Collectibles Books

I have a 1975 well worn, but still readable, edition of this book - my mother used it for my brother and I. When I had my first child she passed the book to me - it's been a source of inspiration for me and various friends! It's incredibly easy to use, understand and do. If you can cut paper, paint circles and ovals, and glue - you can make these costumes!

Had this book 20+ years ago(ordered thru local school - Scholastic Book Co.) and made several costumes for my children at Halloween time. They always won first place. Positively the best book for easily made inexpensive costume that look like a professional made them.

I have done plays and Halloween costumes using this book. Lots of ideas using stuff you have at home.

Just found this book after buying 2 other bad privately published egg cup books that only listed author's own collection (mostly chickens) with descriptions and prices. No help. This book is very professional and actually explains the different categories of egg cups and for the first time in my 15 yrs. of collecting, I now have a good knowledge of the different types of egg cups. My humble thanks to the author

This is a great book. Someone has finally separated out all the different types of egg cups that exist. A mind-boggling effort by author Blake. So helpful.... gives the reader a basic knowledge of all types of china, silver, glass, etc. ... and egg cups were made from all kinds ofmaterials. Fun reading, in layman's language, a truly wonderful book for anyone who collects any types of smalls.

As a beginner pocillovist, or egg cup collector, I found this book very helpful. Its color and black and white photos were numerous and well done. I even learned that I was a pocillovist -- I never dreamed that there was a word for the hobby of collecting egg cups -- pocillovy! I only wish that the book had a detailed index. Several times I found a name imprinted on a cup and I wished I could look in an index. Instead, I had to page through sections on Specialities, then Major Producers, then Other Countries. Nevertheless, this book is a must for egg cup collectors.

A very useful book for anyone interested in egyptian faience, and glass, or someone who collects egyptian ushaptis.

This is a book full on knowledge, that tempts you into a thirst for more. You can almost feel the peices described and imagine the surroundings of ancient times. After reading the book I had a strong earge to go back to basics' and follow the ancient ways with new enllightement. Many thanks to Paul.

Ancient Egyptian faience is a marvel to look at, leading to the question of how they were made such a beauty. This book answers it brilliantly, and also details the history of the vitreous materials from the Predynastic onwards. Items made included amulets and large vessels : Why were they made ? How was glass manufactured ? The perceived mysteries behind the Ancient Egyptian masterpieces are themselves explained in this masterful book. Required reading for laypeople and scholars.

I found this book very interesting and was able to identify glassware not found in other books. Great for reference, good pictures and more glass makers.
Great Book.

I was already familiar with the publication, so I knew what to expect. That's why I purchased it.

This book is a little large to be carrying around, however I still do carry it to places that I already know will have the pattern I am looking for.
The forward describes "Elegant" glassware as handmade and acid etched glassware that was sold by department and jewelry stores during the Depression era through the 1950's, differentiating it from the dime store and giveaway glass that has become known as Depression glass. The word "Elegant" has become "official" nomenclature among today's dealers for designating handmade glass.
It is well organized with the glass patterns in alphabetical order and the prices in columns by color of glass. Most of the pictures are color and have good enough definition to identify what you are looking at. There are a contents by pattern and a contents by company.

I love this book! This is THEE book on vintage Wilendur tablecloths and towels, some of the most beautiful vintage linens produced, as far back as the 1920's. Shows over 400 gorgeous pictures of tablecloths, towels, aprons, curtains and more, all produced by the Weil and Durrse company, the manufacturer of Wilendur and other brands. Lots of great information on the history of the company and information on all of their brand lines. Absolutely wonderful, very interesting book. Also recommended "Collectors Guide to Vintage Tablecloths" by Pamela Glasell.

The author provides a valuable resource for the collector, particularly for products of Weil & Durrse. Information on the companie's history is provided as well as current values based on condition. Fabrics, brands, colors and patterns are discussed and illustrated with the numerous photographs. Tablecloths are emphasised, but towels, aprons and other handicrafts are also covered. The author provides a useful chapter on storing and laundering linens as well. You will not be disappointed with the quality of the photographs, printing or insights offered in this volume. Highly recommended!

I take this book with me to antique shops and rummage sales. It's been a handy guide in identifying Wilendurs. So much fun!

Whether you are a lover of beautiful embroidery or a needleworker looking for inspiration, this book is an invaluable addition to any library. The photographs are excellent quality high resolution so that each stitch is visible. Both the introductory text and picture captions are full of rich information with details such as thread count, size, provenance, even carbon dating as well background on patterns and practices. This is a book that can be read again and again - well worth the price

One of the most interesting books I have purchased for some time.
Very well researched and presented.
I have recently attended an excellent class on this subject and am now endeavouring to receate some of these embroideries.

Large all color plates and detailed notes about construction and stitches make this book an invaluable resource for anyone researching medieval Islamic embroidery.

All these words describe Carolyn Michael's book Enchanted Companions. But mostly it is full of surprises. None of the stories are predicatable or the sort of stories I would imagine that people would have about dolls. Dolls touch peoples' lives in unexpected ways. My favorites stories were "George Rufus Yoder" and "Bawl Room Dance." Amazing writing and a beautifully put-together book. I want volume two if there is one!

filled with heart, laughter, joy and memorable characters. Vintage black and white photos of doll owners and their "enchanted companions" enhance this delightful book. A marvelous gift.

This book was created by Carolyn Michael, her friends, and other contacts as a part of individual and group writing practice. The author states in the introduction that she was inspired by a story written by another participant about her mother's feelings about a special doll. The story is the first story in the book, entitled "Who Would I Tell?" by Susan Berlin. This treasure holds 24 more stories, which the author has been collecting since 1993. This memoir style collection speaks with many voices, including several pieces by children. The stories are brought to life with black and white photos of the dolls that are in each story and by picures of the writers as children. My favorite story in this collection is called, "The Night My Fanny Hit the Wall" by Nina Munk, who was 15 when she wrote this story. She speaks of the touching moment when she realized that her dolls were not real. Carolyn Michael's collection allows each writer to share their own personal experience, while connecting the reader with the common experiences that many of us have shared. I would recommend this book for adults and older children who value the memories of love and friendship with their own special dolls, and for those who want to reflect on a cherished time in childhood.

This is an excellent "how-to" on just about everything pertaining to quilting designs. Instructions are illustrated and written not just on how to draft the design/s - but how to mark your quilt with the design - suggestions on where they might fit appropriately on your particular quilt top. She gives you a listing of the tools you will need to do each particular design, helpful hints, and much more. The variety of designs ranges from the common to the more unusual. The manual also includes a numerical listing of the quilt designs using a numbering system similar to the one used by Barbara BBrackman in her "Encyclopedia of Applique." If you only plan on purchasing one book of quilting designs you can't go wrong with this one!

New quilters to seasoned hand quilters will benefit from this book. The how-to part of the book is thorough and plentiful. Keep in mind that it was published in 1996, and the tools and methods described are traditional, similar to those used by our ancestors in quilting.
This encyclopedia of quilting designs completes what B. Brackman started with her encyclopedias on pieced and appliqué patterns. I will definitely bring this book with me to future documentation activities. This book will help train my eye to see the various patterns on a quilt and identify them in my memory so that I will see all the patterns on a quilt. A more in-depth look will be my gain.

I have been a quiltmaker for 6 years now, but have yet to become a good quilter until I read this book. In just one evening, I was able to draft a border pattern using the box from Stovetop Stuffing and draw it on my current quilt project, a double 9-patch. I actually teach quilting but never got very intricate with my quilting stitches. I can now do feathers and cables with ease. I will refer to this book forever and will never need another for designing quilting patterns and getting ideas for future quilts. This book is entirely focused on the quilting stitches where most quilting books give you that info. as an afterthought. Thanks Phyllis D. Miller! I will now have some real heirlooms for my children.

This is a great starter book for collectors of all kinds. Just the Web site recommendations alone are worth the purchase price. I found a super wholesale distributor for flea market sellers (like me) that I didn't know existed!!! I've since placed an order for dolls, collector knives, etc. at rock bottom prices!!! Another thing I really like about this book is its breezy and witty approach to things. The author gives us histories of so many collectible items. I'm not a postcard collector, for instance, but I found reading about them fascinating. This book is just plain fun!!!

This book is worth getting for all the cool websites it lists, but as a bonus you get gobs more good stuff. It's an interesting intro to collectibles of all kinds. There's practical information and fun historical tidbits about collecting and collectibles. I learned a lot of things I didn't know. I'll be an educated consumer when I visit the flea markets and garage sales in my town. This book totally rocks! As they say on ebay: A+++++

I have purchased other books in this series that have been rather skimpy and--the truth be told--boring. But the COLLECTIBLES edition is anything but. I picked up a healthy helping of tips and techniques on collecting (and have visted some of the super recommended Web sites). But I also learned a great deal about history through the collectible items featured in the book--like stamps and coins. The political items chapter was fabulous. And I love the cool collectible pictures throughout the book. The variety was neat. This is just a fun and informative book!!!

Wonderful Encyclopedia of Elephant Collectibles!
I have finally found a book exclusively for elephant collectibles This one is FANTASTIC! Over 1000 color images in 140 categories! I no longer have to wade through scrores of books to find one or two elephant collectibles I have. Virtually all the elephants have the basic information I am looking for (maker, size, value etc.) and many have much more. The index and resources sections are chock full of places, makers and artists so you canto find out more info. I understand Volume 2 is underway and I cannot wait for it.

I have looked for an elephant collectibles book for years and never found one. Now at last there is one for all collectors to enjoy. And this one is GREAT. Over 1000 color images in every category! With enough information about the vast majority to get a good idea of what is out there to collect and who made it. Some items have a great deal of historical information. The resources section is full of people, places, artists and websites to find out more info. Can't wait for volume 2! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Wonderful Encyclopedia of Elephant Collectibles!
I have finally found a book exclusively for elephant collectibles This one is FANTASTIC! Over 1000 color images in 140 categories! I no longer have to wade through scrores of books to find one or two elephant collectibles I have. Virtually all the elephants have the basic information I am looking for (maker, size, value etc.) and many have much more. The index and resources sections are chock full of places, makers and artists so you canto find out more info. I understand Volume 2 is underway and I cannot wait for it.