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Debbie Travis' Weekend Projects: More Than 55 One-of-a-Kind Designs You Can Make in Under Two Days

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Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter

List Price: $29.95
Our Price: $3.00
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Average Customer Ratings:

What can you accomplish in a weekend, start to finish? Any one of the more than fifty-five exciting projects in Debbie Travis' Weekend Projects, by the star of the TV series The Painted House. Following the inspiring full-color photographs and simple instructions, even the beginning do-it-yourselfer can create beautiful pillows and frames, boxes and screens, and slipcovers -- each in just two days or less.

In transforming a home from plain to personalized, it's the little touches that make the difference. "The furniture and accessories you make or decorate yourself are the most successful," Debbie explains. "It's not just about the money we save . . . it's the experience of creating something by hand." Not only are these projects quick, inexpensive, and easy to make, but they also yield some of the most appealing and useful objects you could own. For example, a plain dresser or shelving unit can be completely restyled with a few hardware store add-ons and a bit of paint. With no-sew Velcro and self-adhesive hemming tape, anyone can hang patterned curtains or create a decorative pillow. A roll of screening and a staple gun turn a frame into a kitchen divider and tool rack in one. In sections that cover tables, screens, frames and mirrors, lighting, storage, fabrics and floorcloths, and garden furniture and accessories, Debbie visits every room of the house. Each project has been photographed to show not only the finished results, but also the step-by-step techniques needed. With so much variety in materials, processes, and end results, Debbie promises over a year of fun weekends, with a beautiful house as the bonus.

Lavishly illustrated with more than 350 full-color photographs, Debbie Travis' Weekend Projects is also the weekend crafter's manual, packed with valuable information, including tips on where to find pieces to make over, a complete listing and explanation of tools and materials needed, and instructions on how to prepare an array of different surfaces.

Whether it is a basic wood frame, a pressed-tin candlestick, or a velvet pillow, these treasures may take just a weekend to make, but they will bring a lifetime
of enjoyment.


PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS:

Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 745.5
EAN: 9780609602508
ISBN: 0609602500
Label: Clarkson Potter
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 192
Publication Date: 2000-10-24
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Release Date: 2000-10-24
Studio: Clarkson Potter


SIMILAR ITEMS:

• Debbie Travis' Painted House: More than 35 Quick and Easy Finishes for Walls, Floors, and Furniture
• Debbie Travis' Decorating Solutions: More Than 65 Paint and Plaster Finishes for Every Room in Your Home
• Debbie Travis' Facelift: Solutions to Revitalize Your Home
• Debbie Travis' Painted House Living & Dining Rooms: 60 Stylish Projects to Transform Your Home
• Debbie Travis' Painted House Bedrooms: More Than 40 Inspiring Projects for Your Personal Sanctuary


CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

Loved this Book -
I loved this book, and any other books that Debbie Travis has on the market. Her ideas are fantastic, and she will get your creativity going to start other projects.

Preparation Chapter best part of the book -
Debbie Travis' books are a mixed bag. Some of them I really like and some are scarce on steps and details. This book falls into the latter category. The best part of the book to me were the two chapters, "Preparing your Project for Decoration" and "The Professional Touch". These chapters cover repairs of pieces, sanding, stripping, glazes and how to tint glazes, plaster, varnishes, stains, etc. and the best way to apply them for a professional finish.

This book covers all kinds of projects, indoor, outdoor, furniture, curtains, floors, screens, slipcovers and more.

Like another reviewer I thought many of the projects were very plain, but the beautiful ones sometimes seemed to leave out steps. Some of the more interesting projects were the:

~ vinegar-grained table (pg 70),
~ crackle varnish clock table (pg 76),
~ classical screen (pg 111),
~ faux leather frame (pg 118)
~ some of the curtains

The most interesting project that immediately caught my eye was a lamp made from an antique silver coffeepot (pg 130). Even though it had a full page photograph, it was not covered at all.

Very disappointing book.

Just not enough -
I agree with other reviewers that this book has some great projects, some of which I plan to do, and it gave me some very good ideas. The problem for me is too few pictures and, in some cases, incomplete instructions.

For example, on page 70 is a gorgeous vinegar-grained and faux tortoiseshell table. But the instructions are incomplete, explaining and showing just two small sections of the work and parts of the process, and not giving instructions for the remainder of the table. The table has a very nice border that separates the center and the tortoiseshell edge, but the instructions don't even acknowledge its existence.

In several other cases, the pictures with the instructions seem to stop in mid process. It would be much better if the pictures continued through to the finished product.

This book feels as if Ms. Travis tried to jam as many projects into a set number of pages as possible, which gave me the feeling of being hurried while I was looking at the book.

I think she paid too little attention to giving full instructions and providing enough pictures. If expanded to include these things, this would be a five-star book.

Better books on the market than this one. -
This book looks good at first glance, but then it falls apart. The nice colored pictures cannot compensate for the poor hints and guidelines in creating the same effects. Also, many of the finished projects were downright ugly.

I expected this book to offer something really fresh but it didn't. I feel majorly ripped off.

Inspirational!! -
Debbie Travis really breaks down projects that look complicated into easy steps. In looking for info on one project, I immediately became inspired to do several of her projects. They are all easilly adapted to your home and style, and definetly make you want to go for it!!

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