Description

Products You May Like

• 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.

• 52 Boxes in 52 Weeks

  $24.95 $19.95 0 review(s)

  
  

  What do you get when an accomplished woodworker and senior editor of Fine Woodworking magazine sets himself the challenge of designing and building one box a week for a solid year? You get 52 Boxes in 52 Weeks, a book dedicated to making relatively simple?yet gracefully elegant?boxes that woodworkers of all skill levels will be eager to build. Readers will begin by learning the fundamental box-making techniques that are applicable to almost every box in the book: •how to match grain at corners •how to cut miters •how to make tops and bottoms •how to finish a box with shellac, sometimes highlighted with milk paint ( a major trend in finishing right now). Following that, Kenney reveals some universal design principles that can be used as guidance as readers develop their own design aesthetic. And then, of course, the book transitions to instructions on designing and building the boxes themselves.

• WOODCARVING: TOOLS, MATERIAL #II

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Now you're ready to carve but first some information on wood itself. Information on hard and soft wood and the conversion and seasoning of wood. How to deal with defects and woodworms. Grain, hardness, figure, texture, and durability: recognize those elements that distinguish a quality piece. What type of wood works for what type of carving, gluing up, edge to edge, face to face, flat and end grain joints. And last but not least, all about finishing. REGULAR $19.95 OUR PRICE $15.95. YOU SAVE 20%.

• FOR PROS BY PROS: ATTICS, DORMERS AND SKYLIGHTS

  $17.95 $10.77 0 review(s)

  
  

  Solid advice on airtight attic access, constructing a gable dormer retrofit, installing disappearing attic stairs, seal and insulate an attic, add a second story, frame an elegant dormer, frame for skylights, and more.

• Deck Ideas that Work [Paperback]

  $19.95 $11.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  With proper planning and design, a deck can add a new dimension of living space to a home. Not only is it an enjoyable outdoor retreat and expanded entertainment area for family and friends, but it’s also a great return on a home investment. For homeowners building new decks or upgrading existing ones, or for builders and remodeling contractors looking for new ideas for their clients, this most complete and up-to-date book is packed with over 300 inspiring photographs along with hundreds of design solutions and top-notch advice to help inform smart decisions. Chapters focus on a wide range of deck sizes, styles, and materials, as well as furniture, accessories, and landscaping ideas. In addition, practical sidebars and case studies will help anyone plan just the right deck to suit their home, yard, and lifestyle.