5 comments about Collectible Beads: A Universal Aesthetic (Beadwork Books).

1. This book is really great, I enjoy each page of it. It is informative, and contents breathtaking photos. I love beads and want to learn more about my hobby, this book is a great resource, for interested people like me, jewelry making persons and the collector. I would buy it again. Together with "The History of Beads" I have a complete guide and learned a lot.



2. A wonderful and very desciptive history of beads. Excellent quality photos, this book can used to help the novice or the serious bead collector.



3. Although the photos of beads are excellent, I found this book far too much like a PhD dissertation, with the feel of a synthesis, having substance but written in a format which was difficult to read. Bibliographic references imbedded in the text just add to the unreadable style. The text is painfully lacking in the kind of information I appreciate, such as dating, geography, and clear references to the individual beads presented in the photos. And references to values of beads in dollars has no relevant meaning unless there is a time reference. As a reference book I would rate it of minimal worth. As a coffee table amusement it is acceptable, but would need far more photos to make it useful for that purpose.



4. This is a beautifully written, beautifully illustrated book, however, it is definitely for the advanced bead collector. Its main focus is on beads the average person could not find or afford. I am a beginner in the bead collecting world and needed a book that was more of an identifying guide. The chances of me running across a bead that was illegally excavated from an archeological dig in a foreign country are slim..and I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway. I'm returning the book and continuing the search.



5. This is a work of immense proportions. Robert Liu is both a scholar and an artist. This is a work which draws on both sets of skills, and the result is wonderful. For bead lovers it's a definative work. As a scholarly piece, it likely has material of interest to those interested in art history and world culture as well. It's an important book and one that would be sorely missed if it ever went out of print--I say this as one who's passed on books like this, only to search the world over for them when they were no longer available...get this one now. You won't regret it.

No comments about Small Endearments: Nineteenth Century Quilts for Children and Dolls, Second Edition (Hobbies - Needlework & Quilting).

4 comments about World of Bracelets.

1. As dealer and collector of ethnographic arts from Africa I've found this book invaluable. And Africa is but one of this volume's beautifully photographed sections. Tribal groups around the world have developed bracelets- the most basic of human adornments- in stunning variety to express their ethnic identity. Although brief on text this book covers a lot of ground in celebrating and identifying the diversity.



2. Over the past years one can see a rising amount of publications dedicated to tribal art (primitive / ethnographic art) in many different ways. Books which intention is a scientific one and books which would like to attract regular (not already attracted to tribal arts) readers.
   Even if the scientific books are something very helpfull for scholars, dealers, collectors and any other "hard core" enthusiats, the mostly doesn't attract general public too much.
   Books which are made for many people mostly lack certain important information or doesn't always give very accurate or exact descriptions like all of the books from this serie (World of Rings/Necklaces/Belts...).
   This sometimes inaccuracy and the little complicated way that you always have to go to the end of the book to read the captions belongig to the pictures is the biggest (if so, because it always depends very much on the reader) problem with this book
   BUT
   thats the only and for myself rather minor mistake.
   
   On the other hand if you look through the book (as well as the others) you have a marvellous/wonderfull/phantastic view on a world of wonders.
   Probably anybody will be surprised by the variations of a single theme. What people all over the world saw as a bracelet is sometimes unbelievable.
   The book shows excellent pictures of pieces in very high quality; everything in color and displayed in a very well designed way which attracts the eye a lot.
   
   Personally i think the most important thing is to SEE as much as possible (in quantity as well as in quality) which is very easily done with this book.
   There hasn't been any kind of publication in this way ever before, hence i reccomend that if you like ethnic jewellry you will like this book.
   
   Because of the problem mentioned above and the fact that if its called "world" of bracelets but leaves the Americas to a minimum (like the other books do as well - i would reccomend Mrs. Ghysels to collect a little more of the Americas) i can't rate it with 5 stars but with 4.



3. This is a gorgeous book that will delight and inspire. The photos are beautiful and the accompanying captions, located in the back of the book, provide a good background on each piece. I recommend this entire series very highly (bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces).



4. This is a breathtaking, beyond-beautiful book of ethnic bracelets. If you're a jewlery artist, you will gain a tremendous amount of inspiration from this coffee-table (NOT a how-to) book. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about What People Wore: 1,800 Illustrations from Ancient Times to the Early Twentieth Century.

1. I really don't believe the good reviews on this book. When I received the book, I thought it couldn't be true. There are lots of pictures, actually only pictures, yes, but they're drawn in such a way that even if they were all accurate re-drawings from primary sources, you cannot figure out how the garment looked. The drawings look like a very poorly done line drawings, with nothing clear - lots of lines that give a flat picture with no details. Besides, as the book covers such a large era, it gives only few pictures for each period and the pictures given are often not very typical for that time. Even Peacock is better than this. In the back, however, is a list of sources the pictures were re-drawn from, so you could actually go and check the accuracy. I do not recommend this book to anyone unless someone who has absolutely no clue about costume history and does not care about watching at nice pictures and seeing details.



2. I brought this book for images to use for a history timeline book for an early elementary school student. The purpose was to get a general idea of how people dressed at various times in history. For that purpose, the book is very good. As an added bonus, there are some pictures that are labeled with famous people (eg. Teddy Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth). There are also pictures related to historical events and different trades (eg. pionoeer, coal miner, etc.). Famous people are missing (eg. no George Washington -- as well as many others). Also, costumes are missing (eg. original KKK costume, but the one that most people think about with KKK is missing). There were also ones that I never thought I would see in the book (eg. Jewish Priest from the Holy Temple period). For our purposes, the book is worth the investment.



3. Very informative and exactly what I was looking for: dress for nearly two thousand years and attached pictures.



4. The black and white illustrations are well researched, and many are reminiscent of fashion plates and other primary resources. While designers and historians should be skeptical of original illustrations because of artistic liberties and accidental changes to the shape, style, and accuracy of the garment, this book is pretty decent/trustworthy.
   
   Gorsline also gives specific dates for the illustrations, which is very helpful in researching, and puts in helpful details like accessories (corsets, gloves, hats, shoes, etc.) and hairstyles. It mentions nationality, when appropriate, as well as the style (the name of the artist, when applicable, that inspired the illustration). It shows a range of variations within a given period, demonstrates different ways to wear various garments, and provides a wonderfully diverse sampling of clothes to give any researching a great start in their exploration. As with all secondary resources, be sure to cross-reference for accuracy.



5. This book is the culmination of research done by Mr. Gorsline. He has recreated the illustrations based upon research done primarily in the New York Library system. Many of his drawings have a reference... but that reference isn't formatted in such a way you could actually find out anything useful. For that reason it's not a particularly good choice for serious "historical" costumers. But if you're willing to accept that limitation, it is a nice reference, particularly the collected drawings of hair and head coverings.

1 comments about Male Super Models: The Men of Boss Models.

1. This book has the greatest fashion and beauty photographs ever taken! If you've ever longed for a world in which men take better care of their appearance, let this book work it's magical, balmy spell.:)

1 comments about Dolce Vita Style.

1. 
   Jean-Pierre Dufreigne's Dolce Vita Style starts out describing my favorite scene from the unforgettable film Fellini's Roma. The scene takes place at one of the city's innumerable cafes, where an anonymous woman asks writer Gore Vidal why he chooses to live in Rome. Mr. Vidal answers as if he had been expecting the question: "Rome is the only place to be," he says, "to wait for the end."
   
   That's pretty much true, at least if you were living in the go-go Dolce Vita years, which were already drawing to a close by the time the film was made in 1972. The over-the-top style of those days were like a candle burning not only on both ends but also at several points in the middle.
   
   But, boy, did they ever look good doing it.
   
   That's the best thing about this book: the photography really captures the feel of Rome during the Dolce Vita years. For anyone who knows the Via Veneto as is is today -- home to the U.S. Embassy and the Hard Rock Cafe -- the photos of the parties in the street there in the 1960s will cause a double take. Ditto for scenes from the Spanish Steps, the Campidoglio, and Piazza Navona. The photo selection is excellent: Mr. Dufreigne, a journalist with France's L'Express, avoids cliche shots like Antia Ekberg in the Trevi Fountain (though there is a less-well-known shot from that series near the end of the book, and a modern remake with model Claudia Schiffer in Ms. Ekberg's place) in favor of unfamiliar images that capture the mood perfectly.
   
   Sadly, beyond that there is little to recommend the book besides that. The text -- for the most part spoken in Italian, transcribed in the book in Mr. Dufreigne's native French, and then translated into English for this edition -- sounds melodramatic and forced. And although it is handsomely bound, the layout can be frustrating: captions for photos are rarely on the same page as the photo, a lack of paragraph indents can make some pages appear to be a single run-on sentence, and the lack of an index and only the vaguest table of contents makes picking and choosing what to read an exercise in frustration.

4 comments about Judith Leiber: The Artful Handbag.

1. I bought this book for my daughter who has an obsession with unique handbags. This was the perfect gift for her! Not only does it show hundreds of designs, the book tells the fascinating story of Judith Leiber and gives a glimpse into the creative mind of this world-famous craftsman
   (crafts-w o m a n). The handbags she has designed are whimsical AND elegant, and are coveted by celebrities and socialites. The book is interesting, inspiring and a whole lot of FUN. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates imagination, creativity, and uniqueness. BORING it's not!



2. I read the book in my daughters home some time ago and just had to have a copy of my own. Unfortunately I had to purchase it at an inflated price as the book is out of print.

   Ms. Lieber's story is such an inspiring one of a woman who is typical of what the American Dream is all about. She had a skill and took that skill to rise to the top. She is imaginative, creative, skillful and an unyielding artist. Her bags are now being copied by people but the fine artistery and quality are difficult to copy. She uses superior materials or use to. She is now retired and sold the business. The quality still prevails.

   One of the best stories in the book is the one about the woman who called her friends to join her at her home for a dinner party. The hostess asked each woman to bring her Judith Lieber jeweled bag. The woman placed the bags down the middle of the table, surrounded them by votive candles and that was her center piece.

   A clever idea with outstanding, glittery and beautiful handbags. I never thought I'd be able to own a Judith Lieber bag, but one of my daughter's can afford them and lavishly spoils her mother. My dream is to save enough money to purchase one on my own. They are absolutely beautiful bags and it is a terrific book.




3. I purchased this book because I want to buy a Leiber bag - I was disappointed that it didn't have more bags pictured - there are so many! It wasn't so helpful in helping me find a bag I like - I still haven't purchased one!



4. I need to review have not read book. I am interested in a book that demonstrates making purses.

No comments about Fashion Production Terms (Language of Fashion Series).

No comments about Chinese Textiles (V&a Far Eastern).

No comments about 25 More Bags to Knit: Beautiful Bags in Stylish Colors.