Bunny rabbits and birth control...

I've start listing some new miniatures for sale in my store. First up, in the spirit of Easter, are handmade fuzzy pink bunny slippers. Just 5/8" (17mm) long, they'd look perfect next to a bed or bathtub!

Next, in the spirit of... bunny rabbits?... just what every modern dollhouse needs - a tiny box of condoms to put by the bed! Handmade box measures 3/8" (1cm), and comes with three individual packets that measure 1/8" (3mm) each. The wrappers don't open, but each one has the telltale "ring" made by the contents. Keep them with the box, or stick one in your miniature man's wallet or woman's purse!

TreeFeathers on Etsy

Hi folks, I hope you're all enjoying the beautiful spring weather we've been having. After such a cold, snowy winter, I know I sure am!

After several years of being absorbed by other matters, I decided to reopen my Etsy store! Due to the cost of listing, I'll only be putting sets there, not single books, but you can still buy the singles from my TreeFeathers Miniatures website. Pop on over and take a look!

Miniature Printies: St. Patrick's Day and Family Tree

New printies for you for St. Patrick's Day! They are high-resolution images to give you good quality printies. They'll be available here and in the Printies section of my website. Enjoy!

These St. Patrick's Day postcards date from about 1900-1915. There is also a page of sheet music, "The Harp that Once Thro' Tara's Halls," and a vintage fruit crate label for Shamrock brand oranges. Click the images for a printable page.

The Family Tree printables below include:

• Bible page: Family Record 1882-1932
• Bible page: Births 1815-1924
• Marriage Certificate, California 1892
• Indenture Papers, Illinois 1815
• Matted Family Photographs for framing

Click the images for a printable page.

You may also be interested in:

Family Tree Research Set
$13.75

Gardens of Ireland
$2.75

Celtic Myth & Legend
$2.75

Jewish texts in miniatures, and some questions

Illuminated Mishneh Torah, c.1350

If you're reading my blog then you probably already know that my specialty is miniature books. I make a couple of different Christian Bibles, and have recently created a miniature Qur'an (soon to be listed). I've had requests now and then for Jewish texts so I've been looking into it, however "looking into it" has left me more confused than ever. So I'm wondering if someone could answer some questions for me:

1. Is the Talmud published in English at all, or should I make it in its original language? And is that Aramaic or Hebrew? It would only be relevant as far as the title on the cover (and which way the book would face), as I'm not about to attempt to make one full-text in miniature.
2. Should I make a Jerusalem Talmud, a Babylonian Talmud, or both?
3. Is there such a thing as a one-volume Talmud, or even 3 or 5 volume set? Or is it always a huge multi-volume set of books?
4. Are Talmuds ever made with fancy fabulous covers, or do they tend to have plain covers, or does it not matter? Would it ever have gilt page edges? Are there old medieval versions I could recreate, or should I just make a modern style one?
5. I have already made a Mishneh Torah (with English title) since I happened to come across a beautiful old cover for one. Just how common is this book? I read up on the background and history of it, but it didn't really give me a grasp of whether or not it's a common book these days.

I'd appreciate any direction anyone could give me on this, as I want to make them correctly. You can email me directly at info@treefeathers.com. Thanks!

Miniature compasses back in stock!

I'm so excited, I finally found another source for my itty-bitty compasses! Less than 3/8" (9mm) in diameter - perfect for miniature travel or camping scenes. Black base and clear plastic cover, and just 4mm tall. They have a magnetic center and the dial spins freely, but don't count on them to point to true north - they're just for entertainment, not hiking trips. You'll find them in the travel section of my store (link above or in the sidebar). Get yours before they're all gone!

Mini storage solution

Miniaturists are always looking for useful storage containers for mini collections and art supplies. Well I made a great find at Family Dollar today - tiny plastic storage boxes with lids. They're sold in packs of eight, for the unbeatable price of $1! They measure 2.5x2 inches, and about 1.5" tall. Perfect for all those little bits and bobs. They'd be good for shipping miniatures, too. You'll find them in the kitchen utensils aisle of the store.

I already know what I'll be using some of them for: holding the leftover bits of custom-mixed paints and plasters that I use. It takes so little for mini projects, I hate to mix up large amounts of custom colors and textures. They tend to dry out quickly in larger containers, so storage has always been a problem. These will be perfect! I'm also going to use them to hold different colors of flocking material, which currently stay in the plastic baggies in which they arrive. I have to pour out piles onto paper plates or into larger containers when I actually use it (and then try to pour the leftover back into the baggies.) This will be a much easier solution.

I think they'll also be handy for storing miniature works in progress, to keep the pieces together and clean. And I can stack them right on the work table within easy reach instead of away in a drawer where they might be forgotten. Maybe it will help me cut down on the UFOs around here!