Book Review: MAKE A STATEMENT, by Janet Crowther & Katie Covington 25 Handcrafted Jewelry & Accessory Projects

Make a Statement is a wonderful book for the new person looking to make jewelry. The first 40 pages explain materials, tools, and techniques.  There are 100 pages of stylish project details with plenty of photographs.  The cover project necklace enticed me to order the book, but there are several others that I will be making for myself because they are in fashion.  

The projects are necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  However, there is a sampling of a ring, brooch, hair comb, and a shoe ornament.  The authors use fabric, chain, beads, rope, embroidery floss, stones, vintage components, leather, polymer clay, and sewing trims.  There is an excellent listing of resources, but it would be better if the specific resource for materials of each project were identified.  Finding the materials is often the stumbling block for beginners.  Overall, this is an excellent first book with trendy new projects!

Book Review: THE ALLERGY-FIGHTING GARDEN, BY THOMAS LEO OGREN Stop Asthma and Allergies with Smart Landscaping

This is a landmark book for landscaping public spaces, the landscaping and nursery industry, and anyone concerned about asthma and allergies.  Pollen is produced by the male plants, bushes, and trees.  The nursery and landscapers apparently have not been knowledgeable or motivated to plant lower allergy, non-pollen producing female plantings. 

Thomas Ogren, trained in agricultural science, began his study of pollen producing plants to re-landscape his new home for his wife who suffered from asthma and allergies.  This book is a culmination of more than thirty years of research.

The Allergy-Fighting Garden book is primarily a reference for the professionals in the horticulture industries.  After a 38 page explanation, there is a dictionary style listing of plant materials, wonderfully detailed, some with color photos.  The author, Ogren, invented the first allergy ranking scale (now used by the USDA) and assigned a rank from 1 to 10 for each plant in the book.  This book could be used by a Master Gardener or a very determined homeowner.  My advice to homeowners is to go to the website first (safegardening.org) or mention the author’s name at your nursery and your desire to purchase low-pollen plants.  

Disclosure:  I received this book at no cost to review from Blogging for Books.com.