Resources Page: 5 |
Basketry reed: There is a place that has very small reed, however, I don't know how small #000 is. Ive seen their size #1(1.5 mm)round and 11/64"w flat. They have a lot of different things for basketry, you might check it out. It's called: The Caning Shop and the URL is: http://www.caning.com Joni |
Good places to find links to miniature sites include: Miniature Net http://www.miniature.net Miniature Net Rings http://rings.miniature.net Miniature Reality http://www.miniaturereality.com Jaye's Mini Links http://www.jayesminilinks.com Imagination Mall http://www.imaginationmall.com My Miniatures http://myminiatures.com About Miniatures http://miniatures.about.com DMOZ http://dmoz.org/ Anne Gerdes |
Fake water was also a challenge for me to find. I finally found some "Acrylic Water". I got it at Walmart in the craft department where the silk and dried flowers are. I bet you can get it at craft stores, too. I also found a 2 part resin is available at Home Depot in the paint department, but I haven't tried that product. GingerHen2 |
Elves & Santas: I notice a few enquiries for elves etc. recently. Mine are porcelain and china-painted and I am happy to email photos to anyone who wishes to see them. I also have Mr. & Mrs. Santa, plus a delightful Sleeping Santa - last year I made him up relaxing in his long johns on Boxing Day, opened box of chocolates beside him and a half-empty glass mug of beer. href="http://www.daydreamswindow.co.nz">http://www.daydreamswindow.co.nzPam |
Web site address for Dollhouse Emporium: http://www.dollshouse.com/us/acatalog/index.html is their "US$" link Marilyn |
The Glass People: They do have a catalogue (costs £2); they are not on the net yet. They sell 1/24th too. In 1/12th glass they make decanters, vases, glasses, epergnes, carafes, cranberry, Art Deco ware. Their address: Helen from a cold and snowy York, England |
Landscaping: I think model railroad shops/departments are a good place to start. If you want a lawn they have those big grass mats and/or loose grass in different colors. They have little trees and bushes, not in the same scale but the trees can pass for bushes etc. And, at Michael's or other types of stores depending on where you live, once the Halloween stuff is in stock thru Christmas, they get these great trees in for the village scenes. They are kind of expensive (for me, for 1 tree) but the fall ones are nice and would work as a smaller tree. I also recently got some vine looking stuff on wire that I'm going to use as creeping vines up one side of my house where there are no windows. You can also find some nice fabric and ceramic flowers in the bridal/favors section. "MiniKitz" http://www.minikitz.com They sell the cutest loose leaves, summer or fall colors, to scatter about. Karyn Zabrouski |
Realistic looking trees: I've thought that many trees used with 1/12 scale dollhouses are too small to be realistic. In real life, most shade trees and evergreens tower over one and two story houses, but the trees sold for miniatures are usually no more than 10 inches high. That would be a pretty small real life tree. I have found a company, though, that makes beautiful realistic trees, and some are 18 or 24 inches high. If you're looking for large trees, check out this website http://members.aol.com/architrees/ Mary in Virginia |
Switching Battery lights to 12v: This is actually pretty easy to correct and it doesn't mean changing the lights either. All you need to do is go to your local Radio Shack or another similar store, such as an electronics surplus shop, and pick up an adapter (transformer) of the right voltage for your lights. This could be either a single voltage unit or what they call a universal adapter that has a switch to change the output voltage. They may also have a female connector to plug the adapter into, and this can be mounted on one side of the battery compartment and wired into the circuit. If the female connector is not available, you can cut the end off the wire and connect it directly. One advantage to using the female connector is that it can be wired in parallel with the battery connections and leave the option of using either power source. David in Santiago |
Wicker Carriage/pram: J. Glasser mentioned Peggy's Miniature Wicker as a source for a buggy with umbrella. She does make a buggy like that and her work is very good and she's not terribly expensive. Her email address is: peggyctaylor@webtv.net Carol |
Glass-eyed Dolls: Joan wanted to know where she might get a boy doll kit to use for Harry Potter - I can't make enough porcelain myself to be able to sell kits, but this lady does wonderful work for super good prices (she even has glassed-eyed dolls ready to dress for $35.) I'm going to feature Teresa's lovely glass-eyed dolls in the Jan / Feb 2002 issue of my newsletter. Paulette in IN |
Landscaping: Today in the mail I received a Scenic Express catalog. It's full of all sorts of landscaping materials for those whose hobby is model railroads. One thing that caught my eye were the pages of ready made trees which would be perfect for 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch scale projects. The trees range in height from 2 inches to 12 inches or thereabouts. The trees look very realistic, and most of the prices are very reasonable. Their website is: http://www.scenicexpress.com Mary in MS |
1/2 doll house items: Have you tried Model Builders Supply, they have a very unique and large range of outdoor landscaping, scenic supplies, windows and doors and much, much more. Their website is: http://www.modelbuilderssupply.com Hope this helps. They are in Canada, so if you are in the U.S. your dollar will go a lonnngggg way. Susan |
1920s Spanish style houses: For the interiors of these houses, look at magazines of the period. You can find Better Homes and Gardens, House and Garden, House Beautiful, etc., on Ebay by going to books, magazines, household, vintage. Good luck. I'm betting that you won't really be taken with those twenties interiors...everything was very leggy and VERY different from our own aesthetic. Margaret in Texas |
1920s Interiors: I am also researching the 1920s, but not for the Spanish style. I want to do a 1920s style house and interior, but probably a colonial or Tudor. Anyway, I have come across some things that can be helpful to you. There is a book called "Classic Houses of the Twenties" (by Loizeaux), which you can find at Barnes & Noble in the Home/Design section. It does have several examples of the Spanish style. Also, there are some interior shots. I don't remember if there are any Spanish style interiors, but there are definitely kitchen and bathroom ideas - sink, stove and refrigerator styles, tiling, etc. I would say that my best resource has been buying House Beautiful and Better Homes and Gardens from the 1920s on ebay. You can expect to pay between $5-15 per issue, and even less if it's missing the cover. The articles and ads are incredible, and exceptionally helpful. Even the recipes are amazing. I was amazed to see ads for Sherwin Williams paint, with the "Cover the Earth" logo - I had no idea it went back that far! There was even an ad for Plastic Wood, looking exactly like it does today. But, I digress. You will see exactly the furniture styles, window treatments, light fixtures and appliances that were used at the time. Fortunately, some of these furnishings and appliances are available in miniature. Also, I don't think that just because a house had Spanish architectural style, that the interior was necessarily Spanish, too. Also, do a search in ebay's book's home section for Twenties, 1920s, 1920, and every year through 1929. Sometimes decorating books are listed with the year published. I have gotten some great finds this way. Someone else said that you probably won't be taken with those interiors. I disagree. I find them totally charming - colorful, traditional, but not stuffy. It was also the beginning of "modern" times, and the eclectic mix is refreshing... Electricity was just becoming commonplace, and the electrical appliances of the time were exciting. To me, they still are... Perhaps I love the 20s style because my grandparents married in 1929, and lived in a 1920s house in Newton, Massachusetts. It had so much charm, without being the least bit pretentious. And my grandmother saved all of her kitchen tools, depression glass, jadite and small appliances, etc. in the basement. Guess who has it all now? :))) I'm probably the only guy in Israel with a vintage mixer, toaster, waffle iron, kitchen tools, Hoosier cabinet, and a Jadite collection to make Martha Stewart envious. Someday, I will make that Hoosier in miniature.... Hope this helps. Jonathan in Israel |
1920's interiors: Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles are becoming more popular now in the UK as collectors complete their Tudor's and Georgian's and Victorian's and look for something a little different. Craftspeople are gradually catching up with this trend and I already have available on my website an early C20th kitchen range, an Art Deco sofa and chair in leopard print (other colours made to order) plus tiffany style lamps. I am also able to get pieces made to commission so if anyone's interested please get in touch. http://www.littlebylittle.co.uk Karon |
Mice and dolls house story: One story that fits the bill is The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter. If you go to http://www.tcom.ohiou.edu/books/kids.htm the whole story complete with pictures follows page by page. Sue from Garstang, UK |
liquid Sculpey and Diluent: Liquid Sculpey can be used for whatever you want to do with it! Let's say you have two pieces that are already baked, but you want them stuck together. You can use LS as an adhesive...it has to be baked like regular Sculpey though, so just put the two stuck together items back in the oven and re-bake. Now here's the REALLY neat thing...it is also a transfer and color medium. Huh? You can paint it onto magazine pictures and b/w photocopies, bake the whole works, remove the paper image, and the image will have transferred to the Sculpey. I'm still getting to know the product...their site is http://www.sculpey.com Diluent (yes, that's the correct spelling) can be used to soften dried out blocks of Sculpey, to condition new Sculpey quickly, or...?? Kathy in Wisconsin |
Liquid Sculpey and diluent: Liquid sculpey is a clay in it's own right, it has many uses, one of the best is for 'stained glass' effects. It can be coloured with acrylic paints and glass paints, and is very useful for fried eggs! Visit http://www.sculpey.com to find out more. The diluent is an oil that is used to soften stiff or old clay, I find that it makes the clay too sticky for my liking but it's a useful product. Use the Dilutent sparingly, it doesn't need much to soften the clay. Jacquie Hall |
Finding Pictures on the Internet: After three years on the computer I discovered something wonderful yesterday! You know how hard it is when you are trying on the Internet to sift through websites to find a picture of something you are researching? And you know how whatever you are looking for, (like your Xacto knife) is usually right on the table in front of you? Well, yesterday I was researching a piece for a customer, and I went to my old favorite search engine, http://www.google.com which I have used for years, and there, right over the place where you type in the thing you are looking for, you can click on "Images" and only get pictures of whatever you type in! Alice Zinn- Pt. St. Lucie FL |
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