Home & Garden Books

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Book SynopsisThe follow-up book to Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & UseComplete plans, expert instruction and rationale for building nine workbench formsInstruction on improving existing workbenches for better workholding and an improved woodworking shop. The Workbench Design Book not only shows how to design a workbenchit also discusses and presents nine specific designs plus critiques of 10 additional workbenches, with suggestions for making any bench work most effectively for the kind of work the user does. The 9 workbench plans have a range suitable for all workshop needs, from handwork to power tools. A discussion of workbench design rules teach what's effective and why in a multitude of workshop situations. Additional workholding optionsfrom shop-made jigs and commercial bench dogs to vise hardwareare also provided.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This enticing book will keep readers occupied for days, if not longer." — School Library Journal (Starred Review)"This is a charming, information-rich book that should lead readers to appreciate bees and welcome them into their gardens and wild places and even encourage some to keep honeybees." — Booklist"Lots of great photos of go-to plants for bees." — The Toledo Blade"This succinct yet surprisingly comprehensive introduction will be attractive to researchers, and hopefully may inspire readers to consider beekeeping as a hobby." — School Library Connection"Budding entomologists, young environmentalists, and gardening enthusiasts alike are bound to discover fascinating facts and how-to project inspiration." — School Library Journal

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Book SynopsisJapanese women are renowned for their beautiful skin, but until now there has been no book in English that reveals the secrets of the typical Japanese beauty routine. The Japanese Skincare Revolution is the first guide for women of all ages and races who want to have beautiful skin like the Japanese, and don't want to spend lots of money on cosmetics and treatments to achieve it. Author Chizu Saeki is a practicing aesthetician and beauty consultant whose dream is to teach ordinary women how to become more beautiful. To this end, she writes books, teaches, and toursTrade Review"interactive and engaging…We all know we don't need to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks, and I'm all for Saeki's feel-good message." –Bella Sugar Online"Now we can all find out the secrets to their beautiful skin thanks to … The Japanese Skincare Revolution." –TalkingMakeup.com"And the core of her methods—getting women to use things they already have—resonates even more as consumers tighten purse strings." —Reuters"[The Japanese Skincare Revolution offers] practical techniques to combat everything from puffiness to dry skin, using simple massage methods and quick facials with items readily available at home." —The New York Daily News

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Book SynopsisProduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Allotment and Garden Guides were issued monthly throughout 1945. Aimed at the amateur gardener, they were to be the final rallying call in the wartime campaign to Dig for Victory.

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Book SynopsisA compendium of unique art.

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Book SynopsisThirty years ago, in vitro propagation was a new technique for producing plants, and Lydiane Kyte’s Plants from Test Tubes became the standard work on the topic.The new fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the many advances in science and technology, including the five accepted sequential stages of micropropagation. Ten new plants have been added. This in turn has greatly expanded the already extensive bibliography. Among the new topics that have been introduced or expanded on are embryo culture for breeding, somaclonal variation, anther culture, somatic embryogenesis, cryopreservation, and genetic engineering. More ornamental plant examples are given and many new illustrations provided, including a chronology of discoveries in micropropagation.

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Book SynopsisThe earth is in great peril, due to the corporatization of agriculture, the rising climate crisis, and the ever-increasing levels of global poverty, starvation, and desertification on a massive scale. This present condition of global trauma is not "natural," but a result of humanity's destructive actions. And, according to Masanobu Fukuoka, it is reversible. We need to change not only our methods of earth stewardship, but also the very way we think about the relationship between human beings and nature. Fukuoka grew up on a farm on the island of Shikoku in Japan. As a young man he worked as a customs inspector for plants going into and out of the country. This was in the 1930s when science seemed poised to create a new world of abundance and leisure, when people fully believed they could improve upon nature by applying scientific methods and thereby reap untold rewards. While working there, Fukuoka had an insight that changed his life forever. He returned to his home village and applied this insight to developing a revolutionary new way of farming that he believed would be of great benefit to society. This method, which he called "natural farming," involved working with, not in opposition to, nature. Fukuoka's inspiring and internationally best-selling book, The One-Straw Revolution was first published in English in 1978. In this book, Fukuoka described his philosophy of natural farming and why he came to farm the way he did. One-Straw was a huge success in the West, and spoke directly to the growing movement of organic farmers and activists seeking a new way of life. For years after its publication, Fukuoka traveled around the world spreading his teachings and developing a devoted following of farmers seeking to get closer to the truth of nature. Sowing Seeds in the Desert, a summation of those years of travel and research, is Fukuoka's last major work-and perhaps his most important. Fukuoka spent years working with people and organizations in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, to prove that you could, indeed, grow food and regenerate forests with very little irrigation in the most desolate of places. Only by greening the desert, he said, would the world ever achieve true food security. This revolutionary book presents Fukuoka's plan to rehabilitate the deserts of the world using natural farming, including practical solutions for feeding a growing human population, rehabilitating damaged landscapes, reversing the spread of desertification, and providing a deep understanding of the relationship between human beings and nature. Fukuoka's message comes right at the time when people around the world seem to have lost their frame of reference, and offers us a way forward. Trade ReviewKirkus Reviews- From the late author of bestseller The One Straw Revolution (1978) comes a similar book about a philosophical approach to natural farming."The fundamental concept of a natural farm," writes Fukuoka (The Natural Way of Farming, 1985, etc.), "begins with intuitively grasping nature's original form, where many varieties of plants and animals live together as a harmonious whole, joyfully and in mutual benefit." In this English translation of the author's last work (first published in Japan in 1996), he decries the "indiscriminate deforestation and large-scale agriculture carried out in order to support the materialistic cultures of the developed countries." This process has created a condition called "desertification," the inability of the soil to grow anything. Because humans have lost their connection with nature, Fukuoka advocates foregoing harmful modern methods of farming in favor of a simpler approach. Based primarily on the success of his farm in Japan, the author believes the solution lies in aerial distribution of a large variety of plants via clay seed pellets, the use of cover crops, and a no-tilling approach to the soil. By seeding a wide variety of species in the desert, nature will select those plants best suited for a particular location. These plants will flourish, drawing water from deep within the earth and thereby allowing other plants and trees to prosper. Taking his philosophy to Africa, India and the United States, among other places, Fukuoka demonstrated that, given sufficient time, seeding fallow earth with vegetables, plants and trees created a lush setting. More a spiritual analysis of farming methods than a hands-on approach, the book still provides viable and simple solutions to the world's increased need for productive land. An enlightened method for reclaiming the barren soils of the world. Booklist- The vision of the late Japanese farmer and philosopher Fukuoka, a pioneer in natural farming techniques and author of the now classic The One-Straw Revolution (1978), extends far beyond agriculture. In his final book, a far-reaching treatise on ‘earth stewardship,’ he considers dragonflies, Darwin, and even a meeting with Einstein’s niece as he reflects on the best possible future for human society. At times Fukuoka’s prose can be striking in its simplicity as when he writes, ‘In nature there are no beneficial or harmful insects,’ and furthermore, ‘this is a human construct akin to saying the right hand is good and the left hand is bad.’ Fukuoka never wastes a word or thought, insisting the reader consider all aspects of how we grow our food everywhere in the world and how the food industry manipulates supply and demand for gross profit in ways both economically and socially damaging. Fukuoka’s techniques have been and still are world-changing; the challenge now is to continue practicing them without the master here to lead the way. ForeWord Reviews- Small-scale and urban farming as well as sustainable living and organic food purchasing are so prevalent right now that these practices are moving from a foodie trend to a fundamental shift in our food system. One of the people to thank for that momentum is Masanobu Fukuoka, whose The One-Straw Revolution became a must-read for organic farmers and their supporters around the world. Before his death in 2008, Fukuoka spent decades working on natural farming techniques that he felt could benefit the world. He didn’t plow his field, use fertilizer, or flood his rice fields, in keeping with the methods traditional to many indigenous cultures. Commonly referred to as ‘Do-Nothing Farming,’ his techniques are part of a wider philosophy about respecting nature’s own principles and rhythms. The success of his work sent Fukuoka from his small village in Japan to speaking engagements across the world, where he spent a great deal of time addressing issues of limited resources in areas like Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. In this, his last major book, Fukuoka draws from those experiences to create, once again, a timeless work that has the ability to create a revolution in agriculture. Beyond Fukuoka’s important philosophy, his book is a lyrical, lovely valentine to nature. He’s passionate about bringing other people to the near-enlightenment state in which he lived, where every single leaf moved him to appreciation. Expertly argued and backed by experience, anecdotes, and simple logic, Fukuoka’s last work shines just as brightly as his first.Publishers Weekly- Renowned Japanese agriculturist and philosopher Fukuoka’s (The One-Straw Revolution) final work calls on modern-day farmers to reconsider their methods and heed the needs of the land. Navigating work with international organizations—particularly in Africa, South Asia, and the United States—he illuminates regional disparities in environmental and agricultural thought and practice. Through trial-and-error and years of acute observation, Fukuoka developed a pioneering vision to ‘avoid unnecessary work, especially work that was created as an adverse side effect of previous actions.’ He describes these misguided experiments and failures, such as leaving an orchard completely on its own, as ‘not natural farming; it was abandonment.’ In clarifying popular misconceptions about organic and natural farming, he advises that we must not focus on cash crops, because ‘there is no good or bad among life-forms on earth.’ Only by the co-existence of myriad micro-organisms and vegetation will we be able to preserve and maintain our land. More important, the best farming was simple, ‘rather than the modern approach of applying increasingly complex techniques to remake nature entirely for the benefit of human beings.’ Though elimination of mechanization might be tough for modern agriculturalists to swallow, Fukuoka’s last message provides a spiritually and environmentally enriching alternative to the farming conditions we know today."Masanobu Fukuoka ran a course on natural farming, and gave our Howard lecture at Navdanya's biodiversity farm in the Doon valley of India, and we even have a cottage named the Fukuoka hut. He was a teacher ahead of his time. 'Sowing seeds in the desert' is what all of humanity has to learn to do, whether it is in economic desert created by Wall Street, or an ecological desert created by globalized corporate agriculture."--Vandana Shiva, founder of Navdanya Research Foundation for Science Technology & Ecology "Distilling what he has gathered from a lifetime of learning from nature, Masanobu Fukuoka offers us his gentle philosophy and a wealth of practical ideas for using natural farming to restore a damaged planet. Sowing Seeds in the Desert will persuade any reader that the imperiled living world is our greatest teacher, and inspire them to care for it as vigorously as Fukuoka has."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden "This book is a bombshell. Forget the gentle and retiring farmer of The One-Straw Revolution fame, replaced now by a flaming, world-travelling revolutionary. To achieve the kind of natural farming that can avoid worldwide collapse, Masanobu Fukuoka bluntly and fearlessly insists that we must first reject traditional ideas about God, the after life, accepted economic systems--especially capitalism--much of current agricultural thinking including organic farming, and even parts of science which he says are based on mistaken notions about the connection between cause and effect. Once we return to a way of life dictated by nature, not institutional religions, he says, we can apply his unorthodox farming methods to make the deserts bloom and the green fields stay lush without much expense or even labor involved.Be prepared to be mystified, irritated, shocked, and maybe even, if you persevere to the end, enlightened and encouraged by this trail-blazing book. Disagree with Fukuoka's provocative pronouncements at your own risk. Some of what he predicted in this book, originally written in Japanese in the 1990s has already happened, especially the collapse of the Japanese economy in recent years and the spread of deserts throughout the world."--Gene Logsdon, author of A Sanctuary of Trees "From our first meeting with Masanobu Fukuoka Sensei in the late 1970's at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, he has served as a primary guide, teacher, and inspiration in the engaged practice of organic farming and Zen meditation. Now with Sowing Seeds in the Desert, Fukuoka Sensei's teaching of Natural Farming continues to grow, sending deep roots down into the terrain of global restoration and food security for a hungry world. This wonderful book is to be celebrated and savored for its grounded, encouraging wisdom."--Wendy Johnson, author of Gardening at the Dragon's Gate "Fans of Fukuoka's The One-Straw Revolution will be delighted by Sowing Seeds in the Desert, his last book. It is a rich treasure trove detailing how his own philosophy of farming evolved and how he decided to apply what he learned on his own farm in Japan to other parts of the world. His insights into the tragedies of taking Western, industrial agriculture to places like Africa to 'enrich the national economy,' and his alternative approach of working with indigenous farmers to enable them to become self-sufficient, is instructive for all of us."--Frederick Kirschenmann, Author of Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays From a Farmer Philosopher "This book is not a breath of fresh air, it's a howling gale from the East. It challenges us to think outside our normal, rational frames and venture into a whole new way of relating to spirituality, the earth, and the growing of food. As I read, I was tempted to pick holes in Fukuoka's prescriptions for greening the world's deserts, but I kept coming back to the inescapable fact that he farmed his own land according to these principles over many years and produced a lot of food."--Patrick Whitefield, author of The Earth Care Manual Table of Contents1. The call to natural farming 2. Reconsidering human knowledge 3. Healing a world in crisis 4. Global desertification 5. Revegetating the earth through natural methods 6. Travels on the west coast of the United States

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1977, this book—from one of America’s most famous and prolific agricultural writers—became an almost instant classic among homestead gardeners and small farmers. Now fully updated and available once more, Small-Scale Grain Raising offers a entirely new generation of readers the best introduction to a wide range of both common and lesser-known specialty grains and related field crops, from corn, wheat, and rye to buckwheat, millet, rice, spelt, flax, and even beans and sunflowers. More and more Americans are seeking out locally grown foods, yet one of the real stumbling blocks to their efforts has been finding local sources for grains, which are grown mainly on large, distant corporate farms. At the same time, commodity prices for grains—and the products made from them—have skyrocketed due to rising energy costs and increased demand. In this book, Gene Logsdon proves that anyone who has access to a large garden or small farm can (and should) think outside the agribusiness box and learn to grow healthy whole grains or beans—the base of our culinary food pyramid—alongside their fruits and vegetables. Starting from the simple but revolutionary concept of the garden “pancake patch,” Logsdon opens up our eyes to a whole world of plants that we wrongly assume only the agricultural “big boys” can grow. He succinctly covers all the basics, from planting and dealing with pests, weeds, and diseases to harvesting, processing, storing, and using whole grains. There are even a few recipes sprinkled throughout, along with more than a little wit and wisdom. Never has there been a better time, or a more receptive audience, for this book. Localvores, serious home gardeners, CSA farmers, and whole-foods advocates—in fact, all people who value fresh, high-quality foods—will find a field full of information and ideas in this once and future classic.Trade ReviewThe Ethicurean- In Small-Scale Grain Raising, Logsdon lays out clearly just how easy it can be to grow grains for your family and your livestock, from his beloved "pancake patch" up to acre-sized plots. Interspersed with good-humored vintage anecdotes and his usual Contrary Farmer commentary, this primer elevates the status of grain-growing on farms of all sizes (from the backyard on up) to a happy essential. As he states repeatedly, there's nothing so delicious -- or so economical -- as home-baked goods made with fresh grains you grew and milled yourself. And when those same home-grown grains can also feed your animals and build soil fertility… well, what's stopping you?Logsdon's book covers all of the well-known grains and several of the lesser ones: barley, buckwheat, corn, millet, oats, rice, spelt, sorghum, triticale, wheat, and others. He also devotes a chapter to soybeans and dried beans, despite their classification as legumes, because they partner so well with grains both in growing and in eating. For at least the major grains he discusses varieties, yields, nutritional value, and uses (both for human and animal consumption as well as other farm uses). He describes how to prepare the soil, how to plant the grain seeds (including optimal space requirements), what diseases and pests to watch for and how to deal with them, how to harvest and dry the grains, how to store them, and, finally, how to turn those seeds into food for your family.Drawing on his personal experience growing almost all of the major grains, Logsdon describes "how we do it" even when it contrasts with conventional wisdom. He touts the value of open-pollinated seed, despite advances in hybrids, because of their superior taste and the satisfaction of not being beholden to agribusiness. He also demonstrates that old hand tools and techniques can sometimes be the most efficient when growing on a small scale. For example, though corn may be harvested by machine, he outlines how to bundle corn stalks into shocks for easy, inexpensive drying and storage (and aesthetic value). He claims to keep a basket full of old socks to slip over ripening ears of corn to prevent wild animals from dining on his crops. (I'd like to see that!) And for his money, the best weed control -- the one to which pests never develop resistance -- is the hoe."Gene Logsdon could just say, 'I told you so.' Instead, he has revitalized Small-Scale Grain Raising with bushels of new information, thirty additional years of insight, and the welcome leavening of his wonderful and cranky (with a wink and a nod) voice. He makes sowing sexy, and shifts the food revolution from his back 40 to your back yard."--Michael Perry, author of COOP: A Year of Poultry, Pigs and Parenting"Small-Scale Grain Raising, 2nd ed., is the definitive book on how to grow, thresh, process, and use grains in the amounts that matter to a family--from enough wheat for a single batch of pancakes up to an acre or two--all the grain needed for a family with a cow, a pig, a few sheep, and a flock of chickens. The first edition has long been a cult classic, decades out of print, decades before its time, eagerly begged, borrowed, and handed around in bootleg copies. The second edition is updated and expanded to include virtually every grain grown in North America. Particularly useful is the state-of-the-art information about threshing and dehulling of various grains for those without access to specialized equipment. Even more useful than the specific information, however, is the portrayal of the overall pattern--the full integration of appropriate grain-growing, appropriate cover-cropping, appropriate livestock keeping, appropriate economics, and appropriate philosophy, all woven together into a powerful model of a coherent framework for gardening, farming, and living. This book is the Small is Beautiful of grain growing, by Gene Logsdon, one of the founding curmudgeons of modern garden farming and sustainable agriculture."--Carol Deppe, author of Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener's and Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving "Home bakers rejoice! Gene's book is back just in time to help you grow those flavorful, old, heirloom grain varieties you have always wanted to try. Bon appétit!"--Eliot Coleman, author of The Winter Harvest Handbook and The New Organic Grower "Interspersed with good-humored vintage anecdotes and his usual 'Contrary Farmer' commentary, this primer elevates the status of grain-growing on farms of all sizes (from the backyard on up) to a happy essential."--Jennifer McMullen, reviewed in The EthicureanTable of Contents1. Homegrown grains: the key to food security 2. Corn: America's amazing maize 3. Wheat: the main source of the staff of life 4. The sorghum family 5. Oats: the high-protein cereal grain 6. Dry beans: the "poor man's meat" 7. Rye and barley 8. Buckwheat and millet 9. Rice: the oldest garden grain 10. Some uncommon grains, old and new 11. Legumes: the overlooked partner in small-scale grain raising 12. Feeding grain to animals

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Book SynopsisThe 1950s house was a scientific triumph. It had been designed in a laboratory and tested on inhabitants of all ages before being built for the masses. Never had the home been so contemporary - antiques and period styles were banished for an entire decade as householders concentrated on achieving a complete 'look' for the home.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive look at the world''s great aircraft from the experts at Flying magazine, featuring spectacular full-color photographs, fascinating and informative text, and detailed specifications that will delight die-hard data fans.Of all humanity’s dazzling innovations, perhaps none capture our imaginations or fuel our inventive spirits as much as flight. In our quest to soar higher, faster, and farther, we’ve dreamed up airborne wonders that are a sight to behold—like the supersonic F-22 Raptor, stealthily soaring above the clouds, or the Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Biplane, the beautiful starter model that helped a generation earn their wings. That’s not even to mention the deluxe Concorde—the first passenger jet to cruise at the speed of sound. These iconic aircraft—and 97 more stunning feats of aeronautical engineering—make up the world’s most groundbreaking contributions to flight, all curated and collected here by the experts at Flying magazine. In Flight: 100 Greatest Aircraft, there’s something for every aviation aficionado—from brazen stunt planes to far-from-pedestrian commercial jets, from military marvels to spacecraft that reached dazzling new heights. With its spectacular full-color photographs, fascinating and informative text, and detailed specifications section that will delight die-hard data fans, Flight is the essential book for pilots and plane-lovers everywhere.

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Book Synopsis Marijuana Botany presents the scientific knowledge and propagation techniques used to preserve and multiply vanishing Cannabis strains. Also included is information concerning Cannabis genetics and breeding used to begin plant improvement programs. The book presents scientific and horticultural principles, along with their practical applications, necessary for the breeding and propagation of Cannabis and in particular, marijuana. It will appeal not only to the professional researcher, but to the marijuana enthusiast or anyone with an eye to the future of Cannabis products.

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Book Synopsis Essential Sustainable Home Design walks homebuilders through designing an environmentally friendly home. Covering what makes a building green, a criteria matrix to guide design, material, and systems decisions, working with code officials, and choosing sustainable materials to keep the project goals on track from start to finish. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Introduction Section 1: Developing a New Approach Chapter 2: Decision-Making Chapter 3: Defining Goals and Criteria Chapter 4: Rating Systems and Product Guides Chapter 5: Criteria Matrix Chapter 6: Building Science Basics Chapter 7: The Design Game Chapter 8: Creating a Design/Build Team Chapter 9: The Regulatory System Section 2: Materials and Systems Chapter 10: Structural Materials Structural Materials: Foundations Structural Materials: Walls Structural Wall Systems Wall Insulation Wall Cladding Roofing Flooring Surface finishes Chapter 11: Mechanical Systems Mechanical Systems: Water Mechanical Systems: Wastewater Mechanical Systems: Electrical Generation Mechanical Systems: HVAC Chapter 12: Conclusion Endnotes Resources for Further Research Index About the Author A Note About the Publisher

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Book SynopsisA family cow can provide an endless supply of delicious fresh milk, but also requires a large investment of time and money. In this practical guide, Dirk van Loon provides detailed information on choosing an appropriate breed for your needs, nutrition, milking, health care, and bovine behavior. With expert advice on everything you need to know keep your animal healthy, happy, and productive, you'll soon be enjoying all the benefits a family cow can bring.

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Book SynopsisLiving Life Beautifully tells the story of how Christina founded legendary fabric company Cabbages & Roses and grew it into a lifestyle brand. Christina talks about her inspirations and influences, and how she works these into her products. Specially-commissioned photography allows us a peek into her London apartment, and we see behind the scenes at her family home in the Bath countryside. This 600-year-old cottage is the backdrop for constantly changing interiors – it is where Christina designs her fabrics, experiments with her new wallpapers, and gathers all her favourite antiques, inherited gems and newly sourced vintage acquisitions. In addition, Christina shows us a selection of other homes and lifestyles she finds truly inspirational, including those of Brigette Buchanan of interiors company Odd Limited, and Maureen Doherty of Egg.

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Book SynopsisMaking twenty-two simple but useful adjuncts to the tool kit for bench and lathe use, none taking any more than 3 to 4 hours or involving special materials, yet each able to save considerable time in use as well as aiding accuracy. With working drawings, photographs and sketches etc.Table of ContentsPart One: Marking Out Tools - Scriber. Punches. Calipers. Rule Holder. Scribing Block. Engineer's Bevel. Centre Square. Trammel. Part Two: Benchwork - Drill Clamps. Filing Plates. Small Hand Clamp. Pin Chucks. Toolmaker's Clamps. Tap and Die Holders. Part Three: Lathework - Flycutters. Rose Bit. Box Tool. Knurling Tools. Filing Rest. T-Bolts, Dogs and Jacks. Bolting Bars. Simple Indicator.

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Book SynopsisDior is one of the most revered names in fashion, the archetype of the Parisian couture house. Famous for launching the â??New Look,â? Christian Diorâ??s landmark first collection that marked a sea change in womenâ??s dress after the Second World War, Dior is known today for its exquisite couture line of dramatic dresses. This book comprises a portfolio of portraits of over one hundred incredible gowns from the entire era of Christian Dior haute couture, including dresses designed by Dior himself. All of the images were shot by Patrick Demarchelier, known for his exquisite fashion portraits that grace the pages of Vogue, Elle, Harperâ??s Bazaar, Glamour, and many other magazines.Trade Review"...far and away the most gorgeous book on the house..." ~The New York Times"Dior Couture immortalizes one of the most important and long-lived couture houses in the world and is a book that anyone with an interest in fashion will want for their library." ~Huffington Post"Books such as this are rare and should be considered a must for any fashion library and certainly for anyone with a serious interest in fashion as an art form." ~New York Journal of Books

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Book SynopsisA captivating look at the career of social and style revolutionary Vidal Sassoon. A visionary hairstylist who became a household name, Vidal Sassoon was an instrument of change during the cultural shifts of the 1960s. Inspired by Bauhaus architecture, Sassoon’s career took off with the Nancy Kwan bob in 1963, followed by the boyish five-point haircut that blurred class and sexual distinctions in the unisex era. These low-maintenance styles signaled liberation from the constraints of the past and led to a mix of social strata in his Bond Street salon as both ladies and shopgirls had their hair trimmed side by side. His singular and iconic haircuts for tastemakers such as Grace Coddington and Mia Farrow charted a new course for ideals of feminine beauty. Combining fashion photography, candid snapshots, and recollections by Sassoon and members of his artistic circle, such as David Bailey, Terence Donovan, and Mary Quant, this book is a fascinating look at one man’s driven eff

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Book Synopsis***"This gorgeous book marries inspirational ideas with real interiors, to help you curate a home that reflects your personal story and style." Kate Watson-Smyth of Mad About The House"Helpfully divided into eight key elements that bring a space to life, this beautifully photographed book by Australian interior designer Gardener and journalist Heath, makes the perfect accompaniment to a house refresh." Elle Decoration "A paradise for the curious, Lynda and Ali present an interior perspective so cosy that you already feel you live there. Textural spaces cleansed in monochromatic hues - with ideas that invite your imagination to consider home and collections in a new light." Martyn Thompson - Designer, Photographer, Creative Director'The images are stylish, elegant and inspiring - and you don't need big spaces or big bank balances to achieve their irresistible modern rustic ambience.' Sunday ExpressDoyenne of the unique and decorative, Australian interior stylist and boutique hotelier, Lynda Gardener, is always on the hunt for finds to enhance her homes and decorating projects. Her ability to curate and display these personal treasures has created a trademark style that is loved internationally.Curate, the highly anticipated book by creative duo, Lynda Gardener and journalist and stylist Ali Heath, reveals how to create a home that is truly individual. With their shared love of a monochrome aesthetic and natural imperfections, they explore the eight Elements that bring a space to life: palette, nature, textiles, lighting, a combination of old and new, storage, collections and art. Ten aspirational homes show the style in practice, including a converted warehouse, one-bedroom studio, bijoux apartment, historic cottage, country estate, new-build barn, remote shack, period townhouse and rural retreat.With gloriously evocative photography and plenty of down-to-earth ideas, Curate will encourage the reader to embrace their individual style, dream big and create a timeless interior of their own.

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Book SynopsisThe School of Fencing is a colour facsimile edition of Domenico Angelo’s famous fencing manual of 1765. Such was Angelo's reputation that he numbered several members of the British royal family amongst his clientele, and his Soho-based School of Arms was noted for accepting female students. Featuring an introduction by fencing expert Mark Hillyard, this new facsimile edition includes the parallel English and French text together with all 47 hand-coloured engravings by artist James Gwynn. It is ideal for devotees of fencing, lovers of Georgian high society, students of arms and armour, and historical reenactors and interpreters.

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Book Synopsis“An invaluable resource” Huw Richards If you want to grow your own food, become more self sufficient, zero waste or eco friendly, or even go fully off grid, Liz Zorab is the perfect guide to help you explore the world of green living and permaculture. Grounded is the story of her gardening journey: from bare field to bountiful feast; from poor soil to fertile abundance; from rookie errors to successful sustainability. Liz and her husband, Mr J, transformed a tired 0.8 acre field into a fertile homestead that provides 80% of their food and drink – with enough left over to stock a community veggie box scheme! An inspiring blend of practical tips and ideas with personal narrative and a good smattering of humour, Grounded will show you how to: ` Fill your garden without emptying your pocket ` Make the most of the space you have ` Be creative with resources ` Achieve more without exhausting yourself ` Become more resilient ` Enjoy the process as much as the results This is a tale of courage and imagination that will inspire you to grow your own productive paradise and live your dreams.

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Book SynopsisFashion is ever-changing, and while some styles mark a dramatic departure from the past, many exhibit subtle differences from year to year that are not always easily identifiable. With overviews of each key period and detailed illustrations for each new style, How to Read a Dress is an appealing and accessible guide to women''s fashion across five centuries. Each entry includes annotated color images of historical garments, outlining important features and highlighting how styles have developed over time, whether in shape, fabric choice, trimming, or undergarments. Readers learn how garments were constructed and where their inspiration stemmed from at key points in history as well as how dresses have varied in type, cut, detailing and popularity according to the occasion and the class, age and social status of the wearer. This new edition includes additional styles to illustrate and explain the journey between one style and another; larger images to allow closer investigation Trade ReviewThis comprehensive, inclusive and updated guide to dress history is richly illustrated in full colour and is supplemented with detailed annotations that identify the key stylistic trends from 1550 to 2020 – making it an essential text for the novice fashion historian. * Ingrid Mida, Author of The Dress Detective and Reading Fashion in Art *Fashion lovers, students, and historians alike are all indebted to Edwards for teaching us how to interpret the meanings inscribed in the very clothes we wear and have worn for centuries. This new edition brings us into the 21st century with a potent reminder that not only can we all read a dress - we can all wear one too! * Cassidy Zachary, author and co-host of ‘Dressed’ podcast *This updated and expanded edition is an invaluable resource in any costume history library. Dr. Lydia Edwards brings to life the evolution of the changing fashions, technological developments, and the social and material culture of the different decades. * Karin Bohleke, Shippensburg University, USA *For a knowledgeable introduction that has plenty of eye candy alongside its scholarship, Lydia Edwards' How to Read a Dress hits the spot…The curated collection, featuring everything from funeral finery to department-store finds, offers [a...] fascinating fashion primer that invites you to make connections across centuries, to wonder about the ways huge social shifts are reflected in everyday life, and tips you off about the placement of shoulder seams. Whether you're a costume nerd or just casually curious, How to Read a Dress will give you some insights into the language of dress. * NPR (of the first edition) *The general principle of this book is excellent and provides a much–needed overview ... [It] is a perfect introduction to the world of dress history and provides a good stimulus for further study. For those with specialist knowledge of particular periods, it provides a quick and easily accessed reference for the main points of other periods. * The Journal of Dress History (of the first edition) *This original, accessible take on fashion history is packed with color images, and each example garment annotated with terminology, key elements of the shape and construction, and other details of note. * CHOICE, C. E. Berg, Museum of History and Industry (of the first edition) *Those looking for a detailed, object centered and carefully researched study of historic dress will find a satisfying, richly illustrated guide for looking at clothes. * The Fashion Studies Journal (of the first edition) *Lydia Edwards’s How to Read a Dress is a detailed, practical, and totally beautiful guide to the history of this particular form of clothing from the 16th to the 20th centuries. * Jezebel (of the first edition) *Ultimately, this is an excellent book for scholars of fashion history, costume designers and makers, and really anyone looking to improve their ability to determine the period of a given dress. * La Bricoleuse (of the first edition) *This is a beautiful, well-written book. The photos are a joy to study, and I finished it wishing it were twice as long. * The Vintage Traveler (of the first edition) *Sashays down the historical catwalk, examining women’s costume from the 16th to the 20th century … It is fascinating to rifle through this pictorial dress-up box and see styles come and go, and then imagine what you might like to wear. * The National Archives blog (of the first edition) *Using examples from lesser known international collections, this well-illustrated and informative book tracks the evolution of the dress through expert analysis and description. It will be an invaluable guide for anyone with an interest in dating and contextualizing the dress as a garment within the culture of fashion. * Cally Blackman, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, UK (of the first edition) *This appealing and accessible work offers a fresh perspective on fashion history from 1550 to 1970. Images of surviving garments from museums in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States of America have been annotated to highlight and elucidate key fashionable details. This book would make an excellent companion to The Dress Detective. * Ingrid Mida, Curator and Dress Historian, Ryerson School of Fashion, Toronto, Canada (of the first edition) *This book explores the realities of what we can and cannot know about a garment, particularly in terms of the why and when of its creation. The author’s concept of the fluidity of time is critical to our better understanding of how individuals approach dress. * Jean Druesedow, Kent State University, USA (of the first edition) *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Introduction 1. 1550 - 1600 2. 1600 - 1699 3. 1710 - 1790 4. 1790 - 1837 5. 1837 - 1869 6. 1870 - 1889 7. 1890 - 1916 8. 1918 - 1929 9. 1930 - 1946 10. 1947 - 1959 11. 1960 - 1979 12. 1980 - 2020 Glossary of Terms Notes Bibliography Photographic Credits Index List of Fashion Designers

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Book SynopsisA New York Times bestseller! All in Good Taste helps us become the hostess everyone wants an invitation from.In this charming guide to entertaining, kate spade new york throws rigid rules out the door and shares unpretentious ideas for the modern-day hostess that are easy, festive, authentic, and always with an air of deliberate polish. Filled with how-tos, personal essays, anecdotes, recipes, and a liberal dash of style, All in Good Taste covers the essential lost artshow to shuck an oyster, curate a vibrant guest list, guide a dinner-table discussionright alongside modern conundrums such as Instagram etiquette at dinner.Whether you entertain a little or a lot, or just love being the person everyone wants to sit next to at dinner, All in Good Taste is the modern classic you'll treasure for years.Disclaimer: The wine stain on the cover of the book is a design element and is intentional.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most admired gardening writers of her generation, Katherine Swift returns to describe a year in the life of her garden she created over twenty years in the grounds of the Dower House at Morville, Shropshire, meditating on everything from the terrain and its history, to the plants and trees, and the odd habits of the animals and humans who inhabit the garden.Following the turning wheel of the Morville seasons, from the green shoots of spring, through summer and autumn, to the stark beauty of winter, and back to spring again, The Morville Year is a journal full of surprises and enchantments that will appeal not only to gardeners, but to all who enjoy the natural world.Trade Review‘You don't need more than a nodding acquaintance with a trowel or a packet of seeds to enjoy this delightful book. With her keen eye, her humour and great breadth of knowledge, Swift's enthusiasm is altogether pleasing' * Daily Telegraph *‘Once again, the charm of Swift's writing is that it combines acute observation of nature, creative day-dreaming and scholarly musing. She addresses us as frankly and as unselfconsciously as a friend. There is something either interesting or useful to know on every page' * Amanda Craig, New Statesman *‘The wonderful thing about these pieces is that they not only describe what is going on in Swift's own garden but range across history, painting, landscape, language, geology, herbalism, cosmology, phenology and literature' * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed interior designer to the A-list, Kathryn M Ireland celebrates 30 years of decorating in A Life in Design. Organized by location, the book takes an overview of the interiors Kathryn has designed over the past 30 years, including her own homes in Los Angeles, London and the south of France. She shares her story of a life in design, from the early days in LA, where she started her career by decorating a home for Steve Martin, to designing houses all over the world, from California to the Cotswolds. This lavishly illustrated deep dive into Kathryn’s work is paired with a wealth of chatty, informal and invaluable advice on creating comfort, adding colour, finding and hanging art, designing great spaces for entertaining and the design rules she lives by. A Life in Design is full of character and charm, just like Kathryn herself.Trade ReviewLeaf through the pages of this retrospective and it is easy to see why the British interior and textile designer Kathryn Ireland has made her name in Los Angeles and beyond - House & Garden A romp through the designer’s peripatetic, multi-coastal life… invaluable advice on creating sophisticated, bohemian, colorful and welcoming spaces – The Hollywood Reporter

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Book SynopsisThe Armée de l'Air has stood at the forefront of jet fighter technology for more than 70 years operating cutting edge types such as the Mystère, the Mirage III and most recently the Rafale. Throughout the cold war period, French fighters and fighter-bombers saw action in conflicts across the world and today both the Mirage 2000 and Rafale continue that tradition. French Combat Jets features more than 150 profiles created by renowned aviation artist JP Vieira, including the following types: MD 450 Ouragan, MD 454 Mystère IV, Super Mystère, Vautour, Étendard IV, Super Étendard, Mirage III, Mirage 5, Mirage IV, Mirage F1, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and Rafale.

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Book SynopsisThe beauty of well-made Shaker furniture!From the crisp, clear lines of the designs to the beautiful tones of the wood, there's something classic and timeless about Shaker furniture. In this book we've gathered 31 handsome projects representing a wide range of iconic Shaker designs and furniture types. There's something here to fit just about any home. And best of all, the straightforward joinery makes the projects simpler to build. Shaker Furniture Projects is an invaluable resource that you're sure to use again and again.

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Book SynopsisRandolph Caldecott (1846-1886) was a pioneer in the way he charmed his young readers with an innovative and engaging aesthetic approach to the picture book genre. In celebration of this remarkable achievement, Desmarais offers a convincing account of how Caldecott established a new standard of taste in children's picture books. The featured books are from the author's personal collection.Trade Review"A fan of Caldecott from boyhood, Desmarais fondly remembers perusing the master illustrator's work when he was in preschool. That oeuvre was broadly reprinted into the 1970s and'80s. Caldecott's impact continues to be felt in the children's book industry. A major industry award is named after him - the Caldecott Medal, presented by the American Library Association - and the themes that he pioneered endure." Gilbert A. Bouchard, the Edmonton Journal, June 16, 2006."Filled with delicate colour plates of Caldecott's work, the book includes a critical introduction by Desmarais, as well as mini-essays that contextualize each book and point out unique features of the illustrations." Shirley Byers, Prairie Books NOW, Summer 2006"The twelve page introduction of this text provides detailed information about the life of Randolph Caldecott. Readers learn about Caldecott's first published illustrations, and about his friendships with other accomplished artists....As well as a narrative description of each of the 26 featured books, Desmarais includes accompanying coloured or sepia reproductions of Caldecott's illustrations. Indeed, Desmarais's passion for and knowledge about the work of Randolph Caldecott are most evident in this text....Recommended." Sylvia Pantaleo, CM: Canadian Review of Materials, Volume XIII, no. 3."Caldecott is today associated with the children's book award in his name, but few coverages provide more than a bow to his many achievements: for this you need Randolph Caldecott: His Books and Illustrations for Young Readers..Colour illustrations on nearly every page come from the author's personal collection and spice a strong literary history of not just Caldecott, but of children's picturebooks as a whole." California Bookwatch, November, 2006."Randolph Caldecott: His Books and Illustrations for Young Readers reads more like a little art book than a catalogue....I hardly ever see trade books put together this way anymore, and certainly not in Canada. One of the virtues of this edition is the genuine simplicity of design....Its approach is fresh and tasteful, with colour plates so clearly reproduced, you can even see the laid paper pattern on which the originals were printed." Charles van Sandwyk, Amphora #145, February 2007"This is an attractive exhibit catalogue, containing useful information about the production of Caldecott's books..." Leslie McGrath, University of Toronto Quarterly, Winter 2008

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