell that! You will regret it for the rest of your life. There's no law that says you have to finish it in any time frame. Jenny is right...this kind of thing is never 'finished.' (What would be the fun of that, anyway?) Even if you store it someplace for a few years before you get back to it again...or even if you store it for posterity...please, please, please don't give it away. It is a family heirloom in the making! One thing I would do, though, is store it with the story of how it came about. Can you imagine a great-great-great granddaughter seeing the treasure for the first time and reading the very words her ggg-grandma wrote about it?

[Wylie Hunt]

My favorite aunt had a dollhouse that she had decorated and kept in a guest bedroom in her cottage at the lake. Her grandchildren and great nieces and nephews loved to go in and play with the house. It sat on a dresser in the bedroom, and was just the perfect height for these little ones to stand in front of and move things around inside. They spent many hours there. Definitely keep the house, even if you have to put it away for several years. Maybe when you pull it out again, you will be really inspired to finish it.

It's beautiful.

[Gayla]

My 2 cents. Yeah, keep it. You told us it was only half finished or we wouldn't have known!!! It looks finished or nearly. I have used a similarly sized dollhouse as a centerpiece on my table for Christmas. It's red and white and not nearly as preciously adorned as yours, but it looks cool with some of those tall fir feather trees and a couple of snowmen and tea lights. Or you'll have a shop window to decorate someday... and probably grandchildren.... and it's just a piece of you and the magic of Christmas... Get rid of something else. Don't purge yourself of things you enjoyed "before" if that's what might be brewing... I only know you through your blog, but this house looks like your spirit!!! Two votes for keeping it.. (Me and my cat, Sal.)

[Sheryl from Michigan]

Oh my dear, KEEP IT. Just looking at it, and it's not even mine, gives me the warm fuzzies!! Kind of the feeling of drinking cocoa, by a warm fire, with a hand crocheted afghan on my lap and my dog at my feet!! Mmmmmmm - wonderful!!

[AndreaW123]

You must finish it and keep it. What a wonderful memeory that will become for you and grandchildren!!!! It is lovely. Create a special spot and display it all year! The sign says open 364 days a year!!!!!!

[Raised In Cotton]

Keeeeep it Tracey!!!! I know your girls will be so happy you did. I can see a photo in the future of your grandchildren playing with it building their own memories:)
Hugs,
Carol

[SoniaM]

did you ever decide what to do with our workshop..i gasped when i read you considered letting it go..it has inspired me to turn one of my doll houses(still being built) into a santas workshop..thanks:)

[Mike]

Great Miniatures. I also am working on my first dollhouse with my daughters. I don't think I could sell anything we've done...keep it.