Home & Garden Books

Book SynopsisConstruction is the foundation of fashion design; it takes passion and great skill to turn a two-dimensional drawing into a successful garment. Construction for Fashion Design guides readers through the process, teaching the theory, practical skills and techniques that they need to succeed. It leads readers through the essential stages of creating a garment, from pattern cutting and draping on the mannequin to sewing techniques and haberdashery. This fully revised and expanded second edition features insightful case studies with leading creative practitioners at the cutting edge of the fashion industry today, complete with detailed, step-by-step exercises that enable readers to contextualise their knowledge and put it into practise for the creation of their own successful projects.Trade ReviewA quick reference book which truly demonstrates the interconnectivity between fabric handling and garment construction methods. -- Gayle Ramsden, University of the Fraser Valley, CanadaI love the format and design – it’s funky, practical and easy to use. -- Sue Martin, Basingstoke College of Technology, UKExcellent book. Visual and informative. * Angela Loftus, BA (Hons) Fashion Course Tutor, Bradford College, UK *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Getting Started Pattern Cutting Tools and Equipment; Silhouettes; Sizing and Grading; Blocks and Patterns; Student Exercise; Case Study 2. Pattern Cutting How to Read a Design Drawing; Dart Manipulation; Slash and Spread; Sleeves; Collars; Pockets; Bias Cut; Fitting the Toile; Laying a Pattern on to Fabric; Student Exercise; Case Study 3. Garment Construction Tools for the Technique; Seams; Seam Finishes; Hand-Sewing Techniques; Student Exercise; Case Study 4. Surface-Specific Techniques Felted Fabrics; Lace; Leather; Fur; Knits and Stretch-woven Fabrics; Sequinned and Beaded Fabrics; Velvet; Transparent Fabrics; Student Exercise; Case Study 5. Haute Couture and Tailoring Haute Couture; Designing Haute Couture; Tailoring; Tailoring Techniques; Student Exercise; Case Study 6. Draping on the Mannequin Modeling Tools and Equipment; Grain Line and Draping; Draping Style; Geometric Shapes; Inspired Designers; Student Exercise; Case Study 7. Support and structure History of Supported and Structured Garments; Supporting Materials; Interlining/Fusing; Corsetry; Creating Volume; Student Exercise; Case Study 8. Finishes Linings; Facings; Fastenings; Haberdashery; Student Exercise; Case Study Conclusion Glossary Bibliography Useful resources Acknowledgements and picture credits

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Book SynopsisA lifelong love of vintage clothes and bargain hunting sustained Lynne when she was made redundant. Borrowing, blagging and begging her way around the country, she found her feet again in the cowboy boots of yesteryear, and brought her discoveries back to share. From Aberdeen to Brighton, Victorian beading to 1980's neon, across 15 cities and all decades, Lynne reveals the things she loves about her favourite vintage haunts. Layering vintage chic, gorgeous photographs and a soupcon of fashion history, A Girl's Guide to Vintage is for both initiates and adepts at the alter of vintage.Trade ReviewIf the world of authentic retro clothing is one you've never been able to conquer, then here's lesson one - pick up Lynne McCrossan's gorgeous little handbag-sized bible of wisdom on how to track down the very best outfits from bygone eras. THE DAILY RECORD

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Book SynopsisSleek, futuristic and deadly the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was born from the crucible of the air war over Vietnam and the need for cheaper, simpler and more manoeuvrable fighter aircraft with which to combat the many thousands of Soviet-bloc supplied aircraft sold around the world. Back in the early 1970s the F-16 was the pinnacle of modern design, integrating a powerful turbofan engine and offering unrivalled manoeuvrability thanks to its relaxed static stability and fly-by-wire system with computer control. Today's F-16 Viper is light years away from the simple, lightweight pointdefence fighter first envisaged, but it has evolved and matured into the finest and most exported fourth-generation combat aircraft around the world. This is its story.

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Book SynopsisAn unparalleled moral panic gripped the people of Britain during the spring of 1964 as two bitterly opposed domestic factions, the like of which had not been seen before, clashed in the nation's seafront towns. The Mods and the Rockers had grown in numbers throughout the decade's early years and by Easter '64 their ranks and their differences had become so great that they could no longer be ignored. The overt hostility these two groups displayed toward each other rose until conflict was inevitable. The ominous signs of this impending explosion were spectacularly missed by the authorities until it was way too late. In Mods & Rockers, author Gareth Brown explains the genesis of both movements right through from their conception to the cell splitting that separated them. It closely studies their development, and most importantly, highlights their enduring impact on the popular culture of today.

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Book SynopsisA sophisticated and stylish design book, featuring nostaligic photographs of the childhood Dinky toys of the 1950s.

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Book SynopsisThis is the definitive text for potting, maintaining, and loving your houseplants.Houseplants have the power to transform any room. With their lush foliage and structural beauty, they help create indoor oases that bring a sense of tranquility to our busy lives. Fostering a connection to plants has many positive implications for us and our environment by strengthening our relationship with the natural world.In Plantopedia, Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan from Leaf Supply present the definitive guide to keeping happy, healthy houseplants in any space. Featuring:More than 130 plant profiles including foliage plants, succulents and cacti, as well as rarer gems of the plant world.Detailed care information including troubleshooting tips and tricks to ensure that your houseplants thrive.Plants for all levels of indoor gardeners, from budding novices to green thumbs and beyond.

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Book SynopsisA guide to the diagnosis and treatment of cosmetic and dermatological problems with practical instruction on how to perform treatment techniques.Thambirajah explains the energetic imbalances which cause skin diseases and the problems of early ageing, and describes how they can be treated successfully. Skin problems occur because the Blood, Qi, yin and yang of the body are not in balance and the book discusses how these can be balanced by acupuncture therapy. The therapy for a cosmetic problem has three steps: 1) to balance the body energies that cause the problem, 2) to treat the problem locally, 3) changing the diet and lifestyle of the patients with these problems. Concepts are accompanied with useful illustrations throughout, demonstrating the methods described. This second edition also contains new material on needling and massage techniques. This is a comprehensive and authoritative textbook on the topic for practising acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners.

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Book SynopsisJoin the journey to natural wellness and treat yourself with this handy book of herbs and homemade remedies.Introducing Neal''s Yard Remedies Healing Herbs - a one-stop gardening guide with everything you need to know about herbs, featuring a detailed layout of 100 medicinal herbs and over 70 recipes for effective herbal treatments.A must-have volume for green-fingered gardeners, Neal''s Yard Remedies Healing Herbs features tonnes of tips and tricks on planting and propagating a diverse range of herbs with the core focus on improving your health and treating your ailments with a little help from nature! This herbal medicine book offers expert advice you can trust, with an in-depth directory of a plethora of plants and herbs, including hemp, lavender, thyme, aloe vera, and lemongrass. With passion in every page, this handy herbalism book includes:-An illustrated directory of 100 medicinal herbs with instructions on how to use each one-At-a-glance guides to help reader quickly find the right herbs for their health needs-Over 70 recipes featuring medicinal herbs to use in soups, salads, face masks and more. Alongside the directory, the book features more than 70 recipes designed to heal the body from the inside out, all of which can be prepared in the comfort of your own kitchen! Try a fennel and chamomile tea to aid digestion, a cranberry and apricot power bar to boost energy levels, or a beeswax and calendula balm to combat stretch marks. Whatever your ache or ailment, you can discover the treatment potential for each plant, and how you can prepare and use them to best effect.A recent study suggests 38% of British adults use their gardens to grow herbs and vegetables. However, the ever-growing pressure of balancing family life with a career leaves a lot of room for aches and ailments, including stress and anxiety, not to mention a lot of today''s green-fingered gardeners simply lack time for growing herbs! We believe it''s time to change that!Dive deep into the pages of this handy herb book and discover easy-to-follow guides to exploring g a plethora of plants and herbs that will change your life for the better! The ideal gift for the green-fingered gardener in your life with a niche for natural remedies, or those who prefer complementary therapies over conventional medicines. This easy reference book is well-suited to herbal medicine practitioners and students alike. From researching how medicinal plants work, to making your own herbal remedies and nurturing natural skincare, from aloe vera to avocado, this one-stop herbal handbook has it all and will leave you feeling healthier and more energized than ever before.A newly-updated book with a fresh design and easy-to-use treatment guides to help you find the herbs you need at a glance, Neal''s Yard Remedies Healing Herbs is a comprehensive guide to staying healthy the natural way.At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So why not explore other books in the Neal''s Yard Remedies collection, craftily curated to suit your natural needs! Revolutionise your beauty regimen with Neal''s Yard Remedies Natural Beauty and explore the awe-inspiring aromas within best-selling book Neal''s Yard Remedies Essential Oils.

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Book SynopsisMartin Crawford is an internationally acknowledged expert on growing perennial food systems. It features a selection of the 100 best trees to grow. It includes appendices with lists of suitable trees for specific situations. Martin Crawford has researched and experimented with tree crops for 25 years and has selected over 100 of the best trees producing fruits, nuts, edible leaves and other useful products that can be grown in Europe and North America. The appendices makes choosing trees for your situation easy, with lists of suitable trees for specific situations plus flow charts to guide you. If you want to know about and use the large diversity of tree crops that are available in temperate and continental climates, then this book is both fascinating and essential reading by an internationally acknowledged expert.Trade Review'Martin Crawford is Mr Tree, and what he doesn't know about these sentinels in our landscape is hardly worth knowing. I've reaped the benefit of his root-and-branch expertise myself: he helped me establish my modest Devon nuttery and forest garden, and my flourishing chestnuts, hazels and autumn olives (to name just three) are a testament to his generous advice. But what's really inspiring and persuasive is Martin's view of trees as a vital and sustaining life force that we need to recognise and nurture. Like any good arboriculturist (or tree-man, if you like), he has an emotional connection to trees and an infectious sense of awe at their sheer magnificence. But this book is really about their importance as the bedrock of a sustainable ecology. Martin celebrates the sheer practical value of trees and explores the uses we have found for them, past and present, that makes them not just things of beauty, but icons of resilience, resourcefulness and regeneration.' Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, multi-award-winning writer and broadcaster widely known for his uncompromising commitment to seasonal, ethically produced food

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Book SynopsisButterflies are brilliant pollinators and add vibrancy and colour to the garden.A summer's day wouldn't be the same without the gentle fluttering of delicate wings. They connect us with living and breathing nature and are an essential part of a dynamic ecosystem. However, in the past forty years, these insects, which were once a common sight in our gardens, are now in decline thanks to habit loss, climate change and the use of pesticides.But do not despair – there is a lot you can do to help improve their numbers! Planting for Butterflies will show you how you can attract these beautiful insects and help them to flourish by creating a butterfly-friendly garden. No matter how small or large your space – from a window ledge in the city to a country garden – Jane Moore offers advice on the nectar-rich blooms to grow, and when and where to plant them.This charmingly illustrated, practical guide will set your garden a flutter.

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Book SynopsisIn this classic 1960s gardening book, Margery Fish's advice and enthusiasm for horticulture has stood the test of time and remains a go-to book for green-thumbed gardeners today. She guides the reader through techniques for creating and maintaining a cottage garden with humour and ease, perfect for both beginners and experienced gardeners. In her imaginative adaption of the traditional cottage garden style that she saw disappearing around her, she brought together old-fashioned plants and contemporary plants in the same vein. Today's mixed borders are a direct descendant of the style Margery Fish created at East Lambrook Manor in Somerset, now once again open to the public. Cottage Garden Flowers covers plants that grow easily and naturally in British soil, including easy, adaptable bulbs, perennials and shrubs, such as Astrantia, columbines, daffodils, daisies, Dianthus, foxgloves, hollyhocks, Japonica, old roses, Phlox, Primula, or Virburnum. No longer in danger of being forgotten, these traditional flowering plants have now res-established their place at the heart of garden design. Graham Rice, the widely published gardening author and the former London Evening Standard gardening correspondent, has reviewed the plant names in the original text, providing a plant name section at the back of the book. This allows readers to identify current plants from the old Latin names within the text.

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Book Synopsis The essential guide to fashion’s favourite print.

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Book SynopsisForest Gardening or Agroforestry is a way of growing edible crops with nature doing most of the work. Modelled on young woodland, a wide range of crops is grown in vertical layers. Species are chosen for their beneficial effects on each other, creating a healthy system that maintains its own fertility, with little need for digging, weeding or pest control. Whether a small area in your back garden or a larger plot, here is advice on how to create a beautiful space with great environmental benefits from planning and design (using permaculture principles) to planting and maintenance. With a changing climate, we must grow food sustainably, without compromising soil health, food quality or biodiversity and Forest Gardening offers an exciting solution to the challenge. Creating a Forest Garden also includes a detailed directory of over 500 trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals, root crops and climbers – almost all of them edible and many very unusual. As well as more familiar plants you can grow your own chokeberries, goji berries, yams, heartnuts, bamboo shoots and buffalo currants.Trade Review“The ultimate book on the subject… extremely thorough and beautifully illustrated” * Let's Talk (East Anglia) *"This book is a magnificiently produced and massive tome that is sure to become every forest gardener's horticultural toolkit and bible." * Grow It *"Marting has produced a book that is not only visually beautiful but very practical, offering advice on planning, designing, planting and general maintenance." * Positive News - Summer 2010 *"If you are seriously considering the creation or maitenance of a forest garden then you would do well to have this book on your shelves. Even if you are only looking for novel ground cover suggestions in shaded areas or approaches to inter-planting trees, then this book offers bountiful food for thought." * Green Prophet *"Creating a Forest Garden is a fascniating read for gardeners interested in how to plant communities that work." * Gardens Illustrated *"Martin Crawford has produced a spectacularly useful guide to new horticultural and ecological terrain of great importance." * Permaculture Activist *"This semina piece of work is not only visually entralling, it's incredibly easy to use and it contains a level of detail and explanation that makes it, I believe, a must read for anyone who is serious about building a truly sustainable forest." * WWOOF Ireland *"Martin's book is visually stunning with beautiful photography and illustrations, accompanying very informative and well constructed text." * Self Sufficient-ish Website - 11 June 2010 *"This book is a must if you are interested in producing food from your garden, becoming more self-sufficient or just curious about plants and their uses." * The Cottage Gardener - June 2011 *Table of ContentsForeword by Rob Hopkins Introduction Part 1: How forest gardens work 1. Forest gardens 2. Forest garden features and products 3. The effects of climate change 4. Natives and exotics 5. Emulating forest conditions 6. Fertility in forest gardens Part 2: Designing your forest garden 7. Ground preparation and planting 8. Growing your own plants 9. First design steps 10. Designing wind protection 11. Canopy species 12. Designing the canopy layer 13. Shrub species 14. Designing the shrub layer 15. Herbaceous perennial and ground-cover species 16. Designing the perennial/ground-cover layer 17. Annuals, biennials and climbers 18. Designing with annuals, biennials and climbers Part 3: Extra design elements and maintenance 19. Clearings 20. Paths 21. Fungi in forest gardens 22. Harvesting and preserving 23. Maintenance 24. Ongoing tasks Glossary Appendix 1: Propagation tables Appendix 2: Trees and shrubs for hedging and fencing Appendix 3: Plants to attract beneficial insects and bees Appendix 4: Edible crops by month of use Resources: Useful organisations, suppliers and publications

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Book SynopsisThe author has combined his two greatest interests: Transport and Stamp Collecting and brought them together in this series of books looking at the way postage stamps have led him to increase his knowledge of our world via his interest in all forms of tra

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Book Synopsis"Eliot is the reason I’m cooking. . . . I’ve followed that path because Eliot made it possible, and exciting, to farm in the four seasons."—Dan Barber, chef "There is hardly a more well-known or well-respected name among organic farmers than Eliot Coleman."—Civil Eats Learn season-extending techniques and eat the best food—garden fresh and chemical free—all year long, with little effort or expense. If you love the joys of eating home-garden vegetables but always thought those joys had to stop at the end of summer, this book is for you. Eliot Coleman introduces the surprising fact that most of the United States has more winter sunshine than the south of France. He shows how North American gardeners can successfully use that sun to raise a wide variety of traditional winter vegetables in backyard cold frames and plastic covered tunnel greenhouses without supplementary heat. Inside, you’ll also learn: Composting techniques Simple Mineral Amendments Planning and preparing your garden site Seeds for four seasons How to build cold frames, high tunnels, and mobile greenhouses How to cope with snow How to create a root cellar and other storage techniques And much, much more! Coleman expands upon his own experiences with new ideas learned on a winter-vegetable pilgrimage across the ocean to the acknowledged kingdom of vegetable cuisine, the southern part of France, which lies on the 44th parallel, the same latitude as his farm in Maine. This story of sunshine, weather patterns, old limitations and expectations, and new realities is delightfully innovative in the best gardening tradition. Four-Season Harvest will have you feasting on fresh produce from your garden all through the winter. "The man, the farmer, the legend, is Eliot Coleman."—The Atlantic To learn more about the possibility of a four-season farm, please visit Coleman's website www.fourseasonfarm.com.Trade ReviewPublishers Weekly- From first sentence to last, Coleman's ( The New Organic Gardener ) book is a delight--an earnest guide written with an impish sense of humor. It will refresh anyone who wants to get the most from a vegetable garden yet doesn't want to devote too much time and energy to the process. Apparently Coleman thoroughly enjoys every phase of gardening--from planting crops to weeding. Who else has ever suggested, only half in jest, dancing with a hoe? Or keeping a pair of ducks for pest patrol? This is that kind of book. It's also a book full of valuable information on how to harvest fresh vegetables and salad ingredients literally year-round--yet without an expensive greenhouse or indoor light garden set-up. Coleman combines succession planting (small sowings three or more times, rather than one big endeavor) with cold-frame growing in the winter months. He includes how-tos for building simple cold-frames. Given the fact that he lives in Maine, his advice seems all the more reliable. He believes in simplicity ("If what I am doing in the garden seems complicated, it is probably wrong"), seasonality (tomatoes in summer, broccoli in fall, mache in February) and diplomacy in the garden (which "has more to teach us than just how to grow food"). Here, his philosophy of organic growing is shared easily. The book concludes with an extensive chapter on the vegetables that comprise his "cast of characters." Illustrated. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title."Four-Season Harvest is a magnificent work. It's enticing, inspiring, sensible, and it opens a whole new world for the home grower."--Peter Fossel, Country Journal

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Book SynopsisGrow a glass garden and beautify any space with the exquisite decorative items you've created. George W. Shannon and Pat Torlen, two master teachers and artists, offer an array of glorious patterns for stained glass flowers, butterflies, birds, birdfeeders, planters, lanterns and mobiles. Using dozens of close-up photos, they teach all the basics of both copper foil and lead came construction, from materials and tools to how-to techniques.

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Book SynopsisInspired by nature, these beautiful interiors show how you can bring the natural world into your home whether you live in the country or the city. Relaxed rustic interiors are about embracing the pared-back lifestyle of living in the country, taking nature as the main point of inspiration. Use colours, textures and details to create a home in which to unwind – a retreat from the rest of the world. Niki Brantmark explores various takes on this simple, informal style. The graphical look is striking, reminiscent of exposed landscapes: think whitewashed ceilings, rugged stone surfaces and striking black features, softened by cosy soft furnishings and fresh plants and flowers. Savanna style introduces warmer hues, featuring painted wood and reds, oranges and browns in textiles, furniture and collectibles. Nordic interiors take in the best of the Scandinavian landscape – clean white backdrops against sleek designs – while those inspired by forest and mountain streams are filled with rich, deep greens and blues, combined with traditional patterns and features, such as log burners, wood panelling and woven rugs. The stunning photography for this book takes in locations across Scandinavia and the United States, and all evoke an ideal, rural life, adapted to modern living.Trade Review'This is a book to dive into – you’ll emerge refreshed, and with some lovely decorating ideas' – Reclaim magazine

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Book SynopsisHow to live a more sustainable life and create a calmer, healthier, eco-friendly home without using plastics. Making small lifestyle changes can make a big difference to our planet. Sustain is full of advice and information to help you take a more eco-friendly path. Recycling, reusing and shopping at farmers’ markets are a good start, but cutting down on the use of poisonous chemicals is just as important – it’s perfectly possible to clean a house using nothing more than lemons, bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and plain water. Old-fashioned tips passed down through generations are complemented by newer ideas and innovations. As you move toward greener alternatives, why not try growing some of your own vegetables, fruit and herbs, and use them to make jams, oils and chutneys using the handy tips. Make beauty preparations and bath oils, too, for soothing, effective treatments to enhance everyday health and wellbeing. There are lots of ways to make do and mend, and by taking care of your clothes and not participating in fast fashion you will contribute less to the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Becoming eco-friendly just takes some readjustment; and by following the advice in this invaluable guide you will find yourself living a calmer, greener life.Trade Review'...a modern-day Mary Poppins.' – Journalist Hattie Garlick about Christina Strutt in The Sunday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe author of Interior Design Master Class brings together essays by 100 landscape architects and garden designers reflecting on universal gardening questions, illustrated with photos of each designer's work.2020 HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE FOREWORD INDIES AWARD IN NATUREA classic in the making, Garden Design Master Class brings together 100 essays by some of the top garden designers working today, from acknowledged experts such as Nancy Goslee Power on sunlight and Arabella Lennox-Boyd on borders, to acclaimed tastemakers such as Carolyne Roehm on the pleasures of a vegetable garden. Spanning styles and genres, principles and tenets, collectively these essays and their accompanying images represent a comprehensive education for the reader, giving him or her the benefit of expert design advice and philosophy, from practical considerations such as seedlings and pathways to stylistic concerns such as asymmetry and rhythm. Each essay is paired witTrade Review"This is sure to be the expert gardener’s go-to guide. With 100 essays and topics by 100 leaders in the garden design industry, it’s full of sumptuous photography and is destined to become a true library must-have for the design community." —SOCIETY DIARIES"In his new book Garden Design Master Class, author Carl Dellatore gives us unprecedented access into the minds of 100 of the world’s leading gardeners and landscape designers, and lets us following along as they expound on everything from charming follies and vanishing pools to wildflower meadows and vegetable gardens." —SCHUMACHER BULLETIN Consider it required reading for gardening’s Ivy League…a compendium of thoughtful yet focused teachings that provide a comprehensive guide to gardening, with lessons to be learned whether your skills are long rooted or freshly budding. —ArchDiest.com You are front and center with some of the world’s most acclaimed gardeners, who advise in 100 essays on how to take your garden to the next level…this book will be filled with sticky notes and your garden will love you for it. —Flower Magazine

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Book SynopsisTuberous begonias are sensational flowers: their abundant blooms capture everyone's heart and eye. This authoritative guide introduces the best varieties and celebrates the great range of colours grown. Written by Jack Larter, who has devoted many years of love and toil to the plants, it covers everything that both novice and veteran need to know to grow blooms for the home, garden and show bench.

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Book SynopsisKeith Rowley's bestselling introduction to the art of woodturning is exceptional for its friendly and methodical approach, building up the reader's skills and confidence by logical and progressive steps. At the heart of Keith's method are the 'Laws of Woodturning': six easily memorised rules which are fundamental to efficient and safe technique. Both between-centres and faceplate turning are described and illustrated in detail. You will learn about timber selection, and how to choose the right tool and equipment. This latest edition has been comprehensively revised and updated by Andy Coates to include the latest available tools and machinery as well as up-to-date health and safety guidelines.

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Book SynopsisJapanese Style Companion Planting brings the techniques of a master farmer in Japan to home gardeners all over the world, with over 175 easy-to-follow color illustrations and detailed texts.Japanese gardeners typically work with small plots and are experts at making the most efficient use of available garden space. They have long understood that when compatible vegetables and fruits are grown together, the result is increased yields, healthier plants, fewer pest problems and better taste. Vegetables from small gardens are the mainstay of Japan's famously healthy cuisine and movement towards farm-to-table dining tradition.Author Toshio Kijima is head of the Biotechnology Department at Tochigi Agricultural Station in Japan and principal of the Nogyo Daigakko School of Natural Farming. In this book, he provides 88 different plant pairings, including common favorites such as: Tomato with basil Eggplant with green beans Carrots with edamame Iceberg lettuce with broccoli Strawberries with garlic Green beans with arugula Blueberry bushes with mint …and dozens of other pairings that yield tasty, nutritious vegetables and fruits, all grown without the need for pesticides or chemical fertilizers. This book also covers excellent combinations for relay planting, such as watermelon followed by spinach, spinach followed by broccoli, broccoli followed by potato, and many more. Clear and precise instructions are given for each combination—from planning and preparing your plot to planting depths and spacing—all accompanied by detailed color drawings and photographs.Information on the theory and basics of companion planting will ensure a smooth transition to sustainable gardening techniques that millions of home gardeners are using!Trade Review"Clear and precise instructions are given for each combination…accompanied by detailed color drawings and photographs. Information on the theory and basics of companion planting will ensure a smooth transition to sustainable gardening techniques that millions of home gardeners are using!" --Midwest Book Review"…certain to become a pocket guide and fine companion for any small-space gardener seeking to accomplish efficiencies in mixed and relayed planting as well as intercropping for better yields…Brilliantly executed graphics will make expert gardeners out of beginners with easy-to-follow measurements and tips for success." --Washington Gardener Magazine"This book is not about Japanese gardens as we know them, but is about how the Japanese grow much of their fruit and vegetables in a most efficient, and very interesting, way!…Life on my allotment is soon to get VERY interesting!" --Shakkei Journal

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Book SynopsisLooks at the many different and beautiful species of palm tree, with suggestions for cultivating them in your own garden. This guide offers useful tips on growing conditions, soil, climate and any special needs. Each tree is featured with a photograph and full text description.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"…richly illustrated and skillfully executed…Adventurous gardeners will find that Matsuyama's book, with its precise explanations and copious photos, ushers them into a fascinating world." -- Publishers Weekly"…a good diagnostic for folks interested in learning more about these strange and beautiful living things…the 125-plus [succulents] are well photographed and described…a glossary at the end will satisfy the more scientifically curious." -- Booklist"A clear, cohesive guide to growing succulents, with maintenance tips, characteristics and useful identification photos." -- Gardens Illustrated Magazine

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Book SynopsisThis is the manual for anyone who wants to become a skilled upholsterer. The book, now made available again in paperback, contains a total of 15 step-by-step projects. The first eight are basic skills projects and collectively these explain the key skills needed to complete any upholstery task.The projects include a drop-in-bottom chair, an overstuffed seat, caning, a box cushion and recovering a modern chair. The remaining seven projects involve the application of skills learnt in the first chapter. Pieces featured are an Art Deco armchair, a wing chair, a chaise longue and a leather chesterfield. A basic techniques section is included, but the aim of this book is to get straight in to the projects, getting hands-on experience of upholstery. There is information on the tools and materials needed, where to look for furniture that you can upholster and advice on choosing fabric. No other book on the market takes such a clear, progressive approach to teaching upholstery.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A complete toolkit for the gardener looking to create a prairie-inspired home landscape." --Horticulture "A wonderful book for the gardener interested in natural garden design, native plants, plant communities, ecoregions, plant sociability, and more." --The Real Dirt, Garden Club of America "Gives gardeners the tools they need to confidently 'prairie up' their landscape, whether its a garden bed or an entire yard. " --My Northern GardenTable of ContentsChapter 1. Bringing the Prairie Home Chapter 2. Learning about Native Plants and Plant Communities Chapter 3. Planning, Installing, and Managing the Garden Chapter 4. Designing the Garden Chapter 5. Resources A Candid Q&A Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn September 1847 coloured squares of paper were stuck to envelopes and used to send out admission cards to a fancy-dress ball on the tropical island of Mauritius. No-one at the party would have guessed that the envelopes bearing these stamps would one day be worth more than a million dollars.When a two pence 'Blue Mauritius' surfaced on the fledgling French stamp-collecting market in 1865 it gained instant celebrity. Then in 1903, when a perfect specimen, discovered in a childhood album, was bought at auction by the Prince of Wales, the Blue Mauritius gained super-star status. Even now, the stamps of 'Post Office Mauritius' remain synonymous with fame, wealth and mystery. Helen Morgan tells the fascinating story of the most coveted scraps of paper in existence, from Amuritius' Port Louis to Bordeaux, India and Great Britain, Switzerland and Japan, into the fantasies and imagination of stamp collectors everywhere.Trade ReviewWill strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt the thrill of buying a little glassine packet of stamps, tipping them out, finding the longed-for Missing One and making the proud, complete set... the stories of these stamps are often extraordinary. -- Ann Wroe * Daily Telegraph *Fascinating... not just an entertaining and meticulously researched history of Mauritius and its stamps, but also an absorbing look at the early development of one of the world's most widespread hobbies. -- Kieron Wood * Sunday Business Post *

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Book SynopsisCreate a multifunctional – and stylish – space for working and living at home.Own Your Zone helps you to create a multifunctional, calm space that works for you and strikes the perfect balance between living and working from home – without compromising on style.Our home now needs to serve multiple purposes; it needs to be a place we work, work out, wine, dine and chill. With Own Your Zone, learn how to break your home into different zones for work and play. Create an environment that helps you get in the zone at the start of the working day and to easily switch off and wind down when 5.30pm hits.With more and more of us working from home and it looking likely to become our ‘new normal’ (firms including Twitter and Facebook have said they will allow employees to work from home for ever!), the work-life divide has become hopelessly blurred.Whether you’re working from your bedroom or your kitchen, learn how to carve out a space to help you focus for your 9 to 5, create a book nook for all that important down time or a clutter-free space for yoga – all in the same room.

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Book SynopsisThe Little Book of Essential Oils is a modern guide to enhancing your life and wellbeing through the power of essential oils. Featuring a directory of 45 of the most popular and interesting oils that will help boost your mood, reduce stress and improve your wellbeing, this book will teach you about each oil, from its properties and scent to where it came from and how best to use it. Discover which oils you need most and how to apply them. Whether you use Lavender to improve to feel calm, Lemon to boost energy levels or Rose to reduce anxiety, this practical guide offers an accessible approach to natural healing. Learn to indulge in a relaxing evening skincare routine with the 10 essential oil recipes, including bath salts and a soy candle, and simply switch off as this book shows you how to harness the power of these incredible oils.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Garden Media Guild Book Photographer of the Year 2015'This book will inspire readers to envision what is possible even in the smallest, most improbable spaces'.Publishers Weekly'Just looking at Marianne's stunning photographs made me want to go outside and start re-thinking my plot....I defy any reader not to find a style they can feel comfortable with in this book, there are plenty of ideas which can be adopted, even for the most difficult location'.Reckless GardenerThere is no one way to design a garden. The variations and breadth of possibilities are astonishing but it is the choices of the individual that make the world of gardens so exciting. Creating a garden is part common sense and part instinct but we all need inspiration to help us realize the garden we want. Garden Design: A Book of Ideas is the must-have visual reference for garden owners, architects and designers. With over 600 images by award-winning photographer Marianne Majerus and incisive advice from garden designer and best-selling writer Heidi Howcroft, this book takes the reader from getting the concept right to choosing the perfect finishing touches for your outdoor space. The gardens featured are large and small, urban and rural in a wide range of styles from contemporary to classical to naturalistic. Every aspect of designing a garden is explored, from assessing your plot and soil to choosing a style as your inspiration, selecting the right components (be they hard landscaping, boundaries or plants) and tackling more challenging spaces.Trade ReviewThis book will inspire readers to envision what is possible even in the smallest, most improbable spaces. * Publishers Weekly *Just looking at Marianne's stunning photographs made me want to go outside and start re-thinking my plot....I defy any reader not to find a style they can feel comfortable with in this book, there are plenty of ideas which can be adopted, even for the most difficult location. * Reckless Gardener *

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Book SynopsisWhen Thomas Mawson published his autobiography in1927 he was looking back over a 50 year career as a landscape architect, a reflection he found 'most congenial'. It is a story that charts not only his life, but also the development of his chosen profession as a creative art. Beginning with a 'passion for the arts' and practical experience of garden-making, architecture and forestry, he set out to contribute with others to 'a revival of intelligent and scholarly garden design'. He cites his luck in finding 'appreciative clients' and skilled assistants, as well as in moving in the right academic, business and government circles across the world. From private gardens to public parks and city planning, with details of many prospects and commissions - early Parks at Hanley and Burslem, gardens in Scotland and England during his collaboration with Dan Gibson in the late 1890s, friendship with and work for Lord Leverhulme, the replanning in 1917 of both Salonika and Stepney, schemes for industrial villages in Britain - there are too many to list. It is a story full of lively descriptions in which working and management methods, plans, lecture tours, writing, colleagues, friends and clients sit alongside glimpses of family and social life. Throughout, Mawson uses as reference his own hugely successful The Art and Craft of Garden Making, also available in the Viridarium Library of Garden Classics.

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