Hobbies, Games & Quizzes Books

Book SynopsisLearn the basics of paper-piecing with renowned teacher Carol Doak with step-by-step instructions for perfect blocks every time. Create your own wall quilt by sewing blocks that can be completed in three simple steps! Suitable for all skill levels!

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Book SynopsisThe author unpicks the threads that link female textile artists and the arts they produce, revealing a global and historic patchwork of assorted roles, identities and representations. Entertaining as well as informative, this book offers a unique overview of female-centric textile art production including embroidery, weaving, soft sculpture and more. Includes over 20 interviews with contemporary textile artists, providing fascinating insights into their practices, themes and personal motivation. Tells us: How knitting became a spying device in wartime Why dress design was so important for the Suffragettes Why spiders were emblems in ancient times and now How women's arts and crafts moved from the backroom to the gallery showroom.Trade ReviewUnravelling Women's Art isn't only a compelling read, although it is indeed just that. Its focus on the creators, rebels and innovators who have added to the powerful canon of works - by women - in, of and about textiles is comprehensively referenced, elegantly constructed into meaningful and valuable sub-genres, and populated with illuminating examples of both known and lesser-known women practitioners. A timely and attractive publication, Unravelling Women's Art lives up to its title, un-peeling, un-doing and un-tangling a complex and expanded territory, making delightful work of revealing its joyous, eclectic and culturally vital secrets, polemics, and fine and delicious conversations!--Professor Catherine Harper "University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK."; “We’re in a time of #imitation of ‘#influence’ in which people crave acceptance by others – afraid to go against the herd. The Herd Rules. This great book is about the rebels, the pioneers, the loners.” – Bonnie Greer, writer;“The book I had to dive straight into when I got it was Unravelling Women’s Art by P.L. Henderson, and a fascinating read it i. Looking at the way craft and art was separated and how textile art has developed through the years with wonderful artist interviews.” – Indie Bookshops and Publishers, end of week roundup; “It’s a thrilling story – exploring the global and historic patchwork of assorted female roles, identities and representations expressed through the needle arts so long overlooked, and covering female-centric textile art production including embroidery, weaving, soft sculpture and knit, not just in the western canon but in cultures around the world. Not merely a scholarly text, its ambitious scope makes for a compelling read, thanks to Henderson’s exuberance in championing women’s textile art.” Pg 57 March/April 2022 | Embroidery (embroiderymagazine.co.uk)

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Book SynopsisEnter a fantastical underwater world through 600+ stickers!Whether you're an artist, decorator, or sticker collector, Chloe Standish''s Sticker Studio: Atlantis will immerse you in creativity with more than 600 gorgeous, full-color stickers. This gallery of high-quality sticker art and sea-struck quotes dives deep to share the beauty, wonder, and peace of marine lifefrom spectacular shells, starfish, and coral to marvelous fish, turtles, and octopi. You'll even discover deep-sea mysteries held within messages in bottles, treasure chests, and abandoned anchors.- Use in creative projectsfrom collages to scrapbooks- Adorn home décor and personal items with ocean-themed art- Jazz up cards, letters, and wrapping paper- Cherish as an artistic keepsake with words of wisdom reminding you to seek beauty beneath the surface- Share as a gift with those who draw inspiration from the sea With hundreds of stickers celebrating sea curiosities,

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Book Synopsis1000 piecesFinished puzzle is 29 x 20 inches (74 x 51 cm)Quality design & easy to handle piecesFeatures full color photos of more than 60 types of sushi and the names of eachThis fun and challenging puzzle will be enjoyed by the whole family (and may lead to sushi cravings!). It features more than 60 types of sushifrom nigiri and gunkan to norimaki and temaki. The name is written in English, Japanese and a romanized form under each photo, making this a great way to learn proper sushi terminology and make takeout ordering easier.

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Book SynopsisFor those wishing to perfect their sewing skills, the Focus on Fashion Details series includes 4 books with sewing instruction pages that correspond to specific details for constructing men's, women's and children's garments. These detailed pages give the necessary patterns for tracing and show how to make them step-by-step. Written in simple language for universal comprehension, each step is easy to follow with sketches. Simplified secrets and tricks from the ready-to-wear industry for home sewingTable of ContentsCollars Crew neck Round collar Shirt collar Shirt waist collar Curved stand collar Tailored collar Measurement charts for neckline ease values and openings for children's, women's and men's wear s Sleeves Set-in sleeve Raglan sleeve Kimono sleeve Tailored sleeve Tailored sleeve vent Measurement charts for sleeve lengths and widths Plain cuff Facings and linings For fitted necklines Front facings Raincoats front facings Outlines for straight skirt and trouser linings Linings for sheathed dress, vest, jacket and coat Outlines for jacket and coat canvas or interlinings Lexicon

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Book Synopsis"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Whether used as a reference or a beautiful keepsake, it's a very worthy addition to the world of Mah Jongg." —Ruth Unger, President, National Mah Jongg LeagueThis is the first book to fully capture the story of the exotic and exciting game of Mahjong or "Mah Jongg," offering an intimate look at the history of the game as well as the visual beauty of the tiles. When authors Ann Israel and Gregg Swain began playing Mahjong, they were unaware of the vintage collections that existed not only in the United States but also across the globe. Slowly, they started to collect their own sets of Mahjong and as their collections grew, so did their appreciation of the history of, and interest in, the game.Finding few references, Israel and Swain set out to create a book that chronicles the early beginnings of the game and documents Mahjong sets from the most basic, made of paper, to the most precious materials such as ivory and mother-of-pearl. Recognized and respected scholars and game experts have collaborated with Israel and Swain, contributing essential chapters on the game's history and its pieces as well as technical information on the tiles. Lastly, prominent collectors from around the globe have shared their incredible sets and memories for the first time in one book for everyone to enjoy.With hundreds of beautiful new images by renowned photographer Michel Arnaud, and including historical documentation and ephemera, Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game fills the void between the past's and today's game, providing vision, inspiration and resources. Anyone who has ever been intrigued by a Mahjong tile will find in these pages visually stunning photographs that will entice them into becoming an enthusiast of the timeless game of Mahjong.Trade Review"Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game … delves into … cast-stone tiles and ambitious manufacturers' experiments with plastics and composites like Pyralin and Ebonite." --New York Times"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Whether used as a reference or a beautiful keepsake, it's a very worthy addition to the world of Mah Jongg." --Ruth Unger, President, National Mah Jongg League"This handsome book is the first to give a history of the tiles used in the game of Mah Jongg. The concept of the game and the symbols on the tiles are explained, and then the wide variety of materials used in making the tiles is discussed and illustrated. Presented in brilliant color and beautifully designed, Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game would be a welcome addition to the bookshelf or coffee table of any art lover. For Mah Jongg players, it's a must!" --Elizabeth Stillinger, author of The Antiquers and A Kind of Archeology: Collecting American Folk Art 1876-1976

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Book SynopsisStart free-motion combination quilting and take your projects to the next level with best-selling author Christina Cameli. Perfect for quilters who are comfortable with allover and repeated designs, this comprehensive guide will build upon these simple skills so that quilters have the confidence to combine designs the way professional quilters do.Trade ReviewThis is not an instruction book but rather a design reference book for free-motion quilting patterns. It starts with simple designs in the Motif Library. Five important Allover Designs are shown next followed by Essential Skills. These include listening to your intuition when quilting to help decide what to put where, echoing, managing tight spots, working within a defined area and understanding density. Quilting designs follow with many suggestions. For each design, a full page of the drawn pattern is shown along with the directions of travel and a close up image of fabric quilted in the design. They are varied and are also shown in combinations with each other. Practice is key and drawing the designs several times first on paper is recommended to ensure you learn how the design will work on your fabric. For those wanting to stretch their free-motion quilting, this is an ideal reference book. Lots of designs and combinations which will help develop your design library. -- British Patchwork & Quilting * British Patchwork & Quilting *

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Book SynopsisLettering is a new trend which, in just few months, has collected a wide number of fans around the globe. It is the art of creating wonderful and elegant handmade writings to personalise cards, placeholders, agendas or notes. This manual will guide enthusiasts in the discovery of the ideal techniques, tools and alphabets for creative lettering, and will teach them, step by step, to create their own creative lettering. After the first volume published by White Star, The Art of Hand Lettering, a new complete volume to develop a personal alphabet as well as mastering a range of fonts perfect for different occasions. Lot of pages to exercise and useful tips for the perfect tools.

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Book SynopsisOver the past few years the great chess player Garry Kasparov has written five best-selling books praising the contributions to chess made by the previous world champions. The series is called ''My Great Predecessors''. As a reaction to this wonderful series of books, leading chess writer Tibor Károlyi has written this imaginary sixth volume. In gently humorous – but chessically serious – style, the author imagines Kasparov is annotating over 70 of his own lost games, and blaming all these defeats on the bad influence of each of the previous world champions, providing in-depth analysis to show how he was misled by them. The book also serves as a highly instructive, practical chess book – to beat Kasparov, the greatest player of all time, took some pretty special chess, and readers will enjoy learning from this. It is astonishing how the author has managed to find so many games that exhibit uncanny similarities between Kasparov and his predecessors, which makes the content of the book extremely plausible – as if Kasparov himself were writing it. This is a brilliant and totally original chess book that could only have been written by someone with great knowledge of Kasparov and the past world champions.

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated and practical book covers a wide variety of materials and processes, and tells you everything you need to know about building model railway coaches. Master modeller, George Dent, guides the reader through the necessary techniques and skills. All aspects of the subject are covered from kit building in metal, plastic, resin and wood; soldering, weathering, painting and lining; 3-D printed kits and components; adding passengers to the carriages; upgrading off-the-shelf models; kit assembly, scratch-building and finishing.

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated guide to Chinese paper collage art demonstrates the techniques and philosophy behind this creative and fun art form.Paper collage art has a special charm. It can be as exquisite as oil painting or as freehand (xieyi) as ink wash painting. A paper collage art is a perfect mean to express humor and romance, demonstrate subjective perspectives and emotions, record special moments, and depict favorite scenes. Collage Art teaches you how to pick up some magazines, newspaper, and color paper around you that are no longer needed and put your ideas onto a piece of paper. You can create some decorations for your desk, bedroom, office, as well as some collage crafts for your friends on festivals and weddings. These collages not only present your unique style but also will also get lots of compliments!Trade Review"Since these techniques are appropriate for all skill levels and ages, many readers may enjoy sharing this book with their children (or their parents)." —Library Journal"Paper Collage Chinese Style provides an excellent intro to a niche papercraft, and a fascinating insight into Chinese papercrafting and artistic traditions." —The Papercraft Post blog"The book is divided into four chapters plus an introduction. In the introduction the concept of paper collage is explained. The introduction explains that the techniques in the book are based off of traditional Chinese painting. Chapter One explains the basics and creativity of paper collage and then Chapter Two discusses the materials, tools and basic techniques. Chapter Three and Chapter Four have projects!! … The projects get harder and more artistic as they go … They look so amazing! I love how easy the book makes it look and how creative you can be with the projects. I can imagine using them for framed art or to make special cards." —Crafty Moms Share blog

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Book SynopsisWhether you''re a nameless Dark Lord looking to conquer the known world, a Champion of Light holding out against the forces of evil or a Northern barbarian facing claimants to a stolen throne, Dragon Rampant allows you to bring those battles to the tabletop. Developed from the popular Lion Rampant system, Dragon Rampant is a standalone wargame that recreates the great battles of Fantasy fiction. Scenarios, army lists, and full rules for magic and monsters give players the opportunity to command unruly orc warbands, raise armies of the undead, campaign across an antediluvian world as the warchief of a barbarian tribe, or exploit the power of mighty creatures and extraordinary sorcery. An army usually consists of 6-8 units comprised of 6-12 individually based figures. These small units move and fight independently, assuming that they follow your orders rather than just doing their own thing. Command and control is just as important on the battlefield as the power of a troll chieftain or Table of ContentsOverview/ Understanding the basics/ Playing the game/ Army lists/ Strategies and tactics/ Sample armies/ Scenarios/ Campaigns

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Book SynopsisTransform your home with this collection of beautiful crocheted homewares by talented crochet designer and blogger Emma Lamb. Choose from 20 different projects to prettify your home such as gorgeous flower garlands, vintage inspired blankets and throws, and delightful doilies and cushions.Talented designer Emma Lamb brings her unique style and eye for design to this stunning collection of contemporary crochet projects. Whether you are new to crochet or an experienced stitcher looking for wonderful new project ideas, this book is sure to appeal. Emma''s technique for combining colours and subtle but stunning designs makes these projects stand out from other crochet titles. Includes techniques and crochet charts as well crochet patterns.Trade Review"The vibrancy of Emma Lamb’s Crochet Home is something that can’t be ignored. You immediately want to raid your yarn collection and get started. The photography is wonderful as well – I want her house!" -- Elena Thompson * Homemaker Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Terminology and chart symbols Hook, yarn and tension Garlands and decorations Forever flower garland Polka dot streamers Geometry garland Snowflake garland Paper flower charms Dreamcatcher Oversized wallflowers Potholders Fabulous rose potholder Daisy filet potholder Vintage folk medallion Simple folk circle Olga folk octagon Cushion covers Luella squares cushion Mabel pinwheel patchwork cushion Triangulation cushion Fabulous rose cushion Nubby popcorn cushion Blankets and throws Aggie floor throw Petal patch blanket Scrappy pinwheel blanket Basic stitches About the author Acknowledgments Suppliers Index

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Book SynopsisInstructions for making doll scenes from Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, Tom Thumb, Rapunzel, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and many more.Table of ContentsIntroduction 7 Using fairy tale scenes with children 9 BASIC PATTERNS AND TECHNIQUES 11 Needle-felting 11 Needle-felting the doll’s head 12 Wet felting 13 Wet felting the doll’s head 13 Making the face 14 Making the hair 16 Making the body 17 Felting flat sheets 19 Stitches 21 Doll measurements 23 SPRING 25 Cinderella 25 Snow White and Rose Red 29 Rapunzel 35 SUMMER 37 Sleeping Beauty (Little Briar-Rose) 37 AUTUMN 47 Thumbling 47 Rumpelstiltskin 51 Bother and sister 57 WINTER 61 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 61 Hansel and Gretel 67 Mother Holle 77 ADDITIONAL TALES AND SCENES 81 Star Money (a birthday fairy tale) 81 The royal family 87

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Book SynopsisEnter a sparkling snowscape of illusion and creativityExplore a snowcapped universe of color and imagination. Mythographic Color and Discover: Frozen Fantasies is a glittering gallery of surreal wonders, icy kingdoms, and dazzling tundras presented in spectacular detail by artist Fabiana Attanasio.Skate along exquisite drawings of frosty illusions, crystalline castles, and snow-dusted landscapes that expand your creativity and your senses. Give a touch of artistry and color to more than 40 enthralling, hand-drawn illustrations, and uncover the hidden objects buried amongst the snowy surfaces of each one. Color the polar wonderlands, wintry beings, and frozen oases of Mythographic Color and Discover: Frozen Fantasies.

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Book SynopsisThis delightful embroidery planner is a helpful, convenient way to track projects both individually and in the context of larger goals. There are no dates, so you can start at any time.

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Book SynopsisDive deep into the history of the world's most popular fantasy RPG livestream with the cast of Critical Role in this definitive guide featuring never-before-seen illustrations and photos.From its unassuming beginnings as a casual home game between friends to the role-playing phenomenon it is today, Critical Role has become the stuff of legend. These pages chronicle how a circle of friends who all happen to be talented voice actors built the most-watched tabletop role-playing livestream of all time.Discover dazzling new illustrations and richly written insights into the locations, characters, and adventures featured in the hundreds of episodes across Critical Role's two campaigns, Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein. Go behind the scenes with archival photos and exclusive interviews with Dungeon Master Matt Mercer and the entire Critical Role cast as they explore their characters' most triumphant moments and darkest hours. And celebrate the massive community of Critters who support and expand the show's world through a highlighted tour of the crafts, cosplay, and art they create every day.Featuring a foreword from the cast, lush illustrations, and the inside story you won't find anywhere else, this book is your indispensable guide to Critical Role.The adventure begins!

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Book SynopsisAn inviting collection of lush botanical drawings to colour, created in mixed-media artist Rachel Reinert's lovely and distinctive style. Reinert's fresh take on modern florals has earned her a following among private collectors and interior decorators and Botanical Wonderland makes her aesthetic accessible to everyone. The book includes some finished, fully coloured botanical paintings to inspire would-be artists to draw their own beautiful works.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect gift for any music lover . . . 'Hepworth has more insider knowledge and knows more rock anecdotes than any man alive' The Herald'Unmissable for music enthusiasts' Woman & HomeThe Rock and Roll A Level is here to rescue the pop quiz from the grip of bores who know the chart position of everything and the value of nothing.It's for the people who like pop music because it tells them so much about real life, the people who learned about America from the songs of Chuck Berry, about Europe from the albums of David Bowie and about all manner of things from the songs of Steely Dan.It's the first quiz book where the answers are as interesting as the questions.It's the first quiz book where general knowledge matters as much as an adolescence spent reading the NME or Smash Hits.It's a proper education.

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Book SynopsisSketch Workshop: Mech and Weapon Design is 3dtotal’s answer to the question: “Why can’t I draw mechs or weapons like that?” Designed for beginners and hobbyists alike, it’s a fun and innovative way for people of all ages to find the inspiration they need to draw. With four sketching projects by professional artists, the goal is to help people learn to draw their own mechs and weapons!

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Book SynopsisContaining 15 fantastic space-themed projects to make, The Space Craft Book will get children crafting and creating in no time. Aimed at boys and girls aged 3+, all of the projects can be made either from readily available items or from easy-to-source materials, parents can have little to no crafting experience to help! As well as space outfits to wear and essential astronaut accessories, there are also space-themed cakes and nibbles to make too. Projects include: constellation nightlight, space boots, mission control desk, booster pack, walkie talkie, giant cardboard rocket.

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Book SynopsisWith instructions for 21 basic embroidery stitches and 6 projects, all in Laura's signature colourful, whimsical style, you'll transform a flat, plain surface into a joyful, design-packed art piece. Stitch on wool, felt, or silk, and enjoy the simple pleasure of slow stitching. Includes a gallery of display ideas, as well as additional ideas for using free-form stitching.Trade ReviewJoyful Stitching, a very apt title as the cover of the book makes you smile and want to look further. The book is nice to handle and is full of colour photos that show every stage of creating the many sample illustrated. As it says on the cover with this book you can learn how to 'transform fabric with improvisational embroidery' and have a lot of fun in the process. The detail given about the materials, threads and stitches is very clear, excellent for a beginner but not too distracting for the more experienced embroiderer. Stitch on wool, felt, or silk and enjoy the simple pleasure of stitching. The author also uses a lot of variegated skeins which adds a lot of the liveliness. I really felt that I wanted to have a go at creating something so colourful and 'joyful' either following one of the authors designs - A Rare Songbird, A Tasty Bite of Apple, Yellow Landscape - or even making up one of my own. -- Anne Sandwell * Sew Region Magazine *This latest title from textile artist Laura is a feast of colour. Useful advice on materials and tools is followed by detailed instructions for twenty-one popular stitches, each illustrated in full colour. There are six gorgeous projects to stitch, all very compact and achievable, using a wide variety of different threads in delicious bright colours. Full sized templates are included where required with helpful suggestions for further projects. A delightful book suitable for all abilities. -- Embroiderers Guild * Embroiderers Guild *Joyful Stitching offers a bright and colorful, simple approach to embroidery combined with wool felt and appliqué. If you love wool felt, appliqué, a folksy look, embroidery, texture, and color, Laura’s projects will be right up your stitching alley! Lovely presentation in color, good instruction, fun projects, very accessible to beginners and terrific even for advanced embroiderers who want to simplify and rev things up with a lot of color! -- Mary Corbet * Needle 'n Thread *This is the ideal book for anybody who thinks that embroidery is too “quiet” for them. Perhaps it conjures up images of florals and practical items such as tea towels? As it says on the cover with this book you can learn how to “transform fabric with improvisational embroidery” and have a lot of fun in the process. As soon as I saw the bright, folk art inspired image of a bird on the cover it made me want to start stitching. As the author says in her introduction you can really bring fabric to life with embroidery and the projects in here all demonstrate this. Most books on freestyle embroidery use 6-strand floss on cotton or linen, but this one uses perle thread on silk, wool and felt. The author also uses a lot of variegated skeins which adds a lot of the liveliness and also omits having to buy a very large number of shades of each color. The book starts with a brief overview as well as a section on what you need and how to use it. This includes how to use perle thread, methods of transferring designs to silk, wool and felt and buying the right needles and fabric. Each stitch is then shown in several good sized captioned photographs; these are easy to follow and I like the contrast between thread and fabric. Stitches are listed alphabetically and comprise all the basic freestyle stitches plus a few useful extras. The rest of the book contains the six projects which are wonderfully bright depictions of an apple, bird, heart filled with flowers, stylized plants, hand of fortune and a landscape with a house and lake. Each project covers several pages and contains a fair number of captioned photographs, list of what you need complete with a photograph of the threads plus instructions on finishing. The projects are pictures rather than functional items to be enjoyed as they are. US embroiderers can buy the variegated threads, hand dyed fabrics and even kits of the projects in the author’s online store; those in other countries will need to look elsewhere. This aside I found this to be a beautiful and inspiring book, ideal for anybody of any level who wants to see where freestyle embroidery can take them. -- Rachel Hyde * myshelf.com *

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Book SynopsisMovie Jigsaws are a fun way of celebrating a series of iconic films, in the same format as the bestselling World of Shakespeare literary jigsaw

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Book Synopsis.Welcome to the Mini Kingdom! Designer Olka Novytska (AradiyaToys) shares her passion for amigurumi with 36 themed Minis. The King and Queen are throwing a big crochet feast. The Drummer announces the event to the whole land. The Astronomer knew you were coming, of course, it was written in the Crochet Constellation. Let’s just hope the Joker and the Fairy don’t play any pranks on tonight’s yarn stash. The Prince, accompanied by his trusty Knight on horseback, is visiting the villagers. Do you want to come and crochet along? Make and explore this bustling little kingdom! Each Mini stays upright on its own, so they make perfect toys for playful little dreamers. You can swap the hair pieces and hats of the figures as you wish, to create even more unique characters for your very own amigurumi realm! With step-by-step pictures and video tutorials, beginners as well as advanced crocheters will enjoy this book!

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Book SynopsisEvery hero needs an origin story and this can be yours! Written with new gamers in mind, the Basic Hero's Handbook streamlines and clarifies the flexible, robust third edition rules of Mutants & Masterminds. With simplified character creation and a selection of ready-made adventures, the Mutants & Masterminds Basic Hero's Handbook lets players jump right into the action. The book is fully compatible with the Deluxe Hero's Handbook and the entire library of third edition Mutants & Masterminds supplements, instantly expanding your character options and adventure potential. Whether you're just getting started, or want an extra player-friendly reference at the table, the Mutants & Masterminds Basic Hero's Handbook is the choice for your world-saving needs!

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Book SynopsisStarting a chess game with 1 e4 e5 is so common that the resulting complex of opening systems traditionally commands its own sobriquet, "The Open Games" (1 e4 met by other replies are "Semi-Open Games" and everything else comes under "Closed Games"). The central structure with pawns on e4 and e5 often leads to play based around highly classical themes which are the bedrock of successful chess understanding. ----- First Steps is a new opening series and is ideal for improving players who want simple and straightforward explanations. First Steps emphasizes: ----- * the basic principles --- * the basic strategies --- * the key tricks and traps ----- First Steps books are based around carefully selected instructive games which demonstrate exactly what both sides are trying to achieve. There is enough theory to enable the improving player to get to grips with the opening without feeling overwhelmed. If you want to take up a new opening, First Steps is the ideal place to start.Trade Review"Throughout the coverage is extremely clear and should be especially of use to juniors and the weaker club player." --- Sean Marsh, CHESS Magazine ----- "This is a fun and informative book. While some of the material is basic ... much of it stresses the micro-principles that when adhered to lead to winning chess play. First Steps: 1 e4 e5 is more of an instructional manual about piece activity in the open games than an opening book, as such it is suitable for a broader range of players than its title suggests." --- Mark Donlan, ChessCafe.com

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully produced compendium gives you a knot challenge for every day of the year. With hundreds to choose from, all colour coded by use, you can work through the book from start to finish, gradually building on your knowledge as you go, or alternatively dipping in and out for your daily knotting fix.Covers:- all the essential knots- useful hitches, bends, whippings and splices- handy knots for making outdoor items: plant hangers, harnesses, tree swings, rope ladder- mini knot craft projects: cool keyrings, friendship bracelets, belts, mats - magic ''trick'' knots: escapology knots, vanishing knots, travelling knots- freestyle knots: have a go at the ''thrown bowline'' (an old cowboy trick) - everyday fashion knots - new ways to tie your shoelaces, scarf, or even your tie!You won''t escape this book without learning something, and you won''t put it down without picking up an interesting fact or useful technique. Give it a month and you'll be a knot tying fanatic; give it a yearTrade ReviewThis is a fun, well-photographed collection of knots for any and every occasion. Sure to delight scouts, sailors, amateur magicians, and shoelace mavens alike. * Booklist (US) *Brings together a year's worth of ways to work with rope, from traditional hitches to magic tricks. Suitable for both adults and children...increasing in complexity across the year, it's designed to encourage you to master the basics before attempting more advanced knots. There is a good variety of classic hitches, bends, coils and splices, but there are many more unusual and obscure knots that will have you testing your skills. * Waterways World *What better time to further your skills? Nic Compton has set the tempting task of 365 different knot challenges for all ages and abilities, so you can hitch, bend, whip and splice your way through 2021. * Yachting World *A beautifully designed guide... For readers looking to beef up their knot knowledge, this is a handy resource. * Publishers Weekly *This charming book is full of innovative ways to turn a length of rope, a tie or even a scarf into something much more interesting and useful.. this book promises hours of enjoyment. * RNLI magazine *Every sailor probably has a book of knots gathering dust on a shelf but you’d be hard pressed to find one as comprehensive as [this]. * Sailing Magazine *Clearly written and superbly illustrated, this book presents a wealth of solutions for securing one item to another. * The Ensign *Fun, accessible and informative. * Classic Boat *Nic Compton talks you gently through all 365 knots with the sort of soothing bedside manner that is ideal in these fraught times. * Sailing Today *

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Book SynopsisModelling British Aircraft of World War II provides essential guidance for modellers of all levels of experience. It gives advice on how to get started, from choosing the best kit to preparing your workspace with the right tools, paints and equipment. Tips on the use of reference material, construction techniques and painting recipes are given. The book provides step-by-step building and painting techniques of the following models: 1/48 Hurricane Mk IIc, 1/32 Spitfire Mk IIa, 1/48 Mosquito Mk VI, 1/48 Swordfish Mk II and 1/72 Lancaster B III. Instructional use of after-market detailing kits and accessories is given as well as advice on fitting a base or creating a diorama. Finally, there is a chapter on Royal Air Force camouflage and markings.

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Book Synopsis'Timely... wonderfully entertaining' - The Wall Street JournalIn It's All A Game renowned games expert Tristan Donovan opens the box on the incredible and often surprising history and psychology of board games. He traces the evolution of the game across cultures, time periods, and continents, from the paranoid Chicago toy genius behind classics like Operation and Mouse Trap, to the role of Monopoly in helping prisoners of war escape the Nazis, and even the scientific use of board games today to teach artificial intelligence how to reason and how to win. With these compelling stories and characters, Donovan ultimately reveals why board games have captured hearts and minds all over the world for generations.Trade Review[A] timely book... It's All a Game provides a wonderfully entertaining trip around the board, through 4,000 years of game history. * The Wall Street Journal *A brisk and hugely readable account of some of the world's great board games and the amazing people who played them. Packed with fascinating tales from ancient Egyptian senet to Google's AlphaGo. Highly recommended. -- Ian Stewart, author of SIGNIFICANT FIGURESTable of Contents0: Introduction 1: TOMB RAIDERS AND THE LOST GAMES OF THE ANCIENTS 2: CHESS: THE 'MAD QUEEN'S GAME' 3: BACKGAMMON: THE FAVOURED GAME OF INTERNATIONAL PACESETTERS AND ANCIENT EMPERORS 4: THE GAME OF LIFE: A JOURNEY TO THE UNIQUELY AMERICAN DAY OF RECKONING 5: THE FORGOTTEN MESSAGE OF MONOPOLY 6: FROM KRIEGSSPIEL TO RISK: BLOOD-SOAKED AND WORLDSHAPING PLAY 7: I SPY 8: CLUEDO'S BILLION-DOLLAR CRIME SPREE 9: SCRABBLE: WORDS WITHOUT MEANING 10: PLASTIC FANTASTIC: MOUSE TRAP, OPERATION AND THE WILLY WONKA OF TOYS 13: RISE OF THE MACHINES: GAMES THAT TRAIN SYNTHETIC BRAINS 14: TRIVIAL PURSUIT: ADULTS AT PLAY 15: PANDEMICS AND TERROR: DISSECTING GEOPOLITICS ON CARDBOARD 16: MADE IN GERMANY: CATAN AND THE CREATION OF MODERN BOARD GAMES

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Book SynopsisMaking your own bird boxes and feeders is a rewarding and environmentally sound way to enhance any garden by attracting birds. The food we supply in winter can mean the difference between life and death for small birds, and in spring and summer bird boxes help many species to raise their families. Birdhouses, Boxes, and Feeders for the Backyard Hobbyist is an invaluable source of information for both the woodworker and the bird-lover. Woodworking experts Alan and Gill Bridgewater have teamed up with ornithologist Stephen Moss to produce a range of boxes and feeders designed to meet the needs of birds and enhance your garden. Information on box and feeder siting, appropriate food, types of nest box, and the birds you can expect to see, is featured alongside everything that you need to know about suitable woods, necessary tools and materials, and construction techniques. Seventeen projects, well illustrated with photographs and diagrams, offer concise step-by-step instructions and are suitable for novice and experienced woodworkers alike.

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Book SynopsisRecreate your very own circus with these adorable amigurumi crochet toy patterns. This collection of beautifully-designed crochetcircus characters, features all the most popular circus charactersincluding a clown, show pony, elephant, strongman andballerina, and there is even a crochet pattern for the popcorn to enjoy while youwatch the performance!There are step by steps for all the crochet patterns as well as basic crochet techniques so you can get cracking right away. Roll up, roll up, the circus has come to town! Table of ContentsIntroduction What you will need Before you get started Abbreviations Crochet school Assembling Patterns · Little Mr. Bear · Mr. Happy Circus · The Adorable Ballerina · Shiny Miss Horse · Mr. Elephant Sleepyhead · Little Miss Magic · Little Yellow Lion · Clown of the Day · Mr. Strong · Walter the Walrus · Garland · Popcorn Thank you Sponsors and suppliers Index

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Book SynopsisGive simple quilt blocks a touch of magic - the add-a-strip way! Slice into basic shapes like squares, triangles and diamonds. Then piece in a 1" strip of contrasting fabric to create dozens of new designs! Quilters of all skill levels can piece geometric patterns that look complex thanks to this innovative technique. Each of the ten quilt patterns comes with a second variation to inspire your colour choices, plus great ideas for sashing, resizing blocks and adding your personal touch.Trade ReviewThis is a great idea to make simple quilts look more complex. Basic blocks are sliced, a strip is added and magic happens. There are 10 designs to choose from, plus 20 variations. These simple techniques have endless possibilities. Often quilts look complicated until you understand how they are made. This book transforms simple designs into dynamic quilts. You'll find everything you need to know - cutting, slicing, piecing, finishing. Each quilt pattern has a main photo, block size and finished quilt size, materials, cutting, construction, a large layout diagram and alternative designs. Finishing and binding techniques are given at the back of the book along with templates. A superb way to make simple design shine. * Karen Platt - www.yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *

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