Pill Bottle Uses: Lessee, a fabric-covered occasional table, a pedestal in a modern art gallery, a decoupage tray (lid), a stool, the seat for a vanity chair, garden stones (lid) a stand for a 1/144 diorama, picture frame(lid), tea tray (lid), garbage pail, actual modern art, legs for a modern table? I have been using film canisters with lid as portable water reservoirs, so when I haul my work space around the house on my TV tables (which I do occasionally in search of better sources of light), I don't have to worry about spillage. Also keeps sleeve or cat-related accidents from occurring.

Kim From Canada

Lightning rods:   you should be able to make lightning rods by sliding beads down a piece of wire, or even a VERY fine knitting needle, as it strikes me most rods are slightly tapered.

Dani, in Bradshaw, MD

Making your own turntable:   just thought I would give my own input on how to make your own turntable.   I saw it on a DIY programmed once, hope I remember it all for you.  As I remember what they did was to cut identically sized circles from wood, they then routered a circular channel in them both the same distance from the edge of each circle of wood.   They drilled holes through the dead centre of each circle and put a bolt + nut through for an axle.

Then they filled the channels with marbles (all the same size - this is important) put the two bits together and the marbles move and allow it to turn.   As I remember they about 1/2 to 2/3 filled the channel with marbles and the channel in the bottom circle of wood was deeper than the top circle.   I'd imagine you'd also have to leave a slight gap between the two wood pieces (i.e. total channel depths are about 1/2mm less than diameter of marble) for it to turn smoothly. 

Natalie

How to Paint Windows - When I paint windows with non-removable panes, I use waxed paper. Cut it in strips to fit the window. It is thin enough to slide between the pane and the wood and will not let paint soak through. I used this technique on the Timberbrook garage door. Worked great.

Debbie

I Love Lucy room: Why not troll garage sales/flea markets for a "dead" small portable tv, gut it, build the roombox to fit behind the screen opening, and then decorate it entirely in black, white, and shades of gray? Spray the exterior bright red like Lucy's hair or a fifties hot pink, decoupage a couple of the I Love Lucy logos in black and white on the sides, and you'd have a real eye-catcher, with the monotone color scheme completely self-explanatory.

Loretta.Sniarowski

I Love Lucy room: I used to work at Universal Studios/CA where they have a whole exhibit dedicated to 'I Love Lucy' and even have the sets up.  The colors on the walls and, i believe, the fireplace is gray.  I could be wrong on the fireplace, they may have left the brick exposed.   I'm also thinking that most everything in the room might have been painted in assorted shades of gray, it showed up on black and white tv screens much better then colored furniture.  Wish i could be a bit more helpful, as I just watched a tribute to Lucille Ball last Friday on one of the ABC, and her daughter and son were filmed on the set.   You might want to try going to the Universal Studios website to see if they have any pictures of the exhibit, and if not, you may be able to get a phone number to contact guest relations.   Hope this helps!

Monique

I Love Lucy room:   I don't know about the show living room BUT Lucy's dressing room at Universal Studios was done in greens that she believed helped enhance the redness of her hair. (At least what the guide said) You may get more of her dressing room info from Universal Studio Tours which could be applied to the TV living room.

On the other hand, has anybody ever done a set from an old B&W TV show IN black, white, and shades of gray? With no color? Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Mel K.

I Love Lucy room:   For the person doing the I Love Lucy Roombox, I just had to share the following site    http://www.dhminiatures.com/dhm/roombox/roombox98.html

The Lucy living room is the third roombox from the top (directly beneath the wonderful "All in The Family" box by Pearl Jordan)

Reva Losiewicz

Mini fans:

We choose credit card companies according to how flexible and smooth their cards are. We buy cosmetics by the shape of the container. We buy strange and different food items because of the package. We 'dumpster dive' to retrieve thin strips of wood, scads of terrific little boxes, wondrous tissue scraps from a store and just smile smugly when observers tsk tsk... We come back from an innocent stroll around the neighborhood with pockets stuffed with odd leaf, twigs, and pretty stones, and scraps from the trash that waits for the morning pickup. We croon and glow when talking about our latest new glue. Our friends and family don't DARE throw anything away before checking with us. We look at our food and restaurant table with an acquisitive eye before consuming...Usually find something neat too. Many of us live in very fine houses, beautifully furnished and tidy,,,except for that ONE room that is a hobo's dream... Look behind that designer couch folks...or beneath that luscious floor length comforter on the bed.

Even the most assiduous beautician can't remove all the red paint from beneath a manicured nail. How many people KEEP their dryer lint? When the dogs/cats shed in the spring, they are VERY well groomed...great dolls hair. If someone mentions cat whisker, it gets instant attention and a query as to the whereabouts . . . Cage bird keepers are particular friends during molt. The Mini King/Queen is one that has a trinket machine company refiller as a neighbor. We ask perfect strangers for their empty snack package at the airport. We linger in hotel lobbies and drool vocally about the dropped ceiling and ingenious conversation placements. Picture- taking is paramount in these decorator paradises. Entire photo record of family trip has no family members in it. Lots of houses and interiors, odd windows and unusual planters.

Yeah, we're an odd bunch. We laugh at ourselves, explain or try to, to strangers (clutching that empty snack package like the crown jewels) we reluctantly use the term 'dolls house' and watch with mixed feelings as the face clears and understanding surfaces. Then discover that this person has an aunt that builds 'doll houses'.. they love her and understand the compulsion completely.... then they want the package returned. . We're fun, we're funny, we laugh and share, we chat up strangers all the time, we hoard, we filch, we do fret the small stuff... We drizzle red paint on the white rug, we spot that exquisite sofa with glue, we ruin mountains of clothing with paint and glue and wear it anyway.....we cut ourselves and bleed anywhere but on the project!

We're miniaturists,

What fun!

Judie - Daytona Beach, FL

Faux marble floor: [ I want to marble a floor in a white color and possible have those little black diamonds in the middle... but may just do a white color alone. but anyway is there a technique i can use to create the look or better yet is there a place I can buy it already done and then cut it to size??]

You can make faux's of almost any natural substance from polymer clay and a grey/white marble would be one of the easier ones.

I think you'd need translucent clay, a touch of white, some black and some white pearl PearlEx powder to mimic the crystalline look in a slab of marble. The tools would be super simple for a floor - waxed paper, roller, tissue blade, grid paper, and automotive sandpaper in the fine grits – 400 to 1000.

You could make sheets, cut them after curing, sanding and buffing them, then lay them with white glue on a support such as paper or fabric.

Or you could make the floor all of a piece by laying out raw clay squares on paper, then rolling over them with an acrylic roller to meld the seams, then baking.

I think I'd recommend the latter, because the tiles will be difficult to make a perfectly even surface from, though you could mount the floor on a solid backing and use a power sander to grind off all the high spots in just a few seconds.

Elizabeth

Fabric Wallcovering: I know this works on life-scale so I would assume it works on mini-scale. If you cannot find a wallpaper you like or to match a fabric, just us the fabric as wallpaper! Dunk the fabric in some liquid starch, flatten onto walls just like paper! When you get tired of that look, Pull it down! No damage to your walls whatsoever! It will also stay put until you pull it off. I have tried this and it does work. I learned this from watching the beloved HGTV, Room by Room.

Jennifer Spray

Whitening old lace: [I bought some very old and stained cotton lace at an estate sale. Any ideas how to bleach and/or whiten it without dissolving it?]

First of all, don't bleach it Bleach is very corrosive. Use a mild detergent for delicates and hand wash - don't agitate. It may take a few washes and rinses to get clean. If they have come into contact with any protein over their life(food, blood etc)then that may not come out. But you should be able to make it less noticeable. If you want it to be brighter/whiter, after you've cleaned it, you can rinse it in a solution called Blueing which is found in Drug Stores and grocery stores in the Laundry section. It usually comes in a small plastic bottle. Make sure you lay it flat to dry on soft, clean towels.

Debi in Quesnel

Whitening old lace: Biz is the best when it comes to taking out stains! For something like your lace I would just fill a bucket with some water - toss the Biz (a laundry additive found in grocery stores) and leave over night- or as long as it takes Marvelous stuff Even gets out old baby food stains!

Renee Kutcher

Whitening old lace: I recently purchased a huge box of antique lace at an auction and most of it was pretty filthy. I soaked it in "Oxyclean" a couple of times and was truly amazed with the results. Start with a weak solution -it really doesn't take much. I was surprised to find that my formerly ecru colored lace was actually several shades of white and ivory. Didn't hurt the lace at all. Oxyclean is available at WalMart.

Sierran

Cleaning old linen: Joan asked about cleaning old or discolored linens. Here are some tricks used by our Altar Guild to wash Irish linens. They are good ideas for any stained fabric, new or antique. First, soak them in cold water to which has been added a pinch of cream of tartar.

If the linens are delicate, wash them by putting them in a large, wide mouthed jar and shaking the jar. This eliminates "pull" on the fabric. Washing for too long can put the dirt back into the fabric. Two or three minutes should do it.

Add a little borax to the wash water. Borax also gives the fabric some "body" so it doesn't take stains as much If stains remain, then... Soak in 7-Up.

Soak in warm water and denture cleaning tablets. NEVER rub with a bar of soap, as this can cause the threads to move slip and spread....and start from the top, again. And finally, there is no such thing as too much rinsing. Soap film traps soil.

DAni, in Bradshaw, MD

Tubing bender: Micro-Mark carries a mini tubing bender that should be just what you are looking for.   Check their catalog on line for this item.   Their web   site is http://www.micromark.com

Spencer

Basketweave stitch and frames for miniature needlepoint: Yes, using a frame of some sort is generally recommended for stitching on silk gauze simply because it helps to avoid stitching too tightly and pulling the finished piece out of shape. If a stitcher is experienced enough to stitch with the proper tension, a frame is not necessary. If that is the chosen option, however, then you just tape the raw edges of the gauze with masking tape to avoid snagging the thread on them. Using a frame necessitates using a "stabbing" technique, rather than a "sewing" technique, and takes twice as long to complete.

As for the basketweave stitch .... it is recommended for full size needlepoint because it is much sturdier and tolerates wear, which is necessary in pieces that are "used". When working large background areas in basketweave, a diagonal grain can be seen. Conversely, in miniature work, I recommend the Continental Stitch (worked back and forth horizontally) because wear is not an issue and no grain can be detected. It is especially important in working rugs and carpets that the stitcher uses the Continental because full size rugs are woven horizontally and you want to emulate that in your miniature work.   http://www.micro-stitchery.com

Bobbie

Eyelets:you can use acrylic paint to simulate the grommet: dab on a tiny drop of paint, smash slightly while wet, and use a needle to open a hole in the fabric. Repeat for the opposite side. It will also reinforce your fabric as a real eyelet would do. Acrylic paints come in metallic colors.

Laurie Sisson

Petit Point: I do petit point on #40 gauze, so I can let you know what works for me. I bind the edges with 1/2" masking tape. Once the edges are bound, I trace the outline onto a piece of cardboard Then, I cut out the hole about 1/4" smaller on all four sides. Then I lay the gauze on top of the cardboard, centering it over the hole. Then I tape the gauze to the cardboard, covering up the binding, but not the canvass. This holds the canvass very tightly and none have slipped yet... Doesn't Bobbie have some gorgeous things on her website?

Jonathan in Israel

Toile wallpaper: Try this site for toile wallpaper:  http://www.itsybitsymini.com/wall/toile.htm    .  Although I haven't bought any from Nhu she is very friendly and helpful, and others on the Digest have highly recommended her products.

Wendy in Clinton, NJ