Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts

Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making Review

Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making
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I am a very green person to begin with so a lot of the chapters in this book were about subjects I was already familiar with. But I love it for the recipes and I think it would be a great book for anyone who's thinking about living a greener lifestyle. It's well-written and well-organized so you can green up your life one step at a time.

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Practically Green takes the guesswork out of reading labels and will show you how to make smart, healthy purchases for your family without spending tedious hours researching the pros and cons of all of the products available on the market today. Each chapter is broken down into "Buy It" and "Do It" sections. The "Buy-It" section provides key information about everyday purchasing decisions and includes clip-out checklists for you to reference while shopping. The "Do It" section gives DIY ideas for how to make things that are good for your family and good for the environment, such as simple sewing projects, non-toxic cleaning products and luxurious, homemade beauty products.Plus, the author shares some of her favorite recipes that are sure to please the entire family!

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Chillin' Trix for Cool Chix: "Fab Recipes, Crafty Fun, Mystic Magic, and Super-Cool Quizzes" Review

Chillin' Trix for Cool Chix: Fab Recipes, Crafty Fun, Mystic Magic, and Super-Cool Quizzes
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The first 27 pages of this book were quizzes that were clearly targeted to teen girls. It reminded me of quizzes found on websites like iVillage or in magazines like Cosmo. The quiz had topics like "Are you Shy Around Guys? Does He Really Like You? Are You A Drama Queen?" Styling tips for clearing out your closet and having a clothes swap party with friends, customizing your wardrobe for coolness and planning a home spa day are a few additional topics covered in this 95 page book.
There are 20 pages of recipes, so about 10 recipes in the book and about 5 craft projects. The book is colorful with cute diagrams and illustrations. I don't have teenage girls, but they MAY enjoy doing some of the projects in this book. I would suggest checking it out at the library to see if it has enough substance to warrant a purchase.

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This third addition to the hip Cool Chix series is a one-stop guide to fun! Whether it's a rainy afternoon with a best bud or a slumber party with 20 close friends, this book provides tweens and teens with all they need to turn the blues into a blast. There are pages and pages of creative ideas for mixing up delicious snacks and drinks, telling fortunes, having a spa day, and doing crafty projects with friends. Some of the exciting activities include magical ways to learn about one's crush; body-licious treatments to make for hair, face, and nails; friend collages; unique jewelry; and a whole bunch of quizzes about life, love, and friendship.• For girls ages 10 and up• Part of the Cool Chix series, which includes Beauty Trix for Cool Chix (0-8230-2179-3), which has sold 14,000 copies, and Hair Trix for Cool Chix(0-8230-2179-3)• Author is a beauty editor at a top teen magazine• Fun indoor projects include learning to read palms and decode dreams, making a no-cook rockie road pie, and tons of quizzes

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Buying a Home in Italy: A Survival Handbook Review

Buying a Home in Italy: A Survival Handbook
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an informative book which unravels the mysteries of setting up home in italy. the book does not romanticise the aspects of venturing into the italian real estate market, nor does it dissuade the reader from pursuing the venture any farther. rather, the book provides an objective and practical guide to house buying in italy. it also has helpful information about everyday living in italy such as setting up a bank account. i have read several books on the subject and recommend this book thoroughly. (i also recommend victoria pybus's "living and working in italy".)

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Fully revised and updated 3rd edition and the best-selling book about buying property in Italy since it was first published in 1999. Essential reading for anyone planning to buy a home in Italy and the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information available. Buying a Home in Italy is designed to guide you through the property jungle and make buying a home a pleasant and enjoyable experience. Most importantly, it contains vital information to help you avoid disasters that can turn your dream home into a nightmare - and will also save you time, trouble and money!

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Poucher's Perfumes, Cosmetics and Soaps Review

Poucher's Perfumes, Cosmetics and Soaps
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A very comprehensive book about perfume, soap and cosmetic industry. Decribes in great details about the industry historically. The book also provides information about where the flow, tendency and future of the perfume is going.
A must buy for perfumers, soap makers, and general cosmetic manufacturers.

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Poucher's Perfumes Cosmetics and Soaps has been in printsince 1923 and is the classic reference work in the field ofcosmetics. Now in a fully updated 10th edition, this new volumeprovides a firm basic knowledge in the science of cosmetics (includingtoiletries) as well as incorporating the latest trends in scientificapplications and legislation which have occurred since the 9thedition.This edition will not only be an excellent reference book for studentsentering the industry but also for those in specialized researchcompanies, universities and other associated institutions who will beable to gain an overall picture of the modern cosmetic science andindustry.The book has been logically ordered into four distinct parts. Thehistorical overview of Part 1 contains an essay demonstrating WilliamArthur Poucher's influence on the 20th Century cosmetics industry aswell as a chapter detailing the long history of cosmetics.Part 2 is a comprehensive listing of the properties and uses of commoncosmetic types, ranging from Antiperspirants through to Sunscreenpreparations. There are an increased number of raw materials in usetoday and their chemical, physical and safety benefits are carefullydiscussed along with formulation examples. The many additions sincethe last edition demonstrate the dramatic recent expansion in theindustry and how changes in legal regulations affecting thedevelopment, production and marketing of old, established and newproducts are operative almost worldwide. Information on specialistproducts for babies and others is included within individualchapters.The chapters in Part 3 support and outline the current guidelinesregarding the assessment and control of safety and stability. Thisinformation is presented chemically, physically andmicrobiologically.Part 3 chapters also detail requirements for the consumeracceptability of both existing and new products. Those legalregulations now in force in the EU, the USA and Japan are carefullydescribed in a separate chapter and the remaining chapters have beenextensively updated to explain the technical and practical operationsneeded to comply with regulations when marketing. This informationwill be invaluable to European Union and North American companies whenpreparing legally required product information dossiers.The final chapters in Part 4 contain useful information on thepsychology of perfumery as well as detailing methods for the conductof assessment trials of new products.As ingredient labelling is now an almost universal legal requirementthe International Nomenclature of Cosmetics Ingredients (INCI) for rawmaterials has been used wherever practicable.The advertised volume is the 10th edition of what was previously knownas volume 3 of Poucher's Cosmetics and Soaps. Due to changes inthe industry there are no plans to bring out new editions of volume 1and 2.

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Kids, Herbs & Health: A Practical Guide to Natural Remedies Review

Kids, Herbs and Health: A Practical Guide to Natural Remedies
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I am writing to highly recommend this book, Kids, Herbs, and Health, to parents and health practitioners alike. It is absolutely unique- the first of its kind to address herbal remedies for children in a complete and scientifically sound manner. My perspective is unique because I am a scientist (I hold a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry), a new Mom, and because I am intensely interested in herbs.
Mavor and White have done an outstanding job of explaining complex health/biochemical issues so that parents can make informed healthcare choices for their children. These topics include, but are not limited to, the pros and cons of antiobiotic use, the advantages and disadvantages of over-the-counter cold medicines, the safety of using herbs for kids, etc. I am impressed by the comprehensive nature of the book. Topics range from herbal treatments for common ailments such as colds, ear infections, sore throats, and colic, to treatments for less frequent problems such as attention deficit disorder, sleep and psychological problems. The herbal remedies the authors' suggest are supported by results from numerous clinical studies. Among herbal medicine guides, the science in this book is outstanding.
As a new Mom, I have found this book incredibly practical and useful. In every chapter there are recommendations for appropriate herbal remedies, as well as symptoms that indicate the child should see a doctor, and a wealth of other helpful information (for example, elevating the head of your child's bed during ear infections). The authors include the soundest advice on nutrition I've seen in books of this nature. I love the recipe for the "immune-building" soup! For the people who would like to be self-sufficient and save money, there are many recipes and instructions for home preparation of the herbal glycerites recommended for various medical conditions (i.e. the "runny-nose glycerite"). I have begun to make many of these glycerites during my son's well-times, so that they'll be ready when the need arises.
The book is easy to read, and, surprisingly for a book packed with so much information, I can sit and read it much like a novel. I appreciate the authors preparing this book. I'm certain it's going to positively impact the health of my child

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By emphasizing self-care technique that include herbal treatments, holistic approaches, and lifestyle changes, parents can treat their child's coughs, fevers, minor injuries, and other common childhood ailments - and this book shows them how.

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Kitchen Witchery: A Compendium of Oils, Unguents, Incense, Tinctures, and Comestibles Review

Kitchen Witchery:  A Compendium of Oils, Unguents, Incense, Tinctures, and Comestibles
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I purchased Kitchen Witchery from a local bookstore and returned it the next day. Normally a fan of Weiser books, I was shocked to find blatant plagiarism of so many other (mostly Llewellyn) books. This book is a mixture of the entire Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by Scott Cunningham with a few other sources from authors Laurie Cabot and the Farrars. Daniel has so very thinly paraphrased Cunningham's own words (example: "always stir clockwise" becomes rewritten as "stir clockwise always") that I am amazed this was published by such a reputable firm as Weiser. The worst part of this collection of "secrets" is that Daniel has listed identitcal recipes from other authors but CHANGED THE INGREDIENT AMOUNTS as well as left out important information about safe handling of the ingredients. This book reads like a garbled online Book of Shadows and is an insult to the hard work done by the authors listed in Daniel's bibliography.

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Psychic Soap4 parts Lemongrass + 3 parts Bay + 1 part Cinnamon Come and See Me Oil5 drops Patchouli oil + 2 drops Cinnamon oil + Olive oil baseOver the years, Wiccan High Priestess Marilyn Daniel has collected hundreds of recipes for her craft. Responding to repeated requests for her secrets, she has compiled them here for the first time in this comprehensive reference of more than 400 magical tips and recipes - covering everything from beauty treatments to healing salves to tasty treats.In addition to advice for buying, storing, and blending essential oils (always stir clockwise), Marilyn reveals her secrets for making incense, bath salts, soaps, ointments, potpourri, ink, and more. Readers will learn how to make a Tuberose Bouquet for attracting love and Air Oil for clear thinking and overcoming addiction, as well as how to incorporate their pets into spellcraft. Kitchen Witchery includes a wide variety of cookies, breads, wines, and other magical foods, and Marilyn serves up her famous recipes for goodies like Sabbat Cakes and Wiccan Handfasting Cake, and drinks such as Nettle Ale and the Milk of Isis. And should a witch find herself in the middle of a recipe with a missing ingredient, she can find a worthy substitute in the extensive list provided. Kitchen Witchery also includes a helpful reference list of magical correspondences and a glossary of herbs and their folk names.

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Hands on Spinning Review

Hands on Spinning
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I've been spinning on and off for a few years now, and I still refer back to Hands On Spinning as my primary source. This book originally taught me to spin on a spindle, all by myself, with no teacher. Ms. Raven's instructions allowed me to pick it up quite quickly, and after working a couple of hours with some rough wool, I soon found myself making some very nice silk singles yarn. Later, I had two hours of instruction on a wheel, and used the book at home to help me through those awkward first hours of wheel spinning.
Ms. Raven assumes you know nothing, and provides enough information to cover each topic thoroughly without giving you too much to ponder. Thus the book is not too big, but just big enough. She starts you out by having you roll wool on your lap to twist it into a short length of yarn, which is probably how the first threads were made.
Then she proceeds into the chapter on spindle spinning, which is clearly written and well organized. Moving along, she explains the parts of the spinning wheel, what they do, and how to tension them properly. Her chapter on learning to spin on the wheel is as good a verbal description of how to do this as any I've read. Other chapters include: Fiber Preparation; Drafting and Spinning Techniques; Plying; Finishing, and more. There are numerous diagrams and color photos in this book, plus many simple but attractive projects to start you off. If you are new to spinning this is a wonderful book to begin with.

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Understanding how spinning works, choosing a wheel, building a simple spindle, spinning on a treadle wheel, preparing fibers, carding, twisting, and plying.

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Shibori: Creating Color and Texture On Silk (Crafts Highlights) Review

Shibori: Creating Color and Texture On Silk (Crafts Highlights)
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This book is a wonderful educational sourcebook for any dyer. The pieces shown in the book are elegant and sohisticated - grown folks fabrics. Mysterious, subtle, three-dimensional pieces. Silk is her fiber of choice yet the information in the book would be useful to anyone interested in dyeing any fiber.
Admittedly I am a baby dyer, however I do have a lot of experience in the area of learning processes from books. This book is all I had hoped for and more. Ms. Brito tells us what her aims are in creating this book. Her aims happen to coincide with my desires as a student: to inspire the reader with the artistic possibilities of shibori and at the same time provide the reader with technical information on a level that high standards will become a natural occurrence as one begins to understand and learn this process.
This book is not for the reader who is looking for shortcuts or baggie dyeing. Ms. Brito is a chemist and an artist. She explains the different dye types and processes very clearly. She even allows us to see her set-up. Discharge, various resist methods, overdyeing, setting texture and great photographs are only part of what this generous artist shares. She provides excercises that encourage observation and experimentation. That is how many of us are best educated. She offers formulas for different colors including neutrals so the reader has a good starting point.
I don't want the reader of this review to think that the book is so technical that it is inaccessible. It is both technical and reader friendly. The book is also great eye candy. This book belongs in the library of all fiber artists!

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Shibori is the Japanese art of what is popularly known as tie-dye. But this ancient resist-dyeing technique goes far beyond the simple craft that is typically used to embellish T-shirts.In Shibori: Creating Color & Texture on Silk, artist Karren K. Brito demonstrates the modern American rendition of shibori, or prismatic shibori, in which colored silk is pleated and tied around a pole, then overdyed. Only the tops of the pleats absorb the color fully so the hues shift subtly to create a shimmering iridescence.The book opens with a fascinating overview of the influences on the American version of the shibori technique. Then, it moves on to explain other important aspects of this unique process: "Dyeing Essentials," for example, discusses how to work with silk and acid dyes, which are easier to use and more environmentally sound than fiber-reactive, vat, or the so-called "natural" dyes; "Creating Resists" illustrates several styles of resist, each of which produces stunning color combinations and elegant pleated effects. Each step in the process is presented separately so that readers can combine them to create their own unique shibori designs.What's more, this wonderful guide brims with lavish, full-color photography as well as dazzling examples from prominent American shibori artists.• Features beautiful projects and gorgeous photography throughout• Exploits the interest in accessorizing with an easy-to-do craft• Provides essential information on dyes and the dyeing process

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Creative Batik (Beginner's Guide to) Review

Creative Batik (Beginner's Guide to)
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I've started doing batik just a couple of months ago, and this is the third book I have bought from Amazon on this subject. I think this is the best of them three because it has very very clear instructions on every project the author suggests, great photos of each step, she shows very clearly a lot of techniques to use on different things (check out the lamp shade it's great)and I think most important of all she is very generous about her knowledge of batik, explaining everything that could happen if you do this or that, and with every day words, not all the technical-chemical mumbo jumbo i've found in other books.
One last thing, check out her galley in the book: it's really beautiful!

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This colorful, practical guide explores many different waxing and dyeing techniques, explaining how to create beautiful flowers, trees, birds, animals, landscapes, and abstract designs.

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Soapmaking for Fun & Profit: Make Money Doing What You Love Review

Soapmaking for Fun and Profit: Make Money Doing What You Love
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I have many books on soap making and they are pretty much all the same.... all someone else's recipes. I have been searching for one that would give me the "base" formula and I found that in this book. You get a short history in how soap began, and thorough explanations on the different oils, fats, butters, and scents.... how each is used and what they do for your soap. It even explains the different aromatherapy characteristics of the fragrance and essential oils. There is a wonderful explanation on how to calculate the saponification values that even an 8 year old could understand. Yes there are a few recipes to get you started in each type of soap making (melt & pour, hand milled, rebatched, and cold processed), but mostly you are encouraged to create you own recipes.
The business part is also one of the most thorough I have found. It covers licenses and permits, copy right laws rights and wrongs, FDA labeling rules, taxes laws, and so much more. This book is a must have for beginners and experienced soap crafters alike!

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Discover How to Profit from Your CraftHave you ever dreamed of learning how to make fragrant soaps? You can! Soapmaking For Fun & Profit was written with two purposes in mind: to teach you the basics of this fun craft and to show you how to turn these new skills into cash! Whether you've been crafting for years or are just getting started, you'll learn: ·The benefits and enjoyment of soapmaking ·The right materials, tools, and equipment to use ·How to create a special "crafting place" in your home ·Ways to sell your creations at craft shows, shops, and other outlets ·Craft business basics, including pricing and record keeping ·And much more!

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Tie Dye The How-To Book Review

Tie Dye The How-To Book
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This book has excellent illustrations on how to tie-dye but I was disappointed that there were no pictures illustrating the final product. For someone with limited knowledge of tie-dying, I had to guess what the project would look like after it was completed. Otherwise, it is a very helpful guide.

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Learn the secrets of tie dying and create your own beautiful fabrics. Tie dying is an ancient art form developed in the Far East over a thousand years ago. This user-friendly book will show you how to create seven unique and beautiful designs. Clear, simple instructions, including photos of each stage of the tying and dying, will guide you through the process. Full color photos show the stunning results possible. Includes a source listing for permanent, high quality dyes.

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Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions: 101 Natural Formulas to Revitalize & Nourish Your Skin Review

Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions: 101 Natural Formulas to Revitalize and Nourish Your Skin
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I received the book "Making aromatherapy cream and lotions" as a gift, and I was very excited at first, but this has got to be the most frustrating book on the subject I've seen so far. If you make the mistake of judging this book by it's covers, it looks like a basic book on the subject--the back cover proclaims that in five easy steps you will be able to make the recipes. This is very misleading; I have made creams and lotions before, and I can honestly tell you that although the basic concept is easy, this book uses mostly very hard to find ingredients and is completely impractical for the home hobbyist. This book is basically for someone that has access to very obscure ingredients, and I'm not talking about essential oils, but the "basic" ingredients the author uses to formulate her recipes. Most of these items you are not going to be able to find in your local pharmacy or health food store, and if you do manage to find the ingredients on-line, be prepared to spend a lot of money. Another major problem with this book is that everything is measured in grams or occasionally ounces, but the amounts are so small, that the average home kitchen scale, like the one I own, is not capable of measuring accurately. To really measure the ingredients accurately, you would need an expensive digital scale that will measure by individual gram increments (not 5 gram increments like some inexpensive models)--as I said, not for the home hobbyist. Even the title of the book is misleading--there are not even close to 101 recipes for creams and lotions, there are approximately 20. The rest of the book has cleansers, fruit masks, balms, etc., as well as a lot of information on the different ingredients and stories about home businesses (this is the best part of the book). Many of the recipes contain perishable ingredients and have to be used right away or the author recommends making them fresh every day. The back of the book "bio" mentions that the author "...is also a Washington, D.C. attorney." I'm not an attorney, but I don't have the time to make these recipes every day, maybe this woman does. My suggestion is if you are a beginner or just looking to expand your basic repetoire, try any of Janice Cox's books. She has hundreds of recipes on all kinds of toilletries that are easy and fun to make with items you already have at home or you can easily purchase at a health food store, and will not frustrate you to no end.

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A reader's guide to creating exciting, inventive, and unique cosmetics and body-care products using all-natural ingredients and the power of aromatherapy. Includes an overview of aromatherapy, techniques used to extract aromatic plant materials, tips on creating unique and personal creams and lotions, and a full complement of inspirational recipes.



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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Natural Soaps Review

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Natural Soaps
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This is the first book that I read about soap making. I found it hugely helpful! It spends quite a bit of time explaining the differenct processes of soap making. This is an excellent book for those who are brand new to the topic, very easy to read and understand, resulting in successful batches of soap immediately. Yes it does rely heavily on soapcalc, but if you're brand new to soap making, you should rely heavily on soapcalc too!

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Leave no soapstone unturned! Soapmaking has always been a popular craft with a dedicated group of followers, but with the explosion of urban homesteading and people looking to go green, noncrafters are now joining in on the fun. Whether it's making natural soap to live greener, give as gifts, save money, or make money, The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Making Natural Soaps has everything the new soap maker will need to create organic, natural soaps of all kinds. •Includes recipes to make a wide array of molded, poured, and liquid soaps •Contains soap recipes for body as well as household and even pets

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The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes: Personalize Your Craft with Organic Colors from Acorns, Blackberries, Coffee, and Other Everyday Ingredients Review

The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes: Personalize Your Craft with Organic Colors from Acorns, Blackberries, Coffee, and Other Everyday Ingredients
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Sasha Duerr's The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes is a warm-hearted and generous book which swiftly ushers the reader into the world of useable color that is already at our fingertips. As it turns out, dye-making that's good for the earth is also the simplest, most direct and easiest way to create color. In addition to being packed with dye recipes using ingredients you can find in your kitchen, back alley-way or any other gone-to-seed urban area, the Handbook is a fully-illustrated manual for sustainable living at its most sensual and joyful, and a comprehensive introduction to the Slow Textiles movement, in which Duerr is a key player. Her scrupulous attention to all aspects of the color-making process and how it affects our health and the health of our beloved planet provides us with an abundance of useful and unexpected tidbits and activities, like how to build a solar oven out of cardboard and aluminum foil, how to plant a space-efficient spiral dye-plant garden, and how to felt your own laptop case out of wool fresh off the sheep! When you pull on the threads at the edges of this book, you find yourself seamlessly integrated into a whole way of life, one where color and clothing and food and community relationships all flow together in delightful and mutually beneficial ways.
This is absolutely the best manual to have whether you're a beginner or a seasoned dyer in search of a healthier and more holistic dye practice.


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Complete Craft: Making Beautiful Projects at Home Review

Complete Craft: Making Beautiful Projects at Home
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Normally i steer away from craft books because there always full
of cottagey,patchworkish,floral or granny type projects,but this book is exceptional.It has a very simple/country/scandinavian air about it,all the designs/projects are modern and timeless and great to make.I also liked that you could easily add your own creative input to a project.Its also a enormously big book and best of all has a history to each project/craft e.g the history of ceramic painting,the history of weaving etc.Excellent book.

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Complete Craft contains over 60 unique projects, each specially devised by a leading practitioner in the field to be easily completed at home. Over 900 stunning photographs and clear step-by-step instructions demonstrate how to achieve the best results, no matter the level of the crafter's experience. All the projects, from table linen and jewelry to handbags and bowls, are practical as well as desirable, and while many of the techniques are traditional, the results are fresh, elegant, and contemporary.

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The Soapmaker's Companion: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes, Techniques & Know-How (Natural Body Series - The Natural Way to Enhance Your Life) Review

The Soapmaker's Companion: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes, Techniques and Know-How (Natural Body Series - The Natural Way to Enhance Your Life)
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This is one of my favorite books I've found on the wonderful, newly found hobby of mine - Soapmaking!
The author does a brilliant job of combining the must-have step-by-step detailed instructions on soapmaking basics for beginners, with the best list and descriptions of all soapmaking ingredients!
Beginners and experts alike will enjoy the many tried and true recipes, even specialty soaps! It also covers the "Chemistry of soapmaking", including tables for making your own recipes! She even has a section on starting up your own business to sell your handmade soap creations! And it is all put together in an easy to understand and follow format, for us beginners, or "dummys" in soapmaking!
The only reason that I rated this book at "4 stars", instead of "5 stars" is because it does not include any pictures (and I LOVE pictures!)- only the hand-drawn illustrations in green ink, as is the print, featured throughout the book. She does use alot of fragrances & different oils in her soap recipes, but includes a list of buying resources in the back.
This, along with my other favorite book on soapmaking, "The Complete Soapmaker", by Norma Coney, (full of beautiful pictures!)which features mostly "hand-milled" or rebatched soaps, are the ones I find myself going to time and time again for reference and inspiration!

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Basic soapmaking instruction and specialty techniques like marbling, layering, and making transparent and liquid soaps.

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Making Natural Liquid Soaps: Herbal Shower Gels / Conditioning Shampoos / Moisturizing Hand Soaps Review

Making Natural Liquid Soaps: Herbal Shower Gels / Conditioning Shampoos / Moisturizing Hand Soaps
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I've been a cold-process soapmaker for 2 years and was ready to explore other kinds of soapmaking. I picked up C. Failor's book on liquid soapmaking and was hooked. There's a lot of great information here. Initially I was a bit overwhelmed before diving in, but that's how I felt before making my first batch of cold-process soap as well! Liquid soapmaking, like almost every other craft, requires just a little time and patience before it becomes second nature. My first batch of liquid soap was a success-perfectly crystal-clear-and with a couple more recipes under my belt, I feel as comfortable with this soapmaking as I do with cold-process soapmaking. I was a bit perplexed by the review of October 18th in which Michelle referred to hard-to-obtain chemicals and complex chemical equations. There are no chemical equations in this book and as for the chemicals-does she mean potassium hydroxide, borax, boric acid? Nor do I agree with her that this book is for "professional" soapmakers only. The book is for anyone who wants so make their own natural liquid soap ( since almost all liquid soaps on the market are synthetic).

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Using a simple double-boiler technique, readers will make elegant and soothing liquid soaps. Dozens of recipes using oils, herbs, and other natural ingredients to create hand soaps, shower gels, bubble baths, conditioning shampoos and even baby and pet shampoos.

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