Paper Plates: I don't know about shops from your neck of the woods, but there is a site called which sells cute, inexpensive decorated paper plates. Here is their info: Cotton Ridge Designs Miniatures http://cottonridge.safeshopper.com/94/cat94.htm?734 Karen in PA, USA |
Paper Plates: I ordered paper plate from Cardstone and got good service. The paper plates are cheap and great for painting yourself or using with a transfer. Lacquer afterwards and you won't see the difference They have plenty of other miniatures as well, go and have a look at http://www.cardstone.com/ Dorothée from Katikati, New Zealand |
Pocket Doors: Someone asked about pocket doors. We had a set in a vintage house, Nathaniel Crosby House, our club made and donated to the City of Tumwater in Washington State. The doors divided the dining room from the room that had been the kitchen, but had since been used as more of a family room. The panels of the doors were not moveable. They just had the appearance of being all the way open, except for about 1/4 inch. Doubt if anyone knew they didn't really work. MAP in Puyallup |
Mission Tile House: I have posted some pictures so you can see what I have been talking about with my mission tile house... This is a scene made using a full sized mission roof tile as the main wall of the setting. The hardest part was cutting out the door and window openings on the tile. Because of the curve of the tile and where the openings were situated, I couldn't use my jewelry saws or the tile saws that fit into a hacksaw. I ended up using a tile drill, drilling holes all around the openings and then breaking the remainder out and filing smooth. Now that I am getting the hang of it, I will have to make more. I have included a close up of the tile roof and floor I made using the air dry terra cotta clay. I sponge painted the roof tiles a bit to make them look old and mossy. There is also a close up of the front door entryway. The interior has been coated with joint compound to add texture and then painted. I plan on adding a few chairs and tables, but this will mostly be a flower shop, so furnishings will be sparse. Not sure what to "store" in the small attic area... maybe buckets or cardboard boxes of vases...? I will also be adding plants to the window shelf, shutters and a window frame to the window opening and some other architectural details. I am also going to paint a flowery sign on the outside by the door. If you have any other great ideas for me, just let me know and I'll see what works. Here is the link (first 4 pictures in the album) The best part of this project was the cost. The tiles were given to me, and I used scrap lumber, so the only thing I actually had to purchase was the air dry clay and some joint compound. I love inexpensive projects that use up my leftover stuff. And a great tip I discovered while I was doing some plants, the air dry clay makes great dirt to poke your plants into. Fill the pot with the clay, add a drop of white glue and top with some railroading dirt, poke your flowers in, and the clay will harden and hold your plants great. MAP in Puyallup |
On making bees from rice: I painted each grain of rice yellow & added black stripes with a thin tip marking pen. Then I cut tiny little wings out of plastic wrap & glued on the top of the grain. That was the hardest part - the plastic wrap had static and wanted to stick to me! I was able to find a cat whisker or two (thanks to Lucy & Simon) but you could also just use a paint brush hair to cut two little antenna - glue to head of bee. Make little dots for eyes. I glued mine onto a lilac bush. I have to admit they were quite time consuming & I threw away several. But they do look cute on the bush. And we all know, cuteness counts!!!! My daughter said that this project proved that I had lost my mind and do not have enough to do!!! I guess painting grains of rice does seem kind of strange. Let me know how your bees turn out. I bet you could even hang them from real fine fishing line so your bees could be flying about. Carbomax |
NYC mini shops: I think I may have posted this to the list last week but not emailed it directly.... Now realize the phrases "in New York City" and "not too expensive" don't necessarily go hand in hand in The Big Apple. Here are our shops: Tiny Doll House Manhattan Dollhouse John Medeiros |
NYC Dollhouse Shops: I happen to live in NY and work in Manhattan so I've been to at all of the following shops. My favorite is the TINY DOLL HOUSE, it's located at 1179 Lexington Ave. between 80th and 81st street, (212) 744-3719. They have something for everyone and I've never left there empty handed. Sometimes I just go to look. Talk about eye candy! Manhattan Doll House Shop, 236 3rd Ave., between 19 and 20th Street, (212) 253-9549. Dollhouse Antics, 1343 Madison Ave. at 94th Street (212)876-2288. It would be really hard for me to say what's "inexpensive". I know from experience that one person's definition of inexpensive differs from that of someone else. I can't honestly say that I've been able to afford a lot from any of these places. But that doesn't mean you can't. In any case they're just really magical places to visit. I hope you get to see all of them. Tonya, Bklyn, NY |
Teaching Classes: I've taught miniature doll-dressing classes many times. Personally I think that classes should cost no more than HALF of what that finished project would cost, so people can not only learn how to make it, but can also save money by doing it themselves. I like to make up a little packet for each student... containing what they'll need for the project. I don't try to include tools (glue or scissors etc.)... but do provide the basics. I also like to offer some variety and choices (e.g.: I like to have each packet of fabric be a different design/color so students can pick their favorite -- and so that they don't all go home with the SAME doll). Kids always enjoy clothing peg dolls and they are very easy to dress and wig. Keep in mind that most kids cannot sit still very long... so a simple project is best. I taught dollhouse furniture to children several years ago and would have all the pieces cut for them. All they had to do was glue, paint etc. I found that the more lengthy complex pieces tired them too much. The length of time to allow for a class will depend on what you are teaching. I always like to allow a little extra time for those that are slower. I also like to provide them with written instructions so they can take them home and use the instructions as a "reminder" of how it's done. Those instructions also help the "fast workers" move ahead rather than have to wait for the slower workers to catch up. Good luck with your classes. It's so much fun! Viola |
DC Adapter vs. Transformer: A DC adapter consists of a transformer (to lower the voltage to 12 volts) and a rectifier (to convert from AC to DC). It may also have a regulator in it to help control the voltage level. For light bulbs, it really doesn't matter which you use. Your 1 amp adapter is about 12 watts, which means you can light about 18 light bulbs before you overpower the device. Read the adapter careful, and see if it says anything about "circuit breaker protected" or "thermal (overload) protected". If it doesn't say one of these things, then make sure you place a 1 amp fuse in your lead-in wire, to help prevent fires. Tom Berkner |
Egg Art: For Helen whose inquiring mind wants to know what to do with her eggs: http://miniatures.about.com/hobbies/miniatures/cs/eggart/index.htm Jude in ND |
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