Mickie Haynes inherited a love of antiques from her mother, whose whole family --mostly in Pennsylvania -- collected something old.  It was Mickie’s joy in life to search for and find the miniatures that filled three dollhouses that her father -- a master home builder -- made for her.

For more than thirty years, she flew and drove from her home in Phoenix, AZ to the East Coast see what she could find at shows across the county, but especially Bellman Promotions in Gaithersburg, MD; Renningers Flea Market in Adamstown, PA; and UFDC National Conventions and Regionals where ever they were held.

When it came to the West Coast, she went several times a year, to the Verdugo Hills Doll Club Show (first Pasadena, then Glendale), the All American Shows in Glendale; Nancy Jo’s in Vallejo, and Angels Attic Deacquisition Sale in Santa Monica.

She also owned and operated Mickie's Antique Dolls on North 7th Avenue, which is now the heart of the Melrose District, a unique street filled with boutique shops.  For more than ten years, doll collectors visited "Mickie's Shop" to see what she had returned with from her many buying sprees. 

Mickie wasn’t always a miniatures collector.  She started in dolls, and not antique dolls at first.  She was introduced to reproduction dolls by Nancy Suitter.  But, it wasn’t long until she saw the beauty of antique dolls, and she became hooked.  “Bisque, it’s always about the bisque,” she said so often.

Because of her love and enthusiasm for dolls, she developed relationships with collectors who had acquired dolls before they became highly-valued and sought after.  One of those persons was Lenore Thomas, who owned a fabulous – and huge -- dollhouse that was chocked full of antique miniatures. This was the Joseph Zumbach house.

After Lenore passed, the house went to auction in New Hampshire.  Mickie went to the auction hoping to buy the house, but without success.  Mickie showed a photo of the house to her father who said he could build it. It was completed two years later.

The house was made of walnut, wood which Mickie's father had saved for thirty years, a gift from a friend.  Mickie's youngest son quickly proclaimed it his.

Next came the cherry house.  The other son claimed it.

Laughing, Mickie's father said he guessed he'd have to build one for Mickie's only daughter, and he did.  That project, another two years, resulted in the Birdseye maple house, which is the largest.

All the houses have inlaid floors.  None of the houses have plywood backing, which is so common in modern furniture.  Plywood was not used anywhere in the construction of these houses.

She also owned and operated Mickie's Antique Dolls on North 7th Avenue for approximately 10 years.  Her shop location is now in the heart of the Melrose District, a unique street filled with vintage and boutique shops.  For more than ten years, doll collectors visited "Mickie's Shop" to see what she had returned with from her many buying travels.

Mickie passed away in her home on December 21, 2015.  She and Bill were married for 50 years.  Sadly -- to Mickie especially -- her love of antiques, dolls, and dollhouses did not pass on to any of her children.  The family decided make her items available in hopes that they would find loving homes.