Using Empty Capsules: Shirley asked about using emptied vitamin capsules. I have used them several ways over the years:

One half of the capsule is good for old-fashioned soda glasses or dessert cups when placed inside a jewelry finding for the holder.
In quarter scale I used them (glued inside a base)
- - as hurricane globe with candle inside
- - to hold lemons and limes on kitchen counter
- - to hold tiny shells and soaps in bathroom
- - to hold iridescent beads representing Christmas balls
- - turned upside down to enclose teensy dome scene, bird, or figurine made from railroad person
Both halves together are good for:
- - storing the tiniest beads, Fimo candy and fruit slices, etc.
- - holding tiny lipsticks and other cosmetics that get lost so easily
- - in the compact toolbox I take to club meetings one holds sequin pins, another sequins, one with tiny gold beads, one with silver (I'm always using these for something) and far more uses than I can think of at the moment. And you are right; it is important to keep them away from dampness.

I actually bought a box of unused capsules from the druggist. If you live near a feed and grain place you can buy the giant horse capsules, too, although they are not as clear. A box of those will hold lots of beads, small findings, etc. The salesman there looked at me somewhat suspiciously at first, asking what I wanted them for. When I explained, he said druggies often used them. I didn't even want to ask him how.

Wanna in El Paso

Wine Goblets: I have painted vitamin capsules with tinted nail varnish, clear will do as well. Paint the capsule inside and out, they can be made into wine goblets. Glue one to a bugle bead, the bead to a sequin. I have only painted mine so far, this was an idea from a friend.

Gloria in Australia

Record Albums: unless your part of Canada has urbanized in 40 years (since I went through), it's probably quite a trip to a city large enough to have a party or cake supplies store. But if one is in range, check them for cake decor and party favors. Sometimes you find little Baggies with ready-made records, solo or with little plastic molded record players. The favor manufacturers haven't upgraded to CDs yet! If that won't work, if there's a fabric store around, look for buttons with a groove design. You could roll out some Sculpey or Fimo, use the button for a template and to press in the grooves, and then bake as many "albums" as you need. If all else fails and you give up on perfect authenticity, the http://www.printmini.com site has paper records (and CDs). Glued to either side of a black foamie sheet, they'll do in a pinch.

Loretta Sniarowski

Record Albums: Most party shops carry the little packets of plastic records that are just the right size. You can make your own using a piece of Bristol board. (art dept. of your hobby shop) Mark your circle. Don't cut it out. Use coins, buttons or a template to fill your circle with more rings. Use a stylus, sharpened wood stick, and meat skewer to trace around your patterns and create your record grooves. Paint your record with one coat of black acrylic paint. Now, you may cut out your work. I would make several light cuts. This will give you a cleaner edge. When released from the main board, you may file the edges with the fine side of an emery board. Make your record labels on the computer and glue them to the board with acid free glue.

Becky Holliday

Deer Heads: Deer heads are not hard to find! I make them, as well as other mounted heads...as to other artisans and manufacturers. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1001199&Auth=false

Alice Zinn

Deer Heads: The deer heads are easy--Lawbre makes wonderful animal heads all mounted and ready to use. They also have a moose, lion, big-horned sheep, and a couple of other animals.

Dottie in Tucson

Deer Heads: While I like Lawbre's pieces, Falcon Collectibles has a decent range of these and priced quite a bit better than Lawbre. They're not mounted but I don't see the difficulty of getting a piece of wood and staining it for mounting. I have a couple of the Falcon pieces on my site at http://www.spminiatures.com/weapons.htm Falcon has other ones that can be ordered.

Carol

FLOWER HOLDER DIY IDEAS:
(1) Once saw the rubber cap glued to a section of painted skewer used as a "plumber's helper" as part of a sanitary. Other bits were a wire and creamer cup scrub bucket and a potty scrub brush (pipe cleaner loop wrapped tothe end of another skewer bit).
(2) Cut down the pointy-end of the flower holder, glue a plastic bottom over the widest part (button, piece of salad box, etc.), glue a bead on the point and cover with some foil wrapped down the neck a ways, add a label cut from an ad, and you'd have one of those king-size New Year's champagne bottles. (Called a demi-john or jereboam, I think?)

Loretta Sniarowski

Japanese "shoes": I have received a pair of them from a buddy in Japan. They have a raised block under the ball of the shoe and another under the heel. There is a padded thong that comes between the great toe and the 2nd toe and then slings around the heel.

Dr. Bob

Painting Chrysnbon Pots: I don't know how Teri did hers, but I've done a spatter painting technique in mini when I did the Crysonbon pan set. I wanted it blue with black spatters. I painted the basecoat (blue), and let it dry. Then, I took an old toothbrush and dipped it in black paint. Point it in the general direction of the piece you're decorating, and run your thumb through the bristles. Its rather messy, but a great effect. Very easy. You might consider wearing gloves if you don't like the idea of getting paint all over yourself. I used acrylic paint.

Sloan

SIMULATING CAST IRON: I use the same method to simulate cast iron. First spray a coat of black primer at regular distance then spray more coats from two to three feet away, letting it dry between coats. If you do it correctly it should produce a rough surface like cast iron. To add more realism to it alternate last coats with red primer and black primer.

Bill Hudson, Eugene, Oregon

DOJO Mat: Wouldn't fun foam be about right to cut mat s out of? I don't remember them being very thick, so the thickness should be close, and they would have that springy texture.

Teresa from Canada

Luggage: For anyone interested in miniature luggage, you might do a search on eBay for a seller with the ID of 'judia41'. I bid on a three-piece set of luggage from her and for the price, I am very pleased with it. So much so, that I ordered more directly from her rather than through eBay and they were very reasonably priced too. They're not leather - they're obviously blocks of wood that she covers with various fabrics (in my case, tan). She adds contrasting edging trim, a little tiny handle and really tiny brass hardware. To me, they sure look like a set of luggage!

Mary Lynne in Huntington, WV

Luggage: Although I make and sell mini luggage, both the kind that opens and the kind that doesn't, you can easily make your own. The non-opening kind should be made over blocks of balsa wood, basswood or something else porous so that the leather glues on easily. There are instructions for the opening kind in my 'Open Sesamini' book, carried by many stores on this list.

Alice Zinn

Nuts: Try rolling a very thin rope of tan-colored polymer clay. Roll it up inside a VERY thin sheet of brown polymer clay, so that the inside of the rope is tan and the outside is brown. Roll the rope out so it is about as thick as a piece of spaghetti and bake. (you may need to cut it into 6" lengths or so, to get it to fit on your baking sheet.) When baked, slice very thin slices and use for sliced almonds, or chop up the slices and roll your cakes in them. This is a time-consuming method, but it makes great nuts. (this is how I make the nuts for my miniature cheese balls.)

Celeste in Boston

Jigsaw puzzles: The May 2001 issue of Reader's Digest says: "...In Britain, where the first puzzles were created in the 1760's. Called dissected Maps, they were used toteach the children of King George III. . . . They moved out of the nursery in the early 1900s when a few enterprising women puzzle makers began appealing to adults by cutting up magazine covers containing portraits and landscapes." Apparently at first they were enjoyed only by the well-to-do. The article goes on to say that the New York Times in 1908 reported that "manufacturers couldn't keep up with the demand from college professors, millionaires, ministers and lawyers who were infected with 'the new puzzle germ' and could afford them. It wasn't until 1932 when machine-stamped cardboard versions began selling for just a quarter each, that the masses got hooked."

Minnie

Tapestries: check upholstery stores. There are some great materials and sometimes you can get leftovers or scraps free.

Susan Hanks

Mini Bow-Maker: I recently ordered a miniature bow maker from Cotton Ridge Designs (http://www.cottonridge.com/ - click on shopping, then scroll down to click on the tools & supplies link). They shipped it out *very* quickly and I was delighted with their service. I haven't yet tried to make bows with the tool, but it looks like what you need. (They also carry Syd's Tool for Fimo, the one mentioned in the Petite Eats & Mini Treats booklet.) I imagine other vendors carry this, and you could probably make your own if you want. I was happy to just order and go.

Alix in San Francisco

lenses for eyeglasses: I've found that you can use PVA glue for eyeglasses! It goes on white, but it dries clear, and it's gungy enough to cover the little apertures. I've also made Tiffany lampshades with PVA glue. You use one of those filigree domes they use for egg craft as a base, colour the PVA with dye from a felt tip pen, or better still, coloured inks or glass paint. Work from the back with a cocktail stick and you can 'colour in' the little gaps in the filigree with the gungy stuff. It works a treat, and looks very intricate. Most of these egg crafting domes come in bright silver and gold, so you might like to paint them before you start to a suitable black or dark grey.

Lynne Connolly

Spheres: I use cork balls for miniature spheres! You may be able to find them thru places that specialize in fishing supplies. They come in lots of sizes, and are useful for making basketballs, soccer balls and lots of other things! They can be covered with leather or paper and take paint very well.

Alice Zinn