No comments about Bookcraft: Techniques for Binding, Folding, and Decorating to Create Books and More.

5 comments about Collecting Costume Jewelry 101: The Basics of Starting, Building & Upgrading (Collecting Costume Jewelry 101).

1. I wish to express my gratitude to so many generous people who helped with this Second Edition of "Collecting Costume Jewelry 101:the basics of starting, building & upgrading".
   
   First, I want to thank my readers. I am warmed by the wonderful feedback I have received from beginning collectors on the first edition of this book. Based on this feedback, I was careful when working on the second edition to leave in place the easy-to-use format. Thank you readers!
   
   A warm thank you must always be reserved for my husband who once again offered me his support and his excellent camera skills. Thank you sweetheart!
   
   Next I want to thank my friends (especially Debi Reece and Dave Mayer) who shared their knowledge and collections with me so I could add over 200 new photographs to this new edition. Thank you dear friends!
   
   Finally, I want to thank the staff at Collector Books for giving me the opportunity to write a Second Edition. With their help this second edition has many beautiful enhancements. For example:
   
   - Collector Books created a hot new cover and vibrant new interior color scheme. I adore the bright colors and I hope you do too. While maintaining the easy-to-use alphabetical arrangement of makers, the interior design is also updated.
   - Over 200 new photographs have been added providing additional examples of jewelry designs from many makers.
   - The historical information and information about marks is updated.
   - eBay selling changes frequently so Chapter 6 - "Upgrading Your Collection" is fully updated.
   - A new chapter is added featuring 13 makers not shown in the first edition.
   - The popular "Marked by Style" chapter, showing unmarked jewelry attributed by the style to specific makers, is revamped and expanded.
   - Of course the values have been updated.
   Thank you Collector Books!
   
   I love jewelry, I love collecting, and I love this new edition. I hope you do too. Warm regards, Julia C. Carroll



2. Hang on to your hats, jewelry lovers!!!! This is a book you MUSTN'T MISS!!! Julia C Carroll never disappoints collectors at any level of expertise. Once again, in this visually stunning new book she grabs us with beautiful pages in a logical and practical teaching layout that keeps us turning those pages!! The pictures are generous in volume and so well done you can examine the details in each piece. This new upgrade is a MUST HAVE-beautiful, bright, full of the great educational info of the original "101", but with so many more pictures and facts!! I find other authors' guides nice to thumb through, but you really learn to identify and nail down pieces out in the real world by studying Julia's "101" and "202". My collection is now full of incredible pieces I learned to look for only because of her great books. If you want the pride of knowing what to buy, and how to not overpay, buy and study this wonderfully updated book...even if you have the original "101", ADD THIS TO YOUR LIBRARY!!! Then sign on to buy her "202". Thanks, Julia C!! How about a "303"??????!!!!



3. I am so tickled and honored to have jewelry from my private collection featured in Julia's books. This new Second Edition of the "Collecting Costume Jewelry 101" book features a bright new cover with colorful layouts and 200+ new photographs and additional designers. Julia and I have been jewelry friends for many years and her incredible knowledge in this field has helped me form an extensive collection. So jewelry lovers, it is time to set aside the original edition that is dog-eared & note filled, and add this new second edition which features many new photographs and designers that are not in the first edition! As her other books, it is a great learning tool that will teach you so much about forming a fabulous costume jewelry collection of your own! She is so thorough in her research which you will see with all the updated information and new values. We can only hope there will be a 303 version in the future!



4. This was a wonderfully informative book with information that dozens of other books on this subject do not cover. Also suggested is the sequel, Costume Jewelry 202.



5. "Collecting Costume Jewellery 101" is essentially a beginners' guide to the main makers of (American) designer costume jewellery. Other information is also given, such as how to repair and clean costume jewellery and what to do with unwanted jewellery, all of which would be useful to a person starting a costume jewellery collection. However, the vast majority of this book are devoted to summaries of the main jewellery making companies.
   
   For most designers, the summary given is brief, comprising the dates of operation of the company; a brief history of the company; the signature look of the product; and buying recommendations. Nevertheless, this is more than enough for a beginning collector. Greater detail is given about Coro, Kramer, Trifari and Weiss, however, four designers whom Carroll recommends for beginning collectors. Numerous color photographs are also provided for each designer, with values given for each piece of jewellery.
   
   For people seeking a more detailed discussion of designer costume jewellery, I recommend the sequel to this book, "Collecting Costume Jewellery 202", although both books are well worth investing in.

5 comments about Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast.

1. Great pictures, explainations, and examples, Put in wonderful catagories and easy to understand!! Fully recommend!! I wish there was more of it as it is so well thought out!!



2. This is a great book if you are looking for explanations of the history of the Haida artwork and drawings. It also includes many examples of the artwork and is easy to read and understand for all ages.



3. Interesting and well written, this book has been not only a wonderful source of entertainment but a good reference for this native art style. Every image is a beautiful example of the style, and covers several medias (print, paint, clothing and carving). Stewart spends time covering all the basics, from the rudimentary design principles, to the myths and symbolism of the many animals and figures represented by the examples. Differences between tribal styles are also covered, each group accompanied by several wonderful examples of the art. This book is a great starting place for anyone wanting to study this art form, whether it be primarily cultural or artistic.



4. Great, yet another book about "Northwest Coast" and "Coast Salish" art that ignores the art of the Salish Indians of Western Washington. Ever since J. E. Standley flooded the Seattle tourist market with the fake Kwakiutle artwork, fake totem poles, and other hybrids of art forms from the northern coast Salish tribes, the art forms that are indigenous to our tribes here in western Washington have been all but forgotten, brushed aside by authors who chase the market with books that pretend to deal with all "of the Northwest Coast" but in reality ignore anything south of the 49th Parallel.



5. I find that the Northwest Indian Art is a fascinating and strong art form - I felt this book gave me a further understanding of it.

2 comments about Country Living Merry & Bright: 301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas (Country Living).

1. Thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas edition of the best of Country Living. Photos are beautiful, excellent layout. More about inspiring ideas rather than how-tos which is exactly what I look for so this was a perfect choice for me but perhaps not for the crafter. If you like the magazine, you'll love the book.



2. Country Living's newest installment certainly doesn't disappoint. The images and ideas are fabulous and very refreshing. I already tried one of the craft ideas and the results were wonderful... A great buy and a good gift for friends!

2 comments about The Basic Guide to Pricing Your Craftwork: With Profitable Strategies for Recordkeeping, Cutting Material Costs, Time & Workplace Management, Plus Tax.

1. "An excellent resource . . . a well organized book is nothing without solid information and the book delivers here." -- The Crafts Report



2. Mr. Dillehay's advice is aimed squarely at handcrafters, which means he's able to recommend courses of action that might be contrary to more general advice. For example, while it's common in many stores to price just under a dollar amount ($.99 or $.95 amounts), you don't want to do that with most handcrafted items. That sort of price can actually leave people thinking your goods are cheap and low-quality. Similarly, talking up the uniqueness of your methods or materials and raising your prices might increase your sales, even though common wisdom says that if sales are slow you should lower your prices.
   
   Many beginning crafters are reluctant to put a decent price on their goods. They feel that they or their products aren't good enough, or that people won't be willing to pay that kind of price. They look at the price tag on the materials they used and think they shouldn't mark things up much beyond that. The problem is, there are many costs associated with crafting work that aren't taken into account by that, and you could find yourself losing money without even realizing it. Dillehay makes certain that you know how to take all of those invisible expenses into account when pricing your goods.
   
   He goes on to talk about pricing for different markets. You might be able to price higher at a craft fair than through a store, for example. He even discusses wholesale pricing that allows you to sell to stores, catalogs, and other outlets while still making a profit. In fact, pretty much the only subject that seems conspicuously absent is any talk of selling online whatsoever.
   
   Because so many factors affect the price of your goods, this book ends up doubling as a mini-guide on running a craft business (although you'll still want to delve more thoroughly into that as its own topic). It includes a variety of forms for inventories and so on.
   
   Despite the absence of information regarding online pricing, methods and sales---which these days seems like a bit of a large oversight---there's so much valuable information in here that I highly recommend it to any crafter who'd like to make a profit on her wares.

5 comments about The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems (Craftsman's Guide to).

1. Tolpin is a refreshing change from the old bland how-to's that have been republished with outdated material year after year. This book is no exception. I love how the author takes you through the history and evolution of the toolbox. The color pictures are gorgeous.(Or maybe it's the toolboxes?) This is a must own for any tool lover. A great gift idea for that person you know with the messy shop!



2. I just received this book. Wow! Because of all the good reviews, I expected a good book. This is one beautiful book and is way above my expectations. I would have been satisfied if it only contained photographs and illustrations without the text, they are very clear. I have not purchased a book that has impressed me as much as this one, ever. I can only add my positive comments to the many reviewers before me. It is well worth your investment whether you just want to scan through a beautiful book or are a serious craftsman wanting to build fine furniture for your tools.



3. Lots of pictures, ideas, descriptions and this book serves its purpose of giving me ideas on current and future projects.
   
   Recommended



4. I'm setting up my first workshop. I bought Scott Landis' Workbench Book for guidance on building my workbench and this book for guidance on workshop tool storage. I found Landis' book extremely useful, but this one did not really have what I was looking for.
   
   This book is called the Toolbox Book for a reason. While the subheading is "A Craftsman's Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems," the focus of the book really is (often spectacular) handcrafted toolboxes. Only one chapter -- 14 pages -- is devoted to "Designing In-Shop Tool Storage," and much of that is about the generic design process (how to make a story stick, how to draw your design first, etc).
   
   So if you're a novice like me looking for practical workshop tool storage ideas, I don't think this book is worth the money. I definitely didn't learn any more here than I have just browsing woodworking sites on the internet.
   
   None of this is a knock on the book, really. It's a beautiful, well-written book that's gotten glowing reviews from other readers for a reason. But I think its audience may be more limited than the subheading, and some of the other reviews, might lead you to think.



5. Mr. Tolpin combines his journalistic background with imagery and thoughts of both the useage and construction of the Toolbox. Everything from Masterfull pieces in the Smithsonian Institute to Ancient functional pieces are discussed and illustrated. Due to this book, I have decided to build a pair of wall mounted boxes to display old tools and bring comonly used tools to a better location when I'm working.

5 comments about Hand Quilting with Alex Anderson: Six Projects for Hand Quilters (Quilting Basics).

1. This is probably the best book I have found that gives instruction for hand quilting. The color pictures give very explicit instruction for both right and left handed people. I would recommend this to anyone interested in hand quilting, whether a beginner or a long time quilter. Alex Anderson is one of the best teachers and supporters of quilting. She does an excellant job with her program " Simply Quilts". I would recommend all her books.



2. Wonderful help. This is a great reference book for everyone to have on their shelf.



3. I have had the oportunity to meet Ms Anderson and would buy and use her things any time. I had to add this to my collection of quilt books. Someday I will try hand quilting and I'll go to this book right away.



4. I bought this book based on the reviews and I'm very happy with my purchase. The great photos show very specific hand positioning of different quilting techniques for both left and right handed quilters.
   I'll be adding more of her books to my collection.



5. Interesting book. Seemed easy to read and wasn't overwhelming in size and scope of projects.

5 comments about Scraptastic!: 50 Messy, Sparkly, Touch-Feely, Snazzy Ways to Jazz Up Your Scrapbook Pages.

1. I agree that this book is "way out there," but I like that. It isn't your ordinary "fifty ways to use patterned paper on a layout" idea book. Instead, Ashley Calder introduces new materials and techniques, and shows you step-by-step how to incorporate them in your scrapbook.
   
   I would not recommend this if you are a die-hard Creative Memories user who never lets anything with even a hint of acid touch her scrapbook's pages. But if you are willing to look outside the box, give it a go. I like Ashley's quirky style, even if I am a more traditional scrapper.



2. I have converted to digital scrapbooking a while ago but this book makes me want to go out, get paint and glitter and get messy. Thanks for the inspiration!!



3. I am a professional collage artist and I own many books on paper and collage and what to do with it. I LOVE this book. I never would have bought it for the "scrapbooking" content, but for the instructions and ideas for dressing up the paper yourself, it is truly a must have item. Great instructions, great photos, all easy to understand and wonderful and easy to do with easy to get art supplies. Messy and beautiful and real - a great step to personal journaling - which is why I purchased it.



4. I expected more from this book - not quite sure what but I haven't learned anything other than that I would not want my pages to look like those doen by Ashley, whose work I usually adore...



5. I was looking for some new ideas on how to jazz up my pages. I didn't find much in the book that I would use.
   
   Like other reviewers, I found pictures on her pages were lost in the mess on her pages.

5 comments about Fabric Memory Books: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration.

1. This is Lesley's second book and well worth the purchase. So many ideas and information, very much like Quilted Memories, but oriented toward making books. It covers: tools needed, fabric usage, book binding methods, etc. There are so many wonderful examples of books made from many types of "fabric" like interfacing and other spun polyester materials, which is really inspirational. I took Lesley's class on making fabric books and this book is the perfect source for remembering and using what I learned. But, you don't need to take her class, all the information you need is right here. Many other artists also contributed work to the book and their efforts are really fun to see. Buy the book soon, you will go back to it often for inspiration and study.



2. Leslie has beautifully demonstrated many fabric books which will give you ideas for making your own. A feast for the eyes! This book will get your creative juices flowing.



3. I'm French and had the chance to "speak" with the author through emails. It's a wonderful person and her book is also great. I just wanted to say I prefered her first book because there was more about Mix media, and I'm more "in the painting" than "in the Fabrics", but for people who love working with fabrics, it's a great source of inspiration. This books deserves to be read and kept in every home. I certainly don't regret to have bought it.
   And I feel so lucky to be able to read English, I would have missed so much otherwise ! We are waiting for your next book, Lesley, I'm sure it will be great too. Yael from Paris



4. This book really dind't offer anything new in the way of fabric books. I enjoyed the photos but it was not the caliber of work of her first bood.



5. I have a lot of books similar to this one, but was surprised to find some new and different ideas in it. I don't know how many times I've bought a book in this genre and wish I hadn't. Not so this time. I think it is well presented and written, good examples and some ideas I had not thought of and will probably actually use! So I would certainly recommend it if you've been thinking about playing around with fabric books and journals.

5 comments about Christmas in New York: A Pop-Up Book.

1. It has been a surprise to open this book. Just amazing! I believe it is perfect for a baby, for an adult, for everyone, it is a pleasure to go through the colorful pop-up pages and the inserts.
   I really love it.



2. My Best Friend and I have a Christmas Tradition where we buy each other Children's Christmas books as gifts... I chose this one because she recently took a vacation to NYC. I bought it from Amazon without being able to look at the inside and was suprised and a little disappointed to find that it was more historical and less story-ish. But the book is great and the story behind the Traditional NYC Christmas icons is told. I would recommend this book but remember that it is not a Story book more of a history book.



3. I purchased this book as a sort of "virtual trip" to begin to fulfill my dream of celebrating Christmas in New York one day. The illustrations are beautiful and it is interesting to learn the history behind the great city's Christmas traditions. It seems that every time I open the book there are new surprises awaiting me. This book is a keepsake to enjoy for years to come. My other dream for Christmas one day is London, England. Mr. Fischer, are there any plans for a "Christmas in London" or even a "Christmas in Germany" or Europe? If so, I just "can't wait to open" them! Thank you for the sweet gift of imagination, color, and beauty in a book.



4. Christmas in New York: A Pop Up Book is a wonderfully artistic representation of its subject. I have bought several copies of this lovely book, and I have given them to adults and children alike. One of them was sent to France.



5. I have purchased a few of these. Great gift for someone that left the Big Apple or that doesn't have the opportunity to see it. I sent it to my sister in Florida, my best friend in Florida and my cousin in Texas. If they can't be with us, at least they can remember how beautiful it is!