Book Description
The Year is 2190. China has once again become a world unto itself and this time its only boundary is space . . . The world is City Earth, ruled by the Seven, China's new kings. Beautiful, controlled, sensual, this high-tech society is rushing toward war between the forces of West and East, between the rebels who hunger for change and the overlords who demand stability, between the very powers of darkness and light. It will be an era of violent conflagration destined to expose the basest elements of human nature . . . and the highest dreams. An epic that draws us into an alternative world so real, so complete that we become denizens of the new Middle Kingdom, touched by longings we never imagined. . . driven by forces as ancient as man's first breath. Not since Asminov's Foundation books and Herbert's Dune has there been such a majestic and powerful vision of a believable other world. . . seductive, chilling, unforgettable!
Customer Reviews:
NOT Sci-Fi. Rather it is hard-core Political Fantasy-Porn........2007-07-29
NOT Sci-Fi. Rather it is hard-core Political Fantasy-Porn.
Seriously, I was not expecting this.
Its one thing to write about an alternate possibility of the world and to present it in a science-fiction or a fantasy story. But this is not it.
I was NOT expecting to read detailed hardcore violating porn in the middle of these stories. The first incident completely ambushed me, and I didn't bother to continue to read to see if there was a second.
The book went in the trash.
I'm sure there are better authors who can tell an interesting alternate political story of the world, with stooping to what this author does.
I mean come on, Stephen Kings novels are part Science-Fiction too, but they are put in the Horror section. This should have been in the Porn section of the bookstore.
Absolutely Vile - AVOID!!!.......2007-07-28
After I read this book I wanted to scrub out my brain.
Why? Because of the many thousands of books that I've read in my life, Chung Kuo was the sickest and most vile. I'm open-minded, but Mr. Wingrove's joy in sex-torture is truly sociopathic. Words fail me.
This was the worst book I've ever read in my life. I can only assume that those who compare Wingrove to Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert (as the blurb on the back suggests) have never READ Asimov or Frank Herbert. Either that, or they are seriously, seriously confused. And I'm being charitable in my choice of words.
Wingrove is a mediocre stylist, his characters are all unappealing and flat, and the plot is awkward at best. But all of that is secondary. This is simply a vile book, and I hope that anyone considering it will move on to something better - such as the Foundation or Dune series (with the caveat that the Dune series should NOT be considered to include anything written by Frank Herbert's talentless son Brian). Or, if you really want to read Chinese- or Asian-themed fiction, why not read the wonderful science fiction of Cordwainer Smith? I'd also recommend the ancient China fantasies of Barry Hughart. James Clavell's Shogun is also far superior to the execrable Chung Kuo.
Life is far too short to read a twisted piece of garbage like this.
Science Fiction Book of the Century?! Maybe..........2006-01-08
Underappreciated science fiction masterpiece; on par with Dune or Foundation. Probably the most ambitious exercise in imaginative world-creation ever attempted; Wingrove manages to pull it off with ease. But what really sets Chung Kuo apart is that it is so entertaining while still grappling with important religious, social, historical and philisophical issues. Jump in, and be prepared for a wonderful ride that you will not soon forget.
Interesting but Possibly Flawed Premise.......2003-10-15
Okay, ditto everyone's glowing reviews -- so I'd like to just critique the premise of this whole series. Historically, Chinese rule has meant peace and prosperity. This series uses a kind of Yellow Peril sentiment as a premise, but the historical record thus far shows that so peaceful and prosperous had the Middle Kingdom been that Europeans were able to mercilessly exploit Chinese complacency and self-satisfaction. For example, the Chinese invented gunpowder, but had no real military use for it since they were the strongest power by far in Asia, and save for border barbarians every so often, everyone was at peace, relative to Europe during the same epoch. Another example is the fact that the Chinese were the first to make grand sea voyages of discovery to Africa, under the Muslim admiral Zheng He, and unlike later European sails, these ships were truly on good-will missions -- their objective had not been to plant flags, but simply, a la Star Trek's Enterprise, to boldly go where no Chinese subject had gone before!
One last note along these lines: no less a person than Theodor Herzl, widely honored as the Father of Zionism, pointed very specifically to the fact of general Imperial Chinese peace, enlightenment, and meritocracy, such that Chinese Jews had totally assimilated into the wider Chinese population out of all physically distinct characteristics -- so tolerant were the Chinese of other faiths -- as a reason for establishing a uniquely Jewish state (to wit: not only was the survival of World Jewry threatened by pogroms in hostile communities).
So, if anything, Chinese rule in the future should prove just as enlightened as it had been in the past! Which is to say, all the bloody melodrama founding the premise of Wingrove's series of vaguely Yellow Peril Science Fiction (or Speculative Fiction -- take your pick of labels) is very much flawed. Again, I liked this book well-enough, but I was a little disappointed at Wingrove taking the easy way out (I mean, anybody can simply imagine an extension of comtemporary Chinese authoritarianism into the future -- more interesting is how China, say, could become a true "Middle" Kingdom again, given its many, many problems now, and how science and technology might be involved in such a development...).
A must have.......2003-04-18
Take the chance and embark on a long journey with David Wingrove. You will not be let down. Problem is, you will see nothing of your friends or family for the next three months.
But, that is what you are looking for in a book, isn't it?
Average customer rating:
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Chung Kuo: Middle Kingdom Bk. 1
David. Wingrove
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| Arthurian
| Contemporary
| Epic
| General
| Historical
| History & Criticism
| Magic & Wizards
| Series
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Adventure
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| General
| Graphic Novels
| High Tech
| History & Criticism
| Series
| Short Stories
| Space Opera
ASIN: 0450510174 |
Product Description
The Troy Game Series Book 1-4 by Sara Douglass.
Customer Reviews:
Well-done, complex, worthwhile alt-hist political thriller.......2004-01-01
[paired review with Ghost of the Revelator]
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Johan Eschbach, retired from an eventful career in service to
Columbia as a naval aviator, Spazi agent, and cabinet minister,
now teaches environmental economics at Vanderbraak State
University in New Bruges (New Hampshire in OTL). Doktor
Eschbach lost both his wife and daughter in a political murder --
he himself was badly wounded -- and he would like nothing better
than a quiet life in this academic backwater. But that would make
for a dull book, and he is soon caught up in a murder
investigation, love affair, political intrigues, and secret military
research into "deghosting".
Doktor Eschbach's solution to the ensuing tangle is
"rather appalling and not entirely credible" [note 1].
--------
"A land of dirigibles and difference engines, Modesitt's
eerily refined world is compelling and coolly original, a place where
you still drive to work in a car--albeit steam-powered--but think
nothing of waving good morning to the zombies raking leaves off the
lawn." -- Paul Hughes, Amazon.com
Ghost of the Revelator picks up Doktor Eschbach and his new
wife Llysette Du Boise as her singing career is taking off, and
as the messy ending to "Tangible" comes back to haunt Eschbach.
The story unfolds slowly, but the same wonderful details of
everyday life that enlivened the first book -- lunch at a favorite
cafe, icy roads, dense, lazy, occasionally sharp students, petty
academic politics, politicians who can "smile and smile and be a
villain" -- make the trip worthwhile. This world is slower-paced
than ours, and Modesitt's prose has something of the heavy Dutch
feel of well-fed burghers, shining-clean windows, tidy lives. Very
human. If slow bothers you -- skim.
Modesitt still hasn't smoothed out his jarring exposition
of the differences between his alternate world and ours, here
usually dumped as interior monologues. Show, don't tell, please!
Llysette sings at a Presidential Arts Awards dinner and is
invited to perform at the prestigious Salt Palace in Deseret --
after fleeing the fall of France and an Austrian political prison.
Johan comes to the uncomfortable conclusion that he's about to be
eclipsed in fame and fortune by his glamorous wife....
....but maybe Deseret is after more than just a performance by the
new prima diva. And what about Austria-Hungary? And New
France? And the shadowy "Revealed Twelve"?
Minister Eschbach resolves the ensuing international crisis with
verve, skill, and a couple of twists that would be unfair to reveal.
Suffice it to say that the ending is most satisfactory, and leaves
plenty of room for future Eschbach/Du Boise adventures.
Both books are reasonably self-contained, but if you read one and
like it, you'll want to read the other, so it makes sense to start with #1.
Doktor Eschbach and the "Ghosts" books have parallels to Mr
Modesitt's real life: the author was a naval aviator, spent twenty
years in our "Federal District" as a political aide, EPA staffer, and
college teacher. He's married to a lyric soprano (sorceress?, who
teaches at Southern Utah University). He and his family moved
from DC to New Hampshire ("New Bruges") and then to Utah:
these are the settings for the "Ghosts" books. "Write what you
know," the old adage goes -- it certainly works for Modesitt. I
presume the spies and ghosts are from the author's imagination...
_____________
Note 1) -- not to mention *confusing*. A reader at
Amazon.com writes: "I've read the book 6 or 7 times,
and I'm *still* not sure what's happened at the end..."
Review copyright 1998 by Peter D. Tillman
http://www.sfsite.com/12a/gost46.htm
A Tale of Spooks and Spectres.......2003-07-24
Of Tangible Ghosts is the first novel in the Ghost series. In an alternate universe, the English Plymouth colony failed and the Dutch dominated Columbia. Austro-Hungary has conquered most of Europe and the French exiles under DeGaulle rule in Mexico. In this timeline, ghosts are much more visible, powerful, and responsive to technical devices.
Doktor Johan Eschbach is a former Subminister for Environment in the Natural Resources Ministry of the Columbian government. Prior to his term as a high level government official, Johan had been a flying officer in the Republic Air Corps and then an agent in the Spazi, the Sedition Prevention and Security Service. When Speaker Hartpence's Reformed Tories party won the election, they cleaned house in the Natural Resources Ministry and Johan retired to his family's old summer home in Vanderbraak Centre, accepting a position in the Natural Resources Department of the local college, Vanderbraak State University.
In this novel, Johan has a close relationship to Doktor Llysette duBoise, a concert quality soprano who also teaches at the college and who is a refugee from the conquest of France. Llysette has a concert one evening and Johan drives her to the music center to prepare for the performance, then goes to his office. Later, as he locks up to leave for the concert, Johan feels a drop in temperature. Then he hears someone sobbing and shortly thereafter he sees the ghost of Miranda Miller, a piano instructor in the Music department. Apparent Miranda has just been murdered. He starts to report the incident to Campus Security, but realizes that such a report would position him as a prime suspect. Instead, he walks to the Music department to attend Llysette's concert.
During the next few days, Johan discovers that the Spazi are interested in Miranda's murder, indicating that the homicide has more that local interest. Moreover, he starts to receive newspaper clippings from an anonymous source, which he knows must be associated with the Spazi. It would seem that he is being maneuvered into investigating the case.
This novel presents some interesting notions about the creation and persistence of ghosts and the technical manipulation of such spirits. Moreover, it speculates about the relationship of the mind to the brain and the consequences of separating them.
As is usual with Modesitt, the plot moves rather slowly as the reader views and reviews the life of the protagonist and the characteristics of his society. If the reader can tolerate the slow pace, however, the story will unfold before your eyes as if you were living it. Maybe Modesitt is an acquired taste, but so is Faulkner, and I find there is much that is common between the two. Faulkner, however, never had to create a whole timeline.
Highly recommended for Modesitt fans and anyone else who enjoys tales filled with philosophical notions, technical speculations and international intrigue.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Wonderful Work of Alternate History..........2002-12-02
I've always been a complete fan of Modesitt's SciFi works, so I decided to pick up this book. Boy, was I ever pleased. Not only does the author manage to weave a completely believable alternate history in which the North American political landscape is totally differnt (though historiclaly plausible) from today, but he manages to insert the idea of ghosts into the stiory - in a highly believable manner.
Within this complex reality Modesitt tells a great tale of political intrigue. The hero is great...an academic who is a reluctant spy who really only wants to leave his past behind and teach in his small regional university.
The bottom line is "Of Tangible Ghosts" is a superb book!
Simple pleasures.......2002-04-26
The books is slow paced, with flavors of Robert B. Parker's Spenser and John Le Carre's Smiley books. Everything in this alternate world seems to move a little more deliberately, and its inhabitants don't really know any more than the reader does. This lack of awareness is a little off-putting, but once the characters are firmly established, the story itself is excellent.
Quite a change of pace from Modessit's other works. My advantage was that I came to this book having read the sequel first. The sequel is more of an adventure story in the Doyle/Buchan mode, and quite enjoyable. This book is altogether darker and moodier. Worth the effort.
Charming book.......2001-08-30
Sort of like a John Le Carre novel set in an alternate reality where ghosts exist. I really loved it; to me, the strange yet familier political meandering and unrushed development made the story all that much more fun. Don't just read a few pages then give up when you don't get immediate satisfaction. Hang in there through at least the first couple of chapters, and if you have any taste you'll love it. :)
Wish Modesitt would write more books like this. I personally don't find his Tolkienesque works all that appealing but this book, well, it's one of my favorites. The sequal, "The Ghost of the Revalator" is decent, but not as good as this, IMHO.
Customer Reviews:
Scary and Instructive.......2007-02-11
The Kama Sutra says, about the `public woman': After acceptance she should please him; when he is infatuated with her she should suck him dry of his wealth and at last abandon him. This is the duty of a public woman".
This, in essence, was the strategy Rajneesh, a balding potbellied holy man, used with the people who flocked to his flat in Bombay, his sprawling `ashram' in Poone and later to the commune in Oregon. Seduction, followed by indoctrination and total mind control. This book is an instructive story that should be a required reading for naïve devotees flocking to India to sit at feet of more than imperfect `holy men' who have no compunction about mind control and (sex)ploitation. Here is how Milne describes his first meeting with Rajneesh:
"One hand still holds mine as the questions continue, as if he is practicing the gentlest ever form of mind detection. There is no invasion of privacy, no alarm, but it is as if his soul is slowly slipping inside mine, and in a split second transferring vital information. Letting go of my hand, he moves his left arm behind me. I sense a presence hovering over the crown of my head. He rests his hand there and stares off into the middle distance, sensing, checking, listening, all his being attuning itself to mine. Then the soft hand moves to my forehead, waits, listens, wafts to my throat and presses so gently on the cartilage there. Every chakra is discretely touched. The chakras recognize the arrival of a friend."
Dangerous man. After his grandfather died at the age of seven, Rajneesh resolved to never become attached to another human being. As a youngster, he was an admirer of Gurdjieff, experimented with the occult, breath control, magic and hypnosis, making himself an outcast in his own family.
Milne, attracted at first by `tantra' practices (a Rajneeshi synonym for "free sex for all"), eventually became a personal bodyguard and, as a member of the inner circle, a close witness to the rise and fall of one of the greatest spiritual scam artists of the XXth century. When Rajneesh proclaimed that `sex was divine and natural' he became attractive to Europeans and Americans who were fleeing the straight-jackets of puritan morality. These people paid their price: they were made to renounce their wealth and work, sleep-deprived, 12-14 hour days/7 days a week. The earnest work by the Occidentals must have gotten a chuckle or two from the Indians, for whom any physical effort is a degradation to be avoided at all cost. The (mostly Western) devotees were controlled by a tight-knit group of Indians led by a truly scary `Ma Anand' Sheela character. Milne describes the woman as aggressive, greedy, amoral without any empathy or remorse. Sheela was responsible for creating a concentration camp in Oregon and committed what may be the first bioterrorist attack in the US.
Milne, who today is a well known teacher of alternative medicine in California, does not appear in a good light in his own book. He had aided and supported Rajneeesh through his worst excesses, watched coolly as the guru played at social engineering - putting together and dissolving relationships, forcing thousands of women (including 14 year old girls) into sterilizations or even prostitution... so long as he was able to be close to the guru and have a piece of the action.
In the end, both Rajneesh and Sheela managed to escape long prison sentences. However, in what appears now to be a sort of `karmic' retribution, the more he took advantage of people, the more Rajneesh began to suffer from mysterious diseases, allergies, headaches and nosebleeds. At the end, the man was expelled from the US and died in India embittered, an empty shell of a person with few disciples and no joy in life. Ma Sheela, on the other hand, these days runs two retirement homes in Switzerland.
This book should read by anyone about to join a cult, or any person with family members in cult-like situations.
Accurate and revealing.......2004-10-11
I'm a former Sannyasin (never went to Oregon) and reading this book helped me finally to leave the group. I am forever in debt to it's author.
Misreadings.......2004-05-14
A review can say so much more about the reviewer than the book in question. The Library Journal review wonders how people could "throw away" years of their lives, etc., to follow such a guru--and criticizes Milne for failing to explain. In fact, he does explain the attraction: it was experiential; living in the presence of Rajneesh and in the company of other followers proved more powerful and enlightening--felt better--than life on the outside. Therapists and body workers found their practices enhanced by Rajneesh, not merely his "teachings" but by their own transformation, mind-body-spirit, catalyzed by Rajneesh. Milne also points out that it is not unusual for people in mass movements or utopian communities based on "love" to experience the high bliss of community.
Readers seem to expect books by former Rajneeshees all to be sociological studies in cultism as well as expose's of crime & intrigue replete with interviews and testimonials. Sometimes the best source of information is one's own experience; that can be enough for one book to digest. Rajneesh drew people to his writings as well as to his meditations...and ultimately, in many cases, to his ashrams. People were 'hit' on many levels. The question posed by the Library Journal review--why so many normal people would throw away so much to follow Rajneesh--implies that a flaw in their collective character caused the phenomenon, when the cause is far more normal and common: people seeking 'truth' who make the mistake of diminishing their selves while elevating someone else to the status of hero-god. That phenonenon didn't stop with Bhagwan. And memoirs about that experience will probably continue to be ambivalent because of the very powerful, in many cases transformative, experiences people have vis a vis the brainwash and surrender of identity. The experience did not cost Milne, a young man at the time, his career as an osteopath. For all the lessons learned, it seemed to have enhanced it.
Bhagwan: The God That Failed.......2003-08-06
This is not a great work as writing goes but it is a really unique insight into a phenomenon that touched so many lives around the world. I really appreciated the undertaking of Hugh Milne in writing about his teacher, his world and identity for so many years and his ultimate separation from a heady movement gone berserk and ultimately destructive.
Never drawn to this movement I knew of others (American and Brits) who were. I was drawn to another'spiritual growth' movement when much younger and had some agonizingly lonely separation traumas myself once I questioned where it was leading - so I found the account by Milne a genuinely valuable read.
more like a demon that accomplished what he set out to do.......2001-12-26
How could this Bhagwan be "wise" when he was literally *killing* people???? Unfortunately, the book does not give much insight into how "normal" people get sucked into this kind of horror. And it would be nice if it also *named names* so we could know who the people were who cooperated with the Bhagwan's terrorist activities - there are probably many who are still at large ...
Amazon.com
Contains over 200 delicious and inspiring new recipes and offers a blueprint for a vegetarian way of life. This book is also perfect for the thousands of people who are simply cutting down on meat for health reasons. The recipes have evolved from the kind of good food Linda cooks for her family and friends. They are simple to prepare and wonderful to eat. The dishes are healthy too--nutritionally well-balanced and low in saturated fats.
Customer Reviews:
Wholesome simple recipes for anyone.......2007-07-25
I am not vegetarian, but I do eat relatively little meat compared to many people, and it was with this in mind that I bought this book (plus as a long term fan I knew of Linda's dedication to vegitarianism).
I was not disappointed. The recipes are delightful, and many (especially the lentil soup) absolutely superb.
I have to admit that I have found some of the recipes that use meat substitutes a little daunting, as I think well, if you want to think it's meat, eat meat, but I have found that with small modification these recipes can be used with lentils or other legumes, and have turned out, in my experience anyway, just as delicious.
What is interesting about Linda's cooking is that she obviously puts a great deal of thought into how the food looks, tastes and can be used as a centrepiece for entertaining, or just a simple family meal. The photos are wonderful, and unlike many cook books the finished products do indeed match the image!
It is all round a lovely cook-book, a great addition to any cookery library, and really quite "user friendly". Even your most ardent carnivorous friends will appreicate something from here!
This book is great!.......2007-06-10
I haven't written any reviews on this site. But when I bought two items, I thought that I should start. One was on Linda's CD and the other was on this book. This book is great. I am a vegetarian by nature. I was never a meat lover except for fish, cheese, and eggs. This book provides a lot of recipes on every day foods that are as good as they are clever. I have enjoyed this book and I haven't even had it a week, yet. It's chocked full of colorful pictures and scrumptious recipes. I loved it from beginning to end. I haven't made all the recipes I wanted to, yet, but I'm working on it. I have a feeling this book will be a staple in my cooking library.
Good foundation for beginner vegetarian.......2007-04-02
I own many vegetarian cookbooks and this is the one I cannot do without! I would have never been able to become a vegetarian if it had not been for the recipes in this book. It had plenty of variety to keep me from getting "bored" when I was making the transition from becoming a meat-eater to vegetarian. The recipes are easy to follow and every one I have tried has turned out perfectly. I have owned this cookbook for over 10 years and the pages are dog-eared and spattered with food (proof that this is a much-used and much-loved cookbook!)
Great recipes.......2005-08-04
Excellent recipes, all of her cookbooks are great. Often it's just a meat substitution from a standard recipe (like shepherd's pie), but the meals are great and you don't even think about meat (or lack thereof). Everything is very clearly and concisely written, and most meals don't take very long to make. The longest ones have a lot of oven time, so you don't actually have to be doing something for so long.
easy veg.......2005-07-13
I really enjoy using Linda's kitchen cookbook. I find the recipes are clear and simple. I also found the intro extremely helpful. This is definitly one of my favorites.
Average customer rating:
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Antique Dresser Sets, 1890s-1950s (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Roseann Ettinger
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Manufacturing
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0764322370 |
Book Description
Slip into the romantic world of a private dressing room. Here fancy and jeweled perfume bottles, powder jars, trinket boxes, hairbrushes, mirrors, and matching trays in sets of up to twenty items cover a dressing table or dresser top. Cosmetics, scents, and tools of beauty wait to transform mere mortals into memorable personalities, day in and day out. This book explores the feminine, fragile, and alluring vintage accessories that are collected today by many seekers of romance and history. Beautiful dressing table accessories convey an aristocratic atmosphere that has been popularized in film. Here are hundreds of elegantly designed matching dressing tools in metals, plastics, enamels, and glass presented in boxed, travel, and manicure sets. Even special boxes, lined with luxurious fabrics housing items for individual boudoir tasks, are included. Over 340 color photographs, including over 100 authentic catalog pages, are on display. They accurately portray the magnificent creative skills and use of fine materials for each elegant and glamorous item that has been carefully cherished and preserved throughout the years.
Book Description
The simple elegance of these 67 designs make them perfect for many kinds of stained glass projects. A row of tulips, branches of plums and apples, California poppies, rose and dahlia blossoms, and a spectacular rhododendron bloom are just a few of the appealing subjects — each clearly outlined and easy to follow.
Book Description
Ever so delicate and pretty, ribbon embroidery has survived through the ages. Now it is enjoying a new burst of popularity. Perfect for forming little flowers and foliage and for adorning with shiny beads, the silky, shimmery material has its own special softness. You'll feel a surge of creative joy as roses, bows, and twisted chains emerge from your needle. Start stitching twenty elegant decorative objects, all of heirloom and gift quality. The classic laurel wreath cushion, worked on easy-to-handle muslin, makes an ideal beginner's project. A simple outdoor picnic turns into fine dining al fresco with a crisp, embroidered linen draped over the table. Plus: hats and a sunflower-covered hatband, drapes and pelmets, shirts, a fabulous lacy christening gown and more!
Customer Reviews:
Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Sheena Cable.......2007-01-30
Very light instruction and content. There are much better books on this subject.
Silk Ribbon Embroidery for Beginners.......2001-07-28
This book uses very simple stitches to maximum effect. I am a silk ribbon embroidery addict and love the designs in it. Sheena Cable also has some unique ideas as to where to put all your designs. Aside from the more predictable pillows and wall hangings, she suggests hats, tablecloths, napkins, curtain valances and tie-backs. All the stitches are simple, but she uses a few not found in many other books. The pictures are all in color and you can see the embroidery clearly. The directions are clear and easy to follow. The book follows a natural progression from easy to more challenging projects. All in all a great beginner book.
Customer Reviews:
tinsel forever.......2006-06-24
This is a very beautiful book. I've never seen one like it. I read it from cover to cover the first night. Rosemary Warren and Marcia Ceppos have made a new fan. The photographs themselves make it worthwhile. Every designer should pick it up.
Very Inspirational !.......2006-06-23
I found this Tinsel Trading book to be beautiful, creative and easy to learn from. The pictures, the styling, the trims, all amazing. I need to visit the store.
The ideas were inspirational. I have already begun two of the projects. (I got excited and couldn't decide on which one I liked more!)
I am going to try to complete four projects over the summer.
Great Book, I recommend it to everyone.
Sadly Disappointing.......2006-06-08
As a former resident of New York City who "haunted" the numerous trimmings, flower and ribbon shops adjacent to New York's garment center, this was one shop that I would particulary enjoy getting lost in. It was a fabulous melange of "stuff" for trimming everything, much of it found by happenstance in the original cramped, dimly lit shop.
I never knew what I would find there and I especially drooled over the sad and neglected-looking antique metallic trims, tassels, fabrics, et al., buying a trim here, a tassel there, adding it to my stash for one day's sumptuous project.
One never really saw a proprietor about and would wonder who would pop out of the dark caverns of shelves and cabinets unexpectedly. This made the place a bit mysterious and fun all at once.
I have not been down to Tinsel Trading in many years, although judging from the photos in the book, it appears to have a new feel about it with order, spaciousness and brightness replacing the dim and cramped aisles of shelves and boxes. The shops look very inviting......although I must admit to a bit of nostalgia for the mystery of the former!
I was truly looking forward to seeing this book and the accompanying utilization of some of the many old-style trimmings that the shop specialized in, but there was hardly a hint of what was it's mainstay that could have been showcased in some really sophisticated or antique-inspired projects. I especially enjoyed reading the history of the shop and took particular note of the photo of the current basement "filled with years of treasures"!
With very few exceptions there was, sorry to say, nothing really inspiring at all about the featured decor and projects.
A white wicker hamper having a few silk flowers glued to the corners, a lampshade with too-heavy looking feather trim at the bottom edge were amateurish at best along with a couple of covered boxes also shown. Things of this caliber, we see all day long in the endless parade of cutesy, tacky, tasteless, childish, American "craft" magazines that appeal mainly to "terminal beginners" and not to those who are starving for and who appreciate more sophisticated, inspiring, ideas.
There also seems to be a bit too much repetition of photos showing the same objects over and over again....this takes up a few too many pages.
Sorry to say, I have returned this book...I expected a better representation and taste level coming from this venerable shop.
Book Description
Creat everything from simple bows and roses, to more intricate ribbon embroidery and elaborate weaving techniques. This comprehensive book provides a complete course in working with ribbons.
Average customer rating:
- Beautiful Book
- Great ideas for your home and special occassions
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Beautiful Ribbons
Mary Norden
Manufacturer: Running Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Decorating
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Textile Arts
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Decorating
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
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Ribbon Details: With Projects and Instructions for Decorating With Ribbons
ASIN: 0762403624 |
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Book.......2002-02-01
Just like all Running Press books, it is full of beautiful photography. It features the possible ways of using ribbons to decorate your home, to add touches to festive occasions, or to use with flowers. Not every idea is provided with instructions, although some include step-by-step illustration. However, where instructions are missing, there is clear description of the idea.
In the book, ribbons are used to decorate bed linen, blankets, curtains, tiebacks, bolsters, lampshades, photo frames, tablecloths, chairs, gifts, wreaths, flowers, and more. There is also a section on the types of ribbon, and another one on tying bows. At the end you will find a list of suppliers in the USA.
I liked the book very much and enjoyed flipping through the colorful pages. I tried some of the ideas - tying napkins decoratively with ribbons, decorating greeting cards with small bows, sewing ribbons on mats and tablecloths. I have to say I am very happy with the result and planning to use more ideas in the near future.
Great ideas for your home and special occassions.......2000-04-06
This book is a little gem! It's full of great, simple, low-cost ideas that are still stylish and sophisticated. I'm not a great fan of long crafts projects, and this book fits my needs, as most projects can be completed in an hour or two and require minimal sewing. In addition to ideas for the home, this book offers great suggestions for effectively using ribbons in entertaining. I liked several of the ideas so much that I plan on incorporating them into my upcoming wedding! The last portion of the book gives clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to make the bows and ribbon roses illustrated in the book. The bottom line: if you're looking for quick, easy, inexpensive ways to dress up your home, dinner table, or flower arrangements, this is a book you won't want to be without.
Book Description
In this inspiration-packed book, discover a wonderful world of ribbons and bows and create simple step-by-step projects for your home and friends. Projects that anyone can complete -- the only tools you may need are a pot of glue or a needle and thread. Gorgeous photography to inspire you. Mary Norden's projects and suggestions can be made using whatever style of ribbon you choose, from voile to plush. Includes a resources list of where to buy ribbon and accessories.
Amazon.com
The delicate complexity of embroidered florals cascading down a lapel, over a pillow, or around a soft hat is here distilled into clear, easily understood steps. The book's foundation supplies, techniques, and a detailed step-by-step guide to about 20 stitches leads us smoothly through the preliminaries and on to 25 projects ranging from accessories to wearables to home decor to special occasions. Each project occupies at least a double-page spread and comes with a complete list of supplies and full instructions. The stitches themselves truly aren't very complicated, but the accumulation of individual elements as the embroidery progresses yields some very lovely results.
Book Description
Even complete beginners can find success creating the pretty home accents, gifts, cards, baby items and holiday projects found in Simply Beautiful Ribboncraft. This is a can't-miss title that:
-Features 45 step-by-step projects--and 15 variations--for every taste and skill level -Capitalizes on the popularity of embellishments and the romantic style seen in Victoria and Martha Stewart Living -Demonstrates how quickly and easily readers can make stylish ribbon crafts--everything from purses and holiday ornaments to barrettes and baby clothes
A wealth of no-sew projects--along with patterns and templates--make it a snap for readers to get started right away!
Customer Reviews:
Ribboncraft?????.......2005-07-12
This is simply a quick & easy craft book with the usual craft items...paper, glue, boxes, etc embellished with a piece of ribbon. The photography is great & instructions are clear but hardly qualifies as "ribboncraft" when you're only using a few inches of ribbon.
Average customer rating:
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Beautiful Ribbon Crafts: Home Decor * Wearables * Gift Wraps * Keepsakes & More
Marthe Le Van
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Needlecrafts
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| Crocheting
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ASIN: 1579905560 |
Book Description
“Artist Le Van and a dozen other designers have picked up scissors, glue, and needle and thread to weave ribbons into 3-D objects for the home, as gifts, or to wear....It's almost impossible for crafters to mangle project outcomes. Each of the 43 items is featured in at least one color photograph and accompanied by good instructions and a materials list.”—Booklist.
Every enticing page displays beautiful and contemporary home accents, stylish wearables, modern keepsakes to treasure, unique wrappings, and much more. Ribbon basics introduce the different types, and provide tips on cutting, handling, securing, and storing. Then start weaving together a Zesty Mosaic Tray (made with cherished scraps too pretty to toss away); a simple-to-weave, super-hot Sun, Sand, and Sea Tote; a glittery 24-Karat Bow for a special gift; Silky Lingerie Bag; Pin Pillow; plus exquisite edgings and borders for linens and clothes. A Selection of the Crafter’s Choice Book Club.
Book Description
Ribbon has been used throughout history for decoration and embellishment, and its versatility and ability to transform in an instant make it an irresistible craft material. In the main practical section the 30 projects range from beautiful bows for wrap
Product Description
This book contains instructions for crocheting 12 beautiful fashion flowers from satiny curling ribbon. These quick and easy to make 12 frilly flowers are perfect for embellishing all types of wearables (including jackets, dresses, etc.), pillows, home accessories, and other craft projects.
Average customer rating:
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Pathways to Print: Trapping (Pathways to Print)
Robin McAllister
Manufacturer: Cengage Delmar Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
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Real World Adobe Illustrator CS2 (Real World)
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Printing Estimating: Digital and Traditional Costing Methods for Graphic Imaging (Graphic Comm (Non-Software))
ASIN: 0827379153 |
Book Description
This book addresses the challenge of trapping and understanding the conversion of light-based digital files on the desktop to producing pigment-based printed images for designers and graphic artists working off the desktop. The factors involved in the precision of reproducing what is seen on the screen to a printed sheet, without falling in to a trapping, or misregistration problem are discussed. It examines the design vs. production perspective in identifying the benefits of addressing technical aspects of page production for more accurate and cost efficient results.
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In His Eyes: The Julio Iglesias Jr. Story
Leah Furman , and
Elina Furman
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0345439139
Release Date: 2000-05-02 |
Book Description
10 REASONS TO LOVE JULIO IGLESIAS JR.:
10. He's multitalented: a model, actor, and singer, all in one gorgeous package.
9. He gave up stardom in American soaps to fulfill his lifelong dream of recording an album.
8. He's fluent in Spanish, English, and the universal language of desire.
7. Born in Madrid, raised in Miami, Julio has a bold, new sound; an eclectic world beat like no other.
6. A socially conscious man, he's a serious supporter of organ and tissue donation
5. He's a deeply reflective person who finds escape through writing poetry.
4. His music is positively infectious, mixing Latin, pop, dance, techno, and gospel into a tasty musical mélange.
3. He's the crown prince of the reigning royal family of Latin music.
2. He adores his fans and makes a special effort to let them know they're loved.
1. Those dazzling eyes!
IN HIS EYES brings you deep into the world of this soulful singing sensation. After reading this book, you'll have a million reasons to love Julio!
An unauthorized biography
Books:
- Conversation with Spinoza: A Cobweb Novel (Writings from an Unbound Europe)
- Cry Of The Peacock
- Daffodils at High Meadows: and Other Stories
- Desirada: A Novel
- Doctor Who : Coldheart
- Dreams of a Robot Dancing Bee
- Drummer in the Dark (Marcus Glenwood Series #2)
- Eight Months on Ghazzah Street: A Novel
- Erotic Anthology: Bedtime Stories (Indigo After Dark)
- Exactly What Happened
Books Index
Books Home
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White Moon, Red Dragon: A Chung Kuo Novel: Book Six (Chung Kuo/David Wingrove, Bk 6)
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