Silvery Paint: Last week I sent a tip for those who might need a small quantity of silver-finish paint that didn't make it to SS.   In Wal-Mart’s cosmetics section, Sally Hansen nail polish currently includes bottles of chrome finish.   It doesn't dry into a true sparkling chrome finish, but creates a nice mellow polished silver look, better than what I've achieved with brush or spray acrylic metallics, with no brush mark streaks once dry.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Special Minis:   SAVING MINI'S FOR A "BETTER TIME & PLACE": -- I have two or three permanently-displayed roomboxes that are "shops," and I often use them to display odd pieces that haven't found a permanent home. It's fun to have them out where I can enjoy 'em, and when I build a house or vignette where that piece can really shine I just go "shopping" at one of my "stores." (And then, of course, I must hie myself off to a life-size shop or show and buy a replacement -- how sad :- )   ) I am not disciplined enough to build a house and just concentrate on filling it up with "stuff" before going on to another project, so I often buy a pretty piece just because it catches my eye or I can foresee a possible future use for it.   I usually have a couple of things going at once -- and by many miniaturist's standards I'm a piker in that department -- I'd much rather have my "treasures" displayed in a temporary "home" where I can see them every day than sitting in my furniture storage box.   Go ahead and enjoy your nifty mini's -- that's why we're IN this hobby!   :- )   Build On!  

Dayle Dawes

Special Minis:   Two suggestions for a timid miniaturist......If you can't decide what setting to use your miniatures in you could still display them in one of those wooden display boxes that has all the little niches....BUT my preferred suggestion is - Just go for it! If you use tacky glue or grip wax to position them you will still be able to remove them at a later date if you change your mind. Above all don't leave them all sitting in cupboards - if you've got minis, flaunt 'em!!

Jayne (minimum)

Displaying 'special' minis: here's another suggestion if you're still not comfortable with using items in a temporary display:   since I'd rather play with my minis than clean, a few years ago, as I could afford to, I gradually replaced all my life-scale open bookcases with 40s and 50s glassed-in book cabinets to eliminate the need to dust my books.   Since the shelves are deeper than most of the books are wide, they make a great place to display new miniatures as they accumulate for the next work in progress. (I display them on the shelves with fiction, not craft reference books or I'd be moving them constantly.)

Loretta.Sniarowski

Displaying 'special' minis: Wanna, your post on getting those hidden away 'special' miniatures out and on display was excellent!   I have a couple of ideas also, (not that I've actually done them, you understand, but might do one fine day).

Make a box to fit the back of a pretty frame and display a single item in that...now you can either hang it on a wall or sit it on a table.   Buy a thimble case, or curio case and display those tiny, special miniatures that might disappear in a larger setting.

I also like the idea of shallow boxes with a shop facade built on the front to display collections.   I think that after awhile in this hobby we all find ourselves drawn to certain minis...I tend to love and collect; food, kitchen items, toys...(among many other things) but I don't have enough of any of them to do a big shop.   A small shallow shop front would be perfect for displaying whatever until you have enough to furnish a free standing store.

Ok, I have to admit, I haven't done any of those things yet!   I have some wonderful miniatures that are hiding in drawers and boxes, yearning to be free, and seen!   And one fine day....well, you all know how that goes.

Kaye in L.A.

Special Minis:   consider making unique wall arrangements for your home with your special finds. An old wood clock case without the clock makes a beautiful house for miniatures, simple shadowbox frames   are easy and readily assessable at most hobby stores. If you bought it, use it and love it. I am working on a series of faux books for a client, the kind of teak reproductions used to store old letters or jewelry. Each book has a title that represents the items that reside within the pages.   A book on Kites opens to show a small collection of kites, wind socks and a picnic.   The books will stack on a bookshelf just like their real counterparts. When the owner wish's to show off her prizes, she will pull out the appropriate volume and viola!  

Becky Holliday

Castles: Anyone who may be interested in suits of armor, candlesticks, pewter articles etc. Take a look at Tony Knott's web site. He has made pieces for film sets and the like, all beautiful stuff! http://www.tonyknott.com

Peter and Annie

50s dinette set: You could probably bend heavy wire (maybe coathangers if you've got good pliers and wire cutters) for that 50s dinette set, then super-glue it in place and use the chrome nail polish I mentioned a couple of issues back to get the right finish.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Tinker Toys: After my last post I checked my files. Go to http://www.cottageofminiatures.com and check Artisan. David's bag of tinker toys is $16. and it gives information on how to place an order.

Ruth

Mini Tips: I've just added another album to my PictureTrail site, called "Mini Tips" http://www.picturetrail.com/miniwhimsy/601438  As I come up with ideas and techniques, I'll add pictures to that album. So far, there is a picture of the tiny "bottles" found in burned out Christmas lights.   Also (and I've been meaning to do this for a long time) there are "glass slippers" molded from hot glue onto the feet of a doll I'm making.

The trick in doing the slippers is to dip the doll's foot into a hot glue pot just enough to coat the bottom of the foot, making a sole.   After the sole had cooled, I added a high-heel by dipping a toothpick into the hot glue and attaching a tiny bit of glue to the doll's heel and pulling it down slightly.   After it cooled, I cut excess length off the high-heel with a scissor.   Then, with another strand of hot glue (while it was still warm), I made a strap to cross over her toes.   They look like glass slippers -- or could be "Jellies."

Anita Myers, Arnold, MD