Safety: Karen wrote: "TIP*** When its late and you're tired - GO HOME!" I'd add something else to that. I work next to a large window under daylight, and most of my accidents happen between the fading of daylight and turning on the artificial light. So - turn on the artificial light before you think you'll need it!

Lynne Connolly P.I.

Quarter Scale: If you do quarter-inch, next time you open a half gallon container of orange juice take a look at the little cone- shaped do-funny that is part of the seal. It makes a nice umbrella for a patio table, and can also be used as a satellite dish.

Dani, in Bradshaw, MD

Lighthouse:   I have the Real Good Toys lighthouse decorated as a residence. The lower floor is the kitchen/ dining room, the middle floor is the bedroom, and the top floor is the study/ sitting room. I've thought about building the Keeper's Cottage, but I really like the lighthouse the way it is and don't want to take anything out (besides, I have so many other projects lined up, I may never get to it!)

Lauren in Abingdon

Biblical Themed Minis for Children: Treasure chests: In Matthew 6:21 it says "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." So why not fill the little chests with items representing spiritual gifts, or daily blessings, like: photos of parents or other family members, favorite food item (to represent thankfulness for plenty), a pillow or blanket in favorite color (to represent thankfulness for home and comforts like bed), toys, animal to represent pet, cross, flower, star, book; any item that might represent something special.

Paulette in IN

Minis for mentally challenged:  What a nice project! Try polar fleece for blankets, curtains, etc as the edges don't have to be finished so she can make them herself.  Michaels has lots of cheap hutches, etc for a buck or 2 that she can paint, she could even try decoupage.  Don't forget childhood standbys like matchbox beds, thread spool chairs.  Try populating it with teddy bears and troll dolls instead of people.  You might consider real wallpaper instead of printies as it is more durable and can survive rough handling during cutting. Don't forget the little end tables that come with your pizza.  Popsicle sticks have lots of uses.   Try cutting pictures out of magazines for paintings and framing with fabric trim.  Tearing apart old clothes from Goodwill for laces, etc can be fun.

Gyelle

Dickens Pubs and alleyways: A while ago the DH brought in a piece of an old wooden toolbox, replete with scum and oil.  About the same time, I bought an antique bar back.  Found a half price Dickens looking doll with top hat, and voila! an idea is born.

So!   Along the way I have collected antique Scotch bottles (mini, I mean), and I had one of the Durham cash register's.   Yesterday I: Sat the toolbox up on end, what a perfect alley!  Put an old box beside  it- A pub is born!  Hung a gaslight over the balcony in the alley, wired a  Victorian streetlamp in the alley, and hung 2 gas lamps in the pub.  You  know, my things always look better in dim light, but I must remember to turn the studio lights on so I can see to work!   Anyway- some broken chairs from the box under the bed make great seats, a 10.00 antique Biedermeir table with warped top is just perfect, and I bought 3 antique beer steins, a little larger scale, but it makes for that old feel.   The guy in the hat is drinking, since he has a jacket on... a pub keeper will have to wait.

As always, though, I start to ask myself questions, and get flummoxed.   If I put "Scrooge & Marley" signs up in the alley, what is the year?  Do gaslights not work, then?  If it is, say, 1875, what kind of heat would the pub have?  A brick fireplace?   If brick, would it have food boiling over the fire?  When did dart boards come?   And, if no 'games', what else in the pub?   For that matter, can I put stacks of old newspapers in the alley?  Should I have a horse tie-up thing out front of the pub?  This is a town pub, so I suppose so.  Thoughts, anyone?

I know the answers, of course; I can do what I want.   I have a wonderful tin crank telephone, from early 20th century, so I put it in the pub.   Now the timing is all shot- oh dear.   I went to my local antique dollhouse person for a deck of cards, but sadly, they were $125.00, so that game is out.

When we talked pubs a few weeks back, mostly we were talking now- what about 100 years ago?  or 200?

Beth in Maine

The Nuremburg kitchen: The Nuremburg kitchen is finished, and by George, it is utterly wonderful. I have wanted one of these all my life, and it's so nice to have one.  Let me take you on a tour.

The floor is checker board mid blue, cream and fox red, in big (2" x 2") squares,   The walls are fox red, the ceiling cream.

On the left are two shelves with a fancy shelf end, painted turmeric yellow - the top shelf holds various jars and pots and bowls, the lower moulds and pots, bowls, glassware.   Below is a long unit, which holds the chicken coop with 2 fine fat resin hens eating from their food tray, and a cupboard.   This is painted off white and green; the top of these cabinets is faux grained wood.  On top of these cabinets are various kitchen utensils, a fine raw salmon and a bunch of beet root, a big plain cake and a big fruit plate.

To the right is a cupboard which holds a myriad of small jars and boxes, some real, but some are old shirt studs etc, which look just the thing. Facing one is the oven, painted barn red, with a hollow underneath to hold

firewood,   The oven holds a big kettle, saucepans etc   Above is a copper hood, with a shelf attached which holds mini antique floral pitchers bought at an antique fair.  To the right is a unit holding copper ladles etc.

On the right wall is an enormous dresser, painted rust red, which holds 2 white dinner services, a ham , a roast chicken, a mincer, a pair of scales etc

In the foreground is a chopping block, with cleaver and meat on it.   A slender black cat reaches up for the meat, ignoring both the full food bowl behind him and the mouse on the mouse trap by the chickens. .tsk tsk.

From the ceiling hang onions, dead pheasants, a waffle iron. In all the kitchen holds over 150 items (wow!)  I love it with a profound love.  I must have seen one as a small child and wanted one ever since, and how serene the heart when it wins its desires, and finds the desire worth the wait.

Helen from York, England

Mini's with kids: I have been asked to become a residence artist for a group of children at Virginia Park Elementary and last year we did a small recipe-card size (3"x5") cardboard box.  Even though it was only 1" deep, it was fascinating to watch the children come up with their own ideas.  I gave them 2 beads, paper, toothpicks, paint and glue.  I precut wall paper that was a copy of newsprint wallpaper insert.  They made up color crayons out of the toothpicks, one of the beads was a holder.  They made paper chairs and covered it with paint and fabric and made a bookshelf from cardstock.  When the 3 hours were up, the shocked look on their faces, told the story.   Is it time to go, ALREADY?

For some, it was an experience that defined "miniatures".   For others, it was a beginning that will have them hooked for life!  lol  This year, I want to use your experience and give them a miniature cabinet to paint and give them ideas of what to fill it with.  Maybe this is were ss'ers can let me know what might work for children.  If any of you have worked in minis with children, please pass on the hints and projects that were successful.

bon in Sunny Alberta

Mini's with kids:  My great-niece who is 8 was checking what I was doing and I am working on the Debbie Young 1/4" cottage at the end of the lane.    She said that she wished that she had something to make and I remembered that Print Master has workshops of little houses and shops to glue and put together.

I have printer paper which is index size so printed down some for her to do.   So far she has done a house, church, pizza place and pet shop and I have printed down the school, farm house, gas station and bank.    She wants more!

The nice thing about them is that they can read the instructions and do them themselves which she was so proud of doing.

Isabel-CT

Minis With Kids: American Girls mini-making book; I was recently given the American Girl Library tiny treasures book.  It is full of fun ideas of things to make and have step-by-step directions with words and pictures.  From my experience of working with children, I  would say that if you make an item together once (with you reading the directions) then she would be able to make more by following the pictures.  And some of the projects may be simple enough to do with only the pictures.

Peggy