Rural crafts Books

Book SynopsisA FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024'An excellent, beautifully written book' Patrick Galbraith, Sunday Times 'A rich and hugely enjoyable celebration of the local, the vernacular and traditional ... a beautifully written craftsman's memoir' Daily Mail'What a marvellous book. Full of lore, information, interest, beautifully captured people. Poetry' Craig RaineThatched roofs are like living organisms: each one a web of repair, replacement and alteration, shaped, dressed and re-moulded by every pair of hands that works on it.Thatching is one of the world's oldest crafts - an ancient trade that roots us in nature, as Tom Allan discovered when he quit an office job to become an apprentice in Devon. Now a master of the trade, in On the Roof he goes in search of its history and future, meeting fellow thatchers, from the son of a lobster fisherman who thatches with a dune grass in the Hebrides, to a Syrian refugee who found peace among the seagrass roofs of Denmark, to one of the first wome

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Book Synopsis'An excellent, beautifully written book' Patrick Galbraith, Sunday Times 'A rich and hugely enjoyable celebration of the local, the vernacular and traditional ... a beautifully written craftsman's memoir' Daily MailThatched roofs are like living organisms: each one a web of repair, replacement and alteration, shaped, dressed and re-moulded by every pair of hands that works on it. Thatching is one of the world's oldest crafts - an ancient trade that roots us in nature, as Tom Allen discovered when he quit an office job to become an apprentice in Devon. Now a master of the trade, in On the Roof he goes in search of its history and future, meeting fellow thatchers, from the son of a lobster fisherman who thatches with a dune grass in the Hebrides, to a Syrian refugee who found peace among the seagrass roofs of Denmark, to one of the first women to master Japan's 5,000-year-old thatching tradition. Eye-opening, beautifully told and revealing a tradition hand-shaped over centuries, On the Roof is a story of how we live with the land and how we have chosen to treat it.

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Book Synopsis'A must-have for anyone interested in working with straw and an astonishing contribution to the preservation of this endangered craft.' Jay Blades MBE, Co-Chair of Heritage Crafts An engaging makers’ guide to the history and craft of straw plaiting, brimming with helpful step-by-step diagrams. Straw plaiting has been used to make accessories from hats and baskets to handbags, trimmings and homewares around the world for centuries. Once employing tens of thousands of people in the UK alone, the craft is now listed as Critically Endangered on Heritage Crafts’ Red List. This book aims to change that, drawing on more than 50 previously unpublished patterns and techniques from around the world that will help you to unlock the history and preserve the skills of straw plaiting. For each pattern, follow the step-by-step diagrams and instructions and discover how they were developed whilst learning about materials, tools and preparation. Once familiar with the plaiting techniques – using straw as well as other materials – you will be able to develop your own skills, possibly blending in recycled materials, which are increasingly being used to produce beautiful and unique pieces.Trade ReviewThis impressive and thoroughly researched book traces the journey of straw from farmer’s field to finished hat. Veronica Main has covered the subject in depth with good illustrations, and the clearly drawn patterns show the many ways straw can be plaited ... we should now make more use of it as a renewable resource. -- Alan and Vanessa Hopkins, The School of Historic DressA must-have for anyone interested in working with straw and an astonishing contribution to the preservation of this endangered craft. -- Jay Blades MBE, Co-Chair of Heritage CraftsStraw plaiting has all but disappeared from the public consciousness; what was once so common, it touched the lives of everyone everywhere... Veronica Main's exhaustive research may ignite a timely renaissance of interest in straw as we search for sustainable alternatives to plastic. -- Polly Leonard * Selvedge Magazine *This is a book that will fascinate and enthral both researchers and makers alike. * The Braid Society *From simple patterns through to elaborate work for hats and baskets, this is equally enjoyable as a record of a rare craft, or as inspiration to take up straw plaiting and help take this craft off the endangered list. * Family Tree *Straw Plaiting: Heritage Techniques for Hats, Trimmings, Bags and Baskets is sure to become the go-to publication for anyone interested in learning or studying this time-honoured craft. * HATalk Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword by Marian Nichols Introduction Terminology 1. Straw Plaiting in Great Britain 2. Straw Plaiting in the Atlantic Islands and North America 3. Straw Plaiting in Europe 4. The Decline of the Straw Plaiting Industry 5. Plaiting Materials 6. Straw Preparation 7. Tools of the Trade 8. Development of Plait Patterns 9. Preparing to Plait 10. Plait Instructions Three, Five and Seven End Plaits Nine and Eleven Ends Basic Plaits Rustic Plaits Piping and Porcupine Purl and Moss Batwing or Vandyke Feather and Wisp Diamond and Wave Brilliant Trimmings Endnotes Conversion Tables Glossary Bibliography Picture Credits Index

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Book SynopsisKeep your kids’ boredom at bay with 35 environmentally-friendly ideas they’ll love to make. Designed with the environment in mind, this brilliant collection of craft projects will keep kids entertained for hours. It features decorations, toys, jewellery, gifts, and more, every one of them incorporating natural materials – woodland folk are created from pine cones and seed pods, a length of bark is the base for an animal painting, and a piece of slate is transformed into a pretty brooch or badge. The fun ideas range from bark rubbings for budding artists to herb head flowerpots for junior gardeners and are sure to give kids the creative bug. Best of all, finding the project materials encourages kids to get outside! They can gather shells on the beach to make the shell mice, or collect leaves and twigs on a countryside walk to make a printed fox wall hanging. Even their own garden will become an exciting source of crafty materials.

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Book SynopsisOver 35 creative ways to transform recycled and natural materials into stunning projects. With ideas for makes from gifts and stationery to homewares and decorations, this collection shows you how to craft innovative projects from foraged and upcycled materials. The 35 designs include a festive gilded leaf garland, pretty seedpod coasters, floral paper bags and an appliqué wall hanging. Expert maker Clare Youngs guides you through all the techniques you’ll need, showing you how to use a wide range of materials including fabric and paper off-cuts as well as natural elements such as twigs, flowers and pebbles. With just a few inexpensive supplies and tools to get you started, you’ll soon be making beautiful works of art and developing your creativity while being kind to the planet.

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Book SynopsisForest Schools need not be just for children. Here is the ultimate guide for how adults can enjoy the benefits of outdoor learning too. Have you always wanted to know how to start a campfire, forage for (the right) fungi, or know how to tie a good knot? Or would you like to expand your horizons – and lower your stress levels – by building a dry stone wall, fashioning a bow and arrow, or beachcombing for shells? Forest schools for kids originated in Scandinavia as outdoor, play-based learning groups and, as the benefits of nature play became internationally recognised, quickly became established around the world. But why should kids have all the fun? Connecting with green spaces, trees and plants can lift our spirits, improve stress and relax our brains – in short, playing outside is good for everyone. Forest School for Grown Ups shows you can learn new skills and practise forgotten ones from finding your way in the woods to whittling utensils and carving sculptures; from trapping and smoking game to making and using a divining rod, from building a bird box, or insect house, to simply just climbing trees. Beautifully designed and illustrated, Forest School for Grown Ups provides the perfect resource for anyone wanting to enjoy spending quality time outdoors.Trade ReviewPacked with advice, useful tips and simple step-by-step instructions, all accompanied by superb photographs, this book will prove useful to novices and experienced outdoors-people alike * Living Woods Magazine, on Wild Days *

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Book SynopsisWhittling is more than just a way of busying idle hands – it is a pastime for those who love the texture of wood and a way of life for those who feel a special connection between people and trees.This beautiful and practical guide to the art of whittling offers the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life and a means of getting back to basics and creating unique items from scratch. Inside you will learn about the ancient art of whittling as one of the earliest forms of artistic expression; the different types of wood to use in your work; the simple tools you need to get started; and the various cutting techniques.The Art of Whittling also preaches the idea of Danish hygge – translating to coziness and being with friends and family in a warm atmosphere. Here, author Niklas Karlsson gives us an insight into why the Danes are considered the happiest people in the world – and how you can bring some hygge into your own lives.More than just a manual, this book offers a contemplative view on a skill that is more popular than ever.Table of ContentsIntroduction • The Carved Surface • A Whittler's Tools • Equipment and the Workshop • Wood • A Whittler's Skills: The Projects • Epilogue: A Note on Simplicity • Resources • Credits.

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Book SynopsisAs featured in The New York Times...Throughout the history of civilisation, traditional crafts have been passed down from hand to skilled hand. Blacksmithing, brewing, beekeeping, baking, milling, spinning, knitting and weaving: these skills held societies together, and so too shaped their folklore and mythology.Exploring the folklore connected with these rural crafts, Telling the Bees examines the customs, superstitions and stories woven into some of the world’s oldest trades. From the spinning of the Fates to the blacksmith’s relationship with the devil, and the symbolism of John Barleycorn to a ritual to create bees from the corpse of a cow – these are the traditions upon which our modern world was built.Trade Review"A wonderful, eclectic collection of folklore essentials" -- Joanne Harris

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Book SynopsisFollowing the astounding success of the volume Curo''r Corona''n Coginio, this companion volume celebrates the craft talents of Merched y Wawr members and friends.

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Book SynopsisThe exquisite art of bonsai is beautifully demonstrated in this authoritative, practical handbook, which takes the reader from a first foray into the world of miniature trees to a level of considerable expertise. The book, now made available again in paperback, covers both indoor and outdoor varieties and is full of practical information about cultivation, propagation and pruning. It is a guide both for newcomers to the art and for bonsai gardeners with some knowledge of the subject. The handbook describes, with clear text and step-by-step artworks and finely detailed photographs, the anatomy and the art of this classic hobby. It describes the rules - and also how they can be broken. It will enable beginners to start up their own bonsai collection, whether of home-grown or bought trees, and to keep their bonsai healthy and in good shape. It will answer questions for those who already have some experience with bonsai. All the tools and the skills needed are described, and a photographic compendium displays the top 24 species, both outdoor and indoor.Trade Review"Bonsai books abound, but [this] may convince me to try again. It combines aesthetic appreciation with lucid practical advice, along with helpful drawings. Prescott deals with almost every facet of the art-from the proper tools, to watering, feeding, root pruning, soil types, pots and branch wiring-in a way that is truly encouraging."--"Washington Post Book World"

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Book SynopsisBritain has a long and rich tradition of woodcrafts and what, since about the 1970s, have been called the 'greenwood crafts'. Greenwood crafts focus on using wood that contains sap and that is easy to work with simple hand tools to produce beautiful and useful products.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1972 this volume describes how the round of the year, with its cycle of festivals and seasonal work, was observed in the Ireland of yesterday. We follow the rhythm of the year from New Year to Easter, May Day to Harvest and Christmas along the chain of high days and feast days, St Brighid's Day, The Borrowed Days, Midsummer, St Swithin's Day, Lúnasa, The Pattern Day, Samhain, Martinmas and Christmas, fishing boat - belief and usage - feasting and merrymaking. Picturesque customs are revealed - some forgotten, some forbidden, some still familiar, such as 'the making of St Brighid's cross - marriage divinations - watching the dancing of the sun on a hilltop on Easter morning - going to the Skelligs - cock-throwing - bullbaiting - herring processions - the swimming of the horses on Lunasa - and many others. A multi-coloured tapestry. Kevin Danaher has drawn on a wide variety of sources and on more than thirty years research into Irish folk tradition. He is the author of In Ireland Long Ago, Gentle Places and Simple Things, Irish Country People, Folktales of the Irish Countryside and The Pleasant Land of Ireland.Trade Review'This is a book written in 1972 on the Irish Calendar customs. It describes how the year, with its cycle of festivals and seasonal work, was observed in Ireland in the 19-20th centuries. The author draws on a wide variety of sources and on more than thirty years of research into Irish Folk traditions. The book gives the reader an idea of how the year was for many of the inhabitants of Ireland that still followed the old traditions. You get the sense of what each strata of the community was up too at which time of the year. The book starts on Saint Brighid’s day and goes all the way to Christmas. It encompasses both Pagan and Christian days and gives the activities associated with the said day. It is a book that you can read in one go at first and then go back too at the appropriate time of year for inspiration. I really enjoyed reading the book because it gave me ideas on things that I could do on my own rituals and celebrations. It gives the sense of the ebb and flow of the year and how the seasons were related to each other and how one activity during a certain time can be related to another in another time. I think it is a must read book for anyone who is interested in following an Irish path of spirituality be it Christian or Pagan.' - The Celtic ScholarTable of ContentsIntroduction SAINT BRIGHID’S DAY -Saint Brighid’s Crosses - Making the Crosses - The Brideóg - Brat Bride - Crios Bríde - Cattle and Crops - Other Beliefs and Customs CANDLEMAS SHROVE TUESDAY - Shrovetide Weddings CHALK SUNDAY - ‘Going to the Skelligs’ - ‘The Ash Bag’ - Sprinkling of Salt - Domhnach na Smuit; ‘Puss Sunday’ - Some other customs ASH WEDNESDAY LENT SAINT PATRICK’S DAY LADY DAY PALM SUNDAY EASTER - Good Friday - Easter Saturday - Herring Processions - The Dance of the Sun - Easter Eggs - Feasting - The Cake Dance - Other Easter Beliefs and Customs - Easter Monday APRIL FOOLS’ DAY THE BORROWED DAYS MAY DAY- Welcoming the Summer - May Balls - May Dew - Charms and Counter-charms - Health - The Fairies at Maytime - Other May Day Beliefs and Customs ASCENSION THURSDAY WHITSUNTIDE CORPUS CHRISTI MIDSUMMER The Midsummer Fire - Jumping over the Fire - The Family Fire - The Growing Crops - The Cattle at Midsummer - The Dwellinghouse at Midsummer - HerbGathering - Other Midsummer Beliefs and Customs SS PETER AND PAUL THE TWELFTH OF JULY SAINT SWITHIN’S DAY ‘HUNGRY JULY’ THE FIRST OF THE HARVEST - Outdoor Gatherings - Gatherings on Hills - Gatherings at Lakes and Rivers - Other Lunasa Customs and Beliefs - Cork Harbour Ceremony THE ASSUMPTION SAINT BARTHOLOMEW’S DAY THE PATTERN DAY MICHAELMAS THE END OF THE HARVEST - The Clousur - Gleaning - The Harvest Home - Harvest Knots - The Disposal of the Last Sheaf SAMHAIN - Feasting and Merrymaking - Samhain Beliefs and Customs - Hallowe’en Guisers - Games, Dares and Pranks - Weather Divination - Divination Games - Marriage Divination ALL SOULS DAY MARTINMAS CHRISTMAS - Preparing for Christmas - Christmas Eve - Christmas Day - Waits - Saint Stephen’s Day - The Mummers - Holy Innocents - New Year - Handsel Monday - Epiphany APPENDIX - Church Feasts and Fasts BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book Synopsis'Not everyone can keep a cow, but everyone can make cheese.' This book shows you the very basic equipment needed to make your own cheese: the ingredients, including different milks, herbs and flavours; how to make a simple cheese; and how to produce some of the worlds speciality cheeses such as Roquefort, Brie and Edam. You will find recipes for making many cheeses at home. Whether you are making a cheese cake, a ricotta-based pudding or a stonking salty blue, this book is a cheese lover's guide to making their own favourite food - and there are some recipes for the biscuits to go with it, too. Contents: Cheese: The Miracle Food; How Cheese is Made; Milk, Starters and Other Ingredients; Cheese-making Equipment; Basic Cheese-Making; Hard Cheeses; Soft Cheeses; Cheddar; Blue Cheese; Goats Cheese; European Cheeses; British Cheeses; Manufactured Cheeses; Cooking with Cheese; Cheese for Sweets; Common Cheese-making Problems; Index.Trade Review'After giving us the once-over about the basics of cheese making, we then get to the nitty-gritty with Paul's wonderfully researched cheese-making recipes.' Rochdale Observer. 'This is a cracker of a book. Beautifully laid out and written. If you are considering developing your cheese making skills and becoming abit more self sufficient I thoroughly recommend this book.' www.cottagesmallholder.com.Table of ContentsCheese: The Miracle Food; How Cheese is Made; Milk, Starters and Other Ingredients; Cheese-making Equipment; Basic Cheese-Making; Hard Cheeses; Soft Cheeses; Cheddar; Blue Cheese; Goats Cheese; European Cheeses; British Cheeses; Manufactured Cheeses; Cooking with Cheese; Cheese for Sweets; Common Cheese-making Problems; Index.

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Book SynopsisThirty years since its original publication, The Children's Year has been a much-loved book that has never been out of print. Now called Making the Children's Year, with colour illustrations and new projects that bring it up to date, it will appeal to a new generation of people keen to engage children in creative play, the seasons and the joy of handcrafting.Marije Rowling has revisited the book she originally co-wrote with two friends and brings new inspiration and ideas to a modern readership. Packed with all kinds of crafts, from papercrafting to building dens, she brings the seasons into the home. From beginners to experienced crafters, this book is a gift for parents and adults seeking to make toys that will inspire children and to provide an alternative to a throwaway culture.

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Book SynopsisWalter Murray was a young man tired of living in the city. Early in the 1920s, he persuaded a Sussex farmer to rent him a derelict cottage, which stood alone on a hill, with no running water or electricity. Most of the windows were broken, it was dirty, dark and ran with rats. He bought a brush and pail in the village, forced the rats to retreat, brought in rudimentary furniture. The local postman found him a dog, and with his new companion he began to explore his surroundings. In that year at Copsford he made a living from collecting, drying and selling the herbs he found locally: agrimony, meadow-sweet and yarrow. He became alert to the wildlife and plants around him. His life was hard - he supplemented his income with occasional journalism, but it was here he met his future wife, who he calls The Music Mistress, and with whom he would later found a school. Copsford is an extraordinary book. Bearing comparison to Thoreau's Walden, Murray's intense feeling for his place is evident on every page. It is, though, no simple story of a rural idyll - life at Copsford was hard, and Murray does not shy away from the occasional terrors of a house that had its hauntings. A publishing success when first published in the late 1940s, this new edition has an introduction by Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path.

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Book SynopsisNearly 60 years ago, the WI handbook for country women teaches, through the seasons, the delights of cider-making, indoor bulb-planting, smocking, butter-making, cooking with home-grown herbs, public speaking, wall-papering, Durham quilting and more. How much times have changed for women, but how much we have forgotten!

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Book Synopsis A beautifully presented, practical gift guide to the age-old art of tying knots. The next title in Pavilion’s exciting new series for adventurers, this book follows on from the success of 50 Things to Do with a Penknife. The book features step-by-step instructions on how to tie 40 fundamental knots, and then shows you how your new skills can be transformed into a selection of practical and decorative projects. The book is divided in four sections: Classic Knots – featuring the Reef Bow and the True Lover’s Knot. Knots in this chapter can be used to create a wall hanging. Camping Knots – featuring the Tent Pole Hitch and the Rope Ladder. Knots in this chapter can be used to create an outdoor mat and a beaded bracelet. Climbing Knots – featuring the Alpine Butterfly and the Spanish Bowline. Knots in this chapter can be used to make a coaster and a bag. Maritime Knots – featuring the Anchor Bend and the Dry Fly. Knots in this chapter can be used to make a plant hanger and a hammock. The detailed instructions are complemented by smart step-by-step illustrations, which highlight the tactile quality of the material in hand. The book also includes an introduction with advice on putting together the knot lover’s ultimate toolbox, alongside explanations of key terms and techniques. Featuring the ultimate crossover of cool craftsmanship and nifty projects, this book is the perfect gift for creative adventurers.

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Book Synopsis From baker, beekeeper and birdwatcher to falconer, farrier and forager, join poet Angus and printmaker Lilly as they explore the British Isles, uncovering and celebrating our crafts and traditions. This collection of poetry and printmaking aims to capture and celebrate the heritage and craftsmanship of the British Isles. The book comprises of thirty poems with accompanying black and white linocut prints. In this book, Angus and Lilly draw attention to traditional, artisan crafts of particular importance as many are in danger of becoming 'extinct' and there is a fear that, without recognition, aspects of our cultural heritage will disappear. This is a timely celebration of rural lifestyle.Trade Review'From the beekeeper to the bird watcher, the verses are packed full of rich imagery that’s wonderful escape from the daily humdrum Each of Angus’s thoughtful poems is accompanied by a charming illustration by Lilly – the perfect combination in print.' * Planet Mindful *

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Book SynopsisA must-read for anyone with an adventurous spirit, a yen to whittle and chop, and a desire to get out into nature and play with sticks! These 50 achievable ideas for making and playing with sticks – all with beautiful step-by-step illustrations – make a great gift. The next title in Pavilion’s best-selling outdoor adventure series, Fifty Things to Do with a Stick will introduce you to the joy of making something out of almost nothing. With a few gathered twigs and sticks, start with simple ideas such as making plant markers or tent pegs and work up to constructing a lantern or woven basket. Working with wood is common to nearly every culture – it’s nature’s most adaptable raw material, malleable yet strong, and biodegradable. Until the 1960s woodworking was taught widely in schools, but since then has been in decline, robbing generations of the satisfaction of making useful things by hand. Richard Skrein begins by guiding you in choosing sticks and tools. Four chapters with evocative illustrations take you step by step through projects to use at home; to make music and decorative objects with; to play with; and to use out and about – the perfect accompaniments to a camping trip (2020 and 2021 saw unprecedented campsite bookings in the UK, and this trend is set to continue). This is the perfect book for anyone wishing to be more self-sufficient. Find your inner explorer with these battery-free, no-emission ideas! Chapters include:Home Sticks: cutlery, coat hooks, brooms, candlesticksStick Craft: jewellery, weaving, mobiles, picture framesStick Play: catapults, musical sticks, magic wands, story sticksCamp Sticks: lanterns, ladders, stools, stick bread! Word count: 15,000 wordsTrade Review Praise for Fifty Things to Do With a Stick by Richard Skrein: ‘Mixing woodland wonders with savvy survival skills, this is the modern guide to the age-old art of bushcraft.’Countryside magazine ‘This book is a great gift for all ages and features lots of top tips and skills to learn. Anyone who loves the outdoors would be happy to find this book in their stocking. And you'll be glad of them if you get stuck out in the wild!’Caravan magazine, January 2021

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Book SynopsisIcy inspiration for playing, exploring and surviving in the snow. Don’t be put off by the cold – get out there and be dazzled by the wonder of winter. With fifty projects for having fun and staying safe in the snow, you’ll never be short of ideas. Fifty Things to Do in the Snow is a playful and informative winter survival kit. Camp craft and forest school expert Richard Skrein teaches you not only to observe and admire the beauty and wonder of snow, but also how to survive in it. His projects range from practical tips on building igloos, making sledges and winter camping, to reflective, mindful ideas for observation of snowflakes, spotting winter trees and pine cones, and forest bathing adapted for winter. Filled with accompanying illustrations from artist Maria Nilsson, this latest title in the Fifty Things series will help you make the most of nature’s bountiful gifts throughout the thrilling seasons of cold and dark. Chapters:Snow Play (Sledges, Snow Forts)Snow Craft (Frozen Bubbles, Snow Lanterns)Winter Wisdom (Winter Tree ID, Forest Bathing)Winter Survival (Snow Tracking, Making Snowshoes)Snow Fires (Swedish Fire Log, Ice Fires)Trade Review For 50 Things to Do by the Sea: ‘If you have been unable to visit the coast during the last year due to the pandemic, this lovely book is a small step towards soothing your seaside cravings.’- Country Life For 50 Things to Do With a Stick: ‘This book is a great gift for all ages and features lots of top tips and skills to learn. Anyone who loves the outdoors would be happy to find this book in their stocking. And you'll be glad of them if you get stuck out in the wild!’ – Caravan magazine

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Book SynopsisThe perfect companion for any family outdoor day, a joyful introduction to the crafts available in any piece of woodland. Woodland Crafting guides the reader on making things with wood, in the woods, with a series of beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. It provides the basic knowledge and skills to complete a range of both simple and more advanced craft projects, from functional structures to creative outdoor play forms. You?ll learn how to choose and work your wood effectively, use simple tools, tie knots and develop your own designs to make masks and puppets, night torches and staffs, arrows, jewelry, ladders, shelters, chairs for stargazing and much more. This book has all you need to know to make working with wood fun.This book, previously published as Making Woodland Crafts, is the perfect companion for any family outdoor day, a joyful introduction to the crafts available in any piece of woodland. It is guaranteed to get children (and their parents, siblings, grandparents?) out and about and enjoying nature.

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Book SynopsisFairy House is a fascinating adventure into the making of miniscule kingdoms of the fairytale realm from objects found in nature. Through more than 350 clear, detailed, full-color photographs and understandable yet whimsical guidance, the reader will learn to fashion intricate, tiny cups from acorn pods and grapevine tendrils, dreamlike beds from delicate flowers and leaves, and an amazing array of other beautiful and unique pieces that will inspire the reader to find their true artistic ability and imagination. A photo gallery of other stunning pieces provides the reader with more possibilities to create.Projects include: ·The Forest Cottage ·The Fairy Garden ·Princess Canopy Bed ·Garden Wishing Well ·Tower for the Elfin King ·The Gardener’s Wagon ·Fairyland Gazebo ·The Fairyboat Bed ·Woodland Characters ·and many more!Trade Review“The Schramer’s treehouses are striking for their attention to detail, for their child-like sense of whimsy and their originality. They are enchanting; I have never seen anything like them.” —Agnes Gund, Past President, Museum of Modern Art, N.Y.“Husband and wife team Debbie and Mike Schramer craft a magical world in their artistic creations with nature as their inspiration." —National Endowment for the Arts“Debbie and Mike Schramer’s Fantasy Treehouse is a creation of pure whimsy, where fairies reside in decorated nooks and crannies of a magical tree.” —The Baltimore Sun

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Book SynopsisThread Folk: A Modern Makers Book of Embroidery Projects and Artist Collaborations is a modern refresh of an age-old craft. Author Libby Moore teaches basic stitches and how to choose materials, and shares original patterns with easy-to-remove perforated pages. Thread Folk also features Artist Collaborations, a series of projects based on the curated artwork of several distinctive, talented artists, including clothing designer Audrey Smit, and illustrators Alli Koch and Lauren Merrick.Trade Review"Thread Folk will inspire new and seasoned artists alike to explore embroidery in ways they have not considered before. Libby Moore does a beautiful job of reintroducing this ancient craft as a contemporary medium with easy to follow projects." --Ekaterina Popova, founder and editor of Create! Magazine

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Book SynopsisYou know your diet should be rich in plants for optimal health. So shouldn't the products you apply to your skin, which are absorbed into your body, also be filled with plants? If you've ever looked at the back of your so-called "natural" facial moisturizer or body cream and seen a list of complicated additives you couldn't recognize or pronounce, then you know firsthand that mass-produced synthetic beauty products can be something of a mystery. With Plant-Powered Beauty: The Essential Guide to Using Natural Ingredients for Health, Wellness, and Personal Skincare (with 50-plus Recipes), harness the power of plant-based energy to maintain your natural beauty and let your skin glow like never before. Natural beauty experts Amy Galper and Christina Daigneault show readers how to deconstruct beauty labels, parse ingredients lists, make informed choices about the products they use—and, most important, better understand how their skin works. At the heart of Plant-Powered Beauty, you will find more than 50 easy-to-follow recipes to make your own plant-based skincare and beauty products, such as: • Almond Milk Facial Cleanser • Anti-aging Facial Scrub • Blemish Gel • Choc-o-Mint Lip Balm • Coconut Whip Makeup Remover • Vitamin-Rich Hair Health Serum • Quick and Fresh Cucumber-Thyme Body Scrub • Moisturizing Body Oil for Super-Dry Skin • Natural Mouthwash Plus, in this updated edition of Plant-Powered Beauty, meet the hottest wellness and beauty ingredient: cannabidiol, a very unique molecule within the Cannabis sativa plant. Research shows that CBD has a remarkable effect on the skin, including supporting tissue repair, evening skin tone, and promoting a youthful glow. New CBD recipes—for men and women!—include a salve to reduce pain, bath soak to address inflammation, facial serum for balancing, roll-on for stress relief, body butter, and more. Plant-Powered Beauty unlocks sought-after wisdom for all aspects of plant-based personal skincare and celebrates the shift in beauty trends, bringing us back to natural beauty and reconnecting us with plants and healthy choices.Trade Review"A plant-based diet makes you beautiful on the inside, and Plant-Powered Beauty gives you the tools you need to make sure you're giving your skin the best on the outside." —Bobbi Brown "Plant-Powered Beauty speaks to my soul. It's an intelligently and beautifully written book, which will serve to both educate and inspire you to go as natural as possible with your beauty regimen. Amy and Christina encourage us to harness the power of plants for healing and healthy, glowing skin. Right up my street!" —Sophie Uliano, New York Times bestselling author of Gorgeously Green "This is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the ins and outs of beauty. Amy and Christina do an incredible job clearly explaining the function of each ingredient and the benefits for each skin type. Plant-Powered Beauty is a brilliant guide to navigate the world of clean beauty and how to have healthy radiant skin." —Annie Jackson, COO of Credo Beauty "Plant-Powered Beauty reminds the reader of what I've always believed—we should not have to compromise our health for our beauty. As a comprehensive guide to natural ingredients and their importance in every aspect of our lives, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in keeping their skin, the body's largest organ, healthy and radiant without using synthetic chemicals." —Tata Harper, cofounder of Tata Harper Skincare "Beauty radiates inside out! Beauty, life, and nature are all interconnected, and the pure essence of plants is vibrational, healing and nurturing us on a deeper level. Love how Plant-Powered Beauty taps into this and is so inspiring with the recipes for self-care and skin regimens, which will surely make us shine bright!" —Mina Gough, development for Standard International Management and spa director at The Standard Spa, Miami

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Book SynopsisMarble eyes and satin bows, furry paws on velvet pillows—discover the whimsical Victorian pet taxidermy through the extraordinary collection of J.D Powe in Best Friends Forever. Once much loved, these furry friends were immortalized, outliving their owners, and are now both symbols of love, grief, and our complex relationship with the animal kingdom. Discover hundreds of dogs and a few cats from the past as preserved and cherished reminders in this large and colorful compilation full of exquisite photographs that bring life back to these familiar friends!Trade Review“Powe’s very scholarly approach to exploring the background of canine taxidermy helps readers understand the complexities of the practice... This book will certainly make for fascinating reading and it is guaranteed to be a great conversation starter if you have it on your coffee table when guests show up...it also reminds us that if not for some of these antique taxidermy specimens some of these dog breeds would be lost to history.” * Fansided *

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Book SynopsisChic and timeless, macrame has once again established itself as a popular home decor trend.Decorative Macrame walks you through the process of creating your own unique pieces, perfect for your space. Clear step-by-step photographs show you how to create the four basic knots and apply simple macrame techniques, while detailed diagrams help you with things like measurements—making the creation process less daunting.Diagrams, drawings and instructions show you how to create 20 projects that are simple enough for beginners and satisfying enough for practiced knotters. Ranging from small accessories to hanging statement pieces, everyone will be able to find something that catches their eye.The projects in this book include: Soft wall hangings—perfect for warming up any space An elegant room divider A boho chic lampshade An adorable bunting that can hang year-round Multiple hanging plant holders Curtain ties that add a touch of interest to your windows A keychain so you can carry your crafts with you And much more! Beautiful lifestyle images of the finished projects (surrounded by muted tones, natural materials and an abundance of plants) are sure to inspire your own space.Trade Review"Macrame is back, and this guide walks readers through several patterns sure to please those seeking classic motifs and new enthusiasts eager to embrace a boho aesthetic alike." --Booklist"Profusely illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, Decorative Macrame is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collection." --Midwest Book Review

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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