Bordellos: I haven't heard any of the Texans speak up for the "Chicken Ranch." This was the true life model for the movie with Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." I've wanted to build it many times, but it's just not been on the top of my list

Fannye in TX

Bordellos: One reason I know a little about bordellos, besides from the movies, is that my father has worked at the Brown Palace Hotel here in Denver, for 43 years. Across the street from the hotel is The Navarre. They restored it to the original condition on the outside and made it into offices.

It was built in 1880, twelve years before the hotel was built. There was tunnel leading from the hotel to the Navarre, under the street, so the "important" VIPs wouldn't be seen going into the bordello across the street.

Some say at the hotel that the tunnel doesn't exist, but, my father had known someone who was there when they were building the hotel. They just walled up the tunnel and have said that its a tunnel that just leads up to a brick wall. There are also tracks that were for an ore car, now they just go under the brick wall.

The one I had planned on making would be in a two-story building. The bottom is going to be the sheriff's office, with the sheriff asleep at his desk and a cowboy in one of the jail cells, sleeping. Upstairs, the bordello is going to have red flocked wallpaper in a fancy parlor with a nice fireplace

I have a small copy of one of those old fashioned photos where you dress up, it's in an old saloon. My sister is dressed as the Madam with a shotgun and the rest of us are saloon girls. My father was a "customer." The picture is going to be framed and put above the fireplace. I have a couple male dolls who will be customers, one will be outside, coming up the stairs.

I also have a small sign to go at the bottom of the stairs, "BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS AND LOOSE WOMEN."

I just haven't figured out a name yet. I was thinking of "The Denver County Quilting Bee Society"or "The Adams County Quilting Bee Society."

Sherrydon

Bordellos: Could you call that house of ill repute The Ladies' Benevolent Association In Aid Of Itinerant Gentlemen?

Loretta Sniarowski

Bordellos: I just remembered that lovely old Jimmy Stewart/Glen Ford bordello movie "The Cheyenne Social Club", so how about "The Denver Social Club"?

Tori

Stained Glass: The easiest and cheapest way to make stained glass windows is to print out your design on a transparency. I have stained glass windows on my brothel doors. If you'd like to take a look, the website is:http://members.aol.com/muscka/redgarter/index.htm

Marsha, Newark, CA

50's Kitchen: I have made a printable of the box for an automatic potato peeler and an old drinking straw box and some 50's tiles like the ones we had in our kitchen. Under printables 50's items at http://jdayminis.com

Jean Day

X-Files Office is done! All of a sudden, the elements finally came together this week and I finished my 1/12 X-Files room box. Basically, I barricaded myself in my house for the past two days till it was done. It was my first excursion into electrifying...and I was so happy to see how easy it was. Lots of folks to thank here for all the great ideas and suggestions. Especially Anita on the lighting advice, the perfect wiring instructions on Tom's E&T site and whoever suggested the wrinkled tissue paper ceiling treatment. It gave the basement room just the look I wanted. I have put a page on my site. If you are not a fan of the X-Files...be warned...it is not for the faint of heart :) (just kidding, but it does include a realistic alien figure.) I am thinking of making it a trilogy down the line and do Scully and Mulder's apartment living rooms as companion boxes. Both sets have interesting design challenges and would be fun to decorate.

http://www.wishbooktoys.com/dollhouse/xfiles/index.html

X-Files box: The X-Files box is a combo of made, bought and bashed items. On the desk for example, the blotter was bought, but I added the paper items and photos. The tape dispenser was bought, but I added the tape to liven it up. I also made the "brass" desk lamp (drinking straw, gold tape, two wires, balsa base and a black bead for the switch) and extension lamps (GI Joe binoculars cut and trimmed with strip wood arms.) I made the sunflower seeds and the FOX MULDER nameplate for the desk. The styro coffee cup is the top to a glue bottle painted white. Most paper items were reduced from actual items. I got the basic folders and manila envelopes from Jim's Printables website then cut the bound pages out of a National Geographic for the papers inside them. The folder holders are clear plastic covered in black contact paper and bent to shape. The black binders were made the same way and also filled with magazine pages. I scratchbuilt the white medical cabinet and small lawyers' case. The file cabinets were bought and painted. The slate topped counters and cabinets are cheapie wooden kitchen sinks that I bashed into lab tables with black vinyl on cardboard glued to the surfaces. The desk and both chairs were bought at my local miniature store, as was the computer table, but I added the woodgrain vinyl top. A little of this, a little of that and somehow it all eventually came together.

Roombox ideas:  I also have hit upon two other ideas for room boxes. One is a 1950s small-town movie theater lobby with concession stand. I could make the poster frames changeable, so one week the theatre could be showing classic detective films, next week a sci-fi fest, Universal Monster films, musicals, etc. The possibilities are unlimited. It could be set while the feature is playing and the usherette could be sitting behind the counter reading a 50's movie magazine. Thinking about this idea led me to another project...how about a classic Drive-In movie theater concession stand.? It could have the snack counter with all kinds of food ..hot dogs, fries, burgers, popcorn, candy (much more than just a movie theater has...I have been eyeballing all the goodies at Mary Eccher's Pannikins by ME site, making my shopping list,) a picnic table, maybe a small playground area right out front for the kids (remember those?) I'd have to have those great faded color photos of the burgers, fries and cokes lit from behind on the menu sign...can you tell I like this idea?

John in Yonkers

MEMORY BOXES:   Just a few more details for trunk items: find things in your mom's favorite colors -- maybe use last week's tips to find and copy a couple of pieces of a favorite china pattern.  My mom worked but still found time for hobbies, and is still a champion crocheter and middling knitter; if yours likes needlework, put in some mini versions (faked if necessary).  If church is important, put in a mini Bible.  She's obviously loves to give of herself, so why not a filled cookie jar, a storybook, and some toys to represent children and grandchildren in addition to a family album.  Some items to represent her career, even if family rather than work has been the center  of her life, because she was a pioneer -- working women weren't taken for granted in her generation.  If she still has unfulfilled dreams, acknowledge them -- e.g., for travel, maps, mini postcards, other mementos of places she's see or would like to.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Vet's Office: You could make little rolls of tape and little rolls of gauze for your vet office. Don't forget a diploma for the wall. And a little jar of doggie treats.  Maybe a scale to weigh the doggies on.  And little glass jars on the counter with cotton, etc.  How about a bulletin board with little cards thumb tacked on (seed beads) about dogs/cats for adoption.

Carbomax

Vet's Office: Don't forget a sink in the corner for the Vet and an "ear" scope on the wall.  Glass jar of q-tips & soap dispenser. We have a "tiny" triangle seat in the corner at our Vets office. Wall hung stainless steel table. Will you have both a waiting room and exam room?  In the waiting room how about a wall rack with brochures/pet care. Poster with prices of baths/boarding etc.

Diane in SF Bay Area

Vet's Office: managed to get in a big wall with 8 kennels, a silver exam table , a medical cabinet, a bench with a hamster cage and turtle box, a desk w/ computer and such and chair, an extra kennel on the floor , a blackboard with the vet name and hours, and of course the vet is a woman.  A bird on a perch. Maybe i Can fit a sink in. Thanks so much for the ideas.

Kim

Cutting Tin Containers: I made a scene in a tea canister two years ago. I used my Dremel with the cut-off wheels to easily cut the opening. Once I determined where I wanted to cut, I put masking tape around it to use as a cutting guide. Be sure to wear eye protection! There was an article in one of the magazines a couple year ago by Bruce & Judy Steinke about how to cut tins, where is where I got my basic info.

Beth

Grandmother's gift:   I have made the trunk from Jim Collin's site and filled it with baby memorabilia.  Crochet stuff, dolls, baby books, etc.  It would be a wonderful Grandmother's gift.  You can get his trunk printed from http://www.printmini.com  I lined it with wallpaper covered matboard to make it sturdier.

Fannye in TX

Grandmother's gift:   I have made "books" out of mat board and foam core as baby mementos.  This was pre-digital so no pictures.  I managed to find pink mat board (white on reverse side).  I cut 2 pieces about 9 x 6 for the front and back and joined these with pink construction paper for the "spine".  I then made the 4 walls from foam core and glued these to the back.  I used ribbon to cover the raw edges of the foam core.  The box was about 21/2 inches deep which was enough to fit in a bassinette, dresser. toy box, or whatever.  I found a cute small scrapbook page in a baby theme.  I cut out the center and glued this to the outside front leaving the top unglued so that a picture or a birth announcement could be added.  I then made a label with the baby's name, birthdate, etc. and put this on the spine.  On the inside front I made a false window and added curtains.  Wish I had a picture as this is hard to explain although it only took me a couple of evenings to make.  The first one I made was for my granddaughter Samantha's baby sister - then had to make another one for Samantha, too!

Marie in San Jose, Ca

Grandmother's gift:   Why don't you do them a room box made into a nursery. I have done quite a few for grandmothers and mothers alike. They seem to go down pretty well. I put building bricks  built up with the babies name and  date of birth on them.

May Stirlingshire  Scotland

Frog House: Appropriate books to include in your scene would be "Wind In The Willows" or "Mr. Toad's Excellent Adventure".  Could you redo the eyes on one frog to be seriously cross eyed toward a giant fly perched on his nose? Joke/magic shops usually have full sized plastic flies for putting in peoples drinks, etc.

Mel Koplin

Frog House: Why not put a "crown prince" among your croakies--with a jewelry find or ornament cap for the crown?  Also a good "cookbook" for the transformation! Maybe they all need a cap and a cookbook!

Xmas Carol

Frog House: How about adding a frustrated looking princess madly kissing the frogs in search of her prince? (Xmas Carol's neat idea triggered that little gem)

Elli in NZ

Coffee Cup Minis: Several people wrote to ask me to post some "how-to" directions for the coffee cup minis I made.

It might be easier to give some "how-not-to" advice, since they were definitely a product of trial and error.   I found that cups that had a flat bottom and didn't taper too much from top to bottom were easiest to work with (at least for this beginner).  They were about 2-5/8" deep and 4" across.

I cut pieces of basswood to elevate the floor. I reduced some printables for the stone floor, the brick fireplace, rugs & tree skirts.  The fireplaces were made by cutting the ends off some small paper mache boxes.  The candleholders are watch stems.  The rest of the items came from my stash of goodies that I just knew would come in handy some day.  Except for the storyteller . . . that was made by SSer Bonnie Gibson & is absolutely adorable . . . even the back side.  I almost hated to glue it in place!

I use Household Goop for almost everything, including gluing the cup to the saucer.  For the paper items, I used a scrapbooking stick glue.

The snow (Delta's Freshly Fallen Snow) was applied with a palette knife over a base of paper clay.  Actually only the 2nd one had a paper clay base . . . I got smart after using a whole jar of snow on my 1st scene.  Then added a little ultra fine glitter.

Jude from ND

Drive-in Theatres:  When we went to the drive-in with my parents we took our station wagon and wore our pajamas to fall asleep later. :-) My vivid memory is of playing on the drive-in playground, and standing in line for candy, with other kids in their pajamas!  Might be a cute addition to your project if you are going to have people/dolls.

Debra