Search results for ""Search Press""

Crochet 12 cute and furry amigurumi friends in faux fur yarn. Crochet expert Ashley Parker leads you through the basics of successfully working with faux fur yarns. Ashley shares her invaluable tips and tricks for using this yarn type, and clearly explains everything you need to get started, building your confidence and showing you that working with faux fur yarn doesn't need to be daunting! Ashley is known for her easy-to-follow amigurumi patterns, which are all set out using US crochet terminology. A clear conversion chart of US to UK crochet terms is included in the book. There are 12 furry animal friends to crochet, some using a mix of faux fur and smooth yarn, including a teddy bear, elephant, panda, sloth, unicorn, bat and penguin – which all make gorgeously soft and cute cuddly toys. Stitch guides and step-by-step instructions with photos are all included – working with faux fur yarn has never been so straightforward!

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Knit 20 tiny, adorable woodland creatures!

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Learn to draw 28 adorable kawaii creatures using this simple step-by-step book. Kawaii artist Aria Wei teaches you to transform simple shapes into characterful kawaii animals, including a cat, bunny, hamster, owl and duck, plus several fantasy creatures, including a unicorn, dragon and phoenix. There are 28 different kawaii companions to create, in a variety of characterful poses. Each project starts with a few basic outlines and progresses into a finished drawing; a final coloured version shows you how to develop your artwork even further. Perfect for beginners, as well as budding artists, you’ll be amazed how easily you too can create a world of kawaii creatures with this inspiring guide.

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Capture the mystery and magic of the ocean by drawing this collection of 28 aquatic creatures. Award-winning artist Jonathan Newey teaches you to transform simple shapes into characterful creatures including dolphins, clownfish, crabs, jellyfish, whales, sharks, turtles and more. There are 28 different sea creatures to create, in a variety of poses and styles. Each project starts with a few basic outlines and progresses into a finished tonal drawing; a final coloured version shows you how to develop your drawing even further. Perfect for beginners, as well as budding artists, you’ll be amazed how easily you too can bring the ocean to life with this inspiring guide.

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Sew 18 cute and cuddly friends with stylish clothes and accessories to mix and match! Step into the world of Rose Minuscule and discover the colourful 'Rainbow Club Friends', including Robinson and Oscar the lions, Amelie the rabbit, Theo the bear and Remy the dog. Learn to sew adorable, characterful faces; learn to stuff and sew up body parts; and create a stylish wardrobe for your new friends. The gorgeous projects are shown step by step, with clear, full instructions, and all the patterns are included at actual size. Each member of the Rainbow Club has their own stylish outfit to sew, knit or crochet, and gorgeous accessories to make, including party hats, scarves, bags, a cape and even a hot air balloon! Some of the projects require small amounts of knitting and crochet – which give the projects a gorgeous textural appeal – but all the techniques you need are clearly photographed and explained.

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Get started and learn the basics with this miniature, no-nonsense guide to weaving!

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Learn to capture the abstract beauty of the natural world in paint and mixed media with this inspiring book.

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Crochet everything you need to make your very own mini farm! There are cute and quirky animals to make, including a friendly cow, a happy pony, a pig, a sheep and a naughty goat, plus a barn and fences, grass and food for the animals, a wheelbarrow, milk churns, hay bales and much more. All 26 projects are quick and easy to make, and for those who are just learning to crochet, all the materials and techniques are explained at the start of the book. Replace the beads with stitched eyes and leave out the stiffening wire in the legs, and children will have as much fun playing with this woolly farmyard as you’ll have making it!

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Animals are a perennial favourite amongst artists, but many struggle with capturing their form and character in a way that reflects the true spirit of the animal. In this bright, breezy and accessible book, Jo Allsopp’s genuine passion for wildlife is clear. That love is reflected in her art, and her loose, lively and dynamic style is one that many wish to emulate. Including a broad range of animals from around the world – everything from red squirrels to peacocks, lions and housecats – this book will inspire and instruct beginner artists, appeal to animal-loving hobby artists, and provide new ideas for more advanced artists who wish to loosen up their style and take a more experimental approach to their watercolour painting. It includes: A section exploring inspiration and motivation Short practical exercises to help you loosen up and try things out A close look at Jo's way of painting, which demystifies the process and includes drawing techniques 3 pure watercolour projects and 9 incorporating mixed media Fully illustrated projects that are explained step-by-step, showing you how to personalise your pictures. Jo's technique is very wet into wet, with lots of blooms, vivid colours, and striking contrasts and texture achieved by the addition of wax resist, salt, spatter and scratching out. Jo uses an exciting range of art media and techniques in her work. The main medium is watercolour, but to this she adds ink, water-soluble and permanent pens; bleach; isopropyl alcohol; bronzing powders; metallic leaf and acrylic inks. All are explored and explained to show the effects that can be achieved and when and how to use them.

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Learn to paint colourful watercolours using only three colours in this collection of projects, tips and techniques from the innovative Take Three Colours series. Each of the 25 projects explores a variety of watercolour techniques and walks the reader through a sequence of clear steps using a selection of three pure colours and their many mixes, and only three brushes to complete the work. Project themes include landscapes, seascapes, flowers, mountains, lakes and rivers and snow scenes. There is also a comprehensive glossary at the end of the book, exploring some of the most commonly used terms and techniques featured in the book.

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Double crochet (US single crochet) forms a dense, firm base that’s ideal for stitching on using either crochet yarn or stranded cotton. The effect is a beautiful, textured, raised design that combines the delicacy and charm of embroidery with the soft, tactile feel of crochet. This means you can transform crocheted items into stunning, intricate pieces. Beginning with a basic introduction to the materials, tools and techniques, including stitch instructions for both crochet and embroidery, delve into a collection of 10 pretty projects. Discover an enchanting meadow-themed tapestry, a basket set emblazoned with roses, a granny-square blanket adorned with woodland birds, enchanting mushroom bunting and more. Each project begins with a crochet pattern, followed by detailed instructions on how to embroider your items. All the projects have a corresponding transfer or chart, meaning you can start embroidering straight away. To transfer, simply cut out the transfer motif and iron it onto your crochet – just as you would transfer onto regular fabric. All the transfers are bound into the back of your book, with a handy pocket on the inside back cover for storing them.

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Be impressed by the ease and versatility of resin jewellery making. Building on the success of her first book, well-known crafter Sara Naumann provides over 50 new projects that are modern and straightforward to replicate. She demonstrates how simple and quick resin jewellery is to make, using minimal equipment and readily available products. All relevant safety information is included, along with a troubleshooting section. The technique is very easy: simply mix the two-part resin together and pour into a mould, bezel or pendant. Sara uses pre-made, inexpensive moulds in a variety of shapes and sizes. Rings, pendants, brooches, cufflinks, hairpins and bracelets are all achievable and look professional. You can add numerous items to the resin to create different effects. Paper or foil inserts, for example an old photo or map, can provide a background for bezels of varying shapes and sizes, or make your own custom background by spraying or stencilling your own designs onto paper. You can also immerse various items in the resin before it cures, such as dried flowers, glitter, sequins, watch parts and gemstones, or use dyes and coloured inks to personalize. Create a broad range of fresh, stylish projects to make your own bespoke wearables or fabulous gifts.

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Pack up your materials, leave your painting inhibitions behind and step outside with Barry Herniman, ready to sketch. Fun, friendly and practical, this handbook is jam-packed with tips and brimming with answers to questions such as: What should I take? Where should I go? What medium should I use? Where can I find inspiration? This is a handy book you will keep close by for reference time and again. It is full of inspiring artwork as well as five demos: a coastal scene in pen and ink; a countryside panorama in watercolour; a quintessential English village in gouache; a townscape in line and watercolour wash; and trees in watercolour pencils. What comes across in every detail is the joy Barry experiences when he's sketching outside: it's contagious! He encourages you to absorb your surroundings, be aware of the input from your senses and have a go at capturing the moment in sketch. He addresses the challenges and opportunities you will face as an artist and teaches you to understand the importance of a sketchbook. Enjoyment is key – shake off peer pressure and your own expectations and enter the exhilarating world of sketching outdoors.

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Learn to use watercolours with confidence with this gorgeous and easy-to-use book of exercises and templates. Kick-start your creative spirit and develop a new zest for watercolour in this inspirational book from Katie Putt. When using watercolour, it is important to allow your painting to simply unfold across the pages of your sketchbooks and to learn from your successes as well as your mistakes. This wonderful book will show you how, through 68 challenges ranging from basic to more advanced techniques that you can work through in your own time. To help you on your way, 24 sheets of high-quality watercolour paper with printed outlines are included, corresponding to the projects in the book. So relax, experiment, learn from and build on your mistakes and let your watercolour skills take their own course.

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Pyrography is the art of burning a design into wood using a heated metallic point. Most books on the market take a fairly traditional approach to the subject, limited to using pure burning onto a range of wooden surfaces. The Art of Pyrography goes far beyond this. Cherry Ferris takes the subject to new heights, incorporating mixed media, unusual supports and innovative techniques to elevate the craft to an artform. The book is suitable for beginners as well as more advanced pyrographers, and is well-suited to artists from other media who want to experiment with new ideas and incorporate pyrography into their practice. Pyrography machines are easily obtainable from online suppliers and major craft stores. The Art of Pyrography begins with an overview and history of the subject, a tools and equipment section, an introduction to the basic techniques and information on surfaces that you can safely burn. The book moves onto how to transfer designs onto surfaces and incorporate a mixed media approach by looking at shading techniques, introducing colour into your work, playing with backgrounds and how to finish, protect and display your finished pieces. Four shorter mini burns complement ten longer step-by-step projects that walk the reader through the techniques and materials used. A troubleshooting and safety section is also included, making this a one-stop shop to get all your pyrography questions answered. Chapters include: Colour: Incorporating coloured pencils, paint, and inks Using resin to finish your work – which results in a beautiful glass-like finish Using gold leaf to add a touch of magic.

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Capturing Light is a must for artists who wish to investigate the subtle qualities of light with an emphasis on creating dramatic, imaginative landscapes. Loving the fluidity of watercolours, Catherine has developed a painting technique by experimenting with, and exploring, modern watercolour pigments and the boundaries of the medium. The method uses lots of water on a sloping board which Catherine calls gravity painting, which creates a natural way of working, keeping colours luminous and mobile without any ‘muddying’. The book starts with an explanation of the technique, the materials and colours used and the importance of capturing the essence of a landscape. There are numerous progressively challenging small exercises, demonstrations and inspirational finished pictures illustrating the alluring effects of reflections, mists and shadows and showing the dramatic effects of different skies. Developments of ideas for landscapes are introduced as the book progresses, plus nine projects exploring how to build up light-filled effects. Catherine’s method will free up your painting style, embolden your colour choices and show you how to create vibrant pictures full of dramatic light.

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Exquisitely detailed and worked in silk floss thread with tiny size 12 needles, Victoria Matthewson's embroideries are a masterclass in thread painting, and shine with vibrant colour and life. Many people think of bees as being the only pollinators but, in fact, a wide variety of insects help with the pollination of plants, including butterflies, moths, wasps and beetles – all of which make wonderful subjects for embroidery. Starting with key stitches and techniques, this inspiring and practical book contains nine step-by-step embroidery projects. Choose from nine key plant and pollinator combinations including the dogrose and greenbottle fly, ox-eye daisy and hoverfly, and fennel and seven-spot ladybird. Each stunning project contains fascinating entomological insights about each pollinator and its plant, verified by the experts at the charity Buglife. With a foreword written by TV naturalist Iolo Williams, and a comprehensive design and stitch guide, this gorgeous and informative book will inspire you to observe and capture the beauty of these vital ecosystems. The book will suit people with some previous embroidery knowledge, or ambitious beginners.

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Focusing on the pottery surface, Carve Your Clay covers a wide range of decorative carving techniques, from piercing, etching, inlaying to sgraffito, faceting, and fettling. The techniques are taught through 20 projects in Hilda’s signature style, with clear, step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow instructions to achieve beautiful results. With easy guides on how to create form as well as glazing and firing, this is a comprehensive guide suitable for new and practising potters alike.

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From Clay to Kiln is a must-have guide for anyone working with ceramics, from absolute beginners, weekend crafters and students, through to practising ceramicists. In this book, Stuart Carey invigorates and encourages you through all stages of the pottery process. Covering all the information you need about tools and materials, he takes you through preparation and hand building, throwing and finishing your vessel, to glazing and firing. You will gain an in-depth knowledge of how clay works and how to apply your skills to the wheel and beyond. With simple step-by-step tutorials, clear visuals and Stuart’s helpful hints and tips, you can jump straight in with confidence and create a piece of pottery that marries beauty, form and function. Including stunningly beautiful photography throughout, this is a book to inspire.

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If you have often struggled to draw animals, from master artist Giovanni Civardi comes this highly visual beginners guide to drawing dogs, cats and horses using the traditional grid technique – a method that makes the first stages of drawing simple and achievable. Giovanni Civardi shows you how to create an accurate pencil sketch of the subject by laying a grid over a photo or drawing and transferring the image to the drawing surface one square at a time. Beginning with a summary of animal anatomy and basic drawing techniques, this book contains over 90 outlines of dogs, cat and horses in a range of static and moving poses, with guidance on how to add shading and tonal effects to create more detailed finished drawings.

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Colour Demystified will banish the all-too-common confusion over the watercolour palette and give painters the confidence to experiment with colour mixing. This book demystifies colour, and helps artists understand how colour works in a highly visual way through the use of colour charts accompanied by examples, practical exercises, and analyses of watercolour paintings. Numerous artworks by a variety of contemporary artists are featured in the book, covering a broad range of subjects and palettes. Topics such as granulation, iridescence, staining strength, and transparent and opaque colours are explained clearly and simply, and there is practical guidance on colour relationships, using colour to create space, and how to be more creative with colour. Armed with a clearer understanding of colour and how it looks and behaves on paper, artists will be encouraged to be more bold and creative in their use of colour in their art.

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A beginner's step-by-step guide to creating beautiful silver jewellery. Silver Jewellery Making is a practical beginners’ guide to making silver jewellery. Seven step-by-step projects guide you through the core skills and techniques that will enable you to progress to making your own beautiful jewellery. The tried-and-tested projects have been developed by Machi and Janet, who have over 40 years of industry experience teaching others this amazing craft. The emphasis is on teaching good practice and acquiring the basic techniques and skills to give the reader a solid basis for developing their jewellery-making capabilities. Tools are introduced for each individual project, and their uses and correct handling explained. Troubleshooting tips explain how to overcome common problems that may arise. At the end of each project, there are examples of how the skills gained can be used to make other items. The book is perfect for those who wish to start jewellery making either on their own or as a supplement to beginners’ classes.

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Who knew just two fat quarters can be used in so many ways? For the birthday that's on the way, or a festive holiday that needs more sparkle, conquer that pile of odd fat quarters you've stashed away and make 16 fun gifts for your loved ones – from children’s clothes and toys, to bags and make-up pouches. Start off with an easy-to-follow crash-course on the essential techniques you'll need – from adding a zip and bias binding to creating patchwork. Then, jump straight into your stash and get stitching! Each project includes inspiring photography, instructive hand-drawn illustrations and heaps of handy hints and tips from popular best-selling sewing expert, Wendy Gardiner. Ideal for sewists of all abilities, this is the ultimate, affordable stash-busting project book that will get you making practical, colourful items too.

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Adding other mediums to your watercolour paintings is a fantastic way to take your work in new, more exciting directions. However, the vast array of painting mediums and materials on the market can be daunting, especially for the beginner. This book introduces the reader to the range of media that is available, explains briefly and clearly how to use the materials and provides six step-by-step projects and inspirational finished paintings to encourage you to take a definitive leap into the exciting world of mixed media art. Author Alison C Board covers a multitude of topics in her work, and this book features flowers, animal portraits, dancers in motion, cityscapes and landscapes. She explores how to combine wet and dry media, and how to create vibrant collages from man-made and natural found objects. There are no mistakes in mixed-media artwork, and Alison encourages the reader to be unafraid and embrace the experimental.

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15 exciting, contemporary gingerbread projects! Traditional gingerbread goodies are given the modern treatment in this delectable book featuring 15 projects to make, eat or display. Sandra Monger is full of terrific ideas for gingerbread projects, from the traditional Christmas house, decorative gingerbread tiles and wreaths to a Norwegian kransekake delicately crafted from rings of gingerbread. The pièce de résistance is Sandra's gingerbread-embellished wedding cake, which will no doubt prove a show-stopper for any budding baker. If you're looking for some quick bakes Sandra's got you covered as it's also packed with fun gingerbread biscuits such as sharing squares, snowflake cookies and cookie favours. Make perfect treats to slip into lunch boxes, serve up to friends at tea, give as gifts or show off as your holiday centrepiece. There are recipes for traditional, coloured and vegan gingerbread. All the projects included in the book are accompanied by full-size templates.

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The blank page can be daunting, but 10 Step Drawing: Flowers offers an easy jumping-off point for any doodler to be creative. Featuring illustrated tutorials for drawing 75 irresistible flowers – from exotic wildflowers, to aquatic flora, garden posies and beautiful succulents – every image is fun and easy to replicate in ten simple steps using just a pen and paper. Handy prompts help the reader without giving them dry, prescriptive instructions, and every flower has its own distinctive character. 10 Step Drawing: Flowers is sure to encourage even the most nervous amateur artist to dust off their pen and doodle. Other titles in the series: 10 Step Drawing: Animals.

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Vivienne Cawson's luminous painting style and considered use of flat or patterned backgrounds gives her work a contemporary, beautiful feel all of its own. Published in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as a celebration of their annual Orchid Festival, this stunning book teaches you how to paint a selection of orchids in watercolour. The book contains a thorough techniques section that guides you through Vivienne's decision-making, colour-matching and painting process. It teaches you how to capture form with speed and confidence, practise painting different leaves, flowers, and roots and create different textures with paint. The book contains exercises that will hone your skills and encourage your artistic intuition, followed by three complete step-by-step projects that feature a range of flowers in wild and still-life settings. The paintings feature touches of watercolour pencil and crayon, along with panels of gouache, which complement the delicate watercolours. The book is interspersed with images from the Kew Art Collection, showcasing the rich variety and beauty of this much-loved family of flowers.

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A new, up-to-date edition of the popular and comprehensive encyclopedia on knitting techniques by professional knitwear designers Lesley Stanfield and Melody Griffiths. Whether you're picking up the knitting needles for the first time, or want to learn new techniques to add to your repertoire, this encyclopedia has something for everyone! The Encyclopedia of Knitting Techniques is a comprehensive guide to basic and advanced knitting techniques, designs and styles. Containing more than 200 step-by-step instructions, charts, tips and examples of completed works, this fully illustrated guide is perfect for both beginners and seasoned crafters.

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This sumptuous and inspiring book, written by needlework expert Trish Burr and created in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a stunning, contemporary guide to embroidering flowers. All the reusable iron-on transfers needed are kept safely together with the book in an attractive hardback folder. Focusing mainly on long-and-short stitch and Trish's delicate, considered use of silk shading, the book contains all the clearly-illustrated stitches needed, and gives thorough advice on preparation and choosing fabrics and threads – including a handy thread conversion chart. The embroideries are reworkings of botanical artworks from Kew's Art Collection. There is one 'starter' project to encourage readers to try out the techniques, one large sampler containing 18 small elements that can be worked individually or as a group, and nine further projects – including a striking spider chrysanthemum, an elegant waterlily and an opulent magnolia. All the projects are shown step-by-step, with an order of work diagram given where appropriate. The enclosed reusable iron-on transfer papers offer embroiderers a fast and accurate method of transferring the designs - the transfers simply need ironing on to fabric so that the reader can start embroidering straight away. The templates are also included at full size at the back of the book. This stunning yet practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread.

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This delightful book from best-selling author and knitting designer Sue Stratford provides patterns for 21 charming birds for you to knit. Featuring beautifully clear colourwork charts that make patterns super-easy to follow, you'll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can create your own flock of characterful knitted birds. Whether you choose a seagull, puffin, flamingo, bullfinch or parakeet, your bird will take on a personality all of its own and no sooner will you finish one than you'll want to start on another little feathered friend to keep it company. As well as the birds themselves, there are ideas for how to display them, and at the end of the book are instructions for a hanging nest, a felt nest box, branches, flowers and leaves, in addition to all the templates you need to make them.

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Embroidery is back! This book by Cristin Morgan, founder of the popular hand embroidery company Marigold + Mars, contains a stunning collection of contemporary embroidery motifs with bold colour palettes for you to stitch away at for hours on end. The 50 motifs include abstract and geometric patterns, botanical motifs, hand-lettered designs and much more, and will inspire you to get stitching in fresh and imaginative ways. Beginners will learn to master the 10 basic stitches and skills needed to create the motifs inside, all clearly explained in an attractive, approachable way; then, whether you're new to embroidery or the more experienced stitcher, your hand stitching skills can flourish by stitching the motifs onto 20 beautiful and practical projects inside, all featuring easy-to follow step-by-step instructions, lovely photography and helpful templates. Hoop Art will help you bring embroidery out of the hoop to add a touch of stylish handmade flair everywhere.

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Papercutting is a perfect craft for beginners, as you can achieve amazing results with the most basic of materials – a pencil, eraser, craft knife or scalpel, a piece of paper and a cutting surface. Sarah King’s art encapsulates the beauty of the English countryside, particularly the towns and villages around the Kent coast where she lives. Her use of fresh, vibrant colours and delightful compositions evoke memories of happy times, and expert papercrafters as well as those new to papercutting will find the charming, naïve style of Sarah’s work irresistible. Sarah’s down-to-earth approach to her art makes it enjoyable and accessible to all. In the book she includes sections on choosing your materials and colours, and there is step-by-step guidance through all the basic techniques you need before embarking on the twelve gorgeous projects on the seaside, town life, the wilderness, and more.

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This comprehensive guide to traditional and contemporary techniques provides the reader with all the information they need to produce beautiful quilting and patchwork projects. For beginners, there is how-to-start advice and step-by-step photographs, diagrams and instructions to guide them through each stage of their work, and for more experienced quilters there are advanced techniques that they can dip into for help with a particular problem. For the busy but creative quilter, a section on rotary cutting and speed pieceing shows how to achieve satisfying results in no time. The book ends with a gallery of stunning items that will inspire the reader to create amazing patchwork and quilting projects of their own, whatever their ability.

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This beautiful, instructive book from The Great British Sewing Bee’s Jenniffer Taylor shows you how to make and adapt your own clothes without the need for shop-bought patterns. Using Jenniffer's fun and imaginative ideas, this book will teach you how to get started transforming unloved items of clothing into new and exciting outfits; how to customise clothes with doilies, tassels, tie-dyeing and block printing; and finally how to measure yourself, create patterns and make clothes from scratch, including dresses, skirts, tops, trousers and a coat. The book is packed with all the tricks of the trade that Jenniffer has learned along her sewing journey, and it will get you started on your own #sewingrevolution!

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Learn how to use traditional watercolour techniques to produce beautiful, contemporary paintings that are full of light, colour and life. Packed with inspirational finished paintings and step-by-step projects, this engaging book teaches you how to use watercolours in their purest form, without the addition of any other media, to create art that has a radiancy and luminosity that cannot be achieved in any other way.

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Leading international doll-maker Ray Slater reveals her secrets to creating vibrant and dynamic faces in cloth. Brimming with ideas and practical advice, this is an invaluable guide for cloth doll-makers everywhere. The face is the key to bringing life and personality to a cloth doll. Often thought of as being the hardest part of the making process, creating the face is, in fact, relatively easy and enjoyable to do. Just by following a few simple rules a whole world of wonderfully expressive, fun characters can be created. Ray will show you how, taking you from the initial inspiration sources, the design and drawing process, to the final colouring, sewing and embellishment of the head. Using just three basic face designs – flat, three-dimensional and collaged – you'll learn how to create a fantastic collection of characters. With tips on how to adjust proportions, hues and positioning of the features, you will learn how to make a whole host of faces with different looks and expressions. Fully illustrated step-by-step instructions break down the process of making each kind of face, and there are techniques to help you make your own unique doll. Finally, Ray shares two body patterns in her book to suit all three head types, and body templates are included.

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30 easy-to-make, stylish decorations all made from felt. The book includes templates, a comprehensive techniques section, guide to embroidery stitches and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations to accompany every project. The fabulous projects include mug hugs, hanging decorations, seasonal decorations, pillows, ornaments, wall-organisers, brooches, children’s toys and much more.

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The latest title from sewing guru Debbie Shore has arrived – and it’s her most fun yet! Packed with 20 colourful, inventive projects, it contains something for children of all ages. It contains a fold-away easel for a budding artist, a magnetic fishing game for an intrepid naturalist, and a colourful backpack for the young explorer. Why not make some spooky Halloween bunting to get ready for trick-or-treating, make a pirate cuddle pillow for a swashbuckling bedroom, or line up some funky monkey skittles for a game or two? The book contains all the guidance a beginner sewer will need – containing useful tools and techniques sections at the beginning, and plenty of tips throughout – while its fresh, exciting designs will also inspire experienced sewers.

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Nothing is more adorable than a tiny pair of mittens for a new baby – and now you can knit your own for family and friends with these irresistible designs. Inside are 20 patterns in a range of colours and styles for boys and girls, from traditional stripes and cables to whimsical rabbits, frogs and ladybirds. Each design can be knitted in three different sizes suitable for 0-3, 3-6 and 6-12 month-old babies, with the option of including thumbs in the largest size. The patterns use small amounts of either baby- or fingering-weight yarn, and knit up quickly and easily using the clear, step-by-step instructions and full-colour charts provided. Each project comes with a list of the yarns and needles required and a stunning, full-colour photograph of the finished mittens, providing everything you need to create these gorgeous handmade gifts for babies.

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It can be difficult to find bag designs that really inspire you: you might want the shape and pockets of one combined with the size and handles of another. But how do you put all these different elements together to create your perfect bag? Let sewing superstar Debbie Shore equip you with all the techniques you need to create 12 beautiful, customizable projects, and then show you how to apply these techniques and ideas to create your own unique designs. The projects are wide-ranging, giving you plenty of ideas and techniques to try out, including a large, square-bottomed beach bag, a zipped, curved-top shoulder bag, an oilcloth tote, a pleated cosmetic bag, and a three-pocket cross-body bag with a magnetic fastener. Learn how to complete a range of techniques, from adding piping and making eyelets to inserting zips, adding handles and straps and creating a square bag base. What you create next is up to you! Mix and match techniques, fabrics and ideas to create a truly personal bag. All the techniques and stitches you need are clearly explained, and the projects can all be made on a basic sewing machine. The book is packed full of Debbie’s friendly help and advice, with all the projects shown using clear step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow instructions.

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Teddy bears are an iconic symbol of childhood. They are often our first and best-loved toys right through to adulthood, often passed on to our own children to enjoy. This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide takes you into the magical world of teddy bear making and shows you how to create your own traditional bear to hand down through the generations. The book begins with a short history of the teddy bear, followed by detailed information on tools, materials and essential bear-making techniques. There's guidance on finding design inspiration, and three complete step-by-step projects to get you started. There's then detailed guidance on how to create different eyes, ears, noses and mouths to give your bear a unique personality, and sewn outfits to dress them in. The book ends with notes on care and repair, ensuring your treasured creation will last a lifetime.

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The Embroiderers' Guild was founded in 1906 and has in its collection embroideries from all over the world. These wonderful works, which somehow survived through the ages, could be said to be one of the most important group of embroideries assembled in one place. Stitched pieces and fragments and were gathered together by early members of the Guild and inserted into portfolios that were circulated among members. Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration to embroiderers and this fantastic book showcases the Embroiderers' Guild's huge collection of embroidered flowers through the ages. Featuring full-colour photographs , items are shown in full and also with detail images to show off the flowers at their best. These wonderful embroidered treasures are as varied as wall hangings, children's dresses, bridal bags and samplers, some of which date back to the 17th century. The images are shown with extended captions. Collected from many different countries, this is an opportunity to see fabulous works that are very rarely seen in public.

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This title is the third in the successful theme-based Stitched Textiles series. It contains a comprehensive techniques section, six beautiful step-by-step projects and galleries of inspirational pieces that are vibrant, contemporary, and beautifully executed. Very much aimed at the contemporary textile artist, this beautiful book is designed to inspire and encourage and contains all the information a beginner needs. Birds are an enduring theme in art and textile work and this book will appeal to any textile artist interested in exploring their design possibilities. It features a range of birds including much-loved garden blackbirds, characterful chickens, cute and curious puffins and cheeky seagulls. Fresh and innovative in its approach, it covers the design process itself, from inspiration to final design, and provides information on the materials used and step-by-step demonstrations of a whole range of techniques including dyeing, using dissolvable fabric, using found objects, piecing and stitching.

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A detailed and practical guide focusing on the traditional methods of icon painting and its rich history. With all you would ever want to know, from the materials you need and how to prepare a panel to adding inscriptions and finishing off. Part of the icon’s symbolism is transmitted in the techniques used to create it and this is explored throughout, with in depth information, step-by-step demonstrations, invaluable advice and many superb examples of finished icon paintings.

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Where do you find inspiration for an abstract painting? How do you start? What materials should you use? Are composition and perspective important? These questions and others are answered in detail in this impressive book, with a clarity that guarantees success. Whether you want to purely abstract your ideas, thoughts and feelings into colour and mood, or whether you want to base your pictures on subjects that interest you, such as landscapes, flowers, or music, you will find much to guide and fascinate you here. Rolina van Vliet is an enthusiastic teacher, and she offers a brilliant insight into what makes good paintings, with 50 stunning projects, each accompanied by expert tips and a full palette of exciting and fun techniques. With help on what materials to use and how to use them, she includes many photographs illustrating different ways to create smooth, textured, collaged, vibrant, powerful and atmospheric abstract art. Beginners will love the way Rolina encourages experimentation - there are no rules, and more experienced artists will find much here to inspire them.

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Dogs can be a pleasure to draw, whether they are dignified, elegant, cute or scruffy. Suzie Hodges shows you how to capture the character of a great selection of popular dog breeds. This delightful introduction to drawing dogs completely demystifies the drawing process. It shows how images can be built up easily, from initial geometric shapes right through to the finished animals. Susie Hodges includes a good selection of popular breeds and she uses a helpful two colour method that clearly shows every line and curve of the step-by-step pictures. Even absolute beginners will find themselves creating great drawings when they use this book and there is much to inspire more experienced artists too. An invaluable guide for anyone interested in this subject.

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Explore the world of Bobbin Lace with this book, which takes you through simple Torchon ground pieces to scarves, purse and bags. Bobbin lace may look complicated when you see a pillow set up with dozens of bobbins, but it will seem far less daunting when you realise that only four bobbins (two pairs) are in use at any one time, and there are only two moves – twist and cross – that you can do. While the basic lace stitches are common to all types of bobbin lace, different lacemaking traditions developed different ways of putting these stitches together. Bruges lace, for example, uses less than a dozen pairs of bobbins and a relatively coarse thread to create curved braids and flower-like motifs which are linked to form the fabric; on the other hand point ground laces, such as Chantilly or Bucks Point, are worked from one end to the other in fine silk or cotton and may need a hundred pairs or more.

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Make 20 stunning flowers and floral arrangements in felt.

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