Mirror: they have mirrors that stick to school lockers that you can cut with scissors to shape for a dollar or two inn the school supplies dept at most dept stores hope this helps

Sue Groves from Cobourg Ont

Stuffed Animal Rugs? I have another idea I would like to bounce off of you...I have seen animal rugs, ranging from $30 to $300. I thought that if I could find a very realistic small stuffed animal (bear, tiger, etc.), I could split the seams, remove the fill and make a rug. Has anyone seen any very realistic stuffed animals? Perhaps at a zoo gift shop?

Kathy from Tustin

Computer stuff: Someone was asking about scanning vs digital cameras. I work as a computer trainer for realtors in Northern VA and have had a bit of experience w/ this question. The thing that you have to decide about one vs the other is: What are you going to do with it? If it is to make 2D "printies", then a scanner is a good idea. I have at home the printer - HP DeskJet 870Cse Professional Series. This is a color printer that we have used to make very good quality photographs. We use a digital camera because most of the medium of pictures is a three-D image (people, landscapes, dollhouses and dollhouse accessories). The scanner we have at work is also an HP. I would recommend not a combo printer/scanner as then each only works half as well. And quite honestly, I'd get a digital camera instead of a scanner, digital cameras are selling for $200-$300 for a Good camera.

I also noticed that several of the people that post messages have asked for links and websites because their computers have crashed. One of the things that you need to do, at least once every three months (and some of you might need to do it every month) is to BACK-UP your files. What this means is make copies of your links and e-mails that you want to keep to a word document, make it into a file and save it on a diskette. That way, if you have computer problems, you have everything you need on that diskette. And if it is too big for a diskette, put it on a CD (if you have a CD-writer).

Laura C. Jevtich

Gluing Fabric: - actually, I stitch more than I glue because I happen to be better at stitching. But there are times to use glue. I use plain old Elmers, poured in a little puddle on a piece of plastic. For most things, I let it set a little so it's tacky, and not wet enough to seep through fabric. I apply it with a needle. That way you can get a tiny spot, or you can pull it along in a fine line with the needle. Some people use applicators, but the plain little old needle works for me. And if you get a spot somewhere by mistake, let it dry, and then you can gently scrape with your needle until it flakes off.

You will find that all dollmakers have their own methods of doing things. I would say a good rule of thumb is to look at a dollmaker's work. If they do nice work, and you'd like to create something similar, then I'd ask them how they do it and take their advice, because their finished product is the proof they do know what they're doing.

Paulette Stinson

Gluing Fabric: I use tacky glue in a syringe and apply a tiny line of glue and using a warm iron will set it permanently. This can be used for hemming anything. I have even made life size throw pillows for my sofa using this technique. It really works.

Sangelscooter

Gluing Fabric: I have taken several doll dressing classes and have used a combination of gluing and sewing and gluing is by far the neater job if done properly. I use tacky, super tacky and fabric glues. These I put into a plastic glue bottle with a metal tip. This tip allows you to place a #5 lead sized line on the fabric. You can get these bottles and tips from Dee's Delights. I keep several of these bottles loaded with different glues. I use a non-rusting pin to put into the metal tip to close.

I learned this fabulous trick at the Arizona State Day several years ago:

- Take a plastic film cannister and glue it to a piece of wood (or use a baby food jar without the wood.)
- Place a piece of thin sponge in the bottom.
When ready to use, wet the sponge and while gluing, place your little glue bottle upside-down in the cannister (baby food jar) and the glue will stay in the metal tip. You may have to squeeze out a little water if you get the sponge too wet. You will learn to gauge just how much water that you will need to dampen the sponge.

I could not glue anything without this little gadget. Hope this helps--remember when gluing---LESS IS MORE!

Shelby

Gluing Fabric: There is a product available in most fabric stores called "unique stitch" - it is designed to glue fabric. It can be used in place of sewing and will allow fabric to remain supple. Check to see if it bleeds through your fabric by gluing a small swatch and letting it dry. It can be applied with a pin or using it's own applicator on the bottle depending upon the size of bead you want to lay down. It does not need to be diluted. There are other products also available for gluing and they will state "for fabrics".

Jean in Seattle

Gluing Fabric: I have used a hatpin or corsage pin and an old-fashioned pincushion for gluing with great success. I dip the pin in the glue and it gives you a very fine line of glue, and you can slide the pin into the pincushion to clean it off. I haven't had much success with the fine glue dispensers as I always get them clogged up.

Sherry in Uniontown

Gluing Fabric: I glue most of the hems on my doll clothes. I use tacky glue and apply it with a toothpick. I apply it sparingly and, if using silk, let it slightly dry before turning the hem to prevent the glue from seeping through to the outside. If making a full skirt, I cover this hem with a piece of lace ( a trick I learned from Paulette Stinson).

Loretta

Gluing fabric: In regards to the glues used for dressing dolls. I only use Aleene's Thick Designer Tacky in the white and pink bottle. It's super thick and doesn't soak through most fabrics. I also heat set all the hems and seams with an iron. I use a Monoject syringe. It has a curved tip and puts out just the right amount of glue, which I spread out with the syringe tip as I go. I never have to stop and pick up more glue, like in the toothpick method. That would never work for me, as this glue dries very quickly and by the time I stopped to get more glue, it would have started to dry already. The trick is to work in small sections (1"-2") at a time.

Connie Sauve