Arts and Crafts Books

This book will make you want to start a project today. Really great instructions, great pictures.

Very well written, great pictures, and lots of step by step. I had worked with other mediums before but not ceramic beads. Jennifer takes you step by step and is very easy to follow. I've made over 100 beads and pendants so far. Some weren't successful, but that's not Jennifer's fault. Some shortcuts you just can't take! Wonderful book, especially if you've been curious. Ceramic beads are easy, but time consuming. Very worth it!

Jennifer created a fantastic book. Tjhe illustrations are beautiful! The i nstructions are easy to understand. The book makes you want to immediately start making your own beads.

I am not a ceramic bead maker, but after reading Jennifer Heynen's book I feel like I want to go out and get myself a kiln and a hunk of clay and start making snakes and balls and just getting my hands dirty just like when I was a kid! I had the good fortune to actually meet Jennifer at a jewelry workshop right before her book came out. I bought it because I was curious, and now I really want to test my luck with making these beautiful beads. Jennifer is obviously very accomplished in her art, and loves what she does. Her colors and designs are fresh and funky and as colorful as her personality. I am impressed by the writing that makes something so technical seem within the grasp of someone like me who has never worked in this medium before. I have also ordered beads from Jangles and can attest to their quality and beauty. If you seek something new to add to your jewlery designing repertoire, or if you just love beautiful design books, then Ceramic Bead Jewelry is for you!

I pre-ordered this book in March and was so happy to receive it this week. I had read about it on a yahoo group called beads of clay. It was well worth the wait. Very clear pictures and thorough instructions on how to create beads with clay. I highly recommend this book.

After checking this book out from the library, I decided it would be a good resource book to have.
I do not understand why it is priced at $100 when the list price is $22.95
I triple checked the publish dates and ISBN numbers. This is the same book I bought at a local retailer for $22.95
For the life of me I can't figure out why Amazon wants so much.

Really complete book. When I browse through this book, I have million of new ideas for my work. A must have for beginners as well as professionals!

This book is complete, clear and very easy to understand. It was just what I was looking for. It offers many many different stiches. I love it.

A superb book for anyone wanting to learn embroidery. The book has great diagrams, photographs and written descriptions for every stitch. The written instructions are very thorough and easy to understand. Aside from all that great stuff, the very best part of this book (in my opinion) is the "tip" included with each stitch on how to create the stitch, or what effect the stitch is best used for or what type of thread is best to use for that particular stitch. A great resource for all levels. Also recommended: The Embroidery Stitch Bible.

The book solved my sewing problem within five minutes.

This book is spectacular! Whether you are a visual or verbal learner or any kind in between, Rayna's pictures and explanations make cutting-edge surface design methods approachable and dare I say...fun! This book is a must-have.

All work has come to a standstill here now that the mail carrier arrived with Rayna Gillman's new book, "Create your own hand-printed cloth: Stamp, screen & stencil with everyday objects." I am fighting the urge to lock myself in a room away from my kids (they can forage for their own lunch, can't they?) and read the whole thing non-stop. Gillman covers stamping and stenciling with found objects; random screen printing; gelatin plate printing; screen printing with thickened dyes; discharge painting; soy wax batik; and rubbings.

For each technique, there are lots of detailed directions and excellent photos to accompany them. She also provides supply lists (and websites where you can buy the supplies).

Within a week after getting this book, I met with a group of fiber art friends and we played with stamping using found objects, guided by the book. The results were great. This is a book I will really USE. And I can't wait to try more of these techniques.

This is a source for many many printing techniques. Each is explained in detail, and has plenty of examples. As an artist I don't necessarily want a book of specific projects, I want a book that will help me expand and learn. Rayna's book does that and does it well.

This book is a wonderful resource for the many different ways that the textile artist can use to alter the surface of fabric. With great wit and wisdom, Rayna removes the fear of using such things as thickened dye, discharge paste and soy wax and imparts confidence that "you too can make your own fabric!"

The surface design possibilities are endless and Rayna presents all the tools and techniques with a "you can do this" playful attitude. In this one book she covers so many techniques that it will be a great addition to your fiber library to be used over and over again. She opens your eyes to household items that you will be able to use to transform ho-hum fabric into one of-a-kind art cloth. She has opened up the candy box, now jump in and PLAY!

I always try and find inspirational craft books for friends and this book was perfect! It is full of great ideas for dressing up jeans and easy directions to follow. Plus, the photos are beautiful and so just having it around makes me feel good. Great for a gift!

I just got this book a few days ago and knew right away that I wanted to make the pedal pushers. The tips and techniques section was really helpful for me because I am not a seamstress, just a girl with a crafty spirit who's looking for some cool summer togs. I love my "new" trousers. Now, if I could just get the sun to shine....

What a great way to express yourself! In this book, you will find some amazing ideas to jazz up (or spice up) your current wardrobe, without spending your whole paycheck for that new look. The styles range from a lady-like soft laces to a more retro, updated city girl look. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone of all ages!

This book is a must have! It is one of those beautiful books you add to your collection and look at when you want inspiration.
The arty photos themselves are enough to keep you entertained for awhile. Set in a beautiful European city, feels like you are looking at the pages of your favorite fashion magazine. Not to mention the gorgeous fashion sketches you always wished you could draw.
But then wait, the text is good too! They are direct, playful, hip-to-the-day instructions, which are actually easy to understand. The best part is, these are pieces you might really wear!
I love this book and the reason why is...these beautiful books you add to your collection are few and far between, this one is a perfect addition.

I love fashion and just bought this book, because I loved the cover and the publisher's description. I am NOT disappointed. The projects are not the kind of clothes that look homemade in the negative sense of the word, but the kind of clothes that look handmade in a positive way, they are gorgeous designer threads, that look like they sell for $$$ but you can make with no budget. This book is hip with a nonchalant French look. There are projects for all the skill levels and different styles, with descriptions from a designer's viewpoint, to get the right look that is also eco right. Right now I feel like I am on a shopping spree, but I've go to stop writing and start sewing and I'm going to make those cargo pants!

Great book with easy, step by step instructions. If you want to get started making your own elements and papers this is a great way to get started

I've been digi scrapping for about a year and learned tips the moment I opened this book. Some of the techniques are a bit more advanced than I need at the moment, but I'm sure I'll turn to them later. Renee Pearson's directions are easy to follow and much better than trying to follow an online tutorial as I (try to) work. I only wish I could find a copy of her first digital designs book. It's out of print and I can't locate it anywhere :(

This is a wonderful book, just like the first one. As soon as I get my new version of Photoshop Elements 6.0 for the Mac I can work with it more. I've already taken a class with Renee and it was great. Her instructions are always very clear and concise, and the goodies on the CD are wonderful as well. They can be used in so many different ways and the embellishment that can be created on your own are endless! Well done Renee!

This book is great for designer beginners with little working knowledge of Photoshop Elements. The instructions are very simple to follow and easy to remember when re-creating on your own. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested designing digital kits of your own.

This book uses a specific software product to teach you digital scrapbooking in a hands on, step-by-step process. As a self-taught digi-scrapper, I can look at this book objectively and tell you that it is chock full of excellent information. This is a great book for beginners, while still having plenty of good information for experienced digi-scrappers.

The book is about one of the most well-known peices in Feminist art, Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party". It not only features photos and accounts of Chicago and her hard-working team of volenteers (both men and women) as they worked for almost eight years on the project and fought to have it exhibited, but it also features detailed sections on each of the place settings and kind of symbolism used in them, and biographies of all the other women whose names around them. A very interesting and exciting book to flip through.

What could be more thrilling than a genius like Judy Chicago as she challenges assumptions and traditions with her own brilliant and harrowingly moving depiction of Womyn's struggles. Truly enthralling, and, as another reviewer noted, a threat to the white male agendas of patriarchy. Give this book to all your friends!

"Dinner Party" is one of the all-time great works of feminist art, and although it proved too threatening to males, especially the white males of congress, it is art which MUST be witnessed by all young women. I applaud the other reviewers who have distributed this great book to other women.

Even though I have rated this book, I have never read it. Why? Well its for the simple fact that I can't find it anywhere. I know that it is out of print but I need it for a class and also for the fact that I want it . Iv heard so many interesting things about The dinner Party. I hope to share this not just with my classmates but with my mom and in the far, far future when I decide to have kids, I would like to share it with my little girl. so hopefuly whom ever reads my review (so to speak) it will be listened to and the people who need the book will have it as well and the people who want it.

A triumph! A long-awaited celebration of truth about all womankind! A must-have for all women. and for men who truly appreciate their worth! Every female in the world should read this book cover-to cover and rejoice. A rare and beautiful work of art--second only to The Dinner Party exhibit itself. I am going to give this book to my daughter, friends of varying ethnic backgrounds, and several lesbian friends. How often do you find a book that speaks to the entire human race about the valuable contributions of the so-called "weaker sex"? Now we must all work to get The Dinner Party exhibit traveling, as it was originally intended to do, so that we can all personally stand in awe at this altar to all Eve's daughters!

I am so happy with this selection. The designs stitch out very nicely. I am glad I saw someone with this and ordered it for myself.

As expected the Donna Dewberry designs embroidered as well as your painted designs - I am very pleased with this first set of designs and look forward to more from her in the future.

This is a lovely book both for the beginner as well as the experienced machine embroiderer. It is not a large book, but nevertheless is chock full of information. There are great ideas for using the embroideries on the enclosed cd, as well as providing inspiration for substituting one's own favorite designs. I used the "Pansies" design in creating an envelope pillow for a friend, coordinating the thread colors with the pansy tapestry fabric used in the pillow body. It turned out absolutely beautiful - the design stitched out gorgeous - much nicer even than the illustration in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone.

I love this book and have truly enjoyed using the embroidery designs. They sew up beautifully and will be a wonderful addition to my embroidery library.

I was well pleased with not only the content of the book, the shape the book was in when received. I see great potential for utilization of these designs. Would recommend to any machine embroiderer that this type design appeals too.

While I happen to sell books on Amazon, I don't review too many of them. This book warrants a mention, IMHO.

It seems like a great book to get started w/
chapters include

1- Materials & tracing techniques
2- "From head to toe" - Body types and facial expressions
3- "Dressing your character"- clothes and character props
4- "Creating a cast of characters"- putting it all together.
5- "Cartoonifying objects and animals"
6- "Special effects and tricks of the trade"- creating cartoon sounds, movements, textures and speech
7- "Drawing a cartoon scene"- 10 easy steps to great cartoons from
rough to finish.

This book looks like a great one, for those who are motivated to try and draw cartoons.

Happy cartooning!
books-from-mk

I got this book for my son because it won the 2002 Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Best Book Gold Award. For those who don't know, this is from a company that rates children's toys and books by how popular they are with the kids themselves. Anyway, this impressive book is a big hit with my son. He has practically worn it out, and goes to work on his cartoons right after his homework is done. I really can't believe the progress he has made. It's as if he has a private tutor! I got another copy of the book for his school's library, and they say it's now the most popular book there. Whatever Mr. Mayne is saying to these kids about cartooning, it's just what they want to hear. I recommend this book heartily!

Every kid, young or old, that has ever wanted to draw a cartoon has struggled with the elements of style. Anyone who has looked closely at Calvin and Hobbes, Doonesbury, or Peanuts can see that the drawings are deceptive; they seems simple, but are very complex graphically. At last, here's a book that shows the craft of cartooning in an utterly unassuming way. This book breaks down drawing cartoons to there barest elements, and by building on these elements, new artists can put together cartoons that can totally amaze. The tone is so conversational (and tongue in cheek) that the reader gets the feeling that Mr. Mayne is at their elbow, helping them to laugh at their mistakes and cherish their successes. The book refuses to take itself too seriously, at one point stating that cartoon characters routinely have four fingers because "Cartoonists are basically lazy." Although it at no point hypes itself as the "ultimate cartoon book for beginners", it is exactly that.

I read several reviews about beginning cartooning books for my 7-year-old son and ended up purchasing this book and he loves it. I would recommend this book for any child who has an interest in cartooning.

I purchased this book for my seven year old son, Benjamin. He loves cartoons, especially Captain Underpants, and wanted to see if he could draw his own. He didn't think he could draw well but after looking at the well laid out examples in the book, he came up with Super Embarrassed Man. He was really pleased with himself and now includes cartoonist on his list of things he'd like to be when he grows up.

Duane Barnharts Cartooning Basics has just been so much fun for my kids ages 12, 10, and 7. Using the Books step-by-step guidelines to cartooning they have created some of the most fabulous characters and cartoon strips. Not only is it great from a drawing perspective, but it also has some fun and interesting facts about the history of cartooning. Love this book!!!

'Cartooning Basics' is a wonderful tool for young aspiring cartoonists. No. 2 illustrates how to create friendly, familiar characters from simple shapes, which every child can relate to (ie circles, ovals, squares, triangles, etc.). Art teachers can gain lesson ideas that are effective and easy to implement. This is a great buy and a must read for any aspiring cartoonist, art teacher and student alike. Duane and Angie have created a fun, creative, well-illustrated tool in 'Cartooning Basics'.

Great how-to book, lots of practice exercises. The most helpful, how-to book I've read so far, and I've got a ton of them. Wish I'd found this one sooner!

'Cartooning Basics' is a wonderful tool for young aspiring cartoonists. No. 2 illustrates how to create friendly, familiar characters from simple shapes, which every child can relate to (ie circles, ovals, squares, triangles, etc.). Art teachers can gain lesson ideas that are effective and easy to implement. This is a great buy and a must read for any aspiring cartoonist, art teacher and student alike. Duane and Angie have created a fun, creative, well-illustrated tool in 'Cartooning Basics'.

This book has helped me learn to cartoon, and now, I teach it to my 2nd grade class!

From the lyrical title "Fabled Flowers" to the elegant designs displayed, Kumiko Sudo has demonstrated artistry and exquisite taste.

Combining techniques first used for paper origami the author/artist employs every trick using cloth & stitching to create divine quilt patches which are enhanced with the Japanese quilting technique known as Sashiko.

Sashiko quilting began as a means of reinforcing work wear, and also stitching layers of padding for the cloth armor of the Samurai. It evolved into an intricate and breathtaking art of fabric enhancement and is employed herein for detailing on the small squares constructed by Kumiko for this book.

30 quilt blocks are featured, in gorgeous colour and detail deliciously folded fabric in different flower folds from complicated Hydrangea to glorious Pomegranate and sweet Morning Glory. I lament only the lack of Peonies, as a personal favorite.

The guides for folding the origami effect flowers are realtively simple and easy to follow, while the detailing on the Sashiko quilting is heavenly inspiration!

All necessary templates are included at end of book as well as clear instructions for assembly.

These quilt patterns are much more applique than patchwork although some is included in the design - a little bit of everything for everyone.

Great inspirational book and definately worth the price.

As a extra snippet, a cute fable is included with every flower.

kotori May'2005

In this book, Kumiko has included the most fantastic flowers for applique based on origami, unique designs, and sushiko quilting designs. There is enough variety for even beginners, and several designs that are advanced or intermediate too. Her fabric choices are very artistic. With each design, Kumiko also includes her inspiration for the piece in the form of poetry or a story. This helps one to really feel a part of the design. There is room for much creativity. One can make a single square or a small quilt, or even full size if desired.

The life-experience fables that accompany the creative expression of this fabric/quilt artist add to the wonderful texture of the final product. This book opens up new dimensions and levels of creativity using fabric as a vehicle and providing a serene pleasue for even the casual quilter. The directions are easy to understand. The patterns are complete. The process is great fun.

I love this book. I wanted to do something floral, I did want to do some applique, but didn't want to do a Baltimore album style quilt. This was the answer. It's beautiful, less work than regular applique, and very unique and visually interesing. I'm working on the hydrangea block.

The blocks are big (mine is 17 inches) and 3 dimentional. Some of the folded shapes are tacked down.

Another excellent book from Kumiko. Clear, precise directions and diagrams. The coloured pictures are worth buying the book for.