Arts and Crafts Books

This book is full of fun projects that will provide much inspiration if and when I ever get around to tackling the field of altered art.

A well-illustrated compendium for this particular gentre of work. Informative at several levels,sound techniques,excellent projects and interesting contributions from various artists in the field. It exists at a variety of levels,enabling a wide range of abilities from practising artists to beginners, to gain inspirational information. A bonus is the artist's biographies and web-sites. A good companion to "Altered Art'

I had been eying this book for awhile now and was surprised when my husband got it for me for Christmas. I love it! It's well laid out and has very lovely photos. Quite inspirational!

This is a nice book and has some great ideas. But I don't work in metal or wood so it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. If you are interested in 'tin' or other metal mediums then this would be a very good book for you to see. I usually check books out of the public library first to be sure they are what I'm looking for but the library didn't have this book so I bought it sight unseen.

It is a very good book with a lot of nice photos.

I am so deeply in love with this book! Each idea is fresh and new and the pictures make everything really clear. I haven't even finished it (although I've had it for quite a while) because I'm trying out the new mixed media ideas on projects as I go.....kinda savoring each section and saving the rest for later ...so many ideas! So little time!

Not the fault of the book itself; I guess I am too much of a beginner. But for someone who knows a little bit about the subject it did seem complete. What I need is a book for 'dummies'.

Kathleen cunha

A Beginner's Guide to Kiln-Formed Glass: * Fused * Slumped * CastAwesome book. It is very easy to read and understand. Neat projects to make.

Here is a book well worth it's affordable price tag. Cover to cover, 128 pages of ideas and information. Designed to be useful for both beginners and those interested in exploring some more challenging and varied techniques in the world of fused glass. Page after page of well photographed examples to guide the reader, and beautiful glass artwork to tantilize and inspire.


Chapters include basics like materials, tools, supplies, skills like straight and curved glass cutting, and basic information on slumping, draping, fusing, and polishing. The author covers mold preparation, polishing, sandblasting, etching, and drilling.


There is a useful troubleshooting guide for the more common things that go wrong with your fused glass work, and suggestions for fixing those when possible.


The projects included in the book are varied and visually interesting. They range from simple pate de verre or draping to more complex work like creating and using bars or making various types of melt fusings. All the projects are artistically beautiful, and most of them are also functional.


The directions and fusing schedules are clearly outlined and easy to understand.


Brenda Griffith is a talented artist who has taken her time, experience, and considerable thought to put out a well written book at an affordable price for both beginners and those who are looking to add to their fusing skills and knowledge.


At the retail price of $24.95, it is worth adding to your fusing library.

This is an amazing book, full of instructions and photographs of various projects, encompassing both utilitarian and art objects.

Brenda Griffith's book represents a state-of-the-art, common-sense approach to working with kiln-formed glass. Beginning with the basics, the author takes readers through materials; tools; supplies; studio setup and safety; and, techniques. Readers can then work through various projects to gain additional practice and greater understanding..
As an educator, I was impressed with the author's writing "voice." She does not preach nor talk down to her readers - she shares information with them, resulting in a high comfort level from her readers. The "Gallery Contributors" provide a means for stimulating ideas that go beyond the projects. The net result is marvelous.
I work in a studio shared by artists at various levels of proficiency. A friend and I bought three of Brenda's books at the One of a Kind Sale in Chicago and took them into the studio to share with others. (I didn't even see my copy for two weeks because it was "on loan.") A few days later, one of my colleagues came rushing into the studio, calling out, "I just got the best book out on working with kiln-formed glass! It's just super!" And, indeed it is.
The book has become a bible to the artists learning to work with kiln-formed glass. It's not uncommon to hear things like, "Well, you should have known you couldn't fire it a third time - it's in the book!" Or, "Think about kiln-finishing that piece instead of wasting all that time grinding - the directions are in the book." And, "If you'd followed the schedule in the book for increasing the temperature in the kiln, the glass wouldn't have cracked!"
Every once in a while a book is published that delivers what it promises. Brenda Griffith's book does just that and whose of us who work with kiln-formed glass are all the better. I can't wait to see what she follows it up with.

Brilliantly photographed. The sheer joy of yoga shows on all of the little faces. I plan to use it as a teaching tool and hope my little yogis find joy in my classes.
Namaste

This book is great! I like to do a lot of fun things with my kids and this book helps me to "instruct" the under 3 crowd in my house. The kids love it and everyone laughs when we do it! A definite must buy!

"Fly Like a Butterfly" is truely exhilarating and simply FUN! The photos are absolutely beautiful.
I have nine nieces and nephews and practice yoga with them weekly. They LOVE the "Frog". Because of your book we have a new found love.... YOGA!
Thank you Shakta for bringing "Children and Yoga" into my life.

This was my first children's yoga purchase which I still use today when teaching young ones. This book gives many different stories to tell as you are teaching children to move their bodies and breath within the poses. A great tool for educators and parents of children preschool through elementary age.

Out of three Children Yoga books I bought off of Amazon, this was far the best! it gave me a lot of ideas to work with and was able to build up a lot of lessons to teach the children. Children love the chanting meditaions and acting like the animals in the jungle story.

What an absolute miracle! Thank you, Annie for a great book! Buy it, everything you need to know is in here.

Excellent book with great, user friendly ideas to improve the quality of your life and your home. Recipes for cleaners are excellent. Some of the rituals described are a little far out there but are thought provoking and are worth exploring.

I use this book as a home reference all the time and it has been extremely helpful and chock full of wonderful ideas for your life, home, body..inside and out.

I do not have a lot of time to read with four kids and this book was a easy fast book to get through. Lots of information that was displayed easily. Not the big words either. And in the back it a huge wonderful list of resources I could look up on the internet. Wealth of information. I gave this book to our school hoping when they remodel they consider what was written.

This book helps you take better care of yourself and your love ones. We are concerned about what we eat and if it's safe. We also need to be concerned about what we use to clean our homes with and what we use on our skin. In this book there is lots of good, practical receipes for a toxin-free home. This book will be on that I will use often.

I am a green interior designer and have found Home Enlightenment to be a very useful reference for my work. it covers a wide assortment of topics, but centers on creating a green and toxic-free environment.

I also practice Feng Shui, so Home Enlightenment, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet(for green, Feng Shui and a beautiful home) and Feng Shui Tips for a Better Life are always in easy reach in my office.

Is your question, "After reading this book, will I be able to start and run a successful business doing decorative painting"?

My opinion? This book follows through on what it promises! The focus here is learning how to start a business in Faux Painting/ Murals, and make money in the Decorative Arts Trade. This book gives facts, and proven successful business practices and technique, needed by Right Brainers, Artists, and those blessed with Creative Genius. If you need some help with how to go from being a hobby artist, to making real money with your talent, Rebecca has written your instruction manual. This book will save you time, money, and a ton of first time business owner headaches!

Rebecca's book (manual), puts Art and Business together in an easy to read format. It can springboard the Artist/ budding Business-Person into starting a viable business with their artwork.

I found this book easy to understand, well written, clear, and to the point. It will appeal to Artists who want to take their Art to the next level; start a business, market your art, and make money selling it! Don't we all want to do what we love and have the money follow? This book can make it happen for you!

I have been painting murals and doing faux finishing, decorative paint, etc. for 11 years myself, and this is the first book that isn't laden with pretty pictures...it has the nuts and bolts of a business. When I started out professionally in this business I was 19 and had no idea how to run a successful business. Sure, I could paint anything I was asked, but that's not how you become a success, alone. Understanding the labor and customer service skills required, the marketing techniques and time management, those are the pitfalls of many artists, like myself. I learned the game as I went, but I made many mistakes. Reading this book gave me some clarity on my own business issues, and gave me some insight on how to tackle them. Most of us looking into purchasing this book are talented artists of some sort, usually people like us aren't the type to run a business too well, until you learn the ropes. Ever heard of a starving artist? WIth this book you will no longer be one!

The first thing I learned from this book is that I'm NOT ready to start my own faux/mural painting business!! This book is chuck full of information from someone that has been there. The author really explains scenarios well, and prepares you for, from what I can tell, every situation. In the back of the book she provides sample forms, and check lists, etc. I really feel that this is a true gift for anyone interested in this field. Even people that have been doing it for a few years might get some good tips here. Great job!

I bought this book for my brother who is an artist and he loves the book.

I read and re-read this book then handed it over to my sales and marketing manager. A MUST for a faux business owner.

I love her book. She gives you so many ideas to try and to start your own challenges. She encourages you to to it the way you want to. Great book!!!

I love Ali Edwards ideas and she inspires me in so many ways. This book is no exception!

I love this book. It's one I look at often seeing new things each time. It inspires me. I highly reccommend it!

Just finished reading the book a few hours ago, and it's awesome!!!

Ali's made me think in a different way about how I should be living and experiencing my creative side.

As she writes, Just be YOU, that's the point. We are the best to tell our stories, to enjoy our creativity no matter what others think about it. I should be getting my inspiration back shortly, so I'll try to be ready and go through the book a few more times.

Thanks Ali!!

This book is a great break from step-by-step guides. Ali lights a spark within us, shows us how she creates, and gives us permission to do it our way. I love the freedom coming to the scrapbooking community and the amazing layouts created with an open mind.

Excellant book with some great creative ideas in it.

Easy to understand and read.

Great for a beginner.

This book has wonderful photos and projects! If you work with metal clay, you need to have this one in your library!!! AWESOME!

Great book! A must for those interested in working with metal clay. From the extremely clear explanations to the detailed step by step photos it is hard to imagine how one could go wrong with this "personal and private lessons" kind of illustrated text.

As someone who works with jewelry I found this book to be a most up to date source of both information and resources. I sincerely hope this is not the only book Ms. Duhamel writes, as I for one would be waiting for the next. If you are interested in technique as well as design, this is a must next to your bench.

This book "makes the creation of fine silver and gold objects a possibility for non-metal craftsmen." Indeed, Louise gives very precise instructions how to work with metal clay for someone who has never taken a class -- but -- it's still better to take a class for safety considerations because firing requires using a torch or kiln. A class will also help you to plan your design before opening a package of metal clay; once exposed to air, metal clay dries very fast, so it's important to know what you will need to accomplish before firing.

Metal clay is a relatively new product. Invented by Japan's Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, it is 99.9% precious metal and .1% binder. Jewelers in the US learned about the product in the mid-1990s and embraced it as enthusiastically as versatile polymer clay had been earlier. Like polymer clay, metal clay can be molded, rolled, stamped, and folded. Gemstones and glass enamel can be a part of a design in metal clay.

Louise carefully describes the various forms of metal clay and provides an excellent chart of temperatures and times needed to fire different clays. Although there is no waste with metal clays because you can re-hydrate scraps, you must be careful not to mix two clays that require different firing temperatures.

Twenty projects are shown in detail, from simple to more difficult. Jewelers who have struggled with solid gold granulation will be shocked to see how easy it can be accomplished with metal paste. A metal clay class and this book will certainly inspire you.

I recently started working with metal clay. As a result, I purchased a series of books in order to learn more. This book is by far the best I have ordered. I really enjoyed it because it is full of innovative, very creative techniques yet it also covers all the basics in detail. The directions are clear and don't make the beginner feel intimidated. This book guarantees that you won't be bored after you master the basics.

I really like this book. It covers many fabrics, including many I've been hesitant to use or nervous about when I did. I recently bought a new electronic sewing machine and this has been a real help. The recommendations about the right foot to use and when were a boon in selecting which accessories to buy. I also really like the sections in the back. There are illustrations on different seams, closures, and hems, plus information on stain removal, linings, and sources. Great!

I received this book quicker than I expected and was extremely happy with the condition of this used book. It was almost like new. The seller certainly ensured that I received exactly what I wanted as quickly as possible. Just excellent customer service to this international buyer.
I will keep on trying to source those difficult to find books from this seller.
With grateful thanks

More Fabric Savvy: A Quick Resource Guide to Selecting and Sewing Fabric Completely Revised and Updated

This is a must have book for anyone who sews. If you are starting out, it will save you a lot of frustration, money and fabric/supplies. If you are more advanced or a serious seamstress, it will help you to know the answers to all the questions that come up when handling multiple types of textiles. Each page on a fabric gives you all the information you need to know about that fabric, including what needle to use, what pressure foot to sew with, whether to wash or dryclean, line, how to hem, etc.

If I had this book when I was starting out over 30 years ago, I could have saved a lot of money. This is a great gift for someone who loves to sew.

Being very hesitatant at first about the book and the people telling me to get this book it's the greatest; well I've head that before. I have to state clearly "I WAS WRONG" this is the greatest book for sewing usage, but also, anytime you want to purchase material for any project whatever it may be you have to have this book. It gives you information such as; tells you the fabric, washing instructions, thread to use, needles, pressing, what foot to use on machine, and much more. This was for every type of fabric it's a "must have book".

Every sewer should have this book is detailed guidance on picking the right fabric and what needle to use to and even how to start sewing some of those harder fabrics without bunching or snagging. One of the best sewing books I have bought yet!

I had the good fortune to take a class with Sonia King. She is very talented and has a wealth of informaton which she shares very effectively in her book. Not quite like taking the class - but the next best thing if you can't meet her in person. The book is very inspirational and informative.

Para una autodidacta como yo, ha sido fantástico poder contar con este libro, en el cual la autora entrega todos sus conocimientos, tanto de historia, materiales y técnicas. Es un libro completo y didáctico.

Great book with wonderful pictures. While techniques and methods are shown, the projects are a bit advanced, so I wouldn't recommend it for complete beginners. Other than that, a very good book.

This is a very complete book about mosaics. Contains historic and up to date information about the world of mosaics. Contains advices, projects and recommendations. If you are interested in this art you shouldn't missed it.

I'm a big Sonia King's fan. You have to have in your library. Its an amazing book with a lot of techniques, full of ilustrations, pictures, colors, a very nice book. I can't hardly wait for her next book !!!

Informative and well illustrated ideas for using other mediums on fabric surfaces. Good reference for the fabric artist or aspiring fabric artist. Includes photographs documenting various processes. Once read, I really felt as though I could successfully accomplish the ideas presented. Inspiring.

Have only recently rec'd this book and am fascinated by it! Inspirational! It's one of those that when I waken at 3 a.m. and can't go back to sleep I slip it off the library shelf, curl up in my favorite chair, and just enjoy. Maybe in a slower, calmer time in my life I'll actually *try* some of these ideas.

This book provides technical expertise in a very well written format and the inspiration to enter into a new phase of the quilting world. I can not say enough good things about this book. The book is easy to tote around and pick up, finding something new every time. With the examples, everything I have tried has come out fantastic. I have even amazed myself. The only downside is that my other projects are not being finished.

I have painted on canvas for many years and have been interested in combining this interest with quilting. I have dabbled a bit but now that I have "Painted Quilt", I know and have tried many more techiniques for combining painting and quilting. I am delighted that these ladies wrote this book - it is like they wrote it just for me!

First off, all the other reviewers are right on the mark when it comes to this book, yet I wanted to add a few words that might help others choose this book for their library. For one, the page on the subject "Inspired to Design" is just the beginning of the subject covered in detail through the rest of the book, but its place at the beginning is so true - test projects on paper before using fabric and thread. A must do and often ignored when the lovely fabrics, delicate threads, and other embellishments come before us on our creating table. Yet if we do use paper, ink, paint and collage FIRST, we may be able to decrease error in judgement or come up with a more inspiring product. Artists, like me, often just want to dive in, yet this book really provides the information and inspiration to do it right. Excellent words. Plus the subtle reminders of safety when using some products is also extremely important to me and the authors remind us all to keep this knowledge foremost in our minds. The images that go along with the instructions are often more beneficial than the words, often the other way around in other books, but this one does it right. THE PAINTED QUILT is a fascinating read from cover to cover and, YES, fiber/fabric artists will refer to this book over and over again, if not for guidance, for definite inspiration.