5 comments about Bleuette: The Doll and Her Wardrobe.

1. I love this book and if you love Bleuette, you will read this book cover to cover. Barbara Hilliker is one of the experts we collectors rely on to tell us more about the lovely French doll produced from 1905-1960. The doll was produced as a give-away to sell a weekly periodical to young French girls. Each issue of the paper contained patterns to dress the doll. These patterns are what make the doll so popular. There were over 1300 patterns published, and this author has been influential in getting some of these patterns to the public.



2. I purchased the combination of this book and another, thinking I was going to receive an extensive collection of Bleuette patterns. Instead, I got coffee table books with only a few patterns drafted by the author, rather than the original patterns. I found the advertising text misleading, and would not have ordered them had I known I was not going to get real Bleuette patterns.



3. 
   I agree with the previous commentator that this book is basically a coffee table book about Bleuette ,her history, and her family.
   
   So, if you need a book about Bleuette's clothing patterns, then this book is probably not for you.
   There are other books out there that are specific to Bleuette clothing patterns....but not this one.
   
   The photos in this book are absolutely amazing though...that is for sure!
   
   Please note that this book is not just a picture book. This book does indeed contain lots of information about the history of Bleuette. Also, the photos are mesmerizing (most photos being very large and in full color).
   
   I believe that if you are a Bleuette collector, then it's good to have a nice book about the doll's history. If so, then this book will serve that purpose nicely.



4. If you can only afford one book on that very collectible fashion doll "Bleuette", this is a wonderful choice. A large hardcover, the pictures and history are wonderful and cover it all. There are also original Gautier-Languereau patterns included, so you can sew for Bleuette yourself.
   The overall quality of the book itself is well worth the price. I'm very happy I purchased Bleuette: The Doll and Her Wardrobe by Barbara Hilliker.



5. Being a doll collector and reproduction doll artist for over 30 years I have a very extensive doll library as well as doll collection. This book is an excellent reference source for anyone like myself who wants to learn about the history of Bleuette, how to paint her features authentically as well as study her extensive wardrobe. There are many wonderful color photographs, especially helpful for close-ups of Bleuette's facial features and patterns to make her a very lovely authentic wardrobe.
   This book is even wonderful as a gift for people who love dolls who may just love beautiful books to decorate their home with, a coffee tablebook.
   I love this book and thank the author for sharing her knowledge with fellow collectors and Bleuette fans around the world.

No comments about Santa Dolls Historical to Contemporary.

1 comments about The World's Most Beautiful Dolls.

1. This a must have for any doll collector of modern dolls. There are over 50 doll artists mentioned with a brief history of their work. For each artist mentioned there is at least one photo of their dolls. There also is The World's Most Beautiful Dolls Volume II as a great follow-up edition.

3 comments about Thirty Years of Mattel Fashion Dolls: Identification & Value Guide 1967 Through 1997.

1. Great info on so many mattel dolls... Celebrity dolls (from the osmonds to 90210), Barbie, Princess of Power (my favorite), Lady Lovely Locks, Disney Classics and so much more. All complete with pictures and detailed information. A must if you collect fashion dolls from this era.



2. While this book does not contain all of Mattel's dolls between 1967 and 1997- it is great. The pictures are fantastic- tons of color pictures. Each doll featured has a picture and a detailed summary.Lots of the newer dolls from 80's to 90's that are just now becoming collectable. This is such a nice book to look at and gives values as well for reference. Most dolls are pictured in their original packaging.



3. I originally got this book when I purchased a lot of Starr dolls off eBay. Not knowing much about Starr other than she was from Mattel, I went to my Barbie identification guides to learn more. Nothing. I went to Doll Collectors guides. Nada. Then I found this book. This was GREAT! It had the doll, her back story, interesting trivia, and extremely helpful pictures and detailed captions. I even found other Mattel dolls I had found here there and yonder listed in this book. So like a child with a blanket, I have taken to carrying the book around everywhere. It has joined my Barbie Field Guide and Barbie:A Visual Guide to the Ultimate Fashion Doll as the MUST-HAVES when I look for new find on eBay or when I'm listing dolls to resell.

No comments about Fashion Model Paper Doll.

2 comments about Steiff Identification & Price Guide.

1. There's lots of non-rare items missing from this book (all the one's I'm looking at).



2. This book probably has a limited audience, since it seems to be missing many items for someone else, I'm adding that its back section listing only begins with the 1980's, so if you're looking for earlier Steiff information, this probably won't have it, especially some of the more common items.

5 comments about Mission Furniture : How to Make It.

1. This book is a reproduction of three Popular Mechanics Magazine publications from before WW I, at the height of the Mission furniture craze. It includes about 100 projects. Each one consists of a parts list, one to two pages of text (a total of about 200-500 words), a black-and-white shaded drawing of the finished piece of furniture (sort of like a bad photo) and minimalist plans. The plans are simple front and side elevations. Don't expect exploded views like one would find in a modern woodworking magazine.

   A paragraph from the text for a five-drawer dresser/mirror combination is illustrative of the brevity of much of the instructions:

   QUOTE: In working up the various parts, proceed in the usual manner. If not thoroughly familiar with the various tool processes involved, it will be necessary to investigate pieces of nearby furniture and to read up some good text dealing with the processes involved.

   In other words, don't buy this book if you are a novice woodworker looking to have your hand held, step-by-step through the construction process.

   What one really gets with the purchase of this book are two things. First, an interesting look at turn-of-the-century America and the arts & crafts period, from the perspective of a middle-class magazine for home craftsmen. Second, one gets a collection of designs for generic mission or arts & crafts furniture. To me, the vast majority of the designs are unappealing. At best, they seem just a little off target, as though a high-school woodshop class student were given an assignment to make an original mission furniture piece. However, there are a few interesting pieces.

   I bought this book because I buy *EVERYTHING* about Stickley/Mission/Roycroft furniture. I do not regret the purchase, but I will probably never make any of the projects, and if I did I would have to spend a half a day (at least) making production drawings of the parts for the furniture.




2. I recently bought this book because I was intrigued by its old-time style. It is a reproduction of three old how-to manuals from the early 1900's. The preface states that the writing was left alone, but that the indexes and page numbering were altered to make sense in this volume. I am well pleased with this purchase because of what it is and what it is not:

   IT IS - a great collection of Mission Style furniture plans, complete with materials lists and drawings to give a modern furniture maker plenty of ideas for design.

   IT IS NOT - a basic how-to manual which spends half of the book explaining the basics of tools and workshop safety. It is also not a step-by-step cookbook for building the furniture listed. In many places, this book states that you should save time by having the lumber dealer surface and cut all of your stock to size to save time and effort! (apparently this was cheaper in 1910!)

   The real value of this book is as an idea generator and an aid to someone trying to design their own furniture. It also provides some interesting insights into finishing practices common to this furniture in the good old days. Check it out, its worth a look.




3. This book succeeds at depicting furniture designs that in their time held a place in the Arts and Crafts movement along with the great designs of the Stickleys and a few other masters. Are these pieces as pleasing in form and sturdy in structure as those designed by Gustav and his brothers? Do they all adhere closely to the design principles of the Arts and Crafts movement? Is Harvey Ellis' influence apparent in any of these designs? Not to my eye. However, much of what's in the book appears simple to build, and some would be useful to have around the house. By way of contrast, I find the designs presented in Robert Lang's books and in the Bavaro and Mossman book to be more to my liking. Those books also include more information about construction processes and details.



4. I agree with most of Donald C. Thompson's review, but wanted to add a few points.
   
   If you are not skilled at making furniture, this is not the book for you, because the descriptions on how to make each project consists solely of a parts list, plus two to three small paragraphs. In some instances the plans are not accurate. If you are looking for examples of mission furniture, this is a good overview, but the pictures/illustrations are barely legible and there are many other much better books.
   
   In regards to the binding, this book is of substandard quality. Paying $18-24 for the hardcover version is not suggested. The binding is that of a cheap child's textbook with a plastic feel. After opening the book about 4-6 times, the binding is already showing stress. I would suggest purchasing the paperback version for about $10. I have a huge library of furniture books and furniture plans. As a note, this is one of many recent books I have purchased that are now printed and bound in China. I purchase all my books when possible in hardcover format to make them last longer, however in almost every instance of a hardcover book bound in China, I have been disappointed. The bindings break very easily on most of these books.



5. This is a fine book for a somewhat more advanced woodworker. The title is a little misleading; the styles are more Stickley like. I see little or no Greene and Greene influence here. With 213 pieces of furniture illustrated in one book it is a little short on details and the sizes of the drawings will test the quality of your reading glasses. Although you might want to make you own shop drawings for some of these pieces, they're not Louis VIII style and complexity. You might get along just fine with these illustrations. There are several newer books about Craftsman Furniture with better drawings though less items illustrated.

4 comments about Collector's Guide to 1990s Barbie Dolls: Identification & Values.

1. Maria Mmartinez-Esguerra has written a book about Barbie in the 1990's and that is fine for those who began collecting in that decade. However, to really learn about Barbie and her history, I don't see the purpose of this book. A reference for one decade will be lacking because Barbie was born in 1959. That is a lot of history and the years between have told the story much better than this book.



2. The author of this book gives us exactly what she claims to offer. Concise illustrations of the regular "pink box" Barbie dolls of the 1990's. There are other wonderful books featuring the older Barbie dolls but the regular dolls from the 1990's are frequently left out. The full body and close up shots have been helpful in identifying my recent thrift store finds. The author provides us with issue dates and stock numbers and approximate values at date of publication. The specific head and body markings are unfortunately not included.



3. If your looking for a book that would have Barbie, Skipper, ken, stacey, Kelly and friends. This is not the book you want.
   It doesn't even have all the 1990's barbie dolls, it is only from 1980 to 1997. It Only has Barbie, Friends and no family.



4. Ok, Let's get the negatives out of the way:
   1. This book is seriously incomplete. No Skipper, No Kelly, No Ken.
   2. Does not cover the 1990's decade. Only covers 1989 to part of 1997.
   3. The only description provided is year, name, Item # and an inflated price guide value
   
   BUT
   The reason you buy this book is for the pictures. This is THE best book for identifying Pink Box Barbies from 1989 to 1997. She provides two pictures for every doll, a full length picture from straight out of the box and a close-up of the face. And when you have a nude barbie found on the 50 cent table at a garage sale, the face is all you have to identify it. This is a valuable resource for Barbie resellers as an identification tool, but you may as well ignore the over-inflated price value. These are Pink Box Barbies, not Exclusives.

5 comments about Barbie Doll Structure and Furniture (Barbie).

1. If you collect vintage barbie dolls, you will also need vintage houses and furnitures to display your collection.



2. WOW!
   This book helped me turn a trunk full of parts and pieces (That I thought was junk) into a dozen Sets . The excellent photos and parts listings are very helpful when you need to know what exactly came with any given set. This book covers Cardboard and plastic structures and sets for barbie and all her friends and family, an excellent book for any collector.



3. I am delighted to own this book, not only because it does a quite perfect job of listing every little piece which came with some of Barbie's early and Mod Era houses/cases/rooms, especially the rarer items, but because the photos are fantastic and fun - posing Barbie and her family/friends in these structures, in many of her wonderful period outfits, is simply genius! Demonstrating how to use some of these structures for displays of your collected Barbies, Marl creates a complete world in miniature. I was surprised to learn that the very old, cardboard furniture & structures designed for Barbie have withheld the ravages of time much better than many of the molded plastic furniture sets/houses from the late 60's/early 70's. An excellent book, and a must-have for the scene-designing Barbie collector!



4. This is a great book for reliving long lost toys, and in the case of us people in Australia where many of these items didn't make it to our shores, what we missed out on as kids. For the collector, it is a good guide to what is still out there, probably waiting to be rediscovered in long lost closets or or ebay when they are given the opportunity for a new lease of life.



5. This is a very good reference for vintage structures, but be aware that it mainly covers the vintage era (pre-1973) with only a few select items up to 1975 or so. Still looking for that perfect reference book for those collecting Barbies from 1973 on...

5 comments about The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls.

1. It is the answer to all Black doll collector's dreams! I have a number of "doll" books and magazines but none of them have ALL color Black doll photos in additon to valuable collecting information such as that found in this book. I must confess that initially, I looked through it four times on the day it arrived. It's fun seeing how many of the pictured dolls I have in my own collection!



2. Debbie Garrett's "The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls" is a magnificent combination of beauty, knowledge, and cultural celebration! It was wonderful learning about the history of antique and vintage black dolls, as well as the current artists and their creations. This guide provides a fabulous array of delightful pictures denoting the significance of black doll collecting, that is both informative and inspiring!



3. I enjoyed looking thru this book to get ideas of the different kinds of dolls to add to my collection. There were a lot of dolls that I didn't know existed untill I read this book.



4. Loved this book. I am a collector of black dolls for many years. I saw several of my dolls in the book.



5. The book is OK. Photos are not all that great (some blurry and out of focus, obviously amature). Most of the dolls are modern and mass produced. I was hoping that there would be more artist creations, one of a kinds, limited editions, and antiques. Instead there are a bunch of plastic/vinyl manufactured dolls with just a few quality pieces sprinkled in. I only recommend this if you collect that style of doll (manufactured/mass-produced).