Miniatures Books

Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts)

Tim Mccreight

Amazon Price: $19.79 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hand Books Press Amazon Marketplace: 62 new & used starting at $14.22

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Sculpture -> General
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Sculpture -> General AAS
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Jewelry

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great book on techniques 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I would like to begin by also suggesting The Complete Metalsmith by the same author. There have been several comments regarding the lack of step-by-step projects. Many other books have them, and it's nice for a visual reference I suppose, but it also leads to a lack of creativity on the part of many readers as they will just go through the entire book reproducing the projects laid out for them as opposed to using them as a jumping off point. In my opinion, the author intentionally left out the step-by-step projects to allow and encourage free thinking by the reader. Assuming this book is going to be used by artists, or people marketing themselves as artisans would dictate that they have their own creativity and artistic vision- which is not following a set of instructions to complete a particular project for production. Generally, people reading this book have their own ideas they would like to see come to fruition and would like to know the technique(s) to get to that point. So, again in my opinion, the lack of projects is great as it keeps 100's of the same piece from showing up at local craftshows and online as an "xyz original" when it is really a reproduction of a magazine or book piece. Now, please do not misunderstand my words and think that recreating an article piece is somehow derogatory. My point is many people then try to pass it off as their own original work, which is a slap in the face to any artist- again my opinion. I think this is a wonderful book and it serves its purpose. Mr. McCrieght's teaching experience shines through in his style and it is very clear.

Little Bead Boxes: 12 Miniature Containers Built with Beads

Julia S Pretl

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Creative Publishing international Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $13.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Beadwork
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Miniatures
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

little beaded boxes 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was great. I looked it over and was not sure I could follow the instructions but once I started I found it to be pretty easy. Her helpful tips were great as if she anticipated the problems I would have. Also the projects didnt take as long as I had thought they would. I am a medium level beader so have only limited knowledge when I started these projects.

Editorial Review:

A charming assortment of one-of-a-kind miniature boxes in a variety of shapes for all skill levels.

Julia S. Pretl offers crafters her original method for creating decorative beaded boxes and lids in a wide range of surface designs and shapes. Working only with cylinder and seed beads, needle and thread, crafters can create an impressive array of clever and colorful miniature containers. With step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow word graphs and patterns, Pretl leads the reader through the techniques for creating three-sided, five-sided, and six-sided rectangular, square, and stacked boxes. Four-color photographs of each of the 12 designs introduce each set of instructions. Detailed drawings illustrate the beading techniques.

Making Doll's House Miniatures with Polymer Clay

Sue Heaser

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Cassell Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $10.90

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Decorative Arts
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Dollhouses
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Miniatures

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This is the most wonderful book 5 out of 5 stars.
22 of 22 people found this review helpful.

I made myself a miniature drugstore since I am a pharmacist and I had trouble finding things like mortars and cylinders. Thanks to this book I managed to make the most beautiful look-alike mortars with pestles and all, also a little turn-of-the-century (last century, of course) telephone. The directions are precise and you can really get what you are looking for (and I had never touched polymer clay in my life!)

Great book! 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

The variety of projects in this book and the step-by-step explanations, make it a great resource for beginners and experienced miniature makers.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in making their own dollhouse miniatures!

Editorial Review:

“Here’s the definitive guide to manufacturers, tools, safety, and crafting. See how to intermix colored clays to obtain an even wider range of hues, and the different types of paints and varnishes...for adornment. Techniques for softening the clay, balling and rolling it, working with a knife, and sanding will assure good results.”—Doll Castle News.

How to Make Clay Characters

Maureen Carlson

Amazon Price: $15.63 List Price: $22.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: North Light Books Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $8.98

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Sculpture -> General
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Sculpture -> General AAS
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

How to make Clay Characters 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

How to make clay characters by Maureen Carlson is not available to buy in Australia. I had it on loan from my local library but only for limited periods and it was never long enough. I am happy to say that although it may have been printed initially a long time ago I am delighted to have obtained it as it has such excellent instructions and lots of handy hints for the polymer clay first timer onwards.To anyone reading this revue who wants another hobby to try (even in Australia) buy this book and you will be hooked.

The mere fact that it is still in print is a sign of how good it is for any age. Easy to follow and great fun all you need is polymer clay your imagination and this book.

a marvellous book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Indeed a marvellous book you should have as one of your clay-book collections. Maureen has good eyes and different angles when seeing new things, and new thoughts to convert them into brilliant figurines. I love her ideas of how making the snakes and the dragons, and her tricks to get new color mixtures are awesome.

I almost bought her books entirely, and have no regrets so far. Thanks to Amazon for superb service, even though I must bear waiting for a month and so for my orders.

My advice, you always can give your book collections to your kids when you no longer need them.

Making Miniature Food and Market Stalls

Angie Scarr

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Guild of Master Craftsman Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $10.30

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> General
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> General AAS
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Puzzles & Games -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A must-have for beginners and enthusiasts alike! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

A great book! This book covers the basics of working with polymer clay, including mixing colors and which tools you'll need. It also shows you step-by-step, with words and pictures, how to create each project. And the best part: the finished food that *I make* by following the steps, looks REAL! Making miniature food is so much fun, thanks to this book!

Making Miniature Food and Market Stalls by Angie Scarr 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a book come with the step by step guide to create the indivdual items. It is a book value for money.

If you love Doll Houses 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have been looking for a book that will help me make some of the foods for my little people in the doll house. Now, they can have tasty and semi-real food. Very detailed and easy step by step instructions.

Editorial Review:

A master modeler reveals the tricks of molding marvelously realistic fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, cheeses, breads, pastries, and cakes—plus display stands and boxes. “Full of step-by-step projects for bakery goods, meats, fruits, and vegetables, all photographed in great detail....This useful book is certain to please in public library crafts collections.”—Library Journal.

The Doll's Dressmaker: The Complete Pattern Book

Venus Dodge

List Price: $19.99 By: David & Charles Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $7.93

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Decorative Arts
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Miniatures
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Sewing

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Best doll clothes' pattern book ever? 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 17 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book with beautiful pictures. Leaves plenty of room to your own creativity. Desciptions are straightforward. It's hard for me to say if it would be good for beginners, since I'm trained in dressmaking and patternmaking, but it seems easy to figure out. I can't think of any book I'd rather use when making doll clothes - it has everything.

User Friendly Instructions 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Book offers a wide range of details and styles that are described in an easy to follow format. Patterns are not difficult and user friendly.

This might be the only book on doll clothes you'll ever need. 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Before buying this book, I would buy patterns for doll clothes. Sometimes I bought patterns from big companies like Simplicity and sometimes I bought patterns from small outfits. Of course, they were very specific patterns for only a few outfits for only a few limited dolls. Ms. Dodge's book is like owning every pattern for every doll ever created! She provides many basic pattern pieces in a variety of sizes. It will be up to you, however, to design your doll's outfit. Don't worry--the book will show you how! You will also make your own custom pattern pieces in order to get the right fit. This book covers baby dolls, girl dolls and even boy dolls. The only doll that is not represented is the womanly-figured modern fashion doll, but once you have mastered what is covered in this book, you will be able to dress those dolls too. The author provides lots of good, detailed photos and beautiful line drawings of possible outfits to inspire you. My confidence in dressing dolls has increased a hundred-fold. Now I know that if I can dream it, I can achieve it. And you can too!

A Beginners' Guide to the Dolls' House Hobby: Revised and Expanded Edition

Jean Nisbett

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Guild of Master Craftsman Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $7.48

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Dollhouses
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Miniatures
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great Book For Miniature Enthusiasts! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I purchased the original edition of Jean Nisbett's book years ago and absolutely loved it! There are lots of beautiful color photos throughout and useful tables in the book. She provides a handy metric conversion table, a fine description of the different periods of which most dollhouses are designed and decorated, and offers many projects for dollhouse components and accessories. I haven't yet looked through her revised edition, but I'm sure it can only hold more wonderful pieces of information, guidelines and ideas. Inspiring and useful!

Good source book but not very inspirational 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book about a year ago. I have 8-10 doll house books now, and this is not one I look through very often. It is good for checking up details like which colour the wall papers usually had during the Victorian era, and some of the descriptions of how to make for example a fire look realistic are good, but many of the pictures are really boring and they dont make you wanna copy the design. There are lots of other books that are more inspirational.

Editorial Review:

“The perfect guide to select your first project. Includes instructions for a dolls’ house, the interiors, furnishings, fixtures and even miniature gardens.”—DOLLMAKING.

Thirties & Forties Miniatures in 1:12 Scale

Jane Harrop

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Guild of Master Craftsman Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $12.12

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Miniatures
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Interesting, but limited 2 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

There are many projects in this book, but they're mostly for furniture, and in plain wood. More accessories would have been welcome.

And it's better suited for beginners. More experienced miniaturists might be disappointed.

interesting period details 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I enjoyed this book because I've yet to seen one including much information on miniature decorating styles of the 1930's and 40's. Admittedly there are more wood crafts than I had hoped for, but the flavor of the book, the fun layout, and period details give one inspiration for creating their own unique projects.

Editorial Review:

This manual is jam-packed with carefully researched, fun-to-make projects that will give any doll’s house a truly authentic feel. The scene is set with a brief history of the 1930s in Britain and America, followed by the projects themselves, divided by room: the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom, and the foyer. Extensive details and practical advice are included on materials and equipment, templates and suppliers, and basic techniques. With so many wonderful ideas, this guide is the perfect resource for all miniatures enthusiasts.

The White House in Miniature: Based on the White House Replica by John, Jan, and the Zweifel Family

Gail Buckland

Amazon Price: $29.95 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: W. W. Norton & Company Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $16.47

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Miniatures
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Models
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

WONDERFUL! 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

If you ever wanted to see the Presidents bedroom or the First Lady's dressing room....get this book - a truly WONDERFUL treat!

Enjoyable reading 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We saw the miniature White House exhibit while it was visiting Wisconsin and this book is a history of the replica as well as historical information on the actual White House. The exhibit is amazing and the book tells about the building of the replica and gives details on the various rooms and their furnishings. Overall, a great piece of Americana and a great book for anyone interested in the White House or in the building of miniatures.

Editorial Review:

Considered to be one of the world's greatest miniature houses, the replica is the result of over 30 years of research and construction by the Zweifel family. The tiny, working telephones, hand-carved chairs and tables, and miniature carpets that reproduce the original stitch by stitch, are all proof of great craftsmanship and minute attention to detail.

Lionel Accessories at Work on Toy Train Layouts (Classic Toy Trains Books)

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: KAL - Model: KAL108355 Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $10.54

Buy at Amazon.com

Features:

• Kalmbach Lionel Accessories at Work - 108355
• KAL

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Miniatures
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Model Trains
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General

Editorial Review:

LIONEL ACCESSORIES AT WORK