5 comments about Taming the Paper Tiger at Home.

1. I first borrowed this book from the library then went out an bought it for future reference. I was already using many of the processes explained but it has reinforced what I was doing and aided in clearing out the last of the paper mess in my life.



2. I would have rated this book higher if it had been the first book I read about organization. However, I purchased 5 at the same time while on a work space organizational kick. I read Organizing Your Workspace by Odette Pollar first as it states it's a quick read. Paper Tiger gave the same basic organization structure as Pollar's book, but with a more interesting and real tone than Pollar. However, Paper Tiger spent the second half of the book on the big picture of organizational organization, the home office, computer files, and long term maintenance of the filing system. Things I'm not interested in right now that I am in the overwhelming start of a new organizational process. This info may be helpful to me in a few months when I have established a routine and can concentrate on long term maintenance. I would have found more practical time saver tips and starting advise a better help.



3. I really appreciate any good book on organization. I would like to thank the author for her great advice on how to divide and conquer your "action" papers. This book is a nice complement to "File, Don't Pile" which gives much more detail on how to organize your other paper mess which is your reference files. I recommend both.



4. As a pastor, husband, father and caregiver to an ailing mother, I have more than my share of paperwork to manage at home. Hemphill has given me new hope that I can tame the paper tiger stalking on my increasingly cluttered desk! Her techniques are simple, easy to use and to understand. For anyone who is dealing with mountains of paperwork and is frustrated as a result, this title is a must-read!



5. I'd read Barbara Hemphill's earlier book and was glad to see she's expanded it into two books now with the focus on work and home. Being a chronic paper hoarder means rereading this book occasionally before the paper overwhelms me.
   She really understands what needs organizing and streamlined, from messages to catalogs, recipes, photos, bills, tax records and the endless stream of paper that flows through our lives. Setting up the systems to handle our troublesome paper clutter brings relief. Some of it you know already, and just need a reminder, but other tips give new ways to handle the growing piles of paper.
   Very practical.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays: Over 700 Selections.

1. I don't understand how anyone could be disappointed in this book. When I'm starting a new theme I look it up and find dances, songs and fingerplays galore. I've seen this book elsewhere for three times the price. I was delighted with my purchase.



2. This book is so much fun! I am an infant teacher and I post songs and rhymes I use with the children each week. This book has all sorts of themes and subjects to work with and it is so much fun to learn new songs and rhymes. You can never know too much when you are a teacher.
   Thank you,
   Jill



3. This book transcribes the lyrics of 700 very common poems and songs. There is no other information, it is just a book of lyrics with a few words at the end indication the "theme." For example, the lyrics to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" are in the book with a brief caption afterwards that reads: Theme: Counting.
   
   It comes with two CDs that contain 50 of the songs and poems which you probably already have if you've bought more than a handful of children's CDs for your kid.
   
   I would recommend checking it out from the library if you really must see it. On no planet is this worth more than $15 at most.



4. I love this book. So many rhymes all in one book. I know it will be a valuable resource for me.



5. This book is really great. It gave me a whole lot more songs and fingerplays to do with my kids.

5 comments about Authentic Victorian Dressmaking Techniques.

1. This book should say that it only covers techniques from the late Victorian era through the turn of the century. Earlier techniques are not covered, otherwise it is a good book. If you are looking for dressmaking techniques prior to near the turn of the century, look elsewhere...



2. Victoria was queen from 1837-1901.
   A reprinted dressmaking book from 1905 should not have it's title changed to include the word "Victorian". It's very misleading.
   This book is for the S front pidgeon breasted style of Edwardian clothing only.
   It does not even mention bustles, hoopskirts, fitted bodices, or any of the other key elements that defined Victorian costume.

   This book does not include any patterns, but it does tell you how to alter and sew garments from existing patterns, and might be useful if you have some vintage patterns that you'd like to adjust and use.

   I am highly disappointed and I plan to return this book.




3. I make reproductions costumes for our NYS Historic Preservation Costume Department. I have been trying without success to find an authentic 1885 Norfolk Suit and knickerbockers to replicate for a boy aged 8 years old. This wonderful sewing manual had a detailed description of both. Although it was written in 1905, the sewing techniques have been the same for many, many years. This manual is my most treasured for authentic techniques of the Victorian/Edwardian era.



4. I've had it a year and the binding is unraveling. The information in this book is very useful. Some improvements to the text, illustrations and binding in the book and it would've made it a 5 star book.



5. As others have stated this book is more Edwardian period fashions and not Victorian, although one must remember that many of the same sewing techniques where used since not many people could afford to own a sewing machine. It shows how to sew even stitching by HAND which would be period correct for victorian or Edwardian sewing. Having studied and made civil war period clothing I found this book invaluable to recreate hemms, hand sewn plackards on skirts with hook and eye closures and how to finish the bottom of a boned bodice with NO lining in it. I would have been lost trying to figure all this out on my own. This book has wonderful illistrations of hand sewing and photographs from the early 1900's.

5 comments about Trim Carpentry Techniques: Installing Doors, Windows, Base and Crown.

1. Very good book for baseboard, crown, door and window moldings. It has tons of pictures and illustrations. On the top of the cover of the book it says: "For Pros/ By Pros". I would agree with this assesment; but it is easy enough for a handyman type with little molding experience like me to follow also. After looking through this book, I was tearing out old molding with abondon and the confidence that I could do a good job of getting nice new stuff back in.



2. Great book on trim carpentry techniques for pros or someone who wants to do a professional quality job. Written from the practical viewpoint of an experienced pro with high standards. A bit of overkill if you are in a hurry but I would recommend it before trimming several rooms yourself or even if you want to check your contractor's work.



3. Nice illustrations, step by step procedures are easy to follow if you do not like to read. Detailed materials and tooling information is somewhat provided. Good for a jobsite quick refrence guide.



4. I was looking for a well layed out reference guide that I could learn a few tricks of the trade. This book seemed to spend way to much time setting the reader up for the first day on the job (back in the 70's and 80's mind you), then long-winded yet sparse information on actual methods of trim carpentry.
   
   If you are willing to read a book from cover to cover on this subject here's your ticket. But if your looking for concise writting, logical up-to-date illustrations, a book that you can easily reference in a pinch, you might want to steer clear.



5. sorry to say but not well illustrated and not easy to follow look elsewhere for help in this area...I wish I could recommend options but other then Old House Journal(a monthly magazine) I could not recommend a good trim refrence. I will note a couple of my own tricks though. First remember that the most complicated trims are usually built in stages or layers. Second remember that good trim starts with good framing and straight bases (the object you are trying to frame ie: window door opening ect). Last but not least if your painting don't go nuts for the perfect joint. Caulking can save your day..that does not mean to be sloppy, measure twice, cut once, remember to factor the width of the blade waste; but then use a premium grade (GE Silicone II Extreme) caulk to join butt and corner pieces. Good luck ...

5 comments about Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New.

1. I sent this book to my brother who is restoring a 40-year-old Ranch house. He's really found it inspirational and I've enjoyed looking through it too. Here in the Atlanta area, the old Ranch houses are in danger. McMansions and their greedy, tasteless developers would have them eliminated. Yes, most of the Ranch survivors are unremarkable upon first glance but the ideas behind them--well explained in this book--are wonderful and they are certainly built of better materials and with more care than the slapped-together structures of today. Of course a weakness of the Ranch house is that like the McMansion of today it was mostly built by developers out for a dime. The pages here show the potential of the Ranch. There are some lovely rennovations, beautifully photographed. There's a good history lesson on the Ranch and its architectural and cultural sources too. I heartilly recommend this book for Ranch owners and architectural historians.



2. Before buying, I was offended by the spate of terse, one-star reviews of this book (which may or may not have been written by the same person) and took the advice of others who seemed to love it. I was so wrong. This book is for people who find themselves stuck with a ranch house ("Very few people love the exteriors of ranch houses") when they might have preferred a bungalow or a cottage. The photos are well-shot, the design ideas apparently fill a need, but this book is by no means Atomic Ranch.



3. The title implied that this book would be ideal for me; I like ranches, I feel that they are undervalued, and I see many that are ripe for renovation after years of benign neglect. They're often small by today's standards, too, and I'd like to know how other people have expanded or changed their ranches while maintaining the buildings' architectural identity. For all these reasons, I didn't like this book much. The author disparages the architectural style that some of us appreciate--she is downright insulting about the exteriors--and seems to feel that the reader/owner's main goal will be to ignore the exterior of their house or transform it into something very different such as a developer-style colonial. Little advice is given about maintaining or updating the wonderful horizontal form of the ranch, choosing trim, siding, roofing, hardware, doors, windows, etc., or maintaining and enhancing the architecture-nature connection that makes ranches interesting through appropriate landscaping, decks, gardens, and other outdoor features. If you find it at your library or a charity book sale, it's worth a look, but it didn't contain what I thought it would.



4. Writing a book is a huge undertaking so hats off to the authors. I can't give this book a favorable review however. This is not a book about mid-century architecture. The ranch-style homes in it have been substantially remodeled and very few mid-century details remain as you can readily see from the photos. As a fan of that period of architecture, this was a disappointment. But for someone who finds their rancher to be too low, too spare or too retro, this book shows how to get rid of all that and turn a rancher into something more like a bungalow or a shingle-style Cape Cod with a new kitchen. The furnishings in the homes are often brightly colored Scandinavian, early American, Native American, or craftsman. Many of the shots look very much like they are from a 1992 Metropolitan Home magazine although there are quite a few kitchens with stone countertops. If you want to convert a rancher, this might be for you. If you want to restore one, you'll need a different book.



5. If you are fan of midcentury American ranches, this book teaches you how to ruin these examples of classic American architecture. It gives suggestions on how to turn them into boring mini McMansions complete with granite counters and stainless steel appliances.

No comments about Complete Painting (Stanley Complete).

5 comments about Sewing for Dummies.

1. this was a christmas present for my mother-in-law-to-be, she just quit smoking and she wanted to occupy her time with something. so, she wanted to start sewing. that's all she wanted for christmas and i thought that this book would help her out in any situation she would have that she doesn't already know. thanks and this seller is recommended in my "book"!!!!



2. This is an easy to read book on sewing. Great for beginners and also for the more experienced that needs a review. Very easy to understand. It is a 'must buy' for the first time sewing person.



3. I'm new to sewing and I purchased several books to help me get started, including this one. It's easy to read and it gave me a good idea of how to do some things, but I would not have been able to sew just by reading this book. It's a perfect companion to other learning aids and I have returned to it several times. It's worth the cost as long as you have other teaching aids at your disposal.



4. It seems that most comprehensive or beginners sewing books aren't for true absolute beginners. At least that's my experience in learning to sew from books and buying a bunch. This book though is better than most and for that I'd recommend it. I learnt to sew a seam properly with this book. I found the projects enlosed awful though and I'm not tempted to make any of them, not the greetings card with buttons sewn on, nor the waistcoat made of napkins for example. But, the basic information enclosed is useful although all you need to know isn't here. If I knew what I know now before I bought the books I did, I'd still buy this one, unlike a couple of others I have.



5. This product was received in a timely manner and was in excellent condition; could not have asked for better service. Thank you!

2 comments about The Smart Approach to Home Renovation (Smart Approach).

1. I like the opening sentence of this book, 'Before you take a single step toward fulfilling your remodeling dreams, do a thorough reality check.' Having been through a serious remodel (after a fire) I can assure you that the advice she gives is well founded. Her ideas on working with contractors are very good, but I'd add one more thing to check - contractors are bonded. Find out how big the bond is. If it's say $20,000 and he defaults on four projects, you're only covered to $5,000, max.
   
   Kitchens, this book, and most other books on remodeling show kitchens that have commercial grade gas stovetops. They're really neat, but wait until you see the price of new ones. However, restaurants go out of business and the stoves last forever, you might get a really good price on a used unit. Or in my kitchen I got one that had been used by the restaurant supply company at a trade show. It wasn't new, but the price was less than half.
   
   Tile floor in the kitchen? It looks great. Don't drop anything. A jar of mayo that falls on a carpet is usually OK. On tile, it's a mess.
   
   All in all, lots of good words here that if heeded can save you a bundle of money, of aggravation.



2. This book is wonderful. The pictures are beautiful and the content is very usefull. I loved the tips for renovations, what to look out for and the step by step process to follow in a renovation.

5 comments about Home Theater for Everyone: A Practical Guide to Today's Home Entertainment Systems.

1. This author obviously knows what he's talking about, but the book is dated and too detailed on some topics and not enough detailed on other topics to really provide a good broad brush of the topic. There's lots on audio, but not enough on much of what is going on today, like Windows XP Media Center Edition and PVRs and DirecWAY and other things. This is a consumer electronics focus in an increasingly broader industry. I've put a lot more into my home theater than he's talked about. I'm buying Home Theater for Dummies to see what they say -- their outline is broader and their edition is just out.



2. Much of the information in this book is good, but a couple of issues need to be addressed. Tomlinson Holman, a good engineer, is the man behind both the THX professional cinema house certification and the Home THX certification program for home theater components. I have a substantial issue with, particularly, the latter because it consists of a secret set of parameters, which are divulged only to licensees under nondisclosure. Because the requirements are themselves secret, how can anyone judge their validity, or the comparative value of the certification?

   Mr. Harley, on the other hand, is no engineer at all, nor even a hands-on amateur, but a promoter. He combines occasionally astute observations with technical nonsense, so that even when his conclusions appear to make sense you have no idea how he got there. Simply put, he often either doesn't know what he's talking about, or he does and is simply writing what equipment vendors and the gullible want said.




3. Robert Harley is a "high-end audiophile" and you need to keep that in mind when reading thru any of his books. In "Home Theater For Everyone", he provides a lot of useful information. But he also supplies a lot of "hokum" as well. That is, there is much in this books that he states as fact when infact it is nothing more than his own (often erroneous) opinion.
   
   If you are already well-versed in audio/video equipment, you'll know when Mr. Harley goes "off-the-wall" with his crazy statements and conclusions. But if you're new to the world of audio/video, I say "buyer beware". If you follow all of Mr. Harley's advice, you will end up spending thousands of dollars on overpriced equipment and unnecessary frills.
   
   Buy the book for the great general information Mr. Harley provides. But be wary of some of his conclusions and advice. One area where I strongly agree with Mr. Harley is when he advocates to do your own shopping and make your own judgements.



4. I purchased this book as a requirement for a new job. I recently left the practice of law and went to work for a company that designs, sells and installs home theaters. Having graduated from law school, one would think I could understand just about everything. Wrong. This book touts itself as one that is for the masses - the everyday schmo who is looking to do this themselves. While extraordinarily well written, it is NOT for everyone. It is overly complex and technical for the everyday guy and is more apropos for electrical engineers or experts in the field. finally, the issue I received was supposed to be a recent edition and, if it was, it's already painfully out of date and needs revamped.



5. I have been keeping up with AV via periodicals and product pamphlets. This was to me not a lot of new information but for folks who are just starting out, this would be a GREAT place to begin. Not too tech-y, tech-y enough when it needs to be. A decent overall offering that does what it says.

4 comments about All-New Hints from Heloise Updated.

1. This book is a must-have if you have kids or pets. A good friend has this book and I called her so often about stain removal I finally bought the book myself. The day after I received this book, it paid for itself after I got chocolate and then gum out of 2 of my son's outfits. It also includes many helpful hints on everyday household problems. The only thing I would change about the book is the organization - now and then it can be hard to find specific things. I always find the item, it just takes a few minutes. Overall, I highly recommend this book.



2. Remembering Heloise's books I received 33 years ago as a bridal shower gift, I turned to Heloise again when I needed a gift for my new Daughter-in-law-to-be AND for my daughter who was also getting married. Soon after the wedding my new daughter-in-law thanked me for the Heloise books and informed me they had already come in handy!



3. I enjoyed reading this book especially because it brought back memories of when Heloise had a column in the newspaper. I remember thinking how inventive she was in renewing/restoring items with local products found in the everyday home! I'm always looking for new ways to approach cleaning !!



4. I got it for my 77 year old mom who works at a Laundry. I thought she knew everything about stains but this book gave her more information and so much more. She loved it.