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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.

• FOR PROS BY PROS: INSPECTING A HOUSE

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  This is a must have book for anyone buying a home. Caldwell tells and shows what to look for when inspecting a house. A excellent book for real estate agents and anyone who wants to be informed before they buy. The Inspection Process; Siding, Doors and Windows; Roofs, Gutters, and Grading; Garages, Driveways, and Walkways; Heating and Cooling; Basements; The Kitchen and Bathroom; and Water supply and Septic.

• RELIEF CARVING IN WOOD: A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION

  $19.95 $11.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Pye is a professional carver and here presents a course on relief woodcarving. He uses one design, a fish, and explains exactly what he is doing, why he is doing it, every step of the way. Pye discusses tools, wood, the workplace, and what to do if things go wrong.

• Finishing a House: A Complete Guide from Installing Insulation to Running Trim

  $21.95 $13.17 0 review(s)

  
  

  Roe Osborn’s first book, Framing a House, tackled the complex art of house framing. Now, in this follow-up volume, he lays out all the steps and instruction required to complete the inside. The timing of each step is critical, and it’s important to understand what needs to be done first. Whether you’re finishing one room or the whole house, this richly illustrated reference demystifies the process and follows a logical progression from installing insulation and drywall to hanging cabinets and doors to putting down floors and running trim. Each chapter begins with the question: Should I tackle this step myself ? The pros and cons of hiring someone are then discussed. Applicable both for new construction and remodels and with 400 photographs and 20 drawings, this book shows DIYers how to make a house their own.

• FOR PROS BY PROS: THE VERY EFFICIENT CARPENTER *

  $25.95 $15.57 0 review(s)

  
  

  Professional carpenter Larry Haun shows all the techniques needed to frame a basic house, from laying the sills, to framing the roof. Fully illustrated with information on sitebuilt tools, permits, stairbuilding, tools, materials, task organization for stream-lining the job and more. See companion videos in section 22.

• ESTIMATING EXCAVATIONS

  $39.95 $23.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Very thorough manual dealing with the difficult task of estimating excavation projects. Includes information on a variety of factors affecting estimations, such as soil characteristics, accessibility, location, and costs.