Stone House: A Guide to Self-Building With Slipforms

Book Description

You won't need to be an expert stonemason or even have much construction experience to build your own house with one of the world's most traditional building materials--stone. Stone House: A Guide to Self-Building with Slipforms contains all the information you'll need to successfully build a stone home for yourself, from clearing the building site to topping the stone walls in preparation for roof framing.

While providing a wealth of information on a range of relevant subjects, Tomm Stanley uses an instructional narrative to lead readers through the process of building with stone and slipforms. This is the first book dedicated to slipform stone masonry in many years. Topics include:* Traditional stonemasonry and slipforming,* Basic geology and where to source suitable stone,* Passive solar principles,* Concrete making and techniques for molding and casting concrete, and * Methods for restoring recycled wooden windows and doors. There's even a section on the usage of metric measurement written especially for Americans from the view of an American now living in a metric country.

Customer Reviews:

Presentation.......2007-08-06

The illustrations inside the book leaves much to be desired. The book is a "Self Guide" to construction; this makes it mandatory to have exceptional pictures, illustrations, and drawings! Sadly, to say notwithstanding, the book-cover the interior is disappointing.

intelligent and entertaining.......2007-05-07

Tomm Stanley has written an excellent book that is both instructional and entertaining. He has the experience and forethought to prove that he isn't some hippie with unproven thoughts/ideas, but he also writes in a very warm and personable way that keeps his book from being a dry, tasteless "how to" construction book. He is frank with his mistakes, offers proven and tested solutions openly, and explains things scientifically enough to satisfy this reviewer (I'm an engineer).

My only slight complaint is that many of the photos are terrible quality and you must go to the book's website to view the higher quality versions. This isn't too bad, but I worry that someday the website will move/discontinue and I'll be left with a book poorly illustrated.

It's easy to build it yourself with slipforms .......2004-08-10

It's easy to build it yourself with slipforms - especially if you also have in hand Tomm Stanley's Stone House, covering slipforming methods, sources for materials, stonelaying techniques, and more. Tomm Stanley and his partner know their stuff: he built his own home from slipforms and his construction photos can even be seen on-line in color - most included with this book, in black and white.

Average customer rating:

Book for watercolorists

Other Reid Stuff is Better!!!

Wow! Best Art Technique Book I've Found.

A high quality book ...

Not only beautiful, it's a useful book

Painting What You Want to See
Charles Reid
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully

Charles Reids Watercolor Secrets

Painting Flowers in Watercolor With Charles Reid

The Figure in Watercolor: Simple, Fast, and Focused (Simple Fast & Focused)

Watercolor: Simple, Fast and Focused (Practical Art Books)

ASIN: 0823038785

Customer Reviews:

Book for watercolorists.......2007-02-02

May be the author wished to speak about painting in general, but the pictures shown are mainly watercolors. So if you are interested in oils... Moreover Reid's oil paintings seem to me like watercolor ones, and his oils are not specially beautiful.

Another important fact about this book is Reid's painting philosophy: "I know I see a spot of (let's say) white color there, but I know the local color of this object is (let's say) blue, so I paint it blue". In my opinion he just paints the tones and values he wants, with no relationship to reality. This is the way the title of this book should be interpreted.

The paintings shown on the book are beautiful (I mean I like them), the explanations are clear (for me) and the examples are illustrative (I find them so). But I don't like the way he changes the light and atmosphere of scenes.

Other Reid Stuff is Better!!!.......2005-09-29

This is a good book, but other books by Reid are more informative.

Wow! Best Art Technique Book I've Found........2005-01-07

"Painting What You Want To See" covers a slew of topics of tremendous importance to improving your artwork that are slighted by most authors and most teachers. These topics include the understanding the propper proportion of light & dark values, the importance of distinct colors, how to get better looking colors (e.g., lights, darks, greens, skin tones), why some edges should be blurred and which ones, how to (and not to) arrange objects in a painting, how to tie objects together into a cohesive whole, the relative importance (or lack thereof) of propper perspective, techniques for better looking shadows, the importance of sketches, and many more topics. For each topic, the author includes one or more generally worded exercises that will help the reader practice the technique. These are not those awful step-by-step-reproduce-my-painting-exactly sort of exercises, either, but well thought out tasks that will help you see the importance of the technique in your own work. There is a very nice section at the end which demonstrates common problems and how to fix them. I only wish this section were longer.

Although the book focuses on watercolor and oil, most of the lessons are applicable to all mediums. Many of the demonstration pictures are sketches suitable to the lesson at hand, not final works, so don't expect every drawing to be "amazing". Many of the paintings focus on people, and several the topics covered are of particular value to figure painters. I would highly recommend this book to any artist.

A high quality book ..........2004-12-30

...much as you would expect from Charles Reid. For me, this book seems less focused than some of his earlier output -- such as his portrait & figure painting books and his portait video -- and less compelling, as was his floral book, although I suspect they might both appeal more to a female viewer/reader. It is also possible that there is a certain amount of repetition/overlap/familiarity about the book. That said, the color and quality of the images are admittedly wonderful and superior to the mainly mono-tone portrait book mentioned previously.

Not only beautiful, it's a useful book.......2002-07-06

There are 46 lessons and assignments in this book, critiques included. Reid covers not only painting but, more important, seeing.

Reid begins by reviewing the basics: Contour drawing, value scales, seeing shapes, adding values to drawings. Then he goes into detail in working with values, handling color, directing the eye, composing with color, and interpreting light. The last two sections of the book deal with critiques, solutions and learning from the masters. There's also a useful bibliography that's divided into books about painting and those on drawing. Then there's a list of artists whose work the student should study to gain insight into different techniques.

This book is a fresh look at working in watercolors and oils. I'd recommend it to photographers, too. These ideas and information could be easily translated to the film medium.

All that said, it's a gorgeous coffeetable book, too.

Average customer rating:
PAINTING WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE
Charles Reid
Manufacturer: Watson Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NEYM0W

Average customer rating:
Painting What You Want To See - 46 Lessons, Assignments, And Painting Critiques On Watercolor And Oil
Charles Reid
Manufacturer: Watson-guptill Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P8PQAQ

Book Description

Selected by the American Library Association's 'Choice' magazine as "best technical book", the first edition of this book soon established itself as the standard reference work on all aspects of photographic lenses and associated optical systems. This is unsurprising, as Sidney Ray provides a complete, comprehensive reference source for anyone wanting information on photographic lenses, from the student to the practitioner or specialist working with visual and digital media worldwide.

This third edition has been fully revised and expanded to include the rapid progress in the last decade in optical technology and advances in relevant electronic and digital forms of imaging. Every chapter has been revised and expanded using new figures and photographs as appropriate, as well as extended bibliographies. New chapters include details of filters, measurements from images and the optical systems of digital cameras. Details of electronic and digital imaging have been integrated throughout. More information is given on topics such as aspherics, diffractive optics, ED glasses, image stabilization, optical technology, video projection and new types of lenses.

A selection of the contents includes chapters on: optical theory, aberrations, auto focus, lens testing, depth of field, development of photographic lenses, general properties of lenses, wide-angle lenses, telephoto lenses, video lenses, viewfinder systems, camera movements, projection systems and 3-D systems.

Everything you need to know about still and moving image lenses in one handy volume
Be completely up-to-date with vital new information on optics for digital imagingBenefit from the expertise of this award-winning technical author

Customer Reviews:

Expensive, but worth it when you need it.......2007-05-20

If you have an amateur interest in photographic optics, there are excellent books for a lot less money. But if you really need the most in-depth information in a wide range of detailed topics and applications, this one is well worth the price. Though for $150 you'd think they'd throw in a hard cover, wouldn't you?

Applied Photographic Optics, Third Edition

Average customer rating:

Applied Photographic Optics, Third Edition
Sidney Ray
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQ3SXQ

Book Description

"Dear Tiny: My boyfriend always gets me bad gifts and I'm too nice to tell him he has bad taste." "Dear Tiny: My girlfriend gets so jealous of my female friends that I can't hang out with them without a drama." "Dear Tiny: How do I stop attracting the same losers into my life time after time?"The questions are simple enough, but the answers are downright hilarious. In panel after panel, Ken Cursoe has created an advice column/cartoon that attacks the insecurities and tames the uncertainties of everyday life. Whether it's addressing topics like dating or unrequited love or breaking up, Tiny Sepuku tackles them head on, finding hilariously absurd solutions for readers who write in.The name "Sepuku" is based on the Japanese word seppuku, which roughly translates to "sacrifice for the benefit of others." Relationships tend to be just that, says the author, thus the unusual name made sense for this type of comic. The advice column aspect allows people to interact directly with the strip. Says Cursoe, "If it helps someone take their problems a little less seriously by seeking advice from a cartoon, then I think I did my job." More important, Tiny Sepuku is completely entertaining. Cursoe's take on the world of work and relationships adds a refreshing perspective to the comics page.

Customer Reviews:

Sex and Death, Rockin' Like Dokken.......2005-11-21

The thing that's great about these comics is how every once in a while a really hard-hitting one will sneak right through the ultracute, superdeformed rendering style and knock you cold with an observation that leaves you going "Ooh, no he di'int!" There's some funny side-character development that happens when you've read a few of these, too (you start to wince when you realize the frog is about to open his mouth). Nice combo of fairly brutal (-ly honest) social observation tempered by a surprisingly kind-hearted overall sense of humor.

Incredibily accurate... sometimes!.......2003-06-11

I bought this book not knowing what to expect and it seems to be one of the best books that I own. It's a great conversational piece with friends and at the same time rings a truth to so many that almost no one can be offended by it. Of course, if you are a oversensitive person that cannot find the humor in the similarities I would not recommend it to you!

Wicked Funny.......2003-05-17

Hot damn, this is wicked funny stuff. If I wasn't too busy snorting in laughter, I'd probably be crying from how dead on some of these questions were. Can't wait for the next one!

UGH! Repetitive .. uninspired .. flat, tepid, one trick pony.......2003-05-11

The concept behind this comic strip might have some potential -- if it were tackled by a more consistently competent writer. Unfortunately, you get the feeling most of the strips are cranked out the night before they're due ... after a bout of writer's block...and it gets real stale, real quick. In a weekly or semi-weekly comic strip format, it's not so bad...but think of trying to slog through 144 pages of it. After a few pages your brain is numb, your eyes get droopy, and your mind wanders to...The art, too, is so one-note and uninspired that it leaves the bulk of the page white as fresh-fallen snow.

When a book engages neither the imagination nor the eye, I just can't offer a recommendation. There are other, better things to do with your time.

Tiny Sepeku Delivers BIG Laughs!!.......2003-03-27

Advice from a cartoon character?! YEE HAH, yeah, and some of the best durned advice I've ever heard. If you've ever had a crush, been in love, been out of love, or been birthed at one time or another, this book is for you. Tiny knows what's really going on; psychotic women, frantic men, love, lust, loss, and the ultimate fact that we're all alone in this uproarious universe. The sooner you grasp that, the sooner you can laugh at life, yourself, and this book. But don't read it while eating... laughing steak out your nose is a might painful.

Book Description

Living through the act of dying is indeed life's ultimate adventure although there is no timetable. I get up every morning and look forward to my days because I am busy, busy, busy. Smiling has become second nature. Although I am really too busy to die, so was Manya Starr, so was Al Hirschfeld, so was Irene Diamond, so was Bob Batscha. When it is my time I'll be in good company.

This timely book is must reading for anyone who wants to enjoy a life and here is evidence that there can be a good life, long past the age of dying. In fact, as Levitt got older and older and older, his life got better and better and better. President Kennedy created a new era of physical fitness for Americans coast-to-coast and Mortimer Levitt was one of the many who benefited from that new energizing lifestyle. Even though Mortimer was a high school flunk out (not drop out, but flunk out), he became another legendary rags-to-riches story. He was founder and sole owner of the Custom Shops Shirtmakers, eight-two stores coast-to-coast, no franchise, no partners, no bankers, and no debt.

Now comes the twist, and what a twist - Levitt did NOT want to be a businessman and told his first employee, George Zimmerman, that he (Levitt) would retire in five years and Zimmerman would run the company. If Zimmerman couldn't then the next guy would, and if he couldn't, the guy after that would. And that's exactly what happened except that Levitt walked out in four years. Glenn Bernbaum was Levitt's most successful (twenty years) COO. Bernbaum, with Levitt's permission, opened Mortimer's Restaurant at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 75th Street. Mortimer's Restaurant became one of society's melting pots. Bernbaum and his celebrity customers were in the columns almost daily.

Levitt was an avid skier, avid tennis player, and an avid sailor. He retired from the day-to-day management of his business on June 30, 1941, three years and ten months after the opening. This is Levitt's fifth book, all written without a collaborator, without a ghostwriter . Living past the age of dying is Levitt's forte and this book, God willing will open a different door. Levitt will be ninety-seven in February and already has sixty percent of a sixth book completed, a primer that will pave the way for college freshmen to enjoy a more successful life.

Levitt founded the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in 1972 in Westport, Connecticut and currently is paying for the construction of new Levitt Pavilions coast to coast, offering the magic of music under stars, entertainment for summer nights, and there is never an admission charge. Two Levitt Pavilions opened this past summer, Pasadena, California, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Six more cities are standing in the wings for summer 2004.

Average customer rating:
Ninety-Six and Too Busy to Die: Life Beyond the Age of Dying
Mortimer Levitt
Manufacturer: Aspatore Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1587623455

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Too Busy To Die
H. W. Roden
Manufacturer: William Morrow and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B0007E8LH8

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Too Busy to Die
H.W. Roden
Manufacturer: Dell Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M8DZTS

Average customer rating:
Too Busy to Die
H. W. Roden
Manufacturer: World Publishing Company/Tower Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WOB102

Average customer rating:
Too Busy to Die
H. W. Roden
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLJSBC

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Too Busy to Die
H.W. Roden
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KYFB2I

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Too Busy to Die

Manufacturer: Detective Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000DEMOZC

Average customer rating:
Too Busy to Die
Frances Lief Neer
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Notes of a Nude Model: & Other Pieces

ASIN: 1412025265
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Product Description

Frances Neer is the author of a trilogy on changing eyesight, Dancing in the Dark, Perceiving the Elephant and Breaking Barriers. At last, Ms. Neer unveils the story of her life.

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Too Busy to Die

Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000E4SWWU

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