Kitchen in a kettle: Two ideas come to mind....you could get the clear heat shrink wrap from Michaels, cut a piece moderately larger than the opening, glue generously to the inside of the kettle (so the edges don't show) and then use a hair dryer to lightly shrink the wrap so it is taunt...it is nice and clear when shrunk, just make sure not to overshrink...or, get a very, very thin piece of acrylic and blast it with a heat gun so it is a little pliable and work it inside your opening and then glue....I missed your original post on how you plan to open up your tea kettle, so these ideas may not work...but it's a guess..

WhuiChang

Fruit & Vegetable Room: Why not use a dried gourd as a room for your fruits & veggies? Or a paper mache pumpkin or tea pot? Or you could make a watermelon shaped room out of paper mache over a balloon to get the shape. Or just go with a plain old foam core room box covered with fabric in a fruit or veggie print. I have 3 gourds I'm going to use my "virgin" Dremel on! I received lots of encouragement from everyone. So Thank You Very Much! I figure if I mess up too bad I can always make birdhouses out of them!

Pam in St. Louis

Pirate's Bar: A plank across wooden crates or barrels is perfectly fine for this period and milieu! Bars didn't become really fancy until the Victorian era (you should see some of the ones here in Prescott--woo-wee!).

Molly/StormBorn

Gashlycrum Tinies: This is why I suggested a series of vignettes--Desmond, thrown out of a sleigh? Maud, swept out to sea? Victor, squashed under a train

Molly/StormBorn

Detective's Apartment: I love the idea of a detective's apartment! Tell us more please! Is it going to be a modern type setting or more of the "Sam Spade" era? I can just visualize that bottle of booze in the partially open bottom drawer. An ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts. A shoulder holster with gun hanging over the chair back. A fedora and trench coat on the halltree and, of course, a beautiful blond sitting in the client chair with tissue in hand and a big picture hat! :-) What fun!!!!

Reva Losiewicz

I loved Marjon's ideas for the detective convention. How about some feet sticking out from behind sofas and under beds! Look out Laurie Sisson..a whole new use for your "The Foot"! lol (Laurie sells weighted feet in many sizes and styles perfect for making your dh people stands without help.)

Alice Zinn- Pt. St. Lucie FL

Detective's Convention: you didn't mention what period detectives you were thinking of, which would make a difference -- Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Wimsey? Sam Spade? Nathan Heller? I've always thought Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone ought to run into each other on a case since they both work in California. Or in a medieval house you could have Brother Cadfael, Sister Frevisse, Feste the Jester, etc. Or a Roman villa with Gordianus and Falco...so many detectives to choose among!

Loretta.Sniarowski

Detective's Apartment: Speaking of detectives, wouldn't Kinsey's new apartment make a really neat roombox. Does anyone remember which letter book she got her new apartment that had the really good description of the whole thing?

Rusty in Ky

"Borrowers" scene: A while back we were listing projects we were going to do someday - and I just thought of two more I forgot to add to my list - found a box of little household items for a "Borrowers" scene. One of the mini mags did an article some years back with scenes from the Borrowers story, and it was delightful. I've bought 2 movies on the Borrowers (Little people who live in walls and under floors in houses, and they "borrow" whatever they can find to use - they are about dollhouse size and actually use dollhouse furniture if they're lucky enough to live in a home that has a dollhouse) One of the movies was made in England, and the other here in the US with John Goodman in it. The grandkids love those movies, and it occurs to me that this is the perfect project for the grandchildren! - Because it's so imaginative and doesn't require special intricate work. Household items become mini goods. Ideas are endless.

Paulette in IN

The Borrowers: Paulette was talking about doing a 'Borrowers' scene, and I immediately thought of Joan Steiner's Look-Alikes books. If any of you have not seen these, they are worth a look, if not for anything else, just to see the ingenuity of this artist. They are actually children's books, and all of the scenes are made up of found objects. (for example, in one scene, she's used a disposable razor as a vacuum cleaner) While most of us might consider using "parts" of a household object (with much sanding, scraping, and painting), Ms. Steiner just puts the whole thing in there, and the results are really delightful. She does use miniatures in her scenes as well, but not very many, mostly she uses just things you might find around the house. I think she is the ultimate "Borrower"!

Deena in Miami