Product Description

Product Description
An appealing illustrated portrayal of the art and world of the Shakers--their furniture and artifacts, and the spirit and precepts embodied in them. ... Read more

Product Description
Few people realize that the Shakers or the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing is the longest lasting communal group in Ohio as well as the nation. Mother Ann Lee brought a small group of followers from Manchester, England, in 1774. The group is still represented by a small society at Sabbathday Lake, Maine. Because the Eastern communities survived into the twentieth century, they are better know than the societies established in the Midwest and Upper South, known in the early nineteenth century as the West..

The book, Maps of the Shaker West, started as a 12-page compilation of maps of Shaker sites in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. It was a cut-and-paste job financed by the Western Shaker Study Group for the participants of the Berkshire Shaker Seminar coming "west" in the summer of 1993. The seminar, sponsored by the Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, visits a different Shaker site each summer and many of the participants live in the East.

The booklet was well received. A few extras sold at the Pleasant Hill (Kentucky) Shaker gift shop. It was enough encouragement for us consider doing a more professional job.

As the proprietor of the Shaker Map Company, we thought of Richard Spence of Cincinnati to create directional maps. As we thought about the site maps, we found a computer generated map of South Union near Bowling Green, Kentucky, which Dale Covington of Marietta, Georgia, had created. We asked him if he would be willing to help with a few site maps. Dale was eager to assist, bringing not only his mapmaking skills, but his critical eye for editing text and checking every quotation for accuracy.

We started out by approaching the subject chronologically. Three missionaries from the lead Eastern community at New Lebanon, New York, started west on New Years Day, 1805. They had heard reports of the Great Kentucky Revival and visited many of the churches effected by this religious outpouring. The Kentucky Revival sites which the Shakers visited provide the setting for the coming of the Shakers.

Union Village in Lebanon, Ohio, was the first village established by these missionaries in 1805 and became the lead community for the West. Eagle Creek and Straight Creek Shakers were gathered, too, the result of the same early missionary effort, but the scattered community lasted just six years. Watervliet near Dayton formed in 1806, followed quickly by the two societies in Kentucky: Pleasant Hill (1806) and South Union (1807), as well as a short-lived community in Indiana: Busro or West Union (1809).

It was missionary work in the 1820s by the Shakers at Union Village which produced an affiliation with a group in the Darby Plains area near Marysville and later Urbana. Union Village also worked with the White Water Shakers during the same period and eventually combined these two groups. North Union, now Shaker Heights, was also established in the 1820s.

The final story in the book unfolded as we studied properties in four locations purchased or improved by various Shaker communities in the 1850s. Activities related to the Underground Railroad seemed to account for the Shakers' acquisition of these properties.

This framework of Shaker outreach in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan provided the scope of the book ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A must for anyone interested in the Shakers
This book was a real find for me. Having visited 7 of the eastern Shaker villages, I wanted to know more about the remaining Shaker sites in the "West". There are more than 20 such sites set out in this excellent book. Each has a written explanation and sufficient maps to find and explore all of them. Both the maps and the text are accurate, having been carefully prepared and researched by the 3 authors.

The book inspired me to visit Ohio and Kentucky to see the sites. My wife and I were taken around Union Village by Mary Lou Warner, the historian for the Otterbein-Lebanon Community. Martha Boice showed us Whitewater village with her friend Julie Schlesselman. We went to Watervliet, Ohio, then down into Kentucky to the Cane Ridge Meeting House where a camp meeting took place in 1801 as part of the Kentucky Revival. We stayed at Pleasant Hill and then went to South Union. All in all a wonderful experience which would not have happened without this book. I hope to return to the area soon to see the sites I didn't have time to visit.

Most of the interest in the Shakers centres on the well preserved eastern villages such as Hancock, Canterbury and the still active village of Sabbathday Lake. However, this misses the western villages which have a charm and interest of their own. There is much to see in Ohio and Kentucky, and for anyone interested in the Shaker experience as a whole visiting the western sites will expand your knowledge and understanding of why the Shakers have lasted for so long.This book will appeal to anyone who is seriously interested in the Shakers - add it to your bookshelf now.

The best introduction to the Shaker history of "the West."
I have just purchased a copy of Maps of the Shaker West: A Journey of Discovery and have been reading it over the past few days. It is nothing short of brilliant. Martha Boice, Dale Covington and Richard Spence should all be very proud. First of all, it is the best introduction to the Shaker history of "the West" (or what Mother Ann called "the Southwest") that I have seen. Secondly, the three of them have provided an invaluable service to the field by uncovering and/or compiling research on the histories of "lost out-families" such as Eagle and Straight Creeks and Shaker-owned properties such as Berrien Springs, Michigan. The prose is clear, accessible, and veritably sparkles. The illustrations are excellent and the maps are a first-rate aid to anyone who wants to pinpoint the people and places that are written about. The book is a pleasure to scholar and layman alike.

New Light on the History of the Shakers in the Midwest
There is at least 150 years of direct experience of the Shakers and an additional 50 years of Shaker influence to be discovered, studied and savored in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan.Maps of the Shaker Westlifts the veil of nostalgia which often surrounds the Shaker experience andwe can see the pioneer Shakers of the west as they were with all theirstrengths and weaknesses;their struggles, failures and successes.

Inchapter 8 of the book the extent and the depth of the Cane Ridge Revival inKentucky comes alive.For those of us with roots in southern Ohio, thischaptercan touch home directly. The spiritual choices of Barton Stone,John Dunlevy and Richard McNemar at the turn of the 19th century are stillinfluencing us today as we quickly approach the 21st century.TheRestoration Movement (The Christian Church) is still strong and active insouthern Ohio and the Society of Shakers continues and their many friendsare influenced by their faith and story.

Another intriguing line ofresearch is suggested in the book.Some of the land acquisitions made bythe Shakers may have been due to their participation in the UndergroundRailroad.In this endeavor, old religious adversaries joined in commoncause:Quakers, Presbyterians, the Christian Church and the Shakers. Morestudy needs to be directed to this line of research.

The maps of DaleCovington and the drawings of Richard Spence help bring alive the oldShaker sites, especially those which have been altered beyond recognition. We can feel again the presence of Union Village (Lebanon, Ohio) the seat ofthe Shaker bishopric of the west, as it nurtured many other villages: Watervliet(Dayton, Ohio), White Water (New Haven, Ohio), North Union(Cleveland, Ohio), Busro (Oaktown, Indiana), Pleasant Hill (Harrodsburg,Kentucky) and South Union, Kentucky.Other lesser known Shaker sites arealso discussed in the book.

Reading Maps of the Shaker West helps aperson to experience the furor of the New Light Revival, the excitement ofcommitting to a radical and tranforming faith, the personal and thefinancial sacrifices made to become a Shaker, and the excitement ofparticipating in a socially important communal project that would soinfluence the world.Maps of the Shaker West is a welcomed and insightfulresource in the ongoing study of the Shakers. ... Read more

Product Description
However depressing the Depression Era may have been, the manufacturers of glassware did their best to add color to peoples lives. The kitchens of America were awash in blue, green, pink, and golden glasswares, not to mention the opaque hues of Jadite, Delphite, and milk glass. Prominent among them were the milk glass spice shakers shown in this book. They are avidly collected today with lithographed (no decals) apples, birds, butterflies, cherries, cattails, dogs, Dutch motifs, flowers, fruit baskets, hats, figures, leaves, Mexican motifs, musketeers, Niagra Falls, sailboats, and more. For Depression glass collectors and shaker collectors alike, this is a valuable addition to the available literature. Hundreds of shakers are presented in 119 beautiful photographs. Prices are provided for each shaker, with check-off boxes to record additions to your collection. This book will delight and inform. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great pictures, realistic prices -- a well planned guide.
For the collector of kitchen shakers, especially shakers manufactured by Tipp City, Barbara has successfully captured a diversified collection of patterns and colors which have been wonderfully photographed so that you can see each shaker clearly and precisely.Yes Gene Florence has wonderful depression glass books but Barbara has the best pictures available at a reasonable price, especially to the beginner.A lot of designs have never even been found in a kitchen depression glassware book previously.The GUIDE is arranged to be used as a check off for collectors.Prices are much more realistic than in the latest book by Gene Florence.Nothing against Gene Florence, I have all of his books, but many of the pages are exact repeats of previous editions.Let's give Barbara a chance and a hand for taking on the job of presenting a colorful and informative book on kitchen shakers with realistic prices.I hope she will be motivated enough to come out with a second edition when additional shakers are found for inclusion.I have bought and sold hard-to-find kitchen shakers for over twenty years and I certainly wish this book had happened on the scene a long time ago when prices were $5.00 a shaker.Kitchen depression shakers are very much in demand and a lot of the new collectors need as much information and reference material as possible.Thank you Barbara for your time and effort in this book.This is one dealer that really appreciates it.

GREAT REFERENCE BOOK!
Even though this book is limited to a particular group of Depression Era kitchen shakers (milk glass with lithographs and I am biased to these!!), it is an EXCELLENT reference guide for those of you who collect them! And if you do collect them, the check-off boxes are a handy item. GREAT SIZE for taking to those flea markets and auctions to see what you need to have!The prices listed are a good start to bargain with!BEAUTIFUL color photos of the shakers. It sits on my coffee table! Thanks, Barbara!

Go buy it!
GO BUY IT NOW!This book is an excellent and virtually complete book of shakers.The pictures are beautiful and the prices are great, too!I would highly recommend this book to shaker collectors as it is much better than any book Gene Florence has ever put out!All I can say is: Go buy it now!

Best book ever!
I recently purchased this marvelous comprehensive book and I cannot believe the superior quality!The pictures are unbelievably clear and I love the checkoff boxes to keep my collection organized.The prices are much more accurate than I have ever seen!Say good-bye to Florence and hello to Mauzy!

As Close To Useless As Could Be
Awful.Just awful.I know the book is inexpensive, but I literally would not have paid more than 25 cents for it if I had seen it before purchase.Very little information about few types of shakers.Spend a little more for the excellent Gene Florence book. ... Read more

Product Description
SISTER ROSE IS ON A MISSION... TO CATCH A KILLER

The peaceful Shakers, pledged to hard work, worship and nonviolence could scarcely believe there was a dead body in their herb house. The handsome young drifter known as a "Winter Shaker" had professed to be a Believer to find refuge from the cold and the Depression. Now he'd gotten himself murdered.

Shaker Sister Rose Callahan, with her practical knowledge and worldly experience is assigned to find answers the sheriff refuses to consider-even if it mean discovering one of their own is the killer. But to protect a declining Shaker population, Rose must keep the sinful details hidden from the outside world. What the good Sister uncovers among the brethren are more than a tad of Earthly temptations, some un-Godly rivalry, and enough shameful secrets to raise havoc among the faithful...and to tempt some misguided soul to commit the most diabolical sin of all.

Shaker Sister Rose Callahan, with her practical knowledge and worldly experience is assigned to find answers the sheriff refuses to consider-even if it mean discovering one of their own is the killer. But to protect a declining Shaker population, Rose must keep the sinful details hidden from the outside world. What the good Sister uncovers among the brethren are more than a tad of Earthly temptations, some un-Godly rivalry, and enough shameful secrets to raise havoc among the faithful...and to tempt some misguided soul to commit the most diabolical sin of all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

1930s U.S.A.
A dead body is found in the herb drying house of the small and rapidly diminishing Kentucky Society of Believers (Shakers) community. Although only in her thirties, Trustee Rose Callahan is the most competent to uncover the perpetrator of this crime which cuts deep into the group's deep dedication to peace, and gives ammunition to locals who believe the murder to be an outcome of a weird Shaker ritual. It does not help that autocratic Elder Wilhelm Lundel has been encouraging some members to take up long out of date Shaker practices involving trance dancing and speaking in tongues. The community's fears escalate when their barn and old water house are burned, and another member is murdered. Is the villain one of theirs, or a vengeful neighbor?

Deborah Woodworth's degree in the Sociology of Religion serves her well in this story. Although she has created a fictional Kentucky community, her recreation of the practices of Shaker beliefs ring true. Of note is the fact that the Believers consider women equal to men because they see God as possessing both male and female attributes. Yet, although they work and live side by side, they are not allowed to meet alone, nor touch, and chastity is considered the highest form of worship.

Depression era realities also are highlighted in the story. Not only did Believers dress, create their families, and worship differently, they often had better crops and made more food than their neighbors. Generous to all who came, the group was a target for many hungry, homeless folk who arrived at their doorstep professing their interest in becoming a Believer. This occurred chiefly in the Winter; in Spring many moved on.

A different kind of mystery
Having visited a Shaker village and purchasing my copy there, I found that I could visualize the setting so easily.Ms. Woodworth does an excellant job of presenting the Shaker community very accurately. ( from what I learned ) I was very surprised at the development of the plot.
I am looking forward to adding the rest of the Shaker mysteries to my collection

Not an Earthshaking Read
While Sister Rose Callahan is an interesting and unexpected detective, this book only barely makes it into my "recommend" column. The material on latterday Shaker communities is fascinating and seems to be presented honestly. The members of the Shaker community are shown to have faults and doubts regarding their faith and the larger community is shown to haveprejudices toward the Shakers. The attractions and difficulties of living among Shakers are nicely presented. However, the mystery is barely passable. Wordworth does not play fair with readers who like to predict the solution to the mystery. She presents almost no definitive clues and introduces vital information late in the story. Knowing this book is the first in a series also raises questions: Will there be frequent murders among the peaceful Shakers? How will Sister Rose manage to get involved in enough mayhem, while remaining an observant Shaker, to justify a series? I'll read the next one in hopes it is a better mystery, butI won't anticipate continuing the series if it is not.

Great mystery and fascinating glimpse into Shaker community
I loved this book.Before reading it, about all I knew about the Shakers was that they were originally a fringe group of Quakers who shook (rather than quaked) in the presence of the Lord, and who believed in chastity for all members -- and that they made beautiful furniture and were outstanding cooks.But this book takes you right into a Shaker community, and makes the people seem very real.It therefore provided a fascinating glimpse into their way of life.But that was all serendipitious -- it is an excellent mystery in its own right, and thoroughly enjoyable.I can't wait to read the rest of this series.

A pleasant new series!
This is a fascinating novel about a part of American history that I don't know very well. Shaker society was never really covered in class, and so I read this with fascination. Besides the well done parts about Shaker society, the mystery itself is also fun to read about. Sister Callahan seems to be the only sane person sometimes there as the other Shakers are portrayed as religious fanatics to the point of being violently fanatical. I'm hoping that the people we meet in the next book will be a tad calmer. Besides that one problem I was still enchanted by this book and look forward to the next one. ... Read more

Product Description
Founded in 1805, Union Village began as a religious and communal experiment. Eventually it became one of America’s largest and most productive Shaker communities, its members achieving many firsts in education, equality, music, horticulture, and animal husbandry. Their unique faith influenced every aspect of their lives, from making furniture to raising children. They welcomed the leading figures of the period, including Native American chiefs, politicians, and abolitionists, while they continued to open other Shaker settlements in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Georgia. These vintage images—including many never published before—trace the Shakers’ progress as they worked toward creating an earthly paradise. Although Union Village dissolved in 1912, some Shakers remained there for almost another decade. Today Union Village’s heritage is still shared with the public at OtterbeinLebanon Retirement Community and in neighboring Lebanon. ... Read more

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Product Description
This beautifully documented, authoritative overview of this Shaker form and function showcases the 200-year-old sect's eloquent minimalist style, which blends seamlessly into today's modern design aesthetic.Illustrated with historical and contemporary photos in black-and-white and color, it explores furniture, architecture, interior spaces, arts, crafts, and textiles.Sharon Koomler is curator of collections at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. ... Read more

Product Description

The Shaker faith is estimated to have had a total of fewer than 20,000 members across its 250-year history, yet more than 100,000 people visit the various Shaker villages and museums scattered across the eastern United States every year. We are still fascinated with the world of the Shakers, and authentic examples of Shaker architecture, furniture, and crafts are prized wherever they remain. In The Shaker Village, author and photographer Raymond Bial brings readers the history of the Shaker religion and an examination of the Shaker way of life, which was based on cooperation and self-sufficiency. Each Shaker village was built with the goal of creating a heaven on earth for its inhabitants. The Shaker people were among the first in America to apply science and new learning directly to traditional farming and homekeeping. They invented or improved significantly upon designs of many farm and household items, including some still used today: the flat broom, the slotted spoon, the circular saw, and the idea of selling gardening seeds in packets. Although each Shaker community was self-supporting, the Shakers' success at applying their core values -- simplicity, utility, and tranquility -- carried Shaker villages to a point of abundance: they were able to export their beautiful furniture, delicious foods, and superior wares to the outside world, where they have been appreciated ever since. The Shaker Village is generously illustrated with Bial's evocative photographs of buildings and artifacts from the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, one of the largest and best-preserved Shaker sites. The Shaker movement reached its peak in the mid-nineteenth century. Membership began to drop with the onset of the Civil War, and as the new promise of industrialization began to take hold in America, Shaker numbers steadily dwindled. Although the Shaker religion has all but departed, The Shaker Village captures a revelatory glimpse of a legacy that still resounds with modern Americans.

Product Description
This is the most comprehensive guide to salt and pepper shaker series ever published. Never before have so many shaker series been pictured in one book. Shown in full color are more than 850 sets, making up more than 125 series. Included are well-known names such as Rosemeade, Ceramic Arts, Lefton, Enesco, and more. This will be an indispensable reference book for both beginning and longtime collectors who have always wondered which sets "belong" together. Measurements, manufacturers, countries, and current values are provided. If you have never had an interest in salt and pepper shakers before, this book will open your eyes to a wonderful collectible! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Collecting S&Ps
I have only a fraction of the author's 15,000 sets of S&Ps, but think I have a nice collection of Occupied Japan, Japan, USA, & German sets.The book had a lot of S&Ps made in China, Korea, & Taiwan, which I do not personally collect.The book was informative, the photography very nice, but the book is not my favorite for my collecting purposes. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1976 as Anne the Word, this is a popular biography of colorful and controversial Shaker founder Ann Lee. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear, well-detailed biography
Whilst it is fair to say that this book gives very little surprising information for those who have spent a good deal of time reading about Shakerism, it does give a very useful account of the life of the most important figure in the history of that religion.
"Mother Ann Lee: Morning Star Of The Shakers" gives a well-balanced and clear detail an account of the life of Ann Lee from the time of her birth in Manchester to her coming to new England to start the first Shaker colonies. It then goes on to describe the way in which she set up these Shaker colonies and explains the qualities that allowed her to set up what was (in some ways at least) a very demanding way of life.

What is important about this book is that it is very well-balanced and in no way can it be said that Campion was anything other than very fair in the way in which she looked at the pre-Shaker life of Ann Lee: indeed, what emphasis there is in the text tends to focus on Ann's early days as a married woman. As far as the parts dealing with Ann's life as Shaker leader, there is nothing remotely new or in any way shocking, but Campion redeems herself by the balance and fairness with which she writes about an often misunderstood subject. In addition, her writing is remarkable, compared with most books dealing with Shakers or shakerism, for the ease with which someone with no knowledge of this still-fascinating sect can read it.

Though it merely restates well-known aspects of Shaker history, the balance and reader-friendly character of this book makes it ideal as an introduction to Shakerism for the curious. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is a field of salt and pepper shaker collecting all its own--advertising. A fascinating and diverse group of companies kept their logo within arm's reach at kitchen and dinner tables nationwide by customizing salt and pepper sets. In their sixth book, Larry Carey and Sylvia Tompkins have compiled a lively treasury of salt and pepper giveaways and gimmicks. This book features over 1,000 advertising sets in color photography. They are divided by subject, with chapters covering hotels and casinos, restaurants, entertainment, household products, food, beverages, foreign advertising, and many others. A fantastic chapter on transportation covers a wide selection of airline and gas station shakers. Full pricing information has been included for each set, with shakers ranging from the very common to the very rare. This book is an important resource for salt and pepper shaker collectors, and will appeal to collectors of all types of company advertising. ... Read more

Product Description
Mass Market Classics is a supremely cool and consumer-driven showcase of everyday interior design of the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s.

From toasted sandwich makers and Tupperware containers to mass-produced polypropylene or tubular steel chairs, from porch swings to cocktail shakers, Mass Market Classics delves into the various living areas of the suburban home (and the catalogues from where the artefacts were ordered) to find the best of popular design.

The book combines hip graphic treatments with a level of ironic kitschness that reflects the products featured. Internationally acclaimed pop-cultural design aficionado Wayne Hemingway adds his uniquely witty commentary, as a collector and champion of mass-produced interior design. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great choice of items, but very poor quality images
This is conceptually an excellent book, celebrating the home design elements of the second half of the 20th century. Woven plastic "fabric" lawnchairs. Catalog hi-fi holding tables. Padded wet bars. The author clearly values some of these items, and includes others (lava lamps for example) that are disliked but important for the era.

The whole thing is seriously undermined though by the VERY poor quality illustrations, mostly taken from catalogs which appear to be reproduced using a defective polaroid camera with a lens that had been scratched by a rabid porcupine. Horrid illustrations. Most of these items can still be found in homes and thrift stores, they could have been photographed. There are photographs from the time as well. Anything! ... Read more

Product Description
Rose Callahan, newly appointed eldress of the community of Believers at the Kentucky Shaker viliage of North Homage, confesses to a nagging resentment toward Andrew, sent by the lead ministry in Mount Lebanon to act as trustee. She knows little about the man, except that he's taken charge of the Medicinal Herb Garden, over which Rose previously had control, and he's been expanding the tiny industry and experimenting with new medicinal herbs.

Now two little girls have suddenly become deathly ill, and Rose's attention turns to the herb garden. Suspecting that the girls may have taken a notion to nibble on pretty but poisonous plants, she fears their hallowed land may have accidentally been turned into a killing ground. But as Rose investigates, mysterious death invades the gentle oasis of their spiritual world, and some chilling secrets come to light...secrets that bring Rose closer to a truth that even a nonviolent Believer might kill to keep. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Charming Historical Mystery
Most people probably don't know what a Shaker is. I certainly didn't when I bought "Sins of a Shaker Summer" at a book sale several months ago. I was just looking for a new mystery to read, and I really didn't pay too much attention to the description on the back cover. It was on sale; what more can I say? :)

For those who don't know, a Shaker is a member of a sect, like the Quakers, that began in the 1700s. The name "Shaker" referred to their spirit-inspired trembling, which you'll witness in the book. Today, their communities are almost nonexistent, but some Shaker villages have been restored for public view, particularly in the Northeast.

"Sins of a Shaker Summer" takes place in North Homage, Kentucky, during the 1930s when the Believer population was still existing. Sister Rose Callahan is the eldress of the village and the leading sleuth in this series. She's helped by a young friend of hers, Gennie Malone, who had once been part of the community but now lives "out in the world".

The mystery begins when two young girls are found ill after they ingested several poisonous plants on accident. Rose immediately suspects the four new Believers who have transferred from another Shaker village in New York. All of them have some knowledge of herbal medicine, but one individual remains a strong suspect: Patience McCormick. However, when Rose finds Patience dead with a wound to the back of her head, she realizes she was mistaken and that the killer will do anything to keep his/her secrets hidden.

"Sins of a Shaker Summer" is a charming historical mystery. There's nothing offensive in this book, so it's appropriate for all ages. If you've already read this third installment in the Sister Rose Callahan series, I would encourage you to read the other four books: Death of a Winter Shaker (#1), A Deadly Shaker Spring (#2), A Simple Shaker Murder (#4), and Killing Gifts (#5).

It's not necessary to know anything about Shakers before you approach this book. Their lifestyle is gradually explained throughout the book without it reading like a history textbook. Although the lifestyle didn't appeal to me, some readers will probably love their simple way of life.

While I was reading "Sins of a Shaker Summer", I kept thinking about the movie Witness starring Harrison Ford. It's the only film I'm aware of that involves another similar group: the Amish. I would recommend this movie if you like the Shaker / Amish theme, but only if you don't mind the extra sex and violence, which "Sins of a Shaker Summer" has none of.

A shakin' good read.
An intricate and fascinating mystery, Sins of a Shaker Summer provides an intimate glimpse into a way of life that is all but gone.Woodworth's Shaker mysteries are all top-notch.Anyone who likes a good mystery willenjoy this trip into the strange and compelling world of the Shakers. Highly recommended.

Historical mystery worth reading

In the Shaker village of North Homage, Kentucky seven-year-old Betsy and eight-year-old Nora becomes deathly ill from eating and/or drinking "pretend tea" and "magical flowers".When the two unconscious youngstersare found, the entire Shaker community becomes shaken by their tortorousstruggle to survive. Eldress Rose Callahan believes the two little girlsate poisonous herbs found in the community's Medicinal Herb Shop that isexperimenting on various formulas.

Rose begins her investigation byinterviewing the sisters and brethren who work at the shop.Brother AndrewClark heads the activity and shows proper deference to his equal.However,the other shop employees act as if they still feel the taint of theoutsiders.Rose turns to a former protégé now living on the outside, whoknows herbs, to help her discover the truth.However, even in the peacefulworld of the nonviolent Believers, lives an individual who will killanyone, including Rose, who

gets too close to their secret.

TheSister Rose Callahan series is always a delight as the novels providereaders with a wonderful mystery and fabulous insight into the bygone worldof the Shakers.The current tale, SINS OF A SHAKER brings both elementstogether in a taut story line. The who-done-it is entertaining, but it isthe beliefs and customs of the Shakers inside a fabulous mystery tale thatmakes Deborah Woodworth's novel worth reading.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
An authoritative and classic three-volume collection under one cover for the first time.

Together in one comprehensive book for the first time, these three volumes of Shop Drawings of Shaker Furniture & Woodenware capture the simplicity, precision, and utility of shaker craftsmanship. In print for more than 20 years, these legendary and authoritative volumes have served as guides for cabinetmakers and antique collectors worldwide. Includes shop drawings for more than 100 authentic pieces. 200 black & white illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Sounds Funny
A book on Shaker furniture sounds funny? Who would want Shaker furniture. Acually this book is very detailed on the construction of shaker furniture and woodenware.If you like to build Shaker style wooden furniture this is the book for you.

Just line drawings...
This is a nice book!But it should be noted that all it contains is hand drawings.

Builder restorers review
This is a bare bones manual with simple text and line drawings but limited construction detail. It's definitely worthwhile for bulders of shaker reproduction furniture, Good line drawings of authentic specimens are hard to find.

Invaluable, detailed, comprehensive, and strongly recommended
The late Ejner Handberg (1902-1985) was born in Denmark, emigrated to America, and became a gifted cabinetmaker working in Stockbridge, Massachusetts for a good many years where he is perhaps best known to the general public as the man who helped design and build Norman Rockwell's studio. Handberg was a master of the Shaker furniture and woodworking style. Now his three previously published volumes on the subject have been combined together into a single volume and published by The Countryman Press as "Shop Drawings Of Shaker Furniture & Woodenware" providing cabinetmakers and antiques collectors with an authoritative reference comprised of accurate scale drawings of Shaker items ranging from Beds, sewing tables, blanket chest, school desk, and candlestands, to oval boxes, trestle tables, wall cupboards, revolving stools, and so much more. "Shop Drawings Of Shaker Furniture & Woodenware" is an invaluable, detailed, comprehensive, and strongly recommended addition to personal and professional woodworker reference collections, as well as the Shaker Woodworking Studies reference collections of antique dealers, collectors, libraries, and museums.

Lacking Detail
I found the contents lacking in detail.The book does contain a lot of different items, but only the most basic details on each.I think some background information on each and maybe an actual photo of each item would help. ... Read more

Product Description
Complete, step-by-step directions--accompanied by photographs and line drawings--highlight a collection of ten, Shaker-inspired designs for woodworkers of various skill levels.TV tie-in. 60,000 first printing. BOMC. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Worth the money.
Like all things from Norm - well described as to how to make the piece. I just don't have all the tools he has - someday though.

Great book.
I'm not much for writing book reviews but had to for this one.I have alot of wood working books and this may be my favorite one.BUY IT you'll like it.

Shaker Furniture Making "Barney-Style"
This book is fantastic.Detailed pictures, lists of required tools and woods, and step-by-step instructions help you create great-looking Shaker furniture.I used this book to create a Shaker blanket chest, which was my second "large" woodworking project.The quality of results surpassed my expectations.This book is a must for the beginning woodworker who wants to produce quality items while at the same time learning or re-learning basic techniques.

Just like having Norm there with you!
Perhaps I'm biased, I think Norm is to woodworkingwhat Carl Sagan was to science. The projects are described in detail with Norm's hand on your shoulder. Complete and well detailed with out wasting time. I recommendthis book and the rest of Norm's books highly.

very good;excellent instruction; furniture clean
I bought one of Norm Abram's book on outdoor furniture.I built the adirondack chairs, and then the garden bench.I learned alot, they turned out very well, and I subsequently bought all his other manuals.I wish he'd do some more.His plans and choices of projects are the best among the current title offered. ... Read more

Product Description
The Shaker Communities of Kentucky: Pleasant Hill and South Union presents the lives, struggles, and achievements of a remarkable people. The chronicle spans Shaker beginnings in England and relocation to America, the Great Awakening in America followed by the Kentucky Revival, Shaker beginnings in Kentucky, and the establishment of the South Union and Pleasant Hill Shaker villages. The Shaker central ministry sent missionaries to Kentucky from New York in 1805 after hearing about the Kentucky Revival, which culminated with the Cane Ridge Revival of 1801. Their efforts resulted in the establishment of villages in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. Pleasant Hill and South Union were among the most successful and enduring of all the Shaker villages. This volume provides a striking visual portrayal of Shaker life by means of rare vintage images, including beliefs and worship, relationships with other believers and the world, and their highly regarded workmanship. Gradual decline resulted in the closing of both villages, but restorations have turned both sites into popular destinations. ... Read more

Product Description
Guide for antique buyers and dealers to spot the real thing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best Example
of Shaker work, philosophy and history. A good book to have in your library as a Seller or Collecter. I do wish there were more examples of their work shown. ... Read more

Product Description
The history of Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis is told through the stories of those who are buried there. The book is organized into sections, such as artists, fur traders, and Civil War generals, which feature biographies of individuals. Besides being a history of a significant place, this book functions as a guidebook to St. Louis and its notable residents. Because so many of St. Louis s leading citizens (such as William Clark, James Buchanan Eads, Susan Blow, and Adolphus Busch) are buried in Bellefontaine, the book is a tale of the city. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Geat coffee table book !
I found this book delightful and full of short stories that will entertain just about anyone.The research was very well done, and some of the stories may seem a bit short for some, and too long for others. Thank you Carol Ferring Shepley for your literary contribution to St. Louis history.

A Way to learn St Louis and Missouri History
Many students know very little of the citizens of St Louis that came before us.This book is an entertaining way to learn a little about the history of the people behind the names of local streets, neighborhoods, and buildings.It is filled with 2-3 page anecdotes on various people in St Louis and Missouri history, which makes it easily digestible.

Like others have written, it is not heavy on Bellefontaine history and photos.However, I choose to read this because of the history and funny stories of our city/state and view Bellefontaine as a "common denominator".

Mildly disappointing
While there is excellent information and adequent breadth of coverage, I found the organization of the chapters to be oddly repetitive.The many connections between quite a few of those described too often sounded like they had been cut-and-pasted -- word by word.Facts and details about more than one appeared to be actually discrepant, while the historical relevence of several didn't go far enough, or was summarily ended.

My forebears are in Bellefountaine and I visit often to commune with them and the environment of the landscape of the burial grounds.More attention could/should have been paid to the physical presentation of the cemetary, as well as some of the families there who did not present as movers, shakers, nor scalawags or suffragettes.In addition, the challenge of maintaining the physical setting, throughout the decades might have been appreciated, as it has been affected by some of those beneath the ground and their families, movers, shakers or not.

Room for improvement
I heard about this book in the MO History Museum newsletter, and I was looking forward to receiving a copy.I have not read the whole book, just exerpts.It is well written, and appears to be well researched.It is basically a collection of short biographies of the people buried at Bellfontaine Cemetary.In my opinion it should include photos of the graves and mausoleums - as many of them are truely beautiful works of art.I have been to the cemetary a couple of times, and have taken my own photos, and I've often wanted to learn more about who was buried there.There is a small section of color photos, but there are no captions describing what the photos are of.I also think a map of the cemetary showing where each grave is would improve this book a lot.Had I seen this book in person, I probably would not have bought it.If they make a second version of this book - hopefully they will add a picture of each gravesite and possibly a map. ... Read more