No comments about Mexican Popular Art: Clothing and Dolls.

No comments about Chanel Jewlery (Universe of Design).

1 comments about Metric Pattern Cutting for Children's Wear and Babywear: From Birth to 14 Years.

1. Babywear & children's clothing will no longer have any secrets after you have used Winifreds' book. It explains how to make all styles for all ages and then some. It's easy to use and written in plain english! The best I've ever come across and I would highly recommend it for both beginners and advanced patterns makers.

3 comments about The Maya of Guatemala : Life and Dress.

1. As the curator of artemaya has pointed out this is the book to have. I concurr with everything he has said and find this book indespensible when studying the ancient or modern Maya. Without a doubt this is my favorite book on the subject and even after twenty three years in my possession I still open it up and gaze upon the magnificent pictures. Carmen Pettersen's paintings were done in the early 1970's and are of the highest and utmost quality. Her personal observations on the culture reflect her sensitivity to the subject which in turn is refleted in her art. For example, when describing the toursist hot spot Chichicastenango, with its beautiful marketplace and church where pagan and Christian religion is practised, she comments on the "disintegration of this tribe" and "the complete degeneration of the people who wrote the Popol Vuh" as "the older people and leaders stand fast and steady, suffering silently with sullen hatred in their eyes." The models used in the book are of such exceptional quality and life like that it is as though they will begin moving . She depicts her subject matter as strong and proud, in spite of a humbling history of European influence. Pettersen obviously was in tune with her subjects in art as the expressions on their faces come to life. The details of the clothing are superb and exquisite artistry. The pullouts pages have even more detail as she shows an entire village scene like a marketplace or the people gathered in Chichicastenango. If you are familiar with Maya clothing and the various tribes that continue the ancient traditions, including embroidery sewn with a bone needle, you are probably aware of of colorful and intricate patterns achieved on these textiles. These are not the products sold to tourists but the authentic attire that the people themselves wear. Nothing is lost or compromised in the paintings and are exact reproductions of authentic dress. If you are planing a trip to Guatemala it is highly recommended that you get this book before you go or if nothing else before you leave country to return home. It is preferable to have the book before so you can understand what you will see as you step back in time and enter the remote jungles and ancient customs of the Maya. This is THE BOOK on the contemporary life and dress in Guatemala. If you have anything more than a passing interest in the people of Guatemala than this is the book to have, get it NOW, you will not be dissappointed.



2. This is my favorite book! We were living in Mexico and had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala and and visit the Museo Ixchel in Guatemala City, where we found Carmen Pettersen's beautiful book. We also had the wonderful opportunity to see some of Carmen Pettersen's original water color paintings of the Mayans in their "traje," or indigenous apparel, in a friend's home in Antigua!

   The water color depictions of the "traje" are incredibly detailed, and the text so intimately describes the culture of the Mayans. It is amazing how much the indigenous dress tells about the ancient and "modern" life of the Mayans.

   Every traveler to Guatemala would benefit immensely by reading this book--easy to read and with sixty water color pages (some are fold-out pages) and thirteen photographs to guide the reader through the daily life, religion, and cultural practices of the Mayan families in their villages.




3. The Maya of Guatemala is THE classic book on the "traje tipico" (native dress) of the Mayan Indians of Guatemala. The exquisitely beautiful paintings produced by Carmen Pettersen over many years constitute the best illustrations ever done of the Mayan "traje". The sixty colorful full page paintings face parallel texts in English and Spanish telling about the particular "traje" and the customs of the Mayan people. Pettersen writes the informative text rather like a diary of her travels to the various towns so while concentrating on the traje and traditions we see something of the individuals and the writer. The paintings, the real point of the book, succeed better than photographs because the detail of the "traje" is not obscured by light and shadow. While accurately detailing the "traje," the paintings at the same time are intensely personal portraits of the individuals. Although there is no book yet which shows the traje of all the different Mayan towns in Guatemala (and Mexico), this book illustrates more than any other. It is my book of first reference to find out about the "traje" of a particular town. If among the many books I have on the Mayan culture I could keep just one book this book would probably be it.

   Carmen Pettersen, born in Guatemala of an English father and Mexican mother, learned to paint in England. As a young woman her family moved back to Guatemala where she lived among the Mayan Indians for the rest of her life. The paintings and the text reveal the high regard she had for the Mayans. The original gouache paintings now reside in the Ixchel Museum of Traje in Guatemala City.

   Joseph Johnston, Curator, Arte Maya Tz'utuhil

   www.artemaya.com

No comments about Perry's Dept Store: an importing simulation.

No comments about Clothing Matters: Dress and Identity in India.

5 comments about Sports Illustrated: Knockouts, Five Decades of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Photography.

1. The women in this book are sexy and classy. It can't be easy to combine dignity and a bikini but they manage. The binding seems kind of weak.



2. There is a wonderful quote in this book from a journalist (and a female one at that) which says:

   "All the SI bathing suit models are muscular and lean and authentic. They don't mind working up a good sweat. They're proud of the bodies they've worked into shape. There is nothing powdery or gushy about them. In other words the women in the swimsuit issue are not the worse role models a young girl could have."

   And she's absolutely right. If I had abs like that I would show them off proudly too!!! Knowing a little bit about physical fitness...I know that it takes a lot of discipline and hard work to get your body to look that toned. The last thing in the world I would do is criticize them for this. I came to SI just by chance I saw the 1995 special on TV and was left majorly impressed at how the young women conducted themselves. They were definitely no ones "hoochies". Actually I was so impressed that when I saw several of them on the covers of various magazines etc.. I immediately remembered their names. And that is not something that happens with everyone.

   I never understood the hullabaloo people make about the SI swimsuit issues. I think that it is absolutely wonderful. My favorite period was when Jules Campbell was the editor. The woman definitely had an eye for (tasteful) beauty. It was pure old school: In that while the models were certainly appealing-it was always in a DIGNIFIED WAY-everything about these ladies said "respect me". These women carried themselves with the confidence of Queens. They exuded assurance and implied that they had the world on a string.

   The pictures in the book are absolutely exquisite and are worth every penny.

   Believe it or not in a world where actresses and film stars often look as if they work in the adult entertainment business. The SI swimsuit models are not the worst role models young girls can have. Thanks ladies for providing such an inspiration to me!




3. Some great photography of some beautiful subjects. If you've seen the swimsuit issues you know the style. The photos range from around the days of Brinkley to Casta.

   The only reason I say it's not quite perfect is that they seem to have been a little too ambitious on the size of the book. Almost every photo is stretched to the limits of the pages, which can make for great impact, but some of the photos have lost a little quality being blown up that much. You can see some graininess in several of the shots; I think most of them are the older ones. Most of the pages are fine however.

   It would also have been nice to see some of the body paint pics in here but they are absent.

   Overall a nice book.




4. A few of the pictures are grainy, and some of the shots are unappealing. But of the good ones, they are truly unique gems of glamour photos. The models in this book are all beautiful, healthy, sexy; and they all have a very positive outlook in their eyes. A very pleasing book to thumb thru on a cold or cast down day.



5. When I first discovered this one, I almost jumped on it. The Magazine (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition) itself is almost never to be found in Germany, so this seemed to be the perfect alternative. And don't get me wrong: it's worth every penny, but: the picture quality changes a great deal throughout the book. Some are so good, it makes you cry - others are rather poor blow-ups from the magazine. I would have assumed that with all the production-value that you have here (hardcover, nice binding, dust-jacket etc.) the editors could have done more to exclude pictures with the above-mentioned problems. Another thing: do not expect too many pictures from before 1990, the subtitle "five decades of swimsuit photography" seems a bit misleading.
   All in all: high production-value, many rather exciting PG-pictures of beautiful women on the beach and very few disappointments concerning picture quality.

1 comments about Five Beautiful Women.

1. As a huge fan not only of Estee Lauder but also of the magic of Victor Skrebneski's alliance with the Lauder empire over the course of 3 decades, this book is a revelation! The only glaring omission was that Paulina Porizkova, who was perhaps the most beautiful face Estee Lauder ever signed was not added to this re-released edition (even though the title would then be "Six Beautiful Women" but the name change would have been well worth it!). My only hope is that at some point, Victor and the Lauders' will see fit to publish a "sequel" in which Paulina's tenure with Estee Lauder will be pictorially documented.

1 comments about Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Mid 1940s (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. The sears catalogs are great. Because they are like a sample of each Era. They can help you in order to understand why, every look, and every style have became what we know of those times, today...
   It is very specific. So you can use them for reference, or disign. I hope you enjoy them as me.

3 comments about The Beatrix Potter Knitting Book.

1. Here is a book that offers a complete range of classic garments (that can be made more 'boxy' according to today's styles by adding easements along the seams between the sweater front and back) for ages from babies to adults (including men).
   
   The patterns are all based on Beatrix Potter's own watercolors. Included are cozy outfits for toddlers, a christening robe, all-in-ones (pramsuits), as well as sweaters and tops. Some have motifs based on Potter's animal characters, others have specially created jacquard and textured designs -- all inspired by Beatrix Potter's well-loved flower and landscape paintings.
   
   All patterns are photographed in color, many on location in Beatrix Potter's own English Lake District. You'll find charts, diagrams, pattern detail tips, and international conversion tables. Inexperienced knitters can manage some of these patterns and more experienced knitters will enjoy plenty of challenge, should they wish it!
   
   This is a timeless classic knitting book that deserves a reprinting and an update. Barring that, it's a wonderful addition to one's knitting library.



2. I love Beatrix Potter. I love knitting. A book that combines both? This I had to see, simply out of curiosity.
   
   Unfortunately, the book was published in the late 1980s, so the patterns (mostly for children -- which I expected, considering it's Beatrix Potter) are extremely dated. Instead of timeless or even "traditional" patterns, most of them are the type of garments you look back on as a child of the 80s and say, "I can't believe my mom dressed me in that." You know, boxy sweaters with bulky frill around the collars, in pastel pink with a big bunny cross stitched on the front.
   
   Of course I wasn't really expecting to find any great patterns to add to my collection, but I thought maybe it would have some cute baby designs with a Potter aesthetic (you know, for the future baby I might one day have). Maybe if I were an accomplished knitter I could find a way to salvage some parts of the patterns, and update them to fit into this decade...but...I'm not. Oh well.



3. First, let me say that I haven't looked at this book since the early 90s. It belongs to my mother, who lives in another state, and so I can't look through it again before reviewing. I have very warm memories of this book, which may be slightly colored by the fact that it was my first real exposure to good knitting patterns.
   
   Here's what I remember:
   
   This book is a collection of very traditional English patterns. In that vein, and considering that it was published in the 80s, the sweaters tend towards the boxy, and a few are on the stodgy side. If you like very traditional knits, and/or don't mind adjusting a pattern to reduce the design ease, this is a great book.
   
   The patterns fall into three categories:
   - directly inspired by Beatrix Potter's books (like Peter Rabbit's cardigan and tam)
   - loosely inspired by her books (traditional English country knits)
   - designs featuring Beatrix Potter characters (the flopsy bunnies, Peter Rabbit, etc.)
   
   The patterns cover a wide range of skill levels and techniques, including intarsia, cables and lace. There are patterns for men, women, babies and kids, and many of the them are sized for the entire family. I remember the patterns as being very well-written, with excellent tips.
   
   Since it's such an old book, I'd imagine that the yarns called for have been discontinued. However, since the styles and techniques are so classic, you shouldn't have any trouble finding good yarns to substitute.
   
   If you're interested in trendier knits and silhouettes, don't buy this. If you're looking for classic styles or don't mind doing some adaptation, this is an excellent choice, and a lot of patterns for the money.