Making Mini Clothing: Instead of Fray check or tacky glue to secure the edges, try Aileen's OK TO WASH IT. It has a thin consistency but will not spread. Also, Try tracing your pattern pieces onto the fabric. Then put the glue just inside the line and then cut out the pattern pieces after it has dried. Ends all fraying. Someone else may have an even better solution for you, but that works for me.

Tracey Meeker

Marianne

Gail in Orlando

POTPOURRI BALLS:
On a strip of wax paper, drop small circles of glue; let set until almost dry.
Peel off glue circle, roll in potpourri to form ball. Let dry. If bare spots show, add touch of glue
and roll again.
OR coat tiny beads with glue and roll in potpourri.
Pile in basket or bowl; use as ornaments on Christmas tree, etc.

NET POTPOURRI PACKETS OR GARLANDS:
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Minutely crushed dried flowers, herbs, etc. One teeny whole bloom in each packet often looks very nice.
Small funnel (can be done without it)
Small bowl spoon
A larger size cut down soda straw (about 3-4 inches) OR glue together a round paper tube of size desired
Tacky glue
Scissors
Fine bridal tulle or netting (examine your laces; some are fine enough to work)
Colorful thread, narrow silk ribbon

1. Cut a strip of netting longer than the soda straw; overlap over the straw and glue edges together. (This is the same principle as used in making bags over a form)
2. Slip net slightly off end of straw and tie tightly; slide back up.
3. Using funnel or narrow spoon, place potpourri in straw. OR use straw to scoop through potpourri to fill.
4. Slide off amount of net and potpourri desired; tie tightly. Make a second tie close to that one. Continue filling and tying with fine gold or silver thread or narrowest silk ribbon until net is filled. Cut between ties for individual packets.
5. For a garland, leave uncut, with longer spaces between ties, looping ribbon in and out, etc., if desired.

FOR NET POTPOURRI BALLS:
1. Cut small square of net and cup over end of straw
2. Fill and tie off. Cut off excess net.

FOR LACE POTPOURRI POCKETS:
Look through your laces for those that have tiny net in the center of small designs. Use a toothpick to apply glue around the lace edge. Add bit of potpourri and place second matching design on top of first; pressing edges together tightly. I find it easier to do these if I leave extra around the designs, glue them together first, then cut around the individual packets. If you want a hanger, insert loop of thread before gluing second piece down.

OPEN POTPOURRI TUSSYMUSSY:
Cut lace designs as above. Glue potpourri in center, leaving lacy edge visible. These look great glued on tree tips, especially with fine thread or ribbon streamers hanging down from back. Again, one teeny bloom looks good.

TOPIARIES:
1. Coat small Styrofoam ball with glue and roll in potpourri.
2. Use dowel or small twig and poke into ball; plant in pot; decorate with ribbons, lace, silk roses.
3. Coat inexpensive plastic toy animals - rabbits, ducks, chickens, etc., with acrylic paint; roll in potpourri. Tie small bow around neck, make hat of small snippet of lace, etc.

These are especially pretty in Victorian-type Christmas decorating, as well as in bathrooms and bedrooms.

Wanna in El Paso

Jewelry:
Here are some mini findings and beads sites:

http://www.wolfemyrow.com/home.html

http://www.coolmini.com/finds/findings.htm

http://www.johnbead.com/

http://enterpriseart.com/index.php?logo=Enterprise%20Art&page=main.php

http://www.shipwreck-beads.com/

Marlene Chapman-Ontario

Punches/Paper: This is a web site for scrapbook supplies, including many punches.
http://www.scrapbooksuperstore.com/

Peggy, in WA

Working grandfather's clocks: As someone pointed out Orvin Fjare does make some beautiful grandfather's clocks which are quite pricey. I have one (not for sale) in my dollhouse which you can see at http://www.spminiatures.com/house/livingroom.html. There are working grandfather's clocks that sell for about $70 which I think are in Dee's catalog.

Carol

working grandfather clock: I found a web site for a craft store called Crafts, Etc. that has a working grandfather clock. They are temporarily out of stock, but maybe they will get some in soon. It sells for $24.99. The web page address is: http://catalog.craftsetc.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=378278. I just placed an order with them today on the telephone, and they were very nice to deal with. They have quite a few miniatures listed under the crafts section of their catalog. I hope this helps the person who was looking for the grandfather clock.

Terry T. in WV

Working Clocks: Someone was asking about working grandfather clocks. Try Small Time: http://www.small-time.com/

Colin Bird

working clocks: Both Dee's and Aztec have working grandfather clocks. They are usually in the $40 to $70 range and look very good. The working part is a quartz watch. I think one of them even has a working mantel clock. Contact your local mini store to get them. I keep them in stock all the time and think most other retailers probably do, too.

Dottie in Tucson

Christmas "whirligig": Mel K. said his wife wanted "one of those wooden, candle powered, Bavarian, Christmas whirligigs.'" The article Wanna in El Paso was referring to is in Nutshell News, Dec. 1985, page 98, written by Dee Snyder It is called a "Weihnachtspyramide". Now let's hear everybody pronounce that one!!.

Ruth

Dried Apple Wreath:
Twine cord used for wrapping pkgs to mail
glue
Fresh cranberries
asst. bead *ornaments, dried baby's breath and misc. greenery.

Dip a 3" piece of twine in a mix of half glue and half water. Wrap it around a plastic aspirin bottle or similar size and tie it ....not tight but firm. Let dry completely. You can use two pieces for a twisted look. Slice a few cranberries very thin. lay out to dry naturally or in a warm oven. you might want to dip them in lemon juice and water first to preserve the *white* inner side. When everything is dry. place *apple* slices around *wreath* until you feel good about how it looks then glue them in place. Add little pieces of baby's breath sprigs between the slices, and decorate to please. Finish with a small bow at bottom with little one inch tails. Voila'...a pretty wreath for your front door ...:)

Mary Ann

Battery Lights: I used three in my Christmas house two outside trees and lights around the door I hid one under wood pile one as heating unit and one just inside door behind fire place as you look at Christmas room you don't see it....remember to place them where you can replace batteries... They really burn a long time.....I got my at hobby lobby in the Christmas village scene

Linda in Texas

Cork Crafts: Slicing, painting or spackling to make special-occasion cakes. Also, a classic homecraft dollhouse use is seating (proportions are closer to 1:24 or child-size 1:12). Slice the cork in half lengthwise for 2 settees, or in 4 horizontal rounds for chairs. Glue fabric over the top for a cushion. Stick corsage pins along the top of one side for backrest slats. Stick four into the bottom for legs. Wrap and glue heavy cotton thread around the legs. Then weave the thread back and forth among the back slats for the backrest, tying or gluing ends to finish. Works best with an uneven number of pins (5, not 4). Results: child-size "wicker."

Using a horizontal slice, stick in leg pins and round-headed straight pins all around the side edges. Weave the thread as for a chair, and you have a table. These were probably the very first miniatures I ever made, over 40 years ago as a Brownie Scout! Wish I still had them; crude, but made a kid feel pretty crafty! Better directions and illustrations in Audrey Johnson's book Furnishing Dolls Houses (see library, it's out of print.).If you have a really good cutting tool that can slice evenly, you could probably make your own cork tiles from lengthwise slices cut into squares; ditto for corkboards, frame the slices in scrap wood.

For a mini-fisherman, carve tiny balls, add toothpick ends, and paint red and white for a bobber that will really float.

Slice and then cut sole-shaped pieces, use sequin pins and glue to attach ribbon uppers for platform sandals.

Loretta Sniarowski

Filling Shelves: Give the occupant of the house a hobby, and fill the shelves with that, or have collections, like elephants, or paper weights. You can find Venetian Glass half beads, made to put in flat earring findings, they make great paper weights. Look around your life size house, duplicate some of your treasures in miniature.

MAP in Puyallup

Filling Shelves: My dolls are all pseudo-intellectuals and collectors and hobbyists so their shelves are filled with many books, sheet music, sculpture, minis that don't fit elsewhere, collector-style plates, decorated finch eggs, tiny dolls and statues, "bolts" of fabric, little tools, coffee cup or can of beer or soda and some food to sustain the avid little worker!, etc. Folded linens and clothes find their way into some displays too and ajar drawers.

Karen

Filling Shelves: Check out fabric shops for fancy buttons for sculpture. Propped up on the shelves, their shanks won't show. They come in many designs from teddy bears to flowers and fruit. Also look for fancy beads for vases; some craft beads make little animal sculptures. Just fill in the holes with air-dry clay and paint. Craft shops have charms in their jewelry section that also make sculptures. Snip off the hanging loop with wire cutter and glue to a flat button base if necessary. Clip collector plates from ads; decoupage to buttons (fill holes with air-dry clay). Keep an eye peeled on walks for tiny seeds, pods, etc. (or check your spice drawer) for a nature display -- use clear straws with glued-on acetate bottom and small button or bead lid to make display jars filled with seeds. Form a nest with dried grass and glue, fill with fimo or dried bean eggs.

Loretta Sniarowski

Luggage: The easiest way to make a miniature suitcase is to cover a block of the appropriate size of foam core or balsa wood with real or faux leather. You can paint or cover a staple to make the handle and insert it in only part way. If you have metallic markers or very thin metallic tape or ribbon, you can simulate the edges of the part that opens.

Alice Zinn- Pt. St. Lucie FL

Suitcase pattern. You can find instructions for an opening suitcase at http://members.tripod.com/minis4nz/GE1-Swaps/GE3_Eliz/suitcase.htm

Betsie, South Africa

Making a (quick) mini suitcase: If you have a small leather or vinyl-covered jewelry case (the kind the jewelry comes in when you buy it, with a little slit to hold the ring or a little notch to hold the necklace) they make great suitcases. They are usually about 2"x3" and about 1 1/2" thick, with hinges on one side so that they open. Just turn them so that the hinge side is on the bottom. Then add a little handle made from an industrial staple or a strip of leather, a few old-fashioned stickers saying "London" or "Madrid" if you want, and you have a suitcase. I'd like to take credit for this idea, but I actually read it in an old Nutshell News/Dollhouse Miniatures issue, in the "Workshop wisdom" section.

Celeste in Boston