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Jimmy Landers retired as a regional manager for an international environmental Corporation several years ago. Upon retirement, he designed and contracted his new home in Southern Indiana. He spent a lot of time in custom designing his stairway and entrance area and even more time to get the correct individuals to complete his pet project. When it was all completed, he found he had more time on his hands than he could stand and started looking for a hobby. On January 6th, 2006, Jimmy began construction of his Colonial Dollhouse. Having grown up in an area where there where lots of fancy, fashionable colonial houses and having been raised in one himself, Jimmy has always loved the design of the colonial and considers it his favorite. There was never a doubt that his first dollhouse would be a colonial in design. Having known very little about the miniature world at the time, it took awhile to find what was available and where to purchase materials. This is partly why most of his house is totally custom constructed using very few pre constructed items. The fact that he never draws out any plans for his dollhouses is hard to believe but he manages to design and keep it all in his head. He says most of the design work comes about at night while laying in bed.
Shortly after finishing the Colonial (Brandywine) dollhouse, Jimmy started his second masterpiece. He named this one The Helmerich House and decided it should be a Victorian. The Helmerich is 7 feet - 5 inches of customized uniquely designed woodworking. Mr. Landers has cut no corners in making this dollhouse. If you missed seeing these two houses at the Tom Bishop Chicago International show you can take a more detailed look by clicking on the pictures to the left. The Colonial was sold at the Chicago show and is no longer available but the more impressive Victorian house is still available for sale. The Helmerich can be seen by appointment only. For more information one can contact me at:
Carl R Sahlberg
Carl@cr2s.com
317-414-3921
It took Jimmy just over two years to complete each of these doll houses. His next house he says will be a three story town house with the top floor being an artist studio and the first floor a group of stores. As soon as there are pictures to print, I will have them right here, so keep checking out this site. Jimmy will be at this years Chicago International show on April 21st, 2012 at the Marriott Chicago O’Hara. You really need to try and attend as one really needs to see Jimmy’s work. These pictures simply do not do it justice.
Jimmy decided to make four or five different store front display units for the Chicago show; which was in April 2012. He calls these his 1900 series and introduced his first one at the 2011 show and it sold before the show officially opened.. The 1900’s are Retail Store units that could have existed in your neighborhood in the 20th Century, or even today. The brick work is real brick ordered from England and is laid, one brick at a time. He also has some sandstone and limestone blocks being incorporated into these store fronts. All four stores sold at Tom Bishops show but are still displayed here for your enjoyment. Although Jimmy is not sure he will continue making new units for next years’ show, he is interested in custom work. For more information on his latest stores click on the pictures to the left.
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