Dirt: If you want to use either used tea or coffee grinds for earth/soil, be sure to put them in a Pyrex or other dish and bake them at about 350 degrees F. for half-hour---dries them really nice and cuts down chances of any fungi or other critters.  The really interesting thing for you tea drinkers to note, especially if you buy the varieties of teas or the health food store teas, is that these tea remnants give you a really great color combination instead of all the dark, dark brown if you use real potting soil. And so your groundcover can have gradations as it does in nature and/or seasonally.

Sara in Paris

Dirt.   Model railroad technique for gravel or loose dirt. You can use sifted and sorted sand, crushed rock, or whatever in the colors you like. Wash thoroughly to get rid of dust and float away any organics. Dry on a non rusting cookie sheet. Resift to graded sizes and make a blend that you like

Simply put your dirt where you want it. On the ground, in a flower pot, or whatever. If stuff is to be growing from it, plant it now.

Mix 1 part White Elmer's Glue with 3 parts water for a very thin mixture. Even thinner is desirable for deep or very fine grained "dirt".  Add a couple drops of liquid detergent to break the surface tension of your mix.

With an eye dropper, apply your water/glue mix to the dirt. Capillary action will suck it in. Apply fairly liberally then let dry.

The above will probably not work with dried coffee grounds as they would simply float around on the surface of the bonding mix. Still, it is a very, very good system tried and proven many, many times.    

Mel K.

Dirt: For ground we use sawdust. If you know anyone who is sawing a dark wood (Black walnut) have them save you the sawdust. Take the sawdust and strain it through a flour sifter, this will bring out the fine dust. That is what you use for ground. You can   use fine sand mixed with the dust. We use Sobo Glue.   we water it down a little and it works fine. Have been doing it for years. Brush the glue with an old brush, put down the sawdust   and sand mixture and let it set. Tap the mixture down with your hand. When it is dry, spray it with a sealer (Michaels has it) this will set it for life. Hope we were of some help.

Dan    &  Jane   &nbs

Dirt: [Use Dirt! No bugs, no smell, no oven drying ] As someone who used to make   a living with "dirt"  (we called it soil) that it not a good idea.   There are lots of bacteria and fungi in soil as well as nutrients that these use for growth. I can't say for certain, but my feeling is that coffee grounds are less likely to support the growth of fungi and bacteria as long as the coffee grounds are dried well.

Carol, S P Miniatures

Lighthouse Furniture: I can tell you how I furnished my lighthouse if it will help you. Mine has 4 floors. Top floor has a Chart Table/Charts and telescope and binoculars. Next floor is Table/2 Chairs, Bookcase/books, Coffee pot/cups and charts on the walls. Next floor is Bunkbed, Hooked rug, First aid box, nautical pictures on the  wall.   Bottom floor is Row boat, hooks on wall for ropes, raingear, etc., bucket, barrels.  Mine has an attached Lighthouse Keepers room too.  In there I have a couch, table, desk, fireplace, rocking chair, another hooked rug, lamp, dog, and nautical pictures. I forgot, I have lanterns in the actual lighthouse too.

I bought those key rings that have those little battery run lanterns attached to them...took off the rings and set them around.(Got them at Wal-Mart) It looks really nice...wish I had a picture on here to show you.

Anita...BelAir, MD

Chinese Miniatures: I am happy to inform you all that I am going to run a miniature shop in Hong Kong ,hoping to bring back alive the unforgettable past--- the East meet West culture of Hong Kong of the bygone years, and also the contemporary designs of the city. I have had a very simple website of my own at the moment. Do come to visit my site if you feel interested in Chinese cultures.
http://www.loisminitreasures.com

Loi, Hong Kong

Oriental Miniatures: I found a site with miniatures that is really unbelievable, it is Japanese or Chinese, but there are English links too, just look at your cursor and click You won't believe what you will see and it is all mini.
http://www.nn.iij4u.or.jp/~shin98/

Klara

Gothic Dolls Houses: There is a wonderful Gothic house at http://www.angleseydollshouses.co.uk

it's certainly on my wish list.

Jacquie

Battery operated water pump For miniature waterfall:
Try www.micromark.com or more specifically
http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/82089.html

George Hoffman

Fridge Magnets: fridge magnets which have been demagnetised for mini use - - they will be flat on the back. Yes, many will be, but these are great for what we call over here Vignettes, ie scenes in those deep picture frames which are great for people with very little room (like me!) You need all the depth you can scrounge in those things, and those magnets are great for sticking in a wall to give depth.

Florida Gill from Sanderstead