Draping Fabric:  There is a product called a "pretty pleater." Even when I am not making curtains, I use it for draping as well. The pleater itself it make of rubber with many grooves in it. You prepare your fabric with glue, or starch, (I wouldn't recommend hair spray, it'll really attract dirt, in the long run to your fabric.) You settle the fabric into the first groove, holding it still with "carding" (a credit card would work), and then press the fabric into the next groove with a second card. Proceed until all of the grooves are filled. Thoroughly dry, then release. For a looser draping, you can manipulate the fabric (pulling and drawing at either end) until you have the effect you want.

You might have a better chance at getting the soft effect you want by soaking your fabric in liquid fabric softener (more than is label recommended) rinsing and drying. Actually, Pantene works good too. The softer the fabric, the more realistic the draping. I've seen a lot of fabrics marketed as miniature, and regardless of the pattern, some fabrics just don't work. If it looks bad to your eye, outright, move on to something else.   I've found pale raw silks, and some percale types, and plain cotton, really do drape nicely.

Hanes her way  "ladies undergarments"   and lightweight undershirts type tanks, have an elasticity bound into the actual fabric of the cotton (not the waist and leg bands, but the fabric), and after repeatedly washing them, (we'll assume for the sake of common decency that they're new...LOL) they make a very convincing "hanging" drape, as in a tablecloth, or an errant piece of fabric strewn across a chair...I use plain old white glue diluted with H2O, to stiffen. It works fine, and is easy to dust when dry.

Sherise

Draping Fabric:  most of the time when I want a skirt or piece of clothing to appear draped, I arrange the folds and take stitches from underneath to hold the folds in place. Usually I'll take a tiny stitch from inside the petticoat and through the inside edge of a fold. Sometimes I have to redo it to get it to look just the way I want it to, but once the stitches are in place, the folds stay in the position I want them to be in. With a skirt, you actually wind up taking stitches in a circular fashion, around the bottom. This is just the method I like the best - since you don't care for the other methods, why not try this one?

Paulette in IN

Free dollhouse plans.: To all SS'ers who are looking for dollhouse plans, there is a plan for a 7 roomed Victorian to download at the following site - http://www.thewoodcrafter.net/projects.html

Maureen in Hemel, UK

Eye strain: just had to ask. But were you talking about wearing contacts and mag eyes? Or were you talking about wearing contacts and your regular glasses? Because I've had 2 eye doctors tell me to not do either one. It will cause your eyes to go worse. Of course the mag eyes will cause a strain after awhile, too. You need to look off in the distance every few minutes. The older you get the greater the strain. I've been told to relax my eyes often, because my eyes have been strained too much over the years. Sorry to go on about this, but, I wish I knew then what I know now, about eye sight.

Larita Wilson

Painting Studio: What belongs in a painting studio is paintings! The cruel fact is that any painter can paint many more painting than she or he can sell. If sales happen they paint lots and lots more. My favorite studio (SoHo vicinity Grand and Lafayette N.Y., N.Y. ) had a painting rack reaching all the way to the ten foot ceiling with a double mattress concealed six feet up with more paintings. Most of the paintings slid out of the rack so you wouldn't have to actually paint all the minis. They are visible only at the edge. Also needed are big tables, I had about five, some made of doors for students, also rolls of paper, also rolls of paintings, rolled painting side out so that they won't crack. Most artists I know have storage problems, give the poor things a big studio space. As a modern painter I worked on the wall, no easel, and I used a sheet of glass on an old oak desk as a palette. It is easier to clean. The wall had lots of nails and lots of holes for hanging the working painting. Also most artists I know had postcards of museum paintings taped up somewhere.

Marilyn Crockett

Horse Barn: could your mini-estate be in the Kentucky Bluegrass region? Down there many of the old horse barns are stained a dark charcoal with white trim so they match the tobacco barns, which are invariably charcoal. That's neutral enough to be okay with your house. Others have rather New Englandy/Greek Revival color schemes -- white, dark green trim. Anything goes for the less traditional owners. I've seen some off Harrodsburg Pike that are burgundy, teal, and tan. Roofing runs the gamut from tin to slate to modern shingles. Apparently the less traditional, more modernized horse farms often have "foreign" owners,according to Pam, which in the Lexington area means anyone from movie stars to oil sheiks.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Ava Betz

TV show roomboxes: - --Was someone here looking for pics of the show "I Love Lucy"? Some roomboxes featured on the following site include Lucy,"The Waltons", "All In The Family", "Addams Family", "Mash", and "TheHoneymooners.
http://www.dhminiatures.com/dhm/roombox/roombox98.html

Sherry in Arlington, TX

Aquarium dollhouse for hospital children: Some ideas for playing might include mermaids, dolphins to ride - maybe with little saddles, a shipwreck to explore. This could be one of those big cheap plastic boats you can get usually during the summer wherever toys are found. They are usually gaudy colors, but can be spray painted, cut apart and put in two pieces, sandy bottom with lots of shells to move around and use for decorations. Maybe a cave to explore as well. I don't know how big this project would be, but something for the mermaid's house would be good too. A treasure chest is a must and maybe a skeleton to guard the chest or to use to steer the shipwreck. Lots of little fish and crabs and things as well. These can often be purchased cheaply by the bag

from toy stores. Maybe watch the animated "Little Mermaid" again to get some ideas for furnishings and things. That reminds me - a big menacing shark would also make for some action during play time. I would also recommend cheap movable items such as shells, fish, the treasure, since these items are going to eventually get lost or sometimes taken home. Buy extra and leave with the hospital so they can replenish as needed.

Susan

Wedding miniature: Vignette for a wedding is very possible. There are the boxes that have two sides that fold down so they start looking like a wedding gift and end up stealing the show. This would display nicely on the package table where everyone would see it. Depending on your ability, you can make this or purchase a kit. There are also room boxes with two sides in plexiglass that would look great with a big white bow on top. Your daughter could open it early and it could be displayed at the family dinner.

If you haven't made a doll before and you want to do the whole vignette, you might consider doing a "getting ready for the wedding" scene with the gown taking center stage on a dress form and the bride's maid's dress hanging on the back of the door.

Their bouquets could be on a dresser. It also gives you an opportunity to miniaturize photos of your daughter at different events in her life to frame and hang on the wall. Her miniaturized wedding photo could be added later. Personal details like a special Teddy or doll, favorite books, etc. can add a lot.

My daughter didn't want figures on her cake even if I did them! SO, at her bridal shower, there were dolls of the bride and groom wearing togas at a picnic with Roman columns used as a center piece. Effective, followed the theme, fun.

Laurie Sisson