Koncocoo

Best Puppet Crafts

Fun with Hand Shadows (Dover Children's Activity Books)
Selected from the pages of two clever 19th-century picture books, 28 hand-shadow illustrations demonstrate how to create marvelous images of a goose, deer (with antlers), birds, a bunny, a dog, an elephant, a tortoise, and a host of other familiar creatures. Children and adults around the world delight in hand shadows, and this little activity book shows how to perform the ancient art.
Reviews
"Some of these were pretty tough to finagle the fingers just right, but overall these images are all what you’d expect to see in a shadow puppet book."
"I bought it as a gift and it was pretty wimpy."
"We may love it later, but our daughter is too young to appreciate the intricate animals."
"Super cute."
"Perfect book for anyone!"
"Some fun shadows, but I wish the book didn't look so ancient inside."
"Fun, Fun, Fun.... Get the little kids laughing and trying to do it themselves."
"The pages are made exactly the same as your childhood coloring book."
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Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves
Easy to make...easy to love! Crafter Miyako Kanamori lives in Tokyo.
Reviews
"Bought this for teaching 1st graders how to create sock creatures based on her patterns."
"I was even more excited with the rest of the pictures in the book."
"This book shows you how to create the cutest stuffed animals using socks and gloves."
"It's hard not to fall in love with these little stuffed animals, and after seeing my copy, many of my students and friends have gone ahead and ordered their own."
"Miyako Kamamori's books are fantastic!"
"Most everything can be sewn by hand, although for some of the animals, a sewing machine would make things go a bit faster."
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Animal Heads: Trophy Heads to Crochet
10 fanciful projects varying in complexity and appealing to a range of abilities 80 colorful photographs throughout the book Straightforward, easy-to-follow crochet patterns with 187 detailed charts and a comprehensive, illustrated techniques section. This amazing collection of trophy animal heads to crochet will provide stunning additions to any room in your home. Vanessa has written manh successful books for GMC Publications, including Animal Hats , Crocheted Wild Animals , Sew Adorable , and Sew to Bed and Crocheted Sea Creatures .
Reviews
"Only annoying thing is when you're starting a piece, and it tells you to "go to (section) and follow for rows ___ "."
"I wish there were some step-by-step pictures or other guidelines to help beginners, but the book assumes you have these skills."
"Clearly the designer of these magnificent faux trophy heads undertook the care and deliberation to perfect these patterns as a labor of love."
"If I reviewed it solely on how much I love the concept and the outcome of my projects, I would want to give it 10 stars if I could. There are steps in the book that are unclear, I had to frog 10 rows on my Lion because I realized I was doing it wrong. The whole pattern of putting the head together had instructions, however when it came to final assembly, it was basically, figure it out on your own. Overall, I love the outcome of the 2 I have made so far, I will continue to make patterns from the book. However, I believe the mouse is the easiest in the book and the Lion is probably one of the hardest so I have experienced both ends of the spectrum."
"pretty easy instructions if you can convert UK to american terms."
"This book uses both written out and diagram directions for the patterns, which is great for people who have a preference!"
"This book is written in the language of "English crochet" where a double crochet in England is a single crochet in America."
"This is by far the most beautiful crochet book I've ever purchased. I purchased the book in advance but only this week sat down to crochet the stag head."
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Best Puppets & Puppetry Crafting

Crochet: Crochet Books: 30 Crochet Patterns In 30 Days With The Ultimate Crochet Guide! (crochet patterns on kindle free, crochet patterns, crochet books, ... crocheting, crochet magazine Book 1)
Crochet is also an art for more experienced crocheters to allow their skills to flourish by mastering some new stitches. With “Crochet Books: 30 Crochet Patterns In 30 Days With The Ultimate Crochet Guide”, you'll be able to whip up fun new gifts, surprises, accessories, and everything in between in practically no time at all. ~"Anna really put together some great crochet patterns. ~"I'm so happy I made this my first of many crochet books". < tags: crochet patterns on kindle free, crochet patterns, crochet books, crochet for beginners, crocheting, crochet magazine, crochet afghans, free crochet pattern books for kindle, crochet stitches, crochet free kindle books, crochet baby, knitting, sewing, Crochet baby blanket patterns, Crochet baby patterns, Crochet baby booties, Crochet baby blankets, Crochet baby clothes, Crochet baby afghans, Crochet baby beanies, Crochet baby dress patterns, Crochet baby booties patterns, Crochet baby bibs. First, I'd like to say my mother taught me so many of the skills I have today and every book I publish is in memory of her. Throughout the year you may find us traveling along the east coast due in large part to my children being home schooled.
Reviews
"Easy to follow directions with pictures when needed."
"Great variety of projects.Basic, simple format and instructions."
"Nice patterns and not too difficul to read."
"Looks like an awesome book so far."
"I chose to give this book a 5 star rating because it's a great book."
"Easy read and cute ideas what more could you want for any beginner."
"It is not always easy to find the right crochet pattern book ."
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Best Nature Crafts

The Dangerous Book for Boys
The classic bestselling book for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses*, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age-old question of what the big deal with girls is. Equal parts droll and gorgeous nostalgia book and heartfelt plea for a renewed sense of adventure in the lives of boys and men, Conn and Hal Iggulden's The Dangerous Book for Boys became a mammoth bestseller in the United Kingdom in 2006. Adapted, in moderation, for American customs in this edition (cricket is gone, rugby remains; conkers are out, Navajo Code Talkers in), The Dangerous Book is a guide book for dads as well as their sons, as a reminder of lore and technique that have not yet been completely lost to the digital age. Recall the adventures of Scott of the Antarctic and the Battle of the Somme, relearn how to palm a coin, tan a skin, and, most charmingly, wrap a package in brown paper and string. The book's ambitions are both modest and winningly optimistic: you get the sense that by learning how to place a splint or write in invisible ink, a boy might be prepared for anything, even girls (which warrant a small but wise chapter of their own). Conn taught for many years before becoming one of the most admired and popular young historical novelists with his Emperor series, based on the life of Julius Caesar, and his newly embarked series on Genghis Khan, while Hal is a theater director. Amazon.com: It's difficult to describe what a phenomenon The Dangerous Book for Boys was in the UK last year. They need to fall off things occasionally, or--and this is the important bit--they'll take worse risks on their own. Amazon.com: You made some changes for the U.S. edition, and I for one am sorry that you have removed the section on conkers, if only because it's such a lovely and mysterious word. In the entire history of the world, no one has ever been hurt by a conker, but it's still been banned by some British schools, just in case . I notice in both editions you have an excellent and useful section on table football, as played with coins. As for paper football, ever since I thought of putting the book together, people keep saying things like "You have rockets in there, yes? Have you seen boys getting up from their Xboxes to go outside and perform first aid or tan animal skins or build go-carts? Iggulden: I've had a lot of emails and letters from boys who loved the book--as well as fathers. I've had responses from kids as young as ten and an old man of 87, who pointed out a problem with the shadow stick that we've since changed. If it's hard, you don't make it easy, you grab it by the throat and hang on for as long as it takes. Good, heroic stories don't appear much in modern school curriculums--and then we wonder why boys don't seem interested.
Reviews
"This book, BY FAR, is one of the BEST presents you could get anyone."
"I wish I had this book when I was little."
"So many activities I'm just as excited to try as my son is!"
"The Dangerous Book for Boys is a good book."
"We got this for my son for Christmas and he has been reading it everyday."
"Nice gift for a little boy."
"Oh what a neat book."
"Unfortunately, some of the pages were blurred and can’t be read."
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Best Seasonal Crafts

The Flower Chef: A Modern Guide to Do-It-Yourself Floral Arrangements
Filled with beautiful photographs and easy-to-follow instructions on how to create over 80 different arrangements, this is the go-to guide to floral design that every flower lover will want to add to their collection. Carly's book takes you from A to Z on everything flowers and helps us amateurs bring out the flower goddess in all of us.― Ali Landry. With everything happening in design, I'm surprised that no one has done what Carly's done and has done so well: taught us the simple mysteries of how to arrange flowers beautifully. Whether you've already got flower game or you're just learning about floral design, this book offers you tips and tricks to instantly improve your styling techniques.― Laurie March, remodeler, designer, and TV host. This is my go-to book for floral designing. Carly's passion for teaching floral design comes through effortlessly in The Flower Chef .
Reviews
"Very helpful and full of ideas."
"I was hoping for more step-by-step instructions and photos."
"It' always gets her out of trouble when she runs into flower arranging issues around the house or for parties."
"Living in SoCal, I spend a lot of time working on my garden and have flowers year around."
"Carly did a fantastic job with this publication."
"Lots of tips and beautiful photography."
"Easy to read!"
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Best Toy & Model Crafts

The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book: A Beginner's Guide to Building and Programming Robots
You'll also learn essential building techniques like how to use beams, gears, and connector blocks effectively in your own designs. The EXPLOR3R, a wheeled vehicle that uses sensors to navigate around a room and follow lines The FORMULA EV3 RACE CAR, a streamlined remote-controlled race car ANTY, a six-legged walking creature that adapts its behavior to its surroundings SK3TCHBOT, a robot that lets you play games on the EV3 screen The SNATCH3R, a robotic arm that can autonomously find, grab, lift, and move the infrared beacon LAVA R3X, a humanoid robot that walks and talks. Each chapter contains several short challenges, dubbed "discoveries," which are cleverly accompanied by a legend: whimsical gear wheels represent the estimated amount of building time; tiny Microsoft Windows-esque blocks show the expected level of programming expertise; and a small clock estimates the length of time it should take to solve the challenge. The size, advanced vocabulary, and organization of the book evokes a science or physics textbook, which is warranted due to the amount of complex and detailed programming information contained within.
Reviews
"It is super for those who want to understand this Lego Robot machine and programming better."
"As to the educational version vs the home version..... The educational packs has all of the motors and sensors of the home version with two exceptions: the remote control sensor and related beacon. There may be a few add'l pieces that we'll need in the future to build all of the projects in this book, but we are 1/4 the way thru and haven't found them. The author has also kindly responded to specific questions (relating to education vs home versions), and has been quite helpful."
"Outstanding book I love the paper edition but also bought the Kindle edition too!"
"My grandson has built just about every project in the book and he loves it."
"I bought the book (and the Mindstorms kit) for my grandsons, but first I wanted to build one of the robots in the book and to do some programming for it in case I needed to help my grandsons with the versions they build."
"The book includes 132 practice modules spread throughout the chapters which allow for an iterative process of learning. My two sons and I (ages 9 and 11) are separately going through the book and practice/design modules with each of us tracking our progress on a tracking sheet."
"The book gives you all the information you need to understand the LabView environment and each of the basic programming blocks."
"Fantastic and thorough book."
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Best Folkcrafts

The Foxfire Book: Hog Dressing, Log Cabin Building, Mountain Crafts and Foods, Planting by the Signs, Snake Lore, Hunting Tales, Faith Healing, Moonshining, and Other Affairs of Plain Living
Whether you wanted to hunt game, bake the old-fashioned way, or learn the art of successful moonshining, The Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center had a contact who could teach you how with clear, step-by-step instructions. In the late 1960's, Eliot Wigginton and his students created the magazine Foxfire in an effort to record and preserve the traditional folk culture of the Southern Appalachians.
Reviews
"Not a survival type of book at all but a series of reflections on what or how things were done in the times of the Great Depression and before."
"completes my brother's collection."
"As advertised....prompt delivery."
"The Foxfire books are a treasure trove of information on how the folks in the. hills of the south managed on meager means and with determination."
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Best Mosaic Crafting

300+ Mosaic Tips, Techniques, Templates and Trade Secrets
With information gleaned from years of working for and studying with professional mosaic artists from around the world, this comprehensive guide provides essential information for creating beautiful mosaics that survive the elements and stand the test of time. *Starred Review* Home in on the last two words of artist-maven Fitzgerald’s title: Trade Secrets.
Reviews
"Good illustrations and examples of mosiac work."
"Bought this book for someone else."
"So I tend to buy books when I'm feeling creative but I can't afford the materials at the moment."
"Disappointed in the book."
"great product and fast shipment."
"I was very pleased with the content of this book, great photos, in depth info well laid out."
"An informative book."
"Nothing new here if you already have a couple of mosaics instructonal books."
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Best Mixed-Media Craft

Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from Around the House (Lab Series)
Cook up some science in your home with Kitchen Science Lab for Kids . Kitchen Science Lab for Kids offers 52 fun science activities for families to do together. Soon she found herself sharing her love of science with her three kids as they grew, journaling their science adventures on her KitchenPantryScientist website.
Reviews
"Here is a list of the sections: Unit 1-Carbonated Chemical Reactions. Unit 2 Crystal Creations. Unit 3 Physics in Motion. Unit 4 Life Science. Unit 5 Astonishing Liquids. Unit 6 Polymers, Colloids & Misbehaving Materials. Unit 7 Acids & Basis. Unit 8 Marvelous Microbiology. Unit 9 Shocking Science. Unit 10 Bodacious Botany. Unit 11 Sunny Science. Unit 12 Rocket Science. The projects are so much fun."
"Gave as gift."
"Item arrived on time and as described."
"Love this book."
"It looks like it has a lot of fun ideas/activities!!"
"this is a good book for the family and for teachers of younger children who have a science class."
"Great variety of projects with lots of nice pictures."
"Already are using it and learning from it!"
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Best Crafts for Children

Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make
Kids can sew too! Best of all, this practical, attractive sewing book features finished projects that look like they were actually made by children.
Reviews
"Unfortunately, so much of the sewing kits, books, and supplies are geared towards girls. Not only is it full of beautiful photographs that help teach sewing steps, I was pleased to see how many boys were included in the photographs--sewing just like their female counterparts."
"My 7 year old daughter loves this book."
"My daughter loves it and is always planning new projects to make."
"Such a lovely book!"
"Some fun ideas."
"Nice book but grand didn't really use it much."
"good instructions for beginner sewer."
"The pictures and instructions are perfect for a tween girl to follow."
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Best Pottery & Ceramic Craft

Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Throwing Beautiful, Functional Pots
For each technique, detailed step-by-step photography captures the subtle, intricate movements that typically fly by too fast to be learned when watching a video lesson; callouts then lead readers to the relevant video on the DVD so they can see the technique demonstrated in real time—an ideal combination that makes learning from the master easy. The in-depth perspective starts with his directions for making simple tools (a wire tool and a sponge stick) and is bolstered by charts and information-packed sidebars (e.g., for removing air bubbles and troubleshooting your first pull). Third-generation potter Leach, with technical and photographic assistance from Bruce Dehnert and Jared Flood, capitalizes on his celebrity with an amazingly detailed, step-by-step text for all major processes in ceramics.
Reviews
"Simon has done it again."
"This book has 2 discs included with great videos."
"Great book of knowledge for the beginner potter, some of its common knowledge for the professional potter but he is a great source of info."
"Next, it is laid out in an organized, beautiful design filled with very practical and easy to understand instruction, tips and facts every potter should know. Simon Leach, as anyone who has watched his many YouTube videos can testify to, is a character that is at times funny, irreverent, and very talented."
"Very nice pictures, clear instructions and positive encouragement​ from the author."
"The book includes instructions for making common tools, like a sponge stick (easy to make and better than bought ones) and a weighted wire cutoff tool. I finally learned spiral wedging, due to the clear instructions on the book and DVD."
"The cover comes off of the spiral binding when you open the book!"
"Well done, Simon."
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Best Polymer Clay

Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay: Tools and Techniques for Sculpting Realistic Figures
Thorough instructions supported by more than 400 step-by-step color photos and 200 detailed drawings cover the entire process of sculpting realistic figures. You hold in your hands a magical book, your guide to a realm where anyone can learn to sculpt. Practical and intuitive steps lead the way to creating strong, realistic and expressive figures.
Reviews
"This is for someone who is pretty advanced."
"Excellent!"
"I've only had a chance to look at the book."
"Step by step information empowers you to create beauty in small forms."
"I been looking at this book for more than a year and I hesitate to buy it due to some reviews in the past."
"It breaks it down into sections of the body and how to make the muscle tone accurate and symmetrical."
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Best Wood Crafts & Carving

The Joint Book: The Complete Guide to Wood Joinery
This hardcover book with internal spiral binding is 6.5in x 8in, a perfect size for carpenters and woodworkers to keep near their workbench or toolbox for quick access.The design of this book allows it to lay open flat, which allows for easy and frequent reference, and the interior photographs, illustrations and diagrams, make the learning process simple and fun for beginners, and provides useful tips for more advanced readers.
Reviews
"Was a gift for my hubby."
"A relatively small, spiral bound reference book, it has proven very handy when considering joins in my own designs."
"Husband said this is a great book."
"Great book and easy to understand."
"Some of the material is just so limited and general but then again the type of material in it I refer to is not the material I bought this for."
"Much however is with hand tools versus a modern approach with a router / saws etc."
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Best Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts

Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make
Kids can sew too! Best of all, this practical, attractive sewing book features finished projects that look like they were actually made by children.
Reviews
"Unfortunately, so much of the sewing kits, books, and supplies are geared towards girls. Not only is it full of beautiful photographs that help teach sewing steps, I was pleased to see how many boys were included in the photographs--sewing just like their female counterparts."
"I looked through this book and I WANT IT!"
"My 7 year old daughter loves this book."
"Loved it."
"This book is so much better than any cheap craft set you can find in Walmart."
"I am planning to include a small cigar-type box, a selection of felt squares, needles, scissors, a ruler, and a small bag of batting, with the book so that she has the materials needed to start the projects in the book."
"She has been reading the book herself and has completed several of the projects and is happy with the results."
"My daughter loves it and is always planning new projects to make."
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Best Flower Arranging & Crafts

Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms
From Erin Benzakein, a leader in the locaflor farm-to-centerpiece movement and owner of internationally renowned Floret Flower Farm, Cut Flower Garden is equal parts instruction and inspiration—a book overflowing with lush photography of magnificent flowers and breathtaking arrangements organized by season. "I met Erin Benzakein more than ten years ago when she was a young mom growing sweet peas and dreaming of making her living from flowers. And now she's sharing that dream with the world - everyone from fellow flower enthusiasts to emerging farmer-florists to veteran designers yearning for a new, seasonal and sustainable model of floristry. In her debut book she not only introduces us to the basics of growing our own flowers, she shares her deep love and understanding of gardening in a way that will leave even the most doubtful grower feeling inspired to get their hands in the dirt." Her first book is deliciously gorgeous and incredibly comprehensive- combining practical advice alongside a huge overdose of seasonal inspiration. Erin Benzakein's gorgeous new book, Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden, is equal parts inspiration and education. "The creation of this beautiful book is testament to Erin Benzakein's commitment to and passion for the local flower movement. The layout is simultaneously appealing and practical; Floret's signature lush photographs beautifully illustrate all stages of cut flower production and design through the seasons. Filled with clear growing techniques, detailed harvesting instructions and other tips of the trade, this book is a true gift to anyone wanting to generate good income from the craft of flower farming on a small-scale.
Reviews
"broken down into flowers of the season... author gives several varieties of her favorite flowers."
"What a book, just about everything you need to know, and her years of experience have been put into this book."
"Beautiful, inspiring, complete, thorough, full of heart and current guide, that can be adapted to farms of all sizes."
"I don't even have a yard/garden right now as I'm renting but this book has been so fun to read and to dream!"
"If you love flowers, you will love this book."
"I wish I bought this as a digital copy so that I could carry everywhere to read."
"Love this book!"
"Cannot put it down!"
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Best Jewelry & Beadwork Crafts

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making and Beading
With hundreds of detailed photos, this book covers tools and supplies, bead stringing and weaving, wire wrapping, and more. Detailed color photos demonstrate each step.
Reviews
"Interesting book with good techniques to follow."
"One of the pages was sticking out,& some corners were bent."
"Great book, easy to understand and read."
"youtube clips on jewelry techniques are better than examples in the book."
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Best Crafts & Hobbies Reference

Wreck This Journal (Black) Expanded Edition
Through a series of creative and quirky prompts, acclaimed guerilla artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in destructive acts — poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting pages with coffee, coloring outside the lines, and more — in order to experience the true creative process. “ Wreck This Journal encourages you to stop fretting about quality and start relishing the artistic process.” —Oprah.com. “I love this book and the playful way that Keri Smith teaches people the act of creating by putting you right on the spot. It is great for inspiration; it gives you tasks that are thought-provoking rather than pages of endless blank lines. “Wreck this Journal makes a great gift for someone who’s going through a stressful time, needs a form of release, or anyone who could use a few minutes of fun.” — Jactionary. “Calling all bookworms and creative doodlers, Wreck This Journal is the perfect book to spruce up your summer. “A conceptual artist and author luring kids into questioning the world and appreciating every smell, texture and mystery in it.” — TIME Magazine.
Reviews
"I never even realized I was creative until this book came around."
"Somewhere in the book you will find a page that tells you to attach a string to the spine of the book and swing wildly."
"Never in my life would I think I'd find myself scouring the windowsills and corners of the garage to collect dead bugs (yes, really...there's a page for that) - but there are some petrified flies carefully enclosed in tape in my journal."
"I bought 3 of these as gifts."
"Really creative and fun, the recipient (age 14) was intrigued and kept flipping through pages to read the suggestions and laughing out loud."
"Ordered one for myself and one for my niece."
"My daughter loved the book."
"Bought for my daughter this is her 2nd book and she loves them."
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Best Metal Work

The Backyard Blacksmith
Written by an expert in blacksmith and metal artist, this book provides readers with a basic understanding of blacksmithing, including an explanation of tools like an anvil, an anvil stand, hammers, and tongs. Through instructions and illustrations, readers will learn to make simple tools and useful items, such as nails, hinges, and handles, and also an interesting mix of artful projects, such letter openers, door knockers and botanical ornaments.
Reviews
"My 12 year old son has decided he wants to learn blacksmithing and he saved all of his money to buy an anvil and he and my husband built a forge out of an old brake drum from a big truck."
"I got this for my eldest son (22) for Christmas."
"Awesome book."
"Full of information, hints, practical exercises and projects."
"perfect book for those just starting out and those that have alittle bit under their belt."
"Very nice book has all info on blacksmithing basics.really like it was surprise it was a hard cover."
"Can't wait to get into this."
"Awesome book."
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Best Basket Making

Pine Needle Basketry: From Forest Floor to Finished Project
From this simple technique, however, crafters can create limitless variety through the way they shape the coils, dye the needles, vary stitches, embellish with beads and seeds, and incorporate leather and wood. Pine needles have become raw materials for baskets because they were a widely available, renewable resource.
Reviews
"When the students were finished with their little baskets, they all wanted to do more baskets using some of the more difficult designs and techniques, so I ordered 12 more books and we plan to get together for more basket making in the near future."
"I plan on working a lot with this book when the pine needles start to drop and I can collect enough for several fun projects!"
"Great quality & easy step by step instructions."
"Everything you need to know about using pine needles."
"I cannot brag enough about Judy Mofield Mallow and her book Pine Needle Basketry."
"I live in a Ponderosa Pine Forest in Colorado so pine needles are plentiful!"
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Best Papercrafts, Stamping & Stenciling

Star Wars Origami: 36 Amazing Paper-folding Projects from a Galaxy Far, Far Away....
Kids love origami—and what could be cooler than transforming a piece of paper into Boba Fett, Princess Leia, Yoda, or R2-D2? Star Wars Origami includes a foreword by Tom Angleberger, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back , and is scheduled to be published at the same time as Angleberger’s upcoming book, The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee . A Look Inside Star Wars Origami.
Reviews
"The quality of the paper is good and there are many star war character origami designs."
"This is probably the best $6 I’ve ever spent!"
"Not for beginners!!!!"
"It will be a great use of time if you like Star Wars as my son does!"
"It was a Christmas gift."
"Lots of fun!"
"Great price for this oragami book!"
"Quite difficult not really for young kids."
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Best Candle Making

Pure Soapmaking: How to Create Nourishing, Natural Skin Care Soaps
The pure luxury of soaps made with coconut butter, almond oil, aloe vera, oatmeal, and green tea is one of life’s little pleasures. “This book has everything you need for success.
Reviews
"Cons: I recognized a great many of the designs from the Amy Warden Soap Challenge and the original artisan soap makers were not given credit (design ideas are not exclusive to the Soap Queen). Instead of telling you how many ounces a recipe makes- you get how many bars based on her molds (a pain in the butt for a newbie to figure out using your own molds.). The book is a copycat of other artisans original works and really instead of using ordinary easy to find molds it compels you to go to her company to buy the equipment (or buy it cheaper here on Amazon :) SOME THINGS YOU NEED:You need a silicone log mold, a wooden slab mold, a individual silicone cavity mold, a silicone slab mold (smaller), and a long log mold with dividers, and round molds, embellishment molds, natural colorants, oxides, tons of essential oils, heating pad, section tools, sodium lactate (in all the recipes), cupcake mold, stamp, rubber mallet, sealable tea bags, herbs, bubble wrap, cookie cutters, powder sifter, chopsticks, frosting bag and tip... it goes on and on."
"Great to have these options."
"Detailed and inspirational, just what you would expect from Anne Marie, The Soap Queen!"
"Shared knowledge, reinforced guidelines."
"Love this book."
"Very much recommend this book for soaping."
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Best Gift Decorating

The Year of Cozy: 125 Recipes, Crafts, and Other Homemade Adventures
From the author of the popular blog, A Cozy Kitchen, comes a beautifully photographed one-stop-shop book with all the recipes and projects you’ll need for some cozy inspiration this holiday season―and all year long. You'll want to sink right into her cozy world-why not plan a fall picnic, make Chewy Chai Snickerdoodles, and adopt a best friend corgi named Amelia? Adrianna's clear and friendly voice chats with you as if you're a dear friend, offering tips on DIY crafts and recipes you'll actually want to make. “If L.A. blogger, dog-lover, and yummy food maker Adrianna Adarme isn't already on your radar, it's time to get acquainted….An ordinary book of recipes, this is not. Not only are there cozy and comforting recipes, but the book is also filled with crafts and outings and life inspiration.
Reviews
"Not only are the photos, crafts and ideas beautifully shot (and equally as deserving of a front-and-center coffee table spot), but the author is one of the most honest, articulate and REAL people I've ever encountered in this kind of book."
"This makes an excellent gift and is also great eye candy!"
"Such a wonderful book!"
"Adarme is a kindred spirit!"
"Love this book!"
"I love your book."
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Best Framing

Complete Book of Framing: An Illustrated Guide for Residential Construction
The updated easy-to-learn reference for rough carpentry and framing Complete Book of Framing, Second Edition is an updated, easy-to-learn guide to rough carpentry and framing written by an expert with more than thirty years of framing experience. Complete Book of Framing, Second Edition is an updated, easy-to-use guide to rough carpentry and framing written by an expert with more than thirty years of framing experience. This Second Edition is updated to match the framing techniques of the 2009 International Building Code and introduces the concept of "green framing" with regard to material use and handling.
Reviews
"The author assumes you are already a framer, or at least that you have a good bit of knowledge on the craft. If you are handy with tools but need to know how to frame up a simple structure, I'd get the Ortho book instead."
"I am quite handy and do a lot of small improvement projects at home myself. Most chapters seemed written by Captain Obvious (like "put one board on the top of another, hold the nail to the top board, pound with the hammer until the nail sinks; now your boards are fastened"---this is an exaggeration, but really, a lot of stuff reads like this)."
"I have learn a few things and I am sure I will learn a few more things as I gaze at this book."
"I was impressed with the amount of precision and concise details in each section of this book, it discusses, the planning, layout, the actual how to do it yourself, the materials purchasing, the tools to use and how to use them. This book is an encyclopedia of framing, the best if not one of the best framing books I have ever used or read and I have not even gotten to read all of it completely yet but it has helped me a great deal already in month time."
"Great book, very knowledgeable."
"Another really good book for beginners on framing."
"I am getting ready to close in my carport and needed a good book to explain how to frame it in, with windows and doors."
"This is not a book for a person who didn't graduate the college of framing."
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Best Radio Operation

The ARRL General Class License Manual Spiral Bound
Upgrading to a General license--which conveys extensive HF privileges only requires passing a written examination. Once you do, the entire range of operating modes and the majority of the amateur spectrum below 30 MHz become available to you. Use this book to study for your General Class license exam. Every page presents information you will need to pass the exam and become an effective operator.
Reviews
"Using this process with a clean copy of the pool questions I got to mostly "blue" and a couple of "greens"...and easily passed the three test."
"Great information laid out in a plain to understand method that logically moves you through the subject matter in a way that you actually learn."
"I already have the Tech book and I used that and the practice exams on line to pass my Tech exam."
"Hypertext jumps from the subject to questions and answers was flawless."
"Excellent book."
"The book was so simple and easy to follow. This book will go over various topics and then at the end of the chapter it will just say, "Please review questions in section etc, etc, etc before continuing to the next chapter" I hate flipping back and forth between reading material and question pools in the back of the book. In the end this book will work and some of you might just say I have a different way of learning than others which is true."
"Very comprehensive and clear."
"Brand new and is current..."
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Best Soap Making

Pure Soapmaking: How to Create Nourishing, Natural Skin Care Soaps
The pure luxury of soaps made with coconut butter, almond oil, aloe vera, oatmeal, and green tea is one of life’s little pleasures. “This book has everything you need for success.
Reviews
"Cons: I recognized a great many of the designs from the Amy Warden Soap Challenge and the original artisan soap makers were not given credit (design ideas are not exclusive to the Soap Queen). Instead of telling you how many ounces a recipe makes- you get how many bars based on her molds (a pain in the butt for a newbie to figure out using your own molds.). The book is a copycat of other artisans original works and really instead of using ordinary easy to find molds it compels you to go to her company to buy the equipment (or buy it cheaper here on Amazon :) SOME THINGS YOU NEED:You need a silicone log mold, a wooden slab mold, a individual silicone cavity mold, a silicone slab mold (smaller), and a long log mold with dividers, and round molds, embellishment molds, natural colorants, oxides, tons of essential oils, heating pad, section tools, sodium lactate (in all the recipes), cupcake mold, stamp, rubber mallet, sealable tea bags, herbs, bubble wrap, cookie cutters, powder sifter, chopsticks, frosting bag and tip... it goes on and on."
"lots great information."
"Detailed and inspirational, just what you would expect from Anne Marie, The Soap Queen!"
"Well written and informative!"
"Shared knowledge, reinforced guidelines."
"Love this book."
"Very much recommend this book for soaping."
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Best Weaponsmithing

Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson)
144 new pages for a grand total of 528 pages of pure Smith & Wesson 14 new revolver models added since last edition Dozens of new variations of the M&P pistol New S&W rifles and shotguns, including many new M&P 15 rifles Hundreds of detailed, full-color photos Smith & Wesson gun values and collector information. Jim Supica is Director of NRA Museums.
Reviews
"I bought this as a first time reference book for dating Smith and Wesson revolvers. It helps estimate date of manufacture but not a pin point like a Letter from Smith."
"It was a little thin on information on a particular model I was curious about (a 4505) and looked to have taken the info on that gun right out of the blue book."
"Christmas 2013 I received another gift card, purchased this one, the third edition."
"This book is a must for people who love and or collect Smith & Wesson firearms, even has guns that the blue book of gun values doesn't have with great information and details!"
"Prices, history, collectibility, production numbers, etc..."
"These two authors did a fantastic job at putting this history together from 1852 forward.."
"THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK IS BEYOND ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER READ ON SMITH & WESSON."
"VERY happy with this book."
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Best Scrapbooking

Just the Ticket: Ticket Stub Organizer
Organize and preserve your tickets from special concerts, shows, trips, and sporting events in this handsome ticket stub organizer!
Reviews
""Concert Ticket Album" (which I'll call "CTA") and "Just the Ticket" ticket organizer (which I'll call "JTT".). Size of tickets it will take: JTT has pockets that are 7.5" x 4" and will take tickets up to that size, but a ticket that size would cover up the label portion where you can write notes. CTA's pockets are 5x5" x 2.75"-- that is, more sized for "traditional" tickets like the kind that ticket outlets have sold for years. Quantity of tickets it will hold: Concert Ticket Album has 16 pages, with 3 tickets per side, plus two oversized. So that totals: 16 x 3 x 2 = 96 regular tickets plus two oversized tickets. Just the Ticket has 20 pages with 2 tickets per side, for a total of 80 tickets and no oversized tickets. How well it holds tickets: I haven't fully compared, but CTA has smaller pockets and thus tickets would be held snugly. JTT's larger pockets could lead to the tickets sliding around in the pockets a bit. When looking at your tickets, you'll need to turn pages carefully because there will be some flexing of the tickets in the pages."
"I'd recommend taking each page out to tape the tickets or momento on there."
"I have a TON of ticket stubs as I used to work in record stores in the 90's, I like that I have a place next to the stub to include the opening bands."
"I used to keep all of my tickets in a box and never got to look at them."
"I bought this as a graduation gift & the recipient was over the moon."
"This was a perfect Secret Santa gift for a girl who loves going to broadways!"
"If he fills up all the pages I can buy him an extra pack or the pages Couldn’t be happier with this purchase."
"This notebook makes it super easy with pockets for each ticket stub and a lined section to write notes."
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Best Glass & Glassware

Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems
The first complete guide to collecting, identifying, and understanding the history behind smooth glass shards found at the water's edge. Pure Sea Glass assists the collector in playing detective using subtle clues regarding color and shape to identify the possible source of sea glass shards, their age, rarity, and historical significance.
Reviews
"The author gives wonderful detailed information on each color of glass, including its rarity."
"So before I went any further, I bought a copy of Richard LaMotte's renowned book "Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems" on the advice of a longtime collector and jewelry maker. A major added attraction is that there are over 150 exquisite and elegant photographs by Celia Pearson included here, presenting some of the beat specimens ever collected, along with a vast array of classical glassware from around the world that is often its source. The book is a comprehensive guide, chock full of information on finding and identifying these gems, the bits of aged glass, enhanced by years beneath the sea or caught in the tides that wash our coasts. After a recent hurricane I made a day trip to Montauk, NY, and actually found some wonderful pieces on the beach at low tide - one a real jewel!"
"What caught my eye was the beautiful color photos of various glasses that comprise the make up of Sea Glasses. Book also includes a glass color rating scale for helping collector determine how rare each of his or her individual pieces are. There are very interesting color photos of different colored specimens of Sea Glass educating collectors as to which colors are more valuable and rare."
"Beautifully photographed and produced but not extremely helpful."
"Beautiful book filled with great information on sea glass."
"You are asking me too early..."
"A must have book for all Sea Glass collector's."
"It has very detailed information about the different types of sea glass."
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