Crafts Hobbies Books

This is a great book for the serious sewer. It has the best explanation of how to make a lined vest or lined sleeveless camisole that I have ever seen. And if you are interested in tailoring, you will really want to have this book. I always check books out of the library first. Then you know if it's a book you need to own. This one was a book I had to have in my library, and I've found it very useful.

The feature that makes this book stand out is her chapter on designing western shirts. I have never seen this information anywhere else. She only spends a few pages on western shirts, but the focus is on the features that are unique to western wear: how to add piping to the yoke and cuffs and how to make it. Her chapters on shirts and jackets also include information and steps to follow for making riding and western wear. She does not cover riding pants or chaps, though. In the chapter on pants construction, the information about changing crotch depth is clear and easy to understand, and she shows in pictures how to fit crotch depth while seated. The section on correctly fusing a tailored jacket is fantastic! She covers fitted vests and lined camisoles. Her section on welt pockets, in the jacket chapter, has really, really good pictures. While the sections on fitting are good, she does not cover fitting alterations for atypical figures (such as a sway back.)

This book is great, as long as you are an experienced seamstress [sorry for the possible sexist misunderstanding]. Really great tips and hints for someone who has significant experience with sewing and/or tailoring

Step by step instructions and large color photos make this an easy guide to follow. The principles she teaches you could help you fit many patterns to yourself if you are an experienced sewer. However, all you really learn to fit are dress slacks, dress shirt, and a camisole/vest. No instructions are provided for dresses, skirts, or jackets. You do learn a neat techniques for making a pattern out of your favorite pair of pants.

If a book on tailoring garments you already have is what you're looking for, a more comprehensive guide would serve better.

This book really helped me with fit issues. I haven't sewn for years and the main reason I wanted to sew again was the horrible fit of "off the rack" clothing. Pants especially are difficult to fit from standard sewing patterns. This book contained a little more information than I may need, but the basics of altering the patterns were clear and easy to understand. Now that I know the principles, it's easy to make adjustments on things that aren't even mentioned in the book.

It's a neat book.But I need to work at doing more stamps more often.

If you are interested in learning how to carve your own art rubber stamps then you need this book as well as The Weekend Crafter:Rubber stamp carving.

Both books provide clear cut instructions on how to carve your own stamps to make artistic and fun stamps that are one of a kind. But this book is much better of the two and I'd suggest this one if you can only buy one book on the subject of stamp carving.
The projects in this book are lovely, artistic and not cutesy or cookie cutter similar to everything out there. You will easily be able to begin carving right away with this book alone. Well worth the 15 bucks here on Amazon! I recommend it.
5 stars!

This book is my new stamp carving bible! The projects are inspiring and there are no hard to find tools required. Thanks to the detailed instructions carving a stamp from an eraser is easier than carving a pumpkin. A great book.

If you need some inspiration, I strongly advise reading this book. Before reading the book, I didn't understand and was very intimdated about carving. After reading Art Stamping Workshop, I am now carving and printmaking!! I also teach this form of art in various schools and art stores.

One of the reasons I advise my students and online members to read this book, is because it is both teachable and progressive. It is an excellent book to study for classes, workshops, and personal study. With each technique, Gloria Page teaches in a way that you are bound to understand, and you are not left in the dark or in confusion in any way.

In an online group that I host -Artists of the Round Table- we read this book from cover to cover, and tried each of the projects. "ALL" of the member LOVED it.....adults, as well as the children!!! Gloria Page was kind enough to make herself available during the workshop to answer any questions, and to give advise and commendation. What an "encouragement" this was to the members studying her book!

Loving author.....AWESOME book. A perfect combination!

Sincerely,
~Jacqueline F. Graham
President, Artists of the Round Table
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArtistsOfTheRoundTable/

I have always wanted to make my own art stamps but never knew how or where to begin. Thanks to Art Stamping Workshop, all of my questions have been answered! After reading this fabulous book, I was able to create a stamp from items I had around the house. Gloria's instructions are easy to follow and the photos clearly show how each step is supposed to look as you go along. Gloria Page makes stamp carving easy and FUN! The variety of projects in this book are different from anything I have seen in other stamping books and are easily adaptable to any style.

This was a Christmas gift for my husband whom is interested in the repair of watches and clocks. He just needed additional information on repairing clocks, and he said this was the perfect book! He was very pleased.

Clock Repairing is a fun, delightful, relaxing hobby that more people should take part in, and this book is a great introduction into the world of clock repair. It helps you get passed all the elaborate gears and levers, and into the fun of it. The diagrams in here are great and really helpful. Pick this up if you are new to the clock world.

I am relatively new to spinning, so my handspun is never perfect and even, but it is fun and I like it. This book gives the opportunity to think of yarn itself as a freestanding piece of art. It is exciting to see the colors and interaction of fibers in making a ball of yarn. Perhaps it is possible to think of yarn for yarn's sake. Actually the section on what to make with the yarn is unnecessary, as the yarn loses some of its artistic quality when made into a functional item. She makes the point that you have to learn the basics of spinning as a good foundation before you can make good art yarns. This is the basis of art, you have to learn the basic elements of composition before one can produce good abstract art. I would probably never slavishly copy anything in this book, as that is really not its intent. A book like this should inspire a fiber artist, or any artist, to think outside the box, to see things that are visually exciting. It is possible to visualize a highly interesting pile of wildly handspun yarn in a contemporary bowl in a gallery setting. If the objective of spinning is to make a hat, then nice and even will keep your ears warm. If fiber used in an aesthetically interesting way will make the viewer think that perhaps fiber can be a medium for real art and not just craft, then this book is inspirational.

From the very first page I knew my 'yarning' life would never be the same again! Lexi writes inspirationally, obviously loving her craft. It's almost impossible to decribe the impact this book has, one way of putting it is to say it's like being released from a 'cosy' module - and being twirled away into the infinite space of new dimensions!

I'm dazzled. Seriously, visiting Lexi Boeger's already interesting Pluckyfluff web site, amazing as it is, doesn't come close to the fantastical, fun, magic world of yarn in this book. If you're into funky, offbeat, one-of-a-kind, this is your book. I really enjoyed how the author, through stepwise photos and text takes you inside the creation of her every-one-unique yarns. The designs to use them are appropriately simple, because with yarns made out of dolls, or flowers, or thread or shredded paper or all of the above, the yarn is art, your body a stabilizing surface on which to show it off.
This wonderful book is appropriate for fiber artists, painters, knitters, sculptors and any museum goer who likes "cool" things. Can't recommend highly enough, has already been endorsed as "very interesting" by my generally not endorsement prone 16 year old.

I adore this book because of the artistic slant it takes rather than for its "how to spin" instructions. I am an artist who has worked with fiber for a long time, but mostly in mixed media sculptures, knitting and felting. I am a pretty inexperienced spinner. But although some of the techniques described in Intertwined may be beyond my spinning expertise (for now), the ideas it gave me are not! Unlike one of the other reviewers, I am not put off by the thought of mixing disparate elements into the spun fiber. In fact, I have always enjoyed mixing media - although I have been producing necklaces, art dolls and wall pieces rather than hats - so that might make for a different opinion. Even if I don't become an expert spinner overnight, I see myself plying some unusual combinations of yarns in the very near future, and I have this book to thank for the inspiration.

This is a one note and variation on a style of spinning yarn that I'm not a fan of nor do I like. For others this would be very exciting and challenging artistic expression. The patterns were good except I didn't like the spun yarn that was used.

I ordered this book almost as an afterthought - thinking that I had pretty much seen every idea for making stylish gifts. Boy, was I wrong! This is a great book that even beginner sewers could use. Great ideas including making your own decorative wrapping paper. If you don't sew or craft - this is a perfect book to give as a gift.

I'm havinga really good time with this book, and tha ideas are really great!

I consider myself an intermediate sewer. I find the instructions poorly written. This book is okay, a few good projects. I 'Bend the Rules Sewing' by Amy Karol is a much better book with a better variety of projects.

I was really disappointed with this book. Some of the gifts are simple and easy but most of the patterns are the same old patterns just rehashed a bit. New sewers may like it since some patterns really are simple and good for beginners. I do like the fact that there are patterns in the back of the book. So often we have to 'wing it' on the patterns in sewing books. Good book for someone but not me.

I loved the tote on front and had heard good things about the book. It is a good read, and beautifully photographed. I was, however, a bit disappointed in the projects. They really just weren't very practical or my taste, but by ordering online, that's my fault. I do plan to make the tote, but probably little else.

I have a collection of dozens of quilting books and this has to be the prettiest, most compelling and easiest to follow. I'm on my second quilt from this book and it couldn't be easier. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Very informational book on quilting processes. The pictures are helpful and the information is presented well.

Lots of Quick and Easy patterns in this book. Eleanor explains
things so that you can put them together quickly. My copy is a
class book, and my quilt turned out gorgeous. Has hung in my
quilt shop for several months now.

I enjoyed reading this book and learned a few new techniques for building blocks and I have decided to start some of the book's projects as soon as possible.

The instructions of this book are so good that I made the quarter log cabin quilt in just a few days. The illustrations are very helpful.

As a beginning spinner I immediately began blending yarn to achieve the colors in this book and she's right! Everything I tried using the instructions in this book came out exactly the way I planned. There are lots of beautiful ideas here - I wish I had time to try them all!

Gave me so many ideas for dyeing and spinning my fiber. it has lots of info on colour theory. I do think it was missing more simple dying, and a lot of the colourways it shows have 10+ colours in them, but it is a GREAT resource.

if you are a spinner or a knitter you need this book for dyeing your own yarns (handspuns) I enjoyed this book . it is a refence book plus a great book for inspiring your dying projects. I d reccomend this book to any one into dyeing and spinning ~

Coming from a formal art background, I really appreciate this book. Not only does it cover the basics of dyeing and carding/combing well, but it also provides lessons in color (beyond the basic color wheel) where you directly see the results of mixing and using different color combinations. There are samples of finished knitted pieces using similarly-colored yarn yet with slightly different properties. Readers are encouraged to use the exercises for future self-directed study. Great cataloguing ideas are offered.

I highly recommend this book!

I first saw this book as a novice handspinner who was interested in hand-carding small quantities of fiber blends for my fiber arts experiments. I checked it out from the library, spent the entire time that I had it absorbing information, but did not feel the need to own it. Much of the material seems directed more at production spinners or fiber artists who are blending large quantities. It's an interesting read, but if you're working with small quantities, you're likely to be just as happy with simpler (less fussy or precise) methods.

Now that I'm more experienced and have acquired a drum carder, the book is a must-have. When I paint, I find that the colors I mix on my palette are richer and deeper than colors straight from the tube. With fiber, I find that the same is true. Blended colors have a vibrancy that is lacking from commercially dyed fiber that is usually dyed in large uniform batches.

Most importantly, the book gives the fiber artist the skills needed to blend colors consistently from one batch to another. When I was hand-carding small batches for experimentation, I was much less concerned with how easy my results were to replicate than I am now that I'm going to be carding larger batches across multiple batts. If I'm carding a pound of fiber in 2 ounce batts, I want the 8th batt to be almost indistinguishable from the 1st so that I don't get strange color shifts in my yarn or my finished project. This is the skill set that Menz is trying to offer her readers and it is one which will be invaluable in my continuing development as a fiber artist.

I found this is a great book for the beginning spinner. It covers both wheel & spindle spinning which is very helpful. It allows you to get a feeling for the basics.

The pictures help to illustrate the text in the book. Though as always, I wish there were more images as I find I learn best visually.

It certainly can't replace having someone to help you learn. But if you can't find a spinning group in your area, this is a great way to start.

I also found that because it goes over different fibers and how to spin them, it will be useful beyond just the beginner.

Given the amount of space devoted to pictures, do not expect this to cover everything. But I found that is was the best purchase I could have made as a beginner. I reference it again and again.

Aube's Maple and Red Oak Top Whorl Drop Spindle This is an excellent introduction to hand spinning. The book covers kinds of spindles, kinds of fiber and how to card it, and a good visual guide on how to use the spindle. It is very thorough and as stated above a very good beginner's guide to hand spinning. The spindle above is a good illustration of the type of spindle that is used to teach the novice how to spin with a top spindle. The author also introduces and explains about bottom whorl drop spindles.

It was great in that it touched on so many areas and I hope that Judith will write a much more detailed in-depth book with lots of pics someday.

This is the book that I will now be recommending for my spinning students. It has photos of every technique along with clear descriptions and explanations. It covers beginning spinning to a variety of more advanced novelty yarns, and shows how to work with a great variety of fibers including wool,silk, alpaca, and wild fibers. The photos are most helpful.

This book had a lot of potential - great spinning teacher, big publisher, professional layout and photographer - but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The overall impression I had was that of a spinning class for beginners where the teacher says "Spinning is a great hobby, you can do this, and this, and this, and this, it's really great - well, sorry, I don't have the time to explain HOW you do it, but you'll figure it out". There's supposedly a little bit of everything, but for a beginner the explanations are just not detailed enough (and even for me, with some years of experience, the "rainbow pot" didn't work out). Now, that's just the general impression, but there's also a number of specific points to criticize.

First of all, pictures are not very good. The "closeup" shots of yarn and fibre are not close enough and the pictures don't always go very well with the text: The different types of spinning wheel (bobbin-lead, scotch tension, double drive) are illustrated with full frontal shots of the wheels - you can see pedals and drivewheel, but not even guess how drive band and brake band are running - which is the only important thing. The only picture (in this chapter) that does show the drive/brake band arrangement is that of a scotch tension wheel right next to the headline "bobbin-driven wheels". Page 77: "The hooks on most flyers are offset, which makes it easier to fill the bobbins evenly. You move the yarn from the hood on the right side to the hook on the left side, from one end of the flyer to the other" - for that to work the hooks need to be on opposite sides of the flyer arms (so that both rows of hooks are visible - or invisible - at the same time when the flyer is horizontal) and this is NOT the case on the wheel that's shown on this page. On page 140 we have a picture of a skein of angora yarn and the text says "Do you see how much bigger the yarn is now that it's fulled?" No, we don't - there's no "before" picture.

So, don't buy the book for the pictures. Well, normally I wouldn't anyway - but the title is "Teach yourself visually..." - and the motto "Read less - learn more". Which implies that you are supposed to learn from the pictures...

Textwise, the technical information on spinning wheels is unclear, incomplete or just plain wrong. Examples: Page 15: "A bobbin-driven wheel is the fastest of the wheel types, but it doesn't offer you much control" - what's that supposed to mean? Spinning wheel speed is a function of the transmission ratio between drive wheel and whorl (a concept that's never mentioned anywhere), and incidentally the bobbin-driven wheels I know are all on the slow side. Page 16: "You have more control on a double-drive wheel than you do on a bobbin-driven wheel, but less speed" and finally the flyer-driven wheel is "the slowest of the three types". What is that supposed to mean?

Then, what are we supposed to learn from sentences like this one: "If you have the wheel-maker's instructions, it should tell you how to replace the bobbin. If you do not have the instructions, every wheel should have some way to take the flyer off so that you can replace the bobbin" (page 70). By the way, nowhere is mentioned that the whorl on the double-drive wheel usually unscrews clockwise - that might have been a piece of useful information. Regarding information that's just plain wrong, here's one example: "Remember to put the drive band on the big end of the bobbin if you are using a scotch brake and on the small end if you are using a double drive" (page 71) - wrong! for scotch brake operation you put the drive band on the FLYER whorl and the brake band on the bobbin whorl!

Another peeve: Judith McKenzie McCuin mostly avoids traditional spinning terminology and anything that might make spinning seem technical. Instead of "drafting" she uses mostly "stretching", instead of "S- and Z-twist" "left and right twist (and I like her explanation with the thumb - but would it really have hurt to mention that other sources use S and Z?), there's no mention of spinning wheel ratios, twists per inch or wraps per inch...

I've given the two stars only because the book does seem nice, with an easy to read layout and lots of color pictures, and might create some interest in spinning - I just hope that beginning spinners will then take a class or get another book before being too discouraged by this one. Books I'd recommend are: For explaining how a spinning wheel works: Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning. For learning how to spin: Lee Raven's Hands on Spinning (spindle and wheel) or Connie Delaney's Spindle Spinning from Novice to Expert, or Patsy Zawitoski's videos. For novelty yarns Diane Varney's Spinning Designer Yarns (includes a chapter on chemical dyeing) and/or Patsy Zawitoski's video, for natural dyeing Jenny Dean's Wild Color.

still not worth the money, go on line, alot better info on the web, its free and save the money for your tools. tim

To an experienced woodcarver this book may seem unfocused and thinly spread, but for the beginner it does exactly what it should do. The book begins with a good grounding in the tools of the craft and how to care for and sharpen each type. After that it gives you a sampler of carving styles with at least one project for each. It's guaranteed there is at least one or two chapters the reader will not care for. Even this is useful since the reader avoids launching into the craft with a project they really have little enthusiasm for, and then lose interest in wood carving all together. This book should be required reading before the beginner spends a single dime on tools, equipment, or wood. If it's not 'the' best beginner's book, it's in the top five.

This is an excellent book that covers the fundamentals of carving plus adds great advice on what tools to purchase. Asked if I would buy this book again, my answer would be yes! I messed up on the rating of this book and I give it five (5) stars. Sorry!

David Self, New Boston, Texas

As a beginner, I appreciated the breadth of topics covered in the book, particularly the various styles of carving. This was my introduction to chip carving, and I think he covered it quite well. Sharpening is also covered, but I'd already bought "The Complete Guide to Sharpening" by Leonard Lee (of Lee Valley & Veritas) and found that to be a most comprehensive source of information on that topic.

A good general book on woodcarving. This book could be better if it didn't try to be all things for all people. There are better books for beginners out there for the money and more advanced carvers probably need to buy a book concentrating on their type of carving. I found it to be a little on the technical side and would have preferred a few more patterns for each type of carving.

My favorite sections were on finishes, sharpening, and the tool section. There are numerous photographs of some beautiful examples of the various types of carving. The author does show some very useful carving techniques in most of the carving styles.

Sections include tools, sharpening, woods and finishes, design, whittling, chip carving, relief carving, wildlife carving, lettering, archatectural carving, and a bibliography.

This is a very enjoyable book, with projects that are appealing and familiar. It introduced me to tatting, which I am now inspired to learn more about. It also includes a good primer for crochet, which I already know how to do, but it provides some interesting projects for making good use of the skill. The embroidery projects are fine, if a little predictable. I wish the section on cutwork was expanded (as well as tatting).

I do have one beef with the book though; the inclusion of rick-rack earrings without any instruction on making them. The earrings are shown, a story is told about them and a great vintage clip from 1950s instructions is also present but the actual making of the earrings isn't provided.

I would recommend this book to those looking to get their feet wet with handicrafts or for those who want a little essay (and farm girl style) with their craft instructions.

I have to admit I am a Mary Jane fan. She let me know that I wasn't the only one out there dreaming of old times. Her newest book is all about that. It may not be the best craft book out there but that is not what matters, it's finding your way if you yearn for what was; for a simpler life.

I loved this book and will refer to it time and time again. Well and thoughtfully written and so timely. MaryJane is a national treasure and this has got to be the closest thing to being able to have a cup of tea with her and chat. Great gift, but nice to indulge in for yourself too. Lots of nice, usable ideas. I've got her other life book and this is similar though not totally redundant, I like having them both.

I ordered this book for myself and after I received it, I ordered several more to give to friends and family for Christmas. I absolutely love this book. It is inspiring and beautifully done. I love the stories and quotes and can't wait to get started on some of the projects inside. Maybe with all my friends having a copy we can start a project group and work on some of these things together. They look easy to do and the instructions appear easy to comprehend and understand.

This book has very well written instructions for 35 plus handcrafts with vintage flair- but it is also a collection of wonderful stories written by one of the west's best writers! As a mama of two small children I love reading Butter's essays- they make me feel like I have just sat down for a conversation with an old friend. Mary Jane does a splendid job of reviving the tradition of handwork and my hands have been busy since I got it six months ago;)