By Make Books

I have purchased several craft books but this is the best one I have seen so far. It has very practical, cute crafts to make with things you have around the house. My children, ages 4 and 6, love to look through the book and pick something out. My 6 year old can do most of the work herself and the 4 year old needs only a little help. I strongly recommend this craft book and cannot wait to get the rest of them!

Looking for a way to add a new twist to your culinary repertoire? Does the expense of store bought flavored oils, sherries and vinegars banish them from your kitchen? How about a unique and easy-to-make gourmet gift to give to family and friends? If any of these suggestions rings a bell, "A Dash of Elegance" is the book for you! An easy-to-understand manual for the casually to seriously interested gives you all the information you need to add special flair to your food. After reviewing oil, sherry and vinegar basics, simple directions guide you in turning the usual into the extraordinary. To get you started in using your newly infused flavorings, author Charles Reavis provides seven full chapters of delectable recipes. From appetizer through main course and dessert, you will truly be able to add elegance to your meals

This is one of those craft books ideal for the Boy or Girl Scout troop leader. The designs are very detailed and they all require a great deal of effort to complete. The projects are from all over the world and they are:

*) The European Diamond Kite
*) The Japanese Red Devil Swooper Kite
*) The Oriental Butterfly Kite
*) The Korean Warrior Kite
*) The Chinese Yuan Kite
*) The Guatemalan Sun Kite
*) The Traditional Chinese Dragonfly Kite
*) The New England Ghost Kite
*) The High-tech Box Kite

There is a scaled grid drawing of each of the kites and detailed textual instructions regarding the materials to use as well as how to put the kites together. Several diagrams showing intermediate stages in the kite construction are also included for each model. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in young people creating advanced kite models, independent of the reasons for wanting to do so.

Anecdotes and humorous stories about preachers and church folks from a Methodist from western North Carolina. Includes the chapters: 1) Do Preacher's Cuss? 2) Enough to Make a Preacher Cuss, 3) A Special Word about Bishops, 4) One-liners that Tell It All, 5) How Not to Introduce a Speaker, 5) First Pastorates - Things Do Happen, and others...

GET CREATIVE WITH POLYMER CLAY is Emma Ralph's second book on the subject of crafting with polymer clay. As with her first book, the projects here are inventive, charming and terrific. Suitable for beginners as well as for more advanced clayers (check out the handy skill level which goes from one star to three to let you know how complicated a project is), the 17 superfun and interesting polymer clay offerings go from cards to jewelry to a beautiful Klimt inspired bottle, with variations you can make on many of the projects. For example, a card project with an adorable and colorful hat or handbag card made using polymer has a variation which is wonderful for the winter holidays, having glittery snowflakes adorning it.

There is a comprehensive section on the tools and items which is helpful to get started using polymer clay. Personally, I particularly liked the commentary on characteristics of the specific clays themselves. I have never seen the varieties of clays from the different companies so well analyzed as to their strengths and weaknesses. It is EXTREMELY helpful to know things like this when you are making a project, if you are a beginner. There is also a section at the front on techniques. At the back, there are templates for certain projects in the book.

In reading the book, the first project I would choose personally would be the faux enamelled bracelet. It is beautiful and sophisticated. As a jewelry designer, I found it fascinating and lovely to look at.

The other, simpler projects hold their own as well however, and the colors you can get from properly mixed polymer clay are stunning! Another reason why it is great to have a teacher who knows what she is talking about. It is a book you will want to go back to again and again as a reference guide, as well.

Your imagination can really take off with this inspiring book. The author is one of the top polymer clay bead makers internationally. She has once again produced a book which, from start to finish, is a really great read, and makes you want to get going on the projects you find most appealing right away!

Plenty of husbands and wives in the job world today find themselves feeling as if they must choose between their careers and their families. The Gregorys say there is a better way to live and work, one that need not force spouses into such unfair decisions. The Gregorys, entrepreneurs and longtime journalists, present a compelling argument that working at home provides the perfect framework for a couple to design their lives the way they want, share more-and better-time and experiences together, and grow closer to each other and their kids in the process. Thanks to solid research, including interviews with dozens of "Home Team" couples nationwide-and a few internationally-the book contains a wealth of helpful how-to tips for couples who have been running full- or part-time businesses from the home for years, as well as why-to information for spouses in traditional jobs who desire a better life. The authors tackle topics such as: how couples with wildly different persona! lities and workstyles can work in the same home successfully; how to savor the joys of Home Team parenting, yet get your work done; how to rekindle or ignite the flames of romance and sex-before, during and after work; and potential career and life benefits for both women and men. Best of all, it's an entertaining read, which is refreshing from a business book. The Gregorys' writing style sends readers a clear message that both life and work can-and should be-fun. While the Gregorys are strong promoters of the lifestyle, this book is far from Pollyannish. The authors write that it takes an unwavering commitment to both the marriage and businesses for this lifestyle to be a success, and those who will not do so are better off sticking to more traditional ways of making a living. But those with a burn to chase business dreams and share more of life with their families will cheer The Home Team for the information and inspiration it provides that will help them create their own, m! ore rewarding vision of success.

This article of Laura Browne's is clearly written and concise, and anyone, male or female (Ms. Browne usually trains female executives), can follow its advice.

This is a marvelous book, of potential interest to writers, small press and self-publishers, teachers, students, artists, or anyone who has an interest in cheap, effective methods for putting together books by hand. Barrett learned how to put books together through years of trial and error, and provides for the reader all of his hard-learned lessons and hints. He departs from standard hand sewing methods in several respects; always in the direction of practicality, minimizing costs and maximizing production. This is not a guide to making fine press books; there is no information included on purchasing and working with decorative papers, sewing headbands, fine press layout and format, inclusion of silk markers, decorative typefaces, etc. Instead, it is a hands-on guide describing how to put books together with the simplest methods and tools. Almost anyone would already have in their home most of the tools and supplies his method requires.. Of most interest to me were the first five chapters, wherein Barrett discusses physically building the book. Subsequent chapters include information on copyrighting, publicity, pricing, etc. The author is personable; throughout he shares his bookmaking philosophies, which sometimes carry over into philosophies of life. For that reason--the chance you have to hear from a craftsman in his own words--I recommend the later chapters, though if one is serious about marketing and publicity, one should go to John Kremer's "1001 Ways to Market Your Books" and "Book Publishing Resource Guide"; or the old standby, "The Self-Publisher's Manual" by self-publishing guru Dan Poynter. "How to Make a Book" belongs on the shelf with Merritt Clifton's "The Samisdat Method" as an invaluable resource to small publishers and would provide a wonderful compliment to existing how-to books such as Poynter's "Publishing Short-Run Books," A.W. Lewis' "Basic Bookbinding" or Pauline Johnson's "Creative Bookbinding." Highly recommended. -- C. Darren Butler -- Writer's Keeper--PYX Pres

Haven't read it yet. I was collecting a few of her books, so I haven't gotten to this one yet. It was delivered in time and in condition described. I am pleased with the purchase.

If you are interested in classic, refined and proven techniques, then you are in for quite a treat. Robert Collier is known as one of the greatest marketers, copywriters and positive thinkers of the 20th century.

Collier packs the book with:

* Classic Sales Letter Examples
* Dozens of entrepreneurial success stories
* The six essential ad elements for a successful sale
* Tons of positive feedback and affirmation

Those who wonder if a sixty year old book is still relevant to today's marketers will be surprised to find that many top Internet marketers swear by the classic marketing methods.

I have read the book six or seven times, and every reading peels the layers back just a little bit more. It is 50% methods and 50% mindset. The methods are mechanical and somewhat easy to learn, the mindset however is why you want to read this one over and over until it becomes second nature.

Highly recommended.

Cheeers!