No comments about Sculpture Parks and Trails of England.

2 comments about Sheela-na-Gigs of Ireland and Britain: The Divine Hag of the Christian Celts - An Illustrated Guide.

1. I first stumbled across a drawing of one of these unusual stone effigies in a book of horror stories called "The Angry Dead." To see the actual images in Dublin's National Museum, was still a bit of a shock as the anatomical detail proudly displayed by these Sheelas is normally only visible to a gynecologist or lover.
   
   So I turned to this interesting and well-written book to learn more about the Sheela-Na-Gigs. Oddly enough, they are not fertility figures. Most of them are portrayed as ferocious and gaunt, with the ribs clearly delineated. Here is one of the earliest references to a Sheela found at Barnahealy, County Cork: "This is one of those old Fetish figures often found in Ireland on the fronts of churches as well as castles, they are called 'Hags of the Castle' and when placed above the keystone of the door arch were supposed to possess a tutelary or protective power so that an enemy passing by would be disarmed of evil intent against the building on seeing it."
   
   Typically in Gaelic oral traditions, a central character in many of the stories was a fearsome female figure, typically described as "an old woman with a bald head, cadaverous ribs, sagging abdomen, and small flat breasts." She is the crone, the third aspect of the Earth goddess which also includes a maiden and a woman in her sexual prime.
   
   It is rather delightful to think that the Sheela-na-Gigs migrated from Celtic mythology into Christian iconography and could be found perched above many a monastery or church door where generations of monks filed under her, protected (although they may not have known it) from the evil eye by an exaggerated carving of female pudenda. It's a pity that more recent churchmen (especially since the Reformation and most especially since Victorian times) were more prudish than their early counterparts and destroyed or hid many of these Sheelas.
   
   This book contains drawings of all known Sheela-na-Gigs of Ireland and Britain, and also figures that might be related to them. The authors also list a website where further research on Sheela-Na-Gigs is being published: jharding.demon.co.uk.
   
   You might want to plan your next trip to Britain or Ireland to include viewings of these fascinating, archaic Divine Hags.



2. I have had a fascination with Sheela Na Gigs for a long time, but to be honest my knowledge on her was scant. I have worked with her as a personal deity for about 8 years (when she first appeared to me), so I had some idea of how I viewed her, but this book has refreshed my connection with Sheela to a profound level.

   This book puts fowards some very interesting ideas as to the origins of the Sheelas & her name, and her possible basis in the hag aspect, which is the type of energy that I myself have found her to have. I have also gleaned some new ideas as to possible symbolic interpretations of her physical appearance, which has set me off on new avenuse of thinking.

   The end of the book has a catalogue of Sheelas in England, Ireland, Wales & Scotland, and each entry has sketches of them. With this book in hand I have been to see two of them, one in Oxford & another in Fiddington. There is a Sheela about 20 minutes from my house and that will be my next visit!

   This pictorial catalogue is extremely useful in that it allows you to see the particular Sheela refferred to in the main body of the text, thus enabling you to make up your own mind as to whether it supports the claims or not.

   I must say it's a great shame I'm the first person to write a review of this book, I just wish there were as many people interested in Sheelas & their origins as Green Men, because to be honest Sheela is far more interesting!

4 comments about The Jeweled Menagerie: A World of Animals in Gems.

1. This book had exactly what I was looking for. Many beautiful designs of animals from simple to really extravagant. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the jewelry business or who has an interest in gems.



2. This is a wonderful resource for high end, modern animal jewelry pieces. These are not designs you will find at your local jewelers, and it is probably of limited use to crafts people, but as eye candy it can't be beat.
   
   While brief mention is made of historical pieces, this is really a book about Victorian jewelry to the present. It is a shame that there is not more information about the wonderful animal jewelry of antiquity, but perhaps that will come in another volume.
   
   If you are interested in contemporary and 19th-20th century jewelry design, this book is a steal at the Amazon price.



3. I FIRST SAW THIS BOOK @ MY LOCAL LIBRARY & BOUGHT IT THE SAME DAY. FULL OF ORIGINAL & MASTERFULLY CRAFTED JEWELRY THIS BOOK IS A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO APPRECIATES ORIGINALITY & ARTISTRY IN JEWELRY DESIGN. I WOULD HAVE PAID MORE FOR IT!



4. This book is crammed with page after page after page of the most breathtaking animal jewelry by the world's elite designers, such as Verdura. It is amazing to me that the book, printed on high quality paper, retails [at a low price]. The authors have compiled a comprehensive review of jewelry history and photos and if you are a fan of whimsical but elegant design, you'll love this book.

4 comments about How to Paint Tropicals (Fish Carving Basics, Vol 4).

1. Another great book with step-by-step instructions. Be prepared to learn to airbrush though, because that's how he paints these fish!



2. Another great book with step-by-step instructions. Be prepared to learn to airbrush though, because that's how he paints these fish!



3. My husband carves and he seemed to like the step-by-step instructions, however, this book shows tropical fish only.



4. This book is the ticket if you have an iterest in carving, and would like to begin carving. The photos are excellent and detailed, and the text informative and simple to follow. watch the fish be carved from the block of wood to the finished product. And at only around 13 dollars, how can you go wrong?

3 comments about Complete Guide to Woodcarving.

1. There are a few helpful drawings and remarks - as can be gleaned from most text on the subject but overall I was somewhat disappointed. Primarily the book is a showcase of small touristy type carvings from the author's travels - chili, alaska, etc.
   There is a wide variety of such material covered but it's presented in more of example format - rather than how to carve.

   It reminds of some old library book from the 60's. Interesting, informative, but not very current or helpful.




2. What I was hoping for was a book that would be a complete guide to wood carving. This is somewhat of a history book. It is written in a plain text, and black and white photos that makes it a boring read. You know the feeling of picking up a book, and it feels right. It's an easy read, logical, concise, and the concepts jump out at you, resulting in some WoWs! Well this book is none of that. Although the beginning covers some different woods that are good for carving, additionally he covers the basic wood carving tools, but not how to use them. It would be like, here is a picture of a table saw, but let's not go into how to use it. He goes into the neccessity of the tools having to be sharp, that's good. 90% of this book exhibits black and white pictures of finished wood carvings, and where they originated from. I know what carved wood looks like, I want to know how to do it, and if I can enjoy the instruction, all the better. Reading this book is a lot of work. The front cover gives me the impression that I am going to get instruction on wood carving. As absurd as this may seem, I learned little from browsing the book, other than that you need to draw an outline on the wood of what you plan on carving. I have tons of books on woodworking, and all but one are keepers. This one is going back.
   My Dad was a wood carver, and I proudly display his works. I did a wood carving project in a college art class. I just bought a matched set of Freud Hand Carving Chisels, and plan on keeping Dads antique set sharpened and oiled for antiquity. What I need now is someone to emulate with clear concise instruction on the ins and outs of carving, to create mind blowing pieces, of gorgeous wood, and finished to please the eye as well as the best interests of preserving the wood.
   This book is written for the experienced wood carver, who has a lifetime of projects under his belt, and wants to sit around and talk about wood carving styles, and history.
   I have a book that explains how to lathe turn a flaming finial out of walnut, then hand carve the cone shaped dome into a flame that resembles a torch. Attached to a bandsawn, curly back piece of fine furniture. He shows you how to form the lines, reduce it to the first layer of petals, then doing the next level of the flame lines. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a must do. Simple, well explained, and color photographed explanation of what to do. I was hoping that this book would do the same thing. Complete guide to wood carving? Great if I was taking a history course, but for someone who needs to carve claw feet for your hand carved furniture, this is not the one. I have a living room full of 17th Century French Provincial hand carved furniture, and learned something from it. Pick out the correct proportional design, lay it out, draw it in, then begin. I'm going to look into buying another book.



3. I feel this is an excellent book for both beginning and experienced woodcarvers. Tangerman, being an excellent teacher and carver, begins with a short introduction on woodcarving and moves right into discussions on the tools, sharpening and different woods. The discussions are basic enough for a beginner to understand but complete with enough detail to make them useful to even an experienced carver. Unlike a lot of other carving books which tell you about every single tool, brand and method to the point of confusion, Tangerman introduces the basic tools and shows how to use them, discusses when to use them and how to keep them sharp. The remainder of the book discusses the different types of carving as well as carving within different cultures and over time. Along with numerous examples and patterns, he includes instructions on how to carve and what to watch for in the process. As a beginner I used this book as a simple way to start carving, as an experienced carver I now use this book for reference. This is a book that should be in the shop of every woodcarver.

1 comments about Paper Jewelry Book.

1. This is a wonderful book that shows you how to make stunning jewelry inexpensively. The clear step-by-step instructions accompanied by color photos make creating these works of art easy.

   The techniques include rolling & stringing paper beads, making strip paper-mache, & decoupage as well as paper weaving & folding. There are even basic instructions for making your own paper.

   Some great projects include a hair slide, flapper's bead necklace, triple strand bracelet, basket weave barrette, pinwheel earrings, floral decoupage locket, lady pin, kite pendant, origami fold bracelet, & golden braid choker.

   Several beautiful paper samples that you can make color copies of or tear out & use are a nice bonus. I recommend this book for anyone. Projects are simple enough for children, yet rewarding for adults.

4 comments about Price Guide to Holt-Howard Collectibles: And Related Ceramicwares of the '50s & '60s.

1. I ordered the book and generally liked it, but was disappointed it does NOT include all the Christmas items HH made and that this is a small section of the book.. :0



2. if you are looking for information on Holt Howard collectibles, this is the book for you. I has lots of color pictures and descriptions with specifics.



3. This is one of the best books on Figural Kitchenware of the 50's and 60's that I have seen so far. Not only great pictures, but the best information about Holt Howard Collectibles as well as nock offs. I have used my copy more than any other reference book I own on Kitchenware. Walter Dworkin can't put out another soon enough. Can't wait!



4. Highly recommend this book not only for the detailed description but also for the great color photos. Most price guides have alot of descriptions but not many photos, not this one! I enjoyed reading the description and seeing a photo. A must have for any collector

No comments about Firearms of the Islamic World: in the Tared Rajab Museum, Kuwait.

No comments about Clive Barker Sculpture: Catalogue Raisonne 1958-2000.

5 comments about The Simple Screamer: A Guide to the Art of Papier and Cloth Mache.

1. I've never done paper mache before and I wanted to make a "Monster under the bed" for a Halloween prop. The book is very easy to understand and follow. It took less than two weeks to make the project and it came out much better than I could of ever imagined. I would highly recommend this book!!!



2. I love this book! I especially appreciate the photos included with the projects in all different stages. I will use this book again and again.



3. Before I ordered "The Simple Screamer", I thought this book was going to be flimsy magazine-paper type book. But, I was mistaken (for the better), this book's paper cover, is of a very hard-wearing variety and the pages are of good paper and the photographs very clear. I should also note that the directional photographs are black-&-white, but that does not hinder the information provided through them and no problems should arise because of this.
   
   The directions Dan Reeder provides are easily understood and at times quite funny (there are all sorts of little things that he manages to include that tweak my funny bone, just look at the "items needed" page at the front of each chapter. I also particularly enjoyed looking at his own creations, in full color at the back of the book, they are full of creativity and have inspired many "screamers" from me.
   
   Although there are an infinite types of screamers you could make following the directions in this book, I would also recommend getting the sequel, "Make Something Ugly, For a Change" that book will teach you a lot more techniques for making Screamers, although purchasing it is not necessary (but I highly recommend it all the same!)
   
   Making Screamers is lots of fun, but I probably should lend a few cautionary notices. Some stages can be quite tough, especially the ones with clothes hangers, so completing a Screamer may take a couple days for there are many steps, some of them very hard. Also, I would recommend very strong masking tape for making Screamers, along with an abundance of patience. I have also found that making Screamers with your friends is much more fun than doing it in solitude. There are many more laughs, more patience, and a much more light-hearted attitude (although the downside to group Screamer-making is some unaccountable urge from all to make lame "pun" jokes, so beware).

   BOTTOM LINE: Buy this book! Make a Screamer!




4. I am 36 years old and I came across this book when I was in college. I grabbed it up and immediately started in creating my own screamers, using the wonderful photos in the book for inspiration. In no time my apartment was crawling with weird creatures from my imagination. Soon I had too many and had to give them away to friends...they are totally unique gifts. The author of the book provides everything you need: complete supply lists, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions with photos, color images of finished screamers to help jump-start your own creativity, plus there is the added bonus of the writer's tounge-in-cheek writing. Making screamers would be fun for anyone at any age. Buy this book and let out you inner monster!



5. When I first saw a copy of this book back in '85, I thought it was a really great idea, but I never had time to actually build one. The thought was tucked away in the depths of my memory, however, awaiting the opportunity to be explored and applied. Fast forward to 2000. I was in a puppet troupe for the city of Orlando, Florida, and was required to build sets and props for an original show set in ancient Egypt. A large statue of Bas-tet, the cat goddess, was needed and that old thought jumped to the front of my brain. A quick online session to Amazon.com and a couple of weeks later, I had a new copy of Dan Reeder's Simple Screamer aquiring drips of glue while I created the statue. Great project. Great book.