Arts and Crafts Books

I used this book to create my first few projects and if I can do it I'm sure others can. The directions are straight forward and the plans are nice. It is really quite simple.

Only down side is this book doesn't explain too much about the information beginners may need to start right away. I had to use some internet sources and another book to 'learn' how to use the scroll saw and what some of the language meant. With the beginning info under my belt, however, I photo copied the plans and went to work and the boxes I made were very nice....at least thats what the gift receivers said. ;)

I've included a picture of a box I made from the plans found in this book. You can locate it under the 'customer picture' section under the book cover picture.

This is typical Diana Thompson, with a twist. Yes, there is compound cutting - but she also takes us through simple but elegant box making, inlay, and relief cutting. These boxes come out really great, and the patterns and instructions are clear and complete. If there is one complaint, it is that Diana must have access to a really good lumber supplier, because many of her wood choices are not available at all at ordinary wood providers. The designs come out well with just Home Depot-type woods, though, so it shouldn't discourage anyone. I love this book.

I found this to be a good beginning on my initial projects, to over come the learning curve of the saw.

I bought this book and also Gary Mackays' book, Box-Making Projects for the Scroll Saw at the same time. Even though there are some cool projects in his book that I will build, Diana Thompsons book is much more artistic. You can really see the difference between a mans point of view and a womans. I like Dianas projects much more. One point to mention though, Her box projects are all lift off top boxes. I would recommend this book.

You've seen all those lovely one or two page articles and photos in the popular magazines about how to do vinegar graining on furniture, boxes, and frames, but they left you wanting more. Well, look no further, for this is THE answer. Loads of pictures with the author working on all kinds of stuff. Lots of different tools to use. Very detailed...this author shares his love for this craft (really artistry) and his sources with you in this book. You'll even want to sign up for his workshop in Philadelphia, PA if you can't get enough here! AND...don't forget to add these to your list as they will round out your selection of decorative painting books/photos/techniques: THE ART OF FAUX by Finkelstein, PROFESSIONAL PAINTED FINISHES by Marx, and FOLK FINISHES by Teles. You won't go wrong by adding one or all of these to your shopping cart. Knowledge is power...and these books give you the power to do great things with glazes and paint!

I've been looking for a book on this topic for a long time. I had seen some examples of vinegar painting in a magazine and was blown away by the wonderful dimensional effects it produces but the article contained no instructions as that artist called the process his "secret". Well, Bill Russell (bless him) is an artist who's happy to tell how it's done. This beautiful book is full color with very complete instructions and photos for creating the dimensional illusions which are the hallmark of vinegar painting. Personally, I think the results exceed most of the time- consuming oil paint approaches. The supplies are basic and affordable and it's a very health-friendly art form. The effects can be varied endlessly to give you completely unique designs that can be used together in a project without becoming repetitious to view. I'm surprised vinegar painting hasn't become more well known to artists as it is surely the most user-friendly way to create sophisticated faux-texture effects. People invariably look at my vinegar paint pieces in amazement and ask how in the world I did that (it looks like it takes forever--it doesn't). Maybe no one else has been able to find instructions either...

If you're interested in creating stunning paint effects that (almost)no one else is doing, you will love this book. I think this is the only book currently available on the topic (I certainly did look) but it really is the only one you need.

Don't let the title fool you.
This book is for anyone who does decorative painting, not just furniture.
I just recieved my copy and am having a ball experimenting with all the great information I have found in this book.
Most of my painting is on the paper mache objects I create, but I see more wonderful possibilities for more vinegar painting.
Like the room divider/screens I purchased for a steal this summer
at yard sales. I kept wondering what can I do to make these screens look unique and different. I found my answer in this great book.
I highly recommend this book. It's a real treasure!

Many years ago I was at a stranger's house (maybe the house was for sale or for rent), and I saw the most beautiful painted piece of furniture. This armoire was finished in a variety of rich brown textures, and I asked the woman how it had been done. Although she was the artist, she was very secretive, admitting only that she had used a wine bottle cork to produce one pattern.
Since then I've been looking for a book that would show me how to create these results. I've bought at least a dozen 'paint your furniture' books, but they focused on flat applications of paint. Admittedly pretty, I wanted instead to produce the illusion of depth and exotic wood grainlines that I had seen.
Yesterday I received Bill Russell's book, and this book reveals the secret! The pictured projects are gorgeous, the illustrated instructions are some of the clearest and easiest to understand that I've ever seen in hundreds of how-to books, and the necessary supplies are explained in detail.
Bill uses a variety of tools to manipulate his paint, but not a cork. Yet following his explanations I can see how to use one, both on its side and using the end. Bill suggests making sample boards out of inexpensive cardboard to test colors and techniques. What would happen if I used a sponge? A piece of crumpled cloth or lace? Based on his solid basics, a decorative artist could have a ball exploring the possibilities. But one doesn't have to be an artist to produce lovely results using Bill's suggested colors and combinations. What a fantastic book!

This is truly a terrific book on zhostovo technique. Ms. Redick covers everything from choosing your tools (brushes, palette, paints, etc.), to the final coat of varnish - and everything in between is covered in exquisite detail. Heather explains everything (and I mean everything!)in very fine detail. Each step or technique is very descriptively written and fully accompanied by loads of photos, so that one only has to concentrate and follow step-by-step.
Many (if not most) painting books assume that the reader will understand what is meant by "put your word or technique here". I find that Ms. Redick makes no assumptions about what we do or do not understand by a given word or description. There is text and accompanying photos to describe pretty much anything and everything that this book covers. It does a very thorough job of covering everything from choosing colors, blending colors and how to paint each type of stroke. Every flower and leaf is broken down into stroke-by-stroke description and picture. Given that the reader is motivated to put in at least a moderate effort and amount of practise, it is what I would describe as a "no fail" painting book.
I most surely hope that she plans to do another!

After studying Zhostovo painting in Ontario, Canada, with Heather, I found this book to be of great benefit to refresh my learned skills. It has explicit instruction on leaves, flowers, and designing your own linework borders which are very beautiful, yet the guidelines are easy to construct using a compass. The book is easy to follow and her technique is of the finest. You will master brush control if you follow her detailed instruction on strokes. How to load a brush is detailed in depth and no stone is left unturned in this area. I can feel the rhythm and movement in the clear illustrated pictures. A great book to study from...a great teacher to show you how!

After studying Zhostovo painting in Ontario, Canada, with Heather, I found this book to be of great benefit to refresh my learned skills. It has explicit instruction on leaves, flowers, and designing your own linework borders which are very beautiful, yet the guidelines are easy to construct using a compass. The book is easy to follow and her technique is of the finest. You will master brush control if you follow her detailed instruction on strokes. How to load a brush is detailed in depth and no stone is left unturned in this area. I can feel the rhythm and movement in the clear illustrated pictures from her book. A great book to study from...a great teacher to show you how!

This book certainly fits the bill. Heather Redick's work is beautiful and inspiring, and her teaching style is detailed and informative. She provides instructions on composing your own designs,and provides a range of projects for all levels of difficulty, and on plenty of surfaces. I wish she would have included some history of the Zhostovo style, and perhaps some more patterns. Overall I've had great success with her techniques.

The pictures are outstanding. This is an easy to use reference guide with over 150 patterns, all alphabetized for quick and easy referance.

This is a wonderful guide to depression glass.Each page is devoted to one pattern and lists the different colors,pieces in the collection and the estimated values.It is a small,pocket book size but has 190 pages!So there is A LOT of information packed in this smaller package!!!A wealth of info and beautiful color photographs.Also,there is a section at the back about reproductions on certain patterns.VERY in depth!A must for collectors!

Excellent...great photos and complete listings of pieces in many patterns. Also light and easy to carry...I take it to auctions with me...very helpful. I would recommend it to anyone interested in depression glass.

I recently started collecting depression glass. At the time, I realized how much I didn't know! This book has been my constant companion. The material is clearly presented. The photography is fantastic. The price guide along with the description of each piece of EVERY collection is invaluable. I have become a better educated consumer and glass collector since I keep this within reach. Highly recommend!!

The book if fun for the kids but it does have a tendcy to wrip due to kids having too much fun with it. More of an older girls book like maybe 6-7. We did have fun using other paper dolls in it too.

My 4 year old daughter received this as a gift for Christmas and she loved it so much she brought it to preschool for sharing. It was such a hit that we have purchased them as gifts for all the girl's birthday parties we have gone to since.

I ordered this book for my daughter after seeing it in a bookstore near our house. She loves paper dolls, Princesses, and anything that goes with them and has an imagination that I'm sometimes jealous of so I wasn't surprised when she begged me for this. The stage for the book has kept her busy for hours, she has created "show" upon "show" and it's fun to watch her mind at work. It's also become a stage for her Polly Pockets dolls and any other doll that fits. I laminated the paper doll "actors' that came with the book, otherwise I don't know how long they would last, but overall we couldn't be happier with this which is nice, because sometimes Disney Princess books leave much to be desired.

Wouldn't pay the list price but on sale this is a great book/activity- Theater folds out and there are paper doll type figures that can stand up. Comes with scene changes and a play book. My daughters 7 and 5 both like this although use their own imaginative play more than the play book. With parental help, they will love putting on the plays! Really cute- a very OOOOHHHHHHH present for at a birthday party!

For those of us who admire, collect, make and renovate 1920s and 20s-inspired art dolls, Susanna Oroyan has written a thoughtful volume focusing on boudoir dolls from the Art Deco period. Although the topic is covered better visually in another of my favorites, "The Magic and Romance of Art Dolls" by Stephanie Farago, the strength of this book is in Oroyan's excellent research, writing and wonderful storytelling ability. Her fresh and fun-loving writing style shines in this book (the illustrative drawings also are quite good.)

Unlike her other fine books, which focus more directly on the art, design and mechanics of doll-making, this book is a loving tribute to a period, aesthetic and style of doll that she very much values, appreciates and knows well. And for that we can be thankful, as Oroyan has contributed so largely to the doll-making world, with her vision, her instruction, and her art.

Highly recommended as another fine book to add to the resource library of "students of the doll."

In Dolls Of The Art Deco Era, dollmaker Oroyan provides a survey of the history, makers and collectible items of the art deco era, providing both a step-by-step set of instructions for reproducing the style of doll popular in the era and covering the history of dollmaking during the era, and restoration techniques after. Packed with ideas crafts and collectors alike will appreciate.

a real authentic and easy way to understand and MAKE dolls.
mrs.Oroyan must be a magician to write so many books,so variabile & so full of culture & reserch that is related to the art, craft, etc...
the book is reach, easy and wonderfull for the dollmaker! even
for the beginer! www.geocities.com/pushadolls/

there is no other book that gives so much information on bed dolls called boudoir dolls. This is like a "bible" for doll collectors. You do not need another book if you have this one.

This is a spectacular collection of beautiful quilts and pillows. It is definitely not for a beginner quilter. There are a lot of pieces for almost every project in the book. I was disappointed that the paper piecing templates did not have color placement guidelines. Painless Paper-Piecing is a new way to paper piece without having to rip off all those pesky foundation papers. Preparation is necessary, but the results amazing.

Jennifer Rounds and Catherine Comyns' A DOZEN ROSES: BEAUTIFUL QUILTS AND PILLOWS offers some eight quilt projects from a sampler and baby quilt to a coverlet, plus four coordinating pillow designs to be used with such quilts. Packed with full-page photos of finished quilts, inspirational roses from real-life, and diagrams and patterns, A DOZEN ROSES comes filled with different ideas and variations perfect for quilters who love flowers.

It is rare to find a quilting book that has more than one or two projects that appeal to me. In "A Dozen Roses," there are six that I'm already buying fabric for! The quilts are beautiful and reflect an artful style that is easy to achieve for quiltmakers who buy this book. There are instructions for coordinating projects - simple but which add just the perfect touch. Knitters will love the knitted pillows. The authors have put together a fantastic book, with great tips and techniques. Love it!

This book is so lovely and it contains a wide variety of quilting and sewing projects for people of all ability levels. The photography is beautiful and the instructions for each project are very detailed and precise.

One great thing about this book is that there is a wide range of projects for everyone. Some of the projects are traditional (such as the Bed of Roses Baby Quilt) and others are more modern and funky (such as the Roses and Ribbons Strips Pillow). There are projects that could take several months to finish and others that could be completed in a matter of an hour or two.

The authors also explain the inspiration behind their projects and give interesting background information. For example, the Rose of Havana Quilt was inspired by Azulejo tiles from the Moorish period in Spanish history. There are also many interesting legends relating to roses scattered throughout the book.

I love this book and enjoy flipping through it to look at the gorgeous projects. I think my first project will be the Rose Petal pillow to add a romantic touch to my bed.

This book has everything you need to begin hand-dyeing fabric to use in quilts. The instructions are complete and understandable. It has a complete list of the equipment and materials needed to begin. Color charts, formulas, dyed fabrics, finished quilts, and quilt patterns are all included. I love this book!

This was a wonderful book. In fact, I wish that I had ordered this one prior to the other books on dyeing that I ordered. It had simple, easy to follow instructions. The color wheels printed in this book were the absolute best! In addition, beautiful color photos illustrated unique designs and colors.

So if you are even remotely thinking about dyeing your own fabrics, please buy this book first; you may not need to buy any additional books.

Thanks,
Libby

This is an excellent manual for anyone wishing to learn how to use fiber reactive dyes with confidence. Presents good color theory and excellent exercises to explore the infinite color possiblities through color mixing, while creating a "library" of color samples for reference.

Comprehensive and easy to use; each chapter is a self-contained workshop. You can do one, or all, or skip through the chapters.

I had used a couple of other fabric dyeing books earlier and wasn't too happy with the process and frustrated by not being able to reliably reproduce colors.
This book is really excellent - it makes dyeing a really simple process. No need for special jars, chem water etc. that others advocate. I kept a log just as suggested and now have lots of colors that I feel confident I can reproduce.
I'd highly recommend it to anyone new to fabric dyeing or anyone who's tried the process and is frustrated. Give it another chance with this book.

This book is a terrific combination of simple techniques and artistic merit. The diagrams are a pleasure to follow as they are printed--and inspire the reader to improvise and make variations according to personal taste.

I am a beginning beader and I found this book to be wonderful! I purchased this book because I enjoyed just leafing through it and looking at all of the projects inside. Many of the designs offered me inspiration for my own jewelry creations. One thing that made this book stand out when I looked through it was that the margins were used to show the jewelry and point out what kinds of beads were used in each design. This made it really easy to see the design impact of different types of beads and help me to select what elements I want to use in my own jewelry.

The book also contains instructions on how to create the jewelry and lots of helpful hints and background information. She includes comments on such things as what to consider when purchasing beads over the internet and where to find the tools you will need (maybe in the toolbox in your garage!). Lots of good, practical advice.

I found this book to be very informative and inspiring. I can't wait to get back to my beading!

I have a lot of beading books and this is my favorite. I love the author's style and have found so much inspiration in this book. There's also good, detailed information for beginners.

This is by far one of my favorite beading books. In fact, I have two copies! The designs are beautiful and the materials used are really lovely, but what I like most about the designs is the way they are laid out. There are clear details about how to make each project, along with detailed component lists, as well as where to buy the components, sometimes line drawings showing in detail the patterning and placement,and beautiful color pictures. I also like that the author indicates an approximate price range for the piece (like this will cost aobut as much as a movie ~$20) and the approximate time it will take to put it together. Although the designs are not very complicated they are very lovely and they are really good for the beginning or casual designer. But they are also varied enough that I can use them as a starting point in my own jewelry designing. Great book to have as a reference in your jewelry library.

P.S. - Won the blue ribbon for small wall hangings at the 1999 WV State Fair with her "Mariner's Compass." (Thanks, Carol!)

Easy to follow directions. Great set up instruction as far as cutting, yardage etc. Really had a ball making these little gems!

Of the 7 or so books on this topic I've bought on this topic, this is the best. The technique taught here - of trimming the edges before matching pieces - works better than what I'd tried to do from previous books. Furthermore, the designs are just down-right PRETTIER than those in most of the others. Patterns are a bit too small for my skill level, so I cheated by using a copy machine to "enlarge" slightly (125%). I'm absolutely delighted with the finished product.

I am new to quilting. For my second project I made the Log Cabin Garden, which is an absolutely stunning design. Then I made two more Log Cabin Garden mini's for the quilting practice. Now I am hooked on Mini's. As a beginner, I found Carol Doak's instructions thorough and easy to understand. Carol Doak takes the reader step-by-step from the beginning of the quilting process to the end. Her paper pieced foundation technique makes the impossible looking mini quilt a cinch to make. Guaranteed to be an idiot-proof project.