Cup hooks: For the cup hooks I use straight pins. I remove the pinhead with a wire cutter and use a needle nosed pliers to bend the pin into whatever shape I need. The pointed end is the end (business end) I insert into something.

DrBob...Delray Beach, FL.

Cup hooks and screw eyes: To Jonathan in Israel and the rest of my SS pals - just a word of caution. When cutting things like straight pins and little pieces of wire, it does have the tendency to fly off into space. But sometimes, it can fly too near your face. Please, please wear safety glasses when doing that kind of work. I know I sound like a mom but it only takes a second to get a tiny piece of metal in your eye....it only takes a second to dig out and wear the safety glasses.

Vi

Cup hooks and screw eyes: try Jewellery findings. They sell "head pins" which come with tiny loops at the end, in either gold or silver colour. You can use the loops to go into the ends of utensils, and open the loops up a bit, to make the hooks.

Alison from Accrington

Screw eyes, cup hooks: Many thanks to everyone who wrote to me regarding screw eyes and cup hook. I believe I responded to everyone who wrote to me personally, but if I forgot someone, I thank you most sincerely.

The better ideas I received were to fashion them myself by wrapping wire around a nail with needle-nose pliers. Dr. Bob said that he makes them from straight pins, which sounded great, but my straight pins always snapped and flew across the room. I had one odd pin from a shirt, and it worked great, but one just wasn't enough. I'll have to get some more of those pins. Someone else suggested using eye pins from jewelry making supplies, which is also a great idea. The advantage to this is that the eyes are already perfectly formed. Another person said that once I find the screw eyes, I just need to open them up to make cup hooks.

I was anxious to get this project done last night. The pins didn't work out, and I didn't have any appropriate wire. So, I tried paper clips and staples. Both worked out very well. The paper clips are thicker than I would like, but for this particular application, they were fine. I made several attempts before I got a decent eye, and several more after that before I got two that were the same. But I kept at it, developed a method, and started turning them out consistently.

Jonathan in Israel

Interesting Catalog: My wife received a catalog for our grandchildren. In it are many items that would be usable in the 1:12 scale. Its worth the free look. Web site is http://www.constplay.com

Constructive Playthings
13201 Arlington Road
Grandview, Missouri 64030-1117

DrBob

Beanie box -- I used one to make a little dust-free vignette memory case for my dd when she played Mary in the h.s. play of "It's a Wonderful Life." I stuck photos of her and "George" on the "back" inside, dried and separated the petals of some of the roses she got to put in the bottom, dried and placed some of the roses that dried nicely in a small vase and put that next to the silver angel bell her dad and I got her. It's one of her most favorite things and everyone who sees it goes, "Oh, what a good idea!" Gee, I can think of lots of memories I could use those boxes for ... maybe I better go bid on them!

Chrissy the Hyphenated

Flying undies: I've been reading all the creative ideas for your flying bra, and the one that immediately occurred to me hasn't been mentioned. What about having a flagpole (or even just the pole) sticking out from the side of the house with the bra caught on the very tip? I think I might use some "Stiffy" (if I remember the name correctly) to shape the bra a bit. This product was used to stiffen the ribbons for decorating baskets before the wired ribbon became readily available. Don't know whether it's still made or not. I think we'll all be interested to learn how you solve this mini challenge!

Janet in Baltimore

Flying bra: I've lost the address of the miniaturist who wanted to simulate a bra flying through the air - but how about suspending the bra on some fine nylon thread, sold in NZ here in haberdashery depts or craft stores on reels as invisible mending thread, or use the nylon filament (from a quilting store ?) sold on larger reels and used in machine background quilting.

Tess Edwards

flying undies: For the flying undies, how about using the very fine silk thread used in sewing appliques? I think it's about $5 a spool of 200 yds. It comes in a natural color which is almost transparent - and is much softer/doesn't glisten like the nylon sewing thread.

Whui

Flying undies: I was reading your idea of the flying undies (great idea!) and wanted to tell you I have some of that nylon thread that I can send you...but a thought. It's almost invisible, but in some lights/angles, it shines...which would draw your eye to the fact it's there. How about spraying it with Dull Kote...from the model train supplies? Don't know if it would cut the shine, but it seems worth a try.

Rita Pierce