The historical importance, makers, materials, and rarity of Christmas trees, decorations, and ornaments of all kinds are discussed in detail, including glass ornaments, all types of lighting from candles to electricity, cotton and paper ornaments, and Dresdens. All the major manufacturers are identified and much personal information is given about the families that developed the Christmas ornament industry into big business internationally. Christmas Past includes beautiful colour pictures of extremely rare, exquisite glass balls and figurals and early electric lamps.
Over 750 full-color photos featuring thousands of items. Chapters include storage, repairing, histories, and much more. Items photographed have interesting facts and values listed for the Christmas enthusiast.
"To understand the history and spirit of America, one must know its wars, its laws, and its presidents. To really understand it, however, one must also know its cheeseburgers, its love songs, and its lawn ornaments. The long-awaited Guide to the United States Popular Culture provides a single-volume guide to the landscape of everyday life in the United States. Scholars, students, and researchers will find in it a valuable tool with which to fill in the gaps left by traditional history. All American readers will find in it, one entry at a time, the story of their lives."--Robert Thompson, President, Popular Culture Association. "At long last popular culture may indeed be given its due within the humanities with the publication of The Guide to United States Popular Culture. With its nearly 1600 entries, it promises to be the most comprehensive single-volume source of information about popular culture. The range of subjects and diversity of opinions represented will make this an almost indispensable resource for humanities and popular culture scholars and enthusiasts alike."--Timothy E. Scheurer, President, American Culture Association "The popular culture of the United States is as free-wheeling and complex as the society it animates. To understand it, one needs assistance. Now that explanatory road map is provided in this Guide which charts the movements and people involved and provides a light at the end of the rainbow of dreams and expectations."--Marshall W. Fishwick, Past President, Popular Culture Association Features of The Guide to United States Popular Culture: 1,010 pages 1,600 entries 500 contributors Alphabetic entries Entries range from general topics (golf, film) to specific individuals, items, and events Articles are supplemented by bibliographies and cross references Comprehensive index
Decorating with style, not dollars, is the focus of this guide to buying or making inexpensive and original flower boxes, pillows, tablescapes, collages and more. Photos, some in color.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH THEIR KID CAME WITH AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL... Here's a book for you. Authors Traci Davis & Vicki Holleman-Perez have written The Momma Guide, providing everyday practical advice for mommas everywhere. The Momma Guide addresses topics are far-ranging as birth, health problems, depression, divorce, death, and everything in between. As inspirational as it is informational, the hefty volume (461 pages) is a handy reference guide whenever something new and challenging comes up around the house. And though it might be easy to think of it as a "Desk Reference for Moms," the information within is equally applicable to dads. Written by mommas for mommas-a book-length reassurance that "You are not alone" and "You're not the only one who's ever had difficulty understanding how to be a good momma"-the delightful book took longer to write than normal because the author's, practicing what they preach, put their families first, often writing with a child on their lap.
Packed with hundreds of free, inexpensive, and unusual things to do in all corners of the city, this is the perfect resource for tourists, business travelers, and visiting suburbanites--and mostly resident Chicagoans themselves. Readers learn what's new in town as seen through the eyes of a team of native Chicagoans. 23 photos. 9 maps.
