Punch needles: Gene, I've got punch needles, yarn for punching (though the needles will use embroidery floss if you prefer) and kits for rugs. You'll see a link to Punch needle on my home page (below), let me know if you have other questions. There are a number of brands of punch needles out there, I happen to like Purrfect Punch because it's a good size to hold, and has an easy to set depth gauge. http://weevings.com

Bonni in NH

Teddy Bear Patterns: This site shows bears in international outfits .they print out at 1 ½ inches besides having needlepoint patterns for each. I thought that some of you would enjoy seeing them to use for decorating items in your doll houses or for costume ideas for your mini dolls.
http://www.vsccs.com/charts/IntlBears.html

Jane in Arkansas

Rosary Beads: to the person who was asking about rosary beads for your nobleman... check out http://rosaryworkshop.com/HISTORYjournalingBead.htm this page has a history of rosaries from 1st to 20th century. . . from knotted cord to present day beads and is divided into centuries for easy location of your time period. You should be able to find out what would be apt for your setting

Linda and Dean Brotherton

Hanging Greenhouse plants - To hang plants 'impermanently' (unpermantently?) in your glass house, you might want to try the smallest of those new hooks with the double stick tape backs. They are called COMMAND and made by 3M, http://www.3M.com/Command, the adhesive is strong, yet removable. I found mine in the hardware section of Walmart.

Alice Zinn

Archival thin board: Go to any frame shop or Michaels type craft store and ask for one of the following.

Bainbridge Alpha-mat

Crescent 100% Rag-mat

and some carry Truevue matboard. There are more but these are the ones that are used the most by framers. They are all acid free. You really need to ask specifically by the names I gave you. Unfortunately around here where they cater to the tourist trade, the frame shops are bad about telling you regular matboard is acid free. NO it's not. It's buffered. I've taken many a picture apart and seen the damage done by regular matboard and cardboard to artwork. It's not a pretty sight when someone has paid big bucks for a print and then had a framer either because they don't know any better which can be the case, or because they are just trying to get your money and get you out the door, use regular matboard against the print. You open it and not only has it yellowed the print paper, caused acid burns (brown spots are a telltale sign) but may even have started to break it down and make it brittle.

So now I do most my framing in miniature. I really do cut the mats (acid free) on a mat cutter, then I carefully peel the front couple of layers off. That way I have a real bevel even painting it if I want a colored bevel. I go through the exact same process in mini that I would in full size. I even paper the back and wire it. Keeps me in practice so if I move away from this area I'll still be able to get back into it.

That's why periodically I get on my soapbox about archival materials. I know what can happen. We put way too much time and work into our miniatures to have them not last for a long time.

Another thing is that matboard is very sturdy. You won't need to glue it in. If you cut it right, measure carefully here, it should slide in tight and if you want to change paper, slide it out again and change it.

Another hint with using matboard and foamcore, buy lot's of blades, biggest container of them you can afford. If it starts to drag or rag the material you're working with change it right away. Don't try to conserve where blades are concerned. Will save you lots of trouble.

Kathy in E. TN

Lighthouse: for those of you looking for lighthouse ideas, here is a link to a virtual lighthouse tour!   Pigeon Point Lighthouse Virtual Tower Tour http://www.pigeonpointlighthouse.org/vtt_intro.htm This is a really interesting virtual tour to take with the whole family.  When you get to the site you are introduced to a 19th century lighthouse   Keeper. He will be your tour guide. On each page of the tour you can  read all about the history of the lighthouse and the many  responsibilities of the Keeper. There are clear photographs of every  feature of the lighthouse -- both inside and out -- and the Keeper explains them all. You will even discover what qualifications are necessary to be a Keeper. The tour continues to the top of the tower where you can see the Fresnel Lens and learn how it was used to help sailors avoid the dangerous rocky shoreline.

Jenny Gabrenas

Tape Wiring: I have just found a complete & detailed description for tape wiring on the Dolls House Emporium website.   http://www.dollshouse.com  It's just what you need & probably a lot clearer than my waffling!!

Liz Taylor

Lighthouse: for those of you looking for lighthouse ideas, here is a link to a virtual lighthouse tour!   Pigeon Point Lighthouse Virtual Tower Tour

http://www.pigeonpointlighthouse.org/vtt_intro.htm This is a really interesting virtual tour to take with the whole family.  When you get to the site you are introduced to a 19th century lighthouse   Keeper. He will be your tour guide. On each page of the tour you can  read all about the history of the lighthouse and the many  responsibilities of the Keeper. There are clear photographs of every   feature of the lighthouse -- both inside and out -- and the Keeper explains them all. You will even discover what qualifications are necessary to be a Keeper. The tour continues to the top of the tower where you can see the Fresnel Lens and learn how it was used to help sailors avoid the dangerous rocky shoreline.

Jenny Gabrenas

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

Bunka & sewing notions UK: Tee Pee Crafts have bunka by the meter (15p meter I think) http://www.teepeecrafts.freeserve.co.uk    and Valerie Claire has lots of shop accessories including sewing stuff. http://www.valerieclaireminiatures.co.uk

Brian

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

Scrolly metalwork: another source of scrolly metalwork if the cast-it-yourself method intimidates you comes from Patricia King and Beryl Armstrong.  Shop the thrift stores for old 50s filigree boudoir accessories (one of my aunts had   a ton of this stuff, tissue box covers, hairspray stands, etc.) made from   pressed, rather soft gold finish metal.   They're like life-scale versions of   filigree jewelry findings.   Fairly easy to cut with tin shears or power scissors,  then flatten bends with a hammer, reshape to suit your needs, and paint matte black for wrought iron or whatever trim color you need.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Tiny stencils: I bought some lovely little stencils from the Craft Club and,   if you're not in the UK,   you can purchase 'on-line'   at   http://www.craft-club.com    as they're so tiny I imagine the postage wouldn't be too prohibitive either.

Jacqui from Hampshire UK

Lazysusan Dollhouse Turntables: Lazysusan turntables can be found at http://MiniaturesandMore.com/    web site. Tony has them in 2 sizes. 16x16 and16x24. They're sturdy enough for many different size houses. Great for viewing 360"

Janet in N.J.

Miniature Blinds: I have some vinyl vertical blinds which I purchased about a year ago from a company named The Blind Company.  The address on the instruction sheet is:

PO Box 42
Peshtigo WI 54157
Phone: 715-789-2511
Fax: 715-789-2558

Louise in MI

Shops in Europe: For everybody traveling all over the world please check http://www.arnhem- poppenhuisstad.com    to find out about shops, opening hours etc. This site is quite up-to-date as it is revised at least yearly.

Dienke

Cotton Pipe Cleaners: Marianne was looking for pipe cleaners which are suitable for bears and other animals. I have some made by The Chenille Craft Co. in Gurnee, IL 60031 , which are perfect for what you want. They come in a variety of colors, called giant cotton stems #5524 20 pieces 9mm x 12".

Lee from Melville, NY

Cotton Pipe Cleaners:Fred Aldous sells them in the UK his web site link page for pipe cleaners is http://www.fredaldous.co.uk/  Lots of different one. Cotton and chenille, different lengths and thicknesses. I bought some on impulse just before Xmas and they do not show the wire when bent. I was spoilt for choice on colour selection.

By the way it is a fun site. Lots of craft ideas. Staff very helpful. They do sell direct and also to craft shops in the UK. So they pack all their own stuff like this up them selves. Possible they will make you a pack with the colours you want.

Pauline UK