5 comments about Colorful Stitchery: 65 Hot Embroidery Projects to Personalize Your Home.

1. Embroidery projects usually focus on clothing, but they can be used to personalize a home, too - as embroiderer Kristin Nicholas demonstrates in COLORFUL STITCHERY: 65 HOT EMBROIDERY PROJECTS TO PERSONALIZE YOUR HOME. From dragonflies on pillows to lap blankets, egg cozies, and more, these colorful embroidery projects lend to gift-giving as much as home embellishment. Each comes with a full-page picture and easy details on fabric choice, notions and stitches.



2. The projects are so well explained in word and picture...hand drawn by he auhor artist: indeed the whole book is a work of art in itself. Every page a gem of color and inspiration and just plain fun! See page 172 for a fabulous project for oneself or a birthday party activity. This book is like a smile: everyone should have one......Claudia Birkeland



3. I must have 7 bookshelves of sewing/stitchery/needlework books and from among those this book rates an A+++. I *love* the "hand" of wool and she offers many ideas, photos, and clear, inspirational guidelines.
   
   I stitch alone, I stitch in several styles, and I often stitch with a 13 year old granddaughter and we both found several ideas we plan to adapt and/or copy. By next Christmas we'll probably have created over 80% of our gifts, all from this book.
   
   The author's writing is gracious and clear and leads me back to reading her words again and again. There's more to this than just "directions" but the directions are terrific as well.....even a 13 year old can attest to that.
   
   HIGHLY recommended!



4. This is a wonderful book! Kristin Nicholas has taken embroidery to a new level with her colors and designs. Her instructions and diagrams are well displayed for even the novice at embroidery. I have been sewing for years and I can't wait to get started. Not your gramma's embroidery for sure. Love this book!



5. I live in a very small apartment so I can't collect books, but this is one I will keep. Easy to follow directions and nice projects. Detailed information on how to make projects that are more complicated like dying fabrics. I received the book and made two projects over the weekend and have plans for a couple of more. This book is inspiring, well written, and COLORFUL! A must have, you won't be disappointed.

2 comments about The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Card: Prose-sentiments-poems-expressions (Ultimate Guide).

1. I am an absolute fan of the Ultimate Line of Books. This book is awesome. There is a poem or quote for every type of card you would ever need to make. It's great!



2. This is a great book for quotes for greeting cards. Really happy I tried it. Will use it all the time.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding..

1. This book explains everything you could possibly need to know to get started. It can be a little hard to follow in places but with a little patience it really can be a big help, and has all the answers I was looking for.



2. A wonderful informative book to help you learn the skills required to do any leather braiding...



3. Excellent book for an incredible number of different braids. Lots of pictures and diagrams, (thank goodness) to better teach the techniques. The author throws in a little history education on the use of many braids. The only downer is that it is in black/grey/white, no color. Most of the diagrams are hand drawn (nicely) so it may take a second, third, seventh look to see which direction to go. In this day of CAD and graphics, I guess I expected a better visual. But then, the information that is handed down to the author from long, long ago, may call for this style of visuals? In the end, fantastic book, I'm glad I bought it and I'll keep it, and use it for many years to come.
   ab designs LLC



4. This book has been in my wish list for years, I have been working with leather for the past 3 decades,and
   I find this book to be the treasure for those working in the leathercraft world.I am glad that I have this book
   in my library of leathercrafting. I am going to study and utilize this book for the years to come. Etsuo Fuwa



5. For lovers of leather braiding, this work is the Bible. Grant exhaustively covers a wide range of braiding techniques. His attention to detail and step-by-step instructions are superb. Sometimes his drawings are a bit primitive but they serve the purpose intended. His book covers how to make and work with rawhide, tools of the trade for leather braiding, various braid techniques such as twist braids, the Conquistador Braid (a fabulous and intricate braid for making belts, wrist bands, etc.), flat braids, round braids (for whips, etc.), various knots, and a wide range of horse tack (saddle and bridle).

5 comments about Plush-o-Rama: Curious Creatures for Immature Adults.

1. Plush monsters are wonderful. You can make dozens of mistakes while making them and at the end of the day you can pretend that they were all intentional. It doesn't matter. This book provides patterns and instructions for making 30 such monsters, some of which I think are very cute, such as Catzilla and the half-eaten gingerbread men, and some of which just don't appeal at all (in my opinion, the Pig/Duck is just creepy). However, the fact that I don't like all of the patterns doesn't bother me because this book is just as useful for providing inspiration and advice on various toy-making techniques as it is for giving instructions. After all, monster making is about making what you want to make, not about following a set of rules.
   
   Each pattern in this book is designed by a different designer, which is great because it means that there is more variety in the patterns that if they were all designed by the same person. In that respect, there are many similarities between this book and "Plush You!" Both books serve as galleries for soft toy designers. However, "Plush You!" failed by only providing patterns for a small number of the toys (the least impressive ones), while this book does not make that mistake.
   
   This is a very good book for beginners. Most of the toys are very easy to make and basic sewing technique instructions are provided for novices. In a number of cases the toys look like they may have been made from cut-up old clothes, so you might not even need to buy fabric. And remember, even if you do make a mistake, just pretend that's how the toy was meant to look. With toys as weird as this, no one will notice.



2. I just love this book! I haven't tried any of the projects yet but it just makes you feel happy when you see that smiling creature on the cover! Maybe I'll even try making one or two! I sent a copy off to my grand-daughters right away.



3. This is a great book for kids and adults some really cool ideas and patterns leads you to even more ideas of your own. Why pay high prices for those strange creatures in our imagination. Make it your own, make it yourself and use your choice of materials. (some of the pre-made dolls are made with shabby materials)



4. The projects in this book are really creative and fun to make. I get the feeling though, that the book isn't specifically designed to help you perfectly recreate the creatures within, but rather to act as a jumping off point for you to create your own.
   
   Don't get me wrong, the book does come with instructions and patterns, but on occasion, I find the instructions to be vague, and the shapes of the patterns in the back of the book aren't always the same as what I see in the photos of the finished products.
   
   If you're looking for a book to inspire you and give you a push toward making your own creatures (and it helps if you have a slightly twisted sense of humor), this book is for you.



5. These are hilarious! They do require someone who knows what they are doing with a needle and thread but they are so much fun. If you or someone you know LOVES stuffed critters then this is your permanent source for all birthday and Christmas presents. You can use it to create them yourself or give them the book for them to choose and make their own. It is just so delightful. :D

5 comments about Hive Management: A Seasonal Guide for Beekeepers.

1. In the past year I have borrowed from the library all the books I could find about beekeeping . This is one I plan to add to my personal library.



2. This is a very readable book - Bonney puts words together well. Not a "must have" in a beekeeper's library but a good general discussion of relevant topics. Assumes basic beekeeping knowledge. Overlaps with his beginner's book (Beekeeping: a Complete Guide); this would be aptly titled "Your Second Year as a Beekeeper."



3. This book is well written and laid out in a great way to make keeping bees easier to understand. Highly reccomend this one.



4. A good all round book.
   The chapters lay it out for the reader, and if that reader is like me you will get a better understand of bees and their needs.
   I suggest this book to anyone who is thinking about getting a few hives for the backyard BEFORE they do. Although bee keeping is a enjoyable passtime, there are things that need to be considered and this book will equip the reader with what they need to know. Good evening reading.



5. Hive Management written by Richard Bonney is awesome! This is not intended to be your first bee book, however I have read two other books and started my bees just under 1 year ago, so this was perfect timing. It's an easy read and makes sense for the non-PHD bee keeper. The only negative is there's not many pictures, but I would highly recomend this book to anyone with bees!

5 comments about Everyday Fashions of the Forties as Pictured in Sears Catalogs.

1. I love the book. I use it to give me inspiration for my designs. It's a good reference book.



2. I was looking for ideas for a 1940's costume for a dance competition. This catalog helped me tremendously.



3. Whenever I take this book out, people fight over a peek into its glossy pages. It covers everything in fashion from the forties, though mostly focusing on women. The pictures depict fashions, from dresses to shoes, hats and gloves to maternity wear; the women's hairstyles, makeup, undergarments, and overall looks give the reader the most authentic possible view of fashion and the aesthetic ideals of the time. The catalogue also shows the prices and features descriptions that include fabric and color. Seeing such low prices is pretty crazy! Obviously, it was relative to wages and the overall cost of living then, but the immersive effect of the book is still strange and fascinating. There are some pictures of man's and children's fashions. This book is thorough and unbelievably beautiful.



4. As I have more in this series of books, I was fascinated by the year-by-year styles in the 1940's. And as with others, I was disappointed that they were not in colour. A minor problem, I think, because the descriptions provided as well as the names of colours also tells me about the time period. What exactly is the shade 'Cadet Blue'? But it does give good all around display of everything from children's clothes...not to mention miniature uniforms for little boys, to men's wear and funny looking men's underwear, to shoes, hats and purses, evening and wedding gowns and the rather uncomfortable looking women's underwear. Along with the others, they are a treasure and a time capsule.



5. Not only is it great to see the everyday fashions of this era, you can really enjoy reading the descriptions and especially be amazed by the prices of the items!
   
   Keep it in pristine condition as a collector's item, or use it as part of a scrapbooking project with photos of the family from way-back-when!
   
   Any way you use it, Everyday Fashions of the Forties as Pictured in Sears Catalogs is a lot of entertainment for a little price -- just not quite the sort of prices you'll see inside the book!
   
   There's lots of fun here. Highly recommended!

5 comments about The Best of Sewing Machine Fun for Kids.

1. This book was exactly as described. Easy to read and use. Cute projects for kids!



2. This is a great book. Inside it has actual patterns for your kids to practice tracing with their machine stitching. Very colorful and excellent quality...thick pages. Can't wait to try it out with my daughter after we give it to her at Christmas.



3. I purchased this book for my 9 year old grandaughter. What a wonderful introduction to sewing. First and formost, it is fun, visually attractive, in a easy to use spiral format on durable stock. It begins with some nice graphics and games that involve learning the parts of the sewing machine, moves on to some FUN drills that teach little hands how to control sewing lines, curves, points and so on. It ends with some very basic projects that kids can complete on their own giving them a real sense of acomplishment. This is a must have for children learning to sew.



4. Bought this for my granddaughter and hope she finds out the the sewing machine isn't too scary.



5. Great tools to help your child (or yourself) get used to using a sewing machine.

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.

1 comments about The Smart Approach to Bath Design, Third Edition (Smart Approach).

1. this book is very informative for the design student; shows great examples of spaces and how to bring out the best in them

5 comments about Making Doll's House Miniatures with Polymer Clay.

1. This book is so full of good ideas for creating items in perfect scale for a dollhouse that I don't know where to start.

   How to make your own tools and formers, making dishes and pots that are more realistically thin-walled than the commercially-available items, mimicking china, a ladies' vanity set, a desk set, baskets, metal, wood, flatware, foods, fireplace tools - even the kitchen sink! Way too many different items to name them all. If I was to be forced to give up all my dollhouse books but one, this would be the one I'd keep.

   Excellent intro to using the clays - basic information. Trouble-shooting tips along the way.

   And her videos are fabulous, too. :-)




2. I made myself a miniature drugstore since I am a pharmacist and I had trouble finding things like mortars and cylinders. Thanks to this book I managed to make the most beautiful look-alike mortars with pestles and all, also a little turn-of-the-century (last century, of course) telephone. The directions are precise and you can really get what you are looking for (and I had never touched polymer clay in my life!)



3. The variety of projects in this book and the step-by-step explanations, make it a great resource for beginners and experienced miniature makers.
   I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in making their own dollhouse miniatures!



4. My son used his sister's copy of this book and loved it. He asked for it for Christmas and I bought it and received it so quickly, I was impressed. I can't wait to give it to him. It looks very impressive to me, also.



5. This is a book good for beginner has step by step guide how to make the individual items. IT is a value for money book for beginner.