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$40.00 $24.00 |
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.
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$24.95 $14.97 |
Segmented turningturning an object from a glued-up blank--allows turners to design and create patterns and visual effects in turned pieces. In addition to design skills, segmented turning demands precise woodworking and turning skills. In Segmented Turning, professional turner Dennis Keeling shows step-by-step all the basic techniques for closed segmented, open segmented, and ornamental segmented turning. He focuses on the fundamentals of accuracy in the three types of construction, as well as the equipment, tools, and materials used for those forms. Keeling also showcases the work of seven other segmented turners, discusses changing technology, and health and safety concerns of working with wood in this way. Following the comprehensive technique instruction are 10 projects that progress in difficulty, from beginning to advanced. At the end of the book, a gallery of inspirational segmented designs provides inspiration.
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$21.95 $13.17 |
If you want to tackle a home plumbing job yourself -- and save a few bucks in the process -- here's the book for you. In Plumbing Complete, master plumber Rex Cauldwell gives you all the expert advice you'll need to handle virtually any plumbing project with confidence. From the basic plumbing problems everyone faces to complex challenges that are a little trickier, you'll learn everything you need to get things running smoothly again. (The few projects not covered by the author are ones that absolutely should be handled by a plumbing professional.) What's unique about this book is how easy it is to find and use the valuable information on every page -- with detailed instructions and clear, step-by-step photos that make every procedure easy to understand and implement. You'll also appreciate the intuitive finding devices and table of contents featuring visual symbols that make it easy to find whatever type of project you're looking for -- and get started quickly. Here's an example of what you'll discover. The tools you'll need for every project Understanding the drain/vent system How to clean and unclog pipes Repairing faucets and toilets Installing a new bath Working with kitchen appliances How to fix outdoor plumbing When you consider the high cost of even the most simple plumbing repair job, it's easy to see how this useful book can be a smart investment that helps you save on every job you handle yourself.
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$19.95 $11.97 |
This is a remarkable collection of eight projects for the beginning to advanced turner. Projects are accompanied by step-by-step photos, a bill of materials, and full instructions. The projects gradually increase in difficulty building towards the final project, the Inside Out Vase. A chapter on various woods used in turning is included.
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$49.95 $29.97 |
Pakenham has spent the last two decades chronicling the lives of the world's most dramatic trees. He takes us on a breathtaking voyage across four continents and introduces us with passionate text and stunnding photography to trees of amazing personality. The enormous strangler from India, the 4700 year old "Methusalehs", the Joshua trees of Death Valley and other absolutely fantastic trees.
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$28.95 $17.37 |
This is the revised edition of di Cristina's popular work on stairbuilding. Over 50 pages have been revised. The author covers where to locate risers in a curved stairway in relation to the handrailing, three methods of finding the face mould, fifteen basic handrail problems, installation of balusters, how to find baluster cuts under an incline turn handrail, and much more. Mr. di Cristina owned a custom stairbuilding business in San Francisco for over 50 years.