We are the Ocelots an online
group of miniature lovers that has been in existence since Wanda Bell, of
Dollhouse Central fame, founded the list in early 1998. Our name stands for “Online Community of Enthusiasts that Love Objects Tiny and Small”.
You might think
the name Ocelots a bit odd for a miniature group, but we have a good
reason. Early in our existence we were
chatting about the spell checkers on our computers and some of the strange
suggestions they made for replacement of some words. One member’s spell checker
kept replacing “onelist” (part of our list’s address) with the word “ocelot,”
and so, the name was born.
Through the
collective sharing of our worldwide membership, we all have been helped, at one
time or another, by a member more knowledgeable in some particular area than
ourselves. This sharing of ideas and information prompted us to put our heads
together in an attempt to prepare a guide with ideas to help the new
miniaturist and dollhouse builder get a good start in the craft.
Our primary goals are to answer some of the “how, what and why”
questions you have concerning your first miniature house, as well as share
information and techniques that at first might not be obvious to the new
builder. In addition, we hope to
introduce you to some techniques and information that will assist you in
choosing, constructing and decorating your first dollhouse.
If we help you have a more
pleasant experience in selecting, building and finishing your first house, then
we have accomplished what we set out to do.
Many of the
photographs throughout this guide are our members’ work. Hopefully, you will
enjoy seeing some of the things that can be done and will be inspired to start
creating on your own.
We tried to make
this guide as comprehensive as possible, without being overly technical. When
possible, we suggest substitute products, as we realize not all brand names are
available in all countries.
We hope you find
this guide to be an enjoyable and informative resource that will help make your
entry into miniatures, as well as your first house building experience, a
pleasant and rewarding adventure. Thank you for joining us!
The Ocelots
Last revised: April 2001