Cleaning old linen: Joan asked about cleaning old or discolored linens. Here are some tricks used by our Altar Guild to wash Irish linens. They are good ideas for any stained fabric, new or antique. First, soak them in cold water to which has been added a pinch of cream of tartar.

If the linens are delicate, wash them by putting them in a large, wide mouthed jar and shaking the jar. This eliminates "pull" on the fabric. Washing for too long can put the dirt back into the fabric. Two or three minutes should do it.

Add a little borax to the wash water. Borax also gives the fabric some "body" so it doesn't take stains as much If stains remain, then... Soak in 7-Up.

Soak in warm water and denture cleaning tablets. NEVER rub with a bar of soap, as this can cause the threads to move slip and spread....and start from the top, again. And finally, there is no such thing as too much rinsing. Soap film traps soil.

DAni, in Bradshaw, MD

Scrolly metalwork: another source of scrolly metalwork if the cast-it-yourself method intimidates you comes from Patricia King and Beryl Armstrong.  Shop the thrift stores for old 50s filigree boudoir accessories (one of my aunts had   a ton of this stuff, tissue box covers, hairspray stands, etc.) made from   pressed, rather soft gold finish metal.   They're like life-scale versions of   filigree jewelry findings.   Fairly easy to cut with tin shears or power scissors,  then flatten bends with a hammer, reshape to suit your needs, and paint matte black for wrought iron or whatever trim color you need.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Small grommets (1/16") : Get thee to a hobby shop and purchase some brass tubing (any tubing for that matter) with the inside diameter that you want. Cut off what you require and flare the end(s) and there you are.

DrBob....Delray Beach, FL

Tiny stencils: I bought some lovely little stencils from the Craft Club and,   if you're not in the UK,   you can purchase 'on-line'   at   http://www.craft-club.com    as they're so tiny I imagine the postage wouldn't be too prohibitive either.

Jacqui from Hampshire UK

Lazysusan Dollhouse Turntables: Lazysusan turntables can be found at http://MiniaturesandMore.com/    web site. Tony has them in 2 sizes. 16x16 and16x24. They're sturdy enough for many different size houses. Great for viewing 360"

Janet in N.J.

Miniature Blinds: I have some vinyl vertical blinds which I purchased about a year ago from a company named The Blind Company.  The address on the instruction sheet is:

PO Box 42
Peshtigo WI 54157
Phone: 715-789-2511
Fax: 715-789-2558

Louise in MI

Miniature stencils: at my local art store they have stencils for fingernail designs. I bought a couple of them - flowers, etc. to stencil a blanket box and they are the perfect scale.

Vi in Hamilton

Miniature stencils: Try the sugar craft / cake decorating supply shops for stencils in very small scale

Sharon in S. Africa

Miniature stencils: Many of the glass etching stencils are very small and also flexible. I have seen many with tiny leaves and flowers or other designs! I have also seen several of the tiny "laser-cut stencils" (the sheets  are only about 4 or 5 inches square but with quite a few items and patterns in them) in the   scrapbooking section complete with tiny beach scenes, music notes, fleur-de-lis, floral patterns,  checkerboard patterns, etc. just the perfect size for minis.

Chrissy

Shops in Europe: For everybody traveling all over the world please check http://www.arnhem- poppenhuisstad.com    to find out about shops, opening hours etc. This site is quite up-to-date as it is revised at least yearly.

Dienke