1 comments about Finish Carpentry: A Complete Interior & Exterior Guide.

1. Once again it has the most extensive coverage for any homeowner. For the weekend warrior to the pros his books are that good. I wouldn't think of ever selling mine. If I ever had to get rid of it... I'd give it to someone I loved!

5 comments about Making Antique Furniture Reproductions: Instructions and Measured Drawings for 40 Classic Projects.

1. I gave this book "Making Antique Furniture Reproductions" as a present to a person who is learning how to make furniture. This book was very well received and appreciated for all of its detailed information and illustrations.



2. I took the initiative to build the carved corner china from the plans in this book and they are excellent. When I was done with my project I wrote Mr. Gottshall with photos of my project and he wrote back immediately, as I am perhaps the only other person he knew who built this particular project.
   I telephoned him to thank him for the education I got building from his plans but alas, he had had a stroke. This was in 1978. I can be reasonably certain Frank has passed away by now, but his legacy is in his books which got better as he got older. A must for any cabintmaker.



3. The book gives essential information to anyone interested in the design or construction classic American furniture.



4. Some of the designs in this book are projects that I definitely intend to build. However, using this book to produce the designs in it requires a good set of woodworking skills and ability to come up with the project based on a minimal presentation. The drawings are adequate, but the photos are very poor quality. Frankly I could produce a better quality presentation on an office copier. Very dated to the 70's and not a book to read just for enjoyment or to look at the pictures.



5. I guess some people really like this book. Like the other book, it has an attractive cover, but inside...lacks. The drawings are hard to understand, of not the best quality and would have expected more.

5 comments about The Furniture of Sam Maloof.

1. I bought this book at the gift shop located on Sam's property in southern California. This book is by far one of my most prized possessions as I was lucky enough to have it signed by Sam himself. I stopped by to visit his museum and to my surprise I saw Sam drive up. He was kind enough to stop and talk with us and even show us his woodshop. This is an amazing book describing Sam's work and love for woodworking. If you have an interest in fine woodworking, this is an excellent book for your collection.



2. This book is a detailed biography of Sam Maloof. It has many detailed pictures of Mr. Maloof's work. Of course there are many photos of his famous rockers, but there are also photos of his tables, baby rockers/cradles and early furniture. The book is easy to read. The sentences are not verbose nor are they staccato.
   
   But, the author seems to catalog every single show, large or small, that Mr. Maloof's work was exhibited in. (Apparently Mr. Maloof's wife, Freda, collected volumes of memorabilia about her husband' career.) Being a woodworker, I was also very intersted in technical details, but this book is somewhat lacking.
   
   If I could give this book 4 1/2 stars, I would. It's not quite a five out of five. But it's more than a four star effort.



3. The book is a long list of Sam Maloof's accomplishments during his long life. It is very interesting but a little dry.
   
   I would have liked to see more photos of how Sam building his furniture.
   
   All that being said however, there is not enough written about Sam Maloof and so I enjoyed to book.



4. This guy is a genius with the chisel, file and saw. He creates art works with wood, and I'm betting the trees consider it an honour to find there way into his workshop. Bravo Sam!



5. i like books with the "preview" feature.
   the description says, paraphrasing "lots a pictures,drawings". but not a single piece of woodwork shown. now seeing his family photos is a sweet gesture but hardly enthralling when looking for ww pictures.
   
   ahhhhh,im gonna go buy it,,,,but geeezz, pictures about the book IN THE PREVIEW would be awful helpful.
   roy

No comments about Scroll Saw Fretwork Patterns.

5 comments about Wildlife Designs: Original Patterns for Your Favorite Craft.

1. This book has nicely executed illustrations and very good instructions on how to convert the drawings to your particular craft field, such as woodburning, stenciling , stained glass, etc. I found the book very helpful. My only disappointment was that the wildlife designs are only North American and include a lot of birds and game animals (deer, mountain goats, elk). If you are looking for "lodge-style" designs, this book will be perfect for you. If you're looking for a broad variety of wildlife, you may want to look elsewhere.



2. Sue Walters has done a wonderful job sharing her love and talent for pyrography. She has taken detail in technique for both the beginning woodburner and the advanced.
   I would recommend this to the beginner and advanced pyrographer.



3. Wildlife Designs: Original Patterns for Your Favorite CraftThis book helped very much for a holiday craft day at our school. The kids liked all of the designs that were in the book. We will use it many times from now on to make our wood burned clocks.



4. I starting learning great techniques from the first page of this book. The instructions and pictures are very clear and easy to understand. Artists of different media types will find this book useful. The techniques taught can be used so many ways, drawing, painting, carving, wood burning, and gourd crafting. This book will become a valuable resource for my gourd art.



5. Received my book in a very timely manner. Impressed with the pictures that can be traced and very easy to change size on my printer.

5 comments about Building Fireplace Mantels: Distinctive Projects for Any Style Home.

1. This is an outstanding book on a focused topic: "Distinctive [Fireplace] Projects for any Style Home." After discussing some basics of mantel making, he describes in detail from start to finish, step-by-step, including a materials list, suppliers, and tools needed for nine projects to build nine different style firelplace mantels: Simple Colonial, Georgian, Simple Federal, Arts and Crafts, Mackintosh, Victorian, Greene and Greene, Art Deco, and Contemporary. We are updating a fifty-year old home in Coral Gables, Florida. It presently has a very pedestrian fireplace mantel. I wanted a fireplace mantel with more style. My wife and I both loved the Art Deco mantel in the book and I plan to build it almost exactly as described. I should save a considerable amount of money on materials because the mantel is built basically from one sheet of mahogany plywood. The color photographs are also outstanding in clarity and detail.



2. Don't think this book will help most people. There are too many dimensions missing and wrong. On the Federal mantel the writeup says cut the columns 10 1/2 inches wide but the drawing shows 12 inches. The picture of the mantel shows a full brick clearance at the side of the firebox but the drawing is more like 5 inches.
   I got an idea of how a mantel could be made but you must work out your own dimensions. There is no bill of materials as stated before. I think there must be better books on this subject. Not too important but one screw is drawn with left had screws. I am a machanical engineer trying to do wood work.



3. Excellent for the beginner to the advanced woodworker. Covers framing considerations well, as well as atachment schemes and fasteners.



4. The book looks nice, and when you first read through the book it APPEARS to be a book you can use to build a mantel. Before I built my mantel I would have given it 4 or 5 stars (like the other people who rated it that have yet to try and build with it), but after building my mantel I wish I could give it less than one star. There are diagrams, but they omit crucial measurements and steps. There are instructions, but once you start to build you realize they are insanely vague at points, and omit crucial steps. The measurements in the text sometimes conflict with the measurements in the diagrams, and both sometimes conflict with reality. The book is OK to get ideas, and you could take a chance and hope the mantle you pick has decent instructions (I didn't build them all), but you will likely just get frustrated - there are much better books out there. Fortunately I am an experienced finish carpenter and was able to make the mantel I wanted DESPITE the book's errors and omissions - but keep in mind this is the first one-star review I have given a woodworking book (and I own hundreds).



5. I was looking to build my own mantel, and was looking for a few ideas, this book had very few. Poor models (i.e. dimensional issues) and bad editing made it a drag to get through. And on a personal note, the mantels featured in this book are simply put, ugly, and would work in very few homes.

5 comments about Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines.

1. Regarding the "mean reviews" - clearly these folks don't know ANYTHING about Latino folk art, or the art of assemblage greats like Joseph Cornell! Mixed media and assemblage are very popular artistic outlets right now and Kathy's book does a great job of covering several different styles - from classic "collections" style assemblages to Day of the Dead shrines and wacky/kitschy pieces.
   The book is very well written and the photos are gorgeous. If you are looking for traditional arts and crafts shadow box type art work, you are better off getting idea sheets from the craft store. However, if you are a mixed media artist looking for imaginative inspiration, Kathy delivers!



2. After getting La Casa Loca as a gift I just had to go and get all the other books by Kathy Cano-Murillo. I've always been into collage art but never thought of making them diminsional like this book shows. There are so many rich and gorgeous pictures and so many beautiful ideas that I don't know where to start. Aside from the colorful and inspirational projects, my favorite part of the book is Kathy's opening letter, it literally made me cry. So sweet. This book will make you feel good inside and out.



3. I am a fan of Kathy's and I have to be honest and say that I am much more impressed with her website and "La Casa Loca" than I am with this book.



4. I admit it, I bought this book as a whim. But I have always been fascinated with shadow boxes and shrines.
   
   Holy cow! Was I in for a shock! There is so much more to it than I had ever imagined! Cano-Murillo shows such a myriad of shadow boxes and shrines that I had no idea was possible. It really opened the door to my imagination and got my juices flowing. I made a box about my memories of the NJ shore growing up, and one about my desire for a Chinese adoption. I'm now planning one to celebrate my 3 year old daughter.
   
   This book has it all - enchanting shadow boxes that look like something from old England, bright exciting Mardi Gras style boxes, Hispanic style boxes, boxes made from toy cars, boxes made from cough drop cases, you name it - if it's a small hollowed out vessel, it can become a shrine of your hopes and memories. Cano-Murillo will help you develop your creativity and delve into your memories to create a shrine that reflects who you are.
   
   A truly excellent book, with, I'll say it again, inspiring writing and words of wisdom, I truly feel this is an excellent book well worth investing in. Highest recommendation.



5. This book offers the viewer many options in making shadow boxes and shrines. Materials suggested are affordable materials and easily found for all. A must for the novice and the advanced as well. I liked this book because it was inspiring and informative. Photographs are beautiful and clearly depict the meaning of the subject. Excellent!

No comments about Wood Bending Handbook.

5 comments about Sam Maloof, Woodworker.

1. Sam Maloof is a world treasure. His book reflects his passion and skill as a master. Sam's book is not written in a pompous manor but in a matter of fact point of view. Sam shares his life with us and puts it on paper. I have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Maloof and his lovely and gracious wife, Alfreda before her passing. Sam's love and passion for his craft is second only to his devotion to God and his love for his beautiful wife. His book reflects that in a way that is educational, thought provoking and simple. His warm and friendly demeanor in person is very evident in this book! Sam beleives there are no secrets in woodworking. He shares his finish and techniques in this book, although this is NOT a "how to" book. Reading this book, you will learn something about philosophy, Spirituality and some woodworking along the way.

   Keith Kidd Vice-President Cerritos Student's Woodworking Association (CSWA)




2. I bought this book when I was a student of woodworking/cabinetmaking in college, after hearing and seeing and studing some of Mr.Maloof's work in class. I found his command and respect for his craft, and the material that he works with to be second to none. His work is a insperation in it's self but once you find out the story behind this unbeliveable man it is all the more fasanating. his simple thoughts and down to earth style are a insperation to all. after reading this book I was amazed and inspired by this man and will remember and re-read this book may times.he will always be a insperation to myself and all woodworkers for years to come



3. IF YOU ARE INTO WOOD OR WOODWORKING AS MUCH AS I AM, OR EVEN IF IF YOU ARE ONLY INTO READING ABOUT GREAT ARTISTS/CRAFTSMEN, THIS BOOK IS A MUST FOR YOU !! IT DETAILS WITH GREAT CLARITY SAM'S LIFE & WORK THROUGH BOTH PHOTOS & REMARKABLE WRITING. I FOUND IT INFORMATIVE & INSIGHTFUL!! DO NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THIS BOOK !!!
   
   BILL



4. As you most likely know, Sam Maloof is an icon in the world of woodworking. This book does a great job of both highlighting his many creations as well as to tell the story of the man who would define an entire style and change the face of fine furniture. Written by Sam himself, the book gives you an insight into his genius and humility that you can't get anywhere else other than from the man. And it's clear he had creative input into the design of the book itself, as it's beautifully illustrated and elegantly laid out. I'm relatively new to woodworking and the brilliance of Sam Maloof, but I'm so glad I'm able to have discovered him while we're still blessed with his presence on the earth. Get this book.



5. I've been woodworking for a a little over a year and had read about Sam Maloof in articles here and there. A few months ago I got to visit the Sam Maloof foundation and I fell in love with the way he shapes his pieces of furniture. As part of the tour we got to sit on one of his rockers and not only do they look beautiful but they are amazingly comfortable. That's when I decided to buy this book to learn more about him and his art.
   This book includes Sam Maloof's story from when he first began and his experience as he grew into his woodworking career. It is inspiring to read and to see how he persevered even though it was not easy at the beginning. The book is full of pictures of his work, more than was available at the Maloof foundation. It includes a high-level description of how he makes his famous rockers too.

1 comments about Birdhouses & Feeders You Can Make: Complete Plans and Instructions for Bird-Friendly Nesting and Feeding Sites.

1. The book does have plans and drawings, but the instructions are not nearly as complete as the title would have you believe. I thought that it would be more detailed than it is and would include more original plans. The ones in here are just basic plans that are included in every free plan site I've found, so why pay for them?