Dolls house shop in Edinburgh: I was just in Edinburgh last fall. There's a small but wonderful little shop there called the Edinburgh Doll's house shop. Web site: http://www.edinburghdollshouse.co.uk/. I found some great things there, including my mini Scotland souvenirs and an AGA stove.

Trish

Air Dry Clay: I bought a package of terra cotta colored air dry clay at Michael's to make my own mission tiles and floor tile for the scene I am working on. The brand I found is Laguna. I made a template so all the tiles would be about the same size. Because I wanted them to look like the real thing, the bottom of the template was wider than the top. I rolled the clay thin, then let it dry just enough so I could pull it off the paper I was working on without ripping the clay. Then I pressed it over a straw to round it. I finished shaping it with my fingers so the tiles would be fairly even height. Even so, all my tiles looked, well....handmade. However, I was going for the rustic look, so no problem there. The clay dried overnight and looked very dark. However, the box says it takes up to 3 days to totally cure, and it does seem as though they are lightening back to the terra cotta color. They feel as firm as Fimo would be after it was baked, so it is pretty strong when dry. I also made some flat tiles for the floor of the scene. The clay seems to be easier to use than Fimo because it is soft to start with, doesn't need to be baked, and had a less plastic look when it is dry. I only used about a third of the package I bought, so it goes a long way. I would say this is a pretty good thing to use if you are silly enough (like me!) to make your own mission tiles. I am surprised I haven't seen some of the ceramic companies offer these tiles for sale commercially. Guess they would be expensive, but so are lots of other mini components and people buy those...!

Bonnie Gibson - Tucson, Arizona

Clay: In Bluette Meloney's classes we used Paper Clay for tiles and it is fabulous. Roll it out to about a quarter inch, put glue on surface you are tiling, place it on the surface, use a stylus of some typed to draw your lines delineating the tiles, keep wiping the stylus and sort of round or soften your corners to make the tiles look real and not manufactured. Let it dry (overnight is best), then dry brush some color on it. For terra cotta use Georgia Clay or similar color and give it a base coat. Then dry brush a little lighter shades (go for brown or gray palette but stay in which ever you choose) Adding those additional colors gives it a depth you wouldn't believe.

You can get a stone effect by using grays, ending up dry brushing a bit of white lightly on the edge surface of the tile, probably on the same side on all the tiles, because it gives the effect of light on them. If anyone who has ever been in class with me is reading this you are probably rolling on the floor by now, since I am the student who always has a million questions and needs help and here I am giving advice....but that's what a good teacher gives you the confidence to do!!!!

Molly Cromwell

Changing ISPs: A good place to start is "The List" at http://thelist.internet.com/. They have a pretty comprehensive data base of ISPs everywhere. You can search with your area code to find the ones that offer local access for your area. They have the basic info including cost and service particulars, plus links to the ISP's site for more info. The nationwide ISPs like Earthlink and others offer easy set up, similar to AOL.

Anne Gerdes

Cork Crafts: Slicing, painting or spackling to make special-occasion cakes. Also, a classic homecraft dollhouse use is seating (proportions are closer to 1:24 or child-size 1:12). Slice the cork in half lengthwise for 2 settees, or in 4 horizontal rounds for chairs. Glue fabric over the top for a cushion. Stick corsage pins along the top of one side for backrest slats. Stick four into the bottom for legs. Wrap and glue heavy cotton thread around the legs. Then weave the thread back and forth among the back slats for the backrest, tying or gluing ends to finish. Works best with an uneven number of pins (5, not 4). Results: child-size "wicker."

Using a horizontal slice, stick in leg pins and round-headed straight pins all around the side edges. Weave the thread as for a chair, and you have a table. These were probably the very first miniatures I ever made, over 40 years ago as a Brownie Scout! Wish I still had them; crude, but made a kid feel pretty crafty! Better directions and illustrations in Audrey Johnson's book Furnishing Dolls Houses (see library, it's out of print.).If you have a really good cutting tool that can slice evenly, you could probably make your own cork tiles from lengthwise slices cut into squares; ditto for corkboards, frame the slices in scrap wood.

For a mini-fisherman, carve tiny balls, add toothpick ends, and paint red and white for a bobber that will really float.

Slice and then cut sole-shaped pieces, use sequin pins and glue to attach ribbon uppers for platform sandals.

Loretta Sniarowski

Filling Shelves: Give the occupant of the house a hobby, and fill the shelves with that, or have collections, like elephants, or paper weights. You can find Venetian Glass half beads, made to put in flat earring findings, they make great paper weights. Look around your life size house, duplicate some of your treasures in miniature.

MAP in Puyallup

Filling Shelves: My dolls are all pseudo-intellectuals and collectors and hobbyists so their shelves are filled with many books, sheet music, sculpture, minis that don't fit elsewhere, collector-style plates, decorated finch eggs, tiny dolls and statues, "bolts" of fabric, little tools, coffee cup or can of beer or soda and some food to sustain the avid little worker!, etc. Folded linens and clothes find their way into some displays too and ajar drawers.

Karen

Filling Shelves: Check out fabric shops for fancy buttons for sculpture. Propped up on the shelves, their shanks won't show. They come in many designs from teddy bears to flowers and fruit. Also look for fancy beads for vases; some craft beads make little animal sculptures. Just fill in the holes with air-dry clay and paint. Craft shops have charms in their jewelry section that also make sculptures. Snip off the hanging loop with wire cutter and glue to a flat button base if necessary. Clip collector plates from ads; decoupage to buttons (fill holes with air-dry clay). Keep an eye peeled on walks for tiny seeds, pods, etc. (or check your spice drawer) for a nature display -- use clear straws with glued-on acetate bottom and small button or bead lid to make display jars filled with seeds. Form a nest with dried grass and glue, fill with fimo or dried bean eggs.

Loretta Sniarowski

Luggage: The easiest way to make a miniature suitcase is to cover a block of the appropriate size of foam core or balsa wood with real or faux leather. You can paint or cover a staple to make the handle and insert it in only part way. If you have metallic markers or very thin metallic tape or ribbon, you can simulate the edges of the part that opens.

Alice Zinn- Pt. St. Lucie FL

Suitcase pattern. You can find instructions for an opening suitcase at http://members.tripod.com/minis4nz/GE1-Swaps/GE3_Eliz/suitcase.htm

Betsie, South Africa