5 comments about Inspired Wire: Learn to Twist, Jig, Bend, Hammer, and Wrap for the Prettiest Jewelry Ever.

1. I've bent wire before, but never knew the 'right' way of doing it. With help from this book, my wires look more professional. It teaches the basics & is inspirational.



2. I am so excited about this book! I can't wait to try some of the techniques demonstrated here. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to make jewelry. Lots of good stuff!



3. What can I say. This is simply the best basic book on wire working I have in my collection and I have many.



4. I'm fairly new to wire work and this book made something that seemed intimidating very manageable and fun to learn. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in wire! And, I'd recommend getting the jig, as well - it makes it a little more fun!



5. I received this soft cover yesterday in very good shape. The book has through information and states what you will need in advance of you work so you will not need to stop what you are doing before getting involved. Thank you for making this book affordable.

No comments about The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays (Country Living).

5 comments about Paula Deen's Savannah Style.

1. Paula Deen, a household name, has an infectious and brilliant smile that dares anyone not to smile back and become wrapped up in her Southern hospitality. Ms. Deen's flare and talent for delicious food has delighted people and brought homestyle and unforgettable meals to tables all over the country. Now, with her newest book Savannah Style, people are brought into the world so dear to Paula Deen, as she invites readers and fans into the cozy and homey decorating style of the South. With gorgeous photos and neighborly narration, this is a book sure to delight those looking for inspiration to decorating or those looking to escape into the beautiful world of the South.
   
   Divided into sections by Seasons, readers will delight in such topics as "Porch Livin'", "Courtyard Gardens" and "Wicker" in the Spring; "Eat-in Kitchens", "Sleeping Porches" and "Family Memories" in the Summer; "Comfort Rooms", "Book Nooks" and "Powder Rooms" in Autumn, as well as "Holiday Decorating", "Live-in Kitchens" and "Cozy Bedrooms" in the Winter. Keep in mind that this is a very small example of areas covered within Savannah Style. Interspersed throughout the book are "Brandon's Style Secrets", which are incredibly informative and will help spark even the most novice of decorator with ideas galore. One of my favorite areas was the "Sleeping Porche". I adored the photos and the idea of this was just the neatest. Of course, as a huge book and library lover, the section titled "Book Nooks" was delightful for me as well. There are so many aspects and areas that I loved about Savannah Style that this is truly a treasure to revisit again and again.
   
   Sit back in a comfy chair, grab a tall, cold glass of sweet tea and settle in to a tour of sweet southern bliss, with Paula Deen's Savannah Style.



2. This is a beautiful book and I enjoy Paula Deen so much I wish she was my mamma. At first you wonder why she has a decorating book then reading more you understand its a great fit. I am from North Carolina and lived in south Georgia and now Florida and I love this style of decor and everything about the south... well almost lol. The pictures are great and its also a good read as well (I have many "pretty" decor books but none that are fun to read)I enjoyed it very much and would like to see more like it. by the way great photography work.



3. 
   If you like southern style, this is a beautifully photographed book. Personally, I often wish I could view more "liveable" rooms, and the photos from Paula's cabin were great in this respect; however, many of the rooms were decorator-staged which often means a little over-done. The overall feeling is nice. though, and since I have been to Savanah and surrounding areas, I think it captured the feel of that region very well. A nice book to own but not a lot of new ideas.



4. This is a book for either fans of Savannah or of Paula Deen or luscious pictures of rooms that would fit into the southern lifestyle with porches and entertaining. It is really a small `coffee table' book.
   
   It has no recipes, so do not expect them.
   The book is divided into 4 seasons, although what passes for winter in much of the rest of the country is not applicable to Georgia where it is relatively snowless. Paula introduces some rooms in her home and some of her furniture designs in different houses around Savannah. There are hints from Brandon Branch her assistant and designer. There is also a source guide.
   If you are buying this book by mail just be sure that it is what you want - about 200 pages of pictures of rooms and furniture and accessories and how to live the good life of Savannah.



5. I found Paula Deen's Savannah Style book very enjoyable to read and get ideas from
   for my own home. She has a great design style - very warm and in excellent taste.

5 comments about Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens.

1. I would be doing all projects written in this book. Picture references are helpful and descriptions are written well.



2. I wanted to do fast and dirty printing on fabric and this book has the easiest ways to do that (other than having someone else do it for you). There are several methods to get paint onto fabric and the designer walks you through them. I think the supplies are easy enough to find and use and the pictures are good to help you visualize the processes. It's a good book if you want to create some unique table linens, totes, or home accents without breaking the bank. Very do-able project options and good directions. And you don't have to use your potatoes to print with.



3. I waited untill I actually used this book to write a review.
   
   I like it a lot. She explains what type of ink you should use on what type of fabric and which technique to use, all on a handy chart. This is very handy and helpful when deciding on what to do with a project at hand. I decided to do some stenciling on canvas. I found the book to be helpful on what materials to buy (she even explains why you use it) and the technique. The only problem for me is that she uses fogged mylar and I cannot find that anywhere. I found clear ones but I wish she would have listed where (the references on the back were not of much help) but everything else I could find at an art store or Hobby Lobby/Michaels.
   
   The projects included in the book are really cute too. I'm going to try and make a baby blanket for my cousin.



4. I have been wanting to enter in the world of printing fabric, but had no idea where to start (what fabric, what paint).
   This book not only clearly describes how to do a handful of painting techniques, it does it in such a clear/helpful way. There is no guessing involved, the author has put down all the information you need to know.
   
   I highly suggest this book if you are interested in learning how to print (fabrics, papers, etc). This is a truly great book.



5. Saw this one at an art museum gift shop -couldn't wait to get on Amazon and buy it! So useful!

5 comments about The Big-Ass Book of Home Decor: More than 100 Inventive Projects for Cool Homes like Yours.

1. I cannot wait to try out some of these !projects for my dorm room. Goodbye to boredom!



2. The Big-Ass Book of Home Décor is FAB-U-LOUS.
   
   If you're looking to add a bit of "oomph" to your home, a quick flip through this book will have you pining to redecorate - on a dime - in no time. Seriously one of the coolest books of DIY home décor ever, if you've got some Elmer's, scraps of fabric, sponges, popsicle sticks, colored paper and any old, tired furniture, lamps or other home decor (some glitter and sequins wouldn't hurt either) - and this book - you're completely set, and ready to get crazy creative. Author Mark Montano is brilliant, and his projects are not only easy, but fabulous. (He also happens to be cute, which shouldn't matter, but let's face it: it does.)
   
   I almost had a conniption fit just paging through this book the first time because I was so inspired and excited to start creating. After calming down (a bit), I grabbed my Post-It tabs and started sticking: "That lamp would be fantastic in the guest bedroom" I thought... "And those pillows are fab! Ooh- I could totally make those and give them out as holiday gifts... OMG- I'm making those plates for my next dinner party...!" (It got a bit out of control, and I eventually had to put the Post-Its down after realizing that I'd marked all but a few pages... and honestly, I'd only skipped those because the style was SO different from my home décor; I'm sure I'll return to them though, with a clever reinterpretation or for a gift.)
   
   Screw Martha; Mark Montano is my DIY g-d now.



3. I just got this book a few days ago and when I opened it up, I could NOT put it down! All the projects in this book feel really do-able that I really think the every-man can do it. And all the ideas are just so ingenious with the everyday things he uses to create each project. If you've got that thing for quirky-artsy-oddball stuff, this book is definitely for you. It's also got kind of that boho-indie vibe. And as I'm writing this review, so far everyone's given it five stars; so you really just can't go wrong! A great find to add to your resource if you're a crafter/diy-er.
   
   I love this book so much, I'm going to grab his other book.



4. 
   
   THIS BOOK IS FILLED WITH SO MANY IDEAS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE TO BE 1200, TO TRY THEM ALL! GREAT IDEAS!



5. 
   There are plenty of home decor books with perfectly perfect ideas offered on perfectly designed pages with perfectly polite instructions and quite frankly, I find them perfectly boring. If you want perfectly perfect, buy your decor at Pottery Barn. Creativity isn't about perfection. Creativity is about the willingness to roll up your sleeves and make glorious messes. TV Host and author Mark Montano gets that. How could you not love someone who fully embraces the beauty of imperfection and encourages you to design without a net? How could you not love someone who names his book The Big Ass Book of Home Decor? Mark Montano's fantabulous new book is a crafty revelation!
   
   This irreverent tome is simply bursting at the seams with fresh approaches to traditional techniques with a generous dollop of totally new concepts that will leave your brain spinning. Mark throws so much stuff at you on every page you're going to need a thermos of espresso, a sketch book and an oxygen canister at the ready. He fully exemplifies the mantra 'It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it' and Mark does it with such flair and panache it's positively mind blowing. You may have decoupaged or texture painted or used plaster of Paris before, but I can guarantee you that you've never done it the way Mark does. If you love to dance on the edge of good taste, if you love a heaping helping of kitsch in your decor, if you are a frugalista who needs solutions to help you take your el cheapo finds and make them el fabuloso, this is your book.
   
   What impressed and intrigued me the most was the abundant array of aesthetics Mr. Montano explored on every page. Nothing was the same old, same old and everything had it's own unique design appeal. Whether you're a mid century maven, a shabby chic sophisticate, a Deco doyenne, a graffiti guru or a Belle Epoque believer...Mark gives you a plethora of fun techniques and concepts and shows you how you can tailor them to suit your personal sense of style. There are over 100 projects in this book to explore using affordable and easily accessible materials, which means there literally is something for everyone. If you can't find something to love here, might I suggest one of the aforementioned perfectly perfect home decor titles. Snore.
   
   Some of my personal favorite projects include: Garden Side Table, Mirrored Glass Candle Holders, Tramp Art Cardboard Frame, Silhouette Wall Treatment, Modern Office Flower Art, Circus Tables...and the list goes on and on and on. So many of these ideas make you smack your forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of that?!" For those of us who've grown weary of cookie cutter furniture with names like Flargensnorp and Gertlesnark, Mark works his design magic on those Ikea staples along with charmingly imperfect and dated flea market and thrift store finds. The projects are straightforward and easy to recreate, but rife with potential for further embellishment and personalization. You can take them as far as you like, mix and match ideas to make them your own. Mark makes even the entirely technically challenged feel empowered.
   
   I'm simply mad for Mark Montano and I'm quite sure after reading The Big Ass Book of Home Decor, you will be too. Perfect, schmerfect. Take a walk on the wild side, you'll be so very glad that you did.
   
   Margot Potter
   Author, Designer, TV Personality
   The Impatient Beader Series, Beyond the Bead and Bead Chic

5 comments about Extreme Halloween: The Ultimate Guide to Making Halloween Scary Again.

1. I love this entire series and the author's website. Someday when I have enough time, I will build a vegetable monster but until then, it's great to thumb through the books and laugh like a mad scientist.



2. The party ideas were really helpful and now I know what NOT to dress my son in this year for Halloween. The pictures were great!



3. Book has some really great, but really time consuming and expensive ideas. Would have liked more in the area of home decor and less on gags.



4. This is a must have Halloween book. The costumes are hysterical and the party food section is very creative. Every year I look forward to Tom's newest edition of this book so I can share it with my family, friends and co-workers.



5. I bought a couple halloween books for an upcoming party I am hosting. This book has a lot of good ideas and creations. The decorations and such are mostly "budget" conscious and look like it. All in all, for the money, you can't beat it!!!! Buy it if you love this holiday.

5 comments about Kanzashi in Bloom: 20 Simple Fold-and-Sew Projects to Wear and Give.

1. Evidently I didn't read the description carefully enough before ordering, because I expected 20 flowers - not 20 projects. (duh) Anyway, there are just a few pages detailing how to create a few flowers, then the projects start right in on page 38. BUT... the instructions seem very clear, with terrific photos, so I may get a good start and build from there on my own. I rarely regret adding to my library, so even if it's not what I expected, I know I'll end up loving it more at some point down the road.



2. Ever since I saw my first kanzashi flower last year, I resolved to learn how to make my own flowers but have found it difficult to find a complete tutorial online for free or paid. I found this book recently and decided to give it a try. This is absolutely the BEST book I have found that focuses simply on this beautiful artform. There are detailed photographs guiding you step by step and while I have yet to try any of the pieces, I am already greatly inspired by the wide variety of techniques, materials and designs. While the other books on Japanese folding are also useful and fun to read, if you are looking specifically for a great introduction to kanzashi, this is a must-have.



3. I bought this book because I was interested in making a Kanzashi bouquet for my wedding. This best thing about the book is that the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. Anyone with a little crafting skill can be whipping up flowers in no time. I do wish that the book had included instructions for a few more petal/flower styles. I was a bit disappointed to discover that the bulk of the book consisted of suggestions for things that you could do with the flowers, rather than actual flower making. Still, it's a great place to start if you've never made Kanzashi before, I'm happy with the purchase and it helped me accomplish my goal of a Kanzashi bouquet with beautiful results.



4. This book is very well written with clear instructions and a lot of step by step pictures that were very helpful. My first attempt was perfect and fast!



5. The book delivers on it's promise: there are step-by-step photographic instructions to make three different kanzashi petals (which you can combine in many different ways) and 20 projects you can make that incorporate your kanzashi that are also painstakingly documented with full instructions. It's rare to find an American craft book with this level of technical explanation *and* such a wide range of projects (tote bag, wallet, tea cozy, etc).
   
   Diane demystifies the process of creating these beautiful flowers. My first project from the book was a beautiful hair pin and it took me only 15 minutes. I was amazed at how easy they are to make and how professional looking they are. Great book!

4 comments about Craft Hope: Handmade Crafts for a Cause.

1. I am thrilled that National Tie One On Day is listed in Craft Hope as an apron recipient (pg 26)! While National Tie One On Day puts the "give back into Thanksgiving," Craft Hope is heartfelt-giving through crafting, and we have Jade Sims to thank for translating her personal crusade into one that is now worldwide. The global crafting movement that Jade facilitates is inspirational, and that she does this from her home, with snippets of time carved from a busy day with her wee family, is amazing. Craft Hope is artfully presented, but more importantly to me, is the ease of the instruction accompanying each craft.
   
   Even if you aren't moved to participate in Craft Hope through crafting, you give by purchasing this book - $1.00 from its sale is donated to Global Impact. Such is the win-win of Craft Hope.



2. Have you ever wanted to make crafts for other people but were unsure where to start? Well then this is the book for you. With over 30 projects, there's really something for everyone. Every project is accompanied with a charity that you could give the item to or ideas of where it could be of use in your community. The book contains very detailed instructions with nice pictures to help you in the creating process. "Craft Hope: Handmade Crafts for a Cause" also chronicles the beginning of [...], an online community with projects that help people around the world, as well as the Earth itself with its most recent project, Project 8, helping to clean the animals caught in the gulf coast oil spill by donating washcloths to help in the cleaning effort. Please support this great cause and help other people by buying this book! I can't wait to get started on projects of my own from this book.



3. I got my book a couple of days ago, and have already started searching my stash for materials. The instructions are clear, with beautiful pictures of finished projects so I know what I'm getting myself into. I love to sew, but I can only give so much to friends and family, so I am excited to look into the suggested charities and start helping people while enjoying my hobby.



4. I'm so excited to see the crafty projects in this book. There is something for everyone and great potential to change the world, raise awareness, and provide a handcrafted item to someone in need. These are projects for both local and global communities. You'll enjoy the motivating family projects to teach children the importance of giving, creating, and sharing. Savor the photographs, projects, designers, illustrations, templates and overall feel of the book for years to come. It's great to see Craft Hope - the book. I'm hoping for Craft Hope- the movie in the future -just sayin'...continued success with all of your endeavors. Margaret Nock (margknittinaround)

5 comments about It's a Wrap: Sewing Fabric Purses, Baskets, And Bowls.

1. This book was great to explain all the fine details to you. It was an exceptional how to book.



2. The reviews of this book are almost all good to great. That is because the book is well done and illustrated.
   
   Whether you will absolutely love this book like a lot of the reviewers did depends on how much you like to sew on a sewing machine. The process is simple and stress free, but also time consuming and involves a lot of strip cutting and clothes line wrapping with 1 inch wide strips of fabric. I mean 100 feet or more of clothesline. I mean yards of fabric strips. And you cannot wrap endlessly, after a few yards of wrapping, it is time to sew what you wrapped up before it gets too loose or gets tiny pleats in it.
   
   You need a decent sewing machine with a good zigzag capability, (three step zig zag a plus) ability to sew through thick fabrics without constant needle breakage is definitely essential. You need sewing machine needles for denim sewing. And patience to guide this under the machine and shape it into various bowls, purses, lidded containers and whatever else you like.
   
   Washing the items is iffy, because of the cotton cord, it may shrink, and it will be hard to dry so you probably would not make place mats although the technique is really good for place mats.
   
   Although I like to sew with a machine, and make things, after a while it got tedious on my first item. I rate the book highly, but probably I will not be making many items from it due to boredom factor.



3. It's exactly what I needed to get started and I received it in good condition and in a short amount of time!!!



4. I'd bought this book because of reviews I'd read on the sewing forums. It was more difficult than I thought to find the cotton clothesline than I expected, but once I found some, I haven't stopped. It's really addictive - wrapping scrap fabric around the clothesline, then sewing the coil to form baskets of differing shapes. The book is well-written, with lots of illustrations, to make it easy for sewers. Even beginning sewists can be successful - essentially you only need to be able zig-zag to construct your baskets. These baskets make really neat gifts as well - much better than "Amish Friendship Bread"!



5. This is a beautiful book with lots of color pictures of many samples to give you many ideas. The diagrams are clear and the text is well written. Two of our local quilting groups are having fun making these. Now if Accuquilt GO would only make a cutting tool for the 3/4" strips, this would be a fairly fast technique.

5 comments about Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry.

1. Illustrated with crystal clear, full-color photography throughout, Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry is a guide to turning ordinary trinkets and small, commonplace items into one-of-a-kind keepsakes or jewelry perfect for display or gift-giving. The "mixed media" composing such creations can be wood, metal, glass, paper, stones, beads, found objects, recycled things, vintage treasures, game pieces, bottle caps, coins, almost anything imaginable. After a brief primer on how to use basic tools to assemble creations, Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry offers specific suggestions for creating everything from shrink plastic art charms to resin treasures to metal jewelry, wonderfully eclectic charm bracelets and much more. A detailed, practical, easy-to-use guide perfect for the creative and enthusiastic craftmaker, Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry is highly recommended.



2. Making Mixed-Media
   Art Charms and Jewelry
   
   keepsakes, swappables, trinkets
   
   by Peggy Krzyzewski & Christine Hansen
   
   We all have our own personal reasons why charms appeal to us, but there is no question that for most of us they hold a very special place in our hearts. I myself have even shared a book on the history of charm bracelets with my sister; we each own a copy of it. Our family charm bracelets are irreplaceable to us because they speak of the legacy we carry on from our grandmothers, our mother, and our own selves.
   
   Now here comes a new book with a very fun and artistic way of looking at charms and charm bracelets! As the authors say at the beginning, "Welcome to Charm School!"
   
   I embraced their wonderful attitude toward charm making wholeheartedly. These are not classic gold or silver charms which you would find available pre-made at stores. These are fresh, fanciful, colorful charms made of all sorts of materials. As one of the authors, Chris, says at the end of the book, she loves Faberge' because "he treated each material as precious, even if it was something as mundane as wood." Couple that with a statement from her partner author, Peggy, who says, "a big part of my self-expression has to do with fun", and you have a recipe for a great book filled with fascinating new ways of seeing the classic beloved charm.
   
   These charms are cool and new "art charms"! Make your own memories, starting now. Make them fresh and new, and make them super special by trying projects from this fantastic book!
   
   The materials, what you will need in your tool kit, and the techniques required are all at the beginning in the first chapter, "Charm School".
   
   Following that are nine chapters packed full of different media: a basic project begins each chapter, and then there are three variations! The initial project chapter, after the Charm School introductory chapter I just mentioned, concerns paper art charms and the many things the reader can do to embellish them. The authors' energy level is downright kinetic as they urge you to "Seal it, Stick it, Shape it, and Style it"! They suggest you look at your crumpled old maps (I have one of those!!!) in a new way, try using vintage sheet music: anything which catches your eye. You have to honor copyright laws, but we all do know about that. It is a good reminder, however.
   
   Then, in the Paper chapter, the authors teach the reader how to make Mixed-Media Paper, Collage Charms(using the Mixed-Media Paper in a fabulous way!), a Mini Lotus Book project, which is enchanting, and the final project for the paper chapter, My Lucky Shooting Stars. As they say about the stars, "These charms are so fun and easy to make, you'll find it hard to stop! Use washi paper, scrapbook paper, or wrapping paper, or decorate copy paper with rubber stamps, calligraphy, or doodles. You'll be amazed at how many charms you can get from one piece of paper!" As you can see, it is easy to be caught up in their enthusiasm and they are both excellent teachers. Each chapter has a wealth of ideas and tips.
   
   The next chapters include projects (and variations) of found objects, polymer clay, plastic, wood, fiber, resin, metal, and glass. They are fantastic, wonderful to see, and very inventive.For example, I loved the stark black and white Op-Art Bicones of polymer clay and the cool Totally Tubular charms (clear plastic tubing containing tiny treasures).
   
   I also fell for the Resin Art charms. This chapter really is a boon to people who have never tried resin. It gives you a crash course on using resin right in the middle of all of the rest of the fun.
   
   When you get to glass, try the Meet Me in Paris charm. It is a total winner and very clever! I appreciated the authors' ideas in the chapter toward the end, "Putting It All Together". In this one,they even suggest a chatelaine ( keys and jewelry once worn as a belt in medieval times by fine ladies ) as a way of displaying your charms! Yes, you can be your very own "mistress of the castle" as you hang your charms on your wall for everyone to admire!
   
   Then they further expand upon ways of wearing charms and displaying them so that the charms are visually appealing, comfortable to wear, and appropriate to the design and the space.This is very very helpful to new designers.They show some of their charm bracelets assembled, some art charm earrings, and a fabulous Princess Necklace which will knock your socks off. There are even more suggestions and then ideas on how to start a charm swap. Concerning the charm swap, the authors have a conversation with the "Queen Diva" of Art Charm swaps, Amber Dawn Goldish, and the reader's interest is kindled further by this creative, playful, wonderful area of jewelry making, sharing your art.
   
   Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry, by Peggy Krzyzewski & Christine Hansen, is a pure delight from start to finish. Why shouldn't we have tons of fun while we create lovely, innovative art charms? I can't think of a single reason. With the help of this fabulously complete, delightful book, the reader can dive in and will instantly see that the water is FINE!
   
   I love this book! Great for mothers and daughters, sisters to use together, wonderful for friends to try out and learn new techniques from.



3. This is a good book, especially for beginners and for new and fun ideas. Kids like the "funky" ideas and cute fun stuff.



4. Favorite quote from the book (on creating a "Bead Soup"): "Mixing up beads on purpose can feel unnatural, like breaking an entire box of brand new crayons."
   
   Why did I start my review with a quote? To give you an idea of the writing style of these two creative women. The book is just plain fun to read. There were several spots I found myself chuckling or laughing. However, I'm sure you would like more detail than it's fun to read, so here's the nitty gritty...
   
   The authors Peggy Krzyzewski and Christine Hansen met through an art charm swap group, instantly connected, and ultimately collaborated to write this book about creating art charms.
   
   The book is divided up into 12 sections. The first section is Charm School (I love the name! It's so much more fun than "tools and techniques" or something similar). The next 9 sections are centered on the particular material you are using to create a charm: Paper, Found Objects, Polymer Clay, Plastic, Wood, Fiber, Resin, Metal, and Glass. Each of these sections contains three projects with step by step instructions and photos.
   
   The 11th section is called Putting it All Together, which explains various ways to use your art charms in jewelry and home decor. The last section is Swaps and More, in which the authors interview the "queen" of charm swaps Amber Dawn Goldish and give guidelines for hosting your own art charm swap.
   
   One of the things the authors do that I really like is to NAME some of the products (like the sealants they prefer to use) instead of leaving us to figure it out by trial and error.
   
   One of the things I am surprised by is how much information and technique driven stuff was included in a relatively small amount of space. Some things (like resin or soldering) could have used more detail to be complete. However, the bare bones stuff was covered and you can find more detail than you could ever possibly use by searching YouTube or Google.
   
   As a former stained glass person, I would have liked them to stress using lead free solder a bit more (and where to get it) than just listing it in the materials box. Also, I think it's important to note that if you don't allow the areas you are soldering to cool the glass will crack. They do tell you to solder a few charms at a time to allow pieces to cool in between, but not WHY.
   
   Overall, the authors do an excellent job stressing safety and using what you have and not trying to reproduce their results exactly (especially when it comes to found objects). I love that they teach you how to create your own mixed media collage to cut up for a few of the projects. My favorite project is probably the Pressed Penny Souvenir charm because it's one of those things I could never think outside the box. WHY would you want to spend 51 cents on a destroyed penny? Now I know. And what a cool inexpensive way to create a charm bracelet of your vacations.
   
   This is an excellent book for all ages. If you are old enough to craft, there is something in here for you. Even a toddler could create the mixed media collage for you to cut up so your charms have that much more meaning. I can see a new line of mother's jewelry developing that looks nothing like what every other mother is wearing... My 9 year old daughter loves this book and I had to wait for her to go to camp so I could have a turn with it.



5. The book is beautiful and well organized. I am a book junkie and have been doing some form of artcraft or craftart for many years. I live where there aren't many bookstores that carry extensive craft books so you'll find this review written for those who would really like to evaluate the book. I have no connection to the authors or the publishing company.
   
   Overall Impression: The materials in the projects are available and the pictures are detailed and great. The projects will appeal to those with many different styles except those who are into strictly primitive or folk art. The techniques and projects could be adapted but those who like primitive and folk art won't find much eye candy.
   
   Best Feature: One of the best features is that they actually list or recommend brands they use. I completely understand why some books list things like "white glue" or "clear sealer" or cylinder beads, but I really would like to know a brand name or two so I know what I am looking for. These authors list both the generic "sealer" but then actually tell the reader what brands they prefer and sometimes why they prefer them. The two authors frequently use different products. I feel like if I am going to buy a book to learn to make something, then please don't make me go through trial and error just trying to find the right glue or sealer, just tell me one or two to try first. I'll move onto trial and error if they don't work.
   
   The book is organized by chapter with each chapter introducing a material and then 3 projects using that material. The chapters (along with the introductions, materials, and comprehensive projects )are:
   Paper
   Found Objects
   Polymer Clay
   Plastic
   Wood
   Fiber
   Resin
   Metal
   Glass
   
   One thing to note: the book is physically short. It's 95 pages long but the dimensions are roughly 9 inches tall by 8.5 inches wide. It is not the dimension of a traditional book that is the size of notebook paper (11 X 8.5 inches).
   
   Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone. The beginner and advanced alike will find something inspiring.