No comments about Visual History of Costume: The Nineteenth Century.

2 comments about Antonio's People.

1. Antonio's People is a wonderful book that share about his life and subjects. It shows the inspiration of the colors, movement, and style that Lopez is accredited for. It is a book for someone who wants to learn about Lopez's art during the 1980's and the famous people that he drew.



2. Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos were two men with fabulous style. In this book, you get a sense of how they saw the world and how they tried to make it a prettier place. Paul Caranicas has created an homage to these two men and their work. It should be required reading for anyone interested in Fashion, Art, Illustration, Culture, and most of all STYLE.

No comments about The Way We Look: Dress and Aesthetics.

1 comments about Simply Silk: 12 Creative Designs for Quilting and Sewing.

1. I love silk, I have used it in many quilting projects, and still found lots of inspiration here. And there are simple projects for beginners to get their feet wet, too. This author includes all the secrets on how to make sewing with silk as easy as stitchng cottons. The brief history of silk included in the book was fascinating, and I loved the author's upbeat perspective. The silk slippers are great, I think my girlfriends will all get those for Christmas gifts this year! Yummy! And the quilt ideas inspired me to make another silk quilt, this time with Mary Jo's suggested wool batting by Hobbs (I love that stuff!) Full size patterns are a big plus, some of the images/diagrams could have been clearer, though. It's a great guide for stitchers who want to work with silk but need a little hand-holding.

1 comments about Chinese Fans: Artistry and Aesthetics (Arts of China).

1. This book on fans is written from a purely Chinese point of view. It deals not with the fans China made for the west (Mandarin fans and elaborate ivory brise fans), but with those that were made for local use and taste.
   
   First we are given a history of Chinese fans dating back to prehistoric times, quoting numerous examples of ancient fans found in archaeological digs over the last 50-60 years. It also deals with the methods of making fans -both for sticks and leaves and how they have changed over the centuries. There is also a section of painters noted for their fans whose work is highly esteemed within China. This portion of the book, almost more than any other, gives a good feel for how knowledge the West lacks on native Chinese fans. Many 'Great' artists and calligraphers are mentioned that have almost no references in Western art books on Chinese art.
   
   My only disappointment with this small volume is that many of the masterpieces mentioned in the text do not necessarily have corresponding photos. The author seems to assume that the reader would be familiar with these artists. While this may hold true in China this book almost breaks new ground in the west in dealing with Chinese fan painting and manufacturing in English. This book should be part of any fan collectors reference works if you have an interest in Chinese fans.

5 comments about Chihuly's Pendletons: And Their Influence on His Work.

1. This 252-page large format book is a wonderful overview of the history, use and collection of Indian "trade blankets", the most famous of which are those made by Pendleton Woolen Mills. Although seemingly a coffee table book, it is also a good reference for many blanket patterns.
   
   From the earliest says of interactions between Europeans and Native Americans blankets played a major role in trans-cultural trade. The manufactured woolen blankets were thicker, warmer and more colorful than traditional Indian blankets laboriously made from woven animal hair. The colorful patterns became particularly important to the Indians who relied on the blankets as "robes" or overcoats for social occasions and ceremonies. The Indians draped the blankets over their shoulders and held them in place by clasping the edges together with one hand. Antique blankets that were actually used by an Indian will be heavily worn at the location where the edges were grasped.
   
   The trade blanket is a rare instance of a positive, mutually beneficial collaboration between European Americans and Native Americans. The Indians received a superior product that enhanced their lives and the Europeans responded by developing patterns derived from, but not really replicating, traditional Indian decorative themes. Pendleton still manufactures these blankets and nearly half are still purchased by Native Americans.
   
   The book contains 60 full-page or two-page color photographs of classic trade blankets, presumably from the collection of Dale Chihuly, the famous Seattle glass artist. There are also 24 classic black and white photographs that show Indians wearing trade blankets in the late 1800s and early 1900s. And there are large color photographs of wonderful trade blanket-inspired glass art Mr. Chihuly created.
   
   The text includes essays by Mr. Chihuly on collecting blankets and how the blankets influenced his art. There is also an essay by an historian on the history of the blankets, their manufacturers and trading them with the Indians from the 1600s to the present.
   
   Highly recommended to anyone interested in Native American history or folk arts in general. There is an outstanding image-keyed index to the blankets, classic photos and glass art.



2. Chiluly's Pendletons is an interesting book. It shows the early career of Dale Chiluly-who has become one of the pre-eminent artists in America. Chiluly's trademark is his flamboyent, contorted glassworks, which are displayed around the world.

   This book consists of two parts: The first part shows pictures of trade blankets. The second part shows how Chiluly incorporated ideas from his interests in Native American Arts into his early work...during his starving artists phase.

   Chiluly was interested fiber arts, he could not afford the expensive native American blankets; so he collected indian trade blankets...the most enduring trade blanket manufacturer being the Pendleton Woolen Mills. As his fame and fortune grew; so to did his collection.

   This is a very good book for people who wish to study how artists evolve in their work. You have a nice juxtaposition of indian art, photographs of native Americans, and pictures of Chiluly's earlier works.

   What the book is not: It is not an adequate scholarly treatise on trade blankets (it has a lot of nice pictures). The book shows his earlier works. These are all well done, but not quite as large and flamboyent as you might see in his later periods.

   All in all, I give the book high marks. Chiluly fans will enjoy this coffee table book. It helps you see the influences on this artist. It will also get you interested in trade blankets.




3. If you want to know about Native American trading blankets your money would be better spent on Kapoun's book titled "Language of the Robe" which tells it more like it is. I believe that Chihuly purchased the Kapoun's collection and became an overnight authority on the subject, if you catch my drift!
   I have photographed Pendleton blankets for years, and Chihuly and Lohrmann should be more accurate in their detailing of what is and isn't made by the Pendleton Woolen Mills. The photos are good, but there is still room for someone to do a thorough and interesting book on this very important topic. This isn't the one to waste money on, in my opinion.



4. My comments to distinguish what this book plays in the world of contemporary art, is not my intent. Rather I wish to acknowledge the sheer beauty and aesthetic warmth I get from the pages of this large sized book by Dale Chihuly. The rich and colorful geometric patterns that record the decoration and simplicity of the Pendleton Blankets is understood and achieved with out the necessity of additional text in the images. The unpretentious or incidental record that these black and white photographs of the American Indian provide as a documentary technic blends well together with sheer beauty of the American Trade blanket designs. The enchantment and functional magic of glass with it's extraordinary range of form and color linking past to the present, is uniquely profound as well. Chihuly brings to this mix of history and art by acknowledging the reader to move effortlessly from textile to photography, to glass. As an artist, Chihuly takes the fundamental and intangible and blends each together in his truly extraordinary glass cylinders to enrich our eyes and spirit. It's quite simply, a beautiful book.



5. Dave Chihuly is an American artist known for his physics-defying shapes: Chihuly's Pendletons explores the creations which inspired some of his work, focusing on American Indian blankets and weavings and providing chapters which present the artist's reflections on how Indian works influenced his productions. The full-page color photos are revealing, while the first-person insights are important.

5 comments about Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s (and Other Terrific Textiles of the 20s, 30s, & 40s).

1. If you like fabric and textile design ths a very inspirational book. Full of beautiful prints and color palettes.



2. It was a wonderful book full of great images ... I would say that the title should be revised to read "florals of the 40's (and other terrific florals of the 20's and 30's)" as that is what a majority of the book is. Based on the cover and title I would have expected that more than a 1/3rd of the book should have been dedicated to the 50's.



3. As a graphic artist this is one of those books I really prize. It as good pictures - as a graphic artist I don't read much - so this review if more about the illustrations. And the illustrations are perfect. I will probably be on my shelf in my studio till I die because of the wonderful selection of fabrics. I do like the way the book is laid out too. This book would be very handy for anyone trying to do a vintage look in any type of house.



4. This is my first online book purchase. I am so impressed with this book. The photos leave nothing to the imagination. Clear and concise from page 1 all the way through to page 117. This book is a must have for every textile collector, buyer, seller.



5. If you are as passionate as myself for the American curtain and upholstry fabrics of the mid 20th century, you will want to have this book. The photographs of these bold and colorfull textiles are so well desplayed throughout the book it is almost a book of fabric art as well as an excellent reference. The text covers where the designs originated as well as the who, what, when and where that influenced the changes of the textures and designs from the 1920s through the 1950s.

No comments about David Bailey: NY JS DB 62.

No comments about Atlas of Fashion Designers: More than 150 Fashion Designers are Featured from Around the World.

No comments about Street T.