Scotties - this site has some lovely printables including a wall paper border
http://homespunminiatures.homestead.com/home.html look under Mackenzie's Printables. There's Westie things too. In fact I think that Mackenzie is the Westie!

Andrea

Folding cutouts: A bone paper folder cannot be beaten for folding. It will not burr or damage the paper. I have some hand carved ones with lovely fine edges and an "almost" point at the tip - see my website - or there are other brands available overseas. http://www.daydreamswindow.co.nz

Pam

Disco Ball, Motorized: There is a quartz clock movement available with a "sweep" second hand, i.e. no jerking. Klockit is one mail order company that carries them but they don't show a web site. Phone 1-800-556-2548, they're in Wisconsin.

Ruth, Grass Valley, CA

Making candles: This is a Dutch website with lovely projects, including candle making. Go to: http://members.tripod.com/vanderhelm/workshop go to "Workshop kaarsen" and click on the picture. The instructions are Dutch, but it is easy enough to follow the process only by looking at the pictures.

Betsie, South Africa

Shrinking a letter: I believe Lisa Volrath's miniature site on About.com had a tutorial on reducing and enlarging. Just click on the link below.
http://miniatures.about.com/hobbies/miniatures/c/ht/00/09/How_Scan_Reduce_Dollhouse0969764367.htm

Elizabeth

Dressing dolls: I've never done any doll dressing but here are a couple ofproject pages that might help & give you some ideas.
http://msatminidolls.minilists.com/projects.html
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1139518&a=11209329&f= Gina Bellous's album. She is one of the ultimate doll makers - check out the rest of her album. Also has tips for carving dolls from clay.)

Marty

Cheaper dolls: if you are looking for cheaper dolls, try http://www.Bodo-Hennig.com I have a family of rubber dolls, with very nice detailing. Doesn't look cheap at all. Go to the website, click on Spielsachen fur kids, then click on Puppenstubenpuppen. You can see the rubber dolls on the second Photograph from the top. They don't show the kids, but they are also very cute.

For some-one with kids, click on Interaktive Spielseite. It has a picture of a dh, with furniture next to it. You drag the furniture with your mouse, and put it in the dh. The kids love it!

If you want the name of a distributor in the States, e-mail them at info@bodo-hennig.com . The site is in German, but I sent them an English e-mail, and they gave me the distributor in my country. I love my dollies, but unfortunately my little boy was stolen from a little Christmas scene I made last year. We had guests with kids, and afterwards the little boy was gone. My (fullscale!!) son was devastated, because the lost doll was his replica in my dh. My kids both have doubles in my dh, with their own bedrooms. We have a new adopted porcelain doll though, sent to me by Micki in Scotland. Apparently Bella was a problem child at her previous home, but she calmed down nicely. She only tried to sneak out once so far. She is now sharing a room with my mini daughter, but I still have to find a replacement for my mini son.

Betsie, South Africa

4" mini Barbie dolls: There's no way anyone can get all the info. you need in one letter, but here are some basic ideas: Reduce regular size patterns (1" = 1') 70% and I think that should be about right. Or enlarge 1/2" scale patterns by 141% (that's the percentage on my copier)
You can definitely use the same techniques other people use for dressing miniature dolls. Use the thinnest fabrics possible to cut down on bulkiness. Some items like collars, you will just get the effect of - you won't actually be stitching a tiny collar. If you iron a stiffening or backing to a tiny piece of fabric so it won't fray, you can then cut a collar out and glue it on. Tiny dolls can easily be wigged by gluing viscose waves and curls right onto the doll's head., I have many patterns easily adaptable to other scales, with easy instructions. I also publish a newsletter with patterns and instructions for different sized miniature dolls. Also included are tips and hints that would be helpful to you. If you're interested, check out my website at http://www.daintydoll.bigstep.com

Paulette Stinson in Indiana

Paulette's pattern instructions are very easy to follow; and she drafts her patterns in such a way that even a beginner can enjoy them without feeling overwhelmed. By the way, the project Paulette refers to can be found in the Spring 98 issue of "Dolls and Miniatures".

Viola

Mini Backpack: A cute little school style backpack pattern can be found at http://www.makingfriends.com I've been at this site many times- its crafts for kids. Any way it is in the school section, its is supposed to be for a pin on for clothing, but it can be printed out and if the scale is wrong- adjust!

Teresa from Canada

Flower Thread: DMC has discontinued their flower thread. Flower thread isn't wool. It's cotton. I'm guessing you've got this confused with Shetland wool lace knitting yarn (see below) While DMC has discontinued their Flower Thread, Threadneedle Street still carries some colors and also has another brand, called Danish Flower Thread:

http://www.threadneedlestreet.com/cotthrd.htm#flower

They also carry very fine linen threads for embroidery, and wools. If, however, you are looking for superfine wool for tiny knitting, I'd recommend Lacis, as she carries 1 pound balls of Shetland wool in lace weight at a reasonable price:

http://www.lacis.com/catalog/data/descn_a.htm#novelty floss, wool - all the way at the bottom of the novelty lace threads section. She also carries bunka and silk embroidery ribbons, as well as all kinds of otherthings that can get those of us who like to make tiny things in lots of trouble. The main catalog can be accessed here:

http://www.lacis.com/catalog/catalog.htm

Maura Bass

Wicker: linen cord As for where to get linen cord...... You can use waxed linen cord which is sold in 25 yard spools at most miniature shops and craft shops. I myself hate the stuff. I prefer unwaxed linen cord which I bring in in large one pound spools from Ireland. I won't sell the big spools but will measure out for single project amounts. (I used to but then found that someone who talked me out of a spool at wholesale cost for club use, was using my free patterns and the cord to make and sell their own items. Not sure that their club ever got to use it. Well that was a compliment in a back handed sort of way but left a bad taste - to be honest).

Now another thought - there's no reason to be tied to linen cord for doing wicker. You can use button hole twist thread, jute, hemp, string, crochet cotton. There's no hard and fast rules. Each just give you a different look and texture.

And please, anyone who makes use of my patterns - please feel free to contact me with any questions. They've all been tested out but sometimes questions arise and I've found them to be helpful when writing out other instructions or improving the ones already up. (not to mention, helping the person asking the question <g>) I am a visual learner myself so you can imagine the gyrations I do to write instructions!
http://www.embraceables.com

Debi in Quesnel

Scotty Room: Have you tried the following site?http://homespunminiatures.homestead.com There are all kinds of printie things featuring Scotties and West Highland Terriers.

Maureen in Hemel, UK

Literary scene/Henry James house: when you're ready to tackle a Jamesian house, maybe Edith Wharton's interior design books would be helpful -- since they were such great friends, it's likely their tastes were similar (On the Decoration of Houses; Italian Villas & Their Gardens).

Loretta.Sniarowski

Connie's Miniature Inventory Form: Connie gave me permission to convert her form to an Adobe pdf file and you can download it from here:
http://smallstuff-digest.com/gallery.htm

Thanks again, Connie!

Anne Gerdes

Making boxes: it's important to score your material before folding. I purchased a Mini Boxmaker by Aleene's, and the scoring tool. It was inexpensive and easy to use.
MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MAKING CARDBOARD BOXES http://www.papershops.com/boxstar/index.htm

Marilyn, MI

Miniature Doll's Dollhouse: Here is one more project for those who enjoy the printable projects. I have tried to make a miniature doll's dollhouse to put in your dollhouse.
http://fp3.antelecom.net/frog/pd_project7.html

Sclarise

Period Interiors: I came across an absolutely fabulous book to use when looking for inspiration to decorate an 'authentic' period interior for your dollshouse. I was blown away when I saw all the detailed drawings and watercolour paintings. Now I know just want I want my Regency Library to look like. If you're interested, I would highly recommend it: "Authentic Decor, the Domestic Interior 1620-1920" by Peter Thornton, (408 pages!!, paperback @£19.99, but I got it for £9.95)
I checked in Amazon.com and it's still in print/available @£15.99.

Cardiff

On the subject of helpful books on decorating styles, I have two on Victorian that are both wonderful. One is "Victorian Style" by Judith and Martin Miller, and the other one is "Victorian Home" by Ellen Plante. Loads of pictures, and massive amounts of information.

Deena in Miami

Dolls House World: Have just read in issue106 of the UK magazine - Dolls House World, that they have opened a North America Office in Rochester. Minnesota. Penny and Kelly can be contacted on 507 288 2430 for Back issues and magazines, as well as books and miniatures.

Chrissie