GREATEST BOOKS: check out: http://miniatures.about.com/library/weekly/aatp101401.htm 

F. Dawes

baskets: I just found a great web site with some of the cutest miniatures, and I had to share: http://www.hoosierbasket.com They have 1" resin lined baskets, shelf-sitters and more. And they are so adorable

Mary in Maine

French Books: I thought that I should post site that has French books again http://www.solar.tm.fr/index2.html   I strongly suggest that you also visit the other site I mentioned, as the young lady has 2 pages of other books on miniatures.   Do visit http://cote.miniatures.free.fr/site/accueil.htm   and click on her books link (Mes Livres).

Sandra

Dollhouse Mouse: "where do I get or how do I make a mouse that stands on two legs and wears a Tutu?"

Since your daughter is 5, she probably wants the mouse from her book. How about a stuffed mouse?

Get a piece of tracing paper and use a pencil from a sewing shop that will transfer using an iron. (If you can't find this use a sharpened crayon.) Trace the mouse face she knows from the book and use this as an iron-on to a piece of pale, Angelina colored fabric. (Allow for seams.)

You should use the side of the face and do this for each side. Trace the body, straight on, like a gingerbread man, stitch and stuff. When you do the head, you can embroider the features with colored thread, and add bead eyes. Add the ears, tail and tutu and you will have a doll your daughter will cherish, mostly because you made it for her.

Laurie Sisson

Painting dishes: I have had a great time painting the plain white Chrysnbon dishes. I use acrylic paint with one coat of gloss acrylic over it. See my pictures at: http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumList?u=1664953

Chris in Minnesota

Acrylic display boxes:   I bought a wonderful little display box (he had lots of different sizes and shapes) from Neil Kaiser of Acrylic Creations, Inc.   He was at the Chicago International.   Don't know about a website but his address at that time was 500 Winifred Ave.   Lansing, MI 48917.   Phone 517-321-2640.   These are really beautifully made and mine has three shelves with a mirrored back.   Good luck.

Gail in Lompoc

Polymer clay molds:. I just visited Sue Heaser's web site, and she now offers molds, too. Here is the link. http://www.heaser.demon.co.uk/products/Kits/dollmoulds.htm

Lauren from Abingdon

Acrylic Display boxes: Someone was asking about large doll display boxes. Just so happens that one of my favorite "junk" catalogs " Harriet Carter" came yesterday with just this item in several sizes. Their Online shop is at http://www.harrietcarter.com   Page 30 of my catalog. I have used these cases for several years. Great for keeping those larger landscaped   items free of dust. Also being of a lighter plastic, they can be cut to the height you need, and you have an extra piece to use for something else.   Hope this is what you are looking for.

Diane in SFBA

Bees: I've made some this way. I layered extremely thin layers, I mean paper thin, of black and yellow polymer clay, maybe 6 layers all together. Then, using a thin metal tube, first dipped in baby powder, I cookie cuttered (Wanna?) out a cylinder from the layers, I rolled it slightly between my fingers to round the ends. I cut the wings out of cellophane, the kind I used was iridescent, although I'm sure clear would be fine. I made a tiny dent in each bee's back and inserted the wings with the smallest dot of tacky glue. I made feelers from a single strand of silk thread stiffened with Elmer's glue, and inserted them into the 'head'. Then I baked them for just a couple of minutes in a toaster oven preheated to 275 degrees. And there they were...bees! Do you know what a bee flying in reverse sounds like? Zzzzub, zzzzub! lol

Alice Zinn

Filling Cracks: If I read correctly, the kit you are building is the "slot and groove" type that leaves gaps at the floors and ceiling.   After assembling one kit such as this by Greenleaf, I went to the local hardware store and picked up a small wee tub of "Wood Filler".   It is premixed and can be put on using a very narrow putty knife.   It is also available in a tube, using a putty knife as well.   Put this stuff on lightly, stuffing it into the grooves and let dry over night.   Get some sandpaper or, even better, a Sanding Block and sand away.   The sanding blocks that I use look like rectangular pieces of foam that have a sandpaper type surface.   These are easy to use, not too dusty, great to get into those corners and edges and easy on the finger tips.   Be sure to vacuum up the residue because it gets all over the ceilings, walls and floors but the results are miraculous.

After I finished that house, I could say that I was very intimate with wood filler and what good things it can do.   You can also use this method on the walls or I have heard that Gesso is great to put on walls to even them out.   Again, use very lightly and be careful sanding.

I would presume that because you are having the plaster come off the walls when you are painting it is because you are putting the plaster on too thickly.   Try the above methods and let us know your results.

Sher in Toronto