Editorial Review

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Reviews (41)

A Useful Resource for Homeowners
Some people are mechanically inclined, and there are those like myself who can't fix anything.For those of us who need a little help in the home repair department, this book will help you through almost any home repair project.
the book chapters are short
I would like more detailed discussions. At least for the painting part, the book is too short.

complete guide to home repair (black and decker)
overall good info, but not enough on hvac systems - I don't need a book to refer me to a repairperson, i had hoped for detailed photos to assist me in doing the repair myself, not just in understanding what needed to be done by another.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Dwellings    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Home Maintenance And Repair    7. House & Home    8. Maintenance and repair    9. Remodeling & Renovation - General    10. Repair    11. Home & House Maintenance   

Reviews (14)

3 and a half stars, pleasant reading, expectations too high
He starts off his book asking the reader to read the book cover to cover. This is not typical for a do it yourself project book. We needed some help on technical questions for a windowsill and backsplash and between reading the book when we can and trying the John Bridge Forum online and asking the specific question (we were unable to find another thread with our answers) we still have no answers. We have been trying to get answers for about 3 weeks now. However, for someone trying to learn masonry this is a good book to add to your library.

Full of Information
Got this book a few weeks ago as I prepare to redo two bathrooms.Although the pictures aren't the best, the descriptions, and funny writing style make this book a wealth of knowledge.

Great tip and step by step for all tile projects!
This book has been invaluable in my bathroom remodel.It contains many tips by the experts and scientific justification for other aspects of tile setting.A must have for the more advanced tile setting projects and a definite must for shower installs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Building Details Finishing    3. Construction - General    4. Construction - Masonry    5. Crafts & Hobbies    6. Decorating    7. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. House & Home    11. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    12. House & Home / Masonry    13. Pottery & Ceramics    14. Technology    15. Technology & Industrial Arts    16. Tile laying    17. Tiles   

Reviews (40)

Informative but not comprehensive
I had the idea that I would make my own very customized concrete countertops, but after reading the book I decided on granite instead.
Concrete a la carte
If you want to see everything that can possibly be done with concrete, this is your book.
Great Book
With out saying too much this book covers everything you need to know about DIY concrete countertops.Equipment to time involved very well worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concrete    2. Countertops    3. Design & Construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Remodeling & Renovation - General    9. Remodeling & Renovation - Kitchens    10. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    11. Building skills    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. House & Home / Design & Construction    14. House maintenance    15. HOUSE & HOME / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (18)

Excellent resource when researching builders
I purchased this book as part of my research during escrow on a lot where we plan to build a vacation/retirement home.Even though we would likely not serve as general contractor the information inside is invaluable.It has helped me to understand the right questions to ask during escrow (from surveyors to septic to view to laterals) to ensure the lot, county and sub-division will allow the home we envision.The chapters on foundation, windows, doors, etc are all extremely helpful when it gets down to desiging the home.I'll know what to look out for with the interior and exterior design, drainage and when dealing with the builder.
Great book!
Covering all of the main topics, this book on homebuilding is a must have for any person intent on building his or her dream home.I keep it with me all of the time for easy referral.

Voice of experience--good advice
The best part of this book is its easygoing style. Written seemingly entirely from memory, you'll understand and remember every word. The author skips the commonly available info and writes about the crucial nuts-and-bolts problems of building a house: what do you do if you've drilled a hundred foot well and come up dry? (Keep drilling.) His advice on some details, vapor barriers for example, is OK but you'll want to check the latest thinking on the topic too. Some harmless misinformation is passed along, like that Palladio, eponym for those short-tall-short windows, "invented" them. (He may have invented residential architecture, but those windows date to antiquity. In his day they were known as serliana, after the architect Sebastiano Serlio.) The scientific explanations fall a bit short, and the chapter where he disparages Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's engineering does not show him in a good light. However he does caution you that drywallers, more than any other trade, will try to rip you off with a high materials estimate. Stuff like that you can't get anywhere else. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - Contracting    3. Construction - General    4. Contractors    5. Design & Construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House construction    10. Selection and appointment    11. Technology    12. Amateur's manuals    13. Architecture, Domestic    14. Building    15. Design and construction    16. Dwellings    17. Houses    18. Subcontracting    19. Superintendence   

Reviews (3)

Perfect for Beginners to Experts
This has been one of the most enjoyable creative books I have purchased in a long time.I orginally got it for my business which is moving into concrete molding and casting.I knew my mom would thoroughly enjoy it and immediately bought and Amazon sent her the gift copy.She LOVES it too and has already played around with some of the ideas in her desert garden.So thinking about it...I decided to buy my own copy!Next summer I plan on doing several of the creative ideas in it, but with my own artistic twist.I can't wait!
Thorough and Inspiring
I am thrilled to have this book. I knew people were doing this type of work, and I have wanted to know how. Other books have provided bits & pieces, but Sherri's book is THOROUGH. Each time I came up with a question in my mind as I was reading, the answer would be on one of the next pages. After reading through her book, I feel confident and inspired to take on projects I had been afraid to tackle. She shows a wide variety of projects -- her instructions are CLEAR and easy to follow. I shared this with my sister (out of state) & her comment was, "I can't believe you let loose of this!" A truly inspiring book!

Both practical and beautiful...
I like this book because it has very detailed "how to" instructions to make concrete ornaments for your garden.The "how to" illustrations are very clear.The photographs of actual designs are beautiful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concrete    2. Design and construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    5. Garden Furnishings    6. Garden ornaments and furniture    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. Gardening    10. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    11. NATURE - ANIMALS TRD HC   

Editorial Review

In recent years, a revived and burgeoning interest in wholesome, locally baked bread has swept the country, with bakeries springing up in small towns and major urban areas alike, producing an astounding variety of interesting, crusty, tasty, handmade breads. Read more

Reviews (20)

Professional guidance
Great help and inspiration for anyone interested in baking good bread - especially in a traditional bake oven. (Includes chapters on how to build your own oven, which was not my main interest.) Easy language. Full of facts!

Excellent source for the dedicated baker, plus great oven-building instructions.
I bought this book looking for oven-building instructions.As an architect, I can attest that the plans and step-by-step buidling instructions are excellent.I have mixed feelings in reporting that an outstanding bakery opened right down the street about the time the book arrived, and so I haven't been able to justify building my own bread oven yet, but I look forward to that first hearth loaf.Meanwhile, I've been able to compare the excellent bread from the new bakery with my own, baked in a standard oven according to Wing and Scott's recommendations.It is evident that I'm no professional baker, but my loaves do have a complexity of flavor and longevity that are promising.
view from a retired baker
As a bkaer who was trined as an apprentice back in the 1960s before real bread was dismissed as being too time consuming, I remember much of what is discussed in this book. These methods are from ages past and still hold true today. To me it is amazing that young folk are re-discovering methods we took for granted in the production of bread of quality and substance.
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Subjects:  1. Bread    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - Bread    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Methods - Baking    7. Stoves    8. Cakes, baking, icing & sugarcraft    9. DIY   

Reviews (5)

Great Book
I bought this book along with Graphic Guide to Frame Construction : Details for Builders and Designers (For Pros by Pros) (Spiral-bound) and this book is more for the do-it-yourselfer person than the other book. Plenty of color illusrtations to go along to help you. Graphic Guide to Frame Construction : Details for Builders and Designers (For Pros by Pros) is more geared for the professional.

House Framing
Excellent book. Framing can become an art with technical books like this. If you want to get into framing pick three books and make this one of them. Lots of pictures with just the right amount of instructions. Its the best way to learn and understand framing without being at a building site.

Review -- House Framing : Plan, Design, Build
Good book, easy to read, understand, good illustrations and applies to do-it your selfers or professionals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (17)

Sun-drenched colors of Southern France
"French country decorating at its finest is the harmonious mingling of fabrics, textures, and patterns - an artistic blending of the familiar with warmth and sophistication." For Americans creating French style, who can't go toFrance
Ok, so this isn't "authentic French Provence design." Suppose you won't be visiting Aix-en-Provence and running around looking for all the pieces you need, and then figuring out how to fill up a shipping container and send it through customs, etc etc, (can you imagine doing this in a foreign country in a foreign language?!) You just aren't going to find a lot of genuine French furnishing and fabrics in the US. What if you want to use French elements in your decorating (as we did) and only have access to American furniture lines and the fabrics sold here? French Provencal style influences American interiors
I found this book a wonderful view of French Provencal style, blended with American verve and elegance. Many of us have traveled in France, and know the French are also very influenced by the freshness and ease of American design. Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. Do-It-Yourself - General    7. France    8. History    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. House & Home    11. Influence    12. Interior Design - Style Books    13. Interior decoration    14. Residential Interior Design    15. United States    16. Home furnishing & decoration    17. House & Home / Decorating    18. Interior design   

Reviews (3)

Excellent and Comprehensive Intro and Education.
I have been looking for a book that would educate me on exactly what green building is, whether it is actually practical and whatit would take to achieve it.This book answered all those questions.I think it has filled a void in the information market.So many people are not satisfied with current building practices especially in the US yet finding one comprehensive source for reliable answers is extremely difficult.There is lots of experience bound up in the very well-written, easy flowing text.The mass of photos is extremely instructive and attractive.This book is not clouds-in-the-sky, blindly pro-environment babble.Neither is it full of the marketing lies that exploit the "green" movement.It is useful for normal people who are interesting in trying to build earth-friendly but practical, efficient and affordable homes.The writers are very honest in their educated opinions and recommendations.And they actually built a small green building in order to write this book.So you get the useful, hands-on advice that they learned themselves the hard way even with their past, extensive building experience in the US.I appreciate their effort and book very much, and can't recommend it highly enough as one every non-expert should read if they have a possible interest in green building in the future or even in just building a marginally more efficient home.

Nicely presented intoduction to several green techniques
A very nicely presented 'survey' of several green building techniques with a practical and mainstream perspective.Less inspiring and holistic (in terms of presenting an overall philosophy of building AND living) than the likes of The Hand-Sculpted House (Evans, Smiley and Smith), etc. but the beautiful photography and clear writing is a powerful tool to use in convincing the skeptical that green building is a legitimate and aesthetically pleasing option in construction.Really more of a 'complete introduction' than a 'complete how-to guide' in my estimation- if you are really going to build you'll need to suppliment your knowledge with additional in depth books on the particular system(s) you choose to use, but this book will expose you to some of the options and provide you with an informational foundation to 'build' on (pun intended).

An essential natural/alternative building manual!
At last - a comprehensive and attractive manual that clearly shows us how to employ 4 different natural building methods; cob, straw bale, cordwood and modified stick frame.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture And Energy Conservation    2. Building Construction    3. Construction - General    4. Design & Construction    5. Design and construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Ecological houses    9. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    10. Home Improvement / Construction    11. House & Home    12. Sustainable buildings    13. Technology & Industrial Arts    14. Building construction & materials    15. Environmentalist thought & ideology    16. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    17. JUVY-WORKBOOKS - JUV WORKBOOKS   

Reviews (10)

Christo
If there is one book that you need to read than this is it. Get your feet in the mud and find out who you really are. This book changed my life. Gave me the empowerment to throw off the chains of being dependent on paying alot of money for a basic need: good housing. Now I've embarked on a path of creativity, to build a house that is healthy, and will suit all my needs. My thanks are great!

Stunning AND the Absolute Last Word in Cob Info
I spent hours and hours with this beautiful and entertaining book, and I was only barely interested in Cob! This book is absolutely terrific, it is wonderfully and beautifully illustrated, includes color photos of some great cob houses, and is absolutely THE book you need if you want to learn about cob, or build your own cob structure. It is a wonderful balance of fun, personal stories, expertise, and technical info. (And really very inclusive too!) I read both Becky's and then this book. It really made me comfortable with cobbing because it is so well done, so inclusive and informative. A testimonial: Some time after reading this book over and over, we decided that cob was not appropriate for our site, and I STILL recently picked up this book for a good read!

Simply gorgeous!
First, it's fun just to browse through the gorgeous homes and creations in this book.Second, cob is well researched and documented here, for instance, did you know there are cob homes in Devonshire England that are over 400 years old?Third, this is a remarkably practical handbook for siting, designing, and building a home from cob.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Architecture    3. Cob (Building material)    4. Design & Construction    5. Design & Drafting    6. Design and construction    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Earth houses    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. Applied ecology    11. Building construction & materials    12. Building skills   

Reviews (17)

Don't be home without it
I am glad to see Reader's Digest has updated this essential book. I always, ALWAYS have a copy of this on my bookshelf.
The title says it all!
This book has been amazing so far.I purchased it after carefully checking the various topics covered and available reviews on this book as well as dozens of others like it. Two months ago I paid a plumber $70 to fix a leak on my washer hook-ups to find that all he had to do was tighten a bolt and it infuriated me! I have since vowed to do everything myself as long as I have the right tools and instructions, and this book shows you everything.It includes plumbing, furniture repair, appliances, home electronics, sports and recreation gear, emergengies, and much, much, more!It is well worth the price and I look forward to the things I'll be able to do on my own.I highly recommend this book.

A Useful Book
If you like DIY, it's a book for you.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Furniture    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House & Home    9. Household appliances    10. Household appliances, Electric    11. Maintenance and repair    12. Repair    13. Repairing    14. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (3)

An excellent book, easy to read and follow
I have to agree with the other reviewers, this book is very handy, and easy to read.It covers quite a lot of ground for a pocket manual, which is great. A classic reborn!
Audel books have been around forever, but I could never find a revision, at least not of this really well-known book for my toolbox. I had an old copy, but it was really out of date. I'm recommending this new one to all the other guys in the shop!

excellent reference source
this book contains a ton of quick references for alot of things you will use if your in the mechanical trades, or industrial maintenance. some of them are,drawing and print sysmbols,all about belts,chains,gears and couplings,seals,bearings,and pumps, rigging information and techniques,piping andallowances for elbows,couplings,unions ect,sprinkler systems, and a whole lot of other references to other things i cant list here because of time. im in industrial maintenance and i know ill use mine alot. its also very easy to read and understand. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - General    3. Engineering - Mechanical    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Machine Engineering (General)    6. Machinery    7. Mechanical Engineering (General)    8. Mechanical engineering    9. Technology    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Building construction & materials    12. Instruments & instrumentation engineering    13. Technology / Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades   

Reviews (23)

Very useful book for someone in college
I must admit I have no clue about most of the stuff out there (I just learned how to cook recently). I took this book out of curiosity from our college library and found it very useful. For someone like me, its a life saver.. This book has tons of useful new and old hints. It is true some of the hints are from the past or based on common sense, but not everyone knows it (hello, this book said hints not new hints and not everyone knows everything). After reading this book I've decided to buy it for myself and my friends.

WONDERFUL - FULL OF GREAT INFORMATION
This is a great book.I didn't know so many common household items could be used in such an effective way.I have tried several cleaning suggestions for around my house and my friends and relatives are really impressed!
Haley's Comet...hahah
This book is chock-full of ideas for the perplexed at home. Out of tomato paste? Not sure what potatoes to buy? And what the heck is the difference between baking powder and baking soda and does anyone even care> This book is especially valuable for the section on substitutes, like allspice berries or ground allspice. You can use a mix of nutmeg and cinnamon in a pinch. Well, I love jerk seasoning and it does require allspice, a member of the pepper family but if you don't want to run to the store and pony up four bucks for a small jar of it, I'm right with you and Mr. Haley on that. Haley has recommendations on homemade cleansers in the companion book by Haley on cleaning hints, but there are a few ideas here. Mostly, this is a basic home ec book. This is like Heloise's Hints for the Hopelessly He-Man. For guys who want to learn to keep house, this is a fine book. I'd recommend both as a set for anyone setting up house. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Home economics    6. House & Home    7. Cooking / Culinary Arts & Techniques   

Reviews (9)

Open Says Me
This book is an extraordinary manual for emergency entry procedures.The directions are clear and concise, and the numerous illustrations are very helpful.This book can teach you how to bypass a lock with a bottle of bleach -- who knew ??

Far from easy ....
I had been trying to open an old S&L moneybox for some time - the lock mechanism is "simple" per this book. Curiosity can be frustrating. I didn't want to spend any money on tools for a one off project (I ended up doing this and bought another book). The intellectual satisfaction was worth it.I'm interested in antiques so may get some payback for learning in the future. (I can now also open simple padlocks, and furniture locks, with an improvised tool in fairly quick time.)
Just about there.
personally im only interested in picking locks and this book does help abit, but it focuses more on bypassing security systems and teaches you how.
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Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    3. Amateurs' manuals    4. Equipment and supplies    5. House & Home    6. Lock picking    7. Locksmithing   

Reviews (13)

Building Your Own Home For Dummies
I have 3 degrees, but I did not know the 1st step about buying raw land, building a home, and getting a construction loan. I read this book from start to finish and could not imagine going through the process without using the guidelines in this book. I learned what questions to ask the broker about the loan and what questions to ask my contractor about the construction. It is so important to go into this kind of huge project knowing what check lists to take care of and have some kind of timeline. Nice to know what is around each new corner! I think this is a must have book if you're planning on building a home!

Should be titled"Financing" your own home for Dummies.
If you intend to be an Owner-Builder don't waste your time here.This is mainly about financing a project with the rest about using a General Contractor. You'd be better off saving your money to buy coffee for one of your crews than buying this book.

Good information source for the beginner
This book covered lots of detail and is bound to get the fire started in most. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Home & House Maintenance    8. House & Home / General   

Reviews (11)

A decent overview, but spotty production...
Since there are few printed resources available on the topic, the book deserves credit for treatment of this increasingly popular approach to art- and propmaking.And to be fair, James does a pretty good job of it, covering a broad range of techniques and materials.However, as an instructional text the book leaves a great deal to be desired.The photos are of mediocre quality, often underexposed and composed in a way that poorly illustrates the step at hand.In addition, certain elements of the mechanics and process in moldmaking deserve diagrammatic illustration which are absent from the text (e.g., undercuts are not explained or taught clearly at all; choosing the way in which to split a mold into multiple parts is important and almost wholly neglected).As a university art instructor the book is a valuable source of information, but I will not offer it as a class manual; it's simply insufficient as a teaching guide.

Good beginners book
This book was very interesting and would be a good book for beginners in casting.The vacuum forming machine guide is very thorough however if anyone needs recipes for the casting materials then this is the wrong book for you however the book explains how to use items from a hardware store to cast items.If you need information on lost wax casting ,this is not the book to buy.If you need information on the various casting methods that do not use any heat source such as kilns,then this is a good book to start with.the information on the various methods are invaluable.I did not like the fact that the pics are in black and white ,never the less it was very informative.

Molding and Casting Handbook
Excellent book on tips I was looking for. I'm happy to discover this book for my purpose. It is very practical and comprehensive guide for molding and casting models.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. House & Home    5. Molding    6. Molding (Founding)    7. Performing Arts    8. Plaster craft    9. Plastics    10. Theater - Stagecraft    11. Other Technologies    12. Theatre, drama   

Reviews (10)

Try another one.
This book is alright for certain aspects of drawing, but the book itself has some of the worst drawings I've ever seen. And, if you are truly a beginner, you'll want to recieve more instruction than this offers. I wouldn't suggest this to anyone.

Funny and helpful book!
I love to draw, and when I got this book for Christmas, I was a little discouraged by the title.Of course, the old saying "never judge a book by it's cover" came into play.I decided to open it up and skim through the pages.This book was GREAT!Drawing for Dummies covers all of the basic and advance techniques of drawing ANYTHING!Catergories it covers include perspective, 3-D drawings, shading, texture, and more!There are picture examples along the way incase you don't know what the auhor is really talking about.There are many exercises from the simple practicing shading, all the way to drawing a VERY REAL looking three demensional teddy bear (listed in easy to follow steps).I really enjoy this book, and anyone who loves to draw or needs to improve, this is the book for you! 5 stars!

Try another drawing book first!

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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Drawing    6. Technique    7. Techniques - Drawing    8. Art / Drawing    9. Art techniques & principles    10. Drawing & drawings   

Reviews (1)

A must for Electrical Mechanics
My husband had me purhase this for him for work. He is an Electrial Maintance Mechanic. He says this is a quick way to figure out problems at work. A must have. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - General    3. House & Home   

Reviews (6)

Well written and easy to understand
Rod does a great job of explaining everything.I've learned so much about construction techniques, electrical stuff, hvac, isolation, room treatment... heck just about everything you need to know to build your own studio.If you are thinking of building your own recording space:Get This Book.It will save you lots of headaches and probably a bit of money too.

Useful and easy to understand
A great book for the home recording enthusiast.Clear, concise explanations of why to build in cerstain ways, backed up by studies and data, yet in a very easy to understand language.Different building techniques are rated in terms of sound isolation and cost, and simple plans are included.Highly recommended.

Holds all the technical specs you need
Rod Gervais' Home Recording Studio: Build It Like The Pros goes beyond the usual focus of recording gear to cover setting up a room sound which lends to high-quality production. And this doesn't come from a musician, but from a construction engineer whose background in recording and movie studio construction plus his musician experience lends well to an authoritative discussion. From basic room design and setup to codes, permits and more, Home Recording Studio: Build It Like The Pros holds all the technical specs you need. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself - General    3. General    4. Music    5. Music/Songbooks    6. Recording & Reproduction    7. Music / General    8. Music / Reference    9. Music recording & reproduction   

Reviews (17)

one of the best gifts I've been given
A lot of books say they cover everything, but this one really does. It reads like a type of biography, but in it is dispersed a lot of wisdom, quotes, useful advice, recipes, and how-tos. There are recipes in here I hadn't seen before, and that is saying something. There are also how-to tips on everything from knotting your own rope hammock to creating an outdoor shower for camping. There are patterns for making a clothesline as well as tips for all natural foot-care and pampering. The entire spectrum is covered in this book. On one page you might read about a neighbor she had and learned a lot from, while on the following page she'll tell you how to make syrups and preserves. Sewing, darning, and stitching are included, as well as useful ways to reuse tin cans. There are guides to travelling and hiking, going places with kids in tow, and even how to make your own s'mores. From scratch. The recipe for graham crackers and homemade marshmallows is included.
a Life changing book
I LOVE this book..it is so REAL and so is Mary Jane. I keep going back to read sections over and over...it has alot of everything I love...and I recomend it to anyone who loves home.

inspirational
Pay no attention to what color people are& pay attention to what there is to learn & be inspired in this book. Look past the negative feed which has nothing to do with what this book will bring out in you! I obtained a copy from the library since the bookstores did not have a copy in for me to look over. I renewed twice! I did not want to let it out of my grasp to go back to the librarian! If you yearn for the pleasures of laidback living then this is for you. There is a how to on making a "tree chandelier" from a section of garden fence & mason jars, how to make an apple picker from a small coffee can with handle, embroidering tea towels,childhood games like jump rope "ditties, great recipes, how to make a hammock,a wall tent,& even a chapter on "heading out with the kids"! there is so much more I did not mention and it is interweaved with wonderful memories from Maryjane throughout! I am putting my "egg money" aside now so i can purchase my own copy to treasure.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. General    5. Home economics    6. House & Home    7. House & Home / General