1 comments about Authentic Celtic Iron-on Transfers (Dover Little Transfer Books).

1. If you love Celtic decoration, and would like small designs to incorporate into your work this is a perfect book. The designs are small, but still large enough to work with and are wonderful to embroider. They can also be used for other crafts such as woodburning. The designs are varied with usually more than one size of a design style, and each transfer (in most cases) can be used more than once. The only drawbacks I see are the fact that the design cannot be washed out so, if you are embroidering it you need to be sure to cover all the lines, and because there are several designs on a page they must be cut out to work with which in most cases leaves you with a tiny piece of paper to work with. Making it difficult to pin it down and to iron. But it is a wonderful book of designs and the pluses far outweigh those two negatives. Dover tends to publish some wonderful transfer books at extremely reasonable prices and this book truly fits in both catagories.

5 comments about Vogue Make-Up.

1. Overall this book offers a lot of useful information. What I like about it is that Cohen has provided advice from many different sources. There is a variety of product suggestions; it doesn't seem like someone trying to sell you on their products alone.
   
   I did however find a few contradictions in the book. For example, on one page it will suggest a woman at a certain age refrain from using glitter eyeshadows, and then two pages later, it says to use shimmer for mature lids. Might be kind of confusing for someone who is not familiar with eyeshadow textures.
   
   Another thing I think was kind of bad was when she described someone with a oblong face shape as having a "horse face". When you are writing a book to help people improve their look, and use a negative term to describe a body part, it kind of defeats the purpose. Anyone who works with the public within the beauty industry knows that-or I hope they do!
   
   As with any beauty book, take it with a grain of salt and use what works for you.



2. this book is great! i've bought many many makeup books (including kevin aucoin, vincent longo, bobbi brown just to name a few) but this book is THE only book to tell me what i wanted to know. it is not a basic makeup book, thank goodness. i'm an aspiring makeup artist and i know the basics, i wanted to learn more about fashion makeup and glitter and jewels and different types of base makeup (dewy, matte)...yeah, all that stuff, and this book has it all! i am finally content with a makeup book. a lot of other books give you some photos but dont tell you exactly how to achieve that glam look, or how to get that glossy eye shadow but this book does. i love it! i can't stress enough how great this book is. it covers everything! even body makeup!! i didnt even get to that part yet but i'll write another review on that. lol. after reading what i did, i was not left feeling...unfullfilled i guess you can say like i was with all the other books. i think i can stop looking, this book has it all, even hair styles. this book is a must have. thank you so much to Juliet Cohen for writing this.



3. Being what I consider somewhat of a pro when it comes to makeup, I rarely find books that teach me something I don't already know.. Not the case with this one! It's got absolutely everything in it, that beginners as well as the experienced can benefit from. From how to give yourself different types of mani/pedicures to how to achieve "glossy" eyes. It even goes through the history of makeup which in itself is fascinating. It covers all complexions (which is a must in my criteria. The pictures themselves are graphically stunning and very helpful. It doen't have too much name dropping when it comes to products which tends to become annoying. Overall it was a good investment and I recommend it to everyone.



4. This is definitely a good book to have in every passionate makeup user's collection. It was my first makeup book (purchased for me for my birthday), and definitely a book for anyone interested in just bettering their own skills, or becoming professionals, but not necessarily for the beginner. This book does cover a lot of things..

   From Manicures, to what to look out for in foundations, to makers of good products. It has tips from professionals, steps to getting a certain look (Day, night, natural etc.) It shows you how to pluck your eyebrows, depending on your face shape; how to take care of your skin, and products to do it with; all the tools to get you started; and more...

   Though, I don't give it 5 stars for the following reasons (which are in my opinion based on my preferences, but may not matter to some readers):

   - I am pure European (Danish/German) so I have very fair skin, blue eyes, and naturally champagne blonde hair. I was looking for something that would give color pallets, tips, (anything) for people with specific ethnicities (though it did have a /small/ page on Asian/African American, that was it) it did not cover my department. Like I said, this matters to few people, but if you are European, like myself, (unless you know what colors are perfect for you) this may not be a good beginner book. (This is also IF you just are looking to do better makeup on yourself)

   - Not enough Diagrams. This also, is just me, but I am right-brained: I have to see something to understand it, and there aren't many diagrams in this book. But that doesn't mean there isn't /any/. There is one for eyebrows, some (very few) eye shadow techniques, defining face shape... and I can't think of any others. But it does give good descriptions, so if you don't mind reading how to do something, this is fine.

   - Products mentioned/recommended (such as tools, makeup, etc.) tend to be very expensive (Because it IS a Vogue book!). I am in the upper-middle-class myself, so I don't have $100 dollars to spend on a set of 4 makeup brushes (as seen on MAC's/NARS websites: recommended in the book)... hell, if I had that money, someone would be doing my makeup for me! So most of the products mentioned are for people with money, but you can find other makers, they just aren't mentioned (such as: Mabelline, Cover Girl, Loriel etc.) BUT: What I found, I just went to Target, and bought the target brand makeup brushes, and they work just the same, and are very cheap. They are soft (important), and give you the same effects for basically 1/10th of the price (and they last)... (This is, again, unless you want to be professional and show off your expensive products); otherwise, your just paying for the name.

   So, its more of a guideline book. Look for the tools, types of products recommended, and you can go out and find the cheaper equivalent (I did..) But, overall, its a very good book.

   Like I said, these are just my opinions, but I listed them so people like me could relate.
   Here's just a quick summary of whats in the book, in case you wondered:

   -Makeup styles through the years.
   -Foundation: Application and what to look out for.
   -Skin care: Products to, and NOT to, use; and how to keep it healthy (not just face, but neck and hands).
   -Eyes: How to, styles, techniques.
   -Tricks of the Trade
   -Tools of the professionals.
   -Blush/Defining/shadowing etc.
   -Trouble Skin: why, treatment (how to), and covering it up.
   -Eyebrows
   -Lips

   -Old traditions, and if they work (i.e. ever wonder what the cucumber on the eye was actually for??)
   -Manicure/Pedicure...

   A lot more...

   Hope this helps.




5. This book seems unique. It tells how to put on make-up in a fun, glamorous way. I consider this to be an intermediate level book on makeup. It's good, but I wish there had been some more pictures on the makeup application sections. There were a lot of tips on health and beauty that I haven't seen in other books. For a beginner who wants to learn the basics of applying makeup, I would recommend Bobby Brown or Sonia Kashuk (their books are better illustrated and explained). But if you want to learn how to look good when going out to a nightclub, or want that "Vogue" type of look, I would recommend this book.

No comments about 200% Cotton: New T-Shirt Graphics.

5 comments about Matisse, His Art and His Textiles.

1. This book is absolutely beautiful. I have always loved and been fascinated by Matisse and his use of textiles and glorious colors in his paintings, and this book gives an excellent background and family history on his use of textiles and his life-long love for fabrics and design, even during times when he was experiencing creative blocks. I keep this beautiful book on my coffee table!



2. Well,it isn't easy to write a review that goes cross current to the ones posted here already.
   I love Matisse,and I sure do relate to his love for fabrics as a source of design inspiration.What the book leaves out is the fact that in the past,before computers, fabrics were designed first as colorful sketches.Matisse simply reversed the process to make paintings.
   I guess what I dislike about this book is that there is no imaginative presentation of direct links between his collection of fabrics to his own art.
   It is a very "stuffy" read.I wish I had spent my 60.00 canadian on a fabric website instead...
   Sorry,folks, Yes,the book is concise,colorful, and very very "presented".I wanted something that was living and breathing between the covers...I did not find this to be inspiring, just preinterpreted, packaged and just to wrapped up in academia for my tastes,I guess.It has a "feel" like the kind of book one can buy in the museam shop,to remind one of something they saw,and was thrilled by.Now,That is a GOOD thing,I do it lots of times! But, to a graduate of an art university,it was like sitting though a lecture and slide show.But,thats the type of book it is,and it does it well.Just not what I was hoping for,Not enough Matisse as the "Material" Boy...,just alot of academia telling me how to look and think about his work.Blah.Matisse was about Imagination,not sitting on his duff hearing about it...but participating in it...



3. I thought it was a lovely book full of lovely pictures i had not seen before it gives u a real insight into this mans colourful life



4. This volume is the catalogue for a truly unusual show co-sponsored by the Royal Academy in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. For once, a team of art specialists has put together a Matisse exhibition which is more than a paean to this artist's use of color and a slapped-together collection of pretty pictures. While all of the paintings on display here are quite familiar to audiences as the bulk of them have been included in every Matisse show for the past 15 years, they have been given a new context by presenting them with examples of fabrics (both decorative and dress) from Matisse's personal collection. The offspring of weavers, Matisse possessed an appreciation for pattern and textiles from his earliest years. Fabrics were some of his favorite props, necessary for him to create the orientalist, hothouse atmosphere of the 1920s "Nice period" paintings, the chic calligraphy of his 1930s work, and the simplicity and repetition of his 1940s cut-outs. While the exhibition itself was not a large one, this book has got to be one of the most beautiful catalogues the Metropolitan Museum has ever produced. The stunning design interweaves full-color images of individual textiles with "their" respective paintings...It is a fascinating experience to see the same purple striped turkish robe or peasant blouse transformed into a dazzling pattern on several different models in paintings and drawings separated by years in time. The standard of color reproduction here is exemplary - Matisse's brilliant colors literally jump off of the page and into your eyes! A necessary addition to any art library for the design and quality of illustration alone...



5. This is a marvelous resource book, especially for fiber artists and those who enjoy reading careful research into specific aspects of an artist's work. It gives detailed information about the influence of textiles on his paintings, including his use of textile techniques: actual textiles from his personal collection as sources for painting Odalisque costumes and background, combining colors, and creating cutouts.

1 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting a Tattoo (Complete Idiot's Guide to).

1. This is a very thorough and well-researched introduction to tattoos. If you are considering your first tattoo or want to be a little better educated before you choose your next tattoo, I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about SS Uniforms, Insignia and Accoutrements: A Study in Photographs.

1. I collect german memorabilia and recieved this book in the mail yesterday!If I could give it more than 5 stars I would..!!!
   
   thanks Amazon excellent service!!!
   
   Paul



2. The book is a great photographic resource since there are few resources on this topic, however for the price, I was expecting more detail. There are many nicely detailed photographs of badges, insignia, and accoutrements, but I would have personally liked to see more detailed photos of the uniforms.
   
   Pictures of medals, belt buckles, and cloth badges were all well photographed in the front and back. The uniforms had front and back pictures as well (but not all of them). I wanted to see the inside lining of the tunics. It may be too much for some, but I thought if the author showed the internal label in the collar, he should also include areas like the internal lining near the cuff, back, and front button areas.
   
   The book is more of a general reference for a look at uniforms than a detailed look at the construction and detail of some key areas (for collectors or curious people) is a downside. So if you want detailed photos of uniforms then I would suggest another book, but if you just want a general idea of the uniforms, insignia, and accoutrements, then this book is a good resource.



3. Wonderful reference guide with full colour photographs of SS tunics and SS related gear such as insignia, cufftitles, daggers etc... Includes B&W photos as a historical reference point, very useful for those contemplating the purchase of any SS related items or those restoring uniforms. A must for any SS enthusiast!



4. A must have for the collector. A.Hayes shows everthing from Uniforms, Helmets, Weapons, Musical Intrustments to childrens toys. He also shows period photographs not seen before. He does not fill the book up with the history of the SS where you can get anywhere else and concentrates on the colored photos.



5. Very sensitive and intelligent vision of uniforms used by ss political and army organisation. The must for collectors and reenactors people. Every one must have it !

5 comments about Helmut Newton Work (Taschen Jumbo Series).

1. If you plan on buying only a single hardcover photographic book by Helmut Newton I strongly recommend this one. (It probably will not be the last you buy anyway...)

   The book cover quality is not the best possible but the price is at par with that. Luckily the printed, amply sized pages (279 numbered) are very good. The publisher is TASCHEN, Cologne and the book is printed by EBS, Verona 2000, at least the one I have

   The book contains undisputably many of the icons of Mr. Newtons work the most striking, as always, in monochrome. The book has also several color plates.

   On page 29 there's a statement that is a guidline for my own, and certainly many others work; "Nothing has been retouched, nothing electronically altered. I photographed what I saw."




2. Published to coincide with the huge touring exhibition arriving at ICP later this month, Work is both a catalog of the exhibition and the first comprehensive review of all aspects of Helmut Newton's photographic life, ranging from fashion shots to nudes and portraits and some of his more experimental work. Some viewers might be offended by some of his more extreme images -- the woman on all fours with a saddle on her back springs immediately to mind -- but their beauty and technical perfection is undeniable. Newton often focuses on the threatening sexuality of women, often placing them in confrontational poses in seemingly incongruous settings. Balancing out his more overt images, however, are portraits that display a fragility and peace that serves to underscore the impact of his more outre work. The breadth of Newton's styles and his technical virtuosity are simply staggering. Containing many new and previously unseen works, Work is a must for any devotee of photography.(



3. I swear Master H. has peered into my mind! Photograhy as it should be, Photography as it is meant to be. A captured thought in your mind or a captured picture in your own eye. Taste the visuals of this well put together book of b&w & color. Enjoy it as it is. Pace yourself with or without your Martini, and let the Princess of Hanover steal your thoughts as she did mine! If you have never danced along the edge, you will........



4. Mr. Helmut Newton's work continues to have the ability to shock, and this exhibition catalog from the recent 80th birthday celebration show at the German Center of Photography at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin will definitely get your attention. The images contain many new and previously unpublished works by Mr. Newton. For those who like his aggressive and humorous views of women as leaders in sexual fantasy, this book is a must. For those who like his close-ups of faces more, this book will be a disappointment.

   Before going further, let me mention (as the jacket cover images certainly suggest) that this book is rife with female nudity in sexual situations of an extreme nature. I suspect it would be hard to get this book rated as an "R" if it were a motion picture. The book is inappropriate for children, so make your purchase decision accordingly.

   The essays in the book are the best part. I thought they captured the spirit of Mr. Newton's work especially well. Here are a few key phrases about the subject matter of his work that I liked and found particularly apt:

   "women who take the lead"

   "women who love and desire"

   "women who are both responsible and willing"

   "imagination and reality merge"

   Mr. Newton was born in Berlin in 1920 and had to leave with his parents to escape persecution by the Nazis in 1938. It is very fitting that this show be held in Berlin, and that it contain some very wonderful images he shot in Berlin of women just before the Wall came down there.

   He does not add much to his work to help you understand it. His view is that "a photographer . . . should be seen and not heard." His messages are very overt, so I think you see what he had in mind.

   The works displayed here are primarily his female nudes and sexual fantasies. These involve female nudes in both domestic and public situations (as well as ones where they are treated like objects, such as the woman hanging from the wall like a part in an auto assembly plant), contrasts with clothed women (using the same models), as participants with mannequins (evoking the famous Newton humor), and as contrasts between the use of color and not for the same scenes.

   The brilliant part of this book is its design. Facing pages always present a problem for photography book designers. What should be the relationship? In almost all cases, the facing pages here dialogue powerfully with one another and add to your understanding of each image. There are also some stunning color montages that could keep you occupied looking at them for hours.

   Some viewers will be offended by the most extreme of the images that display women as objects. These are meant to be criticisms of that perspective, so they are meant to offend. Offend they will. To me, the most powerful is a woman hunched over on a bed facing down with a saddle on her back.

   Of course, some may be even more affected by seeing the carefully posed statements employing his wife, Ms. June Newton, the show's curator, as the unclad model.

   Many of my favorite images of his were missing from the book. Among my favorites available here include:

   Chatillon Mouly Roussel & Dormeuil, French Vogue, Paris, 1979

   Pierre Cardin, French Vogue, Theoule, France, 1992

   Faye Dunaway, Vanity Fair, Los Angeles, 1987

   Ralph Fuentes, Vanity Fair, Venice, Italy, 1995

   Walking Women (clad and unclad), Vanity Fair, Paris, 1981

   Sie kommen (clad and unclad), Vanity Fair, Paris, 1981

   To me, Mr. Newton's greatest genius is in his ability to capture the personality of the model. This draws him in closer to the subject, and his aim is unerring. I missed seeing more of his portraits in this volume.

   The editor deserves commendation for including some of each of Mr. Newton's many experimental styles. His virtuousity with technique has not been shown in one volume before.

   The quality of the paper and reproduction are outstanding, and you will be very pleased with the representation of the images in this volume.

   After you finish seeing these images, I suggest you think about how we can move beyond these perceptions of who a woman is. Does identity have to be so sexual to be honest? In a world of sexual equal opportunity, how should women think about themselves and how should men think about them? Those questions still need a lot of work photographically.

   Look closely and have a great good laugh at the outrageous humor!




5. This beautifully bound and printed tome is a must for any Helmut Newton fan. If you are looking for an introduction to Newton's work, this is an excellent starting point. Included are many of the master's better known photos, as well as many not frequently seen. The photos are sumptuous. The quality is exceptional. Why are you waiting???? Buy this book!

1 comments about Dress Codes: Meanings and Messages in American Culture.

1. For a class project, I decided to make a website discussing how various fashions throughout time have reflected the social status of women. This book was a great resource. It makes one realize that people don't always wear clothes just because they like them. Looking at fashion gives wonderful insite into a culture.

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5 comments about Ribbon Knits: 45 New Designs to Knit and Crochet.

1. 
   If you're looking for patterns that are flashy and that might go out of style and be outdated in the next six months to a year, don't buy this book.
   
   With that being said, if you are looking for timeless styles that are quiet but still beautiful, then by all means DO buy this book; the patterns are all lovely and look to be beginner-friendly.
   
   As for the concern about the patterns calling for the author's brand of yarn, yes, that's true. However, the author does frequently mention the ribbon yarn's width and yardage needed, so if you don't mind doing a little comparison shopping you should be able to find some cheaper yarn that will still work for you. (Isn't that what knitting is all about - being adventurous?)
   
   All in all, this one is a keeper. It will certainly be staying in my knitter's library and is a welcome addition.



2. This book has items in it that most people would probably not wear. I know I wouldn't. I received this as a gift and I while the thought was a good one, it isn't a book I'd have purchased.



3. I received this book as a gift from someone who knew I could crochet, but wasn't sure I could knit (I can't). Despite the fact it says there are knit and crochet patterns, there is only one wearable item for crochet in the whole book, and I'll bet those of you who've gotten burned on this kind of book before can guess what it is too: a granny square vest. That's all crochet is good for, you know...There are some purses in crochet too, but they were very common patterns of types I have already.



4. One of the purse patterns is nice (Flapper Wrist Bag), but there are cheaper craft leaflets out with better patterns (acrylic chenille seems to be the yarn of choice right now), and if you collect vintage knitting books/patterns you may already have a lot of this stuff. The author's product line is not cheap either, and many of the projects (especially the hobo bags) look like a lot of the cheap imports available today--why put all that money into something when you could buy a nearly identical item cheaper?

   The clothing is nothing remarkable either, and definitely warm weather only. If you like to slice up strips of fabric with a Rotary Cutter and crochet/knit, you might be able to adapt the patterns for a "country" look.




5. This book contains patterns for tops, vests, cardigans, etc, made with rayon ribbon. Most of the items are very basic and not interesting or innovative, except for the crocheted purses which are attractive. The recommended rayon ribbon is the author's own brand which, as it turns out, is rather expensive to purchase. Although she cites several companies who are also producing rayon ribbon, the author does not offer equivalencies that would make it easy to find and use the right ribbon. All in all, a disappointing book.