ARTS & CRAFTS NEEDLEWORK: If you are looking for Arts & Crafts (oh, how I love that style!) needlework kits or patterns have a look at the HiJinx site http://www.hijinx.co.nz . We have many styles of carpet and cushion kits. I think you might like "Phoebe" and the matching cushions.

Elli

Arts & Crafts Needlework: you may want to contact Dolls House World re their back issues, many of which are still available. Not too long ago (1999? 2000?), they had a series on Charles Rennie MacIntosh that included a number of needlework patterns featuring his famous rose motif. Also, Venus Dodge's Dolls House Needlework book has some Arts & Crafts embroidery patterns among a ton of other useful projects.

Loretta Sniarowski

Silk Gauze: You can also get silk gauze from DHARMA Trading. - the web address is http://www.dharmatrading.com And from THAI SILKS in california. Dharma has one weight which is 3 mummy and Thai has several depending on which works best for you. Don't have the number for Thai right here - but they are listed with 800 directory. I'll get it and post it later. Working with Silk Gauze (especially 2mm) is like working with fog)

James Peacock

Silk Gauze: "For example a 6" x 6" piece is nearly $14Cdn plus tax and" and even though I try not to use the digest for "advertising" I have to write and suggest that anyone looking at gauze at these prices might want to check out my web site http://www.angelfire.com/wv/minipix where I have 32, 40, and 54 count gauze - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised :)

Mary Lynne in Huntington, WV

Silk Gauze: I checked out WHUI's silk gauze sites. Then just to refine the search, I tried 'silk gauze 40 count' and came up with a bunch. A couple of the first sites listed 40 count silk gauze at about $100.00 a yard! So, these fabrics vary quite a bit--evenweave would be the word to look for. I found one site that had 11 different thread counts--up to 112-count! That sounds like a challenge, and only $400.00 a yard. They do also sell them all by the inch, thank goodness. Check it out: http://www.needlestack.com/inventory/fabric-misc.html#SilkGauze

Lynette in WNC

Knitting threads: Check out www.jklneedles.com for your knitting threads I have ordered from her and was really pleased. She used to be into miniatures, before she went back to "real" size. There is a section on miniatures now on her site, with some neat books and several threads to chose from, along with the smallest needles I have ever seen.

Dori in Kentucky

YARN: Joy Parker in Canada from Swallowhill Dolls has really lovely yarn. Her address is in the ss directory under dolls. One other place is The Knitters Underground, mail order - They have lace making yarn - lovely stuff. Go to: http://marketplace.shopsite.com/yarnshop I have purchased yarn from both places. If you want to know the type I bought from Knitters Underground, please e me. You will be happy with yarn from either place.

Carol

Stucco: Although I used StuccoMate for the outside of my lighthouse, I really like using Skid-Tex as it is so durable. It's the stuff that you put in paint to use on steps, boats, etc, to keep the surface from being slick. You can mix in as much Skid-Tex to the paint as you want to get it the texture you want. It doesn't flake or rub off. It's great for textured ceilings!

Carole Pierce in TN

Clear bathroom fixtures: the ones I use are from Model Builders Supply in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. You paint the inside of them...no sealer or topcoat required Their website is: http://www.modelbuilderssupply.com

Roz Weitzman in Toronto, CANADA

18th Century Settings: the large Dover book of Hogarth's prints is a WONDERFUL source book for anyone doing 18th century period settings (for either side of the Atlantic). His detailing is fantastic and what I found most refreshing is the average type persons living spaces, as opposed to the posh rooms shown in most architectural source works. Lots of cracked plaster, spilled cups, paneling (in its more simple form), exteriors & rustic humour. Delish!

Kallisti

Historical Figures: Mr. Stuart (as he insists being called) is not only a really wonderful artist, but a very interesting man as well. He doesn't work in Miniature, his historical figures are 20 inches or so I believe. I thought I'd give the group his web site because it is certainly wonderful to see his work. http://members.aol.com/gsfigures/index.html

James Peacock

Bird's Nests: I found Sue Ann Thwaite's address. Her company name if Lady Bug, http://ladybug-fairies.com. She has this wonderful green mossy stuff that I use all the time to make bird's nests for my birdhouse gardens or whatever. This is the one in that you put a dot of on your index finger and wrap the moss in a circular motion. Press your thumb in the center and remove. Then press the middle to make it concave. The nest's turn out so neat. Then I make little eggs out of fimo or sculpey. She sells small bags too so you don't have to make a million.

Debbie of Sunny Southern California

1/12th rule in UK: You can get 1/12th rulers in the UK at Squires Model and Craft Tools, 100 London Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1DD, tel 01243 842424 fax 01243 842525. They say a web page is "coming". If you have ever seen their catalogue, you would realize why this could be slow, they supply just about everything you can think of. As well as the standard 12" long metal 1/12th ruler, cost about £3, they now also do a three sided architect type ruler with various scales on it including 1/12th. They are at some of the Dollshouse fairs and also at most toy train fairs.

Colette

Printing on Fabric: Another way of printing to fabric is to use waxed freezer paper that is available in your grocery store, look for it where the other wraps are sold.
1. Cut a piece of freezer paper the same letter size as your regular printer paper.
2. Cut lightweight cotton fabric the same size as printer paper, I use my husband's old cotton dress shirts.
3. Place the freezer paper shiny side up on ironing board.
4. Lay the material on top and press together making sure that all sides are well pressed.
5. Insert into your printer, fabric side down (at least with a HP printer) and print away.

Works great! I've printed out rugs and fringed the edges using this method and I'm very pleased with them. Be sure to spray your printed article with an acrylic sealer to insure the print is fixed.

Marilyn, MI

London Museums: London holds at least three museums of particular interest to miniaturists. The Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood shows a very large number of old dollshouses many of which are featured in the books we read. The Geffrye Museum which is just five minutes or so away, so you could do both in one day, which is full of real size domestic interiors, fantastic for inspiration. And of course the Victoria and Albert Museum which has just about every item of beauty one could imagine from silver and gold, to fine porcelain, to needlework samplers, and period clothing.

Karon

Spanish artisans: I'm Maria from Spain. I'd like you to take a look in a marvelous Spanish web. They're a new artisans but their work is simply wonderful. their web is: http://perso.wanadoo.es/carolinaartesanas I'm sure you enjoy it and it will be very useful for you.

Maria

Laminate Samples --The Better Homes and Gardens magazine--June 2001--has different ideas on how to use the samples (of course, they are in real size, but who says we can't miniaturize them!!)

Leslie in WA

Mini balloons, check out Lyn's step-by-step "How-to" at:
http://www.zing.com/member/?id=2843065

Graceanne

white soda straws. Places like Party Time, or Party World, that sell paper products for all kinds of parties, have straws to match the plates. Perhaps the Wedding section would have white.

MAP in Puyallup

White straws (tubing): My wife purchased some shoes and in each shoe was a white flexible rod that was the length of each shoe. Perhaps a trip to the local ladies shoe store may solve your problem.

DrBob