Murphy If you’ve ever been at the Murphy Art Center downtown, you have probably noticed the log cabin doll house on display.
Tracy Land and her husband, Joe, had been married for 25 years until his passing earlier this year. In that time, the two enjoyed doing woodworking projects together.
It all started when the couple were vacationing in the area and decided to take a woodworking class at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Joe enjoyed woodturning, and they made furniture together. They loved the woodworking classes and would continue attending the folk school for the next 20 years.
They built their first doll house around 2012, which was a cabin after Tracy saw a pattern for it. When the cabin was
finished, it was given to Logan’s Run Rescue as a way to raise money for the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs.
The second doll house they made was a Victorian-style house, which when completed appeared in a doll house magazine. It was also raffled off for a charity.
The third doll house, and most current one, sits at the MAC, where Tracy also volunteers and was the fundraising chairman. That house was built at the Land’s own house, as Joe was sick and Tracy could not leave their home to go back and forth to the MAC and continue with her duties there.
Rather than resign, she took a leave of absence in order to stay on with the MAC and still be able to assist her husband at home. Tracy was able to build the house at home while still caring for Joe.
The two-story furnished log cabin was raffled off last year for $3,700. The winner then took the beautifully handcrafted doll house, including an outhouse and a bear family, and donated it back as a fundraiser to help the MAC with Youth Art Club programs.
It is for sale at the price of $5,000.
“If I were commissioned to make it, the price would be $6,500,” Land said with a smile.
The houses vary in length of time each one takes to complete, ranging anywhere from a few weeks to months. Each house takes time, patience and dedication to the project, which shows the love and selflessness of the Lands for giving away their invested treasures.
Tracy also enjoys other types of crafts, such as intarsia woodworking and making bandsaw boxes, as managing the dollhouses are more difficult for her without Joe. For details on the log cabin for sale or to see it, stop by the MAC at 12 Peachtree St. downtown or call 360-3038.