Search results for ""Author E. Ashley Rooney""

Small kitchens, particularly those in urban areas, present unique challenges for homeowners and designers alike. Here, in almost 300 gorgeous color images, you can tour some of the most spectacular small kitchens to be found. It will help you visualize solutions for your own kitchen, no matter what its size, whether you use it for cooking, dining, or entertaining. Experts offer advice on how the right choices of cabinetry, countertops, appliances, lighting, and storage can enhance the usefulness of even the most compact space.\nLearn how professional designers tackle the problems of a small urban kitchen: how they circumnavigate storage problems with ingenious space-saving arrangements, using every inch of space available, and then some. Explore how creative homeowners designed their own intimate kitchens to address special needs, in a basement condo, a suburban neighborhood, or even a small, rural cottage. A comprehensive resource section helps you find the award-winning architects and designers featured.\n This is an invaluable guide for professional kitchen designers and do-it-yourself homeowners everywhere.

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In the history of art, animals were the very first subject, as evidenced by the nearly 20,000 year old cave paintings at Lascaux. The human impulse to depict and capture the essence of animals underscores the importance of animals to human lives. For some artists, the evolutionary link between humans and other mammals is most compelling, and their choice of mammals as subject speaks to each artist's personal concerns. From traditional works to the fantastical, from sporting art to kitsch, the nearly 100 U.S. and international artists included hope to combine their own magic with the natural spirit of animals in their work. Over 500 of their pieces are represented here in stunning, full-color photographs. This elegant collection honors the artistic connection and age-old totemic relationship between animal and human. Herein lies the conversation between the spirit of the animal and the mind of the maker.

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The works of 100 contemporary artists interpret and provide a fresh look at the artistic vibrancy of the Northwest region of the United States. The states of Oregon and Washington are rich with artists, having become vital art scenes in the past several decades. Using sculpture, glass, oil, clay, wood, and other contemporary mediums, as well as paint, these 21st century artists combine, redesign, and transform their materials into pieces of works that change the way we perceive both the regions of the Northwest and the world. With a guide to galleries, sculpture parks, museums, and schools, this book is a wonderful resource for lovers of all art mediums.

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History melts into the present in the lovely Berkshire Hills OF western Massachusetts, but it is an uncomfortable present. Could it be the whispers of nearly 200 men who died in the Hoosic Tunnel or the legend of the Hessian soldier who roams the hills because he has no need to be in the grave? Could it be folklore telling of a gentlman burgular whose decision not to rob became more important than who he robbed? And will you choose truth or fiction as you encounter the killer lion instincts of Victoria and Sappho, the animal show lions?

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A vacation home is a dream for many of us, responding to our need for recreation and respite, revitalization, and refuge. The ideal vacation home is one where we escape yearly, weekly, and, eventually, permanently. This book looks at planning a second home to eventually inhabit year-round; a home that will age nicely with you and your whole family's needs. Intelligently designed, the vacation home incorporates flexible, accessible, and user-friendly living space for everyone, well into the future. Over 500 beautiful photos will show you how others have adapted their vacation homes for gorgeous year 'round living and how you can, too. This is your guide to inspired retirement living, whether you plan to make the move soon or you have many weekends to retirement yet to come.

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The stark beauty of the Southwest mountains and deserts have attracted numerous artists working in many media. Painters, sculptors, potters, jewelers, and photographers study and work in this region, which is steeped in rich heritage and natural beauty. This eye-catching book contains a thoughtfully written foreword by Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tucson Museum of Art, and over 600 compelling photos of the contemporary artwork from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The materials used are varied, ranging from stoneware to steel and everything in between. The subject matter includes the natural landscape, wildlife, and human life, historical scenes, and whimsical imagery, in forms both realistic and abstract. Each artist provides valuable insight into their work. The author states that the book's intent is to take a fresh look at the magical and insightful ways the area's artists have interpreted life in this region. That it does.

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There's no clear-cut beginning or end between the conclusion of paganism and the beginning of Christianity in Ireland. The old gods lingered, but the Celtic Church was established, thanks to St. Patrick, by the fifth century in Ireland. Stirring Irish tales of demons and banshees, restless dead, and magical beasts were written down by Christian scribes centuries later. Christianity did not lead to happiness on this island, however. Its history has been dominated by its striving for independence from Great Britain. Its beautiful, but bleak, landscape of ruined castles, devastated abbeys, prehistoric stone circles, and foggy bogs contain many vengeful ghosts. Follow the ambitious Irish chiefs and the English kings, the family feuds, and the constant troubles with the English in over 30 spine-tingling tales. Reflect on the rich blend of Celtic myths and legends, and the worlds of fairies and leprechauns. When you read these stories, you will soon appreciate why the Irish have such a belief in the forces of the unknown.

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Tour historic homes and other buildings that have been altered to accommodate 21st century lifestyles. Through 338 color images, learn how renovating or refashioning an older building increases the financial return on the initial investment, preserves the original integrity of the building, and prevents unnecessary disruption of a neighborhood. Visit an 1855 Gambrel, a Denver Beaux-Arts House, and a 20th century Georgetown house, and see how old houses can be modified and updated to accommodate the demands of present-day life. That 19th century inglenook can become a home office or a new master suite can be made from two bedrooms. The possibilities are endless and will inspire your own ideas for transforming yesterday’s old house or building into your dream home.

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One hundred artists have come together to share the distinctiveness of New England. Oil paintings, glass and metal sculptures, and works in wood offer a fresh look at this region's long, rolling hills and famous autumn colors. Learn histories of the art colonies, including Rockport-Gloucester and Provincetown, Massachusetts; Monhegan Island and Ogunquit, Maine; Old Lyme and Cos Cob, Connecticut; and North Conway, Cornish Colony, and MacDowell Colony, New Hampshire. A great resource for artists, collectors, and art dealers, as well as art historians.

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Today, many barns across the United States have outlived their original usefulness and are being destroyed, while others are slowly collapsing. Yet, some creative architects, developers, and homeowners exploit the flexible space offered by barns. They provide striking construction, impressive space, and an imaginative play of sunlight and shadow that makes them a delight to inhabit when converted into a residence, office, retail establishment, nonprofit center, and much more. Over 240 beautiful color photos and informative text explore possibilities for transforming barns to living and working space featuring unique sight lines and vaulting open spaces. This book will be a treasured reference and source of ideas for homeowners, architects, and designers alike.

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New York State harbors blood and death, haunted houses, and many ghosts. Read a colorful and horrific history of Peter Stuyvesant, the French and Indian War, and 9/11. Meet pre-Revolutionary ghost Jane McRea, the headless soldier of Fort Niagara, the spirit of Grace Brown of Big Moose Lake, and those who haunt Boldt Castle, Kings Park State Hospital, and West Point. Meet a few monsters, too: Champ, Bigfoot, and, of course, the Headless Horseman. Pull up a chair and delight to fascinating tales of New York.

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260 beautiful color photographs capture the beauty and charm of historic and recently designed boathouses at private residences, rowing clubs, preparatory schools, and colleges. Together they provide an historical appreciation and architectural inspiration of this classic building form. In the United States, boathouses belonged with straw hats, parasols, and lovely picnic lunches as part of the Gilded Age, when some people had the wherewithal to build housing for their boats and time to enjoy the rivers and lakes. Many of the boathouses shown are unique, using local resources and materials in their construction. For vacationers in rural New England or upstate New York, boathouses were a part of their summer vacation. Today, many old ones are disappearing through weather, neglect, fire, and vandalism. However, increasingly, schools are building and restoring boathouses on their campuses. Jeff Peterson, a rower and an award-winning architect, wrote the foreword. His Cambridge, Massachusetts, firm has designed boathouses and rowing tanks from Florida to Washington state, and in several foreign countries.

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Mountains, oceans, cliffs, rivers -- don't many of us want to live above the treetops? Aside from soaring views and dramatic vistas, these hillside homes designs offer practical and attractive solutions to the increasing demand for and scarcity of level land. Here are over 50 stunning hillside homes located across the United States, from Alaska to Cape Cod. Over 450 color photographs highlight unique design details of homes built on the edges of cliffs and peering through treetops. This insider's tour of cliffhanger living derives from 30 notable architects and designers who describe their work, its challenges, and rewards. The foreword, by Joseph Henry Wythe, describes his belief in the principles of organic architecture and architect Kathy Shaffer gives us her viewpoint on building a hillside house. You may find your dream house here or the inspiration to build a dream of your own.

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Greater Boston includes a wide variety of award-winning and historic architecture. From early in its history to contemporary times, the city has inspired innovative and challenging building design and construction, as it quickly grew into an internationally recognized economic and cultural hub. Boston's leading architects have often been at the forefront of current design trends, and the city has produced a number of successful architects. As can be seen in Contemporary Boston Architects, today's architects, like those from previous generations, continue the tradition of quality and innovative home design. Discover a wealth of ideas and design strategies from over 20 architectural firms that will help you understand design processes, methods, and techniques in new ways. See how Boston's leading talent integrates classic architecture into modern living spaces by viewing over 400 beautiful images showcasing their works.

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From coastal retreats to city streets, the modern shingle style home offers residents a wide range of specialized features, including the ability to reconnect with nature, energy efficiency, and improved indoor environmental quality. Through nearly 300 photos of 40 North American homes, this study offers historical perspectives and modern interpretations of this unique American movement. Be inspired by the creative ways that stone, wood, and natural light are used to provide comfortable and sustainable living quarters that accompany the natural elements of these properties.

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Massachusetts has many haunted towns! Blending legend and history, step back in time to when the first "shot heard round the world" began the American Revolution. Read about the battle of North Bridge, where Americans first tasted victory, and home of the first American flag. Follow ghostly footsteps at Munroe Tavern and Colonial Inn where people feel an unknown presence in the mist. Meet the witch of Shawsheen who saved a sickly town from death. These ghostly voices can still be heard in the hours before the sun rises, as their restless spirits roam famous houses and taverns. Their stories will chill you.

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Building a green home or redesigning an existing home to be green is more than energy efficiency and preservation of natural resources. It is about integrating cost-effective design and materials to better the well being of inhabitants. Explore the many ways architects have achieved sustainability, incorporating commonsense strategies of solar orientation, natural ventilation, recycling of household water, and making use of cutting-edge materials and building technologies such as earth sheltering, thermal mass, super insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, and photovoltaic electrical generation — all without compromising their aesthetic goals. Here are more than 50 green homes in North America, shown in 400 color photographs. Many have won major awards; others have been the subject of media attention and tours. This book will help the homeowner, builder, and architect design homes that are more energy efficient, reduce consumption and emissions, and incorporate sustainable materials. The residences presented here demonstrate the range of potential solutions and ideas for building a sustainable house.

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Long before the parents bring home the new baby they are planning the nursery. What kind of crib or diaper stand? What color palette? What décor? There is a good deal of information available, but it can be confusing on its own. This well-illustrated book makes it easy: it features works by 25 design professionals who show a variety of looks for fun, age-appropriate rooms that can be easily updated as your baby grows. Included are nurseries, toddler rooms, and play rooms that feature a range of sizes, colors, and styles. Jo Ann Alston brings 30 years of experience to bear in describing the health, safety, and aesthetic requirements of baby nurseries. With more than 200 color images, inspiration boards, and sketches, this colorful book is ideal for expecting parents and growing families looking for some fun décor inspiration.

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With over 300 years of battles, witches, haunted inns, and curses, it is no surprise that New England has more than its share of eerie events and spooky happenings. Here find 50 campfire tales that are part of New England's heritage. Feel the cold fingers of fear as a ghostly black dog chases after people in a park in Connecticut and don't lose your head over a dress code at a funeral parlor in Maine. Cringe as Goody Hallett's ghost appears on cold windy nights in Massachusetts, screaming curses into the storm against pirate Captain Sam Bellamy. Ride with the devil when a river freezes in New Hampshire. Meet the ghosts in a haunted naval hospital in Rhode Island and the Pigman in Vermont. These stories, and many more, will send chills down your spine...so don't let your campfire go out!

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Take a fresh look at the magical and insightful compositions of artists living in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Here, 100 living artists delineate their creative expression through their personal stories and inspirations, along with several examples of their works. In oil, pastels, sculpture, and wood, with a diversity of styles and influences, including pop surrealism, realism, and expressionism, these artists capture the rich traditions of the south and our world. Essential reading for all who appreciate or practice art today. Foreword by Paula Allen, a Southern painter, sculptor, and illustrator.

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A reaction to the disposable, mass-produced furniture born of the Industrial Revolution, custom designed studio and bespoke furniture has been around for many decades. Those who appreciate handcrafted excellence find this furniture adds richness and texture to interior design. This is substantial furniture that provides a satisfying visual and tactile impact. The experienced artisans who produce these useful works of art add handcrafted beauty to every piece. One hundred one artisans' works are presented here from throughout the United States and around the world. Over 640 brilliant color photos reveal the unique and useful art objects each artisan creates to the readers. The engrossing text introduces readers to each of the artisans and their intentions. Readers will also find contact information for the artisans, their studios, and galleries. Three experts, Gary Inman, Thomas Throop, and Lewis Wexler, also contributed to the text.

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With oil, glass, multi-media, metal, and other materials, 100 contemporary artists explore the rich imagery created by the culture, society, history, and environment of the American Mid-Atlantic region. 480+ images display strong, exciting, and passionate works by artists in this region with a long tradition of American artistry. Like the trailblazers before them, these diverse artists draw on the region's seashore, its forests and mountain, economic progress, voluminous history, and ethnic diversity to interpret life in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Through their paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and statements, you will find voices that preserve and promote the vision and legacy of art in the Mid-Atlantic states.

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Homes that sit on the water's edge offer tranquility and tradition that have long been part of the American dream. For those looking to pursue that dream as a vacation home, a vacation to retirement home, or primary residence, this image-driven decor book presents more than 50 waterfront homes in the continental United States. From multi-million-dollar castles to Mediterranean-style villas to rustic cottages and contemporary condos, they provide inspiration through nearly 350 color photographs. See design choices professional interior designers made to decorate these homes in settings along oceans, lakes, and ponds. An ideal book for the dreamer, planner, and designer in you; use the resources section to turn your vision for a waterfront lifestyle into reality.

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Traditional Asian design is having an impact upon the way ever increasing numbers of Western people choose to build and furnish their homes to create stunning spaces. Over 340 striking color photos reveal the many new ways to combine Asian harmony with modernism. Top designers and architects use dynamic Asian designs and materials, including cypress, silk, and stone. In the engaging text, architect Barney Maier and designer Charlene Keogh discuss Asian design traditions for Western culture. For building, renovating, and landscaping in the Asian style, this useful reference will assist builders and homeowners to build homes that have a natural, simple, minimalist look. To add a sense of serenity and tranquility to your home and your life, this book is for you.

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Foggy London is one of the most haunted cities in the world, with blood, death, intrigue, and many ghosts tainting its colorful history. Read about the tortured soul Margaret of Salisbury, a pawn of kings, who now wanders the Tower of London; voices of drowning Jews on the River Thames; and the She Wolf who clutches the silver casket of Edward II. Read how Anne Boleyn's ghost frightens those brave enough to frequent the room where she spent her last night. Consider the legend of the degenerate law student who may not have learned his lesson or the miserly ferryman who learned his very well. Reflect on Sir Francis Drake and his warning drum as you tour haunted buildings, parks, and churches with an artful storyteller.

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Washington, D.C. is a city that commemorates the history of the United States; it is also quite haunted. Tour streets and visit memorials of those once dwelling or working in this political metropolis. Visit angry ghosts, Christopher and Rachel, at the Olde Stone House, their dreams foiled by death. Consider the legend of a demon cat at the Capitol Building and White House that may foretell disaster. Find lore surrounding Belle Boyd, a Confederate spy who still sings her patriotism at the Old Capitol Jail. Ghostly voices can still be heard in the hours before the sun rises over the Potomac. Spirits can still be seen in corridors of power. Listen; these stories will chill you.

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The Battle Road in Massachusetts is perhaps the most historic few miles in early American history. At Lexington, soon after Paul Revere and his cohorts roused the village from sleep, a trigger was pulled on the Lexington Common and that shot “was heard round the world.” The American War for Independence had begun. Eight dead Americans were left on the green as the British marched on to Concord and the battle at the bridge. These events and many others are retraced in this wonderful new book. Using antique postcards, the authors tell the Revolutionary War story and the rest of the history of the Lexington-Concord region. This was a center of intellectual and social activity in the 19th century and home to distinguished thinkers and writers, including Thoreau, Emerson, Alcott, and Hawthorne. Over the years millions of people have visited the region commemorating their visit with postcard images of the places and events they saw. Perserved in scrapbooks and memory boxes, they now offer a visual history of special place.

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We all know how to set tables, but do we know how to make them beautiful? With this book, you can realize the magic of table decor. With over 300 color illustrations and many practical and inventive solutions, this book covers the table, from soup to nuts or gardens to dining rooms, and many places in between. This book acquaints you with the charm of table décor, whether it is traditional, romantic, modern, or simple. The decorators featured are both professional and gifted, from many diverse backgrounds, and working in dozens of styles. There are ideas for every occasion and taste. By keeping the focus on texture, color, simple containers, and lots of ordinary household items, you can turn a simple meal into something fabulous by varying the items you use together. Here you will find the inspiration to create table settings with style, using your own china and silverware. See how designers and decorators mix, experiment, and create table décor with modern accouterments or pair antiques with new, ornate, or simple.

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Barns strike a sentimental chord among the populace, perhaps as reminder of our nation's agricultural heritage, most definitely as symbols of solid and imposing timber frame forms. While many of these architecturally significant buildings are succumbing to neglect and development, others are getting a new lease on life. This coffee-table book presents over thirty barn conversion projects by creative architects, developers, and homeowners who have capitalized on the flexible space offered by barns. Over 300 striking photographs provide fresh design ideas for the conversion of barns into residences and business spaces. You will see a Pennsylvania stone bank barn converted into a stunning residence, an abandoned dairy barn made livable complete with office space in the old silo, and a Victorian era barn which now links the old farmhouse to the new living space. In addition to stunning homes, you will see barns utilized for office space, retail, and even a non-denominational chapel. A wealth of wonderful ideas is offered for maintaining the historic integrity of these structures while providing for today's vastly different needs. This is a design treasure for architects, builders, contractors, and homeowners, to help them visualize the transformation of historic agricultural buildings into new and treasured landmarks.

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Trees come in many forms and are shaped by a huge variety of climatic and human forces. This makes them iconic vehicles for expressing human conditions and allows for commentary on deep ecology. Artists have always been arboreal fans; some artists look at trees and see them as canvases for their particular vision. Others may decide to replicate them in their favorite medium, whether it is ceramics, fabrics, paint or glass. They combine, redesign, and transform their materials into art that changes the way we perceive the world. Their creations grab our attention and give us a promise of renewal and beauty; their work with trees, roots, and leaves creates magic and mystery for us to delight in. In this striking collection, 106 international, twenty-first century artists portray their world in sculpture, glass, paint, clay, wood and other contemporary mediums, displayed in over 500 images. As Dr. Seuss suggests in The Lorax, they "Speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues."

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Scotland is one of the most haunted countries in the world. With centuries of battles, seers, curses, and illicit romances, it is no surprise that Scotland has more than its share of ghost stories and legends. Learn about the many haunted castles with their creepy dungeons, secret tunnels, and winding passageways; and see a Green, White, or even an occasional Grey Lady. Follow the ambitious clans, the family feuds, and the constant troubles with the English. Reflect on the rich blend of Celtic myths and legends, and the fairy world. Scotland abounds with stories of kelpies, selkies, and mermaids, and tales of shape-shifting witches, ghosts, and family curses – not to mention its famous lake monster. Spend some time in historic, haunted Scotland – if you dare!

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Cambridge, Massachusetts, is haunted by history, from the eternally fanatic Puritans and Royalists to the clever specters of Harvard and MIT. Explore many ghosts and legends of the area. Thrill to a game of Hide and Seek with a ghost dressed in red velvet. Consider a British prisoner who blows out candles in Christ Church. Be amazed at the ability of the Irish to leave their land on "coffin ships" to make their way to Massachusetts. Marvel at the ambition of East Apthorp, who haunted Harvard students through the twentieth century, the generosity of Harry Widener, who still haunts his library, and the birth of forensic science at one of the great criminal trials of the nineteenth century. Chuckle at great pranks pulled by Harvard and MIT students. These stories are part of history; now you can learn them, too—if you dare...

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Statues, fountains, sundials, and obelisks--don't most of us want to live with beauty in a garden? Garden ornaments can breathe life into a garden, no matter its size. When art is placed in a garden, we are invited to explore and enjoy the experience. Abstract silhouettes, playful images, and forms in perfect balance bring discoveries with each new view. This new book presents nearly 500 color photographs of over 350 garden ornaments: animals, maidens, children, miniature trains, urns, gates, pavilions, topiary, birdhouses, and many more. Experience an insider's tour of garden ornaments and learn from five notable artists as they describe their philosophies of art. Elizabeth Schumacher suggests how to select the perfect garden ornament and Hugh Collins, Jr. describes the magical journey you embark upon in integrating garden ornament, within your landscape. You may find a favorite garden ornament here, or find the inspiration to create a setting and display your own collection.

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Part performance art and part engineering, sand sculpture has become amazingly sophisticated as artists explore the boundaries of their skill with sand as a medium. Within a very short time, a sculptor can create an awesome, thought-provoking experience that will completely vanish after a few weeks. The photographs are all that’s left. Barbara Purchia and E. Ashley Rooney take you on a round-the-world tour of sandscapes showcasing a dazzling array of sculptural figures, forms, and styles. Behind-the-scenes interviews with the sand masters reveal what motivates them and how they approach their art. Todd Vander Pluym, the world's premier sand artist and president of Sand Sculptors International (SSI), shares a contemporary history of sand sculpture, and renowned international sculptor Kirk Rademaker describes how he built a new life around this ephemeral medium.The images of these art pieces will have you wanting to stick your toes in the sand!

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The first in a two-volume survey, readers are invited to reexamine the history of the West and its art through a multifaceted modern lens. More than 40 artists are included who reflect the tremendous diversity, depth, and breadth of a field steeped in history. While some follow the traditions established by Remington and Russell, others seek to break from tradition, busting myths and bringing new insights and artistic styles to the genre. They come from both sides of the Mississippi and have pedigrees that range from bona fide cowboy or Native American credentials to careers in commercial illustration. The unifying theme is a common concern for and commitment to their art and the West itself. In this volume, contemporary artists are featured whose work revolves around the American cowboy. Within these pages, many different artists, some of whom have been cowboys themselves, exhibit their rendition of the wonderful world of the West.

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Massachusett’s Harvard Square is one of the busiest and most exciting spots in New England. The heart of it is Harvard University with all its history, tradition, and ivy-covered, red brick walls. Over 250 vintage postcards display the growth of Harvard Square — from a sleepy village, where General George Washington took command of the colonial troops, to a contemporary city. Harvard Square, and the city of Cambridge by extension, still retains many historic buildings and churches and its student population with all its associated, diverse, cosmopolitan attractions.

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Enter the world of fairy-tale towers, whimsical stairways, crow's nests, zip lines, and suspended rope bridges. Take pleasure in the details of hand-split oak shingles, thatched roofs, and cedar tongue-and-groove interiors. Made of sustainably sourced materials, Blue Forest's magical sanctuaries fit snugly between trees and branches—often incorporating them into the building itself—and sit lightly on the land. From a child's tree house inside a secret garden to party venues for teenagers and adults, this book details 28 imaginative tree houses, some of them accompanied by site plans and drawings. Whether the dwellings on each page are simple or designed to house a spa or home theatre, this beautiful book will inspire readers to reconsider their own garden's possibilities for relaxation and play.

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Connecting us to the wide variety of contemporary fiber art in wall-mounted format, this resource combines more than 600 photos with personal comments from 100 of today's established and emerging artists. In conjunction with the other two books in this acclaimed series, it invites readers to re-examine fiber art through a multifaceted contemporary lens. The creators here are pushing the boundaries of what wall-mounted fiber art is, using fibers of paper, metal, fiberglass, milkweed seeds, or high-tech polymers. Bhakti Ziek's computerized loom work and Sue Benner's textile-collage quilts are but a few of the examples of how artists expertly combine different fiber techniques in a single piece, go beyond the technical processes, and cross-pollinate mediums.

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In this collection of works by more than 25 contemporary ice artists, discover a fascinating art medium defined by its ephemeral nature. Merging creativity and engineering, today’s ice artist can create incredibly complex artwork, featured here in more than 150 photos. Ice sculpting's history and impact are described by champion sculptor James Stugart, including events such as the ice festival in Harbin, China. Sculpting firm owner Justin Gordon explains the tools and techniques, and Dick Brickley, former chair of the BP World Ice Arts Championships held in Fairbanks, Alaska, relates the history of this largest international competition. As sculptor Ben Firth says, "Carving ice is a good reminder that no art lasts forever; that, in the end, art is not about creating a permanent object, but about changing people."

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The second book in this two-volume survey, readers are invited to reexamine the history of the West and its art through a multifaceted modern lens. More than 30 artists are included who reflect the tremendous diversity, depth, and breadth of a field steeped in history. While some follow the traditions established by Remington and Russell, others seek to break from tradition, busting myths and bringing new insights and artistic styles to the genre. They come from both sides of the Mississippi and have pedigrees that range from bona fide cowboy or Native American credentials to careers in commercial illustration. The unifying theme is a common concern for and commitment to their art and the West itself. In this volume, contemporary artists are featured whose work revolves around Native Americans. Native Americans still exist, and in many cases are thriving, as they revive or maintain their culture. Historically and even today, most imagery featuring native people suggests a lost cause or vanishing race. We hope that the art created on these pages will help reinforce the fact that Native American culture, while still threatened, is viable among many tribes.

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The works of 106 contemporary artists provide a fresh look at the artistic vibrancy of the Rocky Mountain West region of the United States. More than 600 photos of these artists' works--in sculpture, mixed media, paint, photography, and other contemporary mediums--show us a stunning variety. Each artist also offers a personal description of his or her art. A perfect gift or reference, this resource changes the way we perceive the Rocky Mountain West region and the world. A foreword by Rose Fredrick, curator of the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, contributes insights on "Contemporary West: Myth, Truth, and What Lies Between."

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Go behind-the-scenes of the art world as you tour the homes and studios of 86 international artists. Some studios are large, with lovely high ceilings and oversized skylights. Some are modest, even cramped. Some are amazingly pristine and carefully ordered with drawing spaces, painting galleries, and meditation zones. Some are a study of chaos, but in all of them the artists are inspired to create. Whether working in oils or pastels, sculpture or glass, ceramics or wood, today’s artists are as varied as their work, with studios that range from chicken coops and horse barns to entire islands and extra bedrooms. Through 321 color images, enjoy this glimpse into contemporary artists' lives.

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Nearly 500 photos of artwork with personal insights from 78 of today's most noteworthy artists show the tremendously broad range of possibilities that working in three dimensions can offer. In conjunction with the other two books in this acclaimed series, it invites readers to re-examine fiber art through a multifaceted contemporary lens. Both established artists and emerging artists whose work is attracting notice are gathered here. Carol Milne's knitted glass and Peter Gentenaar's technique of vacuum forming and air-drying paper fibers are but a few examples of artists using new materials with traditional methods.

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Nearly 600 brilliantly detailed photos capture the work of 112 glass artists and show the tremendous diversity, depth, and breadth of how this ancient medium is used in the twenty-first century. New and emerging glass artists are featured together with well-known experts, and all of them challenge the boundaries of familiar techniques. Many of these artists also teach or continue research into the capabilities of glass. Many have won major awards; still others have been the subject of media attention; and many are mentors and leaders of contemporary glass art. Their towering installations, miniscule insects, glass kimonos, and more will inspire everyone interested in appreciating, working with, or collecting glass.

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Wearable fiber art, whether in garment or jewelry form, is unique in that the human body breathes life, shape, and movement into the pieces. Be it a felted brooch or a dress made of book pages, wearable fiber art can provide personal expression unavailable from the world of mass production. In this volume of the acclaimed three-book series, comments from the makers, who discuss creating pieces that the wearer influences, are accompanied by more than 300 photos. Susan Taber Avila offers insights to what wearable art means and how fibers play into that combination. Margery Goldberg discusses the term in relation to jewelry. The hundreds of creations here, bridging art, design, craft, and fashion, show how fiber art that relates to the human body is in a class of its own.

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The fascination with monotype and monoprint never diminishes, thanks to the primal thrill of making a mark, combined with suspense and surprise as paper is lifted from a press. Recent prints from more than 70 top artists across the US demonstrate what monotypes and monoprints offer to artists and the broader world of art, while Kernan, a professional printmaker, provides a view from the studio. She explains the processes and motivations for making singular prints, as well as current practice and context. Examples include unique prints and variations that cross boundaries with combinations of collage, collagraph, direct and transfer drawing, painting, photosensitive plates, digital printing, and paper casting with stencils. With their backgrounds in curating, collecting, and art history, Laura G. Einstein draws us into the history and traditions of the forms, and Janice Oresman writes as a collector about the fascination of monotype as a magically spontaneous process.

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This book takes you through 53 homes that reflect the growing trend for environmentally friendly houses. Resource- and energy-efficient residences are designed to be healthy, comfortable, and easy to live in, and construction of a sustainable home includes using less energy, fewer natural resources, and fewer toxic chemicals. The homes featured here meet a variety of guidelines: LEED, a point-based system with specific certification criteria; green, a construction standard based on reduction of energy use; Passive House, a design standard that can result in a super-insulated, airtight home; and natural, a type of construction using natural resources without technological intervention. More than 300 images show a wide variety of designs and styles, including cottages and beach houses, prairie and vineyard residences, prefabricated and renovated homes, and much more.

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Insects have captivated artists for centuries, as shown in their re-creations of them in gold, canvas, fabric, marble, wood, and other media. This book displays 39 contemporary artists’ insect-centric works, showing the extent to which insects fascinate twenty-first century artists and scientists. These American and international artists have many magical and discerning ways to approach their buggy subjects, which each artist explains in their own words. Nearly one million different described species of insects are known today. Now those colorful butterflies, iridescent beetles, little ladybugs, and lacy dragonflies can be with us permanently in many graceful arrangements and a variety of media!

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