1 comments about 25 Gunfighter Patterns for Carvers: With Step-By-Step Carving Instructions (A Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1. This book was writen for those carvers who can't get enough cowboy patterns to fill their needs. One gunfighter is carved and painted in step-by-step detail, and patterns are provided for 24 more, using the same techniques as those presented in the photo project.

1 comments about Carl Faberge: Goldsmith to the Imperial Court of Russia.

1. This book has 185 photographs of various pieces of Carl Faberge's studio's work. A majority of the photos are in color. The focus is on the pieces themselves with text accompanying each picture that describes the object and lists the materials used. There is additional text that describes the generic materials used and gives an overview of the studio and the process of enameling. It also discusses the general categories of objects that the studio produced. This book is excellent for someone who wants primarily to see pictures of Faberge's work and wants some additional background information.

No comments about Portraits of the Masters: Bronze Sculptures of the Tibetan Buddhist Lineages.

3 comments about Songbird Carving With Ernest Muehlmatt: World-Class Ribbon Winner Teaches You How to Carve and Paint 10 Favorite Songbirds.

1. This a mighty fine book it is full of very good illustrations.It is a book recommended to me by my carving instructor who has used it as referance for years.Well worth the money a trully great book for any one wishing to learn more about carving birds



2. This was my first real book on carving birds out of wood. This book is very easy to understand with lots of information for the beginner. Lots of pictures with step by step detailed instructions on carving, detailing, and painting 10 songbirds. Ernie covers more birds in this one book then any two books I know. GREAT BOOK, GREAT TEACHER!



3. Written by Roger Schroeder, this book is a summary of Ernest Muehlmatt's carving techniques that takes the reader through the steps of carving song birds using a power carver. Mr. Schroeder's writting style is difficult to get used to. He uses many un-necessary adjectives to describe the process of carving. Much of the first part of the book is devoted to reviewing Mr. Muehlmatt's personal opinions in bird carving. The reader gets a sense that Mr. Muehlmatt is quite egotistical. Nonetheless, the book does go over a few techniques useful to aquire for both carving and painting birds. Although geared toward people who use power carving tools, much of the information can be used for those who utilize knives and gouges. The second part of the book includes patterns of some common song birds and a pictorograph showing how each one was carved and painted. This turns out to be the most useful part of the book. Overall, readers will gain some knowledge of song bird carving and painting and a lot of insight into the thought process of Ernest Muehlmatt, albeit at the expense of sifting through the cumbersome writing sytle of Roger Schroeder.

1 comments about 86 Cane Patterns: For the Woodcarver (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1. Here again, Tom Wolfe has put out a book of patterns that should be regarded more as a collection of sketches. The drawings in his book are single-side views only and in no way represent true patterns for a wood carver.

   Again, Mr. Wolfe states in his introduction that he prefers to work from the single view, as if that's the way the rest of the world should operate simply because he does. Mr Wolfe should realize that the people who buy these books are usually beginners in the field and many of us don't have the artistic ability to draw the other needed views ourselves. To anyone other than an experienced artist, woodcarver, this book is pretty worthless.

   I wouldn't recommend it at all and it makes me angry that someone with Mr. Wolfe's talent and reputation would publish something like this and call it a book of patterns.

No comments about 35 Santa Patterns for Carvers (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

No comments about Sevres: Porcelain from the Sevres Museum, 1740 to the Present Day.

1 comments about Jewelry by Chanel.

1. I acquired this book as a reference for jewelry design, it was highly recommended by a friend who trained in Paris for Fine Jewelry design. The book contains just over 140 pages, the first 54 dedicated to text accompanied with quick sketches depicting Coco Chanel and her fashions; the remainder is filled with glossy photos of Chanel's jewelry creations, most in full color, a few other period stills in black and white. The photos are large, very sharp and show much of the fine detail of her jewelry, often dedicating one page to a single piece.
   
   The book includes images of objects from antiquity, which clearly inspired Chanel, some even appear to be direct copies. Chanel's Byzantium crosses are especially intriguing for capturing a look of great antiquity. I found the strong Renaissance and Baroque forms to be equally inspiring.
   
   I would have welcomed an even more expansive book that included more photos however this book covers pieces from the 1930's to the 1960's, and some space has been dedicated to all the various styles.

1 comments about Origami Fantastic Creatures.

1. I can't praise this book/set enough. The instructions are incredibly easy to follow, and they are almost all beginner-intermediate. Plus the book is huge so everything is nice and big and clearly shown. I've been doing origami for a number of years, and have done my share of complex "insane" models, but I prefer the simpler models that can be made for friends "on the spot." This book is extraordinary for anyone who wants to add beautiful, unique, yet simple models to their repetoir. I can't count how many people's days have been brightened at receiving a Unicorn from this book. Some of the models are extremely simple (Golden Goose), others somewhat tedious (Kraken), however the bulk of this book is beginner-intermediate, fun to fold, and wonderful for everyone. The Dragon is made from a basic Bird Base, and is excellent for a simple, elegant version of a Dragon that takes at most 5 minutes, (intermediate/expert folders read 2 minutes). The Griffon takes a bit longer, but is still easy and looks incredibly beautiful. The Unicorn is exquisite and realistic, yet easy to make, etc etc. I found the hardest one to be Cerberus, which took me about 10 minutes, but on the second go it took less than 5 and remains one of the neatest ideas I've seen in any book.
   The only drawback to this set is that the paper is very plain and limited in color, but for little cost one can find thousands of beautifully designed papers to really bring these to life. Nearly all of these models are "corners show," so I highly recommend "Harmony Paper". Don't miss this or any of LaFosse's books!

No comments about Techniques of gem cutting: A lapidary manual.