5 comments about State Series Quarters Collector Map (State Series).

1. Of all the quarter collector books, this one was clearly the best. The quarters are firmly in place but can be removed if necessary. Also, the map and fun facts are wonderful factual information. My son and I cannot wait for the last 3 quarters.



2. My girls 5 and 7 have enjoyed collecting quarters. We had so much fun doing one that we decided to do it again so they can each have their own to keep. It's been a treasure hunt that I have thoroughly enjoyed.



3. These books were very informative and useful. I gave these books to 2 young ladies and they have enjoyed the books. I would buy these again if I find someone else to give them too.



4. I think it is good quarter collector map with nice state details shown and firm hole to keep your quarters. I ordered one for myself and when my friends saw it, they immediately asked me to tell them where to find this product from amazon.



5. This folder (a tri-fold) was a lot bigger than I imagined it, which is a great thing. For a collecting-related item like this, bigger is better. The folder is made very sturdy, and the holes fit the quarters perfectly. Removal is also easy. The wide variety of colors and fun facts adds to this item's value.
   
   It may be too tall and long for some bookshelves, so check those measurements before buying.

4 comments about The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins 2009 (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)) (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)) (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)).

1. I purchased this book for my 11yr old son who has just started collecting coins. It is very easy for him to find what he is looking for and has so much information packed into it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone collecting coins.



2. This is the best book for rating your coins and finding the value, you cannot find better.



3. I buy the book every year. It's the corner stone to coin collecting. I couldn't do without it.



4. Old standby for getting a retailer's review of what you'd hope to sell your coin's for. A good benchmark and has been around for more than half a century. Blue book is more about whay the average person can hope to expect to get for a coin.

1 comments about Blue Book of Gun Values: 29th Edition (Blue Book of Gun Values).

1. Just received my 29th Edition and went through it with emphasis on the section's of most importance to me. As a long term subscriber to the Blue Book of Gun Values, I continue to find this book the single most important reference anyone could turn to on gun values. I guess that is why I continue to see it on tables of dealers at every gun show I go to. I do not know of a gun shop that does not have a copy handy at all times. Likewise, I do not know a collector that does not have his or her nose in this book several times a month. If you buy and sell, or, collect firearms, this book is the most valuable tool you will ever have on pricing.

1 comments about The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #38 (Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide).

1. A must have for serious comic book collectors. Whether you collect as a hobby or for investment, this is the major authority on comic prices. Overstreet sets a guide line for you to go by when purchasing and selling comic books. I've been a collector for 40 years. Could'nt do without my Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide!

3 comments about Bead Romantique: Elegant Beadweaving Designs.

1. Lisa Kan has a wonderful sense of color and design. She brings a lot of elegance to her designs and at the same time makes them very wearable. The enthusiastic beginner can follow her directions and create exactly what's pictured, while the experienced beader can use the pieces as a starting point for their own work. I'm looking forward to making at least half of the items in the book! And as one of those beaders that has a HUGE variety of beads, I really enjoy the different types of beads in the projects.



2. I'll echo the previous lady's comments on it being for a more intermediate / experienced beading person. Designs are great, lots of step by step pictures, I'm sure I'll try at least 5 of the projects in here. This is a wonderful find, not a book you'll pick up for just 1 thing.
   
   In particular, I'd like to let others know that her designs bring together a wide variety of beads. You'll need a few of these, a few a those, 2 colors in size A, 2 colors in size B, some pearls, some crystals, etc. A variety of components bring a much classier and refined look to the overall piece. Love it! Personally I get a sense of accomplishment just pulling together the RIGHT colors and combinations to assemble my "kit" before I begin with material lists like these!
   
   This book is next to my Laura McCabe book on beading with crystals, these two together have a big ol' smile on my face and I'll be happily referring to these two books for many months to come!
   
   She does use some unique findings, a lot of brass/bronze filigree pieces not easy to find. As a silver fan, I'll have to do some reworking of the findings/closures to adapt these patterns to my preferences.



3. If you love jewelry from the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Renaissance periods, then you will love this book! All 17 of the designs are beautiful and unique -- and definitely very romantic in nature.
   
   The book opens with a short section on the basics of beading (choosing thread, needles, etc.), before moving into the 17 projects. While most of the projects focus on using seed beads and Swarovski crystals, some also integrate chain into the pieces. To give you an idea of what the pieces are like, they have names like Quatrefoil Renaissance Bracelet, Black Lace Lariat (which is inspired by Victorian jet mourning necklaces), Rivoli Y Drop, and Medici Rhinestone Necklace. The pieces draw on various time periods for their inspiration, and all definitely have a "romantic" flair to them.
   
   On her website, the author mentions that the book is designed for beginning and intermediate beaders, but I think that the projects may be a little too advanced for new beaders. Some familiarity with stitches like Ndebele, peyote, ladder, and right angle weave is probably good to have before attempting these projects; the instructions are detailed and there are good diagrams, but some knowledge of these stitches will make your beading more enjoyable.
   
   One potential problem I foresee is that some of the materials may be a bit hard to track down. The book does include a list of resources at the end, but I've already noticed that one of the brass findings suppliers only sells to wholesalers.
   
   Other than that drawback, the projects are lovely, and the instructions and diagrams are very clear!

1 comments about 500 Pendants & Lockets: Contemporary Interpretations of Classic Adornments (500 Series).

1. With few exceptions, I enjoy the Lark "500" series of books, Pendants and Lockets is no different. Sticking to the photos only with minimal wording publication concept, this is not a "how to" book it simply showcases a veritable smorgasboard of amazing contemporary designs. The enormous range of materials used to create these pieces is appreciated, nothing seems to have been left out. Of course all the to be expected precious and non precious metals and stones are there, now add plastics, textiles, papers, glass, all the clays, resins and found objects.
   
   Continue with every possible technique you can think of, and then some, with design concepts that for the most part are also extremely wearable ( and yes there are some that leave you with a what the?? feeling )and you have a great book. Make no mistake here, this is contemporary jewellery, don't look here for the traditional or you will be disappointed.
   
   Everypage is a highlight, with Jacqueline Ryans Untitled ( pg 14) gold and enamel pod looking so real it was stunning, Jin a Jung's - A dot of Illusion was incredible, visual illusion of geometric patterns done so well and Karen McCreary's Geode Pendant in Acrylic, gold leaf and silver were both elegant and fluid with stunning colours. These may have stood out for me personally, and I am sure everyone who views this will have favourites too.
   
   Whilst there were some well known artists showcased it was great to see so many new names and better still I had not seen over 95% of the photos before.
   
   I have been left in awe of the designers who have created pieces that challenge your thinking, delight with their interpretations, playful and serious and leave you knowing you have just witnessed Pure Magic. Well done to both Lark and the exceptional job the jurors Mike Holmes and Elizabeth Shypertt have done. This is a book that will be my night time reading for many days ahead.

5 comments about Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves.

1. I found this book very helpful in creating stuffed animals. The instructions are simple and easy to follow. There are also many various animals to choose from. I recommend it highly.



2. I love this book! The pictures are so whimsical. I have recommended it to several other crafty people that I know.
   The directions are very clear and the product - well, now I can create my own "folk art"!! At Easter time all the little people that I know got these zany looking rabbbits made from gloves...



3. This is the first japanese style craft book I have ever bought and it made me go out and buy several others, The projects are super cute and easy enough for a beginner such as myself. They only reason why I gave it a 4 was the title and the wording on the back cover and the "story" made it seem like these projects could be made with 1 sock or glove. All the projects require a set of gloves or socks. To me "cast off" means one random sock or glove missing it's partner. But no big deal- other than that really cute book.



4. This is really a neat book. I found out about it from an episode of Martha Stewart and had to get the book because the creatures are so adorable. The book has a storyline that introduces you to the dozen or so characters that you can make, and each character image shows you if you need a sock or a glove to make it.
   
   The instructions in the back are clear to follow and easy to read. It also says that you can do all the sewing by hand and I believe it.
   
   I can't wait to make a bunch of these as gift!



5. Great book! I made the dog and then the zebra (which turned out so adorable). Now I'm working on a bunny out of very soft, light blue gloves. I even made scarves for my dog and zebra. I can't wait to do the Panda and Elephant next. The pictures are too cute and the instructions along with graphics are easy to follow. If my bunny turns out as cute as the other animals I've made, I'm going to make a bunny (for Easter) for each of my nieces and nephews.
   
   If you're looking for easy-to-do and fun craft projects this is the book for you. It's easy and inexpensive and the project goes fairly quickly. I did most of the sewing by hand but it can easily be done on a machine if you want to speed up the process. I watched television with my family while I was making them and they turned out just perfect.
   
   I'm thinking about getting the other book by this author as well. Go ahead and give it a try - I think you'll love it!

5 comments about Complete Price Guide to Watches 2008 (Complete Price Guide to Watches).

1. I got this for my husband to use in our business. He says it's been very helpful. I got it to update his old one.



2. A good source for information but to refer to the guide as "complete" would be streching it a bit.



3. Use the book often in my work. A great addition. Thanks for the fast shipping.



4. One of the best watch books around, it basically plods along, virtually unchanged, year, after year. Except for price updates, and a new cover every year, this book is getting long in the tooth. My main problem is realistic pricing, which would not serve the authors, primarily Tom Engle, who is a high-end watch dealer. Many items are underpriced, in my opinion, and do not reflect real world pricing.



5. The pictures are small black and whites, so bad they almost look drawn. The prices are inline with what 'SELLERS' would pay for a watch. The definitive guide to watches. Not very good, but where else are you gonna get this info.

No comments about The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United State Coins 2009 (Guide Book of United States Coins) (Guide Book of United States Coins) (Guide Book of United States Coins).

5 comments about Handbook of United States Coins: 2008 Blue Book (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)) (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)).

1. This handbook (The Blue Book)provides a good target price representing dealer's cost for all the US Coins listed in the corresponding retail value Red Book. Invaluable reference tool for quick evaluation of a seller's coin price markups for the casual collector who doesn't need up to the minute price changes. Use it with the Red Book to establish a range for buying and selling.



2. The Bluebook is an invaluable reference when you are selling coins (along with the Redbook when buying) since it tracks what coin dealers pay for coins. You need to keep in mind that in a "hot" market prices change rapidly which can make the Bluebook "dated" fairly quickly. In any case it does provide a baseline indicating what others have received for coins in specific grades over the past several months giving some indication of what you should receive from a coin dealer.
   
   If you are interested in what you can expect to pay for a coin you want to buy then use the Redbook which tracks the amount dealers charge for coins in specific grades.
   
   The difference between the Redbook and Bluebook indicates the monies retained by dealers for the value they add to collector's trades. So, if you are trading collector-to-collector with no dealer involved, the two references can serve as the high and low bar for the negotiation process.



3. This book is nice to use when you are wanting to sell one of your coins. It would be a better book if it would come in spiral bound so that it is easier to use.



4. While useful and informative and, indeed, a must if you buy coins, this book is quite outdated. Since the price of gold and silver have gone up considerably and change daily, the effect on coins is intense in many cases.
   
   There are several sites online where you can get more up-to-date information. Yet having this handy is a good idea. I like having something near my work area and in my hands so I can quickly look up the information I want. Then I can follow that up by going to one of the Web sites.
   
   -Susanna K. Hutcheson



5. Easy to use
   Contains all information you need to assess any coin
   A wise purchase