5 comments about Polymer Clay Jewelry.

1. I own 10 polyclay books and have read many others. This is the best for instructions -- sometimes with pictures of every step. I liked the "ethnic" aspect because it's different from other books. -- probably easier for a beginner to make these projects look good, compared to some fancier or classic designs. Enormously helpful and applicable to any style of jewelry you prefer to make.
   Ms. Jackson clearly has lots of experience teaching the techniques so she doesn't skip details of the process that can really trip you up.
   This book tells you how to do practical finishing -- such as getting the elastic inside a bangle bracelet; such as how to attach two pieces together for a pendant; such as crimping wire in the clay before curing -- detailed explanations, with pictures, of how to securely attach a "finding". So many books tell you how to make canes--but not many show how to sand and polish.
   Other books may be great eye candy but can lead to frustration as you try to duplicate the project. I need the step-by-step of this book if my pretty surfaces aspire to being real, wearable, useable objects or jewelry.
   Incidentally also has projects using transparent liquid clay medium -- "cloisonne" pins -- tells how to laminate metal leaf so you can cut it up etc. for projects. Section includes instructions using Kato liquid medium as well as Sculpey TLS. Seems up to date in 2007.
   
   Nice to see fingers of person of color in illustrations. Actually, nice to see fingers period because it helps understand the steps.
   My only mild complaint is the artist uses too many non-polymer trinkets attached to some projects--looks good but not always available to me. On the other hand I really am freed up by the idea of attaching feathers, and now I know how!
   I would have enjoyed more projects too. This author is tremendously welcome to the pantheon. And I hope she has another, longer book in the works.
   PS if you want to do tiger or leopard skin patterns, it's here.



2. Debbie Jackson shows such wonderful style with her jewelry. I love the way she combines other media with polymer clay to create distinctive jewelry.
   
   She really sparked my imagination! From her I learned the elegant look that can be achieved from layers of different textures and unexpected materials (such as cowrie shells and feathers).
   
   This beautiful book with its gorgeous, huge photos will remain in my polymer clay library for years to come.



3. This is one of the most detailed books I have seen. Her projects are refined and this is the first time I have seen the back of jewelry pieces finished as well. This gives the projects a more polished and professional look. Like one of the reviews already stated, don't shy away from this book, because of the term "ethnic". There is enough really good information in this book, even if that is not your style. This book is refreshingly different and I currently have it from the library. I am going buy this for myself - a must have!



4. I have been looking for polymer clay books that inspire me to do more with this medium. This book did the trick!! I borrowed it from the library and had to have it!!



5. Nicely put together,this book is a must for jewelry lovers. Some new and inventive ideas.

5 comments about The Rustic Cabin.

1. Great pictures pair with many ideas for turning your house into a rustic dream home.



2. Wonderful photography, well written chapters, and many, many decorating ideas. My wife and I really enjoyed this book. We decorate our home in a rustic style, and hope to have our own cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains one day. However, a better title for this book might have been "Cabins of the Rich and Famous"; these aren't the little cabins your grandparent's owned, or those that most people could afford.
   
   It is a great coffee table book if this is your area of interest, and will inspire you with building, design, and decorating ideas.



3. This is an excellent book on the topic of the adirondacks and adirondack home. Ralph Kylloe always does a fantastic job with pictures and text. It was a very worhtwhile purchase.
   Thanks
   G. Cerank



4. There's nothing "rustic" about these luxury ranch homes, and the word "cabin" is definitely a euphemism. The houses are as big and gorgeous as the settings they reside in, and the author's photographs capture both. If you want the vicarious thrill of seeing how the rich spend their summers in Montana, then book is for you.



5. Look inside this book at a bookstore before you buy it. It is NOT about cabins but about huge lodges-log mansions, if you will.

5 comments about Painting Pets on Rocks.

1. It has beautiful painted rocks in it and shows just how easy it is to paint rocks. I am not a real good painter but, I do plan to give it a try. Instructions and ideas in this book are great even for a beginner like me.



2. I couldn't help it, it sounded so fascinating when I was invited to a "rock party". A friend held it, and all of us got together at her place. She had a bunch of field rock, (though I've heard smooth river rock is good also) and she had cleaned them all up and they sat, waiting on her front step. We took turns choosing the rock that "spoke to us" and brought it into the house for some good old fashioned gossip and a fun project with friends. Oh, yes, we had doubts! Halfway through those rocks were UGLY, and we took a few chip and salsa breaks so we could look at them from a distance (they looked better that way- Laugh!). But- amazingly enough- when we finished the last step, perfectly outlined in the book- our rocks looked GREAT!! I actually DISPLAY mine in my little rock garden, and get so many comments on their "uniqueness". What a fun idea! And takes almost no $ to get started, if you're like me, you already have the simple materials lying around from previous projects!! Great book, simple instructions, great tips and pointers- even for the novice.



3. Painting Pets on Rocks is a fabulous step by step instructional book. My students (1st through 7th grade) created fabulous rock paintings following these easy-to-follow instructions.



4. Super, these books by Ms. Wellford are illustrated so beautifully that ANYONE could paint animals and such on rocks. Her directions are not only the written word, but also demonstrated by showing the drawing from the stones to use, preparing the stones, sketching from "square one" on thru the completed reproduction. These books are a MUST for any rock painter enthusiast.



5. A new meaning to the words "Pet Rock":

   Lin Wellford has out-done herself again! I just can't get enough of her books! For those of you who have not read any of Lin Wellford's books, let me tell you, IT'S TIME TO START! In "Painting Pets on Rocks" you learn how to paint your dog, cat, fish, and even your pet bird! The book doesn't just show you one type of dog, or only one cat. Lin gives you instructions on how to create many different rock pets. From Dalmations to bulldogs, tabby cat to siamese...this book has it all.

   Even if you have never painted before, you can do these projects. The book has full color, nearly step by step photos with the step by step instructions. As with all Lin Wellford books, her instructions are written for the beginner and it is amazing how well your pet rocks come out.

5 comments about Caribbean Elegance.

1. Not so long ago I saw Caribbean Elegance at a friend's house. My friend was gracious enough to lend it to me to read. After reading it, I felt I should have my own copy, so I ordered a copy from amazon.com.
   
   Not only is Dr. Connors' narrative comprehensively informative and enjoyable, but Bruce Buck's photographs are absolutely beautiful.
   
   Together they have introduced me to a heretofore, to me at least, world of fascinating furniture and decorative arts. Kudos to Dr. Connors and Mr. Buck.
   
   I look forward to acquiring the rest of their work.



2. This book has great pictures of West Indian furniture and its focus is only on the furniture. I was looking for some ideas on how to design using this style, but not much can be gotten directly on how to do this from this book. However, I did come away with a good sense of the various influences on the West Indian style.



3. This book had some interesting facts, but as an interior designer who was looking for inspirational pictures for room designs I thought it had moderate value.



4. I have owned this book for over a year and always thought it was an excellent book but wasn't inspired to write a review until just recently, when I received a new book I purchased called "Caribbean Style". This book, "Caribbean Elegance", is everything that the other book is not. I love this book! The photography is incredible, encompasing everything from the smallest furniture detail or accessory, to entire historical exteriors & interiors, and exquisite scenery!
   The text gives a detailed history of the settlers and islands, really giving you an understanding of how the various styles of West Indies architecture and furnishings came into being. It also distingushes the furnishings by their various European influences, such as Spanish, English or Dutch, among others. As an interior designer I found this book fascinating and educational. But even for someone who just has a love of the islands, the photography alone is worth the price of the book.



5. This book was exactly what I was searching for. Not only is it visually stunning, but it provides a wealth of historical information on Caribbean style and furnishing. A wonderful resource if you want to understand how this very unique style of interior design came to be.

No comments about Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008.

5 comments about Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide.

1. Sorry to differ with others, but this does not even qualify as a "book". It is closer to a magazine article in its subject depth. The photos are all out of date. The side bars for the first chapter contain all the knowledge offered. The rest is just redundant filler. Expect no more than you would get from some old Sunset "book".



2. At last a book that does not just contain pictures of extravigant architecture and lighting techniques. It contains real applicable information for all involved in the lighting industry.



3. This book is a good (not great) reference for home planners, engineers or interior designers but if you are looking for inspiration and the newest lighting ideas, well...try somewhere else.
   I expected a book with nice color pictures, beautifull layout and ambient lighting ideas and felt most disappointed.
   Almost every picture reminds me of my grand mother or my old aunt home, they are so outdated! and the quality is so poor!! So don't get mislead with the front cover picture!!!...



4. Well detailed, provides basic info about lamp types, color, and specific information/suggestions for each room, even outdoors/landscape lighting. A bit pricey, but still worth it. Read it cover to cover.



5. This is an excellent practical and technical book for learning about and designing lighting for a home. It's aimed at the professional, which I appreciate as an intern architect. Part of my job is to design sophisticated lighting schemes for custom homes, which takes a lot of experience and knowledge. This book has really helped me to pinpoint the different kinds of lighting needed for each space and how to place it and specify it in a professional way for the greatest effect. Most architects take years to learn this, but I'm getting a crash course by having this resource. It's not a fluffy coffee table book, it's a technical manual that teaches HOW to properly understand and design lighting for a residence. I highly recommend it.

3 comments about 50 Great Bathrooms by Architects (By Architects).

1. I got both 50 New Baths and 50 New Kitchens.
   Each is a nice little book but neither offers much
   in the way of fresh ideas for contemporary spaces.
   The photos have almost no accompanying text, which
   might be acceptable if the photos were less stingy.
   These books are OK if you can get 'em cheap,
   otherwise, they're both rather disappointing.



2. I've been an architect for many years and bought this book to show clients some ideas from it. Good book. good photography. Worth the cost and more.



3. This series of books, two so far, the second of which is of similar title dealing with kitchens, is a poorly and sloppy attempt at presenting the works of contemporary architects' approach to design. The choices selected for the books are of such poor caliber that the we have to wonder about the qualifications of the author. It appears that this book was assembled by the writer to capitalize on the current market trend of the educated home buyer who is more receptive to a modernist approach to minimalism in a contemporary setting.
   There ought to be some sort of a standard barometer that individuals should meet before allowing them to publish.

2 comments about Tadao Ando: 1941 (Taschen Basic Architecture).

1. this books introduce lots of important works of Tadao Ando
   good print quality, nice pictures with reasonable price



2. This is the first Taschen Basic Architecture volume about a living architect. The earlier Taschen volumes have been about the Modernist masters such as Mies, Le Corbusier, Loos, Wright, Kahn and Neutra. If there is any living architect who can measure up to this Pantheon of Greats, it is Pritzker Prize winner, Tadao Ando.
   
   Like the other volumes in this series, there is a short biographical essay, followed by short chapters that focus on key works. The German Publishing Company Taschen publishes some of the best architectural books. Their books are always of the highest quality and reasonably priced. At Ten Dollars, it is hard to imagine a better introduction to the works of one of the most important architects of the Twentieth Century. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Small Houses of the Twenties: The Sears, Roebuck 1926 House Catalog (Dover Pictorial Archives).

1. I have enjoyed looking through this book and the floor plans included. I was amazed at the sizes of the rooms compared to the sizes of rooms in homes now. It is a very interesting book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes looking at this type of book.



2. I used to have several of the original books of this ilk , and this is just as fun to read and view. The pictures are clear and distinct.
   The subject matter is presented just as Sears and Roebuck originally did.



3. After spending almost forty years as an exectuive with Sears Roebuck and Co. I enjoyed very much a precis well done on the informnation of their early nineties home building lines. The book is a valuble source of info.



4. As a recent purchaser of a Sears Honor Bilt home, this book has been very interesting and useful. It initially helped me to prove to myself that my house was a kit home, and has further assisted in returning the home to its orginal condition. If you live in a part of the ocuntry with some remaing 1910-1940 houses, you may be surprised how many of them are Sears homes. After spending many hours lookig through this book, I now notice Sears houses a lot more as I am out and about. Whether you are a potential Sears home owner or just soeone who appreciates the beauty and quality of older homes that seems to be missing from those we build today, this is a great book.



5. If you are interested in homes that were built between 70 and 80 years ago, then you need this book. Imagine yourself as a young married person from the twenty's looking to build your first house -- the first place you might look is the Sears catalog. All you would need to do is buy the lot and lay the foundation. Sears sends everything else! The designs of these houses makes you wonder "why do people need such huge houses today?" This book is a must for anyone who loves old houses.

1 comments about Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (Research in Conservation).

1. This text gives a good overview of the issues faced by the conservator beyond techniques. Topics and articles can be a launching pad for wonderful discourse.