5 comments about Blue Book Dolls and Values, 16th Edition (Blue Book Dolls and Values).

1. Although the Blue Book is the avid doll collectors' favorite price guide, it contains numerous categories that have not been updated for quite a number of years. China, parian, papier mache, and wooden, some of the earliest dolls in existence, have been gaining in popularity for several years now and the market prices, both at auction and online have been rising considerably. The Blue Book has not caught up with this trend.
   
   Also, it would be extremely helpful if there were a comprehensive section that described the methods used in compiling the information as well as the sources of this information. Some of the prices are so far off the mark in actual market prices realized, that it makes the professional wonder if the numbers are merely picked out of blue sky.
   
   The book is well structured and is the easiest to use on a daily basis, of all the price guides, however, serious updating and a description of the price compilation process, would improve it immensely.



2. THE resource for all your doll questions on values and dolls.



3. I am formilair with this book. It is a great book IF you know the name of your doll. If you don't it is not a good one for you.



4. I bought this book to help me determine the value of a collection of high quality dolls that my aunt wants to help her sell. Our of five doll designers, only one of the designers was even listed in her book. This was a waste of my money, for sure!



5. Very helpful book - have really been enjoying this book as I have wanted this book for years, finally got it!

3 comments about Toys to Crochet: Dozens of Patterns for Dolls, Animals, Doll Clothes, and Accessories.

1. The piggie on the cover is adorable, and is child-safe; many of the toys in the book are not, because they have seed bead eyes and other small sewn-on bits. The pig has embroidered eyes. Even the pig is a bit impractical as written, though - it calls for cashmere blend and alpaca blend yarns. For a children's toy?? I don't think so.
   
   And therein lies one of the two big problems I have with the patterns in this book. Problem 1 is the yarns - many of the ones the author uses are exotic blends that are not a great idea for a children's toy that would need to be washed, and they are expensive for use in a toy; also, many of the yarns are ones that are commonly available in the UK but not so easy to find in the US, and it would be tough for US crocheters to get some of them at all. But the book doesn't give pictures of the individual yarns, and it doesn't give complete fiber content, so it would also take considerable effort to find yarns here that were a reasonable equivalent. Contrast this with another book of crochet toys that I received as a gift, which suggests the sturdiest worsted weight acrylic one can find, for the bright colors and washability.
   
   Problem 2 with this book is that many of the toys made following the patterns will not come out the way the pictures look. Consider the mermaid, for example - nothing in the pattern tells you how to get her arms to pose the way the photo has them, and they definitely wouldn't pose that way if you didn't do something additional - pipe cleaners? Wire twist ties inserted in them? Something! The doll arms would all be floppy and hanging down, without some additional support, and the book doesn't describe any such support. Likewise the giraffe on the back cover - the pattern inside doesn't give any suggestions for how to make her little antlers/horns stand straight up, and if you just crochet them according to the instructions, what you'll have is two floppy chains hanging down over the giraffe's face.
   
   That said, Larry the Lobster is too cute for words, and I'm definitely going to make one of those. I'm not going to use the recommended yarn, Lobster Pot Bulky, though - it's a mohair blend, again wildly impractical for a toy, and also hard to find. Easier to find, a bit cheaper, and about the same content and gauge, would be Lambs Pride Bulky. I'll probably test the gauge using a less-expensive yarn such as Lion Suede, which I suspect will work and be equally soft.
   
   In short: many cute toys pictured, but the yarns called for are not suitable for toys, the seed-bead eyes are not suitable for little kids, and you'll have to do some work not described in the patterns in order to make the toys come out as pictured.



2. I bought this book pretty much on the basis of the pigs on the front cover. Why is it that the best item is always the one shown on the cover? Indeed, as a toy for my little girl, I think the pigs are the only ones I'll really make. Possibly make the shark and lobster for our beach house but the long dangly bits of the lobster don't make it a toy for a small child. I can't comment on the yarns because we certainly can't get them easily in Australia, but it seems to me that a cheap, probably synthetic yarn that washes easily will be appropriate for toys for use by children. A bit disappointing, and I certainly agree with the previous review about the lack of instruction on how to make things stay in shape - how does the bear stand? Overall, probably a book to give to someone who likes collecting toy pattern books.



3. These are some of the prettiest crocheted toys I've seen--very cute and clever. The directions are very clear and easy to follow, even for someone who's never tried crocheting a toy before (like me). So far, I've made the basic bear, the mermaid, and the foal.
   
   Of course, if any of these toys are to be created for use by babies, some modifications are necessary--no beads or other small, detachable items should be used. Also, no instructions are given for stiffening some slender areas of the toys, like the arms and legs of the dolls, and the legs of the foal.
   
   Still, a lovely book with plenty of good ideas. Not for beginners, but confident crafters will enjoy it.

5 comments about Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions.

1. I was hoping for something different in art dollmaking.I bought the book before it was released,I liked the cover.
   I still like the cover....
   That's about it for this reveiw!Well,almost...
   
   It's cliched,every doll inside the book has the smack of what we are supposed to aspire to, other person's ideas,and copy them...If you want inspiration,check out lark's 500 dolls.Don't waste your money on this book.I gave it to a teacher/friend.She did not really thank me for it.
   Sorry,folks,this book is very dull.Don't buy it.



2. I can't wait to start making the art dolls in this wonderful book. I've already gotten ideas for creating my own art dolls.



3. If you are a doll maker who is Here and want to go Over There, get this book!
   Turn one page and Li's creativity and energy jump out at you. Patterns, color illustrations, Li's delightful musings, illustrations only Li can do make this book unique.
   It is aptly subtitled "Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions." Li buries deep into the souls and archetypes of societies to create her goddesses, talismen - and all with a delightful sense of humor not to be found anywhere else.
   Lisa Hertzi is an artist on so many levels and I hope this is just the first of many books with which she will bless us. Below my name is an example of one of her musings, which we must urge her to increase in the next book.
   Watch for more books by this unique artist!
   Go from wherever you are in the doll art world and move Over to There with this book.



4. .. okay where do i start? i am 23 yrs old.. and haven't picked up a doll since i was 9. on one of my many journeys through the crafts store i picked up this book because of the strange little doll on the cover.. i opened it and loved every page of it! i immediately got everything i needed to start making a doll of my own.. the neat thing about this book is although the price is somewhat high for a craft book. the possibilities are endless.. yo can twist and conform any one of her patterns to something that suits you more as a person. the dolls were definately odd looking. and i love how in the book they not only show beautiful "goddess" and fairy types, but also some unique ideas from many different cultures.. tey even have a doll by elizabeth mcgrath which is super duper creepy.. i am a beginner and i would reccomend this book to aLL.



5. Good construction recommendations. Wonderful boost to the imagination. An enjoyable, thoroughly delightful book of cloth art doll projects.

5 comments about Fashions for Small Dolls.

1. This is a wonderful little book for those interested in making their own doll clothes for dolls 7 inches through 12 inches tall. The beautiful photo section gives the sewer many examples and ideas for all types of clothes. The back of the book contains patterns for all the doll clothes shown in the book in all the sizes. The directions section, in the middle, does require some reading but is well written. Fabric choices are discussed, as well as embellishment, patterns, sewing tips and construction. There is a very handy table for doll measurements included. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys and is interested in creating beautiful and unique doll clothes.



2. What a fabulous book! She has a very innovative way of eliminating excess seams and inserting sleeves easily. This book is great for Ann Estelle and her patterns can be enlarged a little to also make clothes for Betsy McCall!



3. Another fabulous book by Rosemarie Ionker regarding sewing for small dolls.
   Contains great patterns which fit with contemporary sewing techniques.



4. Nice patterns with easy to follow instructions. More for the modern doll maker, than for the antique reproductionist.



5. The book is enjoyable for its beautiful photographs alone, but it is the cunning drafting of the patterns (which do things like avoid tiny armholes)that makes this book truly worthwhile. I have made several little garments using this book, getting fine results with little trouble. While the book is intended for making contempory doll clothes, you can also make at least some styles of historic doll clothing as well (one garment I made was for a small, late 19th C. doll). However, what earns my 4 star rating as opposed to a 5 star is the lack of some essential directions. Little information is given on making skirts, leaving the maker to figure it out on their own. Worse is the lack of any smocking patterns to go along with the charming smocked designs that are shown in photographs. This would have been much preferable to me rather than the vast quantity of detailed variations given for doll forms, as I can wiggle out size variants easily, and imagine that most makers of doll clothing can do so as well.

5 comments about 30 Toy Vehicles of Wood.

1. 30 Toy Vehicles of Wood is an EXCELLENT book. I have been making wooden toys for many years and I find this book a MUST for any toymakers library. The book is written for the novice woodworker, but even an expert craftsman can find some good techniques in this book. The drawing are clear and the instructions are easy to follow. The materials list for each toy is handy so just the right amount of wood can be bought. Ronald Tarjany has chosen a good cross section of toys for this book. With this book you will be making a wonderful wooden toy vehicle in no time. Buy this book. You will be well rewarded and enjoy hours of constructive entertainment during your leisure time.



2. I bought the book "30 Toy Vehicles of Wood" several months ago, and it is well worth owning. I have built five of the wooden toys from this book and they all turned out great. The illustrations and instructions are complete and easy to understand. I will be building more of them and plan to give them away as Christmas presents to my nieces and nephews. A GREAT book from cover to cover.



3. I bought this book for my father in-law a year ago. He is a retired carpenter and I thought he would enjoy building some of those cute wooden toy vehicles. I was right he has build several of the toys and he really enjoyed building them. I enjoy taking them with me to the school where I teach, so the children can enjoy them too. My father in-law thinks this book is the GREATEST.



4. The designs, plans and instructions in each of the sections of this book are great. I had no trouble at all in starting on several of the toys shown here. But beware to the craftsman who doesn't own a drill press! The author seems to assume that anyone building these toys will have a drill press, a belt sander, and other large floor-model power tools. Since I do everything with hand tools (plus a power sander), some of these designs became a lot trickier. I had to resurrect my old doweling tools to mount wheels, for example. Still a great book!



5. Several really nice things about building the types of wooden toys outlined in this book are that once you have the necessary tools to do the job it is a relatively inexpensive hobby, it can be done within a fairly small work space so no large woodworking shop is needed, and there is enough variety in the projects to keep you interested and enthusiastic for a long while.

   As for the required tools, the author suggests a work shop equipped with a bench drill press for accuracy, a band saw, a hand held orbiting sander, a circular saw, a scroll saw, a belt sander, and a router. Most of these projects can, however, be built without all the above. Tarjany does, however, suggest a minimum wood toy shop be equipped with a band saw, a bench drill press, and a bench disc sander.

   As the title suggests, the book contains 30 toy vehicles in a wide variety of shapes. Included are a toy sports car, a low wing plane, a helicopter, several types of work vehicles, and a small diesel freight train among other projects. For each project there are detailed instructions, line drawings, photographs, and a list of required materials. Helpful hints are provided along the way, but the budding toy maker will need to know the basics of measuring, cutting, glueing, finishing, etc.

   This is a well done book. If you believe you would like to get involved in the fascinating and rewarding hobby of making toy vehicles of wood, this is a good book to buy in addition to a basic primer in woodworking techniques.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Shirley Temple Dolls And Collectibles: Identification & Value Guide (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. This is the best ever book about Shirley Temple dolls. It is amazing. Filled with information and tips. This book could easily sell for double the price.



2. I have two other Shirley Temple Price guides and I think book is just the most comprehensive. It has lots of pictures and includes all different Shirley Collectibles. It has pictures of a lot of rare Shirley Dresses and compo. Shirley's that were made in Germany, Australia, Great Britain. It is a nice large book and is a great reference guide. Love it!



3. I found this book to be very helpfull in finding what I needed to know on the dolls and clothes



4. 
   This book is one of the best books on the subject of the Shirley Temple dolls (& other S.Temple Collectibles).
   Written on quality paper with excellent photos



5. Great pics of Shirley Temple Dolls & memorabilia organized by years-very thorough and helpful since I am a Shirley collector. Additionally, great tips on improving the looks of the dolls. Well done.

1 comments about Toys & Prices 2008 (Toys and Prices).

1. nice book for toys 50 years old...My stuff is about 25 years old so it is not covered

1 comments about Marvelous Transforming Toys: With complete instructions and plans.

1. The author has come up with a great set of toy sets: boats, trucks, planes, and houses. Each set has interchangable parts which kids can put together to create their own masterpieces.

   Author assumes ownership of basic tools, drillpress, table saw, bandsaw, and in some cases a lathe comes in handy. I have all but the lathe and am having a lot of fun (and challenges) working my way through the sets. Note that not all of the above tools are required, but since he helps you create jigs to recreate your work, the advantage is to people who have them.

   Some complex angles, tapers and cuts, but with patience all can be made either by hand or with standard hand tools (tough), or with stationary tools. Probably the drill press (or a good way to bore exact repeatable holes) is the most critical in getting great results.

5 comments about Collector's Guide To Ideal Dolls: Identification & Values (Collectors Guide to Ideal Dolls Identification and Values).

1. I have several of Izen's books and I'm never disappointed with them. I especially like the section on the PlayPal family group; I found a couple of variations that I don't remember seeing before. There are a few I'd like to have seen more pictures and info on, but I guess something has to be saved for the next book.



2. Judith Izen has hit another homerun with this excellent book for collectors of Ideal dolls. There are literally hundreds of wonderful color photos throughout the book. It is a pleasure just to leaf through the high quality, glossy pages. Even if you are not a collector, it would still be interesting to have the book as a conversation piece. Anyone who ever had a doll when they were young would love to look through to see if their favorite dolly is here. The book is also very well written with plenty of information about individual dolls and the different types of dolls. The 5 stars are well deserved.



3. I am a Shirley Temple Collector. I use this book all of the time to identifiy valuable dolls and outfits. I have learned so much from this book. A must have for anyone who collects dolls.



4. This is a very good refence guide to use to find out information and value of all Ideal dolls. Lots of nice pictures!!



5. A MUST-HAVE book for any serious doll collector or dealer. Great and varied photos and description guidelines.

5 comments about Creative Doll Makeovers: A Step-by-Step Guide.

1. This Book Was Better than Expected.Its very detailed..hard backed,Beautiful pictures.and very well put together.B.W.



2. Hmmm...I was looking forward to this book and disappointed when I received it. It was NOT as detailed as one would expect according to the description. Kind of a cheaper version of what COULD have been a nicer book. Bummer of a book.



3. I was thrilled when I spotted this book in with the new books at our library. I used to do reborning back when it was in it's "infantsy" some 5 years ago, and back then this book would have been a treasure trove, but now it's already dated. The dolls pictured through the book are Very amatureish and poorly done. If you want some great examples of how reborn dolls done by professionals look take a peek at the higher priced ones on ebay or go to www.doll-fan.com...tons of great info there for free! All in all possibly a good book for a beginner but there is so much more to reborning than this book covers...



4. This is a wonderful book with easy to understand step by step instruction. Not only is the processed explained in words and pictures but there is also background on why the procedure is needed. I can't wait to start!



5. I think this is a great book for beginners to start the craft of reborning. It has given me a few ideas for what I want to do - I want goth babies - hur hur hur! Some of the babies that are photographed are lovely - some are ordinary but the book is good value for money - it's a keeper.