Editorial Review

If you're one-stop shopping for great trimming, gift-giving, and cooking ideas, it's hard to do better than Read more

Reviews (11)

A must have for the Christmas perfectionist!
I'm an admitted Christmas fanatic. I love decorating the house, baking everyday in the month of December & decking out the tree. This book has so many great ideas & recipes, especially the planned menus for breakfast, lunch & dinner! You can never go wrong buying a Southern Living book.

Timeliness Treats and Decorations for Christmas
Even though it's now a couple of years old, the ideas in this book are truly timeless. The Toasted Coconut Nog is going to taste as sweet now as they did in 2003. And Turkey Hash is going to just as good a leftover this year as it was then. And their Triple Chocolate Clusters -- well what can I say.
Fabulous, absolutely the BEST!
Okay, probably the best way to describe these Christmas books is once you buy one, you'll want them ALL!I first purchased the 2001 edition and used the planned menu for my baby's baptism party.That had to be some of the most delicious food I'd ever prepared and the compliments!I passed out that cranberry appetizer to a zillion people, I think!This year's is no different.I love all the new decorating ideas that are quite simple, but the recipes are just out of this world.If you entertain large during the holidays, this book goes out of its way to help you plan the perfect party.It even includes a calender and tells you what to do in the days preceeding your event.It's definitely a book you'll get hooked on - especially after you try the delectable recipes.You'll want more! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Christmas decorations    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Handicraft    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    8. Seasonal   

Reviews (8)

embarrassingly tacky
I found not a single usable idea in this book.The ideas are decidedly unimaginative and the results quite ugly.A friend bought this for me at a bargain shop without looking inside--thank goodness she spent only $2 for it.Even that was a waste.

101 ideas, 10 good ones.
This book contains a few good ideas, but none that I would use. Best used for decorating your house for a pre-schooler's Halloween party.More CUTE than scary.Contains nice color photos and easy directions.

simplisticand uninspiring
This book was a total disappointment . I expectedcreative adult halloween ideas--things I would want to keep year after year.There were only2 projects I foundinteresting-the halloween tree trims & the silver swirl pumpkin(the cover pumpkin) However,If you are looking for very simple ideas geared towards little children---this book may be what your looking for.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Halloween cookery    4. Halloween decorations    5. Handicraft    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Holiday - General    8. Seasonal    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Decorating    10. Sociology, Social Studies    11. holiday   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (5)

A LITTLE SHORT BUT SOME NICE PROJECTS
I've always been on the DK books for being a bit on the short side.I know they're aiming them for kids but a little more bang for your buck would be great.That said the book does come with some worthwhile and fairly inexpensive decorations and tasty receipes to make for kids parties.And I do say younger kids, and not quite the 9 - 12 age group that the listing says it's geared to.More like 3 - 7.
Lavish picture book of Halloween tips for kids
This is a fun book aimed at the younger set filled with a nice sprinkling of Halloween costumes, recipes, crafts, andparty ideas. The ideas are by no means original, but as a mom and Halloween-freak , I found this book to be a good inspiration to cooking up your own ideas. (The monster sandwiches are priceless! )The photos are lovely, the printed varnished pages crisp and bright -- I can practically smell the pumpkin pie when I crack it open.

Halloween crafts for kids, but not much inspiration
If you're looking for a Halloween craft book for kids, this may be what you want, but the crafts are very simple and the format suggests that it was intended for use by or with children. There are some cute ideas, like the window silhouettes and the paper mache treat bag, but the costumes and makeup techniques are strictly for beginners. If this was a book for children, the title or subtitle should have indicated it. If you're an adult looking for really clever crafts for Halloween, check out Halloween Decorating or Halloween: 101 Frightfully Fun Ideas (Better Homes & Gardens). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Halloween decorations    5. Handicraft    6. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Parties    10. Seasonal    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Holidays & Festivals / Halloween    12. Children's   

Reviews (2)

Halloween: Romantic Art and Customs Of Yesteryear Postcard B
When I first got this book, I flipped through it and thought,"hey,where's the 'wish list' postcards(Winsch,etc.)?". After I started reading it I realised that the postcards shown were perfect in illustrating the subject matter in each chapter. Also, the "reason" for some of the unusual images (cabbage people, etc.) I had seen on Halloween postcards became clear. A fun and informative book.

Romantic Fortunes and Halloween Fun
Halloween in the United States wasn't always a children's trick-or-treat holiday. In the beginning of the 20th century Halloween was a time when young adults peered into the murky haze of things to come and used all manner of methods to try to prophesy their romantic futures. Parties were the rage where bobbing for apples wasn't just a game but a chance to search the omens found in apple seeds and peels. Auguries in candle flames, in pumpkins, seeds, nuts and mirrors all were employed by the curious.This wonderful book uses the illustrations of full-color vintage postcards that were the rage in the early 1900s to show the many delightful and quaint oracles that were consulted.It includes numerous Halloween poems and party ideas from a bygone era, even some super costume ideas that could be used today to stunning effect for a nostalgic Halloween celebration.The text is filled with detailed history about the customs of yesteryear and the abundant appeal of the postcard images, pictures of antique table favors and invitations is sure to delight. Do not miss out on this book if you love Halloween.It contains a forgotten and very charming aspect of Halloween and Americana that I found very enjoyable and I think you will, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Catalogs    3. Folk & Outsider Art    4. Halloween    5. Halloween in art    6. History    7. Holidays (non religious)    8. Postcards    9. Seasonal    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Customs    13. USA    14. c 1900 - c 1914   

Reviews (2)

great retro crafts!
i bought the book for the crafts from vintage linens--beautiful. the food doesn't look bad either.

Can I give it 0 stars??Save your money
Not one "original" idea that I havent seen in every magazine or craft book for years.Most of the items were scrapbooking related, which was little things like tags and noting worth duplicating.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Entertaining - General    5. Holiday - General    6. Seasonal   

Reviews (1)

Excellent!
This is a must have for any DIY miniaturists library.Even if you don't plan to reproduce the exact room settings, you can learn techniques and principles which can be used in any project.Her attention to detail is simply phenomenal.She even cautions you about the thickness of your pencil lead when drawing your plans, lest your components not fit together perfectly. And, should you never get around to actually "building" anything, it is still a great companion on a rainy day and a beautiful book for your collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas decorations    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Miniature craft    6. Miniature rooms    7. Miniatures    8. Seasonal    9. Toymaking - Dollhouses   

Reviews (3)

A must own for any homesteader.....
This is a book I would recommend highly to any of my homesteader, self sufficiency seeker or practitioner of the voluntary simplicity lifestyle, kindred spirits. We own all of the books written by Tasha Tudor and I was so happy to get this one, which is about her and how she and her family do Christmas. Our lifestyle is akin to hers, even though we live in the Sierras of California. forever christmas
a wonderful book to learn of all the christmas joys of tasha tudor. many other christmas books are unavailable because of price etc. i loved reading about the snow lanterns, the raven on her christmas tree and why she has it there, and the advent wreath and the beautiful red ribbons from her mothers wedding. i will surely this year have a raven on my tree just below the star and red ribbon on my advent wreath. beautiful illustrations which i like better that the photographs. wonderful thought for a wonderful christmas if you get in the spirit from this book.take joy!!!!

A Mixed Bag for Tasha Fans!
While we fans of Tasha Tudor (a loyal group, to say the very least) await ANY new book about Tasha, it is with mixed feelings that so many of us view this book.You will note it is wrtten by Harry Davis, and as most of Tasha's fans have heard through various grapevines, Mr. Davis and Ms. Tudor had a not so nice parting of the ways, and rumor has it that Ms. Tudor did not sanction this book.So, while we want to know more, read more, see more about a woman who's art and life we hold in high esteem, we are mixed because we don't want anyone who might be a scoundrel to exploit our dear Tasha!I have seen the book and it is charming, the photos are delightful, especially the one of Tasha serving up her live pet parrot, Hannah, as Christmas dinner (it's a trick folks, don't panic). We Tasha fans never tire of anything new (to us) about this woman we respect, admire and try to emulate in our own personal way to live a fuller, more simple life.Ms. Tudor is 85 and most of us can not do in a month what she does in a day!We love her illustrations, we keep her books and pass them on to our children and grandchildren (well, we let them look at them, but we usually won't give them up!).We are in awe of her multi-faceted talents--her art, gardens to die for, spinning, weaving, keeping goats, and of course, those delightful Corgi dogs!We want this book.But, loyal as we are, we worry that we could contribute to some unhappiness for our beloved Tasha Tudor. Many women today have no Elder or Wise Women to pass down aspects of living that seem lost in this overly hectic world.We don't want to live in the grips of cell phones and palm pilots at the expense of creativity and connections to the earth and to each other. Tasha reminds us.She shows us.She gives us a kind of permission to hold on to,or bring back,the "olden" things, and it is these that anchor us.We want as much of her as we can get without barging in on her actual property!And we don't want anyone to do anything to hurt her. ... Read more

Editorial Review

"Why must a pumpkin's face be carved on its side when there is a natural nose begging to be the center of an incredibly expressive face?" ask pumpkin artists Joost Elffers and Saxton Freymann at the beginning of their delightful mix of photography, folklore, and recipes, Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Faces
Who would have thought that you could get so many different faces from a pumpkin. The faces are true art and are quite easily done yourself if you wish to create your own. Great book for creative people with a sense of humor.
If you can hold a pumpkin and can handle a pocket knife the variations on the theme presented in the craft portion of this book will delight your children (up to 40+ years) and definitely your grandchildren. Giving titlesof recipes in their orignal language but instructions in English is adelightful deviation from the conventional cookbook approach.

Spend your hard-earned bucks on a different pumpkin book.
Once you've seen the cover of this book, you've seen it all. All of the pumpkins throughout this book are simply variations of the same theme. If you're after recipes, you'll probably like the book okay, but if you'reafter carving inspiration, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery (Pumpkin)    2. Cooking / Wine    3. General    4. Holiday - General    5. Humor    6. Pumpkin    7. Seasonal    8. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    9. Vegetable carving    10. Food & Drink / Cookery    11. Humour   

Reviews (2)

Read for Thrills!
This book is filled with wonderful, artistic photos.Galembo's collection thrills anyone interested in costumes and vintage Halloween.

AMAZING!!!
If you have ANY feel for Halloween, BUY this book! It is THAT good! It will remind you of your childhood and the magic that flew through the air on Halloween. HIGHLY reccomended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - General    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Costume    5. Crafts & Hobbies - General    6. Customs & Traditions    7. Halloween    8. Halloween costumes    9. History    10. Holidays (non religious)    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Photoessays & Documentaries    13. Pictorial works    14. Sociology    15. 20th century    16. Crafts & Hobbies / Seasonal    17. Customs    18. Handicrafts    19. USA   

Reviews (34)

Great Book
This book gives you some great ideas on the kinds of flowers you may choose and gives you a good idea of how to put them together if you choose.

It worked for me!
This book is great!There is a lot of detailed information so that people with no official floral experience can recreate the arrangements.
Poor content. Not for flowershop owners
If you are a flowershop owner and searching for a variety of fresh ideas for your clients this is not the appropiate book. It has a few nice photos but they are scarce. Definitely not worth it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bridal bouquets    2. Flower Arranging    3. Flower arrangement    4. Love / Sex / Marriage    5. Reference    6. Seasonal    7. Weddings    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Flower Arranging    9. Floral crafts   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Entertaining - General    4. General    5. Holiday - General    6. Seasonal   

Reviews (1)

Great Ideas
Beautiful Christmas is filled with great ideas, art to scan or copy for your projects, lovely pictures, some recipes (with pictures) and each chapter has a page ofadditional ideas to make your holiday spiffy. The instructions to each project include a picture, a brief description, a list of materials you will need to complete the project and a pattern if necessary.Many idea/project books of this type have only a handful of interesting projects and are more suited to checking out from the library, but this one is in the purchase category!My only negatives would be concerning that the final idea page at the end of each chapter.The font is a handwriting font that is too small and is in a slightly darker tone than the background.These three issues make the pages difficult to read (and I have great eyesight!)I would give the book a 4.5/5 if I could. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Seasonal   

Reviews (6)

Nightmare on Christmas
Read the review carefully -- I didn't and I'm sorry.The Publisher's Weekly review called their designs "gaudy" and boy are they right.Who in the world would have a Christmas tree in their house with a full sized mannequin stuffed into the tree dressed to look like Joan Crawford or Marilyn Monroe?And get this -- in the Joan Crawford tree, they have swan ornaments which -- everyone will know when they see them -- represent Ms. Crawford's transformation from ugly duckling to swan.Or how about the Lucille Ball tree -- disembodied hands holding brushes sticking out of the branches.I won't even get into the Cher tree, because it scared me.These people need to be visted by the ghosts of Christmas and have their heads straightened out. Please don't judge Los Angeles by these people -- I've lived here all my life and have never seen anything like this.This is a true nightmare before Christmas!

If you love Christmas decs, you'll enjoy this book!
Amazing decorated trees with different themes. Very American and very O.T.T but great for putting you in the mood for Christmas. Wonderful photographs!

Christmas Style - Recommended Highly
I love my new Christmas Style book, it's a beautifully shown and explained how-to book.
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Subjects:  1. Christmas decorations    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decorating    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Interior decoration    7. Reference    8. Seasonal    9. United States    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Seasonal   

Subjects:  1. Christmas decorations    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Floral decorations    4. Flower Arranging    5. Flower arrangement    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Seasonal   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (2)

so disappointing
i agree with the last post before mine... this book was terrible..a book about recipes...costumes....decorations and so on REQUIRES pictures..... awful book.....simply awful

Do not buy this book
I ordered this book along with The Big Book of Halloween Fun (Paperback), both authored by Susie Johns.Both were tremendous disappointments.This book lacks in imagination and more important for Halloween ideas . . . PHOTOS!As filler the author slips in childish Halloween jokes and offers very little in the way of Halloween decorating.I would not buy this book again.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decorating    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Holiday - General    7. Seasonal    8. Cooking/Holiday - General    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Seasonal    10. Crafts & Hobbies/Decorating    11. Customs & folklore    12. Halloween    13. Halloween cookery    14. Halloween costumes    15. Halloween decorations    16. Holiday/Halloween    17. House & Home/Decorating - General    18. Parties   

Reviews (2)

Simply the Best!!!!!
I have purchased almost every book from Familyfun and they are the best books I have ever purchased,period!I don`t have any kids of my own as of yet,but when that time comes,I will have a surefire arsenal of help to reach for when in need.I can defenitely recommend all books from Familyfun,every family should have them in their stack of books at home!!

A must for starting Holiday traditions!
This is such a nice book - colorful pictures compliment each craft.There is something here for everyone to make their Holidays truly special.Highly recommend! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Courses & Dishes - General    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Handicraft    5. Holiday - General    6. Holiday cookery    7. Holiday cooking    8. Holiday decorations    9. Parties    10. Seasonal   

Reviews (19)

THE Halloween book to buy!
It doesn't matter if you are a home haunter like me, someone who loves Halloween, orjust like to have THE best Halloween party in town, this is the book! It has so much fun info in it, recipes, costume ideas, decor and invite ideas... EVERYTHING! Buy one for yourself and one for your crazy friend!

MAYBE THE BEST BOOK ON HALLOWEEN!
There's only one thing that keeps "A Halloween How-To" from being the perfect Halloween book and that is that there are no color photographs.That one little drawback aside, this is maybe the best book on Halloween I've ever seen and I've reviewed a LOT of them.Unlike some of the more cutesy-crafty books on the market, this book is more designed for the real Halloween aficionado.This is the person whose more interested in scaring the pants off trick or treaters rather than winning an award from the neighborhood garden committee.
Good reference for a grown-up Halloween celebration
Last fall, I checked this book out of the library looking for ideas for our annual Halloween bash and to decorate our yard.The book not only has a great wealth of ideas and tips, but also historical and sociological information on the holiday. This is one of the few books that I have found more geared towards adults wishing to celebrate the holiday. Most of what is out there leans towards the juvenile side of Halloween festivites. Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Entertaining    5. Halloween    6. Halloween costumes    7. Halloween decorations    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Holiday decorations    10. Holidays (non religious)    11. Seasonal    12. Customs   

Subjects:  1. Christmas decorations    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Cross-stitch    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Needlework - Cross-Stitch    7. Patterns    8. Seasonal   

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Christmas decorations    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Handicraft    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Holidays - Christmas    7. Religion - Christian Living    8. Seasonal   

Reviews (2)

Great Projects!
I just received my book and cannot wait to try the projects in it.This book is full of patterns that look both easy and beautiful to make.A lot of times I'll purchase a quilt book and find that I like about 50% of what's in there.Four Seasons of Calendar Table Toppers is one that I like 100% of what I see!I highly recommend this book.

Thimbleberries Four Seasons Table Toppers
Excellent!I love quilting and this book gives me lots of ideas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Household linens    5. Patterns    6. Quilt Making    7. Quilting    8. Quilts & Quilting    9. Seasonal    10. Table setting and decoration    11. Handicrafts