When I think back to creating happy memories as a child, I think back to spending hours creating fairy gardens or playing with my Barbies in their house that my uncle built. I think back to magic, imagination and love. Recently Charlie Loves Studio shared a story on her Instagram about a beautiful business that is just launching and I was immediately thrust back into my childhood. KaRi has created an adult version of fairy gardens and doll houses – and I am completely obsessed!
Your name: Karen Kelly but people know me as KaRi (my creative alias)
Business name: The Tiny Dollhouse (South Africa) and also the #girlboss behind the Lovilee Blog for the past 10 years.
Social media handles: Facebook and Instagram and Website.
What are 3 fun facts about you:
I always thought I was addicted to coffee, but have realised coffee is addicted to me.
I am bunny everything obsessed!
If I could choose any color in the world, it would be the color grey.
Tell me a bit more about the business:
I am a creative at heart, always busy with some activity behind the scenes, whether it is to knit, to embroider, to DIY or just to craft. I love keeping busy and surrounding myself with creatives. This year I decided to take the leap and follow my tiny passion to create an online store, with a beautifully curated Instagram feed and miniatures by myself and other makers. A way for other creatives to showcase their talents in a different way, but still linking to their bigger businesses. A community that will be brought together in a tiny (yet big) way. I am hoping to start a dollhouse revolution in South Africa!
Where did the idea for this come from:
A few years ago my bestie in Holland sent me an image of a Scandinavian style modern dolls house and I was sold. I knew I had to have one and tried to find one in South Africa. It was virtually impossible so, I decided to make a plan and bring the dollhouses to South Africa myself.
Why tiny dollhouses:
Tiny things like miniatures and dollhouses make me happy and I hope to share this happiness with others, be it via Instagram, or the online store. Let’s face it, not everyone can have a perfectly organized home all the time, but you can manage something like this on a teeny tiny scale. It makes me happy to know that my tiny dollhouse is styled the way I like it and that no matter what chaos ensues in the home, there is a place that is the total opposite. I love the DIY element that comes with these miniatures, I might not have the time to do a room revamp in my home in one day, but it might just be possible to do it in my tiny space – giving me a total sense of accomplishment and pride.
Where can people order from:
They can order directly from the online shop. I courier countrywide, RSA only.
What kit do you think a first-timer should start with:
Step 1 – Purchase a dollhouse. If you are looking for a small project the one bedroom dollhouse is the perfect option and can be displayed beautifully in an office or bedroom.
Step 2 – Add some wallpaper or paint for the walls.
Step 3 – Add a carpet and plants
Step 4 – Get creative and make some cute furniture that you can move around.
What sort of products can people expect from you:
As the owner and creative behind Tiny Dollhouse, I curate each and every product that is listed in the online store. There are not bulk amounts available of each product to keep the experience unique and I will be sharing DIY tutorials and printables going forward as well, essentially an extension of the Lovilee Blog, just on a smaller scale. I hope that this new pretty venture enables you to create your own tiny dream house! All of the dollhouses and products in the shop are made to a 1:12 scale.
Items in the store include Dollhouses, Miniatures, Carpets, Plants, Wallpapers and I will be adding Furniture soon.
Quote you live by:
“When you do what you love, nothing feels like work.”
Anything else you want to add:
I have been the creative girl boss behind http://www.lovilee.co.za, a Lifestyle blog for the past 10 years and used to have a Wedding Hanger personalisation business that I sold just over 2 years ago. I had been looking to start a small online shop again selling items that I am passionate about. I guess this TINY obsession is about to grow BIG.
(All professional photographs taken by Hello Love Photography)
I absolutely LOVE the idea and passion behind this project. I love that it can be a bit of quiet time for anyone to do something that they love, and allow their inner creative to come out. I love that it could be a family project, where you can spend quality time together without the interference of cellphones and laptops or television. I love that you can create your perfect little happy place – a place where you can escape and envision your dreams becoming a reality.
If you had to design your dream room right now, what would it look like? What would you include? And which room would it be? Once I began thinking down this route, I realised that I definitely wanted to work on bringing my dreams to fruition. I now want to create my own Tiny Dollhouse filled with miniatures of happiness – macrame plant hangers, a fluffy beanbag, handwoven rugs, mini family portraits, and a beautiful wallpaper…
