5 comments about Building a Straw Bale House: The Red Feather Construction Handbook.

1. I first became aware of straw base houses when I visited friends who had built one high in the Colorado rockies. In spite of the bad winters in that location, they reported that they very rarely used any heating beyond opening the drapes on the south facing windows. I don't know what the R-value of a bale of straw might be, but it is high.
   
   They also reported that in the few years they had lived there they had had virtually no maintenance. I had imagined little cracks in the exterior covering and furry little critters living in the walls. But they reported that nothing like this had occurred.
   
   This book is put out by the Red Feather Development Group. They are a non-profit group chartered to provide low cost but efficient housing on indian reservations. They have been developing straw bale contruction for houses over many years, many buildings.
   
   This handbook is not exactly a complete primer on building a straw bale house, to me it is an idea book. There's not much here, for instance on plumbing, heating, wiring and so on. Fair enough, those things are much the same for any house, and well understood by architects and contractors. What this book does is talk about building the house itself, the wall structure, supporting the roof, the things that are unique to building with Straw Bales. There are lots of pictures, illustrating lots of points that you wouldn't think of unless you had been there and done that.
   
   Highly recommended!



2. This book gives an over view of the process to build a home using straw bale construction that is used by the Red Feather Development Group. Modeled after Habitat for Humanity they help tribal members living on Indian reservations achieve home ownership. The book takes you through the building process with many photos and diagrams. There is also pictures and discriptions of straw bale homes that are still lived in after 80 years, showing that sustainable housing is not a passing fad.



3. This was really a good book and I would recommend it very much.



4. I found this book to be very helpful with pictures and building concepts easy to understand by the layman. The chapters are well layed out on each step of the building process and gives a lot of good tips both in dealing with the building code requirements and common sense ideas to building a straw bale house. While the houses in this book are architectually simple, a rectangle shape, the ideas can be use in more complex designs.



5. Frankly, I like this book, despite my 2-star rating of it. It has some excellent information in it as well as excellent photos, and it is well laid out. However, it is intended for very specific and limited uses, which are not really disclosed in the product description. So, read on to learn what I had to discover about its limitations through trial and error:
   
   This is NOT a book on the theory and history of straw bale construction. It spends very little, if any, time outlining the different styles of bale construction, nor the variety of techniques and details that have been tried over the years, nor the many factors - environmental, structural, practical - affecting a particular construction project that might make the builder choose one technique or detail over another. If you are a new owner/builder at the conceptual stage, trying to decide if a bale house is right for you, or how exactly to build the bale house that is best for you, this is NOT the book you want.
   
   This book focuses on one philosophy of design only. It is a guide, not on how to build a bale house, but on how to build one specific bale house. What I find troubling is that it does not even explain, in most cases, why the methods being described were chosen. If you already know a good deal about bale construction, you will quickly read between the lines to see why the authors consider their chosen techniques most suitable for their situation - I did, and quickly determined that little in the book was applicable to my own situation. Ok, fair enough. But, if you do not already understand the basics of straw bale architecture, I can easily imagine the reader following this book down what might well be the wrong path for his or her own project and, at best, wasting a lot of time in the design stage considering inappropriate techniques. At worst, the reader could end up making some very poor and costly choices without realizing why they are poor.
   
   So, what is this book good for? It presents a straight-forward, step-by-step guide to project planning for a particular type of builder attempting a particular type of project. It does not present enough technical details or drawings to be a comprehensive construction manual (what book does?), so it will not take the place of preparing blueprints or having them prepared for you. But, it is nonetheless an excellent place to start IF AND ONLY IF you are...
   
   1) ...Poor, or otherwise interested in building a small, simple, budget-oriented house for a single family. Don't get me wrong: the house this book describes is perfectly sound, perfectly livable, and should last longer than most conventional houses, but it is definitely "no-frills." Frankly, all Americans should be focusing on more modest, economical, and sustainable housing, regardless of income level. Be that as it may, if you are wanting something bigger - multiple stories, luxury oriented, more architecturally unique - you will not find it here.
   
   2) ...Part of a large community or very large family interested in helping you build this house quickly through a massive and intensive volunteer effort. If your access to volunteer resources is more modest and your construction schedule, therefore, more relaxed, you could well run into serious problems trying to follow the path laid out in this book. If you plan on hiring only professionals to build your house for you, well, you probably shouldn't build a bale house in the first place, but at the least you will need to find different books.
   
   3) ...West of the Mississippi and building in a very dry environment. All throughout this book you will find details - 3 string bales, metal rebar inserted into the bales, moderately sized roof overhangs, cement-based plaster with ground-to-ceiling stucco mesh - that are either unique to the West or generally appropriate to a desert or prairie climate. For builders in other areas, most of this book likely does not apply to you.
   
   4) ...Interested in a load-bearing straw bale design. See my note on rebar, cement plaster, and stucco mesh above. There is also much in the book on full structural window and door bucks as well as building a roof-bearing-assembly top plate. Of course, there is nothing wrong with load-bearing bale walls, but in many parts of the country they are no longer the most widely-accepted design solution.

5 comments about French by Design.

1. Beautiful photos and interesting commentary on French social customs. However, the featured residences are not French, but American homes decorated "in the French style," which is somewhat disappointing.



2. Not unlike all of Phillips' books, this book is a masterpiece of European syle and design. No detail is left unnoticed. The furniture, fabrics, antiques, architecture, artwork, and carved stone are each carefully considered and beautifully photographed. Every page is a visual delight. I cannot recommend it highly enough!



3. Another of Philips' beautiful French decorating books. Homes presented in this book, as with her other books are high end showing us the sumptuous fabrics, and lovely French furniture she specializes in. Homes shown are mostly mansions, not the average house. Good coffee table book.



4. I just did. The homes & rooms featured in this book indicate that money is no object and these homeowners want you to know it. Subtlety is non-existant. Rooms are very "we had a decorator & we spent a LOT". Most items looks too new, too ruffled, smocked, tucked and otherwise adorned. HOWEVER, if you can get past the pictures & READ THE TEXT- Phillips has a lot to say that is excellent. She lists sources & frequently shares fascinating comments on everyday details of French style (who knew about brass hardware vs brushed nickel?). If you read; buy it. If you look only at photos, don't! Charles Faudree is much better in the genre in my opinion.



5. I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THIS BOOK BY MISTAKE AS I THOUGHT I HAD ORDERED "UNMISTAKENLY FRENCH" BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

5 comments about Jim Tolpin's Table Saw Magic, Second Edition.

1. The book was very good a need to have in the shop



2. This book is a more a of brief review of table saw technique and jigs. The chapters are not very detailed and don't actually contain any directions for doing most of cuts or processes. The most frustrating thing is where he will say "just use this very handy jig" and then gives a very crude drawing of the jig with no explanation of how to build it or even a basic layout. A MUCH better book is Kelly Mehler's The Table Saw Book.



3. Several good reviews on this book, all are correct IMO. This book is very thorough.... I thought I knew a LOT about TS's, but this book taught me even more. Some very useful jigs, safe work methods (very critical when cutting small strips), great set up instructions, and, great charts on type of blades to use. If you use a TS, there is something extra you will learn if you buy this book...



4. Tolpin has put together a grand book on the table saw. A little bit of tricks, some jigs, when it's good and possible to use it and things to build for safety. Some things he wrote about I would not use. I believe that it's safe to use, but... I don't think I'll be cutting any circles with my saw, but if anyone asked me if you can, I'll say "Yes", you can do it safely. I'll keep this publication close to my saw for the future.



5. As a new owner of a quality table saw and following the suggestions of a woodshop instructor friend, I purchased this "manual" to better understand the proper and safe use of a powerful table saw.
   Most of my woodworking education has been, "self-taught" and as I age I appreciate the benefits of following safe practises and still having ten fingers.

5 comments about The Parent's Handbook: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (5403).

1. Anita Biase
   Book Review
   The Parent's Handbook: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
   
   The Parent's Handbook: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (Step)
   By Don Dinkmeyer Sr., Gary D. McKay, & Don Dinkmeyer Jr.
   
   The authors of "Systematic Training for Effective Parenting" admit that living with teenagers is at best a challenging, and often a daunting, experience. They maintain that it is necessary to appreciate, respect and love one another. The book emphasizes natural and logical consequences, encouragement, belonging, parent-child communication skills, understanding, and family meetings.



2. THIS BOOK IS AWESOME FOR ALL PARENTS! IT HAS RESPECTFUL WAYS TO GET CHILDREN TO LISTEN AS WELL AS GIVE THEM RESPECT. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.



3. The length and content are perfect. This is the real deal.



4. I highly recommend this book. It is easy to read and informative. I used the information for a parent workshop I conducted and recommended this book to all the parents that attended.



5. We got this book back in the 80's as part of a parenting class we took when our daughter was seven and our son was three. Our son had severe allergies and had recently been restricted to a diet that allowed him very few foods. Thanks to this book and our wonderful teacher, we learned to express confidence rather than pity--as in "I know you can handle this." rather than, "I'm so sorry you can't have the same thing the rest of us are eating, poor dear!"
   
   When our son insisted on going off his diet, we didn't say a word. Later he got a cold and said, "I'm sick because I ate that graham cracker." The whole concept of natural consequence had become a part of his thinking.
   
   The book creates a model of democracy in the home (using it is very patriotic--prepares children to be responsible members of the U.S.!).
   
   We explained the concept of natural consequences and had family council meetings where we let the kids choose their responsibilities and decide what their consequences would be. If we came up with something that was too wimpy, the kids would say, "no, we don't care enough about that," and suggest a consequence they did care about.
   
   When my daughter was in college and building trails with high school kids, I loaned her the book and she said it was invaluable to her.
   
   So often we parent poorly because we don't know what else to do and this book is a great help in discovering what else to do. If you can find a group in your community that's using it, that's even better. We learned a lot from the school counselor who worked with us and from practicing before we faced the kids!

5 comments about Your Baby's First Year For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)).

1. As an expectant mother, I had exhausted all the info on pregnancy and wanted to learn as much as I could - while I still had some free time - on what to expect during our baby's first year. This book proved to be an invaluable resource on everything from breastfeeding to bathing to baby poop and beyond! I know I will refer to it often after our baby arrives, and I recommend it highly for expectant and new parents alike.



2. Believe it or not, but I bought this book from amazon even before I got pregnant for 1st time. I wanted to know what to expect before I become a mother. The book is very well structured, informative and covers everything. It would be easy to find anything you need in an emergency. After reading it I've got a good feeling that I can handle everything about babies as far as books like this exist and can be at hand. Thank you, authors.



3. I also bought this book while I was pregnant. While the information on when to call the doctor, how to diaper, bathe, feed, etc., was useful, once my baby was born, I found some of the advice unrealistic. The advice on "sleep training," for instance, struck me as inhumane. Also, the emphasis on milestones can cause one to forget to enjoy their child as they are. After my daughter was born, I hardly used it at all.



4. This book is pretty much the same as what to expect the first year except this one kindof goes into a little more depth.



5. The "for Dummies" books are written in a great format. You can read them cover to cover or start at any given point without feeling lost. I totally disagree with "Sabrina's mom"'s comment. Although our baby hasn't come yet I have 4 younger siblings and my mom used the sleep training methods promoted in this book on all of us and they work very well. It's hard to listen to babies cry themselves to sleep but it really is the only way they will learn to get themselves to sleep and the only way you will ever get some sleep. Discipline is just one of those things that you have to do as a parent. Also, the milestones are great so you know when to expect your baby to start crawling so you can plan how to babyproof your house. This book has wonderful, practical advice that I think every parent should read!

5 comments about House.

1. We're going through a major remodel, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book. It's been a pretty good read, with fairly accurate descriptions of each party's position during the construction project. All parties come across as sympathetic and genuine, which make their conflicts more real. My biggest disappointment is that I wanted the analysis to be deeper so that I could takeaway lessons about what to do and what to avoid, but this isn't that kind of book.



2. If the Souweines were happy about their house, they probably weren't happy with this book. I got the feeling that Kidder set out to be totally impartial about all of the people in this book, but by the end, he was sick of the whiny Souweines, in the same way that the carpenters set out to do the absolute best work they could but finally just wanted to get er done.



3. As a builder myself, I find that Kidder presents a fascinating picture about the process of building a house. I, like the builders in the book, always try to create something beautiful and lasting. All I can say is that the homeowners got lucky in finding builders that care so much despite the owners' pettiness. All too often, I am called in to repair a job in which the builder did not care or the owner was trying to "cheap out" or both. Most of the time you get what you pay for. In this case the owners got lucky to find true gentlemen who loved their craft. This is a book espousing that truly talented craftsmen are worth so much more than their weight in gold. A side note, Bill Rawns's architecture firm is now huge and well decorated, and Jim Locke, one of the builders, has written his own book called "A Well-Built House".



4. Unlike most others, I disliked this book. I tried to get through it twice, separated by a few years, but I give up.
   
   I'd hoped that this would offer fresh insights to building, but it was simply a painful replay of the psycho-drama involved: who's going to take the risks, who's going to "win" in what is presented as a zero-sum game.
   
   No wonder so many people end up hating their builders, and no wonder builders approach customers with distrust!
   
   I'm a serial renovator and will soon be building from the ground up. I'd suggest that there IS another approach - it's called teamwork. Do the research and make the effort upfront and find a builder you can work with and trust. Keep them running a tight budget with multiple bids but be respectful of their risk too! It's possible to create an environment in which everyone wins: on projects this significant, it's worth working to create it.



5. I fell in love with these builders. I was so happy to see that Jim Locke did his own book and is apparently successful in his business. I just hope the others are too. There is so much slipshod work done these days - build it big, lots of fancy extras, lots of problems later.

5 comments about Home Decor Sewing 101: A Beginner's Guide to Sewing for the Home (101).

1. Although I have some sewing experience, it's been awhile ago and I wanted lots of pictures, spiral bound, and no assumptions. This book delivers. I'm ready for Home Decor 201 now! Thanks!



2. I am such a clumsy person. I never imagined sewing something until I found this great book! You can learn how to sew step by step. Each project in the book is fun and practical. The instruction is easy to follow with clear pictures. This book does not intimidate an absolute beginner like myself. Sewing 101 is also a great book, the only difference is it includes both home decor and garment projects. I wanted to sew home decor items only, that is why I picked this one.



3. I always wanted to learn how to sew some nice things for the home. This book tells you the very basics to sewing, so if you can't sew and don't want to sew garments just things for the home this is the right book for you.



4. I recommend this book if you have basic sewing experience. It was just the book I needed to get started on some curtains for my guest bedroom. I enjoyed the step-by-step instructions and the clear and basic pictures of each process. I especially appreciate the glossery of terms which helped me to better understand my pattern. Lastly, the book is spiral bound which means that it can lie flat next to your sewing machine; a simple, yet useful feature.



5. I purchased this book a year ago b/c I hadn't sewn anything since my high school home-ec class (15 yrs ago)and was wanting to make some pillows. This book has very clear instructions and pictures explaining each step. My pillows turned out great and I look forward to using more sewing ideas from this book in the future. It's an excellent book for beginners and those who might be sewing home decor for the first time. I just bought another copy for my sister-in-law (a birthday gift) b/c she just got her first sewing machine and is a beginner sewer, too!

5 comments about Designer Style Handbags: Techniques and Projects for Unique, Fun, and Elegant Designs from Classic to Retro.

1. I order every one of Sherri Haab's books because she seems to be interested in everything I am interested in and all of her books are fun and fabulous. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested at all in making handbags of any sort.



2. If you learn visually like I do this book has very good instructions and pictures. I'm not a very confidant crafter or sewer. This book however helped me start sewing again and to actually like what I made. I sewed the Hoop Handle Bag pictured above and although not without flaws, I was thrilled how it came out.
   
   The first part of the book has basic instructions about tools and fabrics. Pages 29-83 has sewn bags, crochet, woven, photo transfer. Even a bag crocheted out of plastic bag strips. Good for teens. I use the instructions for the Oil Cloth Tote to make shopping totes any size and out of any fabric choice. Something I did do different from this books instructions: I do not trim the seams as much as instructed or trim off the triangle after sewing the bottom of the cloth purses. I think this ruins the integrity of the stitches. Leaving that little piece of fabric does not really add bulk. I use my totes for grocery shopping and they are holding up really well. (if you have trouble finding the plastic hoops for the Hoop Bag, search ebay under stores and you can find a wide variety of colors and sizes at good prices)
   
   Pages 86-125 are all no sew and embellished bags. Honestly I will probably never make any of these bags but there are instructions for a cigar box purse, vinyl purse, tin can purses, book binding purse and more.
   
   All in all having a little sewing experience will help and you may find you do alter some instructions a little, but this book is a great place to start making purses!



3. I originally checked this book out at my local library, but since there were several projects in it that I wanted to try (and I have), I truly felt it worth the money to buy it. I loved the way she took the basic tote and showed the different variations for me to try. The directions were understandable and easy to follow.
   
   Thanks!



4. I'm usually pretty skeptical about buying craft books that I can't flip through before purchasing. I was very impressed to be able to "look inside" and see such a great variety of projects that were viewable. I still had a few reservations, but there were so many positive reviews, I decided to take the chance and get it.
   
   This book really has a lot of great ideas in it. Many of the bags require a certain degree of sewing ability, but there were some nice ideas to embellish pre-made bags as well. There are also several other styles of non-sewn bags such as a decoupage cigar box purse.
   
   No, I wasn't particularly interested in many of the purses, but there are definately 4 or 5 that I am looking forward to making. The best part about this book, is that there are NO REAL PATTERNS NEEDED! Most of the sewn purses (with some exceptions) were made from simple, rectangular pieces - nothing to enlarge or trace! While some had sewn handles, others used pre-made wooden or plastic handles (many of which I have seen in my local craft stores). With a little creativity and ingenuity, the bags can be re-sized, embellished, and details like the style of handles or straps can be interchanged.
   
   Although the sewn patterns are nicely done (with full linings) they are a little challenging to understand, and a beginning sewer might find them a little daunting. If that's you, don't try them yet. The leading pattern companies such as Butterick, Vogue, and Simplicity have many handbag patterns almost exactly like those in the book. The step-by-step instructions (and patterns) included in those will be much easier to understand and will really give you a leg up for when you attempt one of the bags from the book.
   
   So, in a nutshell, great inspiration and nice variety. Not for the beginning sewer, but the many non-sewn bags make up for that. Some bags were very polished, others more casual, some a little too crafty (but a fun project to do with a teen or pre-teen). None were overly embellished - unless you want them to be - you could use them everyday and depending on the fabric, you could wear them with a sundress or a suit. Few really had that hokey, overly quilty/crafty feel. They all used supplies that I have seen in stores locally - so no extenseve internet hunting is necessary (unless you really want to make it special)and if you do, there's a great suppliers list. I really like this book and see myself flipping through it often for ideas.



5. the books i ordered are fantastic ,great designs easy to follow and easy to make.
   the books arrived much faster then i thought they would which was a nice surprise.

5 comments about The Timber-Frame Home: Design Construction Finishing.

1. Whether you are going to act as general contractor, or hire it all out, this book is a great over view of all of the aspects of building a Timber Frame. While not dwelling in great detail, it has lots of drawings, photos, and descriptions, to acquaint the reader with construction techniques, electrical and plumbing considerations, and room layouts in a typical Timber Frame home. Definitley another fine book from Mr. Benson.



2. This book contains wonderful pictures of homes that are mostly 5,000 sq ft and larger. With one exception it completely ignores fine smaller timberframe homes. I was reminded more of ski lodges than homes by the places featured. But the pictures are nice and if a 5,000 sq ft plus size house is what you're interested in I suppose this book has some interesting ideas.



3. After reading the book I concluded I have zero hope of building one and I need to contact the author to build it for me. Brilliant brouchure for his company. I would take off stars for the flagrant selling but you know what it is just that good a book on the subject and the fact is its hard work and he is good at it. Hell just buy the book and have them build it.



4. This is a great book. Either you are about to build a home and considering a timberframe, in which case the book is backed with useful information, or you are like me, and dreaming of a timberframe home and only reading the book thinking about how grand it would be to go through the process described in the book. Either case, the book is wonderful for what it is.



5. This wonderful book provided the inspiration and encouragement to use the methods described to build a timber frame structure. Not quite as grand as some of the homes pictured, but the the concepts and lessons provided were very useful.

5 comments about Cold-Smoking & Salt-Curing Meat, Fish, & Game.

1. We got this book in the library and decided that it needed to be part of our collection at home.This is a great book for do-it-yourselfers. Those of us that want to take the middle man out, raise and cure your own meat this is the book for you. It also has some great recepies in the back.



2. A very disappointing book. The descriptions are to vague and are of little use to anyone other then someone with absolutely no knowledge what so ever of this subject. I got more information surfing the net for 45 minutes then this whole book has cover to cover. What good is a book that feels the need to include a recipe for a ham and cheese sandwich? If you are looking for information on smoking and curing meats I highly suggest you look into one of the other books on this subject. This book is not the money.



3. This slim volume, while interesting, did not provide the depth I had been hoping for. However, what really ticked me off is that the index is horrible. I was particularly interested in a recipe for cold-smoked salmon. There is one in the text, but it doesn't show up in the index. Of course the author also suggests cooking the smoked salmon before eating -- yeah, that would be great on a bagel!



4. I bought this book for our son inlaw, He seems happy with it after having a good look but has not tried anything out of it at present



5. I am a food professional and consulting chef with many years experience curing and smoking. I found much of the information to be incorrect and some of it unsafe from a food handling, curing, and smoking perspective. There are much better sources of information available, both in books and on the Internet.