5 comments about Encyclopedia of Cabbage Patch Kids: The 1980s (Schiffer Design Book).

1. Although I did enjoy reading the facts about the kids, their orgin, rarities, head mold facts.....and so on.....This book ONLY focused on MIB kids. Even though there are great photos (hundreds of them), several are duplicates and the author consentrated mostly on the beloved #4 head mold. ALOT of the kids talked about were mentioned as *hard to find* and *extreamly hard to find* MIB. I do not believe all head molds and eye/hair color combonations were pictured. I also believe that what one collector views as mint another may not agree upon. For instance, some kids are redressed and out of the box...is that still considered mint in the box?
   
   The first 14 pages are very brief paragraphs of the different headmolds, clothing, eyes and hair colors, boxes and so on. No price guide on any clothing with the exception of animal sleepers, terry sleepers and rompers.
   
   I feel as though in my opinion only, that a Collectors guide for Cabbage Patch kids has alot of potential if more information was given and less of identical photos. This book just didn't give ME the info. that I was so hoping it had.
   
   With that said, this book is a definate read for any collector, but quite pricey.



2. My second wife (a shrew of a woman if ever there were one) blessed me with three little kippers--and each bore a strong resemblence to a cabbage patch kid (Note: the woman had the largest cranium I've seen prior to Shreck). This encyclopedia was invaluable during the difficult child-naming process and has been a nostalgic reference these passing years since the harlot took the kids (and the pudgy judge-awarded palimony) to Kansas in order to follow some religious kook and raise the bigheads in an "upright" environment. I miss them occasionally, and when I do, I shed my tears with this fine book by my side. Thank you Schiffer Design Books.



3. This book gives the complete picture of cabbage patch kid collecting. I haven't seen a more overall picture of the dolls anywhere. It is a fantastic guide not only for the new collector, but also for the expert. Thank you.



4. The cabage patch kids are one of the best books i have read!!. It is easy to read and is full of drame and really keeps you on the endge of your seat the whole time while you are reading it. I cant wait to read it again!!



5. This was an awesome book! As an avid collector of Cabbage Patch Kids, it is nice to know that there is some value to my collection. Further, this provided many of my friends and acquaintances with eager cries of "Mine looked like this one!" The research that when into this book is obvious. As one skims over the glossy pages of pictures, they find themselves stopping to read the stories behind the value of "kids." I enjoyed this book thoroughly and often stay up late rereading it.

2 comments about The Victorian Dollhouse Book.

1. This book is so so beautiful! Very helpful to anyone interested in decorating thier own dollhouse. The pictures are amazing!!
   me and my daughter spend hours looking through it!! If you can find this book, please buy it!!!!



2. This is in no way a do-it-yourself manual for the miniaturist. It is, however, an invaluable resource for anyone furnishing a Victorian dollhouse. Along with lots of historical data, there are pictures of complete rooms as well as individual items. The entire book is in full-color and the photography is outstanding. Each pictured item is captioned with its function

   If you are interested in the Victorian era, this book belongs in your mini-library.

1 comments about Hopi Kachina Dolls and Their Carvers.

1. This is really one of the most unusual Kachina art books out there. Besides the exquisite photography of Gene Balzer, Theda Bassman delves into how the new carvers who adapted to all wood carving feel about their craft and what it means to them to be a carver. One gets a real sense that the artists themselves come alive and in this way, bring their art alive. They demonstrate a trust in talking with Ms. Bassman, who has a long history of working in the Southwest Indian contemporary art world. In this way, this book transcends the typical art book.

3 comments about Kewpies Dolls & Art With Value Guide: Dolls & Art, With Value Guide (Kewpies Dolls & Art).

1. Since there aren't many available reference books on the subject of Kewpie dolls, you may want to consider adding this volume to your library despite its limitations. The title led me to expect a reference book that would assist me with evaluating Kewpies for the purpose of resale. Unfortunately, a large portion of the book is devoted to the history of the development of the Kewpie and their creator. The content is also very, very limited. It really just includes dolls with a couple of other pieces such as a cup and saucer and a neck kerchief (without prices); there isn't really any "art" to speak of, either listed or valued. It does have an index, however it's primarily organized by the owner of the pieces, not by the actual pieces. Also, the values are not listed with the illustrations. They are located in a chart at the back of the book, which is organized by the item name, size, material, type, year made, manufacturer and current price. Unfortunately, the names don't really correspond with the actual items and it's difficult to determine which items the chart is actually referencing. Again, there aren't many Kewpie reference books available, so this one isn't completely without value, just don't hope for anything comprehensive or easy to use.



2. The Seller is Excellent. The book is as new. Thank You!!



3. Kewpies are such a fun doll. This is a great book for my library.
   I also purchased a fun read about stories about dolls, Dolls Aren't Just for Kids. My mother and sister love a book they can curl up in a comfy chair and read.

No comments about Antique Children's Fashions 1880-1900.

2 comments about Effanbee: Dolls that Touch Your Heart.

1. I own many F&B collectible dolls----especially the older ones. I refer to this book very often. This book is well written, on very nice paper, and with wonderful photos.



2. This descriptive book does a wonderful job of cataloging the various Effanbee dolls and their history. Numerous pictures (B&W and color) add tremendously to the value of this book for doll collectors interested in identification (price guides are also included for individual dolls).

4 comments about Collector's Guide to 1990s Barbie Dolls: Identification & Values.

1. Ok, Let's get the negatives out of the way:
   1. This book is seriously incomplete. No Skipper, No Kelly, No Ken.
   2. Does not cover the 1990's decade. Only covers 1989 to part of 1997.
   3. The only description provided is year, name, Item # and an inflated price guide value
   
   BUT
   The reason you buy this book is for the pictures. This is THE best book for identifying Pink Box Barbies from 1989 to 1997. She provides two pictures for every doll, a full length picture from straight out of the box and a close-up of the face. And when you have a nude barbie found on the 50 cent table at a garage sale, the face is all you have to identify it. This is a valuable resource for Barbie resellers as an identification tool, but you may as well ignore the over-inflated price value. These are Pink Box Barbies, not Exclusives.



2. If your looking for a book that would have Barbie, Skipper, ken, stacey, Kelly and friends. This is not the book you want.
   It doesn't even have all the 1990's barbie dolls, it is only from 1980 to 1997. It Only has Barbie, Friends and no family.



3. The author of this book gives us exactly what she claims to offer. Concise illustrations of the regular "pink box" Barbie dolls of the 1990's. There are other wonderful books featuring the older Barbie dolls but the regular dolls from the 1990's are frequently left out. The full body and close up shots have been helpful in identifying my recent thrift store finds. The author provides us with issue dates and stock numbers and approximate values at date of publication. The specific head and body markings are unfortunately not included.



4. Maria Mmartinez-Esguerra has written a book about Barbie in the 1990's and that is fine for those who began collecting in that decade. However, to really learn about Barbie and her history, I don't see the purpose of this book. A reference for one decade will be lacking because Barbie was born in 1959. That is a lot of history and the years between have told the story much better than this book.

5 comments about The Art of the Russian Matryoshka.

1. I had visited Russia in 1996 and purchased many matryoshkas for myself and souvenirs. I loved this book, because I saw many of the ones I had bought, and others I hadn't and it was wonderful to learn their history. I also am fond of the store that Mr. Ertl has online and hope to purchase some matryoshkas from him in the future.



2. Fantastic book! Color plates are exquisite and the text very informative. A definate must-have for any doll collector!



3. Our daughter was so happy receiving the book The Art of the Matroyshka for her school project. The book marvelous! Extreem beautiful pictures, so clear! A good story with much details. Very usable for the school project.
   We also were very pleased with the fast en accurate delivery.
   
   Many thanks, Robert



4. As an avid collector of matryoshka dolls, I found this book covered it all! I especially enjoyed the pictures and explanation of the lathing and prepping of the blanks. And the techniques used to paint the dolls. This book is a must-have for every collector!



5. The detailed and collaborative work of Rett Ertl and Rick Hibberd, The Art Of The Russian Matryoshka is a unique and distinctive artbook devoted to the classic Russian toy consisting of dolls that fit inside one another. 330 full-color photographs illustrate and showcase rare and vintage matryoshka, while the narrative text covers the history of this device as well as the steps of its creation today. The Art Of The Russian Matryoshka is especially recommended for toy collectors and a welcome contribution Russian Cultural Studies collections.

5 comments about Mission Furniture : How to Make It.

1. I agree with most of Donald C. Thompson's review, but wanted to add a few points.
   
   If you are not skilled at making furniture, this is not the book for you, because the descriptions on how to make each project consists solely of a parts list, plus two to three small paragraphs. In some instances the plans are not accurate. If you are looking for examples of mission furniture, this is a good overview, but the pictures/illustrations are barely legible and there are many other much better books.
   
   In regards to the binding, this book is of substandard quality. Paying $18-24 for the hardcover version is not suggested. The binding is that of a cheap child's textbook with a plastic feel. After opening the book about 4-6 times, the binding is already showing stress. I would suggest purchasing the paperback version for about $10. I have a huge library of furniture books and furniture plans. As a note, this is one of many recent books I have purchased that are now printed and bound in China. I purchase all my books when possible in hardcover format to make them last longer, however in almost every instance of a hardcover book bound in China, I have been disappointed. The bindings break very easily on most of these books.



2. This book succeeds at depicting furniture designs that in their time held a place in the Arts and Crafts movement along with the great designs of the Stickleys and a few other masters. Are these pieces as pleasing in form and sturdy in structure as those designed by Gustav and his brothers? Do they all adhere closely to the design principles of the Arts and Crafts movement? Is Harvey Ellis' influence apparent in any of these designs? Not to my eye. However, much of what's in the book appears simple to build, and some would be useful to have around the house. By way of contrast, I find the designs presented in Robert Lang's books and in the Bavaro and Mossman book to be more to my liking. Those books also include more information about construction processes and details.



3. I recently bought this book because I was intrigued by its old-time style. It is a reproduction of three old how-to manuals from the early 1900's. The preface states that the writing was left alone, but that the indexes and page numbering were altered to make sense in this volume. I am well pleased with this purchase because of what it is and what it is not:

   IT IS - a great collection of Mission Style furniture plans, complete with materials lists and drawings to give a modern furniture maker plenty of ideas for design.

   IT IS NOT - a basic how-to manual which spends half of the book explaining the basics of tools and workshop safety. It is also not a step-by-step cookbook for building the furniture listed. In many places, this book states that you should save time by having the lumber dealer surface and cut all of your stock to size to save time and effort! (apparently this was cheaper in 1910!)

   The real value of this book is as an idea generator and an aid to someone trying to design their own furniture. It also provides some interesting insights into finishing practices common to this furniture in the good old days. Check it out, its worth a look.




4. This book is a reproduction of three Popular Mechanics Magazine publications from before WW I, at the height of the Mission furniture craze. It includes about 100 projects. Each one consists of a parts list, one to two pages of text (a total of about 200-500 words), a black-and-white shaded drawing of the finished piece of furniture (sort of like a bad photo) and minimalist plans. The plans are simple front and side elevations. Don't expect exploded views like one would find in a modern woodworking magazine.

   A paragraph from the text for a five-drawer dresser/mirror combination is illustrative of the brevity of much of the instructions:

   QUOTE: In working up the various parts, proceed in the usual manner. If not thoroughly familiar with the various tool processes involved, it will be necessary to investigate pieces of nearby furniture and to read up some good text dealing with the processes involved.

   In other words, don't buy this book if you are a novice woodworker looking to have your hand held, step-by-step through the construction process.

   What one really gets with the purchase of this book are two things. First, an interesting look at turn-of-the-century America and the arts & crafts period, from the perspective of a middle-class magazine for home craftsmen. Second, one gets a collection of designs for generic mission or arts & crafts furniture. To me, the vast majority of the designs are unappealing. At best, they seem just a little off target, as though a high-school woodshop class student were given an assignment to make an original mission furniture piece. However, there are a few interesting pieces.

   I bought this book because I buy *EVERYTHING* about Stickley/Mission/Roycroft furniture. I do not regret the purchase, but I will probably never make any of the projects, and if I did I would have to spend a half a day (at least) making production drawings of the parts for the furniture.




5. I purchased this book expecting to find plans for various types of Mission-style furniture and that is exactly what I found. In addition, information on finishing wood in the authentic style is included.

1 comments about The Dolls Clothes Collection: Complete Outfits for You to Make.

1. I have been very happy to discover this book. It gives lots of ideas and the models can be used as base for new creations ! A little girl's dream becomes reality...Many thanks.