5 comments about Nineteenth-Century Fashion in Detail.

1. A wonderful book. Filled with fabulous color pictures and line drawings.
   A must have for the 19th century clothing collector and those who make reproduction costume. Wide varitey of textiles. Abundant details. Excellent discussion on each costume. Straight to the point and easy to digest. You won't go wrong with this book. Buy it.



2. This big glossy picture book is a big let down because all it shows is parts and pieces of garments. The details are useless without getting to see the effect on the whole garment. Who needs a book filled with collar and cuff close-ups? If you are looking for great pictures of 19th century dress- This is NOT the book for you!



3. This book is a visual feast for the eyes! I have gone through it over and over again, and each time I find something new! The coverage of the detail of each type of design is explicit, right down to the buttons and the thread. The book details things like the innovations in fashion, as well as common reviews of the time. In some cases, it also talks about the people behind the items that are featured, such as when they wore the items or their lifestyle. Beautifully done - exceptional photography!



4. Don't bother ordering this through Amazon - They're out of stock and haven't been able to get more copies since February. My order keeps being delayed the day that it lists that it's supposed to ship. It's more expensive elsewhere, but at least you've got the option of actually getting it. I broke down and paid double the price listed by Amazon just so that I could stop waiting for it to arrive each month.
   
   I've heard this is a fantastic reference. Now if only I could get a copy!



5. I found this book gives so many fine details of the clothing made in this century. It's a great help for ideas in trimming my own costumes, and shows how it was done in line drawings. The examples are awesome.

No comments about A Theory of Craft: Function and Aesthetic Expression.

2 comments about The Designer's Desktop Manual.

1. Thanks to the author!!! amazing, amazing, amazing! This book has helped me finally grasp the principles of Adobe Indesign. I have been slowly teaching myself the program and have more than a few instructional books. Concepts that I have previously thought diffictult to understand are now clear! This book is so clear and concise that it makes learning a breeze. It covers information about photoshop, illustrator, web design, Quark, and dreamweaver. It is very well written and the directions for applications are easily understood. I love this book! I give it a 10! If I would have had this book to begin with, I would have learned how to manipulate the program a long time ago...



2. I'm fairly new to many of the topics discussed in the book, including color, photoshop tips, etc. It was quite helpful. It is also helpful for designers going between windows and os x- it gives basic differences and how to deal with that.

5 comments about Bauhaus 1919-1933 (Taschen 25).

1. If you want a comprehensive historical information as well as tons of full color photos of all sorts of Bauhaus inspired works -from architecture to practical objects - this is the book you should have. Open it and read a single article, think about it and close the book. Or browse through the photos and marvel at the teapots, the furniture, the architectural style.
   
   You can savor this one slowly (and I think you should) rather than trying to read it through all at once. If you do that, you'll start to get a sense of the Bauhaus style and how it fits into the particular period when it came into being - and how it grew and evolved from there.



2. While this book offers an excellent collection of images related to the Bauhaus, it traces the history and the development of the Bauhaus comprehensively as well.
   This book, alongwith Eva Forgacs' Bauhaus Idea and Bauhaus Politics can give you a general idea about what the institution was all about.
   
   Its an amazing read.



3. You can know lots of new details. It helps you to study not only design but art itself.



4. This book has great studies. Lots of new details for me are in it. It helps you to study design and art histry.



5. Bauhaus was one of the most important movements in design-history.
   Magdalena Drosta describes the ideas, the people, the work and the spirit of the Bauhaus. The best thing: It is never boring. The book does not only concentrate on the art taught at the Bauahaus but also describes its political problems.
   A lot of excellent pictures in a good priniting quality (especially in relation to the price) make this a book, you always like to look at.

5 comments about Occasions (New Series of Lifestyle Books).

1. This book has great ideas. I think anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know how to throw a good party!



2. Looking for an in depth book on entertaining? This IS NOT IT!
   
   But who would think it would be? As usual ms. spade turns out a delightful book full of darling sketches and cute ideas. It is inspirational for gifts for a hostess (such as a wrapped up stack of towels at a bbq party) and setting a table (mix and match with different pieces of china). It reminds me of little thoughts and sketches I would keep in a journal: fun ideas and notes to bring out for parties, but nothing too serious or study worthy.



3. I had the opportunity to read Occasions about two months ago... and I'm still thinking about it! This book (as well as the others in the series) was a quick read with concise, sweet bites of information. More than finding any concrete information about throwing parties or dressing correctly, I found inspiration in the pages of these books. Instead of merely telling me HOW to throw a party, the vivid colors and witty drawings in this book made me WANT to throw a party. These books are succint, bright, and happy--just like the author's handbags.



4. I bought this book as a gag gift for a friend, assuming that it would be full of cutsie little ideas for parties... maybe a few recipes and quotes and bits of ettiquette.

   I read it on the way home, and was bored to tears. There's nothing I love more than entertaining and pretending to be sophisticated, but this book was niether. It told me almost nothing that even barely related to reality, and that which was complete common sense that any 5 year old could tell you about having friends over.

   I ended up returning the book. It wasn't even worth it as a gag gift.




5. Or she would have spared me (and other buyers) from paying for her advice, information, opinions, and knowledge on her version of "entertaining". Most of the information is irrelevant - unless you have your own caterer, florist, maid, bellman, limo driver, party organizer and an unlimited amount of cash. Dispensing advice on how to entertain using caterers and servers is hardly applicable to most of us who do not entertain in a posh Manhattan apartment. The section on "Weekend activities in the Country..." is perfect insight in to how contrived and artificial the life of Kate and Andy must be.

   Although one might try and find the book humorous - in order to justify its ridiculous overpricing. The real joke is on me the purchaser of the book as I was the one duped and the Spades are laughing all the way to the bank.

1 comments about How to be an Illustrator.

1. Great section on invoicing with customers. There is also good information regarding an online portfolio.

No comments about The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 600 Mix-and-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design.

5 comments about Graphic Design Cookbook: Mix & Match Recipes for Faster, Better Layouts.

1. I'm a soon-to-be designer who has no academic training whatsoever and one day I had to to a project to finish my english course and I thought: "Ummm I'm making a magazine!" But as you probably know it's easier to think than to do and when I finally sat at my chair and started thinking about how I was gonna do that I completely blocked. And this is the part that Design Cookbook comes and saves me. I know that some people don't like this book because there almost nothing written on it but I think this is quite freeing. You can just grab the book flip to the pages and combine several elements found on the book to better suit your needs. With no text to clutter or influence your line of thought. It's just brilliant! A must have for starting designers.



2. I bought this book with hopes that the design ideas inside would help with a brochure I was creating. My patterns were getting predictable and droll. I found a couple patterns I liked and put them to use. Interestingly enough, they look less-interesting in application than they look in the book. To make matters worse, my employer REALLY didn't like the aspects that I did use from the book and had me remove them.
   
   But, again, if you find yourself needing inspiration, this is a good book to look at.



3. This book is filled with nothing more than frivolous and useless fluff (I simply will not refer to them as "ideas"). For example, putting a detective hat atop an "R" and turning its serif into a pipe is downright childish. Seriously, any good designer or anyone with common sense would steer clear of this visually-horrifying garbage. If you are at all serious about design, pick up any/all of the Jim Krause books. This one's going to the next library book sale.



4. I bought this book for my daughter, a graphic design student. She had borrowed it from a local library and said it was a "must have" that contained a wealth of knowledge and ideas. The service from Amazon was simply outstanding and my daughter was thrilled with her surprise!



5. This is a book that I will use over and over again!

4 comments about Band ID: The Ultimate Book of Band Logos.

1. Bought it for my graphic designer husband for his birthday. He absolutely loves it, me too. lots of different styles of bands.



2. I saw this book advertised and I couldn't wait to get it.......then I was sorry I did get it. Don't get me wrong, there are A LOT of band logos in here, but some great alternative and metal bands are not listed....Primus, Type O Negative, Prong, Ministry....I mean, COME ON!!!! Also, a lot of the bands are misclassified....example, Iron Maiden is not listed in the "Heavy" or "Extra Heavy" section, but rather in the "Hair Bands" section....Iron Maiden, Helloween, Over Kill are grouped together with Bon Jovi and Whitesnake??!! I want some of whatever the guy who wrote the book is on!!! Don't waste your time and money on this. I really wish I could give it 0 stars.....BLEH!!!!



3. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2QDV3T8O0ZZGA This book has a lot more than just logos it's in some ways a historical reference. It brought me back to the days of drawing Van Halen logos on my desk at school. It spans so many generations and while there's a billion logos to comb through the design was refreshingly clean and simple. So while having a cleanly and intuitively laid out book is nice, the history and stories behind the logos are what's really appealing. More than just a book of band logos, the stories and history really drive home how much of an effect logos have had on the culture surrounding music. I had no idea!



4. I was excited really when this book showed up !! As a designer I was looking at it as a resource but it is way more than I could have hoped. It shows some of the most influential band logos of our time and reveals insightful information about the stories behind the logos and the people that created them. (did you know that Ace Frehely, lead guitar of KISS, designed their iconic logo?) I am impressed with the layout and juxtaposition of the different logos capturing the trends of different eras and music styles. Not just as a designer but as a music lover and pop culture enthusiast THIS BOOK ROCKS !!

No comments about 2009 Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market.