Miniatures Books

This book grabs the childs imagination from the start. Gabriel is playfuly drawn which makes him adoring to young readers. My children just love this book and they love Gabriel too. We need more books about this little mouse and his buddies.

this book, bagel mouse is perfectly written and crafted for handling by small children.. The illustrations are particularly well done and are beautifully executed to appeal to both the adult reader and to the child being helped. Very good for preschool or just beginning classes.

Gorgeously printed images and translations and explanations of every line and image. I would personally consider this a collectors' item because it is such a beautiful book. I used it as a major resource for my art history Independent Study on 13th Century French Manuscript Art.

The Codex Vidobonensis 2554 is one of the first of a relatively large number of Bible Moralisée. The exact date of its creation is currently a topic of historical debate however, but 1215-1230 is an accurate range. These bibles were not called Bible Moralisée until a century later. They are also vastly different than the average medieval illuminated bibles in that very little biblical text is written and a substantial number of biblical stories from the Old and New Testament are left out. Each manuscript page has eight roundels (circles with illuminations). Four of the eight roundels contain illustrations of the biblical scene. Each of these four have a corresponding illustration of the contemporary spiritual significance of the scene. This "spiritual significance" often contains a moralistic interpretation of the biblical scene - hence the name, Bible Moralisée.

For example, the illuminators and theologians believed that the Cain and Abel story spiritually signified the evil nature of the Jews. Adam's elevation of Abel above Cain signified Jesus Christ who "held the Christians and put the Jews beneath Him, outside the Holy Church." The accompanying "spiritual interpretation" scene depicts Jesus Christ standing in an outline of a Church, facing the Christians to the left welcoming them while casting out the Jews to his right. The Jews throughout the volume are distinguished for easy visual comprehension by their money sacks, pointed noses and disfigured faces, and pointed turbans. Entire books have been written about the depiction of Jews in these bibles for these texts are treasure troves of contemporary Medieval cultural information.

This edition is a top notch smaller sized facsimile of the original. The extensive introduction covers all pertinent information and the translations of the Old Medieval French are supplied. I had the chance to talk to one of the experts in the field of Medieval French Bibles and she disliked the translations, however, my knowledge of Medieval French is up and coming so I cannot really pronounce judgment on that aspect of this otherwise wonderful book.

To read this collection of tiny stories is to have a series of unusually personal interactions with the storyteller. In each story, the author seems to be completely at your disposal, with no goal other than your amusement. The barrier of the book disappears.

Reading it is the adult equivalent of having your dad tell you stories in which the main character has your name. Each story speaks directly to you, its ideal reader. Some were written specifically to amuse Swanwick's wife, or son, or favorite editors, and these happy origins may contribute to the effect. It's not a children's book -- there's no sugar here, rather, an intoxicating, slightly tart, effervescence.

Michael Swanwick has consistently impressed me with his imagination in both his novels and short stories. Here we have a collection of miscellaneous very short work of varying quality. The title story was particularly fun given its original appearance - I could easily visualize Swanwick reciting it from atop a trash can. Along with some interesting essays on various subjects, there are several groups of stories fitting certain criteria which show the author's ability to write about absolutely anything. See his Periodic Table of Science Fiction for more of this. I didn't like The Mask as much as the expanded version, perhaps because I read this one second.

While only a few stories here reach the quality of his longer fiction, Swanwick's creativity and sense of humor shine throughout.

I love this book. I am not really into dollhouses but I bought it for ideas and to see how these things are made. The items look very fidly to make but I expect all things for miniatures are.
The only problem I have is that I live in Australia and I don't have a clue where to get some of the wood and a few other things from as the suppliers are English or American. You get use to this.
As soon as I figure out where to get these things from I will have a go at making a few things.

The only reason I didn't give this one five stars is because of there aren't too many projects provided which are very simple to make. It is not that they are difficult, but rather, very time consuming for each one. I thought some toys/games that are very quick and easy for the mini crafter to make should have been included. I also was hoping for some more dolls' dolls projects, but there was only one project and I thought some Victorian dolls' dolls would have been nice. This book is great for someone looking for cute toys to make for the dollhouse. Also, the author provides lots of historical accuracy in terms of when such toys were popular. This was great information to include as most dollhouse miniature crafters want to create accessories for their dollhouse which are appropriate for the period/style of their miniature home.

The directions given in this book for making and customizing the various items displayed in the book are very clear. The materials list is handy and complete. A wide range of items is included, from tiling floors to plastic casting for ceiling decoration, with furniture and accessories to fill the rooms in between those customized floors and ceilings.

Using this book, you can make the basic furniture, or customize ready-made pieces with gilt, paint, or upholstery. There are also directions for creating and re-creating accessories, such as lamps, mirrors, picture frames, etc. Or you can create smaller accessories, such as pots, bowls, or fruit.

If you like (or can do) needlework, draperies, rugs, cushions, and upholstery are possible.

Overall, the book provides a very good 'how-to' for various aspects of finishing and furnishing a dollhouse. With a little imagination, many of the ideas in this book can be adapted to your style of decor.

I enjoy this book because it has very easy to follow instructions. Illustrations and accompanying descriptions are excellent. There are a wealth of projects to choose from (decorative, craft items, making/customizing furniture,etc.) which makes this book one that I can always refer to.

A tremendous amount of excellent photos with a wide variety of ideas. Very useful for anyone who is going to decorate a miniaute shop as a source of inspiration and information.

I am new to the dollhouse hobby, and have purchased several books on decorating. I like this one especially, since it takes you away from the standard decorating of kitchen, bath, living room, etc. I plan to make my next dollhouse a shop - now I just need to decide what type of shop I want!

This is a "little" book that takes a hold of you in a "big" way
It keeps you reading, I was disappointed when it was over.

This spicy little book is the perfect bedtime story! Very naughty with a humorous plot it makes an ideal gift to give to a very intimate friend.

I bought this book for a family member who has a miniature pinscher. They have read it and told me that it's a very informative book and has helped them with training their dog and other things as well.

Just take a look at the cover. Aren't Miniature Pinschers (also known as Min Pins) adorable?

I had a two-fold reason for reading this book. I'm writing a novel where some of the characters have dogs (a Min Pin, an Italian Greyhound, and a Keeshond). So I'm doing research on the breed for my book. Currently we don't have a dog of our own. That might change, so I'm reading these books also to aid on which dog would be best for us (though odds are we'll go to the shelter and find a wonderful dog).

This is the best book I've read out of the dog books. Rose Radel is an interesting writer, and does a good job of keeping one's attention. In other words, I enjoyed reading the book just as a book.

The information is also very helpful and useful. It warned me that Min Pins are barkers, and to try to train them would make them less useful as a guard dog, which they are good at. I also learned a good tip that one should not call a dog (I think this advice is for all dogs) to discipline it, or your loyal friend won't come the next time you call.

I really enjoyed getting the book before Christmas that way I can get my materials to start a project.


Thank you,

Julie Yunker

This 32 page book contains instructions for 13 little quilts. I plan on making one quilt for myself, another as gifts for family members and one of mittens for small nieces and nephews. Instructions are clearly written with patterns for applique but most are either foundation pieced or pieced without the need of foundations. You can't go wrong buying this book, I promise.

Lots of color photos featuring high quality 1:43 scale models. Every hand-built manufacturer is here. Brooklin, Motor City USA, Western Models, Provence Moulage, CCC, Conquest, BBR. Does a good job of illustrating why 1:43 is mostly a "gentlemen's hobby." These models aren't cheap.

My only complaint was that the author devoted a bit too much space to the crude one-off models from obscure builders like J Rettig and Enchantment Land Coachbuilders. I would much rather see multiple photos of one of Motor City's masterpieces than have it share space with some converted 1/43rd-ish toy covered in sloppy chrome foil. Yuck.

The only error I found: The 1964 Ford Country Squire on Page 64 is a plastic slot car from Ideal's Motorific line - not an AMT kit.

Collectors of model cars prefer to spend their spare cash on model cars, not books on model cars. I can understand their priorities, but in the case of "Ford in Miniature" they really ought to reserve a few dollars for an exceptional book that puts an important part of their hobby in perspective - 1:43rd scale handbuilt models of classic American cars. Randall Olson displays a knowledge of Fords and handbuilt models like few others with a stunning array of color pictures and loads of inside information. His book will surely become a standard work for the model collector - at least for that discerning collector who is willing to spend a little on books on model cars, and not just model cars.