Wilton Cake Decorating Master Tip Set
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $44.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

With more than 50 tips included in this professional-quality cake decorating set, your imagination is the limit. Garlands, rosettes, stars, flower petals--if you can dream it up there's a tip designed for the job. The angled coupler assists in certain decorating operations, and a standard coupler plus two flower nails for creating roses are included. The set comes packaged in a white plastic storage tray to keep tips and tools organized in a drawer. --Victoria Jenkins ... Read more

Features

• Convenient plastic tray for storage
• Comprehensive set of tips for cake decorating
• Includes 55 pieces for elaborate and simple designs
• Two flower nails included
• Standard and angled couplers

Reviews (2)

The perfect basic set!
I love this set of decorating tips.The only thing I don't like is the storage idea of keeping the "flower nails" in the plastic container.They are almost impossible to keep in place when you close the lid.Finally I put a piece of tape on each side to hold them in so I could close the storage container.You can either order pastry bags (which you then have to wash) or you can use those resealable bags.They work perfectly.Simply insert a tip in the corner of the plastic and wrap a piece of tape around the top of tip and plastic bag.It will hold in place well and you can toss the bag later.

Tips for all Traits
The tips for cake decorating is wonderful. To offer them at this price is also wonderful. I really like the idea of shopping from home. I don't know anyone here and don't know my way around. I love to bake cakes and decoratethem and so to try to find places to buy this tips and bags is very hard.You make it so easy for me to enjoy something I like to do. The tips comeso that you can make a array of designs on yourcake and other foods likecrackers. ... Read more

Asin: B00004S7YH
Subjects:  1. Cake Decorating    2. Cookie Decorating    3. Icing    4. Pastry Bags    5. Baking Tools    6. Decorating Tools    7. (Decoration)   

Kitchen
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1994)
list price: $12.00 -- our price: $9.60
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (104)

Modern Japan?
With a loyal following in countries as diverse as Italy, China, Brazil, the US, and her native Japan, Banana Yoshimoto is one of Japan's most well known writers. Kitchen, Yoshimoto's first novel, is the story of Mikage Sakurai, a young woman who has just lost her grandmother, her last living relative, and how she finds a new "family" when she is taken in by Yuichi Tanabe and his mother Eriko. The story revolves around Mikage's growing sense of belonging with her new and unusual family, and of the importance she attaches to the kitchen - her favorite place. This short novella explores how the concept of family can transcend traditional definitions. Mikage is accepted by Eriko, the transsexual bar owner (and Yuichi's father). Mikage finds sustenance and comfort in the kitchen, both literally and metaphorically, as she rebuilds her life.

I suspect Yoshimoto can do better
As Banana Yoshimoto's first novel, I can't help but wonder what's lost in the language gap between her native Japanese and this English translation. Let's begin by saying that this isn't truly a novel, as the main part of the book -- Kitchen -- is only 102 pages; the remaining 54 pages consist of a novella -- entitled Moonlight Shadows -- and an afterward.

Fortunately (unfortunately?), Ms. Yoshimoto's story telling is the same throughout. Both of the tales presented here deal with issues of loss, recovery, and, to a lesser extent, redemption.

Her main characters are both young women who seem to be floating through their lives with nothing to anchor them to the real world. There jobs are an afterthought, they're backgrounds exist only to illustrate a fleeting point here-or-there, and their goals seem to be lost in a haze of indecisive malaise.

Such is the overwhelming feeling of reading these two "pieces." When you get to the end, you can't help but wonder if the main characters you've been following are any better than when their story started. As in Kitchen, where our protagonist winds up finding love in a convenient manner, but she does so with such a haphazard, lack-luster emotional state, that the reader can only wonder if this relationship will survive the night.

Though translated, Yoshimoto use of language seems to bear itself fairly well, though there are places when you wonder if the use of certain phrasing isn't an affectation of the translator rather than the author. There are brief bouts of a Central American-esque magical realism (perhaps an Asian version of that lovely style), which only seems to fall on its face as it suffers the same fate as our central characters -- a lack of interest.

I suppose in some ways Kitchen would make an interesting book for anyone hoping to see how the Chick Lit market is fairing in the Orient. However, if you're looking for great writing, expansive characters, and/or an engaging plot, you'll need to look towards another novel.

Poetic poise
A few years ago in a time that one could still watch "Inside the Actor's Studio" with a straight face until the moment that Will Ferrell parodied its pompous host James Lipton to the kingdom come, Robert De Niro was a guest. In answer to a question of the perennially self-possessed audience on what advice he could give them in their own work, he answered that mankind has explored any issue from so many angles that the best advice to those trying to start a career in the arts is "to make it personal". In this book Yoshimoto shows that the personal touch can bring new and meaningful life to even the most explored themes.

Kitchen consists of the short novel by the same name and the short story Moonlight Shadow, which was the writer's debut. Both deal with the themes of love, loss and recovery. Apart from the simple, precise and highly expressive prose, Kitchen derives strength from the juxtaposition of very common themes with less conventional elements like the hermaphroditic transsexual Eriko and her murder by a client. This juxtaposition generates an element of tension that helps to energize the tale. This combined with the writer's expertise in evoking atmospheres and feelings result in a very personal and highly engaging story.

Like Kitchen, Moon Shadow explores the process of a mutual recovery after loss of loved ones. While there is some overlap, this story more than holds its own. While in most hands the metaphor of crossing the bridge and the time ripple might degenerate in clichés both work very well in the story's context and, man, can Yoshimoto make you feel cold.

In conclusion a very engaging book, that makes it easy to understand why Banana Yoshimoto is so popular in her native Japan.
... Read more

Isbn: 0671880187
Sales Rank: 6830
Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Fiction / General   

Arranging Flowers ("Best of Martha Stewart Living" Series , No 13)
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (16 March, 1999)
list price: $20.00 -- our price: $13.60
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

A beautiful floral arrangement can add the perfect touch of beauty and elegance to your home, and who would know this better than our favorite doyenne of the dainty, Martha Stewart. In Arranging Flowers, Martha shares basic principles and techniques for creating lovely bouquets for any occasion or season. "Flowers," Martha declares, "belong everywhere, in every nook and cranny of the house." Assuming no special knowledge or skill from the reader, Martha takes you step by step through the process of finding the perfect vase for your arrangement, conditioning cut flowers for maximum beauty and lifespan, and creating a sturdy foundation for your creation.

The second half of this book is an exposition on seasonal arrangements, along with specific tips on growing, buying, and caring for individual types of flowers. One of the great charms of this book is the trademark lavish photos that are in all Martha Stewart books. Nearly every page of Arranging Flowers features beautiful, vivid photos of flower bouquets of all types, from humble Sweet Peas to the glorious Double-Headed Peony. With Martha as your guide, even the most ham-fisted palooka will be inspired to create dazzling works of floral art. --Perry Atterberry ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A real letdown and overpriced
I found the Fine Art of Flower Arranging by Nancy D'Oench, Mick Hales.It is so much better than Martha's book.

A Disappointment - Well Below Expectations
Perhaps my expectations were too high?Martha produces a beautiful magazine and her new Best of Weddings book is superb so I thought that this book, although older, would be a nice addition.I was disappointed.Although the book was published in 1999, it seemed even more outdated than that.The flowers used seemed repeated over and over again and the book was centered completely around the varieties in Martha's garden. For a more thorough view, I'd like to recommend 2 books in place of this one.Jane Packer's Fast Flower Arranging is fantastic and shows beautiful arrangements that can be made quickly even by a novice.For actual, technical "how to" steps and design theory, I'd recommend Judith Blacklock's "Flower Arranging" (might be called Teach Yourself Flower Arranging in some indexes).Once you know proper floral design techniques, you can use any kind of flowers (NOT just those from Martha's garden) to create beautiful arrangements.

Not exactly a how-to book, but great pictures
I wouldn't really consider this a how-to book, as most of it is pictures of arrangements with a paragraph or two about the flowers. To paraphrase, "Martha loves spring when the peonies in her garden are blooming. They look stunning massed together." Most of the description is of her garden.

However, the photographs ARE wonderful and gave me many, many ideas. I checked this book out of the library to get ideas for my wedding, and it's a book that I've renewed several times.

Most of the arrangements included are simple yet elegant, involving one species of flower or monochromatic color schemes.

I recommend this book as long as you're looking for arrangement ideas, not step-by-step instructions. ... Read more

Isbn: 0609803611
Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Flower Arranging    6. Flower arrangement    7. House & Home / Decorating