Building Sweet Little Gingerbread Houses

Dianne Orlando likes to say her husband builds houses while she sticks to the candied version – gingerbread houses.

"He builds big houses and I build little houses," she said.

The Newtown resident took up the hobby nearly 20 years ago and has created her fair share of displays, including one of four that was entered into the gingerbread contest at the .

Other submissions left lingering at the library was a dauntingly large and detailed gingerbread house submitted by Elaine Lundquist near the main circulation area and a boot submitted by Paula Hughes and her daughter in the childrens area.

Orlando's submission was of the Ice Cream Shop, with a likeness to the real Church Hill Road store, down to the benches in front and the soda machine on the side. Last year, her submission was of the General Store, and in prior years, has been the Cave Comics/Burgerittoville complex, Fashion Exchange and Jumbo Dogs, all local businesses.

She describes her style as "funky retail."

Building the piece takes hours and starts with churning out the gingerbread dough, rolling it out, cutting out pieces and baking it. For the glass look on the windows, Orlando said she sprinkles candied mints on the window openings prior to putting it into the oven to create the translucent effect.

Orlando said she got started by taking a class on gingerbread house building with her daughter and has been creating one ever since, although after 17 years she's ready to take a break.

However, she and her daughter still frequently visit gingerbread house exhibits, such as the one at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center on exhibit through Jan. 2 and the g in Woodbury.

Orlando said that she has offered to lend her creation to the owners of the Ice Cream Shop and then will bring it home for her family to enjoy. The display eventually melts as warmer weather approaches.

Correction: Dianne Orlando's first name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story and incorrect in the photo captions posted earlier.