5 comments about Welcome to the North Pole: Santa's Village in Applique.

1. I can't wait to make this quilt. I saw one made up at a quilt show or something very similar and couldn't wait to find the pattern. It is just so clever and fun. My quilt group is planning on making it as a block of the month. I am so happy I bought this book, it makes me smile every time I look through it.
   Sincerely, LPotts



2. This purchase was made for my wife who states:-
   
   Having had the book for a few weeks now, I find the contents very informative, and the instructions easey to follow. I can recommend this product to any would-be enthusiast.



3. Excellent book of Christmas applique designs! I did take my book to a copy shop and enlarged the designs, but this is easily and inexpensively done. Beautiful and colorful use of fabrics. Applique designs are simple to make. This books inspires fun and creativity. Definitely, one of my very favorite quilt books.



4. i love this book very simple to follow very easy yet the outcome so fantastic. This is good book for quilters of all ages and all levels of skill.



5. I found this to be a charming project. Very versatile for making one block or many. Also, the possibilities were endless for decorating and using materials, buttons etc on hand. Instructions were clear and it could be easy (iron on ) or more experienced (hand appliqued completely.) I will be making several for next year. (Not enough time for this year)!

3 comments about CBT Introductory Box Set (Classic Battletech).

1. Like all starter sets, this introductory box set contains several pieces of essential information to get you started with commanding a lance of mechs. You'll find 5 books that will help you understand the rules, help in recording the battles you fight, and a brief synopsis on the BattleTech universe. Additionally, you'll find 24 unpainted miniatures to use with the included map sheets. The box set also has a poster to hang upon your wall and dice to play with.
   
   The game does get pretty involved with rules as you advance in skill. But with practice, rule application will become second nature. If you like playing this, you'll most likely get involved in the BattleTech universe and will want to buy source materials and advanced rule books.
   
   Although, BattleTech matches are some what difficult to find (depending were you live and with who), with this product you'll understand that Classic BattleTech is an acquired taste, and the taste of battle with mechs is SWEET.



2. This box set is a great deal. It comes with 24 good quality, durable plastic miniatures, and easy to follow steps if you want to paint them. The rules are very well done, with a very easy Quickstart set that teaches the basics of the game to anyone very quickly The full introductory rules then add in all of the other options for a very fun, exciting game. There is a lot more to enjoy; the inner Sphere at a Glance section gives a lot of detail about the fictional setting-its history, the competing factions that make up the game. There is a god amount of material just to look at and enjoy. There is an amazing amount of play you can get out of this set, several hundreds of hours, at a minimum, and there is still more you can explore. This is a great game.



3. This product is a Battle Tech players dream. The box contains 24 good quality plastic miniatures, basic rules, quickstart rules, record sheets,maps, and even a pair of dice. I rate a great buy for any seasoned or beginner Battletech player

2 comments about Pathfinder Chronicles: Campaign Setting (Pathfinder Chronicles).

1. This is one of the best rpg "world" books for D&D that I have ever looked at. It compares to the monster tome that was the 3.0 Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, but gives D&D a fresh and updated setting in which to play campaigns. I have purchased the 4e offerings that update the Realms and they do not compare.
   
   For production value, this book is worth the cost. It is dense with information about the world, its gods, and history, and its people. Furthermore, for rules' enthusiasts it adds new feats, regional traits, prestige classes, and new equipment.



2. What pleases me the most is there is lots of crunchy kernels in this primarily fluff book. The fluff is great too, though, a little vague in specific geographical locals represented here. It is an excellent foundation for the world, its history, and races there in. It is more than enough to kick start a campaign or for general reference and use in an international club environment.

5 comments about World of Warcraft Bestiary (Brady Games Official Strategy Guide) (Brady Games Official Strategy Guide) (Brady Games Official Strategy Guide).

1. Why do most folks want from a book like this? Well, you would expect to see a fairly comprehensive listing of the monsters that you meet in World of Warcraft, but you should get more. An effective book would not only provide very basic information, but indicate where these monsters roam and maybe a line or two of information about what/who they are. You won't find any of that extra information here and it is very disappointing. Thumbing through the book, you stumble upon interesting creatures and you wonder, "Hmmm where will I see this one?" yet the book provides zero information in this regard.
   
   The book's organization is rather odd, they don't put similar monsters together because they state that more significant mobs of that species deserve their own entry. Nice concept, but in the end that means there is zero reference that those other significant mobs exist if you only read the main entry for that species. To make matters worse, they have placed an index in the back of the book requiring you to look up mobs by other names that aren't indicated by those other names in the main listings.
   
   Part of the biggest attraction to Warcraft is the extensive lore, and Brady missed a large opportunity to provide fans with lore/context/history on all of these monsters. In the end, it is more of a pretty picture book with information that could have been gleaned online with much more detail. Brady Games really missed the point of a book like this and how valuable it could have been. It just leaves you wanting more than it offers and doing more research on WowHead or Thottbot to get that info. For that reason, the book loses two stars in my review. It might be better to pick up this one on the markdown table somewhere.
   
   One interesting item that it does show you is how often Blizzard utilizes the same character models with just a few different colors!



2. Excellent product and is a pretty good help for looking up beasts info in the game. It does help to let you know what you may be up against in a given area.



3. This book is purely academic, with no applicable use in the game. Yes, it gives you the stats, etc, but nothing else. If the book was going to be of any use, it needs to include the location of the mobs, what they drop, and any quests (if any) they're the target of.



4. I concur with the other reviews of this book. Without disclosing the actual location of NPC this book is not very useful. Considering the other Dungeon manuals also include the loot that drops from bosses this information could also have been included.
   
   Pass on this book and get the strategy guide or the dungeon guides instead.



5. When I heard Bradygames was making this guide, I was excited! Wow, comprehensive information about all the denizens of World of Warcraft in my lap! No more looking them up individually online!
   
   Sadly, this guide is woefully lacking such key information as:
   - Where they are located (even a general zone would've been helpful)
   - Immunities/weaknesses
   - Elite/Non-Elite
   
   Because of this, I find myself not looking anything up in this guide, and still go online for all of my bestiary needs.
   
   If you just want to know how many different creatures inhabit World of Warcraft, and want to see what so-and-so boss looks like, then this guide is an interesting read. If you need any crucial information to keep you alive in an encounter, or even just to FIND a creature, this guide is really no help at all.

5 comments about Kokology : The Game of Self-Discovery.

1. A former roommate of mine kept nagging me to answer some questions from this book. No thank you was my constant response until I played just to make her stop.
   
   I HATE these kinds of 'games', which I usually find ridiculous and boring. Responding to scenrios and reading 'what they reveal'. Blah. Or so I thought.
   
   Kokology, while totting a serious label, was so much fun, and at times, too true (and not always something you want others to know!), that we did the whole book in a matter of days. Each scenerio was so benign and unassuming...but what they revealed was enlightening, mostly true and uproaring hilarious!
   
   The ringer: you have to answer immediately, the first thing that pops into your head. You only get a few seconds, otherwise, it's a bust. You're not supposed to have enough time to organize something coherent or framed--by answering quickly, it's assumed you'll answer honestly (and it's true if you're willing and follow the rules). So don't play with people who aren't in the mood or take too long.
   
   It's really fun to go back and re-read the answers you gave a few months later and to read other people's responses (of course, ask for permission and omit names unless it's ok with that person). I was laughing for hours on end.
   
   I wouldn't try this on people you don't know that well. Because, frankly, it got a bit awkward, especially if it hit too close to home for some participants. Or have a few drinks then play. Rather, it was more fun to play with people you really know because you think you know what they'll say but realize they're is always more to discover.
   
   The only downside is that it can give negative reads, espeically if people are trying to get a certain 'right' response (which really isn't possible, but people try...). It is easy to lie (knowingly or not) and/or get weird pscyho-babble. People have gotten very upset and even angry by one analysis or the other, so word of caution.



2. Kokology provides short, imaginary and some amusing scenerios and then asks you questions about the situation. How you describe yourself and/or parts of the scenerio provides insight into who you are and how you view life and those in it. Interesting. . . some of "games" are fun. This book would be fun relaxing with a group of close friends - especially, after imbibing a few drinks. I don't think I would "play" this with a large group, and certainly not with people I didn't know well. Some answers can get pretty "personal". I don't agree with all of the interpretations. I don't talk to camels because I'm losing out on love, but I do talk to my dog as a companion. People really do ask me what time it is in museums and art galleries, so my answer has no psychological tag as far as I am concerned. I have a physical problem with my ear that keeps me from enjoying rides, but- I have three kids. Right, and maybe not. The point is, the book is fun, but you can't take it too seriously, otherwise I'm losing my job today. The Cube, while limited more in scope than Kokology, is short, sweet, thoroughly enjoyable and funnier. I am not sure this is worth buying, but certainly enjoyable to read as long as you don't take yourself, or the answers too seriously.



3. This is really cool book to read whenever you want to have some fun with friends.



4. We bought this book on a whim and it is a gem. My family and friends have enjoyed several hours already answering and discussing the questions and interpretations in the book. If you are the kind of person who enjoys taking personality quizzes, this book is for you. Try it, it's fun and very interesting. I found it spot on with most of the analyses.



5. This book is so fun! Its a good one to read with a few friends, the results are suprising, and really accurate it seems

No comments about Killer Samurai Sudoku: 75 puzzles.

2 comments about Test Your Relationship I.Q. Mad Libs.

1. MadLibs have always been a favorite of mine, from roadtrips to random entertainment, and "ready for landing" checks. I bought a bunch of these for a recent roadtrip and we laughed a lot at the different things we came up with. My suggestions i always to ahve one person come up with the random words, or just trading off throughout a carload or ...friendload... of people. Everyone with their own intentions tend to wildly adjust how the story plays out!
   
   A classic, for ages to come, enjoy!



2. If you like mad libs, this is a great one.
   Classic fun, but with an adult twist

4 comments about Ship Modeling from Scratch: Tips and Techniques for Building Without Kits.

1. I purchased this book several years past. This Amazon.com reviewer is an avid ship modeler. I use this book nearly constantly. I give this book five stars.
   
   Now, this book was written in 1993. So, there are no web sites for reference nor is there a more recent write up. If a person is interested in making a scratch built ship they should surf onto the steelnavy.com web site. Steel Navy is known as one of the best web references for ship building. Museum quality ships from the world have pictures on that page. If you want American warship plans then surf to "Maryland Silver". They have nearly all of the ship plans of the modern Navy. Furthermore, they have plans for most of the pre-1880 (modern Navy) ships. Last, a fair source of ship plans is Ebay. One vendor on Ebay sells quite warships and Great Lakes vessels. If you are making a modern ship and need fittings the web sites to check out are H&R Products, Blue Jacket Ship Models, and The Scale Shipyard. All three web locations have lots of fittings for ships.
   
   Now, back to this book.
   
   This book covers all necessary steps for a ship modeler. The first chapter is on getting correct plans. If your plans are off then what is the point? The second chapter covers making the keel, ribs (frames), and then planking the ship. The rest of the chapters follow in logical progression. The chapters vary from rigging your model if you have a sailing ship to building a superstructure for a modern ship. Note, there are two complete sets of plans in the back of the book. One for a sailing ship and another for a simple cargo steamer. I didn't build either because this modeler makes battleships.
   
   Speaking of battleships, the book gives quite a bit of information on constructing a South Carolina class battleship. The South Carolina class is semi-famous in model circles. The first ship of the class, BB-27, the USS Michigan, has extensive model construction articles written about it in this book. Now, the chapter on Cage Mast Construction is about the only major book that has been published that covers this topic. Cage Masts were found on every battleship made in the USA from about 1910 to 1920. Cage Masts are seen on many of the battleships, like the USS Tennessee, at Pearl Harbor. So, it's very good that a major book tells how to make a cage mast. Note, the chapter on Cage Mast construction will advise a builder to make a jig for the mast. Furthermore, it's advisable that no cage mast be made that is smaller than 1/144th scale.
   
   The book also gives advise on the cutting of wood, plastics, and metal. Furthermore, there is suggestions by the author on what type of wood cutting machines to buy, such as a table saw, and what sort of finishing tool to purchase. The hobby of ship modelling is a lot easier if you have a Demel tool.
   
   The book had lots of little helpful items. It give basic instructions for making a deadeye. Port holes, very necessary for a making a convincing ship, are covered in this book. If you don't want to follow the advise you can get fair portholes from either H & R Products or Blue Jacket.
   
   The only thing that isn't really covered in this book is making a boat radio controlled. You'll have to get another book if you wish to RC your beloved museum quality ship.
   
   I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have. This book should be studies by any body who wishes to make their first scratch built model. Note, there are no large scale commercial models of Great Lakes steamers or Pre-WWII battleships. So, if you want to build a nice model battleship of the USS Florida you'll have to get the plans from Maryland Silver, the fitting from H & R Products, and read this book to learn the knowledge necessary for making that model.
   
   Best wishes, fellow ship builder, on reading this book. You'll enjoy your purchase. I look forward to hearing about your question on steelnavy.com .
   
   This book is worth all five stars.



2. I find the book a good introduction to the concepts, but a bit lite in detail.



3. I am new to scratch boat building and this is a basic book about it. It has many helpful hints that are very usefull. It is a beginners book. Easy to read and understand.
   
   There are a lot of forums on the NET that describe in detail on how to scratch-build, but I was looking for something basic.
   
   An excellent book.



4. Ship Modeling from Scratch: Tips and Techniques for Building Without Kits
   A very good supplemental book for building a model ship from scratch. It has detailed suggestions that aren't found in many other books or articles. Edw. Leaf knows his stuff and covers all major topics in modeling w/o a kit. He does provide "tips and techniques" as the subtitle says, just not quite enough to start scratch building w/o several other sources that go into more depth in important topics/skills.

5 comments about Stack a New Deck: More Great Quilts in 4 Easy Steps.

1. This book is great. Karla Alexander has many great patterns in many different books.



2. The book had wonderful pictures that showed the quilts in the finished product. The directions were fairly clear. I would have liked to have seen specific directions for quilting as I am a beginnning quilter.



3. Lots of projects I want to make. Well writen and easy to follow with lots of pictures. A real good buy, one that will get lots of use.



4. Karla has sure become my favorite quilt book writer. The book is full of fun and easy to make projects. I have now used the techniques learned to cut my "on decks" and I am no longer afraid of sewing curves. Thank you for all the inspiration contained on your books.



5. If you're looking to wow your friends and family with "difficult" quilts, this is the book to have. Easy directions, unbelievable patterns and first in show results. You don't have to be an expert quilter to benefit from this book.

5 comments about 101 Easy-to-Do Magic Tricks.

1. Unlike many magic texts, this book has incredible illustrations that make every trick easy to understand. The book includes simple ways to create functinal apparatus like Chinese Sticks, chinese Rice Bowls, simple production boxes etc. It also includes a simple routine for the Chinese Linking Rings, the only trick you can't make yourself. With thousands of drawings by an excellent illustrator, this book is a must for anybody interested in learning magic. Mr. Tarr has also written Now You See It, Now You Don't which is undoubtably the best beginning text on sleight of hand on the market. It isn't best because Mr. Tarr is the best, it is best because the writing is clear, the illustrations are top notch, and the material is chosen to teach.



2. this is a really good work for someone just starting in the field. The text is clear and interesting, and the explainitory art leaves nothing to be desired



3. This book was absolutly great! All the magic tricks were so easy to do! I loved enterraining my two younger sisters with these tricks.



4. This is one of the best magic books a beginner could buy. Just as he does in his other books, Bill Tarr teaches in a way that is so easy to understand and follow. These are some of the best classic magic tricks; every magician should know them. I recommend this book to even advanced magicians. If you don't have it on your shelf, you're missing out.



5. Well, the title of the book pretty much explains the book. For me, It was a litle too easy, but I'm 16 years old. This book is better suited towards kids. But if you are interested solely in card magic, I recommend not getting it. This book only has self-working card tricks. Although, if you are only interested in a couple easy cards tricks to impress people, then that is what this book offers. This book also contains other tricks, such as dolar bill in a lemon, chinese wands, chinese rings, the inexhaustible hat, the rising cigarette, ring on a string, and the great matchbox escape, to name a few. This book isn't very long. I didn't enjoy the book that much, because I am interested in street magic, and these tricks are not suited to that type of magic, because they all require set-up and need a table or are too angle sensitve, ect. But overall, I would have to say that you shouldn't buy this book (because there are so many better books that hold more information) unless you are a kid. If you are older and a beginner in magic I recommend another book.