5 comments about How to Make Clay Characters.

1. Wonderful book with all sorts of tips and techniques. Being a novice, I found so much that I will rely on over and over again. Well written, with many pictures as well that are just beautiful. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to get into doll making.



2. Indeed a marvellous book you should have as one of your clay-book collections. Maureen has good eyes and different angles when seeing new things, and new thoughts to convert them into brilliant figurines. I love her ideas of how making the snakes and the dragons, and her tricks to get new color mixtures are awesome.
   
   I almost bought her books entirely, and have no regrets so far. Thanks to Amazon for superb service, even though I must bear waiting for a month and so for my orders.
   
   My advice, you always can give your book collections to your kids when you no longer need them.



3. I have four of Maureen Carlson's books. They are all fantastic.
   This one is my favorite. Very clear instruction. Gets you started and wanting to sculpt all the time. I love it!



4. How to make clay characters by Maureen Carlson is not available to buy in Australia. I had it on loan from my local library but only for limited periods and it was never long enough. I am happy to say that although it may have been printed initially a long time ago I am delighted to have obtained it as it has such excellent instructions and lots of handy hints for the polymer clay first timer onwards.To anyone reading this revue who wants another hobby to try (even in Australia) buy this book and you will be hooked.
   
   The mere fact that it is still in print is a sign of how good it is for any age. Easy to follow and great fun all you need is polymer clay your imagination and this book.



5. Maureen is such an amazing artist. If you are wanting to make figures in clay, then her books are a great place to start. I have several of her books now, and I love them all. Each one teaches you something more. Also this book came in great condition for a used book. Really good seller.

No comments about The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art & the Comforts of Home.

5 comments about English Cottage Gardening: For American Gardeners, Revised Edition.

1. This books seems full of gardening ideas for those of us who are going to try to plant a cottage garden. We lost our home in the recent San Diego fires so this book should be great when we start from scratch.



2. My sister and I love english gardens...I bought the book for her..it was difficult to part with!



3. This is a truly wonderful and totally inspiring book. I bought it in order to look at the lovely photographs, but ended up reading it from cover to cover late into the night. I am completely new to gardening and have found so many books to be so dry as to be unreadable, not so this book. The main message of this book is just to start... LIke the gardeners profiled in the book learn from trial and error and move things around as necessary. The author describes a very personal, relaxed and process oriented approach to gardening which to me seems like the reason for doing it in the first place. Thank you Margaret Hensel.



4. This is a garden book to keep by the side of your easy chair. Every time I pick it up, I start reading and enjoy the straight forward descriptions and plant recommendations and flower combinations.
   
   I've made the mistake of ordering a book or two from the internet only to find that "English Gardening" is all about estate gardening. Lovely, but I don't own an estate. Margaret Hensel has traveled through England and brought back practical advice about how to get the look of a small, intimate garden outside English cottages not castles.
   
   It's an easy read of information about what makes a cottage garden have the charm and intimacy that I think of when I envision my own plot of land. There are diagrams of the landscapes as well.
   
   There's encouragement about what makes a English cottage garden rather than the usual approach that it's not possible to create this kind of garden outside of England. So many books fall short because they begin with this premise and this leads to how to add tropical plants or other such nonsense.



5. I have owned this book for several years, and recently got a copy for a friend who is also into cottage gardening, and loves all things British. This book is chock full of ideas to help one create a beautiful garden. It is not a "How to" book, but a reference to help stimulate your own imagination. The photography is lovely, and the text is overflowing with information. I would (and did) buy this book again and recommend to anyone who loves English or cottage gardening.

5 comments about Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It.

1. For anyone who's ever wanted to try their hand at making jewelry BEAD SIMPLE is a must. It tells all you need to know about the tools you'll need and what techniques to use but it also has plenty of useful information and projects sure to interest those who are more advanced. For both, it has a wide range of projects to try or to inspire one's own creativity. In addition, this book is a handsome package--each project is beautifully photographed and the handrawn illustrations of techniques are exquisitely and clearly done.



2. I really bought this book simply because one of my best friends, Sarah Minshall, had designed a project for it. (The Circles in the Square tote...) She's such an amazing all around crafter, I envy her talent - and she's finally getting some recognition for it!
   
   The whole book has tons of great ideas for new projects. I want to make almost everything in here, which surprised me since I usually only like one or two projects in most crafting books...
   
   I thought it was a little misleading to call it "Bead Simple," since it has much more than just beading projects in it. All sorts of materials are used in the book, which just shows off how creative some people can be!
   
   I'm really happy with this book...except that I am now out buying all the supplies needed to make all the projects in the book!!! :-)



3. Beading is an enduring popular craft and a basic skill for do-it-yourself jewelry makers, needlecraft embellishers, and crafts artists. "Bead Simple: Essential Techniques For Making Jewelry Just The Way You Want It" by jewelry designer and 'Craft' magazine contributor Susan Beal (who blogs daily at [...] and whose jewelry is sold nationwide in shops and galleries) is a compilation of more than 150 do-it-yourself designs using beads to make earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and embellishments that range from cocktail rings to Christmas tree ornaments. Of special note is the 'Getting Started' chapter that will prove especially useful for the novice. The text is replete with icons that show at a glance the difficulty level, cost, and materials required for each individual project. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and featuring a wealth of full color illustrations, "Bead Simple" is highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Arts & Crafts instructional reference collection.



4. I got this book over the weekend, and after looking through it I am ready to give jewelry making a try. I found lots of inspirational pictures and projects within this books pages, and I have already gotten a batch of findings, beads, etc. so I can get started. I definitely recommmend this book. (I especially love the more modern designs in the book and the guest designs of Jenifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club, who also has a book coming out in August that I really want.)



5. Hooray, hooray, hooray my copy of Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It by Susan Beal finally came in the mail! My first impression was man this is a heavy and thick book. Most craft books seem a little thin, but this baby is chocked full of beading goodness and stays true to the tag line Bead Simple: 150 designs for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, embellishments and more. Plus there are 200 color pictures. Craft books without photos or a little picture section in the middle are not for me. I want tons and tons of pretty pictures to look at and this book has it in buckets. Whoa, this should keep me busy for quite some time!
   
   I'll just go ahead and get my own horn tooting out of the way. On page 170 is my Bric-a-Brac Charming Bracelet. I love the caption for the bracelet because it actually fits a lot of my jewelry and me in general: Designed by Jennifer Perkins author of The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry, this colorful bracelet is one of those baubles that is all about the organized chaos. When absolutely nothing "matches", suddenly that's the very element that ties everything together.
   
   One of the best things about this book is the fact that there are so many different contributors which not only makes the book more diverse it also makes it a marketing dream come true. Why you ask because everyone who is featured in the book is going to blog about it just like I am right this minute. Actually even if I wasn't in the book I would write about it, but the fact that a ton of my crafty friends grace the pages sure does not hurt. Let me run down the list of a few favorites.
   
   Alrighty Sparkle Cocktail Brooch by Cathy Callahan of Cathy of California caught my eye. When I read that it was her ode to Enid Collins purses which I collect I knew why. I love jewelry that encompasses more than just beads and string. Cathy busts out the fabric, paint and gem stones!
   
   Suerte Love Charm by Kathy Cano Murillo author of Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life stands out with all the dangly charms and colors. Kathy knows a thing or two about organized chaos herself. I also really like the Tassel Talisman right next door on page 201.
   
   I love the adorable owl shaped beads on the yummy Candy Shoppe One-Strand Bracelets by the fantabulous Jenny Ryan of CRAFT: Transforming Traditional Crafts.
   
   Laura Stokes of Charcoal Designs and her Crown Jewels Button Brooch made my toes curl in delight.
   
   Jesse Malone from Art School Dropout is one of my favorite Indie jewelry designers so it only makes sense that I would be extra smitten on her Circles and Circles Necklace.
   
   Other contributors who's name you might know as crafty mavens include Natalie Zee Drieu of Coquette and CRAFT: Transforming Traditional Crafts fame, Diane Gilleland who does Crafty Pod, Leah Kramer author of The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties, Faythe Levine one of the masterminds behind the upcoming Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design, Torie Nguyen co-author of Super Crafty: Over 75 Amazing How-to Projects!, Nicole Vasbinder of Queen Puff Puff and more.
   
   There are 38 guest projects so according to my math that leaves 112 projects by the amazing Susan Beal.
   
   Susan Beal is a woman of many talents: author, craftavist, designer and more. I'm a little partial to her because she was one of my favorite guests on Craft Lab. Susan even wore the Splashy Flower Charming Pendant Necklace from Bead Simple on her episode! Besides all of the fabulous projects in the book there is also over 20 pages about color theory, the right supplies and techniques. For instance wrapping a briolette is something that always boggles my mind, but there on page 22 are clear easy to follow instructions so there might be hope for me yet. Score yourself a copy of Bead Simple and get to beading!

5 comments about Hair Wraps (Klutz).

1. Excellent book very clear instructions, I was able to make all hair wraps styles with no problem. I really recomend this book
   it is excellent and if you have some creativity the sky is the limit! Great Book to learn and have fun.



2. I am a girl (...), and this book is great! I learned how to do many designs! I now have my own hair wrap business and do hair wraps at craft fairs! I also have the Quick Wrap from Conair. I make over 20$ a day doing hair wraps! it is great!



3. I have read this book and although I have not done a hair wrap yet, I am a hairdresser and can tell that the directions are very easy to follow and the pictures are great of the finished product. I am very happy that I ordered this book, I would recommend this book.



4. This was a present for 10 year old grandchild and she loved it.



5. This is exaclty what you would expect frm a klutz book. Easy to follow concise instructions. Easy instructions and easy to do are not the same thing, this is a very time consuming activity. It takes a bit to get the hang of it and then a good little bit of time to do the entire wrap. Granted my girls have very, very long hair. If the idea looks fun to you then you will like the book.

5 comments about Soapmaking for Fun & Profit: Make Money Doing What You Love! (For Fun & Profit).

1. In this book there are tips for making hand-milled soap, melt and pour soap and cold-pressed soap. It contains 19 soap recipes, some of which are illustrated in the middle of the book and look just like desserts - and no wonder with names like Chocolate and Coffee Lover's Temptation, Fresh As A Cucumber, Nancy Bee's Honey, Ron's Refreshing Raspberry, etc.
   
   I was personally more interested in the first part of the book, but for those who'd like to make soap for profit, the second part of the book deals with business aspects, as in how and where to sell your soap, what to charge for it, how to go about promoting it and it covers possible legalities that is good to be aware of.



2. This book was very helpful with starting soap making
   The delivery was on time. "thank you"



3. I am just getting started as a soapmaker and have been searching for a good all-around beginners soapmaking book. This is by far the best book I have found. Comprehensive,informative and interesting. Covers all the bases including taking soapmaking to the next level and starting a business. A well-written and well-researched book.
   
   Highly recommended, money well spent!



4. Great read! Full of useful information and fun recipes. Great to use as a resource for any soapmaking project.



5. I have no knowledge of soapmaking but decided I wanted to start making it and even, maybe, selling it just as a hobby.....this book has given me so much information....more than I expected

5 comments about Creating Life-Like Animals in Polymer Clay.

1. This book, by Katherine Dewey, is a terrific resource book for those wishing to make animals from polymer clay - either to enhance their other sculptures or as a stand alone product. Numerous pictures and examples, with detailed instruction guide you step by step through the process. Animals included are deer, in two poses, frog, wolf, seal, bear and more. She also includes examples of bases, such as a leave for a sleeping mouse.
   
   The book is well organized and transitions beautifully from one point to another. Graphics are included along with tips and tricks on making armatures and painting the final product. This book has it all and I highly recommend it as a necessary part of your crafting library.



2. This book gives detailed explanations and has great pictures, it is helpful and inspirational : it allows you to expand your skills beyond the book's examples. A must for fimo-maniacs. Katherine Dewey is probably the most gifted polymer clay artist in the world but is able to use pedagogy to share her knowledge.
   I do not recommend it for beginners or children though, as some of the creations are detailed and might require some anatomy basics to be sculpted successfully.



3. I'm not near this good yet, but it definately gives me the inspiration to keep trying. Great detail and instructions from a fantastic artist.
   I bought this as a used book and was very, very pleased with the seller and the condition of the book.



4. Katherine Dewey is a wonderful artist. I already own her book, "Creating Life-Like Figures in Polymer Clay" so I knew that "Creating Life-Like Animals in Polymer Clay" would be great. I wasn't disappointed! The only project I have finished is the fawn and it is adorable. I'm looking forward to my next project from the book but I can't decide which one to create because I love them all.



5. This book is clear & concise for any level of clayer. Katherine has the amazing ability to relay to the sculpter what is needed to bring the sculpt to life while expounding on the importance of a solid foundation.
   My only critisim would be that I wanted even more animal examples & will be the first in line to purchase a follow up book should she decide to do one.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs: 500 Classic & Original Patterns.

1. Great book with lots of ideas for stitches. I don't crochet very well so this is a good basic book for me. I've been knitting forever and have used crochet as an edging on several sweaters, but this book will get me to pick up my hooks instead of my sticks!!



2. As a beginning crocheter, I am positively eating up books with new crochet stitches and styles and techniques and ideas. When I picked up this book at Borders to flip through, I was thrilled to see--500 stitch patterns!
   
   However, after flipping through the book, I was hugely disappointed. All of the stitches are done in the same rough off-white yarn that doesn't do that much to show off the stitch detail. In some (most) cases, it actually washes it out so much, you can't really tell if it's an attractive stitch pattern or not! And that nasty rough yarn... come on. It's just ugly. There are so many better choices available that would have been much more aesthetically pleasing.
   
   I also disliked that none of the stitches have names. They are all numbered. After reaching the end of a book of 500 stitch patterns, are you really going to remember, "Hey, that was stitch #137 that I really liked?" No. More likely, you're going to remember words like "trellis," "shell," or "lattice." Something that you could at least look up in an index to quickly find what you were looking for.
   
   Hoping for so much when I picked up this book. So disappointing.



3. I was recently asked by a friend to crochet a baby blanket for his sister. I didn't have a pattern that I wanted to make so I consulted this book and found at least twelve different patterns that I wanted to try. I am so happy to have such a great reference of different styles to try. It is exactly what I was looking for and recommend it to anyone looking for a wonderful variety of stitch designs to choose from.



4. Anyone who crochets will find many reasons for singing the praises of this book whether one crochets using written instructions and/or diagrams. I taught myself to crochet decades ago and collected 1,000s of pattern books along the way; in spite of all my books, this one fails to disappoint and it's a very welcome addition to my library.
   
   I chose to ignore one scathing review in particular as a few moments research showed the reviewer has an established pattern of returning the majority of the books she orders. People like this need to visit their local bookstores or library and physically inspect the latest books rather than waste Amazon.com's time and money to play a game of "book ping-pong". I have yet to return a book due to the lame "I didn't like it" excuse, but then again I'm not the type of person who feels the need to harvest the latest crochet patterns for free by simply stating the book is below my standards and requesting a refund for it.
   
   I can only hope that such unfair, untrue and critical reviews will be tempered by her desperately needed purchase and consumption of Remifemin (non-returnable, of course).



5. This is a wonderful stitch pattern compendium. Hundreds of patterns, with a photographic table of contents, and instructions in both written and charted formats. One of the most useful crochet stitch dictionaries I've found, and I own several.

5 comments about Fast Quilts from Fat Quarters.

1. My, oh, my. I had no clue how wonderful this book was when I ordered it.
   My 14 year old granddaughter picked up the book last week and shared how
   many she wanted to make out of this one. It's sew easy instructions and
   the speed in which you can complete any of these quilts makes it a book that I'm sure to use over and over again. Can't wait to find time to get one or more done.



2. They can never be made fast enough. The book is very helpful with some great ideas. Fat Quarters or scraps.



3. This book is amazing! Great use of fat quarters, easy to follow instructions, and very good diagrams. The design possibilities of the fat quarter cutting plan are endless, no two quilts will be alike.



4. I do love this book, but I'm a little sad that it says a fat quarter is 20 x 22 which is not right they are 18 x 22, but to me it doesn't matter much since I jsut use scraps of fabrics, but you can always just not cut out all the pieces if you have fat quarters. I do love the book though, made several quilts already



5. At 120 pages, this book gives much more detail that many quilt books. The recurring "quilt gallery" displays different approaches to a pattern. This is a real plus, since it is hard to visualize the effects of change in color or print. The section on block patterns is helpful. Some quilters buy the Block Tool, a compact guide that fans out and displays 100 different patterns. This tells the piece size for each segment of a block.
   
   Quilt projects included tend to favor more modern patterns and colors, although some traditional projects are included.

5 comments about The Book as Art: Artists' Books from the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

1. I am a mixed media artist and art teacher who has discovered a love for viewing and creating artist books. This catalogue of artist books is one of the most beautiful I've seen. Even though this isn't a how to book, it has given me much inspiration for art projects for my students and for myself.



2. This book is wonderful! It features many artists and their foray into the world of book arts. The photos are splendid and the background information on the artists is excellent. It arrived in shrink-wrap which protected it nicely. Great book!



3. One of the best! This book should be on your bookshelf if you are interested in the books as an art form. I would suggest it for any school or college media center. I would not include it on a list for coffee table books but if you have a serious home library which leans toward the book arts,artist journals and sketchbooks; by all means, put this out on the reading table.
   The next best thing:Visiting the Museum in person!



4. Turning the book making into an art can make a book more attractive and collectible. This book demonstrates a lot of outstanding examples. Readers are completely satisfied by the books in this book.



5. This is one of those products which is true to its theme from the moment you unwrap it.Being a book about the beauty and creativity of books it has itself to be worthy, which it certainly is. It is a pleasure to hold and to explore, as the design and concept have been carefuly considered.
   The examples chosen are rich and varied and are divided thematically.The problem is that so many of the books are enormously intriguing that one wants to handle them to discover their mysteries. However the descriptions are usually very good and do allow one to at least understand the concept of the creator.If you love books as art, this is a truly wonderful possession.