Florist's Cooler Case: I do have before me the instructions for a florist cooler. Laura in OKC is right: it's a Joanne Swanson story in NN, May '87. It is constructed of matt board, wood strips, and styrene. If you plan a good-sized shop, you might be interested in the setup of some real-life places: instead of cabinets they have walk-ins, like closets but protruding rather than recessed. Glassed fronts and sides. One I've seen uses brick (or brick paneling) at the base, maybe 18" or so high, with a brick floor inside. Shelves at the back to hold arrangements, and room on the floor for buckets of long-stemmed cut flowers and filler greenery. Also if this was to be a garden center as well, access NN's April '91 issue: Garden Center by J. Swanson. Full of goodies.

Mary

Wooden Fan Uses: I used some of the pieces for making a fretwork headboard and sofa backing. It breaks so easily, but will work. I just finished a bakery display case (one-inch scale) and joined two pieces together to form a design that I glued onto the back for a fancy effect. Actually, I think of it as the pauper's Bespaq technique. I've taken plain furniture and attached little pieces here and there. I don't work with quarter-inch scale but I would think it would make a great screen, also architectural molding if cut just right. I've probably ruined more than I've actually used but have saved most of the pieces. I wish I could find another one with butterflies 'cause they are so purdy!

Theresa Thomas

Fans: We use the wooden fans to simulate fine fretwork or ironwork on minis. Decorate panels of cupboards, make an oil stove, chair backs, tiny cradle, and waste paper bin. Could use to decorate small windows. They have a lot of uses but you have to try them several ways sometimes because every type of fan is different in design.

Roberta Pijper

1/4 Scale: I have discovered that Dritz - the sewing notions people - no longer sew their hooks and eyes to a piece of heavy paper Now, they package them in a sheet of plastic 'cubby holes' with a paper backing. The little 'cubby hole' is just about right for making sinks and washbowls in quarter scale.

Dani

Picture Frames: I make and sell a lot of picture frames, at least 500 a year.  It is my experience that it is difficult for most people to make acceptable frames.  Some reasons:

1.  The picture frame molding that Northeast Scale Model makes is basswood, which is soft and easily compressed.  Be sure to use a sharp tool.
2.  You need a stop to make the frame sides accurate in length. Measuring alone is pretty difficult.  Use a clamp of some kind on the miter box fence.
3.  In order for the miter boxes to allow a blade to slide there is need for clearance.  That clearance, if only a few thousands of an inch, can tip the saw enough to change the angle.  Try and saw with a gentle easy motion.  Let the blade do the work. 
4.  You need a quick setting glue and a square guide to assemble the frames.  I use an Olfa cutting mat with a grid pattern.  Let the glue set a little bit before assembly so it sticks right away as you line up the frame against the grid.  Roo glue for wood works fine and so does Weldbond.

Because I make so many frames, I designed a special sliding table for my Preac saw with two fences, 90 degrees apart and a clamp stop. I bisect the angle with the saw. Go to http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~smallife/miter_table.jpeg for a picture of the set up.  If you have any table saw you could make a similar set up.

Pete Boorum

Quilt Display Rack: How about using one of those tie racks or belt holders that you attach to the inside of your wardrobe?   They flip from side to side (not the ones that go downwards). You could snip off the hook part, get some thinnish doweling, drill a hole and slide over the remaining stump.  I know we used to have one that I threw out when we moved and it had a double layer of hooks on it.  It was quite long - about 10" but you could always cut them down to size.

Yvonne

Quilt display rack:  Have you ever gone into one of those stores where they have the full size area rugs hanging on racks that you can leaf through.  That would be the same idea.  Also I think they use to have a thing like that to hang towels on.  It had a metal plate that was flat against the wall in the vertical position and they had metal arms that stuck straight out staggered one above the other so that you could fan them out to either side.  I would take a thick piece of wire and bend one end into a small L.  Drill a hole into a piece of wood and insert the wire through it so that the bent end caught right behind the hole.  If the hole was large enough or make a slot to either side and it should be able to move from side to side.  Although you would have to hold your wooden piece out a little from the wall so the metal leg can move.  That is just a rough idea.

Elizabeth

Strong Glue: Just found a new glue at the home improvement store. It's Elmer's polyurethane glue. It's expensive but worth it! I build mini furniture and this glue is unbelievably strong.

Janet Gorelick

Modern Porcelain Sink: - Model Builders Supply has a round vanity sink in white and clear (for you to paint) in 1:12 scale and a single or double kitchen sink in stainless steel and clear. They also have single and double kitchen sinks in 1:24 scale.
Their catalog has how-to sections for painting and making a basic shell and surround. MBS also has faucets for sinks, tubs, showers. Their email addy is: service@modelbuilderssupply.com

Sharon in MN

Medical Supplies: If you're looking for medical equipment and supplies, I have quite a lot of it on my website http://www.spminiatures.com/doctor.htm

Carol

Disposable Camera Parts: Disposable Cameras are full of little tiny parts. I found flat "hula-hoop" shaped pieces and little plastic gears which, used together, would make very realistic stove top burners. There were tiny little springs. Also, clear plastic pieces, not quite a half inch in diameter, which might make skylights in smaller scale houses.

Mary

Buckles and straps for trunks: You can use a jump ring the size needed for your trunk, thread strap under one side and glue a finepiece of wire brass or gold tone across the ring, then go over the wire and under the other side. You can also stick a small end of wire through the strap by threading it in a needle, glue underside and cut, it looks a lot like a buckle that has been buckled.

Lenora