Miniatures Books

Love this! Got this for my husband and it cracks us both up constantly. The magnets and the stickers are PRICELESS! The price is SO CHEAP for the amount of humor you get out of this! Great baby shower gift or new dad gift.

Here is everything a new parent needs, advice wise, to raise their new bundle of joy with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Six fun filled items all with simple diagrams to "help you [or any new parent] appear confident, experienced, capable, [and] not idiotic."

This kit contains:
-One mini Safe Baby Handling Tips book -- a mini version of the famous instructional board book. Features the unforgettable black and white "Do/Right/Yes and Don't/Wrong/No" illustrations that made Wry Baby famous.
-One bib imprinted with the instructional "Feeding Right and Wrong" illustration
-The Wheel of Responsibility: a spinner with alternate "mom" and "dad" spaces so you can decide "who'll change that diaper?" and "who'll feed baby at 3am?" Keeps parents "fair, honest, and un-divorced."
-Six small pages of stickers with helpful hints for new parents:
1. Laundry Tip: To effectively remove stains from baby's clothes, throw away clothes and buy new ones. (Place near Hamper or Washer)
2. Caution! Removing infant car seat may require rocket scientist for reinstallation. (Place in Car)
3. Notice: overexposure to baby may result in temporary loss of language skills. (Place on Mother or Father)
4. Stop! Before you go, do you have... -the Diaper Bag? -a Blanket? -baby's Pacifier? -your Baby? (Place on Front Door)
5. Warning: Setting thermostat above 70 may result in a smelly, sweaty baby. (Place near Thermostat)
6. Important! Empty Frequently. Vapor buildup could overpower entire neighborhood. (Place on Dirty Diaper Receptacle)
Six Refrigerator Magnets:
-Instructions: Bonding with Baby, Drying Baby, Testing Baby's Bottle, Playing with Baby, changing Baby's Diaper, Choosing a Baby-sitter

Great for a laugh and excellent as a little 'something extra' to add to any baby gift. The bib isn't the same quality as the ones you order separately but for the whole kit you only pay about seven bucks. Worth it for the refrigerator magnets alone.

They MEAN mini! The kit in its entirety was great, the laughs it got at the baby shower ALONE is worth the money spent. But the book is super-small and it's a tad difficult to see the detail in the pictures (like the baby underneath all the groceries in the cart on the "shopping with baby" page). This, along with a little onesie with a sassy phrase, and a package of pee-pee teepees, makes a funny little tongue-in-cheek gift that won't be forgotten soon, even with the sleep deprivation.

Gorgeous, intricate ribbon embroidery patterns. The book includes instructions for each of the blocks. The finished quilts made from these patterns are stunning!

I love this book! I have compleated six squares now, and I have never been frustrated with the instructions. (I can't say that about many craft books) Not only is it a really beautiful project, but it is also a thourough education in silk embroidery. And a great chance to brush up on other embroidery skills. If you are looking for an heirloom project that you can actually finish, this book is for you!

I saw a quilt made from this book before I ever read it... the results were beautiful, and speak for themselves!!

Lovely book, great pictures, full color. Great period houses and shops, which were inspirational. The author is obviously a great lover and builder of miniature houses and shops. I enjoyed the layout of the book, lots of information on tools, ideas and decorating ideas for each period house. The building patterns were clear and concise. Wish there was a modern pattern in the book which would have made it complete for me. It stays in my collection of books, no thought of selling or giving or lending it. :^)

I've recently begun my first project from this book. The book has progressively more difficult projects in this scale, starting with a very simple room and ending with a very large Tudor house. My project is with one of the more advaced houses, the Georgian townhouse. While I like the way this book is organized, as with most how-to books there are mistakes. I have found a couple of places where the measurments or diagrams don't match or don't add up. But so far none have been too difficult to correct. It would be advisable to spend some time looking at the photos of the house you are working on before building it, especially on the the more advanced projects.

His books are so well written...for the beginner to the advanced miniaturist. The book is full of wonderful ideas. It is hard to believe they are in miniature, much less 1/2" scale. The instructions are very easy to follow. The photos alone are more than enough to get the ideas flowing.

This book is a must for any mini library. Even if you never build anything in 1/2" scale, it is so much fun to read over and over again. Bonus: these ideas will translate well into 1" scale. It's like getting 2 books in one!

With no embroidery experience, I have been able to recreate some beautiful period pieces from this book. We are presented with an excellent range of Georgian items; from firescreens to stair carapets to samplers. They are surprisingly easy to do; just a little time consuming. I urge everyone to abandon any plan to buy a ready made carpet for your dollhouse; creating your own will be so much more satisfying!
I did have a problem finding the suggested monocanvas (18) in Australia, but substituted 22 with no real problems. Maybe they are a little larger that is strictly authentic, but I am very fussy with my dollhouse and it hasn't bothered me!

This is my first time order the miniature books from here , normally , I read the miniature books from Japanese issue . But after I received the books from here . I changed my mind at all ! Especially this book give me many many wonderful idea to make the quilt , rug , carpet ..etc I love it at all ! Don't miss it ! U will love this book ever !

Given that the Regency period (Australian Colonial where I'm from) is my favourite, perhaps my opinion is completely biased. But out of all of Warner's excellent books, this one is my favourite. I believe it has designs of greater variety than her others and they are truly beautiful. They are also versatile - I have items made from this book in all of my houses, which include an 1830s Sydney mansion, an Australian Victorian decorated to the Federation (1900) era, a modern Melbourne townhouse, a San Francisco Victorian with Arts & Crafts interiors and an English Georgian mansion! The projects range from simple crewelwork cushions that will take an hour to gorgeous carpets that may take months to complete.

Warner uses DMC threads, popular amongst most miniaturists - except for me, and I have found the patterns straightforward to adapt to my preferred Danish Flower Thread, Gumnut Yarn Daisies and DMC Medici, as Warner does not use an enormous colour range of similar hues. She does, however, use enough colours to maintain the detail and give a convincing miniaturisation of full-size items. This also means that most stitchers with limited experience can attempt these patterns assured of turning out a quality piece of needlework. Although sizings are given for fabric of different counts, I have found the carpet designs don't work as well on the 32 (or finer) counts I prefer - the finished carpets end up the size of mats, rather than the area rugs the designs are quite clearly meant to be. So if you are comfortable working in, say, 20, 22 and 24 count, these patterns are perfect for you. The wide variety of projects - curtains, bed and wall hangings, cushions, carpets and footstools are some - means that everyone is bound to find something they feel confident to tackle.

This is definitely not a cut and paste dog book. Most everything you could wish to know is included in this book...the history of the dog, it's personality traits, gait diagrams, obstacle track training (!), and famous past show dogs. Plenty of references for further reading, pictures, and some weblinks. The most impressive thing for me was the pain the author goes through to make sure you know what you're getting into purchasing a Min Pin. The breed is high maintenance and very high strung. A cherished pet, but comparable to a toddler who never grows up. It is an important fact. My Min Pin is a rescue from a family that merely felt the breed was 'cute.' This is an excellent book for those who already own, but should be required for those considering a first-time Min Pin.

I recommend anyone thinking of buying a min pin, read this book first. They are not just your average house dog, and this book tells you several things you should take into consideration. Although I purchased it after buying a min pin, it really helped me learn about their history, nature, showing qualifications, as well as other things.

I have read this book twice, and refer to it as needed. It certainly outlined the characteristics of the breed and all have proven to be true. If there is a downside to this book it is all the information about showing, since my Min Pin is a pet. But then even that provided some good information.

I liked the book and would buy it again.

Great for the new MS owner and those interested in grooming their own dogs. Newman's section on grooming is VERY helpful!

The autor, who is a recognised British breeder, guide us into a comparision of the different breed standars (KC, AKC, FCI). Mr. Newman emphasise on the development of the mini schnauzers into the United Kingdom, includes a section on grooming plenty of photos, show training, and others. Also a review of the most influential British kennels is included. It is a good complement for the Kiedrowski's Book.

This book, as is often the case with this kind of book, emphasises on winning dogs in Britain and a few other countries. But the part of the book that is really really excellent is the grooming and training-part. If you read and study this groomingmanual well than you'll be able to strip and groom your schnauzer all by yourself! Have fun doing it!

"Courtesy of Love Romances"

Delightful! Suspenseful! And just plain fun.

That's a miniature review of the newest book by Ms. Kinman, featuring the pre-teen Super Sleuth, Alison Leigh Powers. Alison enters the world of miniature book collecting when her mother offers her an after school job helping her catalog a very expensive and impressive book collection. However, it soon becomes apparent that several of the mini books are missing. The only problem is that nearly everyone has a motive... and the means to steal them.

Alison sets out to find the culprit and systematically searches for clues. Along the way, she meets with a few surprises and learns some interesting things.

Written in the first person, The Mystery of the Missing Miniature Books takes the reader into the mind of 11 year old Alison. She is an engaging character, with a sense of humor as well as a lot of good old common sense. Like most eleven year-olds, Alison has a best friend, a strict teacher and a dream. The nicest part of this book is that the readers will experience the adventure and suspense through Alison's eyes.

This reviewer was also pleasantly surprised to find out that miniature books actually exist. In fact, the author belongs to The Miniature Book Society. Alison and the reader will learn a bit more about these fascinating books and the lure of collecting them.

It's no mystery to this reviewer that Ms. Kinman has written a thoroughly entertaining book. The author's talent is evident, as well as her creativity. Miniature book collecting is certainly a unique subject for a mystery. The characters are believable, the plot is engaging and the ending is perfect. Don't miss reading The Mystery of the Missing Miniature Books. It will give any reader maximum fun and pleasure.

Reviewed by Joyce Handzo

Alison Leigh Powers, an eleven year old middle school student, wants to buy a horse. To make money to fund her desire, she offers to become her motherýs assistant in cataloguing miniature books. In her efforts to sort them Alison learns that miniature books, all less than three inches, are fascinating. As Alison discovers more about the books, she finds herself looking forward to working with them, and getting to know the book owners.

When Mrs. Powers notices that a book she has already made notations on comes up missing, she is horrified. Alison finds out that more than one book is gone, and is determined to find the person responsible for putting her and her momýs jobs in jeopardy. As she looks for clues, she hates to point the finger at any of her new friends, but knows the books must be found. When Alison finds out who the culprit is, will she tell on him, or find a way to get him to return the books?

In The Mystery of the Missing Miniature Books, Alison, a wonderful main character with an inquisitive mind helps bring the reader to the right conclusions as she searches for clues. Her insight to finding out the hidden secrets makes for a wonderful story about an eleven year old sleuth. This reviewer, having grown up on Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, fell in love with a new generation of mysteries with Ms. Kinmanýs stories.

The Mystery of the Missing Miniature Books comes packed with facts that will make the reader think about books, boxes, and any other items they may have considered collecting. Alison learns not only about work ethics, but about the cost of a horse, and the time needed for upkeep. This novel is full of adventure and learning for any middle reader. Ms. Kinman has created the perfect mystery for both girls and boys with her series about Alison Leigh Powers, and this reviewer would recommend them as a gift to any child who enjoys books!

ýAngie Dobson

The Mystery of the Missing Miniature Books
Author: Gay Toltl Kinman
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Available At: www.amberquill.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Middle Reader Mystery
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $5.50
ISBN: 1-59279-133-6
Author Website: www.gaykinman.com/index.htm
Reviewer: Melissa Parcel

Alison Leigh Powers, an eleven-year-old girl who loves to solve mysteries, wants to make some money to buy a horse. When her mother, who is a librarian and book conservator, is hired by Mr. Smith to catalogue and repair his miniature book collection in order to prepare it for sale, she asks Alison to help. The job goes well at first, but soon, some of the books turn up missing.

Who is responsible for the missing miniature books? The books are quite valuable and Alison's mom will be held accountable unless Alison can get to the bottom of the mystery. There are many people who might want the books, either for the money they will bring or because they are collectors. Can Alison figure out what happened to the books?

The Mystery of the Missing Miniature Books is another fun mystery featuring girl sleuth Alison Powers. She is bright, inquisitive, and ends up learning quite a bit during the detective process. The information included about miniature books is fascinating, something that many readers will probably never have heard of before. Young readers will be entranced by The Mystery of the Missing Miniature Books. Parents will make a wise choice with the purchase of any books from Ms. Kinman's Alison Leigh Powers series.

I'm not sure the original had as many verses as this- but the number makes for a good bout of goofiness and lots of fun illustrations.

We start out with the bare cupboards- bare because the mice had dined in the pantry, complete with a waiter, and the dead dog. Poor Mother Hubbard tries to do right by her dog by immediately dressing in black and buying a coffin, but the darned dog had tricked her and wasn't dead after all! phew! Instead, Mother Hubbard goes shopping everywhere for her dear dog- to the barber, the the tailor, the cobbler, the fruit stand, the tavern- but always, when she returns home, the dog is doing something else and doesn't need coffin, the coat, the shoes, the fruit, the wine. But we do get to see the silliness of the various shop owners and Mother Hubbard in an amazing amount of finery including a fantastic cowgirl outfit all "little old ladies" should consider wearing. At least now and then.

A classic childrens tale redone into a great piece ofliterature for any young child! Great pictures! END

This is one interesting version of the classic poem, "Old Mother Hubbard." One interesting detail for the verse, "But when she came back the poor dog was dead" is that the picture shows that the dog wrote a note saying he couldn't live without a bone. An interesting comment on the picture for the undertaker verse is that the coffin is shown wrapped up like a present. In fact, it looks to me like a gift box of chocolates. James Marshall has extended the classic poem to include his own verses(well, it is an easy poem for which to make up your own verses).

This book was first published in 1980, in some respects way ahead of its time. It appeals to children and mom & dad alike, just like best modern kids films do.

In my family, this was the first `proper' book our oldest daughter took to at about eighteen months when no others seemed to spark anything more than lukewarm interest. She loved it straight away and it remains one of her favorites a year later.

There are plenty of opportunities for your child to `get involved' in the storytelling in a very natural way. For example shouting out many of memorable, simple lines: "Oh NO, I can't stand THIS" through to: "Peace at last!" And our daughter loves to mimic the sounds that play a key part of the book e.g. tick-tock of the clock, drip-drip of the tap, and the NYAAOW of Baby Bear's imaginary plane.

We've even had humorous moments with my wife when she started ad-libbing about how pathetic Mr. Bear is! I was honor bound to put forward the case for the defence. It's a surefire, all-round winner. Yeah, I think it's a masterpiece.

Colin Buchanan read this on Play School (Australia) this week and I had to go and find out what it was. It's such a lovely idea. Kind of reminiscent of Maurice Sendak in drawing style and a beautiful, gentle story. My kids really liked it (they're 2 and 4) and I'm sure yours will too.

Peace at Last by Jill Murphy is a wonderful little book that is just right for bedtime stories. It's the tale of a drowsy Mr Bear as his attempts at sleep are disrupted by Mrs Bear's snoring, baby Bear's playing, clocks and cats, taps and owls (something no matter how old, we can all relate to). The text is easy to follow and the artwork is ideal for little ones. My four-year-old twins - Lucy and Joshua - adore this book, it was one of their first and we'll be reading it long after others have lost their appeal.

This is a good book on this subject. But, I'd like to suggest a very good source of Persian (Farsi) books on the net: www.iranibook.com & www.iranibookshop.com You will find any Farsi books in this feild.

Stuart Cary Welch is an art historian (I think he taught at Harvard, but I'm not sure) who loves his work, and it clearly shows in this volume. The pictures are exquisite, the reproductions are beautiful, but the best part is the commentary: his only goal is to make the work -- and the stories the pictures tell, for they are all essentially book illustrations -- as much a pleasure to the audience as it was to him. He could not wear his learning more lightly nor with more enthusism, and yet it is clear he must know everything there is to know about this culture. Right after you get this, you'll immediately go right back to Amazon to get a copy of the Shah-Nama, the marvelous epic Iranian poem that so many of the splendid miniatures in this volume illustrate.

Mention the words "Safavi" or "Safavid" to people in the West and you will most likely get a blank stare in return, but this Iranian dynasty presided over a great cultural flowering in literature and architecture as well as in art. Stuart Cary Welch produced a beautiful introductory guide to some of the beauties of that era, taking illustrations from several famous books and collections of the 16th century height of Safavid glory. While the political history of the time in Iran, Central Asia and Afghanistan (all parts of the Persian world in a cultural sense) was full of battles, massacres, sieges and sudden changes of rule-very much like Europe at the same time-the delicacy of Persian art knew no bounds. Brilliant, jewel-like colors, striking designs, and bold displays of mythical heroes touched in gold and surrounded with the miniature figures of the Persian court world appear on the pages of this book that is guaranteed to satisfy. Chinese-style rocks and trees mingle with Islamic calligraphy and Persian legends. While this book reproduces the illustrations both in full and in detail, the text is only the slightest of introductions to what can be a consuming study for any lover of art at its greatest. Buyers of this book will want to look further. May I suggest Anthony Welch's two books "Artists for the Shah" and "Shah `Abbas and the Arts of Isfahan", "Persian Drawings" by B. W. Robinson, and "Persian Painting" by Basil Gray. Another related volume, a treat for anyone interested in Persian art, would be "Isfahan: Pearl of Persia" by Wilfred Blunt and W. Swan.