5 comments about Medieval Fashions Coloring Book (History of Fashion).

1. I have bought this book twice. I love the drawings. Coloring the costumes inspires creativity and fantasy. And I appreciate the abundance of factual information about clothing in medieval times.
   
   Definitely my favorite coloring book. When I'm finished with this one, I'll buy it again.



2. I just purchased these Dover COloring Books for my mother and she loves them. The detail is out of this world and the variety of colors you can use are only limited by your inagination. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!



3. This coloring book has some terrific pictures of medieval fashions. SCA and Faire Folk can get some great ideas for garb here. There's no documentation for the clothing, but it's still fun to color!



4. I picked this one up at a local store (sorry amazon) as a gift to a little girl in the medieval group I belong to, and while flippig through at the checkout line, I relized I needed a copy for myself. I only wish that the documentation refrenced some sorses. Paintings or brass rubbings would be cool.
   But still a really neat book.



5. This book is really fun. There are pictures of men and women from various countries and different social and economic backgrounds, and a good amount of detail in each drawing. If you were attempting to reconstruct the costume of a 14th century French baker's wife, for example, you could get many good ideas here! I can't stress enough what a good resource this book would be: the pictures are large and detailed, the captions clearly identify the time,place, and economic status of the persons being depicted. Just a wonderful, gorgeous book!

No comments about Cool Couture: Construction Secrets for Runway Style (Singer Studio).

2 comments about Custom Kicks.

1. Good book. awesome design & layout. sweet sneakers customized by the routiest of souls. features fouled footwear by Damion Silver, Jeremyville, SKWAK, Kelly D. Williams, Koa, Maki and more. yesss



2. The artist value of the book holds its own weight. Contains an ample supply of rich graphics and designs using footwear as the canvas. A book that should rather be found in the art section opposed to the fashion section. Not as much information on the actual hobby of custom sneakers an its imprint on the fashion and sneaker industrial world. Great array of artists, but would much prefer a mini manifesto opposed to a picture description. You will definitely find a photo that will strike your taste in footwear.

4 comments about A Well-Dressed Gentleman's Pocket Guide.

1. An interesting book that explains why we dress as we do and it also explains why it is called a Tuxedo in North America, a dinner jacket in the UK and a smoking in many other languages. Furthermore, some important faux paxs are also brought to the reader's attention.



2. One of the more thoroughly historically informed works in the genre, this book features much background for each clothing type and also guidance. Perfect for those who'd rather not live in ignorance regarding the original meaning of their clothes and clothing conventions.



3. This simple, "pocket size" book has proven to be extra-ordinary.
   After I lost my entire wardrobe due to an apartment fire, I
   bought this book and my new wardrobe is not only more elegant
   but less expensive as well !

   Do not be fooled by the "Pocket Guide" title: this book
   covers everything from Suits, Shirts, Accessories, UnderClothes,
   OverCoats, Formal Wear and much more. Must have for all
   gentlemen.




4. This book is extremely useful as you search information about what to wear...and know few about it. History, materials, are well described but I feel somewhat disappointed as I found no photos, and few counselling about how to match the different items, and when...except for the excellent formal wear chapters.
   But after all, this is a pocket book, well-done and quite instructing!

5 comments about Creating Romantic Purses: Patterns & Instructions for Unique Handbags.

1. I'll agree with other reviewers that the bags in this book are gorgeous. They are luxuriously romantic, feminine, and Victorian. But.......... to me they are all the same. Change a ribbon here, add some different colored buttons there...you basically have the same bag just with different embellishments. For example, the Victorian Vignette, Joy Forever, Grandfather's Clock, Family Album, Camelot, Midnight Garden, Annie Oakley, High Tea, Lady of Spain, Tuscan Sun, Roman Holiday, and Romantic Rome are all the same purse, just with different colored ribbon and fabric. I would have liked this book better had more bags been more distinctively different. With that being said though, again, I feel these bags are simply gorgeous and I did get some ideas for making purses. They are definitely works of art and very enjoyable to look at. (I have not tried any of the patterns yet so have yet to discover the complexity or ease of making the purses.)



2. I would not suggest this book for a beginner. Creating Romantic Purses has really good suggestions on embellishing purses, how much fabric and trims to purchase. However, the instructions are difficult to follow; more illustrations would have been very helpful. Also, are all these purses flat? I see no instructions to add sides or bottoms. No instructions or suggestions for inside pockets, zipper pockets or fancy linings.



3. Instead of repeating what others have said, I will summarize: 1) Great Designs and Patterns; 2) Incredible and Doable embellishments to make the purses/handbags attractive and desirable; 3) Romantic but also give a vintage-feel to the purses/handbags; and 4)GREAT Inspiration for all interested in fiber/fabric arts as these can be applied to other items, dresses, belts, scarves, hats, etc. IF you are so inclined. Compared to my other purse books, I will definitely refer to this one more frequently for inspiration than any other one, yet each purse design book does provide this to one degree or another. Enjoy!



4. Unless you've got a really nice collection of antique laces, trims and appliqués, these projects are going to be expensive, and probably not as scrumptious as if they were made out of original materials. When I'm in DIY mode, I'd rather not spend hundreds at a couple stores to make one purse, I want to use what I have on hand --and be able to make substitutions, even big leaps of substitution. This book tends to use the same materials (looped fringe for example), and if I don't have it for one handbag, I'm not going to have it for another either. So a special trip for all the materials in one handbag would be required.
   
   Yes, the purses are awesome while serving their purpose: holding your stuff. But know that your project will probably be very expensive, and if you don't bother to spare the expense, you're going to be highly disappointed (if you have good taste.) Also, these are all busy, frilly, Victorian handbags, so don't buy it thinking you'll get anything but.



5. Very rich book with great ideas! It needs some experience because does not explain step by step process, but it is worth enough to get it.

No comments about Free-Style Handmade Bags & Skirts.

No comments about Guide to Producing a Fashion Show.

1 comments about Renaissance Fashions (Dover Pictorial Archives).

1. I just purchased these Dover COloring Books for my mother and she loves them. The detail is out of this world and the variety of colors you can use are only limited by your inagination. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

4 comments about Build Your Own Stonehenge (Running Press Mini Kits).

1. this little model is very well done and when assembled it looks like the real thing. Very enjoyable indeed.



2. so much detail went into the creation of this product! I'm so impressed with it I'll be buying it for friends as well! Anyone who loves miniatures will go nuts for this tiny kit!



3. Yes, it's tiny. It's supposed to be tiny, that's the point. The whole thing fits in a tiny box, it's the same with the rest of the Running Press Mini Kits. But, like most of their other kits, this is a lot of fun and really cool. You get a tiny model Stonehenge to build and display in your home/office/whatever. If you're quirky, eccentric, or just into this kind of thing then you'll love this. I do!



4. Pay close attention to the Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 3 x 1.3 inches. It's very small, with TINY pieces.

5 comments about Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You'll Never Meet.

1. As fun and quirky as this is, perhaps a dog hair sweater isn't that great an idea. Imagine what you'll smell like if you get caught in the rain. You're lible to be tossed off public transportation because of the smell of wet dog.
   
   Maybe you could just knit a dog bed or a dog sweater instead? Seems like a more logical use of the hair.



2. In these times of impending environmental catastrophe, it behoves all of us to recycle to reduce our carbon footprint. Happily, this onerous task has just been made easier by this publication.
   
   With Kendall Crolius as my guide, I was able to produce a handsome pair of lederhosen and a saucy g-string from the excess hair produced by my pooch. I now intend to press on to the advanced section where there are designs for a fireman's uniform and a peek-a-boo bra.
   
   My friend, Phil, has always been ahead of the recycling game - his ABBA tank-top made from the scummy bits in the shower plughole is legendary - but now he faces some real competition.



3. Okay, the next time you see some poor schmuck sitting on a curb looking into his lap and doing nothing...and you find yourself tempted to think, "that poor guy really needs to get a life,"...I want you to remember some of the books you've been reading and what you're considering a valid hobby.
   
   Knitting with dog hair?
   
   What's next? Cooking with dust bunnies?
   
   There are a thousand (more like a million) sane and self-esteem building hobbies in the world.
   
   Knitting with dog hair is not one of them.



4. As an on again off again fiber artist I found this book to be very informative as a review as well as adding to the knowledge I already had. If you enjoy knitting and love dogs spinning their hair into yarn is a fun thing to do. Don't have a dog? Contact a local groomer and request long, clean hair. It's free for the asking and the color, texture, and staple length is varied which makes for very unique yarns.



5. I must say that I was initially excited about this book. Knitting with dog hair seems like one of those ideas that every pet-owning, recycling, energy-conscious responsible human being should subscribe to. However, one little thing you should be aware of before you get this book. You have to REMOVE the hair from the dog BEFORE you knit. I really wish I had been told this before I started. Sure Scout makes a great hat, but it's really embarrassing if you are walking down the street, wearing your admittedly very stylish chapeau, and the hat pees down the back of your neck. Believe me, after the sixth or seventh time that happened I realized there was something wrong.
   
   Fortunately Scout is getting old and struggles less and less each time I wear him and has learned to thrash his legs when he needs to be let down to "do his business" (although that causes problems, too, I'll have to get a book about how to knit bandages from mouse hair next). However, I've been thinking about a pair of socks and I'm pretty sure the knitting techniques will be similar, but my cats Snookums and Woogy seem to get very edgy whenever I pick up my razor.