Narrator: In the early 1980s Pat Arnell received a ‘Real Good Toys’ kit for a Victorian House from her husband Walter for Christmas. The kit included the main house, two side additions and a tower. At the time Pat was still pretty new to miniatures. 

Pat Arnell: The kit seemed daunting. After a couple years I felt I had enough experience to begin construction.  

Narrator: Pat’s collection already contained several regular Victorian style houses. She wanted to do something different with this kit.  

Pat Arnell: I had acquired quite a few witches who needed a home so the idea to create a witches’ house came to mind. I decided that the witches were not into dust, cobwebs or shabby and that I would need to adjust the kit to suit their needs.

Narrator: This was what miniaturists call a kit bashing project. Pat took liberties with the elements of the house.  

Pat Arnell: I decided the witches didn’t need the staircase because witches could use a levitator to reach the second floor. I didn’t use any of the doors that came with the kit. In the center hall I replaced one of the doors with a secret passage which I figured would lead to the third floor.  

Narrator: The witches that live here are quite modern. They have a computer room with a flight deck and of course they have motorized brooms.  

Pat Arnell: Since witches are out at night there is a “night care” for their children.  

Narrator: The witches needed a big room to accommodate all the kids so Pat enlarged the rooms on the second floor.  

Pat Arnell: I found some gift wrap with black cats that I thought would make the perfect wall paper for the night care. Once it was decorated I filled it with all kinds of Halloween themed toys including a witches’ dollhouse.  

Narrator: This was a big project and it took Pat a while to build the main house. By the time she got to the wings and tower she couldn’t match the shingles.  

Pat Arnell: I decided to pretend that the exterior of the house is in the process of being refurbished and that is why the main house and kitchen extension have new paint and different shingles. When this house was finished I realized I had collected so many Halloween miniatures that I could create a witches’ spa and a couple other spooky buildings to go with the main house.  

Narrator: The entire complex is referred to as the Witches’ Complex.