Arts and Crafts Books

The shipment arrived very very fast, the book stinks but that is not the shippers problem.

This book is a little large to be carrying around, however I still do carry it to places that I already know will have the pattern I am looking for.
The forward describes "Elegant" glassware as handmade and acid etched glassware that was sold by department and jewelry stores during the Depression era through the 1950's, differentiating it from the dime store and giveaway glass that has become known as Depression glass. The word "Elegant" has become "official" nomenclature among today's dealers for designating handmade glass.
It is well organized with the glass patterns in alphabetical order and the prices in columns by color of glass. Most of the pictures are color and have good enough definition to identify what you are looking at. There are a contents by pattern and a contents by company.

gene florence , any of his books are concise and show the items in a clear picture . he presents the items along with the current prices . all of genes books as is this one , are lovely to look at and very informative, giving a lot of joy.

Orginally purchased for my mother, I purchased it also after looking through it. The original reason for the book was to attempt to id some etched glass, the glass was not in the book, but it was worth it anyway. Beautiful photos, good writing, I saw pieces I had not known exsited. Who knew that such elegant depression glass was out there! I would not recommend it for the "flea market" or "yard sale" groupie, one of his Collectors Encyclopedias may work better, but it is still a very nice book and well worth it if you collect or deal in higher end depression glass.

This is another fave of mine from Gene Florence!He sure knows what he is writing about!!!This book is loaded with color photos of many different types of depression glass.I never realized how many patterns,and companies,there were out there!!!He also is very thorough about listing what pieces were in what colors and the values for each color.
Overall a fantastic book!

This was ourchased for my 11 year old granddaughter. She love it. Basic things are explained perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is a great addition to your ceramics library.
It has many beautiful and colorful pictures that will definately inspire the artist in you.

excellent reference book. covers all aspects of pottery. full of wonderful ideas and is a great inspiration for the artist. i am excited about adding this book to my reference libary.

I've been throwing for about 3 years and this book was given to me as a gift. It briefly touches on many subject and has a lot of good pictures.

I would recommend this to anyone with interest in pottery, both wheel throwing and hand building.

This is a great reference book with lots of ideas and lots of illustrations. Great for someone who wants to explore out of just throwing or hand building. Great step by step ideas with great color illustrations.

This book has some great designs, but they are not for the beginner. The authors show you, step-by-step, how to carve two of the 20 patterns. One design is done in 86 steps using simple tools (pocket knife, finish nail, toothbrush, etc.) The other design is done in 39 steps using carving gouges. You will need thick-skinned pumpkins. Great book if you want to take your pumpkin carving to the next level.

We do an annual adult Pumpkin carving night and now with this book we will make them even more amazing!

This book is a great tutorial for carving a masterpiece. The pictures are very professional and every step of the process is documented. Only two carvings are shown in complete detail, but you won't be disappointed. The technique is defined in such a way that you should be able to take this idea and run with it using your own ideas. Lots of other pictures and ideas are given, just not in the detailed description as the first two. I'm very impressed.

Was easy to follow the instructions, could be used for other media other than pumpkins. Pictures were great to see visual aid. Highly recommend for a carver.

I got this book for halloween this year. Read through it in a short sitting, and had a clear view of how to create releaf style pumpkin sculptures in no time.

I had some background many years ago in highschool pottery classes doing sculture, and the techniques detailed in this book easily recapped each of the basics and then advanced into the more skilled techniques.

I highly recommend this for anyone with little to no sculpture background.

The draw backs I found with this book are that they focus heavily on how to accomplish the effects with typical knife. Then they transition in to using more specific tools. The issue being that they spend far less time detailing the technique with the specific/advanced tools, it would have been better if they keep the same level of tenique details for the advanced tools. Also on the subject of advanced tools, the author provide teh list of tools he uses(which have been built over many years specializing in the spaced). There is very little time spent on talking about what tools are used or suggestions of locations to get ahold of them. I have found that getting ahold of tools that fit the task have been hard to find and better descriptions or sources would be extremely helpful.

This book had a lot of really wonderful ideas, however, most of the crafts are for older children and my party was for 6 year olds and younger. I made the fairy braclets for the girls myself as it was a little time consuming. For kids 8+ this is a wonderful book with some really cute ideas.

for all who love fairies or crafts, this is a perfect book. Great ideas, wonderful processes and beautiful products!

I bought two copies, one for my 9 yr old daughter and one for her friend. They love it and have had the most fun with these creations. I do recommend a little adult help and guidance with the different crafts.

I bought this book, along with Sweet Pea's Garden: Special Things to Make and Do ~ A Flower Fairies Friends Book & How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party, to help me with my daughter's fairy birthday party. The crafts are exquisite as well as resonably easy to do. Most items can be easily found around the house or your nearest craft store. I love the crafts in both this and Sweet Pea's Garden. Both books are easy to do although I think Sweet Pea works best for our smaller fairies while this book would be perfect for an upscale girls tea party. I loved the little stories and the illustrations that were woven through the book. The only thing that dissapointed me was that there weren't any recipes. If there had been three or four little recipes that would have rounded out the book perfectly. I fell in love with the little cake in the picture of the table setting at the beginning of chapter three. The crafts included invitations, bookmarks, wings, skirts, fairy dolls with a fairy land playground, jewelry, etc. My favorite crafts were the playground and the blooming tableware. Both were made to decorate my daughters table and they were absolutely beautiful. This made for a magical day. Oh, and there are instructions for a Violet Choker by Heidi Boyd at the DIY website.

We used this little book as the basis for a flower fairy birthday party for a six year old, and it was a huge success, and considerably less expensive than renting Little Gym or another insitutional party place.

We made several decorations and the gorgeous flower fairy wands.

All of the projects would probably require adult assistance for a child under 10, but they are really lovely and worth any effort.

Bonnie's book has many georgous pictures and ample directions for this technique that goes beyond the norm. In addition to uses in making art quilts, I'll be using the techniques with church banners. I'm seeing endless possibilities with this technique. WELL worth the cost.

These exquisite quilts made of fabric and silk flowers, and embellished with glistening threads and beads, are a delight to the eye, a focal point in decor, and a conversation piece! If you like fabric and flowers, here's the way to combine them, using your sewing skills, deft hands, and an eye for design. The abundant, beautifully photographed quilt designs in the book will certainly get you started, whether to copy one, or to use as inspiration for creating your own designs. The author's experience with teaching classes on this technique comes through in the thorough, yet easy to understand instructions. There are some supplies the author mentions that I had never heard of, so the list of resources, including some web addresses, is helpful. The price of the book seems a little high, but if you make only one of these fabric masterpieces, it will be worth it!

Well, she's done it again. Bonnie McCaffery's new book, Fantasy Floral Quilts is a great follow up to her first book, Fantasy Fabrics. This book has numerous beautiful pictures as examples & clear instructions for a unique technique. For those quilters interested in new ideas this book is a must have for their library.

You know all those silk flowers you couldn't resist in those shops that you dragged your husband and kids to on your last vacaton? Then when you got home they were carefully tucked away until inspiration came to arrange and diplay them in your home. Well, grab your prettiest ones and those relagated to the bottom of the drawer and open to any page of Bonnie McCaffery's latest book, "Fantasy Floral Quilts". That's just what I did. Fun ideas came tumbling at me faster than I could dissect those delphiniums and run to the nearest fabric store for a selection of tulle to compliment those lillies languishing in my growing cache of faux blossoms. You won't believe how many kinds of new flowers you can invent with your newly educated eye and what you have on hand or what you can find in craft shops. Then all the ways you can use your innovations with Ms McCaffery's help. This book stands alone as one aspect of modern quilt "technology". You should see this book for yourself, it's a new look on the quilt horizon that you won't want to miss.

You never knew how EASY a technique could be, and what a
beautiful piece you could create! Bonnie McCaffery's book
gives you step-by-step instructions, VERY clearly written,
to guide just about anyone to completion of a wall hanging
she can be justifiably proud of! At the Mid-Appalachian
Quilters workshop, I saw folks who were somewhat tentative
and a bit scared at first create the MOST beautiful works
you can imagine. . . and, you can too!

This is a wonderful book for reference to help any quilter improve her skills. I had created my own methods for "painting with fabric. Ms. Anderson makes it much easier.

This product is good if you have already ready Charlotte's first book. It is not enough otherwise.

Exceptional simple explanation and illustrations. A valuable addition to my library

This is an excellent book. I'll keep it forever as a reference book. It arrived in perfect shape and in a short time from when ordered. Thank You.

This is a great book. Charlotte brings people to life in her quilts. I am truly amazed and inspired by her work. She guides you thru the process to approaching quilt making with her techniques. I am still working on making my first face quilt and although it takes some work...it is well worth it if you are interested in this kind of quilt art. Another great book i am happy to own.

I tell you if I were not in between jobs (gotta save my pennies for the rent) I would have ran out to the nearest art supply store and purchased some "sculpey" clay to begin my new hobby as a sculptor.

That's how easy Dottie Erdmann, the author, makes sculpture look. Erdman, a self-taught sculptor, echoed my sentiments exactly when she explained she had an interest in sculpture but didn't know where to begin. Armed with a little information she had gathered about sculpting she headed to her art supply store to purchase some clay and tools. A sculptress was born.

The book is an easy step-by-step guide complete with black and white photos and drawings. She starts off with super easy small objects: a lemon, followed by an apple, etc. She builds your skills and confidence with the smaller objects while advancing you to the more difficult projects in the book.

The only disappointment I had with the book were the tools she used to put the lines and detail in the clay. I couldn't tell which ones were being used for which project. But, as I read through the book, I began to learn the sculptor developes a feeling (comes with experience - trial and error) for which tool to use to make certain impressions in the clay. Besides that, the book was EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!

As a provessional who works with patients who are recovering from physical and mental challenges I found Hands On Sculpting an enormously useful book. It doesn't "talk down" to the patients, but "talks with" them encouraging them to work with their hands and use their creativity while sculpting anything from very, very simple projects to projects of more complexity. The feeling of accomplishment, which builds self-esteem, is magnificent therapy during the recovery period.

My son was fortunate to have the author, Dottie Erdmann visit and instruct his third grade class. The entire class was completely thrilled and amazed with what their hands can do. Hands on Sculpting is a must for every school.

I enjoy Mrs. Erdmann's sculpting techniques very much. She came to my school and taught our class a lot of really neat stuff! Thanks to Mrs. Erdmann I am really having fun with sculpting.

Eric Martin

My family found this book to be informative as well as creative and fun for all ages and skill levels. It's written in an easy to read format, just as if you were sitting in a private lesson. The pictures and drawings are very clear and helpful.

This is a beautiful book for children of all ages. I have three nieces ranging in age from 4 to 13 and each enjoyed it at a different level. Wonderful illustrations support a fun and inspiring story. I highly recommend this book!

This is a wonderful story about finding ways to be q part of something even though you don't "appear" to have the talent. Holly finds a wonderful way to express her ability to "grow" flowers. The drawings in this book are absolutely beautiful and the attention to detail is amazing. Anyone who loves flowers or gardening, both young and old, will love this book! A great gift.

What a wonderful story about finding your own personnel way to express yourself when you can't do what everyone else can. A great story for children and adults to remind us to look at things from a different perspective. The book is filled with beautiful, colorful and detailed drawings. Gorgeous drawings of every kind of flower. Makes me want a garden like that. Great book for young and old flower lovers, gardeners and the gardening challenged!!!

"Holly Bloom felt as grouchy as the thorns on a rosebush.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make her flowers grow."

Holly wants to create her own garden but doesn't know all the secrets of gardening. Her mother, Iris, has a green thumb and her father gives her creative advice. Everyone in the family seems to be participating in the gardening activities. The pictures are filled with bright colors and comforting gardening situations. Her father paints pictures of the flowers while family members cut roses or plant new flowers.

"What I really need, thought Holly, is a green thumb."

So, Holly puts green paint on her thumb. This book has a real sense of humor. Well, when that doesn't work, Holly tries using fertilizer and then a variety of tools. Finally she soaks the flowers with too much water. (Why does this sound like my gardening at times?)

Finally, Holly goes to bed and when everyone thinks she is asleep, she sneaks into her dad's art studio and makes all sorts of paper flowers that fill up the entire room.

Children will enjoy the surprise of Holly finding a way to "grow" her own flowers. The art by Lori Mitchell is healing and calming. She uses just the right colors to set a mood for each page. The illustrations were created using black Prismacolor pencil and acrylic paint on Arches hotpress watercolor paper. The result is vibrant art with a realistic feel.

~The Rebecca Review

I've shared this book a dozen times with my 6-year-old son. He gets greatly discouraged when things don't bloom after he's planted seeds, so "Holly Bloom's Garden" gave him the idea of making his own flowers. The book's illustrations are warm and charming and Ashman and Parent tell a good story that should appeal to both boys and girls.

This was a very helpful book - straightforward and practical ideas for plantings around my house & yard. It included planting layout diagrams, plant list and sketches of what things might look like during different seasons.

A big problem I've had with gardening books is that they so often cover areas with different climates (such as the wet Pacific Northwest) than that which I have to face here in the American Midwest. This book, however, has shown itself to be an excellent resource!

It starts out with a portfolio of 23 designs, giving the reader excellent advice on appearance and what plants to use, complete with color pictures, and a sample graph paper design. After that, it has step-by-step instructions (again with great color illustrations) on building projects, such as sidewalks, walls, patios and so much more. The final part of the book is a series of plant profiles that looks at garden plants and their needs.

So, just to make everything perfectly clear, I loved this book, and highly recommend it to every gardener in the American Midwest!

This book is a tremendous resource for landscaping in the midwest. It provides great ideas for landscaping for different seasons, conditions, and locations. Most of the recommended varieties of plants are easy to find at your local nursery which has always been a problem with other books I have used. The pictures and drawings really provide extreme value when trying to picture how plants will look together. It has already given me enumerous great ideas and suggestions.

This book is a good source for midwest-specific plantings and landscape ideas. I found I didn't have to look up the growing zones of plants I found interesting, wondering "Would this plant grow well around here?"

I also enjoy the overall friendly tone of the text. Some other books of this type that I own are written in a stuffy, almost highbrow manner.

The only thing I would have liked to have seen more of in this book is more actual photographs of the landscapes. There are many photos of the featured plants, but the book relies heavily on artwork for the landscape design images.

Excellent ideas and designs with excellent plant choices. Great for the beginner or designer to create updated and hardy garden designs that put on a show throughout the seasons.I am a designer and love books, this is once of the easiest to understand and carry out.

This was the only framing book we used for building our house. My only previous framing experience was some volunteer work a few years ago. The book was fun for daydreaming before we started building, and helped us to eventually work up the courage to build. Our daughter and son-in-law helped us put up some of the heavier framing sections, and some other friends helped us insall the sheathing and sheetrock. Basically this was an owner-built house with no contractor involvement. Our building inspector is known for being very strict, and the house passed the framing inspection with compliments.

I'm getting ready to build a small addition on my house. This was the perfect book for me. The book is well organized and it covers just about every question I had about how to frame my addition. The text is easy to understand, with lots of pictures, and the author defines all of the terms he uses that the general public might not be familiar with. There is also a glossary in the back.

In addition to "how to frame", the book goes over what kind of lumber, nails, and screws you should use, and has charts to tell you how large joists, etc., should be.

House Framing: Plan, Design, Build by housing construction expert John Wagner clearly and coherently lays out illustrated construction techniques that will enable any do-it-yourself enthusiast to built a room addition, install windows and doors, finish a basement, create a shed, or construct a garage. More than 55 detailed step-by-step construction techniques are enhanced with more than 750 photos and illustrations that guide the reader through every layout and framing process. In addition to framing techniques for building floors, walls, and roofs, as well as "how to" information on steel framing, stairs, windows, and doors, the reader is provided with up-to-date information on the best tools and materials for their building project. House Framing is a welcome and invaluable addition to any personal or community library Architecture, Design & Construction reference collection.

book is ok but lacks the detail and flow of say Graphic Guide to Framing ...or Journal of Light Construction guides. If your a reader and not really a hands on learner then the book may be a better fit for you. If however like me you learn by seeing a detailed picture and prefer to skip the long winded stuff..then this book is not a good fit. Also note the book does not give a lot of options...they show you one way to complete you project (except for the dormer plan)...were as say Graphic Guide gives you every way; plus a detailed drawing ie: say for a facia board trim out or venting options on a facia. As a guy that does this for a living I say your much better having all your options explained so that you can choose the best option for your situation.

You can learn how to frame an entire house with this book. The basics are all in there. Of course you'll be lacking some serious, somewhat required, experience if you just read this book and try to build a 3 bdrm, 2 story house. But it really helped clear things up for me.

I'm using many of the techniques addressed in this book for my tree house. I'm also using the techniques to build a separate utility shed. The book makes it easy to refer back to something you've already read. I do this constantly since I seriously lack framing experience.

The structural materials and engineering chapters were the most helpful to me. Combine this book with "Working Along" by John Carroll and you'll be dangerous in no time.

aloha,
-Brent
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