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BEADING & JEWELRY - Beading main page |
Books
about Beads, Beading & Jewelry |
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CANDLES |
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When
we start a new project where safety is a factor, like candle making, I always want the best advice I
can get on how to do things properly. That's why M. J. Abadie's The Everything Candle Making Book was a must for us.
It's got way more detail than I think we'll ever need - and isn't
that comforting? Nancy |
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CLAY |
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Rated
Mixed Media Mosaics, by Laura Mika, is a wonder. You start to salivate as soon as you see the cover, and the excitement to get started making mosaics with polymer clay and other materials only increases as you work your way through the book! Nancy |
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The whole concept of polymer clay delights me. You (and I
when a get an afternoon) can make really great looking stuff without
investing in a kiln and a ton of equipment. No wonder I was
so pleased to discover Krista Wells' Polymer Clay Mosaics. Nancy
PS
Peg, please forgive me for using my pasta machine for polymer
clay projects. I couldn't help myself. |
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The best things (given the title) about Irene Semanchuk Dean's book
on polymer clay are the detailed descriptions of techniques for
duplicating faux materials. Amazing. Nancy |
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COLLAGE |
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I've always been fascinated by collage since I first discovered
you could do marvelous things with colored tissue paper. And
If you like scrapbooking, you'll want to consider mounting your
work on canvas, too.
Gloria Vanderbilt, mother of CNN's Anderson Cooper,
has been a media darling since the messy custody battle of her
childhood as detailed in Little Gloria ... Happy at Last. Despite her famous family and it's conflicts,
Vanderbilt has built a solid reputation as a designer of affordable
fashion. Her collages, some of which feature son Anderson,
are wonderful. Nancy |
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CHILDRENS' CRAFTS
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When we started using Mary Ann F. Kohl's The Big Messy Art Book at the day care where I worked, I tried trying some of the projects in my own abstract painting. The results have been dramatic, so I recommend this book for both adults and children who need a jolt of creativity. Caryn |
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COOKING - Recipes |
Favorite Cookbooks |
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MISCELLANEOUS
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Alternacrafts, by Jessica Vitkus, appeared on my doorstep just when I'd seen pop bottle cap necklaces in Tulsa's upscale Utica Square shopping area for $15. Vitkus's book has simple directions for bottle cap jewelry and 19 other projects of all kinds. Take that high priced boutique! Nancy |
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Rated
The Big Green Book of Recycled Crafts from Leisure Arts contains lots of fun projects like making old clear plastic CD cases into picture frames or jewelry dangles from puzzle pieces. What resourceful fun! Nancy
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Button Girl, by Mikyla Bruder, is aimed at teens, but why should they have all the fun. I just love books with ideas i can use. Who doesn't? Nancy |
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No matter where you live, you can find interesting stuff in the great outdoors that can be transformed into decorative objects for your home. Crafting with Nature in a Weekend by Dorothy Wood has lots of suggestions and tips to make sure your time is well spent and yields some lovely results. Nancy
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Mary Englebreit's Crafts to Celebrate the Seasons is a collection of Englebreit's signature looking crafts that will make your home more cheerful. I am not her biggest fan (Jane Marie is), but who can resist turning scuffed figure skates into decorative treasures? Nancy
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Rated
I got a copy of Creative Stamping with Mixed Media Techniques by Sherill Kahn because I have begun to make stamped metal jewelry. Kahn's book turned out to be the other kind of stamping, but it was so good, i fell in love with the projects and the techniques. Nancy
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There is something new for everyone in Encyclopedia of Projects for the Weekend Crafter. It's a great big basic book of goodies. Nancy |
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Rated
Once you say, "Martha Stewart," you know crafters will be interested. So, Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. Enjoy, Nancy
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The minute I opened Pretty Little Things by Sally Jean Alexander, I thought Jane marie would love the crafts in this book. They're elegant projects with magical results. Nancy |
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Recipes for Art and Craft Materials by Helen Roney Sattler is the most important book any crafter can own. My copy was revised in 1987, so you may have to do a little work to get yours, but you need the 70+ recipes it contains. Nancy |
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PAINTING |
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I collect plates and they've given me an ache to see what i can do in the decorative plate department. Then along comes Cheryl Owen with Creative Ceramic Painting, and the directions are in my hands. Look out walls! Nancy |
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I
can honestly say I painted a bird using Donna Dewberry's One-Stroke
Painting technique. And it looks like a bird! Her
method is clearly depicted and worked for me. If you love
hand painted objects, give these books a try. Jane Marie
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If you can paint it, you can sponge paint it. Ann Rooney has
included some great projects and lots of techniques in Sponge
Painting. Nancy |
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| PAPER DOLLS |
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| POTS |
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I'm
always looking for creative projects to keep CDO busy so when I found Stephanie Donaldson's Decorating Pots,
I was thrilled. It contains all kinds of ideas and techniques
for making a pot into something special. Nancy |
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RUGS - Braided Rug Making |
Books on Rug Making |
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WEARABLES |
SHOES - Health and Beauty
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WIRE |
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There's not much time in my life to take on new projects, but I
fell in love with Wire in Design. I like to
think of this fascination as an extension of my interest in making
wire jewelry. One of these days, I'll publish some pictures
of my progress with wire. Nancy |