1 comments about The Backyard Foundry (Workshop Practice Series, No. 25) (Workshop Practice Series, No. 25).

1. The cover of the book is a little misleading since it was written for hobbyists in miniature railroading. It goes beyond that.

   The book was written originally for hobbyists in Great Britain, by some of the comments on availability of supplies and names of sources for supplies. The universality of the content makes this issue mute when you get into the depth of each chapter.

   Examples given for making cores and for moulding with "Green" sand are bountifull. As an Engineer with formal classes in casting I was impressed with the information provided. Some of the information was great review for those classes taken so long ago. Addiitional technical information on how and why things are done bolstered my confidence this process can be done by the individual hobbyist.

   In my case I am turning a hobby into a retirement business, so the value of this small book will have long lasting value. I expect to be wearing this book out by frequent referencing.

5 comments about Too Much Stuff: De-Cluttering Your Heart and Home.

1. Too Much Stuff is stuffed from cover to cover with techniques on how to de-clutter both your heart and your home. This advice is given in a clear, easy-to-read manner which has us eager to decontaminate our homes of unwanted, unneeded, and unused items. Not only does Mrs. Porter help us make our homes cleaner and our space more effective, but she also gently encourages us to de-clutter our hearts - which is where the clutter really begins.
   
   Kathryn begins the saga of de-cluttering by sharing her own heartfelt story of growing up in a cluttered home and how she brought those habits with her after she'd married and moved out on her own.
   
   Each chapter brings us deeper into our clutter and gives prudent advice on how to start shoveling our way to a neater home. Topics range from defining clutter, planning how to de-clutter in an orderly way, working in the main rooms such as kitchens to less seen rooms like bathrooms and bedrooms. She also tackles the dirty job of paper work and bills - those seldom touched piles on our desks.
   
   But Mrs. Porter doesn't stop there. How does clutter begin? Why do we `need' to keep things? Are we so cluttered in home and mind that we push our time with God aside? Do we go to God with real needs for `food and raiment' or for those sale items we can't seem to pass up?
   
   When I finished reading Too Much Stuff I was taking a second look at my home and my heart.



2. If you struggle with holding onto clutter in your home, it can be an act of deep faith to let it go. Kathryn Porter understands a woman's desire to keep "too much stuff."
   
   In her inspiring book, she bares her heart to readers with the story of how she grew up in a cluttered home and took these habits into her adult lifestyle. When she reached a point of desperation, she prayed to God for help and enlisted the advice of wise friends.
   
   In learning to rid her home of material junk, Katherine began to feel deep spiritual cleansing, uncovering peace and joy. She wants to help YOU do the same.
   
   Her book is a powerful tool for today's busy women who need help letting go of things to make room for God. (If you love FlyLady, you'll love this book, and the principles for decluttering come from a Christian perspective.)
   
   --Christian Women Online Book Buzz



3. I bought several books on de-cluttering and this was the least useful for me. It's from a Christian perspective, which I thought might be helpful, but that seems rather superficial. I found Cindy Glovinsky's books much more helpful -- especially "Making Peace with the Things in Your Life." (They're not specifically Christian.) Glovinsky gets deep down into your heart much more effectively, I thought. I'm going to de-clutter "Too Much Stuff" by putting it in my giveaways box.



4. This is a must read for anyone who struggles with self-worth and self-discipline. Kathryn does a beautiful job in sharing heart-rendering personal moments to becoming a disciplined woman of the Word, not only in her housekeeping but life in general.
   
   The author shares how to set up a system that almost works itself in maintaining a home and a heart free of clutter. With the applications suggested in her book and God's help, all things are possible.
   
   I would recommend this for a really good Christmas gift to all the harried people out there who are standing around with bows in their hair and tinsel in their hands, asking themselves what to do next.
   
   Paulette L. Harris
   Author/reviewer



5. This is the best book I've ever read on de-cluttering and organizing your home. BUT...it also tells you why you have the clutter in the first place. It also guides you thru de-cluttering your life... the emotional clutter we carry with us, which takes up space and prevents us from reaching our goals and full potential.

5 comments about Bathrooms: Plan, Remodel, Build.

1. Bathrooms: Plan, Remodel, Build is a superbly organized and presented, 256 page, state-of-the-art "how-to" guide for contemporary bathrooms and is wonderfully enhanced with more than five hundred full-color photographs to illustrate 55 step-by-step projects and offer a "do-it-yourself" wealth of ideas for bathroom designs, including utilizing space for maximum effect, selecting the right fixtures, and a great deal more. An excellent sourcebook for design ideas as well as hands-on problem solving, Bathrooms: Plan, Remodel, Build is the perfect addition to personal, professional, and community library Interior Design and Home Remodeling reference collections.



2. "Bathrooms: Plan, Remodel, Build" is a lavishly photographed and illustrated book on bathroom design and construction techniques. The authors cover the spectrum from budget to mid-range to luxurious bathrooms. Whether you want a simple functional bathroom or one that is an escape to a relaxing environment it can be found here. The chapters are divided into master bath, family bath, half bath, tubs & showers, sinks & toilets, vanities & storage, tile, stone, & more, construction basics, windows and skylights, installing fixtures, wiring and lighting, and putting it all together.

   Creative Homeowner has never disappointed me with any of their publications and this one is not any different. If you are designing your bathroom or looking to remodel it you will find creative ideas and complete instructions in "Bathrooms: Plan, Remodel, Build".




3. This book is helping us a lot as we are remodeling our bathrooms, I found that many of the recommendations are for projects much bigger and much more extravagant than what we are looking at. We have still used the book quite a bit.



4. We are in the process of remodeling 2 old bathrooms. This book is filled with pictures that has given us several ideas for design and color scheme. It was worth the money.



5. The title of this book should be "1,001 Master Bath Plans", or the less catchy "How to Change a Very Large Space into a Master Bathroom" because that's what this is. I live in a tiny 19th-century rowhouse with one small but functional full bath and possibly enough room for a half-bath. I was hoping for some ideas on how to turn a small space into a bathroom, but this book did not provide that. However, it does have some great pictures and good floor plans for normal-sized houses.

3 comments about The New Smart Approach to Kitchen Design (New Smart Approach).

1. The New Smart Approach To Kitchen Design by home design expert Susan Maney is a practical and "user friendly" guide to creating aesthetically pleasing as well as practical and functional kitchens. More than 260 quality color photographs bring visual life to the descriptive ideas, recommendations, projects and concepts presented in the pages of this superbly presented volume. A pleasure simply to page through while contemplating interior decorating plans, The New Smart Approach To Kitchen Design is a welcome and recommended addition to any personal or professional Interior Design reference collection.



2. Beautiful pictures and lots of styles for a more traditional and conservative look for your kitchen. This book would fit your needs perfectly if you like practical & cottage-style kitchens.



3. This is a beautiful book. Lot's of glossy photographs of gorgeous kitchens in a wide variety of architectural styles. Many of the kitchens include outside gardens and such for character. A great book for kitchen design and re-modeling ideas.

5 comments about How to Design and Build Your Ideal Woodshop (Popular Woodworking).

1. The best advice the author gives in this book is that the concept of the "ideal" workshop is the workshop that works for you. Most of us do not have unlimited space or funds to build a "dream" workshop as illustrated in many books and magazines. What you can afford and what you feel comfortable in is the ideal workshop for you. That is excellent advice.

   The other topics I found interesting in this book were the floorplans of real workshops (and the owner's principal machinery listed in order of importance) and the chapter on workbenches, especially the section about holding devices.

   The rest of the book is kind of thin in content. This book is priced similarly to the other 2 major books on this subject but is about half the size (in page count) which I think makes this book a little on the pricey side.




2. I found this revised version an invaluable reference book while planning my workshop. Bill Stankus writes in a style that is informative and entertaining - an important characteristic of any reference book. The floorplans of various shops, illustrations and photographs of professional shops were both useful and acted as a good tool to begin planning my shop. Information on shop safety, consideration of budgets and vairous tools and skills only increased my appreciation of this book. I have read other books on this subject and found THIS book to be the best read, with valuable and TIME-SAVING (very important!) advice. I would recommend this to any woodworker interested in maximing their workshop potential!



3. I appreciate the Bill Stankus' personal narrative regarding having a workshop. The book was both informative and a pleasure to read. I highly recommend this book.



4. I can not recommend this book to any qualified woodworker. It contains little useful information. The author devotes a lot of space to safety and tools and even spends an entire chapter on workbenches, but the title promises info on designing and building a woodshop. Is this his version of bait and switch? Also, few woodworkers need to be told that a table saw needs space in front and behind for materail handling. And fewer still need to know that a good shop requires adaquate lighting and electrical. Most prospective buyers should get some other book. If you are an absolute novice, then there may be enough ideas here to justify the purchase price.



5. A rehash of old info - neither interesting nor compelling. Many other books on building your woodshop are considerably better.

5 comments about Home Organizing Workbook: Clearing Your Clutter, Step by Step.

1. The book is easy to read and make use of in everyday life for relieving clutter and learning how to remove it from your life. It is divided into sections that coordinate with the home. I found the book very enlightening and gave me some great "new" ideas for cleaning up the clutter in my life. Overall: A very good book for both unorganized and the organized alike.



2. I bought this book at the recommendation of my favorite magazine...Good thing I used a gift certificate and didn't waste my own money. I gave it 2 stars, but maybe it's worth 2.5 stars-just for the effort. It does have some good ideas, but for the people like me, who love to organize but just don't have the space, it's not that useful. I was expecting more ideas about how to use the space I have. Unfortunately, I usually have better and more creative ideas than the author. Another major "-" is that the book talks a lot about throwing stuff away; well, what I have to say to that is that I periodically do that anyway, and I still am space challenged. That's not the solution to every problem!



3. Finally an organizing book that focuses on the real 'how to' of getting your home organized. I have other books on this subject but, this is my favorite. It makes it do-able room by room.



4. I admit that I was attracted to this book because of the beautiful presentation. However, as I glanced through it, I began to see how well-organized the book itself is, and I immediately bought it. This book is presented simply, without a lot of psychobabble about underlying issues that cause people to be disorganized. The book has great ideas and I recommend it to those who want to jump right in and begin working on home organization projects. I am an organized person, but the wonderful man to whom I am married appears to be able to live happily amidst piles of plastic crates. I am hoping to get him to read this book!



5. I got this awhile back and have been using it ever since. It is well written. There's no fluff, just good step by step advice. If you are serious about organizing your home this is the book to get!

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 Getting Organized.

1. The author defenitly provided me with fair suggestions to organzie myself better, however, most the suggestion were common things. However, do not compare yourself with me because prior purchasing this book, I still was a great organized person; it's just that I like to be perfect.



2. When I took over the daily operation of a National Guard Armory I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The Armory had a staff of one, Me! I needed to get organized fast! The administrator whom I was replacing had his own system in place. I was fortunate, I was able to work with him before he left for his new assignment. The National Guard runs and thrives on chaos and a crisis management system. Every day there was a new crisis to cope with, mostly the making of the higher headquarters. There was always too much useless work and never enough time to get it accomplished. At least once a day I would get a phone call from higher headquarters about some useless piece of paperwork the just discovered they needed yesterday at the latest and now wanted everybody to jump through hoops! Short and long term planning were never practiced, just given lip-service. Winston's book was a great starting point. It helped me get ahead and stay ahead of the Puzzle Palace Jockeys. There is something here for everyone. If you learn just one new idea and put it to work for you, the price of the book will have been well worth it!



3. This book is so outdated as to be laughable. She talks about carbon paper and white-out! Computers are treated as something for technologists. She says Sidekick is the most popular software. In fact it is no longer marketed or supported. Memory typewriters are compared favorably to computers! However, her Two-List Time Plan was worth the price of the book.



4. I have read many books in my life, many of which I have made the grand statement that my life was altered afterwards. None has had such an impact in such a short period of time. In the beginning of the book, Ms. Winston provides readers with a self-evaluation. My wife and I sat down and did it together, and reluctantly added up our points. We ranked in the "Disorganized to the point of Chaos" category.

   But, in the past two weeks or so, we have begun to implement the author's suggestions, many of which boil down to common sense. One reviewer is harsh in his criticism because of dated material, because of her suggestion to use carbon paper to make back-up copies of all correspondence. I, too, was surprised at this anachronism in a newly revised edition, but I forgave her for all of the other great advice. If you too are disorganized "to the point of chaos", BUY THIS BOOK. It may change your life, too.




5. This book is an overly-detailed, almost academic discussion of organizational theory. Some of the basic organizational principles include listing a project's "processes or system[s] into manageable parts" , breaking down projects into prioritizing projects by how aggravating they are, tackling the #1's first, etc. Her discussion of how to compose and analyze the daily to-do list is overly-detailed -- for example, calling a student's mother to determine why he didn't show up for class yesterday is an immediate task that just cropped up, while getting in touch with an equipment supplier is "a basic, medium range task." What does that mean?? And I don't think most of us struggle with figuring out what is really important and what isn't; what we need is something that will help us accomplish what is most important. The financial planning section is overly detailed -- assess income, analyze fixed expenses, prepare a budget, etc. I'm consulting a Getting Organized book because I need to get motivated and empowered to plow through the pile of clothes on the floor and the pile of papers on my desk -- This book is better-suited for folks who are already organized and want to be even more so. This book might be a good choice if you are already reasonably organized and are looking for detailed discussions of the processes that might enable you to become more organized in all aspects of your life. If you are currently at a lower level of organization, I recommend Don Aslett's books on clutter; for me, they have been much more readable and useful.

No comments about Black & Decker Complete Guide to Contemporary Sheds: Complete plans for 12 Sheds, Including Garden Outbuilding, Storage Lean-to, Playhouse, Woodland Cottage, ... Tractor Barn (Black & Decker Complete Guide).

3 comments about Rancho Costa Nada: The Dirt Cheap Desert Homestead.

1. Phil Garlington, California's answer to Hunter S. Thompson has given us a real gift in this frank, funny and brutally honest how-to-memoir. Destined to be a cult classic with exiled would be back-to-the-landers wherever they may be, 'Rancho Costa Nada' shows, not tells how anyone fed up with modern society can chuck it all and still keep some of the small comforts that most folks run the treadmill to have on a daily basis. It's trade off: Freedom or indentured crawl-on-your-belly servitude and many of the more free-spirited can't stand. I'm one of them, and always have been. Like Garlington in his early years, I left for the wilds of Alaska, chronicled in 'Alaska Tales.' The cold reality of that life makes a desert sojourn a good choice for one's later years. In the irreverant style reminiscent of Edward Abbey this author splits our sides with hilarious interviews profiling colorful folks the mainstream has left behind. Phil's ingenuity cobbling together the hogan and amenities is truely inspiring for those on a limited budget. I first became aware of Garlington from the 'Propwash Chronicle' in the anthology 'Out of the Noosphere' from the editors of Outside Magazine, one of the funniest stories I've ever read. Hopefully we'll get an anthology of more of the travels of Phil Garlington.
   
   Also recommended: Aces and Eights



2. After reading many disappointing books on survival, dropping out, homesteading and self-sufficiency I got this gem from Loompanics about a guy who is DOING IT. His message is simple: get a piece of desert land (why can you afford it? - it's worthless), built a simple shelter, and actually live the life the you claim to yearn for. No BS, no apologies, no pretending that you've got $10,000 just laying around - just good solid advice. On top of it all, an occasional rant for good measure. Get it.



3. Phil hates working, so he threw together a desert pad with some cheap (and I mean CHEAP) supplies and spends his day drinking, shooting guns, and napping. AWESOME. I love Phil's honest description of his lack of enthusiasm for work. There are also many tips and tricks for the aspiring desert rat. A fun read!