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They're one of my biggest weaknesses... I buy at least three a month, sometimes waaay more. So if you're looking for one on a particular crafty subject, I will probably be able to recommend a few XD

I hope for this thread to become a useful resource of book reviews for people who don't have a lot of money to spend, and want to buy only the most useful books - how many times have you bought a great-looking craft book only to find the instructions are as useful as a chocolate fireman? Plus, I think people rely on the internet far too much, and sometimes forget that there are other brilliant sources of information. But then I'm biased. I love books. heart

Basically, if you buy/borrow/have a book you think our members will be interested in, tell us about it here, and I'll keep a list in post 2.

Below is a form you can use if you want - fill in as much as you can. The first few will probably be mine anyway, so I won't fill an example... razz If you don't want to write separate good/bad points, just delete those. It's kind of just a template to squeeze out the most info with minimum hassle. 3nodding

I'm not sure how this will work out, but for now I'm going to recommend one book review per post, and try to write at least four lines other than name/author/etc.

Let's see how it goes... biggrin

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Name of book:
Author:
ISBN:
Subject:
Available from:
Good points:
Bad points:
Comments:

·Name of book: Plush-o-Rama
·Author: Linda Kopp
·ISBN: 978-1-57990-878-2 (this is the ISBN-13, which is a new ISBN on books from 1st Jan 07 onwards, if your book has an ISBN-13 post that rather than the old ISBN-10)
·Subject: Plushie making,
·Available from: Amazon.co.uk, £6.99, Amazon.com, $10.17

·Good points:
- It's oh-so-colourful and happy! Kitschy but great smile
- it has basic information for beginners
- the patterns are very simple, with one or two which have slightly more complex elements
- there is a section at the back with information on the designers

·Bad points:
- The instructions don't have photos or illustrations apart from the completed plush
- some of the creatures are a little, well, amateurish
- pattern pieces aren't numbered, they're "the front piece" or "the piece that goes between the legs" (although mostly it would be hard to get confused)

·Comments: Each creature in the book has a different creator, thus its' own style. Although this book seems geared towards beginners, you would do better to have basic sewing knowledge before making any of the patterns. Oh, and a sewing machine. It's the kind of book my tutor would say is "beneath" me, but it never fails to make me smile. :3

Cute, ain't he? ^w^ Hehe, this'll keep me busy...

·Name of book: The Encyclopedia of Beading Techniques
·Author: Sara Withers & Stephanie Burnham
·ISBN: 978-1-84448-047-0
·Subject: Beading, Wire, Sewing, Weaving, Knit/Crochet
·Available from: Amazon.co.uk £9.09,

·Good points:
-A lot of information about tools and materials, including types of beads and findings
-Covers a lot of techniques under bead embroidery, threading, knotting, beads and wire, bead looms, beadweaving - pretty much everything you could want!
-The instructions are thorough and have photographs to help
-It's written in such a way that a hobbyist or a professional can use it as a resource
-Has a large gallery of finished works at the back for inspiration

·Bad points:
-Some of the gallery pieces aren't too pretty, or are a little boring
-It's best used as a resource of techniques, rather than for the projects themselves, as many of them are a little... uninspiring

OHHHHHHHHHH MY GOD.............THIS BOOK IS THE SHIZZ!! YOU NEED THiS BOOK! I MADE LIKE eVErYTHING FROM THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!! eek heart heart heart heart

Ummm...this is an origami book, but its very good (though its also professional, so if you're just taking origami up, DON'T buy this book first.)

Name of book: Brilliant Origami
Author: David Brill
ISBN: 0-87040-896-8
Subject: Origami
Available from: Book stores, or online... about $20.00
Good points:
Very detailed instructions
Lots of various models
very VERY realistic looking models
Bad points:
Professional level, not for beginners
Hand-drawn diagrams are a little hard to follow
Mostly black a white
Layout of steps on pages is sometimes a little confusing
Comments:
This isn't really a craft book, I know, but origami is a type of craft, and this book is very good for making very real (though difficult) and interesting models.