rigid 0.5 mm knitting needles: If you want rigid steel 0.5 mm for knitting needles, ask any surgeon for a piece of 0.5 mm K wire. (Kirshner wire). I used it to "pin" and hold cut bones together. The K wire comes in a variety of thickness'. They are not expensive and can be purchased in packets of 5 or 6.( Its been a while; and I can't recall )They come round pointed or "trochar" which has a three sided point. They are about 10" long and are cut easily with a wire cutter.

Drbob

Curtain weights:   It occurs to me though that you could sew length of fine solder ( Radio Shack)   into the hem of the curtain to add weight, and allow you to easily shape (bend) the pleats as you like.

Tom & Kari

PILLOW PADDING AND MATTRESS STUFFING: Have been intending to send this tip in for some time. If you need stuffing for pillows, mattresses, chair cushions, sofas, et cetera use tampons, panty liners or sanitary pads.

1. To make bolsters for beds, chairs, lounges, sofas, et al try the following product.........tampons without the plastic or cardboard outer coverings.
2. Pads can be cut to size for the mattress interiors or into shapes [square, rectangle, triangle, et cetera] for pillows.
3. Panty liners can be used to cover metal button shapes then overlaid with fabric to match room or furniture for pillows also.
4. TIP:: Important to remove the plastic exterior and / or the pink / blue absorbent center section.---

This will save a little money if you only need stuffing for a few pillows or one mattress. Most fabric / craft stores now sell batting only in large pre-packaged bags now days.

Patricia / Redwood City, CA

Stuffing for specialty pillows: A good stuffing for the long round pillows found on lounging couches is the thing-a-ma-bobbie that the dentist sticks in your mouth between your gum and your teeth when he or she is doing work and wants the saliva (and blood?) to be soaked up (at least that's what I think they're there for, maybe it is to keep one's cheek from getting in trouble).... ANYWAY I asked my dentist for a few (UNUSED! of course!) to make some elegant pillows and he looked at me really funny until I said 'mini.' The ones my dentist uses are sturdy and I'll bet other mini-ers probably could think of other uses for these little goodies, but pillows are a great start.

Gail of Ballouville

Long Johns: I have a pair of long johns available http://community.webshots.com/album/28481783ITRXpwUpLA

Karolyn (plymouth ma)

Long Johns/Union Suits: For the person who was looking for long johns or a union suit, check out this link: http://www.miniworld.com/

Kathy in TX

China silk: Sue Veeder mentions that china silk is hard to find; I'd like to share the url for Thai Silks, which is http://www.thaisilks.com. They have every kind of silk in the world, I think. Years back I ordered a set of their samples, which are just the right size to make mini-pillows with. A few weeks ago I scanned in some pictures of fancy pillows from a decorating catalog, sized them for 1:12, and printed them on the iron-on transfer paper. Then I ironed them onto some cream-colored silk (like Sue, an old blouse), then used the little colored squares from Thai for the backs. Since these pillow patterns are not my own, I don't sell them, but I give them away sometimes.

SUSAN

China Silk: Pam Kille of Etcetera, Etc. has it in 16 or 17 different colors, and you can buy it in small amounts. She also has loads of other goodies for dressing dolls and making miniatures. The address is: Etcetera, Etc. 13 Isla Court Roswell, NM 88201 Email: rwk@rt66.com

Paulette in IN

china silk: I purchased a few different colors of china silk from "Sandy's Lace and Trims" at the Seattle show last year. She has smaller pieces (perfect for our uses) at reasonable prices. http://www.sandyslace.com

Tammy Fischer

Wallpaper/Fabric on Exterior: I have an Arthur that gave me such a fit when I got ready to shingle it (you know how easily the tab & slot houses get "out of square") that I wallpapered the roof with a pattern of climbing roses and cut out climbing roses to glue onto the sides so they looked like they climbed up and then just ran amok on the roof. I then painted it with three or four coats of modge podge to give it a bit of "body" (and overcome the "wallpapered" look), and was very satisfied with the results. I don't know why you couldn't do the same thing with the whole house, and imagine on a small house like the sweetheart it would give a wonderful "fantasy finish". I have a fat square from Joann's that is a pond scene (non-repeated) that I can envision being used for just such a purpose, and of course there are some pretty interesting full-sized wallpaper borders out there that feature scenics. We were in SC recently and I saw another small house in a shop that had been painted a very dark green all over and then had one-stroke roses and other flowers painted all over it -- it was really striking, and made the little house quite an impressive "residence." I think I'd give your idea a try -- and if worse comes to worse and you don't like the effect you can always pull off the paper or fabric. Build On!

Dayle in MD

Florist wire: Mary Kinloch has #30, #24, and #20 in green and #30 and #24 in white. http://marykinloch.com/

UK suppliers for crochet thread.: There is at least one supplier for crochet and knitting threads online, try http://www.minknits.freeserve.co.uk They appear to have a good selection.

Maureen in Hemel, UK

Skivver leather: Al Chandronnait---famous---mini basket maker used to sell very, very thin leather. I hope he still does. Here's his addy: 19 Winnhaven Drive, Hudson, NH 03051. He usually has an ad in the Dollhouse Miniatures magazine every month. His ad mentions all the baskets available but he doesn't mention the leather. Another source would be the thrift stores for old gloves. Although I have never been so lucky to find old gloves or old silk ties. I think a shop in the vicinity of an old age home would be a good place to look. People into vintage clothes are snapping these things up quickly. You've got to go often and be fast.

Elise in Va

Bunka: Heritage Miniatures from Goffstown, NH has a supply of bunka in all colors and at a reasonable price. They also have laces, trims, and fabrics. E-mail them at heritagemin@mindspring.com I am a bit behind in SSD so you may have already found some.

Bobbie Lacoy

Mini quilt kits:  This one has a number of them, assorted scales and reasonably priced!  http://www.vickeysminis.com

Cathy Heimbauer

Incredible   miniature knitting and sewing: I have no personal connection to this site.  I am simply amazed by the miniature knitting and sewing.  Just had to pass this along to all of you. http://home.wxs.nl/~kort0112/fotosite.html

Kathy Peterson in Wisconsin

Puff paint:  the puff paint I use does not *puff* until you apply heat. I use a blow dryer. Make a few dots on a scrap of paper. After it has set for a day, apply heat and see if it does not *puff* for you. I use this type of paint all the time. It makes wonderful blossoms and a myriad of other things like rugs for those of us too lazy to tie French knots or do needlepoint with the canvas less than an eighth of an inch from our nose. There is also a puff additive you can add to fabric dye or liquid food coloring . It is made by Delta, called Swell Stuff.

Becky Holliday

Puffy Paints paint: I have had much better luck using Jel-pens, or Gel-pens, as they come in Gold and Silver, and work well on the leather straps when I am making Carpet-bags. The silver works well for studs or buttons, and doesn't rise up to a peak. These pens also come in white, and almost all other colors, can be found in any store that carries school supplies, or art craft supplies, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, my local drugstore, etc. The colors and white work well for buttons when you need just that touch of extra trim.

Jan

Feathers: Your feathers probably do not have any living creepy crawlies as most of these things need blood to survive. If you are still worried, take your feathers outside on a calm day (no wind). If you are really squeamish, wear rubber gloves. Dump the feathers in a coffee can. Saturate a few cotton balls with an insecticide spray and place the cotton balls in with the feathers. Cover tightly and leave for about a week. This will take care of any living creepy-crawlies. DO NOT USE A PLASTIC CONTAINER! The insecticide sometimes melts the plastic. As far as cleaning, sometimes you can use a warm water with a SMALL amount of detergent to wipe them. Do not dunk them, they are hard to make naturally looking again. Usually all they need is to be "married." This means joining the little individual fibers that form the feathers back together again. If you look at the feather closely, you will see little "barb like" protrusions on each individual feather fiber. Don't get discouraged, you do not have to each feather individually. Just take the feather by the big shaft end and gently smooth the feather in the direction it grew out of the bird. The feather fibers usually will go back together again and look good as new.

Mosesjoe

bunka substitute: Barbara Morrison asked about bunka and I assume she means the thread that unravels to such a nice curly thread and makes wonderful miniature rugs.   If you truly want to do the punch needle work that is called bunka in Japan (and here) look for punch needle and/or iglotchki (am not sure of the spelling) which is very similar and uses the same technique.   If you are not using it for a punch needle and only need it  for trim, any kind of cord that unravels by pulling a thread will work.   I have bought fancy tassels and pulled them apart just to get the thread that is then unraveled.  It is like taking out crochet chain.

Jacqui, Goddess of Chaos

MicroStitchery News:   Just letting you know that I have added 10 new needlepoint kits to my web site.  They are: a Grapes pillow, a small Unicorn wall hanging, 4 Oriental carpets and 3 new rugs of Noah's Ark, Bunnies and Sheep Pulltoys.

Also new is that you may now order silk gauze by the 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or 1 yard from the Shopping Basket on my site.  Shipping is included in the price.   Therefore, if you are not comfortable working on 40 count or want your   finished piece to be larger or smaller than the kit designates, then order a chart for the pattern and a piece of the appropriate count silk gauze.   You can then supply your own DMC, either in the colors set forth on my chart or come up with your own.   If you need help in changing sizes, drop me a line.

FINALLY, stroll on over to my site and take a look at the wonderful "face lift" that SS's own, Anne, has given to my Go Shopping section.  This should improve loading and scrolling times.  We aim to please! http://www.micro-stitchery.com

Bobbie Schoonmaker, IGMA Fellow