5 comments about The Polymer Clay Techniques Book.

1. The book is wonderful for a beginner. It tells you the tools you need, talks about how to make beads, miniture furniture and many other projects. It is a very basic book that hits on pretty much everything to help you make beads.



2. This book has more information in it than any book I've found so far on Polymer Clay.
   
   There is enough information on the basics to get a beginner started. How to handle clay, storage, baking, and differences in products.
   
   There is such a variety of techniques and projects that you're sure to find some you're not interested in as well as a LOT that you love.
   
   Most of the other books I've found on Polymer clay specialize on specific uses. This one shows the range of things that are possible, and how to do them.
   
   This will get a beginner started and give you ideas to get started in your own direction.



3. highly recommended. For every beginner this is a very good choice, it covers ALL of the basics.



4. This book is an excellent reference for the beginner in polymer modeling. Just keep it at hand, you'll find in it all the help you'll need!



5. I have a few books on polymer clay but this book teaches everything from simple beads to how to make figures. I wish this was the first book I bought . Very inspiring

5 comments about Knitting into the Mystery: A Guide to the Shawl-Knitting Ministry.

1. Because the title of this book says "Knitting", I had wondered how helpful it would be for a crocheter interested in shawl ministry. Based on other Amazon reviews, I took a chance and am glad I did so. While the authors are clearly knitters and write from that perspective, I could easily relate to the stories they told and to the ideas they shared on shawl ministry. This is not a pattern book (although it includes a basic knitted shawl pattern and a basic crocheted shawl pattern), but rather it is more of a spiritual book filled with stories, prayers and quotes from various faith traditions, as well as suggestions on how to do shawl ministry. Just reading the book gave me such a spiritual lift and provided me with inspiration for my shawl ministry.



2. I find that prayer is powerful no matter what. I have been knitting for years but I have never encountered this ministry before. I read the history behind this ministry and I was, needless to say, impressed and blessed. To think that all the craft items I have given away before this; I could have prayed for these people through these projects. Prayer does work in mysterious ways. A friend of mine borrowed this book before I had a chance to read it and she said that it was a humbling experience. Our church will be starting a similar ministry. A must read for anyone and everyone!



3. This is a must have and must read for anyone who is interesting in being Blessed to be a Blessing. It is just the best.



4. This is an excellent resource. I recently started up a Prayer Shawl Ministry at my church. I've shared this book with the members. It's highly informative and full of more information than I anticipated.



5. I have just started to knit prayer shawls and a friend of mine told me about this book. It gives the history of prayer shawls plus so much more. I have a much deeper understanding when I am knitting one of these shawls.

1 comments about Standard Catalog Of Lionel Trains, 1970-2000 (Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains 1970-2000).

1. This book is a huge disappointment. What a letdown after the first two volumes in this series. This third volume amounts to nothing more than a photo album. Beyond the item number and name of the item, there is virtually no text accompanying the photos. A value guide is also included for each item. There is not even a photo for some items, just the item number and name of item. While I recognize that this must have been a huge undertaking, it would have been better to break it down into several volumes and include more information. There is a Greenberg Guide covering the Kughn era from 1987 - 1995. A volume covering 1970 - 1986, and another covering 1995 - 2000 or 2005 that actually contains some information would have been much better. Save your money and use the Greenberg pocket price guides.

5 comments about Seed Bead Stitching: Creative Variations on Traditional Techniques.

1. This is a very creative book by a very gifted artist. Very detailed instructions. I really like it better than most beading books.



2. This happened to be the first seed bead book I bought, and though I've collected a few others, it remains my favorite. The instructions are clear, the illustrations are excellent, and the project ideas are inspiring (and do-able). My favorite: The spiral stitch -- see the design shown on the cover in Crayola-like colors. It was not only fun to make, but came out exactly as shown. The book is organized in a way that makes sense: after an overview of the materials you will need, there is a chapter devoted to each stitch (with variations). It's full of pretty things you'd actually like to make. (Please note this is seed bead stitching - there is no loom work.)



3. Want to learn how to properly use seed beads for designs that can be uniquely yours - GET THIS BOOK FIRST. Learn the patterns and yes, even like this author (including myself) you may want to throw your early attempts across the room. But keep at it. Once you master even a few basic stitches through the author's guidance and your determination, I am certain all can readily design their own works of seed bead art. The only factor about this book that I would have liked to see is a few more schematic sketches of the next few rows of beading. However, follow the rules and then create. Other beading projects including cabachon beading first involve the basic stitches - and this book is the best in my library of numerous seed beading books.



4. I LOVE this book!!! She explains the technique for stitches in a manner that is easy to understand, unlike any other instructions I've ever encountered. After reading her instructions, I have been able to do stitches that I haven't been able to do reading other people's instructions.



5. I have owned this book for a couple months. I love this book and highly recommend it for the beading addicted. The text is informative and full of inspiring advice and beading tips. The projects are well-presented and contain additional ideas on variations which encourages the timid to go outside the box. I really like how simple the instructions are for some of the stitches.
   
   As one reviewer has stated, it would be nice if additional steps were pictured for some of the stitches. I have not yet tried in earnest to do the diagonal right angle weave for that reason. I will attempt it when I have a large block of child-free time. But I have successfully made several bracelets and necklaces using the brick, peyote, tri, and quad stitch techniques. These were immensely satisfying to work and complete.
   
   Because of the friendly text, good instructions and great pictures, I rate this book as excellent. It is a well-used book in my beading library.

5 comments about Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads.

1. I was looking for something new and different to make. This book is just the visual I need.



2. This is a nice book if you would like to learn a little bit about the history of glass. I thought some of the projects were great and nice and fresh while some of the other projects were out in left field and not my style. This book is 128 pages in length with 20 projects. I was expecting some better projects in this book and also more projects. An example of one of the projects in the book is how to stack beads together and then adding this stack of beads onto at a piece of ribbon. Do we really need a project to tell use how to do this? One of the projects and why I bought the book was her Double-Clasp bracelet project. I love this idea and how you can make several variations of these little bracelets and mix and match them. I think some things are good in this book but some things need to be improved upon.



3. As a fellow glass beadmaker, I am a big fan of Ms. Sersich. Her bead designs are always colorful, well-made, and make me smile! Her jewelry is just as colorful and fun, and her designs were all new to me. The projects are fun and functional, and I am continually inspired by both her jewelry design and bead design. This book will not be going up on a shelf - it's staying in my work area!



4. This book has really neat ideas for jewelry! Haven't actually sat down and tried any of the projects yet.. but I've really enjoyed just looking at the pictures! I would recommend this book to anyone with interest in this type of jewelry.. cute, cute CUTE!!!!



5. Colorful, fun and funky - that's the jewelry style of Stephanie Sersich. Well known for her "Spiny Knotted Bracelet," Stephanie shares her youthful jewelry designs in a variety of projects. The famous Spiny is here along with easy to make knotted earrings and lovely embellished necklaces. If you haven't ever taken a class from the vivacious Ms. Sersich, this book is the next best thing.

5 comments about Bead Romantique: Elegant Beadweaving Designs.

1. The theme of the book is romantic, almost Victorian looking pieces. Most of the supplies called for are really easy to find in local bead stores, and the rest can be found searching online.
   The beginning of the book has some basic information about the supplies used, including what the author likes and dislikes about some threads and needles, and what the best application is for them.
   Then you get into the rest of the book, the projects. They are stunning. They range from very easy and elegant chain and wirework projects, simple beadwoven projects with some lovely surface embellishment, and then some incredibly dramatic looking bead woven pieces. The color photographs are inspiring and the instructions and diagrams are very well written. Many of the projects are meant for the intermediate beader.
   Don't be daunted though, the back of the book has stitch diagrams, and the text of each project is well written step by step.
   My favorite thing about the projects is that a few of them combine techniques. Chain as an accent on a beadwoven necklace for example. Some of her designs are completely unexpected pairings of techniques and beads that turn out looking amazing.
   Like I said, most supplies can be found easily at a good local bead store, and some projects are entirely made of easily found supplies, which is always nice in a book like this. The V Scallop necklace for example, you may have all the supplies you need on hand, or be inspired by it to make something similar with the supplies you do have on hand.
   My personal favorite project in the whole book is the intricate motif constructed Victorian Diamond Cuff. It looks difficult, but it's actually made of diamond shaped motifs that look easy enough one at a time.
   If you're an intermediate beader looking for inspiration and ideas, or a beginning beader looking for a challenge, I recommend this book.



2. I am as addicted to books as I am to beading! Two of my favorite books are by Carol Wilcox Wells and though I have purchased many books since hers have been published, this is the first I would rank as highly as I rank hers. It is filled with inspiring, beautiful, and most importantly, ORIGINAL designs. It is a book that is a wonderful addition to an intermediate to advanced beader's library. The projects are fun to create and the directions are clear and easy to follow. I liked this book so much I bought 3 more to "gift" my beading friends with!!



3. I would recommend this book to all beaders, if only for the eye candy. The jewelry is amazing and the photography is fantastic. I haven't made anything from the patterns as yet, but they look to be very well written and sensible.



4. I am a beginner in jewelry making, and at this point unsure which part of it to specialize on (I am leaning towards wireworking, but this book looked too beautiful to pass up). This book has so many gorgeous pieces that you can easily customize as you get better. It is definitely a bit of a challenge for a beginner, but with a bit of patience and research, I think you will be proud of what you can accomplish with this book.



5. The book had nice designs, but a lot of variations of the same thing. Not what I expected from this author.

5 comments about Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe for 18-Inch Dolls: Complete Instructions & Full-Size Patterns for 35 Clothing and Accessory Items.

1. Joan Hinds provides an excellent choice of patterns with which to create indoor outdoor fashions for 18" dolls. The patterns are timeless. They can easily be modified to reflect most style periods from the mid 20th century forward.



2. I have made most of the clothes presented in Hinds "Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe" and been very pleased with the results. Her instructions are clear and complete and allow for personal variation. My granddaughters and neighbor girls have been happy with their gifts of doll clothes!
   
   Because I liked "Contemporary" so much, I recently ordered (via Amazon)and received promptly 3 more Hinds books.



3. My daughter (who is 10 years old) got her American Girl doll for Christmas this year...and after spending all that money on an 18" doll, I wasn't about to pay $24 per outfit.
   I have some sewing experience. I can hem up jeans, sew pillows, fix a seam or button if need be...but that's about it. I've never used a pattern before.
   The hardest part was finding the pattern pieces. There are two large tissue papers tucked away in the back of the book. Each piece appears to have hundreds of little patterns. Once you find the pieces for what you are making, it is a breeze.
   I will warn you, there are some things that just can't be sewn with a machine. Invest in a thimble and proceed.
   Half the fun is teaching my daughter how to sew. She loves her doll and wants it to have a wardrobe exactly like hers. I warned her that the deal was if she got the doll, she would have to help make the clothes. She agreed and we've been able to sew many outfits that closely resemble hers.
   This book, in my opinion, contains the most modern clothing patterns. It also has very easy to follow instructions. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an American Girl doll.



4. This book contains full size patterns that sew beautifully. Great selection of outfits and complete insructions that are very easy to follow.



5. This book was great for ideas and general instructions. However, I found the patterns to be way too large for the 18" dolls, and I found several errors in the construction directions. As a seasoned sewist, I knew how to work around this misdirection, but newer sewists may not.
   
   I can still recommend the book though just for the inspiration.

5 comments about Just Try It On: A Month-by-Month Guide to Shopping and Style.

1. Redstone's objective it to help the reader determine the best time of year to shop for key items. She breaks down the merchandising schedule by month so shoppers know when the latest looks in certain items will hit stores. In addition, Redstone gives great tips on selecting pieces to cultivate one's personal style.
   
   If you're familiar with Tim Gunn, Redstone's catch phrase ("Just Try It On") sounds a bit contrived. But this book is a great complement to Gunn's Guide because Redstone goes in-depth with certain things that Tim Gunn only mentions. For example, Tim Gunn has a chapter about accessories, but Redstone has several, discussing jewelry (including a watch wardrobe), shoes, handbags, sunglasses.
   
   Overall, highly recommended.



2. I thought this book would be a good purchase after a quick glance through it. I am now about three-quarters of the way through and I have decided I think it is one of the best books on fashion out there, and I have read almost every single one. Redstone seriously knows her stuff. This book will teach you when all the best merchandise hits the stores, and Redstone counsels you on when to spend and when to hold off. For someone who generally is an impulse buyer and needs to control her spending, this book truly helps put together a fashion budget and timeline. There is so much detail in here, from what color sunglasses go with what hair color, to figuring out just how fancy you need to go for an occasion. If you are someone who loves pictures, there are none here for you; however, I highly recommend you make the purchase and read it.
   
   One trick I have already tried this week was the "two bag theory." I selected a smaller purse in which I put my essentials, and fit it inside a larger bag that holds everything else I need for work. It is so much easier and more stylish that carrying 2 bags all the time!



3. I picked this up because I thought it may be a helpful way to learn how to become a more efficient shopper - I tend to be an impulse shopper from time to time and then always have that feeling that I have nothing to wear in my closet! It's a quick read, so you can get the pertinent info before you head out to shop. I found the "chatty" writing style of the book to be a little annoying at times, and the phrase "Just try it on!" that was exclaimed throughout the book to be a little corny (yes, I do realize that's the title), but overall this book has some good fashion tips and suggestions. There is a chapter devoted to each month, with relevant fashion tips for that month, including suggestions on what to buy that month based on the availability of new merchandise in the stores. So you could read through the chapters on a month-by-month basis, rather than doing it all in a few days. It also has some good ideas with respect to choosing handbags and accessories like watches and rings. The only thing that seems to be missing is more information on sales, and when to catch the best sales for the clothing and accessories mentioned. There seemed to be more emphasis on buying items as soon as new shipments hit the stores in order to get the best selection. While that's a good point, many people are also interested in saving money, and in my opinion this book did not seem to offer much practical advice on sales for the average shopper. But overall, a fun read if you are into organizing your closet each season and love shopping for the latest and greatest.



4. I was looking for some books on how to build my wardrobe, and how to put outfits together. This book looked promising but was so disappointing! She begins by saying don't shop at sales, because someone in your town probably already has and will be wearing the same thing. So? She devotes whole chapters to dressing for a wedding, choosing swimsuits, and buying sunglasses. She seems snooty and out of touch with the average woman. She never discussed pulling an outfit together. I liked Budget Fashionista better.



5. This is another book I purchased for my wife and she finds it
   very helpful in all areas of putting looks together.

5 comments about House Colors.

1. This book is destined to be a classic for professionals and novices alike. Rather than another "pretty" book to ad to the shelf, it is an extensive resource that can be used for years. If you've ever chosen a paint color only to have to change it several times, this will save your sanity and money. Susan is a professional who does the work for you. The resource section in the back of the book is amazing. If you want your house to be the one other's drive by and admire, buy this book. Bravo!



2. This book will be very useful to laymen and professionals for use in selection of exterior colors and materials for new houses, remodelings, and even when the house is getting re-painted.
   
   Laymen, when re-doing their own house to whatever degree, would love the book because Ms. Hershman clearly and simply explains her points by use of examples (in beautiful photography) as well as the written word. For professionals, the book offers a collection of images and ideas that can presented to their clients so that they can understand that color is not a "paint job". Rather, exterior color is really an integrated system of materials and colors--and that system can range for the very simple to the very complex.
   
   This book would be wonderful addition to anyone's library.



3. This is the best reference I have ever seen for exterior colors. The pictures are of real houses, not staged for photography and the book gives you the paint brands and numbers of the colors used on each house. Very very helpful. I found colors to paint my home I would have never thought to consider and I am a decorator. Thank you Susan!



4. This book by Susan Hershman has been invaluable in many ways. Since we live in a Victorian City, the book is a way to show off ours and other similar cities. We use Susan's book for ideas and suggestions for our neighbors when they are improving their homes. Visually, House Colors is so stunning that it is now our number one cocktail table book. We can't imagine anyone undertaking a project involving painting without utilizing House Colors.



5. This is a lovely book with lots of information. However, I bought it to try to decide on a new color scheme for my Cape Cod home, only to find that just one Cape is shown in over 300 pages of this book. There are many beautiful houses presented, but most of them are not what I would consider your average middle-class home. I found nothing appropriate for my house, so it was a disappointment for me and I will probably return it.

5 comments about Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave.

1. Great sock designs, well laid out, easy to understand - a fabulous book for the sock fanatic!



2. I have only been knitting about a year or so. I gravitated towards socks because they were small and portable projects, my investment in money was relatively small as I could make something with one or maybe two skeins of yarn, and they just seemed fun to do. This was the first book of knitting patterns I bought. Since I was new to knitting, I had not seen the patterns in the Interweave magazine so they were all new to me. The designs are varied in style and ability level. Some were easy for beginners like me, but I could also see more difficult designs I wanted to try as I became more skilled in my knitting.
   
   One of the best parts of the book is its desgin. The spiral binding ensures the book will stay neat and usable for a long time. I wish more publishers realized this and made the same accomodations for us.
   
   Another good feature is at the back of the book where there are diagrams and explanations for abbreviations used in patterns, stitch patterns, how to kitchner the toes (the clearest directions I have found). All the things new knitters want at their finger tips.
   
   I have used this book extensively over the last year, made at least 5 pairs of socks and have more in my que when I get ready to start them.
   
   Overall, the book is well worth paying for and having in your personal library. After all, I often get books from the library in order to use just for one or two ideas, this book is worth spending money that I would normally use to get more yarn.



3. This is a great book but there are a lot of mistakes in this book. I had a friend give me the corrections on the patterns she found on the internet.So maybe you should look into this . There are some beautiful patterns.
   Olga



4. I have only begun knitting less than a year ago, but I'm quick to learn and use wherever on the internet and books I can to learn more. I was struck with awe at some of these sock patterns, and I have knitted one pair. A truly comfortable and cute pair! I've even adapted the double padded socks for a heal guard sock for some new shoes that caused me some serious blisters!
   
   The designers were smart too; They incorporated a spiral into the hardcover! How brilliant!
   I do indeed recommend this lovely collection. I can't wait to keep knitting them!



5. I love all the international designs in this book. There are many different levels of knitting in this book. It will give you plenty of inspiration to knit. There are also made different designs from the more plain with sock yarn to the lacy with fine yarn. I will be making quite a few of these socks.