Metal Miniatures: There was a couple at the Cincinnati show that sold metal miniatures with the majority of the items being priced under $1.00. He had so many that I think you could have stood there for a couple of hours and not really noticed everything he had. I had to laugh when he handed me a box lid and asked if I would like a shopping cart. He does shows and mail orders so I would expect he would have a catalog if you inquired. The address is: Parker Miniatures 3231 E. Linda Lane, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452.

Elizabeth Cooper

Recycling medical supplies: It's been a few years since I retired and packaging may have changed, but here's a few more ideas of things I saved. The twist off protective caps on tube feeding bottles make great holders for mixing small amounts of paint. The white protective caps on Solu-Medrol turn into flower pots after sanding down the side. The tapered end of the 6 and 12 cc syringe holders when cut off make great hanging baskets and bowls. Small gauge butterfly IV's become garden hose. Cut off the tabs, shorten the needle, paint the tubing green, coil, and attach the other end to a 'Reallife' brand faucet. The caps of IV needle holders make good 1" scale tumblers or jars plus they're already colored.

Rose from MA

Mini Jars from Tubing: For those who don't know, NG stands for nasogastric, as in tubing. IV tubing would work, as well as oxygen tubing, etc. Even fish tank tubing would work. I like NG tubing because it comes in so many sizes. You simply cut the tubing to the size jar you want, glue a button on the top and a little seed pearl or what-have-you on that for a handle. You also need a paper or button on the bottom as well. Very easy!

Tricia

Spice Uses: poppy seeds can make great "chocolate chips" when mixed into Fimo cookie dough (champagne color). You'd think they'd be too big, but since they are partially hidden in the "dough" they work PERFECT! Poppy seeds also make very convincing chili-mix with raw umber and burnt sienna acrylic paint, add some glue or acrylic medium to the mixture to give it some workability-mix together and put it in a bowl or pot--delish! dried dill works well as "garnish"-you know, that smattering of herbs on top of the plate of pasta, or even on top of that chili. dried parsley seems to keep some of it's green when it dries-it works well with other things (like Fimo lettuce) as "salad mix". White rice ground up in a coffee grinder (I've got to do this when my hubby isn't around or he complains that this is the reason why the blades are getting dull...) mixed with raw umber paint and glue makes very convincing hamburger meat. It also makes convincing wet "cat food". Again, with the ground white rice-you can make great potato salad with the help of some watering yellow paint. Obviously, these two rice suggestions aren't from the spice section of the grocery store, but since we were on the topic of food....

Monika

1900 dressmaker form in bedroom: Unless the "mistress of the house" had no sewing room, she wouldn't have had a dress on a dress form in her bedroom. And any dress on a form would have been in progress, certainly not left on the form once it was finished. For several years I was curator of house museum in Galveston. The house was built between 1893-95 and the interpretive date was 1911. Women with modest houses containing no sewing room often did their sewing in the dining room.

Margaret in Texas

1900 dressmaker form in bedroom: Terry asked about a dummy in the bedroom with a dress on (1900); I don't see why not ... Maybe, if you ask him nicely ... seriously though - my grandmother and grandfather were in the sewing business beginning in 1917, when they were married in Barbados. They each had their own dressmaker/tailor "forms", and they certainly were NOT new, because they had been handed down to them. I believe they were mostly wire, with fabric molded onto the frame.

Dollladie

1900 dressmaker form in bedroom: To whoever asked about a dressmaker's form in the bedroom; I don't think this is very likely (which doesn't mean you can't do it!).

Historically, a very wealthy woman WOULD have had her own dress form, but she would also have been paying someone else to do the sewing - and thus, the form would have remained at the dressmaker's. Less wealthy women who could still afford tailored clothes would have had to settle for their dressmaker's adjustable form, shared by many. And a poor woman would have been sewing by herself (or with her daughters), and would have to be her own form (which, incidentally, is how I do it. Ouch!).

Graceanne

1900 dressmaker form in bedroom: Once upon a time, around 1900, my grandmother's family was somewhat wealthy. My grandmother has told me that they used to hire a dressmaker to come stay with them for several weeks each year. During that time, the dressmaker, with the assistance of the women of the household, sewed all the women's new clothes for the year. I know there was a room dedicated to this purpose at the time -- a spare bedroom I think, but am not sure . It occurs to me that this would make a lovely miniature scene, with the hired dressmaker, stacks of patterns, fabric and cut-out fabric pieces. Perhaps one of the daughters of the household being measured, and the other daughters assisting with the sewing.

JoLynne

Colonial roaster/oven: could you fake the roaster/oven device with a film canister and a couple of the cheap plastic hair rollers with the holders that are sort of like a cage? Cut the roller-holder in half lengthwise. Glue the halves together like back-to-back Cs. Remove the lid from the film canister, trace around the open end and cut a card or plastic lid end, punch in the decorative holes and use a couple of jump rings for hinges. Glue the canister into one of the roller Cs; the other forms the "feet" Paint the whole thing metallic and distress with "soot" and "rust" to look old. If this is like the ones I've seen in antique houses, you'd also cut a slice out of the long side of the canister that would be open and face the fire. In that case, instead of a door, you could have solid short ends with a center hole pierced, run a wire through as a spit with a rice-shaped bead on one end as the turning handle.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Easy to make Coke sign: I was drinking a can of diet coke yesterday and realized that there are two mini signs on the can. Look on the side and there are two "Enjoy Diet Coke" slogans, with the little picture of a coke glass. I haven't tried it but it should be pretty easy to snip those out in squares. Flatten them out a little and you have an instant sign for your soda shoppe or ice cream parlor!

Lynn in Gainesville

Laminate samples: you can make serving trays out of your laminate sample pieces. You can cut them to any size and shape, add a border (e.g., very narrow plastic or rubber tubing painted in a metallic color, slit lengthwise and then slipped onto the edge of the tray). You might even paint the trays. I'm sure you've seen tole painted items that you can use for inspiration.

Rosemary in Cleveland

Mini balloons, check out Lyn's step-by-step "How-to" at:
http://www.zing.com/member/?id=2843065

Graceanne

sand in pillows: , I found tiny grains of sand "leak" from bedding or pillows. I use sago or rice in a covering then placed inside the actual cushion. In the case of bedding it is great, don't stuff anything to hard tho. The tiny dolls lay IN their beds and not ON their beds and their little heads leave an indent where their heads have been.

Dianne in Australia

Decorating Chrysnbon: Michaels or the craft places in your area should carry rub-on paint designs (may be hard to locate -- they shelve them all over the store - -- with the woodsies, the stenciling, the scrapbooking, etc.). Many are small enough to use as is, and more can be cut into smaller sections. I've used the ivy and flower borders on several projects -- you can make dishes that match the kitchen hutch. Run a metallic gel pen around the plate edge for a "gold" or "platinum" trim, or use a color that matches the rub-on pattern. Several people on SS have also recommended using the tiniest size of sticker or fancy nail decals from beauty supply shops, so those are other ideas. With all these methods a spritz of clear acrylic sealer is a good preservative finishing touch. I just used a rub-on apple garland border on the twins' hutch, on which the doorknobs were replaced by tiny apple button earrings. If Peggy didn't want fake Fiesta dishes, I would have used bits of the garland to decorate the plates.

Loretta.Sniarowski

fold marks: When I make a fold line, I will lightly score the paper with an exacto knife. You may have to practice before hand so you know how many swipes you can get away with before you cut all the way through, and develop the light touch it takes, but I have done this on numerous boxes and book jackets and it works nicely:).

Kim From Canada

Folding cutouts and printables: I find that my metal ruler is perfect for folding. Just line your project up along the straight edge and fold with your fingers.

John Medeiros

Folding cutouts: take a scribe, inscribe a line on the *outside* (right side) of the piece you need to fold where you need to fold it, then lay a *steel* rule on the inside up against the fold line, and bend the paper back over the rule.

Molly/StormBorn

Folding cutouts: To make a nice fold on a cutout, I score the fold part lightly with the back side (dull edge) of a razor knife.

Karolyn (Plymouth Ma)

Folding cutouts: A bone paper folder cannot be beaten for folding. It will not burr or damage the paper. I have some hand carved ones with lovely fine edges and an "almost" point at the tip - see my website - or there are other brands available overseas. http://www.daydreamswindow.co.nz

Pam

Mirrors: I was looking at some decorative things in the craft store, a little mirror surrounded by a crocheted band. Well, I *almost* bought a package, but realized that they were far too simple to make and I didn't want to just settle for the colors that they had (not to mention they were almost 4 dollars a package and I didn't know if they would "work" for me or not). Basically the piece was a round plastic ring (used most often in dishcloths and potholders) that was crocheted around. One could probably get away with a piece of wire that is bent into a circle as well. Then they glued that to something shiny (sequin or acrylic shiny thing -- technical term there...), and the final product would be a little "wicker-like" mirror. Nothing 'tuit!

Kim From Canada