Resources Page: 85 |
Chicken coop: A local artisan makes a kitchen hutch with a chicken coop on the bottom. He told me that it's a copy of actualpieces and they're called Irish kitchen dressers and I have a couple on my website. http://www.spminiatures.com/csfurn.htm Carol |
Containers: I know I saw the round plastic containers such as you described in the Fire Mountain Gems catalog. They were available with either black or white liners. It’s is a really COOL catalog! Laura |
Small plastic boxes: For those of you that might be looking for small plastic boxes of different shapes try going to the following site: http://www.emsdiasum.com/ems/default.html This is the site for Electron Microscopy Sciences and they have many different kind of plastic boxes and more stuff than can be listed here. I would suggest that you go to the on-line catalog and get to the index using their alphabetical lists and look for boxes. Their things are great. They also have myriad small tools. Interesting site. Ann Hendricks |
Egyptian Resource Site: I've seen pictures of ancient Egyptian room boxes, but there's a wonderful site aimed at theatrical designers that might inspire somebody to recreate other aspects of the ancient world. Take a look at Period and Style for Designers: www.tulane.edu/lester/text/lester.html. The site is divided into a number of eras and places, showing exteriors, interiors, furniture and other artifacts, etc. Not all sections are complete (19th century's skimpy) but you'll find Art Nouveau on one end and on the other some absolutely stunning stuff from Knossos and Pompeii, with wonderful colors and a sense of delight in living. (Somebody could have fun costuming one of those wonderful little snake priestesses, with their Barbie-doll shapes and flounced skirts!) Mary |
Online Help for Builders of Greenleaf and RGT Dollhouses: Just found an interesting (and interactive) website where anyone building a Greenleaf or RGT kit can go for assistance or to meet other folks building their same projects. Check it out! Kathy |
Web site: One of my friends has just contacted me and they now have a web site. They have a miniature shop in a seaside town, Colwyn Bay in North Wales, UK. It's http://www/dolibach.co.uk call in and have a look. They have their own house plans and Hazel |
Roomboxes: You can find a 2-story roombox at www.miniatures.com. Debi |
Sources for Fancy Things: When you come to think of it, the eggers are just very specialized miniaturists, same as the railroaders. And they use quantities of stuff, lots of it gloriously ornate but also plenty that would fit into more mundane settings. Egg-stands that could be table bases; all kinds of jewelry findings; figures that can be figurines, statues, whatever... Give "egg art" to a couple of search engines and let them take you on voyages of discovery. But here's a trio of sites for starters: http://www.handsfull.com/catseggs/store/index.html Mary |
Waxed linen cord. I'm pretty sure that Barb Richmond has it but unfortunately I don't have her phone number. I don't think she's on the net. Someone from Ontario would probably know this better. (Really nice lady who besides doing nice wicker, makes fabulous bears. Also, any miniature shop that orders stock from Dees Delights can bring this in for you. They only carry the 25 yard spools but Dee's usually has this in stock. I personally never use it. I prefer the unwaxed linen cord. I ship that in from Ireland but only have 1/2 Kg spools of it. They are pricey but the same weight in waxed cord works out to over 100.00 more. Also, please remember, you are not tied to using a linen cord. Any cord at all will work. Just gives you different effects. Jute is pretty cool. I like the look of baskets made with this. You can also use crochet cotton. Or string of various kinds. I do my 1/4 scale wicker with a linen thread (not cord). Done it with button hole thread too. Debi |
Japanese Settings Reference Book: Several people have mentioned working on Japanese houses or boxes. Do you know about the Dover paperback called Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings, by Edward S. Morse? The ISBN number is 0-486-20746-3. Morse, an American who taught at the University of Tokyo for a time, found Japanese domestic style far more attractive than the elaborate, overstuffed, crowded homes of his own country. The book , which he published in 1886, is full of his line drawings, and there are sections on exteriors, roofs, interiors, wells and privies, gardens, etc. Even pictures of kitchen utensils, lamps, gateways and so on. Bought my copy over thirty years ago just for the pleasure of browsing in it, but it's still in print: Oregon's own wonderful Powell's Books (Powells.com) has several copies, both new and used. Under ten dollars. It would be a terrific resource! Mary |
These addresses are out of the Spanish Miniature magazine, I can't speak Spanish but the mag is full of how to's plus antiques and big dolls. Las Casas de ANA http://www.intenova.es Hazel Dowd |
I have the Morse book written many years ago about Japanese houses - exterior and interior - and it is an excellent resource for anyone doing a Japanese mini. I have a Tea House that I need to complete one of these years, which I why I bought it last year. It is in paperback for around $10.00 or $15.00. Jeanette |
IN PRAISE OF THE LOWLY YARDSTICK!!! Consider the poor thing. It gets left out in the weather, hung in the hot stuffy garage for years, propped behind the refrigerator, left lying on the cement blocks outside for weeks at a time, used to retrieve lost items from beneath the bed - fridge- couch- car..... it is a most versatile and under appreciated item in our house. Does it warp? no Does it twist and bend with moisture? no. Does it rot? no. How many years has it stood, silent and neglected without visible change? It's made of wood my dearies.... excellent wood, Great wood! Thin pine usually, HOBBY WOOD!!!! I've been cutting and using yardsticks for years for mini building. . . all the qualities mentioned above are inherent in this often overlooked source of excellent wood for hobby builders. A saw and a handful of cheap yardsticks can make you a master of all you aspire to in the mini world. Windows, Doors, framing, furniture, plank floors, house trim, etc. I found a hundred of them at a yard sale for .05 each. Find THAT in a hobby store. A light sanding to take the numbers off and you have one of the finest quality hobby wood planks you can imagine. They paint, sand, stain, glue and cut like a dream. . . Judie - Daytona Beach, FL |
Building With Foamcore: I have built a 3-story house with 1/2 inch foamcore, and it is very solid. It is finished with wooden clapboard siding, shingles, hardwood floors, etc. Even with all that weight, it is extremely sturdy. I used a couple of techniques which worked well for me. For gluing along the corner seams I used a product called "Glue Screws" that I found at K-Mart. I also used wide packing tape to be sure the seams were tight and there was a good even bond. In addition, after gluing, I used nails, about 2" long, dipped in white glue which were inserted every 4" or so. That probably wasn't necessary, but since this was my first effort I wanted to be extra-certain of stability. The foamcore I buy is 20" x 30". Where I needed to join 2 pieces of foamcore side by side to make a larger "slab" (for my floor base and front of the house which is wider than 20") I used the Glue Screws along the edge, and then also used"biscuits" (similar to what Norm uses on "This Old House" all the time). I used thin pieces of wood (1/8" or so thick and about 1/2" wide x 1" long) and cut a slot into the edge of the foamcore with a razor knife. Then I squeezed glue into each slot and inserted the biscuit into one slot and slid the other piece up to it making sure the biscuit went into the slot. Do a dry-fit of this before messing with all the glue! Leave it flat until the glue dries, and you have a nice even sheet of foamcore, but in the larger size you need. You can also cover the seam with a nice wide piece of thin tape, like packing tape for added insurance. Inside the house, the walls are 1/2" foam, too, but I did use a couple pieces of gator foam in a wall near the center on each floor, just because it is extra strong and I wanted to be sure nothing sagged. You can also use a structural beam of sorts (1/2 square or so) here and there if you can fit them someplace that won't be too obvious. I'm thrilled with the results and am working on another structure right now. Karen Golomb |
Free Flooring: The lumber yard gets some of their shipments in crates made with thin Luan ply. I was looking for something like that when my dog shredded a bathroom door, and the guys said they usually toss it and gave me a large, slightly damaged sheet. I was able to repair the door, and saved the shredded veneer. I cut strips on the band saw, staggered the planks, used wood filler with some lamp black in it, sanded it, and coated it with Minwax. It looks just like aged flooring and was not really too much work. Jacqui Marlin |
Seed Packets: Jim Collins has a wonderful site and lots of printables. He even has seed packets for your vegetable garden! I also discovered wonderful Victorian can labels from Fran's Front Porch. You can find the printables at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/1832/ Earlene Lane |
Gutterings and downpipes: The supplier in Australia's email address is warrener@pcug.org.au . They are, and I'm reading from their pamphlet, importers from Great Britain. So for the northern hemisphere people (who stand on our heads) the supplier is JSM Miniatures UK. Moira in Sydney |
Log Cabins: http://rusticreplicas.com/ Someone was interested in Log-Cabin kits. I think that these are reasonably priced and very rustic looking. There are some good Pioneer stories too. Laura Busch in Burnham, PA |
Natural Supplies: I came across this website through work. I have no connection, but I know the guy who runs this place has a good reputation. It is called Avatar's World and they sell, through the mail, all sorts of dried flowers, but also florist supplies in bulk and pine cones, different seed pods, mushrooms and ornamental grasses. No pictures because the site is under construction, but they do have an 800#. The address is www.avatarsworld.com. Hope this helps for those who are looking for these supplies. Kathy Ostrander |
Tudor Houses: To those looking for Tudor Houses try: http://www.dollshouse.com/acatalog/index.html They have some wonderful kits. They're based in England, but ship internationally. Looks like a great resource for some unique style homes! Wendy |
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