McDonald Barbies: I collect those McDonald Barbies, they are a smaller scale, probably half scale. There are some that could be dressed. There is the birdwatcher with binoculars, the scatter, etc. The black Barbie has a cape that can be removed. I haven't done anything with them yet but was planning on using them for people in a half scale church that I never got finished. Ask your daughter about some without hoop skirts. The hair can be tamed some with conditioner or fabric softener.

Rhoda, Whidbey Island Washington USA

1/2 doll house items:  Have you tried Model Builders Supply, they have a very unique and large range of outdoor landscaping, scenic supplies, windows and doors and much, much more. Their website is: http://www.modelbuilderssupply.com Hope this helps. They are in Canada, so if you are in the U.S. your dollar will go a lonnngggg way.

Susan

1920s Spanish style houses: For the interiors of these houses, look at magazines of the period. You can find Better Homes and Gardens, House and Garden, House Beautiful, etc., on Ebay by going to books, magazines, household, vintage. Good luck. I'm betting that you won't really be taken with those twenties interiors...everything was very leggy and VERY different from our own aesthetic.

Margaret in Texas

1920s Interiors: I am also researching the 1920s, but not for the Spanish style. I want to do a 1920s style house and interior, but probably a colonial or Tudor. Anyway, I have come across some things that can be helpful to you.

There is a book called "Classic Houses of the Twenties" (by Loizeaux), which you can find at Barnes & Noble in the Home/Design section. It does have several examples of the Spanish style. Also, there are some interior shots. I don't remember if there are any Spanish style interiors, but there are definitely kitchen and bathroom ideas - sink, stove and refrigerator styles, tiling, etc.

I would say that my best resource has been buying House Beautiful and Better Homes and Gardens from the 1920s on ebay. You can expect to pay between $5-15 per issue, and even less if it's missing the cover. The articles and ads are incredible, and exceptionally helpful. Even the recipes are amazing. I was amazed to see ads for Sherwin Williams paint, with the "Cover the Earth" logo - I had no idea it went back that far! There was even an ad for Plastic Wood, looking exactly like it does today. But, I digress. You will see exactly the furniture styles, window treatments, light fixtures and appliances that were used at the time. Fortunately, some of these furnishings and appliances are available in miniature. Also, I don't think that just because a house had Spanish architectural style, that the interior was necessarily Spanish, too.

Also, do a search in ebay's book's home section for Twenties, 1920s, 1920, and every year through 1929. Sometimes decorating books are listed with the year published. I have gotten some great finds this way.

Someone else said that you probably won't be taken with those interiors. I disagree. I find them totally charming - colorful, traditional, but not stuffy. It was also the beginning of "modern" times, and the eclectic mix is refreshing... Electricity was just becoming commonplace, and the electrical appliances of the time were exciting. To me, they still are...

Perhaps I love the 20s style because my grandparents married in 1929, and lived in a 1920s house in Newton, Massachusetts. It had so much charm, without being the least bit pretentious. And my grandmother saved all of her kitchen tools, depression glass, jadite and small appliances, etc. in the basement. Guess who has it all now? :))) I'm probably the only guy in Israel with a vintage mixer, toaster, waffle iron, kitchen tools, Hoosier cabinet, and a Jadite collection to make Martha Stewart envious. Someday, I will make that Hoosier in miniature.... Hope this helps.

Jonathan in Israel

1920's interiors: Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles are becoming more popular now in the UK as collectors complete their Tudor's and Georgian's and Victorian's and look for something a little different. Craftspeople are gradually catching up with this trend and I already have available on my website an early C20th kitchen range, an Art Deco sofa and chair in leopard print (other colours made to order) plus tiffany style lamps. I am also able to get pieces made to commission so if anyone's interested please get in touch. http://www.littlebylittle.co.uk

Karon

Mice and dolls house story: One story that fits the bill is The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter. If you go to http://www.tcom.ohiou.edu/books/kids.htm the whole story complete with pictures follows page by page.

Sue from Garstang, UK

Terror Therapy: Many of us are having a very difficult time dealing with the changes in our world since Sept. 11th. That date represents a reality crisis that has changed our lives forever. As an artist and teacher, I want to encourage you not to turn away from the joy you have found in miniaturing. It is not a trivial pursuit that has no meaning in this changing world. Your art is as important to your mental health as your prayers are to your soul.

Not all of us can make a tribute like Pearl's but each of us can use our art as a balm against the wound we all carry - a quiet place that allows us to escape and regroup - a way to preserve memories, laughter and the history of our countries for generations yet unborn.

What about a club project that represents some step in the history of the USA or our sister countries that is donated to the history class of your local school? A Betsy Ross doll sewing the first flag. A playground filled with children, of different races and different faiths joined, as only children can be, by the simple joy of living. Maybe a WWII kitchen showing how our citizens stepped up to bat in the past with war rations, collecting pots to be melted for the army.....I think you get the idea. Don't turn away from something that has been a source of joy just because our lives are filled with sorrow. We all need those 'mini' hugs, even more these days.

Becky

Liquid Sculpey: Liquid Sculpey has a number of uses. You can make flowers out of tissue paper and then give them a thin coating of Liquid Sculpey and bake at recommended temp and time. It can be tinted with artists oil paints and used to coat different things that can withstand the heat needed to cure the Sculpey. Use it to strengthen thin areas of sculpted polymer clay items, such as flowers. The Diluent is used to thin the liquid Sculpey, it is very thick. You can paint it on fabric to give a plastic look, like a raincoat. You can form items out of paper such as a trash can and paint it with Liquid Sculpey, after it is baked you can paint and decorate such items. Hope this gives you a few things to try. It's back to the studio for me, lots of dolls to make!

Ellen

liquid Sculpey and Diluent: Liquid Sculpey can be used for whatever you want to do with it! Let's say you have two pieces that are already baked, but you want them stuck together. You can use LS as an adhesive...it has to be baked like regular Sculpey though, so just put the two stuck together items back in the oven and re-bake.

Now here's the REALLY neat thing...it is also a transfer and color medium. Huh? You can paint it onto magazine pictures and b/w photocopies, bake the whole works, remove the paper image, and the image will have transferred to the Sculpey. I'm still getting to know the product...their site is http://www.sculpey.com

Diluent (yes, that's the correct spelling) can be used to soften dried out blocks of Sculpey, to condition new Sculpey quickly, or...??

Kathy in Wisconsin

Liquid Sculpey and diluent: Liquid sculpey is a clay in it's own right, it has many uses, one of the best is for 'stained glass' effects. It can be coloured with acrylic paints and glass paints, and is very useful for fried eggs! Visit http://www.sculpey.com to find out more. The diluent is an oil that is used to soften stiff or old clay, I find that it makes the clay too sticky for my liking but it's a useful product. Use the Dilutent sparingly, it doesn't need much to soften the clay.

Jacquie Hall