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Rating: 
Summary: Calling all pagans!
Review: First, I'll say that you'll enjoy this book even if you just like crafts and don't know what a pagan is. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs, the book presents folklore, history, and very clear instructions. The scarecrows are made of: clasic burlap bags, paper plates, garden stakes, paper bags, and even lots of little clay pots. Look here for bottle trees, and tiny scarecrows that resemble corn dollies. Wardrobes for your scarecrow are seriously discussed. The book closes with a fabulous photographic collection of wonders glimpsed along the road. It explains about scarecrow contests. It even touches upon welding metal scarecrows. But the pagans are going to love the "Scarecrow as an Art Form" section, specifically the breath-taking creations of Massachusetts artist Michael Melle. These are highly realistic straw sculptures: a jogger, a dancer, a pedestrian pulled off-balance by his high-spirited terrier. Melle has captured tremendous energy in these straw entities with their straining, detailed musculature. Their poses give them a modern sense of humor. Their appearance gives them a hauntingly ancient quality. They made me think of the Green Man and Beltane bonfires. I would give the Melle section five stars, and the rest of the book a very satisfactory three stars. Average this to a four-star review. Get the book; you'll enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Calling all pagans!
Review: First, I'll say that you'll enjoy this book even if you just like crafts and don't know what a pagan is. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs, the book presents folklore, history, and very clear instructions. The scarecrows are made of: clasic burlap bags, paper plates, garden stakes, paper bags, and even lots of little clay pots. Look here for bottle trees, and tiny scarecrows that resemble corn dollies. Wardrobes for your scarecrow are seriously discussed. The book closes with a fabulous photographic collection of wonders glimpsed along the road. It explains about scarecrow contests. It even touches upon welding metal scarecrows. But the pagans are going to love the "Scarecrow as an Art Form" section, specifically the breath-taking creations of Massachusetts artist Michael Melle. These are highly realistic straw sculptures: a jogger, a dancer, a pedestrian pulled off-balance by his high-spirited terrier. Melle has captured tremendous energy in these straw entities with their straining, detailed musculature. Their poses give them a modern sense of humor. Their appearance gives them a hauntingly ancient quality. They made me think of the Green Man and Beltane bonfires. I would give the Melle section five stars, and the rest of the book a very satisfactory three stars. Average this to a four-star review. Get the book; you'll enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: With these scarecrows, you won't say "if I only had a brain!
Review: I was captivated by the scarecrows and other serendipitous lawn creatures/people in this book. Some of course look rather complicated, but instructions are fairly clear. I appreciated the use of recycled or already-around-the-yard materials. Even small children could make some of these - the paper plate scarecrow for example, is darling. Obviously, many of the examples are not durable enough for harsh weather conditions, but a little additional ingenuity might fix that... A book such as this gets one's own creative juices flowing as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book to learn how to make scarecrows!
Review: This book is full of information, recommendations, and tips. Plenty of how to's. This would make a great family project.
I have picked out several that I want to make. There is even a little history lesson on scarecrows.
The pictures are great to look at even if you decide not to make
a scarecrow.
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