Inventory Records: I keep a miniature inventory on Excel. I have kept it in a notebook until this year, when someone on this list suggested Excel. I have columns for all of the things you describe. One feature I love about having it on Excel: I can click on ARTIST and it arranges everything on the list alphabetically with the artist's name. Or I click on a project as in Greystone Inn, and it again groups everything that is in this project. You can then click on the cost and it will total each project. This is the only column I DO NOT LEAVE on all the time. For obvious reasons!!! No one cares but me. But...........it tends to make you queasy! I took 3 weeks to transfer everything from the book to the computer, but now that's it done it will be easy to keep up.

Fannye in TX

Edwardian ladies bedroom: I have several pieces of Bespaq bedroom furniture, and want to do a Edwardian ladies bedroom with a separate dressing room. In that dressing room will be a armoire, and, because it's one of my favorite pieces of furniture, with beautifully fitted drawers and shelves, I want it to be open, and brim full of the things a lady would have...lots of lace...gloves, etc. So, now I've got to actually use some of these patterns that I have...and some of the tiny lace I've collected for years. (Never throw anything away!)

I may have to have a maid, too...trying to tidy up after the women of the house, a famous diva in the opera, leaves for rehearsal. (I already know who lives in the room, and a diva would give me a good excuse to make wonderful hats and clothes...if I can!)

So, that's the 1" scale that I have going...I need to paint and antique the furniture...dress the bed and the caned chaise lounge, make clothes..etc. Maybe take me, oh, ten years or so.

Kaye in L.A.

Literary scene/Henry James house: I'm beginning to have strange and ambitious visions of projects, and for some unknown reason, they are beginning to center on the fiction of Henry James. I'm very keen on doing the children's house in The Turn of the Screw (was it that discussion on miniature ghosts?), and am determined to do some scene from The Portrait of a Lady. I've begun to reread the novel, and was surprised to find that James describes himself as a housebuilder using "artful patience" to pile up "little bricks" "well-nigh innumerable and as ever so scrupulously fitted together and packed in." Sound familiar? If anyone else has suggestions, or would like to share their own literary miniature scenes, I would appreciate it.

Madere, Silver Spring

Literary scene: I haven't made a literary scene, but I have a friend from mini club that made several Tarzan scenes. I don't know if you have read the original book, but a man and his wife (who was in a delicate condition) were put ashore with their crates of belongings. The husband made a cabin with the wood from the crates. This friend was so meticulous in recreating the scene that she first made the crates, then tore them apart to make the cabin. It turned out unbelievingly well.

Rusty in Ky

Literary scene: My all time favorite book is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. A scene I'd like to replicate is in the beginning of the book. It's the one where Marmee is sitting in her easy chair reading aloud a newly arrived letter from her husband. Beth is sitting at her feet. Meg and Amy are sitting on their arms of the chair on either side of her. Jo is standing behind the chair. There is a fire blazing in the fireplace. There would be knitting and stitching projects from that day scattered here and there about the room. This would be a busy scene but with a very warm and homey feel to it.

The dolls in this scene would have to be very special. They would have to clearly project the distinct personalities of each character. I don't make dolls so I think I'll start looking very carefully for just the right ones. It will probably cost me a fortune. (which I don't have) I can see this whole scene in my head right now. Wow! Thunderboltitis! This could take up my whole day. Nothing is going to get done around here today. Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time that's happened. LOL

Lorri in Manassas, VA

Literary scene: On the subject of "Little Women" dolls - I forgot about the scene I'm going to do someday. In fact, I have the doll parts put back for it. It's where Jo comes in, takes off her bonnet to show her shorn locks - (her chestnut hair was her one beauty) and she has some money in her hand for Marmie to send to her father who is off in the Civil War. (she sold her hair!) All the girls have different looks on their faces. Of course Amy is absolutely shocked and horrified. That's for SOMEDAY - I keep so busy, it's hard to get to the special things for ME.

Paulette in IN

Inspiring songs? We've talked about books and movies that have inspired us to create miniature scenes. What about songs? I think art is a comparative experience, and I always listen to music when I make my miniatures. What songs have inspired you folks to create worlds in miniature? I'm listening to the ole tune, "Are ye sleeping Maggie?" And my brain is whirring. I see another stone cottage on my horizon. I also love the folksong "Sovay", which tells the tale of a young lady who dresses as a highway robber. She meets her beloved on the road and robs him. He hands over everything but the engagement ring that she gave him. He doesn't catch on until he visits her in her garden the next day and sees his belongings hanging from her trees. Needless to say, he passed her test of devotion. I'd love to do the garden part of this song in miniature.

Heidi

Inspired by song lyrics: Heidi of Chapel Hill, NC, mentioned being inspired by song lyrics. The first song which popped into my head is a ballad by Joshua Kadison (spelling?). I just love his songs. One of my favorite ballads of his is about an elderly man and woman who are friends and who live in a retirement home, long ago forgotten by their families. In the lyrics, he says to her: "I want to paint you naked on a big brass bed, bright red poppies all around your hair." And she replies: "Crazy old man, I'm not young anymore," to which he answers: "That's alright, I've never painted before." Sorry, I can't remember the title of the song, but the album is called Painted Dessert. I think this would make a lovely scene, kinda like an elderly version of the scene from the "Titanic" in which the young man draws the nude young woman.

Karen in PA, USA

Traveler's scene: I believe that it is impossible to fit the Sierra Nevada, Mt Fuji, the Chao Phraya River delta, or Blue Ridge Mountain skyline onto a piece of photographic paper - soooo - Why try?

The world is in your brother's back pack so why not do that? Pose a well used back pack in "inflated" condition as though dropped beside the trail. Impregnate with resin to permanently stiffen. Cut out an opening in the back and develop your mini scene within. Fold the fabric to the interior to become the foreground earth, rocks, and side frame then blend with acrylic paints to "loose" where the bag ends and scene begins In the immediate foreground at the same height as the bottom of opening, a campsite with stove or fire and some favorite treat cooking away. Add lots of special details like his hiking map, a favorite book, field glasses, his own regular spectacles if he wears glasses, and such. Let the ground drop away as though at the edge of a cliff and go small scale for a jungle or beachside village in the relatively distant "midground". Be sure to show the "at camp" trail and its continuation into the village.

Beyond the village and its far-edge flora and/or geology - I would have a painted backdrop in very "loose" water colors. If your backpack has side pockets, there could be a hitch-hiking local "critter", well worn inoculation card, State Department "advisory" or perhaps the waist band of a verrrrrry bedraggled "second pair".

Mel K in Las Vegas

Traveler's scene: The first thing that jumped to mind when you mentioned that your brother likes to travel and you needed something in which to build a scene was, why not make the scene in a tall old hiking boot? Insert a wooden box into the boot (perhaps a wooden cigar box might do) and stuff around three sides of it to hold the boot upright. Carefully cut the leather boot out around the inside opening of the front of the box. I'd glue or tack the boot leather to the edges of the box to stabilize it, then put wooden framing around it as well. I believe that you could fit one shelf into the box dividing it in half, top and bottom. The top half could show a mountain which you painted or cut a picture out and glued, in the background with a tree filled with parrots (these also could be pictures cut from magazines and embellished with feathers) in the foreground. Next scene could be a wash line with the campers laundry hanging on it, and the rest of their gear laid out on the ground. Sounds like a fun project, please keep us posted.

Marilyn, MI