1 comments about The Care of Bronze Sculpture: Recommended Maintenance Programs for the Collector.

1. Not particularly advanced, but good for the collector and many bronze artists. Slightly repetitive, but affirmative of very good bronze finishing/conservation practices in a variety of enviroments.

5 comments about Whirligigs & Weather Vanes: A Celebration of Wind Gadgets With Dozens of Creative Projects to Make.

1. I have seen whirlygigs in movies, and occasionally the simple birds with spinning wings. I wanted to know what sort of materials were needed to make the more involved mechanical devices - such as the man sawing wood. This book did not disappoint. The author provides information on materials to use for reliable service in a device exposed to the elements. This is an excellent place to start.
   
   Some of the designs are quite creative - a few looked like they escaped from the movie Yellow Submarine.



2. I LOVED JUST LOOKING AT THIS BOOK. THE IMAGINATION OF THE WHIRIGIGS AT THE FRONT OF THE BOOK WAS JUST AMAZING. THEY WERE LIKE WORKS OF ART. THE DIRECTIONS FOR THE ONES YOU ACTUALLY MAKE ARE NOT THAT ELABORATE THOUGH. BUT IT GIVES YOU LOTS OF IDEAS FOR WHEN YOU GET REALLY GOOD.



3. I teach arts and crafts at a summer camp in the North Georgia mountains and am always looking for some fun, original folk art to do with the kids. After buying several other whirligig books on the market, I decided to buy this one, hoping it would be easier to understand. It was! Additionally, the photo gallery is phenominal. Whimsical works of art laughing in the breeze. If you are interested in building whirligigs, this would be the first book I would recommend.



4. This book is filled with good quality color pictures of many projects. It also explains how to make the complicated parts of wind toys. It tells what kinds of wood will hold up, and what kinds of wood will fail. It improved my whirligig designs greatly, and added many new ideas for my new ones. Well worth the money.



5. I've had this book for a year and am finally making my first project (How the west was lost). IMHO you need to have some woodworking experience to do the projects other than the very simple ones. Making small parts is difficult on all but a scroll saw or bandsaw with a small blade. Step-by-step specific instructions are scarce. Still, I give this book 4 stars because I really like the projects. I also like being able to come up with my own colors and painting rather than paint by the numbers. I can tell you that the materials that they tell you to use for the mechanical parts are right on. Wire is just too flimsy from my experience. Use a photocopy machine to increase or decrease your pattern sizes. Use spray adhesive to stick the patterns on the wood and you'll get the size you want.

4 comments about The Book of Meissen (A Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. I'm very kind with this book,there are many snaps,perfectly made,and the description for the english spoken collectors is really perfect.There is the best guide for the beginners end the advanced..This book will help to everybody for first time.For more professional knowledges you need special book (private and corporate edition from Meissen).I recommend it to anybody for firsts steps.Amazon shop is very grave seller.Thanks



2. I liked this book, but it was a little different than I had anticipated. I was expecting a pictoral history of Meissen porcelain and while the book does have numerous pictures including many in black and white, it really is primarily a history book of Meissen through the ages. It does not attempt to show any sort of survey of Meissen pieces, but rather through text and line drawings of marks and pattern details traces the lineage of "true Meissen" from the 1700's to the present. The chapter on imitations and forgeries was interesting. One would be very unlikely to "look up" a suspected piece of Meissen porcelain in this book. The text explaining the making of porcelain, the impressing of marks and the design process are the main parts of the book. It has a rather exhaustive discussion of the development and change over time of the Meissen maker's mark. It is useful as a historical reference, but not as a collector's identification guide.



3. The best reference book on Meissen I have in my collection. The detailed chapter on marks, both fake and true, has proven invaluable. Buy the book you won't regret it.



4. This is simply the best book on Meissen porcelain in the English language. Rontgen covers the history of the firm, including information concerning Meissen during the time of the GDR. Photographs, including many in color, make this an important contribution to art literature.

No comments about Hellenistic Sculpture (World of Art).

5 comments about Tom Friedman (Contemporary Artists).

1. Tom Friedman's work is laughably bad. Every piece in the book is a contrived and inhibited gimick. The artist tries too hard to please his audience, & in my opinion pleases no one. Tom Friedman is an insult to the art world, and to the intelligence of anyone who lays eyes on his work.



2. If you have any interest in artist that truly reestablish the concepts that every aspects of our lives are Art, then you must look at this book. Tom Friedman is F**k**g nuts, you won't be disappointed.



3. I found the imagery as well as the associated interview with Tom Friedman to be a perfect portrait of his work.



4. I love Tom Friedman's work, its really conceptual even still. This book is really insightful and has a lot of his best known work. With these artist's books though, comes with poor binding. It will fall apart if you don't take care of it.



5. Tom Friedman is amazing. His work defines patience, creativity and a sense of humor. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Animal Origami for the Enthusiast: Step-by-Step Instructions in Over 900 Diagrams/25 Original Models (Origami).

1. This is easily my favorite book on origami. All the diagrams are clear, the models are very detailed, and more importantly, all of them are an awful lot of fun to make, and very rewarding. While it has models from the whole range of difficulty levels, it focuses primarily on the advanced folder.

   A little bit of history- my parents bought me this book about 15 years ago, I couldn't have been more than 8 at the time. I had dabbled a little bit in origami before then, but this is the book that got me hooked. I still have that copy, ragged at the edges, pages falling out, but still as fulfulling as it always was. I just can't stop singing the praises of this book- it's that good.




2. I Remember When I Got The 3 Final Steps On The Lobster. I Got so Into Origami That I Started Making Lobsters, Crabs And Cranes During School! I Have Loved Origami ever Since I Was 9 Years Old. This Book Was A Little Easy For Me, But For People That Can Only Make Cranes, Tigers, Paper Cups and other Easy Things. This Book is A Little Over Your Head.



3. This is a great book, not quite for beginners, though. In this book, you work your way up through the angel fish (easiest) to the lobster (hardest). The book has great step-by-step intructions which helps you create a model with great detail. This is one of the best origami books I've ever gotten and I definatly recommend it if you're really into origami.



4. If you want some wonderful challenging and detailed animal origami to fold, you won't be disappointed with this book! It has quite a few of my favorite models. All the ones pictured on the cover are great...I particularly like the wonderful detail on the frog, with eyes and toes. The lobster is another personal favorite of mine.



5. In 1985 I bought this at a book fair when I was 5 years old, and I still think that it is one of the best books on origami out there. The version that I have contains a few confusing instructions (which may have been corrected in later editions), but they can be worked around thanks to the well drawn pictures.

5 comments about Origami: The Complete Practical Guide to the Ancient Art of Paperfolding.

1. I bought this book because I had read that it contained instructions for the Fireworks modular origami piece. Rather naively, I thought that the book was comprised of projects of similar difficulty. The modular origami section -was- very good, but comprised so little of the overall content of the book that I felt I had been somewhat cheated.
   
   Now don't get me wrong - if you are just starting out with origami or want a resource to teach beginners, this book is very hard to beat. The other reviews of this product state it better than I do: it contains a wide range of projects suitable to younger children and beginners, and I would be hard pressed to name a book with a better selection of those kinds of projects. The photographs are beautiful and detailed, and I found the section about commonly used bases (blintz base, bird base, frog base, etc.) very helpful for teaching others.
   
   However, if you are an intermediate or above folder, you will probably find this book disappointing, especially because of the price. I would categorize 90% of the models as beginner-level. There are definitely a few gems in there that will keep more advanced paper folders busy, but not enough for me to completely justify buying the book. Be warned!



2. Origami: The Complete Practical Guide to the Ancient Art of Paperfolding was a very worthwhile purchase. It was helpful getting youngsters started doing interesting paperfolding as well as engaging others with greater knowledge of the craft. Diverse and compelling, the color photographs served a much better format for teaching the folding techniques than the dotted-line instructions of other books.
   
   I used the book working with children to give them coping skills dealing with stress. Successful completion of any of the projects can produce pride and a strong level of satisfaction. The range and progressive complexity of the many projects allows for varying levels of interest and skill, and provides challenges for all participants.
   
   David R. Emmons, Ph.D., M.S. M.H.C.



3. This super book will please any paperfolder from the beginner who has done his or her basic models through to expert level. Models range from the Tomoko Fuse six piece lizard, the modular brocade ball and modular super complex star shown on the cover through to Tsudo's delightful little simple frog and Adolfo Cerceda's wonderful Peacock with the clever lock to the tail devised by Paul Jackson.
   
   The model instructions are shown in step folding rather than in the Yoshizawa/Randlett diagrammatic style most paperfolders will be used to but there is a superb gallery of models to look at in the beginning pages, a wide range of models to fold and the book itself is beautifully photographed and produced.
   
   This version is the rather large and heavy hardback but there is a paperback available which you should look for if you plan to carry the book around a lot.



4. Every piece I have folded from this book has impressed me. I focused on objects to share with my 5 year old and 2 year old. Each model delighted me with the elegance and simpilicity of its design. The expositions are little masterpieces of economy and clarity. I am used to seeing drawn origami diagrams and was skeptical about the use of photographs. However, the author does a superb job of supplementing the photos with just the right amount, and kind, of verbal explanation. Moreover, the designs have a contemporary and hip look to them. Ever folded a paper hat out of newspaper? Well, here Rick Beech shows you how to fold 5 different paper hats in a series, with the same piece of paper! If I had to use one word to describe the qualities in this book, it would be "clever". Note, the edition I have is called "The Origami Handbook".

   Cliff




5. This is my first origami book bought sometime in November 2002, which got me interested in Origami. I remember being very impressed with the beautiful color photos. Since I was a new folder then, I could easily understand the photo instructions when I first got it, but now I prefer diagrams. Interesting background information on origami and introduction to some origami celebrities makes this book an enjoyable read. There is a photograph of the author with a large elephant model, which got me interested in folding from large paper (60 cm x 60 cm or more). Models ranges from very simple �party trick� to impressive �modular�. The beautiful photographs make me want to fold all. I folded my first elephant from this book, a simple one, but very effective in representing the animal. I often drool over the colorful modular models, especially the Flexagon Firworksï...

1 comments about The Way Toys Work: The Science Behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch A Sketch, Boomerang, and More.

1. This book is excellent. I'd like to think my grandson will grow up to be an engineer based on his love of how things are put together and what makes them work. The Way Toys Work is easy to understand while providing lessons in an enjoyable atmosphere.

5 comments about Making Concrete Sculpture.

1. So little content, where are the checks and balances in the publishing industry? Does the publisher just request photo's to then send it all to China for printing and call it a book? "Making Concrete Sculpture" is a catalog of T.J. Neils work with a 2 page introduction of supplies you will need. He is not going to give anything away while trying to aggrandize himself. You can get the same information at your local Home Depot. This Schiffer book is a waste of time, money and paper.



2. This is the problem with buying books on line.The instructions amount to , "buy some concrete, get some rebar & tie wire and go for it"!!!



3. If you are looking for an instruction manual...this isn't it. Mainly a journal or record (photographic) of this craftsman's process. It was not helpful for me.



4. This highly anticipated work was mistitled and very disappointing. There is basically no information on making concrete sculptures, and consists of pictures of the author's various works. A more appropriate title would have been T.J.'s Concrete Sculptures.



5. If you're like me, and looking for instructional books on concrete sculpture, then go for something by Sherry Warner Hunter or someone like that. This book just showcases T.J.'s work. There are some images of his armatures for his sculptures, but if you're looking for step by step instructions to break into this fascinating craft, look elsewhere. Besides, you can see most of the stuff in his book on his web site and save yourself some money.

5 comments about Mythological Creatures and the Chinese Zodiac in Origami.

1. I just found the directions in this book to be confusing, and some intermediate steps would probably have resolved this. There were several points that I found difficult to follow, a problem I have not had in any other origami books I have used.
   
   I gave this two stars because I think most of the models designs are nice. But considering the large majority of this book is supposed to be step-by-step to the final design, and those were not very clear to me, I have to give it the thumbs down



2. I am a beginning origami enthusiast and have only five origami books to my name. However, four of them are by John Montroll and this book, Mythological Creatures, is one of the best!! The drawings are easy to follow, the designs are very different and challenging and when completed, the three-headed dragon is just awesome!! It took me four hours to fold it, but it was worth the time. Get this book! The folds are great and the results are worth every penny!



3. This book has my favorite Montrol Model, Cerberus the three headed dog who guards the gates of hell, and my second favorite Pegasus. I had an old Sakoda model of a the flying horse but this one far exceeds it.

   Montrol models tend to be complex, with many many folds. The detail of the three headed dragon is amazing. But the final model is less than pleasing. Sometimes less is more. On the other hand, there are no cuts in any of these models and if you use good large paper you will be amazed at what is possible.

   (These models are easier than the Lang bugs)




4. I was very disappointed in Montroll's origami books. the directions/diagrams were not clear or complete. i was also disappointed in the end results of the pieces. they lacked the detail despite the complicated folds that were used to achieve the finished pieces.



5. This is a decent origami book overall. There are some very impressive models, such as the three headed dragon, but most of the book is pretty watered-down compared to some of Montroll's other books due to lack of detail.