BAD-SERVICE MINI DEALERS: I think we owe it to each other to share when we've had bad experiences with online vendors... because so many of them are NOT regulated. There are places to complain to. INCLUDING the vendors web host (easy to find out many different ways... you can always try http://spamcop.net but the abuse address may not be the appropriate one so be sure to visit the website for the ISP to determine the right party to write to)... it's not the nicest way to go about things, but who would want to be host to a company that generating a bad reputation for them?

The Better Business Bureau does have a place for reporting bad online businesses. http://www.BBBOnLine.org/

And if you've never done business with a company before it's a good idea to READ all their information. Ask questions before you purchase, and also ask around to see if anyone else has done business with them.

Ami

GOOD-SERVICE MINI DEALERS: Of course Earth and Tree on at the top of my list for service, friendliness and promptness in delivery. I've also dealt with Scale Designs, HBS and Oakridge and have been very pleased with the quality of service, both in receiving the items and any returns or exchanges.

I've bought from Rosemary Torre and Susan Karatjas and would recommend them to all. I guess I've been fortunate in not having a bad experience (yet) but then I've never bought from Mott's and in reading your horror stories probably never will. l work mainly in 1/2" scale so if anyone knows of a supplier other than who I've mentioned would love to add them to my list.

Jerre, Kauai

GOOD-SERVICE MINI DEALERS: I guess it's like most things in life we only complain about the "BAD" parts and rarely remember to praise the parts that are GOOD" .We should all hand out more" ATTA BOYS {GIRLS}!!" in life. The whole staff at Earth and Tree http://www.dollhouse-miniatures.com/ And the in house staff at Hobby Builders Supply http://www.miniatures.com/ do get kudos from my end. Another shop that has a web site and if you phone or e-mail them they do mail order is the Cottage of Miniatures in Ft.Myers,FL http://cottageofminiatures.com/ Shellie's Mini Mania in San Carlos,CA http://www.shelliesminis.com now has both in house service and on-line ordering. The furniture is an absolute MUST SEE! All artisan quality and a wide variety!

Patricia / Redwood City,CA

GOOD-SERVICE MINI DEALERS: Hobby Builder's Supply is very good. I must also put a word in for a few others: 1) Suzi's Dollhouse Miniatures. Excellent service, permanent 20% discount off retail on all items, and she will get you anything. http://www.suzisdollhouses.com/ 2) Dollshouse Emporium has lovely merchandise and free shipping on orders over $60, from the UK, no less. Items arrive more quickly than from the US - I think they must use a magic carpet. http://www.dollshouse.co.uk/us/catalog/ 3) Manor House Minis is also a favorite -- very low cost items, and the best organized site I've seen. http://www.manorhouseminis.com/ 4) For higher-line items, I like Laura Dubois Miniatures (esp. Bespaq) http:///www.minis.com/ SP Miniatures http://www.spminiatures.com/Cotton Ridge designs http://cottonridge.safeshopper.com/

Madere, Silver Spring, MD

GOOD-SERVICE MINI DEALERS: I think this topic will fill the next 150 Digests or until Anne pulls the plug, whichever comes first. I've had only one bad experience w/the dozens & dozens of mini-merchants I've bought from, and that was with major dh mfg. who answered my two courteous letters of complaint with a viciousness that I can only call demented. It made me lose heart for anything related to dh's for a long time & I still have scary dreams about her. But that's it! Except for a few who don't answer the emailed questions they specifically solicit-or are so slow to respond that one gives up & looks elsewhere, I've had nothing but great service. I think a great attitude is almost a given w/the small mini-makers/sellers--especially the SSDigester-type, so I'll just mention a few of the big ones that I've found satisfactory-to-excellent. In the US, SP Miniatures, Lawbre, HBS, Suzi's (I don't like the re-stocking fee but I knew about it because I asked what the return policy was. They did not charge it on the defective piece I sent back, even though I didn't want a replacement; & they were prompt & accurate in every way.)In the Netherlands, de Stolp's Dienke Cazemier is marvelous. In the UK, Janet Granger, Scallywags, Jojay's, Malyn's, Carol Black, & Greenwood Creations have all been impeccable. (Claire at Greenwood gives the most immediate, full, & pleasant attention to the smallest question. I just love her. A day or so ago I placed an order & then immediately emailed her about the two make-your-own-library sets on the website. One looked to have a few more books than the other at almost twice the price. I told her I wanted a high-quality one w/heavy embossed paper & didn't really care about the price or the number of books. She emailed me immediately that she was holding my order until she could examine the book-sets. A short while later she emailed again that the cheaper set looked to her to be the better quality & she had added it to my order. I think that's pretty wonderful. How would I have ever known which of the two was better?

HMH

Color for baked Fimo foods:: I never use paint for shading my Fimo food. I learned my food-making from Sue Heaser's book, Making Doll's House Miniatures with Polymer Clay, Published by Ward Lock (ISBN 0 7063 7590 4). She uses soft artist pastels (not oil pastels) to brush onto the surface of the clay, before it is baked. You just rub the pastel on some scrap paper to release the powder, and then use a soft brush to apply it to the unbaked clay. I get my supply from an art teacher, who saves all the little bits and pieces for me. To get a warmer shade for your waffles, mix white, yellow and ochre clay in equal amounts, then brush it with brown pastel. It looks good enough to eat!

Betsie

Orrin' s Book: Attention collectors and builders of Miniature Houses Homes, furniture and furnishings. It is true! Strange things have been going on at night in YOUR houses. To find out all about it, read Journey To the West, The saga of how the Folk (never call them the little people) came to cross the great storm tossed Atlantic and established themselves in the NEW WORLD. But please don't expect stories about " cute little fellers" They hate to be described in such terms. These are real adult souls who just happen to also be scaled one inch to the foot. Their adventures and hardships rank along with those of Swift Family Robertson and Robinson Crusoe. The best way to picture them is to look through the wrong end of a telescope at regular people walking down the street! JOURNEY TO THE WEST by Orrin Llewellyn, is a fun-filled action adventure is an ideal gift for children (and adults) of all ages especially collectors of to scale Houses and furnishings. Discover their history and learn the surprising truth about them, but more importantly learn the truth about who they tell us we are! Be prepared to find out the shocking truth about us! If you are looking for scenes to depict here you will find a treasure trove. Think of the extra drama that these Scaled folk experience in their every day lives.These events are ingredients for exciting and interesting Depiction. To order the book contact Xlibris Corporation http://www.xlibris.com. or phone.888.795.4274 or 215.923.4686 fax 215.923.4685 email info@xlibris.com or contact Orrin@ollewellyn@cfl.rr.com

Orrin

Iowa Stores: One is in Bettendorf itself and the other is in Waterloo. They both have ads in the May issue of DM. One on page 9 and the other on page 67. Chelsea Lane House of Miniatures, located in Toad's Treasures Antique Mall by the Holiday Inn Convention Center, downtown. 622 Commercial. Phone: 319-234-3235 (I have never been to this store). The Cranny 2120 E. 11th. St. Davenport Ph: 319-324-3785 (I was in this one quite a few years ago and it was nice then) Davenport and Bettendorf are more or less the same place. I guess Bettendorf would be considered a suburb.

Jeni

Building a Dollhouse: There is a book Everything You Wanted to Know About Building a Dollhouse that is online. You can print it out - it's at: http://miniatures.com/guide/intro.html

Marsha, Newark, CA

World Of Miniatures: http://worldofminiatures.org Lee Frank has started a web site on miniatures.

Karen

Vince Stapleton Porcelain: I got some of his wonderful porcelain in Chicago. He is not on the net. Vince Stapleton, 120 West 7th St., Leadville, Co 80461

Mary, Clearwater, Fl

Rochester, NY: Don't go to Rochester without checking the Strong Museum Very nice dollhouse collection plus extensive 19th century home furnishings and equipment. Website is http://www.strongmuseum.org Phone 716-263-2700.

Now since last night I have checked the web site and find almost NO mention of miniatures. It's maybe 8 years since I was there, so please phone ahead and make sure they still have the dollhouses. Margaret Strong was the only child of a wealthy Rochester family. She was taken annually to Europe, with the Nanny to care for her. Each day they went shopping and the Nanny told her she could shop until this little bitty bag was full.... hence the love for miniatures. As an adult she branched out into other collections. At her death, she left the collections to the city, along with funds to build the museum. That was maybe 10 years ago. The "surplus" miniatures were auctioned off and the best kept for the museum. I certainly hope they are still there in spite of no mention on the web site

Ginger in PA

½ Scale Miniature Cars: Just got a catalog in the mail called "Catalog Favorites". For those of you that are doing 1/2 scale there is a 1923 Ford Model B in either black or red. There are also some miniature pedal cars for 1" scale, but they seem to be on back order. Anyway, this is the address if you want to check it out: http://www.catalogfavorites.com or their toll free # is 1-800-221-1133.

Sharon in Watsonville CA

Half Inch Scale: I have upholstered furniture, bassinets, slippers, plants and woven baskets in half scale which I will be premiering at the St. Louis Show. Some of the things can be seen on my web site under Small Scale. I will be working on more items after the show and eventually everything will be on my web page http://MrsArt.homestead.com.

Jennie in San Antonio TX.

¼ Scale: I have just completed a new catalog for 1/4" scale only. I now have available items from Suzanne Andrews, Grandt Line, Model Builders Supply, Dee's Delights, Northeastern, Scale Card, Mustard Seed and Robin Betterley. If interested in this FREE catalog, please contact me directly Dollhousecorner@cs.com.

Marlene

¼ Scale: I meant to tell you about Pam Scott's Little Enough News also, Pam's URL, where you can see what her newsletter is all about, and find some free projects: http://members.aol.com/daisy21/pam/index.html

Kaye in LA

Porch Ideas: Tom of Earth and Tree has a book called Porches Across America, which sounds like just what you need: http://www.dollhouse-miniatures.com/index.html. If you go to books, and then to miscellaneous, you will see a picture of it.

Kaye in L.A.

Porch Ideas: Houseworks has a relatively inexpensive kit for making a front porch in both 1 and 1/2" sizes. There is also a booklet called Porches Across America by Nancy Van Horn that would give you some ideas.

Rose

Dolls: I have found another web site with 1:12 dolls which is worth the visit: http://www.carabosse-dolls.com The dolls are simply astonishing, although I'll have to be contented with window-shopping. Too expensive for me. But I find it just delightful to admire other's work.

Ali from Spain

Titanic Dolls: If you are interested in the movie Titanic and would like to make the Boarding Dress for a doll to depict Rose; on my web site http://www.lonewolfminicreations.com are project pages including a large section proportioned off into various projects including Titanic items. I'm working on Rose's dinner dress page currently. Also I have the Unsinkable Molly Brown on my web site. She is a beauty.

Georgina H. Simmons-Gagnon