Modern toilets: The WC isn't really a modern invention - in fact Elizabeth I was presented with a toilet that could flush - can't remember the name of the inventor, hang on a minute... just looked it up - Sir John Harington made the design. Elizabeth installed one in her palace at Richmond with his book as a users manual chained to the wall next to it. For some reason the idea never caught on...

Saga in Sweden

1/144 houses: The 1/144 houses etc. were from Frances Armstrong (Fay was something else). Her site is here:
http://francesarmstrong.homestead.com/index.html She makes lots of kits and has a lot of helpful tips and projects you can download as well.
You'll find more kits for both houses and furniture here:
Anita McNary-Haynes makes and sells laser-cut kits. She also has a book of tips and hints for building in this scale. Wonderful stuff from both these ladies.

Kay in Ottawa, Canada

1/144 microminis: Just wanted to let you know I have added more pictures of my 144th scale dolls to my album at webshots:
http://community.webshots.com/album/21521623PTeAVPpiBs

Callie

Painting tiny plastic pieces: Just spray with some primer. The cheaper the better, usually. I like Krylon. One teacher uses double stick tape to hold down tiny pieces to spray.

Laurie Sisson

Dollhouse kits: A tip that has worked well for me--To strengthen corners and other "structural" areas, I have used brown paper, even a grocery bag, with fibers in it cut to size, covered with glue and plastered right to the plywood. I have used this method to hold small pieces of plywood to the structure when I have decided to eliminate a window as well. When dry, this makes a very strong bond. It can even be sanded, then primed before you paint or wall paper over it.

Jacqueline_Ridout

Dollhouse Kits: I'd include Celerity, Lawbre, House That Jack Built, and Victorian Times with Real Good Toys as quality products, but don't know how the prices compare.

Dottie in Tucson

House kits In the Uk and also available in the US: I have recently made a Dolls House Emporium kit, the Country Store. The carcass is of mdf, and the details (windows, doors, stair rails) are in wood. The bay windows, the main feature of the Country Store come ready assembled, with the window panes and the frames removable for decorating.

DHE make British style cupboard houses, front opening. The designs used to be pretty same but they've come up with some really nice houses recently. I love the Lutyens house.

The kit was easy to put together, even for me, a beginner. I have to admit I was impressed, though I didn't expect to be. I have a basement for it, and it will be a Writer's Retreat if it ever gets finished! Right now it's waiting for me to put in the electrics, not my favourite job!

I am in no way connected with DHE. I bought my kit from ebay, so I got it at a discount, but I have bought stuff from them before, and they have a no quibble returns policy (as long as it's resaleable).

The main disadvantage is that it is a big company, and their stuff is instantly recognisable, although I think they're making efforts to get away from that.

Lynne Connolly

Wilderness lodge: The last time DH and I went to a lodge, we had a cottage that was completely panelled in knotty pine: floors, ceilings, walls, cupboards, doors, the works. It had a small field stone fireplace in the living room and sort of Swedish modern style natural wood and rough wool furniture. DH said he felt like he was sleeping inside a hope chest. The bed was made of peeled logs.

We checked out the other lodges in the area and found one I loved by DH said looked too ratty. The common room had 30's cut velvet dark red oversized furniture, an upright piano, those needlepunched on velvet cushions, old souvenir satin cushions with long fringe, a moose head on the wall, ratty lamps with lots of fringe, threadbare imitation persian carpets. The walls and floor were dark stained planks. No TV or radio, but a great view of the lake off an equally ratty wooden porch. Looked like what someone's great uncle who hasn't decorated in 50 years might have.

Heather in Toronto

Wilderness lodge: I'm going to my favorite cabin-on-a-lake this weekend. Downstairs is built of granite quarried from the site, upstairs of half-round logs. The ceiling beams in the living room are whole trees about 18" across (bark removed, then left in the weather to turn a silver-gray). Heavy plank-type doors with massive black wrought-iron hinges and latches. Stone fireplace with a bookshelf built into a stone arch on one side. Firewood is stored in a cabinet under the stairs that has outside access for refilling. There's a black iron potbelly stove in the dining room. Victorian-era antiques, blue willow dishes, wrought-iron curtain rods with arrowhead finials and hand-woven curtains.
One of the great lodges is the Timberline--the exterior was used in filming "The Shining" the interior is much nicer than the movie; see a few pix at http://www.timberlinelodge.com/photos/PhotoAlbum_Lodge.asp A few more ideas: horn or antler furniture and light fixtures, spotted cowhide upholstery, log and twig furniture, fishing, hunting & boating memorabilia, Indian blankets, pottery, baskets.

Lee

Wilderness lodge: Thanks to Carol and Heather for ideas for what to put in a wilderness lodge. Here is a compiled list of their ideas and mine if anyone is interested but I would love to hear more ideas!
log holder with logs
fishing pole/accessories
hunting things
outdoor books/magazines
rifle
axe
mounted fish
moose head over fireplace
catch net
coffee pot and mugs of steaming coffee
braided rug
worn threadbare oriental rug
dark green/burgundy velvet furniture
coat rack
hats/coats
boots
door mat
bear skin rug
snow shoes
skis/poles
walking stick
plaid blanket and furnishings
dog by the fireplace
twig or log furniture
everything paneled in knotty pine
hope chest
velvet and satin needlepoint cushions with long fringe
ratty lamps with fringe
fieldstone fireplace
wrought iron fireplace tools

Parisa