5 comments about Encaustic Workshop: Artistic Techniques for Working with Wax.

1. I am still reading this book and it is an amazing journey into the world of encaustic painting. I can't wait to get started on the actual creative process; the book is very inspiring and informational.



2. Excellent book on encaustic techniques. This and Joanne Mattera's encaustic book would have to be the best books on the subject.



3. I am new to encaustic art but i will tell you, this book will guide you from setting up to exploring techniques that you never would have dreamed up yourself. It is a "hands on" guide to creativity. I recommend it!



4. I am a professional painter and college art professor with a short attention span for learning new techniques. Having taken one workshop in encaustic I wanted to set up a station in my studio to play around with different techniques. The workshop was a few months ago so I needed a simple overview with samples of techniques. This book was perfect. I was able to highlight the techniques I was interested in exploring, make a shopping list for basic supplies and get into the studio and experiment. I only gave it 4 stars because the samples were very "crafty" and not "serious fine art". Would have liked to see what serious professional artists are doing with the medium but will have to explore that on my own.



5. A great book with lots of different techniques - more than any other book I am seen on encaustic. Lots of examples. Can recommend it!

5 comments about Joint Book.

1. This is a gorgeously illustrated little book. It's a "must have" for any beginner/intermediate woodworker. It will show you what can be done, and give you a good idea of when you should use a specific kind of joint. The terminology is precisely defined (a big plus for books of this type, where the authors often irrationally assume the reader is an expert). My only complaint is that the `how to' sections are sketchy at best. There is an emphasis on joinery `by hand', but in the real world everybody does these things with a router or table saw and an assortment of jigs. So, don't expect that this book will be the definitive story on the `how to' side of joinery, but it most definitely will open your eyes as to what is possible. And when you start making these joints, don't be disappointed when they don't look as good as the illustrations. The illustrations are perfect.



2. I could wish this was more comprehensive. But it is well organized and has a nice pictorial index of joints. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. But some common joints are omitted, like the locked tendon. I am beginning to feel that it is impossible to detail every joint as even some fairly useful joints like the Parsons joint are not often documented.
   
   Overall very useful and well done.



3. This is a great book for new woodworkers and an invaluable reference for the experienced



4. I love this book. I've always wondered about how some joints were made. This book answered my questions. It's easy to read with lots of pictures and graphics. The binding and size of the book are well-thought out (it's small and has a spiral binding). This makes it easy to read and to use in the shop environment. Now if you're looking for really detailed plans for making these joints, it's not bad for getting started, but I've found myself searching for more detail on the web when I decide on a joint. All in all, a great little book to build your knowledge base of joints (and to speak knowledgeably about them with experts).



5. Very impressed with the clarity of descriptions for all types of wood joints and how to make them. This should be in every woodworker's library!

5 comments about Genuine Origami: 43 Mathematically-Based Models, From Simple to Complex.

1. Unlike other reviewers, I'm not very skilled, and the Devil was way beyond me. But I was able to figure out the Hina Dolls, and I love them. They're cute and clever, with the robes that latch at the throat and matching hair and pantaloons. I also enjoyed reading the book, even though many of the patterns were beyond me. The comments on fractals were particularly interesting, and the folds that illustrated them were amazing.



2. Not much more to say. Diagrams are excellent, even for complete novices (if they have a little patience); and the fact that it builds a steady progression of techniques and folds makes it an excellent book to learn origami.
   
   Beautiful book.



3. All of the excellent reviews of this book are correct, but I wanted to warn people that my copy of this book was misassembled. Pages 81-96 appeared twice and pages 97-112 were missing. If you buy the book, be sure to check all the pages before your return period expires! If you have a defective copy and the return period has expired, the US distributor (Oxford University Press) will exchange the book, but you will have to pay for shipping yourself.



4. Jun Maekawa has been one of the premier origami innovators of the last 30 years. His 'Devil', which graces the cover of this book, is one of the most famous and fantastic designs of what I like to call the Early Age of Super-complexity, (though by today's standards it is more aptly considered high-intermediate). I learned the model from 'Viva! Origami!" which is only available in Japanese. The new folding method in "Genuine Origami" includes the creatures ears which were missing in the original diagrams. I lovingly call this model "Nick, the Nicotine Demon" after I used it to help some of my dorm-mates quit smoking.
   All of the models in this book are constructed from single sheets of paper, mostly square, with no cutting or glue. This book is a good choice for a second origami book because it combines clear diagrams with a progression from simple to complex models, ending with the 'Devil'. Note that most of the more complex models should be folded from 10"x10" paper. The most outlandish model in here is a deer folded from a tea-bag wrapper.



5. This book by the president of the Japanese Origami Academic Society JOAS is essential for all studying this ancient craft. It goes from easy to exquisitely complex. The diagrams are excellent. I was able to make the models when I obtained the first version in Japanese. I do now appreciate the explanations in english. The models are traditional from an uncut square.Some of the maneuvers are unique and quite satisfying. This is one of my favorite intermediate level origami books.

5 comments about Pyrography Workbook: A Complete Guide to the Art of Woodburning.

1. If you know nothing about wood burning and want to see what you can do with it, this book is perfect. Good explanations and examples. Has a list and pictures of what each tip can do, there are many kinds. Excellent book and very easy to understand. Best wood burning book I have seen. If you already know how to draw you will like this book a lot because it shows you that wood burning is a lot like drawing except more is possible.



2. Well written book. A little difficult for a beginner. It would depend on your present experiance. I do recommend it. Thanks-Patty.



3. This book is excellent for teaching the novice how to learn how to woodburn. I read and was able to start right out and wood burn fairly easily. Has nice designs as well.



4. I had been waiting for this book to arrive before I attempted to burn a picture of a wild animal. Until I read through this book, I had not had enough information or seen enough hints and examples to confidently attempt burning any animal pictures. I have now completed a wolf that only took a total of 6 and a half hours, and am very impressed with the results.
   
   [[ASIN:1565232585 Pyrography Workbook: A Complete Guide to the Art of
   Woodburning]]
   
   If anyone would like to see how much confidence this book has given me, they can visit my website at; www.carolynswoodburningart.webs.com
   
   
   Carolyn,
   Perth, Western Australia



5. It is great, even for the beginner. Wonderful step by step instruction, easy to follow. You can't go wrong with any of her books!

5 comments about The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step.

1. I purchased this book for my 10 year old son who has a penchant for making things out of folded paper and tape. Although his usual Saturday routine would be to turn on cartoons for a couple hours, instead he opened up this book which we had just received and proceeded to plow through the first 7 or 8 projects. Each lesson clearly explains one pop-up concept with an accompanying tear-out sheet to do it yourself. He worked steadily and was extremely proud of his progress and only asked for assistance when the projects began needing an Exacto blade. With very little help he was able to tackle those projects as well. Later he was able to reproduce the pop-ups on his own without referring to the directions.
   
   The book isn't just for kids and the art is retro-hip and pleasing to look at. I did a couple as well and then "popped out" a hand-made father's day card for my dad. I am planning to get the next book in the series.



2. I liked this book so much when I bought it myself that I ordered it for a friend. Kids can use it to make simple pop-ups for cards or their own books. It has simple instructions and plenty of ideas and examples.



3. I was astounded with the simplicity of the book in teaching three dimensional popups and the multiple hands-on examples that it provided. I loved it!



4. Pop-up books and cards delight children and adults with their unique and clever designs, but how are these intricate pictures created? If you've ever wanted to make one yourself, The Pocket Paper Engineer will show you how.
   
   This set of two volumes focuses on basic pop-up forms, platforms and props in a fully hands-on manner. Designed to be taken apart and used in construction, the pages are sturdy and include pockets to place your finished products. Clear directions and illustrations show you exactly how to put these pop-up designs together, and then explain how to use these newly acquired skills for creations of your own.
   
   The Pocket Paper Engineer is well-designed, and the step-by-step instructions are easy for anyone to follow. I highly recommend these unique how-to books on crafting pop-ups.
   
   Reviewer: Alice Berger, Bergers Book Reviews



5. A great book with samples to try out the different pop ups. Great for novices to get started.

5 comments about The Beginner's Handbook of Woodcarving: With Project Patterns for Line Carving, Relief Carving, Carving in the Round, and Bird Carving.

1. The biggest negative to this book is the lack of color illustrations. This disappointed me. It would hace been nice, in the chapter on birds, to show how color is applied, and what finishes to use.
   
   After reading this, I realized this book is just about carving wood. Wood is wood. You can stain it, paint it, using oils or anything else that sticks to wood. This not about canvas, or glass. The authors use a conversational style, which I liked.
   
   The initial publication was in 1983, before digital photography. The publisher is Dover, and they have a reputation for good books at a low price.



2. If you need an overview of woodcarving and were not very picky about the need for step by step assistance, this book would work for you. It does go over the basic cuts and offers text on a variety of topics in wood carving, i.e. types of woodcarving, tools, materials, painting, etc. It provides a number of patterns, many of them fairly cheesy and probably would not appeal to most starting out. There is a nice selection of bird patterns, but not much pictoral instructions on how to carve them. You would probably be better off with a different beginner's book with more appealing projects and then find books on specific woodcarving interests from there.



3. Like many beginning woodcarving books this book describes the basic cuts you need to practice and it gives some information on wood types. Beyond that, the only reason to purchase this book is if you need the patterns in them.
   
   Being new to wood carving I like the price of the book and I thought I would give it a try. Once I saw the patterns though, I changed my mind and bought another book. This is just a matter of taste but the cutesy mouse and the fisherman weren't what I wanted to carve and I feel that you really need to find carvings that interest you (especially while you are learning) to prevent boredom. Once again, if the patterns on the cover look interesting to you, then by all means get this book (if you are a complete beginner).



4. After reviewing the book, I returned it. I would guess that there is an audience out there that want to carve cutsey figurines but, ugh! Who would want them around the house? I have several carving books from which I have gleaned useful information but, frankly, this is subject matter deserving of a video demonstration. Until you see how a carver twists, turns, and taps the chisel to accommodate the grain of the wood, I just don't think you are going to get it. Not at least without chewing up a lot of valuable wood as the masters do doubt have.
   
   That said I have to take responsibility for my bad judgement in selecting this book as the author/publisher provided ample glimpses to the interior pages. So, my bad.



5. A terrific beginner book with lots of variety in types of carving. I've added it to my collection of references.

5 comments about The Little Book of Whittling: Passing Time on the Trail, on the Porch, and Under the Stars.

1. My son developed an interest in whittling after seeing someone at a craft show, and he wanted to try it himself. I bought him this book over a year ago, and he still pulls it out and works on the techniques. The instructions are easy to follow, and they give some good ideas for projects. It is written in such a way that he can either follow step by step, or he can just read through and then apply the techniques to his own projects. He has enjoyed doing both. The book itself is small, so it is easy for him to carry around. He has really enjoyed using the skills he has learned from this book.



2. I would reccommend buying the version that comes with the swiss army knife. You'll finding yourself wishing you had if you don't have a SAK already. This is a great jumping off point for anyone wanting to get started in wood carving, especially the finer points of whittling.



3. Brian lives in Germany near Frankfort and would like to whittle. I think this book will teach him the best way. He speaks very good English as he does speak German. The book is easy to read, so he might take to school as a project for all his classmates to learn also.



4. Great book! Pictures and written instructions both very helpful. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to get started learning to whittle.



5. This is a lovely little book and written in a very charming humorous manner. Every page is packed with clear coloured photos. Each project is easy to follow and there are loads of ideas for adapting the basics so that you can make your own stuff. There are lots of little tips about being on the trail and camping too. I love it.

5 comments about Beyond the Basics: Gourd Art.

1. I absolutely love this book. It was filled with some many different type of gourd projects that it expanded the way that I thought about the way a gourd could be decorated. The projects were varied and on a high skill level. I highly recommend this if you love gourds and are looking to expand beyond your status quot.



2. I am new to the world of artwork using gourds as a medium. This book has given me some great motivation and ideas to get started!



3. The book was everything i was hoping for,with detaied projects going past the basic. I was excited to complete some of those projects. Well recommneded for those who want to try different gourd art techniques



4. It's an excellent book for both beginner gourd enthusiasts and advanced. It has complete gourding directions by all the artists featured in the book. I am featured in this book compiled by David MacFarland.



5. This is another must have gourd art book for the serious gourd artist. Has beautiful designs from different gourd artists and gives insight as to how they are done. Love this book.

5 comments about Gemstone Buying Guide, Second Edition: How to Evaluate, Identify, Select & Care for Colored Gems.

1. This guide is not a price list, so It won't become outdated by the time you receive it. It's more a guide to what to look for in each gemstone. I love it. It's great for understanding why this piece or that is priced as it is, it's good for helping to spot deals, & it's helpful if you're a faceting or lapidary hobbyist. My only regret is that it's so general as to where the gems originate. For example: what part of Afghanistan are the best lapis coming from? C'mon! If I win the lottery I want to go to the SOURCE to buy my stones! LOL



2. As one of three books purchased on this subject, I have to say the images are what makes this book. But the information within is great too, albeit somewhat limited on certain stones. With my geology background, I really enjoyed seeing the categories of gemstones classified in terms of: chemical composition, Moh's hardness scale rating, cleavage, crystal structure and more. The care tips are also useful particularly if you make jewelry and want your customers to be aware of how to properly care for their gemstones (or for you when cleaning your own gemstones!). Some gemstones have many varieties and this is covered quite well (e.g. Garnet - eight species and their names, varieties within species, color(s), and other mineralogical data that is useful to those who really want to understand the detailed identification of the mineral/gemstone. The accompanying photos often cover all the species listed - so a great visual aid. Keep in mind the images are of finished, mostly faceted gemstones. I want to also mention another great image/layout and it is about Jadeite colors as seen on 36 cabachons. I wanted to know about this for some time and now by using this guide, I can get a general sense as to how to determine quality and value of this particular stone.
   
   I would recommend this book for beginner gemstone enthusiasts, but recommend other books, publications, and even talking with a true gemologist to help you understand specific topics in detail. I will refer to this book probably first when seeking an answer on most gemstone questions but will utilize other information when I need an in-depth knowledge review prior to purchase and analysis.



3. This book is fantastic. It contains a huge amount of information that is valuable to someone wanting to understand the factors that affect the value of colored stones. I highly recommend this book. I bought it as a gift and it was very well received.



4. I've read quite a few gem books. This one excels in several ways. First there is a plethora of beautiful color photographs. Second the author gives current price ranges for various gems - unusual. The third is that the author has gathered unusual jewelry pieces using many of the gemstones in unique ways and frequently addresses issues of interest to the jewelry designer. The book would be especially interesting for an individual interested in gem and jewelry design, but is a great reference for anyone interested in gems and gem collecting.



5. This book is an excellent source of easy to understand information. The information is easy to follow but is also very specific and well written. I recommend this book to anyone buying colored stones even if it is already in jewelry.

5 comments about Tom Wolfe Carves Wood Spirits and Walking Sticks (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1. I liked this book quite a lot. As a beginner it showed me both hand carving and mallet techniques...which I was not expecting. Also a wide variety of knives and gouges are shown, so you get an understanding of when to use which type.



2. Loved the beauty in this full color, highly instructive book. I bought 4 books to get me into carving the wood spirits of my German ancestors, and this was the most instructive by far. I feel I can really make a carving on my own now.



3. Tom Wolfe is an old school master with gift of putting out great and informative books, this is one of them.



4. The book is good for very young carvers. The pictures are great and the author does show everything. As a matter for discussion the author provides too much detail and if you need lots of detail then this book is what young starters can use effectively.



5. Although it does cover the subject and offer examples for inspiration, it does so in very broad strokes. I had hoped for mre istruction and less inspiration.