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• Bird Decoys of North America: Nature, History, and Art-NS

  $40.00 $24.00 0 review(s)

  
  

  Bird decoys, which were first fashioned by Native American hunter-artists at least 1,500 years ago, are the only major folk art form to originate in North America. Today, decoys made during the heyday of decoy carving--roughly from 1840 to 1950--rank among the most avidly sought of all folk art collectibles, with some rare and outstanding examples fetching upwards of $8000,000 apiece at auction. These humble hunting tools, intended to deceive wildfowl by luring them into shooters' range, are now appreciated on many levels: as compelling works of sculpture, as exacting portraits of living and extinct species, and as irreplaceable historical objects. Successful decoy carvers of the past knew their prey intimately--spending countless hours observing game birds in the wild and then bringing their accumulated knowledge of different species' appearance and behavior to the carving bench. Because the works these artisans created were meant to attract avian eyes--conveying the essence of a bird's plumage, form, and attitude at a glance--older handmade decoys are deeply observed symbols of living birds that no merely decorative object, no matter how photographically accurate, can match. In this definitive, lavishly illustrated work, folk-art expert Robert Shaw chronicles the now-vanished era in which the great decoy makers pursued their craft. Shaw traces the natural history of North American bird species--more than sixty of which are represented in antique decoys. He relates the history of wildfowl hunting on this continent, detailing the excesses of nineteenth-century commercial hunting and the rise of a conservation movement aimed at ensuring bird species' long-term survival. He examines the distinctive forms produced in each major hunting area, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Chesapeake Bay to the bayous of Louisiana and beyond. And, with a storyteller's gift for the entertaining anecdote, Shaw puts us in touch with the lives and circumstances of the decoy makers themselves.

• TRIM COMPLETE: EXPERT ADVICE FROM START TO FINISH

  $21.95 $13.17 0 review(s)

  
  

  With detailed instructions and over 800 step-by-step photos, expert carpenter Greg Kossow shows you how to complete every possible trim project, from simple baseboards to complicated casings. He even includes hard-to-find advice about complex crown moldings and creating custom moldings. From creative planning, to choosing tools and materials, to every last detail you'll need to complete a project, Trim Complete is the only guide you'll ever need.

• In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  In-Laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats is the first book to explore the many designs, uses and benefits of this time-honored and emotionally satisfying living arrangement. In-law units take many forms and they’re all shown here: attic, basement and garage conversions, bump-out additions, carve-out suites, and backyard cottages. This book covers every aspect of turning one house into two homes. Its first four chapters deal with the specifics of assessing your needs, selecting an appropriate design, choosing space- and energy-saving appliances, and getting your plans approved. The book’s second half is a warm and engaging portfolio of in-law units and the families who created them: what needs prompted their decisions, which layouts worked best, and how they met life challenges with common sense, creativity and compassion. With more than 200 color photographs, 50 floor plans and architectural details, and a lively, personable voice, In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats is perfect for homeowners who want richer lives and a more secure future.

• Wood Identification & Use (Compact Edition)

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  More than 200 timber species from around the world are described in detail in this lavishly illustrated, compact edition of Terry Porter’s best-selling book. In this indispensable guide to one of the world’s most valuable natural resources there are handsome color photographs of each species, and reliable data on working properties, seasoning requirements, typical uses and safety considerations. Inspirational examples of finished work are also shown. A further 200 species are listed in brief, and there is a comprehensive index. Aimed squarely at the individual or small-scale user, whether professional or amateur, the book includes woods used in cabinetmaking, joinery, carpentry, turning, carving and a host of more specialist applications. It covers most species in widespread use, and many less familiar ones which deserve to be better known. This new compact edition of a best-selling reference work, includes the 20 important species added to the revised and expanded edition and a section illustrating the variety of decorative figuring which can be found in many species. There is also valuable information on wood defects and potential health hazards. Specially commissioned drawings of living trees, including details of their leaves, fruit and flowers, add a new dimension to the book and serve to enhance our appreciation of the raw material of woodwork.