Drafting for Mini Dolls: I've been very quiet but busy writing a section of my book on pattern drafting for miniature dolls and now what I call my Crash Course is ready and it's FREE. Simply send me a private e-mail to tigress134@home.com with Crash Course in the subject and I'll e-mail you a copy. I have to warn you that it is a little over a meg in size as it has lots of diagrams. It is a Word 97 file format but I can save it in other formats by request- just let me know what you have and what you'd like. It's a section on drafting patterns for a child doll and yes, it does work very well in miniature! My 13 year old sister is my primary tester and has successfully worked through it so it's very simple to understand. Anyone can do it! I plan to have the full book out by June this year which will include men, women, children & babies along with style changes for each. I will even have a section of things like oddball ideas for what to use for underpinnings like corset boning and hoop skirts! As of yet I haven't set a price since I'm still in the process of writing it. I do have a small waiting list already started so e-mail me if you'd like to be on the waiting list for one of the FIRST autographed copies as it will be an actual book (home published unless the thing takes off on me and I can't keep up :-) I will keep all my groups and lists posted about how it's coming along and definitely post when it is ready for first shipments!

Sue

Wigging: MindStorm has several videos, including wigging. Perhaps you could rent them to your customers for a nominal fee. Or offer them for sale because he does have a quantity-price I believe. His email is:burt@mindstorm-inc.com

Viola Williams

Wigging: I wrote a comprehensive piece called "One Inch Scale Doll Making: A Workbook " which includes all aspects of doll making and costume patterns. The first book I wrote was for half inch scale and it is also available. http://www.lsisson.com/TheFootInfo/toOrder/

Laurie Sisson

Costuming: Look (at the library, or an on-line book store) in the theatre section. There are all kinds of books on costuming for theatre designers. Also, here is another site for costuming:

http://www.costumegallery.com/

Kaye in L.A.

Costuming Links: Stagecraft pathfinder has links to costuming resources. The direct address is:

http://www.BetsyDa.com/etc/stagecraft.html

Betsy Vera

Clothing of ALL periods/styles: http://members.aol.com/nebula5/costume.html#toc

I want to warn you. If you go there and start following the links, you may never return. An absolutely unbelievable amount of information on historical costumes, buildings, etc. You find things like "Lighting the Virgin's Way" and plans and instructions for building a Gothic candelabra. I recommend you start looking on a Friday night, so you won't miss the next couple of days of work (and you probably think I'm joking).

Tom Berkner

The X Files dolls: I want to make it clear that I did not make the dolls. The figures in the scene were designed by Todd McFarlane. He is an artist who became famous for his comic book covers (Spiderman) and then his own creation "Spawn." He has built a very successful company called McFarlane Toys and manufactures action figures based on film and TV characters. They are mass produced and available at many toy and comic book stores. He just launched a new line of sports figures this year. The clothes on his figures are actually sculpted on and part of the mold. The realistic look of them is one of the reasons I like his work so much. These three in my box are jointed at the shoulders and neck, but the legs are fixed in position. I had a chance to meet him last year at the New York Toy Fair and included a page of his figures in my coverage of the event. Here is the link if you are interested:

http://www.mastercollector.com/neat/toyfair00/mcfarlane/

John in Yonkers

Animals for 1" Scale: There are some great mini animals out there for 1" scale. Here are a few links to get you started:

http://www.customcreationsbyrika.com/ and http://www.catworkz.com

Linda in GA

Chimps: Todd Kreuger is still in business and can be reached at T K Designs, 33 N Highpoint Court #160, Madison, WI 53717. He also makes wonderful dragons.

Pat Bauder

The new newsletter for dollmakers: She doesn't have a web page yet, but there is a link with brief information under "more minis" at http://www.lollyinc.bigstep.com

DollsMini

Bendable dolls: I've used the poseable Town Square Miniatures and the Horsman dolls from Hobby Lobby for miniature scenes/roomboxes quite effectively. Sometimes they are sold very reasonably on eBay. I think most miniature shops can order them directly from the manufacturer.

Pictures with examples of the poseable dolls are here:

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/8157/bridal.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/8157/dhxmas.htm

http://wilmakinder.hypermart.net/vest.htm

Wilma Kinder

Portrait Dolls: My specialty is portrait dolls. I hand sculpt, using polymer clay blends, an exact likeness of the subject. I work from photographs you provide. I also create furry dogs--never attempted a cat, yet. If interested, please take a look at my web site: GALLERY 3 portraits. I have photos of many familiar faces! http://minipearls.homestead.com/Weewilliewinkies.html

Pearl Jordan

Portrait Dolls: I know of several who make them.

Connie Hanson of P & C Dolls http://pcdolls.com/

JoAnn Berry of Blackfoot Daisy Studio http://blackfootdaisy.com/portrait.htm

And possibly Dorothy Haw of Abigail's Fantasy http://home.flash.net/~txva/

Anne Gerdes

Furry Animal Dolls: Try Alice Zinn for your furry animals. Hers are wonderful and she works from pictures.

Jane Ratcliffe

Wigging: I'm not a big fan of wigging but it can be done! I took a class at the Tom Bishop show here in CA this past summer and feel a lot more comfortable with it. There are some instructions on the site below - Wigging Part I and Wigging Part II. http://www.excel.net/~cscroggi/

Marsha, Newark,CA

Dolls- depending on what you are looking for, many mini-shops carry poseable dolls suitable for children, resin dolls, and, of course, my personal favorite, porcelain dolls, which I get in kits from any one of the auction sites . There are also links to many sites that sell the dolls. Try this for starters: http://myminiatures.com/ and click on dolls for some suggestions.

Barb in PA

Inspired - New DOLL Publications: Do you ever have that BLANK feeling? You know the one, piles of gorgeous material sit in front of you, and there is that doll! That undressed painted doll just STARING at you!.... and you have - eee gads

.... DRESSERS BLOCK!

Want to know a couple of different ways to solve it? First of all, upon returning home, I received in the mail my Premiere issue of DOLL COSTUMING magazine. Promptly RUN - don't walk to your nearest doll store (or porcelain store) and buy this! I personally don't get too involved with historic clothing, but the incredible old photos, background info and wonderful line art will get you stirred in NO time!

The other new discovery is the 'La Poupee Modele' book, Volume II. This book contains authentic patterns from the magazine (1868-1885). In case you're in the dark about French (me too) roughly its like the doll's doll dressing patterns from the Victorian age. Do you love those French hand sewing techniques, pins, tucks and pleats? (or .. in my case do you love making it LOOK like that?) This book will definitely show you how! Cost is about $70 - but perhaps on your Christmas Wish List.

Lastly SHARE! Yup that's right! That's how you can get inspired BIG time! Many of the newcomers feel stranded on a doll making island with no directional sun shining on them. This is where YOU can come in.... How many of you have received a little surprise from me in the mail - gratis? Contests or just because? Remember how HAPPY you were at that surprise? Do this for a newcomer!! It doesn't have to be on this list, my FF list or any other list....just reading a basic newsgroup where the traditional........"I'm trying to wig a doll body that's sat in my cupboard for years ..... etc,etc.". WRITE this person, steer him/her to our lists, send them a tiny chunk of hair and a URL for directions.

Or better yet, a chunk of yummy material! What does it cost you? A stamp, maybe a $1 but YOU had the power to nourish and INSPIRE someone! That feeling is awesome .... and guess what?

(Ok my dirty little secret comes out....send lots of surprises because I keep buying 1/4 yd sections of materials that I'm just going to HAVE to have and use someday, but has sat for months..... so when I open those boxes, I find my long lost wonderful ideas of creation and there goes the DRESSERS BLOCK!

Dana

Modern mini chairs: This site has some great contemporary chairs made of resin. I have the regency chair (not modern but wonderful) which is perfect 1:12 scale, so I imagine the others would be also. Someone mentioned chairs from a Bloomie's catalogue, that is where I got mine. This is the site and has more styles than the catalogue. They do not sell directly, but refer to retailers.

http://www.takeaseat-by-raine.com

If you can't get that site to come up, try this one: http://www.willitts.com

Sydney

Metal Stove and Refrigerator: For all of you that are interested in stoves and refrigerators check out the following URL: http://www.kandjminmet.com Karen Fuller's things are wonderful. Both the refrigerator and stove are lighted and are amazingly perfect.

Ann Hendricks

Metal Stove and Refrigerator: We carry both the stove and fridge that several of you have asked about recently. We are out of them this close to Christmas but if you are still interested e-mail me for prices, etc. http://www.memrees.com, memrees@bellsouth.net, memrees@webtv.net

Joan