Beauty Books

I have both editions of this book . I have used them in the classes I teach and at my manicure table. If there is anything I need to reference, this book has it all.

Every nail tech and beauty professional needs to read this book.

Maureen Solan

This book should be recommanded to all the nail techs all around the world
it has so many answers to so many questions it s just an amazing source of education
very great i m glad i bought it

To achieve true, long term success in your career as a nail professional, this book is an absolute MUST read!

The contents are invaluable, and virtually impossible to find anywhere else in the world. Doug Schoon's ability to take the most in-depth information and put it into 'layman's terms' will cause you to find it hard to put it down- as well as go anywhere without it!

All the mysteries, "wives tales" and fiction that exists in a nail professional's world are explained with precise fact and even a bit of humor...

Don't pass by the chance to discover the whole truth and nothing but the truth-

to keep yourself fine-tuned to the most current, technologically advanced information!

Mr. Schoon has greatly expounded upon his first edition of this excellent text. Content has nearly doubled, and he has included not only standard topics such as nail anatomy, adhesives, and product chemistry (which are vital for any nail technician to understand), but he has also added chapters such as "The Safe Salon" and "The Healthy Salon," among others. This new text includes great color photos. This text, set in a story format, includes a "Fast Track" which highlights the important facts of each chapter, as well as "Review Questions." Mr. Schoon's down-to-earth writing makes the most intimidating topics easy to understand. This book is an outstanding resource for nail technician and instructor.

anyone sucessful in the nail world can tell you that sucess is based on education and education is based on knowledge. Mr. Schoons book Nail Structure & Product Chemistry is the core fundamental with in depth information on every aspect. I can truly say it enabled me to aspire to a new level where i can now answer questions in a truly professional manner.. and with salons in two countries, thats just what i need. Cheers Doug.. your book in an invaluable investment to those looking for sucess. - Andrew. The dude.

This is a great book and everygirl would love it! It is about girls from all parts of the southern united states! They all come together and create wonderful friendships and go through tuff situations but no matter what stick together! In the end may the best gurl win!

I think its cool how so many girls with different personalities and backgrounds could band together but still compete agianst each other.

This is an excellent, totally awesome book! I couldn't put it down! I don't know who my fave character;each of them has a totally different personality. The main characters are cool but the book also focuses on the other pageant girls. Read it, you'll see!

I bought this book on my vacation, and when I started to read it, I couldn't put it down! I read it three times in almost one week. My absolute favorite character has got to be Scarlett-Caress.

I loved it listening to all the girls home lives! My favorite girl in this book was Dawn. I envy her courage. And its great how the author puts in The Virus. I mean how could it be good without a bad guy. If you haven't read it you have to. All the girls have problems and secrets to hide. It fun to listen to them all!

A wonderful book and part of a wonderful children's series! Dr. Braver helps parents teach their children well in a fun and creative way through her books. Children will also benefit and learn moral values from this fun series of books as well.

Writte specifically for children ages 4 to 8 by practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist Vania Braver and enhanced with the lively and entertaining illustrations of Cary Pillo, Party Princess is the newest addition to the "Teach Your Children Well" series from Child & Family Press. Party Princess is the story of young Madison, who wants to look extra beautiful for her big birthday party. But an accident with nail polish leaves terrible stains on her gorgeous dress! She feels terrible for a while, then finds a way to make herself feel better - by sharing a treasured gift with her best friend. The wisdom that she learns is "Beauty comes from the heart. You should feel good about yourself... especially when you realize that real beauty is what's on the inside of a person, not the outside." A positive and uplifting book with a meaningful and relevant moral, especially in today's appearance and fashion-driven world.

I'm an elementary school teacher and read this book to my class a few weeks ago. The kids loved this book, even the boys! They are still talking about it. They already knew the characters from Pinky Promise. There were so many great points to discuss afterwards. I used some of the activity sheets and teacher's guide from the author's website which were helpful. The illustrations are well done and compliment the book nicely. I highly recommend this book!

The story is warm, sweet and simply wonderful!!! Dr. Braver (visit www.drvanitabraver.com) captures the magic of story telling, accompanied by beautiful, whimsical illustrations. My children love the first book, "Pinky Promise". I look forward to collecting the entire "Teach Your Children Well" series. I'm sure all the books will be treasured for years to come!"

Dr. Vanita Braver knows that it is difficult to teach our children well.

For starters, she's a child psychiatrist who is the psychiatric medical director of the residential treatment center Bonnie Brae. She's also a mother.

She took much of what she learned in both roles to create her series Teach Your Children Well. The second book in that series, Party Princess, released in April 2005, is a book that features 6-year-old Madison and the lessons she is learning about morals.

Party Princess opens with Madison getting ready for a big day. She's put on a lovely pink dress and is thrilled with how beautiful she feels. As she welcomes her best friend Emily as the first guest at her birthday party, she decides that some of her mom's makeup would make her look even more the role of a party princess. Only like most 6-year-olds, she isn't quite coordinated enough to put on make-up without making a huge mess-including spilling sparkly red nail polish all over the bathroom counter and her dress.

At this point in the story, many parents are nodding their hands and ready to jump up and tell their stories about times that they as a child or their own children have done something similar. It is this familiarity that Braver strives for-putting her protagonist into realistic situations that both parents and children can relate to.

What might be less common is the response of the mother. While she is obviously frustrated and shares her disappointment with Madison, she doesn't yell, she doesn't punish, and she doesn't make Madison feel worse than she already does. Instead, she just sends her to change out of the beloved party dress into something less desirable, but not smattered with nail polish.

Throughout much of the rest of the party, Madison sulks. While her mother may not have yelled at her, Madison feels her disappointment pretty keenly and feels guilty about her misbehavior and unhappy with the consequence of not getting to wear the pretty clothes that she had so carefully dressed herself in.

Her mood is only restored after opening a present and getting the opportunity to make Emily feel good-an opportunity that she takes advantage of to the approval of her mother and the delight of her friend. At bedtime that night, she and her mom talk about the makeup incident and her mom reminds her that she is never to touch the makeup without permission. She also reinforces that Madison is pretty without makeup-that she is beautiful because of the spirit within her. Madison reflects on the day and said that she felt far better about sharing with Emily than she did about wearing her party dress.

As a woman who dislikes the pervasiveness of makeup and the message from the beauty industry and media that we must change ourselves in order to be beautiful, I found a lot of appeal in this short picture book. Madison discovers on her own that she feels a lot better from being a beautiful person than she feels from simply looking beautiful. She also discovers that efforts to beautify oneself physically can backfire and leave one looking ridiculous, wiping out all the time invested.

A device that Braver uses in both books are the appearance of Madison's stuffed animals. Wisdom the Owl, Honesty the Bear, Hope the Bluebird, and Courage the Lion all are good friends to Madison the way stuffed animals are to children. For the adult reader, their presence can seem a bit of overkill. However, our children are less jaded and the target audience of four to eight-year-olds will appreciate the presence of listening companions who seemingly whisper in Madison's ear as she drifts off to sleep, helping her to process the day's events and what's she learned from them.

Cary Pillo is the illustrator and she uses bright happy colors throughout the books. She does an excellent job of painting pictures that seem alive with both motion and emotions. She paints some of the most infectious smiles I've seen in picture books.

The book is published by the Child & Family Press, an imprint of the Child Welfare League of America. They are a publishing house who dedicate all of the proceeds from sale of their books to supporting CWLA's programs for children and families.

I always approach morality stories for children with a bit of trepidation. They too often fall into the category of being too didactic or absent of any sort of dramatic conflict whatsoever. Thankfully, Braver manages to avoid these traps. Party Princess is successful on two levels. First, it has a charming story for children that addresses the importance of self-esteem and developing an inner beauty. Second, it provides a good model for parents on how to respond to those frustrating situations-including a model on when to step back and let the child work out the problem.

Party Princess is the second book in the series. The first one is Pinky Promise. The third one is due out in April 2006.

I really enjoyed this book. I have had it for years and have bought it for close friends. It really helps women look at treating themselves right and how to enjoy life as a woman. I strongly recommend it!

I bought this for my sister when she was going through a stressful time and of course I read it before I sent it to her. I loved it. And she told me later that it was just what she needed. She loved it. We both loved it.
It is a delightful, cheery book with sweet messages about living life fully.

So many "comfort" foods, places and ideas we possess, bring simple joys to our everyday existence. This book helps to remind us that many of our own personal and childhood pleasures, bring us an inner smile that when shared with friends and family, creates a unique bond or may start a new tradition.

This book for women is full of wonderful ideas on how to get through the everyday and how to make your everyday more interesting. Whether you are looking for recipes, stress relievers, seasonal activities, or work tips, "The Passionate Palate" helps you to find ways to enjoy your life.

I highly recommend this book!

The subtitle is "Recipes for Cooking up a Delicious Life," and I couldn't agree more. This book is filled with comfort foods and little inspirational tips to help you make the most of your life. I've already tried the Sangria of the Gods and the Upside Down Apple Gingerbread Cake -- both were amazing. Other sensuous recipes include White Russian Parfait Cake, Tamale Pie, Rice Pudding, Stay-in-Bed Fruit and Wine Omelet, Buttermilk Chicken and Biscuits, and much more -- 149 recipes in all.

What a great book!! PLEASE parents , get a copy for your kids , this is the most inspiring book ever!

This is truly a wonderful book with incredible wildlife photos accompanied by a simple yet poignant narrative highlighting the need for conservation.

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love and we will love only what we understand." BABA DIOUM

This is a beautifully photographed book and the language that accompanies these images is heartfelt. This is a must have book in every home and classroom.

The combination of breath-taking photography, and insightful and inspiring prose create an awesome yet humbling book. Its appeal is universal--everyone can learn, if we listen to its message.

This book is one of the simplest, yet one of the most inspiring and enjoyable books I have ever read. The photography in it is amazing and Greive deffinately has a way with his words. In addition to this intriging visiual presentation, there is much to learn in this book as well. Learn about endangered and threatened animals thoughout the world while looking at unique images of them. This is a must read for everyone and it should be a required book for schools throughout the world to read instead of many other required books that have no appeal to students.

In addition, on the inside cover it reads, "BTG (author) is donating all his author royalties from the worldwide sales of Priceless to his principal wildlife conservation charity, the Taronga Foundation." Thats gotta say something about the book in itself!!!

Robert Reilly's "Surprised by Beauty - A Listener's Guide to the Recovery of Modern Music" has been with me since it's publication. It is one of the most heavily book-marked, annotated books I have - and much cherished.

This book is perhaps not perfect and it is probably not first-order-brilliant either, but it is beautiful! I treasure it as much as I treasure much of the music that I have since enjoyed because of this book.

Surprised by Beauty is highly spiritual. Stephen Hough, the wonderful pianist who records for hyperion (interviewed in the book), says on the jacket cover:

"Robert Reilly has the unusual and delightful ability to infect the reader with insatiable curiosity about the composers he champions. Names that often were unknown, and sometimes unpronounceable, suddenly seem totally fascinating and worthy of discovery at the earliest opportunity. Yet beyond this level of exploration is his personal vision of music as something profoundly spiritual, expressive of what is best and most enriching in human life and having the possibility of leading us to encounter God Himself."

That is a good introduction to Surprised by Beauty. The opening quote of the book is from Max Picard: "[In] sound intself, there is a readiness to be ordered by the spirit, and this is seen at its most sublime in music."

The love for music never ceases to impress - and as knowledgeable a man as Mr. Reilly is always a pleasure to have along for instruction.

Before I delve at some length into examples I (dis)agree with in this book, let me summarize:
If you want loving introductions to the music of

John Adams, ("The Search for a Larger Harmony")
George Antheil ("Bad Boy Made Good"),
Malcolm Arnold, ("English Enigma")
Gerald Finzi, ("Inmitations of Immortality")
Stephen Gerber, ("Keeping America Real")
Morton Gould ("Maestro of Americana"),
Roy Harris, ("Singing to America")
Vagn Holmboe, ("The Music of Metaphysics")
László Lajtha, ("Music from a Secret Room")
Gian Francesco Malipiero, ("Beyond Italian Opera")
Frank Martin, ("Guide to the Liturgical Year")
William Mathias, ("Musical Incantations")
Carl Nielsen ("Music is Life"),
Einojuhani Rautavaara, ("New Northern Light")
Albert Roussel, ("The Freedom of Personal Vision")
Edmund Rubbra, ("On the Road to Emmaus")
Harald Saeverud, ("A Norwegian Original")
Aulis Sallinen ("Scandinavian Consolation"),
Peter Schickele, ("Schickele Unmixed")
Franz Schmidt, ("Setting the Apocalypse")
Alexander Tcherepnin ("From Russia With Love"),
Eduard Tubin, ("In From the Cold")
Geirr Tveitt, ("The Music in the Waterfall")
Mieczyslaw Vainberg, ("Light in the Dark")
Peteris Vasks ("Another New Northern Light")

as well as Duruflé, Elgar, Janáèek, Martinù, Poulenc, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Vaughn-Williams and Villa-Lobos - you have picked up the right book.

These are the composers dealt with in little chapters, ordered alphabetically and cobbled together from reviews and pieces written in different magazines. Nonetheless, there is a coherent line through the work - cumulating in a few interviews with composers such as Robert Craft, David Diamond, Gian Carlo Menotti, Einojuhani Rautavaara, George Rochberg and Carl Rütti.

Just for John Cage, Mr. Reilly has no kind words ("Apostle of Noise"). And the specter haunting some chapters, not to be rescued until Robert Craft takes up his cause, is Arnold Schoenberg. In fact, Schoenberg so rubs Mr. Reilly the wrong way that he elicits the books strongest (and perhaps most contentious) statement from Robert Reilly: Ugliness is the aesthetic analogue to evil.

To say it right away: A lover of modern music - and with a much higher tolerance for the unnecessarily absurd (Concerto for two cheese-graders, jet engine, electric toothbrush and chromatic garbage disposal? Bring it on!) - I have grid (grinded) my teeth many a time. A more conservative reader than me would find himself nodding along throughout the book. Either way, it is a veritable treasure-trove.

After every chapter, there is a little section discussing the merit of important works of that composer in different editions. This is immensely helpful in choosing where to start the musical discovery-tour.

Telling of the nonchalance with which he treats the breadth of his appreciation of modern music is the following quote: "Anyone who enjoys Britten's music of this kind should likewise appreciate Mathias's". I imagine the greater part of his initial readership to wince even at the very idea of Britten, assuming that they know him or his work.

His passion for Janáèek's String Quartets is so palpable that not having them (I had them when I read it) must seem half a crime. His championing of Saeverrud (my initial reaction, too, was: Who???) is passionate and sophisticated.

A book, in short, that will get much and repeated bedside reading and the occasional study - a charming companion through 20th century classical music with amiably strong - if not always agreeable - opinions. Highly recommended.

Being a neophyte in modern classical music I'm very much in need of a guiding hand and Reilly's book has been the most helpful yet to boost up my appreciation of music and Beauty for that matter. His writings not only assure the validity of my fears or `sense of barbarian for not understanding the meaning of the sounds' I have been listening to, but endow a refreshing and profound understanding of how modern music can be free from its praise of entanglement. It has been a delightful and moving experience to read Reilly's so unique and exquisite way of illustrating modern composer's journeys into their pledge for Beauty. He brings you close enough and candidly to their emotions and struggles in a timely historic ambiance as to appreciate even more their daring willingness to come up with beautiful music! No doubt his has been `a labor of love for music'- one can actually hear the resonance of the Spirit of Music without having started on his recommendations!"Surprised by Beauty" was definitely a wonderful Christmas present and I highly recommend his reading!

Being a neophyte in modern classical music I'm very much in need of a guiding hand and Reilly's book has been the most helpful yet in boosting my appreciation of music and Beauty, for that matter. His writings not only assure the validity of my fears or 'sense of barbarian for not understanding the meaning of the sounds' I have been listening to, but endow a refreshing and profound understanding of how modern music can be free from its praise of entanglement. It has been a delightful and moving experience to read Reilly's unique and exquisite way of illustrating modern composer's journeys into their pledge for Beauty. He brings you close to their emotions and struggles in a timely historic ambiance so as to appreciate even more their daring willingness to come up with beautiful music! No doubt his has been 'a labor of love for music'- one can actually hear the resonance of the Spirit of Music without having started on his recommendations!"Surprised by Beauty" was definitely a wonderful Christmas present and I highly recommend his reading!

Those of us who have the fortune of living in our current musical climate have the benefit of hindsight concerning a great many things. If we look at the last 75-80 years we see the advent and reign of the reactionary (rather than evolutionary) dodecaphonic school in all its pedantic and intolerant glory- traits often ostentatiously shunned by self-styled progressives. Then we see the collapse of its dominance, followed by reactions to the reaction: the adoption of simplistic methods such as aleatoric processes and minimalism. Robert Reilly treats this course in history not as a glorious long line of musical evolution, but as an interruption to true musical progress. I don't know that I would completely adopt his line of thinking here, but there is truth in what he says. We seem to be right back where we started at the beginning of the 20th century. Composers write Romantic music now even as they did then...and the 12 tone system never seemed to have caught on with more than a devout minority of enthusiasts, some of whom will even readily admit the system's appeal as largely cerebral.
More valuable in Reilly's book than the larger argument is his advocation of a group of composers who have at some point or another fallen on hard times in terms of legitimacy and recognition in the eyes of the musical scene at large. Reilly's succinct and informative snapshots of these composers, as well as his down-to-earth style, is crucial for the rehabilitation of these men, many of whose music I personally respect, love, and find vastly underrated. (For example, I recently discovered the music of Geirr Tveitt...WONDERFUL stuff, but who knows it?) It is true that Reilly's list is limited- there could be scores more names added....but his treatment of the names he does include should promote some interest in these men and help to generate the respect they deserve.

Now if about 20 more Reilly's would write books like these perhaps we may recover a good deal of great music that has fallen victim to circumstance and neglect due in large part to the tonality wars that have distracted musical activity for almost a century.

I should say right off that I am deliberately taking my time to read this book & haven't read every chapter yet. I know of nothing quite like it, though. A feature I want, at this point, particularly to commend is the way the author has (1) of conveying his delight in, and the meaningfulness of, the music as he has experienced it, while (2) somehow saying enough that this reader, at least, can distinguish between the sure bets and the iffy ones from the reader's own point of view. Thus I credit Reilly (and the wonderful Samuel Palmer cover art) for putting me on to the Chandos recordings of the symphonies of Edmund Rubbra -- once I bought and listened to a CD of his symphonies 4, 10, & 11, I knew I would want more. One of Reilly's fine columns in Crisis Magazine put me on to Joly Braga Santos -- sure enough, I enjoyed the work (Symphony #4) praised there, as well. The Naxos CD of Douglas Lilburn's symphonies is another example. On the other hand, while Reilly likes Martinu and Nielsen, what he says about these composers conveys important things about their work such that someone like me who is not enchanted would have sufficient warning that this is someone to hear first before buying. I hope that in a few years there can be a sequel to this book. In the meantime, I'm glad to have a copy of Surprised by Beauty and to be able to read Mr. Reilly's columns in Crisis.

This book is well worth the money! The techniques and vocalises Ms. Alba supplies on her CD and actual lesson excerpts on the DVD are invaluable for singers and teachers alike. Truly a must have for the singer's library.

I am so excited about this book that I have been recommending it to my students to read. Finally, an intelligent, coherent book has been written that describes what the great teachers have been handing down verbally to their students for generations. It doesn't get any better than this!

I believe all singers should read it. This book contains everything a singer should know about good, healthy singing and polished artistry. It is the most intelligent book I have ever read about the art of singing. It not only offers guidance in vocal study from Signora Alba, but also includes words of wisdom and vocal exercises used by some of the greatest singers in the world. I found this book the best guide in my vocal studies and I strongly recommend it to every singer.

I think that "Vocal Rescue" is a "must have" for every singer's library. It is a minefield of practical knowledge of the the voice and of the business, and I refer to it often, even after reading already.

Lois Alba's book has been a godsend to me and my singing career and is responsible for taking my voice to "the next level." I will be forever grateful to Ms. Alba for distilling into this easy to read and entertaining volume the knowledge and technique she gained through her illustrious international opera career and decades of study with the world's most eminent vocal teachers and coaches. It is truly a goldmine of practical wisdom for singers of any level.

A skilled writer, Franklin, who has had years of experience with youth, addresses the topic of female's perception of her own beauty. This book is aimed at single or married ladies, in hopes that they will learn to define beauty the Lord's way and pass it on to the younger ladies around them. I was watching out for "self-esteem" (as opposed to Christ-esteem!) talk, since I imagine that would commonly be discussed in this arena. But for the most part I was quite pleased with Franklin's treatment of the topic. She teaches women to find their beauty in Christ and to listen to the truth of God's Word rather than the lies of the world or even just people who speak carelessly. The following are a few quotes from the text:

"Scripture is the mirror of beauty through which we view ourselves."

"In worship, false pretenses and artificial longings--our own or those of others-- fall away before a holy, awesome God. When I stand and consider the majesty of His name and the works of His hands, my weight, my height, my cup size, and my hairstyle cease to matter."

"The world is all too ready to plant its philosophies regarding women and beauty in the hearts of young girls.. .the message is...a girl's sexuality is her beauty. However, it is a message of death. Satan desires to destroy the hearts of young girls through the destruction of their bodies."

I do not know a woman who hasn't, at some point, fiercely desired to be beautiful but felt she didn't measure up. Our culture shouts this message from the rooftops: "You are ugly and worthless. You are inadequate. You are nothing compared to the girl on the cover of that magazine."

But Regina Franklin says that this must end now. We, the women of today, must put an end to this inaccurate and caustic view of beauty. We must find our identities in Christ and allow Him to give us the beauty that makes us shine, inside and out.

Regina Franklin approaches this topic with infinitely more depth and insight that is apparent in the other "beauty books" I've read. Every assertion is backed by Scripture. Literary allusions pepper the book, illustrating the application of these truths. Mrs. Franklin's style is engaging, and her personal experiences are shared often, making the book more relatable to the reader.

Who Calls Me Beautiful: Finding Our True Image in the Mirror of God exceeded my expectations astoundingly. Please, ladies, if you struggle with a desire to be beautiful, do not pass this book up.

I recommend this book to any girl or women. It helped me identify the underlying issues in my life and actually do something about them. It was inspiring and ultimately showed me how to free myself from estreme self conciousness.

A refreshing look at how to discern a woman's beauty in today's world looking through the lens of God's word and His eternal truths rather than through the lens of outward appearance.

This book was a source of encouragement to me to stop looking at what the world (and all types of media) claims that beautiful is and start to see God's defintion of beauty. I only wish I was able to read this as a teen or while in my 20's. It not only encouraged me but the study questions at the end of each chapter helped to propel me to do something about it. I now have a better self-image than before I read the book and I can now look at media as more fairy-tale than reality.

This item was exactly what i ordered in the exact condition that i ordered it in. Would definitly do business with seller again! Thank you

Agents of change is an interesting insight into the world of DC shoes and its athletes! it really shows how ahead of the game the brand has been over the last ten years or so, from ad's to product to team riders DC has been at the forefront and this book details it all. Buy it!!! you wont regret it!

This is (even for a cynical Brit!)a great book/review - if you are into any kind of action sports, then read this. Great stuff!

I was able to pick up Agents of Change and I was blown away by what I saw. Not only are the pictures up-to-date and unbelievable, but the spectrum of sports presented, from skateboarding, to snowboarding, surfing, and motocross, presents a compelling argument as to why this book is relevent at all.

The story of DC shoes, from it's start in a garage with kids with a dream, is as much a part of the world of extreme sports as the athletes who drop from helicopters onto halfpipes or launch themselves off of snow-covered cliffs.

Told in a compelling narrative with interviews, bios, and a history of the company's inception. This book reads like the story of the American dream. Three guys, no money just an idea, and how they turn that idea into a hundred million dollar-a-year company.

This book is not just for people who love extreme sports. It's also for those of us who have dreams of one day changing the world--and making a killing at it.

Finally someone takes the initiative to tell the story of a company that's corporate, but not really corporate. Not Microsoft or Enron or Nike or any of the Big Money companies but instead a down to earth story about a tiny little 100 million dollar company that has a story that's actually interesting. And if the story itself got boring (it never did) I could still just look at all the great photos. This is an important book for a number of reasons. It documents an era when sports in America are changing. It documents a company that stayed true to those sports. It is inspiring in a way that will show kids to follow their heart, and success will follow. Finally, it isn't a big marketing scam hidden under false pretenses. What you see with AGENTS OF CHANGE is what you get, and what you get is a great book for a book shelf or coffee table; skate park or corporate meeting room of any company who targets the youth demographic.

This is the perfect book if your local fabric store doesn't carry any (or enough) silk to learn on your own. Words just can't replace running the fabric through your fingers to see if it will work for your project, and this book lets you do that and more. The information collected here is worth twice the asking price. Now you can order what you need off the internet sites and have a better idea what to expect.

I got this book through the Crafter's Choice bookclub, but I had to come here to recommend it. It is ideal literally for anyone. Someone who wants to know more about the fabrics they wear, or as a book for someone like myself who knows a good deal about fabrics to refer to, which I often do. I'm a student at Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, so I've taken textile classes before and know my fair share. I even have a swatchbook with many fabrics but this books is just exceptional. I will definitely buy the wool and cotton versions of this book eventually. Silk is my favorite fabric to sew in so it was a priority. The book has a really great layout also, making it not too much reading and easy to find the information you are looking for. You can find in the book what to expect from each fabric when you're sewing it, how to take care of it, all its variations, suggestions on fitting, really anything important that you'd need to know about a fabric.... and then more, making you knowledgable on the subject.

This book was love-at-first-sight. It doesn't blab unnecessarily about the fabric, just lets you touch and see it for yourself. While being very visual and tactile, it also devotes a page with all the relevant information about each particular kind of silk (and who would have thought there would be so many?!): how to care for it, how difficult it is to sew, the ideal projects for each fabric, its characteristics, its approximate price per yard, hints/tips for working with the fabric, etc. I wish there was a reference book like this for everything! It has really inspired me and given me the confidence and knowledge that I need to both shop for silk and start some projects.

When identifying fabric, texture is more important than appearance. Even though I don't sew, I do purchase vintage items for my prop company and I have to label the outfit in the description. If you want to learn about fabric, this is the way to go.

I cannot say enough good things about this book (or for that matter the entire series!).
The author has an entertaining, easy to read writing style. She presents a great deal of information, and rather than feeling overwhelmed, the reader is able to learn a great deal.
The very best thing about this book is the fabric samples. If you have ever wondered about what a specific type of silk feels like, then you will have your answer. You just cannot get this information from a written description. This book is indespensible for fashionistas, designers, sewers and anyone else interested in clothing or fabric.