Alley Scene: Human interest. It seems to me if I visualize correctly, that you need a person to bring the scene to life. I don't know about the time of day, except that you mention a street light. I thought about "street people" and it didn't seem like the right touch. Depressing and maybe lacking in respect for the afflicted. But that's just my first take on that. Could have a colorful bag lady checking garbage. Turned away, and with bulky long clothes, she could be easy to make if you don't want to buy her.Some people I thought of are policeman, restaurant worker bringing out garbage, couple embracing. Or a combination of those.

Of course a vehicle, even motorcycle, parked would be another choice, but they aren't easy to come by. Couple of bicycles chained to a metal post might add human interest, but that might not provide a sufficient focal point.

Barb Turner

Alley Scene: It seems that I always see a thick, wide, short pipe coming out of a building, a couple of feet from the ground, going nowhere, capped with some sort of a dialed cap like on a fire hydrant, with a sign above it that says "Stand Pipe". I have no idea what this is, but they're there. Also, I don't remember if the person said they had a dumpster? They always seem to be overflowing, especially with cut cardboard if it's outside a store or other place that gets deliveries. If you want the littered look, don't forget crushed cigarette packets and butts, as well as some pop or beer cans rolling around.

Sandra (western-ish PA)

Hat Shop: Earlier this week someone asked about doing a hat shop to feature projects inspired by JoAnn Swanson's latest DIY in Dollhouse Miniatures (JoAnn, you are still the Muse of DIY!) and wanted photos. Don't recall seeing any response so far. Sorry I don't have a camera or scanner, and my shop is still in the planning stages, but I can describe how it will look, since I've got all the ingredients and just need time to put it together (how many miniaturists will have that as our epitaph?). Last year a friend gave me a tackle box filled with mini craft trims and Hobby Lobby mini straw hats so I spent last winter on a mini-hatter binge. The shop they'll live in is all planned; meanwhile hats are displayed on the heads of my pincushion lady collection. The Deco pincushion lady will leave their cabinet home to become the milliner. Bought a big Hobby Lobby box decorated with nostalgic paper; turned on its side that will be the shop. Interior will have white-on-white gift wrap wallpaper and faux marble floor to emphasize the hats rather than decor. One side wall will have a dressing table with a hatpin stand and accessories (jewelry, gloves, cosmetics)displayed below a three-panel "Chippendale" wall mirror (remnant of a childhood toy makeup set). The other will have a Michael's hutch armoire stuffed with haberdashery -- bits of lace, feathers, ribbons, silk flowers, beads, buckles, etc., maybe potpourri, sachets, stationery, and other ladies' luxuries to fill any gaps, and a tall cheval mirror so buyers can see how the hats look with their ensemble. The long back wall will have rows of hats on stands on a tiered display (stacked faux-finished wood slat shelving), with decorative hatboxes and shopping bags stored underneath. The furniture will have a neutral crackle finish, maybe with some applied jewelry finding or rub-on floral details. Period will be vaguely 1920s 18th century revival to take advantage of the white-on-white look, and because although this type of vignette practically demands Victorian, I much prefer Deco and want to include flappers' cloches decorated with fancy ribbon rosettes patterned after those in a Dover ribbon work book.

Jessica Ridley's The Decorated Doll House has a milliner's project displayed in an English kit shop, with instructions for several hat styles and shop accessories like a hat tree. Susan and Martin Penny's book Miniature Worlds in 1/12 Scale has a hat shop in a hat box; the hats aren't nearly as nice as JoAnn's designs, but the display units are innovative -- a "corral" for parasols -- &and easy to replicate; the book has patterns, too. Check your local library!

Loretta.Sniarowski

URL for old New York City goodies: An interesting site to visit for good examples of old signage, cobblestone streets, lamp posts and so much more. And interesting to see how varied New York City really is. http://www.forgotten-ny.com

Pat in SC

Souffle dish: I found a perfect souffle dish (the cap from the hair dye bottle I was using

Kim in Louisiana

Hat shops: I have two hat shops on my site. They are both listed under Shops. One is an elegant shop called Lauren's Creations, named after my oldest granddaughter. The other is a whimsical shop called Posy Patch Bonnets.It is based on a shop by Joanne Swanson in Dollhouse Miniatures last spring. She used Mrs. Mole as a proprietor. I used a couple of the collector mice and used my Dremel to alter them to accept silk flower bonnets. I also placed my shop in a fake tree trunk. I covered the outside of the foamcore shop with a used popcorn bucket left over from a trip to the movies. I then covered it with pieces of bark picked up in my yard (baked in the oven to remove any bugs) and added silk ivy and pieces of moss. The site is: http://community.webshots.com/user/ljsellers

Juanita in Missouri

Acrylic paints: You can avoid the problem of acrylic paints drying out during a project by using a wet palette. Put some damp paper towels flat on the bottom of a cheap air tight container. Put puddles of the paints you want to use on the paper towels. When you are finished cover and store flat until you are ready to use them again. They stay for a couple of weeks like that. I have taken some decorative painting classes and that is the way we keep the paints from week to week until the project is finished

Pat Long Island NY

Fantasy Book Series Roombox: I want to make a roombox. I want to make it based on my favorite fantasy series, Dragon lance. I'm not sure exactly what scene from the books I want to do yet. But I do know that I need some ideas on what I kind of materials and household items I could use to make my roombox (I hope you understand my question). Here are some scenes I am thinking of doing: an outdoorsy type of scene or a scene with a bunch of magicians or a group of friends in a comfy inn. Thanx alot.

Cynthia from Yonkers, NY

Acrylic paints. Once they are dry on your palette, they are dry for good. They have some kind of bonding agent that cures and keeps it from being redissolved such as in watercolors. I can tell you with great certainty that if you get them on your clothes and leave it to dry, you now have new painting clothes. Don't ask me how I know this.... Old acrylic paints aren't too great either. I have some old ones around, and after a while they start to clump in the bottle and smell nasty

Bonnie Gibson

Christmas gift bags: I like to use the self-stick mounting board that is sold mostly for mounting needlework before framing. I usually find it in the needlework section of craft stores or fabric stores. I always bought mine at Piece Goods and haven't purchased any in a while, but I feel pretty sure JoAnn's and Michael's would have it and whatever fabric or craft store you have locally probably would also. They're only sticky on one side and that's the side I put the wallpaper on. Then you can either spread thick tacky on the other side and press them into the bag or, if you've cut fairly carefully and have a good fit, you probably won't have to glue them in at all - they'll just "sit" there. I've also used 1/4 "foam" core board and then used double-sided carpet tape both to attach the wallpaper (or in my case, usually fabric wallcovering) and to attach the walls to the bag.
Hope this helps and you have fun - I've always enjoyed making these bags. :)

Mary Lynne in Huntington, WV