Incubator Views: A Story of Teen Pregnancy and the Struggle of her Preemie

Book Description

Incubator Views is an exciting, moving account in which the author relays a compelling narrative from four different viewpoints—the diametrically opposing perspectives of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, the teen mother, her younger brother, and the preemie herself.

Incubator Views reveals the preemie's struggle to survive against confounding odds in a harrowing and tragic family life and the crucial transfer to the foster care system.

This story is an utterly engaging, vivid, often painful look at the struggle of distinctly different members of a family and those around them at a critical juncture in all of their lives.

Liquid warmth and darkness: it surrounded me in a shroud of comfort, a gentle awakening into an awareness of my life and of the womb that held me. I sensed and responded even though I couldn't always understand. The cocoon of peace and solace: mine until I came to sense that I shared in the life of another--larger, stronger. She may have held me in her womb; but somehow I didn't know her. She remained a stranger that carried me down a path, provided for me, yet only acknowledged me with tears. I wondered: have I harmed her? My dependence upon her left me no choice but to wait: observe in a quiet role while our lives together, then separate, unraveled into a dark future unbeknownst to either of us.

Book Description

Epic in scope and thrilling in detail, Mortal Suns is set in the corridors of power in the mythical kingdom of Akhemony, which calls up the world of Ancient Greece. Acclaimed author Tanith Lee transports her readers to an ominous yet seductive alternate universe, as fully realized as Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon, where fate organizes the forces of nature to bring ruin to those who dare to control it.

Horrible screams pierce the night air as the Daystar, Queen Hesta of Akhemony, wrestles with the delivery of the King's child, beautifully formed except for one heartbreaking deformity-she is born without feet. Consigned immediately to the world of death, the lame infant is dispatched to Thon, the underworld temple, and baptized Cemira, "snake," the name she will bear throughout a lifetime of darkness. It is only at the behest of Urdombis, the Sun Consort, that the child is restored to her rightful place as heir to the throne of Oceaxis. Recounting a deadly battle for power, pitting the forces of man against the supernatural, her story is one that will captivate, shock, and terrify.

Customer Reviews:

Worth a look.......2007-07-29

Beautiful Calistra, also called Cemira, "Snake," was born without feet. Eventually, she rises to become queen of Akhemony...where she has a closeup view of its fall.

"Mortal Suns," set in a land that is a sort of fantasy Greece, is mediocre Tanith Lee. But mediocre Tanith Lee is better than most authors at their best. Typically Lee, this book is filled with images of striking beauty and horror. There is perhaps a bit more horror than usual; while this story has the expected elements of fairy-tale glamor, it's also a bit grittier than classic Lee.

I don't think the rest of this review contains real spoilers; because of the structure of the story, the end is revealed at the beginning of the book. We know where the story is going; the interest comes from how it gets there. However, if you're one of those who hates even the hint of anything spoilerish, bail out now.

The major problem with the book is its heroine, Calistra. Lee's heroines are often very passive, but Calistra is extremely so. Like a beautiful doll, she allows herself to be carried along by events, rather than initiating them. Understandable, perhaps, since she's only a child, but it makes her rather uninteresting, despite her loveliness. Lee's passive heroines are usually forced to learn to be active, and I'm sure that happens with this one, too...but not in this book. Because the story is told in flashback by an elderly Calistra, we know that eventually, she goes on to become renowned in her own right, as a poet and seer, but there's little evidence of her future greatness here. She does show an occasional knack for songwriting, and her struggles to master walking with prosthetic feet crafted of silver are painfully detailed. But like a fairy-tale princess, Calistra exists only to love her prince. And he seems to love her only because she is beautiful and obedient. At first, the story follows the basic outline of a fairy tale, but it doesn't end that way. In fact, the ending is something of a cliffhanger. We know it turns out all right, and that Calistra went on to celebrated achievements without her prince, but that more interesting story isn't covered in this book.

Perhaps Lee intends to write a sequel or two for this book. If so, I will definitely read them. But I'm not holding my breath. "Mortal Suns," with its account of a young girl caught up in great events, reminds me a bit of an earlier Lee work, "A Heroine of the World." Like "Mortal Suns," that book had a cliffhanger ending that implied a sequel. But no sequel has appeared, and it's been over ten years already. I don't know if "Heroine" didn't sell well enough to justify a sequel, or if the author just lost interest. I wouldn't be surprised if it were the latter; Lee seems to prefer writing about adolescents to writing about adults or older people. So be warned: we may never get the most interesting part of Calistra's story.

Can't sleep at night? This is your book........2005-02-19

If you're in need of a sleeping pill this is the book for you. I could not get throught one page without going to the land of dreams. While I loved some other of her books this one was wordy and the narrative prose difficult to connect with. I was looking forward to it because the premise was attractive, but the book just didn't deliver. I was glad I picked it up at the library and didn't invest in it. Although, If I find myself counting sheep, I know where to go for deliverance.

Serpentine Spirals.......2004-03-16

At her best, Tanith Lee can summon up a hallucinatory dreamscape of things that never were, but should be. At her worst, she devolves into a morass of mystical hoo-hah. This book is somewhere in between.

Lee sketches out the landscape of Akhemony in swift, bold strokes: the claustrophobic intrigues of the women's quarters, the hot dust of a besieged town. The characters are stylized archetypes with enough added individuality to bring them to life. Unlike some of her other recent books, it was both easy and pleasurable to submerge into the pages of this one.

And yet at its core, the book falters because of the passivity of its supposed heroine. Cemira/Calistra does struggle to overcome the accident of her birth, but beyond and after that, she is nothing but a cherished ornament of the hero. Her only motivation is to be what he wants her to be, and the only thing he really wants her to be is beautiful. Compared to the steely resolve of her (step)mother(-in-law) Udrombis, she is a paltry thing indeed.

The book ends with a hint of pending sequels. If there are some, I would hope that Cemira finds some goal in them to inspire action within herself and respect within the reader.

Dark-hued mythic tropes.......2003-11-16

"Mortal Suns" creates the myth-haunted kingdom of Akemony, a land loosely modeled on Ancient Greece. It follows the vainglorious rise and fall of a dynasty, viewed from the vantage point of one its minor nobles, the queen Calistra, a woman born without feet. The dynasty weathers devastating losses, through both natural and supernatural occurrences. It's a rather thin and episodic plot, one that heavily alludes to Classical mythology and tragedy. Readers familiar with Classical Greek literature and history will enjoy the veiled references. "Mortal Suns" strongly focuses on the women who also control the dynasty-the Widow Consort Udrombis is a wonderful, regal creation, equal parts Circe and Medea.

The subtext of the novel is equally as fascinating as the foreground: the enigmatic battle between the masculine (unnamed) Sun god and the feminine Moon goddess Phaidrix. This unseen battle is actualized in Calistra, who is both of the Sun and the Moon. She is the unwitting lynchpin and omen of the power struggles and supernatural incidences.

As is expected in a work by Lee, the language and atmosphere reigns supreme. She is particularly good at evoking scenes of ominous beauty, as evidenced by the excerpt below, describing a monstrous creature: "There, on the path, between ourselves and the soldiers, was a cricket made of green chalcedony, through which the afterglow shone, revealing its inner life, bladders and arteries pulsing with dim blood.... And with its forelegs it strummed at its own body, and from that it shrilled the web of glass, its ghastly song."

Customer Reviews:

Unsung SF Great.......2006-06-14

Pamela Zoline's titular "Heat Death" from this collection is often correctly billed as the best short story of the British New Wave movement of the late 60s/early 70s. Postmodern in style, feminist in message, and providing a fascinating blend of hard and soft sf, it deserves to be read more. But don't buy this collection for just "Heat Death" - there are other gems here as well. Although not sf, "The Holland of the Mind" is another pomo masterpiece; "Sheep" is brilliant as well; in fact all of the stories have something to offer. If you like stylistically challenging reading that crosses genre boundaries, this is the collection for you. If only Zoline wrote more!

Average customer rating:

Is a great starter

Great Recipes!!!

Not for those who want their food well-seasoned...

A little bland....

good starter

Pressure Cooking for Everyone
Rick Rodgers , and Arlene Ward
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Pressure Perfect: Two Hour Taste in Twenty Minutes Using Your Pressure Cooker

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The Pressure Cooker Gourmet: 225 Recipes for Great-Tasting, Long-Simmered Flavors in Just Minutes

The New Pressure Cooker Cookbook

The Pressure Cooker Cookbook Revised

ASIN: 0811825256

Book Description

The pressure's on! These days who isn't looking to get a great meal on the table without a lot of time in the kitchen? Fast, foolproof, and extremely versatile, Pressure Cooking for Everyone is the answer for every busy cook. Now that pressure cookers are safe and easier to use than ever before (gone are the days of spaghetti-sauce-on-the-ceiling fiascos), author and acclaimed cooking teacher Rick Rodgers is here to prove that nearly everything can be cooked better and faster under pressure. An enclosed system, pressure cooking locks in flavor and nutrients. From Hearty Lentil and Pasta Soup to Five-Spice Pork Roast, Butternut Squash Risotto, and even creamy Orange-Chocolate Marble Cheesecake (who knew?), Pressure Cooking for Everyone reveals the secrets behind dozens of succulent dishes. Chock-full of great information and lavishly illustrated with beautiful color photographs, Pressure Cooking for Everyone is the perfect companion to every pressure cooker.

Customer Reviews:

Is a great starter.......2007-06-08

My first encounter with pressure cookers. Was an amazing introduction though my only thought on improvement is that if a full diagram of a pressure cooker had been included it would have made it spectacular.
Happened to purchase a Fagor poressure cooker that had a dvd included. Low and behold, this book is from their extended line.
Am really pleased!

Great Recipes!!!.......2007-03-06

I looked at almost every book on the market for pressure cookers and this was one of the books I chose. I liked the variety of the recipes, the pictures which alot do not have and the information was helpful if you are new to pressure cooking. I found it to be very thorough and covered a wide range of dishes...meat, poultry,desserts and even just vegetable and bean dishes if you are not into meat.....Highly Recommended!!!!

Not for those who want their food well-seasoned..........2006-05-04

I'm disappointed in how bland the meat dishes are. As one reviewer said, increase your seasonings. I've also had to decrease the pressure cooking times on some because the meat would come out almost in shreds! There's also one recipe that surprised me - the short ribs that have to be cooked three times - first to brown, then pressure cooked twice, and then crusted and baked. Good grief! Doesn't all that defeat the supposed ease of using a pressure cooker? Overall, it's not a bad book; it's just not as good as I had hoped it would be.

A little bland...........2006-03-13

I bought this book because it was one of the books highly recommended in the pressure cooking internet group that I am in. The book is beautiful but kind of bland in taste. It goes to show that you can never judge a book on its cover. I was kind of disappointed with the purchase. I recommend any of Lorna Sass's books. I own all of her books and everything tastes just right and is pretty easy to use.

good starter.......2006-03-03

I got one of those electric pressure cookers that self regulates. This book is a good book to get my feet wet with. Not as many recipes as I would have liked, but a good variety.

Pressure Cooking the Easy Way: Healthy One-Pot Meals Everyone Will Love

Average customer rating:

Delicious!
Yucky
Create a Gourmet Meal in Minutes
EXCELLENT RECIPES MADE WITH SIMPLICITY

Pressure Cooking the Easy Way: Healthy One-Pot Meals Everyone Will Love
Maureen B. Keane , and Daniella Chace
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0761512853
Release Date: 1997-12-10

Book Description

Cook without fat or oil!
Under pressure to prepare quick, healthy meals? Use a pressure cooker!
Imagine a tender roasted chicken in ten minutes, or perfect vegetables in just two or three! This book is a delicious collection of down-home American fare like stews, soups, roasts, and other main dishes, all cooked to perfection in a matter of minutes with the use of a handy pressure cooker! Maureen Keane and Daniella Chace have put their proven cooking talents to use to create hearty new dishes, as well as to convert old favorites to pressure cooker formulas.
Inside you'll find:
·Great recipes for vegetables, meat, seafood, and poultry
·Quick-fix dinners for one
·Easy feasts for a group
·Recipes for hearty main courses, yummy desserts, baby food, and more!
·Pressure cooking do's and don'ts
·What to look for when purchasing a new pressure cooker
·How the pressure cooker can make your meals more nutritious

Customer Reviews:

Delicious!.......2006-03-02

I tried the "Refried Beans" (page 134). In total, it took about an hour of a half, including the quick-soaking procedure described in the book and the mashing at the end. (Most of the time is spent waiting, so it was easy.) I honestly have never had such tasty refried beans! I was really surprised.

Yucky.......2003-08-07

I am not experienced with pressure cookers, so you may chose to ignore my review. These recipes were complicated, and not at all easy to put together. They largely came out bland as well. Maybe I am just a bad cook.

Create a Gourmet Meal in Minutes.......2000-05-03

The complete book on pressure cooking. Create gourmet meals using recipes from this book such as: BBQ Steak w/Maple Sweet Potatoes, Fish & Eggplant Curry, Seafood & Safron Soup, Boston Brown Bread.

Included are sections on Do's & Don'ts of pressure cooking, common problems, troubleshooting and maintenance of your pressure cooker.

EXCELLENT RECIPES MADE WITH SIMPLICITY.......1999-04-24

Of all the books I looked at, this one fit my needs best. As a student and a cooking novice, it gives me good tips on pressure cooking in general, has many recipes for all kinds of food styles (e.g. meats, fresh veggies, legumes, grains, fruits, seafood, etc.), and seeks to fill the recipes with healthy, low-fat ingredients. There's even a section "Cooking for One." For rookie pressure cookers like me, and even for the cooking veteran, THIS BOOK IS A MUST!

Book Description

A positive agility training method that's fun for you and your dog

Designed expressly for dog owners who want the interactive thrill of agility sports without the rigid rules, pressures, and expenses of competition, Having Fun with Agility is a practical, down-to-earth guide to today's most popular canine sport.

The seasoned trainer and award-winning writer Margaret Bonham explains proven, positive methods—such as clicker training—that will help your dog perform the kinds of fabulous feats you see at competitions. Whether your pet's a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, a Basset Hound or a mixed breed, Having Fun with Agility will help you and your dog master the basics—and enjoy doing it.

Download Description

How dogs and their owners can ""play"" at agility Designed for dog owners who want to have some fun with agility but have no desire to compete in the ring, this book shows how to master the basics of this top dog sport while avoiding the constricting obedience requirements of actual competition. Margaret Bonham shows owners how to use positive tools to get started, and explains how to break the rules by allowing treats and over-handling. Margaret H. Bonham (Conifer, CO) is a sled dog racer who has won the prestigious Maxwell Award twice for her writing. Her books include The Complete Guide to Mutts (0-7645-4973-1).

Customer Reviews:

Fun with Agility.......2007-02-21

I really like this book - it is very informal and has great ideas. I just wish it had more information on how to make your own equipment. Don't want to compete with my dog - we just want to have some fun and this book has been a great help.

"Fun" is the Right Word!.......2006-11-05

Since my main goal in Agility is to have fun with my Golden Retriever, Pooka, I thought this would be a good book. It is! Lots of great training tips and super ideas to increase the enjoyment for handlers and dogs. Margaret Bonham's style is easy to understand, the pictures and illustrations are clear and encouraging. Maybe next summer Pooka and I will throw an 'Agility Party' for our classmates!

Downloadable Fun.......2006-03-20

Super way to obtain this material! The book is well written and documented with outstanding pictures. All my dog and I needed to get started having a FUN time with AGILITY!

Invitation to Having Fun.......2004-12-20

Hi, this is Maggie Bonham (the author) and I hope you'll check out my latest book on agility, Having Fun with Agility. This is a fun book aimed at people who are looking for something to do with their dogs, but not necessarily looking to compete in it.

This book is laid back, discussing the obstacles and how to train your dog. I have a wonderful section on clicker training your dog to do agility as well. I also have sections for dog owners who have dogs who aren't necessarily fit enough to do regular agility but to provide some sort of activity for them. Lastly, I have information on how to throw an agility party.

Sounds fun? It is! Check out this book and my other agility book (for the more serious competitor) Introduction to Dog Agility.

Average customer rating:
Tabletop Radios, Volume 4 (The Complete Price Guide to Antique Radios)
Mark V. Stein
Manufacturer: Radiomania Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Americana | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Radios & Televisions | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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Machine Age to Jet Age III: Radiomania's Guide to Tabletop Radios (1930-1962)

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Collector's Guide to Antique Radios: Identifcation and Values (Collector's Guide to Antique Radios)

The Complete Price Guide to Antique Radios: Pre-War Consoles

ASIN: 0964795361

Book Description

America's No.1 vintage radio identification and price guide series has been further expanded with a fourth volume. This new reference supplements the current three volumes with over 2,500 new listings and 1500 illustrations. In keeping with our new and expanded format, icons indicate Canadian radios, Ingraham cabinets, World^s Fair models and noteworthy industrial designers. Each listing also includes tube and band counts, options, variations and current values.

Average customer rating:

Basic Information for a New Quilter

Learn to Machine Quilt in Just One Weekend
Marti Michell
Manufacturer: Asn Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Machine Quilting Made Easy

Mile-a-Minute Quilts

Quilting Dot-to-dot Patterns for Today's Machine Quilter (Golden Threads)

ASIN: 0881958956

Book Description

This book teaches popular and practical machine quilting techniques. Includes loads of useful tips for beginners and experienced quilters. Includes complete instructions for making two quilts.

Customer Reviews:

Basic Information for a New Quilter.......2007-05-07

I'm new to quilting, and this little book (it's only 32 pages long) is the first quilting book I've bought. Mitchell provides basic information on everything from tools and materials, to how to set up your workspace, to how to "package" and drape your quilt so that you can machine quilt it. The best part was the description of binding the quilt. I was completely confused about binding, but Mitchell cleared it all up. If you're just starting out or you're curious about quilting, this is a nice, simple book to begin with.

Book Description

The eclectic look is home decor's hottest trend, but flea market shopping has become a national obsession, making it difficult to find real bargains. BJ Berti reveals how easy it is to get the look for less by giving new life to inexpensive castoffs and finding unusual ways to make the most out of ordinary pieces.

A flea market veteran, BJ is a pro at reimagining the wobbly end table as a vehicle for vibrant color and seeing beyond a coating of ugly paint or covering of faded fabric. In Flea Market Makeovers, she reveals secrets for spotting diamonds in the rough at local flea markets, neighborhood garage sales, and vintage furniture stores and shows how to gauge the potential of the curbside castoff.

Through twenty-five projects and a special section of basic techniques, BJ explains how a little loving care and a touch of elbow grease can transform the most forlorn-looking pieces into charming additions for all rooms of the home. Step-by-step instructions make it easy to follow her philosophy of restore, revive, and reuse. Why overlook a piece just because it has loose joints or a shaky leg? Minor fixes are easy to accomplish with a little craft know-how, and sometimes just a rigorous cleaning is all that's needed to unveil a prize find.

BJ carefully describes how to strip away layers of paint, smooth nicks and dents, and replace old stuffing and fabric. She also illustrates how simple it is to revive a piece by adding a painted pattern, some beveled mirror pieces, or a carved wooden molding. For example, a simple folding card table looks entirely different after BJ replaces its dull floral tabletop with new painted canvas. Finally, BJ demonstrates how to successfully reuse pieces with unexpected placement. For example, a bookcase with fresh detailing stands out as smart storage for a dining room, and a panel from an old upright piano makes waves as a headboard over a bed.

With projects that range from a new lamp to brighten a corner of a living room to a mirrored panel for sectioning off a study, Flea Market Makeovers balances the best of crafting with extremely chic results for every room of the home. Flea Market Makeovers makes it easy to spot the hidden gems with the acumen of a pro.

Customer Reviews:

Refinish Those Flea Market Finds.......2005-05-18

This book provides a variety of step-by-step instructions, ideas and tips for refinishing bargain items you might find at a flea market, yard sale, Goodwill or even in your own garage. There are 25 projects in all, ranging from lampshades to shelves.

While some of the projects are a bit eclectic and might not be for everyone, you can still adapt the concept and steps to create something unique that suits your own taste. For example, you could follow the directions for rewiring an old lamp using the base of your choice, not necessary the pressed glass that the author uses.

The book includes excellent color photos and simple directions for each project. There are chapters on lamps/shades, chairs, tables and beds, storing/organizing (bookcase, Mission-style coat rack, metal storage bin) and odds & ends (picture frame, folding screen room divider, etc.), so there's something for the curious as well as the more ambitious.

If you enjoy watching home decorating shows (like Trading Spaces) or are just a DIY kind of person of beginning to intermediate skills, this book provides some great ideas and how-to advice. If you're a more advanced DIY person, this might be a bit too basic for you.

Not bad but not my taste.......2001-08-09

I suppose I should start by specifying that I am not a flea market junkie, though I have been known to haunt garage sales and search for bargains that I could transform into something fun and wonderful for my home. This book does have a wide variety of projects in it, and the directions and materials needed for each project are laid out neatly and expertly. If you can follow directions, you should be able to accomplish most or all of the projects in this book.

That said, I was not attracted to the majority of the projects in here. You can, of course, customize each project to fit your home, and yes there are some decent tips in here as far as doing general fixer-upper jobs on old flea market finds...but in general the projects in this book appeared flashy, trendy, and too frilly for my tastes. I can flip through this book and my mind writes it off as 'just another fru-fru craft book', which I have an inordinately large pile of. :)

If you LIKE fru-fru craft books this would be a good one to get, because not only do you get a wide variety of projects, you also get handy tips on repair and maintenance, as well as a guide to tools and materials needed for this type of restoration work.

So go to it and good luck with those flea market bargains of yours!

Just Do It!.......2000-09-11

Flea-market junkies-- here's help with fixing up the stuff you just HAD to have and now wonder how on earth you're going to do it. The 25 projects outlined in this wonderful how-to book are just the beginning. Use them as "jumping off" lessons in repairing and refurbishing the worn, but good stuff you have sitting in your garage waiting for your loving attention. Large, clear photos and step-by-step instructions make for easy understanding of each project. I've used it and I treasure it, it's a jewel!

Flea Market Makeovers for the Outdoors: Projects & Ideas Using Flea Market Finds & Recycled Bargain Buys

Average customer rating:

ho hum. just was not for me.
Pretty, Feminine Projects for Flea Market Finds--Too "Pretty" For Me
Flea Market Makeovers for the Outdoors
Great Project Ideas
A Beautiful and Practical Book

Flea Market Makeovers for the Outdoors: Projects & Ideas Using Flea Market Finds & Recycled Bargain Buys
BJ Berti
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0821228617

Book Description

An attractive step-by-step guide to turning old flea-market finds and other inexpensive diamonds in the rough into stylish furnishings for the porch, deck, or garden. Flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, and even big discount operations can be treasure troves for the eclectic home decorator. With a little creativity, inexpensive castoffs and bargain furniture can be turned into charming and stylish furnishings for your favorite outdoor living spaces. Crafting expert BJ Berti identifies such diamonds-in-the-rough and gives them new life. FLEA MARKET MAKEOVERS FOR THE OUTDOORS features complete step-by-step instructions and photos for 25 projects, from the simple task of embellishing a plain tablecloth or making planters from old galvanized buckets, to more complex projects like applying floral dcoupage to an old table or creating gorgeous and inexpensive outdoor lighting by recycling a chandelier into a decorative candelabra.

Customer Reviews:

ho hum. just was not for me........2007-02-17

Nothing out of the ordinary...sorry! Might be OK for someone with very little imagination, but for the artistic, or creative at heart, nope.

Pretty, Feminine Projects for Flea Market Finds--Too "Pretty" For Me.......2006-06-13

Each of the pages of this book contains detailed instructions for creating something new and fresh-looking from a flea market or yard sale find. With few exceptions, I found the finished look of the projects to be very feminine--polka-dot painted glasses and trays, pastel painted wood and metal furniture, floral decoupage, gilded metal, tile mosaics, fleur-de-lis stenciled screens, etc. Gone was the chippy paint, rust and old wood that I cherish. The thrift-store metal tray project which gave directions for applying spray paint over beautiful, aged silver-plated trays broke my heart! The end result was summer-colored polka dots that you would find in most dollar stores. The best thing about the book is the detail of the instructions for cleaning, restoring and refinishing. One could easily follow these instructions using the materials of their choice. I would have preferred to see the metal-and-mosaic table made from broken bits of old china vs. new tiles or the porch swing distressed in a soft white instead of being painted with sea blue and green stripes. I did really like the antique wooden trellis (probably because the wood was left in it's aged state) and the rustic hanging planter made from a corn-seed planter (again, left in it's state of demise). I think this book is worth adding to your home library if you can find it at a bargain price as I did. I would check it out of the library before I paid full price.

Flea Market Makeovers for the Outdoors.......2005-10-04

The condition of the book exceeded my expectations and I received it promptly as indicated. I will most definitely look to order from you again. Thanks

Great Project Ideas.......2005-08-12

This book is wonderful. I have used several ideas and have others in the works. The directions are easy to follow. The items shown are not difficulty to come across in small town tag sales or flea markets.

A Beautiful and Practical Book.......2004-06-30

So often, magazine articles on this subject assume that you have found an amazing work of art at the flea market. Probably all of us could figure out how to make good use of a charming Roseville vase without much guidance. Berti's book tells you how wo make good use of things like old wool sweaters, metal trays, and rusty lawn furniture -- things you might easily find or have around the house (garage?) already.
Articles on this subject also frequently give you directions like "refinish an old X" or "reupholster a discarded Y". Berti's book gives step-by-step directions with large, clear color photographs. There are materials lists at the beginning of each project and suggestions for using different kinds of items.
Projects range from the very simple (using old glassware for candles) to the very complex (building a wooden cabinet). Skills involved include needlework, woodworking, mosaic, gardening, and more. No expertise is assumed, and there are basic instructions and techniques for all the projects.
The finished pieces are attractive and the photographs are very appealing, but the book is clearly designed to allow readers to use their own tastes -- and their own flea market finds -- to make their own one-of-a-kind pieces. Whether you want to refurbish and repair older outdoor furniture, create elegant handmade pieces, or follow the shabby-chic style, this book will help you do it.

Average customer rating:

Please make me over...

Flea Market Furniture Makeovers
Mickey Baskett
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Painting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Painting & Wallpapering | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1402706405

Book Description

What can make a $3 flea market chair look like a $300 boutique piece? Just a little paint and the most basic techniques. In these beautiful pages, crafters will discover the key to transforming old and cast-off furniture into fantastic and fanciful works of art. A range of designs are on display, from rustic to refined, simple to sophisticated. Select from decorative painting, decoupage, crackling, distressing, sponging, staining, stamping, and stenciling, and follow the detailed instructions, photos, and patterns to success. Decorate a cabinet in charming country chic with a rooster and a trompe l’oeil napkin peeking over the drawer. Go retro with ’50s-style kitchen chairs. Or make a Rose Armoire, Baby Memories Photo Screen, and many other one-of-a-kind showpieces.

Customer Reviews:

Please make me over..........2007-09-21

My first encounter with this publication was through our local library. As an avid reader and collector of endless ideas for my home, I found this book to be inspirational. Okay, so my mundane painting classes did not create a Rembrandt, but I still can pull off these interesting projects with a little cunning imagination. For those of us who lack painting skills you can choose a few alternatives for making these items come to life. My choices would be decoupage and/or stencilling. For those with a gifted paintbrush these projects would be fantabulous. One or two of these cleverly executed pieces would be great accent pieces in a home.

Book Description

"Liberated Voices" highlights major trends in contemporary artistic practice in South Africa, bringing together an exciting cross-section of paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, and videos created since 1994. Through interviews, the artist's voices become an inextricable part of their work, accompanied in this volume by essays by renowned critics and art historians.

Liberated voices : contemporary art from South Africa

Average customer rating:

Liberated voices : contemporary art from South Africa

Manufacturer: Prestel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H60C0U

Book Description

Stuart Hall has been an inspirational figure for generations of academics. His early work on the media, his influential use of Gramsci in understanding Britain in the late 1970s, his unique and influential analysis of Thatcherism, and more recently his work on race and new ethnicities, have helped to make universities places where ideas and social commitment to change can co-exist. This collection invites a wide range of academics who have been influenced by Hall's writing to contribute not a memoir or a eulogy but an engaged piece of social, cultural or historical analysis which develops the field of thinking opened up by his enormous contribution.

Contributors include: Michele Barrett, Wendy Brown, Judith Butler, Nestor Garcia Canclini, James Clifford, Paul Gilroy, Henry Giroux, Lawrence Grossberg, Gail Lewis, Angela McRobbie, Doreen Massey, David Morley, Bill Schwarz, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Charles Taylor, and Lola Young.

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