Arts and Crafts
The Complete Pebble Mosaic handbook (Revised and Expanded)
Maggy Howarth, paperback, € 30.40
This comprehensive, one-of-a-kind sourcebook is now revised and expanded. Ideal for architects, landscape designers and home crafters, it features authoritative text and beautiful photographs that explore classic and new mosaic materials, designs, tools and techniques. The book opens with a section on techniques used in designing, making and installing pebble mosaics, including information on patterns, mosaics for frost-prone areas, how to pre-cast a mosaic, computer-aided patterns and unusual materials. Step-by-step photographs with clear how-to instructions show how each project is made. Maggy Howarth shares her designs templates for: All over patterns and interlacing patterns Repeating centric patterns and borders Celestial forms and geometrics Humans and mythological figures Reptiles, fish, insects, birds and other animals Flowers, trees and other plants. There is also a special section that explores pebble mosaics as a decorative art throughout history.
Garden Mosaics: 25 Step-by-Step Projects
Becky Paton, paperback, € 20.80
One of the most long-lasting and hard-wearing artforms, mosaic pieces are perfect to make the most of your outdoor space. Suitable for a tiny terrace or a large country expanse, the projects in "Garden Mosaics" show you how to decorate your outdoor space in a charming, individual and enduring way. The extensive techniques section shows you how to choose and use the right tiles for your environment. All suitable for beginners, the 25 projects in the book range from simple decorative pieces, such as the enchanting, simple child's footprints and butterfly stones to practical and sturdy weatherproof pieces, including a trompe l'oeil chequered mosaic tabletop and planters that will add colour to your garden even in winter. Some projects, such as the night light, can be finished in under two hours.
Mosaic Artists Techniques Bible
Teresa Mills, spiral bound hardback, €20.80
A complete resource of mosaic techniques and pattern ideas for creating mosaics in the home and garden. Clear step-by-step sequences show how to draw up an idea, arrange the tiles and finish designs successfully. Discover how to coordinate colour and pattern in your designs, using a wide range of materials - from traditional ceramic tiles to pebbles and shells, beads, recycled pottery and wall tiles, decorative stones, and even diamante. All tools, materials and equipment are clearly explained, and you'll find helpful hints on setting up a comfortable work area as well as essential information to make your mosaics last longer.
Kaffe Fassett's Kaleidoscope of Quilts
Kaffe Fassett, paperback, € 25.60
This latest of "Rowan's Patchwork & Quilting" books is edited and styled by Kaffe Fassett with 20 quilts of his own designs, and those of his favourite designers. Every quilt design is accompanied by a flat reference shot of the whole quilt, materials required, and detailed written instructions with clear and easy to follow coloured piecing diagrams. A patchwork 'know how' section and glossary explains all the techniques and terms used for the projects. Photographed on the island of Malta the quilts are seen against the rich backdrop of golden stone walls, colourful boats and painted houses a great setting further enhancing the quilts.
The Cross Stitch Motif Bible: Over 1000 motifs with easy to follow colour charts
Jan Eaton, spiral, € 27.20
This collection of 1000 cross stitch motifs, each accompanied by an easy-to-follow colour chart, presents cross stitchers with a fabulous resource for incorporation into cards, samplers, pictures, and larger work. Fully illustrated step-by-step instructions in basic techniques and materials will allow even the novice to start stitching right away. A unique spiral bound format lets the book lie completely flat for ease of use when following the charts.
The Art of Annemieke Mein: Wildlife Artist in Textiles
Annemieke Mein,paperback, € 25.60
One of the most amazing, and beautifully presented books on wildlife embroidery. Annemieke Mein presents her textiles in words, sketches and photographs each page is a treasure to be studied and then studied again. She uses an amazing variety of materials - silk, wool, fur, cotton, and synthetics all carefully chosen for their colour, texture and aesthetic appeal. These fabrics are then meticulously painted and stitched to faithfully reproduce her chosen subjects and to enhance the tactile quality unique to textiles. The work will leave the reader breathless with wonder and will encourage an awareness of our natural heritage and of the need to preserve it.
Hip To Stitch: 20 Contemporary Projects Embellished with Thread
Melinda A Barta, paperback, € 24.00
Stitching is fun, easy, and a great way to add your personal touch to just about anything. With only a needle, thread, and cloth you can make something beautiful for your home, your friends and family, or yourself. Learn the basics of hand-embroidery through 33 easy-to-follow stitch illustrations and 18 contemporary projects including stitched patterns on clothing, covered button hair ties, a butterfly picture frame, monogramming, and more!
The Watercolour Artist's Bible: An essential reference for the practising artist
Marylin Scott, spiral, € 20.80
Watercolour is a wonderful medium, but it does sometimes seem to have a "mind of its own", refusing to do quite what is required. The keys to success are good planning, constant practice and a thorough understanding of your materials, so if you are new to painting, start by trying out some of the techniques and projects in this book as well as experimenting with different colour mixes and types of paper. This series of books, spiral bound for practical use, covers all the different methods of painting and makes a very good basis for all forms, styes and techniques of work.
Painting Houses, Cottages and Town on Rocks
Lin Wellford, paperback, € 26.90
With acrylic paint and imagination, anyone can turn ordinary rocks into charming cottages, country churches, Victorian mansions, entire rock villages. Each of the eleven projects, suitable for all ages, comes with easy to follow step-by-step photographs and diagrams. Animals, flowers, gardens, and pets there's a book for them all. This is a fun hobby where you can create door stops and paper weights specially made for individual and unique gifts.
The Secret Language of Art: The illustrated decoder of Symbols and Figures in Western Painting
Sarah Carr-Gomm, paperback, € 27.20
Understand the language, imagery and symbolism of great Western painters from medieval times to the twentieth century In The Secret Language of Art Sarah Carr-Gomm provides a fascinating guide to the key figures, themes, events and symbols that form the subject matter of Western painting. Illustrated with 75 great works, this book is the ideal companion for all art lovers, gallery goers and students of art history. This book is divided into five chapters: Classical Myth and Legend; The Bible and the Life of Christ; Saints and their Miracles; History, Literature and the Arts; and Symbols and Allegories. Each chapter includes a portfolio of paintings, followed by a thematic directory of figures and symbols.
Stencilling on a Grand Scale
Sandra Buckingham. paperback, € 28.80
To make a big impression, says stencilling expert Sandra Buckingham, you don't have to re-create the Sistine Chapel. Start small, she counsels, and the rest will follow. This, her latest book, leads do it yourselfers beyond the realm of decorative borders to a creative canvas whose limits are determined only by space, time and imagination. The key to her strategy is that a large stencilled work - be it a door, a wall, a screen or an entire floor - can be the seamless sum of its parts. In other words, rather than using an expensive, unwieldy, multi-layered stencil to create a life-sized tree, use three 10 inch stencils of leaf clusters, laying and re-laying them to achieve the desired effect. In full colour - with nearly 300 colour photographs and designs, plus plenty of summer days to complete the project, there's no better time to get started!