Seasonal Books

Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle

Tone Finnanger

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: David & Charles Amazon Marketplace: 25 new & used starting at $15.67

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Sewing

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

Don't think for a second more, buy this book - it's GORGEOUS! 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 11 people found this review helpful.

Oh My God, don't delay another second, buy this book. It's totally gorgeous, I LOVE it. I only bought it last week and have already made several things and flicked through it a million times. The pictures are adorable, the patterns sooooo simple to use and lots of them. Definitley definitley worth the money. The other Tilda books are equally as fabulous! I have pics of the teddy bears on my blog [...] (not sure if you can add blogs to this??)

Editorial Review:

Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle shows readers how to create beautiful yuletide accessories to enhance the home, using simple but incredibly effective techniques. A Christmas-inspired color palette and lovable designs combine to create a festive and fun collection of over 35 projects with ideas for the entire home from the kitchen to children’s bedrooms - readers will be able to spread Christmas joy throughout their house. Easy-to-follow instructions, stunning photography and delightful illustrations accompany each project, making it an ideal title for beginning sewers to more advanced stitchers looking for a festive spin.

Halloween: The Best of Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living Magazine

Amazon Price: $14.96 List Price: $22.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Clarkson Potter Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $13.08

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Too Crafty 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I was hoping for sophisticated and stylish ideas for a halloween party. This was more like construction paper grade school crafts. I was very disapointed.

Editorial Review:

Halloween books abound, but none is as elegantly spooky or as eerily opulent as this gorgeous guide from Martha Stewart Living. Set the scene for the ultimate Halloween party with a magical yard full of pumpkins glowing with vibrant geometrics and sparkling with Christmas lights. Welcome guests with shadow lanterns flickering with bats and haunted windows. Strew the house with chiffon ghosts and fill the air with haunting sounds. Then host a pumpkin-carving feast, a crafty party, or a ghoulish supper, and whip up eyeball highballs, croaked messieurs, and spider-web sundaes. And don't forget the creepy makeup: follow along as willing victims transform into a skeleton, mummy, and several other creatures (Martha herself becomes an astonishing black widow). Excellent directions, full recipes, beautiful photographs, and an extremely detailed source list should inspire anyone to celebrate All Hallows' Eve with style. --Amy Handy

Bethany Lowe's Folk Art Halloween

Bethany Lowe

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lark Books Amazon Marketplace: 15 new & used starting at $10.19

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Haunted lights and spooky sights, ghoulish glowing luminaries, frightful festoons: what fun! Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays of the year, with legions of would-be creepy creatures on the lookout for fantastic ideas. And the newest craze is to go old-fashioned, with charmingly nostalgic folk-style costumes, decorations, and other accessories. No one does that better than designer Bethany Lowe in this, the very first book to focus solely on folk art projects for Halloween. She gets into the spirit of the season with 30 sensational projects that range from trick-or-treat cones to a crazy quilt pumpkin pillow.
Invite friends to a Halloween party with an alluring invitation made from vintage illustrations, and then have guests don delightful crepe paper hats and tassel masks. Deck the chairs with howling black cats, and swathe the walls and ceilings with flying bats. All the items are photographed in home settings, making you feel as if you’re part of Bethany’s Halloween thrills and chills.

Christmas with Southern Living 2008: Great Recipes - Easy Entertaining - Festive Decorations - Gift Ideas (Christmas With Southern Living)

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Not yet published By: Oxmoor House

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Editorial Review:

The Christmas experts at Southern Living magazine continue the holiday tradition with this all-new 28th edition of Christmas with Southern Living, the cooking, entertaining, and decorating classic that's steeped in gracious Southern style.

One-hundred forty brand-new recipes—the most ever in this book series—include ultimate show-stopping desserts, innovative chocolate and vanilla treats, incredibly easy side dishes, and a Quick & Easy Christmas Dinner that features a freezer-to-oven turkey recipe with a two-ingredient glaze.

Entertaining friends and family is a breeze with the Simple Christmas chapter, a collection of two dozen quick recipe options that require little effort yet yield luscious results.

In addition, you'll also discover fresh decorating ideas that begin with the front door and take you all through the house. Whether you fancy a traditional look, whimsical style, or casual elegance, dozens of festive wreaths, garlands, and door and mantel decorations will stir your creativity.

Big, colorful photographs will inspire your holiday table settings with designs that are "see-and-do" simple. From a centerpiece that holds individual take-home bouquets to twig balls stuffed with glittery tinsel garland, you'll be amazed at how quickly your table transforms from everyday to holiday.

Whether you need help planning the perfect holiday menu, baking special treats for giving, or trimming your home with welcoming, seasonal flair—this filled-to-overflowing book from the Christmas cooking and entertaining editors at Southern Living magazine has everything on your wish list for the most wonderful time of the year.

Gooseberry Patch Christmas, Book 10 (Gooseberry Patch)

Gooseberry Patch

Amazon Price: $18.45 List Price: $27.95 Not yet published By: Oxmoor House

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Editorial Review:

This tenth volume in the popular Yuletide series is no exception – it’s filled with beautiful full-color photography, simple craft instructions, and Country Friends illustrations that fans love. Gooseberry Patch is renowned for its catalog of books featuring farmhouse-fresh recipes and ideas for crafting and decorating.

• 160 pages of handcrafted decorations and gifts, recipes, keepsakes, and activities

• Categorized recipe index and craft index

• Recipes from the family of Gooseberry Patch readers

Clay Art for All Seasons: A Guide to Soft Clay Art

Yukiko Miyai

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Island Heritage Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $9.98

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Stunning art instruction........ 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Stunning art instruction from a gifted artist is how to describe this instructional and visually beautiful book. Yukiko Miyai is a brilliant artist who has written a most inclusive tome on how to use soft clay and transform it into spectacular flowers and floral arrangements.

I first saw her on a recent episode of The Martha Stewart Show and she was displaying the incredible lifelike floral peices that she made using soft clay. In and of itself, soft clay is a great medium, but to be able to mold it and arrange it and ply it into bouquets of flowers bursting with colors is where the title of "artist" comes about. The arrangements she created looked real, and that's the beauty of knowing how to mold and shape this clay.

To begin, getting a hold of a copy of this book required Herculean efforts. Amazon initially didn't have this, so I placed myself on the waiting list. In trying the local bookstore giants, I had to place my name on their waiting list as well. Fortunately, there was a brief window of availability from our friends here at Amazon, and I seized it, and the book, but it's become "unavailable" once again. Therefore my advice is when you see a copy anywhere, grab it! If all other avenues fail, you could try the Deco Art website, and purchase directly from the company.

The book itself is hardcover with a spiral spine. The layout and look is soft and pastel, as are all the breathtaking arrangements. The photography is superb, detailed, and all shots are close-up. You will have a hard time realizing that what you're looking at, is what can be transformed from clay. The education you will receive begins.......

INTRODUCTION: Yukiko describes how her gifted mother began this art form through years of trial and error until she found the right consistency of this medium. Then her mom began classes and workshops and as Yukiko grew up, she learned and expanded this art form to where it is today.

GETTING STARTED: Basic materials, tools, and other materials.

WORKING WITH THE CLAY: How to use the basic techniques to shape the clay and make the stems and leaves, as well as how to attach the flowers to the stems.

COLOR MIXING: How to take basic colors of clay and by incorporating other colors with it, in small amounts, make primary and pastel colors.

FLOWERS: Through the use of molds, the real fun begins with making roses, plumeria, daffodils, gerbera daisies, lilacs, hibiscus, peonies, orchids, stephanotis, pakalana (for lei's), calla lilies, poinsettia's, long stem roses, decorative topping for a gift box, decorated eggs, a "basket", chicks and bunnies, lei's, haku lei's (for wearing as a crown), hand-tied bouquets (one of my favorites), a "dress" for a shadow box, pumpkins, trick or treat bag, wreaths, and Santa ornaments.

Each of these projects have step-by-step photographs with detail so there is plenty of direction; it would be hard to error. And again, the arrangements are so spectacular, you will be quite please with your efforts, when they turn out just like the photograph.

And all the tools and products you need can be purchased easily through the company, and its website, which is located in Hawaii. So you would be hardpressed to find an excuse not to attempt these gorgeous projects, though they are time-intensive. Actually, if you could become skilled enough to make these lifelike clay bouquets, the possiblility of a business that caters to those who would like to keep their flowers and bouquets (brides for one) would be a good one.

Enjoy the fun ! Peace!

Editorial Review:

This elegant craft book’s stunning clay creations were inspired by the flowers of Hawaii and beyond. Using its easy-to-follow instructions, readers will learn how to create realistic orchids, plumeria, hibiscus, gerbera daisies, and other flowers as well as charming themed pieces for Easter, Halloween, Christmas, weddings, and other special occasions. Clay flowers make fantastic party favors, homemade holiday gifts, elegant centerpieces, or everlasting bouquets. With gorgeous color photos and informative illustraions throughout, Clay Art for All Seasons guides readers step-by-step through the creative process, enabling them to enjoy the everlasting beauty of this delicate and highly decorative art form.

Knots: Step-by-Step Instructions for Tying More Than 50 Knots

Peter Owen

Amazon Price: $5.99 List Price: $5.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gramercy Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $3.58

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Instructional

Editorial Review:

What knot is appropriate for sailing? Camping? How about around the house? Whether you are a sailor, Eagle Scout, or Joe Homeowner—expert or beginner—this guide will come in handy. Step-by-step illustrations show you how to easily tie more than 50 practical knots from the Cow Hitch (used to tether livestock) to the Fisherman's Bend (used to moor boats to the dock).

•Types of knots: stopper knots, hitches, loops, bends, running knots, shortenings, and fishing knots
•Each knot is accompanied by symbols that show how it can be used (i.e. for camping, climbing, sailing, fishing)
•Advice on selecting the correct knot for a particular task

Creative Wedding Florals You Can Make

Terry Rye

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: North Light Books Amazon Marketplace: 69 new & used starting at $0.88

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Outdated Material 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am a florist and I am always looking for new and exciting ideas. I was looking forward to some "Creative Wedding Florals" and I got a book that is a throwback to the 70's. The Material is very outdated and shows nothing new. I was very disappointed. If you are looking for "Creative
", this is not the book for you.

Like a cook book for flower arrangements 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am VERY pleased with this book. Each arrangement shows a complete "recipe" for making it along with step by step instructions AND pictures. I will save hundreds of dollars on my wedding flowers thanks in part to this book.

Good basic book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book provides good basic information and instructions on the how-tos of wedding floral arranging. Offers info on fresh flower and silk flower arrangements. Generally the instructions are quite good- however the author did not provide enough information on attaching the boutineers and corsages.

Do it yourself- cheap and easy 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a very good book if you were shocked by the price estimates at the florist. The instructions in the book were very simple to follow. I would agree that the designs are very traditional but after you get the technique down you can change things up. With this book I was able to have over 400 roses at my wedding for under $400. There was no way I could afford even the corsages for each special person in my large family without this book, flowers from the grower, and doing the arrangements myself.

Day of the Dead Crafts: More Than 24 Projects that Celebrate Da de los Muertos

Kerry Arquette, Andrea Zocchi, Jerry Vigil

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $11.01

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Editorial Review:

Celebrated on November 1 and 2, Day of the Dead honors the memory of departed souls, welcoming them back to celebrate the best of life. Families decorate grave sites with marigolds and set up stunning altars. Streets flutter with paper banners. Store windows glisten with sugar skulls. Skeleton figures grin rakishly from every corner. Day of the Dead Crafts is filled with dozens of terrific projects that allow you to participate in the excitement of the holiday while expressing your own creativity. You'll enjoy showcasing these unique, fun, and meaningful projects throughout the year.

Inside you'll find step-by-step instructions, ideas, and inspiration for a wide range of projects, including:

• Calaveras, those comical and clever skeleton figures caught in the act of enjoying life's favorite activities

• Masks and skulls made from paper maché, gourds, and even sugar

• A meaningful and artistic ofrenda, or altar, to honor those who have passed

• Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more to wear day or night

• Pieces guaranteed to liven up any décor

Colorful, whimsical, and often dramatic, Day of the Dead art is steeped in rich history and symbolism. The projects in Day of the Dead Crafts honor the traditional, while taking advantage of today's materials for a fresh and exciting twist.

The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your Ultimate One-of-a-Kind Wedding

Khris Cochran

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: The Taunton Press Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $12.54

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

very detail-oriented 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book does have a very detailed, excellent series of DIY projects, which would be perfect for a more energetic bride than me. Since becoming engaged, it seems like everything I run across makes me want to elope. However, this book is engagingly written and a good match for women who enjoy putting hours into dainty save the dates or original wedding favors. I think that kind of effort is commendable, I just can't bring myself to really put forth the effort on any of the projects.

Editorial Review:

From choosing a delicious menu to assembling the guest list, hundreds of details go into planning a successful wedding. The DIY Bride helps brides put their stamp on the big day without breaking the bank. Written by the creator of the number one Web site for wedding crafts, DIYBride.com, this fun, easy guide showcases unique, easy-to-do craft projects that range from beautiful handmade announcements and invitations to personalized favors and much more. Khris Cochran includes valuable cost-comparison sidebars that clearly detail the huge savings involved. She also shows brides how to involve their friends and families in the project-making process, making this a fun journey for all. The DIY Bride is an essential purchase for any woman who dreams of an unforgettable wedding--from the inside out.