No comments about The Spinner's Encyclopedia.

1 comments about SWEDISH TEXTILE ART: Traditional Marriage Weavings from Scania (The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Swedish Textile Art).

1. For almost a hundred years from the middle of the eigthteenth century, a little-known and very beautiful art flourished in Scania, the southernmost region of Sweden. This was expressed in small textile panels that were mostly made for wedding ceremonies. Marriage rituals have always been of great importance to small communities, and for each wedding in Scania an extensive dowry composed of many kinds of woven textiles was created by the bride-to-be. The colours and the appeal of the designs remain as fresh and vibrant today as when these beautiful weavings were created during the high period of the art, over 150 years ago. Each textile is a work of art in its own right. The extraordinary patterns are not only of interest to collectors, connoisseurs and contemporary weavers - appealing to lovers of both traditional and contemporary taste - but also represent an authoritative design source. Swedish Textile Art is the first book for more than a decade to present some of the best examples of textile art from southern Sweden. The 95 textiles from the Nasser D.

No comments about Contemporary Satins (Shuttle Craft monograph).

No comments about Linen: Hand Spinning and Weaving.

No comments about Rattan Work With Complete Diagrams.

3 comments about Navaho Weaving: Its Technic And History.

1. This is a very technical book on the subject of Navajo weaving, weaving techniques, and Southwest Indian History. It is written in a very formal, and in my opinion, dated style. The language is somewhat obtuse; many more words are used to share information than are required. All photos are black and white, probably because most came from very old, unrestored photos; as such,they are also of poor quality. Most picture captions are described as "plates", a very dated publishing practice. All of the above observations are why I say that it is perhaps most appropriate to a masters or doctoral student on indian or textile history and technique.

   Since this book was on a recommended reading list on the web I am certain there is valuable information in this book for highly dedicated weaving enthusiasts. For instance, the book may go into detail about plants used for dying wool, even giving illustrations of those plants.

   For the casual or intermediate weaver, however, I would recommend saving your money. This is the first book I ever sent back to Amazon. I couldn't even think of anyone to give it to. Not even a school teacher I know who loves SW Indian history. That is how dull I found it.




2. Originally published in 1934, Amsden is considered the basic foundational text by authors writing on the history of Navajo blankets and rugs. While much new and helpful information has been written on Navajo weaving since then, most of these books used Amsden as original source material for much of their information. Pre-1940 Navajo blankets and rugs are among the most collectible artifacts in both the investment and art worlds today. Most all serious Indian art collectors, Native American Indian museum curators and related authors and academics will have a copy of this seminal work in their libraries.

   Other recommendations: (1)Photos of antique blankets : "Navajo Textiles" The William Randolph Hearst Collection" by Nancy Blomberg; and (2)"Navajo Weaving Tradition" by Kaufman and Selser is one of the few "in print" books with and overview of the history of Navajo weaving. There is always a need for many more books in this area as so many titles are short run or specialty press issues. (Periodicals: (3) American Indian Art magazine with offices in Scottsdale, AZ publishes a quarterly and often features articles on early weavings.)

   (Regarding other critiques of this book ; this is much more a book for collectors and investors and those interested in identifying and understanding the history and development of Navajo weavings and is not a "how to" book for those wishing to "learn to weave". Hobbyist shops have plenty of the latter available.)




3. A must for any Navajo textile collector for its rich detail and painstaking description of techniques plus a valuable history of Navaho weaving. First published in 1934,this book would be a rare find if it were a First Edition or even hard cover of the second printing.
   Navaho Weaving - Its Technic and Its History (sic)features 261 pp. of text, 123 pp. of illustrations including photos and renderings of over 100 blankets with a large fold-out color illustration of an old Chief White Antelope Blanket that is eight times larger than the book and colored magnificently. Printed from 14 handcut rubber blocks, this blanket's design is breathtaking.
   The author, Charles Avery Amsden served as curator of The Southwest Museum and secretary and treasurer until he died in 1941. This book represents years of in-depth research written in amazing detail.
   If you can find an affordable (around $50 as of 2005) second printing (circa 1969) perhaps even a library binding edition, you will still receive the book's First Edition effect of a stunning and rich reference tome. The paperback is a lesser version, as it has many of the illustrations shrunk, plus lacks the huge Saxony yard serape illustration.

1 comments about Spinning & Weaving With Wool.

1. If you are a spinner this book is a must have, even if you own the first edition. That can not be said of many books. This book has been updated, featuring new spinning wheels that are currently available. Most of the spinning wheels in the earlier edition are no longer being made. It make a nice comparison book with the first version. If you are new to the craft of spinning wool this book is one that you MUST have in your collection. It will each you how to spin wool. If you have not yet purchased a wheel buy this book and take it with you when you go shopping. If I could only own 1 spinning book this would be it! I taught myself to spin using the earlier edition!

No comments about Navajo Weaving Today.

2 comments about Living With Kilims.

1. I found this book to be full of good ideas on how to decorate with kilims. There are many color illustrations of kilims used as wall hangings, tablecloths, etc., as well floor coverings, and detailed descriptions of how to hang and mount kilims. Also, there are quite a few good illustrations showing how easily kilims can complement other types of collectible textiles, folk art, and many styles of furniture from modern to antique. There are other books that give more information about buying, selling and value of kilims. This book is mainly for decorating purposes.



2. If you live in a kilim-close environ, then you can understand how they can become a compulsive obsession. Much the same as book collecting. This richly illustrated volume is a lovely addition to a library, and as well provides good practical information about how kilims in various guises can be used and displayed to their best advantage. The emphasis is on USING and LIVING with kilims, not as works of art or museum pieces. The first chapter is a useful history of the origins of kilims, the second on the materials and techniques used in making them, and the third about recognising and identifying different types of kilims, including motifs and symbols and characteristics of kilims from the main areas of production - Anatolia, The Caucasus, Persia and Afghanistan. After that follows various decorative uses - on floors, walls, and unusual forms. The book finishes with tips on care and repair and listings for those interested in collecting these lovely items.

1 comments about Weaving a World: Textiles and the Navajo Way of Seeing.

1. Like Lila O'Neale in her early twentieth century study Yurok/Karok Basket Weavers, the authors of this book, Willink and Zolbrod, have set about to "read Navajo rugs" through the eyes and minds of Navajo, mostly older weavers and their families. What we, the readers, get is a somewhat anecdotal filtering of ideas, recognitions, myth and oral history that indeed does lend surprising information about some of the designs.
   
   But, the real jewels of this book are the weavings themselves. Forty separate color plates show rug after rug, over half predating 1900, from the School of American Research Collections in the Museum of New Mexico's Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Each is magnificent in its own way. Accompanying text relates a separate story for twenty-seven of them, organized into: The Mythic Memory; The Collective memory; Ceremonial Practices; Harmony and Disharmony; and A World In Motion.
   
   What I personally love about this collection is the insight into balance, detail, symbolic representation and the fact that each weaving is strictly individual. A great reference for weaver and collector alike, my only criticism is that there aren't more close-up photos.