5 comments about Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets: Completely Revised and Updated.

1. The hand written drawings are poorly done and lack significant detail. The photo illustrations are of good quality but are again limited in their application to the building process. Overall descriptions of the building process are scanty at best. Woodworkers interested in learning kitchen cabinet construction would be better served by reading Jere Cary's book; Building Your Own Kitchen Cabinets by the Taunton Press.



2. Definitely the best money I have spent on a cabinet book. Tolpin really provides a LOT of valuable information that can be used for DECADES to come.
   
   From what I gather through my readings, Tolpin is a traditionalist / purist at heart, but, he understands the necessity to produce time and resource efficient designs. He provides instruction on both sides of the spectrum: Fast and Effective as well as traditional and effective (a little something for both). In this way, he is able to speak to the enthusiast that is interested in making a traditional set of cabinets, and the professional that is interested in producing a quality set of cabinets more quickly.
   
   I also gather that he really enjoys teaching others his thoughts, shortcuts, time saving jigs that you can really use and appreciate (especially if you have been busting head trying to do it another way). This fact is what really wants me to buy more of his books. His service to carpentry in general is extraordinary; he is a true teacher of carpentry and advises young carpenters in almost every page of this book.
   
   I especially enjoyed making and using most of the jigs he describes. In one chapter he outlines more than 5 jigs. Having built them (extremely easy to make), I have already put them to use in more than one woodworking session and will continue to do so in the future because they are so useful.
   
   If you're interested in cabinet making, buy this book. If you're tight on money, buy a used copy. The point is to buy this book and read this book. If you don't like to read, buy this book because the illustrations can explain a lot too. Building one cabinet will pay for the book.



3. This book is old school and is way outdated as far as making cabinets. This book is very hard to follow and laid out very poorly. If you want a good book to make cabinets look into "Building Kitchen Cabinets" UDO SCHMIDT



4. Planning, organizing, layout, building, finishing and finally installing cabinets. Jim also included some shop tips and simple jigs. Doors and drawers included, though there are more extensive books on that matter. The book is enough by itself to help you build your first cabinets from scratch. I made my first build a corner set with 8 ft of counter, tops and bottoms ( wood is my lucrative hobby ). I also recommend Jim's book for the pro cabinet maker as it has some organizational advise that complements this volume. This book gives several styles of construction and face assembly, all good. I used mortise and tenon bead for my build, but I had nice FESTOOL joiner with dust system already. ( Festool 574283 DOMINO DF 500 Q Set. My only FESTOOL and well worth it. )
   
   good book
   
   I also recommend:
   "Finish Carpentry" by Taunton Press
   "Understanding Wood Finishing" by Bob Flexner ( very good )
   "Cabinet Doors and Drawers" by Danny Proulx
   
   and just about everything from Rockler.com and Lie-Nielsen.com
   
   Thats a pretty comprehensive list, I feel its complete for the task in question. Many reviewers say these books are mostly fundamentals, I agree. The authors assume you have a "complete" set of power tools and a viable work space with many hours safely logged in it. You're looking at at least $5,000 start-up cost for decent power and hand tools to get into this field of hobby, and at least that much again to pretend you're seriously in business NOT including quality materials on hand for manufacture. Yep on hand before you sell anything. Its the unsung costs of dust collection, climate management, quality finishing, insurance, and maintenance that make the cost climb up on you.
   
   Can you compete with China?
   
   But I digress. Enjoy a great read!



5. This book will give you a lot of information so you can design and build your kitchen cabinets. It is great.

5 comments about Quick Trip Quilts (Quilt in a Day) (Quilt in a Day).

1. The book came in a reasonable amount of time. It looks like new.I am very happy with this product as well as the vendor.



2. A quilt pattern that has been an enigma to some and a complicated mess of little squares to others is now as simple as cutting and sewing strips together! Thanks to Eleanor Burns' methods, the quilts actually can come together in one day. Her "system" is also adaptable to bargello quilts, and any number of other designs. Ms. Burns also provides her simple and fast method for applique using fusible interfacing. The Waterlily Quilt design has been one of my favorites since I first saw it, but I knew I'd never have the talent for the piecework or the applique. Eleanor has again placed a complex design within my reach. This book is great for beginning and experienced quilters of all ages and tastes. Definitely worth adding to your bookshelf.



3. I wanted an easy, dynamic quilt for a wall hanging, and had been looking at other trip around the world patterns. It seemed as if I was going to have to cut out lots and lots of little squares. But then I happened upon this quilt book, ordered it, and strip quilted the top in a day!
   I am looking forward to making another larger one with different color combinations. I am pretty much a novice, but this book is clear and precise.



4. This is an excellent book for beginning quilters. One can learn how to make a beautiful quilt that will last a lifetime in a short amount of time. Eleanor Burns is very good at explaining the quilt process.



5. I just finished making up one of the quilts in this book...easy to follow instructions, beautiful artwork and photography, another winner from Eleanor Burns. I recommend it highly.

5 comments about Basic Jewelry Making: All the Skills And Tools You Need to Get Started (Stackpole Basics).

1. My friend is a beginner at beading and wasn't sure where to start. I found this book and gave it to her as a gift. Her eyes lit up as she found it full of needed information and great illustrations. Although I am not a beader myself, I can see how a beginner would benefit from this book.



2. It is a good book, however, it's not what I expected as a beginner. Too little beading projects and overboard in wire making jewelry. Not a good balance in different projects.



3. I love this book! All the previous reviews of it were right on! The pictures are clsoe up and detailed and the instructions are wonderful and easy to follow. I look forward to other books by the same company.



4. This is a great book for beginners. It gives you basic information in an easy to read and follow format. I would recommend this to anyone who would like to know what tools and supplies you need to get started and how-to's to get the projects rolling.



5. This book is a perfect primer for those who would like to make simple strands of necklaces and bracelets. I used Basic Jewelry Making as a guide to make my first coral chunk necklace that turned out really bold and gorgeous. Good how-to directions, doesn't make things harder than they need to be.

5 comments about A Guide to Fashion Sewing.

1. I bought this sewing guide looking for the advanced time-saving construction techniques used in the garment industry. Sadly, I didn't find them in this book, despite the glowing reviews. It is a good textbook and reference manual on basic sewing. The information is clearly presented with excellent and plentiful illustrations. However, the skills depicted are ones I mastered quite a while ago. I will keep this book in place of others in my library, but this was an expensive experiment. I would not recommend this book to anyone over an intermediate skill level.



2. Great book. It is a must for any sewer of garments. Great tips and good directions.



3. I am very happy with the speed of delivery, price and condition of the book.Thanks!!!



4. While many of the techniques are covered in some of the other sewing textbooks you might have read one techique in particular stands out to me as I have never seen this elsewhere is how to sew a all in one facing professionally. Normally the intructions tell you to leave the shoulder seams open and then "hand sew" them. Not this one it shows you how to do the factory way. If you don't own any other sewing books then this is the one to get



5. This book is GREAT! I use it for my sewing class in college, and it comes in very handy! It's a good reference to fall on even for the expert of sewers! It's a must have for sewers of all levels!

5 comments about Journal Revolution: Rise Up & Create! Art Journals, Personal Manifestos and Other Artistic Insurrections.

1. "Barbie" did not write this book, it is not a commercial for 1,000's of products, and it is GREAT!! Different techniques for showing who you are and how you feel through your art. There's no book like this, no book that makes art of a dead-beat dad, a Nordstrom bag, and monks, all in one book. This book changed how I scrapbook, journal and see my self.



2. Great book, I have used it with my art therapy classes to inspire my clients to create art journals, have found it to be a great resource. Really enjoyed the graphics and ideas.



3. If you've ever wanted to push journal-keeping beyond the confines of words on paper, maybe an image clipped from a magazine, lists of complaints and what you had for breakfast--but you were just kind of stumped about how to start--this is the book for you. Filled with ideas and instructions for creating beyond-the-limitations pages, it not only gives you permission to play but also nudges you out the door. My favorite part was the glimpses into the lives of the sisters--now those are some women who know how to have a good time!



4. Journal Revolution should be on every creative person's book shelf. It's one of those books that you keep nearby and randomly flip open when you need a double shot of artistic espresso. It is a *great* follow up to their first book, Visual Chronicles.
   
   For me, the best parts about Journal Revolution are the good vibes and great writing. I get really, really jazzed by their concept of Rise Up and Create! Their words/art are empowering and supportive. They don't pretend to have a corner on the art journal market. Rather, the vibe you get from them is one of collaboration. It's like having your best girlfriends sitting next to you cheering you on with each rip and tear of paper. You gotta love that!
   
   The techniques are helpful and cheap because Linda's art supplies are mostly paint, paper and tape. Love their Fauxlaroids (faux polaroids) and faux photo booth strips ideas. What genuinely fun and personal projects to play with and create.
   
   Linda and Karen -- You Rock!



5. I really liked this book. It is a little light on technique but big on ideas. If you are looking for a book on technique keep looking but if you are looking for inspiration you have come to the right place. This is a journal of sorts written by the authors. I liked it.

5 comments about The Table Saw Book: Completely Revised and Updated.

1. This book is simply excellent. I can't say enough about it. The one slight negative thing I could say is that the last chapter does not read as well as the rest of the book. Reading the last chapter you almost get the impression that it is written by a different person or that they felt they were rushed and didn't do as good as the rest of the book.
   
   Overall though I just cannot believe how this book reads so well, easy, straight forward, no nonsense. I wish more books were like this.



2. The Table Saw Book was a great book to read as I began to get into doing some basic woodworking. It was extremely clear and an easy read. However, I found the information very good and on a level that I could understand. I would recommend to anyone who is just getting started in woodworking to read this book first. You will find that you refer back to it time and again.



3. After reading all of the positive reviews, I was a bit disappointed after securing my copy of Mehler's Table Saw Book. Maybe my expectations were a little high, but I was left wanting more. I was hoping for something similar to Hylton's Woodworking with the Router.
   
   The first two chapters (Introduction to and Buying a Table Saw) can be completely skipped by anybody who already owns or is familiar with a table saw. I felt Mehler spent WAY too much time touting European saws. These pages would've been much more useful on topics more relevant to most of us. I also wasn't particularly impressed with the Crosscutting chapter.
   
   On the bright side, the book does contain some valuable information. The chapter on Safety is excellent. Mehler also consists of some good tips on maintaining your table saw. I liked the chapter on cutting various joints. Lastly, the book includes very good color photos and black-and-white diagrams.
   
   Pros: Cheap, good newbie information, alignment and maintenance tips
   Cons: Too much pre-buying info, infatuation with Euro saws
   
   Recommendation: If new to table saws, this book is great. However, for experienced woodworkers, I'd look elsewhere.



4. While the box covers the basics of a table saw, I was expecting a broader section on the design of jigs for use with a table saw. The jigs provided, however, are the basic ones commonly used.



5. I found this book very disappointing. As others have pointed out he's very dismissive of anything other than top of the line equipment and he's nearly obsessed with "European" saws. I feel certain that many people buying this book are like me and have already purchased a mid-level "American" saw. It really doesn't help me to tell me over and over that I've wasted my money on a piece of garbage and then sing the praises of expensive equipment I can't afford. I really get the idea that he feels that if you can't afford a $3000 saw using $200 blades and a thousand dollars worth of dust removal equipment you're just throwing your money away. This teaches me nothing about how to make the best use of what I have.
   
   I was also put off by his dismissal of working with plywood and would have liked some more examples helpful to those of us who aren't master carpenters working with unlimited funds.
   
   I guess I should have saved my money (and taken out a second mortgage) for a better saw instead of getting this book.

5 comments about Silver Threads: Making Wire Filigree Jewelry.

1. Having seen this author's jewelry and her projects featured in magazines, I couldn't wait to get her book. I'm pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed. While not for the beginner, it's an excellent reference for someone who's somewhat familiar with jewelry making, yet just starting with solder work.
   
   Ms Rhodes-Moen opens the book by giving a brief history of filigree jewelry and showing a variety of it's styles. She goes on to offer information on suggested supplies and equipment, and how to use them.
   
   The following projects are lovely and her step-by-step instruction is detailed and easy to follow. You are even told how to correct pieces that don't turn out quite right. The book ends with samples of her own work and by giving insight into how to move on to designing your own pieces.
   
   This is a must for your jewelry making library.



2. I love this book completely! The illustrations, the size, the information. I really like the way the author gives technical information along with practical recommendations about filigree. She explains everything very clearly and includes personal tips along the whole book. It covers information about wire, soldering, filigree shapes, templates, projects, suppliers and a lot more.



3. I found "Silver Threads" in my local library and was pleased with the clarity of the instructions. I'm puzzled, though, that the author notes her designs are copyrighted and cannot be made for sale (only for personal use or to be given as gifts). Yet series of joined ogees and nautilus spirals have been used throughout jewelry-making history by filigree artists in various countries; they are hardly unique. See the British Museum's "7000 Years of Jewelry" for examples of related jewelry designs.



4. The projects are absolutely beautiful, and the instructions are clearly written. Can't wait to produce my own jewelry!



5. Wonderful book on the subject of producing what can be called silver lace by some. However, I encourage all newbies to metal out there to learn, practice and become confident in the soldering process in order to produce these designs on your own. Using other metals may be helpful, but as the author states, it is imperative to pickle after each soldering in order to remove the oxidation - critical. Otherwise you will produce pieces that do not have the shine, true metal appeal. Follow guidelines carefully and as these are copyright designs, practice on your own designs after thorough sketching prior to implementation so you don't waste the precious metal (especially with the cost of metal these days). I often wonder at copyright jewelry designs (and other art media - some acceptable others...to be debated in another forum) as her designs are based on old pieces from Norway, Egypt, Bali, Russia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Scotland, Morocco, etc...and so many of them have the same general designs incorporated. So perhaps look to the past (uncopyrighted designs) and use them as inspiration in making your own designs - just as the author did (although she focused primarily on Norway due to family). Vintage jewelry is another source for inspriration. Use this book to get the techniques down from an expert as Rhodes-Moean and become confident in your own abilities and then design away. And learn the safety and practices of good soldering especially with silver.

5 comments about The Best of Martha Stewart Living Weddings (Best of Martha Stewart Living).

1. This book is beautiful. The pictures are great and there are a ton of ideas in it. I am having an outdoor wedding in September/October and I could not have bought a better book. There are ideas about everything from the flowers to soaps to put in the bathroom during the reception. I am using quite a few of the ideas I found in the book. Love it Love it Love it



2. First, I would like to personally thank Martha (and her team) for the wonderful inspiration and pleasure that my family and I gleaned from this book. After having copied flower ideas and taken on board general tips given, on the big day we were bowled over with the amount of appreciation shown and praise given by guests. The results were truly wonderful.
   
   I would like to point out that even though at first glance, it appears that a small fortune would have to be spent to achieve any of the ideas sold in this book, that is simply NOT the case. (In our case, where we took advice we saved quite a lot of money.)
   
   In fact, the ideas that we realized turned out to be the cheapest yet offered the most 'wow factor'. Truly, Martha is a wizard at making the most out of the simplest things. She absolutely knows what she is talking about and I recommend this book highly.



3. Martha Stewart has been my role model and continues to inspire me. Her magazines are worth subscribing to. They are filled with lots of ideas. she is a remarkable teacher.



4. I checked this book out at the library and had to keep renewing it! I used this for so many ideas for my wedding, and we spent less than 10k on the WHOLE thing by doing a lot of the things ourselves. Many people remarked it was the best wedding they've ever been to. I would have bought the book if I could have found it used, but it was too much new for my budget. Get this book! You won't regret it! Another great book for modern but charming wedding ideas is Jo Gartin's Weddings: An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride. You can have a charming wedding without going into debt!



5. I was looking for something for a wedding. This book was just what I needed. Lots of pictures. Highly recommend it. Shipping and correspondence with seller was great. I love amazon.com....Thanks, Angie

5 comments about The Everything Kids' Puzzle Book: Mazes, Word Games, Puzzles & More! Hours of Fun! (Everything Kids Series).

1. My 8 year old grandson loves this book that we got him for Christmas. He works on it all the time. Would like more Canadian stuff in it but not really a huge problem. Would buy this for the others when they are older.



2. What an awesome book! For kids who loves puzzles, mazes, and word games, this is the perfect gift. I'm giving this to my son, who is 11, for Christmas -- I know it's going to be a winner!



3. I've purchased this item for 11-13 year olds. It is an interesting, varied, not-your-run-of-the-mill activity book, with cute illustrations. A caveat is a large scatter of difficulty among activities, which created frustration when activities could not be figured out (it would've been better to mark activities with level of difficulty so children knew when they were approaching the most difficult ones), and some unusual and rather idiosyncratic answers that were difficult even for adults to come up with or explain. Overall, good fun.



4. nice layout, could have used better quality paper and more color print, but all in all a good series of books, great for older kids.



5. Nice activity book but would not recommend for younger children (ages 6-7) as many of the activities are too difficult for that age.

5 comments about Quick & Clever Handmade Cards (Quick and Clever).

1. Very good ideas for the newcomer and a good reference for all



2. The problem I had with this book was finding the supplies in it. The book is from England and most of the supplies are from companies over there. I finally found them on the internet but couldn't afford the shipping. Had to substitute every single thing so I didin't get the look I wanted on most of the cards.



3. I am a beginner in cardmaking and found this book very useful. However the book is not aimed entirely at the beginners. Anyone can draw inspiration from it. The cards are very beautiful and relatively easy to make. There are lots of useful information about the tools, basic techniques, choosing the right color, even selling your cards, personal trademark, which I liked very much.



4. I purchased another of Julie Hickey's books first and sent an email to her through a card supplier/club in the UK. They forwarded my email to her and Julie graciously responded personally to me. I asked a question about the embellishments and artifacts not being available in the U.S. She told me that a large amount of the items are from U.S. manufacturers. I began a lengthy web search and discovered many companies that are not readily public. It paid off. I agree that it seems that those UK suppliers have some unique items. I found a company in Thailand but the shipping charges were more than the order that I wanted. I also consulted CardMaker and GiftMaker magazines because they include the names of suppliers for every project in the magazines. There is a wealth of supplies right here in the U.S. Julie's book is wonderful for the novice card maker and those who are more experienced.
   
   Trish
   San Diego



5. I buy lots of books in Amazon. I would prefer to have the opportunity of see the book first before deciding to buy it. This book it is interesting and gives some techniques and tools that might help you doing handmade cards. But the ideas are basic.