Historical Figures: Mr. Stuart (as he insists being called) is not only a really wonderful artist, but a very interesting man as well. He doesn't work in Miniature, his historical figures are 20 inches or so I believe. I thought I'd give the group his web site because it is certainly wonderful to see his work. http://members.aol.com/gsfigures/index.html

James Peacock

Bird nest foliage: Hope I am not repeating suggestions but saw note regarding material for birds nests. Barbara Ann Meyer of Mini Gems (no web site) told me she used steel wool that was painted. Buy fine steel wool in large packages in the paint section of discount stores. it costs about 2-3 dollars. if you purchase it at a craft store they will charge you 2-3 dollars for a teensy tiny pkg. Buy an inexpensive can of brown spray paint (also in the discount stores) to spray the steel wool. When dry just shape around your finger or a pencil end.

Yes, you'll have enough for a thousand nests. So, here's what you can do with some of the rest. Another hint from a dealer I met at the Dayton show and I am sorry cannot remember the name! (shame!) Either buy a can of green spray and paint over the brown or leave it like it is. Buy a can of adhesive spray. Now spread the painted and dry steel wool out on a piece of newspaper. Pull it apart so it is in a thin layer. . Spray heavily with an "adhesive spray". Remove the steel wool to a clean sheet of paper. Now sprinkle heavily with "grass mixture" and perhaps a color (pink, lavender, etc.) of foliage material. (use either foam or paper type) Now the hardest part, do not disturb for at least a week. Take the advice from this over eager individual. If you try to work with it before it's completely dry it will turn out to be one big gooey mess!

In a week check to see if it is dry. It really takes a very long time. When completely dry shake off the foliage material that hasn't stuck to the wool. You can save this foliage material for another time. Now just store your foliage wool it in a plastic bag and use for twig furniture, landscaping or in my case to dress a Faery!~ I know there are many uses. I have multiple bags of different colors. It surely is fun to use.

Lyn T

Waterfalls: I played around with waterfalls before I actually did the ponds and like you, didn't like the flat look I was getting. So,......and I hate to give this one away....I used very thin strips of plastic wrap. I put one end into the resin at the bottom, then twisted the plastic before anchoring it at the top. Used multiple strips, layered on top of each other. Worked out pretty well.....but just wait until you see what's in my workshop! I'm hoping to have it finished and at the store in about 2 weeks.

Sloan

Running Water: The saran wrap trick works very well and you can run some resin down the plastic wrap to give it a bit of depth. Probably this tip is well know by many of you but I was a happy camper when I figured it out. I was trying to give the illusion of running water out of a tap. (Chrysnbon bathroom taps to be precise) I too a some of those plastic tabs from the tags on new clothes (clear plastic stick looking things) and using plastic cement, bonded a few together for the bathtub tap and a single one for the sink tap. Looks very realistic. Took it right to the bottom of each and then added some resin. You can add some tiny bubbles around the "stream" where it enters the water using tiny glass beads. The opalescent ones look nice.

Debi in Quesnel

Landscaping Front-Opening Houses: for my townhouse, entry is very simple, a large step in front of the door, so I painted a couple of Barbie-scale crates white. They look similar to a Versailles type planter. Then glued them to either side of the step, and "planted" with shrubbery. Stuck a (non-working) street lamp in the middle of one. It gave the façade a nice, neat finished look without being too fussy.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Bird's Nests: I found Sue Ann Thwaite's address. Her company name if Lady Bug, http://ladybug-fairies.com. She has this wonderful green mossy stuff that I use all the time to make bird's nests for my birdhouse gardens or whatever. This is the one in that you put a dot of on your index finger and wrap the moss in a circular motion. Press your thumb in the center and remove. Then press the middle to make it concave. The nest's turn out so neat. Then I make little eggs out of fimo or sculpey. She sells small bags too so you don't have to make a million.

Debbie of Sunny Southern California

Outdoor lights: to make the cover for your outside posted light you could use the old single ear phone that we bought in the 70's skin color with a small wire and a little thingy that you would put in one ear. If you find one you can unscrew the earplug and it looks like a little transparent vase. Anyway, it is big enough to fit a light in there and it can be cut smaller. It has a hole at both end and is about 3/4 of an inch long by 5/8 wide. I rescued one from my son's electronic junk...good luck finding one they might still sell them at Radio Shack.

Gisèle Nadeau, BC. Canada

Porch Flooring: you didn't say if your house is supposed to be accurate to a particular period. If not, floor it any way you want. It's your house, so floor it any way you want even if it is a period house! But if you want to be accurate, indoor-outdoor carpeting would not have been available prior to the early 1970s -- it's the domestic equivalent of Astroturf, which came into use then (and which teams like the Reds are now busy ripping out of their stadiums). Other choices: my friend Ronnie's brick house dates to the 1920s, and the front and upstairs sleeping porches are floored with terra cotta tiles. Very attractive and practical -- he hoses 'em down to clean. Or you could use sushi mats or fiber place mats to duplicate sisal or coir flooring, sort of a more rugged, natural version of wall-to-wall carpeting.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Scale: Well, where it is true that furniture comes in all kinds of sizes, I guess the real art of miniaturizing the world is perspective. I think that as long as something "looks like it belongs" i.e. it makes sense to the eye, then it is in scale (one of the tricks in stagecraft, I believe). Of course, this means a bit of planning so you aren't caught at being creative;). I have been quite enjoying the doll that I have in my cabin, as she acts as an impromptu ruler. When I am concerned about scale, I will put the item up near her, or imagine her walking by the item (can she reach into that cupboard, would she hit it with the fridge door, can she move through that hall easily, etc.). Usually your eye can spot a fraud very quickly -- I have a scotty dog that I have named "dog-zilla", as it was supposed to be 1:12 scale, but really is 1:6 scale (he is not only bigger than the collies in the cabin, but is bigger than the great dane I have as well!). Put on my Barbie's lap, however, he looks like the perfect size. Just all a matter of perspective:).

Kim From Canada

Measuring: I seem to recall a physics professor telling me it doesn't matter what you are using to measure with, it is the consistency that counts (accuracy over precision). Saying 1/4 inch plus two lines is totally legal, as long as you remember which two lines, and you don't switch rulers on yourself :)

Kim From Canada