5 comments about 150 Knitted Trims: Designs for Beautiful Decorative Edgings, from Beaded Braids to Cables, Bobbles, and Fringes.

1. Found this book to be way more helpful than the Nicky Epstein series "Knitting... The Edge" series. Loads of ideas. I don't really care that there are no charts, I find it easy to work with out them and would definitely recommend this book for anyone who feels the same. Plus the designs are way cooler. Not a big fringe and bobble gal.



2. Any book with Lesley Stanfield's name on it rates a look from me. This English author, designer and editor
   always comes up with something special, as she does in this book.
   
   The variety of knitted trims is mind boggling: There's a great variety of borders, bands, and braids, many
   trimmed with beads or sequins. Frills, flouces, and lacy edgings expand the mix. But wait -- there's more!
   You'll love the loops and fringes, the insertions, and a whole section on unusual and charming knitted
   flowers, leaves, and other fun things like a heart, a colorful butterfly, and a wonderful tassel with a knitted skirt. There's even a tiny Christmas stocking.
   
   The photos are close up and clear, and you can see every stitch. Instructions are well layed out and are so short and easy to follow that I don't see the lack of symbol charts as a negative.
   
   The trims are all both unusual and usable. This is a great book to give a knitting friend -- so buy two and
   keep one for yourself.
   
   But don't lend out your copy -- chances are you'll never get it back!



3. The variety of edgings to try from this book will entertain you for hours. I have so many little sticky notes going all the way around the pages of this book---marking oodles of pages of edgings for me to try---that it sort of resembles a porcupine! One thing I do to make double use of my experiments is to use tiny knitting needles and crochet thread to test these edgings, and when I'm done-----I have a bookmark to give as a gift! I just keep making it to the length I like a bookmark to be and I can also see if I like the look of that edging for a future project!



4. This book is a treasure. I am constantly lookng for ways to make garments, especially scarves, take on a bit of punch uaing edgings and trims. This is just the book for it. Pictures of trims were beautfully photographed, detailed, and clear. Directions repeated a smaller photograph of the trim, listed the difficulty of the trim (ie, beginner, intermediate, or advanced) and the directions are very clear.
   
   This book is a must have for every knitter whether beginner or advanced - you'll get a host of ideas from it and your garments will never again be boring.



5. I was sure this book was a winner because I have the Stanfield book of stitches which I use often and the reviews here were so positive. I'm not disappointed. Lack of charts doesn't bother me as the patterns are generally just a small number of rows. All the patterns are illustrated first in color together and then arranged with the instructions. Included here is the skill level. 5 projects are pictured at the end for ideas and there is a good index. Recommended.

5 comments about Shabby Chic.

1. I've find the information in the book (text) very useful in creating a soothing, unfussy, shabby environment at home. However I was expecting it to be the otherway around; I thought there'll be beautiful photographs in the book and the text just going to state the obvious...
   I was expecting more photos of the 'typical shabby' look (white walls, furniture, crystals, pinks, pastel colors, etc.) Instead you'll find a little bit of this and a little bit of that of varous styles mixed with shabby chic(traditional, modern and just a few of that typical romantic style)...so I am a little disapointed about that but on the whole, this book is o.k.



2. This was the first book I bought when I closed on my country home. My style has always been contemporary and I wanted ideas for decorating a turn of the century farmhouse. This and Shabby Chic Home is to decorating what Betty Crocker is to cooking. You will never go hungry again!:)



3. This book protrayed the essence of the Shabby Chic home
   decoration. It has a good balance between the written word
   and photographs. I did enjoy the book and got a lot of
   ideas from it.



4. This is one of those books that is great to flip through in a bookstore or friend's house but never buy. And I am quite a fan of Shabby Chic and Rachel Ashwell. So if you don't even like her stuff, nothing in this book will sustain your interest. There is not much copy to read, her "tips" are very generic or just off-the-mark (she says it's ok to buy termite-ridden antiques because "a simple commercially available spray" gets rid of termites - somehow I don't see many women attempting this), and the book is mostly photos. While pretty, the photos are sourced from the same few celebrity homes she knows, so one feels a bit shortchanged.



5. This Book, I would say this dream world, is a must-have for any person who loves true design, home or garden decor, flea-markets finds and/or who has children (or even just one kid). The ideas are great and simple, the style is typically Shabby Chic, as its creator wrote this book, but in a little bolder and more flashy colors than in her other books, as many projects are outside and need to be seen under a very harsh sunlight.
   It is Rachel Ashwell's fifth book, so, we could imagine it is the same as her four preceding others, but no, she manages to surprise us in it : by remaining true to her palette, we can guess an evolution in her tastes and choices, which are always so chic, so elegant, so British, quite elegant enough for any French Castle, and I know what I am speaking of, as I am French and have been raised in a very chic Parisian family.
   As you understood, I am a big fan of Rachel Ashwell's design, I only regret she's not more well-known in Paris.
   So, if you like or are curious of Shabby Chic, this book is more that a must, the kind of book you will keep your whole life.
   By the way, the pictures are gorgeous, a usually, and the explanations honest and easy to understand, as usually too.
   I recommend strongly.
   Yael from Los Angeles

5 comments about Origami Flowers: Popular Blossoms and Creative Bouquets.

1. Well, I shouldve done more research on this book, but I don't like it because it requires too many other things to be used other than oragami paper. And sometimes the images of the pictures didnt seem very accurate, so i got confused a lot.



2. It is refreshing to look at the reviews and find that others have had the same frustrations with this book as I have. Yes, I agree the color photographs are absolutely beautiful and inspiring. They sure suck you in and are a powerful tool to entice you into buying the book. The artist is wonderfully creative with her use of the pentagon, hexigon and out-of-the-mainstreem starting shapes which makes this book so unique.
   
   It is definitely NOT for the beginner. The first flower I tried was the pansy. I have been a paper sculptress for years. I love origami, tea bag folding and just about anything having to do with paper. I had to seek the help of my Mensa member father in order to get this one right! I was ready to hold a book burning party and roast marshmallows over this one!
   
   If you do not use a thin enough paper you will have problems with some of the folding. Some areas get folded so many times that the piece becomes almost too thick to fold and I was using plain old printer paper.
   
   If you love a challenge, go for it! I certainly do not regret buying this book and I still pick it up from time to time just to see if my mind is more open to the techniques it presents. Hats off to those who found the instructions "easy to follow." I certainly was not one of them. If you need a reason to slit your wrists I highly recommend this book (hehehehehe - just kidding). Good luck!



3. The featured flowers are beautiful, but be forwarned: the process involves much more beyond folding. Scissors, glue... that's a given in almost all the patterns. For some, that's not pure origami, more paper craft. In addition, there are a few missing steps in some of the instructions. In fact, for 2 of the flowers, there seems to be chunks of instructions missing. Other than that, the usual project takes about 30-40 minutes for an intermediate paper crafter.



4. Origami flowers is a FANTASTIC book, but it is not for the novice, or for one that does not want to spend some quality time constructing the flowers. The flowers do in fact look like the real ones, but they are complicated. One flower took me several hours to complete. I would say this is a book for the advanced-intermediate to advanced origami artist.
   
   Beautiful flowers though!



5. I agree with some of the other reviewers- this is a great book for someone experienced- the diagrams are very easy to follow, the folds come out looking great, and so on. I highly recommend it. However- if you're just starting out, I think a lot of the folds are a little tricky and might not come out right. Definitely not a book for an absolute beginner, but otherwise it's a fantastic book- I loved it.

5 comments about Patterns of Fashion 2: Englishwomen's Dresses and Their Construction C.1860-1940 (Patterns of Fashion 2).

1. ...I just totally felt in love with this book as a student a couple of years ago and what a good surprise to find it back, now, on Amazon....Amazing references on the Victorian main silhouette, good selection of patterns and relevant information on the inside construction of the styles proposed. A lot of visual, sketch are clear and the ideas suggested are really interesting. I am a pattern maker myself so I never used the patterns as is from this book, but pick up a lot of information and integrate it in my projects... You probably need at least a bit of experiences as a seamstress or pattern making to fully appreciate and understand it. I personally recommend it. Have fun!



2. Very good book showing how the dresses were made. However I found that the clothing that were shown were for the higher class of people than what I was looking for. I was interested in the regular day to day clothing of the average woman, home or working.



3. This book is awesome. Although, as someone else said, a few of the items are not the best representation of their period, they are all quite gorgeous. I have made a few of them already, they are easy to draft and the ones I've made luckily were my size! It's a great reference, it's extremely detailed in construction (not a how to, but an explanation of the details of what they did.) Overall, a fantastic book at a great price! If you want something with more sizing for the bustle era, try Fashions of the Gilded Age.



4. Janet Arnold is the premiere clothing historian of our day. The patterns in her books are based upon extant garments, out of storage and off the dead. Not only are details on the individual garments precise and extensive, but, patterns are provided for each garment within the book. With a little knowledge on drafting patterns can be sized to fit. Ms. Arnold provided information on the materials, colors and prints appropriate for each period and garment as well. Exceptional for the clothing historian or the obsessive compulsive stage costumer.



5. My wife produces numerous victorian era dresses, as part of her participation in American Civil War reenacting. She has found this book indispensible in helping her make dresses of the time. It is a great source of knowledge for how these outfits were constructed.

5 comments about Little Bead Boxes: 12 Miniature Containers Built with Beads.

1. While I have yet to make any of the boxes from this book, I have read it thoroughly and am anxious to begin a box. I have seen boxes others have made from the instructions in this book so I feel confident in recommending it to others. The instructions are clear, don't leave you with questions, and help you to produce a piece worthy of the effort it takes. Again, glad I added it to my personal beading library.



2. This book was great. I looked it over and was not sure I could follow the instructions but once I started I found it to be pretty easy. Her helpful tips were great as if she anticipated the problems I would have. Also the projects didnt take as long as I had thought they would. I am a medium level beader so have only limited knowledge when I started these projects.



3. Great little book. Directions are a little hard to understand, but with taking it slow and easy, the designs are easy to make.



4. Well, I just finished my first little bead box. It is so lovely. I enjoyed a bead project that was a non-wearable. The complete project does not take as long as I thought it would. I'm not sure you should tackle this if you are not comfortable with peyote patterns or if you have not beaded any project with a geometric shape. Definitely read the beginning of the book with the general instructions before you start beading otherwise you will never be able to follow the word pattern. If you choose to make any of these boxes - you will not be disappointed.



5. This book is excellent, very detailed. It gives patterns, bead counts, color choices, and the instructions are very good. I have the second book too and it's just as good.

5 comments about The Guide to Hawaiian-Style Money Folds.

1. This book offered many unique designs that i have not seen before. It has 15 money folds and a section on envelopes and boxes. This book will tend to be hard for the beginner. I have done a few money folds and some of the pictures of the directions are hard to figure out whats going on. The pictures just need more detail. There is a lot of cool things in this book though, i really enjoy it!



2. This is a great book. Have learned several of these already and am eager to learn and teach even more. Great way to pass time while waiting any= where.



3. My teenager loves oragami so I thought he might like this book. He did. You need fresh NEW money though or the folds won't hold right. Lots of cute designs inside.



4. I really like all the designs that are included in the book. Out of the 15 different designs I managed to only figure out how to do 5 of the designs. Some of the instructions and illustrations were not very clear in my point of view. I really love all the flower designs, but I was only able to figure out two out of the three. Of course, it was the most beautiful design that I was not able to figure out. Although, I was more experienced with origami folding than my husband, I had to asked him to try to analyzed the instructions since he is a physicist and a mathematician. He managed to help me figure out two of five designs that I was able to create. This book needs a bit more clearer instructions and should use more color to help with the illustrations. Think very hard before buying this book because you might not get all your money's worth if you can only learn how to create very few designs from it.



5. This is by far the best $ fold book I own. The directions are great and the ideas are very different. Even the difficult folds are explained pretty well. The book also shows how to do some regular paper folds like boxes etc. Awesome book & a great place to start for beginers!!!

5 comments about To Have & To Hold: Magical Wedding Bouquets.

1. this book is as good as anything i have seen on this subject[and probably better than most]



2. Es una estupenda referencia sobre las ideas que buscan las personas cuando de solicitar ramos para boda se refieren... incluso algunas quinceañeras lo han tomando como referencia para escoger el ramo que llevarán a la iglesia.



3. I bought this book for my sister who is getting married soon. She loved the book! It has given her great ideas and pictures for her to express to her florist what she wants. Most of the bouquets are unique and the wrappings around the flowers are a wide variety and have great ideas. I would recommend the book.



4. I'm marrying in November and went to the library to look up books on wedding flowers; this one came out to be my favorite so far. Although some of the advice is a little too frou-frou for my tastes (if you want Spring flowers in December, then have at it!), the bouquets and flowers are gorgeous. I actually read the captions for the photos more than anything else.
   
   The book is quite inspiring with several flower types that you never thought to use, plus interesting wrapping of the stems.
   
   My biggest cheer is for the size and quality of the photos. You can search online all you like for beautiful bouquets, and most of the time you get pixelated crap with colors that don't match the flowers at all.



5. When looking for something fresh and new for my wedding flowers, I sifted through dozens of books that showed the same old arrangements and nothing new or creative. I own another of Stark and Adler's books, and was pleased to see they had written a wedding flower book. I was over the moon after ordering the book. The designs are simply beautiful! The flower choices are artistic, simple and help a bride to choose the right flowers for the growing season in which her wedding takes place. I carried this book to my florist and we recreated several of the arrangements for my bridal bouquets and table arrangements. Everyone was impressed with the floral arrangements and the vibrant color choices. This is the one book you need, if you are looking for a fresh, vibrant and artistic look for your wedding.

3 comments about The Little Dictionary of Fashion: A Guide to Dress Sense for Every Woman.

1. This book isn't really very substantial; it's essentially an alphabetic collection of the great couturier Christian Dior's comments on various elements of fashion and style. On these terms, however, and for the reader who isn't approaching the book expecting anything world-shaking, it's a very nice little item and a good snapshot of "New Look" fashion ideas. Lots of great B&W photos and drawings, too! (I think it really deserves 3 1/2 stars but Amazon's star system doesn't allow that kind of fine-tuning, more's the pity.)



2. This is a nice little book - not detailed or descriptive enough for someone really interested in fashion. I did enjoy the photographs. If you are looking for more indepth explanation of fashion terms and guidelines, I suggest A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions. It is organized alphabetically, just like Mr. Dior's book, but has more detailed written descriptions of the items.



3. I bought this book as a gift for a relative who is a fashion aficionado and it was perfect! She owns several other fashion dictionaries, but didn't have this one. If you appreciate the history of fashion, you will love this must have for your book collection.

No comments about Art Jewelry Today 2.

5 comments about Color by Accident: Low-Water Immersion Dyeing.

1. If you have ever wanted a definitive resource on alternative dyeing technique using Procion dyes, this is it! Ann Johnston is the authority on dyeing with these fiber-reactive dyes, and here she gives the basis for the type of dyeing that is so popular today: low-water immersion dyeing. She teaches the method using many different recipes which are revolutionary; at least to me they were! Going through the recipes, the reader will learn how to apply these same techniques using other color combinations. Most unique was the layered-dyeing technique called "parfait", which yields three different-colored fabrics from the SAME dyepot. Incredible!
   
   All in all, this was just the book I'd hoped it would be, and then some. I've been using it now for about four years, and not once have I been disappointed with the results of my fabrics. For those interested in regular vat dyeing and direct application techniques, she also give basic instructions and recipes for these, too.
   
   This book will hook you into dyeing for good!



2. This is a excellent book for people wanting to do silk or cotton dying. It is easy to understand and has a lot of project to do that are quite easy. It has a lot of ideas and allowes you to use you imagination to create different colors and abstract patterns. No two projects will look identical.



3. As a quilter, who dyes her own fabric, I was disappointed in this book. First, I think her recipe for stock dyes uses a LOT of dye. Procion dyes are not inexpensive and she recommends 2 Tablespoons of dye/cup of water. In most receipes I have used, the yellows use 1 T of dye in 1 cup of water, blues use 2 teaspoons, and reds 1 teaspoon. The author makes no differentiation between colors of dye in her measurements even though the dye companies and all of the other books I have used, do. I think 2 T/cup is overkill and wasteful.
   
   Second, I don't understand her process for adding Soda Ash. I don't think it works well and felt that a lot of the color washed out of the fabrics as a result. Most of the books I've worked with recommend pre-soaking the fabric and this seems to work much better. (They use a lot less dye in their stocks and the colors are brighter.)
   
   Finally, I tried some of her recipes in the book and was disappointed with the results. The colors on the top of the value parfait were too weak and none of the fabrics in that batch had the texture of fabrics dyed by the processes recommended in Dyeing for Quilters, Fabric Dyeing for Beginners, and Robbi Eklow's new book. I ended up over-dyeing them to salvage the fabric. They are the first pieces I've dyed in 6 months that I didn't like.
   
   However, for individuals who want a simple approach to fabric dyeing this book may work well. It simplifies the dye formulas (by using large quantities of dye and omitting salt) and reduces the steps involved in dyeing value runs and color runs. If you don't mind spending the money on dyes, her approach is easy to follow and can yield decent results. I would recommend more agitation and squeezing in the value parfaits to get adequate dye and soda ash into the center of the fabric.
   
   For folks, who don't mind a few more steps, I think the books mentioned above cover the subject of fabric dyeing much more extensively.



4. I have read and used many books for hand dyeing fabrics. Color By Accident by Ann Johnston is of extremely high quality. It is written much like a cookbook, with clear measures, clear directions and ample support for further creativity. This is not a tie-dyeing manual. It will help the ardent fabric dyer create wonderful materials usable for any type of sewing project. And it is an excellent introduction for those who have never tried this process and don't know where to begin. It is fully resourced, providing information on obtaining everything you will need to proceed.



5. This is a must-have book for those beginning their fabric dyeing journey. Get this one along with her other book Color by Design and begin creating beautiful fabrics for your fiber art.
   
   Easy to read, excellent explanations and formulas for dye concentrates. The book describes many techniques that lead to various looks in the fabric.
   
   Must have!!!!