With 20 projects geared toward a variety of skill levels, including a useful tutorial on techniques for beginners, crocheters of all types can join in on the fun. Edie Eckman’s passion for crafting is evident in these inspired designs that cover not only traditional stockings and tree skirts, but delightful twists on other Christmas traditions, like a sock-and-mitten advent calendar. Crochet a holiday full of joy for the whole family.

    This treasury features a choice selection of her source material, arranged into four parts: (1) Traditional patterns from Europe, Russia, and South America (2) Adaptations from textiles and other art, including Japanese porcelain and Celtic metalwork (3) Alice Starmore's own geometric and nature-inspired originals (4) Practical instructions that explain how to incorporate these motifs into unique designs.Suitable for beginning as well as advanced color knitters, these charted designs can also be adapted to other crafts, including weaving and embroidery. The first U.S. publication of Charts for Color Knitting, this new and expanded version explains how to incorporate color into your work and features color photographs of knitted swatches created expressly for this Dover edition.

    In "Writing with Quiet Hands," author and literary agent Paula Munier helps you hone your words into well-crafted stories and balance this satisfying work with the realities and challenges of the publishing world.You'll learn how to tame your muse, manage your time wisely, and treat your practice with the seriousness it deserves. You'll develop a distinct voice, write with style and substance, employ the tenets of strong structure, and engage your readers by injecting narrative thrust into your stories. You'll explore the finer aspects of craft, refine your work, and boldly bridge the gap between published and unpublished. From drafting and revising to querying agents, you'll discover the secrets to writing artfully, and publishing bravely.Fulfilling and rewarding writing careers are forged from the successful marriage of craft and business know-how. Are you ready to embark on your journey, armed with both grace and grit? Are you ready to write with quiet hands?""Writing with Quiet Hands" is loaded tips and tools, firsthand experience, and down-to-earth advice from a writer, editor, and agent who's seen it from all sides. Paula Munier gives it to you straight as she dissects the inspiration, perspiration, and dogged determination it takes to set and meet your writing goals. This book will keep you sane." --Hallie Ephron, "New York Times" best-selling author of "Night Night, Sleep Tight"

    The author demonstrates the techniques involved in using more than thirty different materials ranging from papier-mache to breakaway glass.While the use of some materials-plaster and polyester resins, for example-is covered to some extent in other publications, information on the selection and use of rubber materials (latex, neoprene, silicone, and the urethanes) and the procedure for making breakaway windows and bottles is available only in The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook.Written in an easy, conversational style, the book will be useful to anyone involved with theater properties, puppetry, and costuming (as professionals or amateurs). It will also serve admirably the needs of students taking classes in those subjects.Completing the book is a special section on designing and building a vacuum forming machine suitable for use in constructing theater props. More than 450 photographs illustrate the step-by-step procedures explained throughout the entire text.

    The book features detailed knitting patterns, schematics, and basic animal hat-making techniques—plus how-to instruction for adding a fleecy hat-lining for extra coziness. There are patterns for every animal-lover. Animals included are cat, dog, chicken, rabbit, pig, frog, penguin, cow, elephant, fox, koala, monkey, panda, lion, and mouse. Patterns offer both child and adult sizes, so family members can each have their own hat.

    Designers including Susanna IC, Vicki Square, Annie Modesitt, Heather Zoppetti, Karen Joan Raz, and Kathleen Dames have translated their love for Jane Austen's novels into a stunning tribute to the beloved author. The gorgeously evocative pieces include cardigans, knitted shawls, bags and other accessories, and knitted projects for men and children. While the knitting projects are inspired by the fashions of the regency era, they are every bit as relevant today.Knitters obsessed with Jane Austen as well as stitchers just looking for wonderfully appealing projects will fall in love with the beautiful knitting designs. Essays on fascinating aspects of Austen's life and the regency era round out this inspiring collection. Topics include the places where Austen lived, knitting in Regency England, the yarns available to Austen and her contemporaries, and dressmaking during the time period.

    With its sleek design and edgy tone, Super Crafty is the ultimate hipster’s craft guide, with a wide array of accessible projects suitable for all skill levels. The book offers dozens of projects for the home (Easy Etched Glass), wardrobe (One-Afternoon Skirt), body (Flirty Floral Pasties), family pet (Greta’s Tail Warmer), and more. Organized by genre, each chapter uses a rating system to indicate difficulty, cost of materials, and age-appropriateness. "101" sections offer basic instruction in sewing, working with vinyl, jewelry making, and other crafts. A resource guide helps locate supplies, tools, and further inspiration. The authors also contribute thoughtful pieces on the underlying aspects of craft, from activism to therapy, as well as lighthearted vignettes on crafting disasters and favorite art supplies.

    A NEW WORLD.EXCITEMENT. OPPORTUNITY. ADVENTURE.For the colonists on a terraformed Mars in 2454, that was the promise. For you though—Jess Flint, engineering prodigy and big-time dreamer—it is a promise unfulfilled. Excitement? Adventure? Somebody might be having ’em, but not in the one-horse-town you call home.And then it happens.In the depths of an abandoned alien junkyard, you stumble across the preserved hulk of legendary steam locomotive the Cannonball Express. Your jaw hits the Martian floor. This is it! Your ticket out! You rebuild the ancient loco, augmenting it with a hodgepodge of powerful alien super-tech.Almost before you know it, you’ve found yourself a crew:There’s Sally, the town’s glamorpuss, handy-with-her-fists saloon singer.There’s Vera, über-brainiac accountant-turned-adrenalin junkie.Oh, and there’s Dave. He’s from Staines.You drop an ad in the local paper—CANNONBALL EXPRESS (MARS) Ltd.Any CargoAnywhereAnytime—and WHAM! You just climbed aboard a bullet train to adventure.CANNONBALL EXPRESSLet's Roll!_______________________________Book 1 in Kit Kane’s CANNONBALL EXPRESS series, Railroads of Mars is steampunk adventure at full-throttle—a standalone sci-fi romp, brimming with action, suspense, comedy, and romance.

    I do want to warn you that these patterns are not written in a conventional manner. I wanted to make them simple enough for beginners to be able to read and to follow. To make things even easier every pattern includes a step by step video tutorial.

    There's a Russian Shawl Quilt, inspired by traditional motifs of Russian folk art, a Floral Frocks Quilt inspired by summer dresses, flower gardens and herbaceous borders and a Suits and Ties Quilt reusing sober woollen suiting contrasting with extravagant silk ties designed in an Irish Chain.Finally, a practical section covers all the knowledge you’ll need – from chainpiecing, hand-quilting and sandwiching to binding, storage and caring for your quilt. Armed with the design tools, you can embark on your quilting journey and begin creating your own personal masterpiece.

    With more than 250 projects of many different types and levels of difficulty, this bestselling, encyclopedic work contains traditional and modern paper-folding methods, and includes folds for the beginner and works calculated to challenge the experts.

    And there have been so many technical advances, too. Now poly-diva Donna Kato presents an all-new look at one of crafters' all-time favorite mediums. The Art Of Polymer Clay Surface Effects begins with the essentials of polymer clay, including its working properties, plus tools, curing, safety recommendations, and color blending (with full information on the now-indispensable Skinner Blend). Photo-packed chapters focus on exciting projects—beads, bracelets, pins, pendants, and boxes–and showcase new techniques, including image transfers, surface treatments such as stencils, stamps, paints, and inks, sculpting, inclusions, special effects, and finishing. Finished pieces by some of the biggest names in polymer clay, including Kathleen Dustin, Pier Voulkos, and Nan Roche, plus Donna Kato herself, offer ideas and inspiration.

    . . . Truly, the Mullett-Bowlsbys have meticulously thought through the crocheter’s world.  —Booklist (Starred review)  From renowned crochet designer Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby comes the ultimate reference manual for the absolute beginner. Filled with step-by-step photography throughout for an easy-to-follow and fully visual experience, this unparalleled guide teaches you how to crochet from the very first stitch—and will keep you crocheting as you gain experience! The Complete Crochet Course explains all the tools, materials, and techniques you need, from choosing a hook and yarn to seaming, working in the round, handling specialty stitches, and adding details. Ten patterns are perfectly designed for novices eager to complete their first projects, while intermediates can enjoy mastering even more advanced skills.

    The Bohemian Modern home is a place where creativity, individuality, and a wild mix of color and pattern meet in a modern environment. Whitewashed walls and polished concrete floors are brought to life by vibrant Moroccan rugs and wall hangings, wicker chairs draped with tactile throws, and a veritable jungle of house plants—clustered in pots, hanging from the ceiling, and even growing on the walls. The style certainly gives a nod to ’70s chic, with its use of shagpile rugs, Swiss cheese plants, and macramé, but it stands firmly in the present day by boldly contrasting those elements with sleek modern art on the walls and bold pops of color. Emily Henson starts by taking a look at the different facets of the look: pattern and color, textiles, handmade pieces, living with houseplants, and collections and display. She also offers up styling tricks to use at home and ideas for recycling and reuse. Next, a series of case studies take a closer look at Bohemian Modern homes and the people who live in them. From a restored barn on the breezy Moroccan coast to a former parking garage in the Netherlands that's been converted into a flexible family live/work space, Emily shows that any home can have Bohemian Modern style.

    There are some amazing homemade gift ideas that can be made by real-life moms on a real-life budget!In this book you'll find step-by-step instructions for sixty gifts that you can make using easy to find items and you don't have to be an expert crafter to do it!