BEAD LAMP STURDINESS: Why remove the pin if you're not electrifying? I just leave them in place in non-working lamps made from stacked beads and findings. If the pin sticks out of one end, before you glue the last piece into the stack, use wire cutters (often part of needlenose pliers if you have any of those) to snip off the pointy end and leave just enough sticking up to hold the last piece in place, then glue that on and leave the pin in to stabilize the pieces.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Eye glasses: After spending the better part of the day making eye glasses for a doll, I have found a useful tool to use as an eyeglass form -- metal knitting needles (3mm ones worked well). They are nicely round, come in many sizes, easier to find than certain size doweling, you can pull the wire taut and it is a bit easier than using wooden dowels. Just tape the bottom of the needles together, and then wind the thin wire around the top (one end goes clockwise, the other goes counterclockwise). You can do neat things like pull the needles apart a bit to make a nose hole, and if you want a bend in between the two lenses, push a round toothpick in between. The glasses will easily slip off the needles. Then all you have to do is flatten the face part (used the flat end of my tweezers), and while holding the face part down I pulled up the ends of the wires for arms and cut them down to appropriate size. Does take practice to get them really nice, but once you get the knack you can belt these things off relatively quickly.

To get glass in them? Have been experimenting, and i think gallery glass will work, though I haven't quite got the right amount yet. You could use glue as well, but it is messy and not as convenient as the gallery glass (if you can find it). Nice thing about gallery glass as well is you can get it in a lot of different colors (sunglasses and tinted lenses!).

Kim From Canada

San Franciscan: for the porch of your San Franciscan dollhouse I think you should go with your plant idea. One thing I really love about New Orleans is all the plants everywhere, hanging from EVERY balcony and porch - it's beautiful! I think it would really dress up your porch, and make quite a statement against the white siding and wood-stained doors and windows. Colorful flower pots sitting on the edge of the porch, hanging planters off the railings with geraniums & such, and then ferns and flowers hanging off the top balcony. LOTS of ferns! I uploaded a picture I took in the French Quarter of a gorgeous balcony scene - go to http://hometown.aol.com/kelenenn/Balcony.jpg to view it. I know New Orleans style is different from your house, but I think you could graft the plant decor onto your house very well!

Graceanne

Hat Shop: The Hat Shop would have to include - Hat Pins, Hat Boxes, extra trim for the hats in small boxes (cherries, flowers, ribbon, etc). Also, I would think a hat shop may sell Scarves and gloves as accessories to match their hats, maybe even a small clutch purse. Sound like fun. By the way in regards to hat stands, I know that Michaels carries a lot of wood pieces that are great for creating hat stands, like small pegs. I know about miniatures suggested using small stairway spindles to get a decorative stem for the hat stand.

Suzy, Chicago, IL

Hatstands: I've made very plain hatstands by gluing together a round wood bead, golf tee, and a round wooden base to stabilize, then paint it all a neutral color. Simpler the better, that way the hats get the attention, not the stand.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Hatstands: I've used tear drop shaped hatpins stick into bell cap jewelry findings with nice results. You may also use tear shaped beads or you could also use the heads of small plastic dolls which have spray painted either gold, silver or matte white. Being a doll maker myself, I often use just the head and shoulders of my porcelain dolls.

Marilyn, MI

Hat Pins - How to: For those making hat shops, a quick tutorial on hat (or corsage) pins. Cut a length that is easy for you to handle, perhaps an inch, of the finest beading wire in either brass or 'silver'. Dip it into the paint used to paint on tee shirts, (the thick pearlized kind) until a tear drop forms on the end. Stick it into styrofoam to dry. If you'd like it bigger, repeat. You can make pins of various colors and even imbed tiny rhinestones if you desire! When dry, cut off to the proper length.

Alice Zinn- Pt. St. Lucie FL

How long it takes to build a project: The Bridal Salon took 60 hours. The Tudor Cottage took 120 hours to appear as it does. Both projects are viewable on the Projects page of www.miniatures.com I've since put another 20 hours into the Cottage and will take, perhaps, another 20 to be satisfied. The Lakeside Fishing Lodge on the cover of the Spring/Summer HBS catalog took 84 hours. The Beach Cottage that appears on page 16 of that same catalog took 60 hours the first time I built it. I just did a variation in 55 hours. The difference being the first time, I weathered it and did the beach landscaping. This time I only had to do the house looking brand new. I'll use the same beach again for photography. I hope others answer this question. I'd like to know if I'm fast or slow...

Sally Cook-Thomas

Crystal paint: Is there a paint already mixed with something like this inside that when you look at your painted project looks like it has that glitter on it?

I think what you want is a paint made by Duncan #SG 880 Crystal sparklers which comes in a 2fl oz bottle available at Michael's Crafts. I've used this paint which is water soluble, on several different surfaces including fabric and it has given me just the right amount of sparkle.

Marilyn, MI

Floor template:If you use a thin brown wrapping paper you can fit it inside your rooms to make a template. With oddly shaped rooms you can use torn paper with the straight edges lined against the walls and overlap the torn edges, taping them together. It is then quite easy to do your flooring on the paper and slide it in.

Jacqui in Hilo, Hawaii