Home & Garden Books

Book SynopsisPhotographer Maura McEvoy has spent every summer of her life on the Maine coast. Her work has appeared in House Beautiful, Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Outside, and Martha Stewart Living. Born and raised in Maine, Basha Burwell is a stylist and art director for national retailers and clients such as L.L. Bean, Garnet Hill, and Pendleton. Writer Kathleen Hackett spends her summers in Maine. Her most recent book is Brooklyn Interiors; she contributes to Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, T Magazine, House Beautiful, Veranda, Martha Stewart Living, and Southern Living.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive, visual handbook for welding in the farm, home workshop, school workshop, blacksmith shop, or auto shop. Almost anyone can weld, cut, or shape metal. That''s the starting point for this supremely practical book which helps the beginner to improve and the intermediate operator to broaden their technique. Its 10 sections describe all the major types of welds before progressing into trickier methods. With this comprehensive guide, you'll understand everything you need to know, from arc, TIG, MIG, and gas welding to plasma cutting, soldering, welding plastic, and more. Beyond welding metals and plastics, advice extends into the wider workshop with chapters on drills, cutting threads, and basic blacksmithing. Filled with helpful visuals and photography, detailed explanations, expert suggestions, and step-by-step directions, author and experienced welding instructor Andrew Pearce also lays out common pitfalls and mistakes, and how to avoid or correct them. New, updated editio

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Book SynopsisA polytunnel can be used as an affordable, low-carbon aid to growing your own food all year round, from crispy salads and fresh vegetables in the dead of winter to juicy melons and mouth-watering grapes in high summer. But once you’ve decided to invest in a polytunnel, there are many questions to be answered, including: • Do you need planning permission? • What are the different sizes and types you can buy? • Where should you put it, and how do you put it up? • What can you use it for, how do you look after it, and what are the likely problems? The Polytunnel Handbook looks at all aspects of using a polytunnel, from planning your purchase to harvesting the rewards, and includes a step-by-step guide detailing how polytunnels are put up and maintained. There are chapters on developing healthy soil and preventing pests, and a jargon-free guide to the range of often mystifying accessories that many tunnel retailers offer. For the DIY enthusiast there is a full set of instructions for building a polytunnel from scratch, and the authors explain how to keep your polytunnel productive in every season.Trade ReviewPolytunnels have a key role to play in the grow-your-own revolution, and a comprehensive guide such as this is long overdue. -- Simon McEwan, Editor * Country Smallholding magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Planning your purchase 2. The big day 3. Self-build tunnels 4. The tunnel environment 5. Planting through the year 6. Preventing pests 7. Thinking outside the tunnel Afterword Appendix 1: Further information and suppliers Appendix 2: Further reading Appendix 3: Glossary

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Book SynopsisA longtime design columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and contributor to all of Australia's major publications, including Vogue Living, Belle, House & Garden, Marie Claire, and Harper's Bazaar, Melissa Penfold has been crowned Queen of Style by the country's media. Her main focus now is her digital platform: her website and blog (melissapenfold.com), newsletter, and Instagram. She lives in Australia.

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Book SynopsisWhen she discovered that nearly half of France’s 44,000 heritage sites were chateaux in various states of repair, Catherine Scotto embarked on a journey to find out who, exactly, lived in these medieval fortresses and, more importantly, what they were like on the inside. From Normandy to Provence and everywhere in between the owners of these chateaux–including decorators, antique dealers, artists, and collectors—represent the epitome of French culture and taste. Each chateau is presented in double-page full-color spreads that feature alluring interiors and information about the hosts and their design journeys. There’s something for everyone here—whether it’s homes where simplicity and minimalism reign, rooms as exuberantly busy as a 14th-century tapestry, or interiors transformed by surprising, era-bending feats. Morel’s breathtaking, naturally lit photographs of generous kitchens, cozy drawing rooms, spacious bedrooms, ingeniously imagined bathrooms, and intriguing hallways and stairwells offer endless inspiration, while Scotto’s engaging text gives readers a feel for the kinds of people who take on such a daunting yet satisfying challenge.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect book for anyone who wants to know the secrets to always looking stylish with minimal effort. Former Fashion Director at Stylist magazine and a contributor to Glamour, Grazia, Harper's Bazaar and Telegraph Magazine amongst others, Alexandra Fullerton reveals the tips and tricks that fashion insiders use to put their outfits together. Chapters include: Fashion vs Style, Signature Style, The Essential Items, How to Shop, Your Wardrobe, Secret Styling Tricks and Fashion is Fun. Focusing on fashion essentials, personal style, shopping on the high street and online and investing in designer pieces, Alex reveals all the failsafe formulas involved in always looking your best. Lavishly illustrated by specially commissioned artist Bijou Karman, a fashion illustrator from Los Angeles whose clients include: Converse, Cinespia, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar and Rihanna. She featured as Urban Outfitters (US) ‘Artist of the Week’ in May 2017, has been profiled by Vanity Fair (US), Grazia (Germany) and Glamour (Italy) and has 60k followers on Instagram. Alex encourages readers to get to know their style icons alongside streamlining their own style and outlines the central capsule wardrobe which can be edited to suit each individual personal preference. This book will be an indispensable guide to creating your own style and making sure you never look at your wardrobe and think ‘I have nothing to wear’ again.Trade Review'Highlighters at the ready.' -- Mail Online * Book Review *

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Book SynopsisExtensively illustrated, this is the first accessible publication on the history of tapestry in over two decades. Woven with dazzling images from history, mythology and the natural world, and breath-taking in their craftsmanship, tapestries were among the most valuable and high-status works of art available in Europe from the medieval period to the end of the eighteenth century. Over 600 historic examples hang in National Trust properties in England and Wales – the largest collection in the UK. This beautifully illustrated study by tapestry expert Helen Wyld, in association with the National Trust, offers new insights into these works, from the complex themes embedded in their imagery, to long-forgotten practices of sacred significance and ritual use. The range of historical, mythological and pastoral themes that recur across the centuries is explored, while the importance of the ‘revival’ of tapestry from the late nineteenth century is considered in detail for the first time. Although focussed on the National Trust’s collection, this book offers a fresh perspective on the history of tapestry across Europe. Both the tapestry specialist and the keen art-history enthusiast can find a wealth of information here about woven wall hangings and furnishings, including methods of production, purchase and distribution, evolving techniques and technologies, the changing trends of subject matter across time, and how tapestries have been collected, used and displayed in British country houses across the centuries.Trade ReviewExamines the subject in technical and art historical terms and is profusely illustrated with images that convey the diversity and appeal of these remarkable - and sometimes undervalued - works of art. * Country Life *The book will be enlightening for any country-house buff and decorator who wants to know more about the historic tapestries they encounter in English country houses. It will also be an essential reference for historians of English visual culture, providing a fascinating account of the rise and fall and rise again of tapestry as an art form in its own right and as a medium of traditional splendour. -- Tom Campbell, Director of the Fine Art Museum of San FranciscoThis beautifully illustrated book looks at how tapestries were made, how they were used as political tools and how they came into and out of fashion. [...] it’s a fascinating look at an art form that doesn’t get the same attention as paintings. -- Tabish Khan * FAD Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Tapestry Technique I: Art and Industry II: Ritual and Presence III: The Woven Image IV: Tapestry and History Appendix: Makers' Marks Notes Bibliography Picture Credits Index

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Book SynopsisWinner of the American Horticulture Society Book Award "Phillip’s first-hand knowledge anchors this innovative and highly readable book in practical wisdom that both beginner and long-time fruit growers will find invaluable."—Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden Many people want to grow fruit on a small scale but lack the insight to be successful orchardists. As The Holistic Orchard illustrates, growing tree fruits and berries is something virtually anyone can do. A holistic grower knows that producing fruit is not about manipulating nature but more importantly, fostering nature. The Holistic Orchard demystifies the basic skills everybody should know about the orchard ecosystem, focusing on: Orchard design Soil biology Organic health management Grafting Planting Pruning Choosing the right varieties for your climate Includes a step-by-step instructional calendar to guide growers through the entire orchard year! Fruit profiles include: pome fruits (apples, pears, asian pears, quinces) stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums) berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, and elderberries) Phillips completely changed the conversation about healthy orcharding with his first bestselling book, The Apple Grower, and now he takes that dialogue even further by exploring: The connections between home orcharding and permaculture The importance of native pollinators Plantings with shade-tolerant berry bushes and other insectary plants Information on cover crops and biodiversity Safe, homegrown solutions to pest and disease challenges All along the way, Phillips' expertise and enthusiasm for healthy growing shines through, as does his ability to put the usual horticultural facts into an integrated ecology perspective. With The Holistic Orchard in your hand you have every reason in the world to confidently plant that very first—or next—fruit tree!Trade ReviewBooklist- With the rising popularity of farmers’ markets and ever-increasing availability of organic foods in mainstream grocery stores, more and more gardeners are catching the urge to go pesticide-free. For fruit lovers wanting to tend an orchard on a small scale, Phillips, author of the gardening best-seller The Apple Grower (2005), offers a wealth of tips and tricks here on growing berries and tree fruits without resorting to toxic sprays. Eight information-packed chapters cover such basics as orchard design, seeding and growing schedules, and soil varieties, all using natural methods of cooperating with nature to resist attacks by garden pests and plant diseases. Phillips also provides an exhaustive directory of fruit varieties, from pome fruits, such as apples and pears, to stone fruits, such as cherries and nectarines. Although the guide is aimed primarily at home growers with a little yard space and a yen for organic produce, professional orchard managers can certainly benefit and will hopefully be prompted to shy away from pesticides as well.Choice- The Holistic Orchard is a breath of fresh air in a genre too often characterized by occult mysticism and/or an air of moral superiority. Phillips (The Apple Grower, 2005), a farmer/orchardist with many years of experience, is a pragmatist, not a polemicist; he successfully covers topics ranging from plant biology and ecology to the realities and economics of niche markets. The author presents a challenge to backyard fruit growers and community orchardists to produce healthy, quality fruits organically. Phillips begins by discussing the soil and finishes with marketing his fruit at the production site. The text reflects his infectious enthusiasm, his deep understanding of the positive and negative impacts of natural organisms on his trees, and his commitment to hard work and critical thinking. The author addresses the challenges of dealing with disease and insect and animal pests along with the need to accommodate trees' annual needs for nutrients; he uses approaches that seek to promote within orchards a diversity of beneficial organisms as well as methods that promote the plant's immunological response via phytoalexins. This book is richly photographed and contains well-placed sidebars with pertinent information. It was a delight to read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All undergraduate students, general readers, and professionals/practitioners. ForeWord Reviews- Despite a wealth of information available about grafting, soil health, tree planting, and pruning, there’s one major area of orchard management that’s tough for any beginner to learn: confidence. That’s where Michael Phillips comes in. As a farmer in northern New Hampshire, and author of The Apple Grower, he provides gentle-but-sure advice on holistic orchards in a way that’s encouraging and valuable. Beginning with a fascinating explanation of forest-edge ecology—which defines where fruit trees thrive best—Phillips moves into topics like fungal dominance, haphazard mulching, pulsing agents, and more. For those moving to the next level of orchard management, Phillips delves into the specifics of three major categories of fruits: pome, which includes apples and pears; stone, which encompasses cherry, peach, plum, and apricot; and woody berries, including blackberry, currant, gooseberry, and raspberry. Throughout, Phillips adopts a genial tone that blends farmer-next-door friendliness with a more academic approach. The mix works, giving the scientific descriptions more weight while keeping the material accessible. In general, the sheer breadth of information presented can seem overwhelming, particularly for a beginner, but it’s likely that those who are interested in getting started in holistic orchard practices will appreciate having such a thorough reference guide.Publishers Weekly- The author of the classic guide for small-scale fruit cultivation, The Apple Grower, returns to the orchard. Phillips, who grows apples and herbs in New Hampshire, concedes early on that growing fruit that is both attractive and delicious is more challenging than cultivating vegetables and herbs. What distinguishes this book from other organic guides is the author's ecological approach. He argues that orchard success begins with a deep understanding of soil health and forest-edge ecology. The chemistry lessons may challenge many, but he translates most of the science basics into practical routines that any gardener could use. Straightforward information on selecting trees and horticultural basics such as pruning and pest management follows. For those who intend to invest significant time and resources into growing fruit, this is a comprehensive guide to managing a healthy and bountiful orchard. Color photographs and illustrations throughout.Amazon.com Editorial Review- The demand for high-quality, organically grown food is skyrocketing with people's gradual understanding of the health risks and dangers of chemical pesticides and "industrialized" farming, yet good organic apples are still hard to find in many places. Phillips has employed hard work and keen observation of nature to make the best use of our great-grandparents' experiences and techniques. He then examines the latest scientific knowledge of apple pests and their life cycles to produce a thorough guide to growing wonderful, delicious varieties of apples in an orchard that is safe for animals, birds, and children playing under its tree branches. Each chapter has practical advice for the backyard fruit grower, and while this book is filled with useful facts and tactics, Phillips also adds a gentle, Earth-friendly, philosophical writing style that makes for quite an enjoyable read."Rooted in the author's many years of organic orcharding experience, this book blends ideas from soil science, holistic health, permaculture, and traditional fruit growing into a powerful new approach to orchard design and care. Phillips' first-hand knowledge anchors this innovative and highly readable book in practical wisdom that both beginner and long-time fruit growers will find invaluable."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture"Michael Phillips' Holistic Orchard is a seminal work, to be compared with Sir Albert Howard and J.I. Rodale's classic books on soil and organic gardening. This is deep horticulture at its best, showing just how and what we must do to orchard sustainably and ecologically."--Bill MacKentley, St. Lawrence Nurseries"The words 'holistic' and 'comprehensive' barely do honor to Michael Phillips' scope in The Holistic Orchard. The author has woven multiple strands of orchard knowledge -- based on his expansive vision and a lifetime of experience, together with the wisdom of researchers and fellow fruit growers -- into a brilliant web that captures the wonderful complexity of the orchard ecosystem. A sparkling joy to behold!"--Guy Ames, orchardist and tree fruit specialist with ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service"The Holistic Orchard is a stimulating account of fruit production from a biological rather than chemical approach. Phillips' orchard philosophy- learned from keen observation and reflection- will fall and clobber you like a giant Newtonian apple; then, your walk through the orchard will never be the same. Digesting this book is like tasting a delectable new apple variety for the first time."--Tom Burford, Orchard Consultant, Author, Apple Historian"For decades experts have insisted that organic orcharding is an impossibility. Michael Phillips has led the effort to show that the truly sustainable, organic orchard is something we all can have. His example has been an inspiration. His tireless research has provided a road map to creating our own holistic orchards."--John Bunker, apple historian and author, Not Far from the Tree"Michael Phillips does it again! His ability to understand and explain the parts, interactions and emergent properties of orchard systems is unparalleled. The Holistic Orchard integrates fundamental biology with the practical realities of ecologically sound management. The book describes the trek from healthy soil to healthy people, with great fruit all along the way. This is done in a way that can only be achieved by a highly experienced orchardist-practitioner-author-philosopher."--George W. Bird, Professor of Nematology, Michigan State University "A new way of thinking is called for given the failure of chemicals to solve problems and feed the world. Mixing up dozens of organic thoughts, Michael Phillips ushers us into the 21st century and virtually creates a new language so we can really understand what is happening in our orchards. Shake off those 20th century blues and let's move on with The Holistic Orchard as a guiding light."--Tim Bates, biodynamic orchardist, The Apple Farm, Philo, California

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Book SynopsisCreating beautiful botanical paintings has never been easier with these template outlines and art-quality watercolour paper. Perfect for absolute beginners in botanical art, the ready-to-use outlines allow you to focus on the painting and avoid the accuracy of composition drawings. Each outline includes a finished painting by artist Rachel Padder-Smith and a recommended colour palette, so all you have to worry about is enjoying the process!Included are step-by-step tutorials on all the essential tips and techniques you need to know, from painting different parts of the flower and shiny surfaces to perfecting the fine veins on leaves, as well as advice on how to correctly capture light.Rachel's stunning illustrations also include fruit and vegetables, so whether you're a lover of autumn leaves, spring daffodils, or even an onion or two, she has you covered. This detailed and visual art book is the perfect start for anyone looking to take up botanical art, refresh their skills, or simply appreciate the beauty of nature.

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Book SynopsisThe design, manufacturing, development, and combat use of the various Mauser rifle models from 1918 through World War II.

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Book SynopsisIncreasingly, outdoor spaces are becoming our haven – somewhere to breathe again, heighten our senses and escape the onslaught of noise, clutter and technology. This book offers ideas and inspiration for making the most of any outdoor space we might have – whether it is a garden, a patio, balcony, or even just a window box – and for bringing touches of nature indoors for mindful enjoyment. Bestselling author Jane Cumberbatch's 'Pure Style' philosophy is all about making the most of what’s around you and finding beauty in the simple and everyday as an achievable alternative to the stressful demands of consumer society. In this book, which was put together over the course of 2020, she draws on the inspiration of her own home and garden to supply ideas for life-affirming colour, scent and texture, and to show how even the most unpromising outdoor space can be a source of sensuous renewal. Viewing the garden as an extension of the home, and with ideas for all seasons, this beautiful and inspiring book is illustrated with glorious photographs and enchanting paintings by the author herself. A book for dipping into or enjoying as one long read, or both.Trade Review"With the health benefits of gardens and gardening becoming more widely accepted over the last troubled months, this is just the book for our time...she packs in information, with practical gardening tips such as hints on the thorny subject of rose pruning, imaginatively simple recipes for home-grown produce, and suggestions for home decorations that bring the outside indoors." -- Vanessa Berridge * The Garden * "A moment of joy in a difficult world." * The Blackberry Garden - blog *"A gorgeous celebration of gardening and growing. Jane Cumberbatch manages to convey the joy - the very essence - of gardening." * Reclaim magazine *"An evocative garden diary studded with nuggets of helpful information." * The English Garden *"Part diary, part notebook, part recipe book and part photo album, reading the four seasonal chapters is like going to stay with someone and gradually finding out the story of their garden and what makes it so special." * Waitrose Weekend *"The rich tapestry of garden journaling, horticultural advice, nature-inspired recipes and home-styling tips, illustrated with photographs and Jane's own paintings...will strike a chord with those of us who turned to gardening, journaling, art or cooking as therapy during uncertain times." * Gardens Illustrated *"A study in understated but elegant style." * The Gloss Magazine *"Muted colours, natural textures, and vintage touches have all been a part of interior designer Jane Cumberbatch’s ‘Pure Style’ philosophy and in this book she addresses the outdoor spaces which are our retreats. Expect simple, stylish ideas on how to use plants and accessories to achieve ‘Pure Style’ and ultimately furnish a garden like a room. Whatever its size, a garden can be a source of visual and mindful pleasure all year round." -- Independent"I love books you can dip into over a cup of coffee and find a snippet of information or an idea and Pure Style in the Garden is just that...richly illustrated and very much a visual notebook with excellent photographs and the added bonus of Jane’s own paintings." * Reckless Gardener *'A book packed with inspiration - not just for the overall aesthetic and philosophy of gardening - it encourages you to pay more attention, to observe your ever-changing space and perhaps to create a scrapbook of your own.'Table of ContentsIntroduction The garden is a place to be as much as a place to grow things in. Winter The time for planning and dreaming. And what to do in winter. Spring First shoots. What to do in spring. Summer Summer of colour and scent. What to do in summer. Autumn Long shadows and vivid plants. What to do in autumn. Glossary, sources of inspiration, places to go, index, acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThis personal notebook reveals Rachel Ashwell’s thoughts about everything she loves, and through her visual story telling she shares her poetic view of life. Painted Stories is a feast for the eyes, heart and soul, and a journey for your mind to wander through. Divided into themed sections which focus on fabric, wallpapers, lighting, bed linens, curtains, slipcovers and upholstery, furniture, rugs, objet d’art and flowers, it is a truly inspirational sketchbook of ideas and is for anyone who has an appreciation for beauty. Interwoven with practical thoughts and tips are Rachel’s thoughts about beauty and aesthetics, and poetry that illuminates her thoughts. Illustrated with watercolour illustrations from a variety of artists, including Ben Peck-Whiston, Rachel believes the ambiguity of artwork over photographs gives a more mindful and timeless approach. This allows the reader to more easily layer in their own thoughts and observations and hopefully be inspired too to tap into their own creativity by pulling together a notebook of their own favourite things which tell their own story.Trade ReviewLooking through the pages is a journey through a Shabby Chic wonderland. You’ll also want to read through the text, which gives insight into Ashwell’s design philosophy and favorite styles... There are also plenty of great design ideas and tips – Forbes

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Book SynopsisBeat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points around the airport with more than 140 things to find. From tail fins to baggage trolleys, travellators to fuel trucks, they'll learn all about aeroplanes and air travel. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun at the airport check out the i-SPY At the Airport Activity Book (ISBN 9780008392888).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisA fabulous book about designing gardens great and small, packed with wisdom on the abiding principles of gorgeous garden design.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ALAN TITCHMARSHRussell Page was one of the most legendary gardeners and landscapers of the last century. He designed gardens great and small for clients around the world. A rare combination of born plantsman and garden architect, he was a master of colour, form and structure. Page also understood that most tricky dimension of garden design: the passage of time. From Longleat to the Frick Collection, his gardens can be enjoyed to this day.Packed with wisdom and beautiful writing, this book offers a unique perspective on great garden design and is essential reading for every gardener.'One of the most thoughtful and civilized gardening books ever written, by a master designer' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewRussell Page was one of the great English landscape architects of this century...His book The Education of a Gardener remains, in my view, the best combined guide to planting and designing a garden ever written, with inspiration for every sort of gardener, wherever they are placed. The last chapter on his own dream garden is brilliant * Independent *Probably the most influential 20th-century book on garden design... It is the universality of its lessons that is the great strength of his book * Country Life *Page has written an astonishingly beautiful book about his craft -- Doris LessingPage had a great talent and a sensitivity not only to different types of flora and to different climates, but also to the architectural requirements of gardens, both large and small... Combining a painter's eye (his only formal training was in art) with a pragmatic and encyclopedic knowledge of horticulture, he produced gardens that were - are -extraordinarily lovely * New York Times *Russell Page, admittedly a bit of a mystic, is pretty much out there by himself with his verdant heart and green digits -- Michael Pollan

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Book SynopsisThis is a modern, practical guide on how to grow and make your own skincare products, no matter how big your garden. This handbook enables you to switch from toxic to nourishing skincare products that are better for you and the environment. Harness the therapeutic power of plants and natural ingredients to look after your skin – the body’s largest organ – simply, gently and effectively. Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Skin – understanding what the skin is and how we take care of it; Chapter 2: Plotting My Skincare Garden: What to grow and how to arrange it; Chapter 3: Choosing Skincare Plants: The top 22 skincare plants to grow and forage for and their beneficial properties; Chapter 4: The natural skincare garden through the seasons: What to do to maintain your garden through the year and how to harvest and store your plants; Chapter 5: Basic formulations and 30 skincare recipes, including skincare teas cleanses, oils, creams and more; Sustainability – how to make a Natural Cleaning Spray and Botanical Household Soap. Silvana takes you on a holistic journey, guiding you through planting the seed in the soil to growing harvesting, storing, creating and bottling your home-made herbal skincare.

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Book SynopsisSnowdrops are known as the 'harbingers of spring' at a time when there is little else in flower in the garden to brighten the dull winter months. No-one should be without these dainty white gems which can symbolize innocence, purity and hope. The author describes all known snowdrop species, the cultivation of garden-worthy varieties and their naming as well as their history in early European and English literature. He includes the earliest reference to the English word 'Snowe Dropps' in 1615, preceding the previous earliest reference to 'Snow drops' in 1633. For novice gardeners and those who have never grown snowdrops before he describes how to grow just a few reliable varieties, with advice on buying, planting, dividing, looking after snowdrops, labelling, diseases and companion plants. He also dispels the myth that snowdrops are difficult and don't survive well in gardens, giving advice on all aspects of snowdrop culture. For galanthophiles varieties are recommended to extend their collection. This advice is based on personal experience from growing over 100 different cultivars in his town garden in Oxford. The sequence of flowering of different snowdrop varieties from October to March is described, including the autumn-flowering Queen Olga's snowdrop. This diary format of their emergence will help gardeners learn how there can be snowdrops flowering for six months of the year. The book is illustrated with a stunning selection of close-up images of different varieties of snowdrops to help aid identification of these dainty flowers. Included in the chapter on snowdrop art are many historical images from the earliest-known snowdrop woodcut in Dodoens' European Herbal, 1568 to more recent 19th century images. No other author on snowdrops has attempted such an extensive description of snowdrop art over the centuries, including advice from Jacquie Hibbert on how to paint snowdrops, or has described the evolution of this art form for snowdrops. The book concludes with a useful index of all 22 recognized species and over 100 varieties with reference to international collections.

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Book Synopsis'A handbook of classic cocktails essential to every host's repertoire' VogueWant to master the art of mixology from home?Of all the skills you might acquire in life, learning how to make exquisite cocktails is the least likely to be a waste of your time.In this classic guide to cocktailing, writer, columnist and founder of 'The Spirits' newsletter - "a book club but for cocktails" - Richard Godwin offers over 200 delicious, inventive and accessible recipes.Beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny and full of practical good sense as well as fascinating historical snippets, this little book contains everything that an amateur needs to up their cocktailing game - and increase the sum of human happiness.'Simple to navigate and fun to read, it's the only book I reach for on a Friday evening. The weekend starts here.' Felicity Cloake'I truly love this book. No one writes about drinks like Richard Godwin - I enjoy his prose as much as anything in the glass.' Marina Hyde'The best, most elegant and most sparkling' cocktail book' EsquireTrade Reviewthe best, most elegant, and most sparkling of such books on my shelf at the moment is Richard Godwin's The Spirits: A Guide to Modern Cocktailing. It's one thing to mix drinks, but another to know their joy by heart, and the author serves up truths like the veritable philosopher of the art form. Not many books, and certainly not the Bible, can offer to save your marriage, but The Spirits might do that and a little more. * Andrew O'Hagan, Esquire *Simple to navigate and fun to read, it's the only book I reach for on a Friday evening. The weekend starts here. * Felicity Cloake *I truly love this book. No one writes about drinks like Richard Godwin - I enjoy his prose as much as anything in the glass. * Marina Hyde *Richard is a charming and fantastically engaging guide, and this marvellous book captures all that great and glamorous about drinking well-made drinks. * Sathnam Sanghera *The Spirits is debonair, indispensable and easy enough to use after a few. * Damian Barr *

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Book SynopsisFollow rising star designer Summer Thornton down the rabbit hole into a wonderland of colour and pattern in her very first book of interiors.Trade Review"Encouraging her readers to embrace romance, interior designer Summer Thornton writes in her new book, 'When you combine that soft, dreamy side of your personality with pure fearlessness, the result is untamed beauty.' The included projects illustrate the power of that approach, showcasing her more-is-more, down-the-rabbit-hole designs." —HOUZZ

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Book SynopsisGreat Houses of London tells the stories of some of the grandest and most fascinating houses in this historic city, from their famous owners and occupants to their renovations and the many riches held within each. Trade Review"This is a truly magnificent book. The wonderful text tells the story of the architects, owners and occupants, restoration, adaptation and change. And the photographs are exceptional." - Good Book Guide "A treasure ... Best of all are the authors personal asides on builders and those who inspired them" - Economist "Stourton writes elegantly and absorbingly about both architects and owners" - Marcus Binney, The Times "The deft weaving of architectural, social and contemporary history will reveal unexpected pleasures" - Art Quarterly "Writing in a deceptively simple style, Stourton concentrates on architects and artists, on awners and occupants. Idiosyncratic and amusing, he makes you see everything in a new light." - The Tablet "This magnificent book, with illustrations of breathtaking beauty specially taken by Fritz von der Schulenburg, is the fullest account ever written of its absorbing subject. It will come as a revelation, even to those who think they are familiar with London . . . The book is . . . not only about architecture, but about people, whose social, artistic and political ambitions, and manner of living, are vividly brought to life . . . We are familiar with the depressing list of great houses demolished in the 20th century, from Devonshire House to Londonderry House, but this book can surely cheer us up during the recession with its visions of surviving splendour." - David Watkin, Country Life “This sumptuously illustrated volume...extends its reach both sociologically and chronologically... James Stourton's text is very readable, deftly mingling the architectural history and the social, and on the whole reliable, and it is completemented by Fritz von der Schulenburg's specially taken photographs.” - Historic House “This lavishly illustrated compendium suggest that the age of elegance endures.” - Mail on Sunday “The true fascination resides in the less well-known interiors” - RA Magazine "...thanks to sumptuous images captured by award-winning photographer Fritz von der Schulenburg along with Stourton’s vivid storytelling, readers of Great Houses of London get to be lookie-loos inside 41 of the city’s most dazzling dwellings, from elaborate baroque properties to futuristic visions in glass and steel.” * Frommers.com *Table of ContentsLambeth Palace; Ashburnham House; Marlborough House; 4 Cheyne Walk; 44 Berkeley Square; 1 Greek Street (House of St Barnabas); Wimborne House; 10 Downing Street ; 3 Grafton Street; Spencer House; 106 Piccadilly; 20 St James's Square; Home House; Mansion House; Dover House; Apsley House, No. 1 London; Stratford House; Soane Museum; Regent's Park houses; Seaford House; 4 Grosvenor Square (Italian Embassy); Lancaster House; Bridgewater House; Kensington Palace Gardens; Speaker's House; Leighton House; 18 Stafford Terrace; Astor House; 4 St James's Square; Tower House; Debenham House; Emery Walker's House; 46 Grosvenor Street; 54 Mount Street (Brazilian Embassy); 64 Old Church Street (Hamlyns); 2 Willow Road (Erno Goldfinger); St Leonard's Terrace (Richard Rogers); 6-9 Carlton House Terrace (Royal Society); Spitalfields; Malplaquet House

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Book SynopsisChinese ceramics and their glazes have delighted and enthralled the world for centuries. In this book, Nigel Wood traces the development of Chinese glazes from the Bronze Age to the present day. He carefully describes how Chinese glazes were made, and how they evolved over some 3000 years of continuous production. He provides analyses and shows how their superb qualities can be reproduced with common Western raw materials. The book is lavishly illustrated with hundreds of colour plates of Chinese potters and Chinese kilns.Table of ContentsIntroduction Author’s Note Acknowledgements 1. Neolithic and Bronze Age Ceramics 2. South China’s Early Lime Glazes 3. The Porcelain Glazes of Southern China 4. Longquan, Guan and Ge 5. The Porcelains of North China 6. The Stonewares of North China 7. The Blackwares and Brownwares of China 8. Iron in Chinese Glazes 9. Copper in Chinese Glazes 10. Chinese Low-fired Glazes 11. Chinese Alkaline Glazes 12. Chinese Overglaze Enamels 13. Reconstruction of Chinese Glazes 14. Glaze Recipes Chronology Index

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Book SynopsisKaiva (Kai) Kaimins is the founder of the My Lady Garden flower studio in East London and host of the Flowers After Hours podcast. As well as offering bouquets and bridal services, My Lady Garden team have collaborated with restaurants and brands, including Gordos Pizzeria, Three Sheets, Top Cuvee and Whistles, alongside clients including Dior, Selfridges, Vogue, Swatch, Facebook, Neighbourhood Botanicals and Lily Allen x Womaniser.

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Book SynopsisChiltern Publishing creates the most beautiful editions of the World's finest literature. Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile embossed layers, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

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Book SynopsisThe complete beginner's guide to selecting and maintaining the right plants for all of your spaces!Plants are like people they feel at home in certain spaces and not in others. House Plants for Every Space explains how to select the right plants for your home or office depending on the available light, the design you want, the size of the space, and the amount of time you have to maintain your greenery. Authors Etsuhiro Mashita and Momoko Sato, collectively known as Green Interior, provide you with dozens of options for various types of spaces, then show you how to match your containers to the plants, how to arrange and display them to maximize their beauty, and how to keep the plants healthy so you won't lose them!This complete all-in-one guide provides green solutions for every space imaginable, for example:Low-light spaces far from windows, where ferns are the perfect solutionLarge rooms where the plants can dominate, with generous groupings of succulents, air plants and MonsteraTrade Review"The guidance on caring for plants will be a boon to first-time plant owners and stylish photos of houses decorated with greenery spark the imagination (one residence uses hanging plants in place of curtains). Even readers without a green thumb will feel inspired to add some plants to their living space." --Publisher's Weekly"In this poetic yet practical survey of plants to suit any room, Mashita Etsuhiro and Sato Momoko, the owners of Tokyo plant shop Green Interior appeal to both readers' senses and their minds." --Booklist

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Book SynopsisA true magnum opus, Cecil A. Hewett’s English Historic Carpentry appeals to every type of architectural historian, from the connoisseur of cathedrals to the vernacular ‘barn and cottage’ enthusiast. It also offers practical insight into the structure and age of the old homes and outbuildings of Britain, and will reveal that much timber-work is appreciably older than their owners might think. This book will be a source of pride and inspiration to all who work in timber today, showing that the master carpenters of the past achieved their highest levels of craftsmanship well before the master masons, and that they were their equals as medieval architects.Beginning as a young upstart with wild theories, Hewett grew to become the accepted authority on all matters of historic carpentry and a pioneer of a whole new technology in the dating of ancient buildings. In English Historic Carpentry, he provides the definite statement of his work, superbly illustrated by his own drawings. As Hewett maintained, ‘the building is the document’ and this book will teach you how to read the evidence that is written in wood.

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Book SynopsisA delightful compendium of the kind of facts you immediately want to share with anyone you encounter' New York TimesAn ebullient, irrepressible spirit invests this book. It is erudite and sprightly'Sunday TimesFrom the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classeshere is award-winning writer Simon Winchester's brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds.With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things no need for maths, no need for map reading, no need for memorisation are we risking our ability to think? As we empty our minds, will we one day be incapable of thoughtfulness?Trade Review PRAISE FOR KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW: ‘An ebullient, irrepressible spirit invests this book. It is erudite and sprightly in a way that will be familiar to anyone who has read Winchester’s wonderful histories of the Krakatoa eruption, the origins of the Oxford English Dictionary and the Atlantic (among others)’ Sunday Times ‘A book about transmitting knowledge by someone who has made his name by doing just that in the most erudite and entertaining way possible . . . a delightful compendium of the kind of facts you immediately want to share with anyone you encounter . . . Simon Winchester has firmly earned his place in history . . . as a promulgator of knowledge of every variety, perhaps the last of the famous explorers who crisscrossed the now-vanished British Empire and reported what they found to an astonished world’ New York Times ‘From schoolhouses in ancient Sumeria and Aboriginal “songlines” to GPS, Wikipedia, Google and beyond, Winchester traverses the human history of information storage and transmission in a pageant of colourful, eloquent tableaux… Don’t pigeonhole Knowing What We Know as “information science”. Rather, think of it as an intellectual autobiography: one richly stocked, ever-curious mind’s account of the multiple ways in which stored knowledge may open the road to understanding’ Financial Times ‘Winchester is a knowledge keeper for our times, and he does us all a service by writing it down’ Wall Street Journal ‘[Winchester] might be appropriately dubbed the One-Man Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge of our own era. Whatever his subject, Winchester leavens deep research and the crisp factual writing of a reporter . . . with an abundance of curious anecdotes, footnotes and digressions. His prose is always clear, but it is also invigorated with pleasingly elegant diction … Informative and entertaining throughout’ Washington Post

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Book SynopsisHundreds of thousands of classified documents were captured from Germany's aircraft manufacturers and aviation ministry at the end of the Second World War, including details of secret project' aircraft designs created by firms such as Focke-Wulf, Messerschmitt, Heinkel, Dornier and Blohm & Voss. Ongoing new research in archives around the world has revealed many previously unknown plans and proposals for aircraft that were radical, revolutionary or just plain weird. In this latest volume in his series on German wartime aircraft development, author Dan Sharp reveals a wealth of new discoveries including never-before-seen drawings and designs.Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe examines Focke-Wulf's designs for enormous fighters built around bomber engines, aviation minister Erhard Milch's unusual rival to the Heinkel He 219 night fighter and Messerschmitt's alternative version of the push-pull twin engine Dornier Do 335. Also revealed are the long-buried secret history of the Blohm & Voss BV 40's repurposing as a suicide bomber, how an American-born car designer came up with the idea for Focke-Wulf's Ta 154 night fighter and the competition that would see Focke-Wulf, Dornier and Blohm & Voss go head-to-head with plans to design the Luftwaffe's last all-new piston engine fighter in 1944-45.Hundreds of original and previously unseen documents have been used to compile this unrivalled look at some of Germany's least-known Second World War project designs, featuring a host of period drawings and illustrations.

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Book SynopsisStep inside 20 inspiring interiors where beloved dogs feel perfectly at home. You may have the coolest home on the street, but a house is not a home without a dog. So how do you keep your interiors Instagrammable when you have a canine companion, with all the associated paraphernalia of feeding bowls, leads, beds and toys? A dog owner for over 20 years, and a former home buying manager at Selfridge's in London, Geraldine James is the perfect person to show you how to incorporate dogs into your life without sacrificing either your style or their freedom to roam. Whether you live in the city, in the countryside or on the coast, your home can still look good with only a few compromises. Geraldine also visits the ‘design’ dogs – dogs belonging to designers whose beautifully curated homes still manage to be canine-friendly. Finally, there's a special section telling the stories of the rescue dogs featured in the book, and highlighting the joy a rescue dog can bring to your life and your home.

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Book SynopsisFilled with expert advice and inspiring images, this informative guide by Grazia lifestyle editor Rachel Loos will give you the confidence to buy and display art, whatever your budget. Art brings colour, life and personality to a home, yet so many of us feel daunted by it. We may believe we can't afford to buy art, feel unconfident about our taste or be unsure of how best to arrange the pieces we own. This expert guide will help you to enjoy the process. In the first chapter, Rachel Loos asks: What Is Art? She explains the difference between prints, limited-edition prints and original works, which include vintage paintings and fine-art photographs. Rachel then explores How to Start a Collection, including tips on matching art to the mood of a room and buying on a budget. How to Frame Your Art and How to Hang Your Art cover everything you need to know about putting art on your walls, even in unlikely spaces. Finally, in Art Is Not Just Paintings, Rachel considers how to display objects that you may not think of as art, such as decorative plates, hats or finds from nature. In each chapter, experts and art lovers open the doors to their own homes and offer insights gleaned from years of collecting, combining and curating works of art.Trade ReviewYou'll be choosing art like a pro in no time! - Homes & Antiques

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Book SynopsisFran Bailey grew up on a cut-flower nursery near York. After studying at the Welsh College Of Horticulture, she moved to London, where she opened The Fresh Flower Company in 2006.Zia Allaway is a qualified horticulturalist who has written and edited a range of gardening books, including the RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Zia writes a monthly column on garden design for Homes and Gardens magazine and contributes to Garden Design Journal.

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