Papers Books

I like crafting very much. Greeting cards hold an especially dear place in my heart and I love to make them constantly. Just about everyone I know has received at least one homemade greeting card from me at one time or another. So yes, I'm always on the lookout for new books on the subject. This one, I have to say, is great!

It has innovative projects rnaging from the colorful, really creative ones to subtler, more elegant ones. There really is one for everyone and the instructions are very clear, detailed and, simple to follow. No crafter, regardless of skill, will have any trouble completing any of these cards.

The authors did a great job of writing this book. Also worthy is the creative use of rather unusual materials (for a card at least). I've been working with paper for a long time now and it still helped move some things inside of me which helped me come up with a whole set of new ideas on how to work and what to do. The pictures are great, you'll enjoy them and they'll inspire you to create some new, totally different projects of your own.

This is one book you'll definitely enjoy.

The first word that came to mind when I saw the projects in Making Greeting Cards with Creative Materials was "artsy". The next word was "collage". I think those two concepts neatly sum up the style and involvement level you can expect from this multimedia craft book.

Author MaryJo McGraw is clearly an experienced artist who has explored many techniques, but whose first love is obviously the paper arts. Although this is a book on greeting cards, there were a lot of projects that would work on a different scale for other purposes, such as embellishing scrapbooks; and many of them could be frame able art in their own right. The designs and color choices reflect rich, muted tones and multilayers of materials such as fibers, charms, gold leaf, wires, inks, watch pebbles, beads, punches, stamped papers and photos. Often the card shapes and closures are not the standard rectangular format. The processes are carefully explained and illustrated as though to first-timers, but the results will make you look like a terribly sophisticated artist.

If you're hoping for ideas that would make for good quantity mailings such as invitations, be aware that most people would probably not have the time or money to make these cards in bulk: these are complex labors of love that are definitely not suited to mass production. Never once did I read a suggestion that the reader purchase ready-made embellishments or stickers, because the emphasis here is on handcrafting rather than time efficiency. For the crafter who has special, personal sentiments to express however, these are the ideal medium for that individual touch to the recipient.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

This book is an excellent starting place for skill building.

I don't know how the woman does it, but MaryJo McGraw has produced another winner. One might think that by the fourth book, her ideas and designs might be repetitive, but McGraw's latest foray into the seemingly overly crowded subject of "greeting cards" shows that the well is still quite full.

The title says it all and the paper artist/craftsperson who is looking to expand their skill and designs they will be pleased with the concepts that McGraw presents in this well illustrated and clearly written guide. She takes you beyond rubber stamps and beyond cute...many of the designs are just downright art but on a smaller canvas. More than a few of the cards are just...well, they are just too cool for words.

If you want to make cards just out of your rubber stamps, don't buy this book. If you want to expand your creative possibilities and make cards out of some very interesting stuff, then you should buy this book.

If you want to make greeting cards that are "oh, so sweet" don't buy this book. If you want to make greeting cards (or adapt the designs for other paper arts projects) that will knock the socks off the recipient then buy this book right now.

Dear prospective owner,
This book is definitely artsy and collagey as per the other descriptions--in what I would describe as a Stevie Nicks-kind of way. That said, it is very helpful for the beginner cardmaker like me.
My only caution if you're stocking up on how-to books is not to make my mistake and also buy the Everything Crafts Create Your Own Greeting Cards (Ed. Courtney Nolan), because 80% of the material in this book appears there as well. Save your $$ and buy this one--it has full color photos throughout.

This is the tale that has been faithfully transmitted by parents to children throughout the generations in Chinese families.

I remember I was a wee little kid of 6 when my mother told me about the Twelve Lunar Animals. I wasted no time in memorizing all the 12 animals in their order. I supposed it also helped to speed up my arithmetic too, since I would then automatically mentally figure out the Lunar Animal of all my relatives by their birth years. (How gleeful I was to discover that the fierce Aunt was naturally, a Dragon and his gentle, sheepish husband a...Sheep.) My cousin doesn't like to eat beef. He's an Ox, no wonder. My little brother was a terror. He's a Tiger.

My grandmother would have fantastic elaborations on each Animal, their strengths and characteristics and how they influence people's actions. It was and still is the coolest thing I've ever heard.

When the Power Rangers and their respective `Hidden Animal' became popular years later, I pooh-poohed it. Been there, done that.

My Mom is a Dragon And My Dad is a Boar is a collection of beautiful illustrations of the twelve Lunar Animals in paper cut form; plus a brief and easily understood monograph of each Animal. As per every Chinese calendar, the years for which each Animal represents are given as well.

The book begins with the story of the convention that the Lord Buddha held one day to determine the 12 Lunar Animals. The first twelve to arrive in his court would be selected. And the Animals set off. Why is the first Animal the Rat? And why isn't the Cat amongst the twelve? Could there be a reason why cats chase rats now? This book is an elegant and vehicle to transport this age-preserved legend of the Chinese into the generation the 21st century.

I appreciate that the animals are depicted in beautiful calligraphic fashion by the talented calligrapher and artist Kong Lee, along with their Chinese characters. Written by Asia enthusiast Tricia Morrissey, one characteristic that stands out in this book is that the total absence of any attempt to `westernize' the Animals. The pictures and descriptions are just as how my grandmother would tell them, celestial and majestic instead of barn-like.

I trust that this book will open up a whole world of imagination and thrill for your 5 year olds, and instill in them a deep sense and awe of heritage.

This is the only children's book that I proudly display on my bookshelf. It's a very special book to me.

This is a great book which tells about the 12 animals of Chinese lunar calendar. The book is beautifully printed and illustrated, you and your kids will enjoy it!

Wonderful book for introducing one aspect of the Chinese culture to all children. A simple way to explain a cultural prospective to a young child that has historical merit and not weighted with any political biasness. The graphics are sharp and crisp with an Asian musique.

This book was a wonderful introduction to Chinese culture for my children and myself. The writing is superb! It is great to find a book that my children love as much as I do. The artwork is new and different for us and lead to fun and creative projects of our own.

This book is a great find for anyone and a great resource for teachers or homeschoolers.

This is the first time I have ever purchased a Farmers almanac, and now I wonder how I ever gardened without one! It is set up in an easy to read format, and is small enought to carry around!

This is the first time I have ever purchased a Farmers almanac, and now I wonder how I ever gardened without one! It is set up in an easy to read format, and is small enought to carry around!

This is the first time I have ever purchased a Farmers almanac, and now I wonder how I ever gardened without one! It is set up in an easy to read format, and is small enought to carry around!

the 2000 book is a collectore edition and it is better than 1999

This book tells it all like it is. It leaves nothing out. If you have problems figuring out what the symbols mean, there is a directory that helps you. I recommend the books to friends & family every year - which I perchase every year myself.

How fun is this book? This artist is a true inspiration to me to just get out my paints and splash around. It has given me a measure of freedom in that I always want to measure and calculate everything. Reading and using the ideas in this book help me gain a true measure of freedom of expression. I HIGHLY recommend it. Be sure to visit the artist's website, too. She has a wonderful sense of color and fun.

The art techniques included in this book are simple, yet they encourage creativity and the exploration of line, color, form, composition and texture. Although primarily for acrylics and pastels, there are demonstrations that incorporate a variety of other materials. In addition, the exercises could easily be adapted for artists of all ages - highly recommendable for teachers. The book lives up to its title, "Paint Happy!"

I just bought this book a week ago and I have already framed two pictures that I have painted with its help. I enjoyed painting them, they were simple and not challenging, just how I like painting. You can use the author's ideas with your own style thrown in. I'm happy that I bought this book.

This is such an awesome book. I was impressed how easily the sketches became art. I had such a "Duh" moment when I thumbed through this book! I can easily follow the instruction and transfer my imagination onto my canvas. I paint in oil and this book is a tremendous help. I absolutely love the bold, beautiful colors.

A fantastic buy!

Wonderful book with great fun art lessons!!
It uses acrylic and pastels and the main media, but you could use many other media with what you will learn from this book.

This book is beautiful and very uplifting. Not only that, but it is filled to the brim with valuable lessons on design that I had little background in, and that most of my watercolor books don't expand on enough. It teaches you a lot about shapes, connecting shapes, lines, how repetition can create interest and excitement, variation and repetition, creating movement with shapes and how they are connected with lines, smooth and textured surfaces,, patterned and plain surfaces, soft and hard edges (lost and found) painting with your mind's eye and not exactly what you see in front of you ("if you can't see it, imagine it!" p. 60), how colors interact with each other--not just when mixed, but when put next to each other, how there is "more than one way to paint a picture", how "a series of possibilities can make a series", "when more is better"--i.e. knowing when to embellish, "when enough is enough", geometric and organic shapes, how does a shape take on a form?, creating form using values, play with 2-D and 3-D in a painting, color and value balance---warming a painting vs cooling a painting, using limited color schemes, conveying space--flat space vs. space created with forms vs. deep space vs. ambiguous space.

Part 3 of this fun learning book is how to "Paint Your Home Happy"--basically using what you have learned from the rest of the book and incorporating it into painting on lampshades, walls, furniture, tiles, other ceramics, etc..

I bought this book not really knowing what to expect. The delightfulness of the front cover was inspiring. I mostly do watercolors and pottery. This book mostly uses acrylics and pastels in the demonstrations, but after reading this book thoroughly, I know I will enjoy using a lot of the information and demonstration methods in my watercolors, and also my pottery that I like to paint with underglazes.

There is a LOT to learn and enjoy in this book. It is filled with many exercises to help you learn and wake your sleeping creativity. It is not a "how to paint a landscape" type of book, but more, how to paint with a certain style of your own using the knowledge of shapes, lines, color, repetition, etc. to convey what you feel. GREAT BOOK!!

This remarkable tale appeals to all ages. It's about the wisdom that comes from reflecting on history, the value of courage in facing one's fears, and the importance of love. Best of all, it features an artist who happens to be Chinese and demonstrates that "the brush is mightier than the sword," even in "slaying" a dragon.

This is a lovely story on multiple levels with a visual presentation that captures the attention of young children. I've been reading many picture books to my little one and it's always a pleasure to find a book that honors their innate intelligence and provides a positive message. I find it one of those rare gems that delights the young and more mature alike.

This is the most wonderful children's book I have ever read. I loved it and my seven year old daughter loves it also. It tells a wonderful story about Chinese culture,love and courage. The illustration is absolutely beautiful!I've recommended it to many friends with children.

The Paper Dragon has captured the heart of all the readers I have given copies to (I am on my eighth copy). The story of a humble artist sent to task against a fierce dragon, is portayed colorfully in word and pictures. The gate style print of the pictures lend themselves to become an intergral part of the storyline.

A touching lesson is given to us all, when we find that the dragon is thankful to be released from his reign of terror, and allowed to sleep again. I have heard my five year old tell the story to her friends.

This peaceful story is a lovely way to introduce another culture to young readers, and Robert Sabuda's artwork is beautiful. Mi Fei is an artist who is content to paint scrolls and live within his community until the villagers hear that a dragon has awakened to threaten the countryside and nominate him to face the foe. After a long journey, Mi Fei finds the dragon, who offers him a series of riddles/challenges to perform. Sabuda, better known for his pop-up masterpieces, brings the story to life with breathtaking images of vibrant color and flowing imagery.

Wonderful tale.

I surely enjoyed this book and read and re-read it upon receiving my copy. the directions, list of sources, and photos were fantastic.
I would recommend this for anyone considering using these techniques in their artwork.
linda

Absolutely love the art in this book. It isn't a how-to book, but gives you so many ideas and inspiration, that if you've done mixed media for a little while you probably can get a lot out of it.

I use it all the time to try new things and for inspiration.

This is a wonderful raw art book. It has some great textures in it with instructions. It is truly a mixed-media book. There are sections on fabric, paper, metal, and how to combine techniques. There are some techniques in there that I have never tried. I have and they turned out great. I do a lot of raw art collages. I was able to glean a lot of ideas from this book. The colors and textures are great eye candy. What I liked most about this book was that it showed you what you could do with the technique once you tried it. I think that is something that every art book should do since a lot of us artists are visual learners. I think that newbies can learn from the techniques and see what are some of the possible end pieces. More experienced artists can try different techniques and glean ideas from the picts.

Had to work today, so I took this book into the gallery with me. This book is enticing, enthralling, and full of that extra effort and creative spirit -- it's my paper muse.

Delicious!

Additionally, it seems very approachable for someone new to paper arts (as I am) and yet was also enjoyed by someone who has taught paper arts.

i really thought that despite the beautiful cover and the name Maggie Grey, as she is quite the name when fabric is around, this book would be eye candy but not inspiring for me to "work on".
oh boy was i wrong! Ms. Grey's techniques for changing paper to metal and metal to stitch is quite fun! i thoroughly enjoyed just savoring every page the first time around and then i started actually playing. this is a terrific book for inspiration, teaching, learning, doing, and of course, her handiwork is quite the eye candy. i will have this book on my shelves for many years to come.

This book provides instructions at a simple, easy to follow level and and progresses to a level that requires more specific tools, skills and patience. Exactly what you need if you want to become better at making pop-ups. I'm completely enjoying my copy. The only thing better would be a few pop-up examples for the fun of it!

It's easy to study Pop-up making.
It's good for beginner.
I like it.
I will study very hardly so I will be Pop-up engineer!

Goodluck Everybody~!

This book is great for the beginner. It shows you some basic folds and it is good that you have a regular pop-up book there so that you have the instructions and an example.

This little book is packed full of easy to understand directions and very practical do's and don'ts that only come with experience. If you don't want to waste time making your own mistakes, this is the book for you.

For anyone interested in making pop-ups, this book should be on their work table.
What I especially like about it is, the many simple sketches of the pieces and how they are applied particularly in the more complex figures, where clarity is needed and often times not as well done in other books on the subject. I have bought more than one to give to friends that work in this area as well.
One of the best books on the subject.

Mary's insightfulness of what it's like to be a woman, a human being, come through in simple, yet awe-inspiring words. Her poems moved me more than anything has in a long time. I want other women to discover the beauty and wisdom of Mary Waters. She's amazing!...

The poems in "Sandpaper Blankets" are so easy to read yet full of images and feeling. You can read them several times and find more meaning each time. My most favorite are "Moonlight" and "Ain't No Sunshine". I would recommend this for everyone!

Reading these poems is like staring into still water -- reflective, yet deep. While reading, I found myself saying, "Yes, I've felt that too!" Ms. Waters' poetry gives us language for the difficult and wonderous thing we call life. If I have to choose a favorite poem, it would be "Meetings." It should be required reading for anyone under the age of 30 -- and for most of us beyond...

Many of the poems in Sandpaper Blankets spoke directly to my heart and soul. The insight that Mary offers through her poems is exceptional yet common thereby helping us to open our eyes a bit wider to the world. I am eager to share this treasure with friends.

This is a rich, warm, spiritual book of poems which, while quite personal to Ms. Waters, wonderfully reach out and touch all her readers. The poems are fairly direct, almost narrative, not too complex, and filled with sweet phrases which could resonate in your head all day. I enjoy poetry and this collection is one of those filled with "thought of the day" type of poems. Fans of the love poems of e e cummings (I am!) and the stories of Brian Andreas should truly enjoy the insights of Ms. Waters. Ms. Waters may have a woman's perspective, but she relates it in a way which should appeal to all. My favorite poem is "No Question Asked."ÿ

Reading this book helped me to remember why I got into computer science in the first place: it's a whole lot of fun. As Alan Perlis admonished us, we musn't ever lose that.

All of Don Knuth's books express how fun computer science is, but this one does it in a smallish paperback form with content that's easier to digest as bedside or subway reading than some of his other more famous volumes.

Knuth, if you know, is one of the authorities in Algorithm design and various aspects of computer science. If I remember correctly, he teaches at Stanford.

This book is a collection of some of his research papers. It is well organized and can definitely supplement your library.

U can read stuff that interests you, especially as a student (undergrad or grad). Definitely will help you if you have similar research interests as Knuth.

Chapter Table of Contents:

0. Algorithms, Programs, and CS
1. CS and its Relation to Math
2. Math and CS: Coping with Finiteness
3. Algorithms
4. Algorithms in Modern Math and CS
5. Algorithms Themes
6.-9. Theory and Practice I..IV
10. Are Toy Problems Useful?
11. Ancient Babylonian Algorithms
12. Von Neumann's First Computer Program (sorting)
13. The IBM 650: An Appreciation from the Field
14. George Forsythe and the Development of Computer Science
15. Artistic Programming

Audence:
1) Computer Science faculty and graduate students.
2) Mathematicians.
3) other scientists who want to understand their computer science colleagues.

Knuth is best known for his huge corpus
The Art of Computer Programming [TAOCP] (at this time vols. I-III)
This text (Selected Papers) really isn't for beginning programmers
(TAOCP is better for this even if more dense).
"Selected" is not a How-to book.
It's the Philosophy of the PhD on the computing field.

Math:
Yes. Selected Papers has a fair amount of algebra.
The level of math required to understand and appreciate the book:
for several of the papers, the reader needs an understanding of combinatorics:
'n!' as factorial (not exclamination point), running sums,
matrix algebra, and a bit of calculus. Other papers have practically no math (the last 3 and the opening chapter[0]).
Heavy emphasis appears on the concept of the iterative nature of Algorithms
(in contrast to other sciences which seek closed form solutions).
Can you read it w/o the math? Sure, but you would be losing major points (read it with a knowledgeable friend).

The Reading:
I really liked the paper on Toy problems. I needed this earlier in my career. Many computer scientists who like fun but get criticism will like this essay. It alone is worth the price of the book.

The easy reading introductory parts of various papers are readable withminimum math and have valuable insights (like Knuth's informal observation that 2% of the general populice feels comfortable thinking algorithmically).

The early chapters on algorithms show the importance of experimental randomization methods.

The astute review reader will notice 4 chapters (really
4 speeches) on the ideas of Theory and Practice. A lot of this material is redundant, but it conforms to the ideas of stepwise refinement and it shows some of the development of DEK's thinking. Note: he describes; he does not offer solutions.

Knuth has an obscure challenge during DEK's address to IFIP (T&P IV), slide 33. I worked toward this without knowing it.

I'll be honest with the review reader: I know the author, and
he asked me to promote this book. And it's a book well worth promoting.

The book is a pleasure to those interested in the field.
Chap 4: I sat in the audience for this presentation.
Every library should have a copy for inspection if not enough to have on every computer scientist's book shelf (next to TAOCP, and other books by Don)., and it can be a good gift book to scientists.

If this book is your first Donald Knuth's Book, the way you think about Computer Science will change. The author gives us the opportunity to think about Computer Science and Algorithms like a brillant scientist.

If you are a student you must read this book... and if you are not, I hope you already have it !

Knuth's most famous work, the "Art of Computer Programming" series, is justly famed. Bill Gates said something like "If you can read it all the way through, write me and I'll hire you". But most people can't make it through -- they're put off by the use of assembly language, or by the amount of mathematics. I have to agree that the use of assembly throughout is overkill, and I always wished there was some way to get the essence and excitement of "Art of Computer Programming" without the full tedium. Now there is.

"Selected Papers in Computer Science" succeeds beautifully in showing what its like to be a computer scientist, and how that is related to but different from being a mathematician. At the heart of the book are four essays on "Theory and Practice". Actually, it should be "Practice and Theory", because the only sensible way to progress in any field is to get some practical experience first, and then acquire the theory necessary to understand what you did, and to allow you to do more. Knuth covers this very well for computer science. I am in the habit of dog-earing pages in a book that offer an especially important insight. Looking back at my copy of "Selected Papers", I see that about 40 pages are so marked; an amazingly high ratio for a book of 270 pages. Try a test: read 10 pages from the book at random, if you don't find at least one important insight, then probably this book (and perhaps computer science in general) is not for you. If you do, you can be assured that the full book will give you many more.

Bradham's novel portrays the ethical conflicts a social worker faces in dealing with neglected children. The novel is suspenseful and troubling in a good way. She makes you think hard about whether or not Eugenia Putman is in any way ethical. There is a Swiftian sensibility to her writing, which makes the horror of the story all the more real. Overall, the elements of fiction writing, and the use of irony are especially strong. This is not a book that is easy to put down. I taught it with great success in a literature survey class last year. The students were moved, and were able to write scholarly papers on the novel, as well.

This novel is just as JoAllen herself said; "It's a quick read, and a long think."

The press may specialize in books about the South, but the book itself deserves the attention of readers everywhere. Those who read for significant, thought-rpvoking subject matter will find it. Those who read for artistic method will rejoice.

SOME PERSONAL PAPERS is the story of Eugenia Putman, an urban social worker, who must deal with some of the saddest stories of child abuse and neglect. Although she tries her best to remain objective, eventually her sense of duty turns her to taking matters into her own hands. With just a few days left before her conviction, she retells what she felt she had to do and why. The story is full of irony as Bradham creates a character who challenges our sense that right and wrong is always clear cut. The plot is suspenseful and the setting is key to the artistry in Bradham's prose. I taught the novel with great success over the last two years, and I highly recommend it.

Some Personal Papers, which recently garnered author, JoAllen Bradham, the Georgia Fiction Writer of the Year Award, is a must read. This exquisitely told story is about Eugenia Putman, "Miss Genie," a dedicated social worker who is forced to make choices regarding the children in her personal care that few of us could ever make. This is a case of when "doing what's best" is, without a doubt, a case of "doing what's worst," but for all of the right reasons. Although it has often been said that actions speak louder than words, Miss Genie's actions cannot even be considered without first reading her story in her own words, words that scream at you about the often painful experience that is life for many people, and particularly for children. This is a story you will not soon forget.