Cordon Puff: Fall is coming. Your local hobby supply should be getting in this item. It is a large, dried blossom about the size of an orange. When cut apart, it makes perfect dried grass and rush's for your scenes or ponds. See tip above for application to ponds.

Becky Holliday

Miniature Rose Plants: I haven't ordered from this company since 1998, but there is the info. I have 4 plants flourishing in my Northern California garden. And, yes "Si" is the smallest rose in the world. This company carries other micro-minis as well.
Tiny Petals Nursery
489 Minot Avenue
Chula Vista, California 91910
Office (619) 422-0385 Nursery (619) 498-4755
(Remember Area Codes have been changing)
Tiny Petals Nursery's Website: http://www.tinypetalsnursery.com/

Any of you who have purchased Jane's bouquets realize she paints each petal. If you don't they will turn brown in time. Hopefully I'm not passing on a trade secret, but she mixed a little iridescent white acrylic with the color used.

Ruth

Glue Flowers: Bend fine gauge wire into shapes of leaves and make loops for flower petals. Leave a stem of wire to hang on to. Mix equal parts of poster paint and Elmer's glue. Using a stiff paint brush dip in paint and then over wire. You want to cover wire opening like wire soap blowing things. When you get the hang of it it's quite easy but not at first. Stick holding stem in a piece of Styrofoam. Let dry over night. When dry you may bend into many flower shapes of your choice.

Nola

Floral Foam: I carry it on my site, along with lots of other Landscape and DIY stuff. http://www.minikitz.com. http://allthingssmall.com and http://ladybug-fairies.com also carry some, and I'm sure other vendors on Small Stuff do, too.

Debbie Jones

Shredded Foam: For shredded landscaping foam go to: http://amsi-minilandscaping.com/index.html They are the nicest people to deal with--It is a husband and wife company andthey try real hard to please.

Susan

Paper Flower Glue: I use Bond Instant Grrrip glue, plus a teeny, tiny bit of Zap-A-Gap 'superglue' type adhesive to make my flowers and shrubs. I feel that Bond is a much better glue than Tacky...particularly for use with paper, leather and even wood. It's more expensive, but I don't know a single person who's tried it, and said it's not worth the price

Laura in OKC

Paper Flower Glue: Concerning the glue you are using for the fabrication of paper flowers you said, "I am having a problem with the glue. I have been using Aleene's Tacky, but the flowers and leaves are falling off after it dries with just a touch. Am I using the wrong glue? Not enough maybe?"

OK --- For about +90% of my paper flowers, leaves, etc. I use Sobo glue. It is a white non-toxic water base glue that dries clear. I always use the smallest amount possible, but that's a "personal touch" that you will have to develop. I buy it by the quart but it should be available in 2 oz. bottles at your local Arts & Crafts store. On occasion I will also use a little Super Glue and I do mean a little!

Keep in mind that everybody has their personal preference but hey, it works for me! Check out some of my finished 1", 1/2" and 1/4" scale floral arrangements on my web site at http://www.smallerthanabreadbox.com

Helen

Paper Flower Glue: many people are raving about the fairly new "Ultimate Glue" available in mini shops and possibly Michael's (or so I have been told). I have used Aleene's tacky with good results, but because you have had problems with that brand, maybe Ultimate will work better. Also, using a combo of fast glue and tacky is what one of the finest flower makers uses with her rice paper petals.

Jeanette in Wisconsin

Paper Flower Glue: I've been making and selling flowers and gardens for 8 years and I have always used Aleene's Tacky glue (original) for my petals. There are times if you don't use enough glue that it doesn't stick properly. I would try again using a little more. When you want a base of a flower to adhere really well, first dip in tacky and then a dot of zap-a-gap. But that's only on bases or areas that don't show because the zap discolors the paper. Good Luck!

Debbie Noland

Wood Glue: The best wood glue that I have found is called Roo Wood Glue. Sandy's Lace & Trim sells it, and possibly other dealers that have bought it from them. I have tried all sorts of different brands but nothing works like Roo. Sets up fast, but not too fast, holds very well. http://www.sandyslace.com/

Beth, In A Miniature Manor

Potting Mini Plants: I bought the smallest size box of terra cotta colored air dry clay they had at Michael's to make my Mission tiles from last month. I ended up with about 3/4 of the box left, so decided to use some in my mini flower pots. I take those cheapie terra cotta pots that you get 4/pack at the craft stores, and sand the tops down until they look good (they usually are raggedy) Then I put in a squirt of white glue and press in some of the air dry clay. While it is still wet, I poke in my flowers and leaves, then squirt in some more white glue to cover the top and sprinkle with railroad dirt (I don't drink coffee!!) The terra cotta color looks natural if you don't get a thick covering of dirt, and when it hardens, the plants stay in place nicely. The glue might not be necessary, but I think it would be a good precaution since it dries clear anyway.

Bonnie Gibson - Tucson, Arizona

Preserving bee: How about putting the bee in the crystals you use for preserving flowers? I don't know what they are called. The crystals can be used quite a long time. After using the crystals a few times you put them in the oven for a time and then they are as good as new. Worth a try I think.

Marcella

Preserving bee: I have preserved butterflies and bugs on my Brambly Hedge Tree Cottage. Don't cringe, but freezing is the most humane way to "save" them, if they are still alive. I attached them with a small dot of Grrrip glue and it's been over 3 years and they are still intact.

Ruth, Grass Valley, CA

Preserving flowers(and bees???): Here's a page full of suggestions! They also mention Silica Gel (desiccating granules) for drying flowers.
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1151.htm
I have used them with good results and suggested a few digests ago to use this stuff for preserving the bee. Good luck, from Holland

Marcella

Preserving flowers: The drying substance your friend is talking about is called "silica gel". It costs about $5.00 for a quart at most craft suppliers. I pour about half into a tin with lid, place the flowers in gently, then gently pour the rest of the gel over the top. Cover the tin and wait about a week. The silica gel can be used over & over, and can be redried quickly by placing it on a cookie sheet in a warm oven. I also add the tiny packs that come with leather goods, computer hardware and etc. The size of these is larger, but they work just the same.

Sharon in Watsonville

Preserving Flowers: For the person who wanted to know about drying tiny flowers -- I cover them carefully with salt, which attracts moisture like no one's business. After a week or so, carefully remove the salt from them and voila! perfect flowers with the original colours. It's probably a good idea to spray them with something as they're quite fragile -- haven't decided what yet, any ideas out there?

Kay in Ottawa, Canada

Broken glass chunks: What about glass wall blocks ? Are they small enough for ice cubes? Jewelry? paperweights? Modern Art work? garden art pieces?

Teddy

Working Fountain: couldn't you do this along the same lines as those 'tabletop' fountains that are so popular now? I know there's a book out with instructions for these available through the One Spirit book club. I think a cooler pump is used for the tabletop fountains, and I don't know if you'd need a 'thingie' to control the water volume...the pump could be hidden in the 'foundation' of your house.

Molly

Working Fountain: I went to the railroad shop and bought a pump for a train engine car that blows steam. 12.99. It was recommended and it works! Need to be a bit creative. I drilled a hole, (carefully), through a garden like urn and set within a circular base I found at Hobby Lobby. A real water fountain!

SuLin

Working Fountain: For those of you interested in having a working, running fountain in your doll house, go to an aquarium store--an actual aquarium store-not Wal-Mart or K-Mart or Home Depot. The people in a real aquarium store are experts on fountains and power heads and the things that you will need to get your fountain working. Good luck.

Carol