Average customer rating:
- Great book for beginners to experts!
- must have for any lamp worker
- The best book in its class
- It's Just OKAY!
- absolutely amazing
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Contemporary Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame (2 volume set)
Bandhu Scott Dunham
Manufacturer: Salusa Glassworks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
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Similar Items:
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Beads of Glass
-
The Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking
-
Flameworking: Creating Glass Beads, Sculptures & Functional Objects
-
Passing the Flame: A Beadmaker's Guide to Detail and Design
-
The Art & Soul of Glass Beads: 17 Bead Artists Share Their Inspiration & Methods
ASIN: 0965897214 |
Customer Reviews:
Great book for beginners to experts!.......2005-11-03
This is a super set to learn from and refer back to! If you're a beginner - check it out! There's so much to learn from it!
must have for any lamp worker.......2005-08-04
this set is the best/ most information i have seen for learning to lampwork. packed with information it covers most techniques and even guides the beginner on how to set up a studio, great buy, worth every penny.
The best book in its class.......2003-12-30
If you could have only one book, it would be wise to consider this one. I have been in this industry many years and this is by far the best book I have seen out there.
It's Just OKAY!.......2003-12-24
To the naive public this book is great! Riddled with typos and inconsistant captions this book is not ideal for understanding formal flameworking. The book includes information about the masters and their techniques but trivializes their skill by including no-names and wanna-be's along side. A good amount of important technical information is provided, but through a string of often choppy inconsistant paragraph fragments. This is an excellent PICTURE BOOK leaving a lot to be desired from the academic artisan. Is a great reference for suppliers. In many cases the information falls short of being cohesive and understandable. Recommended for the glass-goer. Recommended for the amateur glassblower (for inspiration). Has popular appeal void of substance.
absolutely amazing.......2003-01-20
It should get more stars than five, the history of lampworking portion of the book is almost worth the price of the book itself.The history portion is only a small portion of the set. I have been doing lampworking for about 3 years now and I search the internet for anything reguarding lampworking often and this book set has tons of stuff I have never seen. excellent.
Average customer rating:
- Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking
- excellent
- great book!
- great boook for beginners
- good book
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The Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking
Kimberley Adams
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Beadwork
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Glass & Glassware
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Similar Items:
-
Beads of Glass
-
Flameworking: Creating Glass Beads, Sculptures & Functional Objects
-
The Art & Soul of Glass Beads: 17 Bead Artists Share Their Inspiration & Methods
-
Passing the Flame: A Beadmaker's Guide to Detail and Design
-
Contemporary Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame (2 volume set)
ASIN: 1579905722 |
Book Description
Every eye-catching photo in this superb guide to a popular craft will inspire, instruct, and attract bead- and glass-makers. It's beautiful, easy to follow, and one-of-a-kind.
Glass beadmaking has become a crafting phenomenon, and this colorful reference features a rich repertoire of creative ideas. Splashed across the splendid pages in eye-catching photos are all the most popular types of beads, accompanied by the newest, most innovative techniques. The instructions begin with the basics: how to light the torch, wind and cool the bead, and shape the glass into barrels, cones, and discs. As beadmakers' skills develop, they can expand their horizons by experimenting with enamel; using mica dust to form an iridescent sheen; and applying silver, gold, and copper leaf to layers of glass. The most advanced projects are truly remarkable, from floral and sculptural beads to beads that encase images of stars, rainbows, and faces. A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking.......2007-08-10
The book was as described, well packed and arrived in a very timely fashion. Thanks!
excellent.......2007-06-09
This is an excellent book for beginners. I'm a beginner at beadmaking and this book has explained info regarding all aspects of beadmaking. This a great referrence book. I would recommend this to everyone.
great book!.......2007-05-15
anything you need to know about glass beads and more.
Soft glass though
great boook for beginners.......2007-03-24
"The Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking" by Kimberly Adams is a great book for the new lampworker. The instructions are clear, easy to read and understand, and the illustrations are very helpful. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in glass bead making.
good book.......2007-03-12
Great pictures and good explanations of how to make beads. Lots of helpful tips.
Average customer rating:
- Working with Precious Metal Clay Review
- Start with this book
- Worthless
- This is probably the number one beginners book out there.
- Very imformative
|
Working with Precious Metal Clay (Jewellery Handbooks)
Tim McCreight
Manufacturer: A & C Black Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Jewelry
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Similar Items:
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The Art of Metal Clay (with DVD): Techniques for Creating Jewelry and Decorative Objects
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Metal Clay Magic: Making Silver Jewelry the Easy Way
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Creative Metal Clay Jewelry: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration
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Introduction to Precious Metal Clay: Instructions for Creating Fine Silver or Gold Jewelry Using This Material
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Art Clay Silver and Gold: 18 Unique Jewelry Pieces to Make in a Day
ASIN: 0713658282 |
Book Description
Working with Precious Metal Clay is the first American book for artists and hobbyists who want to know more about this exciting new art material. Techniques are taught through 50 projects of increasing complexity, projects that range from earrings to rings to accessories like a thimble, spoon and tea strainer. A large section called Technical Tips offers practical information on working, firing and finishing PMC, and a final chapter on tools shows some studio aids you can make for yourself. "Working with PMC" features over 400 full color illustrations that lead artists systematically through the steps needed to make personal and exciting work.
Customer Reviews:
Working with Precious Metal Clay Review.......2007-08-31
Tim McCreight is the PMC guru and this book is almost a text book.
Exceptionally well laid out with the different sections, projects, techniques and tools. As a new user of PMC I have found the book to be a great guide as I work my way through the techniques of PMC.
Very well written and illustrated.
Start with this book .......2007-01-08
I confess straight up to being a McCreight fan so maybe I am biased. However I have found his book to be one of the best to give my students. It is incredibly clear and consice. It is perfect for the person starting out in silver clay. Sure the glossy photos are missing, rather hand drawn step by steps, but you can follow easily. With 50 projects, there is ample opportunity for the beginner to find something that appeals and to gain confidence with this medium. Part Two is fabulous, excellent technical tips on a host of items, rehydrating, extruding, carving, ring sizing, making bails, use of patinas, and loads more. Part Three gives you the added bonus of How to make your own tools - and therefore save a few dollars. Being spiral bound is a bonus, always stays open. I recommend three books to my clay students, this is one of them, ( the other two - CeCe Wire and Sherri Haab.)A must for your library.
Worthless.......2007-01-05
I have never been more dissappointed in a how-to book. All the instructions are drawings that look like they were done by children. There are few photos and they are mostly tiny black and white and fuzzy. This book is not helpful at all. I am sorry I purchased it and don't recommed it for any level of experience. Save your money.
This is probably the number one beginners book out there........2006-03-30
This book is of the style that McCreight has become associated with. For good or bad, Tim's books are either hated or loved. That is just the way it is. This book was published in what could be called the dark ages of the metal clay movement. It is truly a beginners book. In the sense it is for beginners and it was at the beginning of metal clay. It covers one brand of the two major players in the production of precious metal powders in a clay binder/carrier. The projects are simple, small and easy. As they should be for new people and a new medium. I can not judge the projects merit, because as with most things. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When you open it up it will lay flat on a table. The projecct pictures should be larger. As the PMC title is not onlt a descriptive generic nomenclature along with a trademark. It does cover the basics of working with the clay of both types. The tips are as always good to know. the tools are of the type that can be constructed by anybody with little handywork skills or tools. It touches the surface of a new material and what the possiblities of it holds. I own it.
Very imformative.......2006-03-15
I love this book as a reference, it is written very clearly and easy to understand. Very well organized also. If you are in to PMC I would highly recommend this book.
Average customer rating:
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Two hundred years of American blown glass
George S McKearin
Manufacturer: Bonanza Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Glass & Glassware
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ASIN: B0007FXAF0 |
Average customer rating:
- Mears's Flameworking book
- Good book for boro glass work
- Good Boro book
- great helper
- Good Flameworking book
|
Flameworking: Creating Glass Beads, Sculptures & Functional Objects
Elizabeth Mears
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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Glass & Glassware
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Similar Items:
-
The Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking
-
Contemporary Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame (2 volume set)
-
The Art & Soul of Glass Beads: 17 Bead Artists Share Their Inspiration & Methods
-
Beads of Glass
-
Warm Glass: A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming Techniques: Fusing, Slumping, Casting
ASIN: 1579907415 |
Book Description
New in Paper
You can easily form beads, candlesticks, and art objects from just a rod of cold glass and a torch. Heat it, manipulate it a bit, and almost instantaneously beautiful and new figures emerge from the fire. That's flameworking. A top teacher of the craft explains how to do it all, providing exactly the same information and exercises she gives her beginner's workshops. Lavish illustrations capture the entire artistic process. Look into the different types of glass to choose from, and find out how to melt a ball at different points of the rod; flatten it into a disc; and shape it into hearts, wings, butterflies, and the moon. Turn those designs into jewelry, hanging sculptures, and stirrers. The results are amazing!
Customer Reviews:
Mears's Flameworking book.......2007-07-16
I like the book a lot and am more than pleased with the projects. I love that there is a progression of more difficult projects that build skills. Unfortunately, the writing and pictures are not set up alongside each other, and where the directions are not easy to follow, the photos are not right beside the text (rather, they are on a different page) to clarify the directions.
This book is a lot better than the couple of books I have read in the library which had lots of pictures but no really clear directions to help a person make the projects they describe. So, I give this one a 4, and I do recommend it to people who do basic bead making and glass fusing and know a number of the simpler techniques. This book will take you further and make flameworking and fusing many times more fun.
Good book for boro glass work.......2007-06-11
I am a new lampworker, more interested in soft (Moretti/Effetre) glass, so this book wasn't as helpful as I had hoped since it focuses solely on "hard" glass. But the techniques and instructions are well written and would be very helpful.
Good Boro book.......2007-03-25
If you are thinking of buying this to learn about soft glass- moretti, bullseye, etc.- DON'T! If however, you are starting boro work, it is a good intro.
great helper.......2007-01-03
It is a really essential book for beaders.the events are built step by step.at the beginning of the book, the reader learns the basic theme: how to set up his/her studio(every detail is mentioned) and at the end of the book, he/she becomes capable of creating artistic objects. the exercises in the book are basic and you can develop yourself easily after succeded them.I advise the book every flame work lovers.
Good Flameworking book.......2006-11-06
This is a great book for beginner flameworkers. Good pictures and directions.
Average customer rating:
- Great book!
- All the instructions you'll ever need for a great prize
- Excellent book on bead making
- The Nature of Glass Beads
- Thanks Cindy's for sharing your craft
|
Making Glass Beads (Beadwork Books)
Cindy Jenkins
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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Similar Items:
-
The Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking
-
Beads of Glass
-
Passing the Flame: A Beadmaker's Guide to Detail and Design
-
Contemporary Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame (2 volume set)
-
Introduction to Glass Fusing
ASIN: 1887374167 |
Book Description
“There is enough detail to make unsuspecting readers into addicts. An excellent introduction.”—Booklist
Beads that are multicolored, grooved, feathered or foiled, and decorated with spots, dots, eyes, and stripes: no matter which of these designs in glass you choose, the results will be beautiful. Detailed instructions and magnificent photos, along with scores of valuable tips and tricks, guide crafters through an awesome array of techniques, making this the best guide to glass beading ever. The creative journey begins with making a simple bead; proceeds to easy variations, such as overwraps and raked patterns; and ends exquisitely with beads shimmering with different metals and featuring millefiori, sculpting, and hollowing.
The author lives in Skokie, IL.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2007-03-12
This is a great step-by-step 'how-to' book. The explanations and pictures are very detailed. I feel like I am prepared and know everything I need to know to get started making glass beads!
All the instructions you'll ever need for a great prize.......2007-02-04
I've been making glass beads for 3 years now, and recently showed a friend how to make glass beads. He picked it up right away, and next time I saw him he was definetly not an amateur anymore. I wanted to find a book that gave more then just beginners instructions, and showed many techniques in a clear and simple way. After having looked at many (much more expensive) books I found this one. It had it all! Helpfull hints (hot tips)and exciting techniques for years of fun to come, as well as simple, easy to understand instructions. After giving the book to my friend, I bought it for myself.
Excellent book on bead making.......2006-08-09
The book gave us confidence that we could make glass beads. Production has not started but soon will.
Service was excellent as usual.
The Nature of Glass Beads.......2006-07-03
This is one of two books that you should own if you are serious about learning to make glass beads. The step by steps are easy to follow. The hot tip boxes are a nice way to point out important info. The pictures are clear and to the point, and follow the descriptions of the action. The gallery pictures are spread thoughtout each section of the type of bead work being explained.
A touch that I liked was when a new word is introduced it is in bold print and a clear description of what it is. Giving notice that this is something to be filed for furture use.
They have included a whole load of other artists work for a wide idea of what can be done. the appendix's on the nature of glass and trouble shooting will save a lot of time for the newbe. Also the jewelry basics is a nice touch for the right of the street person. I own it and use it.
The other book you should own is the Kimberley Adams The complete book of glass bead making
Thanks Cindy's for sharing your craft.......2005-07-19
This is a wonderful book, loaded with step-by-step instructions on making glass beads. The instructions are clear and easy to understand. can Hardly wait to order my glass supplies and get started with her book at my side.
Average customer rating:
- Historical glassblowing for children
|
A Day in the Life of a Colonial Glassblower (The Library of Living and Working in Colonial Times)
J. L. Branse
Manufacturer: PowerKids Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
History
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ASIN: 0823958205 |
Customer Reviews:
Historical glassblowing for children.......2003-09-17
As a glassblower, I found this charming little tale quite informative.As an uncle to a two year old, I found it well illustrated, smooth paced, and very fun. We had a blast!!!! It is not always easy to help pass a craft to a young one,or keep one entertained in something so complex as glass, but I believe this little number hit the spot.An excellent and accruate historical view of colonial life. Did you know that glassblowing was the first free enterprise in Jamestown, stating in 1644? highly recomended........
Average customer rating:
- The title says it all
- Excellent content, but could use some editing
- Classic handbook for craft potters
|
Glazes from Natural Sources: A Working Handbook For Potters
Brian Sutherland , and
Nigel Wood
Manufacturer: University of Pennsylvania Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Ash Glazes
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Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques: Raku * Saggar * Pit * Barrel (A Lark Ceramics Book)
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Image Transfer on Clay: Screen, Relief, Decal & Monoprint Techniques (A Lark Ceramics Book)
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Alternative Kilns (Ceramics Handbooks)
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Building Your Own Kiln: Three Japanese Potters Give Advice and Instructions
ASIN: 0812219457 |
Book Description
Any real education in ceramics must involve, from the outset, an appreciation of the source materials--the rocks around us. While good, throwable clay may be a regional commodity, there is no part of the world that will not yield potential glaze materials in abundance. Potters therefore need to know how to exploit the special properties of local rocks quickly, reliably, and methodically. This new revised and updated version of Brian Sutherland's classic book on making glazes from natural sources explains how to locate glaze material and construct, test, and use the glazes created.
Glazes from Natural Sources discusses rock types and other likely sources of supply, the making of test pieces, and the use of blend systems and constructions. The author also clarifies the Seger system of glaze presentation for those who, like himself, have found it difficult to grasp and apply. He covers, and supplies, formulae for glazes for all temperatures--from raku to stoneware and porcelain--and includes sample recipes. The book emphasizes careful planning and control to ensure results that are repeatable. This makes the science behind making glazes from natural sources both understandable and feasible.
Glazes from Natural Sources is fully illustrated, with diagrams of techniques demonstrated as well as images of the finished works of potters to show the results of these natural glazes. First published in 1987, this book is considered a classic by ceramicists. This edition includes a new chapter by glaze expert Nigel Wood.
Customer Reviews:
The title says it all.......2007-01-27
This book has lots and lots of excellent information as well as handy hints. If you want to start using found materials in your glazes, buy this book.
Excellent content, but could use some editing.......2007-01-20
First the cons: this book is beautifully printed, but the editing could definitely use some work. It has several typographic errors that should have been caught. The writing is also occasionally stilted, and it could be a little more organized.
That said, this is an excellent book, especially for potters and students who are interested in using local materials in their glazes but don't really know where to begin. It is thorough, and provides not only the basics (ie., how to do line-blends), but also information on calculating a material's specific gravity, Seger/unity formulas, building your own ball mill, and more.
A recommended read for potters and students wanting to know more about glazes.
Classic handbook for craft potters.......2006-02-26
First of all, I'd better point out that I am one of the author's sons. But as such, I know that this book was never written as a big commercial venture but as an attempt to record the wealth of information that my father had accrued through years of practical work in the studio.
When Glazes From Natural Sources was first published in 1987, it was rightly considered a classic textbook by leading potters and colleges alike on the science and practical techniques of producing one's own glazes.
Before his death in 1998, the author had been working on a new edition of the book, updated with a fresh design and packed with many new colour illustrations, for leading craft publishers Adam & Charles Black.
The revised second edition was published in early 2006 in the UK. An exciting development is that glaze guru Nigel Wood has written an extensive introduction to glaze-making as an additional chapter for this new edition.
Average customer rating:
- a must for anyone who is setting up their home studio
|
A Glassblower's Companion: A Compilation of Studio Equipment Designs, Essays, & Glassblowing Ideas
Dudley F. Giberson
Manufacturer: Joppa Glassworks Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
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Similar Items:
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Glass Notes, a reference for the glass artist
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Beginning Glassblowing
-
Advanced Glassworking Techniques
-
Dictionary of Glass: Materials and Techniques
-
Glass Blowing a Technical Manual
ASIN: 0966571304 |
Customer Reviews:
a must for anyone who is setting up their home studio.......2000-10-27
contains designs for: 5 different glory holes,10 dif. melting furnaces,4 styles of annealers and slumpers, pipe heater,electric hot cane pick up, electric garage, bit box, and a hanger box. also contains information on firing , gas safety systems , burner heads, and mixers. this is a must for people who haven't had the opportunity to have there hands held at ritzy art academies.
p.s. it also contains interesting tidbits on ceramic core vessel making!!!
Average customer rating:
- Great for Glassblowers!
- great book
- Read Aloud Winner
- Cute book
- Glass menagerie
|
Elena's Serenade (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended (Awards))
Campbell Geeslin
Manufacturer: Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Multicultural
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Similar Items:
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Frida (English Language Edition)
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The Night Eater (Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award)
-
For You Are a Kenyan Child (Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award)
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Diego
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Josefina
ASIN: 0689849087 |
Amazon.com
A delightfully fresh take on the "anything you can do, I can do better" theme, Elena's Serenade follows a feisty little Mexican girl on a quest to prove to her father--and herself--that she can be a glassblower, even if she is a girl. Magic realism abounds as Elena journeys (dressed as a boy) to Monterrey to learn from the great glassblowers. Along the way she meets a burro, a roadrunner, and a coyote, helping each of them accomplish their goals as she blows tunes through her father's cast-off glassblowing pipe. Arriving in Monterrey, our little "muchacho" is mocked at first, but soon silences her detractors (who continue to think she's a boy) when she creates beautiful glass stars through her pipe. If only her Papa could see what she can do! Perhaps if she blows a giant bird (golondrina), she can fly home.
A lovely story penned by Campbell Geeslin, with lyrical acrylic and crayon art by the illustrator of Jonah Winter's Frida, Ana Juan. Readers will revel in the whole experience--words, pictures, message, and all. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
Who ever heard of a girl glassblower?
In Mexico, where the sun is called el sol and the moon is called la luna, a little girl called Elena wants to blow into a long pipe...and make bottles appear, like magic.
But girls can't be glassblowers. Or can they?
Join Elena on her fantastic journey to Monterrey -- home of the great glassblowers! -- in an enchanting story filled with magic realism.
Customer Reviews:
Great for Glassblowers!.......2006-06-25
Our family absolutely loves this book.
My daughter Ailia (age 4) enjoys the story, illustrations and wonderful colors in this book.
It is a fairly quick read, but not too short, a great one for bedtime.
and for us glassblowers... it simply warms the heart,
signed,
Edward T. Schmid
author of "Beginning Glassblowing" and "Advanced Glassworking Techniques"-(also available through Amazon.com or at: glassmtn.com)
great book.......2005-12-18
This book has wonderful drawings and an imaginative story--very much in line with South American magical realism. My son loved it dubbed himself coyote (one of the characters) for two months.
Read Aloud Winner.......2005-06-04
Elena's Serenade is the first book to receive the Comstock Book Award for the year's best picture book to read aloud to older children, ages eight to twelve.
Young Elena leaves her home to embark on a magical journey to Monterrey, Mexico in order to follow her dream of learning the art of glassblowing. Later, she returns home to her father, who had refused to teach her his trade because no one had ever "heard of a girl glassblower." This story celebrates Elena's uniqueness as an artist and a person, as well as the importance of pursuing a dream.
With acrylic and crayons, Juan has created luminous paintings with an expressionistic, folk-art quality and a palette of desert colors. Juan's use of light is particularly noteworthy, especially in the illustrations depicting glassblowing. The rounded figure of Elena and her expressive facial features make her an attractive character. The colors, movement, and details of each painting invite one to linger over every page.
In selecting this book for the Award, the Read Aloud Committee noted the lyrical quality of the text, as well as children's special appreciation of the illustrations. In addition, children were interested in the conflict between Elena and her father and also enjoyed the sprinkling of Spanish words. Readers found the Spanish-English Glossary in the front of the book helpful.
Cute book.......2005-04-23
Elena's Serenade is about a little girl who travels to Monterrey, Mexico to become a glassblower. I did enjoy the story and especially the illustrations. My favorite illustration is of Elena dressed in her brother's clothes trying to look macho. I think kids will enjoy the bright sometimes humorous pictures, and the imaginative story.
Glass menagerie.......2005-01-08
I'll cut a book a whole swath of slack of it's beautifully illustrated. I'm not ashamed to admit it either. A story could be pedantic, repetitive, and dull and I'd still be gaga over it if the pictures were pretty enough. Now in the case of Campbell Geeslin's, "Elena's Serenade", I'm torn. The tale told here is actually rather interesting and well-written. Its heroine sets out on a kind of small picaresque quest and gains her heart's desire by the end. Now certainly the story is not the best written in the world. It drops certain plot points here and fails to offer any reason for other occurrences there. But it's a nice enough tale and when you take into consideration the overwhelming beauty of artist Ana Juan's illustrations.... well let's just say it's enough to salve over any nit-picking I might have. "Elena's Serenade" is beautiful and affecting without straining to please. If you don't love it, I can think of a hundred small schoolchildren who would.
Told in the first person, we see the world of Mexico through little Elena's eyes. The daughter of a glassblower, Elena's one dream is to someday learn the trade. Unfortunately, female glassblowers are entirely unheard of at this time and, anyway, Elena is too little. At the advice of her brother our heroine decides to disguise herself as a boy and travel all the way to Monterrey to study with the world's best glassblowers. Along the way she plays funny tunes on her glassblowing pipe and helps out a burro, a roadrunner, and a lovesick off-tune coyote. In Monterrey, Elena displays her new glassblowing via music technique. Suddenly she's creating stars with five points, butterflies that clink their delicate glass wings, and huge magnificent birds, one of which takes her back home. At the end of all her journeys, Elena is pleased to show her new talents to her papa and to play delightful tunes with colorful images from the tip of her glassblowing pipe.
Obviously the story has some rough spots. After all, why does Elena help out the animals of the desert if their trials have nothing to do with the story at large? What time period is this in which girls cannot be glassblowers? Sure looks like present day to me. And the magical source of Elena's power is left unclear, though I'm willing to chalk that up to magical realism and just leave it at that. These problems could have sunk a book with an illustrator less talented than Ana Juan. As it is, it's clear to me that author Campbell Geeslin lucked out. Juan first hit the children's picture book scene with a jaw-droppingly beautiful encapsulation of Frida Kahlo's life entitled, "Frida" (by Jonah Winter). She follows that success up with the equally magnificent "Elena's Serenade", and I couldn't be more pleased. Elena is the perfect heroine. Comically ridiculous when she attaches half a tortilla to her face to look like a beard. Incredibly pitiable when she hunches over in pouty misery after her father tells her that her dreams are impossible. Each page in this book is filled with luminous rounded images. From the glass butterflies that soar through the air to the moon's face as she lovingly listens to the coyote's song. Juan is also particularly good at lighting. The scenes beside the glassblower furnaces are my personal favorites. I loved how the artist was able to meld together the faces of the Monterrey artists as they stare in wonderment at Elena's fabulous glowing orange glass star. If you would like to be blown away by a book's pictures for a little while, consider being blown away by this one.
There is no getting around the fact that there are not enough picture books in the United States that celebrate aspects of Mexican life. This is one of the few and I for one will be recommending it to every child I come across for the next fiftysome years. It's not the best writing in the world but it may well have the biggest heart. For a perfectly marvelous and beautiful story, consider trying your hand on the magnificent, "Elena's Serenade". It'll make you and your children happy.
Books:
- Creating Beautiful Boxes With Inlay Techniques
- Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels
- Creative Clay Jewelry: Extraordinary, Colorful, Fun Designs To Make From Polymer Clay
- CREATIVE LICENSE, THE: GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE THE ARTIST YOU TRULY ARE
- CREATIVE LICENSE, THE: GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE THE ARTIST YOU TRULY ARE
- Degas, Sickert and Toulouse-Lautrec: London and Paris 1870-1910
- Drawing Realistic Pets: From Photographs
- Drawing with Children
- Dynamic Light and Shade (Practical Art Books)
- Escher on Escher: Exploring the Infinite
Books Index
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