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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.

• WOODCARVING: TOOLS, MATERIAL #II

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Now you're ready to carve but first some information on wood itself. Information on hard and soft wood and the conversion and seasoning of wood. How to deal with defects and woodworms. Grain, hardness, figure, texture, and durability: recognize those elements that distinguish a quality piece. What type of wood works for what type of carving, gluing up, edge to edge, face to face, flat and end grain joints. And last but not least, all about finishing. REGULAR $19.95 OUR PRICE $15.95. YOU SAVE 20%.

• BUILDING WITH LOGS

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Mackie is a professional log home builder as well as an instructor in the craft. This book covers financing, blueprints, site planning, timber selection, log storage, notches, hewing, joists and rafters, wiring, foundations, and much more. Mackie is the dean of log builders. This is a completely revised and expanded edition of the original 1971 book.

• RENOVATION, 3rd EDITION

  $39.95 $23.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  This is the 3rd edition of what is known as the standard book on renovation. There are new sections on tools, kitchens, baths, and energy conservation as well as over 600 new color photos. Popular Science called it the "most popular single volume on home renovation ever". Published at $39.95. Special $31.95.

• Carving 18th Century American Furniture Elements: 10 Step-By-Step Projects for F

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Subtitle: "10 Step-by-Step Projects for Furniture Makers". “Carving 18th Century American Furniture Elements” guides the reader through the process of carving authentic motifs found on the most treasured pieces of 18th century American furniture. Each of the 10 projects are presented in a step-by-step progression, from shaping the surface through layout, to rough carving and finally detailed carving. Each step is described in detail with emphasis on technique and methods used to accomplish the task. In addition, the text is supplemented with numerous annotated diagrams and photographs to assist the reader. The intent of the book is two fold. First is that the serious reader will be able to carve the elements from the text and photographs. These projects are not simplified versions that leave out the more complex details that make each element interesting and noteworthy. The entire process is covered and no steps are omitted. Second is to instill confidence in the reader that carving these elements is a learned skill and to provide guidance to that end. “Carving 18th Century American Furniture Elements” is intended for the serious student of American period furniture as well as those who are trying to improve their carving skills through practice and self study. It is written so that an experienced carver can learn new motifs and that a novice can gain confidence quickly. All of the projects are presented as part of a piece of furniture rather than stand-alone items that are for practice only. The projects selected for this book were chosen because of their importance and popularity in relation to museum quality 18th century American pieces.