5 comments about Spring Cleaning.

1. This is a very helpful book. Not only does Jeff Campbell explain exactly what the fastest way to clean your house is, but he also gives advise on what products to use and how to use them efficiently. This was not full of unnessesary "helpful hints", but was loaded with actual technique and procedure. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to spend little time cleaning house, but would still like to live in a clean home.



2. I couldn't figure out how to clean the miniblinds effectively. Now I do. While apartment dweller won't need all the info, there is something for just about everyone who needs it. Their company sells the best and most interesting cleaning tools you've ever seen. Customer service is also five stars. They know their stuff, and this book is a good example of it. Also: Talking Dirt, the newest book.



3. This book gives specific advice for tackling major cleaning jobs around the house. The focus is not on hints and tips for tackling the details but on the approach to use and how to do it. Speed Cleaning, another book by Jeff Campbell, is for doing weekly cleaning. Spring Cleaning is for infrequent large cleaning jobs, but it also has advice for tackling the weekly cleaning the first time if you're starting out from way behind. If only I could get results just from reading the book. . .



4. A true cleaning gem that will get your cleaning done in a jiffy, just you wait and see. No matter what kind of job you need done, whether it's moving drapes and heavy curtains out into the wings, or packing up furniture for winter wear, you'll find some useful tips from the smart team of CLEAN TEAM. They've got their own website and they're not afraid to advertise it, but don't run away in disgust, Jeff Campbell is actually a pretty relaxed pitchman.
   
   I put on my apron to do my spring cleaning, just as Jeff has advised for the past 20 years. It's made of all scraps of muslin and cotton that were lying around the house. In its durable and roomy pockets, I can always locate the knives, cloths and sprays I need to do any particular job. Those of you who are accustomed to clean in the mude, however, will be disconcerted, that is strictly a no no with Jeff Campbell, who wants you to put on an apron, not just to cover your "block and tackle" but to hold different tools in for ease of use.



5. This is a good,clear, no nonsense book about cleaning. I am always looking for ways to make the cleaning process go quicker and/or do a better job at it - this book is a pretty good one. It really simplifies things, and does not go overboard on details - like some of the other books that are out there. It is really just for those jobs that need to be done once or twice a year, his other book about speed cleaning is a great one for the weekly cleaning list.

5 comments about Living Aboard Your RV.

1. As a family contemplating full-time RVing, this was a great first RVing book. It covers everything from what to do with your possessions, equipping your RV, traveling with pets, mini-hobbies, maintaining your RV and so much more! It was an easy read packed full of great advice. You will need a highlighter to keep track of important information. This book will definately go with us on our journey.



2. As a family contemplating full-time RVing, this was a great first RVing book. It covers everything from what to do with your possessions, equipping your RV, traveling with pets, mini-hobbies, maintaining your RV and so much more! It was an easy read packed full of great advice. You will need a highlighter to keep track of important information. This book will definately go with us on our journey.



3. I bought several books on full-timing in an RV - and this was the least helpful. While they touch on many topics, none are explored in depth - I learned nothing new from this book. In fact, I felt they kept telling me things that are simply commom sense. For example, in their section about waste water, they don't tell you how to deal w/ frozen waste lines - but they do advise you not flush disposable diapers!

   This book was a disappointment - and will be returned.




4. 90% of what's in this book can be obtained from any of the various first timer websites.
   
   If you never owned a vehicle, went camping (of any form), made or lived on a budget, had to figure out how to get health care while on vacation, cleaned out your closets or bathroom, then you may find this book of use.
   
   So much of the material in this book is very common sense stuff. Out of the 189 pages I did find six sentences that were informative. Unfortunately none of the comments went into details. I had to look elsewhere for details on the comments.
   
   I'd suggest one of the inexpensive used copies if you feel you really need this book.



5. Some new viewpoints and useful information. Doing the laundry in a trash can enroute? You betcha! Hints for freebie overnights and how to deal with medical issues. I found this book very informative, and it covers many aspects of RV travel.

1 comments about Kitchens & Baths for Today & Tomorrow: Ideas for Fabulous New Kitchens and Baths.

1. I am a Kitchen & Bath Designer and own my own Showroom. I have put together one of the best reference libraries, for my clients. I preordered this book and received it today. I generally give them a look thru and see if any pictures jump out. I must say that I found myself reading this book. It has great information for anyone wanting to redo their kitchen or bath. It educates in very clear language but not so elemetary to bore the design professional. It is peppered with little nuggets of wisdom from designers and the author .....things that even us "old" designers can learn from. It covers everything from floor to ceiling and everything in between. They have included sections on Universal design, which we are all always looking for new ideas to incorporate accessibility in an attractive manner. I would highly recommend this book to both the homeowner or designer.

4 comments about 65 Birdhouses and Bird Feeders.

1. 65 Birdhouses And Bird Feeders: For All Bird Lovers To Build offers do-it-yourself birdhouse builders a collection of sixty five birdhouses and bird feeder designs that range from the simple to the complex, the traditional to the innovative. Each design is profusely illustrated with detailed dimensioned drawings and an assembly isometric drawing showing the finished project. Even the most novice woodworker will have no difficulty following the easy and methodical step-by-step instructions to achieve their selected birdhouse project. An additional enhancement for the bird fancier are the requirements shown for many species of birds that are the intended "residents" of these bird houses and bird feeders. If you are considering building a bird house or a bird feeder for your yard or garden, then begin with browsing through Ronald Tarjany's 65 Birdhouses And Bird Feeders!



2. Expect to use a Tablesaw or Miter Saw when using this book. There is an acknowledgement at the beginning of the book, but no other text throughout other than the dimensions of each house. No cutting recommendations, etc., just dimensioned drawings. Don't expect too much from this book.



3. Plenty of ideas to choose from with lots of illustrations. Some building skills would be helpful. Simple kits to build can be found at houses4birds.com



4. This book was a huge disappointment. It offers nothing but some drawings with dimensions. There are no hints, no instructions, nothing. If I weren't fairly skilled at figuring these things out, this book would be a total waste to me.

3 comments about Pleasant Hill Shaker Furniture (Popular Woodworking).

1. I have read the book through twice now and it just keeps getting better and better. I have read extensivly of the eastern settlements but knew very little about the western groups. I enjoyed seeing the differences as well as the similarities in the way of life and the furniture. The book was a nice balance of how life was day to day and the furniture they created. This is the second book I am aware of written by an experienced woodworker so the insights are of more interest than the usual picture/history book we see so many of. The other is by Chris Becksvoort, which I have equally enjoyed.
   
   I also enjoyed the drawings by Kerry's brother. I think those added greatly to the book. I know when I look at an old piece of woodworking I am some time before I can see the structure in the design. The drawings help me to see this much cleared and sooner.
   
   All in all, I highly reccomend this book be added to the libraries of the serious funiture builder or collector as well as those interested in history. It gives an overall view of what was going on in that part of the country at that time and how the Shakers reacted to it.



2. This is a good book with amazing photos. The background story is very informative.
   
   Shaker furntiture has always appealled to me and seeing the pieces in a traditional setting is an extra.
   
   I would recommend this book.



3. I've just recently begun studying Shaker furniture and I am very pleased with this book. It covers a wide range of pieces from the Pleasant Hill community and it provides some good background on each piece. The photographs accompanying each piece are also excellent. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning about Shaker furniture.

5 comments about How To Make A Silencer For A .22.

1. As this book is only supplied for academic purposes you would think that it would actually be written well and include information that would be useful for academic purposes revolving around silencers, unfortunately it supply's nothing of the sort.

   The information contained is inaccurate to the point of being absurd.

   Look elsewhere for academic study material on this topic.




2. When I saw this book (decades ago) in a friend's collection, I was inspired to make my own silencer.
   
   There are 2 components to sound coming from a gun:
   1) The muzzle blast
   2) The sound of the bullet traveling at super-sonic speeds as it breaks the sound barrier!!!
   
   A 22LR shell exits the muzzle at over 1300 feet per second. Do the math! That translates to 886 Miles Per Hour - well over the sonic barrier (500 to 700 MPH depending on altitude and barometric pressure).
   
   You can suppress the blast, but when you do, you still hear the crack as the bullet breaks the sound barrier.
   
   A few other cartridges that are super-sonic are: 9MM, Super 38, .357, .41Mag and .44 Mag. So how do you totally eliminate any tell-tale sound? Use a lower velocity cartridge.
   
   As a rule of thumb, don't use a revolver; you should use an automatic pistol. The ideal pistol: .380 AUTO.
   
   One other thing to consider. Silencers are illegal. If you are caught you could be shot or embark on an extended vacation at Club Fed.



3. speeds. In a .22 rifle, you can use special subsonic ammo. Consider that the author of these 3 "how-to" silencer books wrote them while he was actually serving Federal prison time for making silencers. They were typed on manual typewriters, while looking over his shoulder for snitches and guards. So the somewhat less-polished language and drawings are forgivable.



4. I am tired of reading all of those reviews who say silencers are illegal, they are NOT! You can get a permit for one (which is expensive and takes a couple months, and you must be photographed and fingerprinted) But you can do it. However, there are 16 states in which you cannot get a permit. those states are CA, IA, KS, MA, MO, and MI. If you live in one of those states and you want a silencer, MOVE! By the way, this is interesting... It is legal to own an M82A1 in every state EXCEPT california, where it is also illegal to own a silencer as stated in above list. I guess most liberals are against guns. Too bad for California residents who like guns.
   Anyway, the book serves its purpose well, and as long as you live in AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MS, MT, NE, ND, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, or WY, then GET YOUR PERMIT and make a silencer. Or buy one if you are lazy.



5. I found that this book and directions were completely mumble Jumble. If any one can make a workable silencer from these directions he must be the smartest person in the world or it was a fluke.

5 comments about Decorative Murals with Donna Dewberry.

1. Being a huge Donna Dewberry fan, I was not at all surprised when I opened this book. The pictures are fabulous and Donna's murals provide the reader with a plethora of ideas for many aspects of home decorating. Donna's books seem to have a magical quality about them making even the novice painter feel as though he/she could paint anything!

   However, after I was mesmorized by the artwork, I felt disappointed with the lack of directions for each project. All of the other Dewberry books give explicit instructions, worksheets and patterns, this one does not. After studying this book intensely, I was left with the feeling one gets while looking at an Art book, like " gosh, what a talented artist, I wish I could create like that." In otherwords, instead of inspiring me and building my confidence as her other books have done so consistently, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of my budding talent. I think I'll stick to her other books and just use this not for reference, but as an addition to my coffee table.




2. Donna Dewberry consistently produces fine detailed instructional books.........this book on murals is not much more than a "see what Donna did" book, the photographer did a brilliant job......... No patterns, no detail, I could care less what part of a house has these painted walls ,(content is divided by rooms). I bought the book to learn HOW she did it. Lot of pictures, beginners beware, you admire her, you wish to paint her technique, this book will tell you next to ZIP!



3. As a decorative artist I found this book somewhat revolting.Then again, I didn't know Donna Dewberry's work before.Well,she is great at the one stroke painting tecnique if that's what You like, You'll find some of that, but She can't draw at all.Wherever any basic drawing skills are required ,she just doesn't cut it.Her colors are in place though,and the book fills You in on the basics,here and there, but it's not detailed enough for a complete beginner, or would mislead him/her, and just useless for a pro.I keep it as a reference for clients, who like this folksy style,but I find it rather primitive.



4. Although this book was visually nice to look at I found it lacked in teaching me how to paint murals. I have stumbled across a great site that has free tutorials on it. I hope you find this helpful. The site is [...]



5. Had I not obtained a copy of this book for free, I never would have come to own a copy. I was going to toss it in the trash when we moved, but my children begged me to keep it for comic relief. I am a trained working artist and in my opinion, Ms. Dewberry needs some serious lessons in perspective, depth of field, tonal values, and drawing before she undertakes a book about mural painting. Even my kids could pick out numerous blunders. The cover shows a mural on an exquisite floating staircase in a bazillion dollar home....with edges slopped with paint because they were not even taped off. If I was the new owner of that house, even if I knew nothing about art, my first investment would be some wall paint and a roller.

4 comments about Design Inspirations, Vol. 1.

1. I've been a Charlotte Moss fan for years, beginning in the late 80's when she opened her decorating shop in New York City in the 1980's and consider her books, "A Passion for Detail" and "Creating a Room" to be my very favorite interior design books (and I have quite an extensive collection). So, when I understood that her latest design book, "Design Inspirations" was being published, I was very much looking forward to it and ordered it sight unseen. Sadly, I found it quite disappointing and not nearly in the same league as her other decorating books.
   
   First, I should explain that the book examines four rooms that she has designed in recent years for interior design showhouses in NYC. It is not her rooms that I find fault with -- all the rooms are absolutely gorgeous, as I have always found her designs -- but the book itself is the disappointment. Unlike her previous efforts, this book is a thin volume -- not even 100 pages in total -- and unexpectedly small -- not much larger than a standard paperback. It is not the substantial, coffee table beauty that I've come to expect from this author. The illustrations are lovely, but there's very little text at all and I don't imagine the author spent much time writing the text and organizing the illustrations. In addition, one of the four rooms, the bedroom, has been covered and illustrated extensively in at least two recent home decorating magazines. The other three rooms are also well illustrated on her website, so there will actually not be too much new to be found in this book.
   
   Maybe it's me, but this book seems more like a little companion guide -- with some pretty illustrations -- to the showhouses in which she participated, than the beautiful and substantial "Passion for Detail" that I have revisited with enjoyment many times since it was published almost 15 years ago. In summary, I probably would still have bought this book, had I seen it first, but it would not have been the automatic purchase I thought it was when I ordered it.



2. Perhaps if the reviewer "Decorating Diva" had read the information regarding the dimensions of the book and the page count (not to mention the price) she--or he--would not have been so disappointed.
   
   While it's true that this is no coffee table book--and there are plenty of other decorators' coffee table books out there if that is what you are interested in (and, further, from what I understand, Ms. Moss will have a new one of her own coming out later this fall)--what I loved about this book was its almost keepsake aspect documenting four of Ms. Moss' favorite rooms from decorator showhouses. Though diminutive, this book is packed with information--96 pages is A LOT to learn about only 4 rooms. And, since showhouses exist for such a short period of time, this was an interesting memoir approach to the process of their creation.
   
   While many people in the design world often talk about their "Inspiration", it is very rare that you actually hear first-hand the actual experiences/images/dreams that lead up to the creation of something beautiful. In addition to being talented, Ms. Moss is a very interesting woman personally, and that is what shines forth in this book--how the essence of the creative person translates into her work.
   
   A worthwhile purchase for Ms. Moss' fans, as well as anyone interested in the ideas behind ideas.



3. This is a brief overview of Design. I found it unsatisfactory. I was expecting a book similar to Charlott Moss' book "Winter Home". Winter Home is a delightful book. Design Inspirations, Vol 1 was not.



4. I think Charlotte Moss is a wonderful designer and love her books. This one, however, is my least favorite. First, it is actually a very small book - not only in the number of pages, but the length and width is much smaller than most decorating/design books. Second, it is one of those books that is nice to look at once. I won't be grabbing it over and over for inspiration.

1 comments about Ultimate Backyard.

1. I personally was disappointed in the book. It is more for someone who has a background in architecture. I was hopeing it was more for what I call "suzy Q homemaker"!. However, my friend has an architecture background and I gave it to her and she just LOVED IT!!!!!!! For the everyday small backyard garden I felt it was too costly to do and above what my needs were.

4 comments about Design of Straw Bale Buildings; The State of the Art.

1. For architects especially - dealing with technical issues and codes - and serious others as well, this is THE must-own first book to get on the intelligent, competent and wise use of straw bales in building construction. And do not forget the Art along the way. Editor/Engineer Bruce King and his team of top expert contributors make it all accessible, exciting and enticing to any adventurous designer considering use of this stimulating new/old material.



2. An excellent book for anyone interested in the specifics/codes/details of straw bale buildings, with special attention to moisture and structure.
   
   I was a bit dismayed to find an admonishment to avoid designing parapets or "Santa Fe" style buildings, but I understand the advice. However, a web search yielded some suggestions on overcoming the disadvantage of zero-overhang inherit in parapet roofs. As I will be building in Santa Fe and want an adaptation of the parapet style, I will continue research on overcoming this disadvantage (I am not building a full parapet roof, but am using a parapet look to make a 360 degree balcony available to my master bedroom).



3. The information in the book was too detailed for the layman. This book is more for the architect and/or structual engineer or student of engineering and architecture. While I understood the concepts since I have already built a strawbale house as a layman it was way beyond what I would be look for in designing a straw bale house. I would recommend it to an architect who was going to design a straw bale house but not for the layman looking for ideas.



4. Most books of this sort are long on enthusiasm and short on useful information. As a professional engineer I now have just what Ineed to design a straw bale building in an earthquake zone.