5 comments about Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts).

1. I emphasize the word "brief" - for many things, such a soldering, the descriptions here just won't be enought for a self-teacher to get off the ground. Descriptions of techniques are generally clear and come with helpful photos. Still, the goals of covering a wide range of techniques and covering them in a book of non-intimidating thickness conflict, giving the novice reader too little about too much.
   
   But, for a reader who's already mastered some of the basics, this offers solid tips that will help advance the basic skills. Lavish and varied photos offer inspiration in just about any direction you can name. McCreight offers many approaches to basics like stone-setting, surface texture, cold-joining, clasps, and other techniques, with enough variety that even experienced metal-workers will find something new.
   
   Set your expectations properly. This book can't take the place of a patient instructor for learning the fundamentals. Once the reader has mastered the first steps of metalwork, though, this gives plenty of help and inspiration in advancing one's skills, if only by letting the reader know about the existence of techniques described more fully in ohther texts.
   
   -- wiredweird



2. I've been making jewelry only 3 years and have made plenty of mistakes -- which is to say I've learned a lot. This book was perfect for what I was looking for. It explained in the perfect amount of depth the various forms of jewelry making, soldering, annealing, drilling, firing, stamping, how to form metal, what tools are actually NECESSARY and which ones are just good to have. I wish I'd read this book before I'd started. I would have saved a lot of money knowing what to skimp on and what to save on. Curiously this book was very inspirational to me. It allowed me to get an idea of what type of jewelry making practices are done, and now I know what appeals to me without having to purchase all the tools to find out. I'm not quite done with this yet, but I'll be keeping it on my desk as my best & favorite jewelry making reference book.



3. At first look this book has great pictures but complicated looking projects. On a closer look the info and techniques for metalsmithing are great. It is a perfect book for inspiration and information. Mccreight should be read by all.



4. Excellent book. I am just starting to make jewelry. I am taking a class. Reading the information in this book helped me in my class to understand why you do what and the techniques to do things better. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn how to work with metal.



5. This book is great to review the basics of various techniques without too much fluff. Nicely organized, laid out and illustrated, and written well. I am learning metalsmithing, and it was very helpful in reviewing and complementing the techniques I've learned, and gave me some new ideas too.

5 comments about Miniature Food Masterclass: Materials and Techniques for Model-Makers.

1. This is a wonderful book for beginners in the miniature food making craft. It gives practical tips and how to on ways to make very realistic looking food.



2. Exactly what I needed! Tons of great tips for making your miniature food appear extremely realistic. I've been struggling with making strawberry canes but my very first successful cane was created after following the directions in this book. Very pleased!



3. I love the detail pictures demonstrated how to in the book. It's so easy to follow. the projects are great and look very real. I will recomand the book for all skill.



4. Angie Scarr is an inspirational artesian who is passionate about modeling culinary art with polymer clay techniques in miniature. Her book is definatley a must have for any serious miniaturist who wants to add that special touch.



5. I can't wait to get stuck in and make some of these tiny treats. It all looks so easy to make - I am impressed by the simple but detailed instructions.

5 comments about How to Make Clay Characters.

1. Maureen Carlson is obviously a very talented clay artist and she clearly explains every step in the process of making her designs. By following her directions, I think anyone could create wonderful clay characters



2. My daughter loves polymer clay and my wife saw this book so she told my daughter about it. My daughter got so excited she couldn't wait to order it. When we got the book, it was in excellent shape. Maureen Carlson is a awesome sculptor and my daughter said she does not know how Maureen created those realistic faces even though there are steps for it!



3. Maureen is such an amazing artist. If you are wanting to make figures in clay, then her books are a great place to start. I have several of her books now, and I love them all. Each one teaches you something more. Also this book came in great condition for a used book. Really good seller.



4. How to make clay characters by Maureen Carlson is not available to buy in Australia. I had it on loan from my local library but only for limited periods and it was never long enough. I am happy to say that although it may have been printed initially a long time ago I am delighted to have obtained it as it has such excellent instructions and lots of handy hints for the polymer clay first timer onwards.To anyone reading this revue who wants another hobby to try (even in Australia) buy this book and you will be hooked.
   
   The mere fact that it is still in print is a sign of how good it is for any age. Easy to follow and great fun all you need is polymer clay your imagination and this book.



5. I have four of Maureen Carlson's books. They are all fantastic.
   This one is my favorite. Very clear instruction. Gets you started and wanting to sculpt all the time. I love it!

5 comments about Little Bead Boxes: 12 Miniature Containers Built with Beads.

1. Loved the book. Easy to read and bead with text instructions and graphs too.



2. This is a lovely book with great projects and clear instructions.
   
   The charts are worth the price of the book. It uses only the cylindrical Delica beads from Miyuki to make these shapes. I have experimented with round bead to make a simple box and found it much harder because the beads do not nest rigidly. And you need this for the perfect shape of the boxes. So I recommend using the beads suggested in the book.
   
   This book opened the way to making geometric shapes triangles, squares pentagons, hexagons with beads to combine them into 3D rings, beaded balls, florals, and many other ideas in subsequent beading books. It has been an inspirational and seminal book for the development of new beading techniques and ideas.
   
   Highly recommended as a learning tool, and a gateway to your own creativity.



3. I've always been a voracious bead addict jumping from one challenging project to another. I can assure you this collection of beaded boxes will not disappoint anyone who have an affinity for challenges. The book contains 12 amazing boxes in varying degrees of difficulty, smartly arranged from easiest to most challenging. It is composed of 4 major parts: Triangle boxes; Hexagon boxes; Pentagon boxes and finally Square boxes with 3 patterns in each part. I had (thank god) attempted the very first box, Kaleidoscope, which turns out to be the easiest as recounted by the author. Having had some experience to talk about the projects, again form my personal point of view, I think it is targeted towards those passionate beaders who have some experience with the peyote stitch, which is the only stitch used throughout the book for all the boxes. The instructions given at the beginning of the book also assumes knowledge about the peyote stitch, so if you're new to beading, I would recommend first getting your hands wet with peyote stitch before attempting any of these projects. Again, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to further their experience in peyote. I should mention here that peyote stitch is one of my favourites so naturally I will be inclined to rate it favourably. However, as one come to know with experience, it is also a very time consuming and non-forgiving stitch especially when following a pattern as any mistake cannot be ignored, and you will have to open your work and do it again!
   
   There has been some concerns about the adequacy of the language used and instructions given, which as someone rightly mentions: Read instructions beforehand. As simple and logical as this may seem, anyone like myself who have a tendency to jump into action will find the first attempt irritating to say the least. However, to be fair to the author, she's made an outstanding job of explaining all the work in the first chapters of the book which are the basics to all boxes, which again logically you have to read BEFORE attempting any piece. The author also pinpoint a good point which is that these projects require high tension, which invariably leads to some beads breaking (i have broken bead and fortunately the author had mentioned what needs to be done to resolve the problem). Needless to mention, I have also lost three needles in the process :) Another positive aspect of this book, is that each project is explained in terms of word maps as well as a color pattern. Initially I didn't have any preferences, but it was an eye strain to keep track of the color pattern so I now I prefer the word map which got some time to get used to. Additionally, I was very confused at one point when the word map pattern seemed wrong to me, and my pattern got messed up. It took me a while to figure out that there was an actual error which I recognized by comparing the word map with the color pattern.
   
   When I later browsed the net, I discovered the existence of an errata sheet which I think everyone should get with the book- here is the website
   [...]
   or check Beadcave,, for julia's projects
   
   Finally, the book contains blank graph sheets at the end to let your creativity loose:)
   
   Overall, for value-for-money, I awarded the book a 5 stars rating because it contains the author has earnestly attempted to transfer her knowledge and shares specific tips throughout the book in addition to a well laid out project plans. It adequately delineates the specific components of each project. The availability of an errata sheet on the web is also another factor that was taken into account.
   
   If you're a seasoned beader who loves peyote, this is an excellent book to take your beading experience to the next level. And if you're a novice, I would recommend learning the peyote if only to practice these little heavenly boxes.



4. This is a wonderful book. The instructions aren't too had to follow for a beginner to intermediate beginner. I purchased this book to make Christmas presents and I'm sure I won't be disappointed!



5. As usual I read a lot of review before I brought this book. I really love it. It is so easy to follow the pictures are clear. However if you are a new to bead work, read through the instructions before you start. It will help to reduce the frustration.

No comments about Stitched Postcards: Beautiful Textile Designs in Miniature Using Quilting and Mixed Media Techniques.

5 comments about Making Miniature Food and Market Stalls.

1. I really liked this book...lots of fun.
   It wasn't as heavy on projects as I had hoped and unless you have a pretty decent foundation in certain techniques, this book may be difficult. I felt that some projects were just a tad incomplete in their directions...I had to figure a few things out. Otherwise, the book was fun and perfect for my collection!



2. I love this book! It is amazing!! I do however wish there were more detailed steps in the book like there are in the Polymer Clay cookbook but these pieces are a lot more realistic. There are a few food items in there that aren't very common in the U.S.A like pork pies, etc. I can't way to start making these miniatures! I read through the whole book right after I got it out of the box! =)



3. This book is an excellent how to book. It includes step by step instructions for creating a wide variety of foods from polymer clay. Mixing secrets and formulas are also included. It is well organized and easy to follow.



4. Although I like the detail this book shows, it is not my favorite. I t not only looks old fashioned, but is geared more towards foods from the UK. We don't generally have tarts, black pudding and pork pies. I guess I should have looked more into it. Just not current and relevant enough for me.



5. This is great for the polymer clay novice who likes to make miniatures. The simple methods and 'tools' found in the average home make it easy to duplicate Angie's finished products. There are only a few tools that need to be purchased from a craft store ,but even those can be improvised in a pinch for someone (like me) who doesn't have a big hobby budget. I particularly like the cakes and pastries but enjoyed making the fresh veggies and fruits ,too.
   For budget minded folks, you get very good instructions and lots of fun projects for a reasonable price. Great way to spend a rainy day and add to your dollhouse or miniatures collection.

1 comments about Inchies: Create Miniature Works of Art Using Textiles and Mixed Media Techniques.

1. This is a lovely book. Beautifully laid out and with coloured pictures and examples throughout. Explains techniques and materials required clearly. Projects are very good, useful for beginners and those who are experienced quiltmakers. There are coloured pages of finished quilts and ideas for what to do with the tiny art creations. I think making these miniature quilts is going to be addictive. A wonderful way to use up scraps. Defintely worth adding to your book collection.

5 comments about Lionel Accessories at Work on Toy Train Layouts (Classic Toy Trains Books).

1. This is a nice and very useful guide to Lionel postwar addicted.
   Nice illustrations and very comprehensive texts.
   A must for the Lionel fans.



2. This book is handy for fixing and maintaining Lionel accessories. It has pictures showing the most popular accessories. My favorite is the Milk Car!



3. I was looking forward to this book with great expectations, and in general I wasn't disapointed. Some acessories were given deeper treatment than others, but the explanations given were clear and concise. I hope that there will be a volume 2 that will cover even more PW and modern acessories. Thanks, Ken



4. This is a great book if your looking for information on old Lionel accessories. It has very good photos and illustrations of each of the accessories and instructions on repair and maintenance of common problems. The author has done an excellent job with these accessories. If your looking for the more modern Lionel products this is not the book.



5. This is a great book if you are interested in Lionel train operating accessories. It describes most of the popular accessories and how to repair and service them. Great color pictures and even a price guide for each accessory. I have read this book from cover to cover and still refer to it quite often.
   
   The only thing missing is advice on whether or not to upgrade an accessory to TMCC control for better performance.

5 comments about Magnificent Miniatures: Inspiration and Technique for Grand Houses on a Small Scale.

1. The photographs are all in color and many are close-up showing a lot of detail. The dollhouses and room boxes were all created by an English husband/wife team who were commisioned by people to build particular houses, often modeled after well-known, actual houses/palaces. The quality is fantastic. Often times, you wouldn't know you were looking at pictures of miniatures if you didn't know what book you were looking at. After looking at the pictures in this book, I looked at my two dollhouses and they look a bit more "home made" than they used to! Oh well! There is a colonial house near the end of the book that I would love to live in. But I don't think the builders do life-size houses! This is a beautiful book to look at and the text is easy to read and informative. This is one I will enjoy looking at again and again.



2. this book is magnificient, as mentioned in the title.
   Two knoledgeable artists are sharig their secrets.
   I got many inspirations....



3. When this book arrived, I didn't actually pick it up and take a look until a couple of days later...and then I stayed up all night reading over it and looking at the gorgeous pictures! I couldn't put it down!! The author's really do take the art of miniatures to a higher level! Their work is so finely detailed, I have a hard time believing these are even done in miniature. If it weren't for the 'fruit and tea cups', one would think the photos are actually interiors of the real homes...er, palaces...they were duplicating! In fact, in my opinion, it's actually the fruit and tea cups...and let us not forget about the egg...that look as if they are the reproduced pieces dropped into the rooms on a much larger scale. Truly, these houses are exquisite, and the artists who made them are the most talented I have ever seen. The painstaking attention they have put into every room is quite apparant. And I love the fact that they give you some 'how-to' information for those of us who wouldn't know where to begin, otherwise. As a newbie miniaturist, and wanting to make my first house as true-to-life as possible, I received many wonderful tips and ideas to achieve my goals. In fact, the parquet floor pattern and instructions they included for their model of Versaille is exactly what I am going to do in my own dollhouse! I have already ordered the wood and can't wait for it to arrive!! Thank you for sharing your inspiring work, Kevin Mulvany & Susie Rogers! While I can't expect to ever achieve your level of mastery...it certainly makes me want to try!



4. As a long-time collector and miniature craftsman, my collection of books on miniaturiana is extensive, so I think twice or three times before adding another volume. Thank goodness I was tempted by Mulvany's reputation, and purchased this! I saved it to read on a flight to South Florida, and in flight happened upon a reference in the book's wonderful bibliography to the effect that several of these incredible rooms were currently on loan to the Naples (Florida) Museum of Art. Went the next day, and the exhibit was breathtaking. But the photography in this book is so clear, so well-staged, that one can actually see more details in the photos than from the actual exhibit. The quality of the paperstock and the photography make it worth twice its cost. An added bonus is that within each chapter, Mulvany presents a do-able high-quality project.



5. This will be a valuable reference book when desigining and creating my miniature rooms. Beautiful color pictures.

5 comments about A Beginners' Guide to the Dolls' House Hobby: Revised and Expanded Edition.

1. This is a truly wonderful resource for a beginner such as myself. Having recently been gifted with a hand-crafted dollhouse (made in high-school shop class by a local teenager) I had no idea where to begin. This book gave me so many wonderful ideas and so much very helpful how-to advice that I wish I could do a dozen houses.



2. This is a great book for anyone who is restoring a dolls' house and would like some history, architectural information and handy patterns for creating small 1:12 scale furniture and items. There are great pieces throughout regarding wallpaper, design elements, equipment needed, walls, framing, fire places, roofing, house finishes and much more. If you're busy restoring a dolls' house or are just interested in the hobby this book is fun to flip through as well as a great reference piece.



3. Terrific book with the right information... Just so when you have two little girl grand children... Poppy will be very popular



4. This book is a fine representative in the "ultimate" series. It is entertaining, informative, and has wonderful illustrations of historical dollhouses. It will interest several audiences: the historian, the collector of antiques, and the hobbyist, who will find good ideas for building and furnishing his or her own dollhouse.



5. I purchased the original edition of Jean Nisbett's book years ago and absolutely loved it! There are lots of beautiful color photos throughout and useful tables in the book. She provides a handy metric conversion table, a fine description of the different periods of which most dollhouses are designed and decorated, and offers many projects for dollhouse components and accessories. I haven't yet looked through her revised edition, but I'm sure it can only hold more wonderful pieces of information, guidelines and ideas. Inspiring and useful!