A Touch of Farmhouse charm by Liz Fourez

A Touch of Farmhouse Charm
by Liz Fourez [747 Fou] 

The book description claims these are easy DIY Projects. To my mind this means I could complete the task in an afternoon which is true for many of the projects but not all. Some of these projects can be quite involved so just pick-and-choose what you want to do, but overall the author has some interesting ideas here for shabby chic, country, and folk designs.

The book is divided into sections based on the room being decorated: Living Room, Dining Room & Entryway, Kitchen, etc. An overall list of Supplies is provided for each project, the level of difficulty (Beginner, Advanced, Intermediate), and then the directions along with photos at the various stages.
Projects include adding stripes to kitchen towels for a farmhouse feel, building a small country bench, and painting bookends. There’s also a neat idea for displaying your old car license plates.

There are over 50 projects offered here. At the very least this is a fun browse.

[ official Liz Fourez web site ]

Recommended by Charlotte M.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Christmas at Historic Houses by Patricia Hart McMillan

Christmas at Historic Houses
by Patricia Hart McMillan and Katherine Kaye McMillan [745.594 McM]

This is a gorgeous table book for browsing through to enjoy, and perhaps copy, the Christmas decorating schemes of over 60 American and English historic estates and simple homes – from the palatial Biltmore to the simplistic Nelson-Galt Office in Colonial Williamsburg. Homes include Mount Vernon (Virginia), Molly Brown House (Colorado), Waddesdon Manor (England), Maymont Mansion (Virginia), Hearthside Homestead (Rhode Island), and Monticello (Virginia). We learn the importance of preservation and restoration, and about the Christmas celebration customs of other countries and previous time periods. Entire (short) chapters on decorating with Christmas stockings, trees, and wreaths. Then you'll encounter the beautiful color photos of the estates, mansions, and homes, and their decorated gardens and interiors. No need to read or thumb through this book in order. Just jump around and enjoy the various styles and colors. And for those wishing to order from the gift shops, a listing at the back of the book includes website, address, and phone numbers of the historic buildings. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Charlotte's Reviewer Profile and more of her reviews ]
 

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A Zombie Ate My Cupcake

A Zombie Ate My Cupcake
by Lily Vanilli [641.865 Van]

This one visually caught my eye on the library's "new book" display shortly after Halloween. The cover illustration, of two candy skull-style cupcakes, is very reminiscent of the traditional confections that are part of the Mexican "Dia de los Muertos" celebration. Opening up the book, though, I was confronted by a wide variety of creepy, gross and somewhat repellent cupcake decorations -- perfect for a spooky party or as an antidote to the standard pink and glittery cupcakes that you'll see in grocery-store baked goods sections. The primary focus of this cute little book is on the decorating -- in fact, there are only seven basic cupcake and frosting recipes in an appendix at the back of the book. Instead, there are 25 nicely-illustrated guides to how to create morbid-looking cupcakes with frostings, sauces and the less-common mediums of fondant and marzipan. In fact, marzipan, the shapeable, clay-like candy, features prominently in many of the recipes -- as worms crawling out of cupcake eyeballs, as zombie fingers crawling out of a chocolate cupcake grave, as human ears on mutant ear cupcakes, as fake insects, and as orbiting planets above Raspberry Spacecakes. My two favorites in the book, at least in terms of how realistic they look in the accompanying photographs, have to be "Shattered Glass", in which shards of candy glass are stabbing into white cupcakes that they bleed cherry sauce, and "Bleeding Hearts", in which red velvet cupcakes and white fondant, molded into the shape of aortas and they coated in thick cherry sauce, look like a frighteningly realistic heart. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [Subscribe to Scott's monthly booklist newsletter It's All Geek to Me! - on the Books, Movies & More newsletter sign-up page]

[ LilyVanilli.com ]
 
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The Farm Chicks Christmas

The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays
by Serena Thompson [745.594 Tho]

Country decorating ideas for Christmas from the Farm Chicks. Colorful photos on every page of wonderful vintage decorations - old style Christmas lights, vintage patterns on dishware and mugs, plastic light-up Santas from the 1950's, cardboard villages, mini pine trees. They also offer new uses for old items (hadn't thought of turning an ugly, wire 3-tiered desktop organizer into a cute holder for candies, candles, and ornaments). The Chicks reminisce about Christmases past and offer suggestions to make your own holidays special. Also included are several holiday recipes for beverages, cakes, and cookies. A thoroughly enjoyable table book especially if you appreciate country decorating, vintage Christmas, and cutting down your own tree. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Farm Chicks web site ]

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Cottages and Bungalows

Cottages and Bungalows
[Periodical Cottages]

For fans of vintage homes and decorating, and Arts & Crafts style homes with a slightly modern touch. You'll find lots of photos of makeovers, suggestions and ideas on how to make those renovations work in your own home, Do-It-Yourself info, and resources of suppliers. You'll have a fun evening browsing through all the photos and collecting ideas for yourself. Published monthly except for Feb/Mar and Jul/Aug. Current issue does not check out. Available directly at the South Branch, or have issues transferred to your local library branch. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Country Living magazine, and any books by The Farm Chicks.] -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Cottages and Bungalows magazine web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays

The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays
by Serena Thompson [745.594 Tho]

Country decorating ideas for Christmas from the Farm Chicks. Colorful photos on every page of wonderful vintage decorations - old style Christmas lights, vintage patterns on dishware and mugs, plastic light-up Santas from the 1950's, cardboard villages, mini pine trees. They also offer new uses for old items (hadn't thought of turning an ugly, wire 3-tiered desktop organizer into a cute holder for candies, candles, and ornaments). The Chicks reminisce about Christmases past and offer suggestions to make your own holidays special. Also included are several holiday recipes for beverages, cakes, and cookies. A thoroughly enjoyable table book especially if you appreciate country decorating, vintage Christmas, and cutting down your own tree. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Farm Chicks web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Russian Imperial Style

Russian Imperial Style
by Laura Cerwinske [709.47 qCer]

This book documents Russian art from 1762 to 1917. The text points out the cultural life of the tsars and the noblity. But it is the lavish illustrations, almost all in color, of furs, Faberge eggs, gowns, jewels, tapestries, furniture, table settings, carriages, etc., all created for the aristocracy, that lure the reader. [If you enjoy this one, you may also wish to try In the Russian Style by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.] -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Laura Cerwinske web site ]

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Country Living Simple Country Wisdom

Country Living Simple Country Wisdom: 501 Old-Fashioned Ideas to Simplify Your Life

by Susan Waggoner [640 Wag]

Ideas and suggestions for the best way to clean a house, paint a room, season a cast-iron pan, make a room feel homey, food tips (ripen a tomato, substitutions, how best to store foods), and more. All accompanied by the standard Country Living magazine photos that inspire the reader to aim for comfortable country decorating. Tips and Tricks on every page. A fun browse. [If you like this, you may also enjoy Bungalow Style: Creating Classic Interiors in Your Arts and Crafts Home by Treena Crochet [747 qCro]. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

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Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin Carving

by Edward Palmer [745.594 qPal]

Tired of the same old face on your Jack-O-Lantern? This book is full of fun patterns for your pumpkin ranging from easy to complicated, scary to funny. A color photo of the finished product accompanies each pattern. Includes basic carving instructions (don't forget the chimney in the top for the candle to breathe!) and info on how to keep your pumpkin fresh-looking. Also has a pattern for a turkey that you can use for your Thanksgiving buffet. For year-round entertaining you'll find patterns for watermelon boats. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ http://www.pumpkin-carving.com/ ]

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The Simple Art of Napkin Folding

The Simple Art of Napkin Folding

by Linda Hetzer [642.7 Het]

A wonderful little book on how to fold your napkins into fancy designs. Great illustrations that clearly demonstrate each fold. Covers some of the basic, easier folds on up to the really intricate patterns (and who know they all had names?). Includes guidelines on table settings and napkin placement. Also a section on stain removal, and embroidering initials. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ publisher's official Simple Art of Napkin Folding web page ]

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Staff Recommendation - Sentimental Living From the Porch

Sentimental Living From the Porch

by Alda Ellis [747.7 qEll]

Decorating and entertaining ideas for the porch and backyard for every season. Beautiful photographs, easy instructions at the back. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Biography of Alda Ellis ]

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Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.