A Beginner's Guide to Building a Roombox: Simply Living Mini Designs by Rosa Moran

This is a lovely book, not least because it uses everyday things for the boxes, and not expensive ready made miniatures. On my second box

This feels less substantial than the average dolls’ house magazine. The central section of this seems to operate as an advert for an irrelevant children’s book. The instructions are vague when they most need to be clear- eg “use a saw and cut the wood” when my main reason for buying was the woodwork end; “simply connect the black wire”- using what? How? I gave it two stars because the photography is good and so is the list of equipment. But if you’re buying it because you are a beginner and want to know how to build a roombox, don’t. It either assumes that you know how to do all the difficult bits, like cut wood and connect battery lights, or just airily delegates it: “Follow the manufacturer’s instructions” appears at p15 re lighting, and again re veneer at p23 “Iron on the veneer according to the directions”. Some of it is the sort of stuff that you’d give children to do to keep them quiet while adults go around miniaturist fairs- eg one full page is devoted to how to make a pot plant. I opened this book an hour ago; I’m sending it back tomorrow if I get a chance.