Simulated Wood: I have directions on how to simulated wood on foam core on the DIY page on my personal website. http://studio59.homestead.com

Jennie in San Antonio TX.

Thin Dowels: For extra small dowels, I've used the skewers that you use for broiling "shish kabobs" or whatever you may call them. They're pointed at one end, and about 11" or 12 " long. They're not as thin as 1/32, but can be made thinner either on a lathe, or by putting into a drill and turning them at slow to medium speed, while holding sand paper around them as it spins. Use care if you're doing that though, as the paper and dowel get rather hot with the friction. Also, make sure you support the piece so it doesn't start whipping around.

Dave Pierce

Thin Dowels: I suggest using a jeweler's draw plate (available at Micro-Mark for about $15.00). Using this, you can reduce a 1/16" dowel to any smaller size down to about 1/48" by making successive pulls thru the holes in the plate until you get the size you are interested in. I have even used the drawplate to make a dowel from a piece of 1/16" square basswood.

Dave Brazelton

Thin dowels: if they don't need to be wood, model train stores have them made of styrene. The smallest I've seen are 1/64th" quarter rounds!

Kay in Ottawa, Canada

Furniture plans for DIY; Plans? why? the models are all over your house. The first one I ever made was a wooden kitchen chair in 1" scale. I used the wooden chair at the kitchen table as my no cost model. Then I graduated to my own armoire. All I ever used was a folding carpenters rule to get actual size and then reduced it. Only problem I ran into was the projects affected my driving because I was always thinking of how to accomplish this or that instead of thinking about the road.

DrBob

Biltmore Estate: If you want to see how the "other half" used to live, go to http://www.biltmore.com and take a gander. Wow!

Dani

1/32" dowels for mullions: Someone asked about this item. What I did was use a substitute; i.e. thread or twine of the right color. In my Japanese guest house I used needle point yarn for the mullions in the upper soji screen windows. You can not tell the difference. Below is the URL for a photo of the yarn in use. The upper rice paper(tracing paper) windows have the yarn. It gives the impression of wood; as seen in the soji doors. On the soji door this is real wood and the doors slide so I opted for real wood to maintain rigidity of the door. But the yarn does give the impression of wood. After all; miniatures is really giving an impression. That's what it is all about.

DrBob

Dollhouse diary: I've been using a "Project Organizer" by Day Runner for a few years to keep track of my latest building which is a three-story bed & breakfast. It's a 5x7 ring(6) notebook that has lined paper and other goodies in it for keeping track of my photos, ideas, wiring, costs, wallpaper etc. You can purchase the fillers which include a "day runner" (plastic holders) to keep the photos in; Ziplock pages for your carpet samples and fabrics; plastic holders "design a day" with three slots for the wallpaper; and tab guides. I carry mine with me to shows, as it's a complete compilation of my project from its beginning to the furnishing. Mine came from Office Max, but I would think any good office supply store would carry these.

Roberta, Wisconsin

Dollhouse diary: Another source for organizers is http://www.centuryphoto.com They have a good selection of binder styles and pocket pages. I've been using them for years for my scrapbooking stuff and have had excellent service.

Chrissy

Dollhouse diary: I have been waiting and watching for mention of Gulliver's Emporium's (Sis Blechman) "My Dollhouse Diary" but I don't think anyone has posted it yet. http://www.ewol.com/~per/gulliver/

Anne