1 comments about Living Color.

1. This book has numerous samples of flower arrangement. The photographs are very brilliant and come in full page. I learn a lot from the photographs. The flower arrangement are very nice, some of them come in a very daring color combination that you never think before. Paula Pryke has showed me that flower arrangement can be transformed from craft to art. I got a lot of inspiration about color combination, texture and composition from this book. The design principles that Pryke used on her flower arrangement can be applied in other field also. This book can be a source of inspiration for other designer (for interior designer, graphic designer, and illustrator).

4 comments about Great American Wreaths: The Best of Martha Stewart Living.

1. This book is the easiest I have ever read on wreath making! They have several gorgeous wreaths that are truly amazing! I recommend this book to anyone who loves wreaths, Martha, or easy crafts.



2. Just as Martha's magazine is a joy of visual delights, this book get's the creative juices flowing. Divided into wreath making by types: wire wreaths, living wreaths, gathered wreaths etc. it is also written with a focus of wreaths presented by the 50 States with the bounties of each state proudly displayed in stunning wreath form. Maybe because it is fall and the beautiful changing leaves in Minnesota make me feel all homey, I am stirred to actual creation. Unlike some of Martha's projects when I say to myself, "yeah, sure...." I truly believe I can do these! This would make a wonderful birthday or Holiday gift to anyone who loves visual delight or poking in nature. "It's a good thing."



3. I am not from the United States and still adored this book. The photographs are amazing and the ideas are astonishing and so symbolic. Martha and one of her staff members embarked to create a wreath for each of the states, and each wreath reflects some natural element of the state in question. Whether it's wheat, moss, succulents, palm leaves, pinecones, tumble weeds, sunflowers, grasses, pine branches or sea shells the ideas will inspire you. Martha's introduction shows a photo of Martha on the balcony of the White House where she writes about her exhilerating experience decorating the White House with Hilary Clinton for Christmas one year and how that very American event inspired the idea for the series of wreaths and the book. This is a must-have for any Martha fan!!



4. I bought 4 other books on wreaths by other authors, and this one is the most inspirational one with clear directions. Not fussy. We turn to it every year when it is time to decorate the house for Christmas.

3 comments about Tropical Colors: The Art of Living with Tropical Flowers.

1. This book is a feast for the eyes. I stumbled on this book in a bookstore and was just mesmerized by the pictures. Beautiful exotic flowers in vivrant colors are arranged artfully in creative settings. Photography is brilliant.



2. I own hundreds of books on all types of design. This book on design with tropical flowers is the absolute most beautiful I have. The ideas depicted in this book are very simple for the most part and easy to do. And yet, the designs create a spectacular effect.



3. I bought this book off of the two other ladies reviews. I was looking for a book that someone like me-buys a handful of flowers then doesn't know how to arrange them-would use. If your creative this book will definitely get you salivating to try and recreate some of these arrangements. The arrangements are for the most part very simple and quietly appealing. If you are not fond of contemporary or modern this book probably isn't for you. The book is a different perspective to just a handful of flowers in a vase, it uses a variety of glass, metal and other containers all with tropical flowers. I'm going to go thumb through it again!

1 comments about Creating Beautiful Wedding Flowers: Gorgeous Ideas and 20 Step-by-step Projects for Your Big Day.

1. This is a very useful book if you plan on making your own wedding flowers. It has clear step by step instructions. Another useful, and inexpensive book is: "Creative Wedding Florals You Can Make by Terry L. Rye" I daresay that with these two books, you could start doing flowers for friends and so on. They are slightly different, but both are very well done and helpful.

1 comments about Paula Pryke's Simple Flowers.

1. All of her books are worth getting. This is no exception. Very professionally done. Lovely photos.

3 comments about Flowers That Wow: Inspired Arrangements for the Floral-Impaired.

1. I love "Flowers that Wow"! It is packed full of amazing floral ideas. The author includes very concise instructions on how to create amazing floral arrangements. This books gives you everything you need in simple and easy-to-follow steps to create unique and fun floral arrangements! And the style of writing and sense of humor have me re-reading the book over again!



2. I ordered this book because of the floral birthday cake design, made by Mr. Fong, that I saw online about 5 years ago. I am so glad I purchased it because it not only provided me with the instructions for that design but it gives many great and unusual design ideas with the instructions. I will refer to it when I need party ideas and designs for my floral design class projects.



3. This is truly a fantastic book! I made the Thanksgiving Turkey arrangement a couple of weeks ago and my friends are STILL talking about it! The instructions are easy to follow and the author has a great sense of humor. This book will make a great gift for anyone - in fact I've already purchased a second copy!

1 comments about Wreathmaking for the first time (For the First Time).

1. This book contains some of the most extraordinary weaths I have seen! The projects are fun and easy to create.

2 comments about Suddenly a Centerpiece: Assemble These Clever Table Designs in No Time at All.

1. I found this book to be very easy to follow with great color picture samples. The instructions are easy to follow.
   You will feel great once you complete the project and it actually looks like the picture!
   Wonderfully well done!



2. The summary and review were not helpful at all and misleading. As a food service professional, I am always looking for new ideas for tablescapes for my banquet facility. The book was impractical and the centerpieces were uninspiring.

5 comments about In the Company of Flowers.

1. Mr. Morgan certainly does!!! Color, creativity, shape, style, and talent all should be associated with Mr. Morgan. His ability in floral design is exquisite and his imagination has no boundaries. He has an uncanny eye for the beautiful and the imaginative. Did I get anything out of this book, a lesson in style and class, and just how beautiful you can make ordinary things. Mr. Morgan taught me there is no end to majestry in floral design and I will look forward to future publications. His artistry is superb and he is truly working in his calling. Congratulations Mr. Morgan for thrilling me to no end with your beautiful work and art.
   Sincerely,
   Deborah Loisel



2. The pictures and arrangements in this book rate 5 stars. What was disappointing was that there were not even hints about how to put some of the arrangements together. In addition, some of the floral material was not identified correctly or completely.



3. Because this book is so beautiful it is truly inspiring. Morgan is a true artist. The photographs are lovely depicting unusual, elegant and even a few quite simple designs. It's a must for floral arrangers.



4. I heard this man speak and HAD to have his book. Well worth it!!!



5. Zen of Watering Your Garden
   
   This is not really the book to start flower photography with. I say this for several reasons. It requires elaborate camera and equipment. It deliberately teaches techniques that have distorted Nature into floral design.
   I am more of a purist and believe that Nature's beauty is everywhere and that it can be captured relatively simply using new and inexpensive digital cameras particularly those with image stability and macro functions built in.
   
   I published an entire collection of photos without any manipulation except cropping to fit the page. Matt Cohen

5 comments about Arranging Flowers ("Best of Martha Stewart Living" Series , No 13).

1. I THINK THIS BOOK WILL BE WONDERFUL BECAUSE ALL THINGS MARTHA IS. AND I LOVED YUOR PAGE TOO. THANKS RUBIA



2. I wouldn't really consider this a how-to book, as most of it is pictures of arrangements with a paragraph or two about the flowers. To paraphrase, "Martha loves spring when the peonies in her garden are blooming. They look stunning massed together." Most of the description is of her garden.

   However, the photographs ARE wonderful and gave me many, many ideas. I checked this book out of the library to get ideas for my wedding, and it's a book that I've renewed several times.

   Most of the arrangements included are simple yet elegant, involving one species of flower or monochromatic color schemes.

   I recommend this book as long as you're looking for arrangement ideas, not step-by-step instructions.




3. Perhaps my expectations were too high? Martha produces a beautiful magazine and her new Best of Weddings book is superb so I thought that this book, although older, would be a nice addition. I was disappointed. Although the book was published in 1999, it seemed even more outdated than that. The flowers used seemed repeated over and over again and the book was centered completely around the varieties in Martha's garden. For a more thorough view, I'd like to recommend 2 books in place of this one. Jane Packer's Fast Flower Arranging is fantastic and shows beautiful arrangements that can be made quickly even by a novice. For actual, technical "how to" steps and design theory, I'd recommend Judith Blacklock's "Flower Arranging" (might be called Teach Yourself Flower Arranging in some indexes). Once you know proper floral design techniques, you can use any kind of flowers (NOT just those from Martha's garden) to create beautiful arrangements.



4. I found the Fine Art of Flower Arranging by Nancy D'Oench, Mick Hales. It is so much better than Martha's book.



5. This book offers lots of well-composed shots of nice arrangements, but provides virtually no information about how to make them. Note that the book dates from 1999, so it's a little out of date as well. Not worth the money.