Cockrell Hall

I think I've collected so many things for Cockrell Hall that the little folks could be considered 'hoarders!" I have found so many wonderful resources for antique pieces from Germany, England and the U.S., and I really enjoy hunting for them. EBay has been a great place for unique finds as well as visiting shops around the country on trips. I am still searching for a few more antique 'pets' and have had great luck having some custom-made on Etsy too. A house isn't a home without the dogs and cats. Cockrell Hall also has 4 birdcages and two fishbowls. I just wish I had more time to work on it!

 

 

Cockrell Hall is ready for Christmas!

Cockrell Hall is ready for Christmas! I've had a lot of fun collecting all year for the holidays from craftspeople all around the world! I've made bits and pieces too and it's all come together quite nicely I think. There are trees in every room except the kitchen (no space!) and lots of Chrismas food too. The little handmade stockings are from the Hill Country in Texas and are the tiniest I could find. Loads of toys and presents are in the Great Hall and the Library/Office. Merry Christmas from Cockrell Hall in Arkansas!

Keith Bougourd Longcase Clock

I'm so excited! I just ordered a Keith Bougourd Pagoda longcase clock from a wonderful clockmaker in England! I found references to his work on various websites and finally tracked him down via the web. He had one in stock that I favored so I have bought myself an early Christmas present! I think I will place it in Cockrell Hall's great hall near the fireplace. Here's Keith's photo of my clock that is winging its way to America! I can't wait to see it!

Cockrell Hall Has Arrived!

Cockrell Hall arrived at my farm in Arkansas last Thursday via an 18 wheeler truck that almost got stuck in our driveway. The crate looked huge as he pulled it off the truck and even larger once we got it into the house! It had been carefully crated, wrapped in bubble wrapping and had about a million styrofoam 'peanuts' filling every spare space. It took quite a while to uncrate but it was so worth it! This piece of art exceeds my expectations even though Kevin Jackson the builder had supplied me with photos during every step of the building process. It is just magnificent! Everyone who has seen Cockrell Hall has just become facinated with it-young and old, male and female all seem to see something different in this beautiful little home. Unfortunately I was laid low by a virus for the first 3-4 days after it arrived, but I'm feeling a bit better and have started filling the rooms with my collection of minis. This is going to be such fun! I hope you enjoy Cockrell hall too!

Cockrell Hall is all packed up and ready for the long journey to America!

I would like to share even more images of Cockrell Hall crafted by Kevin Jackson of KJ Dollshouses of Devon, UK. This is a side view featuring the wonderful glazed windows. You can also see the brick plinth that is the foundation the house sits upon. It's so realistic!

The Great hall is two stories and has the most amazing handcrafted fireplace surround and lighting. I can't wait to see how my tables and benches look in this room! I've collected many pieces that will look fantastic in the hall including a treasure chest with 15 drawers full of mini 'treasures!'

Miniature Hobby

I am so in awe of many of the people on various websites who make the most marvelous miniatures. I thought about trying to build my own house, but I don't have the attention span or the temperament (not to mention that I don't know how!) for it. I do however, like to craft lots of little fiddly things like miniature perfume bottles, clothing, clay foods, etc. I find it a relaxing hobby and one that I can put down and pick up when I have time to work on it. I also like needlepoint and have good intentions of fashioning some wall hangings for Cockrell Hall. I like working with glass beading and jewelry findings too for some of my work. I've made so many of these little things in the past few months that I decided my house needed a 'market' to display some of these bits. I did some research about Tudor houses and found this was quite common in olden times to sell things at a market on the first floor of a house. I've named mine Mooney's Market after my Irish side of the family who owned markets in America and in Ireland.