Room by Room update:    Below is the company's response to my letter.

Absolutely we will be repeating the line for this year. As a matter of fact it will be on TV in the fall [2002] and should be even bigger than last year. Unfortunately many retailers are now sold out of most of the rooms and do not get more in until later this spring or summer. You can try TTGO.com to see if they still have some additional rooms left at this time. If not, KBtoys.com will be carrying all 12 rooms, but probably not until this summer. Toys R Us will be running a special Laura Ashley version of the house as well, but not until the summer.

Special thanks to Shirley in Bakersfield, CA for hooking me up with the website. http://www.ringsidesupplies.com .

Donna Baird of Indiana

Hair Salon equipment: Try www.jlbminiatures.co.uk They have modern electrical equipment as well as specialist stuff for hair salon, hospitals, shops and offices.

Jane in Warwickshire, UK

Artist's Canvases: I have a set of canvases in various degrees of use done by Jeannetta Kendall. You can see them at http://www.spminiatures.com/athpaintset.htm They're at the bottom of the page.

Carol

Artist's canvas: I recommend the use of cambric fabric. This is the stuff that roller window blinds used to be made of -- they are now plastic. It has a very tight weave that really resembles canvas in miniature. I do stenciling and wall murals professionally and use this for samples or for the finished product which is then adhered to the wall. The hard part of this is "Where can you get it?" The only place I know of is Indiana Coated Products and they sell it in HUGE rolls -- much too much for mini folks. If you contacted them and explained your needs, they might be able to supply end cuts or scraps. It doesn't take much to make a mini canvas or floor cloth. For a studio, I would suggest making some stretchers and stretch some and would also have some in rolls. The cambric does not have to be primed and also works beautifully if you can paint mini pictures (I haven't been able to reduce my eye to that level yet).

Leigh Hill in Delaware

Telescope: I have a couple of modern ones from Nantasy Fantasy on my site at http://www.spminiatures.com/nfpieces.htm They're at the bottom of the page.

Carol

Telescopes: We carry telescopes on a tripod www.dollhouseportal.com Look on page 52 of the metals section. It has to be painted and finished. Hope it helps. http://www.dollhouseportal.com

Terri in SW Florida

golf stuff: For the lady looking for mini golf stuff. Sheila Seme, 34643 Sunward Loop Sephryhills, FL 33541 (Email gpage@innet.com) makes wonderful golf clubs and bags. Hopefully she still makes them, and that the above address is still good because if I remember correctly, her prices were exceptionally good. If you were a Dolls and Miniatures subscriber, you'll see some of her work in the Summer 98 issue, beginning on page 63.

Viola

Rug Kits: For beautiful carpet kits, I highly recommend Orientals Expressed. http://mywebpage.netscape.com/orientalsxpressd/home.html

Michelle has some gorgeous designs in various sizes. If you dont want to pay $50+ for a kit, you can purchase just the chart, and furnish your own canvas and threads. Further, for a mere $15, Michelle will adapt one of her designs to suit your color and size requirements. You can send her a scan of your wallpaper, and she'll use colors to match. Before she completes the design, she'll send you a bit of it, to make sure that you like it, and if not, she'll make adjustments with color, etc. So, for $15, you get a custom designed chart to make the perfect carpet for your space.

Jonathan in Israel

Rug kits: I have made some really nice rugs without kits--using the patternsin a book entitled "Oriental Carpets in Miniature" by Frank M. Cooper (1994). Good luck!

Barbara in DE

needlepoint rug kits: all our kits are well within your budget, so why not have a look? There are several oriental ones, as well as other popular styles, and many other ideas for needlepoint items, too. Web site: http://www.janetgranger.co.uk

chris

Needlework rugs: You might try contacting Bunny Papke of Distincitve Needlework for needlepoint rug kits. You can get just the pattern for about $10.00 or the whole kit for $15.00, up to $50, depending on the pattern.. Her snail mail address is:
6516 Pine Park Place NE
Albuquerque, NM
87109

Pat

Rugs: Dolls & Miniatures magazine (Fall 98 issue) has instructions for a beautiful 7" x 12" rug. Please e-mail me for more info about purchasing. To learn more, go to my web page and click on the picture of the magazine: www.dollsminiatures.bigstep.com

viola

Needlepoint Kits and Charts: I have needlepoint kits and charts on MY web site too:) Not only for darling children's rugs and others but pillows, purses, doorstops and a bunch of other stuff! http://www.micro-stitchery.com

Bobbie Schoonmaker

Cleaning Pasta Machine: There is instructions for cleaning the pasta machines at http://www.desiredcreations.com/howTo_PQueenAtlasMaint.htm very easy to follow.

Oleta

Beads/Findings: Beth & I located a source for jewelry components that you might find interesting, Rio Grande. They can be found at http://www.riogrande.com if you like to use beads or findings or semi-precious stones; this is the place.

Brian

Cars: I looked at the two die-cast car web sites that I have dealt with, and only found a different model of a Renault. Sorry. Here are the sites however, in case they would consider doing a special order....? http://www.toy-mart.com/ertl.die.cast.cars.html and https://www.ewal.com/index.html and type the scale you want in the search block. I looked under 1/18 scale, although I didn't know what you might want.

Sandra

Chimney's and Spindles: http://www.miniatures.com/

http://www.dollhouse-dollhouse.com/us/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=10

The Dolls House Emporium offers a free 146 page catalog by mail.

http://www.dollhouse-dollhouse.com/us/asp/product.asp?product=65

Katharine Medeiros

Dogs: Peggy wanted to know how to find a dog by Carol Cardinal, shown by Lilliput Land. Carol Cardinal has been making phenomenal pets for many years. This is the last address I have for her, from 10 years ago: Carol Cardinal Miniatures by C.C. 9535 Diagonal Rd. Mantua, OH 44255

You can find Beth Stark of Lilliput Land at Tom Bishop shows. She's famous for carrying unusual and finely hand crafted miniature items. This is her address: Beth Stark, Lilliput Land, 89 Lisa Dr., Northport, NY 11768

Paulette in IN

Fimo faeries: Sue Heaser's tiny 1inch high faeries can be found at http://www.polymerclaycentral.com  just look under lessons and instructions.

Jacquie Hall, Essex, U.K.

Elaine in Herndon, VA