Flower shop - ideas for a name: I've been making some 144 scale flower shops, one is a matchbox is on my site at the moment and the other is going to be a tiny wooden one which I have managed to light as well (very fiddly in such a small scale) I called this one 'Blooming Marvellous', it has to be some kind of stupid pun really, you should have heard some of my punning boyfriend's suggestions, not many are printable!
Another idea was Budding Genuis, or Flower Power. Anyway my URL is http://www.tinyminds.freeuk.comand the florist is on the matchbox shops page. There are also plenty of pics of various flowers which might give you some more inspiration.

Jenny in Brighton, UK

Retirement Home:. At the NAME Nat'l. House Party in Cincinnati a few years ago, the Cinn. club had created a Retirement Village for miniaturists. It took up a huge space and I believe club members made up one or more one room apartments which ran around the perimeter of the display. Inside of the complex was a lovely courtyard with all sorts of things including a gazebo. There was an archway entrance. Each room was open to the outside of the display for viewing and the inner walls lead to this huge courtyard. Each room was big enough to allow space for a living room, kitchen and bedroom.

One even had a craft room with long tables and chairs all around. No two were alike & it was the most clever idea. I would be happy to move right in - however, I would have to get rid of a lot of supplies, etc. to do so. The name of the village was clever too & might have been Mini Acres - but perhaps some Ohioan on the list can be more specific. I have photos and although I have seen some wonderful huge mini displays - - this is really my favorite.

Jeanette in Wisconsin

A miniaturist's tale - The Small Cottage: A few days ago an ssr posted how she'd found a small dh at a thrift store and decided to make a dollhouse shop out of it. Ah, famous last words. I've been able to pick up a couple dh's at thrift stores and "have plans" for them. Then I found a cute little cottage type dh for $5 which I couldn't (of course) resist. But what to use it for? (I buy first and ask questions later). I didn't want to make a Santa house because (if I ever get around to it) I didn't want to make a seasonal scene. Then the light bulb blinketh (and blinded my reasoning). A toy shop! But of course - - fill this little cottage with toys - what a joyful, nostalgic project. Nostalgic? Hmmm, yes. I won't just have a shop of contemporary toys but will also include vintage and antique toys!

So the quest began. I started ebuying frozen charlottes to convert to antique dolls. I have a blonde, a brunette and a black doll. Then a penny doll - hm am getting an education on antique dolls. Then an interesting celluloid doll that reminded me of the same size as the doll my little sister had. Then some artisan Cabbage Patch dolls. And mini Spice Girls! And Barbie! And some more vintage mini plastic dolls that I can bash - hmmm bash doesn't seem the right word to use with mini mini people? Then n scale figures for story book type dolls. The lookout continues for a kewpie and Raggedy Ann and Andy.

If I was going to include antique dolls then I really should include dolls from around the world. So then came 3 mini French dolls in addition to tiny dolls from Japan, Russia, Mexico and Guatemala. Onward! Of course no toy shop can be without Fisher Price and Barbie items and found a bundle of their empty mini boxes on ebay. And games - must have games. Acquired another bundle of mini empty game boxes. Pretty heavy on the girlie stuff and this toy shop is for all kids so haunt Kmart for teeny vehicles. Get a wonderful mini train key chain from an ssr and mini train from ebay. Add a mini John Deere key chain. And more tractors and trucks and military vehicles. Then the dollar store has mini trick bikes and eventually mini regular bikes. And in how many colors? Well, if I'm going to have riding toys then I'd better get some of those Hallmark vintage mini ornaments – ebay sees me again. Get most of them plus a BigWheel key chain from an ssr. Add a mini Radio flier wagon.

But the dolls have needs and dollhouses are a natural. Find various ornaments over time that will suffice. Plus those weird Reader's Digest spice containers. Plus a couple from Upstairs, Downstairs in Victoria BC. Oh my - about a dozen total.    Add to that some empty mini boxes of dollhouse kits. Also remember to have a big wire basket full of balls (various mini bouncers) and a collection of mini children's books which will need a bookrack for display.   And mini stuffed teddy bears!!    And then there's some kites and a marionette and….

Of course I exceeded the capacity of that little cottage several paragraphs ago and have since mentally moved it to one of the 2 story dh's I had. Methinks this is story in not an uncommon one. And now I have to figure out what to make with the little cottage.

W. Marie in Edmonds, WA

Alley scene. If you have the back door of a restaurant, you also need a hose bib in the wall and a nasty old hose for washing down those kitchen floor mats. How about a metal bread rack for commercial deliveries of baked goods. Every alley seems to accumulate at least one old shopping cart either with or without the life possessions of some homeless soul. Outside that door you also need an ashtray and probably a coffee cup left out there. If there is no step to sit on, a plastic or wooden crate turned up on end would do. A mop and wringer bucket? How about a downspout from the roof above? Don't forget the metal straps holding it to the wall. While you are doing a downspout, how about one of those attached-in-place roof access ladders? Can you cut a hole in the wall above your door to put a transom window or maybe even an exhaust fan? Besides the regular back door knob and lock, can you add a really heavy hasp and padlock? Does your door frame show signs of past attempts at forced entry? I do not suggest locking yourself out of your house and trying to get back in as a way of learning what forced entry evidence looks like.

To make cracked and broken hot top, prefabricate a Bristol board floor. Prime both sides then paint the topside black or dark brown. Spread your sand or whatever medium you choose and then apply a solution of 1 part white glut to 3 parts water. Apply evenly to soak in. Let dry for a while then flex the Bristol board to cause real cracks. Knock away a bit of material along the cracks. Rub some more away to create shallow spots and "glaze" these a bit with tiny finger bits of joint compound. Over spray with Gesso that has been tinted a dark gray. Glue the Bristol Board in place. Apply top washes of flat black. Rub in a bit of glossy black on those glazed spots. If one area got rubbed a bit deep, feather line some white evaporation rings around the edges. Apply gloss black enamel where water remains in the puddle and then use a very fine coat of resin or such to put water in the puddle.

Mel K.

Alley Scene: A few nasty looking stains on the walls and floors of your alley would add to the atmosphere.

Lesley, Johannesburg, South Africa

Alley Scene: Think of empty crates, spoiled vegetables fruits spilling out of them, there should be a few rats, possibly a bike propped against the wall, be sure to break a few bottles on the ground, stacks of old newspapers and be sure to have a few weeds and uncut grass growing in the cracks. What about the employee that slipped out the back door for a smoke?

Becky Holliday

Alley Scene: Human interest. It seems to me if I visualize correctly, that you need a person to bring the scene to life. I don't know about the time of day, except that you mention a street light. I thought about "street people" and it didn't seem like the right touch. Depressing and maybe lacking in respect for the afflicted. But that's just my first take on that. Could have a colorful bag lady checking garbage. Turned away, and with bulky long clothes, she could be easy to make if you don't want to buy her.Some people I thought of are policeman, restaurant worker bringing out garbage, couple embracing. Or a combination of those.

Of course a vehicle, even motorcycle, parked would be another choice, but they aren't easy to come by. Couple of bicycles chained to a metal post might add human interest, but that might not provide a sufficient focal point.

Barb Turner

Alley Scene: It seems that I always see a thick, wide, short pipe coming out of a building, a couple of feet from the ground, going nowhere, capped with some sort of a dialed cap like on a fire hydrant, with a sign above it that says "Stand Pipe". I have no idea what this is, but they're there. Also, I don't remember if the person said they had a dumpster? They always seem to be overflowing, especially with cut cardboard if it's outside a store or other place that gets deliveries. If you want the littered look, don't forget crushed cigarette packets and butts, as well as some pop or beer cans rolling around.

Sandra (western-ish PA)

Hat Shop: Earlier this week someone asked about doing a hat shop to feature projects inspired by JoAnn Swanson's latest DIY in Dollhouse Miniatures (JoAnn, you are still the Muse of DIY!) and wanted photos. Don't recall seeing any response so far. Sorry I don't have a camera or scanner, and my shop is still in the planning stages, but I can describe how it will look, since I've got all the ingredients and just need time to put it together (how many miniaturists will have that as our epitaph?). Last year a friend gave me a tackle box filled with mini craft trims and Hobby Lobby mini straw hats so I spent last winter on a mini-hatter binge. The shop they'll live in is all planned; meanwhile hats are displayed on the heads of my pincushion lady collection. The Deco pincushion lady will leave their cabinet home to become the milliner. Bought a big Hobby Lobby box decorated with nostalgic paper; turned on its side that will be the shop. Interior will have white-on-white gift wrap wallpaper and faux marble floor to emphasize the hats rather than decor. One side wall will have a dressing table with a hatpin stand and accessories (jewelry, gloves, cosmetics)displayed below a three-panel "Chippendale" wall mirror (remnant of a childhood toy makeup set). The other will have a Michael's hutch armoire stuffed with haberdashery -- bits of lace, feathers, ribbons, silk flowers, beads, buckles, etc., maybe potpourri, sachets, stationery, and other ladies' luxuries to fill any gaps, and a tall cheval mirror so buyers can see how the hats look with their ensemble. The long back wall will have rows of hats on stands on a tiered display (stacked faux-finished wood slat shelving), with decorative hatboxes and shopping bags stored underneath. The furniture will have a neutral crackle finish, maybe with some applied jewelry finding or rub-on floral details. Period will be vaguely 1920s 18th century revival to take advantage of the white-on-white look, and because although this type of vignette practically demands Victorian, I much prefer Deco and want to include flappers' cloches decorated with fancy ribbon rosettes patterned after those in a Dover ribbon work book.

Jessica Ridley's The Decorated Doll House has a milliner's project displayed in an English kit shop, with instructions for several hat styles and shop accessories like a hat tree. Susan and Martin Penny's book Miniature Worlds in 1/12 Scale has a hat shop in a hat box; the hats aren't nearly as nice as JoAnn's designs, but the display units are innovative -- a "corral" for parasols -- &and easy to replicate; the book has patterns, too. Check your local library!

Loretta.Sniarowski

Hat shops: I have two hat shops on my site. They are both listed under Shops. One is an elegant shop called Lauren's Creations, named after my oldest granddaughter. The other is a whimsical shop called Posy Patch Bonnets.It is based on a shop by Joanne Swanson in Dollhouse Miniatures last spring. She used Mrs. Mole as a proprietor. I used a couple of the collector mice and used my Dremel to alter them to accept silk flower bonnets. I also placed my shop in a fake tree trunk. I covered the outside of the foamcore shop with a used popcorn bucket left over from a trip to the movies. I then covered it with pieces of bark picked up in my yard (baked in the oven to remove any bugs) and added silk ivy and pieces of moss. The site is: http://community.webshots.com/user/ljsellers

Juanita in Missouri

Fantasy Book Series Roombox: I want to make a roombox. I want to make it based on my favorite fantasy series, Dragon lance. I'm not sure exactly what scene from the books I want to do yet. But I do know that I need some ideas on what I kind of materials and household items I could use to make my roombox (I hope you understand my question). Here are some scenes I am thinking of doing: an outdoorsy type of scene or a scene with a bunch of magicians or a group of friends in a comfy inn. Thanx alot.

Cynthia from Yonkers, NY

Alley scene: I'm trying to finish my alley scene but it lacks a lot. So far, this is what I have:

Three brick walls which I think I should put graffiti on somewhere, a back door of a restaurant that opens just to see in a little.  And one of those green hooded overhead outside lamps. (that gives the scene a nice evening glow).

On the wall near the back door I made an electric meter from the plastic that covers Sucrets lozenges.   I painted the alley ground with a grey/black acrylic with sand in it but it doesn't look like hot top.   Any ideas how I can make old cracked hot top?

I have three of Noel's trash cans in the corner with a miniature green trash bag. And crumpled and squashed yellowed newspapers, I have two alley cats (but I know I could use more!) some wine bottles and a fish scale.   That's it.

Now what else?   It looks too empty and lacking something.  

Judy K

On your alley: It is important to keep the eye moving at all levels...something of interest. Have you got a window with an alley view? Just make a picture frame style window, no cuts needed and make it "dark" inside with a curtain. Then add a flower pot to the window sill...inside or out. Or, a pigeon could sit there. For fun, how about an open window with a fluffy, pet cat looking down at the alley varieties? Or a picture of a parrot inside the window "talking" to the pigeon?

Now for the middle area...no graffiti needed but how about a circus poster? A play poster...that would give you information about the city and the date where this alley occurs. Some good ones are found on the internet or antique ones are in mail order magazines. (Cut them out, spray with fixative and apply with Mod Podge giving an extra top coat for protection.) Position the poster so a pedestrian could read it as they cross the alley. A reduced scale newspaper blowing about would also give more clues. Clues are a good way to think of your details. How can I tell viewers more about this set? Have fun.

Laurie Sisson

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http://littleobsessions.com/ click on accessories and more and you will see Medical Items.

Nursemini

Alley scene: how about a fire escape for your alley? Or a window over the restaurant with an iron balcony? Could be the owner's apartment window, with some puny geraniums reaching for light. Maybe a convoluted drainpipe? When I was a child, on Saturday afternoons my friend and I used to go to the movies. After it was over we always had a little time before our parents picked us up, so we used to pick up milk and soft drink bottles to return for the deposits, which is where I got most of my spending money. (With the states having to pay so much to have litter picked up I wonder why it isn't done any more.) Anyway, we used to wander down alleys in that little South Texas town looking for bottles. I still remember the smell of old decaying vegetables outside a produce market door.

Separated by a narrow alley, the produce market's back entrance faced the back entrance of a western wear and leather goods store, a gathering spot for surrounding ranch folk (the store, not the alley). Besides a regular source of discarded soft drink bottles, the alley was a treasure trove of cardboard boxes and leather scraps, which my friend and I liked to take for our many projects.

Although he generally did not approve of people going through his trash, the western store proprietor knew us and had no problem with our rummaging, since my friend's father, a wealthy rancher, was among his best customers. "Just be careful, kids. Sometimes a sharp knife blade breaks off among them leather pieces" he warned. "And watch out for them winos from the pool hall"

I suppose you could have one of those guys, too, holding his bottle of bay rum or vanilla extract.

Wanna in El Paso

Medical miniatures: We make many unique items for a doctor's office, medical clinic or hospital. They are pictured on our website. We are continually adding new items , so check back from time to time.
Mark and Sharon Stockton,Miniature Artisans
http://www.stockton-miniatures.com

Sharon

Lynn in Cahokia

Alley scene: A while back, for a wonderful flower shop project that never came to be, I made an awesome dumpster for out back. It was so fun. I used a bending brake from micro mark, can't remember exactly what type of metal, but being a beat up old dumpster, I was able to do a crummy solder job on purpose!! I made the casters to roll and swivel, I fashioned it after the one out back of the bar I worked at. Sprayed it green with a phone# on the sides, everything like the real thing. I don't know what was more fun, making it rusty or filling it with awesome trash!! Something like this would be great in the alley scene, especially with a restaurant there.

Linda Master

Alley scene: when I 'saw' an alley in my head I saw clothes hanging from pulley lines, fire escapes (people dancing- west side story joke), a bum, or kids smoking, a pie cooling on a window.

Jen in MA

Horse Stuff: Bits 'n Pieces http://bitsnpiecesonline.com   has western gear.

Anne Gerdes