Great article -- fun to read and inspiring. :-)
I noticed the buildings, too... they look like those little decorative "birdhouses" that I see at the craft store and wonder what I could do with them once we'd painted them... *light bulb*
We've been making things out of polymer clay for "fairy furnishings" and picking up things here and there also. I've coated polymer clay pieces with PYM II since Goldfinch told me about it, but I've recently read that once fired it's already waterproof and can go outside (or in the case of a recent creation, into the fish tank).
I do put a coat of clear polyurethane spray (sometimes matte, sometimes glossy) on almost anything I put outside... it's especially needed for those cute little dollar store finds or anything hand-painted, but I've been surprised by finishes that have failed to be weatherproof... so if you want to be sure, give it a spray!
