Arts Books

I have lots of jewelry books. This is more of "class examples" and the like. It shows many ways to do textures, finishes, etc. and shows the finished product. It has saved me the time and expense of doing them myself. What a help!

Its title is the best description of this book; you must try all possibilities that you can find inside.

I found this book well structured for me as a novice. It provides lots of beautiful examples of the techniques. I'll look for more detailed "how to" instructions elsewhere but this book is a great start.

Awesome book with great illustrations and techniques for many different finishes in jewelry making!! Get this one!!

This is a wonderful reference book not only for a beginner but for a silversmith that has much experience. I have purchased several of these books for students!

buy it used. good read for the beach. then see her movies.

I enjoyed Lauren Bacall's autobiography better than any autobiography I've ever read. Her style of writing is so personal, it's just a pleasure to read. It's written with heart, it's witty, poignant, and so honest. You'll also learn about the original "Rat Pack", and other celebrities. I can't say enough about this book!

I read this book 20 years ago when it first came out and I couldn't put it down. The love story between her and Bogey was sweet, but tragic. His death was so detailed in this book that when my own father was dying I couldn't help but relate back to her description of Bogey's final hours. It made me sob for her. The mention of Hollywood in the 50's and all of the corrupt politicians trying to blackball performers is deplorable. I believe Ms. Bacall is our current Kate Hepburn - a no BS kind of Hollywood woman that is still well-respected and greatly admired.

I have never considered myself a Lauren Bacall fan but having recently rewatched To Have And Have Not, her film debut, I became intrigued about her and Bogart so I picked up this book after reading such positive reviews here at Amazon.

Well, was I surprised. First this is a very well written autobiography that demonstrates a keen intelligence and a reflectiveness on the past that is truly admirable. It is also incredibly honest and not just a recitation of a Hollywood star's accomplishments.

From Bacall's youth in New York where she tried desperately to find a place in the theater to her ultimate return to the stage as a star after spending years in California as Mrs. Bogart and raising a family, every stage of her life is well examined.

Bogart emerges as a truly good guy, not perfect but clearly they were a great match despite the obvious age difference.

Some of the episodes in her life with Bogart have the added quality of capturing a period in Hollywood and the film industry that is long gone. Bacall isn't and doesn't need to be a name dropper but so many famous characters pop in and out of her story that it is a virtual who's who of 1940's Hollywood.

What I initally picked up as a casual read turned into something much deeper. Lauren Bacall , who I knew little about before reading this is a woman who I came to really like as a result of this book.

Well written and well worth checking out for filmfans, fans of Bogart or anyone interested in acting and theater and the celebrity life of the 40's and 50's.

Lauren Bacall's 1984 autobiography details her humble beginnings, how modeling led to acting, and her marriages and love affairs. She met Bogie on the set of her first movie when she was 19 and he was 43 and married. They fell in love at first sight and had a good marriage until his death. Her next husband was Jason Robards, Jr.; his drinking made for trouble from the start. The ups and downs of her movie and Broadway careers and her love of politics (and politicians) round out the book.

The woman who emerges from the pages is pretty much what I expected - strong, independent, and passionate - but also quite self-centered and spoiled. She's had a charmed life and makes no excuses for her shortcomings.

The book is full of famous tinseltown names and fabulous jet-set locations. She writes as if she were talking, often using ungrammatical half-sentences which slowed me down sometimes, but that is a minor quibble. I heartily recommend it to her fans.

Book in impeccable condition. Fast shipping. Haven't read it yet, but am looking forward to reading.

If you could read Beauty, then this book would be where you would find it. As odd as that sounds, it's truly the way I felt after just one chapter. I felt like I had experienced beauty incarnate. The chapters that follow are equally engaging, peaceful and they stick with you. This book is what I consider to be uncommon, common sense!

I hesitated to buy this book because I thought it might be "too Buddhist" or too sentimental. Do not be deterred by these reasons. I have treasured it, recommended it, and as a minister leant it out with great joy to people from all walks of life, rich and poor, highly literate and plain-spoken. It is one of those books that cuts through a lot of folderol and gets to the inmost heart, giving folks something nourishing and simple like a good breakfast for the soul.

Sharon offers simple everyday practices that can change your life. The ideas presented in this book have combined with other practices in my life to make me a happier, more peaceful person. Thank you Sharon.

This is an extraordinary little book, which provides specific instruction on both how to meditate in the Vipassana style, and WHY it's a worthwhile practice.

I've learned so much about drawing techniques from this book. I'm 63 years old and have never been able to draw anything recognizable. Now I'm finally doing what I've always wished I could do...DRAW! It's not just for kids.

This book draws you in (pun intended) to its world of sketches and wimsy. My son (10) loves to sit with Mom and draw together. We picked this book as part of his homeschool Art requirement, and he eagerly uses it every day. The book focuses on the development of 10 fundamental principles of good drawing (shading, perspective, etc), and reinforces these principles through over 30 lessons. The lessons are well-organized, clear and easy to do - we bookkeep about 20 minutes to do the day's lesson. If you need to improve your child's (or your) drawing skills, this is the book for you!

Satisfactory for gift for our (artistic) 11-year-old granddaughter; we expect it to help her in freehand drawing, especially of 3-D drawings on a 2-D surface. She can take it from there as her abilities and interest (and parental support) permit.

Thanks.

This book has a lot to offer. Its main focus is on achieving 3D effects through a number of important techniques such as shading and shadows, perspective, foreshortening and density. It is obviously geared toward a very young audience, but its lessons are so fundamental that any adult lacking basic drawing skills will benefit from them.

Bear in mind that this review is written from the perspective of a non-artist who enjoys drawing. The level of ambition I'm addressing is analogous to that a conscientious writer of letters, or emails, posts and reviews on the Internet, not that of a James Joyce or a Thomas Pynchon. Likewise, this review is not for aspiring professional artists - it is for adults and children who wish to confidently hold a pencil to a blank sheet of paper.

I can see the book working in a classroom setting, but without the energy of an enthusiastic teacher or classmates, a child or adult alone might quickly find the lessons boring. They're a little like doing scales on the piano, though not nearly as arid.

It is almost a sure thing that a child or said "adult lacking basic drawing skills" who does enough lessons to grasp the eight key words (besides attitude and daily practice) will then have many (not all) of those skills, leaving behind the great majority of us who don't know how to draw and actually fear drawing. For that alone the book is well worth the dough, but personally, I find it too boring to go through entirely. Progress is quick, though. What I did glean from about ten lessons is very useful; to go through all thirty would reinforce what I already learned and I preferred to branch out in other directions. Still, Draw Squad remains in my library, just in case I feel like doing a few "scales."

Among the many skills the book does not impart (this is not a gripe, as this book is very basic and the subject matter is vast) are composition, negative space, the great importance of shaded areas in rendering faces and other organic subjects, and some notion of measurement in the positioning of objects, items and features, and I could go on. The book deals mainly with objects and is cartoonish in style, and gives very little attention to complex or organic subjects such as animals, trees or the human figure and face. But don't worry - there is no shortage of books on these. Betty Edwards' "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" is decent, but the skills acquired from Kistler's book would be more at home with De Reyna's "How to Draw What You See", which uses fundamental shapes the Kistler graduate will have mastered as building blocks to complex drawings.

Mark Kistler's "Draw Squad" was my gift to my niece on her ninth birthday. She is a crafty young lady, always coloring and drawing. When she opened "Draw Squad" for the first time, I could see her interest in it. Along with this book, her gift included a sketch pad, pencils and sharpener, a gum eraser and a sturdy notebook with pocket folders to store her drawings. (I checked out the simple supplies that Mark listed for beginners). The first gift that she picked up after opening all others was this book. She followed the step by step instructions and drew a rabbit within minutes.
"Draw Squad" will be used for several years as a learning tool and a reference book. It brings out the hidden talent in all of us.

This is a good book if your just starting out. A lot of it is common sense but there are some good pointers. I would recommend it. Easy read. Also has some good resources.

I received this book really quickly and very pleased with it. I love the book and I couldn't wait to get it. The transaction was effortless.

Viki Lareau's book Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry is a well-written, experience-based guide for the novice. With the exception of a couple of small number of typos or misspellings, the book is a delight. I found that I wanted to read it straight through and almost succeeded in doing so before being interrupted. The photos complement the text, and it helps that the reader comes to like the person writing the book (at least I did).

I have purchased other similar books in the past that I skim, but never really take time to read. This book was not only worth the money, it was worth the time. Concisely written, clearly categorized, useful information. I only wish I had read it seven years ago when I first started selling my jewelry, as some of the lessons I have learned a much harder way!
My little company is currently turning into something much bigger and I am so glad I have the insight from this book to help me in negotiating and decision making.

If you're just getting started in the hand-made jewelry selling business, this is a straightforward, well written, and practical guide for the basics of setting up your business. The author provides tips on pricing your work, which are especially helpful. Overall, I found the tone warm and helpful, and it's a quick, easy read.

Michele Cozzens, Owner of Dream Life Designs Jewelry

I have an engineering background and needed to learn MRI for my job. I knew nothing about MRI and this gave an excellent overview. It talks about things at the proton level, data collection in k-space with frequncy/phase RF signals, to images with FFTs. It also talks about the electronics of the system and commonly used sequences. The colored tables and highlighted text makes things exteremly easy to follow.

Although this was a school requirement, I find it to be extremely useful and detailed.

I own many, many books on medical imaging, specifically MRI. This book encompassess the physics, sequences, imaging parameters, artifacts, contrast, and clinical application of these in very simple language with great illustrations. The authors have succeeded in publishing the best-written and most thorough of study/review books out there today.

This book helped me alot. I used it to pass my MRI registry and thought it was a hugh help.

I took the MRI Registry in October and passed. This is the only textbook you need. You do not have to buy any other. You really have to look through, dig deep, and study -- but the material and explainations are there. Good Luck

This was a terrific book and provided detailed information about the show that took a lot of research. It was equally as entertaining. I would highly recommend that Munster fans (young and old). Illustrations are wonderful.

WOW, what an incredible book. This is just everything you need and want to know about the Munsters TV show. It has it all and doesn't skip a beat. The things you will learn about the tv show is just awesome. Wanna know about the makeup? It's there. Wanna know about the cars? It's there. What the cast has and is doing? It's there. Get the point.

Let me also say what a fabulous job of how the book was designed. Color photos and behind the scene shots thru out the book. These are just some of the most spectacular photos on the tv show I have seen. Nice Rare stuff. You will love it.

What a remarkable update to Mr. Cox original book. This is definately a whole new book. Get one before you can never find one like this again.

A TRIP DOWN MOCKINGBIRD LANE is exactly that: a compilation of recollections from cast and crew that more or less leave a good feeling about the show and is akin to an album a family might collect in time for a reunion. There are no major revelations in this publication; stories are repeated throughout and must be fan favorites that folks enjoy being told again and again.

There are hints about Patrick Lily (better known as Butch Patrick) and his behavior on the set. There is mention of Fred and Al's constant bickering with the powers-that-were, but nothing concrete. Someday I would like to read a biography that would focus on Patrick's experience as a child actor. I do not believe he was born in 1953, he looks nine (at oldest) when the show first premiers. I think his age was lied about so he could get into makeup and be on the set longer than a younger child would have been allowed (I surmise this because he still looks no older than 12 in 1968 when he does "The Phantom Tollbooth"). Although I love "The Munsters" television series, and generally believe a good experience was had by all, I would be interested in reading Lily's story; I think we would find that his grandmother used acting as some use modern-day foster care.

As for this work, it is rare that a television series receive such a loving treatment: the color photos are vivid, the black and whites are brillaint, there are several trivia features that are fun, but would not have been thought of by a lesser biographer. It is a terrific keepsake for Munsters' fans and television adhearants in general.

Awesome, detailed book. Easy, flowing reading that you can't put down! What an insight inot the production and cast members of this classic show.

Having recently acquired this wonderful book by author Stephen Cox titled "The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane", as well as the recently released Two Seasons of the classic series on DVD, I once again never fail to marvel at this brilliant and totally original series that ran from 1964-66. Part domestic sitcom, part tribute to the Universal Monsters of old, and part satire on the "then", state of society as we perhaps knew it, "The Munsters" were really one of a kind, a sort of ghoul's version of "Father Knows Best". Produced in what I still firmly believe was the most creative decade on television, the swinging 1960's, "The Munsters", entry into the television schedule was perfectly timed and this most unusual of families slotted right in with the fantastic and totally "out of this world", programming of the time that featured beautiful suburban witches, talking horses, multi-millionaire hillbillies, bumbling spies, and sexy Genies.

Stephen Cox's loving tribute to this classic series makes first rate reading, chock full of terrific and highly informative information and dozens of truly stunning photos never before seen that will delight the heart of any reader. It truly is essential in the book collection of any devoted "Munster", fan like myself. In a similar vein to his other writing efforts that explored such much loved series from the 1960's as "The Beverly Hillbillies", and "Green Acres", Mr. Cox here explores everything to do with the show in a easily read format. Everything "Munster" is here from the original ideas that formed the basis for the eventual series, to information on the series' incredible cast and production crew, to a detailed look at the show's lavish attention to detail in terms of sets, costumes and makeup. Discussion is also given by Mr. Cox on the still mysterious reasons for the show's cancellation after only two years and then examines the amazing after life of "The Munsters", that continues on as strong as ever after 40 years when many of the more "realistic", sitcoms that replaced it are now only hazy memories. In short it's the perfect book for "Munster", lovers and anyone who has a real interest in how television was produced in that golden decade of the 1960's.

My son loves this book. He loves to turn each page & see which category is next & go through each thing on the page (of animals, foods, clothing, automobiles, etc).

This book was given to my one year old as a gift & she LOVES it! She looks at it all the time & has learned a great deal from it. She is currently 18mos. old & continues to enjoy the book. I have purchased multiple copies to give as gifts to friends. My only complaint is that the pages are paper rather than cardboard so the pages rip easily.

This series of board books are fantastic.

I started collecting these for my daughter after she was given one at 6 months and this is what we started to read to her every night. She woud sit and demand it to be read over and over and over again. The board pages and are easy for baby and toddler to turn and the pictures (real photography not illustrations) are wonderful.

The word book has a little bit of everything - like a mini dictionary - of things that baby will come accross in their daily life - clothes, food, utensils. My toddler can now read and say the names of each thing herself while pointing to them. It has helped her give names (and learn to say things by us reading the book over and over) to things in her world.

If your looking for a great picture book to share with your baby this is the one (and the series of books) to buy. You can never have too many books to read with your children.

Yeah, sure, it's educational ... but far more importantly, this book quickly became a favorite with my then-10-month-old -- and now, at almost a year, she still loves it. Older babies and toddlers are dying to know the names of things, and this book delivers. I expect it to keep its interest for quite a while, as we move on to color and "do you have one of these?", etc. She's fascinated by the brightly colored pictures and loves seeing familiar things, like the banana and the cat.

I bought this book for my daughter when she was about 13 months old. I wish I'd gotten it sooner! Her interest in the book grows and grows as she learns more and more what things are. Her favorite pages by far are the front cover, the food page, and the animal pages. She even learned about the letter O from the front cover (she thought they were balls, and so we taught her about O's).

She even uses the foods page as a menu. Before she learned the signs for some of her food, she'd bring the book over to me and point at what she wanted to eat. It was very cute.

She is 17 months old now, and the book is still one of her favorites. As she learns more and more what things are, she likes to point at all of them and tell me as we turn the pages. I think this book will give us even a lot more use out of it because there's still a lot of things she doesn't know.

My only complaints are:
1. How in the world is a baby going to figure out what a "combine tractor" and some of the really off-the-wall things are. We always skip things like that. Even the tools page has very little interest in it.

2. Some of the pictures are difficult to discern to a young child what they are. The bag of flour, the coffee, and the ice cream, to name a few.

3. I would have liked to see more animals. How about a mouse or a bunny?

Aside from those, I think this book is a must-have in any baby's board book collection.

This is a beautiful book that would be a great gift for any big brother or sister. What a wonderful way to encourage love for a younger sibling.

I bought this book for my three kids. It is actually for one child to fill out about the new baby. I have adapted it for all three kids to share. It makes them feel involved and adds to the excitement of the new baby. I think all new brothers and sisters should have this book.

This book is really adorable. I can't wait for my 3 year old to fill it out with me. It has really great checklists and places for pictures for your older sibling to fill out.

This is a great product. I have been really worried about how my 3 year old daughter is gonna take being a big sister. She has been very spoiled her whole life. When we got this book in the mail she was so happy. I am only 13 weeks so she has plenty of time to wait until she can use the book but she thought it was really cool. I think this a good idea to keep them involved.

I bought this for my 4 year old to fill out for he new baby brother. Some of the questions are hysterical and she loves filling out the information and tracing her feet and his feet. I'm sure both kids with treasure it when they're older to see what she thought of him when he was born.

I am constantly amazed at the magnitude of CeCe Winans musical and spiritual capabilities and I am pleased to say that her gifts do not end there. On A Positive Note is a beautiful piece. In it, there is a very natural and earthy quality that reaches the reader to relate the story CeCe seeks to tell. The flow of the book is very smooth; transitions are made nicely from one subject to the next as she relates her story. I cannot stress enough how the personal the experience of reading this book feels and how natural the language reads. CeCe has done it again. God is consistently working through her in a mighty way.

I read this book and I was so blessed by it. Throughout it, Cece constantly discusses the fact the she was taught to give up the world for God. This blessed me because it is evident in the way that God has blessed her music ministry that if we give up the world for God that he will do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or think in our lives. It was awesome to read about how God just kept blessing her life because the posture of heart was correct towards him. It was great to read a story about saved artist who had just been taught to live holy and to see the rewards of doing it. I was blessed and truly encouraged through this book.

While reading "On a Positive Note" by CeCe Winans, I was taken back into a time when I myself was growing up, how her childhood memories was very similar to my own. I also grew up in a large family, and reading her book brought back so many memories of my past. Despite all the tribulations and triumphs of her life, she managed to hold on to her spiritual belief, letting it guide her through her every decision in life. "On A Positive Note" has inspired me, lifted me to a higher level of praising the Lord and reminded me to always put God before each decision throughout my life. This book was quite a page turner that filled my heart with laughter, joy, tears, praise, sadness and forgiveness. I was moved to pray for Ronald myself as she astoundingly shared his testimony. My thirteen year old daughter is now reading this wonderful book and I will reccommend it to everyone I know.

http://pages.ivillage.com/cassie23/

This book, "On A Positive Note", was truly an inspiration. I didn't want to put the book down. Ms. Winans biography was written so that you felt that you were right there in that moment of time. Again, GREAT BIOGRAPHY!

This book was truly an inspiration. I didn't want to put the book down. Ms. Winans biography was written so that you felt that you were right there in that moment of time. Again, GREAT BIOGRAPHY!