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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.

• PRACTICAL GREEN REMODELING: Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Going green at home can seem like an all-or-nothing proposition. Do you sell everything (including the house) and start over, building and buying only eco-friendly, renewable goods? Or do you take the advice offered up in this smart and sensible book — and remodel instead? Green building expert Barry Katz makes a compelling argument for remodeling, as he guides readers through what can be a perplexing and daunting process. Too many decisions? No worries. Katz explains how different choices impact a home’s overall green quotient, as well as its bottom line. Emphasizing off-the-shelf materials, the book shows how homeowners of ordinary means can “green up” a remodel, resulting in less waste, more energy-efficient homes, lower maintenance costs, and more comfortable, healthful environments. This is an essential guide for anyone who has ever wanted to go green but wasn’t exactly sure where to begin.

• Carving Folk Art Figures: Patterns & Instructions for Angels, Moons, Santas, and

  $14.95 $8.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Complete step-by-step carving and painting demonstrations for a folk-art Santa and a smiling Angel from Santa Carver of the Year, Shawn Cipa. Patterns and photographs for an additional 13 projects including Moon Man, Cupid Cat, Firewood Santa, and others also included.

• WOODWORKERS GUIDE TO BENDING WOOD

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Learning to bend wood can take a woodworker in a whole new direction. Canoes, guitars, whimsical furniture, and many other projects are within reach with an understanding of this age-old technique. Now, with the help of professional furniture maker, Jonathan Benson, woodworkers can learn the four basic wood bending methods: bending green wood, using heat or steam, bending panels and bending laminations. Seven step-by-step projects clearly illustrate how each technique is achieved and are presented with an eye for budget and practicality, making this book ideal for woodworkers of all skill levels.

• SMALL WOODWORKING PROJECTS

  $21.95 $13.17 0 review(s)

  
  

  GET BACK TO YOUR WORKSHOP. Jewelry box. Arts and crafts wall shelf. Turned Carver's Mallet. Shaker side table. Greene and Greene picture frame. Pennsylvania spice box.

• Carving Cypress Knees: Creating Whimsical Characters from One of Nature's Most U

  $17.95 $10.77 0 review(s)

  
  

  Unlock the whimsical characters and wood spirits from within one of nature's most unique woods: cypress knees.