5 comments about Papier-Mache Treasures with Teena Flanner: Creating Your Own Vintage-Style Collectibles.

1. Lovely photos and detailed directions for specific pieces. Of course, you need the molds for these pieces. There are instructions to make molds, but you need the positive to make the negative. This would all be fine, except there is no Resources List. After spending hours on the web, I haven't come up with much. But I'm sure I will. However, my attempt to find "sterling tinsel" yielded nothing. This book is well done as far as it goes and inspirational - but frustrating.



2. To really use this book you will need (preferably) vintage chocolate or candy molds. So forget it if you don't have these available. Or better yet, start collecting them once you order the book.



3. This book is as lovely as the author/artist herself. As a collector, I never had the understanding or appreciation for the art that I should have until opening the pages of this book. Teena takes you through the step by step process she goes through in creating each of these "one of a kind" pieces. Teena has now inspired me to learn the craft as well as collect. How kind of her to share her secrets!!! I especially enjoyed all her childhood/inspirational stories that she shared with us throughout the book. Family and nature certainly fill her heart!! As a photographer myself, it is an incredible joy to turn the pages to see picture after picture of as she journeys through the seasons show casing only a small sample of her special art. She even shares her precious pets with us!! This was a much anticipated book for me as a collector, but I'll be sharing it with friends for Christmas that enjoy my collection for their coffee tables as well.....it's that special! And then, after the holidays a new hobby awaits!!!



4. As lovely to look at as learn from, Teena Flanner's unique artistry is revealed in page after gorgeous page. Throughout, the author's warmth and passion for her craft inspires even beginners to go for the magic. As Flanner writes, "perfection is not my goal," it's all about loving the process. With this beautiful and informative guidebook in hand, budding papier-mache artists are off to an excellent start.



5. If you are creative and resourceful, this book is a guide AND an inspiration. There are a handful of projects that don't call for a mold, including her ever-popular snowmen. The rest? Sure, you need molds, but I saw three last weekend while antiquing and one was only $6 (and it was a lamb, too!). They don't have to be old, just a mold you like! Really, NOT HARD TO FIND.
   
   This book gave me insight into the process and acted as a jumping point for my own projects. I had many lightbulb moments while reading this " ... Ah ha! THAT'S how you do THAT!", etc. I've got a project baking in the oven as I type and I'm so glad I checked this book out of the library. I'll probably buy it now!

No comments about The Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps 2009, 31st Edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps).

No comments about Royal Jewels: From Charlemagne to the Romanovs.

2 comments about Antiques Investigator.

1. This book is exactly what I was looking for even earlier in my antique experience. It touches on everything from porcelain to styles of furniture, fakes, how to detect quality, and much, much more. Every page is full of color photographs and examples. It's a great place to start for anyone who wants to know the basics of different types of antiques. Definitely worth the money!



2. This book was selected as a Christmas present to help a young couple learn to look and notice important details in older objects. The techniques would be helpful to anybody regardless of experience with antiques.. We were so impressed with the content as we thumbed through that we then bought a copy for ourselves

3 comments about Children's Picturebook Price Guide, 2006-2007: Finding, Assessing, & Collecting Contemporary Illustrated Books.

1. Finally there's a book that details the history and reason why children books are a great collector's item. The easy to read format makes my trips to the used book stores, antique shops and yard sales that much more exciting.
   This has been an outstanding reference for me to review my collection, and suggest what gaps I need to fill to better enjoy my collection.



2. Children Picturebook Price Guide: Finding, Assessing, & Collecting Contemporary Illustrated Books is a straightforward guide for book buyers and book sellers, featuring current market prices for over 22,000 illustrated children's books, including Caldecott Medal and Honor books that are individually worth over a thousand dollars. Though the majority of Children Picturebook Price Guide is a straightforward price catalog, the first one hundred pages also discuss such topics as how to identify first edition books, particularly Caldecott Medal books and Dr. Seuss books, where to find first edition picturebooks, key factors affecting a book's value, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for serious picturebook collectors, and a very useful guide to booksellers searching for hidden paper gold.



3. I just received this meaty (the size of a small town phone book!) guide, and was very impressed with the layout and scope. As a collector (and seller) of quality modern children's books, I have found most price guides of collectible books in any genre to be less than what I wanted in terms of accessibility of the information. This guide, however, starts with well-written chapters on the history of Children's Illustrated books, why and how to collect, how to identify first editions, and many other juicy morsels ("flashpoints" in bookseller jargon). While some of the information might not be new to me, it is presented as a whole which makes sense.
   
   What I did find disappointing was errors in the main body of the book: the price guide, organized by illustrator's name. On just a quick browse, I flipped to about a dozen illustrators whom I collect, and TWO of them had titles omitted from the list. This was surprising to me, since this book was published so recently, and the books are readily available on major online venues. A simple search on the illustrator's name will yield this information.
   
   Of course, any guide of this scope will have small errors. I have only been collecting in this area for the last 6 years, so I hoped the author's combined experience and resources would far exceed what I could reasonably research on my own.
   
   The authors started from scratch in this effort to create a Price Guide for modern (since 1930) Illustrated children's books, and what they achieved is a fabulously accessible guide to the why's and how's of collecting these exciting bits of our collective childhoods. While I did find errors in the price guide, the layout was very well designed and easy to browse or to zero in on specific information.
   
   I hope the book sells well enough to allow for a second edition... and that anyone else, like me, who finds errors, can contribute to making the next edition a much more accurate reference.

5 comments about Simpsons Comics Extravaganza.

1. This is one of my favourite simpsons books ever, infact I would like to give ten stars of amusement. This book contains issues that are very funny, my favourite issue is the 1st one when Homer Simpson turns into an enormous sized giant.



2. For Simpson Comics Extravangsa(I know its wrong). it gives the first 4 episodes in the Simpson Comics. My favoriate part was the one with Robert Tewliger( Sideshow Bob). It is better to get the single comics, but the book looks nice.



3. The Simsons comics extravaganza is purfect.the best of all the books(The books i own.)My fave is"The Amazing Colossal Homer."It reflects Burns' black soul and Homers Dumness.All the other comics in this book are purfect too.



4. I have a dozen Simpsons comic books and they all brim with comics, mock advertisements, top ten lists, Itchy and Scratchy shorts, etc. which sport that famous television series humor. Here's what awaits you in this issue:

   "Amazing Collosal Homer": Mr. Burns' lab conducts a biological experiment on Homer causing him to grow into a giant. Will Homer's love of donuts and beer--previous source of his normal girth--be the ironic key to his recovery? As Marge says, "Thank heavens for his super-stretch underwear."

   "The Collector": Homer plays a wealthy loner who lives in a mansion with his prized possession--"the world's greatest library of comic books." This story is very intriguing and a little spooky. Find out why the Collector goes insane in the end.

   "Cool Hand of Bart": Bart attends a "Scared Spitless" anti-deliquency program at the local prison and finds himself on a chain gang with his nemesis Sideshow Bob! What happens when Bob escapes authorities with a reluctant Bart going along for the ride? Why does Bob end up wearing an "I Love Krusty" cap? Fans of the TV show will get a kick out of seeing copies of the Springfield Review of Books in Bob's cell.

   "My Sister, My Homewrecker": Selma making out with Homer!?! It has to be seen to be believed!

   "The Perplexing Puzzle of the Springfield Puma": Many suspects are named when Springfield elementary's mascot turns up missing, but sometimes it's the one you least suspect. Martin Prince does his "Sopranos" imitation in this one.

   "Krusty Agent of K.L.O.W.N.": Springfield's favorite clown tries out an idea for a new TV show. This short includes an interesting mating ritual between Krusty and secretary Miss. Pennycandy.

   "It's in the Cards": This story could easily be a TV episode. It starts with a buzzer going off at the Nuclear Power Plant. Lenny, Carl, and Homer scream with terror--their caramel swirl cake almost melted in the microwave. Then the gang sneek off to an Isotopes game after Homer tapes a photo of himself working over Mr. Burns' surveillance camera (upside down, of course). After Homer rushes back to beat the clock, he inadvertently turns off the power to a frozen food warehouse which leads to the plot of the story: the elementary school teachers are out with food poisoning and Bart and Lisa are stuck with substitutes (Lisa's sub is a far-right conservative).

   "The Gnarly Adventures of Busman": Finally, you get a sample of Otto's comic strip introduced in the television episode "Three Men and a Comic Book."




5. if your a simpsons fan this is for you.. but dont be supprised if you find it not that funny.. you can easily tell it wasnt written by groening... but its still an alright time killer.

No comments about The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling at Auction.

2 comments about The Surfboard: Art, Style, Stoke.

1. It is obvious that surf style is not one of the authors' biggest attributes. This is an unknown. Surf books are hot, you don't have to be a hot surfer to put one together. This is a prime example. Posers looking back for coin. Coffee table book for flatlanders.



2. Phenomenal. Photos are awesome and the story carries through. A must have for groms and old guys alike.

3 comments about Striking Images: Vintage Matchbook Cover Art.

1. Even if you don't care about matchbook art or matchbook collecting, this book is highly recommended. It collects these beautiful pieces of pop culture ephemera and presents them as art, which they truly are. Each page packs a graphic punch that will knock your socks off. Not only are the endless variety of matchbook designs visually stunning, but Mr. Beauchamp treats the medium itself as part of the piece, enlarging the images so the texture of the paper and even the impression the ink makes become art. A very tasteful and classy treatment for this disposable art form. (I was going to say "unmatched" but I stopped myself.)
   
   The selected artworks run the gamut from restaurants to mascot characters to cars to strip clubs. There's a whole chapter devoted to inspiring, art deco imagery from World War II, any one of which would make a great poster.
   
   Given the limitations of the medium and the printing budget, many of the matchbooks are designed with just two or three colors, making this a textbook for the graphics arts student. In an era in which any ink jet printer can reproduce millions of colors, it's fascinating to see what yesterday's artisans did with such a limited palette.
   
   Some of the matchbook covers are close to actual size while others are blown up to fill the page. Given that there are as many as four pictures on some pages and the book totals 272 pages, there are in excess of 500 pieces of art reproduced here. It's impossible to find a favorite among so many gems.
   
   If you're looking for a good summer book to enjoy at the beach, prepare yourself to read "Close cover before striking" a few hundred times. But if you want to soak your eyeballs in America's rich graphic heritage, Striking Images is a must have.



2. As the back cover says 'Striking Images is a must see collection of vintage covers...More than 500 images inside!' Good enough for me because I love books about popular visual culture and this one could join the other three I already have about match art.
   
   However I was rather disappointed in the book because of its production. The main problem is that every matchbook has been reduced to a square of either the front or back and then presented butted up (mostly) four to a page so they hardly look like matchbooks at all. It's as if a book about stamps had all the perforations cut off and then joined together. Many are shown whole page, making them too big and over-emphasising the crude printing quality. The book really ends up looking like a collection of badly printed, colorful and exuberant, advertising graphics. Though divided into eight sections there are no page numbers except on the chapter openers and with the covers crammed into all the pages it is annoyingly difficult to find a particular section.
   
   It could have looked so much better like the earlier Chronicle Matchbook Art by Yosh Kashiwabara. Here many of the matchbooks have their front and back shown but the main thing is that they have plenty of page space surrounding each one. Another book: Close Cover Before Striking: The Golden Age of Matchcover Art (Recollectibles) is a handsomely designed title with thirteen chapters of well presented covers. Both books show how fascinating these throw-way bits of art are.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover,



3. I think all the books I've seen on this subject merit high praise, but Striking Images stands out for its layout and focus on the artwork itself. The juxtaposed covers allow for many great samples to be consumed by the eyes at once, while other blown up images assume a Pop Art painting quality. So do not mistake this for a book on vintage matchbooks; this is about the art on the cover. At this price I feel this book's a deal considering the design and thought devoted to it by Mr. Beauchamp - well done! I've encountered his unique passion and perspective on other ephemeral subjects in various issues of Blab!, another book I've collected and highly recommend!!

5 comments about In Flagrante Collecto (Caught in the Act of Collecting).

1. The first thing to hit me was how beautiful this book is. The photographs of the thousands of collectibles are delectable. It made me want to run out and find some of this stuff, or find new things to start collecting. The author unfolds her theories about why people collect, and describes many wonderful childhood scenes of Bronx life and early collections of marbles, baseball cards, sewing kits, you name it. Adult adventures collecting all over the world, and the collecting adventures of her friends and family, are included, and make for a wonderful warm biography of a collection of collectors. The descriptions of the original uses and methods of manufacturing of various collectibles is fascinating, and it's lovely to see simple and sometimes disposable things treated with such interest and respect. The history and character of our country shine through in the old graphics and designs of postcards, matchbooks, lawn sprinklers, and countless other items, and after spending time with them in this book, I can feel more deeply what's been lost to more efficient means of production. I'll never browse a flea market or garage sale quite the same way again. It's a wonderful conversation piece, a fun book to have around for guests to peruse. It gives you permission to bring out those old shoeboxes of stuff from under your bed and show them to your pals, even though you're not a kid any more. I loved this book, it was part anthropology, part history of design, part memoir, part encyclopedia, part travelogue, all work of endearing art.



2. I have purchased at least seven copies of this fascinating book to give as gifts to a wide variety of friends. For those interested in collecting, the book offers fresh insights into the forces that motivate people to acquire, while illustrating a remarkable diversity of eccentric collections that surprise and delight. For the novice or general reader, the breadth and types of collections are amazing. The book is superbly designed and the objects beautifully photographed and presented. The author is a farsighted collector with an awesome range of historical knowledge and an accessible, highly informative writing style. I highly recommend this book for readers of all persuasions who simply enjoy being intellectually and visually stimulated.



3. This is a beautifully produced look book. The unusual and very particular collecting subject matter is very personal. Quirky, wonderfully photographed and of superior quality.



4. Reading this book was like day at my favorite swap meet, antique collective or a random search on eBay. I visually recognize the material but appreciate it more for being brought together in groups. The collector's mind automatically seeks groupings and hierarchies of individual examples and this book plays to that weakness easily. The little stories are at times educational and fascinating and at other times too personal and esoteric. My only problem is that after reading this book, I tend to want to own too many of the objects featured.



5. This is the best book I have found on Collecting. The writer gets into the state of mind of a collector, then presents profusely illustrated collections of an almost unbelievable scope. Like - you mean people really collect THIS? Yes they do and it's there. COOL book that will broaden your horizon - and you'll never throw anything away again because someone out there collects it.