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This page is for all the miscellaneous stuff that doesn't seem to fit anywhere else!

I recently published a book review in Antique Doll Collector Magazine of Halina Pasierbska's new book: Dollhouses from the V&A Museum of Childhood. I don't know about you, but I've been waiting YEARS for someone to write a beautifully illustrated book about the wonderful collection at Bethnal Green, and this is it! Rather than focus on one house at a time, the author organized the book into chapters comparing specific rooms from house to house, such as parlors, kitchens, bedrooms, etc. I would have preferred a house by house tour in chronological order, but I can't complain about the photos, many of which are new and include close-ups of unique items in the collection. The $45 asking price is very reasonable. Published by the V&A, it's distributed in the US by Abrams.

And of course, Swantje Koehler's new book about Christian Hacker is a delight! Order through her American distributor, Libby Goodman, at 730 Bedford Place, Merion Station, PA 19066. Cost is $92 plus $8 shipping. Worth it! I have written a book review to be published shortly in Antique Doll Collector.

I recommend another website for collectors interested in purchasing antique and vintage dollhouse miniatures:

www.meehanantiqueminiatures.com is the website for Ann Meehan, a well-known dealer of antique dollhouse miniatures and a dedicated collector whose dollhouses have been featured in Miniature Collector Magazine. Another dealer who has all but abandoned the show arena to focus on selling over the internet, her website is an active one and is frequently updated. She also publishes a FREE monthly newsletter which can be ordered through her website. Some of my first and favorite Tynietoy pieces were purchased from Ann, who is one of those few collectors who is always generous when it comes to sharing information and resources. (9.12.08)

My favorite dollhouse shop on this side of the Atlantic is The Dollhouse Factory in Lebanon, NJ, about 25 minutes from my house. I have been shopping there since the early 1980's and I can't think of anything commercially available that I couldn't get through them. The business was sold about six years ago after the original owners divorced and was purchased by Bill Murphy and Chuck Rand who de-cluttered the place and added better lighting so now you can actually see everything! These guys are just great, always helpful and I owe them much of my current success since they really got me started in my current pursuits - a long story for another day. Anyway, they get top marks from me! www.thedollhousefactory.com.

In England, I recommend a visit to Key Miniatures at 7 Swan Walk in Thame, Oxfordshire, about an hour north of London off the A40. They carry many of the items previously exclusive to the Singing Tree in a tiny but pleasant shop located in a narrow walkway off the High Street. Convenient public parking nearby and other nice shops in the vicinity. It's closed Sunday and Tuesday. Some of the best Chinese food I've had in England is in nearby Long Crendon. No website. (9.30.08)

I not only collect dollhouses and miniatures, but I build and restore, too. A helpful place I've found for locating antique and vintage wallpaper suitable for restoring old dollhouses is an on-line business called Hannah's Treasures, based out in the Midwest. She carries full-scale wallpaper but often has smaller scale patterns. Her posted prices are per roll, but if you email her and tell her you need just enough to do one room of a dollhouse, she will often cut off a yard and sell that separately. I've bought from her several times and I think her prices may not be bargains, but I think they are within reason, and she's very nice to deal with. I've also schlepped into New York to visit Second Hand Rose and I did buy a roll of paper there but the stink of cigarette smoke was pretty hard to take - and this was after they passed the non-smoking laws in NY! My best purchases of old wallpaper have been at car boot sales and at OxFam shops in England, and in the US, at church rummage sales and flea markets. England was great - they seldom asked more than 1-2 pounds a roll, and I even bought discontinued small patterns at Laura Ashley shops for $6 a roll. Check out www.HannahsTreasures.com and enjoy! (8.26.08)