Resources Page: 14 |
1/24th Components: Try http://www.halfscaleminis.com they have just about anything halfscale (24th) you might want, and if not on the website email Kathy Thomas (the owner) and she is sure to be able to help you. Also, you can get bricks from http://www.grandadstoys.co.uk and then http://www.richardstacey.com Marja Lewthwaite |
English Dolls Houses: I bought a Classical dolls house from The Dolls House Emporium in the UK, and have been very pleased with it. They also carry The Manor House and Montgomery Hall, the houses you mentioned in your post. The house went together very easily and I'm pleased with the quality. It was super easy to electrify the house,(my first try at lighting) and I love looking at the lights shining through the windows.. The shipping on the dolls house was free; they offer free shipping on all orders over $60. I've been pleasantly surprised at how many miniature businesses in other countries offer free or reasonable shipping costs. This makes it just too tempting to shop online! They also offer a free catalogue, and have a different sale each month. Their website address is http://www.dollshouse.com Katie in California |
Minis in Switzerland : the PUPPENHAUSMUSEUM IN BASEL. THE ADDRESS IS STEINENVORSTADT 1, CH-4051 BALE and the phone is 41=0-61-225-95. It has wheelchair access and I am not sure when its official summer hours start but it has everything you need---museum, shop and cafe mostly 1:12 scale. There is also a FRANZY'S PARADIS DE POUPEES AND TEDDIES that has miniatures as well as dolls, teddies and a club and restoration clinique (leave that to the Swiss, wouldn't you). The address I have is Rue de Lausanne 39 CH-1700 Fribourg and the phone is 41-026-322-47-65. I also have an e mail on this one: franzys@teddies.ch Again, in Europe, especially with small businesses and artisan types and glorious lunch hours, call ahead or she'll waste time/energy. Ok, now you will have to forgive me if I mention some non-mini shopping in Switzerland (some of us have husbands and friends whom we have to lure on expeditions)---and there is one stop that is really worth the side trip---besides it only 3.1 miles from the Italian border and right near Como, Italy (I said I don't know my French geography, no one asked me about Italy and Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in the whole world!). The name of the outlet mall is FOX TOWN and it is great---much better than the American equivalents because you can find Ferragamos, cashmeres, jewelry, watches, etc. etc. Sara in Paris |
Flickering fire light: There have been questions recently on SS about flickering lights for a fireplace or stove. I just bought a Fire Flames Effect Unit http://www.grandadsplayroom.com/page9.htm from Grandads Playroom and it works great. It is a tiny circuit board with four tiny bulbs attached to wires. It fits easily into my fireplace behind the logs. I attached the wires to a miniature Cir-Kit plug and then into the Cir-Kit outlet that is attached to my tape wire. My unit now plugs in just like a lamp. It has a wonderful random flicker and it does not effect the rest of the lights in the house. Only the fireplace flickers. The other lights do not. It was inexpensive and delivery was very prompt. Also, the Bettses were very helpful in answering my questions via email about connecting the unit. Look for the unit under Accessories on their website. Mary in Virginia |
Water Cooler: there's one on this website http://daisysdollhouseminis.com *** Look under Food / Beverages or do an in-site search *** I have no connection with them but just happened to see the water cooler a couple of days ago. Karon |
Mini shopping in Italy and Greece: For SS members who are traveling to Italy and Greece and might find this helpful. My Italian is non-existent, but I have found a mini store in MILAN, Italy: Cosediunaltro Mondo and they also have a website: http://space.tin.it/giochi/badga There are also two other Italian websites and clearly there is a mini museum in Brembo, Italy. There are just a lot more mini stores in Switzerland http://www.minitaly.com/minitaly/index.htm http://www.labacchettamagica.it/ The above being my exhaustive knowledge on actually mini stores, I want to remind you that to me the very best part of any shopping are the LOCAL STREET MARKETS!!! Italy and Greece are filled with street markets and tiny souvenir shops that, although they are not dollhouse stores per se, have wonderful, wonderful things that you can use that you may never see again!!! I have a standard shopping rule---mini or real size---if you like it (and can afford it) buy it----you may not see anything like it again----I sure hope dh doesn't see this! So here are my examples for Italy and Greece for you lucky, able-bodied travelers: MILAN---the absolute best shopping for anything and everything! Best street market is Viale Papiniano on Tuesday and Saturday (yes, I once worked in the Pereilli building that recently had a small plane take out a few floors and yes, I count my blessings every day) VENICE---Stvdivm Venetia (yes, my spelling is CORRECT on this)---Fortuny pleated silks, tassels and other treasures. Venetian glass!!! DERUTA in UMBRIA---filled with craftspeople and every store sell hand-painted faience. COMO---I drool more fabric and silk than China and better quality!!! FLORENCE---better quality of what other people call "junk" and miniaturists call must haves than anywhere---marbelized paper, mosaic picture frames, gilt trays, renaissance style papers. Taormina and Sorrento are little known ports and just so picturesque that even refrigerator magnets (which I usually despise) have potential! Besides you are practically next to NAPLES WHICH HAS A GREAT FLEA MARKET. OK, you are now in Sorrento with those cute donkey carts and donkeys that wear hats and flowers---can you see the roombox now??? Take the shuttle bus or a donkey cart up from the port to Piazza Tasso or you'll be too tired to shop!Nearby is Corso Italia the main shopping street and Via Fuoro that has great great ceramics.Gargiulo & Jannuzzi is the large department store but it has great linens and inlaid wood marquety and souvenirs. STANDA is the equivalent of a dime store.And buy lemons and lemon scented paper---use it in a kitchen scene!! Taormina is in Sicily and a resort tourist town with lots of crafts and so-called antiques. There is junk but also coral necklaces, cameos, lava rocks, faience tiles and Etruscan vases----if you believe that, I'll sell you the Blue Grotto too! There's also a great honey store ad marzipan and braided bread---shopping makes me hungry. MYKONOS---go to the Folk Museum in the Kastro quarter and to the nautical museum---the latter will make your husbands happy because of the great ship models----they each used to have stores. And you absolutely have to buy me a windmill! SANTORINI has a great archaelology museum and store---some people think it is the mythical Atlantis. I think there is a convent with a museum shop and lots of volcanic rock stuff. MALTA---I cannot help on this at all--sorry. But when you are in Greece there's all those great reproduction statues and icons and more tassels. Of course, if I were in Italy, I'd buy Ferragamo shoes and all the silk and cashmere I could afford--which is probably why I don't own one miniature reproduction of a naked David or a gladiator, etc. Sara in Paris |
Water cooler and meters: Circus Dollhouse in New Jersey has water coolers and gas/electric meters. Contact us at http://circusdollhouse.com Circus5284 |
Carlisle Miniatures: Bob Carlisle is elderly but still producing his wonderful 30s and 40s miniatures. The address is: Carlisle Miniatures, Jan in SoCal |
More Mini Shops in Italy: Please note: neither I nor the person I contacted have ever been to any of these miniature stores! So be the first! Enjoy your exploration and let us know what you found/thought! Florence: La Bolgetta Milan: Cosediunaltromondo Rome: Le Case di Flora Venice: EmmeBi Case di Bambola (from the train Station follow the new street towards S. Apostoli; the shop is on the right after the Standa department store) The following is a website in Italian that seems to list mini stores but again---I cannot translate this and I can't comment on anything personally on the site: On the site of an Italian Dollshouse Association - "Minitaly" there is a page with a list of shops in Italy. The address of this page is: http://www.minitaly.com/minitaly/negozi.htm Sara in Paris |
Plates and Platters: Someone recently asked about plain white platters and plates. We make them of porcelain, glazed white for china painters with kilns, or unglazed bisque if you decorate with acrylics or enamels that don't go back into the kiln. http://www.avonminiatures.com Donna from Devon |
Leaves: You can get wonderful brass leaves from http://www.scalelink.co.uk for laser cut paper, try http://www.marykinloch.com Lesley, South Africa |
Yahna's toys: I couldn't find a web site for Yahna, but she's definitely still creating wonderful mini toys - here's her address: Imagineering by Yahna Paulette in IN |
Wallpaper from USA: http://www.itsybitsymini.com/ I have bought from this lady and she will post to the UK. She stocks papers I haven't seen over here. She makes bedding sets, bedspreads etc to match the paper or you can buy the matching fabric. I have wasted a lot of time recently visiting websites or eBay pages mentioned on this list only to find that they will only ship to the USA. Perhaps people could mention this when they post details of their items for sale? Frances in Southport, UK |
Florist wire: Mary Kinloch has #30, #24, and #20 in green and #30 and #24 in white. http://marykinloch.com/ UK suppliers for crochet thread.: There is at least one supplier for crochet and knitting threads online, try http://www.minknits.freeserve.co.uk They appear to have a good selection. Maureen in Hemel, UK |
Jane Graber pottery: I have been representing Jane for quite a while and have a number of pieces of hers for sale on my website at http://www.spminiatures.com/grab.htm Carol |
Zero Clearance Turntable: I have the zero Clearance Turntable and it works as advertised. I sent away for additional ball bearings because my house was very heavy. I also added legs ( standard ones from Home Depot) to give it more stability. I bought it from: Innovative Necessities, Harriett- Framingham, MA |
UK kilns: I use the Hobbycraft 40 which I think thousands of dollmakers have used for years....no complaints at all, and it runs from a 13 amp plug with no special wiring. (mine is in my playroom and is wonderful in the bleak mid-winter ) got it from Cromartie Kilns: http://www.cromartie.co.uk Another address is http://www.briarwheels.co.uk. Don't know much about them, but have heard good things from the people who have used them. Claire in Morecambe, England |
Acme Water Cooler: Many of the Acme International 3D and also their Sound Magnets are available on online at http://www.fridgedoor.com. They have a modern water cooler 3D magnet for only $2.99 that I already use in one of my one-inch scale dollhouse settings. I have used their File Cabinet 3D Sound Magnet and the Copy Machine 3D Sound Magnet in an office scene. (Some of their magnets are good for one-inch; some for half-inch; and others would be good for two-inch (Barbie-size) scale settings.) These magnets by Acme International/Arjon Manufacturing are the ones sometimes available in Walmart/K-Mart/Lechter's/some grocery stores. Nancy Faye Roach - Port St. Lucie, FL |
Water cooler: Here is a link to a site that can get you any Acme 3D magnet they make. They have water coolers and exercise equipment for $3 each. Also a cool BBQ. A lot of the magnets can be used very nicely in a dollhouse and others vary. I used to have some and they were about 2 1/2 inches high so I painted a piece of wood black and glued underneath as a base to raise it up a bit. Looked like it was suppose to be there. The water cooler I thought was great and had a chrome look. They also carry the Washer, Dryer, Dishwasher,Stove, Refrigerator Etc. You can take a look at these little gems at: http://www.kaysmagnets.com/Merchandise/for_fun/index.html Brooke, Wa (muddyshoes) |
Unusual Items: Another source for unusual items is a place called Playthings Past. They have mostly key chains, but they have games like Monopoly, Life, etc., I purchased the robot from Lost In Space and many other items that I have used in boxes. For the person doing the county fair, they have the machine that is filled with toys and stuffed animals with a claw that you operate with a crank. It really works! Their web site is http://Playthingspast.com Diane in Ohio |
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