Christmas Trees: Try the one I have on my site: http://gerdesdesign.com/northwest.htm Click on the Evergreen Trees link.

Anne Gerdes

Christmas Trees: This lady sells fantastic kits, also sells lighting and other Christmas goodies. GJ's http://minitrees.com

Viola

mossy flower pots: I used my DH's model RR "Woodland Scenics" greenery and brownery (is that a word??). The finest available--it's almost powdery. Mixed some greens together and then put thin glue down the sides of the flower pot in a shape that looked natural. Sprinkled the powdery mix and added some browns here and there. Turned out great. Nice to have a DH with the supplies needed. I guess you could spray with a matte finish on the pots to preserve--but mine have lasted without anything. I always forget that last step.!!!

Elise in Va.

Pine cone site: http://bbobx.homestead.com/index.html I found this site while updating my web page.

Nursemini

Realistic Trees: I have just the place for you! AMSI Miniature Landscaping in Petaluma, CA. E-mail Mary Costello at macamsi@svn.net and see their web site at www.amsi-minilandscaping.com. They have kits or will build to your specifications if requested. Prices are very reasonable. Mary recently built "The Big Old Tree" for me for a scene. [Landscaping isn't one of my fortes.]

Patricia / Redwood City, CA

Realistic Trees: check out Architrees at http://www.architrees.com. They make trees for architects' models . The trees look very realistic. They have several that are 12, 18, or 24 inches high. Those seem to be a much more realistic size for 1:12 scale than most of the trees that we see sold for dollhouse landscaping. The prices are very reasonable too. I'm even hoping that if enough people working in the 1:12 scale contact them, they may increase their line of 18 and 24 inch trees. Right now they only have a few types of trees in that size.

Mary in Virginia

paper kimono directions: They can be found at either: http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,CRHO_project_24524,00.html or
http://www.yasutomo.com/project/

Annie W. (Pittsburgh)

China silk: Sue Veeder mentions that china silk is hard to find; I'd like to share the url for Thai Silks, which is http://www.thaisilks.com. They have every kind of silk in the world, I think. Years back I ordered a set of their samples, which are just the right size to make mini-pillows with. A few weeks ago I scanned in some pictures of fancy pillows from a decorating catalog, sized them for 1:12, and printed them on the iron-on transfer paper. Then I ironed them onto some cream-colored silk (like Sue, an old blouse), then used the little colored squares from Thai for the backs. Since these pillow patterns are not my own, I don't sell them, but I give them away sometimes.

SUSAN

China Silk: Pam Kille of Etcetera, Etc. has it in 16 or 17 different colors, and you can buy it in small amounts. She also has loads of other goodies for dressing dolls and making miniatures. The address is: Etcetera, Etc. 13 Isla Court Roswell, NM 88201 Email: rwk@rt66.com

Paulette in IN

china silk: I purchased a few different colors of china silk from "Sandy's Lace and Trims" at the Seattle show last year. She has smaller pieces (perfect for our uses) at reasonable prices. http://www.sandyslace.com

Tammy Fischer

Plates and Platters: Someone recently asked about plain white platters and plates. We make them of porcelain, glazed white for china painters with kilns, or unglazed bisque if you decorate with acrylics or enamels that don't go back into the kiln. http://www.avonminiatures.com

Donna from Devon

Displaying Tiny Items at Shows:  - One option for you when selling minis would be to have one each of the items you sell displayed out of the bag.  I find that the item when looking thru plastic, whether it is a bag or a plastic box, does not look quite as nice as when it is removed.  The back-up stock could be placed on the front of your table on boards.

I have cut up corrugated boxes into pieces slightly smaller than 8-1/2 x 11" (with the grain going the long direction).  I then take a neutral, letterhead weight paper and fold one in half and place over the top edge of the corrugated cardboard piece. Place another piece of paper on the front and back of the cardboard piece and slip it all into a top opening plastic page protector (trim the side off for putting into a notebook).

You can then use double stick tape on the back of the plastic package and stick it to the front of the "board".  The cheapest page protectors work best as the tape does not stick well to the more expensive non glare ones.  I have also seen Plexiglass cut into pieces 8-1/2" x 11 and used the same way by sticking pieces to them using double stick tape.  They weight considerably more but hold up to wear and tear a little better so it depends on whether you are flying or driving.  I also prefer a neutral colored background over the clear background as it is not quite as "busy".I have a box where I stand all the boards on end and people can thumb thru them to see what is on each board.  You could also lay them out on the table and display that way if you don't have a lot of them.  However, be aware people are always looking for somewhere to set their purse when they are paying you.

Karen Benson

Yahna's toys: I couldn't find a web site for Yahna, but she's definitely still creating wonderful mini toys - here's her address: Imagineering by Yahna
PO Box 620
Uwchland, PA 19480
phone - (610) 458-5009

Paulette in IN

Displaying really small items for sale: As a shopper, I would love to see your "VERY small (think in-scale peppermints)" displayed both in the "small (1.5"x1.5") clear plastic bag" with the price AND in a miniature scene or two where you show them being "used". Not only does this let someone get a better look at them out of the bag, but gives them ideas for displaying them. It probably even will show us that we better buy several of your bags so our display will look as nice as yours! LOL  And the bagged ones with the price make shopping easy.

Peggy, in Shoreline, WA

Pricing Tiny Pieces: What the Parkers' Metal Miniatures folks do might work as well for you.  For the miniscule cast metal 1:144 furniture they use a display board with a sample of each item glued to it, labeled with description, price, and number. "Behind the scenes" at the back of their table,  the items are stocked in matching numbered drawers in those stacked plastic parts/tool drawer sets that look sort of like jewelry boxes.  You could make up a similar board and write the piece number for each bonbon or pastry in indelible marker on the plastic storage bags.  Might even use the same drawer units.  They'd hold several bags full of various numbered items per drawer and you could list the piece numbers on the drawer fronts. Seems like a simple, logical system (but someone else may have a better one).

Loretta_Sniarowski

Jane Graber pottery: I have been representing Jane for quite a while and have a number of pieces of hers for sale on my website at http://www.spminiatures.com/grab.htm

Carol

Cake plate and cover: I made a cute cake plate and cover using the plastic top from a bottle of water (or you could use the plastic top off the top of Hershey Choc. ) For the base I used the little blue disc from the inside of a coke cap.  For the Choc top you might need to use a different base. Place a bead on the top of the water cap and you have your cake cover and plate.  I decided to use findings to make mine have a base but either way they are cute.

Mary in Maryland

Acme Water Cooler: Many of the Acme International 3D and also their Sound Magnets are available on online at http://www.fridgedoor.com. They have a modern water cooler 3D magnet for only $2.99 that I already use in one of my one-inch scale dollhouse settings. I have used their File Cabinet 3D Sound Magnet and the Copy Machine 3D Sound Magnet in an office scene. (Some of their magnets are good for one-inch; some for half-inch; and others would be good for two-inch (Barbie-size) scale settings.) These magnets by Acme International/Arjon Manufacturing are the ones sometimes available in Walmart/K-Mart/Lechter's/some grocery stores.

Nancy Faye Roach - Port St. Lucie, FL

Ceiling Light: My favorite budget hint: I  made a ceiling light by using a clear faucet handle "button", 1" in diameter, with pretty facets.  The sides are designed to pop into the top of a faucet out of sight, so had to be covered. I did that by wrapping a strip of embossed foil from the edge of a greeting card around the outer rim, but ribbon or a strip of veneer are other possibilities.  I glued the fixture over a grain of wheat bulb (rated for 12 volt - be sure to verify!) coming down through a small hole in the ceiling. Its wires are soldered to the tapes under the carpet above, and so when the bulb goes out it will be easily replaced.  Works great and costs less than $2.50 per light, including the bulb.  Hey, it's not a chandelier for the royal palace, but it's a fair representation of the typical light in a bedroom of the last 60 years or more, and I'm quite pleased with it as my first effort in lighting. If the dolls look up they will see a "C" (for "cold"), but I'm hoping they will conclude it's just a logo of some kind. Without sticking my head all the way in I could not see the "C" (which is not painted on, just embossed in the center).  The "H" and arrow design will also be put to use sometime, all from the same package at the local hardware store.  If your hardware store doesn't have the grain of wheat bulbs, check with an electronics outlet.

Rosalind in Houston, TX

Unusual Items: Another source for unusual items is a place called Playthings Past. They have mostly key chains, but they have games like Monopoly, Life, etc., I purchased the robot from Lost In Space and many other items that I have used in boxes. For the person doing the county fair, they have the machine that is filled with toys and stuffed animals with a claw that you operate with a crank. It really works! Their web site is http://Playthingspast.com

Diane in Ohio