Undersized Urbanite: A Giant new challenge

New year, new challenge! And this one's a doozie.

For the sake of pouring salt in old wounds let's reminisce about last year's big challenge...

I couldn't make this logo any smaller. Balls.

For those of you who are new around here, some background, in a nutshell:
'I'm a Giant' was initiated by Emily Henderson, but since she likes to start things she can't finish, it was properly and thoughtfully concluded by Mini Dork at modernminihouses, months after Emily ignored the second 'deadline'. And it was supposed to be an annual shindig. Ha!
I still need a Valium anytime someone says "dollhouse" and "challenge" in the same day.

It wasn't all negative. Just anything involving Emily.

Don't worry, Debbie-downer was just leaving.

The good experiences and outcomes far outweighed the bad, even though I do more than my fair share of bitching.

Here are some of the things I loved (and reasons for you to participate in Undersized Urbanite!):

-If it weren't for the creation of the aforementioned challenge, I wouldn't have this blog. At all.

-I wouldn't have met any of the amazing bloggers that I have, and forged new friendships with like-minded hobbyists.

-I wouldn't have almost 100 cool people regularly reading my words and seeing my work.

-I wouldn't have a fascinating and obsessive new hobby.

-I wouldn't have half the materials and tools at my disposal.

-I wouldn't have ventured out of my comfort zone and learned that I have skills and abilities I never was aware of. I can work with electricity?! I can work with metals?! I can make scale furniture?! Awesome.

-I would probably have a dated old dollhouse collecting dust in my attic, but instead, I have this amazing, one of a kind, totally custom piece that I can be proud to pass on to my potential future offspring as an heirloom. It's definitely a conversation piece, made with much love, as I designed and handcrafted about 85% of its contents.

The idea, then, was to create a dream space in miniature. It didn't have to be a traditional dollhouse. I had been gifted a dollhouse about a month before I found about the I'm a Giant Challenge. I thought it was a sign from God, rather than a strange coincidence. So I recklessly jumped right in. Little did I know what an undertaking overhauling a six room dollhouse would be!

I gutted the house, electrified it (which I learned and mastered on-the-fly), and refinished/furnished 5 of the 6 total rooms. I spent countless hours planning, designing and making. I love how it came out (so far), and there's still work to do.

Here's a highlight reel of some of my work from that challenge:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I get really happy when I look at it.

Much like childbirth (as if I would know), your brain makes you forget very painful experiences so that you might be crazy enough to try it again. If Emily Loserson was hosting another dollhouse challenge, I'd never go for it.

This one is different. It's essentially the same concept. But this year it's at a superior location and there's competent new management! That's reason for celebration, and participation!

Christina has been so thoughtful in revamping this challenge idea, and has already changed all the things that made Emily's so-called 'challenge' such a drag. With "Undersized Urbanite":

-She's set actual realistic deadlines.

-She's planned for adequate time so that participants might have a fighting chance to finish their project.

-There are prizes instead of empty promises of gallery exhibits.

-There is voting to determine the winner(s).

-There will be regular updates at Little Victorian.

-It will actually be repeated annually.

Although it's called a "dollhouse challenge", it still doesn't have to be a dollhouse. Make whatever you want, however you want, just make it tiny.

I've got two ideas that I'm kicking around, both are a play on the challenge's title. Which way I go is anyone's guess. But since this is going to start coming around as often as my birthday, I could always pocket one of the ideas for next year. Because I'm sure there will be some follow through this time.

If I can do it, you can do it. Come on, join us! We know how to party. And you've got 6 months this time.

Ready... set... GO!