Handicrafts, decorative arts and crafts Books

Book SynopsisThe most empowering and self-esteem boosting coloring book for young girls on the market today! Notebook Doodles Go Girl!is designed specifically for the design-savvy tween featuring 30 uplifting and interactive art activities that are just waiting to be filled with color. They will also find a helpful coloring art lesson for some guidance before getting started, 20 color palettes, 8 pages of colored examples, and inspiring quotes to go with every design. Watercolors, colored pencils, markers, crayons, and gel pens will all look stunning on high-quality, extra-thick paper. Designs are printed on a single side of each perforated page so when it's finished, it can easily be removed to hang up or give as a gift!

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Book SynopsisLose yourself in the magic of colouring with these wonderfully happy cats!Whether you wish to use crayons, felt-tip pens, pastels or coloured pencils, you can bring these beautiful images to life and create your very own artwork, either for yourself or to give to your friends as a gift. With all sorts of feline-inspired artwork to choose from, there’s something here for every cat lover.Unlock your creativity and make something special!

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Book SynopsisA source of serenity that you can count on! These dot-to-dot puzzles are perfect for stepping backfrom the cares of the day and entering a peaceful, artistic world. When completed,they revealintricate pictures, from people to animals to landscapesand solvers can extend the experience by coloring in the artwork when they're done. With 122 dot-to-dots in each book, these collections offer many, many hours of relaxation.In addition to regular dot-to-dot puzzles, multi-linepuzzles are also featured, in which you lift your pencil from the page between certain dots, allowing for more detailed pictures.

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Book SynopsisSecond in its series and a facsimile edition of the original 1953 instruction manual, Wrought Ironwork is a practical and essential guide with a focus on technique for the modern smith. With 33 step-by-step lessons and coordinating photography for making a variety of scrolls from ribbon-end scrolls to beveled scrolls water leaves, and wavy bars, and eventually onto the creation and assembly of an ornamental gate, practice the fundamentally vital methods to this timeless trade. Working in succession with Blacksmith's Craft, you'll further your skills and hone the techniques necessary to become a skilled smith.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Creative Play Awards 2023Discover the treasures of our natural world with 52 fun activities following the seasons.Filled with activities and games for children aged 7 years and up to do out and about in nature that are budget-friendly and will entertain all year round.From spring birdwatching walks to summer park games, autumn wildlife tracking to winter nature rubbings, these 52 things to see and do will inspire children to go on a nature walk and have fun outdoors!Fun activities for every week of the yearEasy-to-follow instructions and tipsColourful photographs and illustrationsFrom authors of A Year of Nature Craft and Play, (9780008467944), awarded Highly Commended in the 2022 Creative Play Awards.

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Book SynopsisThis practical book explores the versatility and beauty of leather for everyday objects and ornate decorative piece: techniques and projects range from a child's sheepskin hat to a gorgeous leather purse and briefcase, all shown in 300 clear and beautiful pictures by art photographer Peter Williams.

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Book SynopsisThe art of napkin folding has soared in popularity in recent years. Beautifully folded napkins add elegance and style to even the simplest of table settings, and will always delight and amaze your guests. This book reveals the secrets of perfect napkin

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Book SynopsisThe natural beauty and texture of sticks, wood, stones and pebbles celebrated in inspirational and practical designs. With contemporary and original projects by leading artists, this is the first craft book to explore the beautiful potential of Nature's timeless materials.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe latest trend in coloring, combining the joy of coloring with the thrill of a surprise! Each of the 30 modern illustrations features a Japanese themed picture that is revealed as you complete the color-by-numbers design, plus a riddle to ponder as you bring the artwork to life. An engaging escape for coloring enthusiasts of all levels.

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Book SynopsisArtist Nanna Rosengren creates a relaxing colouring escape in her newest adult mandala colouring book. Renowned for her intricate and exacting art, the book features 40 woodland animals and floral themed designs. From owls and hedgehogs to deer, fox, and ladybirds, you''ll feel as though you''ve been whisked away to your own tranquil forest. For those looking for creative inspiration, Nanna includes colouring technique tips along with a full-colour gallery of each completed design. Each coloring page is printed on one-side of acid-free museum quality paper with perforated edges for easy removal and display. The back side of the page holds an inspirational quote related to the design and book''s tropical theme.

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Book SynopsisAny miniature wargame is greatly enhanced by realistic and evocative scenery and buildings, but commercial ready-made pieces can be expensive. Building your own can be a cost-effective and very rewarding alternative, another hobby in itself, but it can be hard to know where to start. Wargames Terrain and Buildings is a series of books aimed at giving wargamers the skills, techniques and guidance they need to create their own stunning and practical model buildings. In this volume, master modeller Tony Hardwood shares his years of experience and presents the reader with a wide range of projects for the Napoleonic era. With the aid of step-by-step photographs, he guides the reader through building and finishing each of these models, which are organized in three sections of increasing complexity and encompass a range of scales and different materials. Nine projects are included but the techniques and skills demonstrated along the way, along with valuable advice on tools, construction materials and paints, can be adapted and applied to a much wider range of structures to grace your battlefields.

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Book SynopsisThe Desire For Trading And Sharing Tokens Such As Friendship Bracelets Has Become More Popular Than Ever. Learn Over Two Dozen Braiding Techniques And How To Use The Popular Braiding Wheel In This Easy Book.

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Book SynopsisAre your favorite sweaters covered with cat hair? Are there fur balls piled up in every corner of your home? And do you love to make quirky and one-of-a-kind crafting projects? If so, it's time to throw away your lint roller and curl up with your kitty! "Crafting with Cat Hair" shows readers how to transform stray clumps of fur into soft and adorable handicrafts. From kitty tote bags and finger puppets to fluffy cat toys, picture frames, and more, these projects are cat-friendly, eco-friendly, and require no special equipment or training. You can make most of these projects in under an hour-with a little help, of course, from your feline friends!Trade Review“The year’s most unconventional crafting book.”—Associated Press “Fun and creative.”—Cosmopolitan “This dandy little guide shows how to turn stray clumps of cat hair into soft and adorable handicrafts.”—Tucson Citizen"There's no other word for this book except: purrfect." —Los Angeles Times“One of the most unexpectedly popular, weirdly specific books I ever had the pleasure to shelve.” –Jenn Northington, Book Riot “Intensely cute…”—Publishers Weekly“An extremely helpful guide.”—Buzzfeed“Quirky and the projects are super easy.”—OregonLive.com “It caught our attention.”—The Huffington Post“You may think kitties are only good for getting hair all over your favorite chair and eating more kibble than you thought possible but Crafting with Cat Hair will show you how to turn cat hair into mittens, tote bags, book covers and more.”—CraftFoxes.com “Personal projects that celebrate your cat and they look as cute as can be!”—Neatorama “Put those furballs to work for YOU!”—Suvudu“It’s bizarre, to be sure, but the appliques are kind of cute, too. This is a good one for your cat-loving crafty friends (and you know you have them).”—Austin American Statesman

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Book SynopsisExpress your personal style and make clothes that are comfortable for you and your body!Maybe you learned to sew in school and have a sewing machine, but it hasn''t seen the outside of the closet since your last move. Or maybe you are completely new to the craft, with a lot of enthusiasm, but no idea how to thread your machine. No matter where you''re coming from in terms of experience, this sewing workbook offers four basic patterns--two tops, a skirt, and a pair of pants--that empower you to express your personal style and make clothes that are comfortable for your body type.After explaining the basic concepts of sewing and construction, 100 Acts of Sewing designer Sonya Philip then provides suggestions for mixing the basic patterns together to create new garment iterations as you gain confidence--structural adjustments such as full bust, no bust, long torso, big, small, etc., as well as a range of possible alterations and embellishments including sleeves, pockets, hems, and more! Going beyond simple pattern instructions, this book will make sewing garments accessible for every body type--each pattern comes in sizes ranging from XS to 5X. With inspiring essays on Sonya''s sewing philosophy that speak to the slow and ethical fashion movement, this will be the go-to guide for all aspirational and seasoned sewists.

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Book SynopsisA compilation of a popular 90 s zine that offers hundreds of do-it-yourself tips, skills and life hacks for adventurous souls.

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Book SynopsisRelax and unwind with this stress-relieving colouring book of natural patterns. The art of colouring is a form of meditation, focusing the mind and stilling the endless mental chatter that saps our energy and causes stress and negative feelings. As you start to colour in these beautiful designs you will unleash your inner creativity and find yourself gradually moving to a more peaceful and calming state of mind. You can colour in as little or as much as you like, taking your time to develop your picture the way you want it. There are no hard or fast rules, you are truly free to create your own unique designs using pencils, pens or paints. Start colouring today and enjoy the still, quiet voice of calm this simple meditative practice will bring.

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Book SynopsisIn this fabulous new colour-by-numbers book the 45 illustrations have been separated into segments marked with a number. Each number corresponds to one of 12 colours on a palette which is printed on the cover. Simply fold the flap onto the page opposite your picture to have a handy reference while completing your design. The enchanting pictures inside these pages are all inspired by natural themes and you will relish the challenge of completing these vibrant pictures. All you need is a set of coloured pencils to get started!

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Book SynopsisHouse-elves and merpeople, Cornish pixies and dragons - the wizarding world is populated by an unforgettable cast of magical beings and extraordinary beasts. Filled with detailed illustrations inspired by the Harry Potter films, these twenty postcards feature the magical creatures of the Forbidden Forest, the Great Lake, and much more.

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Book SynopsisEasy Knitting for Kids is the perfect guide for all beginner knitters, with 35 easy, vibrant projects that they will love to make.To start youngsters off, there is a basic techniques section that covers every knitting technique they will need to know, as well as handy information about the yarns, needles, and stitches. The book is then divided into four fun chapters, and each project has easy-to-read instructions, step-by-step artworks, and a difficulty level of 1, 2, or 3, to help children develop their budding skills. In Stylish Knits, they’ll find adorable little bow hair clips and decorative buttons, a panda hat, fingerless gloves, a keyring charm, and lots more. Cozy Knits has pretty mouse mittens, an earflap hat, and a cowl, while Home Knits features fun ideas for children’s bedrooms, such as a heart pillow and a caterpillar doorstop. Fun Knits has cute ideas for toys and other pretty things they’ll love to make, such as an alien plush, a r

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Book SynopsisFollow Michael Caputo''s tutorials for every skill level to make gorgeous quilts and patchwork with 25 modern designs in an array of colorful fabrics.As well as being enjoyable to make, quilting and patchwork projects are a great way of upcycling scraps of fabric. Here, Michael Caputo shows you how to use this flourishing craft to make 25 innovative designs. If you’re a beginner, get started with a simple project such as a seat pillow or some bright coasters and placemats, then practice your skills further with a wonderful color wheel mini quilt. There are full-size quilts which are perfect for more confident quilters, as you can really let your creativity take charge in choosing the fabrics and colors. And don’t forget the reverse—one of Michael’s trademarks is that the wrong side of the quilt is just as splendid as the right side. The templates are included and there is a techniques section, as well as clear step-by-step

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Book Synopsis A unique book exploring the beauty, culture and craft of tools. Tools make our lives better. They help us to measure, plan, make, maintain, repair and make our ideas a reality. They are empowering, giving us the potential to do things for ourselves. Since pre-historic man first sharpened his first stone into a cutting implement, we have relied on tools to help us in carrying out even simple tasks. Nowadays, every industry has its own set of tools. What would a painter be without a brush, or a gardener without a fork? This book seeks to explore our relationship with these most fundamental of objects – those that allow us to realise our potential as makers, problem solvers and doers. Many are rightfully considered as design icons, whilst others reveal the improvisational skills of their owners, tweaked and adjusted to suit specific jobs through trial-and-error. Divided into three chapters – Wood and Stone; Earth, Metal and Glass; and Material, Cloth and Decoration – this book tells the story of 25 featured tools through the eyes of those whose craft and livelihood depend on them. Axes, drills, chisels, shaping tools and more are examined by masters of handmade trades from blacksmiths and spoon makers to sculptors and silversmiths. A range of ‘Collection’ features also showcase the beauty of tools en masse, as Hole & Corner explore the toolboxes of craftsmen including gardeners, upholsterers and architects. Celebrating craft, culture and skill, The Story of Tools explored the time and dedication it takes to make and master tools. This is the perfect read for anyone with a penchant for tools, crafts and beautiful design.Trade Review'Celebrates the often overlooked beauty of the humble tool' * Crafts *'This book would certainly appeal to anyone with a penchant for tools, crafts and beautiful design' * The Woodworker and Good Woodworking *‘A fascinating read' * Gardens Illustrated *

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Book Synopsis'Heartwarming, magical and uplifting'In today's throwaway culture, there's a counter movement growing that urges us to 'make do and mend'. The BBC's BAFTA Award winning The Repair Shop has brought this waste-conscious message to an even wider audience, with its regular viewing figures of 7 million in the UK alone, cementing itself as a classic series in the vein of Antiques Roadshow.This new book concentrates on the show's much-loved experts, including woodworker and furniture restorer Will Kirk, clock restorer Steve Fletcher, metalworker Dominic Chinea, silversmith Brenton West, leatherworker Suzie Fletcher, upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary, and seamstresses Julie Tatchell & Amanda Middleditch - aka The Teddy Bear Ladies. Each of the experts shares their own stories and their repairs, capturing in the process the magic and ethos of the barn. Includes quotations and Q & As from the experts as well as Jay Blades on some unique restoration collaborations.With the focus on the experts themselves, readers will feel as though they're stepping straight into the 'workshop of dreams' and experiencing first hand the magic of the barn.

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Book SynopsisThe book is an illustrated collection of projects carried out in silver and gold reflecting the many interesting personal stories that combine people with a place of significance portrayed in miniature for a special event in their lives. This is the story of forty years of making architecturally-based silverware, from small domes and columns on stud earrings to larger bespoke presentation pieces. The author charts her development from student days to acquisitions by the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts amongst others. Her insights into how to render buildings such as the Pantheon in Rome, the Sydney Opera House or Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre into a brooch, a ring or a box make fascinating reading.

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Book SynopsisTwelve beautiful, mindfully created in-depth portraits of Japanese makers in words and photos, from a bamboo weaver to a tatami mat maker, from a ceramicist to a cook who specialises in puddings. Includes information about different regions to visit in Japan.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA charming kawaii and chibi colouring world of fantastical creatures.

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Book Synopsis''A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate!'' KATIE FFORDEIf you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin, you''ll LOVE Erin Green''s novels of love, life and laughter!''A lovely, heart-warming story of three very different women trying to change their lives for the better . . . I was hooked! I hope there will be many more books in this lovely series!'' CHRISTINA COURTENAY''A delicious Shetland setting and the exquisite writing of Green, come together for a delightful tale of friendship, family and love'' JENNI KEERReaders are enchanted!''A lovely Christmas read . . . made me feel good. Excellent''''An essential for anyone''s pre-Christmas light and relaxing reading list''''I couldn''t put this book down it was that good. . . 10 stars at least''''A wonderful festive read that makes you wish you were there''''This was a beaut

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Book SynopsisMake your own paper plane designs inspired by some of art's greatest names. Simply cut out, fold and fly! Paper plane expert Trevor Bounford has spent years sharing his creative templates for paper pilots of all skill level. Now his ingenious imagination propels the work of some of history's greatest artists to the skies. With 16 templates each reimagining an instantly recognisable masterpiece as an elegantly cultured flying machine simply cut out, fold and enjoy flying these spectacularly swooping works of art. Whether you're launching Hokusai's iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa into the air, or watching Mondrian's Broadway Boogie Woogie soar, the simple instructions and cut out templates in this kit promise paper plane delight! With the designs carefully conceived to reflect a range of artists and art forms the selection also includes the work of Frida Kahlo, Hilma af Klint and Sonia Delaunay.

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Book SynopsisLearn all the essential stitches and skills you need to master the colorful art of plastic lacing. 17 simple but fun projects are provided for making zipper pulls, key chains, bracelets, decorations and more, using both 4-strand and 6-strand lacing techniques. Every braid is clearly illustrated, so instructions are a cinch to follow.

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Book SynopsisThis collection of drawings does not dwell on the tragedy that befell this magnificent ship, but rather seeks to showcase her great beauty, representing the pinnacle of a grand era of style and innovation, with experts Steve Hall and Bruce Beveridge providing insight and commentary.

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Book SynopsisTake this perfectly portable little adult coloring book along wherever you go, and you'll always be ready to color whenever inspiration strikes! Inside you'll find dozens of adorable owls, mandalas, flowers, rainbows, hearts, and so much more. Each charming design is just waiting to be filled with your favorite watercolors, colored pencils, markers, crayons, gel pens, or crayons. Color Cute Coloring Book includes helpful advice on choosing colors, with suggested color palettes and fully colored examples to inspire your imagination. With a lay-flat, top-edge binding, this book is small enough to color anywhere, but big enough for creative fun. Printed on one side only of archival-grade, acid-free, 200-year paper, each perforated page detaches easily for gifting or display.

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Book SynopsisSew chic, dark-toned clothes with this stylish sewing book and add a touch of originality to your wardrobe.Basic Black is the English edition of a classic Japanese sewing book which provides sew-it-yourself Western-sized patterns for 26 basic garments, along with detailed, easy-to-follow diagrams and instructions. Author Sato Watanabe has published many books that are favorites among Japanese sewing fans. In this book, she shows you how to make genuinely professional-quality pieces quickly and inexpensively at home. DIY Sewing designs include: Lace Shirred Blouse Tiered Sleeveless Dress Zip-up Vest with High Neck Frilled Shirt in Charcoal Flannel Short Coat And much more… All of the styles and fashion are easily customized to create your personal style, and there is something for everyone and every occasion in this book—from a bright two-texture combo dress to a relaxed, bohemian tunic—and everything in-between. All the styles are thoroughly modern and practical, ranging from softly feminine or straight-line simple to smartly-tailored or loosely-deconstructed.Simple lines make these garments perfect for women of all ages and all sizes. This book includes a complete western-sized sewing pattern for each design that is easily adjusted to fit your body form. The understated, graceful designs in this book are ones that you'll come back to again and again.Trade Review"BASIC BLACK : 26 Edgy Essentials For The Modern Wardrobe by Sato Watanabe […] with patterns, instructions, and diagrams translated to English. I am liking this one readers! There are cute, fitted, and very wearable styles. YAY!!! Now fitted isn't something I normally associate with Japanese Pattern Books so let's just say I was very pleasantly surprised when I opened this book, thinking it was going to be the typical potato sack/jumper/ smock type stuff from some of the other books I've looked at and sewed from. No. Not at all. There are several things I can't wait to sew for Fall […]" --Sew Country Chick blog"The title of the book is Basic Black, and needless to say, all the garments featured are black. Have no fear if you are not a fan of wearing black though because, with these essential patterns in hand, you can create your own wardrobe in your own favorite colors." --Japanese Sewing Books blog"I'm so excited to add Basic Black, another lovely Japanese sewing book by Sato Watanabe, to my collection! […] I always feel good when I wear black, so I was excited to hear about Basic Black: 26 Edgy Essentials for the Modern Wardrobe. I wasn't disappointed. True to Sato's style there is a pattern in here for everything--26 in fact! Yep, that's right-- 26! Tops, dresses, jackets and more. The fabrics are interesting, and the designs are more body flattering than most of the other Japanese sewing books you see on the shelves. Basic Black is another great English edition of a Japanese sewing book." --Very Shannon blog

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Book SynopsisAn indispensable guide for anyone keen to learn coloured pencil techniques, or for the experienced artist who would like to build on their existing skills. Filled with information on the basic characteristics and colour ranges of the main kinds of coloured pencil, and step-by-step visual demonstrations of key techniques from blending, blocking in and burning to sgraffito, stippling and impressing. The reader will not only discover how professional artists use imaginative and dynamic styles to interpret a wide range of subjects, but they will also be inspired by the 150-plus full-colour illustrations to create brilliant artworks of their own.Trade ReviewBeing a Lecturer of concept art one of the concepts I teach is how to use artists pencils. This book has given me many ideas and is ideal both for students and teachers (as well as want to be artists). I would highly recommend this book and was actually surprised how informative it was as well as giving drawn examples for the basic techniques in the first section. The second section covers a variety of different types of drawing such as portrait and movement. I would perhaps say this is not for the expert however we can all use a refresh whatever our stage and it could be a nice way for a seasoned professional to go over the basics. This is a book I'd highly recommend. * Marian Carr *This is a new edition of the old classic 'Coloured Pencil Techniques' with a brand new cover. It covers everything you need to know about using coloured pencils. From techniques, themes and ample examples from professional artists, you'll discover the many ways of using this medium. Techniques are explained with step-by-step visual demonstrations. Essential reading for artists wishing to master coloured pencil art. * YarnsandFabrics.co.uk *Anyone new to colour pencil will be nothing but impressed at the extensive range of materials that can be used with them along with the range of ideas and demonstrations given in this book. When beginning on any new journey or extending your knowledge, this book will guide you through. It is direct and easy to follow. I think it is important to read the first half of this book, to familiarize yourself with the different elements that colour pencil can achieve. If you are a beginner make sure you read the initial pages, so you understand that the type of pencil you use and the support it is on is of great importance. Also practise your blending (p.26). If you find the prospect of reading all the different ideas overwhelming, choose one and then experiment with it. Perhaps consider doing a colour chart with your pencils, layering colours ontop of one another to see what happens. The second half of the book then shows you the various subject matter, so you can see how these pencils work and what you can achieve. Colour pencils are one of my favourite materials, you can sketch loose and excitedly or you can produce a detailed piece of work. This book takes you on a colour pencil journey so you can see that you can produce the most beautiful works of art in pencil. * Carole Cawley *The pictures in this book made me stare. It was refreshing to have clear pictures showing so much detail and this applies for techniques, demonstrations and artist pictures. The book has given me ideas to use different coloured paper in the same picture for collage work, sketch using unusual colours and for line work. I liked the dialogue beside pictures by professional artists and the wide range of subjects and styles. Coloured pencils are accessible, convenient and easy to use. It is rewarding to see your art work improve and think this inspirational book will be a winner. * Moya tracey *What instantly strikes me about this book is how beautiful it is from front to back. It’s filled with inspirational and high quality printed photos of pencil colouring, plus absolutely jam-packed with tons of step by step guides on a multitude of techniques, which you can see for yourself on the contents page. The book is split into two main sections, “Techniques” and “Themes”. The “Techniques” section introduction contains a useful overview of extra materials that can be useful for coloured pencil work, such as blending sticks, craft knives, and masking tape, followed by guides on handling pencils and choosing paper types, all of which would be useful for beginners wondering where to start. This section also contains plenty of tutorials to use coloured pencils effectively in a range of manners, from commonly practiced methods like blending and hatching, to perhaps less tried techniques like stippling and burnishing. This is my favourite section of the book! Each tutorial is spread conveniently over one double page, so it can be easily referred to without having to flick back and forth. The book is perfect bound, but will lay flat with some pressing. The tutorials each offer an introduction to a colouring technique, a few examples of the technique and elaboration on how to create it, and lastly, in most cases, a beautiful final image that has been created using the technique. Some tutorials go over and above coloured pencil techniques, offering a more diverse range of possibilities, for example use of solvents for blending, and use of mixed media to create distinct work The “Themes” section comprises the latter half of the book. It’s essentially an art gallery in your hands, showcasing a range of coloured pencil art from a range of themes, from Light and Atmosphere, to Buildings, to Decorative Objects, to Nature. All artists whose images are used are credited by name, which means that whenever you find a piece of art you love (and you will in this title!) you can easily search the artists online to find more of their work. For each picture included, there is a step by step visual demonstration, a tip, or some snippet of information that sheds light on the artistic process that went into creating it. The range of artists, techniques, and subjects included makes this book a very well rounded and in depth introduction to coloured pencil techniques. I’d definitely recommend this to beginner colourists/artists and also to intermediate colourists/artists wanting to expand their knowledge base and try new techniques, mediums or subjects. http://blog.megcowley.com/2016/10/25/book-review-the-encyclopedia-of-coloured-pencil-techniques-video-walkthrough/ * Meg Cowley *The Encyclopedia of Coloured Pencil Techniques by Judy Martin lives up to its name. It is a comprehensive look at the various coloured pencil techniques and skills at an artist’s disposal and serves as a great teaching and reference book for both beginners and those who are more advanced alike. The Book is split into two halves – the first half is techniques and the second is themes. It covers a wide variety of techniques including how to handle pencils, using various types of paper, blending and shading, burnishing, overlaying colours, different ways of mark making such as hatching and pointillism, highlighting, eraser techniques, using solvents, frottage, masking, tracing, squaring up or down and fixing problems. the text is easy to follow and there are plenty of full colour illustrations of both finished artwork and in progress pictures to follow. The second part Themes is further split into Landscape and Townscape, Objects, Nature and People and Portraits. It then goes on to explore shapes and textures, light and atmosphere, groups of objects, table settings, fruit, full length portraits and expressions. If you are looking for a good text book that covers artistic techniques and talks about them from an artistic viewpoint this is a great book. * Creative Colouring With Hazel *This was originally published sufficiently long ago that I’ve never reviewed it here, so let’s have a go at it as a Search Press Classic. The Encyclopedia series, originated by the packager Quarto, was ground-breaking in its day. Innovation often looks stale after a few years, but this still has a vitality that won’t leave you feeling you’ve been left with cast-offs, and the information is still sound. Quarto productions are always design-led and usually work on a spread-by-spread basis, so you can open this more or less at random and find a topic covered as completely as it’s going to be – which is with surprising thoroughness, given the space allocated. Quarto are always good at conveying information efficiently. Information contained covers media, styles, subjects and techniques and there are plenty of illustrations to guide and inspire you. * www.artbookreview.net *Here's something a little different- it's not a colouring book but a coloured pencil bible! This expansive book tells you everything you need to know about coloured pencils in a clear and comprehensive manner, covering a range of techniques and approaches to get the best out of your colouring. Painter Judy Martin lives in Brighton and has written many art books since graduating from Reading University. This book showcases all the knowledge and expertise she has learned in her education and practice over the years, in a way that is accessible and approachable for beginners yet suitably elaborate and thorough for more intermediate artists. This encyclopedia features over 150 full-colour examples of artist's work which show as well as tell the reader which products to use and how to achieve skills. This book is suitable for both colourists and artists who draw & colour from scratch, and is in my opinion an invaluable resource for anyone who uses coloured pencils. I'd expect to pay around £25 for a textbook so exhaustive but surprisingly it's a little over £12 which is a bargain in my eyes! http://www.colourwithclaire.com/blog/the-encyclopedia-of-coloured-pencil-techniques * Colour with Claire *Firstly I must stress that this is a book for those who own the artist’s quality pencils rather than the cheaper alternatives. You can learn how to blend, shade, use with solvents, try out frottage and sgraffito and more but only if your pencils are capable of doing all of this. There is certainly room on the market for a book on how to get the best out of all the budget alternatives but until then the more serious colorist/artist can settle down with this classic. The book is in two halves, the first dealing with techniques and the second with themes. You can learn what you need to buy and the differences between the various types of pencils then get down to finding out what they are capable of. They are surprisingly versatile, and when used the right way can conjure up effects that are the equal of paint and have a special quality of their own too. Find out how they look on different types of paper, when used with other media and all the various effects they can do on their own. Brand names are not mentioned but any good art store or website will stock at least one. The themes section comprises of a gallery of all the many subjects you can choose to depict (from the actual physical world rather than fantasy) and each heading features artwork and descriptive captions explaining method. If you have a mental image of a typical colored pencil drawing think again, as the work here shows they can also resemble paint, ink, pastel or even photographs. This is not a book with staged projects – something else there is room for – but one that shows what you can do and explains how others have done it. I would recommend it for somebody who is either a colorist or an existing artist who wants to explore a new medium. * myshelf.com *

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Book SynopsisLearn to Turn is the ideal woodturning book for beginners. If you've considered trying woodturning-but have been intimidated by the tone and scope of the books available on the subject-you'll find this informative book to be an approachable and enjoyable guide that will have you turning in no time. Author Barry Gross, an artist and professional woodturner, offers expert instruction, valuable tips and common-sense advice that will eliminate the mystery while infusing some fun into your turning. Discover how to select the lathe that's right for you, the basics of turning tools and the fundamentals of sharpening, sanding and finishing. This revised & expanded 3rd edition also includes new and very attainable step-by-step projects, a special troubleshooting section that reveals surprisingly simple solutions to common turning mistakes and an inspiring artist gallery of completed works.

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Book SynopsisMore than 30 hypnotic designs form delightful distractions for dedicated colourists. The full-page patterns feature stars, geometric motifs, and other interlocking shapes that create eye-popping optical illusions and three-dimensional effects. Illustrations are printed on one side of the perforated pages for easy removal and display.

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Book Synopsis

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