15th Rosary Beads: One of our Sisters who is knowledgeable in 15th century customs, says that probably the rosary would have been made of carved wood. She looked it up in the Catholic Encyclopedia, and it stated that the rosary, at least part of the time in the 15th century, consisted of 50 beads, possibly as one chaplet, or with larger beads between every ten beads, for the Our Fathers. They could also have been made of ivory or filigreed metal, such as gold or silver. So you have several choices for authentic beads for your nobleman. At some museum she saw rosary beads of this era, and the carved Our Father bead opened up and had a scene inside, the Nativity. The bead was about the size of a walnut. Hope this helps.

Sister Olivia

Rosary Beads: Being a member of a Catholic family with members of the family in the religious community -- I asked them your question -- and good luck would have it -- my uncle (a Christian Brother) told me some used wood with small metal or rope chains connecting them back then -- the more wealthier parishes might have used pearl - back then it basically depends on what area of the nation. He found records in England and Scotland for that time of the 18C right?

Elizabeth Smith

Rosary Beads: to the person who was asking about rosary beads for your nobleman... check out http://rosaryworkshop.com/HISTORYjournalingBead.htm this page has a history of rosaries from 1st to 20th century. . . from knotted cord to present day beads and is divided into centuries for easy location of your time period. You should be able to find out what would be apt for your setting

Linda and Dean Brotherton

Eye glasses: After spending the better part of the day making eye glasses for a doll, I have found a useful tool to use as an eyeglass form -- metal knitting needles (3mm ones worked well). They are nicely round, come in many sizes, easier to find than certain size doweling, you can pull the wire taut and it is a bit easier than using wooden dowels. Just tape the bottom of the needles together, and then wind the thin wire around the top (one end goes clockwise, the other goes counterclockwise). You can do neat things like pull the needles apart a bit to make a nose hole, and if you want a bend in between the two lenses, push a round toothpick in between. The glasses will easily slip off the needles. Then all you have to do is flatten the face part (used the flat end of my tweezers), and while holding the face part down I pulled up the ends of the wires for arms and cut them down to appropriate size. Does take practice to get them really nice, but once you get the knack you can belt these things off relatively quickly.

To get glass in them? Have been experimenting, and i think gallery glass will work, though I haven't quite got the right amount yet. You could use glue as well, but it is messy and not as convenient as the gallery glass (if you can find it). Nice thing about gallery glass as well is you can get it in a lot of different colors (sunglasses and tinted lenses!).

Kim From Canada

Other Scale Dolls: American Girl miniature dolls for Xmas does anybody have any idea what scale they might be?

I use them as five year olds in my Playscale dollhouse. (That's instead of saying Barbie.) I think that's about Two inches to the foot. They really aren't right for one inch scale but they are certainly charming and well made.

If you wanted to use them with one inch scale miniatures you might want to put them in a chair on top of a roombox reading a story that has the roombox theme as its subject. This can be very effective to draw in your audience.

There is a new series of Barbie product out with dolls from famous books (Heidi, Fern from Charlotte's Web and Anne of Green Gables.) They are a nice young teenager with nice appropriate costumes.

Laurie Sisson

Molds for miniature ceramics/porcelain: This message is for the person who wants miniature molds... try www.swallowhilldolls.com  I believe I got this link from ssd...looks very interesting!  They have molds for many different items including tea sets etc.

Kathy in Wisconsin

Oriental Dolls: I just ordered an Oriental lady doll kit from Dana & Gwen. It's a regular doll kit they are casting in an Oriental skin tone for me. I believe they can do it with any doll on their site. They have been wonderfully informative and accommodating. And their dolls are GORGEOUS!! I didn't see any babies, but they do have a set of little girl dolls. They also have a geisha kit (white skin in kimono with gorgeous golden threads). The site is http://www.miniatureart.com/ There is also a second site http://msatminidolls.minilists.com/projects.html with instructions and more close ups of some of the dolls.

Whui

Oriental Dolls: Janna Joseph has 2 oriental families which she has developed which would be worth looking at www.jannajosephdesigns.com - I'm getting a number of the molds (including her famous detective series)...but I also have her older series and she used to have a bust to use for hats that was a perfect oriental face. The other mold I can think of is one of Joy Parker's from Swallowhill Dolls. They are few and far between.

Ana

Wigs: Regarding where to find wigs for dolls how about Joy Parker's site? http://swallowhilldolls.com/hatswigs.htm Another place for wigs is Pat Boldt's site: http://www.patboldtdolls.com/wigs.html

Nursemini

Dolls "By Terri": To the person who is looking for the artisan who operates under the name "By Terri" it is Ellen McAdams, Dolls By Terri, (208) 683-2949, Athol, Idaho www.dollsbyterri.evisionsite.com , e-mail ssjsook@aol.com.

Rosemary in Cleveland

Wigs: Darlene Mobley at darlene@slip.net makes wonderful wigs, (very reasonable price.) Took a class from her last Saturday and made a wonderful Regency (1880-1890) doll. Learned wigging, and dressing. A great class. Thanks Darlene. I know she does the wigs separately as I have purchased them from her.

Diane in SFBA

Dolls: I have found another web site with 1:12 dolls which is worth the visit: http://www.carabosse-dolls.com The dolls are simply astonishing, although I'll have to be contented with window-shopping. Too expensive for me. But I find it just delightful to admire other's work.

Ali from Spain

Titanic Dolls: If you are interested in the movie Titanic and would like to make the Boarding Dress for a doll to depict Rose; on my web site http://www.lonewolfminicreations.com are project pages including a large section proportioned off into various projects including Titanic items. I'm working on Rose's dinner dress page currently. Also I have the Unsinkable Molly Brown on my web site. She is a beauty.

Georgina H. Simmons-Gagnon

Oriental Dolls: I just ordered an Oriental lady doll kit from Dana & Gwen. It's a regular doll kit they are casting in an Oriental skin tone for me. I believe they can do it with any doll on their site. They have been wonderfully informative and accommodating. And their dolls are GORGEOUS!! I didn't see any babies, but they do have a set of little girl dolls. They also have a geisha kit (white skin in kimono with gorgeous golden threads). The site is http://www.miniatureart.com/ There is also a second site http://msatminidolls.minilists.com/projects.html with instructions and more close ups of some of the dolls.

Whui in SF

Oriental Dolls: Janna Joseph has 2 oriental families which she has developed which would be worth looking at www.jannajosephdesigns.com - I'm getting a number of the molds (including her famous detective series)...but I also have her older series and she used to have a bust to use for hats that was a perfect oriental face. The other mold I can think of is one of Joy Parker's from Swallowhill Dolls. They are few and far between.

Ana

Wigs: Regarding where to find wigs for dolls how about Joy Parker's site? http://swallowhilldolls.com/hatswigs.htm

Another place for wigs is Pat Boldt's site: http://www.patboldtdolls.com/wigs.html

Nursemini

Dolls "By Terri": To the person who is looking for the artisan who operates under the name "By Terri" it is Ellen McAdams, Dolls By Terri, (208) 683-2949, Athol, Idaho http://www.dollsbyterri.evisionsite.com , e-mail ssjsook@aol.com.

Rosemary in Cleveland

Wigs: Darlene Mobley at darlene@slip.net makes wonderful wigs,(very reasonable price.) Took a class from her last Saturday and made a wonderful Regency (1880-1890) doll. Learned wigging, and dressing. A great class. Thanks Darlene. I know she does the wigs separately as I have purchased them from her.

Diane in SFBA

Mini Action Figures: You might want to try looking at large toy stores, comic book shops, and shops that sell role playing games and accessories. Even if you only find generic pieces, you can always paint them to resemble the different characters you need.

Karen from PA

Mini Action Figures: I used the 1" tall Star Wars micro machine figures available in the toy stores when I needed mini action figures and models. I just used my X-Acto knife and paint to transform them into the characters I wanted. For Batman and Robin...the same company makes several play sets with those very figures in them. If your Toys R Us does not have any ...they are always listed on eBay. Here is the link to the boy's room I used them in: http://www.wishbooktoys.com/boys/ Look closely at the "Mummy" model and you will see hi is really C3PO in disguise. Dracula was Obi-Wan Kenobi :) You might also look at the tiny HO and N scale people that are sold in the railroad shops...with a bit of paint, they can be transformed as well.

John Medeiros