5 comments about Cool Cars and Trucks.

1. My grandson loved the book and it arrived in very good condition. Getting it to me was another story........it took nearly 3 weeks for it to go from Miami, Fl to the Chicagoland area.



2. This was a decent book, but a little expensive for what was in there. There were several things in there to build, but not as many as I expected. The expert level on building the items was all over the place. Some were way easy, some were very hard. Many of the items to build you needed special pieces that we do not have. Some of them came with detailed instructions which we liked, but several were just pictures of things built out of legos. Depending on what you were looking for, you will or won't like this book. For the price, we were looking for several things to build out of legos with detailed instructions for the younger kid (stage right before they build things on their own). We have liked the brick master sets for our 4 boys. It comes with the bricks and a book with 10+ things to build out of the set of legos. Again, this is a good book, but for the price, and what we were looking for, it fell short.



3. A great practical book for young lego enthusiasts. We bought it for our grandson age 5 and he loves it. If you have a reasonable amount of Lego you don't have to rush out and buy a whole lot more!



4. I was looking for directions for my 7 year old granddaughter to use to build with Legos. It took her no time at all to build some of these vehicles by herself. I just have to get her more Legos because she didn't have enough to make them all at the same time! Great book!



5. Sean Kenney was introduced to LEGO bricks when he was a child and obviously the fascination for them never abated because he now is "recognized as one of the premier LEGO brick builders in the world." In this book you can see a photograph of him at work sculpting a bust of a man in his studio. Container after container of LEGOS can be seen on the shelves behind him. Most kids don't have as many blocks as Sean does, but if you have a passion for them and a few containers, you're going to love building some of these cars and trucks in this book!
   
   Some of the cars in this book can be patterned after a single model that you'll have directions for, while other things like simple furniture on the "Moving Day" page can be easily built by the average reader just by looking at them. The first photograph we see is of a car carrier hauling SUVs and they are some cool. In fifteen clearly diagramed steps you can create your own SUV. With a few additions or subtractions you can make a Sports coupe, Pickup truck or a Minivan, each of which are photographed for you to see. Other cars and trucks included are taxis, sporty cars like a police cruiser, airport vehicles, working trucks (heavy equipment), "pocket-sized crazy cars," rescue vehicles, a semi rig, visuals to design your own trucks and more!
   
   This is a great book for the budding LEGO fan with a wide assortment of projects to build. I liked the vibrant colors and theme of the book. Each model that does have directions has step-by-step instructions and illustrations that make building easy and fun. The book also encourages youngsters to be creative and shows additional vehicles that can be made by altering a few simple details or blocks. If you have a LEGO fanatic in the house, this would be a great gift . . . along with a few extra LEGO pieces!

5 comments about Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay: Tools and Techniques for Sculpting Realistic Figures.

1. This book is a great place to start sculpting humanoids. I would partner this book with the other once just like it on animals, as it's much easier to be objective about critters than about sculpting a human. The author's approach is great, she encourages you to customize your own tool set and has great gesture and line. Plenty of photos and samples and enough step by step to get the point across while still keeping you focused on the clay, not reading a technical manual.



2. This is an amazing book. Katherine Dewey did a great job writing an all-inclusive, clear, detailed, informative book about sculpting polymer clay - which is very difficult to do. She goes to great lengths to demonstrate the necessary tools - and more than that, she shows (in detail) how to make those tools. What a reference book!
   
   The only thing that disappoints me about this book? By reading it, I will not be as talented as Katherine is. I've clayed for years - and I cannot create anything remotely as fantastic as this author does. She makes it look so easy - but don't be fooled. Katherine Dewey is clearly an exceptionally talented clay artist. Although she does her best to share her techniques and tools with the audience, simply buying this book will not make you better with clay. Sorry. I was somewhat deluded by that, I think. I purchased this book thinking I could some how absorb some of the talent and raw skill of Ms Dewey - don't make that mistake. There are definitely many things to learn in this book - and they are laid out in a patient, concise method. However, if you have no skill or talent to begin with, buying this book isn't going to help you. I have practiced several of the techniques laid out in the book - and I'm still just as crummy at clay as I was before. This is not the author's fault - but it's daunting.
   
   As far as claying books go, this is one of the best I have. It covers a vast amount of knowledge and contains technique explanations like crazy. I suppose what keeps me from giving this book "5 stars" is my own disillusionment. Katherine Dewey's skill is a little intimidating - and it is frustrating to follow her direction and not have your piece resemble her final product. If buying a wonderful book like this doesn't help, I should probably give up on clay...but I can't. I love it too much.
   
   Bottom line: you will learn many techniques in this book, from the necessary tools (and how to construct them) to sculpting methods, to finishing to how different brands of clay behave. Reviewer Katherine Canuel made a great point - the amount of information contained in this book is similar to what you would find in a college textbook - it's that good. If you don't have clay talent and natural skill before buying this book, you won't magically gain those qualities. You will get ideas and instruction on how to improve - but then it's up to you to practice, practice, practice. I would say this is book is for intermediate clayers and above - beginners will be frustrated, but advanced clayers will most likely learn a great deal. I would buy this for a friend interested in claying - although the book centers around creating lifelike creations, there are solid lessons to be learned no matter what sort of creations you are interested in making.



3. This was an excellent book on figure making for polymer clay. I was amazed. It really increased my ability from wire framing to the actual polymer muscle structure. It's a great base to start from of course, everyone has their own techniques and you can use this as a starting point or even as a someone who has worked for with PC for a while. Really Loved this book!



4. Highly recommended for people looking to get into figure work. I picked it up mostly to supplement my special effects studies to understand sculpting the body and was blown away.
   
   The proportioning system is straight foreward and laid out in intricate detail. Even better, she shows you all the different genders and ethnicities all in the same section as options. Still better are her how-to's on handmade tools I've spend bundles buying on my own at hobby stores.
   
   Better still how to scale you projects, something that even my high-end sculpting books would barely touch with a ten foot pole, she tackles full on and unabashed. Not only will you make to scale figures, but you can also check out how to make them into miniatures as well! Which is tough as most books reserve scaling for foundry work.
   
   She doesn't leave much to the imagination, nor spares any rock unturned to show you how to use it and encourages you to expand on that knowledge! Wow, where can I find a teacher like that?
   
   All in all, this is a must have for the doll hobbyist or even just the morbidly curious. A big plus is that all the materials, including the clay, are readily available in stores or online. A very fun and informative book, enjoy!



5. I bought this book because it looked like it would be perfect to use as a guide for creating polymer clay fairy figures. As a novice sculptor, it seemed to be the perfect choice, and the directions looked like they would be easy to follow, but actually turned out to be more complex in practice, particularly in how to construct the basic armature. This is probably a better book for the more advanced sculptor.

5 comments about Origami Extravaganza! Kit (Craft).

1. Easy for a beginner and tons of paper to practice with. My husband loves it.



2. Overall I would have to say that this kit is OK. It is a good beginners kit. The printed and metallic paper is neat, but this paper is not very user-friendly. I prefer other brands. As for the book, it contains some great ideas, and the diagrams are, for the most part, easy to use. However; there is very little consistency to the written instructions; it seems like they sometimes skip a few steps where there should be more guidance, and add in extra, unnecessary instructions in other places. And a lot of the projects involve scissors, which I personally do not like. Overall, it is a good practice kit for the price for the beginner.



3. This is a great value getting a good origami book (the instructions are good and the book itself is not flimsy) and a lot of paper to get started with. Enjoyed by all ages. Even used this with children with difficulty sitting down and attending to task (ADHD) and it's fun and they surprised me being able to sit still. Great for rainy day or keeping busy when you need to have quiet time.
   
   Family fun!



4. the instructions are very difficult to follow... the paper is nice though and it comes with lots of it.



5. My grandson Garrett asked for an origami kit for Christmas. As a grammy it is my job to make sure his every wish comes true! I researched to find the best kit I could find for a nine year old boy. This kit was highly recommended and it was a big hit. Now there are little folded up pieces of colored paper everywhere! Everywhere! Everywhere!

5 comments about Chihuly: 365 Days.

1. For those who wish to know the thinking of how an artist thinks and works, then this novel book will reveal serveral hints. The book is nicely illustrated with his current work and thinking. Colleagues from the field also contribute to their knowledge of Chihuly as an artist and glass blower. Although his accident, resulting in the loss of an eye,impacted his ability to personally blow glass, he has replaced it with his "Team Glass Blowing" from his European contacts. Along with his two dimensional investigative drawing/painting, it has allowed him to take the art of glass to the new heights.The book layout, with comments on the opposite page of the glass illustration keeps the information immediate to the images. The illustrations are rich and the color accurate. Excuse the pun, but the book will "blow you away"!



2. This is a wonderful visual history of Chihuly's most impressive pieces. No lack of pictures and it is never boring. You will have to go through it over a good length of time as there is so many works that are documented here. I haven't even reached the end after 2 months of enjoyment. This is not for someone who wants to read and learn about Chihuly's history. This really is as the name implies, hundreds of works by Dale Chihuly in one book. The only issue I have is that I wish the entire book was chronological in his career, but that is really being critical.



3. Aside from the beautiful photography, I appreciated the insight into the artist's creative process. The narrative on the left page explained the piece(s) on the facing page and it enables the viewer to learn more about the glass and the thought behind the piece. The colors, the setting for each piece was a work of art in inself.



4. Chihuly is a true genious. Reading this book & frothing over the pictures: leaves me weak. SWE



5. Anyone who has been to a Chihuly exhibit will love this spectacular book, bursting with color and images of various art pieces. My first experience with Chihuly work was an exhibit at Fairchild Gardens in Miami a few years back and I was blown away by the beauty of the spectacle of his pieces mixed with the nature of the gardens. If you ever have an opportunity to view a Chihuly exhibit in a botanical garden don't miss the chance; it will bring much joy. This book was a great way to bring a smile to my face reminiscing about the beauty I beheld in his work. This makes a great coffee table piece and a wonderful gift at a great price!

5 comments about Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art.

1. Informative and entertaining at the same time. If you are new to the art of altering objects, like me, it really opens your eyes to the possibilities and is very inspirational. Full of symbolism which I found so interesting. Michael is an expert at this technique and I was entertained by his stories ... time to go and raid the shed for rusty treasures!



2. I really enjoyed reading this book. The author shares the stories that inspire his work and photos of his work in progress. This is not a how to book, but a book of inspiration.



3. I was disappointed about this book. I was expecting a how to, but it is written as a dairy of how the author approaches different projects. I wouldn't recommend this book if you are looking for techniques.



4. Michael de Meng has confirmed, I can never throw out another thing. The techniques and artistry of Rusty Things is an inspiration. I don't want to recreate his projects but find each technique a jumping off point.



5. I was disappointed in mr. de Meng's writing. I think he is way too full of himself and am no longer a fan of his.

5 comments about The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More.

1. I'm a professional researcher at heart so when I delve into a topic I dive into the deep end and don't come up until I've exhausted the field. True to form this is what I've done with polymer clay. My thinking: If I'm going to spend a lot of money on tools and supplies I'm going to research the heck out of the topic so that I technically understand what's what. As with most artistic mediums, success and high quality results are dependent upon the artist/crafter's understanding of the technical issues. This is where Donna Kato comes into my life (so to speak).
   
   I purchased Kato's first book 'The Art of Polymer Clay' and was blown away by the depth and breadth (underline that last) of subtopics presented. Her writing and step by step explanations are clearly presented without being too pedantic. The side by side pictures detail the techniques being discussed and don't omit that critical step which makes the difference between success and failure. Some authors don't edit their own work very well and when omissions of this sort happen it drives me crazy.
   
   From my experience with her first book I purchased Kato's `The Art of Polymer Clay: Creative Surface Effects' and again wasn't disappointed (remember my expectations at this point were high). This book is an outstanding tool. With Kato's help, and admittedly the help of other well qualified author's my overall appreciation of polymer clay techniques has grown leaps and bounds and I look forward to years of expressing myself in the millions of ways this particular medium allows.



2. Wow, that's some long title. The book is excellent in that is shows step by step how to transfer images to clay, stamping, using stencils, inks and paint to make the most unique pieces of art...............not the clay projects you remember from childhood.



3. Donna did it again with this book and as with her other books, I am learning so much. I suggest this book to anyone who wants to take their polymer clay work to another level. Well written, great photos, easy to follow instructions. Thanks for another great book, Donna.
   
   Madeline Faiella



4. I found the book just did not live up to my expectations. When will crafting books realize that photo transfers done with xerox machines hardly ever work as they are shown in books? The techniques of photo transfer, which is covered in this book as if it works, is really frustrating. Also, the use of translucent clays to good effect is iffy and the high polish acheived by the author on many of the pieces. I just couldn't get it to work.



5. As a statement jewelry artist [...] I work in polymer, glass and metals.
   
   This book is really informative, great easy techniques that give really nice results. The pictures are great and she always
   carefully gives you step by step, I have not done transfer but will try it now. For beginners start with her earlier books, then move on to this book.

4 comments about 500 Ceramic Sculptures: Contemporary Practice, Singular Works (500 Series).

1. This book was purchased to show my ceramic students and I thought it was less than inspiring images of ceramic arts.



2. I was looking for a survey of contemporary ceramic sculpture and I thought any book claiming to have 500 images of them should be able to cover all the bases pretty well. Not so.
   
   After buying the book and reading the fine print I learned that it's a compilation of photos from a juried competition (i.e. only those who submitted photos were considered and, of those, only the ones selected by the single, idiosyncratic juror made it into the book). Forget comprehensiveness here. Although there is some good work shown, I found more representation of the "icky/creepy" school of ceramics than I needed.
   
   And where are the bright lights of the ceramic sculpture world? Where is Betty Woodman, Sueharu Fukami, Andrew Lord, Ken Price, Viola Frey, Wouter Dam, Ruth Duckworth, etc., etc.? Not in this book.
   
   If you're looking for a wider, more comprehensive view of this subject I'd recommend Postmodern Ceramics by Mark Del Vecchio or Color and Fire by Jo Lauria.



3. As with all of the Lark 500 series, this book won't disappoint! The images are wonderful and show such a huge variety of ideas and techniques. If you have enjoyed the other books in the series, you should also enjoy this one.



4. I love the Lark books- the pictures are always wonderful and the books very well done- this book was a classic lark- but not for me- most of the ceramic pieces pictured are abstract in nature and not in a pleasing -to my taste way- if you are looking for a book with wierd depressing works of clay- this one is for you- but if you are looking for something "pretty" and inspirational I would stay away- I'll keep this book in my art classroom for those students who enjoy the more morbid side of art.
   Me, I like to fill my life with feel good,, colorful art which makes me smile.

5 comments about Origami Flowers: Popular Blossoms and Creative Bouquets.

1. Lots of illustrations of what the finished product should look like. Tips on decorating the flower faces as well. A lot of nice flower variety. All very complicated. The instructions are thorough, but this is absolutely not a beginner's book.



2. I've made one flower arrangement for a girl's birthday at work; and since then all the girls at the office want one too. So I've made about 16 different flower arrangement, and I have to make about 16 more. Please, if you want to purchase this book, you have to first learn how to say... No.
   
   It is a wonderful book, along with "Blooming Origami" by Fumio Inoue. Yet please note, in both books you cut, glue, and paste. They are not books on how to make an origami flower from a single square of paper by folding only.
   
   I read here someone mentioned it is a hard book to handle. So I bought it thinking to use it more of an inspiration. But when I got it, I discovered the foldings are mostly not so hard (though I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner).



3. I wanted somthing a little more challenging for a friend's granddaughter for Christmas, so I started searching and I found it....she is so into the Origami that I know this will be just what she would enjoy!!!!



4. I agree with some of the other reviewers- this is a great book for someone experienced- the diagrams are very easy to follow, the folds come out looking great, and so on. I highly recommend it. However- if you're just starting out, I think a lot of the folds are a little tricky and might not come out right. Definitely not a book for an absolute beginner, but otherwise it's a fantastic book- I loved it.



5. Origami flowers is a FANTASTIC book, but it is not for the novice, or for one that does not want to spend some quality time constructing the flowers. The flowers do in fact look like the real ones, but they are complicated. One flower took me several hours to complete. I would say this is a book for the advanced-intermediate to advanced origami artist.
   
   Beautiful flowers though!

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.

3 comments about The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving: Elegant Garnishes for All Occasions.

1. This book has beautiful photography and intricately detailed step-by-step directions for even the most green chef out there. With a good, sharp, and thin paring knife, one can easily achieve most of the carvings presented.



2. This book has a good combination of explanatory text and photos to help the budding cook. There is a useful mixture of fairly simple carving and more exotic things to do. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to up their food presentation .



3. You can tell by the decorative food carving at kaiseki restaurants that the Japanese eat with their eyes. No other book has captured this dying art in such detail.
   
   The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving is filled with instructions and photos that give you the skills to recreate these wonders at home, as well as simple recipes and a guide to carving tools. Most impressive is the delicate and thin slices that chef Hiroshi Nagashima, of Hongan-ji temple restaurant Shisui in Tsukiji, uses to transform fruit and vegetables into edible art.
   
   We tested a few of these techniques at home and were tickled by the successful results. Complicated as some of the shapes look, it is actually easy to make the curls and knots. The chapter on cucumber carvings in particular was a snap to recreate at home, and satisfying to the palate.