Record Keeping: << . They did it all with a Video Camera. >> Oh, oops fellas, its Laurie raining on your parade...videos degrade after several years so need to be re-taped. And of course it's like a Xerox that has been copied...so not as good as the first. But, I'm sure it's fun to do. They also need to be stored so the tape is hanging on the sprockets and not on its sides. Then be sure it is stored in cool place like with wine. Heat ruins it. A paper back up record will most likely survive the longest.

Laurie Sisson

NAME: I'll just add my voice to the others on this one. As far as your "skill level", I think you're thinking of IGMA where you can become not just a member, but an "artisan" or "fellow" by applying for these various levels and having your work judged. With NAME, you're just joining with thousands of other miniaturists (some very, very skilled, some brand new amateurs) who love all things miniature.

I think some of the 2-day workshops at the annual National convention probably do cost $300 (not always), but at that same convention there are one day and half day workshops that are quite a bit less (this year I think all of the half day workshops are under $100).

There are also regional house parties and state days which are not as big a "deal" as National and they also offer workshops and are lots of fun. Registration for any of these events is more than the ticket to a miniature show, of course, but at National there are three meals included in the price, you get absolutely beautiful "surprise" souvenirs to take home, there is a "tote bag" full of favors donated by other members, a wonderful souvenir book with projects for DIY, etc.

The Miniature Gazette does come out six times a year now and the quality is great - lots of pictures of members projects (including yours if you send them a photo!), lots of DIY projects, and of course news and calendars from around the country. Some miniature dealers offer a discount to NAME members and if you go to a miniature show which is put on by a NAME club, you get a discount on your ticket. Molly Cromwell also offers discounts to NAME members when they attend any of her shows.

And they have a video lending library with, I think, around 80 videos concerning miniatures and they are yours to borrow for the cost of postage ($3.00)! So for $28. 00 a year, I don't think you can do any better.

Mary Lynne

JOINING N.A.M.E. - Consider the slogan of NAME: Only by sharing can we truly enjoy our treasures. To approximate another familiar phrase, you only get out of something what you put into it. For those who only want a magazine subscription, NAME membership may be a waste. For those INVOLVED in miniatures, who want to be part of an organization that works as a tool to connect people, ideas, talents, passions, and functional explanations for our mutual infatuations, NAME is it.

A strange group, we miniature enthusiasts. We have a unique mix of sameness and diversity among ourselves that gives us creative independence simultaneous with associative synergy. We are all part of something small that is really something big. Here on SS we can type in "LOL". At Houseparties, we listen to a keynote speaker and simultaneously break into laughter at an "inside joke" that everyone in a large banquet hall can identify with personally. We belong. Someone may look intently at one of our displays and comment on some minuscule detail that we suffered over for weeks before figuring out a workable solution. On our mantle or at a general craft show, observers see the whole - at a Houseparty, they look, admire, appreciate, and share the tiniest details. We belong. In bite-sized dioramas, we record history, fantasy, attitudes, regal periods, and precious flashes of time. We belong. Our necks are pained from long hours over the magnifier - over a precious scrap of wood, silver, fabric, or Fimo that only another miniaturist can or will genuinely appreciate. Our necks suffer another twinge in sympathy and appreciation as we look at another's perfectly folded rose bud. We belong. We are a very special lot, we miniature enthusiasts: crafter, artist, collector, vendor, writer, researcher, dreamer, and story-teller-in-substance. We all belong. Where there is an association of those who share something so special - we formalize our belonging. We join.

Mel Koplin

Space Challenge: Trying to "reduce" their passion for all things small to one box, or shelf, or compartment. We who are to follow are eager to see how you create.

It's amazing just how much you are able to fit into one of these RV's! So far I've been able to salvage a good size cabinet in the bedroom, one drawer under the bed and my nightstand drawer, for all my crafting supplies and projects. Since I mainly make porcelain dolls, which I haven't brought with me this time, I'm concentrating on making clothing. I've further defined the type of clothing by concentrating on making only wedding dresses. This has allowed me to minimize my fabrics which I was able to get into one clear plastic shoe box. I also chose various trims and beads and stored them in small plastic bags. I picked two favorite patterns that may easily be interchanged to make yet other designs. In my toolbox, I've stored my threads, pins, small clothespins for clamps, a "helping hand" with a magnifier, scissors (several types), hemostats, several types of tweezers, tacky glue, fray check, rose making tool, small glue bottle, extra sewing needles (betweens size 12 or 15).

I've found that it's been very useful to work on a small plastic tray which has about a 1-1/2" ridge all around the rim. I placed a square of dark felt in the bottom of the tray to keep needles, pins, and beads from flying all over the place. As a work area, I use the kitchen table with my tray, tool box and a foam placemat, this seems to work well for gluing, cutting, as well as assembly.

I'm learning as I go so I will keep you all posted as to any new discoveries on storage or working in confined spaces that I run across. Meanwhile, if you have any that you have found work, please pass them along!

Marilyn, wintering in AZ

Work spaces: As a wood turner, I live with the constant need to gain control over my work space. The piece that I'm working on at the moment is suspended under magnification about 10 inches over my bench top, but my tools float on a sea of squares (un-turned blanks) and chips. I find that if I don't take a few minutes now and again to rediscover my work bench- my productivity starts to drop off. I'm spending more time looking for a tool than it takes to use it! But I don't feel bad about it, I recognize that my workspace reflects my personality. I think that we all have a sense of what works for us.

Brian, Roundwood Studio

NEWBIES: We old timers may jest often about our work spaces but I feel that is your most important part of you miniature future.  How you set up your space and  how you maintain it reflects on your work.  Of course, as can be seen by postings there is a great difference of opinion as to  what works best. This you have to decide for your self. There is no right  way or wrong way unless it hampers you production and quality.

Very few miniaturists are blessed with the finances to build and outfit their work space in the best fashion.  Usually it starts on a table and expands out from there  in a helter skelter fashion.

    The medias you choose to work in too reflect on your workspace needs. For doll houses one would need, if possible several work stations.  What worked good for me was to set up a portable table for the doll house to be constructed on.  Tall saw horses with plywood on top worked great for me. Set it at a comfortable height. You should be able to work without bending a whole lot.  When working on moldings doors and other small parts a separate work space  is really desirable.  Most often clutter is a real handicap. As much as I joked about my bench getting so cluttered It is important to keep it to a manageable space.  If you keep your tools in drawers or spaces away from your work bench area then  make or buy a tray to keep the tools in at your work  area while you are using them.  When finished with them at the end of the day then  put them  away where they belong.  If I  know I am going to use the  tool tomorrow for sure I leave it in the container on my bench. All other tools go back where they belong.

    Most importantly is to clean up all tools especially power tools.  Dust off all sawdust from power tools and saws. Remove metal shavings from lathes and any other metal working tools. If you do not do this sawdust will draw moisture from the air and deposit it in the motor and moving parts.  It will cause rust on the table surface and It will also draw the lubricant from the bearings.   Metal shavings can get into the brushes of your tools (Dremel tool etc)  These can cause excessive wear on the brushes and other damage including shorting out the electrical system.  I  find I do not need any thing as complicated to blow out the dust as an air compressor to vacuum cleaner. A three dollar large size rubber ear wash syringe form the druggist works great. Just squeeze it quickly and it will blow dust etc. right away. Works great for dusting out doll house too.

    Most of all be comfortable in your work space and have plenty of light.

Bill Hudson,  Eugene, Oregon

Storage: I was at a friend's house recently when she was wrapping Christmas presents.   She had several spools of ribbon on one of those standing wooden paper towel  holders.  When I commented on how handy and neat that was, she said, "I got the idea from seeing you with all your florist tapes and other tapes on your hanging towel holder!"

Wanna in El Paso

Mini storage & workroom tips: Here is one of the simplest, yet surprisingly effective things I do to try to keep the mess off my worktable. I take a disposable plastic cup and stick it to my table with a bit of blue tack . I use the cup as a mini trash basket. You'd be amazed at how much this helps to keep little bits and pieces out of the way.

I also use a small block of Styrofoam ( the real stuff with honeycomb texture, not the dense packing stuff) to stick pins and pointed tools into so I can find them when I need them.

I keep wax paper handy to give me a clean, disposable work surface whenever I need it.

I have all my doll and miniature making materials and tools in labeled boxes in three 18" wide closets in my den.

I work on an antique wooden kitchen table that came to me complete with scratches and gouges so I can add an occasional scratch without guilt. It has two drawers originally for silverware but in which I store my most frequently used tools. One drawer houses a small travel iron with a fold-down handle and pieces of iron-on interfacing for use in doll dressing. I also keep a mini ironing board that DH made for me in that drawer. The other drawer houses my scissors, hemostat clamps, mini alligator clips, a ball stylus, dental picks, fray check ,a small glue bottle, wax paper and a pincushion. That's it.

Any other tools are stored in my closets. Since my workroom is also my den, my entry to my house and my TV and computer room, I have to stash things out of sight most of the time.

I find that a table with drawers allows me to get going on a project and then put things away very easily. I've pared down the things I store in those 2 drawers to the barest essentials.

In the same room I have a metal roll-about  serving cart with 3 shelves. It is just 27" long by 16" wide by 31" high. My little kiln is on the top shelf, my "dolls in progress" are on the second shelf, my gallon jars of slip, pouring supplies & greenware cleaning supplies are on the bottom shelf.

This is the entire setup I've used for making countless miniature porcelain dolls. I made a fabric cover for the whole cart and it sits in a corner of the room, tucked in next to a bookshelf.

The best use of space I've ever seen was created by a miniaturist friend of mine who lived in a 2 room apartment. She made a platform for a bed out of a bunch of used 2 drawer file cabinets . She placed her box spring on top of all the file cabinets. Then she made a long dust ruffle skirt that completely hid the file cabinets and box spring. She topped that with her mattress and a matching coverlet. In the same room, she placed four tall file cabinets, two on either side of the single window. She then curtained floor to ceiling around the front and window side of the cabinets. She placed a bench below the window between the sets of curtained file cabinets, making an inviting window niche. The bench opened to reveal more storage too and was topped with a cushion covered in fabric that matched the drapes. True, her bed was a bit higher than usual, but the effect was really charming and you'd never know that you were looking at "storage heaven". I don't think the room measured more than 10' by 12'.

Darlene from L.I.

Displaying Minis:  what about some shallow inset into the wall room boxes, vignettes with frames; plain or ornate depending upon your taste and furnishings... kinda like how medicine cabinets set in between the studs.... Only hassle is not cutting into wires or duct work or plumbing...so don't just go knocking holes in the walls without checking! Or memory box type wall hangings if inset is not worth the hassle. I have seen lamps that you can put things in the bases, kinda like a room box with a lamp... Room boxes that fit into bookshelves... New trend in full size world is minis mixed in with other stuff as table or mantle or shelf scapes.

Debbie DAS

Displaying Minis: Having limited space (like most of us)! I have set up vignettes all over the house.  I like to imitate life so I have some large life size pewter candle sticks with an almost exact miniature one in front of it.  I do the same with my china, and teapots.  Also the same with my life size and miniature paintings. Then in my library area I have a vignette of 3 ladies sitting around reading.  Shadow boxes are good to hang on the wall too.

Judy K

Displaying Minis: Some people use their furniture to display their minis.  For example,

*you can build a lamp base that is actually a mini room. 

*Or surround the bottom of a glass top coffee table with glass (plastic?) "walls" and fill it with mini room(s). 

*Put favorite mini in a shadow box frame, and hang it as a picture.

* Some clocks come in a frame that is deep enough to hold a small mini scene.

Viola

Displaying Minis: Another idea is to use a curio cabinet.  I have one that is about 6 feet high but not very wide at all - the back that is against the wall a little over 2 feet - and then the front is \__/ - anyway!!!  there are 6 shelves - you could make each shelf a different room/scene and dust free!!!

Marsha, Newark, CA

Displaying Extra Minis:  I was watching an episode on HGTV last week, believe it may have been Kitty Bartholomew (?) and they were going through a condo that a designer had helped decorate.  The owner was into minis but didn't have room for the dollhouses and room boxes.  The designer hung the furniture on the wall like a 3-D picture.  It really looked nice.  She had things done randomly, but you could put yours up in room settings or any way you like.  She used tiny pins and removable glue to hang the objects.

Marilyn

Mini Display Ideas: I also have been looking for different ways to display miscellaneous  miniatures without having to do more houses or roomboxes.

      My son gave me a lovely clear glass pedestal cake plate with cover several  years ago.  Since I seldom bake any more it's rarely used for its original purpose.  Early in the fall I saw some beautiful red, green and yellow apples at MacFrugal's and on impulse placed them on the cake plate.  They looked so real that my grandchildren asked to eat them.

      One day as I walked past one of my curio cabinets I spied an apple-pie baking table and something clicked.  Now, in front of the large "real" apples is the miniature baking table on a green braided rug.  The glass cover protects the scene from dust and the cake plate looks great on my dining table.  My grandchildren love it and non-miniaturists seem particularly intrigued with it.

      Because I have so many other baking and cooking scenes with no place to use them, I'm already planning other such arrangements.  The possibilities are great:  Full-size "fake" brownies, cake or cookies - or even pizza - using foamcore and thick acrylic paint, etc. (to avoid the messiness connected with having the real thing in there), and their miniature counterparts.

Wanna in El Paso

Displaying Extra Minis: I have seen the "chest on chest" used to display minis & also used as a dh consisting of room boxes. The doors close and appear to be a regular piece of furniture, but opened, they reveal their own "little" world.

Rusty

Displaying Extra Minis: Real Good makes a turn table display that contains four rooms on each floor. You can build it at least 3 or 4 stories. You just buy the number of floors you want. I use it in the shop as a place for changing displays of rooms of furniture. I've had many people want one because of the way you can decorate each room and still not use a lot of space. The one draw back is that it is open and you'll have to dust when company comes.

Deanna, Thiensville

Workspace Tip: Usually the workspace is rather a jungle but I have found that the following always seems to help me bring some order to the chaos.  I start a new project with the tools etc. put away and as I am working a new pile seems to quickly build up.  As soon as I can't find something which I have put down, rather than hunt for it directly which can be rather time consuming and often leads to looking in the same place several times; I use this as a signal to start putting "stuff" away until the desired object is found.  If you find it quickly then that is its own reward, if not then at least when you do find it you have a relatively tidy work space.  This seems to keep the work area in a steady state of controlled chaos. (only inches deep instead of feet). I know this sounds obvious, however you do have to consciously avoid the natural tendency to churn over of items in a random search  which only adds to the chaos making the next loss even more time consuming.

Keith

Rolling Base for Dollhouses: For my biggest, oldest dollhouse, I bought a breakfast bar table. It's 18" wide by 48" long and 36" high. To make it easy to roll on carpet, I got the big, wide casters and a drill bit big enough to accommodate the caster posts.

For my San Franciscan, I made a table with full-scale staircase spindles for the legs. The braces are 2x4's. Because the spindles were so narrow and delicate, I couldn't use the big casters but the little ones roll on carpet just as well. The tops of the spindles have round knobs on top that are meant to fit inside of stair railing. Instead of shaving them off, I drilled holes -- not all the way thru -- into the plywood sheet that goes on top of the table so it fits over the knobs. The house is glued and screwed to the plywood but the plywood can be lifted off the base. I finished off the plywood edges with moulding. I actually built the base before starting the house. It made it easy to work on because I could roll it over to where I was working and turn it around as needed.

For my Christmas Shop, I used an old wooden stool I got at a garage sale for $2. I drilled a hole thru the middle of the seat. Attached a 9" turntable to seat and dollhouse. Ran the electric cord thru the hole. For a small house, I think turning the house is easier than turning a table. I plan to use stools and turntables for all my small houses.

Sally Cook-Thomas

Rolling Base for Dollhouses: I designed a rollable cupboard for my dollhouse which my very talented wood working hubster made for me.

I was very limited for space to display my Dollhouse. The only spot I could find was to have it wedged at the end of a hallway. I ran into a problem displaying it because once I set it there if I wanted to see the inside it was such a chore (and also a risk for ruining the floor) to turn it.

The cupboard I designed looks the same on both sides and is mounted on casters wheels. They are hidden by the trim molding along the bottom. Its so easy to turn, move and is attractive from either side. On one side the doors open with shelves inside for storing minis. The other side the doors are faked. They don't open but they look as if they do.

Leslie, in Buffalo

Rolling Base for Dollhouses: I don't remember what site it was but it had absolutely fabulous dh's - the lady who created them said she gets unfinished bathroom sink cabinets and puts them on castors. I thought this was a great idea, 'specially since my DH is not the wood-working type! All I'd have to do is put a back on the cabinet and finish it to match the dh. I often seem them on clearance at Home Depot or Lowes, too, so I think it could be fairly inexpensive.

Linda in NC