5 comments about Anatomy of a Doll: The Fabric Sculptor's Handbook.

1. The book follows no particular sequence and leaves much unanswered in basic steps. For example, page 35 which instructs on making a fully sculptural head is initially clear, basically 3 circles are needed and you'll come out with a fully sculpted head with no nose. But, then there is a drawing of a fully sculptured head with a nose. This head appears to have 4 pieces. The increase caused by splitting the face with the nose in half...but, is this nose appliqued or glued on? Is it then covered with another cloth? This is never answered. And what order is easiest in sewing this face together. If you sew parts 1 and 2, the face, then part 3, the piece which hold in the padding to the face should be smaller (remember, you sewed the face together) and now you need a smaller circumference for part 3, or should it be pleated. According to the author, "learning will be quicker and more enjoyable if you allow yourself to have ideas, to play with them, and to experiment with the techniques." She continues and it becomes condescending. I spent more time than necessary trying to determine exactly what steps to take and when.. she never tells the full story and jumps from one subject to another without warning or explanation. I have plenty of ideas but needed help with the basics in order to apply my ideas. You won't get that here. There are many beautiful figures made by the author and other artists and a brief statement of the technique used. The book is a waste of time and money.. I closed the book and started from "Scratch". I will list the book here on Amazon if any of you want to buy it.



2. Anyone who cannot understand and follow this book's instructions and illustrations should not attempt to make art dolls. They do not have the necessary creativity and would be better served by a major pattern company. This is the most informative and inspirational books I've read on art dolls. All of Susanna Oroyan's books are informative, inspirational, and food for the soul of the dollmaker.



3. I am a cloth doll maker and never fail to find inspiration when I read this book. I look through it frequently for ideas and for technique - and never fail to find something I can use. This is a basic book for any cloth doll maker and I can't recommend it highly enough. I belong to a cloth doll club and everyone owns one of these books and wouldn't be without it.



4. Talk about INSPIRATION! This is a wonderful book for all doll makers, beginners and experts alike. There are clear directions for many different techniques, and so much variety in the techniques that you will NEVER come out of your sewing room! This book is a must have for all doll makers and sculptures.



5. IF TRYING TO TEACH YOURSELF DOLLMAKING A TOOL WITH MANY TIPS OF
   DIFFERENT METHODS.I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM IT.ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD FAILURES IT IS MAKING MY SKILLS GROW.ANOTHER MUST HAVE.

5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly Part I - Automatic Pistols (Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly).

1. If you cannot field strip a weapon you really have no business owning it. I bought the volume on automatic pistols and I was not disappointed. For most of my life I was a revolver man and I stayed away from automatics because I didn't understand them- and I was convinved that they were unreliable. When I bought my first Model 1911 (which has NEVER jammed on me) it didn't have a field manual, so I bought this book. It didn't take long before I was field stripping and reassembling blind-folded. I feel confident that I could do the same with any automatic even loosely based on John Browning's designs. I might have trouble with German designs like the Luger or Broom handle Mauser, but after studying this book I feel sure that I could eventually master them too.



2. Since I am a Gunsmith and deal with a variety of firearms I bought this book for disassembly/assembly instructions.

   This book is almost 23 years old and in sore need of updating. It does not even cover the new S&W auto pistols, Glock series of Handguns, or the Heckler & Koch (HK) MP 5 submachine gun. All of these are in wide use by law enforcement. Further the Mossberg 500/590 isn't cover either. Duh! It is the only shotgun to pass the mil spec test and is in wide use by cops.

   Unless you just have to have it for work wait for an updated version that covers firearms developed and in use by law enforcement in the last 23 years




3. This book is an excellent guide for disassembly. It is worthless as a guide for reassembly. There are no step-by-step instructions for reassembling a firearm. At best, the book assumes that reassembly is the reversal of the steps involved in disassembly. This is not necessarily so. I would not recommend this book to a hobbyist.



4. This book and all the others in the series are invaluable to the professional gunsmith, firearms hobbiest, or the casual gun owner who just likes to "see how things work" but can't always quite remember whether this little spring went in here, or over there.



5. This book is very good at step-by step instructions. The pictures are well taken of the actual part you are working on. There could be more model numbers to go over, but the ones they have are very good. The author is exerienced in gun repair and it shows up in the "tip" portion of every model. I think a list of specialty tools would benifit the author in this book, since each model of firearm needs at least one special tool. Not all, but most. Listing those would benifit the less experienced gunsmith. Thank you

5 comments about The New Joy of Sex (The Joy of Sex Series).

1. seller had said that the book was almost new. but, it had a tear in the back cover. however, the transaction was good.



2. I picked up this highly priced book for my collection of "sexual techniques" books. I wont go as far as saying that its terrible, or that its wonderful.

   I thought that it had way to much writing in it, just random talking about history of sex and other stuff like that. It needs to have more about how to go about doing the possisions etc.

   The pictures are all drawings, other than a few in the beginning, but the drawings are old looking and a little dull.

   One good thing that I found about the book is the slang that they used in it though. It is hard to find a book that uses slang terms rather than the correct way. I have quite a few sex books, and this is the only one that goes far enough to use [modern phrases], rather than, "vagina" and "penis". I mean, come on, we all know that most people in bed dont use the term "vagina".

   If you are looking for more of a history on sex, get it. If you want detail, pass it up.




3. As a forty-something year old guy, I'm just as interested in sex as much as the next guy (or woman), so naturally I do sometimes wander to the Relationships section at the local book emporium and check out the guides on lovemaking. Yes, there are many such books out there (Anne Hooper seems to have made a good career for herself with her own series of "how-to" guides!), but the late Alex Comfort's The New Joy of Sex is by far the best.

   Updating his 1972 bestseller for the 1990s as a result of the AIDS crisis, Comfort supplements his always helpful advice from the 1970s edition with new sections in which he discusses safe sex, the importance of sharing and respecting a partner's needs or fantasies. Even better, Comfort uses language that is both informative and pleasing to the ear. He also avoids being overly clinical; knowing how most people talk about sex, he doesn't shy away from using colloquial [phrases] when referring to genitalia. Best of all, Comfort advises his audience that sex is something very human and essential to any meaningful relationship, so it should indeed be a source of joy.

   Beautifully illustrated throughout with photos by Clare Park and drawings by John Raynes, The New Joy of Sex should be read at least once by any couple seeking to enhance their relationship.




4. This book filled me with smarts on the subjact matter of sex. I'm thrilled to have read this here book. my net book to read will be Battlestar Galactaka or the Return of the Kings.



5. I am a 40 year old guy who has Dr. Comfort to thank for his suggestions in "Joy of Sex" that women should not shave their armpits. Too many people who should know better have made the mistake of equating armpit hair with body odor and this simply is not the case. My partner of the last 15 years has never shaved any of her body hair and has always been attractive to me.
   She used to feel uncomfortable about it sometimes and was considering shaving for the first time in her life and then read "JoS". Combined with the text of that publication and fully realizing how much I appreciated her natural look made her much more comfortable and at ease with herself. This book was informative and entertaining in what may be called an "old fashioned" way but hey it was written in the early 70's. If there is a criticism it may be that some of the sexual intercourse positions may be unattainable for lesser endowed men which fortunatley I don't have to worry about but all in all was a wonderful read and I would advise anyone and everyone of legal age who has even the slightest interest in sex to read it and even for those of us who are vastly experienced, it could still provide some very interesting advice and ideas.

5 comments about Home Book of Picture Framing: Professional Secrets of Mounting Matting, Framing and Displaying Artworks, Photographs, Posters, Fabrics, Collectibles, Carvings and More.

1. Treat this as an encyclopedia. There is a lot of good information in this book, but a lot more than you need to get going. I have only just finished wading through this thing (after six months) and would have been better off with a book 1/8 the size of this one. For a "How To" book, the author is way too verbose on his way to getting to the bottom line--if he ever does. Only because I am very good at puzzles was I able to pick out the things I really need and the best methods to complete anything - otherwise, you can get terribly confused. The author wastes a lot of time on "you could do this" and "some people do this" when the most helpful advice would be just to say, "Do this."
   
   Don't take this as too harsh an indictment of the book. Afterall, I Learned Everything I Need to Know About Picture Framing from the book. There is A LOT of stuff in it. But I could have done, and you can do, without the exhaustive descriptions of differences between various manual, as well as, power tools. It's a hobby, I expect to spend some money...just tell me what do.



2. These questions are misleading - I ordered one book, and received and paid for two - I have sent emails complaining, and all I get back (weeks later) is this stupid email asking me to rate the book - which book? - where were you when I asked how I got two books? And how do I correct this? - but NO, instead you send me this idiotic questionaire about "the book" I received - is anybody there? Are you people there, or am I talking to a computer? You pretend to care, but it appears you are just robots - HOW DID I GET TWO BOOKS, AFTER ORDERING ONE, PAY FOR TWO and GET ZERO RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS?!! Your computer generated concern is phony - the books were fine, Amazon is suspect!



3. This book focuses mostly on woodworking techniques and building picture frames, with a minimal amount on matting (using the Alto mat cutter), mounting, or aesthetics (choosing colors and proportions). Some modern methods of mounting (for instance, strip mounts in which no glue touches the artwork) aren't even mentioned here. This book might be useful if you want to focus on building picture frames, but for a more general introduction to the kind of framing I might do myself, including assembling frames, I found Logan's "Mat, Mount, and Frame It Yourself" more useful.



4. Author writes from first hand experience and adds in good technical details. Good examples of using common tools and professional tools to create desired results. Many examples and pictures to show how to perform each step. Many areas of framing, matting, and hanging the art are covered. Many references to the best practices are included. Overall a very well written reference book. A great place to start, but include a lot of extra material so the intermediate framer will get a lot out of this book also.



5. This is a great book. I have always wanted to offer my customers top quality framed and matted photographs, but wasn't shure how to go about it. This book opened up a whole new world to me, and I bought some reasonably price tools and now I can frame and matt like a professional. This book is worth its' weight in gold.

5 comments about Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia.

1. I have not seen the book but wanted to comment on the editorial comments.
   Prince Michael's Grandmother was Queen Olga of Greece, born a Grand Duchess of Russia but she was not a sister of Nicholas II. Olga's father and Nicholas II's grandfather were brothers. Thus Olga was a cousin to Nicholas II's father, Alexander III and therefore Olga and Nicholas II were second cousins. Prince Michael is a Prince of Greece and Denmark as his grandfather, King George I of Greece (Olga's husband) was born in Denmark as the second son of King Christian IX of Denmark and was elected King of Greece in March of 1863, thus becoming the King of Greece as a 17 year old prior to his father becoming King of Denmark in November of the same year, 1863. The Great Powers of Europe were looking for a new King for Greece when Vilhelm (his Danish name) was noticed at the March 1863 wedding of his older sister, Alexandra, when she married the Prince of Wales, son of Queen Victoria, and later King Edward VII. King George also had a sister (born Dagmar in Denmark) who married Alexander III of Russia, and were the parents of Nicholas II. This Michael's father Christopher was a first cousin to King George as well, making Michael a second cousin to Tsar Nicholas II through his father. Obviously one needs a "score card" to keep track of European Royalty as most of them are related to each other one way or another as in the past royalty was only allowed to marry royalty. Fortunately that has changed over the last several generations and it would appear that ALL of the heirs to the crowns of Europe have indeed married for love, and almost all of them have married commoners.



2. This is an excellent look at the jewels and other fine objects of the Tsars and their families. The quality of the paper and the feel of the book is rich too. A pleasure to read and enjoy.



3. Very beautiful and well written. Lots of information on Russia's history and beautiful pictures of the families and jewels. If you are interested in Russian history and gem stones, this is a very good book.



4. While the subject of the Imperial Crown Jewels has not yet been exhausted, and this book assembles for the first time a large portion of the former collections, Prince Michael of Greece is not an Historian, gemologist, or specialist in decorative arts.
   
   While this book, like his others, has a romantic and lyric chronology enhanced by the ruthless dropping in of uncorroborated family lore, these personal titbits are less interesting that the pieces themselves who have been done a disservice by inadequate research and fact-checking.
   
   Page after page of this book are riddled with errors, inconsistencies and projections. Aigrettes are called brooches, diadems called chokers, the immense value of colored diamonds emphasized, which the actual stones shown are foiled to impart color. Members of the family are misidentified, the structure of the Diamond Fund misstated, and recreations misrepresented.
   
   Do buy this books for the marvelous photographs, many taken orginially for inclusion in the "Jewels of the Romanovs" Show catalogue at the Corcoran Gallery, but which was never published in full.



5. If you like books about royal jewels like me then this book is for you. The pictures are beautiful and the book is full of great information.

1 comments about Chinese Propaganda Posters.

1. Hello Kitty aesthetics meets scary Mao. A Cultural Revolution in a Book. Not for the faint hearted.

5 comments about The Good Spell Book: Love Charms, Magical Cures, and Other Practical Sorcery.

1. A Great book for those interested in folk magic, Gypsy magic, and beginners to witchcraft and magic. The section on Love spells is the best in the book, and the most useful. Great book with great spells.



2. If you're a fan of simple folk magic like I am, you will probably like this book. In it, it has many different cures and charms from gypsy lore and such, which is quite different from what is in the spellbook market today. I feel that the book could've been bigger, but the artwork and cover detailing added a nice touch to it.
   
   Overall, this is a great gift for yourself or those who like old-fashioned folk magic and lore from outside of the US.



3. I decided to get this book after reading all the glowing reviews, and am glad I did. I am not a witch, or into doing spells, but I've always been interested in the occult. I get books like these just to toy around with the idea of doing a spell. If I feel it is a simple spell and does not harm anyone, I would do it. I have purchased a few other spell books, but none came as good as this one. First of all the book is so nicely laid out, it is very cute and has an old-world feel to it. I get the idea Ms. Kemp was going for. She wanted it to look classicaly and elegantly ancient. The cover is a very strong, hard cover. You can just tell that no expense was spared in the quality of making the book. It is not flimsy or cheap. Now what it is I really like about this book is, the spells are so simple AND there is such a wide variety! There are 5 sections: love, money, health, pets, wealth, and happiness. It has so many interesting, easy-to-do spells. I remember in the pet section, there was even a spell to heal your pet or return your lost pet. I searched for a while for a spell book that was easy and had good content and I finally found it in this lovely, little book! This will always be near me and I will treasure it to the day I die! I highly reccomend this book. You won't be dissapointed!



4. This is a beautiful little book that you will love even looking over and seeing on your shelf. It throws in some history, and spells. I love how it give you spells and explains where some of the things come from.



5. This is a nice little book of practical Romany spells that I cherish in my collection of spellbooks. It has become my first point of reference for a quick, simple spell. And they work! I generally practice candle-magic and the love spells using pink candles and charms worked particularly well for me. I found the love of my life and have been happily married for almost two years! The small size is manageable and the cloth cover is comfortable in my hands. The ribbon bookmarks are a charming (and useful) feature. It is an attractive book and easy to understand. My only criticism is that the book isn't long enough! Great for beginners as it utilizes simple items you might find around the house. As with all spell-casting, just remember to be careful what you cast for.

4 comments about Collectible Glassware from the 40s, 50s and 60s (Collectible Glassware from the Forties, Fifties, and Sixties).

1. I always find gene florence book the most helpful for research. I did find somethings that where discontinued I would have liked referenced. I still rely on his resources.



2. Gene Florance is, I think, the best person to go by, when it comes to depression glass and collectible glassware. his books are like the bible to me.
   one of the best things about Gene's books, they are easy to follow and the pictures are AWESOME! I'm a better person to compare pictures than try to read what someone is telling me. so thats why, I dont leave home without him/it!



3. This guide was great if you don't have any other volumes. The pricing so far seems to be very accurate to the market. If you have another earlier edition of 40's 50's 60's there are not very many new patterns in the book. Great photo reference.



4. I found the book to be very informative about the collectibles I have interest in collecting. It even gave me insight on others that I have seen and may consider collecting. Great, Great book!!!

5 comments about Best Women's Erotica 2006 (Best Women's Erotica).

1. Is it hot in here, or what?? Loved this collection of naughty provocative stories. When does the next one come out?



2. The writing is excellent. This is not a substandard book intended strictly to make a lot of money off people looking for cheap thrills while shopping at the grocery store. The variety of stories is also good.



3. Best Women's Erotica 2006 is enjoyable - it has a nice variety of scenarios and nothing too freaky.



4. Got some steamy new ideas from reading this book. Only trouble is there are never enough stories. ;) Enjoy.



5. YUP-this delivers. Fast and to the point. Good for a quick read before bed, or a long afternoon...

5 comments about No. 1 Price Guide to M.I.Hummel Figurines, Plates, Miniatures, & More (Mi Hummel Figurines, Plates, Miniatures & More 10th Ed. (Mi Hummel Figurines, Plates, Miniatures & More Price Guide).

1. If you're a collector of hummels, you must have this book. The history on each hummel piece is outstanding. The details are just fascinating. Love the book!



2. It is the most up to date and complete guide that I have found for Hummel values. It has enabled me to place the proper amount of insurance on my Hummel collection and know what my collection is worth.



3. Less expensive than buying at the store and the added convenience of coming to my home. Thank you. The book arrived in excellent condition.



4. Book is well done with high quality full color pictures of each piece. Recommend this book to others as a go-to Hummel reference guide.
   
   Unfortunately, prices have collapsed. Hummel pieces are selling on EBay for less than half of the values shown in the book. The book can tell you which piece is worth more than another - but the values shown are 3 or 4 times what you can buy the item for on EBay.
   
   Hummels make for a beautiful collection - but do not appear to be a great investment.



5. Once I realized that the number on the index was the "Hummel number" and not "page number", I easily accessed all the information needed to accurately identify my Hummels. Very handy to have the 8 different sets of Hummel marks on the inside cover - no need to thumb through the book. Interesting to learn about Hummel designs which were never approved and some styles which I would never dream were actually considered Hummels.