Stiffening Fabric: try stiffening your fabric with a ready made product from the USA called Stiffy... if we can get in the UK it must be widely available in USA. or watered down Aleene's Tacky... I use this ten of water to one of tacky. I also fill the 'empty' tacky bottle with water, make sure you give it a good old shake before using and this is always a good stand by to use for draping. If you cut the top off the tacky bottle when you have no more use for it this makes a former for a hat. You will have to file down the ribs...but it works.

Hazel

Stiffening Fabric: when I make my curtains or draped tablecloths, I paint it with diluted fabric glue. I put a little glue in a container, add water and mix well with a paintbrush. It must have a thin consistency (more water than glue). Paint the fabric with the mixture, shape or pleat, and dry with a hair dryer. When dry, it keeps its shape, and it doesn't change the look of the fabric. I've used it with lace and cotton, even some synthetic fabric that is usually not that easy to pleat.

Betsie

Stiffening Fabric: I often use hair spray to stiffen fabric. I get the cheapest 'unscented' kind I can find and it works well. Heavy duty is even better.

Dottie in Tucson

Strip Shingles: I prefer to staple my roll on shingles at intervals of 6 inches or so. You just have to be sure that the roof is thick enough or the staples are not long so they won't go through. I use a commercial type stapler because of the strength and the variety of sizes of staples. You also have to make sure you staple above a slit, so the next row will cover the staple under the overlap.

Deanna

Stainless steel look: I am surprised no one has mentioned "Rub'n Buff" metallic colors. They can be applied to most any smooth surface for a true metallic sheen. The process is spelled out in the name and the result is exactly as good as you want it to be.

Dave

Flip Doll: I've never seen one in miniature, but I'm sure it could be done by joining two dolls together at the hip (with heads and arms in opposite directions). There wouldn't be any legs. A long reversible skirt would double for each doll; the skirt is what you "flip" over to see the other doll underneath. The last one I saw was a Little Red Riding Hood with Grandma underneath - it also had a wolf's head that could fit down over the Grandma's, for telling the whole story.

Paulette in Indiana

Ghost: Scan or find a suitable figure in clip art. Open it into a graphics program to size it or trim it. Print it out on Transparency suitable for your printer. (available for inkjet or laser at office supply stores) Cut it out with sharp scissors and place in desired position in your scene.

Judie

Ethnic Dolls: I have ordered ethnic dolls from Dana & Gwen at www.miniatureart.com they can pour the dolls on their web site in Asian and African American skin tones. Their service is WONDERFUL and their dolls and prices are great. The kits come with painted faces, arms & legs, and materials to make the doll outfits. And they take the time to answer all your questions. I think their dolls are all 1 inch scale, but their little girl dolls are about 3" tall, so maybe that would work? I think it's great you want to have multi cultural dolls in your dh.

Whu

Ethnic Dolls: Here is her web site. Take a look at her dolls. She makes ethnic dolls in both 1 "and 1/2" scale. http://minipearls.homestead.com/Weewilliewinkies.html wee willie winkies dolls by Pearl Jordan

Mary

Tapestries: Do you like to needlepoint? www.janetgranger.co.uk has some tapestries that would be perfect.

Sue in CT