Expert Advice Books - Page 10

Good Things (Best of Martha Stewart Living)

Martha Stewart Living Magazine

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The best of the magazine ! 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful.

If you don't subscribe to Martha's expensive magazine (I don't), then this book is the only thing you need to own. It is the best of all the good ideas without weeding through ads.

Cut & Paste Job. Avoid 1 out of 5 stars.
6 of 27 people found this review helpful.

Rehash of articles in her magazine. Avoid.

Nothing Good Here But Try.... 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 21 people found this review helpful.

...these others books that I think are grand:

The New Decorating Book (Better Homes and Gardens(R))
by Better Homes and Gardens, Elegant and Easy Rooms: 250 Trade Secrets for Decorating Your Home, Elegant and Easy Living Rooms: 100 Trade Secrets for Designing With Style (Elegant and Easy).

I used all three with my designer and the results were delightful. Martha is just so passe anymore.

It's a "good thing" if you have the time and skill. 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is a complilation of the "good things" column from Martha Stewart Living, 1990-1996. A few of the ideas, a customized sewing kit, decanting liquid dish soap from a bottle, slicing onions near a flame to keep from crying, tossing shellfish with corn meal to get rid of excess sand, keeping appliance warranties in an accordian file, preaparing a fruit butter with only a few ingredients, and using tea towels as simple window treatments, are easily accomplished by just about anyone.

Yet, some of these ideas require being rooted in a skill that requires good hand and eye coordination. A nice knick knack shelf needs dedicated carpentry skills. An attractive table mat needs basic sewing skills and a sewing machine. Napkins become lovely unique after several minutes of hand embroidery.

Look at this book at a library before committing to buying it.

Editorial Review:

Culled from the best of the "Good Things" columns in Martha Stewart Living magazine, this book offers a varied selection of wonderful crafts projects, recipes, hints for home decorating, organizing, and gift-giving. 200 color photos.

Family Knits: 25 Handknits for All Seasons

Debbie Bliss

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: St. Martin's Press Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $11.50

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General AAS

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

Editorial Review:

A Main Selection of the Crafter's Choice Book Club     Family Knits is a heartwarming collection of hand-knit designs that celebrate making time for family and friends. From a women’s delicate summer cardigan and a chunky weekend sweater, to a pint-sized hooded Guernsey for boys, to a rugged man’s pullover, Debbie's latest book features styles for adults and children for every season. Whether having a picnic on a sunny summer afternoon, exploring a windswept beach in autumn or wrapping up for a brisk winter walk, here is a capsule wardrobe for the perfect weekend.
     The year-round feel is reflected in the sections in which the book is divided: beach, picnic, and country. In addition, projects are included for knitters of every skill level, from the basic to the more advanced. Beautiful lifestyle photography and concise easy-to-follow instructions accompany each of the twenty projects.
     No matter if you're young or old, the carefree and relaxed knits in Debbie's signature style and yarns are guaranteed to please.  

Paper Piecing with Alex Anderson: Tips, Techniques, 6 Projects

Alex Anderson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

not all you see is paper pieced 4 out of 5 stars.
87 of 90 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonderful book of beautiful projects. However. not all of the blocks are paper pieced. There are some difficult curved seams and a crazy pieced block that are not for the beginner. Also the template on page 44 is too large for the dimensions noted in the directions for finishing the remainder of the basket block. The triangle must be reduced to fit the remainder of the dimensions. I am in the process of finishing the sampler on page 45. Although not extremely difficult, this is not a paper piecing book for the beginner. The patterns are beautiful and except for the problem that I found trying to complete the basket blocks for the sampler, the directions are clear. I will probably make another one of the projects. Her color choices are exquisite.

Terror is gone 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This book really helped me understand the basics of paper piecing. I am no longer afraid of this fun aspect of quilting. thank you

Editorial Review:

Machine piecing on paper foundations guarantees virtually perfect results. Have a fun, rewarding quiltmaking experience with 6 paper-pieced projects.

Color: Natural Palettes for Painted Rooms

Donald Kaufman, Taffy Dahl

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

I was a little disappointed.... 3 out of 5 stars.
39 of 41 people found this review helpful.

that there wasn't more info on what pigments the author used to create the colors for each of his beautiful palettes .

I later found on the web that he sells his paints (called, surprisingly enough, the Donald Kaufman Color Collection) for $40 to $75 per gallon. They are available only through the Color Factory (Englewood, NJ) or Painter's Supply (Santa Monica, CA).

Other than that, a beautiful book with plenty of pictures and in-depth discussion of each house.

Sweet but dated... 2 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

In 2006 this book looks quite dated. The photos don't seem quite... modern. I can tell that this was published more than a decade ago just by looking at the super-annuated home fashions. Pretty but not of today!!!!!

Editorial Review:

The first lifestyle book to show groups of colors inspired by nature and how they work on the interior walls of 26 homes. Kaufman's colors are distinctive in that they are designed to capture the nuances of color in nature. The authors reveal their paint-mixing techniques, and recipes for five neutral Donald Kaufman paints are included. Illustrations.

Gardening 101

Martha Stewart

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Should be titled, "Gardening Martha's Way" 2 out of 5 stars.
44 of 46 people found this review helpful.

The photos truly are lovely, but I'm so glad I didn't buy based on reviews - I read a library copy first.

It does start out with some good advice. The Preface talks about choosing your gardening style and doing a bit of planning before digging. The Introduction talks about matching the plant to the site, and urges readers to ask local extension services or nurseries for advice. Invaluable info for a novice gardener, but I don't believe it was ever repeated later in the book.

Alas, the book then takes a nasty turn and descends into the pit of Martha's garden and Martha's terms. Rock powders - perhaps that's the New England name for soil amendments, but you'll have trouble if you ask for them in nurseries around here (unless they've read the book). Her lists of vegetables, perennials, and annuals must be the ones she favors growing in her zone; quite a few of them wouldn't do well in other parts of the country. You'll have to get ideas for your zone from some other book, because they're not in 101.

A lot of basic info is touched upon but not explained very well; for instance, one page is devoted to watering, yet three pages give instructions for casting your very own garden trough.

I didn't much care for her sources at the back of the book, either.

Editorial Review:

Learn how to become a skilled, successful gardener one step at a time. Easy to follow illustrated lessons give you all the information you need to grow your favorite vegetables, flowers, trees, and shrubs.

Neutral Essentials with Alex Anderson: 7 Quilt Projects o 3 Keys to Fabric Confidence o Fat-Quarter Friendly

Alex Anderson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

netrals are a new color palate 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book has some very helpful guidelines to help you see neutrals as a new color palate. They can really enhance your other colors in quilts. I made the Log Cabin quilt in neutrals and golds, and everyone loves it.

Editorial Review:

In Neutral Essentials with Alex Anderson, the master quilt teacher and popular television personality shows how to create subtle visual effects by varying the color, contrast, and texture of fabrics. The results are anything but plain vanilla! Seven easy-to-make quilt projects show off all the subtle elegance of tans, beiges, and creams, with step-by-step directions and how-to photographs. There’s even a chapter on quilting basics to get readers started. Neutrals will never seem dull again!

* Seven quilt projects in colors that never go out of style

* Learn to use colors, contrasts, and print textures to create neutral blends

* Quilting basics plus more tips and techniques

Hand & Machine Quilting Tips & Tricks Tool: Quilt Like the Experts o Easy-to-Use Quick Reference Guide o From Planning to Perfect Stitching

Harriet Hargrave, Alex Anderson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Tips for Quilters 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Well written using terms & illustrations beginning & continuing quilters will find useful. Anderson and Hargrave each share their expertise on the subject of putting the final quilt together with hand or machine quilting. The book answered many of my questions.

Editorial Review:

Got a great quilt top? All ready to go on the quilting? Get Hand & Machine Quilting Tips & Tricks Tool, the handy reference guide that shares all the tips on how to make quilting look absolutely perfect. Harriet Hargrave and Alex Anderson, two of America’s most respected quilt experts, give all the answers to questions on both hand and machine quilting: setting up equipment and workspaces, what kinds of threads, needles, and batting to use, how to mark, baste, and stitch the quilt, and solving problems. Small enough to tuck in a purse and take anywhere, yet packed with straightforward, no-nonsense advice and information, this is the go-anywhere, use-anywhere guide to quilting.  * Complete sections on both hand and machine quilting, with helpful charts and photos

* Small enough to take anywhere

* Essential companion to the Piecing Tips and Tricks Tool

Carolyne Roehm's Fall Notebook

Carolyne Roehm

List Price: $25.00 By: HarperCollins Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $6.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

More a look at a socialite's lifestyle 3 out of 5 stars.
15 of 18 people found this review helpful.

As is true with all four books in this series, this "notebook" is beautifully photographed. Ms. Roehm's series does not offer much depth in any of the "categories" covered in the book-- gardening, hearth (whatever that is), etc. but does demonstrate her truly beautiful design sense, especially in floral arranging. The spiral-bound format, including pockets for the reader's own clippings, and the many blank pages for the reader's own notes are more gimmicky than helpful, and take up lots of space in an already "lightweight" effort. Unlike the Martha Stewart books, against which these are positioned, Ms. Roehm's books do not offer the detailed "how-to" approach of Ms. Stewart's excrutiatingly detailed tomes, but are more a peek into Ms. Roehm's perfectionist lifestyle, which is very entertaining in itself. With many, many references to her home, affectedly titled "Weatherstone", Ms. Roehm's books are more a "season" in the life of a newly monied socialite than an expert's teachings. However, all said, Ms. Roehm's text demonstrates a quick wit and a somewhat self-deprecating style, which when combined with the almost desperate desire to impress the reader with the elegance of 'ole "Weatherstone", makes one see her as a charming, insecure, vulnerable, and very talented woman. The four "notebooks" left me wanting to see more photographs of her exquisite designs, less from her as an "expert", and gave me the impression that I would like to learn more about her journey post-divorce from Henry Kravis, and post-clothing design business. An expert she ain't, but an interesting woman, most certainly.

Editorial Review:

• A fall scrapbook of gardening methods, recipes, and tabletop designs.
• Hands-on workbook format with pockets for clippings and graph paper for plans.
• Tips on Halloween and Thanksgiving festivities and decorating ideas with pages for notes.
• Full-color instructions to create magnificent autumn bouquets.
• Lists to help you organize entertaining chores and speed the task of putting the garden to bed

Martha Stewart's Menus for Entertaining

Martha Stewart

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

One of her best! 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful.

This is my favorite Martha Stewart book - and I have several. The menus are original but yet not over the top. I have actually tried and used the recipes - and have been asked for them - which to me is the ultimate compliment. The pictures are great - this is a book you will actually use - instead of just reading and putting back into your cookbook library. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

Editorial Review:

A must-have for Martha fanciers.” —People

“When Martha Stewart talks, holiday entertainers should listen.” —San Francisco Examiner

“Stewart really knows how to put together dishes that complement one another.” —Washington Post

Enjoy 20 complete menus with more than 150 deliciously diverse recipes

Menus

Celebrating Spring
Pink Peony Dinner Party
Hors d’Oeuvres in the Garden
A Small but Special Baby Shower
Spicy Thai Lunch
Louisiana Seafood Feast
North Carolina Barbecue
Crabs and Corn on the Beach
Tuscan Buffet Outdoors
The Best Clambake
Surprisingly Simple Chinese
“Fried Green Tomatoes” Brunch
Midsummer Fiesta
Pasta for a Crowd
Halloween’s “Ghoulish” Pleasures
Thanksgiving at Turkey Hill
Holiday Dessert Buffet
A Birthday Dinner of Gifts
New Traditions for Christmas
Come for Champagne and Caviar

Debbie Travis' Painted House

Debbie Travis

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Expert Advice -> Debbie Travis

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

Editorial Review:

Debbie Travis' Painted House

Paint has long been valued as a fast and creative way  to give your home a fresh new look, and for the first time, the host of the popular television series Debbie Travis' Painted House shares the well-kept trade secrets that have made her one of today's hottest painted- finishes experts. Based on her groundbreaking philosophy that spectacular paint effects need not be the product of messy oil paints and complicated techniques, Debbie Travis' Painted House offers complete instructions for more than thirty-five incredible finishes, all created using worry-free water-based paints and glazes.

In the first section, "Getting Started," you'll learn all you need to know about materials, tools, surfaces, and preparation, including the pros and cons of different types of paint and how to make your own inexpensive alternatives to costly professional brushes and tools. You'll also find inspiration for choosing colors and working around a specific theme, such as a Southwestern or English Country style. The next section covers finishes for walls and floors, offering patterned and textured looks. The final section demonstrates finishes that work best with the smaller surfaces of furniture and decorative accessories, such as gilding and faux tortoiseshell. Each project--from a simple colorwashed wall to an elegant faux marble mantel, from a time-worn antiqued sideboard to a contemporary looking "sheet metal" table--is accompanied by detailed photography and step-by-step instructions, as well as suggestions for alternative looks and valuable tips to ensure truly professional results.

Lavishly illustrated and packed with important information, precise recipes for creating unique paint effects, and a complete source list, Debbie Travis' Painted House enables you to (almost) effortlessly achieve today's most sought-after decorative looks.

Barbara Dingle has written and edited extensively for the design and decorating market for fifteen years. She shares Travis' passion for painted finishes, and when not writing about them can be found transforming her own walls "with a bit of paint."