A chapter on understanding color principles offers novice spinners the skills needed to easily work with color while providing advanced spinning techniques for the expert dyer. A gallery of finished pieces as well as appendixes on dye workshops and metric conversions are included.

    This delightful book is entirely devoted to the creation of origami boxes-plain or fancy, playful or practical, and elaborate boxes topped with cranes, butterflies, lilies, stars, and more.FABULOUS ORIGAMI BOXES includes designs for nesting boxes, simple triangle and square boxes and more complex hexagonal and octagonal boxes. Detailed illustrations provide step-by-step instructions on the correct way to crease and fold origami paper. Many of the designs are made of one sheet of paper, but some combine individual units with intriguing results.Both practical and lovely, these boxes can be used for gift-giving, storing trinkets, or simply for display.

    Real people of all ages are featured in photographs that explain the steps of cutting out pattern pieces, pinning them together, and adjusting the fit. Special attention is paid to tricky challenges such as accommodating a full bustline, adjusting sleeves, or reworking a garment to make it more flattering, as well as alternative fitting methods such as draping and computer design. Metric conversion charts, charts for comparing pattern company bodice measurements, and a history of American dress design (Just where did size 10 come from?) make this book a versatile reference.

    Readers are led step-by-step through the history and techniques of creating beautiful and rare Russian heirloom shawls with this detailed guide.

    This volume offers 220 crochet stitches, and includes all-over patterns, edgings and trimmings, motifs, and Irish style crochet.

    Easy-to-follow patterns, beautiful photographs, and colorful step-by-step drawings help the projects come together quickly----many in less than an hour. Whether they are created in kimono silks or in contemporary cottons, these tiny boxes, purses, decorative toys, incense pouches, and good luck charms all make delightful gifts.

    It presents everything the gardener needs to know to create intricate, small-scale ecosystems in an urban or suburban setting that can substitute for the rapidly vanishing habitats that are essential to the survival of butterflies.Contributors to this volume include Miriam Rothschild, an eminent entomologist, avid butterfly gardener, and expert in wildflower conservation, who describes the life cycle of butterflies, how and what they see, and how this relates to "gardening with butterflies." Landscape architect Mary Booth provides imaginative garden designs and easy-to-follow directions for designing and planting. Edward S. Ross, pioneer of close-up nature photography, discusses observing and photographing butterflies.The book also includes a "Master Plant List" of species that attract butterflies, butterfly food plants listed by geographic region, seed and plant resources, a list of gardening and conservation organizations, and a bibliography of books and periodicals about butterflies.

    The recent issue of Metropolitan Home magazine featured a New York apartment furnished with beautiful finds scavenged from flea markets. America has developed a yen for the vintage. Whether covering an entire wall with a salon-style arrangement of pictures creating the "attic" look; throwing together a grand canopied bed faked with gilded molding and draperies to evoke thc "exotic"; or choosing to go "spare" by displaying carefully selected objects, including old tools, glass boxes, or botanical prints, style setter Rebecca Purcell shows how anyone can create expressive rooms that make a statement.Full-color photographs in each chapter show how these fabulous styles were produced in different homes. Chapters include do-it-yourself projects for finishing touches, including tassels, aging fabrics and metals, valances and draperies, wall washing and stenciling, picture matting, and more.

    This is not just a project book, it is a complete knotting guide which gives the reader tools for creating their own patterns. With market tested patterns and a little hippie humor, this guide will keep crafters smiling as they learn. And as the author says, If you enjoy doing something, you do it well. If you enjoy learning something, you learn it well. This book has an abundance of illustrations and photographs to complement the clear, comprehensive instructions. The introduction has definitions of terms and facts about hemp. How To Begin details deciding how long to cut the hemp and how to start tying a piece of hemp jewelry. There is also a section of Helpful Hints for working with and knotting hemp cords. The Knotting Guide explains and illustrates the Half Knot, the Half Hitch and dozens of variations on these knots, giving the crafter a plethora of choices for pattern combinations. The use of beads and of endings and clasps is also explained. Knots For Masters presents the Pretzel Knot and Phish Bone pattern; two of the coolest, bank maker patterns ever! Finally, there are 22 example projects, from the simple to the complex, all beautiful, with pictures and instructions for each. Written for both beginning and seasoned crafters, this entertaining volume will prove invaluable for any person wishing to learn more about hemp, knotting techniques, and making irresistible jewelry. A very interesting book and a great gift idea! 24 illustrations; 61 photographs; 4 pages in full color.

    The kaleidoscope effects occur spontaneously, thanks to the ingeniously simple 'Stack-n-Whack'(R) cutting technique. By stacking identical repeats of fabric, quilters can efficiently cut the pieces needed for all the blocks. Each block will be unique and unexpected, keeping the quilting experience fresh and exciting! With over 200 how-to illustrations and dozens of color plates. Designs include the classic LeMoyne Star, Hybrid Lilies, Kaleidoscope Pinwheel, Hexagon Star, Diamond Ring, Morning Star, and others, all pieced with construction methods that eliminate set-in seams and ensure quick, successful results.

    Included are 2,400 crisply detailed illustrations of hundreds of plants — from lilies, lichens, mushrooms and marigolds, to poppies, palms, maples, and mosses.Selected from rare publications dating from the 1840s to the turn of the century, the illustrations encompass a wide range of plant species and classifications: garden flowers, cactuses, bromeliads, ferns, deciduous trees, evergreens, grasses, legumes, orchids, nightshades, and many more. All are identified with Latin or common names and are arranged alphabetically by family. Also presented are specialized appendices on edible foods, medicinal herbs, and plants used in decoration and in graphic design, including borders and motifs.Created during a period when wood engraving had reached its zenith and become a greatly refined art, these splendid royalty-free illustrations will be an indispensable and inspirational resource for artists and craftspeople working in a variety of areas. The collection will also delight botanists, gardeners, and collectors of old engravings, all of whom are sure to treasure this tribute to the beauty and infinite variety of the plant kingdom.

    This volume is a comprehensive pattern library of 450 knitting stitches, from simple to ornate, including knit and purl patterns, basic cables, and rib and edging patterns.

    This revised edition of Thomasina Beck's 1979 classic presents a cornucopia of ideas for those wishing to continue the tradition. Engravings, woodcuts, portraits and a wealth of embroideries, patterns, and pictures illustrate the intriguing parallel between the two arts. Specially commissioned drawings update these sources for contemporary patterns.

    The text is illustrated with colour photographs showing the stages of transformation, and the techniques employed.

    Through step-by-step instructions and candy-colored illustrations, beginners learn the fundamentals: knitting tools, finger-knitting, and basic stitches such as knit, purl, mattress, overcast, embroidery, and stockinette. Kids Knitting emphasizes fun in every step of the learning process. Sunny paintings by Kristin Nicholas illustrate the individual steps of each technique. Bright boxes of blues, greens, and reds explain everything from button-sewing to tassel-tying. Charming photographs by Chris Hartlove feature finished projects modeled by the creators themselves--all kids who knit.Best of all, kids get to keep and use whatever they make: bookmarks, backpacks, bracelets, even their own set of customized knitting needles, topped with acorn caps or polka dot balls.

    An easy-to-follow, practical guide to this universally popular stitch, this book includes diamonds, cables, twists, honeycombs, textures, panels, and backgrounds.

    African American quilts are of particular interest because -- unlike European-American quilts that focus on pattern and technique -- they are often emotionally expressive and graced with narrative imagery.Spirits of the Cloth celebrates this artistic tradition by showcasing 150 of the most stunning contemporary African American quilts in full-color photographs and by allowing their creators to expand upon the story that stands behind each piece.African Americans who are looking for beautiful books featuring black collectibles, and everyone interested in the quilting tradition, will welcome this as one of the most important and gorgeous quilting books ever published.

    Crafters can also learn how to paint and stencil the silk fabric backgrounds, add depth and interest to a garden scene, or enhance a still-life arrangement.

    Using the paintings, prints, and pastels that Cassatt created throughout her career, this book explores the main facets of feminine life: solitary, social, public, and intimate.-- Published in conjunction with a major 1998 retrospective that opens at the Art Institute in Chicago in September and travels to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.-- Cassatt herself emerges not just as a chronicler of nineteenth-century women's lives, but as the inhabitant of an extraordinary life that took her from a traditional upbringing to a level of professional achievement unprecedented for a woman of her time.-- Quotations from contemporary authors such as Henry James, and Edith Wharton enliven the text and add further insight into Cassatt's life and work.

    Techniques and designs are presented with instructions for curves, angles, and texture. Metal threads are an integral part of the designs, creating stunning texture and depth.

    Crochet your very own blizzard! From small to extra-large, these exquisite thread snowflakes are perfect for trimming your tree, garnishing your windows, and decorating packages.

    Now you can create colorful, interesting designs of your own with this beadwork design treasury featuring scores of Indian motifs: buffalo, kachinas, eagles, feathers, lightning bolts, and more. While many of the patterns appear in color-coded charts for beadwork, others can be used in appliqué and embroidery projects, as patterns for stained glass creations, and in numerous other crafts. Easy-to-follow diagrams enable even beginners to create a striking array of gorgeous authentic motifs that will add rich, ornamental touches to T-shirts, vests, blouses, handbags, belts and headbands, cushion covers, table linens, and many other items. An inexpensive way to create beautiful gifts for friends and family, this user-friendly design book will also introduce you to a time-honored craft practiced for centuries by the first Americans.

    These are some of the best designs from all over the nation, suiting a wide variety of tastes and styles. Designs will challenge and inspire crocheters of all skill levels.

    Plus instructions on how to make your own cootie catchers and the fortunes to go inside.

    Readers will learn they don't have to be experts to add embellishment techniques from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s to their wardrobes. They'll discover the possibilities of adding threadwork, beading, trims, piping, and more to garments. These projects are elegant and sophisticated and especially appealing to those who like glamour but not glitz.-- Features five categories of embellishment techniques.-- Includes detailed instructions and 70 color photographs.-- Offers design inspiration of all kinds -- from casual to evening wear.

    A lining makes a garment drape better, last longer, and easier to slip on and off. Some linings add warmth, while others can keep a jacket cool enough for summer, but they all make a garment look great inside. In Easy Guide to Sewing Linings, you will learn all of the available options, whether you are lining a tailored jacket, a lacy top, or a favorite sweater. You will learn how to:make a lining pattern when the garment pattern doesn't include one choose the lining style that best suits your needs sew both traditional and quick linings line a sheer or lace garment line a vented skirt put a zip-out lining in your coat

    

    The look is organic, casual and altogether cool. Comes With: 150 feet of hemp, assorted beads. Have fun!

    Vanna White presents some of her favorite afghans in this book from Leisure Arts. With 45 afghans to choose from, including seven with matching gifts, crocheters can make cozy gifts for any occasion. Each project includes step-by-step instructions and a full-color photograph of the finished product.

    And there's just no better way to learn this technique than by Donna's example.In this book, Donna leads you through all the strokes you need - shell strokes, C-strokes and more - to create leaves, roses, fruit, ribbons and many other beautiful subjects. You'll also find 12 step-by-step projects that show how Donna's One-Stroke method can be used to decorate an exciting variety of surfaces in just a few easy strokes.The One-Stroke method is perfect for the beginner, and so versatile that decorative artists of any skill level will enjoy its speed and simplicity.

    In this second edition of "The Magic of Crazy Quilting," Marsha Michler goes beyond providing guidance on how to create a crazy quilt from start to finish and presents six new, smaller projects such as a purses, pillows and needlebook covers! Inside you'll find an outstanding collection of more than 15 embellishment techniques, four piecing methods, and 1,000 embroidery stitch variations.Marsha Michler creates wonderfully pleasing works of art with fabrics, threads, and ribbons. Twenty magnificent antique crazy quilts will enthrall quilt lovers, embroidery enthusiasts, and ribbon artists of all levels. Quilt types include: themes, country-style wool, silk, miniature, kids, memory, art, and fund-raiser quilts. Embellishment techniques include: ribbon-work, silk ribbon embroidery, wool embroidery, applique, monogramming, dyeing, and fabric painting.

    Featuring 14 projects, clear instructions and charts, inspiring color photos, and 60 Viking motifs.

    

    Colour photographs of the finished patterns and black and white charts are supplied where appropriate.

    All aspects of the violin are covered: construction, history, and literature; violin playing and teaching; and violin virtuosos through the ages.

    It also gives innovative ways to use the flowers in home decor, jewellery, hats, bags and lampshades.

    His flamboyant cascades of blossoms, fruits, foliage, birds, and fish dominate late 17th-century English interiors -- at Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, and numerous great country houses. This is the first book to illustrate Gibbons' spectacular work in color and the first to examine his unique construction methods and formidable carving techniques.Author David Esterly, a professional woodcarver, sets Gibbons in historical context and relates the dramatic events of his early life. He then explains the heretofore mysterious layering method by which Gibbons built up his work and describes his tools, materials, and finishing processes in detail. Specially commissioned photographs depict several Gibbons works in a disassembled state, and lush colorplates display the carvings in their full glory.

    Presents the squares that you can crochet using worsted weight yarn, fine baby yarn, or chunky yarn.

    Translated from Danish.

    Beautifully colored and shaped soap is a joy to use; grainy soap is studded with sand or poppyseeds in an amazingly effective hand cleaner; and pure translucent glycerin soap is as gentle as it is clear. Shaping, coloring and mixing in additives are all covered in details. Soap, cut or molded into bars, squares, balls, domed bars, and round, is a joy to behold. Precious handmade soap can be personalized as gifts for the bride, for a newborn, or for a birthday by embossing a monogram onto the bar. Colors from subtle to pulsating add another dimension. Ingredients such as violet petals or coffee grounds create soaps that soothe and scrub. Sentimental soap made with May's lavender blooms is so romantic in November; pine scented soaps warm the month of December. Handmade soap is a gift that says comfort, relaxation, and a treat for the senses -- for oneself or for a friend.

    Turning her curious creativity to the fertile territory of home and garden, Joy offers a host of essential crafts and useful suggestions: how to turn an overgrown lawn into a mystical maze, transform a dull cement sidewalk into a fancy brick path, make edible Louis XIV furniture, and much, much more. In between easy home improvement projects, readers can learn to draw an octopus, a rolling pin, a flying saucer, and a zigzag dog, in addition to other satisfying methods of amusing yourself chez vous. So toss those stuffy decorating manuals out the door! Don't pull up another weed! How to Draw a Cup of Coffee is the antidote to domestic productivity.

    Includes an A-to-Z guide to herbs and instructions for growing them. 300+ color photos & illustrations. 8 color garden plans.

    In clear and engaging language, Silvie Turner conveys the excitement of discovering sheets one never knew existed. Her book is an international compendium for artists, designers, and crafts people who want to know about fine papers -- where and how they are made, their character, what they can be used for, and where to find them.The essence of each paper is discussed in detail, concentrating on handmades but also covering moldmades and fine machinemades. The author explains their manufacture, then provides descriptions and, in most cases, full specifications for each named paper. She advises on practicalities -- how to store, fold, cut, tear, paste, preserve, and repair paper -- and considers their uses, looking at dedicated sheets (for watercolor, drawing, etching, bookmaking, computer output) as well as decorative stock.The color plates display the rich diversity of papers -- from shades of white and neutral to the intense hues of dyed stock, from fine-grained sheets through delicate papers with flowers and grasses to wild and rough Costa Rican handmades. Illustrations in the text show ingredients that go into paper and methods used in countries throughout the world. Best of all, first-hand experience of modern fine papers is provided by a selection of samples, mounted so that their weight and texture can be felt.The book includes an explanation of sizes and weights, a glossary, and full indexes. A special feature is the comprehensive list of makers, sellers, and sources of information about paper.Silvie Turner has been involved with specialist papers for twenty-five years and is the author ofnumerous books and articles on the subject, including Which Paper?, the forerunner of this much larger and more comprehensive volume.

    A handy guidebook that includes eighty ornamental and useful knots with easy-to-follow; with step-by-step illustrations.

    Taken from Blanche Beau's original book of swatches, the collection presents samples and written patterns updated with conventional abbreviations and terminology. It also offers ways to incorporate the patterns into projects.

    In this inspiring guide, Jim Long shows you how to craft a variety of herbal mixtures that can be tucked into your pillowcase to encourage dreaming experiences that reduce stress, boost creativity, inspire romance, and more. You’ll gain an understanding of how specific herbs can affect your dreaming mindset and learn how to customize a dream pillow that is suited to your individual needs.

    This draws upon the oral history of each quilt as well as interpreting its actual characteristics to provide an insight into the families that made them.

    Largely ignored by most gardening books, gourd plants require specific attention to produce healthy vines and satisfactory fruit. Learn how to: * Identify popular gourd shapes * Plan and cultivate your garden * Grow, train, and harvest a bountiful crop * Control pests and disease with natural remedies * Prepare your gourds for use-in recipes and art projects. Lists of suppliers, a growing calendar, and space for notes on your own garden conditions make this the complete gourd sourcebook. A delight to read as well as a lasting reference, this long overdue guide to the adventures of growing one of Nature's greatest gifts is an essential addition to any gardener's library. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

    A directory of ideas for decorating objects around the home which provides recipes with step-by-step instructions on a series of projects.

    Here in breathtaking color are magnificent Suiseki stones, and the stunning, imaginative ways they have been arranged and exhibited in parks and gardens. Discover specimens shaped like humans and animals! Learn to create a Suiseki collection--necessary tools and how to display them.

    Knight defined the lavish style of ornamentation associated with Victorian design. With clean lines and artful shading, Knight captured the spirit of the age in fanciful illustrations that combined the sentimental, the intricate, and the fantastic. This extravagant collection of Knight's work, reproduced directly from a rare original 19th-century edition, contains a fabulous assortment of images: elaborate wall murals with trompe-l'oeil effects of chandeliers and fountains; scenes of hunters, flanked by mythological figures; idealized damsels in rustic settings, framed by majestic swirls and garlands of flowers and ivy; and numerous other florid designs. Teeming with motifs in a variety of sizes and styles, this volume boasts a luxuriant supply of designs both floral (leaves, running vines, and blossoms) and animal (realistic and grotesque). A nearly inexhaustible source of versatile, copyright-free designs for artists, illustrators, and craftspeople, this volume will also fascinate all lovers of Victoriana.

    

    The techniques described in the book are tracing, dorsing, embossing, stippling, perforating and cutting are explained in detail. The many step by step pictures clearly show how to create your own masterpieces. With the help of the colour pictures in this book you will already be able to make beautiful cards even while you are practising. Martha Ospina has managed to offer a great instruction book on the basic pergamano techniques. A book of valuable information not only for a beginner, but also for the more advanced fans. 12 working patterns are included.

    All the designs use tent stitch over a range of canvas sizes, and include all the instructions for completing them. Projects include: a spectacle case, silver tabby key holder, celestial cat rug and a bell pull.

    Because the Ingallses often lived far away from any stores, and because they had little money, Laura and her family had to make most of their own household items, using whatever materials were available. Now, with MY LITTLE HOUSE CRAFTS BOOK, you can share a part of Laura's pioneer days by learning how to make the same things that she and her family made for their little homes on the frontier. Inside this book are easy, step-by-step instructions for 18 crafts taken straight from the pages of Laura's Little House books. All you need to get started are a few simple supplies, and you're on your way to making fun and useful pioneer crafts that you'll cherish forever.Laura's corncob doll --Charlotte's straw hat --Ma's willow-bough broom --Ma's prairie garden --Ma's embroidered pillow-sham --Alice's straw air-castle --Baby Carrie's button string --Laura's bear's-track quilt pillow --Mary's Christmas tassels --Ma's cross-stitched breadcloth --Pa and Laura's hay sticks --Laura's woolen hood and muffler --Ma's button lamp --Little town party napkins --Little town orange flowers --Mary's beaded lamp mat --Mary's beaded bracelet and ring --Laura's golden wheat-sheaf bread

    “Offers basic techniques as well as advice for setting up a workspace...lavish mosaic guide for beginners.”—Publishers Weekly. “It is refreshing to have a mosaic “how-to” book on the market with a great selection of designs and techniques.”—Groutline.

    A complete primer fills you in on supplies (hooks, wool, and hoops); preparing your fabric; elementary "stitches" and loops; and where to find patterns and design ideas. Follow the "do's and don'ts" on when to cut wool, where in the rug to begin hooking, how to fill in the design, and finishing off. There's even advice on displaying the finished product! 128 pages, 71 color illus., 20 b/w illus., 8 1/2 x 11.

    For this the second collection of cross stitch adaptations of artist Paula Vaughan's beautiful watercolors, we've compiled a stunning collection of 23 designs from favorite leaflets.

    Many of the designs wee adapted for cross stitch from vintage prints, greeting cards, and lithographs others were created by modern designers to echo the sentiments of days gone by.

    The manual provides a complete foundation course, enabling the novice potter to master the techniques by gradual progression. It seeks to help the reader to avoid common and frustrating mistakes often made by inexperienced potters and provide a wealth of ideas to help you design pots in your individual style. There are step-by-step instructions and colour illustrations, covering essential information on clays, firing methods and decoration.

    Our Christmas wish is that Country Woman Christmas 1998 ensures the merriest holiday ever for you and yours! Every page is a tribute to the country women who find unique and memorable ways to make the holidays special. The Yuletide foods, quick-and-easy crafts, gift-giving ideas and festive decorating touches they share ring true with all the wonder and spirit of the season. Now, we hope they help you create warm holiday traditions at your house, too. We look forward to seeing you again next Christmas. In the meantime, have the most heartfelt of country celebrations!

    The Decorative Egg Book: Twenty Charming Ideas for Creating Beautiful Displays

    Softcover Book

    Quiltmaker Judy B. Dales teaches you her methods for creating free-form curved designs.

    There are 50 projects to enchance your decor and please everyone in the family. The book is divided into five sections. Home Fires Burn Brightest is filled with warm and cozy wraps for winter, and there are Afghans for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valenetine's Day, and more in Home for the Holidays. To Grandmother's House We Go features pretty, nostalgic throws reminiscent of the ones our grandmothers loved. For spring and summer, a graden of flowers blossoms in Home Is Where the Heart Can Bloom, and Home Is Where the Heart Is features Afghans with heart motifs.

    In this book, collage artist Michael David Brown leads you, step by step, through 12 projects. You'll learn basic techniques for creating realistic images with cut paper, watercolors, acrylics, fabric, poster bits, dried flowers...anything that adds interesting shapes and textures. Complete with galleries of work from Brown and 8 other artists, this book will inspire you, piece by piece, to expand your creativity.

    With 3 choices of edgings for 99 different dishcloths, you have potentially hundreds of variations to crochet right at your fingertips! This book features designs for 100% cotton worsted weight yarn that work up quickly and make great travel projects.

    Cane, Rush and Willow describes basic techniques that are required to complete a range of typical restoration projects using materials from hedges, forests and recycling depots.

    Step-by-step instructions for items you can make from the Kitchen, the yard, the garden, and around the home, plus how to make your own cosmetics and herbal remedies.

    

    A variety of beautiful effects, details, and textures can be easily achieved by using this stitch with different size needles, threads, and fabrics.This book is a complete guide to the old Russian folk style of punchneedle embroidery and contains simple descriptions of the equipment needed, detailed instructions for stitching, easy-to-follow diagrams, and 28 delightful iron-on transfer patterns of flowers, birds, butterflies, leaves, and more.Popular as a hobby, a craft, and an art form, punchneedle embroidery has an amazing variety of uses: decorate items such as purses, necklaces, combs, belts, pins, earrings, scarves, shawls, aprons; add a designer touch to shirts, blouses, skirts, and dresses; embellish home furnishings and accessories such as pillows, wall hangings, table cloths, mirror or picture frames, fabric boxes, sachets, tablecloths, napkins, and more. Many hobbyists use punchneedle to create miniature rugs, pillows, and furnishings for doll houses. There is no limit to the items you can embroider with this versatile technique.Gail Bird became interested in Russian punchneedle embroidery several years ago. Since then she has become the nation’s foremost promoter of the craft, devoting all her efforts to developing punchneedle embroidery as an art form. She has lectured throughout the United States and demonstrated the craft in major department stores and on television. A serious historian of the form, Mrs. Bird has traveled to Russia, Poland, and Hungary to study embroidery techniques, and possesses the world’s largest collection of finished contemporary Russian punchneedle embroidery.

    Easy-to-follow illustrated instructions in this book in the Kids Can Do It series show kids how to make a zoo full of animals, a rocket launch pad, a 3-D prehistoric dinosaur hangout -- and much more! All they need to get started is some modeling clay (any kind will do), a few easy-to-find tools, a good imagination and these helpful tips from an expert.