Crafts Hobbies Books

I received this book today and what fun it was to look through! Gorgeous full-color illustrations and patterns. As the title suggests, there are a wide variety of activities in the book. Simple things that even kids can do (that are still stylish) and more complicated crafts/cooking for adults. I am very pleased with this purchase and I think the price is excellent considering the amount of information contained in the book. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for ideas for things to do with their kids or anyone looking to jazz up their Halloween decor.

this book was late coming but that was due to slow shipping,NOT the seller. they followed up on it when i had concerns that i hadn,t received it. it was in very good condition

This author has done an amazing job going through step by step on how to create realistic scale model scenery. He adds tips and tricks that helped me to build some small scale movie sets I was making. I suggest this book to anyone trying to do what the title implies. It does not go into much detail on any other model railroad facets, but for the money and subject matter, it is well worth the money.

Full of helpful suggestions, particularly for those who like to scratch build. Innovative use of all sorts of materials to create great scenery. Good color pictures & 'how to' steps. Plus the book names brand name items that have been used in the scenery shown, so you know what to buy & what it can do if you are after a particular effect.
Highly recommended.

Dave Frary presents this topic in a logical, progressive manner. Even if you have experience in building scenery, I'm sure you will still find some useful tips.

Very good advice. excellent Step by step approach. The book tries hard to keep up with the latest technology and trends. I have the first edition, which I believe to hold a better overall perspective of scenery construction and color theory, which seems to be missing from the current edition. The two editions do complement each other quite well however. This edition goes into a great deal of detail of realistic rock outcropping construction. it would be nice if other aspects of scenery creation were treated with as much detail and finesse, such as trees, water, ground cover and prairie grass.

-BK

If you need an overview of woodcarving and were not very picky about the need for step by step assistance, this book would work for you. It does go over the basic cuts and offers text on a variety of topics in wood carving, i.e. types of woodcarving, tools, materials, painting, etc. It provides a number of patterns, many of them fairly cheesy and probably would not appeal to most starting out. There is a nice selection of bird patterns, but not much pictoral instructions on how to carve them. You would probably be better off with a different beginner's book with more appealing projects and then find books on specific woodcarving interests from there.

Like many beginning woodcarving books this book describes the basic cuts you need to practice and it gives some information on wood types. Beyond that, the only reason to purchase this book is if you need the patterns in them.

Being new to wood carving I like the price of the book and I thought I would give it a try. Once I saw the patterns though, I changed my mind and bought another book. This is just a matter of taste but the cutesy mouse and the fisherman weren't what I wanted to carve and I feel that you really need to find carvings that interest you (especially while you are learning) to prevent boredom. Once again, if the patterns on the cover look interesting to you, then by all means get this book (if you are a complete beginner).

A terrific beginner book with lots of variety in types of carving. I've added it to my collection of references.

After reviewing the book, I returned it. I would guess that there is an audience out there that want to carve cutsey figurines but, ugh! Who would want them around the house? I have several carving books from which I have gleaned useful information but, frankly, this is subject matter deserving of a video demonstration. Until you see how a carver twists, turns, and taps the chisel to accommodate the grain of the wood, I just don't think you are going to get it. Not at least without chewing up a lot of valuable wood as the masters do doubt have.

That said I have to take responsibility for my bad judgement in selecting this book as the author/publisher provided ample glimpses to the interior pages. So, my bad.

I am a carver -- mantle pieces and such -- and bought the book for a young man who wanted to try his hand at carving. It covers all the basics and even has some great patterns.

This is a fantastic Rolex reference which is rich is history, background information, and abundant full-color photos. This is a must-have reference for the serious Rolex collector.

This has been called the Rolex bible. I dont agree with the phrase but it merits the award.
It is fantastic. No other wordfor it. Excellant pictures. Great facts and well put together.

Similar to Rolex watches on which this book focuses, it's heavy, quite large, and overpriced. Again similar to Rolex watches, it does the job fairly well. Generally good to excellent photography traces the evolution of Wilsdorf's watches from "unknown," to a famous name. Furthermore, Wilsdorf understood the value of publc relations and advertising campaigns to boost his product to what's probably the most recognized brand of Swiss mechanical watches. While the book is lavish in its photographic presentations, there are too few words. Especially with watches, I want to know original and current selling prices, too. I yearned for a newer edition. Of course there can't be one every year, but this volume is better suited to the collector of older watches. I'd love one highlighting post-2005 Rolexes. But, you sure can't slight the research accomplished. Tops in that regard, few cover older Rolexes as completely. As a photographer who owns six Rolex watches, I appreciate the photography, and respect the teeth-pulling exercises the authors no doubt went through to locate the pictures. I prefer smaller books that are more conveniently sized for reading and storage. My library leans like the famous tower due to myriad so-called "table- or coffeetable-top" books that are oversized. Sometimes, as is this publication, that's the only way I find the material I seek: books about cars and watches. A slick, perhaps thicker, paperback edition possible to read lying down beats hell out of these large, cloth bound, impractical volumes. This book, at its price, is a product only a "watch buff" or a Rolex fan will likely cough up $125.00 to own. I'm both, plus I got it for $75: a "bargain," I suppose, maybe much in the same way Rolexes are when compared with several finer Swiss timepieces, such as Patek Philippe, a brand against which all watches are weighed,watchmakers often say. Rolexes are no Patek Philippes, of course, but they don't sell new for $100,000, $200,000, $300,000 or more, either, and sans diamonds as well! As a "gearhead" and watch hound for more than 50 years, I say a Rolex is similar to a Dodge pickup loaded with leather, GPS, Sirius and all the toys. They're tough, rough, practical. As mechanical devices go, they're reliable as granite. Each has a strong, masculine, but very attractive presence, and either one that's serviced religiously will work a century more. This isn't the best watch book I own, nor is it even the best Rolex book I have, but those of us dedicated to horology and Rolexes may say, as did I: "To hell with its dimensions, ungainly weight and price: I gotta' have it!" Unless Auntie Maude is the bearded weight lifter at the circus, don't send her after it. Plan to sit at a table to flip through it comfortably. (Be sure to order the 3rd edition, circa 2006!)

The best Rolex book available. Known among collectors as the Rolex bible it is easy to see why.
The quality of pictures nearly all color is beyond any other watch book published. The history sections flow from page to page and makes light reading.
As a guide and reference book on Rolex watches. It is simply the best.
I don't know much about the authors but they show their love for the watches in section after section. The price is fair; this is a very large well put together book.
I would like to give it 10 stars. The work involved producing it certainly merits it.

This is a great book, its full of detail and has more detail than any other watch book produced ever. This has to be the bible of all Rolex books.
It has hundreds of case ref's and movement details, you will not find a book as good. The pictures are great and all in color.
I wish I bought it years ago. Saying that, this is the only downfall, its a few years old now, about 11, so it does not have the latest models.
If you want to know every detail on Rolex movements and case numbers this is the book for you.

I was interested in this book because I wanted some ideas and inspiration about how to make my own ATC's. There are some instructions in the front of the book, it's full of good ideas, and it's interesting to look at.
I looked at this book in the bookstore, but passed up buying it because there were a lot of fabric and sewn ATC's and I'm personally not into that right now/yet. I prefer the painted/collaged/stamped type. It is a nice book, but not one that I'd likely look at enough to justify the price.

This book is awesome! I have gotten so many ideas from it and love all the different examples. My students love to look at is as well. They said it is very inspiring and helps them to think more creatively!

I am VERY pleased with the product, the service, the safe trading, and the time frame for delivery.
You are my first line of contact when looking for a good price and good product in books I wish to source.
Many Thanks

If you love artist trading cards, you'll want this collection. Instruction on various techiques is also given, although it's not always very clear.

I found myself dog-earing many pages, since I want to go back and try the technique shown.

There are a few too many fabric ATCs for my taste, but apart from that it's all good.

Great layout of the book, colours are great.I felt there were too many fabrics used, and may be more paper products would be nice.

I'd hoped that this book would cover things a bit more comprehensively, but it turn out that it's a bit basic.
Nice photos tho, just not as involved as one would expect.
I would recommend New Complete Guide to Sewing (Readers Digest) and DK's The Complete Book of Sewing New Edition. They are both terrific.
Nik, Tasmania, Australia

THe book is good and visually shows you what to expect when you start sewing.

I have purchased several of these books about various topics and have been pleased with each one. I like the fact that a lot of pictures are included as well as the explanation, since I am mainly a visual learner. This book will be used later as a reference book.

I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to increase their confidence in sewing.

This was the second sewing book I purchased, the first one being The Complete Book of Sewing by DW Press which was too overwhelming (covered every technique with one well written brief explanation and photo but lacked step-by-step details and photos...more like an encyclopedia).
I am a complete beginner and while Teach Yourself Visually Sewing did provide step-by-step instruction and pictures that were helpful to cross reference to the other book, the explanations exclude important details and their briefness makes them unclear so you to have to re-read them several times before understanding.
Overall this book was helpful (had good sections on types of needles and threads and hand stitching and some better illustrations of techniques than most), but the writing could have been better. The section about hemming was horrible/worthless (skip it!).
Here comes the diatribe: I cannot believe the number of "complete" and "beginner" books that don't bother to properly explain how to mend and take-in and shorten garments which is one of the main reasons folks buy a sewing machine initially. I guess I need to buy yet another book that does explain this...the Singer one(?) or the tear apart and reconstruct type sewing book(?). Also, why is it that no one has written a decent teach yourself beginner book series that includes everything you need to know in spiral binding with appropriate descriptions AND illustrations (forget about the projects, that can be book 2)?

I've been sewing quite a bit for the past 15 years or so...much of this has been self-taught. So, this book has been great to fill in the gaps and the "whys" for what I've been doing.

Kaffe Fassett has wonderful fabrics and quilt designs. Some of these were not to my liking. With that being said, I do enjoy flipping through his books, but rarely make a quilt from his designs. I find his designs are best used with his fabrics in order to achieve the best look. I did find it inspiration.

I'm probably just repeating what others have said, but how could anyone say anything bad about this book? When it arrived I sat down just to skim it until I had more time. An hour later I was still there, reading every word! The colors are so gorgeous, as all of his colors are. But beyond that I actually felt I could create these visual wonders myself! I wanted to RUN to my LQS and buy a crayon box full of colors and begin a new quilt immediately. My final words ... buy this book! It won't dissapoint you!

this book is indeed beautiful.
kaffe fasset is a very creative artist and his use of color is astonishing.
i cant take my eyes off his creations and i am already trying some of his patterns, adapting them to our brazilian fabrics.
patterns are not so difficult, some are quite easy actually. instructions are clear. everybody, from novice to highly skilled can profit from this book.

Okay, I love Kaffe Fassett stuff. Beautiful pictures of some wonderful quilts that are made form simple blocks, but look complicated.
Great books for new quilters that need some color suggestions to get that real POP they maybe looking for.this is not the first book I have of his nor will it be the last.

I bought this book because of the beautiful cover quilt design,
but most of the designs inside are colorful and easy to do.

This book covers most of the basics of portrait photography and as a newbie to DSLR equipment it was quite useful. The many examples of photographs are great, and a wide range is shown. It covers a lot but doesn't go into great depth about specifics, so I'm finding that it's a good introduction to the general area of photographing family members, but I've quickly out-grown it and am looking for more detailed specific information. (So basically I need to spend more $$$ on more books!)

At first I liked its clear, simple explanations and the fact it didn't blind me with the scary technical side of using a swanky camera. However I'm starting to think it's the kind of book I wish I'd browsed through in a bookstore or borrowed from the library, rather than bought to have at home to use for regular reference.
I would recommend it to those without much experience with DSLR cameras who want to take 'gap-ad' shots of their kids. It's a great 'beginner book' and is written in a relaxed way that is not intimidating. Of course we are all constantly learning so expect to need to spend more on other books and info sources in the near future as you may be like me and will quickly be hungry for more!

beautiful book, with inspiring photographs, have started to put some of the ideas into practice but still learning my way around my camera. Some more rudimentary hints on achieving some of the shots would have been useful for me, but I'm certain not everyone is as unskilled as I am at photography. This is a book to inspire a different way of looking at portrait photography and is a fantastic introduction to that.

I think both will enjoy the book for different reasons. As a photographer I enjoyed the images and the focus on the important parts of a photograph (the details). I think people who scrapbook will get a lot of information on how to make your scrapbooks more interesting, more detailed and how to make their images "pop" out of the book.

I find myself reading this book over and over again...each time picking up a different tip or technique that I can incorporate into my photography. The pictures are delightful and text easy to understand. This is one of my favorite photography books.

WOW, I just purchased this book last night and I've only read to page 21. (because I have been mesmerized by the wonderful photography) I cannot say enough good things about what I had read thus far. I have many photography books however this will be the one that rarely stays on the shelf. It is a easy read while still giving definition to those important photography technical details. Like the introductions says if you are looking for photos of landscapes or hummingbirds you have the wrong book. If you are a mother or love children this book is for you. You do not need to be a serious photographer to purchase this book. And at the same time you can still learn things if you are a professional. (at least from the creative aspects)

In closing if I could I would give this 10 stars! Way to go Donna and Allison!

book is well written and covers all the basics pretty well. onecan get stqrted making paper by following guidelines in this book. addresses most needs and covers method well.

Finally, I found a book that isn't about pretty pictures and way out there techniques. This book is about making paper. Helen gives you all the nuances necessary to make paper on your own. This is a comprehensive, information-packed book that is THE must-have for any beginner or even intermediate. Too many books show us beautiful photos of great art work but neglect to give us those finer details that would make our efforts a success. This book shows you how to succeed.

I received this book as a gift and I really like it. I am a brand new papermaker and was able to use this book right away and make a recycled paper batch that looked great. The details about making a mould and presses really helped. I recommend this book not only because it has the basics but it also has intermediate concepts.

This is a comprehensive little book for those who want to learn about making paper! The title says it all. It is pretty clear; both in its instructions as well as detailing the material needed. It can guide you through something simple that will leave you with a piece of paper so you can say "I did it" and its not for me. Or, help you set up a full studio so you can really get into making paper for art, for gift giving, for writing, for what ever purpose. If the latter becomes your passion, then you will probably have to move on to something more detailed for expanding your craft. This is a nice, basic beginner book, although not a "papermaking for dummies" level. Read it through, figure out where you want to start, and give it a try!

I checked the Papermaker's Companion out of the library just for some basic information about paper making. I found myself referring to it so often that I renewed the loan. And again. Finally, I broke down and bought my own copy. The recipes and instructions are clear and fairly comprehensive. The book contains at least a basic explanation of everything from using recycled paper to making your own pulp from plants and leaves. The projects are interesting and clearly explained. This is a good reference book for experienced paper makers and a good beginner's guide for those just starting out. Although it does contain a few projects for kids, this book is more appropriate for older teens and adults.

My daughter loves polymer clay and my wife saw this book so she told my daughter about it. My daughter got so excited she couldn't wait to order it. When we got the book, it was in excellent shape. Maureen Carlson is a awesome sculptor and my daughter said she does not know how Maureen created those realistic faces even though there are steps for it!

Maureen is such an amazing artist. If you are wanting to make figures in clay, then her books are a great place to start. I have several of her books now, and I love them all. Each one teaches you something more. Also this book came in great condition for a used book. Really good seller.

I have four of Maureen Carlson's books. They are all fantastic.
This one is my favorite. Very clear instruction. Gets you started and wanting to sculpt all the time. I love it!

Indeed a marvellous book you should have as one of your clay-book collections. Maureen has good eyes and different angles when seeing new things, and new thoughts to convert them into brilliant figurines. I love her ideas of how making the snakes and the dragons, and her tricks to get new color mixtures are awesome.

I almost bought her books entirely, and have no regrets so far. Thanks to Amazon for superb service, even though I must bear waiting for a month and so for my orders.

My advice, you always can give your book collections to your kids when you no longer need them.

How to make clay characters by Maureen Carlson is not available to buy in Australia. I had it on loan from my local library but only for limited periods and it was never long enough. I am happy to say that although it may have been printed initially a long time ago I am delighted to have obtained it as it has such excellent instructions and lots of handy hints for the polymer clay first timer onwards.To anyone reading this revue who wants another hobby to try (even in Australia) buy this book and you will be hooked.

The mere fact that it is still in print is a sign of how good it is for any age. Easy to follow and great fun all you need is polymer clay your imagination and this book.