5 comments about The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line.

1. Sensible, down-to-earth advice for artists & crafters.
   This book helps demystify my business questions.
   It is easy & enjoyable to read; not dry.
   This is the encouragement I've been looking for
   to start my own business, doing what I love!
   Wish it had been printed years ago.



2. Wow! This is a very comprehensive book. I was having a hard time figuring out where to begin. I knew where I was and where I wanted to be, but had NO idea how to get there until this book. It has great ideas if you already have a business going as well. The book is super easy to read and understand. It is also very up to date utilizing the internet to help get everything going and maintain a stream of business. If you are interested in starting your own crafty business this book is a MUST.



3. Hand Made Marketplace is written very clearly and extensively covers all details anyone would need when entering a venture of selling crafted items. I highly recommend buying this book. I doubt you will be disappointed!



4. The Handmade Marketplace is the best place to start when you are contemplating starting your own craft business. Each chapter has a wealth on information presented in a clear, concise, and approachable way. Kind of like having your best friends counsel you on what to do. Not only does Kari draw from her own craft-selling experience, she gathers advice from other well-known, successful artisans to create a dialogue on each topic. If you are thinking about taking the plunge into handmade craft sales, this is a must read!



5. Marketing is simply how you sell what you make, whether it's Ford automobiles, or one-of-a-kind felt hats. You make things; if you want to sell them, you need to market them. Author Kari Chapin seems to believe it's that simple, and her text on marketing for crafters //The Handmade Marketplace// certainly presents it simply. Yet, accomplishing these marketing concepts is a different matter. Chapin's handbook is a darned good starting place, especially for the entrepreneur with no prior business experience, who is handicapped by never having heard the terms "mobility", "business plan", or "pro forma." This work will not explain those terms, but does a pretty good job of delineating the expertice a new business owner should consult and cultivate. Frankly, some of the advice smacks of new-age gobbledygook ('build a nurturing place', 'welcome inspiration'), but much of it is practical, basic advice that will be appropriate not to just the handcrafter, but to almost any entrepreneur who needs or wants to explore the advantages of world-wide marketing via the internet.
   
   Reviewed by Claudette Smith

5 comments about The Complete Joy of Homebrewing Third Edition (Harperresource Book).

1. We gave this book and another on home brewing to our son for his 24th birthday and he couldn't put it down. I can't recall when he was that excited about a book.



2. When I first started thinking about making my own homebrew I had asked a friend who is a doctor in the field of chemical engineering. He told me to pick up this book and read it through and let the brewing begin. I did just that and it opened pandora's box so to say. I have been homebrewing ever since and this book had been the biggest inspiration to get me going. It was full of information that the first time brewer would have never even thought about. So now a couple years later I'm still working at my brewing skills by extract brewing but I'm begining to work toward all grain. Bottom line great book and I would recommend it to all first time homebrewers!



3. This book is fantastic if you want to learn about home brewing. Everything is laid out for you in this book. If you had an interest in getting started with home brewing before buying this book you probably won't be able to put the book down. Very well done. My only problem was that I read it during a blizzard & had to wait til the thaw to head downtown, pick up supplies & get started.



4. If you are interested in brewing your own beer at home, you need this book. Anything else I could write would just be superfluous.



5. This is a pretty concise atlas for the price of it being used. My daughter and I look through the maps quite often, and I am able to show her many points on the globe that she sees on TV. We love the information in this book.

5 comments about Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic Techniques for Sewing, Applique, Embroidery, Quilting, Dyeing, and Printing, plus 150 Inspired Projects from A to Z.

1. I HAVE MARTHAS CRAFT BOOK. THIS BOOK IS GOOD,BUT NOT AS GOOD AS HER CRAFT BOOK. MOST OF THE PATTERNS I WON' USE.



2. I have long enjoyed Martha Stewart's cookbooks so I was thrilled when I saw she was releasing a book on sewing and fabric crafts. I have been sewing on and off for 14 years, but in no way consider myself an expert and always find there is more to learn. As such, I love books that share tips and give me project ideas.
   
   This book definitely fits the bill. Even after 14 years of sewing it still had great tips and ideas I could benefit from as well as a wealth of information that I imagine I would have found valuable when I was just startng out. I appreciated that it was approachably written and had easy to understand content.
   
   My only regret is that I received an advanced copy that did not include the accompanying CD so I cannot speak of the usefulness of that material, but can say I really enjoyed what was in the book and can see myself turning to it when I need an answer to one of my sewing questions.



3. I first learned about the simply singer sewing machine from the
   Martha Stewart show. I purchased one for myself and one for my
   daughter in law. When I heard about the book I just had to buy us
   each one as well. I'm very happy with my purchases and watch Martha
   daily.
   Thank You for making it so easy for me to order and receive the wonderful
   books!
   Janice Maughan



4. This book gives some interesting ideas from simple aprons and pillowcases to duvets, dolls and quilts. Pick your project from among these great ideas, visit your local fabric store and begin! It's incredibly easy.



5. I really didn't need the encyclopedia part of this because I hae sewn for a long time. But the templates are excellent for the project I have sewed so far. Just need a computer and a printer to run them off.

5 comments about The Big-Ass Book of Crafts.

1. Bought this book without thinking twice, anxiously waited the almost 3 weeks to get it and I love it! This book is full of neat and pretty ideas. Every craft is customizable so its more unique to you. Instructions are straight forward and easy to understand. Love the witty comments throughout.



2. I love a lot of the crafts in this book. A few of them are quite unnecessary (grade-school crafts) that would just sit around & collect dust. Some, however, are great ideas. I've made a few things out of this book & plan to make more. It helps you think of new ways to use things.



3. This book is incredible! I got my copy about two weeks ago and I have already made a couple of the things out of this book. It has tons of great ideas that can be made to look like you came up with the idea. I made the 3D flower box on page 19 and it is beautiful hung up on the wall and it's very inexpesive to make the shadowbox I found was $14 dollars and the other supplies might already be on hand. It's a fun, fun book and I reccomend checking it out. Plus all of the supplies can be found in the craft section at Walmart and at craft stores. The instructions are easy to follow, they are cute projects like the laminated earrings are adorable,I have a ton of sticky notes in my already worn out paper back book and I intend on making most of them! It is a fun book full of great projects and like I said I reccomend it! It's just a totally great book.



4. Amazon gave me a hard time on this item. It took me about 5 phone calls in total of two hours on hold to notify amazon of my address which was given correctly the first time. I recieved the book, which turned out to be a total flock. The book had totaly usless projects. For fear of never recieving my money back I will not return the item, and I dont have a person that will think it usefull either. I much rather through it out.



5. I have had this book for a couple of years now and I have really enjoyed it. It's full of great ideas that are easy and look great. Any time I need a last minuet gift idea or am just bored on a Saturday, I pull this book out. If you are a crafter then you really should have this book.

5 comments about Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business.

1. I read this book just out of curiosity and thoroughly enjoyed it, from cover to cover. The author writes from her own personal experience, and the facts are laid out in a concise, easy to read format. Mateo Ilasco gives you just enough information without bogging you down with the nitty-gritty. Unlike other craft business books, a la Barbara Brabec's "Handmade for Profit," Mateo Ilasco doesn't just focus on handmade crafts. She also focuses on creative design as a way to make a living and provides plenty of examples and interviews with those who have successfully turned their creativity into a profitable business, such as Lotta Jandsdotter. In fact, the interviews with creative entrepreneurs are some of the best features of this book. The author's skill as an interviewer really shines through, as the individuals profiled each have something unique about his/her business that Mateo Ilasco uses to expand on her earlier points. And unlike some other craft business books, the author doesn't just limit her focus on the traditional means of generating income from your crafts and creativity. She also covers expanding your business from a one-person operation to outsourcing your work.



2. The author Meg Mateo Ilasco offers the reader an insight into the world of Craft. The author's own experience in Craft and business experience contributes to the unique eye that the author has on what the reader might be interested in the world of craft. The book discusses some basic start-up processes for the newbie. And for the experienced, consultation on the "next step" on growing your craft business. A bonus was the author's interviews from other crafters with different crafts and business styles.
   
   It was great to see a cost basis and procedures in the section "Reaching for the Stars" for those readers who are interested in getting their craft in the star's gift bag at big events. As well as the cost to be involved in the New York International Gift Fair. I don't think that too many crafters are willing to discuss the cost of doing business while they are trying to sell to you at these events. And it was refreshing to see certain business cost sprinkled throughout the book.
   
   Additionally, this books contains internet resources which includes Craft Fairs, Blog Hosts, Craft Forums, Trade shows, and more.



3. I bought this based on the other reviews, and I was not disappointed. The book is very informative, answering almost all questions and if not answering, then offering an avenue to pursue to find the answers. Definitely worth the money!



4. First, I borrowed this from the public library. But I flagged so many pages to take notes on, I decided it was best to buy it, instead. Great summary of info with just enough detail to help you understand and take your next step, step by step. Practical and easy to read and understand without having an MBA--written for us regular people. No rambling on about anything, straight to the point info you can use right away. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that it is copyrighted 2007--just before the big economic crisis; I would have liked to have some info tailored to that. But still loads of helpful ideas and the steps to success should be the same.



5. This book could very well be considered a bible for indie-minded crafters who want to take their craft to the next level. Author Meg Mateo Ilasco covers all the basics, everything from choosing a legal structure for your business and record keeping to creating a pricing formula for your goods and marketing your wares, and she even touches on what to do when you want to grow your business further and decide you need to hire help or when you've decided that it's time to call it quits.
   
   Much of this information can be garnered from around the internet for free, but you'll have to know where to look, and tracking all of the info down can sometimes be daunting for someone just starting out. Craft Inc. serves as a great overview and handy reference guide for all aspects of your business.
   
   One of the things I really enjoyed, and I remember reading as much in other people's reviews of the book, were the interviews with established crafty entrepreneurs. Ilasco scored interviews with notable names on the craft & design scene, including Lotta Jansdotter, Jill Bliss and Jonathan Adler. Each interview is carefully tailored to the section of the book in which it appears, so after you read about the basics of order fulfillment, wholesale and consignment, for example, you'll get to see how jewelry designer Dawn Benedetto of Poppi handled setting minimum opening order requirements for wholesale orders.
   
   If you're just starting out on your journey as a creative business person, I would highly recommend checking out this book, as it should give you a good idea of everything that running your own crafty business can entail. If you've already been managing your creative business for awhile, you might know much of this information already. That said, I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on many of the topics covered in the book, and I still found a few things that I hadn't thought about before, particularly within the interview sections. Where ever you are in your crafty business venture, I bet Craft Inc. could probably give you some new insights.

5 comments about Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration.

1. Martha Stewart in all her crafty glory. She's genius. TONS of amazing ideas in this book. It's inspiring!! Well worth the price!



2. Loved the creative ideas - great fun for all ages and events - very inspiring



3. Martha is a national treasure. She's led the parade for the average person to create beautiful things. The variety in this book is amazing. I've read it through and now I'm rolling up my sleeves.



4. No matter how you might feel about Martha, this book offers really great ideas for home crafts and decor. This is apparently the digest version of a multi-volume set of craft books by Stewart, so it's not really an "encyclopedia."
   The layout is beautiful and the steps clearly described. Note that with many of the crafts, you need special tools which are easily found at art stores.



5. THE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ARE EASILY BORED ON THEIR WEEKEND VISIT, AND SO WE GO THROUGH THE BOOK AND TAPES OF MARTHA'S SHOW AND PICK OUT PROJECTS THEY UNDERSTAND. THEY ARE 4YRS AND 6 YRS AND ENJOY CUTTING PAPERS AND GLUE AND GLITTER AND SO ITS A FUN THING FOR THEM AND THEIR NANA.

No comments about Bunny Williams' Scrapbook for Living.

5 comments about The Cardmaker's Workbook: The Complete Guide to Design, Color, and Construction Techniques for Beautiful Cards.

1. Nice illustrations, easy to follow instructions, inspired lots of other card making AND scrapbooking ideas that were not included in the book. Very happy with this purchase!



2. Great cardmaking ideas. Lots to share and covered many techniques that I thought were far more difficult than they were to do. I'll use this book often.



3. This book is great for card ideas. It offers great advise and step by step instruction to make fabalous cards.



4. What an excellent resource for everything paper. Full of techniques and great ideas. Also if you have ever wondered how to use specific scrapbook tools and techniques, this book is your one stop answer. Love it and highly recommend it to anyone that scrapbooks or makes cards. Definitely a "must have" referance guide for beginners and experts alike.



5. this book has helped with various aspects of color harmony and also of balancing applied pieces of card or fabric on main cards. it's tips have helped me when designing cards.it's also given me new ideas to try out.

5 comments about Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings.

1. it is not a book for teaching a new techniqes , it is a bout the the artist pholosophy..i do not like it.



2. this book is inspirational - it makes you think about the things that could influence your outlook on life - we all look at things differently - you must be inspired by the things you love



3. loved it! has set me on my creative path, exactly how she has experienced her's. the book is gloriously illustrated, full of lovely stories, quotes, ideas and inspiration. i believe that you have to take from it (NOT COPY) what you like for your own work and learn. Very beautiful read, couldn't put it down!
   Thank you Kelly Rae Roberts for sharing your story! also visit her website.....she is just lovely!



4. An endearingly pretty guidebook on an artist's journey to the heart of creativity, Taking Flight is 124 pages of perceptive prompts, quixotic quotes, tantalizing techniques, and engaging eye-candy. The pages are infused with art and writing that truly give voice to a vast love of life and Kelly Rae's whimsical spirit. Her art reflects a firm belief in the sacred/ordinary connection. A broad range of mixed-media techniques are employed in the various projects, with detailed instructions. Stephanie Lee, Laurie Mika, DJ Pettit and Judy Wise are included among those who contributed art, techniques and interviews. They reveal a plenitude of clever secrets such as using plaster to create specific (3-d) canvas additions, and why we should always keep a little gold leaf on our supply shelves.
   A few additional thoughts:
   While it's true that Kelly Rae's art could be labeled twee as at least one reviewer did, that is her particular vision. Just because something isn't gritty doesn't mean it isn't art. The techniques in the book can be used to create any art one likes - I honestly don't think Kelly Rae means for all her readers to copy her specific art exactly, but to employ her valid and varied techniques to their own vision and response to the world. I don't believe everyone making art is looking to spew ugliness, but at times, that's exactly what makes a valid artistic statement. Conversely, everyone doesn't have to create pretty, but it is reasonable and to be expected that some will, and more will like it. And by the way, there can be pain in prettiness.



5. I have found this book to be a fantastic tool for me to get in touch with my creative dreams.... I am yet to create all the projects but have thoroughly enjoyed reading about them and intend to put my hands to work asap... This is a book I will definitly share with my family and friends also :))))

5 comments about Complete Photo Guide to Sewing - Revised + Expanded Edition: 1200 Full-Color How-To Photos (Singer).

1. I am very excited about the condition and care my book came to me in. I can't wait to get started!!!



2. This is a nice book for beginners definitely. I am a book fiend and I also craft and I like to have good reference books handy. This isn't really any better than the Readers Digest Sewing book from the 70's. It's got nice color pictures but isn't THAT informative. It's just a nice book to have around for reference.



3. The book contains mainly photos, very little text, but this was I was looking for, because I did not know how to do some simple sweing stuff.



4. I bought this book for my daughter-in-law to go with the sewing machine I gave her for Christmas. I looked through it before I wrapped it and knew that this would be perfect for her. I have been sewing for almost 40 years and I liked this book so much that I am considering getting one for myself as well!!



5. Great condition (like new), fast delivery, overall was well pleased and would do business again.