The latest great book from Renee Newman: this is another wonderful book written to help acquire the right knowledge when making the important decision to purchase a special piece of jewelry! Bravo!

Profusely illustrated in full color, Renee Newman's Gem & Jewelry Pocket Guide: A Traveler's Guide To Buying Diamonds, Colored Gems, Pearls, Gold And Platinum Jewelry is the most concise, definitive, informative, authoritative, portable, and "user friendly" guide for travelers seeking to buy gems and jewelry while on their travels. This little pocket-sized compendium offers invaluable tips for the non-specialist general reader on quality evaluation, fake and lab-grown gems, custom-made jewelry, customs regulations, gem treatment, and geographic gem sources. Whether acquiring gems and jewelry for personal use, commercial resale, or as a collectible, first read through Renee Newman's Gem & Jewelry Pocket Guide.

I am moved by the words and images in this collection of Brush Dance cards. What a great idea to turn them into a book!

I love being able to open this book to any page and be inspired with such wonderful quotes to think about as I go throughout my day.

One of my favorite quotes is "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails."

I highly recommend this book. For the upcoming holidays this is the book I'm going to send to my friends and family.

This is a simple book. In the best meaning of simple.

Beautiful calligraphy and artwork. Thoughtful, poignant, sometimes humourous reflections on being.

My personal favorite: "Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it".

Don't you agree?

The book groups images and ideas (the greeting cards) into nine themes:

Let Yourself Be Vulnerable;

Trust Yourself;

Cultivate an Open, Flexible Mind;

Life is Short;

Embrace Difficulty;

Go Beyound Perceived Limitations;

Follow Your Heart;

Value Friendship and Intimacy;

Let Joy In.

These themes provide the structure to which the disparate images and ideas expressed in the individual greeting cards adhere.

Each of these thematic chapters (grouping of cards) is introduced with the author's, (Marc Lesser) own unique and personal reflections on the theme. Thus, in Let Joy In, Marc, in reflecting on the theme of joy in life, recounts his daughter's response to his request one day, "tell me about your day, something funny or unusual that happened, something that made you laugh." Her response: "She thought for a few minutes, and then she turned to me and said, Daddy, I laugh all day long!" The greeting cards that follow amplify on the theme, reflect it from different angles.

If you are a 'busy' person like me, you will probably read this book quickly, delight in some of the thoughts, smirk at others. But don't be surprised if you find yourself coming back to one image/idea several days or weeks later. What did that card say about doors closing. Oh yeah, "when one door closes, another opens, somewhere."

There are big ugly gray grasshoppers in it! It was very fun to read and it made a good bedtime book. It was just my kind of book. Not too easy, not too hard. You will love it!

This is a very good book. In this book I found very interesting ideas and stories.

This is a very good book. Page after page of good photos of good package designs, from cartons, to bottles, etc. The designs will probably start to look a little dated by 2005, they are showing slight mid-ninetiesness, but they are still very good and have some life left in them- worth buying for the serious designer who needs a little inspiration now and then.

I think is a very good book, i don't have it, but i've seen it. I'm sorry my english is bad.

Fantastic book with easy to read information & guide about all type of pearls. Also lovely photograps of fine pearl jewelry. A very fine book, definitively the best of its kind. Kudos to Mrs. Newman for writing with such knowledge, yet easy to grasp!

This book is a great source for information on pearls and a neccessity for those who are wishing to buy pearls. This will save you money as it teaches you how to determine value. It is a wonderful sequel to the 2nd edition. It discusses all types of pearls, pearl care, pearl quality, pearl value, and includes a quiz after most chapters. It discusses specific types of pearls like Misaki and Mikura as well as general types like black, mabe, akoya, cultured, and natural pearls. It goes into great depth about the new freshwater pearls like those from freshwaterpearls.com. This book should definetly be bought.

Renee Deloria has given the world an in-depth look into the early years of the now internationally known Brownsville revival in Pensacola, FL. She shares her experience, and the lasting fruit of this movement.

Renee Deloriea's book is an authentic account of one young lady's experience with God at the Brownsville Revival. She is totally believable; her book shares how her children's own experiences with God have brought about positive change within their schools--something America desperately needs. Her book thrilled my heart; and her reference to another book, GLORY, by Ruth Ward Heflin has brought untold blessings to me and fellow teacher friends who shared the book. Thank you Renee! God bless you!

This is another one of the American Girls Short Stories series about Josefina Montoya, a nine-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, as the sisters work on blankets to save the rancho (see Josefina Learns a Lesson) the excitement of the project turns into drudgery, as each of the girls finds different chores irksome, and they begin to quarrel. But, while out gathering roots and nuts and things to make dyes for the wool, Josefina suddenly realizes that there is something that can bring the sisters back together.

The final chapter of this book is on Mexican blankets of 1824, and gives directions for dyeing a shirt with supplies from around the house. As I have always been quick to point out, Jean-Paul Tibbles' illustrations are excellent in quality and add to the experience of reading this great book. My daughter and I both enjoyed this book, and we recommend it to you.

This is the fifth short story published about the American Girl, Josefina. The setting of this book is around the time period of "Josefina Learns a Lesson". Josefina's family has just experienced a terrible financial loss where a sudden flood killed many of the rancho's sheep. Tia Dolores and the girls have decided to recover the loss by weaving stored wool into wool blankets for trade to build up new a flock.

Josefina eagerly wants to please her Aunt with the new weaving business, but her sisters quickly turn on her for the hard work they now have to do "Thanks to Josefina". Teresita, Tia Dolores servant who teaches Josefina to weave, takes the discouraged Josefina on a walk to look for plants for dyes and gently helps her understand how many colors can contribute to each rug they weave. Soon, her sisters find something that they can genuinely thank Josefina for as they learn to work together more peacefully!

I enjoyed this short story because it integrated Josefina's skill and knowledge of plants, which was introduced in "Happy Birthday, Josefina". "Thanks to Josefina" identifies several regional plants for dyes, and includes a project where readers can make their own dye from an onion to tie-dye a t-shirt.

More than the contents of the book itself, this work is a testament to the human spirit. Mr. Jones was able to change his life in a number of ways, and brought his lessons out to share with others. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Jones, and he is truly a phenomenal man. I applaud him...and the book is great too! :)

This book was designed in a unique fashion, written from prison. I, Richard O.Jones, the author, was a convict in two California State Prisons from 1988 thru 1990. My conviction was 'major welfare fraud.' The life I led prior to being sent to prison had been one of a career criminal. At 41-years-old, I had been a criminal for over twenty-five years. LIVED WELL AND NEVER HAD A LEGITIMATE JOB! All my friends and associates were hustlers, thieves, robbers, raptists, and other 'Boys from the Hood'. This was my fifth felony conviction, but first prison sentence. Actually the sentence brought relief. I had grown tired and ashame of my life of crime. Especially in the light of my single parenthood. In prison, I decided change my life. I accepted Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior. I also asked the Lord to tell me how I could change my career after a quarter of a century. The Holy Spirit led me to The Holy Bible - scripture Eph. 4:28, which reads: 'Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." At this point, it became clear to me that I should write a book on crime prevention. Crime was the only work I had experience. I was in the perfect place! As the weeks & months passed, I solicited crime tips from my fellow convicts. They shared the secrets of their evils. None were much bumbling crooks that they got arrested everytime they violated the law. Ninty-five percent of their crimes were never solved. This book tells the readers how scams, con games, and rip-offs are planned and executed. Robbery, a crime that is often done at random by amature crooks. These crimes are unavoidable, however, rather or not the victims walks away with their life is often in the hands of the victim. You can actually control the situation, in some cases. This book improves your chances. Also tips are given how you can greatly reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim in the first place. The book informs the reader of over three dozen types scams, con games, and violent crimes, and how you can reduce your risk of them. Many readers have contacted me and told of stories of the real life benefits my book as provided. In some cases, the book have saved lives, and great financial loss.

I cannot believe that this book is out of print! What a travesty.

It's been years since I read "Touch Wood," but the memory of Roth-Hano's vivid descriptions is still clear in my mind.

The fact that the book is a true story, and one that takes place in an extremely dangerous time for the protagonist add to the books intensity. Even without these factors, though, the book would still be well worth reading for Roth-Hano's lovely detailed prose and dead-on depictions of family relationships. The bond between Renee and her sisters -- who she is with constantly during hiding -- is especially well-illustrated.

If you can get ahold of a copy of "Touch Wood," I strongly recommend that you do so.

Yes, this book has an un-orginal theme: Jewish people surviving during WW2. But, the fact that it is a true story, and the way it's told, makes for compelling reading.

This is not just another creative pop-up book -its a beautifully designed doll house that will mesmerize your kids! This amazing paper-doll mansion is full of charming features like a hanging chandelier, toilet lid that lifts, piano, tea set, rocking horse, and more.

Perfect for grandparents to have on hand when the kids come over for a visit and a babysitters best friend! This completely portable doll house stores easily on your bookshelf between "Cinderella" and "Little Women." At ( ) it's a steal! END

An oversized, 3 dimensional doll house comes to life when you unfold this book. Eight elegant rooms are decorated victorian style with hanging chandeliers and all! This pop-up book is well crafted and very durable. It's design keeps your curiosity as you open every drawer, cupboard and closet. The 3-D pieces allow you to imaginary play with all the beds, chairs, sinks and even the tub and toilet! A delight to my 4 year old and I are the perforated paper doll characters that are inside. We enjoyed hours of playing doll house together. When you are all through, you just close the book and watch all the rooms fold right back into place for safe storage. I highly recommend this for anyone young and old who likes doll houses.