Reviews (7)

Outdated and tired
I'm not sure what some of these readers are smoking but this book has to be about 10-15 years out of date.In it's day I'm sure it was well worth the money but time to upgrade!

Best Real Estate Flipping book I have ever read!
This book was the best Real Estate book I have ever read! Yes, it is geared towards people would want to do the work themselves. But even if you wanted to hire contractors to complete the work, you could learn the ins and outs of what the job would take to finish under budget and looking great. There was a section on steam heaters, most people would think that section would be a waste of time. I found it very interesting considering there is not much written on that subject. It sure would come in handy in an old house that others past by because there was a problem with a steam heater and they figured it would require a complete new heater. I loved his straight foward approach, not a get rich quick info-merical! The best part of the book was all the before and after pictures, most authors just tell you how great a project can turn out, this author shows you! I plan to re-read it again to ensure I got EVER tip and idea inside. Forget the rest and buy the best.

Excellent book
This book is well written and obviously spoken from someone who has done it.As a remodeler myself this book hit it all on the mark. Ignore the no down payment and other get rich crap.If you have the skills, time, smarts and fortitude this book will show you the low down. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Dwellings    3. Economic aspects    4. General    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House buying    9. House selling    10. Real Estate - Buying/Selling Homes    11. Real Estate - Investments    12. Real Estate Investment    13. Reference    14. Remodeling    15. Property & real estate   

Reviews (6)

Best Book No Matter What Your Level of Expertise
This book is full of outstanding examples of calligraphic artwork, some of them unusual. It's extremely complete regarding pens, such as how to sharpen them. And it even gives you an excellent overview of how to watercolor. I own many calligraphy books and thought I knew a great deal, but I learned much from this book. Worth buying.

Easy to Learn Calligraphy
I just sent out 200 elegant wedding invitations all done in Calligraphy that i learned from "Calligraphy School" in the last two months.i had never picked up a calligraphy pen and could not find any local classes so i bought this book to give it a try but was certain i would probably be hiring someone to do the calligraphy on my wedding invitations. Wonderful
"Calligraphy School" is everything I was hoping it would be when I ordered it.Beautifully written, informative, gorgeous lay-out, very inspiring.I brought it to my calligraphy class to show the instructor and the other students, and they were as impressed as I.The book takes the student from Roman Serifs to the Lindesfarne Gospels and carolingian minuscules through to the Renaissance and some of the modern italic hands-- very comprehensive.Besides just the letterforms of virtually all the important alphabets throughout history, the authors also address the basics (and beyond) of applying a watercolor wash, interpreting text though color and design, even working with metallic leaf and illuminated letterforms!Pages and pages featuring the work of the most talented calligraphers.An absolutely beautiful book and very inspiring, as I said before, but it bears repeating. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Calligraphy    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. General    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Study & Teaching    7. Techniques - Calligraphy    8. Techniques - General    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Reference   

Subjects:  1. Appalachian Region, Southern    2. Country life    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Folklore    6. General    7. Georgia    8. History - General History    9. Hobbies/Crafts    10. Rabun County    11. Reference    12. Rural Sociology    13. Sociology - Rural    14. Crafts & Hobbies / General   

Reviews (33)

Super introduction to crafting!
While this book is a nice addition to any crafter's library, I think it is especially great for beginners! The projects are accessible and adorable and they provide a great selection for crafty newcomers to dip their toes in - from Shrines 101 to DIY shrinky-dinks. It also shows you how to get started with stuff you probably have around the house, so you dont need to go out and drop a bunch of cash to get creative.
A Must-Have for your Craft Book Collection
If you are a fan of crafty books like Stitch N' Bitch, Get Crafty, Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul, and Bazaar Bizarre, you'll love Super Crafty. Get it now so you can get some projects done for holiday gifts!

Disappointed
I hate to say it, but I was extremely disappointed after I purchased this book. I should have flipped through some of the pages before buying it.Most of the projects look like they were slapped together in a hurry.Out of the entire book, I only found 1 project that appealed to me.I wouldn't waste your money on this one, if you want to check it out.... go to the library ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. General    4. Handicraft    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Reference    7. Crafts & Hobbies / Reference   

Reviews (18)

Excellent Book for the Fine Artist
This is an easy-to-follow guide on how to establish a serious career as a fine artist. The first edition released in 1998 was excellent and the second edition has been appropriately updated to reflect how the Internet has influenced the business of promoting an artist's work. A significant strength of this book is its description of the business practices followed in the fine art field. Understanding how galleries operate and select art is a critical aspect of establishing a career. It is also important to know the best way to establish an artist's credibility with respect to the marketing aspects. The author's tone is very respectful of artists and the creative process and her approach is to inform artists on how to best establish a presence for their work in contexts that enable an artist to maintain a living as a professional artist. Readers should be advised that the focus of the book is fine art. It does not discuss licensing practices for commercial art or how to set up and run a booth at crafts fairs.However, if you are interested in a career as a fine artist, this is a genuinely excellent book.

Comments on Cay Lang's Taking the Leap:Building a Career as a Visual Artist
I found the book to be well-organized, full of excellent advice and an easy read.She goes through all the pitfalls artists meet in unlocking the gates leading to a gallery association. Her advice is punctuated with humor and fun.I'd recomment it to anyone in the field.

Too Little Too Late
I was very dissappointed with this book.First of all the title is a little misleading ... Taking the Leap.I was more interested in a book that would help me switch from my current job to a career as an artist.This book is designed more to help the artist just starting out in his/her career (presumably just out of artschool) to set realistic goals, build a body of work, and guide the artist through the business side of the artworld, ie approaching galleries, selling, copyright and other legal stuff etc.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art Media (Specific Aspects)    3. Career Planning (General)    4. Careers - General    5. Crafts / Hobbies    6. General    7. Reference    8. Art / Reference    9. The Arts: General Issues   

Subjects:  1. Antiques / Collectibles    2. Coins, Currency & Medals    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Reference   

Reviews (38)

Excellent resource for the technicians test...
If you want to actually know why the answers are what they are on the test, instead of just taking practice test after practice test and trying to memorize answers, then you NEED this book. I wasn't satisfied just taking the practice tests online and memorizing answers, so I bought this book - learned the information - and almost got a perfect score on the FCC's technicians class test. Most people I know, who didn't buy any books, barely passed. What kind of a score do you want?

Highly recommended for your Amateur Radio Technician License
"Now You're Talking" (NYT) is a great resource for anyone seeking a Technician class license -- the first step in the hobby of Amateur Radio. In simple, straightforward language, you'll learn all you need to know in order to pass the FCC's 35-question Technician class examination. The entire FCC question pool, along with correct answers and text references, is included, so there'll be no surprises when you walk into the examination room. As an added plus, you'll find references to many other resources that provide valuable information about the Amateur Radio Service and assistance in becoming a ham.
Great Companion Book to Gordon West's Technician Class Book
This is a must get book to gain understanding and a wealth of information about Ham Radio Element 2 topics. You don't just memorize answers, but understand the why and how behind them. Easy reading for this type of topic. A very helpful and needed companion to Gordon West's Technician Class book. You won't be sorry that you bought it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateur radio stations    2. Amateurs' manuals    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Examinations, questions, etc    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Licenses    7. Radio    8. Radio operators    9. Reference    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. United States   

Reviews (6)

THE Classic Shortwave book - needs updating, however
Absolutely fascinating introduction to shortwave radio listening...well written by someone very passionate and knowledgable about the subject!Not just a collection of dry facts about DXing but filled with Mr. Helms' personal stories and experiences that really make the subject come alive!It's all covered:Shortwave, AM/FM/TV DXing, Ham radio, maritime/utility broadcasting...it's all here.Now, why I am giving this book a "four" rather than a "five star" rating; this classic text BADLY needs an update as it was written in 1993.For example, I did catch myself wondering if stations really do still mail out QSL cards in this "online" day and age, and the section on using BBS is really very dated.Mr. Helms...if you happen to read this review, PLEASE consider revising/updating this CLASSIC BOOK - the Shortwave Listening Community will love you for it!

great introduction
This 1993 book is packed full of information still relevant to the hobby. It has helped me, a new shortwave listener, explore and get he most out of my new interest.

A superbly-written, thoughtful, and comprehensive guide
This is the ultimate hybrid of reference book andpage-turner, thanks to Harry Helms' superb writing style. Prose is liquid, even in the sections that have a lot of reference information. Absolutely recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Radio    5. Radio - General    6. Radio Broadcasting    7. Reference    8. Shortwave radio    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Reference works   

Reviews (4)

Beading with Peyote Stitch
A comprehensive review of the various types of peyote stitch.Clear instructions and diagrams.Great for a beginner and a good reference for the advanced beader.Has a number of pages of finished products without instructions which may or may not be useful.

good expansion on peyote
I am an experienced beader and liked this book because it expands on peyote's capabilities.Some examples are: making different shapes in peyote, curling, tubular, free-form,and beading in the round. There is a great project section followed by an excellent gallery section.

Worth buying, worth reading, worth keeping, and a warning
One of the few instructional beading books that also makes good reading.Sure, it's a must-have for the beading table, but it's a great take alongfor commuting, waiting at the dentist, or on the bedside table forinspiration before sleep. The good news: if you are a fan of the originalBeady-Eyed Women (the authors have other books), this one has lots of colorpictures, and not just in the (40-page!) Gallery section.More goodnews: Lots of diagrams, and most of them are right next to the text, sopeople who need both words and pictures can understand the steps. Thetext-links to the diagrams are easily numbered, and that's a big help.Even more good news: there are some great ideas in this book that I haven'tseen in others. The section on making geometric shapes and links is worththe price of the book. The surprise: the picture amazon.com shows as thebook cover is not the one on the cover of the book I got. The instructionsfor the Vicki Star's "Stellar Star" is not included in the book,but the picture is, on p.75. The bad news: The diagrams showing beadplacement use blue ink to show existing beads and the same tone of purpleink to show added beads. If you are a diagram user, read under a brightlight, or you won't understand what's going on. It would have been a betteridea to use contrasting colors for existing and newly added beads in thediagrams. More bad news: In the section on making bead triangles, thereis an assumption that if you've done one side, you can figure out theother. Some of us can't, and one more diagram would have been helpful.Instead, after a step-by-step description of the first half of thetriangle, we are told, "you don't have to make two steps down or twosteps up, but you still have to take the ten-cent tour." As thetwo-step process was crucial, that final diagram would be a big help.More bad news for beginners: This is the only book I've read (and I ownmore than 30 books on beading)in which odd-count peyote stitch starts withan even number of beads, and even-count peyote starts with an odd number ofbeads. In the odd-count, you add another bead in row three, which, as theauthors say, "turns the first three rows upside down." In theeven-count, there is a diagram (with asterisk footnotes explained on theflip side of the page) that left me confused. I finally got it, but I'm aslow learner, so this may not be a problem for people who are fastlearners.The conclusion: Buy the book. The well-explained tips,scattered throughout the book are worth the price of the book. You'll learnsomething no matter what level you are on, and the color pictures areenough to inspire any level beader. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beads & Beading    2. Beadwork    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Jewelry    7. Reference    8. Textile Arts - General    9. Needlework & fabric crafts   

Reviews (3)

A good book for the beginner.
This book is a good book for the beginning woodworker, or someone who wants to make a few frames for their photos. A good book for the beginner.
This book is a good book for the beginning woodworker, or someone who wants to make a few frames for their photos. How to Make Your Own Picture Frames
Excellent book for the beginner (me!).Clear and concise.Excellent step-by-step instructions with photos for each and every step.This book covers all aspects of frame construction, painting, mats, glass-cutting andusage.A great book to trigger your own ideas to create customframes.Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Framing    5. Picture frames and framing    6. Reference    7. Woodwork - General    8. Woodwork Arts And Crafts    9. Picture framing   

Subjects:  1. Antiques    2. Antiques / Collectibles    3. Buttons    4. Buttons & Pins    5. Collectors and collecting    6. Crafts & Hobbies    7. History    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Reference    10. Reference - Price Guides    11. Antiques & Collectables    12. Costume    13. Fashion design   

Reviews (5)

Interested in even ONE craft?
This book is a fantastic resource for anyone, beginner or otherwise.I had some experience with a few cratfs, but I was interested in others.I learned how to do fabulous stained glass projects that actally came out looking as good as (or better) than the ample photographs included with the easy-to-follow instructions.The basic skills learned for any of the crafts will make it easy to build on for more elaborate or difficult projects.Although this book was published many years ago, all of the information (and even most of the designs!) are still relevant, (i.e. materials available, etc.) WELL worth the money, as you will save time and frustration avoiding less helpful resources.Have fun!

A nice overview of many crafts
If you aren't sure which craft you want to learn in depth, this book is a fun overview. The pictures are extraordinary, the projects aren't just ugly little knick-knacks. After you work through this book, you might find the craft you want to specialize in. And great for summer projects for kids--so don't overlook the home education value here.

Top notch
This book is one of the best I have ever bought. I refer to it all the time. It cover's just about any craft you could want and shows picture's and instructions that even I could follow. Worth every penny I paid for it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. General    5. Handicraft    6. Hobbies    7. Hobbies/Crafts    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Reference   

Reviews (2)

Must for Mom
My mom had so many questions about what she was supposed to do as the MOB, so I purchased this book for her. She LOVES it! I have not read it, but she is always referring to it. She says that it addresses all sorts of issues and had been extremely helpful. She has recommended it for one of her friends who is also a MOB.

The best Mothers little helper!
Take it from someone who knew virtually nothing about weddings and what part a Mother has in them...this book saved the day for me! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. General    4. Reference    5. Reference And Information Services    6. Weddings    7. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (6)

Expand your pencils
I have been using Prismacolor pencils for many years and over that time, developed my own techniques, but I found the ideas and examples in this book to be great. I have been dabbling in the techniques I learned in this book and combined some of them with my own. Drawing some things had always been a struggle for me to get "just right," but after seeing some of the detailed examples, I now do them without thought. My favorite discovery in this book was learning to get rid of or hide my mistakes instead of my previous method of just scraping the entire project and starting over.
Encyclopedia of Color Pencils
I like the book a lot, it will be of great use to me,both for learning and a good source of reference.

I Returned Book
The drawings in this book were amaturistic, if not childish.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Colored pencil drawing    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Drawing    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Pencil drawing    7. Reference    8. Technique    9. Techniques - Drawing    10. Techniques - Pencil Drawing   

Reviews (3)

Minimally Helpful to Experienced Sellers
This book is minimally helpful to experienced sellers.More on the basics of eBay than specifically about crafts.Most of this information can be found in the Dummies books.I have read nearlly all eBay books written..this one goes to the bottom of the list.

Excellent book
Well written book with concise information in an easy to read format.Covers the subject thoroughly. Full of information.A great buy for such a small price.

Reveals eBay Secrets for Craft Artists
What to do with excess arts and crafts items or supplies has almost always been a problem, but digging through forgotten craft materials these days has taken on a whole new meaning.Crafters are searching for treasure - rummaging through abandoned craft projects, old tools and odd forgotten crafting materials.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Reference    5. Art / General    6. Entrepreneurship    7. Internet    8. James Dillehay   

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Photomechanical Techniques (Printing)    5. Reference    6. Techniques - General    7. Crafts & Hobbies / General   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Pottery & Ceramics    6. Reference    7. Transportation    8. Ceramic arts, pottery, glass    9. Crafts & Hobbies / General    10. Handicrafts   

Reviews (1)

Better books out there...
I did my homework before my recent wedding and bought three books.This one is pretty basic and didn't cover anything I couldn't find out easily online or through friends.For better resources I recommend Esquire's Things a Man Should Know About Marriage and The Engaged Groom.Both are more comprehensive, fun to read, and speak to guys better than this. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Love / Sex / Marriage    3. Reference    4. Reference And Information Services    5. Weddings    6. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (6)

Useful book- but watch for shrinkage during prewashing.
This is an amazing quilt book, and by far the most used in my collection.The patterns are beautiful and the instructions are clear.I spend a lot of time simply looking at all of the beautiful full page color photos!I've also learned a lot from the general tips at the beginning of the book.This is a wonderful resource for beginning and intermediate quilters, who don't know how to do things like sew set-in seams and make large amounts of bias binding.
Quilt Dream-ing!
I just love these quilts!Bought two additional books- one for my mom and the other for my sister-in-law.You won't be disappointed.This book not only has the patterns, but also the quilt stitching patterns.Nice!

Best addition to my library
This is the best quilting book I have purchased.The pictures are fabulous and easy to see.There are complete and easy to understand instructions for each pattern.There are so many of these quilts that I'd like to make, I'll be busy for years.I would highly recommend this book to any quilter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Patchwork    5. Patterns    6. Quilting    7. Quilts    8. Quilts & Quilting    9. Reference    10. United States    11. Quiltmaking   

Reviews (10)

A must have book because it covers many subjects, but....
this book is great because it covers many many subjects, though not in that much detail or in very fine methods.it is very much out of date.the book is written for a british audience which is some times annoying, and there are many biased comments (in my opinion) that are british/european ways of working/thinking.the author also makes too many comments that voice his personal opinion, which is not all that important in a how-to book and is very different from my own opinions.I felt that the writer/editor or whoever disigned the format of the book must have been very lazy, because instead of placing pictures and the related text on the same page where you can see them clearly, there are countless instances where all the diagrams on a subject matter are slapped onto one or two pages and then refered to in text that is sometimes 3 or more pages away.very frustrating.The major strong point is that you can find many uncommon subjects such as info on tambours or webbing for seats, which is why i say that this book is a must have.the area where this book really falls short is the making of FINE furniture.I feel like this book is oriented towards readers that would make a living of furniture making, therefore the methods are just 'good enough,' and many of the furniture examples are very showy, with not much content, some you could call "expensively cheap."many of the examples are just awful - over use of and complete reliance on expensive showy wood, sharp veneered corners, awkward shapes, etc.if you want to see examples of fine, solidly constructed work that doesn't scream for attention, look at some of James Krenov's books.there you will find many fine details of woodworking, though some of the text is unclear at first. of course, there are many other fine works out there.between "The Encyclopedia of Furniture Making" and "The Complete Manual of Woodworking,"i personally recogmend the latter, although it is far from "complete."The Complete Manual of Woodworking" covers less subjects but goes into more detail, contains more usable info (instead of one writer's opinions), and has much better pictures and furniture examples.

Outdated
Every pictures looks like they were tooks in 1940's. Chapter on electrical tools is completely outdated. Nothing about new material like HDF/MDF. There's no "easy to understand" drawing nor plans. For a beginner it's not very interresing, this books is more based on "reading" and explanations than showing "how to". I'd ratter recommend books like "Complete guide to furniture and cabinet making" by A. Ray.

Very good book
Very usefull book and easy to understand ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Furniture    4. Furniture making    5. General    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Reference    8. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    9. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY NON-FICTION    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork