Giant Cotton Chenille Stems: Here's some sites where you may find what you want: http://www.grumpy.org.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_PIPECLEANERS_55.html  http://data.synasoft.com/chenillekraft/products.cfm?categoryid=111

http://www.fibrecraft.com/html/chenille.html  http://www.gy.com/product/601231%5Cindex.htm

Gerry

Wool felt: If anyone is looking for 100% wool felt, I just came upon a site that has it.   Wool felt works beautifully for making miniature hats, etc, because unlike the synthetic felt carried in most stores, it is soft and "mold-able". This company sells single squares and swatch packets at reasonable prices. The address is http://www.achildsdream.com/woolfelt.htm#Wool_Felt

Darlene from Long Island

Molds for miniature ceramics/porcelain: This message is for the person who wants miniature molds... try www.swallowhilldolls.com  I believe I got this link from ssd...looks very interesting!  They have molds for many different items including tea sets etc.

Kathy in Wisconsin

Ivy Vines - and other great stuff: For Ivy Vines and all kinds of brass foliage try Scale Link based in the UK. They don't carry 1/24th specifically, but lots of 1/12th and also  1/32.    http://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/Scalelink_Etched_Brass_Frets_2.html

Lesley, South Africa

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

Japanese site: http://www.dollhouse-kado.com/link/link.html

Anna Helena, from Brazil

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

Miniature Clothing: When I read about the upcoming miniature show in Charlotte which Mom and I attended for the first time last year, it jogged my memory about this wonderful lady named Rachael Spiegel who makes miniature clothes. Rachael's   website address is: http://home.mindspring.com/~byrachelle

Betty and Laruiel

Japanese Miniatures: My name is Robert Read and I also Make Custom Made Japanese Miniatures.   My mini's are very true to scale as to life.   I have done many years on research on the subject.   You can see what I have done at my site: http://japaneseminis.homestead.com/FirstPg.html  I hope you do go top see the site, and if you need any questions answered about the Japanese Homes or items don't hesitate to e-mail or  call me at 1-617-471-1625.

Robert Read

Micro miniatures: Those interested in smaller than small should check out this site. http://www.microart.kiev.ua    Click on the British flag for the English translation and then use the arrows beside the menu button to scroll through the incredible works of art.  Makes 1/144 scale look gigantic.

Rose in HI

Japanese site: I found this site with lots of traditional as well as western miniatures -   beautiful work. The artist's name is Yuki Yoneda. Her website is: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/yuki/world   And you can view it in English or Japanese.

Susan in Gan. Can.

Crochet: Do you know the book by Venus Dodge called Dolls' House Needlecrafts? It is very nice. There are knitting, patchwork and other needle crafts in it but also some very nice crochet patterns for cushions, blankets, doilies, afghans and some house wares too. The book is very nice with lovely photo's of miniature scenes. It was published by David and Charles. I think you will be able to see the book on the http://www.Dollshouseworld.com site. It will be in the bookshop. There are also some nice pattern books on the site http://www.hankypanky.com

Marianne

Crochet: Try Barbie patterns -- you can adapt patterns by using a size 10 hook (that is in American, it is 1.25 Canadian, and 5 1/2 British) and size 60 crochet cotton to reduce a pattern down to a 1" scale doll. Also, Dollhouse Miniatures has done a couple of patterns -- wedding gown in June 1998, and a layette set in the January 2001 issue.

Kim

Crochet: you're getting lots of sources for crochet patterns, as a weaver I've found the hardest part of making miniatures can be finding the right yarn. I've got lots of colors of punch needle yarn on my web site http://weevings.com , it's a fine-but-fuzzy yarn that's a little finer than embroidery floss, but looks more like wool. And while you're there, do check out the doilies my friend in Finland crochets. She uses Gutterman silk sewing thread, which you may find in the quilting department of craft stores, or at sewing machine dealers. The hook she's using for the doilies is a #16, I believe, which you can get from Sandy's Lace and Trim. For patterns, my friend has mostly used full sized patterns, making modifications as needed. If you use regular sewing thread, try for all cotton, the polyester has "memory" that makes it want to stay straight, but with cotton, you can 'block' your work after it's made. Rayon sewing thread is made in lots of colors now, but the shine may not be appropriate for whatever you have in mind. I've got some very (very) fine wool and cashmere for weaving, mostly natural/cream, contact me privately if you're interested.

Bonni

Ivy and Moss: I saw the digest that you asked about "finding" ivy or moss for your dh wall. I have been making a lot of quarter round boxes lately with "rock" walls covering both sides and a cascading waterfall down the center. I have used the tips from SS and used water putty for the "rocks" and clear caulking for the falls. Envirotex makes the water in the pool below the falls and Fimo makes the fish and turtles and frogs. I use Fimo, paper, and preserved real plants and flowers for landscaping along with torn pieces of the model train landscaping material called "chunky turf" It comes in several shades of green and I make hedges and bushes andmeandering plants with different colors of it for color interest. My favorite is the one called "burnt grass". It is a grayish yellow green that makes wonderful moss on the walls. After I roll the balls of water putty and glue them to the walls and up the center (for the falls) and make the low wall for the pool across the front, I let it all dry then spray paint it with Flexstone granite (black) paint. At this point the entire inside of the box is solid gray "stone. After adding the falls and pool and plants and flowers and critters, the walls are still stark and bare looking. To break this up, I pinch off tiny pieces of the chunky turf (dyed green foam chunks) and I dip them in thick tacky and place them in long trails along the cracks and chinks of the walls. I add a small fern plant here and there, one scene has stone pockets dripping with Fimo orchids and ferns that were dripping with water (dribble the Envirotex on them just as it thickens). I draped preserved strands of dyed green chenille plant from the top of one box (over the "moss") and added bunches of tiny preserved babies breath flowers. It turned out wonderfully. Everyone that sees the boxes comments on the realistic looking moss. I have had nothing but compliments on it. As for the ivy, if you plan to make a lot of it, maybe you could order the ivy punch from Ruth Hanke at Hanky Panky crafts. I have mine from her, and though it is a bit pricey, it has paid for itself many times over. I have made a lot of ivy for swaps and for friends and for sale and have used it extensively in my room boxes and pool scenes. If you can't afford the punch, Ruth will send you pre-punched ivy leaves in a baggy for a very affordable price. I have dealt with her for a long time and have never been disappointed. She has numerous leaves and flower punches and will accommodate whatever she can for you. To find her, just go to http://HankyPankycrafts.com.If you don't want to make it yourself, feel free to e mail me and maybe we can work something out.

Norieta in Hawaii

Cutting Eggs: Thought I'd jump in on the egg discussion to tell you about the breed of chicken known as the Araucana, also known as the "Easter Egg Chicken". These hens lay various shades of green, blue, and sometimes even pink eggs. We raised several varieties of chickens and I can tell you these are also the hens with the sweetest personalities. Now if you take care of your little hens properly and feed them good food and let them in your garden to eat the bugs they will all have eggs with nice hard shells - not at all like the eggs you get from the grocery store. I made a little house in one of the Araucana eggs. I used a drill to put small holes in each end of the egg, then blew out the contents. I outlined the area I wanted to cut out with a pencil line and drilled a starter hole just inside the line, then used the smallest Dremel router bit to cut out the hole. The scale for the egg (in order to make a two-story house inside) worked out to about 1/8" (1:96) but I suppose if I had thought about 1:144 I could have put in an attic too! Anyhow, if you want to have a look at the egg it is on my web site http://www.minimotion.comunder "Miniatures". The green color of it is the actual color of the egg as it came from our Araucana (well, after the egg was washed of course)! I did coat the inside with several layers of acrylic paint to help hold it together, and also touched up the outside where I cracked it (not saying how many times).

Tori West - Tucson, Arizona

Reflector Ovens: the directions for reflector ovens are still in both the Boy and Girl Scout Handbooks. Look in the library or contact a scout.

Peggy in Madison

Solar Ovens: You can find a lot of information about solar ovens on the Internet. For directions on making a simple solar oven out of a pizza box, go to: http://www.solarnow.org/pizzabx.htm

Rusty in KY

PLEXIGLASS CASES: I can't remember who was looking for the 8x8x8 Plexiglas cases that aren't being produced until later this fall. But I found some more. These cases look terrific and all sizes. Go to The Miniature Web http://www.etropolis.com/mini/ Then click on Bill Greenan.

Fannye

Magazines: I have found mini magazines at Books-a-Million. You can order magazines from the web site if you don't have a store near you. The three I have found are:
Dollhouse Miniatures (American publication)
Doll's House and Miniature Scene (British)
Miniature Collector (American)
I like the British one the best. There are often free dollhouse plans, clothingpatterns, cut-outs, and every month there is a column on making foods and objects with Fimo (You can go to Angie Scarr's website for good free projects. http://www.compclub.demon.co.uk/asmini.htm). You can go here ( http://www.emfpublishing.co.uk) to order DHMS online. I have done this and theservice is good. They also make a Miniatures Projects magazine that is more expensive (about $12/copy) but has lots of do-it-yourself projects and the issues are big. It is put out 4x/year. I don't much care for the Miniature Collector for DIY projects (although there are some in there that are very good). It is more of a "Showcase" magazine that shows the best and most interesting dollhouses...and for that reason is still a very good magazine.

Lynn in Gainesville