5 comments about Smart Soapmaking: The Simple Guide to Making Traditional Handmade Soap Quickl Safely, and Reliably, or How to Make Luxurious Handcrafted Soaps for Family, Friends, and Yourself.

1. I've purchased other books on soapmaking. This is the best I've read. It gives you the basics and encourages you to go for it. I was apprehensive to purchase this book because it was so small; but it just proves the saying that "good things come in small packages." Start with this one first!



2. This is a great book for anyone with little soap making knowledge. The details and instructions are great, nice recipies too.



3. I'm new to soapmaking and decided to take the plunge as soon as I received my book. I decided to make Anne's Shea Butter Supreme (page 35) - Oh my! It turned out and it's lovely to use. I can't believe I can make my very own soap. This book is very informative and easy to understand. I highly recommend this book for beginners.
   Anne, you are a genius - thank you! : )



4. Now were cookin! Great book for the beginner, and great for brushing up for the intermediate and so on. I would recommend this to those who want to give it a whirl. When you read this book you won't want to put it down until you've gone through the entire book. This book gets you all geared up and ready to go. You can use some of her ideas or stick to your own on preparations but at least you won't be scared that something may go wrong or worse yet blow up in your face. You will not be intimidated on soapmaking with this book you will be excited. So buy it, read it and get in your kitchen and start making soap. If and when she puts out another book I will be buying it. Good Luck.



5. I liked the author's approach to soapmaking. She keeps it simple, but without discounting the safety measures necessary. I was able to read the book in one sitting and could understand it easily. Great for someone just starting out in soapmaking!

5 comments about The Art of Manipulating Fabric.

1. Very unique and creatively artistic quilt art. Will take time to learn, but is beautiful and gets your attention right now.



2. The Art of Manipulating Fabric is a wonderful book. There are excellent pictures or diagrams on every page. The instruction for creating the details covered in the book are excellent as well. Easy to follow. I would recommend this book to any seamstress who wants to improve their sewing by adding these special deatails that make a garment truely special.



3. This is a wonderful reference book for all those interested in sewing and embellishing fabric. It's pure pleasure just looking at the pictures! I have given the book 4 stars though because, although I understand that the use of unbleached white muslin for all samples is clearly useful, I would have liked to see the pictures in color anyway, and not just in black and white. A snow-white cotton fabric over a mahogany background or something similar would have been perfect. It would have given the book the final touch of elegance and luxury which all these fabric embellishments are about anyway. A better picture resolution would have been ideal too, but maybe it's just my bad eyesight! In any case, I wholeheartedly congratulate Colette Wolff and thank her for this fantastic addition to the sewing libraries of passionate fabric/sewing lovers like myself, and I will wait for a second edition with more fabric manipulating ideas! The sky is the limit!



4. First let me say that I am a simple quiltmaker. But I am a fantastic dreamer! This author has taken all of my dreams and made them come true. I cannot believe the things she does with the most common of fabrics. She sews designs and stuffs them with batting, then creates a wonderful picture with them. She pleats and ruches, too. Welting, cording, smocking, and tucking, are only a few of the lessons in her repertoire. The best way I know to describe her work is to say it's extremely varied in all areas of manipulation and is unlimited in its use. Clothing and quilts become things of great beauty when created using her methods. I recommend this book for all those who are the least bit interested in working with fabric. There are no brightly colored pictures, however. They are just not necessary here.



5. Hi!
   I even doesn't know what it's possible to do with the fabric!!!!!Very interesting book about making 3 dimensional things with simple muslin tissue(exemple).I love it!
   It's like open my mind really!!!Very good purchase! Thanks!!:-)))

5 comments about Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt.

1. I bought this book for my girlfriend and she loved it. A few days after receiving the book, she's done a few nice modifications to her older t-shirts and they looked great! I was impressed myself!
   
   The instructions given in this book are easy to understand and implement. This book will keep her happy and busy.
   
   I recommend this book to absolute beginners who would like to get started with transforming t-shirts. This would help you get started without much difficulty. However, you won't become the next Adam Saaks with this book.
   
   With every hobby or passion - Stick to it and love every minute of it :)



2. I got this book this summer for my daughter, age 12, and her friend. Both girls are crafty, creative (they take art classes together), and have used a sewing machine independently. My daughter's friend even makes tailored clothes for herself! I thought the book would give them some fun & funky ideas. They did enjoy paging through it and both did manage to find a pattern to make. But I'm not sure they'll come back to this much because they felt the styles were too skimpy for them. Neither one is more modest than an average 12 year old, but they still didn't feel comfortable wearing most of the shirts out of the house. They were really amazed by the whole chapter of tube tops. (They asked me "Who would wear these things?")
   
   Too bad...These girls are a perfect market for something like this. I guess I'll have to keep looking.



3. For many years I have been interested in the dynamics of t-shirt reconstruction. In my late teens I made a few attempts at DIY reconstruction but knew very little about the basics of sewing. Once I learned how to sew I began on an endless journey to DIY fashion creating one of a kind shirts to separate myself from boring, monotonous trends. My boyfriend called to tell me about generation T and suggested I visit the site. I immediately fell in love and ordered the book right away. Literally two days later I received the book and my eyes become open to a whole new word of DIY fashion. The possibilities are endless and this book is not simply limited to t-shirts. There are handbags, pillows, skirts, rugs, and much more. There is even a wedding dress at the end of the book designed with t-shirts!! I made a new projects every day with this book, sometimes two projects a day. It's good to own a sewing machine but if you don't, all of projects that require sewing can be easily stitched by hand. At the beginning of the book the author explains different stitching techniques so that even a beginner can complete the projects. A third of the book is no-sew which makes things even easier. I highly recommend this book, it's like a DIY bible for fashion.



4. If you don't care to sew but want to join the altered,recycled clothing craze, this is a great place to start. Most projects are easily achieveable by the inexperienced crafter and are attractive and wearable. The main downside to this book is that most of the clothing isn't very sophisticated or wearable for those over about 35. I found it a great resource for working with my teenaged daughter and niece. They both liked the designs and found the directions easy to understand and follow.



5. Always wonder what to do with those t-shirts that are too big or too small, or a little worn out! I recommend this to anyone looking for a creative way to recycle their t-shirts!

5 comments about Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making & Beading (Teach Yourself VISUALLY Consumer).

1. This book is fantastic. It goes into great detail. It has clear instructions with great pictures. This is a good resource for the beginner and the more experienced beading fanatic.



2. If you want to get into beading & jewelry-making, Chris Franchetti Michaels's Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making & Beading is a fantastic place to start. It's a thick book loaded with photographs, and it tackles a comprehensive spread of topics.
   
   Thorough charts detail everything from the common lengths for various styles and sizes of necklaces (both men's and women's), bracelets, and anklets to common finishing methods used for different stringing materials. Photos clearly display techniques for knotting strings, creating eyepins and headpins (not to mention clasps), and making your own Byzantine chain from jump rings. Wire gauge is demonstrated visually, with an image of each gauge's thickness, and with examples of what each gauge is used for.
   
   The book goes through bead-stringing techniques; wire-work; bead-weaving (by hand and on a loom) and even macrame. If you truly want to delve into beaded jewelry as more than just a way to make a few pieces for yourself, then I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Michaels's book. It's extremely valuable and highly instructional. The use of brief, clear instructions combined with a ton of tables and photographs make it a quick read that teaches you an incredible amount of material. It's also a fantastic quick-reference book for use while making your creations.



3. This is an awesome book for the novice, it show's pictures of the many different jewelry making tools and provides explanations as to what they are used for.



4. I am learning about jewelry making and this book is the most helpfull that I have found.



5. I am just learning how to make crystal jewelry. This is the fourth book I purchased and it is the best. To actually see the illustrations is invaluable. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to make jewelry.

2 comments about Masters: Beadweaving: Major Works by Leading Artists (Masters (Lark Books)).

1. MASTERS: BEADWEAVING is the latest title in Lark Books' astonishing Masters series and quite possibly my favorite. I'm a huge fan of this series. Each title is dedicated to a particular craft or niche; other books include the very beautiful Masters: Art Quilts: Major Works by Leading Artists (The Masters) and Masters: Glass Beads: Major Works by Leading Artists (The Masters). In Masters: Beadweaving, Carol Wilcox Wells, a master beadweaver herself and seminal bead-book author, has curated a title featuring three dozen bead artists each given eight pages to showcase their best work, with quotes from the artists and short essays by Wells about their style and technique rounding out the presentation.
   
   Including sculptural work, vessels, and of course jewelry, as well as a wide array of stitches, the range of work presented is astonishing, and the excellence of the artists who are featured absolutely manifest. More than just outstanding craft, the pieces selected are truly fine art. Above all, this inspiring volume is simply gorgeous -- beaders and non-beaders alike will find endless visual delight in the book. Since I received it, I just can't stop picking it up. With it already underpriced at $24.95 for what it delivers, Amazon's discounted price makes it an amazing steal.
   
   For beaders and fans of the medium, here's what you want to know: The 36 artists featured are Jeanette Ahlgren, Jo Ann Baumann, Virginia L. Blakelock, Rebecca Brown-Thompson, David K. Chatt, Sonya Clark, Marcia DeCoster, Sharon Donovan, Wendy Ellsworth, Margo C. Field, Linda Fifield, Diane Fitzgerald, Susan Etcoff Fraerman, Leslie Frazier, Valerie Hector, Laura Leonard, Dallas Lovett, Eleanor Lux, Laura McCabe, NanC Meinhardt, Maggie Meister, Ann Tevepaugh Mitchell, Rachel Nelson-Smith, Karen Paust, Huib Petersen, Don Pierce, Melanie Potter, Madelyn C. Ricks, Cynthia Rutledge, Joyce J. Scott, Sherry Serafini, Natasha St. Michael, Marcie Stone, Laura Willits, Amolia Willowsong, and Sharmini Wirasekara. Enjoy!



2. Just got my copy today and I'm more than thrilled. It's a nice heavy, quality book for the price. The photos are good and the little blurbs about the artists are very nice. Yes, we have seen some of the beadwork by famous artists (Diane Fitzgerald, etc.) before in other books, but a lot of it I haven't seen before.
   
   Can't wait to sit down tonight and pore over every page!

5 comments about Scrapbook Page Maps: Sketches For Creative Layouts.

1. This book really helped me get out of a slump, you know, when three or four scrapbook pages start looking the same???
   
   The punch out cards in the back make this book a portable, inspirational goldmine



2. I love this book. It is full of great ideas and maps of layouts that are really creative.



3. And the small "to go" cards are brilliant. I can carry them in my purse, and they help me take better, smarter photos, too. Love this whole package!



4. I have alot of ideas books, but this one is the best!!! Becky Fleck is amazing. She not only had all original sketches in this book but comes up with news ones month after month. The icing on the cake-the cards. You don't have to carry the book with you everywhere you go. I slip the cards in my page planner and take it from there.



5. The page layouts in this book are easy to use, and can be simple or complex depending on which embellishments, papers, etc you use. The cards are handy to keep with your scrapbooking stuff for some on-the-spot inspiration.

5 comments about Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes.

1. This is a great book- for a beginner. I unfortunately bought it well after I'd been knitting for a while, and found it very simple and not what I needed. I have, however, used it to teach others, and have found it a great reference book for the beginner. It is very much a literature book, though, with a few patterns at the end of the book, one of which I've personally used and found quite wonderful and precise.



2. What a great little book. The patterns are written in prose rather than the standard format so that they are very clear and easy to understand for the beginner. Although photographs of the finished pieces are not included it's quick and easy to find the projects made by other knitters with a simple internet search.



3. This is a book every knitter, beginner or advanced, should have in her/his knitting library. I'm sorry I didn't have it years ago, but even as an advanced knitter, when I bought this book I sat down, read it cover to cover, and penciled in my own notes in the nice wide margins put in the book for that purpose. This allows the knitter to increase the use of this book with one's own additions or even comments on things that don't work for you.
   
   One of the great hints she gives is on doing the brioche stitch. She simplifies it beyond anything I have seen elsewhere. I immediately did a child's cap following her advice and was very pleased with the outcome.
   
   This book has very clear instructions on how to do various techniques and is something a knitter can return to over and over.
   Priscilla Bouic



4. I am an EZ fan big time and own ALL her books! Your knitting skills will take off after learning her techniques. This book is awesome if you're mostly into sweaters or are just starting to knit. If you like to knit a wide range of items (including shawls, blankets, etc.) I highly recommend starting your collection with both "Knitters Workshop" and "Knitters Almanac". I started with "Knitters Workshop" and made her Baby Surprise Jacket and a baby afghan. I'm now doing her famous Pi Shawl from the Knitters Almanac - lots of fun!



5. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Elizabeth Zimmerman has such a distinctive way of writing - you feel like you are listening in to one of her workshops. An absolute bonus were the many tit-bits of insightful and clever ways of dealing with many day-to-day knitting issues. I especially liked her way of shaping shoulders - why had I not thought of this before? If you have been knitting for a while so you know which aspects of knitted garments don't seem "quite right", then you will gleam many practical gems from this book.

5 comments about Doodle Stitching: Fresh & Fun Embroidery for Beginners.

1. I have been in search for a book like this for years, honestly. There are very little options for cute, casual embroidery out there and this one has several patterns that can be used on much more than the depicted use. One reviewer noted that there are several pages that have patterns not included in the book. I agree, this is disappointing but you can find a couple of these patterns on the author's etsy page ([...]) and she will send them to you as a PDF. The step by step instructions are so thorough that even an embroidered quilt doesn't seem daunting and I'm actually excited about putting it all together. That's a first. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because I was a little disappointed in the actual projects - I'd love to have seen more projects like placemats and tablecloths, baby onesies and bibs... things like that. Otherwise, this book is very exciting. Highly recommended for the thorough details that make the prospect easy, plus the complete guide to the stitches - excellent for a beginner!



2. I am a beginning embroiderer and this book is amazing! Simple instructions for each project and nice illustrations. This a is a great book and every embroiderer should have one!



3. Doodle Stitching: Fresh & Fun Embroidery for Beginners
   I found this book to be informative and motivating. It gives Ideas for embroidered items and also gives permission to do just what you want! I recommend this book to those who want to be more creative with thread.



4. Hand embroidery is growing in popularity, much to my delight. I have done embroidery for almost 20 years and this is probably the most delightful book I've ever found on the subject. The book claims to be for beginners, but I would venture to say it's appropriate for all skill levels. I am taken by the unique designs presented, and inspired to create more of my own based on the designer's concept.
   Some have complained that a couple designs shown in the book, namely the cover design, are not included as patterns. I can understand the frustration, but I was not given the impression upon buying it that this was a pattern book, but rather a conceptual book. I was under the impression that the patterns included in the book are meant to be a springboard to inspire the book's users to create their own original works.
   I think it's a lovely idea, and I am very pleased to have fresh inspiration.



5. I really love this book! The designs are all cute, fresh and fun...and I want to make them all. Creative ideas for using embroidery, even if you already know how. But the instructions seem pretty clear if you don't.

5 comments about Jelly Roll Quilts.

1. I love this book! There are so many great quilts in it that it is hard to pick one to start on! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants some fun and easy projects!



2. I bought this book for inspiration after buyng a Moda jelly roll on a whim and then having no idea what to do with it. I have read through the book several times, and I can't wait to make several of the patterns. I am keeping my eyes open for additional jelly rolls to buy that will work with the pattern designs. Worth a look!



3. Great ideas for making use of Jelly Rolls. Quick and easy directions for very nice quilts.



4. This book has beautiful pictures and easy to understand directions for many different types of jelly roll quilts. The directions are not limited to jelly rolls but does explain how to create the same quilt effect with strips of fabric or squares/triangles you cut on your own. I can't wait to start on the quilts. The hardest part will be choosing which one to use first.



5. have long lusted after this book but here in OZ its nearly $40.0au so at amazon, even with the exchange rate and postage I could buy myself a copy,for just under half price, my quilting buddy will now get hers back, its great for not only jelly rolls but any scraps that can be cut into 2" strips, great fast quilts that look as if you have been working really hard to get the stunning effect julie

1 comments about Never Not Knitting! Page-A-Day Calendar 2009 (Original Page a Day Calendars).

1. Never Not Knitting! 2009 CalendarI know its not 2009 yet and YES this is a 2009 calendar but IT IS Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. I have flipped through it and read many of the entries. Very cool stuff and classic Pearl-McPhee. If you are looking for a great Christmas present for the knitter in your life, this is the thing to buy . . . even when 2009 is over, s/he will keep it!