Edwardian Toys: You might try the book by Jim Dorset, its on my web site http://www.dollhouse-miniatures.com/ under books>miniatures The Best of The Scale Cabinetmaker Vol 1 The Toys of Christmas.

Tom Berkner

Ginger jars: I have made these from cloisonné beads in blue and white and also the black and gold types. Also by using a bead cap upside down under egg shaped bead and another one as a top, topped with a small gold bead, you can with decoration make a Faberge type egg. Sorry my camera is out of action or I would send pictures. Look on the mantelpiece, not very clear but may give you an idea of what I mean.

Roberta, Durban, South Africa

Edwardian Toys: For the Edwardian toy shop: I'd be delighted if you included a hoop--these were about the size of a modern hula-hoop<tm> and were played with by being rolled with a stick. My Daddy (born in 1911) made me one to play with when I was a child in the late 60s, and boy, was it fun! I'm also thinking some beads, thread and a couple of trimmed toothpicks would make a nifty marionette. I've seen a lot of little animal beads that you could turn into a Noah's Ark. A lot of toys of this period were very simple--gosh, a ball was a big deal to a kid around this time!--so don't stress too much.

Molly

Collections: I have them throughout my dh. In the little girl's room is a doll collection; in the boy's room, toy airplanes; in the kitchen, teapots; and in the sun room, there will be a glass collection. I want a collection of bunnies for the baby's room, but I have not seen many so it may have to be a collection of teddy bears. When I get the Cape Cod cottage that I have been wanting and wanting, there will be a collection of sea shells and a collection of hats in it.

Mel in Ma.

Glass Items: glass objects remain the most difficult of all for me. I bought a bead making kit with the torch and glass rods, a couple hundred bucks worth of stuff, and the results of my efforts are laughable. But by using resin I find that little fake glass bottles are highly do-able. A lathe is necessary, though. You cast a cylinder of tinted resin and turn it in two stages to get a hollow bottle. It's not easy but it's possible. The end result is convincing and I'm always gratified when people pick up a bottle and tap it against a hard surface to determine if it's glass.

Mary

Glass Beads: Glass beads are available from Fire Mountain Gems in an astonishing variety of colors, textures, shapes, etc. Order their catalog, as their web site is not nearly as complete. Catalog can be ordered at www.firemountaingems.com.

Molly/StormBorn

Glass Beads: To whoever is looking for Glass, Bone or any other type of Beads and Jewelry Findings -Shipwreck Beads, claims to be "The Worlds Largest Source" Here is the link http://www.shipwreck.com/

Brooke, WA

Printing Rugs: I have been printing rugs using fuzzy paper which I am sure is the same as suede paper. You can find fuzzy paper at the following site. I haven't had any problem with my printer. http://www.paper-paper.com/fuzzy-paper.html

Phyllis

Printing Rugs: When I print paper rugs, I dry mount them on poster paper or card stock. Use rubber cement to paint back of rug and top of poster paper. When it's dry, stick 'em together. Then I use a fabric fringe. I have been using a piece of cloth from inside an old necktie. It is beige and coarse. Very easy to glue to the edge of the rug and pull out extra threads to fringe.

Linda in Leroy, OH

Movie Posters: Try the following sites: http://www.reelclassics.com or http://www.musicman.com/mp/posters.html or http://us.imdb.com/ or http://mrshowbiz.go.com/ or http://www.posteritati.com/ .....Have found posters on all these sites in the past.

Patricia / Redwood City, CA

Movie Posters: You can find movie posters at http://www.movieposters.com

Lynn in Gainesville

Yellow Rain Coat: How about cutting one out from a rubber glove, the kind used to wash dishes? It could be cut out in the shape of a coat and then draped to fit to hang. Seems to me that the rubber gloves are very pliable and could be arranged the way you want. Don't know if clear nail polish could be applied to make it shiny.

Donna

Cat House: many years ago the late Dennis Waldron published some ideas for pet toys, including one of those carpet covered tower "condos". It's hard to describe without drawing pictures, but here goes. Take a toilet paper roll and cut it to whatever length you think appropriate. Trace around the roll and cut out one circle of lightweight cardboard (cereal box, etc.) one inch larger, and another 3/4 inch larger. The larger circle will be the base. Mark a spiral on the smaller circle, from the outer edge to the center circle, going maybe two thirds of the way around the circle. This will be the ramp that wraps around the center core, and the circle from the middle will be the top of the condo. (Close your eyes and think about this, and you might be able to "see" it.) Cut a piece of self stick felt for the base, but remove the center "hole" before you stick it to the cardboard, so the core will fit into it. Test fit the spiral ramp, and cut doors into the core in the proper places. Glue the core in place, and cover it with felt. Trim a scant 1/16th inch from the spiral, and cover it with felt on both sides and glue it in place. You can get really clever and put in a floor or two at this point, then cover the top with cardboard from the spiral and the circle of felt you cut from the base.

Dani

Rugs: I am probably the last person to figure this out, but I found a nice way to make a rug last night. I had a leftover piece of cream-colored suede scrapbook paper that I had used for carpeting in one room. I printed a rug from Eileen's printable site onto T-shirt transfer paper. In spite of my doubts, when I ironed the transfer onto the suede paper, it turned out beautifully and has a nice weight to it. Just what I wanted.

Judy

Suede paper rugs: You can also run that piece of suede paper through your printer. That's how I make lots of my rugs.

Fannye in TX

Ballet leg warmers: I believe that pink baby socks could be cut into a tube, and sew closed on the doll. Not hard to do at all since I don't think leg warmers have "feet" do they? They're just a tube I think. You could also use a thin cotton knit sewn into a tube.

Viola

Ballet leg warmers: Find a hand therapy clinic (under physical therapy or occupational therapy) Ask for some cloth surgical tubing (smallest size of "stockinette" made for fingers). Dye to desired color.

Mel K.

Ballet leg warmers: Try finding a pair of thin knit gloves and cut the fingers off - that should do it. The fingers of kid's gloves make great stocking hats when you roll down the edge.

Gail

Arts & Crafts Style: We have a shop in Victoria called Charles Rupert that has been selling wonderful tiles and reproduction wallpaper, small furniture and accessories for many years. They have the best selection of Arts and Crafts movement books that I have ever seen. They also have a very good web site with William Morris, Victorian and Arts and Crafts other reproduction wall papers. Their web site is: http://www.charles-rupert.com/index.html

Jean Day

Australian minis?

- A boomerang?A mini akubra hat or drizabone coat?(good luck on these -- our own wonderful Trace ended up making these for me). . .

- Some of the mini furniture is different -- a miner's couch

- How about an Australian flag? These are easy and cheap to find -- mini toothpicks with flags used for HDs.

- A mini bucket with billy tea? Mini lamington cakes?Parakeets or budgies, a koala or platypus?

Kathy in TX