1 inch scale ruler: In looking through my tools I came across a ruler which was made by New England Hobby Supply. On the face of it are regular inch marking on one edge and 1"to 1' marking on the other edge. On the back are decimal equivalents for number drills; reference table of tap drill sizes for small screws; and a measurement conversion chart. This is all useful information.

New England Hobby Supply has a web site at: http://www.nehobby.com I didn't find the ruler on the site, but I am sure that any good miniature store can get them - at least I hope so as it is a great tool.

Ann Hendricks

Paint Storage: I wanted to buy the white plastic covered wire paint carousel at Michael's but even on sale at $39.99 it felt a little too expensive for me to hold crafts that I've already spent too much on!! So I started saving my empty toilet paper rolls (cut in two) and empty paper towel holder rolls (cut in three pieces). Then making sure they sat flat on a surface, glued the sides all together until you have enough to fill a sturdy box (covered mine in contact paper). The bottles of craft paint stand up nicely in these and as suggested by SS'er) I put a little dab of the corresponding paint on the lid of each. Works great for me & I can see all the colors, too many :) at a glance!

Darlene/NJ-SP

Organizing hints: I am in the process of organizing yet again. Paper work, kit instructions, magazine cutouts, and business cards, etc., in three-ring binders in plastic pages. Label the books and I really try to keep them up-to-date. Not always successfully, of course.

Then I use plastic shoe boxes for mini items which won't break easily. I label each box with a sticker, and it works for me. The hardest box is of course the "misc" box which also holds "stuff." But I also use larger plastic boxes for the furniture I have - by category, like "kitchen," "bathroom," or "dressers," "Beds." It works for quite a while, and then I find I may have been in a hurry and stuffed an item in the wrong box. Or I got a new supply of something and didn't file it at all. I have been collecting/saving minis for years and so I have, umm, lots.

But I find the plastic shoe boxes and larger boxes an excellent way to store - - on shelves and in stacks. Also, the divided boxes for teeny tiny items which might get lost or broken in the larger boxes. As for books, I am starting a data-base for all my dollhouse books and catalogs so I can find the one I want easily. Helpful, too, when I KNOW I have a book and it turns out I don't - I borrowed it from the library and returned it! God bless my senior moments!

Gail Green (no 'e')

Storing beads: I have really gotten addicted to glass beads and findings. Golly, they are like gold. Pour them in the tub and I'll bathe in them!

My friend, Marja, just sent me a batch of glorious beads and findings from England. I was running out of space for easily reached containers so this is what I did. I purchased a small computer desk on wheels. I assembled it. When finished I placed two plastic containers (like a fisherman uses for lures) on the pull out tray that would normally hold the keyboard. I got some short screws and screwed them into place so that when the tray is pulled out the box lids can open upright.

On the table top itself I placed more plastic containers and screwed them into place. Now I can sit at my work table, pull the computer table over to my side and have all my beads easily at hand. If the cats, God forbid, should jump up there, the containers will not go flying and sending beads all over the house.

Kate Henry

My advice to all who request work, custom or otherwise, is to ask for signed agreements.   If the agreement is conducted by email, print out every piece of email and keep it on file.   If the amount involved is small, one may not care to do that, but if the amount is large, be sure to do it.  Ask for such a dated statement with the contracted service clearly stated, the total amount to be paid and when with any deposit noted.  If interim payments are made, be sure to get signed and dated receipts for them. The case might be reversed and your heirs would be entitled to the contracted service or return of deposit and payments if any. A friend of ours bought a gun from an older gentleman who wrote on a scrap of paper the agreement and tossed it on his desk as he did for each payment.  When there were only a couple payments left, the gentleman died and his widow demanded full payment as stated in the original agreement on the scrap.   Somehow she found that scrap, but not any of the subsequent scraps noting the payments. Without any proof of the payments because he never got copies of those scraps, our friend was legally forced to pay in full the amount in the original agreement.

My advice to artisans and crafts people is be fair to your customer by giving   them all such documentation.  It is only professional. And customers do your heirs a service and keep records.  It will be a very difficult time for them and their emotions will be fragile; they will not need complications which you can avoid for them. None of us will live forever and none of us knows when our time is up so we should for the sake of the customer and for the artisan/crafts person and survivors leave records that clearly show the status of transactions.  We all like to trust others and that is good, but after death when others become involved proof is needed.

Another precaution I would suggest is record some place whenever an expensive   item is sent out to an artisan/crafts person for something to be made for it or something done to it.  Otherwise your survivors will not know where it is and in fact, may not even know that it exists.

Mel - Mass, USA

Webpages: Ikea catalogs that are free http://www.ikea-usa.com/customer_service/order_catalog/order_catalogue.asp

Hobby Lobby for those of us that don't live near one or we thought we didn't http://www.hobbylobby.com/

Fabrics online and to find the store closes to you http://www.joanns.com

Miniature tools and a free catalog http://www.micromark.com/

To join other miniature groups online after you join then do a search for dollhouse miniature and then just miniature then just dollhouse to see how many groups are there you will be shocked.. http://groups.yahoo.com/

Arts and craft store and to see if you have one close by or order online http://www.michaels.com

Another miniature webpage with some goodies http://miniatures.about.com/mbody.htm

Bombay company http://www.bombayco.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/BombayCompany/home.d2w/report

Hallmark company http://www.hallmark.com

NAME; if you are looking for a club in your area this is the place to go look also if you don't have a group then start one, find your state and then find out who is your state rep is and email her or him and ask for advice also ask smallstuffers they are full of  knowledge! :)) http://www.miniatures.org

CIMTA http://www/cimta.org

IGMA http://www.igma.org

Associazione DollsHouse and Miniature Italiane http://web.tiscali.it/admi2000/

Miniaturists Trade Association (MinTA), UK http://www.minta.co.uk/

Minitaly - Associazione Italiana Miniaturisti http://www.minitaly.com/minitaly/associazione.htm

Most all of the dollhouse miniature magazines i say most cause i don't know if this is all of them or not, you can be the judge it lists the American magazines and how to order them and as well the British magazines! and i see some other countries there too! also this link if you go to the home page lists almost anything and everything that you are looking for... http://www.imaginationmall.com/periodic.htm

Hope this helps some of you!:) keep this handy tomorrow someone will ask you for a link LOL

JenniferKY

Computer viruses: I see so many remarks about viruses.  I belong to a very informed computer group. They have told us Outlook Express is very vulnerable to viruses.  Use a different mail program. Download Eudora or Incredimail from a download site.  They have free version.  Also use a good Antivirus such as AVG or Norton.  I have a cable modem and I am ALWAYS connected.  I have Zone Alarm and Norton's Internet Security with antivirus.   I not only do not get viruses, if I use the preview pane in my mail program, Norton blocks any communication hidden in the e-mail that would go back to the sender.   You can go to Norton site and check your computers for viruses and also go http://www.pcpitstop.com/   to check computer performance.   I do much of my mini shopping and my husband's car part business on the net so I would be lost without the "puter".   I  know these programs work especially if you update them weekly.   How would we talk if all our computers are down? :(

Another good email (free) program is Pegasus Mail http://www.pmail.com

Susan Robbins, Germansville, PA

Mini Hold: I've posted before how much I dislike MiniHold or any other wax product. This stuff does absorb into wallpaper and stain the wallpaper. We've seen the damage it can do in some items we've received at the museum. The wax will actually absorb color from the wood it is on. It seems that people who have donated stuff to us that created in the 70s and 80s were really hooked on this stuff and used it to attach their shelves to the wall, doors, windows, curtains, and even dressed an elaborate bed using wax to hold the fabric to the bed and canopy. The wax turned red and I assume it was from the wood or perhaps aging (although other wax has retained its clear properties). It has been a real hassle to make these rooms/houses wax-free. I have worked with this wax removal so much that I HATE it with a passion.

We have used the Fun Tack to adhere some things housed in a lit cabinet. It has melted and pictures have slid down the wall and if a chair is adhered to the floor, there is a puddle of Fun Tack under the chair leg. I don't like this stuff either.

In my own house, I've glued things some things (glassware on shelves, etc), and used the earthquake glue to position furniture and some knick-knacks. It will remove wallpaper if you attempt to move a picture or wallhanging, though. My house is on a turntable and things must be anchored securely or they fall off shelves, etc.

My own opinion, of course -- but speaking from our experience at the museum, I wouldn't use a wax product. I've tried the clear Museum Gel and I haven't found that it works very good with the minis.

Fay in St. Louis

Rubber cement: I saw a comment about using rubber cement to hold things and I wanted to say something about it. I use it to at shows to hold down tea sets in an acrylic box. It does work very nicely and the person just picks up the box and takes the whole thing home. I also use it on lids for teapots and ginger jars. I tell people to soak it in hot water to release the cement. The glue hardens with time and if you try to pry it off, you can crack the piece. I would not use it to hold things in my dollhouse as it can damage furniture. If you get something by mail or at a show that has rubber cement, soak it in very hot water and pry it off gently. If it's stuck, keep soaking it in hot water.

Carol, S P Miniatures

Rubber cement: Please don't use rubber cement as a permanent bond on anything. Close to 40 years ago for a high school biology project we collected, identified, and pressed wildflowers in binders. I kept my collection. The specimens are still in good shape since I white-glued them to individual matboard cards and put them in the binder like postcards. But the album sheets they're fastened to look like murder scene evidence. (One of these days, I'll replace them...when I find time between mini projects!) I used rubber cement. After about 10 years, it left horrible spreading rusty, dark-brown stains. My guess is that rubber cement accelerates the oxidation of wood pulp paper. The matboard must have had rag content since it's okay so far. Rubber cement may be fine as a temporary solution to transport items, but long-term it creates an unbelievably ugly mess. I don't think anybody who puts heart and soul into their miniatures should risk finding their work ruined in a relatively short time!

Loretta.Sniarowski

Photoglue: I use what we call photoglue to hang things in my houses. According to the people who make it , it is the same thing as rubber cement. But I never found it hardens after a while and it is very easy to remove from photo's and everything else even after years. You can just rub it off with a finger and no damage at all. So I wonder ; are we talking about the same stuff or is there a difference after all??

Marianne

Dremel replacement batteries: You can call Dremel customer service and order them direct. It is an 800 #.; 1-800-437-3635

Drbob...Delray Beach FL.

brad/nail tip: If you need to nail brads or small nails stick them through a business card first and use it to hold them. I like this idea-- keeps my fingers out of harm's way!!

Melly

If you are nailing a very narrow thin piece of wood----soak it in water for a while and that will prevent the wood splitting. Credit for this hint goes to my model ship building DH, who is busy on another ship. Oh, that he would concentrate on mini furniture.

Elise in Va.

Converting to one inch scale: Every few months there are questions about converting full scale things to 1/12 scale. This is because there is no intuitive easy way to accomplish this. I prefer to keep it as simple as possible and this is how I go about the conversion which I do on a daily basis.

You will need to learn a few rules:

1 inch = 1 foot. Most of you already know that one! VBG

1/2 inch = 1/2 foot = 6 inches

1/4 inch = 3 inches

1/8 inch = 1-1/2 inch

Most important in the building and furniture world:

1/16 inch = 3/4 inch in one inch scale.

Most building trim, millwork and furniture designers use 3/4 inch lumber as the standard building block in design. (Mel referred to it as a one by) Early in the 20th century 7/8" was popular. There isn't much difference in miniatures. The variation in thickness between 3/4" and 7/8" in one inch scale is only the thickness of a business card.

I base all my thickness calculations on the fact that 1/16" becomes 3/4" in scale. Therefore 1/32" becomes 3/8" in one inch scale and 1/8" becomes 1-1/2".

Thinking this way I usually use the 1/16" graduations on the ruler. I can easily read them. There is a 1/32" marking on the reverse side of my 6" steel rules. That is useful once in a while, but very hard to read. There is also a 1/64" scale which is only useful as a fingernail file.

We sell these rulers. See the web site. http://www.smallerthanlife.comThis sounds complicated but becomes simple with use. No fancy scaling rulers are needed.

BTW for other thicknesses like 1" and 1/2" that are needed in furniture I go to decimals of an inch and use a micrometer or dial caliper. This is mathematically converted. 1" converts to .083" and 1/2" converts to .042". There are no convenient fractional conversions.

Pete Boorum

Special Minis:   SAVING MINI'S FOR A "BETTER TIME & PLACE": -- I have two or three permanently-displayed roomboxes that are "shops," and I often use them to display odd pieces that haven't found a permanent home. It's fun to have them out where I can enjoy 'em, and when I build a house or vignette where that piece can really shine I just go "shopping" at one of my "stores." (And then, of course, I must hie myself off to a life-size shop or show and buy a replacement -- how sad :- )   ) I am not disciplined enough to build a house and just concentrate on filling it up with "stuff" before going on to another project, so I often buy a pretty piece just because it catches my eye or I can foresee a possible future use for it.   I usually have a couple of things going at once -- and by many miniaturist's standards I'm a piker in that department -- I'd much rather have my "treasures" displayed in a temporary "home" where I can see them every day than sitting in my furniture storage box.   Go ahead and enjoy your nifty mini's -- that's why we're IN this hobby!   :- )   Build On!  

Dayle Dawes

Special Minis:   Two suggestions for a timid miniaturist......If you can't decide what setting to use your miniatures in you could still display them in one of those wooden display boxes that has all the little niches....BUT my preferred suggestion is - Just go for it! If you use tacky glue or grip wax to position them you will still be able to remove them at a later date if you change your mind. Above all don't leave them all sitting in cupboards - if you've got minis, flaunt 'em!!

Jayne (minimum)

Displaying 'special' minis: here's another suggestion if you're still not comfortable with using items in a temporary display:   since I'd rather play with my minis than clean, a few years ago, as I could afford to, I gradually replaced all my life-scale open bookcases with 40s and 50s glassed-in book cabinets to eliminate the need to dust my books.   Since the shelves are deeper than most of the books are wide, they make a great place to display new miniatures as they accumulate for the next work in progress. (I display them on the shelves with fiction, not craft reference books or I'd be moving them constantly.)

Loretta.Sniarowski

Displaying 'special' minis: Wanna, your post on getting those hidden away 'special' miniatures out and on display was excellent!   I have a couple of ideas also, (not that I've actually done them, you understand, but might do one fine day).

Make a box to fit the back of a pretty frame and display a single item in that...now you can either hang it on a wall or sit it on a table.   Buy a thimble case, or curio case and display those tiny, special miniatures that might disappear in a larger setting.

I also like the idea of shallow boxes with a shop facade built on the front to display collections.   I think that after awhile in this hobby we all find ourselves drawn to certain minis...I tend to love and collect; food, kitchen items, toys...(among many other things) but I don't have enough of any of them to do a big shop.   A small shallow shop front would be perfect for displaying whatever until you have enough to furnish a free standing store.

Ok, I have to admit, I haven't done any of those things yet!   I have some wonderful miniatures that are hiding in drawers and boxes, yearning to be free, and seen!   And one fine day....well, you all know how that goes.

Kaye in L.A.

Special Minis:   consider making unique wall arrangements for your home with your special finds. An old wood clock case without the clock makes a beautiful house for miniatures, simple shadowbox frames   are easy and readily assessable at most hobby stores. If you bought it, use it and love it. I am working on a series of faux books for a client, the kind of teak reproductions used to store old letters or jewelry. Each book has a title that represents the items that reside within the pages.   A book on Kites opens to show a small collection of kites, wind socks and a picnic.   The books will stack on a bookshelf just like their real counterparts. When the owner wish's to show off her prizes, she will pull out the appropriate volume and viola!  

Becky Holliday