3 comments about Carving Eyes: Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating Realistic Features and Expressions (Carving Expressions in Wood).

1. The pictures are just terrible, hard to tell where he carved because of the glare on the wood. You have to try to follow the instructions by reading the captions under each picture.



2. A LITTLE HARD TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND AT FIRST. ONCE I GOT WHAT THE PHOTOS WERE SHOWING IT STARTED MAKING SENCE. IT EXPLAINED WHAT I WAS DOING WRONG AND HELPED ME VERY MUCH. THE PHOTOS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CROPPED SO CLOSE TO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SHOWING. a VIEW FUTHER BACK WOULD HAVE HELPED.
   KEVIN



3. hard to see the photos because of too much light. Jeff Phares is a world class carver.

5 comments about Bridal Gowns: How to Make the Wedding Dress of Your Dreams.

1. I am in the Bridal Alterations business and also sew weddings on the side. I am just starting out and wanted to learn more about the insides of wedding gowns. I have used other books by these women (Fit for Real People) to teach sewing classes in local fabric stores and knew they'd put out a great product. Inside they tell you what fabrics to use for interlining, interfacing, step by step construction, patern fitting, and more. There's even a checklist for constructing a wedding gown and yardage and instructions for making petticoats. I REALLY recommend this book!



2. Very informative I will use the book alot



3. The book arrived quickly and in great condition. It looks like it has lots of information to help with making my daughter's wedding gown...I'll begin sewing in September.



4. This book covered the basic Palmer Pletsch pattern fitting techniques (though Fit for Real People is more thorough), and features some tricks for veils and bustling that are wedding gown specific. It would be particularly useful for making a gown for someone with fitting challenges, but it's not a great resource if you're trying to clone an engineered gown from a bridal salon. That's where "Bridal Couture" comes in handy.



5. I really like this book! I knew it would be good information because of what I know of the author (extremely talented and accomplished seamstress and owner of the New Hampshire Academy of Sewing), I just didn't expect it to be so jammed packed with not just good information, but great information!
   
   The fully illustrated tissue fitting of real brides, the hints on the most flattering features of gowns for different body types, the information on lace and sewing with lace - it's all just really helpful and completely applicable to real people sewing real bridal gowns. She makes this sometimes scary and intimidating venture approachable and doable.
   
   Highly recommended.

5 comments about Common Sense Parenting of Toddlers and Preschoolers.

1. The book is easily readable, a quick read, which I appreciated. And many things were discussed, not necessarily answered for me, but things I am thinking about were answered. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because my situation is different from the author's situation, so some of the material misses the mark (for me).
   
   At the same time I will keep the book for future reference.



2. This book is VERY basic and overall boring. There are better books out there for sure. Try your local library!



3. I decided to try this method because I had used the Boys Town Common Sense teaching method as a school project. I really liked its "non-bully" approach to dealing with students who were misbehaving. I particularly liked the preventative approaches that reduced the amount of misbehavior in general. Now that I have a toddler, I really wanted to use the same type of approach and had struggled with doing so. I tried other books and methods but found them to be outside my style or ridiculous and difficult to apply. This book is just what it says: "Common-sense" and it WORKS. It is easy to apply and doesn't require a Masters to use. My son has made amazing progress behavior-wise. I highly recommend this book for those who like a simple program for profound results.



4. I felt this is a good book at helping parents deal with issues they are having with their kids. My issues were my 3 & 4 year old would not listen the first time around and i was always repeating myself. Also they use to go to bed without complaints and now they keep coming out or fighting. This book gave us methods to use, which seem to be working. This book help me see things my kids do that push my buttons, and how to stop this. Now i feel more calm even when my kids are losing it. I don't have that 'i am going crazy' feeling very often. I found myself saying "Stop!" or "Don't!" all the time. Now i am calmer and say things like "Let's make a better choice please." My kids seem to like it better, and have a good idea of the rules and consequences. The book help us with more structure without giving a schedule.



5. This book is for parents who regularly yell at, threaten, berate, and lose their temper with their children, and are looking for calmer, more reasonable alternatives. Unfortunately, that was not me, so I did not find much useful info in here. It is not for parents who are looking for firmer and stronger discipline strategies to deal with children who are constantly challenging them.
   
   Also, it is quite a stretch to say this book is for preschoolers AND toddlers. It's really just for preschool age, unless your toddler is highly advanced verbaly.

5 comments about Rooms: Creating Luxurious, Livable Spaces.

1. I am a stay-at-home father of one-year-old twin boys with a military background. I've always wanted my home to have that tasteful look that comes from understated wealth and assumed it required money -lots of it, and that arcane knowledge that separates good designers from mere homeowners.
   
   Well, I don't need money, I needed this book!
   
   I have learned much from three years worth of House and Garden magazine. All the amazing houses and rooms are there to be studied and scrutinized. Yet I always wondered how the designer came upon the ideas to do put those drapes with that color wall and that certain chair and so on. Unless I wanted to make an exact replica of some millionaire's living room, I saw no way of creating that energy in my own house.
   
   This book is not like other picture books of great layouts. It didnt matter that I dont have triple-hung windows or a fireplace or 12-ft high ceilings. This book allowed me to see what I do have, and to work it masterfully. It also allowed me to see problem areas, and to mitigate their effects.
   
   I like the way the author proceeds to tell the story of her own process of putting a room together. Had she done what all the other picture books do- tell the reader what to do in this certain room- there would be no true learning, only rote memorization or copying. By telling her own story and her thought processes, the author literally trained me on how to really take stock of my living room and the spaces taken up by furniture and bookcases and windows.
   
   halfway through the book, I had what felt like 50 new ideas about my own place. Sitting at the dining room table, I suddenly saw that the dining room needed a table with a pedestal to free up some of the space. My living room set is a long couch and an oversized chair with ottoman, and the perpendicular layout I had was totally wrong and un-balancing for the room. So using the authors ideas on circles and making conversational spaces, i turned the chair diagonally to face the couch, which clicked with the offcenter side window and the bookcase to create a new energy that just feels right. My wife came home and was very impressed.
   
   Interestingly, Mrs. Gomez's ideas on flow through a room and conversational groupings seem so intuitive to how people live. I could put my two boys in those rooms from the book and they wouldnt get into trouble, because they crawl around on instinct in ways that reinforce the author's ideas on flow. Say you have two distinct furniture groupings in a room (most of us dont have 50 ft long rooms, as the author attests), a baby or babies would rather operate between the two, in open areas, rather than messing around in the particular spaces among furniture.
   
   Anyways, this book changed my life. It will let you know the secrets of unifying hardware, shape and line, the geographical intersections that windows and doorways make for a room and how to furnish to that, placing furniture on rugs and rugs in the room, how to choose the correct rug (even persians!), and how to save a wall by stamping it (my word) with art or pictures. I was really shocked by the negative reviews, but it seems that some people expect more direction or they equate livable with beanbags strewn around the room or something. I dont know.
   
   You really should get this book.



2. For those who enjoy somewhat traditional interiors, but tailored with a neutral palette and a smattering of contemporary art, this will be a happy choice. A former Parish-Hadley assistant, the influence of a subdued Albert Hadley is evident. A range of projects is shown from apartments to homes, including her own, mostly in the New York area and mostly for clients who had become rich in stocks/investments. It is an interesting look at work not otherwise published and featuring work by much-published architects such as Robert A.M. Stern with a huge office to those seldom-published such as John Tackett, a one or two-man office. Recommended for those who prefer a calm sensibility over a riot of color and pattern.



3. Some of the rooms in this book are good, some not so much. I like the format of this book very much, however too many of the looks presented therein can be a little underdone. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I just wonder if it makes for compelling interior design. I must admit, however, I have referred to this book a good deal.



4. Beautiful photography and gorgeous rooms. Although I will never live in mostly white or neutral rooms, Mariette's decorating expertise shines through (yes there are some rooms that feature many colors other than monochromatic in this book). I have both her books and look at them often, and I enjoy her writing style and advice.



5. It took me awhile to decide whether to buy this book or not because of the number of really negative reviews, not having an opportunity to review it myself at a bookstore. I did buy it finally, however, because I'm already a great fan of Ms. Gomez (although I held off on "Houses" for the time being, just in case).
   
   I'm so glad I did buy it. This is a high-quality book physically (sewn binding, fine heavy stock, beautiful photos, etc.), it does NOT recycle photos that are already out in the public domain (which I'd feared), and the text is very worthwhile and pleasant to read.
   
   What seems so patently unfair about the negative reviews is that the authors seem almost unfailingly to have purchased the book not not even being familiar with Ms. Gomez' style, let alone being fans! Then, irritated with having spent money for a book that's not at all aligned with their taste, they try to foist the blame onto Ms. Gomez. With books about aesthetics, the first question anyone should ask themselves is "do I consider what's in this book to be beautiful?". If not, for heaven's sake, go elsewhere -- don't trash the book because it doesn't reflect your taste!
   
   It certainly reflects mine. I DO find her palettes soothing and, yes, "livable". I do find her rooms very, very luxurious. And while she may generally show upper-class homes (although not always -- her own houses are quite unpretentious), if you bother to read her text carefully, you'll see that she doesn't advocate expensive, elitist solutions necessarily. One doesn't have to spend a fortune to buy a chair with clean lines, for instance, nor to opt for plain fabrics rather than patterned. There is a great deal of information within that is applicable to all income levels and homes (yes, even plain "normal" homes).
   
   To the reviewer who said Gomez advocates painting all rooms beige, as long as they were complex colors she gives no idea how to obtain -- what utter rubbish! No element of that is true: she most certainly does not only advocate beige, although she does herself often prefer white and does prefer for the walls to be a plain backdrop for the furniture. She specifically mentions being fond of Donald Kaufman's #5, 'an off-white that's not quite a cream'. No, she doesn't tell you what store to buy it in, but isn't that specific enough for you?!
   
   What this book is not is a complete course in interior design -- but that's an unrealistic expectation in any event. It doesn't give specific guidance to lighting, for instance. It is more, though, than a collection of pictures one's left to analyze on one's own, deducing whatever (little) they can simply from looking at the rooms photographed. It gives a reasonable idea of the approach that Gomez herself takes when faced with designing a room, makes very clear her guiding philosophies, and provides enough concrete ideas for readers to significantly improve their own rooms toward a more Gomez-esque style should they wish to apply her thoughts.
   
   I recommend it unreservedly for fans of Mariette Himes-Gomez' work.
   
   [A tiny niggle: how are the cords of lamps handled when the lamps are pulled into the middle of a room? This is one aspect of the photos which is clearly "art directed" to be false, as they are suspiciously missing. I doubt the owners of these lovely rooms actually trip over exposed cords so this is one 'insider trick' I would have appreciated being shared.]

2 comments about A Guide to Green Housekeeping.

1. This book was so interesting that I am ordering 3 more copies for each one of my sisters. I actually am now using only natures products to clean my home such as vinagar, lemon, and baking soda. I have honestly thrown away all the chemical cleaning product under my sink and I'm washing my clothes with baking soda and vinagar. Believe me this book can change a persons life just reading the 1st two chapters.



2. Many good ideas and well-know recipes in France, but I learned new stuff anyway and I think this book is very useful to save money and spare our planet.
   I am also a big fan of Cabbages & Roses which belongs to the author. It is very English, beautiful, handy, useful, smart, clever as is this book.
   The pictures are cool and beautiful (even if the paper is recycled) and the explanations so simple and easy to use.
   I recommend strongly, by hoping people will be more aware of the importance of sparing and being "more natural".
   Yael from Los Angeles

5 comments about Playhouses You Can Build: Indoor and Backyard Designs (Stiles, David R. Weekend Project Book Series.).

1. I don't understand some of the people who write reviews. Do you
   only think this book is bought by do-it-yourselfers? yes, there
   are some people like me, who don't know anything about carpentry
   who would gladly pay a carpenter to build a lovely playhouse
   or anything else made of wood. . All I need are nice pictures to show the man. so why put down the book?



2. Overall, it's an 0K book - the ideas are good, but the descriptions are lacking. The thing that led me to write this review is to warn potential buyers that the (at least the "traditional playhouse") plans are riddled with errors. If you buy the book and plan to build the playhouse on the cover, make sure you check and double check the dimensions and angles before cutting your expensive wood. I found myself reading the scarce instructions over and over trying to figure out what the authors were talking about in many circumstances. I'd recommend, but WATCH OUT FOR THE ERRORS!



3. A good book with lots of plan designs. This book could
   use more color pictures and examples, but makes up for
   it in design plans.



4. Clear, concise and well illutrated. I bought this book to use as a point of departure/inspiration to build a playhouse. The authors have done a great job on all thier carpentry/design books.



5. This is a great book wide range of choices, from a bed made to look like a barn, a play cube with each side a different fantasy (fire dept, post office, general store and puppet theatre) and not just standard playhouses. A log house, treehouses, and a trellised house that begs to be covered in climbing flowering vines and outfitted for a tea party.
   
   You also get swings, a hand-built trolley, a cargo net climber, table and chairs for the house, a slide, shelves, benches and a swan-shaped rocking chair.
   
   Admittedly not all plans for a beginner woodworker. He assumes a level of comfort in building that not all may have. Each project contains a detailed parts list--something lacking in other children's playhouse-type books, and lists the ages of children that the project is geared towards. The diagrams are black-and-white exploded drawings (show a two-dimensional view with measurements, angles and supports such as cleats or support blocks). If you are accustomed to these common layouts, you'll be fine.
   
   He does make his own doors and windows which you may want to skip doing and just buy.

5 comments about Paint It Black: A Guide To Gothic Homemaking.

1. If you're a fan of Voltaire's brand of snarky humor, you'll enjoy this book on gothic homemaking. The design of the book is worth the price on its own; the black-white-and-red color scheme and black pages are sleek and lovely. My only "complaint" (and it's not really a complaint so much as an observation) is that quite a few of the ideas are very basic and straightforward, and could be found online for free. (Examples: hanging cloth on your walls instead of painting; turning boring dolls into demon dolls.) But, there are a lot of really cool and inventive ideas with complete and helpful instructions, such as the "goth box" shelves, picture frames, and the graveyard cake (which looks as delicious as it does spooky). Voltaire also gets points for including specific recommendations for where to find some of the materials, such as car decals for "pimping your ride." These details turn what could have been rather bland ideas into truly helpful ones. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who's just getting started with gothic decorating, wants a few new ideas, or just enjoys Voltaire's signature humor.



2. A friend of mine let me borrow this book. I am amazed that I gave it back without crying like a baby. From spooky dolls to bottle candle holders to a Gothic wedding, this is the perfect starter guide for the do it yourself goth. Or, if nothing else, it is a good laugh and an easy read.



3. While I enjoy Voltaire on general principles, and try to support all his efforts in whatever media, I was hoping for something a little more...dense. Thicker, more full of information. Not really why I bought the book of course, but still. Anyway, some fun is still to be had, and once I get over the headache from reading white print on black pages (of course!), I will be glad it is now part of my growing Goth Home Decorating Library.



4. I bought this book shortly after it was put on shelves, few years back, knowing that despite it being a slim book, I'd get a nice chuckle out of it. Indeed I did, but I also did receive a lot of unique and inspiring ideas for sprucing up my living area.
   There are many suggestions for the dark at heart for interior decorating, gothing out one's car, baking spooky treats, and other such little arts and crafts, all of which are not that expensive. Even someone of little talent can pull off some of these crafts. Many of these crafts are literally... painting something black. Or you could be really creative and throw some red in there. Maybe plaster a bat sticker on it to break up the monotony.
   I can't say I'm really hard-core into the scene like I used to be. My Siouxsie and the Banshees CDs are collecting dust. I'm not sporting the velvet skirts and pointy boots as often as I used to. But I still collect the old wine bottles for some neat candelabra displays. Where did I happen to get that idea? From this book. Even if you're not the uber-goth that has racked up on the goth points over the years, you still can get some unique, money-saving tips.
   
   My only complaint for this book was that it was too short. *shrug* But you have to take the Goth style for what it is: minimalistic.



5. I would personally say that Voltaire is a literary genius.
   His words speak to you in a gentle tone, never snide or rebuking, simply informative.
   
   He does seem to embrace his sarcasm, but it's always in a "good" way;
   Even his sarcastic remarks lead to and emphasis a strong point.
   His book provides a plethora of decorating ideas, not only for a gothic designer, but for any person trying to make they're dwelling habitable.
   
   I would certainly recommend this book, I don't think my words do it proper justice.
   
   Side Note:
   Voltaire also has several music albums, the majority of his songs have a very amusing satirical background, while he also has a phenominal CD with a more serious setting.
   
   He has live shows throughout the east coast (not sure if he goes past that, I'm sure it lists it on his site), if you ever have the opportunity to see him perform live, it's something you'll simply never forget.
   You can get more info on all that at http://www.voltaire.com.
   
   10/10.

5 comments about What Color Is Your Swimming Pool? A Homeowner's Guide to Troublefree Pool, Spa & HotTub Maintenance.

1. I own a home with a large spa in the basement. When I purchased the home, the spa was not filled with water, and since I had no experience maintaining pools or spas, I read this book to give me some general operating tips. Although the book is not written to explain details concerning all complex pool and spa maintenance procedures, it is an excellent introduction for the novice pool or spa owner.
   
   It is true that the author sometimes refers the reader to a trained pool professional, but I think that is appropriate given the range of possible complications. He also recommends getting a periodic professional water analysis (most pool shops will do this free or at very reasonable cost) as the chemical sticks are good for only fairly basic information. One of the strengths of the book is the explanation of the basic applied chemistry involved in pool maintenance.
   
   After reading this book and getting a water analysis, I have been confidently enjoying the hot tub. Overall, I recommend this book for all pool and spa owners, especially novices. People with a lot of experience with pools may desire a more advanced text, but I think this one works great for probably 99 percent of the pool and spa owners out there.



2. This book was written in layman's terms. Everything was explained in easy to follow step by step directions. I feel much more in control of my pool after reading this book. I will definitely keep it around as a reference book.



3. Middle of the road. I preferred the Ultimate pool guide, but as a newcomer to pools this book also helped me understand a lot.



4. This book quickly answered some vexing questions I have had for some time concerning the correction of imbalances in my pool water. It clearly explains what steps are needed to put things right. Good value for money!



5. This is a good book if you need to know the basics about a pool. But it's not real technical, it did not provide enough information no how to get or keep the chemicals correct in the pool. But if you're like me and did not know anything about your pool it is a very good starter guide for you.

5 comments about Smart Workshop Solutions: Building Workstations, Jigs, and Accessories to Improve Your Shop.

1. Paul Anthony's SMART WORKSHOP SOLUTIONS tells how the right fixtures an accessories can transform a workshop. From assessments of clamp racks and wood storage solutions to router tables and tablesaws, this covers the basics to obtaining and building accessories which lend to the woodworker's achievements.



2. I recently had the chance to read this book and despite some initial reservations, I came away with quite a few good ideas for my small home shop. What took me a while to understand is that most books of this type simply give many different options for how to solve a problem in the workshop without giving detailed specifics on any one choice. This book does the opposite - there are few "solutions" to choose from, but the ones that are offered give a great amount of detail so you can easily reproduce the same results in your own shop.
   
   So, for example if you don't already have an idea of what you want to do to solve your clamp storage problem, then I would say look in other places first to gather a lot of ideas and get a feel for what will work as a solution for you. Then if the idea you like best happens to coincide with one of the solutions in this book you could turn here for detailed plans on how to build what you need.
   
   That's my advice, hope it helps in some way...



3. This book is excellent. Wonderful ideas for organizing any shop, big or small. Good drawings, and beautiful color photography, throughout make this a visually pleasing book to look at, and dream of one's "perfect" shop. If you want to get your shop running at peak efficiency, this book will get you pointed in the right direction!



4. ...just like the tittle says. The book focusses on nine specific problems and the solutions and workstation projects to handle the related challenges. A trademark of Taunton Press books is the abundant photographs and excellent illustrations. Each chapter has a logical progression in which the writer talks about the problem, suggests a solution with photographs, working drawings and a cut list to build the jig, cabinet or workstation. This is not a step by step instruction book but if you have a workshop, you probably have the skills to finish any of these projects. Even skilled woodworkers can appreciate the hints and tips that accompany each project. For example, how to fit the hinges on a blade storage cabinet and details of the mortise and tenon joint on an out feed table. I like the side bar articles such as the one on how to build a table-saw kill switch.
   
   The book is 172 pages long. Some of Taunton`s books are over 300 pages and others are broken up into several volumes, for instance The Workshop books and The Toolbox book. All of these books are wonderfully inspiring. Smart Workshop Solutions is new material that adds to earlier books and magazine articles from this publisher. Some readers may enjoy the pictures of shops that belong to other well know work workers like Brian Boggs, Andy Rae and Bill Hylton. I wish the book was longer so it could offer more ideas and solutions.



5. I found this book to be very good in listing useful shop jigs/solutions. It is rare in that it gives enough of the key dimensions to actually build the items. What I think I like best is that in some cases, it shows several similar jigs. You can combine the best of all if you like (which is what I usually do). This book is a great value.

3 comments about The New Complete Guide to the Band Saw: Everything You Need to Know About the Most Important Saw in the Shop.

1. This is a must have book for anyone who uses a bandsaw. If you ever had a problem with your saw this book will help fix it!



2. I really didn't find anything useful in the manual. My Rikon manual covered the info in the book. Directions on the few jigs that were covered were a bit confusing and appeared to be missing info. There are not nearly as many jigs discussed as the cover implied.



3. As I own, and liked, Mark Duginski's original bandsaw book, I was looking forward to the updated version. Well, is IS better than the original. The format is certainly more up-to-date, as are the machines themselves. the pictures are better. The book quality itself is better. Mark addresses misinformation that has been rampant in some areas that's cropped up after the original edition, such as tensioning. There is additional usage content.
   
   The book disappointed me on its coverage of patterns and jigs, however. The information provided on both is minimal and neither terribly well written nor presented. I give the book pretty high marks as the best basic bandsaw book out there, but it does not rise to the level to which the title aspires - "Everything You Need to Know ...", nor does it make a case for the bandsaw as the "Most Important Saw in the Shop". I regard this book as a must-own for basic machine setup, usage, and maintenance, but would look to other sources for information beyond that.