Focusing on a popular art medium that has been around for over 50 years, The New Acrylics illustrates how artists can create lush textures, color, and luster with the modern acrylics readily available in any art supply store. These are nontoxic, environmentally sound, and exist in the most dazzling array of chemical formats—from the most fluid to the highly viscous. Not only do artists paint with acrylics these days, they can create rich metallic effects, or even 3-dimensional sculptures. Traditional technique based books on acrylics cover traditional methods of painting. However, The New Acrylics is geared toward more nonconventional ways in which to manipulate modern-day acrylics, and demonstrates new applications such as glazing, textured effects, soft sculpture effects, or staining, thus reinventing the old way of handling acrylics, and revealing a fabulous new artistic medium. The underlying theme of this dazzling and sophisticated book is to encourage artists to interpret and handle acrylic paints in a vibrant, fresh, and above all, individualistic style.

    White takes the reader step by step through the process of making natural soaps for family, friends, and for profit. Easy to understand and master. This second edition includes extended directions for first time soap makers, new recipes, how to make soap in small and large batches and a guide to using essential oils. Includes tips and advice for how to cut and cure soap, how to sell your soaps, packaging and labeling, and how to set up at a craft fair or market. Over 45 soap recipes from luxurious to economical.

    Often, a photographer will spend long days capturing photos only to return with a set of images that he or she is not completely satisfied with. Sure, the lighting and exposure may have turned out great, but the overall composition of the photos leaves something to be desired. In short, they lack that “wow” factor that they see in other photographers’ shots.Composition is the foundation in which great photography is built upon. A photo may be properly lit and contain good subject matter, but if it is doesn’t have good composition it will never be considered more than an amateur shot. How can you overcome this? We’ll teach you in this book. Finally, a Book on the Art of Photography that Teaches Tips and Tricks for Creative Composition! Our intention with this book is to teach you the tips and tricks professionals use to craft a great image design and learn how to incorporate these into composition that will lay the foundation for you to create amazing photos. Once you master the art of photography composition, you’ll know exactly what elements it takes to compose a great shot before you even touch the shutter button! As a result, it will free you up to concentrate on the other ingredients that go into making a beautiful photograph.Digital photography composition techniques you'll learn include: - How to develop the ability to see and shoot great digital photographs- Multiple ways in which to compose the best shot, regardless of subject matter- What the rule of thirds is and how to use it to your advantage- Where to place dominant vertical or horizontal subjects within the frame for maximum results- How to effectively use symmetry in photography- Understanding balance and visual weight within a photo- How to use lines in photography- How each type of line (horizontal, vertical, diagonal and curved) can be used to evoke a specific feeling within the viewer- How to instantly make a boring composition more dynamic- Ways in which to use different camera angles to add interest to a photo- How to master Out of Focus Foreground Framing, a signature style of many professional photographers- Unique ways to composing better backgrounds in any situation- How less can actually be more in photography- and much more!If you own a camera you owe it to yourself to learn how to master the art of composition in photography. The lessons taught in this book will provide you with knowledge you can use or the rest of your life as a photographer. Throughout this book you’ll find multiple examples of great photography composition that you can use for inspiration for your own shots. Secure your copy of this book and start your journey to better photography today!

    Not with Seamless Crochet!With Seamless Crochet, innovative designer Kristin Omdahl has pioneered a new technique for crocheters of all skill levels to create motif-based patterns in one piece, eliminating seams and leaving only two ends to weave in. Kristin’s revolutionary modular construction allows one motif to flow into the next, creating secure joins and beautiful geometric patterning on the exterior round.Inside you’ll find a showcase of 18 garment, home decor, and accessory projects from Kristin that will change the way you crochet forever. From pillows to shawls to blankets, these projects illustrate just how versatile and time-saving this “tail-free” construction method is. As a bonus, Seamless Crochet also includes a helpful instructional DVD of Kristin explaining the details of her new technique. Plus, the book offers a motif directory of original designs with Kristin’s expert advice on how to adapt any motif-based pattern to her one-of-a-kind seamless technique.Seamless Crochet will forever transform the way you approach every crocheted motif-based design and project.

    The best answers to this question are included in this book, along with the traditional quilt blocks they inspired.Laurie Aaron Hird provides everything you need to be inspired and create your own sampler quilt:- 111 six-inch quilt blocks, with assembly diagrams for piecing the blocks and template cutting directions - Complete instruction for making a sampler quilt in any traditional size: lap, twin, queen or king - CD with easy-to-print, full-sized templates for all 111 blocks, and printable quilt construction diagrams - 42 letters from the 1922 Farmer's Wife contest to give you a priceless glimpse into our country's past

    Featuring a beautiful layout and magnificent photography, this keepsake volume features stitch pattern flowers, petal constructed flowers, cord flowers, and the extremely popular felted flowers. Some make fanciful pieces of jewelry; others can adorn handicrafts for a fabulous finishing touch. Epstein offers yarn suggestions and colors, and encourages crocheters to experiment with all the interesting choices in the market today to create breathtaking corsages and bouquets. Among the pretty garden blossoms: a calla lily, blue and purple pansies, a delicate and lacy white wedding boutonniere, complete with a pearl center; and a selection of floral corkscrews.A Selection of the Crafter’s Choice Book Club.

    Using the theme of "home," each artist designed five altered art rooms to complete an individual 9"x12" 'house' that closes like a book or can stand accordion style. Each house is a part of a larger whole; a neighborhood of twelve unique and fascinating art-full houses, varying in execution, theme, and style, yet united as part of the larger neighborhood. Each "house" is a unique interpretation on the theme, reflecting the artist's style and incorporating the mixed media techniques for which each artist is most well known. The thirteen artists have created an inspiring collage technique workbook for readers. The back of the book includes a blank "house" template and a clip-art gallery of home-themed imagery that readers can alter and use in their own collage work.

    Discover how to draw with your non-dominant hand and sketch with objects found in nature. Colorfully illustrated with watercolors, sketches, original patterns, dreamy photography, and hand-lettered insights.• Visually rich book with shapes, colors, and textures to inspire and instruct• Find beauty in everyday objects, sights, and unexpected places• Full of tips, prompts, and exercises designed to help you trust your instincts and inspire creativityFans of Wilma's World: Good Advice from a Dog and France: Inspiration du Jour will love this book. This book is perfect for any aspiring artist, photographer or creative spirit, • Artists • Watercolorists • Photographers

    You will come to embrace imperfection and recognize that, yes, in fact, there is such a thing as a happy accident!The wabi-sabi philosophy of art is probably a little different from what you're used to--it's a style that finds inspiration and beauty in the imperfect, impermanent and humble nature of everyday objects. And there is a special freedom in wabi-sabi's abstract aesthetic, a forgiving approach that celebrates so-called mistakes and fosters an experimental spirit, encouraging you to build up and tear back with abandon.Inside Wabi-Sabi Art Workshop You'll Find:Dozens of inspiration photos and tips for taking your own.27 traditional haikus.35 techniques using such diverse media as oil and acrylic paints, alcohol inkers, foils and leaf, pastels, plaster, collage and handmade papers, teabags, paper towels, coffee, crayons, encaustic paints, fibers and more.Lots of Wabi-Sabi Wisdom--tips and troubleshooting.70 big, beautiful finished pieces of art illustrating featured techniques.Links to online bonus content--step-by-step demonstrations illustrating six additional techniques.Add Wabi-Sabi Art Workshop to your artistic library and expand your artistic horizons today!

    The results - like non-identical twins - are inextricably linked, yet intriguingly different. With practical step-by-step instructions, a comprehensive basics section and glorious photographs, this is a book to make your fingers tingle with sheer inspiration."

    Get reacquainted with your favorite characters from the Elm Creek Quilts series while browsing through a dozen brand-new quilts designed by Jennifer Chiaverini.

    Soldering Made Simple takes all the mystery and fear out of soldering so that amateur jewelry makers — even those who have never held a torch — feel empowered and confident. Friendly and thorough instructional text and step-by-step photos help readers build skills gradually, which they can then employ with the included projects. Joe Silvera presents soldering techniques that use a simple setup, a handheld butane torch that is safe and easy to operate, and a few other supplies.

    Similar to prayer shawls, friendship shawls are handmade gifts of caring. They're perfect for special occasions or simply as friendship gifts. In addition, these shawls make wonderful gifts for individuals in nursing homes, hospitals, and shelters. Includes 10 shawls to knit.

    This book contains techniques for creating the tiles such as painting and glazing, stamping, and, embedding items like beads and buttons.

    In Quilting with a Modern Slant, Rachel May introduces you to more than 70 modern quilters who have developed their own styles, methods, and aesthetics. Their ideas, their quilts, and their tips, tutorials, and techniques will inspire you to try something new and follow your own creativity wherever it leads.