Good Starting Points Collecting Specific Hobbies and Crafts
	See also the library's links to Cooking and Gardening. Good Starting Points For additional resources in this subject area, see the library's online Magazine Databases. Hobby and Craft Magazines Though few of these magazines publish their entire contents online, most of them include selected articles, links to related sites, and such useful information as lists of clubs, suppliers or events. The lists are provided by NewsDirectory.com. Collecting Magazines A wide variety of titles concerning antiques and collectibles are represented. Games Magazines Includes games such as bridge and chess. top of page

• Antiques and Collectibles

• Antiques A to Z
  Links to top auction houses and a variety of interests in the antiquing field.

• Cyberattic
  Concise information on period-dating as well as many links to collectibles.

• Identification and Appraisal of Objects
  The Smithsonian Institution Web site provides a brief discussion of the issues involved in attempting to establish an object's price; links to professional associations for appraisers; links to auction galleries; and a bibliography.

• Kovels' Online
  This trusted price guide is now online and allows a price search of up to 50 items at one time. Note: Free registration is required.

• Learn About... Antiques and Collectibles
  Advice for beginners.

• Open Directory Project — Collecting
  Use these Open Directory links to research, buy or sell a broad range of items from advertising collectibles to writing instruments.

• Books

  • Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
    Try the "For Collectors" section of the Web site for the association's "Introduction to Book Collecting," information on evaluating books and manuscripts, an extensive glossary of book collecting terminology and links to book collecting Web sites.

  • Dictionary of Bookbinding and Book Conservation Terms

  • The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers

  • Guide to Rare and Old Book Values
    In addition to a book values database, special features of this site from Fadedgiant Books include a guide to rare and collectible book author's signatures, online auction tips and an extensive glossary of book condition terms.

  • What’s My Book Worth?
    State Library of Pennsylvania's brief guide to describing the condition of a book according to industry standards.

  • Your Old Books
    Answers to frequently asked questions about rare books and book values from the Association of College and Research Libraries.

• Coin Collecting
  This site provides very good graphics of original coins with basic descriptions. There are also links to coin and currency prices, news and a message board.

• Rocks and Minerals

• Collecting Rocks
  Basic information from the U.S. Geological Survey on types of rocks and tips on starting a rock collection.

• Rock Collecting Around the USA
  A state by state guide to rock collecting locations and Web site links.

• Silver

• The Online Encyclopedia of American Silver Marks
  Provides images of manufacturers' markings listed alphabetically.

• SilverMine British Hallmarks and Silver
  SilverMine discusses British silver marks and offers representations of town or "hall" marks as well as date letter marks. The site also includes a brief guide to English silver.

• Stamps

  • Linn's Stamp News
    Stamp news, lists of U.S. stamp programs, a refresher course in stamp collecting and a marketplace, make this a good place to start for collectors.

  • Useful Links
    The American Philatelic Society's directory of links to associations, dealers, tips and other information pertaining to stamp collecting.

Specific Hobbies and Crafts

• A — J
• K — P
• Q — Z

• Amateur Radio

• AARLWeb: Welcome to Amateur Radio!
  The National Association of Amateur Radio's Web site provides information on getting started and getting licensed, and lists classes, exams and more.

• Beading

• The Bead Site
  Bead bazaar, bead jobs, galleries, events, links and auctions for beaders.

• Beadazzled: Bead Tips
  Excellent color illustrations demonstrate tips and techniques for creating beaded jewelry.

• Guide To Beadwork
  A guide to basic techniques, supplies and fringes used in making beaded jewelry. Patterns and step-by-step instructions for a variety of beading stitches are included.

• Crochet

• PatchworkCrochet.com
  Fully illustrated lessons in the techniques of basic crochet and patchwork crochet.

• Cross-Stitching

• 1st SPOT Cross Stitching
  Lessons for the beginning through the advanced stitcher with links to other cross-stitching sites.

• Dolls

• Doll Net
  Doll-making classes on the Web with links to doll-making supplies.

• Original Paper Doll Artists Guild
  The guild's Web site includes a history of paper dolls, tips on preservation and links to other paper doll sites.

• Games

• Board Game Links from Yahoo

• Card Game Links from Yahoo

• Puzzle Links from Yahoo

• Juggling

• Juggling Information Service
  Links to juggling information for the beginning or advanced juggler.

• Knitting

• Wool Works: The Online Knitting Compendium
  A collection of handknitting information.

• Magic

• All Magic Guide
  Learn new tricks and refine old ones, find props and search for events.

• Model Airplanes

• How to Build a Model Airplane

• Instructors Corner
  For the advanced flyer.

• Model Railroading

• Model Railroads.Net
  The North American model railroading directory and Internet search engine.

• Pathfinder: Model Railroading
  The Internet Public Library's guide to model railroading information.

• Needlepoint

• ANG: Stitch of the Month
  The American Needlepoint Guild provides instruction on a new stitch each month.

• Needlework

• FiberLink
  Information on all things related to the fiber arts.

• Paper Folding

• Money Origami
  Directions for folding paper money into a variety of interesting forms.

• OrigamiUSA
  Step-by-step instructions for a variety of paper folding projects.

• Photography

• Taking Great Pictures
  Kodak offers this introduction to photography along with some great photo tips.

• Quilting

• Beginner Hand Quilting
  Quilting lessons, tips and resources for beginners and other quilters.

• Quiltmaker
  Step-by-step patterns, tips and techniques from Quiltmaker magazine.

• Radio-Controlled Vehicles

• About.com's Guide to Radio-Controlled Vehicles

• Railroading

• History of Railroads and Maps
  A history of railroads and railway maps in the United States.

• RailServe: The Internet Railroad Directory
  A searchable Web site with a "switchyard" of links which contain passenger and urban transit sites worldwide among its 32 categories.

• Scrapbooking

• About Scrapbooking
  An collection of articles and links on scrapbooking design, techniques and more.

• Creative Scrapbooking
  This site for "scrapbooking enthusiasts" provides articles on creative scrapbooking, sample layouts, tips and ideas, and a scrapbooking store directory.

• Scrapbooking 101
  This Web site offers an introduction to the basics of scrapbooking.

• Watercolor Painting

• Watercolor Painting.com
  Step-by–step lessons and tutorials, art links and recommended books.

• Weaving

• Dyes and Dying
  Projects for usage of natural and synthetic dyes from All Fiber Arts.

• Handspinning Information & Techniques
  Information on different fibers and their characteristics are described.

• Ruthe's Collection of Weaving Resources

• Woodworking

• Jeff Greef Woodworking
  Instructions, complete with illustrations, for woodworking and home improvement projects and woodworking techniques.