Arts and Crafts Books

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!

the pieces are selected by great care.they develop your imagination.whether you are a beginner or an advice beader, you should have this book.

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.

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.

I gave this book to my daughter when she was promoted to pastry chef at a Boca Raton private club. She said it was very helpful and had a lot of ideas she used on the job.
Then she quit that job to sell resturant equipment. It pays better.

Fo better scientific understanding, see "Understanding Baking" by Joseph Amendola.

Current CIA baking instructors are in the process of replacing this book as it's not the best teaching instrument because the science is ignored and factually incorrect at places. All of this from a current student.

I intend to open a Patisserie and Boulangerie Shop in South America. And this book is really useful as a Complete Manual.

any serious in learning about baking and pastry should own this book. The new edition is very well written and easy to identify the recipes and tips.

This book is a must for a savory kitchen. My staff uses the recipes out of this book constantly. A nessasary part of a professional kitchen mise en place. I had to buy a second copy because the first one is worn out.

Another great book by Sarah Sink Eames!-Great outfits and pictures-easy to see values-Fun to see how Barbie and friends followed current fashion trends for the late 60's and early 70's-very helpful to any vintage collector!!

Great book. Found outfits and the year they came out. Do Recommend if you are into Barbie clothes...

If you are a collector, you should have this book on your shelf. Comprehensive, complete, with photos galore. A+++++

In Hong Kong, it is not popular to collect vintage Barbie dolls so that it is not easy to explore specific related knowledge. This book really helps a lot. It is a bible for every Barbie collectors!

This book and its companion volume, 'Barbie Doll Fashion: 1959-1967', are without doubt the most beautiful and informative books on the market for the vintage and mod era Barbie collector today. They are very well-written, with lovely photographs of absolutely pristine examples of each outfit, enough to make you drool over on every single page!

'Barbie Doll Fashion: 1968-1974' covers the fashions from Barbie's exciting Mod era, and includes fashions not only for Barbie, but for her friends and family as well. These include original outfits, Pak outfits, Best Buys, Get Ups and Gos, Store Exclusives and every other type of outfit available from 1968 to 1974.

Each outfit is described in detail, with a photograph showing the outfit and all accessories next to it, laying flat. Some outfits are shown on the doll. The photography is stunning, by far the best of any Barbie book I've ever seen.

'Barbie Doll Fashion: 1968-1974' isn't just informative, it's a catalogue of dreams to build on, and a fun book just to sit and look at. You'll never be sorry you own it!

I got this book last summer. Despite being the fourth of an outstanding series of beaded jewelry instruction and inspiration, it provides yet even more inspiring designs and instructions. This book, like its predecessors, is content rich and full of unique designs. I continue to get compliments on jewelry made from this book.

I received this book today & it's just what I expected. Beautiful pieces,great instructions & very nice pictures.I think I'll be buying all her books now.I strongly recommend this one.

One of the nicest books ever.Easy instructions and very beautiful example which you can change yourself if it doesn't suit your style.Small and compact book!

I haven't done any of the crafts in the book yet, but the instructions look easy and the pictures are very clear.

This is by far the best jewellery book I have bought. The jewellery is lovely and is quite different to other American beading books I have bought. the main techniques used in this book are bead weaving, bead stringing and the right angle weave (what she calls 'figure eights' in the book.)However, most of the projects use 2 needles which beginers or people used to 1 needle methods might find confusing. i wouldnt recommend this book to complete beginners, but anyone with beading experience would be able to complete the projects in this book

I haven't taken the time to learn this kind of beading, but it looks spectacular and quite daring--different, and would make good conversation pieces. Beautiful pictures.

I haven't yet read the book thoroughly because I'm beading a peyote project now but I can say I like the explanation on the history of brick stitch. I think the same shapes done by different people, each work varying in colors and much the same shape is somewhat pointless, though I enjoyed the variety of colors and the works are lovely. I think you could have included a wider range of instructions on how to build a sculptoral shape step by step. The works included in the gallery are beautiful and inspiring. Have I written between 75 - 300 words ? I'll let you have the fun of counting (if you ever intend to do so - ha ha ha !!! ) Tirza, Israel.

I found Beading with Brick Stitch an excellent book for learning how to do brick stitch. On working several of the projects, I found the instructions quite clear, and these were the first time I had done brick stitch. Several pluses put this book on a level above many beading books: the history of brick stitch with pictures of traditional uses; the inclusion of single-stack, double-stack and triple-stack brick stitch graph paper to copy; many different photos of each project as made by the author's friends to demonstrate variations; and a well-done gallery for inspiration. I have found that this book has been able to answer all my brick stitch questions so far, and I have found it one of the best books in the beadworks "Beading with" series.

first, i will say that i can misinterpret directions like nobody you've ever known. if this were a talent, i'd be a genius. it makes following even the best written craft instructions a wee bit difficult.

but i'm not entirely to blame for my confusions with this book. until i took a class, i thought i was not following the instructions as presented, because there were no photos or drawings accurately showing what the edge of the work should look like. knowing peyote stitch, i should have realized that brick stitch would also have sawtoothed edges, but i didn't. i just thought all my attempts were wrong.

after having been shown, by a real live person, how to do this stitch, i went back to the book to practice increasing and decreasing. well, several methods of increasing for triple brick stitch are well illustrated, but single is not so well served. granted, some of the methods would work with both, but only experimenting will tell for others. this is a drawback to me because i think an instruction book should instruct on the basics, not leave the reader to experiment to learn them. one method of decreasing which does not leave the thread visible is not included.

tubular single brick stitch is covered, but not double or triple. maybe these are exactly the same, but nothing is said, that i could find, about whether there are any structural differences. circular brick stitch of any number is not covered.

there are very nice, full-page-sized graphs for single, double and triple brick stitch. it would have been nice to have had a graph for circular, because, while i could probably eventually figure out the mathematics of increasing for a flat circle, i would really rather have it done for me.

the reasons i gave the book four stars and not three are: the historical background section and photos and the inspiring gallery and project sections. diane fitzgerald's work is stunning and the examples of other artists in the gallery section are equally wonderful. the projects are interesting, and a nice feature is the inclusion of variations by the author's students.

on one hand, the sparseness of instructions keeps this book from being more than a good introduction to brick stitch. on the other, the gallery is an excellent source of inspiration. so, even with the drawbacks, it does deserve space in any beader's library.

This is a comprehensive book on the brick stitch. It gives detailed instructions as well as beautiful eye candy for inspiration. This book will teach the beginner and motivate the experienced to a higher level. A book every beader should have in her library.

The production quality of the book is wonderful. Photos are very high quality, and there are a lot of them. The paper is heavy-duty and will stand up to all the viewings this book will receive in our house.

I didn't know much about Alexander Calder or his jewelry, but enjoyed the discovery of both through this book. My only complaint (if it can be called that) is that it arrived shortly before I needed to take a trip, and the size/weight of the book precluded me bringing it along!

It's a great inspiration to see those pieces.

I have always loved Calder's work and am a jewelry maker myself, yet I hesitated before investing in this book. It is well worth every cent. The photos are beautiful and depict the liveliness and earthiness of Calder's jewelry amazingly.

The most beautiful book I own. The photos of Calder's amazing work are fabulous, and this book is ALL about photos.

Great book, wonderful pictures. Calder art just unique. A good sample of quality and incredible price

This a great book by a great American sculptor. Most people know his mobiles and stabiles....his jewelry is a great secret and this book shows us another part of a wonderful artist.

I have tried several of the techniques and the author has made learning free motion very understandable and attainable. It is my favorite new quilting book!

As a freehand embroiderer for more than a couple of decades, I purchased this book a few years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit that I buy books like this as much to enjoy reading as to learn from. Unlike a prior reviewer, I won't criticize Ms. Fahl for having a different artistic vision that I might have--and my work is quite different from hers. So what? This book is presented as a jumping-off point for the buyer's creativity. This book is a great companion to Ms. Fahl's DVD presentation on working with thread; I have reviewed it separately. For a beginner, this can be a very good first resource.

This book presents good technical information on handling thread, etc. for free-motion techniques. I find the examples quite uninspiring artistically, though.

We just cannot get enough time to try everything in this book It is absolutely inspiring. It is exciting just reading it and makes one long to get to the sewing machine. Why do we have to do housework, cooking and cleaning when there are such exciting things to create. Thanks to Ann Fahl for the work she has put into this book.I will always treasure it as I learn the art of Thread Painting.

I bought this because I became interested in thread embroidery. Its a truely goregeous book with easy to follow instructions and wonderful photos. Her work really looks like 3D photography. I learned a lot just by reading it. A true enjoyment.

The book is complete in reviewing all the aspects of jewelry making. Very clear explanations supported by big beautiful photographs. A must for all jewelry enthousiasts who would like to start steps in this beautiful craft.

can't put this book down. My design club members are borrowing it.Probably 6 more sales of this book as it is great reference material. The book is also "fun" to read. Great down time pleasure.

This book is by far the best I have. I have no professional training and I am pretty much a beginner (amateur at polymer clay pendants and total beginner at metal). The thing is that I love sculpting....Yet, this book has more info that is helpful to me than any of the other books that I have. The illustrations in this book are more helpful to me than just drawings, like in some of the other books. The angle of the photos shows me exactly what the author is doing. Yeah, it's a lot of info, but that's what I wanted. This book is more complete, in my opinion, than the other books that I have. I love the project pictures that the author has included, as well as the pictures of other artist's work. It's a good price- cheaper than the others that I have, and I'm glad I bought it.

This book is one of the best I have,I still refer to it whenever I am in a creative slump.As a full time jewellery Designer/Maker running a businesss I never have any time to try new techniques or read books but this one was so clear and easy to follow,so full of really interesting techniques and many many pictures that I refer to all the time.I have hundreds of jewellery books but none have been as useful and inspring as this one.I tried all the projects and they all came out as shown,I learnt more than I did in jewellery classes I've taken.

Unlike other books in mentions the use of micromotors and abrasives etc instead of pre historic tools and there are many wax projects,some really great examples of jewellery by spanish designers,and information on alloys - everything you need to know.Best $29.95 I ever spent.Made my work interesting again,will be looking out for further books by this Author.

I've been doing basic stone setting and soldering fabrication for a couple of years and have been looking for a good introduction to more advanced jeweler's techniques to help inspire me to take it to the next level. There are a multitude of beautifully illustrated and produced books that attempt to do this - but fail because they don't show you enough (in an misguided attempt to keep it simple) - The Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques comes to mind as an example of this problem. This book - Carles Codina's The Complete Book of Jewelry Making - is the real deal. It serves as a basic introduction, but gives enough detail to really get you off the ground and doing projects. I learned new wrinkles on techniques I thought I knew - and got really good insight into new techniques I've been wanting to learn, such as bead setting, engraving, bright cutting, granulation, reticulation, patination, enamel, etc.. Impressive as getting this right is - this book goes further: it gets into the cultural history and significance of jewelery art and is full of really inspiring examples of jeweler's art. Simply having pictures of great art isn't impressive - but really connecting the achieved vision of that art with the techniques described is. So, you don't just get a good idea of how to do the technique and what it looks like - but you also get a real sense of why; of how the technique pays off artistically.

This book starts off with a brief introduction of where jewelry fits in human civilization. Then it moves to introducing the bench and basic techniques and then moves on to advanced techniques. The basic techniques section mentions important details such as collecting and organizing your scraps and assaying metals. The techniques section illustrate each technique step by step and each one shows you a finished project. Finally it does a series of project illustrated step by step that make use of multiple techniques in a real applied fashion. Each part of the book is illustrated with sumptuous photographs showing the technique and tools. The text is brief, but doesn't lack detail. The artistic vision of the artist is modern - but whether you love the pieces shown or not, there is no debating that they utilize and illustrate the craft in an admirable fashion. This book fires me up and gets me working.

BEGINNING ART QUILTERS -- BUY THIS BOOK ! This beautiful book is literally filled cover to cover with inspiring ideas. For the first month after I received this book, I carried it with me everywhere I went; and every time I looked at it, I saw something new. I am a beginning art quilter and this book gave me tons of ideas. If you're suffering from a creative block, buy this book! Buy this book if you're not suffering from a creative block! Buy it simply to admire the beautiful works of art published on its pages. A great addition to your quilting library!!

Wonderful book. I immediately bought at least one more copy as a gift for a friend who's also getting into quilting. There were ideas for techniques and products for fabric art. The stories behind the quilt squares were very moving also.

After seeing the exhibit at The Chicago Quilt Show I had to have this book. It is extremely inspirational and I believe it will help anyone generate new ideas. Additionally, I enjoy reading all of the personal comments from the creator of each project- it is like reading someone's diary. And finally, it is a book that I find myself going back to again and again and it seems like a new book everytime. I cannot recommend this book enough.

I have a lot - and I mean a lot - of quilting books, and this is one of most inspiring books I have seen. The quilts are all small and very interesting. Each one is accompanied by an explanation by the quilt's creator. It is sort of a whole new look at the possibilties of quiltmaking. My mind immediately started racing with ideas. Because the quilts are very small, they seem very do-able. This is not your average book with patterns, but instead it is a book of possibilites and inspiration.

This big book of ideas is exactly what active or "artists in planning mode" quilters need for inspiration. Beautiful book for great ideas. One of my favorite books to refer to when I am planning my next project.