Storage for Projects in Progress: At about three o'clock this morning, I found an interesting tip in an old craft magazine. They used the plastic file bins designed to sit on the top of a desk as organizers for craft projects. Eureka! I now have a valid use for the ones I refused to throw away when I closed my husband's office. By 4:30AM, I had found them in an unopened box in the garage. I could hardly wait for my husband to wake and have his first cup of coffee. My studio adjoins our bedroom and I did not want to disturb him rest. At six, I baked a loaf of blueberry bread, sliced a fresh cantaloupe and made the coffee. The combinations of aromas brought my big bear out of hibernation. When he was comfortably settled in his lounge chair with the morning paper, I slunk into my workroom. Though I knew it was possible that my epiphany was a direct result of sleep deprivation, I eagerly set up a few salvaged bins as an experiment. It is fan-dam-tabulous!!! I work on Styrofoam sheets because I love the way I can pin items to them, spill and have my mess absorbed rather than dribbled down the front of me, stick my tools into them, etc. I also enjoy the sound they make as I stomp them after a particularly frustrating design faux pas. The files hold my work sheets perfectly. Now I can work on multiple projects, slide them on a rack to dry or wait until the spirit moves me to complete them and have my design space clear. At the moment, I have a stack of 8 on the right hand corner of my design table. I can't believe I've looked at these items for umpteen years and never realized the value of their potential. I see them at every garage sale, often for 25 cents. What a prize! Now, I think I'll take a nap.

Tips & Hints File: I use a recipe box, dividers and index cards to collect tips and ideas. The data is on my hard drive but I don't create in the office - I work in my studio. I glue the tip or magazine clip to the index card with repositionable stick glue. I make notes on the back of the card as I work on an idea. I slip the card of my choice into a clear Plexiglass frame (any dollar store) and set it on the back of my design table or clip it to my drawing board. When a project is completed, I update the information in my computer files and scan the item I have made. I love my computer but would fight to the death to protect my card file.

Becky

Making An Inventory: I have been following the thread of the various systems that are used to inventory their treasures. Decided I'd add my two cents. I use Adobe PageMaker. I scan or photograph each item I want a record of, paste it into PageMaker and write all the info about it under the image. I decided to use this method because I was afraid, as someone mentioned, that when I was no longer around, the kids wouldn't have a clue about what anything was, what it looked like or what it was worth. Hence, the pictures. Each page averages about 6 pictures and captions. I print each page twice, one for a loose-leaf notebook I use for reference and one for another notebook that is kept in a safer place. I have also inventoried the contents of our true-true-life house (furniture, antiques, jewelry, silver, whatever). The insurance company loves it because in case of catastrophe (God forbid), the pictures prove that you owned these things. Oh yes, you make dividers in the notebooks. If you also collected postcards, or rare books then you'd have a divider for those too. Actually, I suppose you could use Word also.

Bobbie

Easy to make Coke sign: I was drinking a can of diet coke yesterday and realized that there are two mini signs on the can. Look on the side and there are two "Enjoy Diet Coke" slogans, with the little picture of a coke glass. I haven't tried it but it should be pretty easy to snip those out in squares. Flatten them out a little and you have an instant sign for your soda shoppe or ice cream parlor!

Lynn in Gainesville

London Museums: London holds at least three museums of particular interest to miniaturists. The Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood shows a very large number of old dollshouses many of which are featured in the books we read. The Geffrye Museum which is just five minutes or so away, so you could do both in one day, which is full of real size domestic interiors, fantastic for inspiration. And of course the Victoria and Albert Museum which has just about every item of beauty one could imagine from silver and gold, to fine porcelain, to needlework samplers, and period clothing.

Karon

Spanish artisans: I'm Maria from Spain. I'd like you to take a look in a marvelous Spanish web. They're a new artisans but their work is simply wonderful. their web is: http://perso.wanadoo.es/carolinaartesanas I'm sure you enjoy it and it will be very useful for you.

Maria

How to dust your miniatures...A LONG time ago I read somewhere that a very easy way to dust fine details on ornaments (and miniatures) is to use an old fashioned shaving brush (the kind you use with foaming soap in a mug). When my Dad passed away 4 years ago, I asked my Mum for his brush (which she thought was a bit odd), but I use it all the time to dust my miniatures. It works like a treat, as you can really get into all the nooks and crannies. Of course, being reminded of a loved one makes dusting seem less of a chore!

Linda

Laminate samples: you can make serving trays out of your laminate sample pieces. You can cut them to any size and shape, add a border (e.g., very narrow plastic or rubber tubing painted in a metallic color, slit lengthwise and then slipped onto the edge of the tray). You might even paint the trays. I'm sure you've seen tole painted items that you can use for inspiration.

Rosemary in Cleveland

Laminate Samples --The Better Homes and Gardens magazine--June 2001--has different ideas on how to use the samples (of course, they are in real size, but who says we can't miniaturize them!!)

Leslie in WA

Laminate samples: The first thing that sprang to my mind is paving/decking for landscaping--use the stone-like ones for paving, and the wood-like ones for decking?

Molly/StormBorn

Stripping Wallpaper: I have found *warm* water with vinegar, sprayed on the walls/wallpaper and allowed to soak in for about 10 minutes, then scraped off with one of those metal plaster spreaders works best for removing wallpaper and paste.

Anne Gerdes