5 comments about Couture Sewing Techniques.

1. The techniques it describes are a little beyond my reach, but that's just because I don't have the experience/skills yet, not because I can't understand what the author is saying. This is a remarkably well-written and thorough book.



2. Gives an interesting history in couture sewing, but most of all, shares tips and techniques that will make your average sewn-at-home garment look tailor made. Why re-invent the wheel? Learn from the experts!!!



3. I found this book to be of the utmost interest to people who sew. It offers valuable fashion history and methods used in couture sewing. It catlogs important dates that changed fashion and it offers random pictures of various sewing styles. My only disappointment was that the pictures are limited in number. I would like to have seen more visuals of the methods described and up close details of the ballgowns, in particular. This book makes you realize what an art form sewing can be.It gave me a sense of aestic beauty and appreciation for the talent that brings the fabric to life.



4. actually this book is a complete...
   the flaw is the illustration is not much...and the words are like written all in sub-chapter...it's not like a handbook...
   
   i think for sewing books, illustration is important...



5. Excellent book. Recommended by my couture sewing instructor at the London School of Fashion. It provides an excellent overview of couture sewing technique.

5 comments about The Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens.

1. This is a fantastic book for anyone who really enjoys fresh bread. I wore out a bread machine and learned to knead all my favorites by hand. This not only explains every part and ingredient's role in making bread, it also has all the description and scientific explanation to build an outdoor bread oven. We're planning on building an outdoor kitchen and the bread oven in this book will be a part of it.



2. I was looking for a book that would help me understand how to build a masonry oven. This book provides that along with much much more. The detail in the book regarding bread making is excellent and I am certain I will read this book many times as my experience grows. I consider it an excellent book for anyone interested in breadmaking.



3. One of the authors has a German cultural background and the conclusions of the book are somehow biased. It tries to justify with scientific and health arguments, that sour bread tastes better than non sour bread because it is the old natural method of making bread. From an unjustified a 'priory' argument, that is, the flavor of sour and acid bread has to be better, comes out an elaborate collection of scientific facts to describe the incubation and fermentation process of homegrown yeast so that you can get a more potent flavored bread, German style. Give a piece of rye bread to children and you will see that they reject it because it tastes nasty. Instead, give them bread made with available yeast from a supermarket and they will eat it gladly. Most of the everyday bread made in Europe is made with supermarket yeast instead of homegrown sour and acid sourdough. This is so because they don't like the flavor and acidity of sour bread, not because of a shortcoming of mass production, like the author suggests. The bread is to be eaten with other foods, not to be eaten alone, and a very potent flavor of bread would take away the flavor of the other foods.



4. This book is enormous, far larger and more complete than I had imagined. As others have said, it is not exactly a step-by-step "how to" for baking break or for building an oven, but it comes close. I like the word "treatise"
   
   If you are have been thinking about building your own masonry oven, this book has enough information to make that possible. Don't believe a word of what the whiner from Japan with absolutely no literacy or mechanical skills has said: this book does indeed contain outlines, guidelines, drawings, and more that will go a long way towards making a DIY masonry oven possible. however, if you have to be led by the hand the entire way, and given exact specifications for every board and every brick, then I guess this book isn't good enough for you...



5. This book is wonderful. This was the most highly recommended book on building and cooking with a fire brick oven and rightfully so. If you are interested in building a fire brick oven, this book is definitely for you. It has good readable instructions with detailed illustrations and plenty of variations from which you can customize your own oven.

5 comments about Amy Butler's Midwest Modern: A Fresh Design Spirit for the Modern Lifestyle.

1. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I understood the book's intent by the description. It's a LIFESTYLE book - there are not many patterns to copy (buy Amy Butlers IN STITCHES, if that's what you are looking for) - but there is plenty of eye candy. I expected more personal fashion (less home decor) based on the cover - as one of her patterns take center stage - but there is much more home decor/style than you could hope for. The studio & decor pictures are great. Lots of great ideas - completely adaptable without using her fabrics - - - Note, you will be hit over the head with Amy's fabrics - so yes, it is a bit of self-promotion going on, but that's just what I would expect. Great book! Lots of ideas!



2. I don't know how anyone cannot love this book. No, it is not a project book. Yes, it is a nearly-shameless tool to market Amy Butler's designs and style. So what?? I feel like the absolutely gorgeous photography and approachable, down-to-earth prose more than make up for that. If you love Amy's designs, you should love this book. If you are searching for inspiration to help cultivate a funky, eclectic sense of style, this is a great book. Projects - no. Inspiration - enough to spare. Enjoy!



3. A few publishers have finally begun to take heed of the desire of their reading public for books infused with lush photos, brilliant color, and elegant design, in addition to innovative writing that enchants and possibly compels us to try a little something new.
   There's luscious eye candy on every page. Amy Butler invites us into her home to examine her hip takes on art, craft, fashion, interior and garden design, even shopping. With photographs of every room in her house, various collections, the cat, a multitude of aprons, potted plants, and more, Midwest Modern is essentially a Design Lab encyclopedia. It's a lifestyle handbook, a 21st century version of Alicia Bay Laurel's artful 1971 classic, Living on the Earth.
   Today, when DIY is synonymous with cool and "I got it on Etsy" is heard at least as often as "I got it at the mall", artists and designers are blossoming and Amy Butler in full bloom. With a wholesome emphasis on recycling and reinventing, Midwest Modern overflows with exuberant patterns drawn from the natural world. In her epilogue, Amy writes, "Beauty is in the way you live. Enjoy your surroundings. Let them inspire you. Follow your own path, and approach everything you do with love in your heart."
   This book will make you want to get your Spring cleaning out of the way fast, so you can open the windows, crank up the music and make something pretty!



4. If you have a "vintage-chic" aesthetic, this is the book for you! I am consumed with interior design and love mixing new and old for an interesting, eclectic look. I became interested in Amy Butler after purchasing "Found Style" which is an earlier book put together by Amy and her husband with many ideas of how to mix up interiors with flea market finds. Amy Butler's Midwest Modern is filled with pictures of Amy's current home and shows how she successfully complements each room with new pieces, old pieces and fabrics she designs. A small portion of the book is a portfolio of her textile designs which she uses generously in her home for pillows and upholstery. I find myself referring to this book often for inspiration.



5. This book could stand alone as a coffee table book. There are many beautiful and inspiring pictures. If you like the Amy Butler look, this book will be inspirational.

5 comments about The Complete Pool Manual for Homeowners and Professionals: A Step-by-Step Maintenance Guide.

1. I never knew it could be so fun and entertaining to read a book on pools. The Complete Pool Manual for Homeowners & Professionals: A Step-by-Step Maintenance Guide by Dan Hardy is a great book for pool professionals and homeowners alike. The author draws from his own personal experiences and he has seen it all and done it all when it comes to pools, spas and hot tubs.
   The book is written in first-person language and contains colorful personal stories that make it a very easy but informative read. The author is definitely not afraid to tell you his opinion on the best types of pools, equipment, and what to do and not to do in regards to pools, spas and hot tubs.
   It also has wonderful photos of pools and equipment that are both informative and entertaining. Reading this book is like having your own personal "pool technician" on hand to tell you all about different types of pools, water volumes needed, water chemistry, cleaning the pool, pool safety, and much more.



2. Pool maintenance remains one of my biggest chores. I've always felt I couldn't pass it off to my wife and kids--a burned out pump from low water levels or an algae outbreak from unbalanced chemicals was just too much of a risk. This book will lighten my load. It provides step by step guides and anyone (wives and children included) can follow with success.
   
   I'm meticulous with my own pool & heretofore I would NEVER have considered doing anyone else's pool - it just wouldn't be worth it, whatever it paid. Not only has Dan Hardy helped me ease my own workload, I'm confident that I could be a successful "pool guy." He'd done a great job with this book. Who could have imagined a book about pool maintenance could be interesting? We'll this one is, and it's a great reference to boot. It's earned a permanent spot on my shelf.



3. Whether you are a pool novice or expert, this book makes understanding pool maintenance simple. Dan provides a detailed manual on pool construction to water chemistry. There are many pictures and diagrams that lend a visual aid to help understand pool and spa dynamics. The importance of regular maintenance is addressed by providing solutions for the busy pool owner. In addition, Dan integrates helpful tips for professionals on how to deal with problems like phosphates and green algae. This book alone will save a person hundreds of dollars in pool maintenance expense.



4. Interesting book with lots of tidbits and hints about all manner of pool history, pumps, volumes, filters, what he does or doesn't do in a given pool water crisis. Complete rundown of all pool chemicals and why to be wary of pool supply dealers. There is whole chapter on pool and pool-chemical safety. But where is the step by step maintenance of pool water chemistry that I bought the book for? He does say at one point to address "alkalinity before pH, always remember that!" And that is the only step I got, and it was only one step of what NOT to do. There are a bunch of randomly ordered, not step by step chemical-amount-to-use charts per gallon size in the back of the SAFETY chapter. This is easily found online information. Hoped to get, but did not find, an organized approach to the day to day maintenance of POOL CHEMISTRY in this expert's book.



5. We bought a house with a pool & spa and the previous owners were kind enough to take all of the materials pertaining to both. Never owning a pool before, we were clueless. This book has been very helpful! I highly recommend for the new pool owner and it could prove to be useful for the experienced pool owner as well.

5 comments about Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home and Life.

1. I bought this book for help in decluttering my garage (my car is parked outside and we had one too many ice storms this year). I identified with the case study. What hit home was the cost of disorganization (my windshield cracked under the ice when I was defrosting it. If it had been in the garage I would have saved both time and money). I now am aware of other examples of the cost of disorganization in my life. This concept helped me get to the point of prioritizing organization and setting time aside for it.
   
   I have followed the 10 steps for some lesser projects and they work like a charm! Once it warms up and I have my staging area outside on the lawn, I will tackle the garage. In fact, I am looking forward to it (how weird is that?)
   
   My 83 year old mom is downsizing and asked for me to visit for a week and help. I sent her the book and marked the case study about the older woman downsizing. She liked the book too.



2. After reading a number of books, websites and magazine articles on organization over the years, Elimate Chaos finally offers a real solution. Laura's personal story in the preface is important as it starts you thinking about your own experiences with clutter. Included are fresh, new lists-in more detail- to get you started. The author breaks projects into supplies, physical space, steps in the process, stories of real projects and the clients needs. After organizing and sorting, Laura provides a shopping list and reasonable budget.
   If you are not a born organizer, I recommend Eliminate Chaos. Laura learned organization and takes it to the reader. This is absolutely not just another "get organized" self help book.



3. I've read a ton of organizing books. Most have a "process" to get organized that seems reasonable when I read it, but I can never seem to remember the process or to apply it in real life.
   
   In "Eliminate Chaos", Laura Leist, author & genius, sets out her 10-step process and then takes us through seven real-life rooms that she applied it to. She tells us each room owner's "story" and makes the room alive - and then the process come to life in the room as she capably demonstrates with words and lots of fantastic before and after photos.
   
   I know now EXACTLY how to apply this system to my life and can't wait to do it. This is the best book you'll find to help you declutter and organize your home!



4. Laura Leist writes a very easy to use book. She calls upon her professional experience helping messy people like me--giving several examples for each point she is trying to make. I must admit I had thought of or realized most of the observations she writes about--the difference is I now realize I wasn't completely goofy...an expert and I agree on several organizing stratagies! But the depth and breadth of her insight and perspective are well worth twice the price of this book. If I had the opportunity and more income, I would hire Ms. Leist to come into my home and school me a little further. That should tell you how much I appreciate her work. Thank you to the author, and if you're thinking this book might help you, I say, "go for it."



5. It's advertised as a methodical approach to organizing every room of your house. What it turned out to be is mostly examples of the author organizing other people's rooms, none of which are particularly usable in my own situation. She even admits when covering one particularly unusual closet that the readers will probably not be able to use the related chapter.
   
   The one worthwhile thing was a suggestion from her method that you decide on the purpose of the room and what will belong in it before buying any organizing products - I'm guilty of buying organizers in search of a solution. And I got a few ideas from the products used, but actually I could have gotten everything I did from this book by browsing a catalog somewhere.

5 comments about Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock.

1. Very useful and I think I can do it myself now! Loved the color pictures also.



2. I agree, a waste of money. There are no plans in this book, some lovely photos at the back and some pencil drawings of the coops, but no actual building plans and no list of materials. If you are already an experienced builder - no problem. If not, don't waste your money. Oh, there is a web site listed to have the plans and materials list for one of the coops mailed to you - that will cost $35.00.



3. If you like chickens, you like this book. It contains many great ides for housing your flock, no matter what the size. She gives you information on where to purchase plans for each design, but I built mine just from the pictures in this book.



4. This book was money thrown away. There are no plans here that would allow any builder to make one of these. No dimensions, no schematics. Just cutesy little drawings. This is mistitled at best, misconception at worst.



5. This book has all kinds of chicken coops, whether you are on a large farm or just a small lot. It shows what you need and how to build them. This is an excellent book to get started at raising chickens.

5 comments about How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding & Maintaining Your Home (How Your House Works) (How Your House Works).

1. EVERY homeowner should have a copy of this invaluable resource. Particularly helpful are the "Before calling for help" sections. The book is simple and straightforward enough for anyone to understand and the diagrams are visually uncomplicated and clear. Before picking up the phone to call a professional be sure to check this wonderful resource and you just might save yourself a service call and a lot of money!



2. I have numerous reference books but this is the first one to actually describe to me how the device functions. The "Before calling the...(technician)" feature was a brilliant idea and a potential money saver for most homeowners.
   
   My son-in-law teaches middle school science and will be using this book for its wonderful schematics. My other reference books are stashed away on a bookshelf - this one stays on my desk where it is good and handy!



3. highly recommended. contains clear text and very detailed illustrations of the major systems of a house. i came upon this book while looking for explanations of the causes of excessive dust in a home (e.g., whether it's the contents--furnishings, linens, clothing, etc.--in a room or whether it's old walls, floors, and porous ceilings). this book doesn't answer my question, but it does offer a useful, step-by-step guide to systems like plumbing, wiring, heating/cooling, structure, and large appliances. for new homeowners or, better, folks who don't see themselves as diy'ers, this book will give you the information to do some things yourself. at the very least, you will be able to figure out where/why a system underperforms, and what to do about it. along with amy johnston's book on building and renovating a home, wing's book covers most issues. excellent resource or reference.



4. I'm a book geek, a connoisseur of ideas. And i'm not one of those book geeks who is also very practical or handy about the house or with home repair. This book includes a visual dictionary (label + illustration)along with its plain explanations. I'm glad I bought it.



5. I originally checked this book out of the library; I was quite impressed with the clearly labeled drawings, the How It Works section and the Before You Call For Help sections. I then checked out the ratings by reviewers on [...]. Then I purchased several as gifts; all of them were well received. I think that this book is a great resource and confidence builder for any individual who wants to know more about the plumbing, wiring, heating/cooling, ventilation, appliances, windows/doors &/or foundation of one's dwelling. It is very visual and it is presented in clear, easy-to-understand, brief language for the layman. Yet Mr. Wing also writes for professionals in these fields. A highly recommended resource!

5 comments about The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live.

1. I was expecting her projects to downsize to ~1000 square feet. It felt like she was reducing large McMansions to smaller McMansions. Good photographs though!



2. This book was absolutely awesome. Beautifully illustrated, excellent content, and I totally agree with the idea that McMansions are not the way to go. I'd much rather have a smaller home that has been personalized to me and made beautiful than some big, cold half-empty McMansion.



3. The Not So Big House was given me by a craftsman friend who had used it building his new, wonderful home.
   I kept this book through my new addition / remodel project of 7 months, using it as the reference for my decisions.
   The ideas are sound; easy to understand and implement. I recommend The Not So Big House to anyone embarking on a home building project who loves good design and is on a budget.



4. First of all, I bought this book used and it was not in very good condition. A page that I really wanted to read was missing, for one thing. Unfortunately, I can't recall the seller's name now but I left a bad review when I received no response to my concern.
   
   But anyway, the book itself was very good. My husband and I are remodeling a house built in 1949 which used every nook and cranny for some function. It doesn't fit the modern concept of lots of empty space, so we are working on creating a little more empty space while using some of Susanka's ideas for making certain areas more compact. We are expanding our kitchen into a porch, but the ceiling in the porch is lower and this book gave us the idea to just keep it as it is because lowered ceilings add character and are something Frank Lloyd Wright used. I also like her recommendations for wood trim and moulding to warm up rooms and use many windows to bring the outside in. As my title implies, some of the details are pretty outdated such as any picture involving a computer and the kitchen chairs, but that can be overlooked since the overall ideas are still very usable.



5. I ordered this book after reading great reviews since I was in the middle of trying to work out the purchase of a turn of the century home where space was the size of just that, turn of the century. The Amazon review picked all the best photo's in the book and the only pages worth reading in it, so I bought it. I was extremely disappointed to receive a book that had too many 1980 - 1990's dated, uninspiring interiors and not so much in the way of smart architectural choices to think about, as was advertised.

5 comments about Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life.

1. Ed Begley is officially my guru! He has sensible options for us all to do little things and some big ones to help our enviroment and biggest of all...save us money!! If we'd all just try one or two of his suggestions we'd make a big difference



2. The book arrived in great condition and in a timely manner. I would recommend this book to everyone who wishes to make a difference.



3. "Living Like Ed" contains product information and company names. I am trying to figure out how to run an air conditioner without paying the electric company. I think a wind turbine and a dc to ac converter will do the trick better than solar panels because the wind blows even when the sun does not shine. If I get this to work, I'll write another review for this book.
   Barbara



4. I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a basic guide and a start at being a better person for the earth. It gave me some great ideas to use for myself.



5. Ed Begley Jr. really walks the walk! I really like the way he sets up the book. He tells you how to do the easy things and the more expensive things too. There is something everyone can do and Yes, everything does make a difference. It will save your energy bill, and help to save our planet.

5 comments about First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos.

1. My then 18 month old and I took "My First Art Class" at our local community center this past summer--it's a class created by the author's of the book. She had a great time with many of the activities and now that I'm back at work for the school year, I wanted to be able to continue her art experiences. This book is very easy to read, breaks down all the activities so you know how long it will take, if it's messy, etc. We made homemade playdough and have great plans for the other projects. Lots of neat ideas!



2. First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and TwosI teach children 18 to 24 months great book with great ideas



3. I purchased this book so I could have more fun with my daughter, about a year and a half at the time of this review, and teach her a thing or two about creativity along the way. When I first got the book and read it, I LOVED it. There were tons of homemade recipes for saving money, ideas seemed relatively simple, yet fun, directions thorough... However, when I started implementing the ideas with my toddler, I slowly changed my mind.
   I see a number of problems with this book:
   Homemade recipes sound wonderful. You save money, you use ingredients you already have in your pantry, and you feel like such a handy supermom, what's not to love, right? Well, wrong...
   First, the recipes often call for things I definitely don't have in my pantry, I was not even sure what some things were. For instance, cream of tartar. I wrote down a list of things I needed for a project and asked 3 employees at the store for it and all of them pointed me to tartar sauce. So, I had to go home empty-handed and do research online to find out what it was and why I needed it and where I could buy it, what I can substitute it for, etc. Most of the sources online seemed to indicate that it is something that used to be big in baking, but hardly ever needed now that we have baking powder. It'd be nice if the author provided some substitutions. I ended up using baking powder and it seemed to work alright. I later accidentally found cream of tartar in the spices section of my grocery store - and I looked in baking to no avail.
   Another things is that a lot of recipes (80%, I'd say) call for tempera paint... If I'm going to buy paint, why buy tempera paint and mix it with stuff to make finger paints, might just as well buy finger paints - will probably end up cheaper. Same goes for, for example, a home-made blackboard. You need to buy the tape that has that chalkboard surface or chalkboard spray paint. Well, both are rather pricey, so it is almost as cheap to buy a ready-made chalkboard easel (not to mention much less trouble). Also, some recipes call for things like "an old grater you no longer use" (because you're going to be grating a bar of soap, for example) or "a big appliance box". I don't know if it's just me, but I think my Mom still uses the same grater she had when I was a year and a half and I don't buy big-screen TVs on a monthly basis... So, I don't really have all these lying around the house, nor is it always easy/cheap to find/buy one just when you want to try a project - often it really is easier and maybe even cheaper to just buy whatever it is you were going to make (case in point - beads).
   Also, many recipes call for huge amounts of flour, salt, cornstarch, and food coloring. While those aren't that expensive in and of themselves (and food coloring CAN be), they add up! 4 cups of flour here, 4 cups of flour there, with a lot of these recipes not having the same shelf life as the store-bought equivalents. So, once again, the savings are questionable, even if we don't factor in the time we have to spend preparing stuff versus buying it ready-made.
   The quality of projects.
   My daughter is a pretty determined and focused toddler when she wants to be, but a lot of those projects are too contemplative to really keep her attention for more than 10 seconds. For instance, exploring the sounds and textures of a piece of foil or the much-favored by many feeley goop. My daughter was done exploring the sounds and textures of foil in 5 seconds and she did not want to explore the feeley goop at all after the initial try, so how was I supposed to make her realize that it has some unique qualities? The same goes for quite a number of projects that are meant to just "explore", but I realize that it is highly individual and there might be children out there who love those projects, just be aware that it is not automatic. Perhaps some of these activities would work well in a group, where children can feed off of each other's ideas and where interaction is already exciting enough, but for one child they can be a tad on a boring side and are over too quickly to be called an "activity".
   Another thing in the projects I often have issues with is their messiness. The author does do a good job of outlining how to prep the working space, but with some projects, the colors will get splashed all over the place - it's toddlers we're talking about! I can cover a relatively large portion of the floor and the whole table, but I can't cover the walls and the ceiling... Not to mention that toddlers are known to run away in the middle of a project. So, unless you have a whole room you don't mind getting dirty and where you can contain your child (porch, sunroom, child-proof play room?), some of those projects will be just too much of a risky business to attempt in a nicer room. We live in a fully-carpeted apartment, and there is no way I'll be able to clean it up nicely if my child decides to have too much fun with one of the messier projects.
   Finally, I find some "cooking" directions a little too sketchy. I have never made this thing before, I don't know what it should look and feel like, I actually ruined a couple of projects because I did something too soon or too late, even though I thought I was following the instructions religiously - there went 4 cups of flour and 2 cups of salt :-). Just so you don't think I'm a complete idiot, I do bake regularly and cook quite a bit too, and while sometimes my pizza dough made from scratch does turn out a little drier than I like, it is always edible, never a complete failure.
   Overall, I'd say it's a good book with good ideas. If I were a kindergarten teacher, or had 2 or more kids of different ages, I'd probably rate this book better. But as a parent of only 1 child, I'd probably ever use only 1/3 of all the ideas of the book, with 2/3 being eliminated for one or several of the reasons mentioned above, which I find rather disappointing, since I am not paying only for the ideas I'm using...
   Our favorite project so far? The bread. It did not taste spectacular (although was edible), but my daughter loved messing with the flour, watching it turn to dough, playing with the dough, etc.



4. I'm not very imaginative when it comes to "projects" for my kids (who are currently 3 and 1) so I love this book. I am thankful that there are people in the world with great ideas who share them in books. :P



5. I wanted to thank all of the folks who have taken the tie to review "First Art", a book of art projects and experiences for toddlers and two's. I've read every single review! How happy I am that this book is bringing great experiences to kids, and to their moms too. Thank you so very much to each of you for your wonderful reviews that remind me I am doing the right thing with my life!!!! ~ MaryAnn