Hobbies, Games & Quizzes Books

Book SynopsisWith the popularity of Outlander, Penny Dreadful and Game of Thrones - as well as the popularity of conventions like San Diego Comic Con - fans are eager to create period gowns that emulate the characters they love. Lauren Stowell and Abby Cox, owners of the popular online store American Duchess, have teamed together to recreate four complete dresses from the 18th century. Whether readers are experienced seamstresses or are new to hand sewing, they won't want to miss this comprehensive guide. The projects include The English Gown, The Sacque, The Italian Gown and The Round Gown. Each project is broken down into easy-to-follow steps and Lauren and Abby tackle every detail - fabric, patterns, stitch techniques, accessories, shortcuts and troubleshooting. Whether you choose a romantic 1790s muslin gown or a grand sacque gown of silk taffeta, you will feel like you just stepped out of your favorite novel or period of history. Lauren and Abby's company, American Duchess, has been featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Reno Gazette Journal, the Today Show and Garmz.com. Their historically accurate shoes have been used in productions by the New York Metropolitan Opera, Ford's Theater, Broadway's Cinderella, The Jimmy Fallon Show and The Knick. Lauren and Abby have over 32k Facebook followers and over 34k followers on Instagram.Trade Review"In this must-have volume, the American Duchess ladies solve your costuming worries, sharing solid yet accessible research, inspiring images and tips from the sewing trenches in a style that makes historically accurate 18th century sewing more achievable and fun than it's ever been."-Cathy Hay, CEO, Foundations Revealed"Finally we have a book to span the gap between academic research and hands-on sewing instruction for the 18th century. It takes the mystery out of historically accurate technique and presents it in a beautiful and achievable way, grounded in the authors' years of experience in hands-on research."-Cynthia Settje, Owner, Redthreaded Costumes & Corsets

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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 SynopsisSupplemented with clear workshop photography, each insightful pointer has been workplace-tested by the editors. Sharpen your woodworking skills for drilling, sawing, routing, clamping, gluing, joinery, finishing and much more.Avoid common pitfalls and solve everyday problems with materials, tools, techniques, shop organization and maintenance. Even the most experienced woodworker doesn't have all the answers, but this big, well-organized book is the place to find them.Table of ContentsBandsaw tuneup: 18 tips Bandsaw jigs & techniques: 13 tips Scrollsaw: 8 tips Chopsaw: 13 tips Clamp storage: 10 tips Clamp usage: 34 tips Drill Press: 10 tips Drilling: 18 tips Electricity: 10 tips Lighting: 6 tips Batteries: 8 tips Finishes: 19 tips Finishing techniques: 25 tips Refinishing: 9 tips Gluing: 31 tips Jointer/Planer: 19 tips Layout: 35 tips Routers & bits: 15 tips Router techniques: 25 tips Router jigs & tables: 17 tips Sanding by hand: 15 tips Sanding by machine: 16 tips Sharpening: 25 tips Shop storage, tools: 22 tips Shop storage materials & supplies: 24 tips Tablesaw tune-up & techniques: 32 tips Tablesaw blades: 24 tips Tablesaw jigs: 19 tips Joinery techniques & jigs: 15 tips Drawer making tips & techniques: 10 tips Techniques miscellaneous: 16 tips Hand tools: 11 tips Fasteners: 22 tips Machine maintenance: 26 tips Pneumatic tools: 6 tips Turning: 18 tips Wood: 12 tips Workbench: 18 tips Vise: 12 tips Work support: 35 tips

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Book SynopsisExpressive Sketchbooks shares a host of creative ideas and prompts, tools and techniques, methods for working around obstacles and barriers, and tons of visual inspiration to help you grow in your sketchbooking practice. An expressive sketchbook is a place for you to explore, express, and enjoy your own innate creativity on your own terms. It is a safe playground for the imagination—a place to mess about, play, and experiment—and to gain confidence in your abilities as you develop your skills.Expressive Sketchbooks offers techniques and creative exercises that incorporate mark making, watercolor, mixed media, collage, words and text, and more. It unpacks some of the obstacles and barriers that you may face along the way and offers wisdom and encouragement to help you decide why and how to start your sketchbook and how to develop and expand your artistic practice. This book is packed with ideas and exercises, including: Exploratory drawing exercises How to utilize color in your sketchbook How to create dynamic and varied sketchbook pages How to find inspiration in nature and in your everyday life Ways to mix media and art supplies Ways to kickstart your creativity How to find and develop a process that feels personal to you Through this book, you'll find out what lights you up, what makes you curious and fascinated, and what makes you expansive. Discover how to magnify your creativity and enliven your art skills by using an expressive sketchbook as your daily companion.Trade Review"An especially useful, thoroughly art student friendly, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, art school, community libraries." * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsCONTENTS INTRODUCTION: What Is an Expressive Sketchbook? CHAPTER 1: MAGIC AND MOTIVATION CHAPTER 2: GETTING GOING CHAPTER 3: TECHNIQUES FOR EXPLORING AND EXPERIMENTING CHAPTER 4: GROWING YOUR IDEAS CHAPTER 5: PRACTICE AND PROGRESS Acknowledgments About the Author

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Book SynopsisDim the lights, bring out your flashlight and quickly check underneath your bed: this new book will reveal the most adorable amigurumi monsters! Fourteen designers have released their inner Frankenhook. You'll see Solomon Sockeater munching on a pair of tights, YumYum sneaking inside your snack cupboard, Monster Mother soothing her babies with chilling tales of human snoring, Scaredy Eddy holding tight onto his teddy bear and Little Ellla hiding away in her monster suit, ready to spook them all! Beginners as well as advanced crocheters will be rewarded with the scarily cutest monsters you've ever seen! All patterns are accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions as well as explanations of all stitches used, and are easily customizable, so you can make an amigurumonster of your own.

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Book SynopsisTake your art in a bold new direction—go gouache! In Creative Gouache, artist Ruth Wilshaw shares her step-by-step techniques for creating brilliantly vibrant effects with this easy-to-master medium, a perfect companion for transparent watercolor. In this comprehensive guide to gouache, you’ll: Get an overview of essential materials and surfaces. Learn basic handling and coloring-mixing techniques, including layering, creating blends, and adjusting opacity, plus troubleshooting tips for common challenges, such as dealing with shifts in color and value from wet to dry. Explore how to paint fun, simple motifs, flowers, butterflies, landscapes, and lettering. Discover fun gouache techniques, such as adding texture and painting gradients and blends. Learn how to incorporate other mediums with gouache, including paint pens, colored pencil, and watercolor. Use what you learn to create inspiring projects such as dimensional artwork, clay décor pieces, and cheerful banners. See what you can create with gorgeous, wall-to-wall color with Creative Gouache! Perfect for creative beginners, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts. Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES Types of gouache, paper, brushes, other materials, alternative surfaces, and protecting gouache 2 BASIC TECHNIQUES The unusual properties of gouache, layering, finding the perfect consistency, and blending 3 INSPIRED BY NATURE 4 LANDSCAPES 5 LETTERING 6 GOUACHE AND MIXED MEDIA 7 PROJECTS Bullet Journal Spread Wrapping Paper and Gift Tag Notebook Cover Leaf Triptych Night Garden Dimensional Painting Butterfly Case Campfire Panel Celebration Garland Painted Jewelry Dish TEMPLATES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX

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Book SynopsisMake your own fake animal head for an eco-friendly alternative to hunting! This amazing collection of trophy animal heads to crochet will be a stunning addition to any home. Inside this colourful book there are 10 fabulous trophy animals to choose from. Simply place above the fireplace for a great conversation piece or on a child's bedroom wall for a playful decoration. The projects vary in level of complexity and there is a comprehensive techniques section to help you learn all the necessary skills. Each project includes beautifully drawn crochet charts and detailed instructions. Projects include: hare, mouse, ram, bear, stag and zebra.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the joy of embroidery with wool! In this fresh collection of botanical-inspired motifs, Yumiko Higuchi combines wool thread with cotton floss for a modern twist on embroidery. Wool thread creates fluffy, three-dimensional embroidery with a soft, warm texture. Because of its voluminous nature, wool thread stitches up quickly, allowing you to create bold embroidery designs with ease. The collection includes 24 stunning motifs featuring mushrooms, dandelions, poppies, pansies, butterflies, birds, and more, all stitched in vibrant, eye-catching colours. You’ll also find instructions for simple projects that are perfect for showcasing your wool embroidery.

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Book SynopsisColour mixing is a key skill for the botanical artist. In this practical guide, Jackie Isard explains how to observe and use colour accurately. She shows artists how to make informed choices when selecting pigments, as well as how to learn about colour mixing and its application. Detailed instruction and advice are given on understanding colour and pigments. The author explains how to 'see' colour and tricky mixes, from greens and reds to the difficult botanical greys. Includes advanced colour application techniques - colour enhancement, shadow colours and colour temperature transition. Finally, step-by-step guides illustrate how to paint with layers, how to use underlaying colours to enhance, and colour and fine detailing.Trade ReviewThe book is illustrated throughout with Jackie’s beautiful watercolours and provides an in-depth look at the way the right colour choices can transform your botanical paintings. * Leisure Painter *

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Book SynopsisA complete resource for furniture upholstering, with easy-to-follow instructions for all the essential techniques, from covering buttons to stripping and upholstering entire chairs. Includes advice on the basics such as choosing materials and tools for the job and estimating yardage, as well as more complex upholstering techniques.Table of ContentsTools and materials Basic tools Webbings and springs Materials Stuffings, fillings and foam Coverings and linings Textiles Trimmings Techniques Stripping Webbing Springing Working a sprung edge Preparing a hessian base First stuffings Stitching an edge Second stuffings Planning your fabric cuts Attaching new coverings Deep buttoning Vandyking Shallow buttoning Making single and double piping Finishing the chair Close nailing and adding a nail strip Types of Furniture Dining chairs Stuffed over-seats Armchairs Nursing chairs Wood Frames Settees Chaise longues Index

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Book SynopsisDingbatz are an easy way to incorporate the fundamentals of Zentangle into a wide variety of creative projects and bring attention and mindfulness to the smallest corners of your life. Fun complement to hand lettering, scrapbook, and art journaling projects Beginner-friendly with few materials required to get started Techniques to practice and a world full of canvases to bring beauty and joy to othersUse Dingbatz to add flair to whatever you're working onthey provide a wonderful complement to any hand lettering, scrapbook and art journaling project. Small enough to provide a sense of instant gratification when you make them, these Zenbellishments require few materials, making them accessible to all skill levels from beginner to advanced. This book will introduce you to how Dingbatz are constructed, and how to build from that basic structure to create designs uniquely your own.Zentangle Dingbatz includes a variety of projects that will allow you to pr

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Book SynopsisMake a flying start with Colorful Crochet Birds! Designer Ilaria Caliri has designed a friendly bunch of different species. Make a flamingo, puffin, hoopoe, toucan and more. With a wide variety of birds, ranging from exotic species to birds you find in your own backyard, the biggest challenge is choosing which one to make first!

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Book Synopsis Get ready, LEGO(Reg TM) builders: The next challenge in the bestselling LEGO puzzle line is here. And it''s adorable.Calling all animal lovers, welcome to the LEGO(Reg TM) pet show! This 1,000-piece puzzle comes together to reveal a cute collection of LEGO BrickHeadz pets. From a cuddly ginger tabby cat to an adorable French bulldog, this sweet and silly menagerie is a celebration of your favorite furry, fuzzy, and feathered family members. Purrfect for the whole family but just as fun to take on solo, this puzzle showcases the creativity and delight integral to the LEGO brand. LEGO, the LEGO logo, and the Brick and Knob configurations are trademarks of the LEGO Group. 2024 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.ANIMALS FOR ALL: Whether you''re a puppy parent or a cat person, have a hamster home or bird sanctuary, there is a LEGO pet for everyone on this puzzle. These adorable cats and kittens, dogs and puppies (and more!) will delight

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the hit Painting Happiness, quirky and super-popular Instagram artist Terry Runyan presents a playful follow-up in her same charming, unique style – Painting Cats.Trade Review"Painting Cats is exceptionally 'user friendly' for watercolor artists of all skill levels to embrace techniques and lessons in creative mindfulness." * Midwest Book Review *"A true joy." * GeekDad *"A joyful book will inspire cat-loving creatives to pick up their paint brushes." * Library Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction Why Cats? Why Watercolor? Supplies Let’s Paint Cats Color Let’s Play with Some Techniques Storytelling with Cats Exploring Further Resources Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThis origami paper pack contains 500 high-quality origami papers printed with Matrix Optical Illusion patternsbring your origami to a whole new dimension!These exciting black and white designs were developed to enhance the creative work of origami artists and paper crafters. The pack contains 12 different designs unique to this set, and every sheet is printed with a contrasting color on the reverse to provide aesthetically pleasing combinations in origami models that show both the front and back of the sheets. This origami paper pack includes:500 sheets of high-quality origami paper12 unique designsOver 40 sheets of paper for each designDouble-sided color 6 x 6 inch (15 cm) squaresInstructions for 5 easy origami projects

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Book SynopsisGreat dates are made up of great conversations: ones where we find out more about one another, discover what makes us both tick, share some of what we like and reveal how we see the world. This is a collection of cards that can be used out on a date to help provoke the best kinds of discussion. This pack includes 52 cards, each one posing an intriguing question or setting a challenge, designed to provoke, entertain and stimulate. As a bonus, the cards are graded according to how probing they are (Easy, Medium and Hard), so that you can playfully match the discussion with the flow of an evening. Example Questions: How might you entertain a five-year-old child that a friend left you with for an hour or two? Sketch the course of three previous relationships you’ve had. Without thinking too much, complete the sentence: ‘The problem with most of the people I’ve been on a date with is...’ Who would you like to go back and apologise to - and for what? Describe your first kiss? What are the main points you would like to be covered in a speech at your funeral?

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Book SynopsisAn expansion to Martin Wallace''s Wildlands, bringing solo and cooperative play to the critically-acclaimed game, alongside support for 5-6 players.The Ancients, age-old guardians of the arcane crystals, have long slumbered in their secret vaults. Rumored to be invincible sentinels, they have defended their crystals unchallenged for eons. With the fall of the Empire, the most desperate bands of the Wildlands have joined forces to take them down and claim the crystals they protect.Wildlands: The Ancients introduces powerful creatures and new terrains that allow players to play Wildlands solo and cooperatively, as well as supporting play with up to six players.Requires a copy of Wildlands to play.

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Book SynopsisTry free-motion quiltingthe Angela Walters way. Filled with inspiring photos, practical tips for making your quilting its best, and an extensive design library, this compendium leaves no stone unturned. Everything Angela Walters: A treasure trove of free-motion quilting techniques and designs, taking you from start to finish. Includes everything you need to get started, extensive guidance on how to choose and use quilting designs, tips for adjusting designs to your quilt top, and a massive design library!Angela Walters' creative philosophies and inspirations buoy these long-celebrated techniques and designs.

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Book SynopsisIn this highly portable mini version of Chibi Art Class, renowned anime artist Yoai teaches you the art of chibi, step by adorable step.Chibi is Japanese slang for “short,” and popular Instagram anime artist Yoai (@yoaihime) shows you how to draw these adorable doll-like characters in Mini Chibi Art Class. Chibis are mini versions of Japanese anime and manga characters and are defined by their large heads and tiny bodies, both of which contribute to their kawaii, or cuteness, factor. Here, you'll learn how to create chibis’ signature bodies, facial features, and props, including dreamy eyes, fun clothes and shoes, vibrant hair, colorful accessories, and lively backgrounds. You'll also learn how to color and shade your vertically challenged characters for optimal cuteness. This book also features 19 chibi tutorials with simplestep-by-step illustrations and instructions, inspiration galleries, blank body bases for you to start your own chibi drawings, and uncolored chibis for practicing coloring and shading. ​Mini Chibi Art Class is part of a series of adorable mini versions of Race Point art reference books that include Mini Kawaii Doodle Class and Mini Kawaii Doodle Cuties. Thanks to this take-anywhere crash course, soon you will be enhancing your notebooks, stationery, artwork, and more with your own unique chibi world. Mini Chibi Art Class is now in session!

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Book SynopsisMaking a piece of wood move is fun, but making it tell the time is truly amazing! Inside this book you'll find ingenious plans for creating impressive wooden machines that actually move and keep time. These working wooden wonders might just be the most enjoyable projects you ever build in your shop.Wooden gear clocks are not only fascinating to watch, but can be surprisingly accurate timepieces. Just don't expect atomic precision- after all, they're modelled on 17th-century technology! But as you build these clocks you'll use all of the basic principles that still govern mechanical clocks today.Seven well-illustrated step-by-step projects are arranged by skill level from beginner to advanced, and full-sized patterns are attached to the book in a handy pouch. With a little perseverance you'll soon be ticking along happily with your own wooden clockworks. All you have to do is build them, wind them up and let them run-no batteries required.

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Book SynopsisThis paper pack contains 500 high-quality small 4-inch origami sheets printed with colorful and traditional Japanese blue & white designs

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Book SynopsisThe top-selling Sterling Sketchbook series features the popular new Kraft-cover format and includes quality paper and sturdy binding.

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Book SynopsisStart making beautiful crafts from polymer clay! Art Makers: Polymer Clay for Beginners is your step-by-step guide to making trinkets, animals, plants, and more using this fun, easy, and kiln-free craft.Polymer Clay for Beginners introduces artists, art hobbyists, and polymer clay enthusiasts to the versatile, accessible polymer clay medium. Because polymer clay does not require the use of a kiln and needs only baking in the oven, it is an easy, approachable art form for even the most inexperienced artist to learn, as well as kids, families, teachers, and anyone else looking for a fun, boredom-busting hobby or craft. Professional artist and owner of Cat Bear Express, Emily Chen, demonstrates how to make adorable animal figurines, flowers, cookies, cakes, beads, and more through easy step-by-step projects. Each project features colorful, styled photographs demonstrating how finished pieces can be used, displayed, and gifted. A comprehensive tools and materials section and detailed information on techniques, baking, and glazing guide artists in their quest to become polymer clay pros. A modern approach to sculpture art, polymer clay is the perfect choice for beginners and crafting enthusiasts. The Art Makers series is designed for beginning artists and arts-and-crafts enthusiasts who are interested in experiencing fun hands-on mediums, including embroidery and papier-mache.

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Book SynopsisGet up close to the beauty and detail of nature through the artwork of award-winning UK artist, Julia Trickey. See how ordinary and sometimes overlooked subjects, such as leaves and fading flowers, can be centre stage and come to life in this beautiful showcase of some of Julia's best-loved botanical watercolours. Having been a tutor of botanical art for many years, teaching as far afield as Moscow and New York, Julia loves to help others explore the potential of watercolour and to discover the keys to a good botanical portrait. In this book she shares some of these insights as well as the motivation behind her favourite projects, together with some of the processes and watercolour techniques involved. Take inspiration from these glowing, contemporary watercolours in a book that is both beautiful and useful.

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Book SynopsisElegant Hardanger Embroidery: a step-by-step manual for beginners to advanced by Yvette Stanton, provides a thorough course in a beautiful, historical embroidery technique. You will refer to this comprehensive Hardanger embroidery book again and again.Trade ReviewThis book does what it says on the cover. It is a step by step manual for those wishing to learn hardanger to the more experienced Hardanger Embroiderer. In black and white it gives clarity to the charts and designs which would be lost in colour. It is a well thought out book with great attention to detail from reading a Hardanger chart to the stitching order. It removes the mystery of looking at a chart and not knowing where to begin. It even tells you how to fix mistakes!!! Complete and detailed stitch instructions and techniques from Kloster Blocks to a looped picot, this book has it all. Following on from the stitch techniques are a selection of projects to complete. A must for the bookshelf for anyone interested in hardanger. -- Muriel Campbell, Board Chair * Embroiderers Guild *Table of ContentsDiscover what it is like to study as if this wonderful teacher were at your side, as you learn from this wonderful Hardanger embroidery book: how to easily create the stitches of Hardanger embroidery how to work those harder stitches that you donít get in beginners books that you donít need to be afraid of cutting the fabric threads hints and tips that you normally only learn in classes how to fix mistakes how to use your skills to work elegant Hardanger projects

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Book SynopsisDave White introduces the simple but effective techniques that he uses to paint stunning, dramatic seascapes with beautiful and realistic skies. He demonstrates spattering, blending backgrounds, painting horizons, finger painting clouds and foam. There is expert advice on the anatomy of waves and how they rise and collapse, creating ripples, surf, foam and spray. Clear instructions show how to paint effective reflections and beaches to improve your seascapes. The sky section shows effective techniques for painting all types of cloud, with some innovative methods such as tipping up the surface to let dilute paint run, to create cirrus clouds. Dave's method of creating depth in sea, beach and sky using lines projected from the vanishing point will radically improve readers' seascapes. There is a section of moods and sunsets full of beautiful, dramatic examples. Finally three step by step projects show how to paint a beach panorama with a rolling wave, a spectacular sunset over a calm sea and waves crashing on rocks.Trade ReviewIt's difficult for many painters to achieve realistic looking skies and water. Dave demonstrates how to paint both so that you can refine your skills. Simple techniques that any can follow. Take a closer look at waves and cloud formations, I really enjoyed these two sections. There are three step-by-step projects and examples of finished work. Discover how to add a little drama to your acrylic paintings. * Karen Platt- yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *Few artists can resist the temptation to introduce a bit of drama when it comes to painting the sea, and Dave White is no exception. It is, after all, a bit boring if you just paint flat calm and there’s nothing like a good storm to get the juices flowing. Add a nice ripe sunset and you’ll be getting through your dark greens, rich blues and deep reds like there’s no tomorrow! It’s perhaps unfair to start a review like that as this is one of the most thorough and useful books on painting seascapes that I’ve seen in a long time. Dave White is more than sound on achieving that tricky balance between solidity and fluidity in breaking waves and I particularly like his trick of using gulls that skim the surface (as they do) to give scale. His clouds are similarly light, fluffy and ethereal without looking half-hearted or like clumps of cotton wool stuck onto a Cerulean wash. For all that, it’s the drama that’ll strike you on a quick flick through, but you shouldn’t let it put you off. The sea is dramatic and, as I hinted earlier, it should be. Some of the treatments here are a bit over the top for me but, equally, they might be just what you want. In terms of technique and presentation, though, this one’s hard to beat. * Artbookreview.net *January 2016 Painting the sea is one of the greatest challenges for the artist. Constantly in motion, it has far more substance than other types of water that simply flow, or are completely still. To freeze a moment in time while still maintaining that sense of fluidity is not an easy thing to do. Almost all books on painting the sea tend at some point to be a trifle dramatic, and this is no exception. Dave white includes night-time scenes, sunsets and the last rays breaking through backlit clouds, even a helicopter rescue. On waves, spray, translucency and the rather neat trick of including low flying gulls to provide scale, Dave is solidly sound. There’s plenty of variety demonstrations and good solid instruction. * The Artist *Living near the coast in Hampshire, Dave White finds constant inspiration from the sea and skies around him, and in his latest book, sea and sky in acrylics, he shares with us some of the essential elements off of capturing a subject that is constantly moving and changing. Using his preferred medium of acrylics he opens the book with a brief description of the materials you will need, then moves swiftly on to colour and the specific colours you will need to follow the demonstrations in this book, including colour mixes for sky, sea, rocks and beaches for example. The first part concentrates on the sea, describing the techniques to create the rising and falling waves, show wind direction, ripples splashes and reflections. The middle section looks at the sky; clouds, moods and sunsets; then the rest of the book is devoted to projects – a beach panorama, a sunset and waves crashing on the rocks – all with excellent step-by-step diagrams and clear photography. * The Leisure Painter *Table of ContentsIntroduction Materials Colour and opacity Techniques SEA: The splash zone A rising wave A falling wave Surf and ripples Reflections Beaches Wind direction SKY: Selecting a vanishing point Clouds Moods and Sunsets PROJECTS: Beachcomber The Heavens Declare Barton Corner

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Book SynopsisAn empowering guide to the art of embroidery and hand stitching the Alabama Chanin way, from sewing powerhouse Natalie Chanin

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Book Synopsis"Susa's approach to needle felting will give beginners the know-how to get started, but experienced felters will also appreciate her whimsical designs." —Library JournalCute Needle Felted Animal Friends shows you how to create lifelike felted figures that remind you of the pets you love—using a little wool roving, a felting needle, and a few basic tools and techniques. Even more than this, it shows you how to capture their adorable expressions when they're playing hard, napping, or just happy to see you. A sweetly cocked head, perky ears, and a tail that makes you think it's actually wagging—the charm of these miniature figures is all in the details! Easy step-by-step instructions and photos show you how to make the basic shapes and components, then how to add details like long or curly hair, spines, and stripes, as well as little faces that are utterly irresistible. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to portray the unique poses and expressions of beloved pets from your own life. And just like your pets, this needle felting book is so friendly that even novice felters will have no trouble making these miniature animal figures, including: A perky Yorkshire Terrier An elegant Russian Blue Cat A playful Tabby A sleepy Mottled Cat A Holland Lop Rabbit A curly Toy Poodle A fluffy Pomeranian A dapper French Bulldog Matching mom-and-pup Chihuahuas A sweet Pygmy Hedgehog And many more! Trade Review"Simply stated, Cute Needle Felted Animal Friends is unabashedly and enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Contemporary Needlecrafting instructional reference collections." --Midwest Book Review"The book's written instructions are concise and complete. Laid out with the crafter in mind, the book measures 10" x 7.5", so both illustrations and numbered instructions are easy to see. It is printed on high quality paper and is an appealing and durable crafting book. Cute Needle Felted Animal Friends is visually inviting inside and out, full of fun projects created by an expert whose easy-to-follow instructions build confidence at every step." --Foreword

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Book SynopsisHome is where the heart is, so what could be more rewarding and enjoyable than stitching up these projects to decorate your home? Patterns are suitable for both beginner and advanced cross stitchers. There are many pretty, bright, and modern projects including colorful samplers, uplifting quotes, seasonal flowers, animals and plants, pretty sewing motifs, and many more designs to choose from. The only question is which one to stitch first? The projects are designed to be versatile, so make them up as wall hangings, framed pieces, cards, gifts, pillows, tote bags, and more! AUTHOR: Cheryl McKinnon is the designer behind the cross stitch company Tiny Modernist. She was an artist and fashion designer before finding her true passion designing cross stitch patterns. Her designs often use retro themes, bright colour palettes, and bold graphic elements, and are influenced by her love of retro modern, vintage kitsch, Charley Harper, Mary Blair, William Morris, and mid-century fashion and design. Her work can be seen in numerous books and magazines, such as Cross Stitcher, World of Cross Stitching, XStitch Magazine, Cross Stitch Crazy, Herrschners, and Craftways Christmas.

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Book SynopsisTurn simple shapes into stylish makes and crochet your own colourful collection of 15 granny-square garments and accessories!

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Book SynopsisCross Stitch My Home contains beautiful projects that celebrate the little pleasures in life from talented designer Tania Santarelli of Lilli Violette. Embroider joyful moments at home, reminiscent of baking cookies, gardening, walking in the fields, enjoying the seasons and reading a book by a cosy fire. From cushions and aprons to framed pictures and table runners, let your needle and thread design sweet moments of everyday life. Cross stitch charts are included for all projects and are suitable for beginners to advanced cross stitchers. Perfect as gifts for friends and family, add a little enjoyment to your life with these wonderful cross stitch designs.

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Book SynopsisThe amazing book contains more than five thousand pop music pub-quiz questions at various difficulty levels, ranged from easy to medium and hard. There are themed quizzes on a huge variety of musical subjects including genre quizzes (like indie, hip hop and heavy metal), legendary artists (like Elton John, Queen and Madonna) and specialist decade quizzes, as well as pot-luck quizzes for an extra challenge. This book contains all you need for setting your own pub quizzes or brushing up on your musical knowledge for your next competition.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of 52 Things to Do While You Poo, this hilarious mix of fart-themed puzzles and trivia will blow your socks off! Roaring from the rear, belching from behind, tooting the trouser trumpet – whatever you call it, we all fart, some of us more than others (and some a lot more than others). Everyone knows a committed farter – with their knowing smile, never shying away from taking full responsibility. So give them the recognition they deserve: a book celebrating their greatest skill, full of activities and puzzles to keep them engrossed, along with fascinating fart facts that’ll blow their mind. From bestselling author and brain-teaser Hugh Jassburn, this illustrated collection includes the following delights and more: Find the “stink”, “smell” and “stench” in one of many word searches Discover the chemical composition of farts and how much gas you pass per day Spot the differences between flatulent attendees at a yoga class Fill in the fart clouds in several rounds of sudoku Enjoy a selection of fart quotes from the likes of Robin Williams, Andy Samberg and Billy Connolly Whether you’re on the john or under the covers, 52 Things to Do While You Poo: The Fart Edition is an unforgettable experience, as playful as it is pungent.

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Book SynopsisCarla Sonheim is an artist and creativity workshop instructor known for her fun and innovative projects and techniques designed to help adult students recover a more child-like, playful approach to creating. Her innovative ideas are now collected and elaborated on in this unique volume. Carla offers a year's worth of assignments, projects, ideas, and techniques that will introduce more creativity and nonsense into your art and life. Drawing Lab offers readers a fun way to learn and gain expertise in drawing through experimentation and play. There is no right or wrong result, yet, the readers gain skills and confidence allowing them to take their work to a new level.

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Book SynopsisWhether we’re big or small, it can be hard to get away from our screens. Most children spend between five and seven hours a day looking at some form of screen – and most grown-ups spend twice as much time. Screens promise endless entertainment, but the more time we spend with them, the more we lose sight of all that is strange, fascinating and delightful in the world around us. Even when we’re stuck indoors, there are infinite possibilities for banishing boredom and having fun so long as we use our imagination. All we need are a few helpful suggestions.... No-tech Fun contains 80 of the weirdest and most wonderful activities children can do at home , all without using a screen. Rather than scrolling or tapping, you’ll be invited to draw, make, write, invent, dress up, hide, seek and discover. You can paint like Picasso or meditate like Buddha; become an indoor entomologist or a home Olympian; make up a new language or a mythical creature; and even find the fun in some household chores. Inventive and irreverent, this book is the perfect companion for humdrum days and wet weekends. It is a compendium of the world’s strangest, silliest and most stimulating activities.

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Book SynopsisAhead of the Curve is the first sewing book to empower curvy and plus size women to feel body confident by sewing a wardrobe that fits.Don’t change your body to fit your clothes – change your clothes to fit your body!Ahead of the Curve includes 5 basic garment patterns (UK sizes 16–36/US size 12–32/EUR sizes 44–64), which includes a pair of trousers, a t-shirt, a sleeveless top and two dress designs. Jenny takes you through a series of “Fit Clinics” – tutorials and case studies demystifying the fitting process – showing you how to adjust these patterns to master the perfect fit for your body shape. Once you have got to grips with this, you can go on to customize your closet and create an unlimited array of fantastic clothes that celebrate your body.If you’re curvy or plus size, trying to find clothes that fit and reflect your personal style can be incredibly difficult and frustrating. Plus size women feel constantly excluded and like they can’t express their personality through clothes. This book finally changes that.Trade ReviewCashmerette are pioneers when it comes to plus-size patterns. * Simply Sewing *

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