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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.

• Creative Woodcarving for Beginners: Basic Techniques + 50 Projects

  $17.95 0 review(s)

  
  

  Woodcarving is a time-honored art, and here is the definitive beginner's guide to this traditional craft, from carving with a pocket knife to sculpting with chisels and mallets. Starting with a detailed course in techniques such as chip carving, relief carving, and sculptural carving, it goes on to offer detailed plans, templates, and instructions for 50 projects, from distinctive front-door house numbers to a spectacular fire-breathing dragon. Every step is thoroughly illustrated with photos, right up to applying finishes such as paint, varnish, burning, or oiling.

• TURN A BOWL: GETTING GREAT RESULTS THE FIRST TIME AROUND

  $19.95 $11.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  This book bypasses spindle turning and provides basic instructions to get aspiring bowl turners directly to their goal of creating a pleasant bowl.

• FWW VIDEO WORKSHOP SERIES #20: ARTS AND CRAFTS GLASS-FRONT CABINET

  $19.95 $11.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Includes digital plan. A classic cabinet with heirloom potential. In this lesson-packed video, Fine Woodworking's Michal Pekovich demonstrates the key skills and techniques required to build this authentic oak cabinet, including lessons on crafting tight-fitting, blowout-free through-mortise-and-tenon joinery, how to execute a classic ammonia-fumed finish and more.

• WOOD FLOORING (HARDCOVER): A complete guide to layout, installation and finishin

  $45.00 $27.00 0 review(s)

  
  

  Mention hardwood floors and watch a homebuyer's eyes light up. What makes wood floors so desirable? Hardwood floors are unmatched for their beauty, durability, and ease of maintenance, so it's no surprise that the demand for hardwood has always been strong. In recent years that demand has been fueled by the availability of more types of wood, including exotic species such as Brazilian cherry, as well as engineered woods. This professional-level resource covers every aspect of installing residential wood flooring -- from estimating and preparing the job site, through sanding and finishing, to repairs and maintenance. Hardwood floor expert Charles Peterson covers it all in this indispensable guide to the most popular flooring choice around.