Arts and Crafts Books

This is a replacement for myself and I bought extra copies for my daughters. The book is very well done with easy instructions and even beginners can follow and get a fabulous finished product.

Another wonderful Leisure Arts collection! This book really does offer something for everyone. Many Afghans are worked while holding 2 strands, which always makes for quick rewarding projects. There are also several strip/motif patterns that are good choices for working on the go. Sophisticated Swirl on page 66 is especially stunning, it will impress your friends and you because it looks very complicated but is actually very simple!

Delightful book, lots of large hook with 2 strands of yarn patterns, as well as mile-a-minute patterns. Easy to follow directions, and quite a few standard type patterns for the traditionalists among us. You won't be sorry if you purchase this one. All crochet.

I'm a casual crocheter. I love this book! It's got a great instruction section at the back and lots of variety in the afghans. I like that there's a full color of each item and the instructions right next to it. No searching to find what you need. You can lay the book open and see the instructions and the picture at the same time.

This is my only crochet book. I actually use the patterns to springboard ideas for dish clothes.

I really enjoy this book. There is a variety of styles, sizes and pattern types to try out. Also, the book tells you the yarn weight and gauge, not the brand of yarn, so substitutions are easy. The only draw back is that there isn't any rating system as to the difficulty of each pattern - a careful reading is necessary before starting any project.

highly recommended. beautiful photos - clear instructions - gorgeous designs. As a vintage ribbon work lover, this book has it all.

when you want to make a gift special this book will have your flowers very creative and lets you pick those special colors with out a lot of mess. great book

Excellent. Very easy instructions and easy projects. I was immediately able to make beautiful flowers out of ribbon. Highly recommended.

This book is all you need to know - materials, techniques, inspiration for projects. If you'd like to learn ribbonwork, this is the only book you need.

This is the 3rd book I've bought on making ribbon flowers and it is certainly the one to make it easier for you. Her flower directons make your ribbon flowers look like the ones you buy.

The Basics Equipment: stamps and inkpads, plus combined results Tools: the essentials, plus punches, thermal embossing tools, glues, wire tools and more exciting possibilities.

Materials: the embossing powders- glues, colouring mediums etc that take stamping beyond the basics.

Papers: what's out there and how to use it.

Simple Stamping Workshop back-to-basics guide to perfecting the foundations - inking brush markers accurate positioning masking clear stamps simple embossing

Presentation Workshop Basic design: layouts composition presentation Colour schemes: including swatches and finished examples

Applying colour: applying inks, chalks, sponging and more Finishing touches: glitter, ribbon, charms, eyelets etc

Creative Workshop 19 step-by-step, technique-led illustrated projects (mostly cards), plus a gallery of samples each for further creativity Acetate Bleaching Brayering Chalks Collage Cut Away Decoupage and 3D Decoupage Direct to Paper Embellishing Masking Metal Foil Multi Embossing Pearl Effects Resist Embossing Shadow Stamping Shrink Plastic Style Stones Vellum Velvet Paper Suppliers

- Acknowledgments
- Index

Instructions are clear and easy to follow. By far the best book I have seen on the subject.

I just received this book today and read it cover to cover. It has everything. It's well organized, lists items you need to create a project, has step-by-step directions and tips. The pictures show you the process and gave me many ideas to copy. This is a beautifully presented book. You can't go wrong with Francoise Read's book.

One of the most wonderful books for Stampers.
Very clear and great to have.

The Rubber Stamper's Bible

Very good book. I wish I knew about it when I started stamping two years ago. If you are just starting to stamp, it explains the differnt inks, cardstocks, tools, techniques, etc. which would have been such an asset instead of my learning bits and pieces at a time. I would have at least knew what people were talking about.

After forty years in sales, I am now faced with attracting an agent for my novel without being able to use my mouth. This book has many helful suggestions on how to sell your ideas and get your work published. Highly recommend this to new authors.

Joe Smiga

As with her previous book, "A Writer's Guide to Fiction", I cannot recommend this title highly enough. Together, both books should be required reading for serious novelists. She presents practical ideas and guidance born of her years of editing fiction, and manages to be encouraging and inspiring while keeping a clear eye on the realities of the publishing world.

Though I have not yet reached the point where I can put her ideas to the test in the marketplace, I feel that I will be much better prepared once I do thanks to her systematic, professional approach. If you only buy two books on writing and selling fiction, they should be these two by Elizabeth Lyon.

Highly, enthusiastically recommended.

This volume is useful as you begin to market your work. It's a comprehensive guide to the steps an author should take, and its organization makes it a particularly clear and useful treatise that also is an easy "go-back-and-check" reference.

As an already published author, I was encountering difficulty finding a new editor and an agent. Elizabeth Lyon's book solved the problem. I can now write meaningful one page query letters. Thanks!

It's very hard to complete a novel, and after you complete it and begin to think about how to get it published can become overwhelming. That one page query letter that agents and publishers read and judge your writing ability on is an education in itself. This book will help you craft that all-important letter.

I have Diane's original, self published version of this book, but having this version, with all the colored pictures, is worth the price of buying the new edition.

For those who like such, there are also specific patterns using the stitches-- something I dont remember the original ook having.

AWESOME. This book is detailed, very easy to follow, and causes visions of projects in your mind that you JUST might be able to do now. This toom of teaching bead weaving goes above and beyond other books written about the same subject.

Highly recommended for content, price, and excitement. Buy it now!!

Lovely book. Wonderful photos and clear instructions of various stitches used. The historical pages are very interesting. Looking forward to the next book!

I love this book-have made one bracelet, and am onto a second one. The instructions are so easy to follow and there are lot's of different patterns to try.

I cannot begin to describe the appreciation I have for this book. Being an Amercian of African decent, I always appreciate learning about the culture and history of people from different parts of the motherland. I have been trying to find a how-to-book on making African beaded jewelry. From what I observed from books about African Art and culture, the jewelry is always so colorful and beautifully designed. I want to make and wear jewelry that imulates the beauty of African styles of beading. Through a perspective of a person of African decent, I would have liked to see photographic examples of jewelry made by the Africans, which the book shows, but with more of them and the instructions demonstrating how to make them. However, the author has made the jewelry shown in this book to truly represent styles and beauty of African beaded jewelry. The photographs, the jewelry and instructions in this book are fantastic as others have mentioned and plus some.

This is essentially a picture book of beads. If you're looking for a book to show you how to make beads, then this is not it. There is no instruction provided. If you make lampworked beads and you're looking for inspiration, then this is a must have. The photography is well done and in full color. The beads are just breathtaking and awe inspiring.

If you make jewelry, or make handmade lampwork beads, this book is a treasure trove of incredible work.

First, I probably need to say I'm a bit biased, as a bracelet and beads of mine are in this book. Regardless, if you are a bead lover, you can get so captivated by the beads in this book that hours go by unnoticed.

As a beadmaker and a jewelry maker, I was mesmerized trying to figure out all the different techniques and thinking of ways I could use all these gorgeous beads. The variety of styles, colors and techniques is very broad. Even in the few years since this has been published, though, hundreds of new tools and types of glass are now available that were not when images were submitted for this book - makes me think it's time for "Volume II"! Even so, there is more than enough in this book to put any bead lover in a trance.

As others have mentioned, this book is NOT a how-to or project book in any way, shape or form. It's a beautifully produced, colorful catalog of work by many bead artists. There is even a list by name and location in the back in case you want to find a particular artist (I know - I was contacted by another local glass artist).

If there is any 'criticism', at least in my opinion, it is the lack of some sort of logical organization. (Or if there was one, I obviously wasn't logical enough to grasp it!) But that really didn't detract as each page was sort of like opening a present. Similar to how beadmakers (and probably others that use kilns) feel when they open the kiln in the morning - it's like Christmas everyday! You know what you put in, but glass+heat+oxygen+fuel combines in ways that you often cannot predict. (OK, some days it seems as though Santa decided you'd been bad this 'year'... Even so, it's exhilarating to open the kiln!)

Lark Books' whole series of "500..." (or in this case "1000...") books are all gorgeous and fuel for your creativity!

Beth Boal

Every Beadmaker and collector should have this book in their library!

This book is pure eye candy!! For those who just appreciate beautiful works of art, or those who are involved or learning lampworking, this book is amazing. No instructions, just pictures of finished glass beads, but that is more than enough.

Altered Art showcases some of the most fun altered art out there today.
This field is expanding exponentially - it seems so accessible - and offers
a relief from the generally serious world we live in.
Not that altered art can't (and doesn't) have a serious side all its own. As illustration, compare the Nori Dress by Dee Fontans on page 140 with I'll Fly Away on page 128 by Betsy Reeves. They each speak to the same theme in two entirely different languages.
Terry Taylor has assembled an incredible array of talented artists, doing what they do best, altering the bits of our wonderful, wacky, crazy and sometimes sad world into a storytelling vision of art that transcends time.

.. brilliance! You won't get through it in a day or two. I have never seen so many photographs in one book before. The projects are awesome and the author, Terry Taylor, has chosen some fantastic designers to display their work. Terry is brilliant and it is evident in his art. This is an extremely inspiring book.

This book is pretty great. There are a bit fewer "great" projects in it than I had hoped for and a few things more basic than I would have liked, but the bulk of the book is great. It's very inspirational and just plain fun to look at. The book shows a lot of pretty piles of found objects without showcasing an actual project made from said items in most cases but there are tons of other examples to look at. There are also several tips on how to do things, such as solvent transfers, which are nice. I would recommend this more to a newcomer to altered art or someone who doesn't mind spending the money to look at things they likely already know how to do. Again, the prettiness of most of it is worth it though.

I browsed through this book at the local craft store at least three times over several visits before I finally decided to buy it. I sure am glad that I did! Not only is it visually appealing, filled with so many wonderful ideas, techniques, and creative springboards for one's own ideas, but it simply, yet clearly gives directions on so many different techniques. In fact, I think that the only technique that was mentioned but not fully covered was soldering.

Everything else was carefully explained, and beautifully detailed. It does cover: altered art (obviously), altered books, cards, jewelery, dolls, techniques, copyrights, history, and much much more.

I have been creating mixed-media collages and altered art for about 2 years now, so I'd consider myself, well, not a beginner but not as advanced as others. But I believe this book would be helpful to anyone, at any level. I highly recommend it and enjoy it each time I refer back to it.

It is an absolutely beautiful book, filled with great projects and suggestions. For someone with creative aspirations but little direction, just flipping through the pages provides so much inspiration.

I was completely over the moon when I looked at the pictures in this book. Never knew how beautiful freemotion embroidery can be. I often see quilts that are a bit "common", but I like the special effects that Annemieke (my namesake) can make with thread, adorable book!

The artwork is gorgeous, the layout and design stunning. One of the most beautiful art books I own.

Absolutely stunning work using fibers, paint and fabric...plus an eye for nature. This artist is amazing and dedicated to her craft. I would love to see what she is doing now as this book shows her development of this unique style...one that is truly hers...up to the late 1980s to early 1990s. I consider this a beautiful addition to my high end coffee table books and my friends who visit agree. Classic.

This is one of the most incredible books that I have seen. The artwork is phenomenal. This is book not only qualifies as an instructional guide but as a coffee table book. It is a feast for the eyes.

What inspired me most in this book was the fact that the artist works with a very old and simple sewing machine, and she manages to create some of the most unique quilts I have seen. I could spend hours and hours just looking at the photos. The subject matter is highly realistic, and has a lot of butterflies, moths, birds, and other wildlife. I would recommend this book as an excellent gift for yourself or for a really good friend.

I was totally ignorant of segmented wood turning until I read this book. Now I am ready to give it a try. I would recommend this book to any serious wood turner.

This is an excellent book, but I feel it is for advanced segmented wood turners. The pictures are beautiful and give you lots of "food for thought." I'm just beginning with segmented wood turning. The book is fun to look at, very detailed in it's instruction, and very interesting to read.

I like everything about woodturning. This book is no exception. You might also want to check the DVD Beyond Wood - Portrait of an Artist. You will see a lot of beautifully photographed pieces and interviews from years of research on the subject.

This book is very helpful and inspiring to any segmented bowl turner. Gives incentive to try the seemingly impossible combination of patterns.

This book was very inspiring. I've made several projects similiar to what is in the book. My work has been praised. Although the designing, cutting of pieces of wood and aleining is challenging; the end results are well worth the efforts.

Hi,
This book was recommend to me. It's all about the patterns, which is good if this is what you are looking for. I was trying to find something more on how to put colors together for jewelry making. So if its quilting your looking for than I guess this is a good book.

I'm an experienced "beader" who creates art quilts. I also teach classes on art quilts and contemporary quilt making (which includes embellishments using beads). I would strongly recommend Nancy Eha's book "Bead Creative Art Quilts" for both the experienced and inexperienced at beading. Nancy provides tips, tricks, and techniques on beading stitches, using beads on quilts, and finishing quilts with beads. Diagrams and instructions are clear and easy to follow. I am very pleased to have this book in my library of reference books. Thanks Nancy for sharing your magic!

I am not a quilter but I am developing an interest and skill , I hope , in beading on fabric. I found this book by Nancy Eha particularly helpful in extending my knowledge. The diagrams and patterns are clear and easily followed by all skill levels. The book has numerous illustrations, clear text and excellent pattern sheets at the end, for the user to develop their own patterns.I feel I will use it a lotand can recommend this book to other beaders. Jane Haultain. New Zealand

Best book on beading quilts ever. Have used several of the ideas presented with excellent results.

Clear drawings for duplicating the designs with methods for going off on your own. Includes gorgeous photography to inspire. A MUST for your library both for eye-candy and technique.