Review by Booklist Review
Well aware of how intimidating woodworking can be for most women, MacEwen, a veteran craftsperson, has created a guide for women that addresses with sensitivity the psycho-emotional fears women have about working with wood. From tools to materials to entering a realm dominated by men, the book teaches women to think like woodworkers. The projects are presented to build confidence as well as skills. And MacEwen's mantra, Mistakes are just information, is repeated and reinforced throughout the book. Pieces like the low bench, designed for use in woodworking, give women experience using the tools and creating a large piece of furniture without the anxiety of mistakes ruining the finished piece. Women inspired by the female carpenters on such shows as Trading Spaces or While You Were Out will be excited to discover this straightforward guide to woodworking, furniture design, and building. --Jennifer Palmer Copyright 2006 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
While woodworking has traditionally been a male hobby, there is no reason for women to shy away. Experienced woodworker MacEwen tries to introduce women to the world of woodworking, tell them how to buy tools, and teach them how to build great furniture. Unfortunately, she does not exactly fulfill these aims. MacEwen's list of tools is too lengthy and she doesn't explain technique and tool use as clearly as other authors have. Yet her 13 beautiful furniture projects contain all the right elements-exploded view, detailed measurements, and cut lists-and the furniture, which has a Japanese/Arts & Crafts influence, is flat-out gorgeous. So while in purpose the book misses the mark, the projects are extremely attractive. Recommended for larger collections. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
