Arts Books

This is one of the best all-around guides to embroidery stitches that I have seen. There are no projects but there are well thought our descriptions and photos for every stitch that I am sure I will ever use. And the photos of the historical pieces are amazing. Anyone who is interested in embroidery should have a copy of this book, ready to take out at a moment's notice. Well done!

This book is useful for all of those who are thinking about embarking in embroidery. It is a great resource book.

I wanted to learn some new embroidery stitches and this book has been a great help. Easy to follow directions and good pictures.

This is a great stitch dictionary for the beginner embroiderer and beyond. The diagrams for the stitches are clear, the information is sound and easy to follow. Plenty of stitches are covered in the book, too, along with variations. If you're looking for a good stitch dictionary, this is a classic and will serve you well. And, for the price, you really can't beat it!

I wanted a reference of all the possible stitches I might want to use at any given point in my work. This is perfect for that. However, there descriptions on how to reproduce the stitches aren't intuitive and I felt at times there were steps missing. I made up the missing steps, but it meant that a couple of the stitches just never quite turned out the way I wanted them (i.e., like the pictures in the book). This was true especially for the very complicated stitches that resulted in complex geometric patterns. I would recommend this for any advanced embroiderer who wants a quick picture reference of what stitches might work in this situation. I would not recommend it for beginners.

I recently purchased this cookbook. It is really outstanding - the authors carefully chose the recipes to include here. The blueberry summer cake was a hit this week - my guests couldn't get enough and weren't shy about taking every last piece of it with them. The Puerto Rican Bean dish is outstanding as well. The recipes are less complicated than some I've come across, which I really appreciate. The photographs are also helpful in guiding you as you prepare a dish. I highly recommend this. It is quickly moving to the top of my favorite cookbook list.

The vegan recipes offered in this book will excite your taste buds and rekindle your passion for good food. A wonderfully health conscious collaboration of recipes, from various chefs, authors and the people at Friends of Animals with a great personal touch from Priscilla Feral. Family friendly recipes like Wheat free wild rice pancakes (pg.8) and scrambled tofu (pg. 11) keep the kid's complaint free through breakfast. There is a great range of sophisticated to super simple recipes to satisfy any taste.

While i personally tend to simply wing it when cooking and rarely use recipes or cookbooks, my friend Heather Steel also from Victoria, BC asked if i could post her review of Dining with Friends since she s had such positive experiences, which has inspired me to want to crack it OPEN as well!

Here s Heather s review:

When I m trying to decide what to bring for a potluck, this is the first book I take off the shelf. So far, every recipe I have tried from this book has been a huge success! This is the first recipe book I can actually make such a positive statement about. No matter how accurately I try to follow a recipe there are usually at least one or two recipes in a vegan cookbook which flop - especially in the baked goods section. I ve tried over half of the recipes in Dining With Friends are they have ALL turned out ultra delicious. Most are quite easy to prepare with common vegan ingredients and yet their presentation is really quite unique. I m particularly impressed with the dessert section ... the Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake, for example, looks unbelievable elegant and is a unique addition to vegan and non-vegan tables alike. It is fun to prepare these dishes for non-vegans and totally change their mis perceptions of vegan food. Another bonus about this book is the Raw Foods section which contains yummy, enzyme-rich treats for the tummy. Even if you re not into raw, most of the dishes in this book contain relatively healthy ingredients so you can feel doubly good about eating them as their good for you and for the rest of the animals on the planet.

As a NYC resident, there are fantastic restaurants and prepared food geared towards vegans here, so it takes a lot for me choose to create my own gourmet meals.

Dining With Friends inspired me to spend more time preparing some truly delicious and classic recipes and to share them with others. The first recipe I tried was the Cashew Cream Lasagna, and not only did it knock my socks off, it impressed several non-vegetarians at a holiday gathering to no end. One taster refused to believe it was vegan, due to the exquisite and rich cheesiness of the dish. I'd formerly thought of vegan lasagna as rather boring until this recipe-now it's my first choice for bringing to events and for impressing those wary of plant-based cuisine.

My latest favorite for winter months is the Vegetable Bisque-a delicious and comforting soup which melts in your mouth and has just the right amount of texture and creaminess. As someone who was never a big fan of tempeh, I've since changed my opinion after making the Tempeh London Broil. This dish is simply spectacular and goes will with almost any side dish you can think of. As for desserts, I can guarantee that anyone who makes the Key Lime Pie will adore it as much as I do!

No kitchen is complete without this cookbook, so I encourage anyone to but a copy (or several) as gifts for friends and family. It just might inspire you the way it inspired me!

Dining with Friends has many great vegan recipes that my family and I have enjoyed. The Lentil Orzo Casserole is fabulous and the Cashew Cream Lasagna was a huge hit. My teenage sons lapped up the Cream of Broccoli soup. The recipe for Braised Brussel Sprouts is a tasty new way to prepare this often overlooked vegetable. They were so good that my son and I ate them all and had none to bring to the Thanksgiving dinner we attended. Aah, the vegan cookie dough! Very easy to prepare and the Thumbprint Cookies were gone within hours. I had planned on making the Snowy Almond Crescents however, those same teenage hands got into the dough and that was the end of that. At least I didn't have to worry about salmonella poisoning since this was vegan dough after all and contains none of the cruel and unhealthy animal products. I look forward to trying many more of the recipes in this beautifully prepared cookbook.

This is, by far, the best autobiography I have ever read. Unlike most stars, Marcia wrote this book entirely on her own and, believe me, she is every bit as talented a writer as she is an actress. Marcia Wallace is a wonderful lady who has overcome many obstacles in life, including child abuse, breast cancer, and the death of her beloved husband, Dennis Hawley. Through it all, she has managed to keep her sense of humor and has given us all so much joy and laughter over the years. She writes with stunning candor and, in the end, you will feel you know Marcia, inside and out, like a dear friend. Thank you, Marcia, for sharing the deepest and most personal side of your life. I admire your strength and your courage! Hope you will write another book for us soon!

I have always admired Marcia Wallace. Although I was not around to see the original broadcasts of the "Newhart Show", she made a permanent impression on me through the countless hours of reruns that I've seen over the years. She has endlessly been called a 'one trick pony' - inasmuch as she is only really known for one role, that of Carol Kester Bondurant on the "Newhart Show". And Marcia herself admits that she has never really gotten good reviews for any of her other work (save of course for the also iconoclastic Ms. Edna Krubappel voicethrowing that she's done on "The Simpsons" for years.) Nonetheless, the character of Carol was a significant contribution to television history. She was very much her own person, and Marcia's comedic talents made her unforgettable. Carol Burnett, a genius herself, has said that 'if you're too pretty, you can't be a comedian.' Such was the case with Marcia. No, she wasn't that attractive - but she had a perfect look that lent itself perfectly, even if it was only for that one role. She never even had to read for the part - she was hired instantly by MTM Enterprises.

Marcia's life has indeed been a rocky one - and the tone of this book is fine. She's a survivor and she isn't full of self pity. Despite the rags, she's gotten plenty of riches, which included a brief marriage to a man who was very much the one-and-only for her, and a great kid.
However, I think the book overly emphasizes her marriage, the adoption of their son, and her husband's subsequent death. Virtually no details are given about her work on the "Newhart Show", "The Simpsons", or much of anything else. And in that regard, the book is a disappointment.
If these things were added, it would be an absolutely killer book.
Hopefully someday a second edition will be done. Nonetheless, what is presented is a very enjoyable read.

Marcia Wallace-what can be said? She is a woman on the umpteenth wit and full of honesty, always saved from being too sorrowful with her God-given ability to bring humor to situations that would bring the regular person to their knees...but Marcia isn't one of those "regular" people. I love this book because it tells anyone, no matter what circumstances they find themselves in, with a bit of keen-sighted observations and an always open pot of humor, they can achieve all of their dreams one day at a time.

I just finished reading Marcia Wallace's autobiography. This is an incredible read. She opens the door to her life for us as if she were opening the door to her closest confident and friend. I laughed out loud at her many mishaps and cried during the deepest loss a person can experience. This is a great gift for anyone who has had cancer touch his or her life, and who hasn't. It is also a celebration of life, friendship and family. This is a wonderful gift to share with girlfriends of all ages.

This book is NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER material. Marcia Wallace's book is as deeply profound as it is silly. It doesn't matter if nothing or everything has happended to you in your lifetime, you will relate to the humanity in her stories.
The book is bursting with self empowerment and triumph over tragedy and it's one of the funniest books I've ever read.

We first discovered If I Built a Car at the Portland Children's Museum while visiting Maine (he's a Maine author), and after we enjoyed that we explored his other work and just love it, esp. Magee and his little dog Dee - particular the Sea one followed by the Camping one. His wit is clear and he tucks little things into his books that are self-referential, like you can see Magee and Dee at one point in If I Built a Car so it is really fun for kids to catch that and enjoy the in-joke. It makes a good gift because he isn't as well known as he will (and should) be.

I love Chris Van Deusen's books! The story is cute, the wording is poetic, and the illustrations are so vivid and intricate! My daughter and I have read each of his books more than 100 times and we still find little animals or objects subtly added into the drawings. I anxiously await another book from him!

This is a great read-aloud book. The illustrations are wonderful and the story is a lot of fun. I love that the whale makes right his wrong in the end of the story! I hope Van Dusen writes more books, my kids just love them.

I first read the book, A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee. How much my 5 year old loved this book prompted me to look for others by this author. If I had to choose, I would pick Camping Spree over this one, but this book is just as cute and fun to read as the other.

We checked out one Chris Van Dusen book (A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee) at our local library and wanted more. We love his "retro" illustrations and his clever rhymes. Our kids ask to read this book over and over again. It is a cute story, told and illustrated well.

Wonderful - the shots were amazing. I really enjoyed just leafing through the book and let the visions just wash over me.

From the elephant up to the insect, from the cayman up to the seal every animal looks us in the eyes deeply. "Less than the human being: - the monkey follows in the system of zoology according to an immense ravine. If one, however, once wanted to organize the animals after her bliss, cosiness etc., then some people would come to stand anyway apparently under the miller donkeys and hounds ... ", 250 years ago the nature scientist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg already wrote. However, he did not have a camera yet to hand to cover this. Frans Lanting, however, shows us the determination with which snow geese and ibisses, penguins or zebras are away to something, shows us her family care and the dignity of animals in liberty - at times, when more and more people feel caught - a book which reminds us that "upright walking"- that synonymous of the philosophers for courage and self-respect - that you can make it true even on all four paws...

Frans Lanting does it again in Eye To Eye--a brilliant collection of intimate portraits and daily activities of various animals. Like Jungles, it's a book that no natural photographer should be without. When you can see the individual hairs in a courgar's fur coat, it makes you kind of wonder what it would be like to be that close to one.
Looking at Lanting's work is always like looking through a book of artwork, as if he is the Picasso of photography and we are looking through his masterpieces.

Wow !!! How can anyone get so close?!

These photographs are stunning. The talent of Frans Lanting oozes from these pages.

There is a closeness to the subjects here that borders on the intimate. In some cases, one wonders how he actually managed to get the shot.

The focussing and exposure is spot on and the composition is perfect.

I have tried to follow this type of photography and I am only too aware of how difficult it is to obtain these sorts of images.

I take my hat off to Frans Lanting. This is a brilliant work. A completely unique approach to wildlife photography. His behind the scenes narrative to the shots is illuminating.

This book is a valuable reference for all nature photographers. Sensational !

Frans Lanting is one of the great wildlife photographers of the world. He has published many books showing wild animals but "Eye to Eye" is certainly one of his most famous. It consists of dramatically close-up photographs of animals, always concentrating on the eyes of the subject.

The book is divided into three parts: "One on One" shows photographs of single animals, often so close that the frame is filled completely with just the animal's eyes. "Two by Two" usually shows pairs of animals, although there are occasional shots of larger groups. Often the pictures are of mother and child, or mates, but a few shots show conflict. "All in All" shows shots of larger groups of animals. The book also contains a two page section called "Behind the Camera" in which Lanting discusses his photographic philosophy but provides few hints that will allow others to copy his style. Finally, perhaps because the text of the main sessions is limited to species name, there is a section of thumbnails with a brief statement concerning the picture. I found this section to be particularly inadequate since I often said to myself "How did he do that?" but got no help in finding an answer.

These are amazing pictures, primarily because Lanting has managed to get so close to his subjects. In a few pictures we can see that that is a result of enlarging and cropping, but in most cases the pictures are sharp enough so that so that we realize he was really close to the animals. Moreover, with a few exceptions, these are not captive animals. I for one would not like to take a picture of a wild lion at a distance of twenty feet. At least one critic has suggested that this book raised the bar for all wildlife photographers, forcing them to get closer to their subjects, and placing more stress upon photographers and subject.

There are moments of great intimacy, particularly in the "Two by Two" section, where the pictures of parent and child tug at our heartstrings. It's hard not to see human characteristics in these photos. The book also benefits from its layout, grouping its subjects by actions. Thus there are pictures of a huge flock of butterflies followed by pictures of ibises, penguins, snow geese, zebras and elephants all purposefully on the move to some destination. I also particularly enjoyed facing pictures of a lion and a leopard, moving toward the centerfold in mirror image.

These are great photographs because the photographer got so close to his subjects. But they are also mostly documentary. Few of the pictures rise to the level where the form rather than the subject makes them art, although I was particularly struck by a picture of Oryxes carefully treading their way across the Namibian sand dunes. But when I compare Lanting's photographs to the work of other wildlife photographers like Art Wolfe, I can see the difference. The pictures in Wolfe's "The Living Wild" show each animal in its environment, where Wolfe was better able to concentrate on the composition of his subjects to create a more artful picture.

Not withstanding this quibble, "Eye to Eye" is a great book, and readers are unlikely to soon forget these close encounters with the other living inhabitants of our planet.

This book has everything you need to get started building an earthbag structure. I will be referring to it again and again as I build mine. I checked it out from my local library and then bought a copy for myself.

This book does teach the techniques needed to build an earthbag building. Easy to understand and follow.

This is the best DIY earthbag building book that I have found! I loved the drawings which helped me understand the explanations! Great read!

I've been looking at alternative building techniques and I have been intrigued by Earthships for quite some time. My biggest problem has been the lack of a hillside to build into. Since I live in a cold climate, I need to put the foundation of my building underground. Earthbag buildings offer the best solution to my problem, and they are a heck of a lot less labor-intensive than Earthships.

This book is very well-written with plenty of illustrations and photos to help you visualize the process of construction. From planning out on paper to implementing your ideas at the work site, this book has all you need to know to get started. Earthbag buildings are possibly the cheapest form of construction you are likely to find, and if you do it properly, they could last for centuries. This is an exciting idea for a anyone who wants to use sustainable materials which have very little impact on the environment.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Bravo to Hunter and Kiffmeyer for their wonderful contribution to this fantastically simple idea of construction.

A modified version of the rammed-earth technique for building earthern homes, the writers, a goofy, sincere hippie couple detail step-by-step how to build a house using feedbags of dirt. The book is not a home design fantasy volume full of glossy color photos, instead relying heavily on black and white photos and easy to understand, how-to illustrations. Being pioneers in this form of construction, the writers come up with their own ad-hoc terminology. They aim to keep things, "FQSS" (Fun, Quick, Simple and Solid) as opposed to "fqss" (frustrating, quarrelsome, slow and stupid) and employ techniques such as "dimpling undone diddles", "hard-assing", "bag-whacking" and "scooching". They don't stint on details and every stage of the construction project is carefully covered step-by-step.
The authors' assertion that a team of adults could produce four bags per person per hour seemed wildly optimistic (that's one feedbag every 15 minutes... sounds like a grueling pace to me, but then again, I've never attempted a project of this sort.)
Their lone building project, (aside from earthern walls and the like) is a small one-room structure in their backyard which looks very appealing in a hobbit-like way. It looks perfect as an artist's studio, or even a kid's clubhouse. The writers were deeply inspired by Nader Khalili (author of Ceramic Houses & Earth Architecture), having worked with him on previous projects.
You'd have to be extremely, extremely handy with home construction to attempt a project of your own of this sort, but doubtless there are some who will be inspired to try. For a prettier, even more compelling look at low-tech, low-impact building, check out Yurts: Living in the Round by Becky Kemery.

I was thinking that this was suppose to be "new" but could definately tell that it had been looked through over and over. I kept it as it is a super book but I didn't give it as a gift liked I had planned.

I checked this book out of the library then realized I needed to own it! I found it on amazon to my delight. I love this book because it has so many classic patterns, and unlike many books, the quilts themselves are done in wonderful color combinations and quilting designs that display the pattern at its best. I will use this book for many years to come as peruse it for patterns and new quilt ideas.

Book is just as they said it would be. Got it fast. Great to deal with and will deal with again.

Good photographs of the quilts, patterns and notes. A good reference book of classic quilt patterns for beginner patchworkers.

I bought this book for my mother because she is into quilting now and she was absolutely facinated with this book. I do not sew, but even I could see that the patterns were easy to follow.THUMBS UP.

The two volume book is jam packed with amazing designs. Every page in both books has a photograph of either a sketch, piece of fabric, or entire garment.

If you are looking of a great coffee table book or some references to design your own work this is a great buy.

My only negative comment would be the fact that there is no male fashion in the book except 2 or 3 pages in total and that there are only a few examples of each era, would have liked to see more variety. Nevertheless, an amazing book.

A "must-buy" for lovers of fashion. The photos are fantastic and I love the little blurbs about the history behind them. Definitely not a detailed history on the designers (who, what, when, where, why, how), but a great photographic history that is well-put together and a great coffee table book that EVERYONE will love.

Great for ALL ages!

Amazing books - set of 2. I love the history of costume and fashion and I am so glad that I purchased this set. Beautiful (large) pics and great details and info.

The two set series is absolutely awesome! They provide detail pics and pics of actual existing garments. I purchased these two books based on other's reviews and was very pleased when I found out what was inside the pages. I return to these again and again for historical reference, inspiration and pleasure.

Purusing these two books is a delightful experience. Anyone with an appreciation for fashion and clothing created in the 17th - 20th centuries will be amazed at the care and keeping the pieces in the Kyoto Museum's collection have received. The close-up photography reveals the marvel of the handwork and creation of each design, and each piece is a wonderful representation of its era. And the price of the set was unbelievable!! All around, a wonderful find and a keeper.

I own the first edition. I'm a sculptor but in coming up with ideas I have recently thought of writing stories involving my characters. I borrowed this book from a friend about three years ago and rediscovered in on my bookshelf about two weeks ago. I love it. Buy the second edition. It includes short stories.

The primary purpose and goal of a writer's workshop is to help writers improve their writing. Simply stated, but often quite difficulty to accomplish because like most things in life, writer workshops can be classified into one of three categories -- the good, the bad, and the mediocre. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, award-winning writer and teacher Josip Novakovich's "Fiction Writer's Workshop" is clearly one of the good ones in the form of a comprehensive instructional that covers every aspect of the art of fiction while providing aspiring and practicing writers with all the tools and techniques useful to developing the consistent, day-to-day discipline so fundamentally necessary for becoming a success professional at the literary craft. Offering more than one hundred writing exercises, with each exercise including a specific statement of purpose to guide the aspiring author through every step of the creative process, "Fiction Writer's Workshop" also provides self-critique questions with each exercise for assessing written works with an eye toward identifying weaknesses and strengths before moving on to the next lesson. Enhanced with the full text of eight acclaimed short stories complete with analysis and exercises suitable for modeling and the reinforcement of 'lessons learned', "Fiction Writer's Workshop" is appropriate for all fiction writers regardless of personal writing styles. Especially recommended for those aspiring to write publishable works of fiction, the "Fiction Writer's Workshop" should be considered indispensable reading for anyone who has every considered or attempted writing the kind of novels and short stories that would attract the attention of academia, the general populace, and generations of future readers yet unborn.

This book is a must read for anyone who has trouble getting started. The mantra that has been beaten into my head over and over by most college professors is the importance of writing everyday. However, that's often easier said than done. Outside of CW courses, class assignments and workshops, it's been very difficult for me to get started and I've never been big on journaling. This excercises in this book have provided me with countless "assignments" to help get the creative juices flowing. If you find that you need a little push to get going, this book is for you.

I have taken several classes lately and with them gotten several books. Most of them have at least some valuable information to make one a better writer with modern examples, but this book is unique in that you never feel like the author is giving you lines in which you are supposed to color inside of to make a good picture. You never feel pressured either. Since I am a beginning writer, this was the perfect atmosphere for me because there was room to learn new things, and reject some things without feeling I am suffering long-term as a writer. If one feels a strong sense of personal voice, this is the best book to acquire and develop new skills (as well as refine existing ones)

Once you have read an introductory book like Brayfield's Bestseller or Kings 'On writing' this is the book to buy and use.

Novakovich covers there basic elements: Setting /Character/Plot/PoV/Dialogue & Scene/Begins and endings / description/ vice and revision. He uses numerous examples form published literature and each chapter concludes with a number of good exercises.

One topic Novakovich does not cover is writers block. Maybe that is because he provides the solutions. Writers block is either due to lack of ideas or anxiety about one's writing. Novakovich provides the solutions - a chapter on the sources of fiction and a reference book to dip into every time one feels a anxious.

The beauty of Fiction Writers Workshop is the exercise - do them - and that all aspects are covered in one short book. That is also its disadvantage. Successful writing is complex, it requires fluent and adaptive use of a number of skills. To become fluent you will need to read and practice each in greater depth than can be provided in one book that covers them all. Don't make the mistake I made of going in depth on one skill first. It can lead to imbalance. Start with Fiction Writers Workshop and you will gain a balance.

Readers of this review can review it - tick the box 'useful' or 'not useful'. There is something I have noticed in those reviews. If reviews are critical then people are less likely to tick the box - 'useful' and more likely to tick the box 'Not useful'. What they are in fact saying is 'It was a nice review'. For a writer that is the worst kind of review. It leads you up the garden path. An author needs is honest candid review.

I'm not being nice about Fiction Writer's Workshop. It is that good.

just Jack

Book was in excellant condition and came very quickly. Would happily do repeat business. Lovely book full of nice illustrations.

I waited for this book with eager anticipation, only to find out that the item was delivered to a totally different address in another zip code. I contacted the shipper, who unfortunately said they could not reship another item as it was the only one they had, nor could they refund my purchase as it was not their fault for the misdelivery.

I wasn't planning on buying this book but did it to get to free shipping. Really glad I did. Excellent coverage of topic.

This is a wonderful book to fine tune your sewing skills. I don't do much vintage sewing but there was a lot to learn from this book, even though I have been sewing for fifty years.

but everyone else has already covered it. I'm generally not impressed with most sewing or craft related books, but this one is exceptional. To begin with, the writing style is easy to read and follow. Next, the information order is logical and easy to implement. Finally, each stitch type is grouped in sections beginning with an overview and then breaking down by thread, needle, foot and fabric considerations.