Plaster moulding and cake decorator bags; I found these posts really interesting. Karyn had mentioned seeing them on the Christopher Lowell show. This process really CAN be used with miniatures, in a lot of ways. In my haunted mansion, the frame for the haunted mirror, was piped through a one sided "jag" tip, and a small leaf tip. Afterwards, it was stained, antiqued, and sealed. Even on close examination, people have mistaken it for carved wood.

I'm really easily bored with plain types of exterior mouldings, (and many of mine, do not even traditionally exist, they have more of a fantasy type feel), but the Palladian window frames, and the circular exterior window frames were all embellished, directly onto the bare wood kit pieces of the Buttercup, (with a cake decorating bag, and fine tips). When they dried, they were painted, antiqued, and finished off. It's amazing the detail you can add, with a steady hand. And it really holds up (talking about drywall here, again). Doesn't split, or crack, or shrink. For the "plaster ceilings" in my dollhouse, I always loved those finely swirled designs. (Bit of a drama queen, I like heavy ornate detail...) I did the same thing on each ceiling surface, piping the drywall out with a jagged "ribbon" tip, took a long time, but it looks good. Again, applying it on the bare wood, no prep...nothing. Not one piece of any of the three full length ceiling pieces have ever chipped or split. When I taught cake decorating classes ( full size and mini) for the mini cakes, I advised the use standard freezer bags and latex caulk. Same premise, just cut a tiny hole in the tip, and proceed with your border and swags. You can get a lot of interesting effects. (For really pretty fairy wings...you can pipe out your outline, and inner "feather" or "butterfly" detail ...with the caulk onto wax paper, let it dry, and layer the inside design with envirotex. Give it a day or so to sit, and peel it off. They're amazing.) Anybody bored with casting in molds, might want to give the icing bag trick a try. Allows you a lot of freedom for self expression.

I use a product (actually a 4.5 gallon bucket did all the siding, ceilings.. all of the stuff for the Haunted Dollhouse) the bucket was about ten dollars. Bought it at Home Depot, it's called "Lightweight All Purpose Joint Compound" made by "Sheetrock" brand. But it's industrial drywall. I'm sure any brand would do!

Sherise

Removing the shine: for the lady who asked about taking the shine off inexpensive furniture. I have done some of mine with a couple of very thin coats of watered down pva. That took the shine off then i painted over the top of that and then sealed the item

Sharon

Laugh & Learn: I found this amusing website recently and, although it's written tongue-in-cheek(at least I assume so), there are some fabulous tips on aging miniatures that I've never seen before.   Be sure to read through it all, not only for the humor, but for the terrific tips: http://www.tackyliving.com/crafts/carGarden1.html   Miniature Car Garden She also has a link on her home page for a website that offers candy favorites from the 50's and 60's (Chuckles, Smith Brothers licorice cough   drops, button candy, Necco's, Pop Rocks, etc.).

Pam

Ice blocks and cubes: I keep an eyedropper and an empty, open pimento jar half-filled with bleach in a lidded ceramic container next to my kitchen sink for emergency spot   removal purposes.  A few months ago I needed to use the bleach, but found the jar empty except for several perfectly shaped cubes and cube-arrangements of clear bleach crystals, just the right size for 1" scale.  I scooped them out to save, then refilled the jar.  After a few weeks the same thing happened, but I imagine it would occur more quickly if I didn't close the container the jar is kept in.  They look so much like ice cubes I'm almost sorry I don't work in 1" scale anymore.

Pam

Ice:  Try the melting crystals in your craft store- the kind that make sun catchers   or plastic needlepoint canvas can be cut up in a pinch

Gail

Catalog site: http://www.mackenzie-childs.com   which if you're not familiar with the company, is rather like Mary Engelbreit on steroids -- and incredibly pricey, too.   Very whimsical, multi-patterned painted finishes, chunky shapes.  It all looks like it should be miniature anyway! Folks like me who enjoy customizing cheap wood furniture and Michaels hutches will particularly like the faux paint ideas for the armoires and tables.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Reference resource for DIY Victorian bathroom fixtures: http://www.victoriancrapper.com/index.htmlYes, the URL is a bit, er, risqué, but it is a rather serious page on Victorian toilet bowls, with lots of pictures, and some history.   I found it while looking for ref materials for my own DIY project's bathroom.

Maura Bass

Hang your lights....At Hobby Lobby I found mini clips in the Christmas Lemax aisle...They are like the kind of clips you use on your house except in mini....I bought them before I even bought the lights...

Pam

Turn of the Century Immigration Costuming: Lorrie asked about costuming immigrant dolls and what an inspector of immigrants might look like. Years ago I made dolls to portray a scene from Ellis Island. It would have been around the turn of the century, and the immigrants were all fairly poor. The women all had long skirts, with shawls and scarves around their heads. The men wore suits or jackets of some kind. The children would be wearing something similar to what other children were wearing at that time - a little boy I did had on knickers with a shirt, jacket and hat. The little girls had dresses with pinafores over the top - everyone wore high top boots. There are a lot of pictures out there of groups of immigrants passing through Ellis Island. Go to www.Google.com and enter Immigrants Ellis Island and see what you find.

About the inspector: I'd put him in a tweed suit, or he might very well have been a Dr. because they were all subjected to some kinds of physical exams. In that case, he could be wearing pants with a shirt and vest, with armbands. He might be wearing glasses and would have a clipboard in his hand. In my family, we have the original certificate from Immigrations on Ellis Island listing my great grandfather and his family who had just come over from Czechoslovakia. My grandmother is listed as an infant. (I was told she was born on the ship on the way over) So you should definitely do a mother with a baby in her arms. Have fun.

Paulette in IN

Immigration Inspector: I believe they wore navy or black uniforms.   I think a search on the Ellis Island web page, would show some pictures.

Annie