Arts and Crafts Books

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Arts and Crafts Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Hearts and Hands: Women, Quilts, and the American Society

Published in Paperback by Thomas Nelson (2000-11-15)

Authors: Pat Ferrero, Elaine Hedges, and Julie Silber

List price: $19.99

New price: $19.99
Used price: $19.99

Average review score:

American Women "Revealed" through their Quilting

Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 1999-07-08

The story of how women used quilts not only as bedcoverings, but as mementos of their friends, artistic expressions in bleak lives, political commentary when they didn't have the vote, fundraising, slogan flags--more ways than imagined! Quilts were even considered a symbol of women's repression at one time! An interesting slant on the role of women in American history (the keepers of morality!). Excellent pictures, great inspirations, and lots of fun! This book was the reference basis for the book and movie "How to Make an American Quilt."

HOW WOMEN SPOKE THROUGH THEIR QUILTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-09-14

My husband purchased this book for me and WOW! It is packed with information regarding the common bond that women had in fellowshipping, politicking, raising money for war efforts, changing society, gaining strength to have a voice, comforting others ...all through their domestic art of quilting. A must for quilters and for anyone who has a tendency to believe that domesticity disables one from being active to change society for the good of everyone!

Hearts and Hands

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-13

I used the accompanying video in a workshop I taught at the University level. What a heartwarming and accurate trip through womens' history, linking us to them through a common craft. The book successfully informs us of their political and social challenges as we view the gorgeous creations of their hands. The music score is vital to portraying the feeling, as well, and is perfect to the subject.

I recommend viewing the video for any who are interested in womens' history or in the folkart of quilting.

Interesting for all - not just women or quilters

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-21

Before I bought the book I saw the video three times. When I was watching it at home, one by one my family sat down and joined me. The panoramic view of American history through the quilts the women made from the Revolutionary War up through the 1800s was fascinating and touching. An excellent video and an excellent book.

Higgins: Adventures in Glass

Published in Hardcover by Schiffer Publishing (2000-01-01)

Author: Donald-Brian Johnson

List price: $59.95

New price: $43.76
Used price: $35.95
Collectible price: $73.94

Average review score:

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1999-06-26

This is truly a masterpiece of editing. The author has truly done an outstanding job. This is a MUST book for any serious Higgins collector as well as anyone who enjoys beautiful glass. The author is certainly to be commended for this one of a kind work.

One Of The Best Collectable Reference Guides Available

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-09

A "Must Have" for any serious Higgins collector. There is an almost overwhelming amount of information presented in a most organized manner. So many wonderful color photographs that I went into sensory overload. Loads of great, historical information and imagery. The only down side of the book is that the price guide is not representative of current market values but if looked at properly will still give you a good idea of how one pattern will relate to another in value. I wish other collectable genres had reference guides of this caliber.

wonderful pictures, fascinating story

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 1998-06-20

this book starts to do justice to the wonderful inventive genius of michael and francis higgins, craftsmen and artistis, and the developers of advanced fused glass techniques. The book is steep at $60, but it's worth it for the great number of color plates. . . and if you know higgins glass, you'll know that a great many photographs were needed!

the only downside might be that the authors focussed too much on the dearborn years of mass-produced fused glass goods. This neglects somewhat the great variety and depth of studio work done by the higgins. But perhaps this is an apt subject for "adventures in glass, volume II".

A book as beautiful as the glass

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-04-25

If you want to collect Higgins glass, this book is an absolute must-have. The prices are outdated; with the recent death of Michael Higgins, I have seen pieces sell for double or triple the book's values. This is much more than a price guide, though. This book details the history of Higgins glass, their techniques, and how to identify what is and is not Higgins glass. There are several beautiful color pictures on almost every page, and I enjoy looking at them almost as much as I enjoy looking at the pieces in my collection.

Home Landscaping: Mid-Atlantic Region (Home Landscaping) (Home Landscaping)

Published in Paperback by Creative Homeowner (1998-02-28)

Authors: Roger Holmes and Greg Grant

List price: $19.95

New price: $4.00
Used price: $1.83

Average review score:

Loved It

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-08

This book was wonderful because it had lots of picture to draw ideas from. It also had information on different seasons and how the plants would be affected. It was so helpful to me.

Wonderful resource.

Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-30

This book is a wonderful resource. The book is full of design ideas shown in site plans, 3-D renderings, and with great close up photos of the flowers, scrubs, and trees. Many designs are shown in each season and in a progression of how it will look in three to five years and then in ten to fifteen years. I found this book to be very helpful in designing flower beds, in picking plantings, and in knowing how to care for each planting.

Great Book!

Helpful Votes: 12 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 1999-05-12

I am new to gardening and I am have cleared out my backyard, I had no idea what I was doing or what kind of plants to put where until I read this book. It also has good ideas for building patios... great illustrations too!

Good use of Native Species

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2000-11-23

I'm not under 13, but I didn't want to give my name and email.

This book is great. It takes advantage of some great underused native plants from the Mid Atlantic. It is very helpful because it provides plant spacing and maintenance. Most plants are low maintenance, all year interest.

I have used the landscape plans in my yard and will continue to use this book as my number one reference.

Hot Wheels The Ultimate Redline Guide: Identification and Values 1968-1977 (Hot Wheels the Ultimate Redline Guide)

Published in Hardcover by Collector Books (2005-05-24)

Authors: Jack Clark and Robert P. Wicker

List price: $29.95

New price: $23.95
Used price: $11.80

Average review score:

Hot Wheels Textbook!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-11

This is the very finest volume on the subject -- bar none. Each and every car has a one- or two-page listing, complete with description, history, variations, and values by color. Photos are large and lavish. Hot Wheels playsets, accessories, and collateral merchandise are covered as well. Plus, the book is published in a sturdy library binding. It's well worth the price. You will not need another book about Hot Wheels Redlines.

Ultimate Redline Guide Volume 2

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-27

Finally!!! An accurate price guide for Redlines. Don't waste your money on Tomarts. This is the book you need!

The best Hot Wheels Redline reference!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-31

This book is a must have for any serious Redline collector. It is a beautifully presented hardcover book of almost 400 pages; jam packed with photos, facts and figures for all Hot Wheels models from 1968 to 1977.

Each model has its own page listing colours, variations and values for loose and packaged cars from Hong Kong and the USA. The book also has special sections on Gran Prix, Heavyweights, Sky Show, Spoilers, Carry Cases, Displays, Gift Sets, Playsets, Track Sets, Merchandise, Collector Buttons and more.

I own the Tomart guide, the Schiffer guide and several others and none of them come close the detail and accuracy found in this book.

In a word, "Indispensable!"

This is THE ultimate guide!

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-12

This book is huge! About 400 pages in full colour.Where do you start? Every model and every colour variation is shown in this book and it just brings your memories flooding back.I dont even remember half of these toys.Its all in here.Each model,each variation,gift sets and so much more.

This has to be THE ultimate book on these series for sure!
A huge book,superb quality and good value make this book a legend.To the authors who put this book together,you guys are champions! Thank you.

How To Draw Garfield And The Gang

Published in Paperback by Scholastic (2004-05-01)

Author: Jim Davis

List price: $4.99

New price: $3.99
Used price: $1.69

Average review score:

If you love to draw and you love Garfield this is a must!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-30

My Mom bought this book for my step-daughter who loves Garfield thanks to all my old books. She's often tried to draw our favorite furry orange fat toon, but has had a few problems. This book has set her straight and she's now drawing some good looking Garfield and friends.
It's given her new confidence in her drawing skills.

very good and helpful, i like the pics

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 1998-07-17

like i said VERY GOOD

DRAW GARFIELD!!!!!!!

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-15

This is a book where you can draw almost all the characters in the books of garfield.GREAT FOR GARFIELD FANS.

How To Draw Garfield And Friends

Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2000-02-03

My best friend lent me the book for a wekend. It was wonderful! The instructions were clear and I'm now drawing Garfield like an old pro.

I Shock Myself: The Autobiography of Beatrice Wood

Published in Paperback by Chronicle Books (2006-03-02)

Author: Beatrice Wood

List price: $24.95

New price: $5.96
Used price: $5.97
Collectible price: $75.95

Average review score:

Amusing, thoughtful and honest!

Helpful Votes: 12 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 1998-03-18

As a potter, I'd hoped to learn more about her art. However,there were some gems to be found in the text. I really enjoyed the stories about several other famous people in her life. She is brutally honest in her opinions and I like that. On the downside... it was a bit too "socially conscious" in places, for my own taste. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will read more by her. I wrote a personal letter to her, regarding her book and she answered me promptly... twice! Great lady! Wonderful clay-artist! :-) An interesting read, for sure.

Brilliant,..Funny..,Thoughtful...,Adventurious....Honest!

Helpful Votes: 24 out of 24 total.
Review Date: 1998-10-14

I am going to be honest and say what this autobiography meant to me.... Starting with her early days as an artist to an actress breaking from her mother's shell. To her associations with Duchamp,Roche,Varese,Reginald Pole,Krishnumarti and other well-known men. And it tells of the struggles she went through in paying the price to learn of life and her amazing stories in India,France..etc; were very interesting to read. I enjoyed her stories with the beloved Arensbergs' for they were very important in her life. Before this book I didn't have knowledge of most of the artists in her life. She has opened new doors! I laughed hysterically at her descriptions of her years with Pole and Steve.She is a riot!

An amazing woman really. This book will remain with me forever and I will read it again and again. For someone like myself can't beleve there is so much adventure in life. She died this spring at 105,in her heart 32. I would have loved to meet her.All I can do now is remember her and try to learn more about her life and art. I loved her and she is an inspiration to all humanity with her marvelious statements on the facts of life.Afterall,she lived 105 years and paid the price. A definate book to add to a collection for any Beato fan or curious book reader!

Wonderful insight into the world of Beatrice Wood

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 1997-06-19

Highly recommended, artist Beatrice Wood's autobiography, "I Shock Myself" gives the read a glimpse into her illustrious life and art. I could not put this book down

A Fabulous Life

Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2002-02-12

Being a potter and a Beato fan, I truly enjoyed the time I spent with this autobiography. I was fascinated by how her life unfolded from her relationships with those in art to her own creation of art. How her world which was largely centered around the men she knew, changed as she found herself in clay.
I loved how this story unfolded and I was sad when it ended.

Impressionist Palette: Quilt Color & Design

Published in Paperback by C&T Publishing (1997-10)

Author: Gai Perry

List price: $25.95

New price: $12.50
Used price: $5.89

Average review score:

Imprssionist Palette: Ouiltcolor & design by Gai Perry

Helpful Votes: 25 out of 25 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-29

This is the best. It takes your breath away how Gai can come up with all these gorgeous inspirational quilts. The book is very easy to understand and English is my second language. She explains it in very simple terms. Your hands will itch to get started. It is like painting with fabric. Start collecting lots of fabric and she teaches you what to look for. You will never look at fabric the same way again. I also like to recoment her 'Color from the Heart' book. You learn so much that you use these books over and over again. Her books are real treasures.

The Greatest book of all

Helpful Votes: 25 out of 26 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-11

This is the most marvelous book I have ever seen about impressionist or watercolor quilts, Gai did realy a great job with this book. It gives you lots of ideas to go on and make some beautiful Impressionist quilts of your own. I love all her books, and hope she write lots of more in the future, certainly about this type of quilts.

Great for Imaginative Quilters

Helpful Votes: 33 out of 33 total.
Review Date: 2000-01-17

This is a truly wonderful book for the quilter who wants to create art, to go beyond traditional approaches. Ms. Perry's quilts are inspiring -- I went out and chose my fabrics for a new project the day after I got this book. She emphasizes the importance of putting certain colors and prints together to create marvelous impressionistic effects on a quilt top. The pictures of completed quilts are incredible, the writing instructional and clear, and the suggested projects are exciting and fun to make.

Impressionist Palette is a superb manual for watercolour.

Helpful Votes: 40 out of 40 total.
Review Date: 1998-04-06

Of the many books currently available on watercolour quilting, Impressionist Palette is, in my opinion, the best. The pictures are absolutely stunning; the quilts exquisite. Apart from being an art book, the instructions on the technique of watercolour quilting are extremely clear and well-written, making it possible for myself, a fearful watercolourist, to attempt and succeed in making a watercolour quilt.

In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World

Published in Hardcover by Monacelli (2000-10-01)

Authors: Paola Gianturco and Toby Tuttle

List price: $60.00

New price: $28.00
Used price: $2.63

Average review score:

Fantastic , Beautiful, Inspiring, Sacred Book No Less!!!!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-12

This book is absolutely all that the other readers have said. It is precious and very important for all the reasons above. In addition, it has excellent Cooperative and Fair Trade resources. I left my copy in Brazil for others,am now in Mexico, and must have another copy to share with others, and for my home. This book lives in my dreams and adds color, meaning, and celebration to our world. Thank you!!!!
Sakanta Running Wolf

This book does make a difference!

Helpful Votes: 15 out of 15 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-19

The glorious color photos and stories have inspired me to meet the craftswomen. I took the book with me on assignment in Guatemala with women weavers and watched the delight and pride from the weavers as they enjoyed the pictures of women like themselves. Each story is a challenge to all of us to seek out these crafts and use them in our daily lives. The well written stories by Paola and the personal essays by Toby are inspirational. They captured the reality of life and the possibilities. I left my copy in Guatemala and just ordered two more as gifts. This is a beautiful book.

Truly Great Book!

Helpful Votes: 24 out of 24 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-07

Amazing photography and unique insight into far lands and distant peoples. "In Her Hands" takes you on a journey to the places you've always wanted to go and into the lives of the people you wish you'd meet when you travel. Women around the world, working to create art and improve their lives. No flashy get-rich-quick success stories, no explosive dot-com egos, but real people who truly earn their success, day by day. The book deals fairly and honestly with complex issues of traditional societies around the world, as women invest their own money in the education of their children and change their local economies.

Beautiful, color-rich images help tell the tale all along. Like photography from LIFE magazine or National Geo, the photos make stories of In Her Hands almost leap from the page.

I highly recommend this to anyone and will be buying many copies as gifts for the holidays!

A wonderful holiday gift for all my female friends

Helpful Votes: 45 out of 45 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-10

In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World is a gorgeous photojournalistic volume about women around the world who make indigenous crafts. The crafts, varied and wonderful as they are, are sold at market so that the women can have an income stream to improve their economic situation. Money earned this way is most often used to pay for children's education and improved nutrition. These are often women who live in abject poverty, many without the help of income-generating husbands, who are passionate about giving their children better lives. One admires their focus, their intelligence, and the joy with which they live their lives, as documented by the two author/photographers, Paola Gianturco and Toby Tuttle. This is a wonderful coffee-table sized book with glorious images for anyone who loves crafts, travel, photography and for anyone who thinks and cares about the lives of women around the world. Well-done! I've already bought three!

Indian Baskets of Central California: Art, Culture, And History (Indian Baskets of California and Oregon Series)

Published in Hardcover by Miwok Archaeological Preserve of Marin (2006-06-27)

Author: Ralph Shanks

List price: $45.00

New price: $24.00
Used price: $30.77

Average review score:

This is a "Must Have" book.

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-14

I have a large shelf of books on indian basketry. This Shanks book will be put first in line. For the tribes included, the book covers historical, cultural, and ethnographic aspects in a very readable form. But its unrivaled aspect is in diagnostics and the technical details. Boring? Hardly! The authors show how the artisitic and aesthetic values derive from the weaving details. The authors trace the migration and fate of tribal peoples through analysis of their weaving. While the book is of "coffee table" quality, it not just a pretty once over dust catcher. I will certainly buy their next volume in the series.

To anyone interested in the artworks or culture of the American Indian, this is a must have treasure. In fact, it can well stand first in line among any indian textile, carving, pottery, or beadwork books that I have ever seen.

Haven't exactly read it but...

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-06

We had the author (Ralph Shanks) as a math teacher in sixth grade-- truly the best teacher we have EVER had! I've never read his books but he used to show us slides of the material, anyway, just be aware when reading this i'm sure fascinating book, that the author is a really good teacher ( which is completely irrelevant we know, but...)

A beautiful book

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-02

More than exceptionally good regional art, California Indian baskets are amongst the most beautiful and finest baskets in the world. No other book covers basketry with the detail, care and insight of this volume. Approximately 200 baskets are shown in full color along with an enjoyable text that makes reading a pleasure. Basketry studies, anthropology, history, art, archeology and linguistics are all brought together in this unprecedented book. "Indian Baskets of Central California" is full of fascinating information. There are vibrant baskets covered with hundreds of tiny feathers, miniature baskets so small they literally can sit on the head of a pin, feast baskets so large it took several men to lift one when full, and culinary baskets as beautiful as a great painting. You will be proud to own this fine book.

Important Addition to the Field

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-22

Ralph Shanks has more than one passion that he writes about. He's known nationwide in Coast Guard history circles as one of the country's leading chroniclers of the history of the United States Life-Saving Service, a predecessor to the Coast Guard. But little do those folks know - except maybe those on the West Coast, of his level of scholarship as it pertains to a subject seemingly as far away from motor lifeboats as one can get: Native American basketry.

Indian Baskets of Central California is split geographically into three sections: San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay, the interior coast range mountains, and the Sierra Nevada and the Delta. Each section highlihghts the basketry of different tribes, both in text and imagery. The book, in fact, is heavily illustrated with photography of existing baskets from collections all over the west coast. The history of the development of each type of basket is told, as is the story behind its ultimate use. The details pertaining to each individual basket's story are as intricately woven into storylines as the baskets themselves were crafted.

Ralph and his wife/editor Lisa Woo Shanks have collaborated on several projects, including the North American Indian Travel Guide. Independently, Lisa is the editor of the Basketry of California and Oregon Series. Their expertise for this very precise subject shines through in this important book, one that will help keep alive fading arts and cultures of the past.

Innovative Beaded Jewellery

Published in Paperback by Kangaroo Press Pty.Ltd ,Australia (1996-06)

Author: Gineke Root

List price: $14.00

New price: $9.12

Average review score:

WOW!!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-08

I have made several of the necklaces from this book and have received raves everytime I wear them. It takes a little effort to understand some of her terms for beads but once you get past that, the instructions are excellent. These are beautiful, wearable necklaces, mainly based on peyote, that take time to make but are worth it.

Innovative Beaded Jewellery Techniques

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-11-03

This book is really unique as far as the beading techniques go. The written instructions looked rather daunting at first but were fairly easy to follow once you get started. Good for advanced beaders to add to their beading repertoire!

Innovative Beaded Jewelry is absolutely a perfect title.

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-11

I was looking for something new and different. When I received my book I found that it is exactly that. Beautifully different beaded jewelry technique than what I have been doing. Good diagrams and wonderful colored pictures. This is an English translation from Dutch. Therefore you might be confused at first with the size of the beads but I just go with what I have and try to follow accordingly. I don't think it will be a problem for most beaders. Non-beading friends that have seen the book love the jewelry displayed in the pictures. Directions for all shown are provided. I believe this will keep me in beading heaven for quiet some time. The technique is versatile and the jewelry looks dressy and expensive. Various beads and sizes can be used. If you like to be creative then don't miss the opportunity with what you can bead from this book.

One-of-a-kind beadwork idea book

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-18

This is an excellent book for medium to advanced seed beaders who are looking for more than another peyote pattern. The author opens up completely new directions by using seed beads with bugle & cut beads, crystals and other small decorative beads to create exceptionally unique tubular beadwork. The techniques are simple, the results are beautiful and stunning. I recall someone mentioning to me that this book is an English translation of Dutch, and there are a few minor awkward grammar remnants but nothing that would inhibit a beader from figuring out how to do the techniques. I give this book a high rating because it is the seminal work on the "Dutch spiral" use of seed beads and inspires you to move your own seed beadwork in a new direction.