Arts and Crafts Books

Why stumble along and question yourself, not knowing how to price, run a business, organize your life or plan your dreams when you have Lynette Harris so kindly opening up herself and all she has learned and experienced in her book, "Making Money With Your Creative Paint Finishes". I turn to her book regularly when pricing out a job or just doing my books. She even tells you what supplies you will need on your site.....why make mistakes when you have her experiences to guide you around them.

This book contains valuable information on how to make your business profitable. It includes sample contracts (a must for the professional) and tips on accurate record keeping. I have an MBA and feel that my skills in business are high however, I was able to get information from this book that was very useful. It is comprehensive, covering everything from starting your business, marketing, partnerships,and more. There is even a section on the importance of honing your craft. The author includes information on continuing education, recommended reading as well as resources for supplies. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering starting a business of Decorative Painting.

Many thanks to Lynette Harris for making this advice available! Good sound suggestions for marketing the business, pricing, as well as advice on contracts and suggestions on how to choose your business name and much more. Good food for thought! I highly recommend this book for anyone who may be considering going into this field of business!

I bought this book before "officially" starting my decorative painting business and I am very glad I did. I constantly refer back to it when I need tips. A must have for anyone who is considering going into business in this field!

I am planning to go into the business of faux finshing. This book answered every question I had and more in regards to starting in that business. Lynette shares her expertise in a very organized, entertaining and easy to read manner. She covers everything from naming your business, managing it, pricing your work to contracts and mastering your craft. What a treat to find a book specifically aimed at starting a faux finishing/stenciling business! If you're thinking of going into business for yourself, this book is a must read and great way to get started. Thank you Lynette for sharing what would have taken me years to learn on my own.

I found some rocks near our cottage in the woods, and VOILA, beautiful flowers are now growing where they never could before. I am not an artist by any means, but after following the easy, detailed, step by step instructions, I had masterpieces! AMAZING book with AMAZING results. Thank you Lin for sharing your knowledge and bringing out the creative part of me I didn't know I had!

Follow the simple step by step directions for a beautiful "rock garden."

Whether you are simply curious about rock painting, or have a desire to paint flowers on rocks, this book is for you. It is well written by a world class rock artist and teacher and in addition to offering know-how, it is an encouraging book that shows the way to get involved in this fascinating and not too expensive art form.

This book was as I expected it to be.. the demonstrations were clear and instructons easy.. I ordered it because of an episode on the Carol Duvall show in which the author painted a beautiful bouquet on a simple smooth rock ..I have ordered other books of the same nature from Amazon before and have been equally satisfied.

It was such a pleasure to receive Lin's book about painting flowers on rocks. I have several of her other books which has brought us lots of hours of fun and fantasy. We appreciate her talents and her sharing her ideas with others like us. Her flower painted rocks are perfect for places like cemeteries that don't allow fresh flowers. It helps bring beauty to our loved ones graves without the work and worry of live plantings. The rocks require "no watering!" Thanks Lin for all your creative ideas.

Janet Arnold is the preemminent clothing historian of our day. As with all of her books she has provided a concise reference to the garments of the period in question, listing the fabrics, colors and cuts that are appropriate for the given garments. Also typical of Arnold books is the scale patterns for the given garments in the back of each text, so, with an understanding of pattern drafting one can easily reproduce the garments from the book as well as size the garment for a particular wearer. As with many of Ms. Arnold books she draws examples from extant examples taken from trunks and in some cases the casket. Another exceptional book by Janet Arnold for the clothing historian or the obsessive compulsive costumer.

I was a bit disappointed in this book. Especially as compared with the book that precedes this one in time period. The Elizabethan period book has all sorts of YUMMY details (photographs) of actual garments. Those details more accurately illustrate how a technique was carried out, and should look when finished. This book has exactly TWO photos! And both are of finished modern replicas. ALL the illustrations are line drawings. Exceptionally done line drawing. Very well executed. But nothing holds a candle to a photograph.
The greatest covered fashion period in this book, is about 1750-1800. It is nearly bereft of 17th century examples. And there is only a handful of Victorian era (1830s-1860) examples. That was refreshing, as there are enough other books that cover Victorian decades.
All that being said, it is still a VERY INFORMATIVE and well illustrated book. You could certainly learn a lot about construction techniques and cut.

-- Metric conversion chart included.
-- List of source references
-- instructions on altering a modern dress form to work for period
-- Pattern layouts are not modern with PRECISE measurements. They are
period layouts that assume knowledge of drafting and fitting

My Wife is absolutely thrilled with the material in this book ....she has told me several times, in less that a month, that "I've learned something new !!! "

It doesn't get any better than that

thanx

It was with great reverance that I approached my first look at the Patterns of Fashoion. I have heard so many great things that I was almost afraid I would be disappointed. Not so, this book has exceeded my wildest expectations. I own at least a score of books on Tudor/Elizabethan clothing or general costuming and can resolutely say that there is no equal to this book when it comes to detailed exactly how a garment was constructed. Each piece of extant clothing is given multiple pictures and the most detailed descriptions of any book I've seen. While this is not a guide that may interest the average costumer ...if you're serious about period costuming this is your resource.

I was very excited to receive my copy of Patterns of Fashion, Vol I by Janet Arnold. As a Revolutionary War reenactor, my interest in 18th Century clothing is continually deepened by more and more detailed research, and this book is a treasure trove of information. The specific details, such as a discussion of how saque-back gown sleeves were set into the body of a gown, are invaluable insights into garment construction, and equally invaluable how-to aids. Although the book covers a wider range of period garments than just 18th Century clothing, it seems to concentrate on the 18th Century,(at least, that's my perception!) and it's easy to use the book in order to put the Revolutionary War period into perspective in the timeline of fashion. The addition of useful tools such as the metric conversion chart are bonuses.

Even if each garment were not charted on a grid, making it possible to draft a pattern, just the discussion of the details of each garment would make the book a must for every seamstress' or shelf. If you can only afford a few books on historic clothing, this one is a must.

This is an excellent book for those interested in quilting on their home machine. The writing is clear and the photographs provide further clarification.

I totally LOVE this little book. I suggest it to anyone who wants to machine quilt. This book is written for quilting on a domestic machine, but I just purchased a long-arm and this is my absolute favorite book. Her quilting is awesome and the pictures are great. She clearly explains several excellent "background" and "filler" patterns - all of which are easy to do. I was so tired of just settling for basic meandering. She talks a lot about the different threads she likes and why, and even gives a list of her favorites. You will not be disappointed in this book. And did I mention it is "spiral bound".

This book is complementary to her Guide to Machine quilting, This book is more like doing a class with Diane and she shows various methods of background quilting. recommended for anyone who wants to learn more on freestyle quilting.

I must have at least 30 books alone on just quilting designs. This is more than that though. It explains everything, or almost everything, you would need to know about quilting your designs on your quilt. I don't know what I did without it. I do know my free motion quilting has improved greatly and I keep it right by my machine. The only quilter that comes close to Diane is Sharon Schamber. Both are just wonders in my book. Thanks so much for writing this.

The designs that Diane presents in the book are certainly worth trying and practicing until they're perfect. This book is for the machine quilter who uses a domestic sewing machine.

An excellent book showing many and varied techniques with very easy instructions. This book is very inspiring.

This book has great, inspirational photos and very good instructions. My main disappointment with it is the authors attitude toward silk paints (i.e., not dyes). I have used several varieties of the paints that are made to mimic dyes and find them to work very well, leave the silk soft and be very easy to use. They are a great way for a beginner to get started and try most of the same techniques used with dyes without the hassle of steaming or the toxicity. I am glad that I had some experience silk painting before I got this book because her attitude would have discouraged me from every trying. Aside from that - it's an excellent book, worth the price and full of great pictures to inspire you.

I love this book! I think the blend of historical content and variety of techniques described make this the perfect book in your resource library!

You name it she tells you how to do it. For beginner & Intermediate silk painters. Educational, Informative and well formatted. My only suggestion is a ring binding so the book could lay flat when it is being used for refeence.

An excellent, comprehensive guide for the beginning silk painter. The author demonstrates many inspirational designs and recommends her preferences for dyes (by brand), gutta, and other resist options. I've not painted on silk before and, after reading this book, I feel I have all the knowledge I need to begin painting on silk.

I couldn't wait to get this book and I just love it. The illustrations are clear and easy to follow. Everything is step by step so it's hard to make a mistake. It also gives a wonderful overview of the different types to ribbon to use and fabrics that work best.
I highly recommend this book for the beginner like myself and as an excellent reference book for the experienced.

Tina

This is a wonderful book with a lot of stitches and clear instructions
it has a few projects but over all this might be the only book I need and
can come up with my own projects. This book is a beauty. Was very excited to get it and was not disappointed. Enjoy this wonderful book and let
your imagination soar.
Barb of colorado

This is one of the best books ever for Ribbon Embroidery! I keep it on my coffee table so it's handy! Very detailed and simple explanations.

I have never done any silk ribbon embroidery and this book is a great place to start. There are great pictures, easy directions and a sturdy user friendly back. Definitely a good purchase.

Anyone who works with ribbons has to have this book.
I love mine.
Everything you need to know...
clear instructions on every page.

a beautiful coffee-table book on old and modern Southwestern Pottery. I would have liked a little more on the old stuff and a little less by modern potters, but it is a minor quibble.

this is a beautiful book the the pictures in the book are so vivid and colorful, it would make a wonderful addition to any library or it would make a great coffee table book!

I was impressed with the display groupings presented and the journey of the authors beginnings of his collections and the knowledge he aquired along the way. He gave good advice to new collectors. I open it daily and alway see something I missed. It's a great book to add to your collection.

This is an excellent book for both the beginner or serious student of Southwestern Pottery. It gives examples of all styles, types, and designs, making it easy for anyone to understand what makes each Pueblo's pottery unique. Perhaps not as "in depth" as some others, this book is easily the best book out there today as far as explaining and illustrating the basics. It really is an indispensable guide and reference book. The authors are regular guys rather than scholars, so it is easy and enjoyable to read, and filled with great photos of their quite amazing collections. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a place to begin learning about Southwestern Pottery.

I'd been looking for a book like this for ages. It goes through every pueblo's pottery, describing the special characteristics of each, and talks about the important potters in each pueblo.

This is very well written in an easy going, non-snobish style, instantly increasing your depth of knowledge in southwestern pottery. The photographs are excellent and plentiful, giving many diverse examples from each pueblo/region/era.

Highly recommended for those new to collecting. I gave a copy to my parents in New Mexico, and even though they had been doing a bit of collecting for years, they have a much better understanding of the history of some of the pottery sitting on their shelves. They love this book.

The thing that I love about not only this, but but both of Taylors books is that he has a great sense of humor. I tend to think that in real life, Taylor and I would clash rather strongly on some issues, but that's OK. I will buy every book he comes out with (and here is hoping it isn't just these two) simply because the man has a gift for telling stories. I have read tools of the trade probably 25 times since I bought it years ago at a B&N, and I anticipate reading it another 25 times!

I was given this years ago, read it in a week and loved it, then forgot the title when trying to describe it to a friend. It is a shame it is out of print.

Everyone should read this book, and anyone you know who likes to build things should get this for Christmas.

I picked up this book about 6 years ago at a B&N store...and finished reading it in one sitting in my yard. Trust me when I tell you that it is not often when I feel overwhelmed by anything. But this book, with its simple prose, made me gulp several times. Keep in mind that it is not a depressing read. On the contrary, it can be funny as heck at times!

It's a shame that this book is now out of print and likely to become scarce, as I have given it on several occasions and have always received many thanks in return.

The author fills the reader, even a reader with minimal knowledge or interest in carpentry, with a true respect for the tools, their usage, and the history behind them. Not just the history in a greater sense, but also the history these tools have in the author's life.

I'm now reading this book for the third time. I usually like to pick it up when my office job is making me dream of a life building and remodelling houses.

Award-winning quilter Suzanne Marshall shares her applique techniques and tips on how to make a quilting project outstanding, surveying unique methods not to be found elsewhere. From ancient printer art inspirations to sewing tips such as how to handle backgrounds, this is packed with invaluable information: a top pick for any needlework library.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Another beautiful book from Suzanne Marshall, who is, without doubt, one of the premier hand quilters of this generation. Her patterns and methods are without peer. Definitely a book everyone interested in quilting and applique should have on the bookshelf.

Sara

i was very fortunate to be able to take a class with suzanne marshall last year at the vermont quilt festival ,she is an out standing teacher very down to earth and all an-all a great person ,never the less i was a little apprehensive to order her new book because i had taken hands on class with her thinking it might be alot of the same but it truly is worth it's weight in gold and even though the cover may make her work look hard she explains everything in such detail i would recommend this book for beginners ....

This is a lovely book. Not really a how-to book. More of I-wish-I-could-do book. This is a very talented lady who does exquisite work. The book is full of wonderful pictures of her quilts, along with judges' comments about those quilts from quilt shows (which are incredibly picky and have confirmed my decision NEVER to enter a juried show!). There is a lot of inspiration here and a lot of practical advice too. I bought her Take Away Applique book years ago and found it very helpful. There is a section of this book that explains the take-away technique. If you applique or aspire to applique, give this book a try.

I buy a good number of quilting books each year, and this is one of my absolute favorites. It was not only inspiring to me as a quilter, but it was very interesting to read the story of each quilt. Ms. Marshall's quilts are spectacular. I also like the format she uses, showing what comments were made by judges for each of the works shown. I highly recommend this wonderful book.

This book really is great for anyone just starting out in the playwriting field and if you've got experience writing plays behind you. I was in the midst of writing a new musical when I picked this book up for graduate school. Reading this book while writing helped to immediately put into practice what Hatcher was saying. It also helped me to answer a few questions I had about my own piece as well as keep me on course with my project.

This is the only book on the market that makes the process clear and exciting without long, dry chapters of lecturing. Hatcher gives you inspiring exercises along with a dose of terminology that balances perfectly. Buy this if you are teaching playwriting at the college level, or if you want to give it a try on your own.

Wonderful book. It's like taking a college course on playwriting, with a great teacher. It's very helpful.

I checked this book out from the library, but now I must buy my own copy to keep. I've been having problems developing second act story complications without completely deconstructing my original set up and concept. The suggested techniques in this book of asking questions --somewhat like a reporter or investigator would in uncovering a life mystery-- to find the story are unique. I actually found myself with pen and paper WANTING to participate in the questions and exercises. No other manual has inspired me this way.

Keep re-reading it over and over again. Don't ever let it leave your bedside table. Written with razor sharp simplicity, organised ingeniously and written with a scholarly expertise.