Mini flames: I'm not sure that this is what someone really meant when they asked about mini flames but this really does work extremely well to make a candle light or even fireplace flames look realistic. You use clear silicone, put a dab of it on the tip of the bulb, and pull it up to make a flame shape.   When the bulb is lit, the entire silicone flame lights and looks real. This even works in real size on those inexpensive plastic candle thingies for your windows. I use the same method to make flames for cauldron flames, fireplaces, lit torches, anywhere I want an open flame. I think that if you embed pieces of colored tissue, it would look even more colorfully on fire. It is important to use clear silicone; it must be 100% silicone and not be the paintable kind. You can get it in discount stores as tile and tub sealer or in the automotive dept. as windshield sealer.

Cat

Dressing table trays. The jewelry findings work great. I also paint a piece of lace with gold or silver spray paint, let it dry. It doesn't take long. Then I glue it around a piece of craft mirror, usually found in the mosaic tile sections of craft stores. Stiffen a bit more by brushing a little clear nail polish over the lace. You can also bend the edges down a bit for a ridge.   They look great.

RPURPLEMOPAR

Tapered Candles. To make mini ones try taking a piece of thread and dipping it into a small amount of melted candle wax (about 1"deep). Dip & blow on your string, dip and blow again & again until you have the right diameter. You will end up with a REAL hand dipped mini candle!

Brooke,Wa

Trailer: I just saw three different types of Motor homes in one inch scale at a store called Camping World. They are online http://www.campingworld.com although I don't know weather they have them on the web site, I do know that they have them in their stores. If you write to them through the web site I'm sure they will have further information.

Marilyn, Mini-ing in RV

Southern fans: I saw something on a Homes Across America program that someone may want to try to duplicate in their Southern Plantation. It is a large fan like object suspended over the dining table. It is shaped like one huge blade moved the blade back and forth over the table keeping the owners cool and at the same time keeping the flies at bay. While they were having dinner a "servant" would pull the chord making the fan swing. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in miniature but it certainly was a staple item on a Southern Plantation.Ana

Flag printables...go to this site:
http://miniatures.about.com/library/weekly/topicsubprintables.htm?once=true&

She has a number of wonderful flags, buntings and patriotic vintage art. I printed out several of the flags and buntings for the mini club that I belong to so that people can decorate the front of their mini houses.

Kaye in L.A.

Flag printables...go to this site:
I found some U.S. and Canadian flag printables, if anyone is still looking for them. Here's the addy:
http://www.geocities.com/jessknight34/printables.html

Chris in Minnesota

Sir Thomas Thumb: I have a large selection of tools and Sir T's other things on my website. The tools are on http://www.spminiatures.com/ththwork.htm

Carol

Shoes: For the lady from Sweden who wanted little shoes, try http://www.susan-lee-miniatures.comShe makes lovely shoes, most I think are leather, I don't know if she does resin, it might be worth checking her out.

Annie

Flags: http://www.anyflag.com/

Judie - Daytona Beach, FL

Joan Adams' rug patterns! needlework supplies, mini books, and more! http://www.angelfire.com/wv/minipix

Mary Lynne in Huntington, WV

Nameplates, etc for doll houses. In the New year, we will be offering house names or numbers, on a miniature oak plaque, the carving will be done on a computer controlled router machine in any font style, ie old English scroll etc. If you can wait until then, you'll find our prices far lower than you would expect! http://www.woodencraft.co.uk/

Peter Cook

Doilies, etc: Sue Herber put me on to a gal who does FANTASTIC doilies, placemats, and napkins among other things. I don't know if she has a catalog or not, but her name is Ilisha Helfman and she can be emailed at Ilisha@hestiahouse.com

Karen

Doilies, etc: .....don't know if you've seen the work of Marilyn Coots...dba 'Little Addictions'...her fabric doilies, table runners, etc are truly wonderful, and very reasonably priced. Her web addy is http://www.LittleAddictions.com

Laura in OKC

Sewing Supplies: I just received a new catalog from Home Sew, where I've been buying sewing and doll-dressing supplies for the last 25 years, and they have more interesting goodies that can be used for miniatures, then ever before. They now carry some colors of 4mm silk ribbon and lovely silk ribbon embroidered floral bands that can be used for all kinds of decorating. You'd pay triple the price if you found this stuff for sale at a miniature show. When requesting the catalog, also ask for the sample club card no. 141, because it lists 5 different European Treasure Braids, which are gorgeous embroidered ribbons. These must have a million uses in miniatures - and the prices are low: 2 yds for $2.50. I use them in historical costuming, but a few other ideas are: frame sections as if displaying needlework, pillow tops, chair seats, on cornice boards, fire screens, or panels in a room divider, table runner, small rugs, wall hangings, small upholstery, etc. The web site is http://www.homesew.com Address: Home Sew, PO Box 4099, Bethlehem, PA 18018-0099

Paulette in Southern Indiana

Canadian Flag printables: You won't believe the different sizes and this site has animated flags as well as more Maple leaves than you will ever need! http://canflag.ptbcanadian.com/

Laurie Sisson

Nail Polish Use: When I was unpacking some teapots made from beads which I hadn't seen for about 5 or 6 years (thanks to Joann S for the how-to), they were the ugliest colour you'd ever seen. I'd used clear nailpolish over pink acrylic paint. The nailpolish had yellowed. You could see where the nailpolish was thicker/thinner by the amount of yellowing. Yuk.

Heather in Toronto

Spools for thread: Someone was asking recently about what to use for spools for thread in a Sewing Room.   I think the best thing is the smaller sections of the #2000 Tiny Turnings.     I have a one inch scale "Quilt and Crosstitch Shop" in which I made 190 spools of thread in a cabinet. I wound embroidery floss of different colors on the pieces of Tiny Turnings then measured the thread cabinet at my local store and built one like it to hold the thread.  There are pictures of the scene on my website: http://www.mybizz.net/~wncoffey/

Jane Coffey

Mini Needlework/Fabric Shop: I have one in progress, almost finished except for all the really little details.  I made the usual fabric bolts until I realized that I could use mini wall paper wrapped around a bolt also.  I cut out pictures from the huge 800 page catalog of the wall paper samples and wrapped them around my bolt.   I make my bolts by folding index cards to size.   As the bolts are in a shelving unit it doesn't matter if the "fabric" wraps all the way around.   So I have tons of fabric bolts in lots of colors.

I made regular bolts of ribbon also.  But them I decided to make mini printed   ribbon on my computer.  I used clip art to make a line of little pumpkins and it worked.  I've made all kinds of printed ribbon.  The ribbon rack is an inexpensive hutch from the craft store.  I took off the doors, stained it with brown shoe polish, cut white cocktail straws to fit the shelves and wrapped the ribbons around the straws.   They fit right in the shelves (across).   I also did some solid colored ribbon with my computer.

I am using cuts outs from magazines for sewing and needle work books.   The book of the month type ads have just the right size.  I am also using catalog pictures downsized for the sewing notion packages. I also wrapped cocktail straws with fabric cut 4 1/2 inches wide to be the decorator fabric.   I made racks to hang on the wall.   I cut 2 strips of 1/4" wide x 1/8" wood to fit vertically on the wall.  I put in little eye screws evenly spaced in each and fit the "bolts" in the eye bolts.

Since I have two front windows and a glass door, I made signs on my computer with all the shop information:  name, proprietor, hours, etc.  I am going to print it out to fit the appropriate windows on over head transparency film made for ink jet printers.

I also made two large tables using little wooden spools found at the craft stores for the legs.   It seemed appropriate for a fabric store.   I made notion stands using the spools and wooden wheels.  I used large needle to make the holes to put wire in to hold the notions. I'm thinking about scanning real lace and reducing the pictures, though I do have some mini lace.  I am going to use dowels for thread, but I am not making individual spools.  I am going to build a rack similar to the ones in real fabric stores and fit the dowels across.   I am going to use paint pens to color them for the thread.

Lee Ann

Exercise Room: spa: Besides the Stockton's exercise machine, there were photo ads in Dollhouse Miniatures Magazine for about 12 months although not in the most recent issues that pictured all sorts of exercise equipment including dumb-bells, slant board, that waist machine with the belt, etc.  Maybe someone out there has back issues---I don't have any here.

Also, don't forget the Jacuzzi and lots of towels strewn about the floor and stall showers with those rubbery slip-proof mats.  I would include tennis shoes or running shoes, bathing suits, dirty socks, headbands, shorts, tennis rackets, gym bags, kickboards, sunlamp and massage tables too.  I have no idea how you could make those "Gripmaster" hand exercisers that all good spas and therapists have around to work on your grip----in real life they come in four different strengths.

GlobalSMB