Books, Home & Garden, Crafts & Hobbies, Decorating

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Cate Coulacos Prato
Mixed-Media Self-Portraits: Inspiration & Techniques
by Interweave Press (Paperback)

Featuring artwork from a wide range of contributors, this resource explores creative self-portraits through fun and easy exercises and essays that instruct and inspire artists working in all media. Examples of collage, fiber arts, and mixed-media artwork offer visual inspiration while essays throughout the book act as a guide to personal and artistic self-discovery. Step-by-step techniques and creative prompts are used to direct artists through different approaches to creating self-portraits while exercises utilizing collage, drawing, photography, and stitching will jump-start the creative process and get ideas flowing on paper and fabric, encouraging artists to express themselves in new ways.

Lena Corwin
Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens
by STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (Spiral-bound)

It’s the natural inconsistencies—the accidental differences between one finished piece and another—that make hand-printed fabrics, papers, furniture, and works of art so interesting. The quirks are what show the maker’s intimate involvement in the process, and it’s that unique quality that first attracted textile designer and illustrator Lena Corwin to hand-printing. Even though decorative prints are more in vogue than ever, there was until now no up-to-date hand-printing guide—no single source explaining the tools and materials that are used today, or reflecting a contemporary aesthetic. Corwin has given us that guide. Using step-by-step instructions and up-close photos, Corwin teaches crafters everything they need to know to master stamping, stenciling, and screen printing, from making their own printing devices to trouble-shooting when plans go awry. Her inimitable collection of projects ranges from stamped stationery and simple-to-sew pouches, to stenciled tote ...

Kristal Wick
Fabulous Fabric Beads: Create Custom Beads and Art Jewelry
by Interweave Press (Paperback)

A spectacular combination of beading, scrapbooking, fiber arts, and mixed-media techniques, this amazing handbook describes how to create 30 handcrafted beads from rolled tubes of silk, muslin, or ribbon. With more than 20 easy embellishment techniques incorporating glitter, paint, crystals, or wire, these projects result in stunning beads that can be created with inexpensive and readily available supplies and tools described in this guide. Detailed discussions on choosing appropriate fabrics and creating a variety of surface designs are coupled with well-documented instructions on how to cut, roll, dip, and dry collage beads, and how to cover inexpensive wooden and plastic beads to easily achieve different shapes. Additional sidebars and tips include bonus information on selecting successful color palettes and 10 simple stringing techniques.

Linda Chandler, Christine Ritchey
Jewelry Studio: Wire Wrapping
by Interweave Press (Paperback)

Compiled with advanced beginners and intermediate designers in mind, this guidebook starts with the basics of wire wrapping and builds skills progressively as aspiring crafters work through each project. The easy-to-follow instructions emphasize safety first and list all the steps required to get started, with a detailed discussion given to using tools such as pliers and wire cutters—wire wrapping does not require a soldering torch—and selecting appropriate materials such as copper, brass, and sterling silver. Finishing these stunning projects are a snap with the tips, tricks, and techniques shared within—jewelry crafters will delight in the resulting pieces that include beautiful bracelets, Celtic earrings, wire wrapped rings, and a wire-wrapped cabochon.

Linda Hetzer
Simple Art Napkin Foldin
by William Morrow Cookbooks (Hardcover) (Release Date: 1991-05-20)

From formal sit-down dinners to everyday family meals to festive party buffets, artfully folded napkins are certain to delight, enchant, and enhance any occasion. No matter how simply or intricately done, elegant and creative napkin folds transform meals into celebrations. From quick-and-easy folds to intricate two-napkin creations, The Simple Art o Napkin Folding offers step-by-step directions and illustrations that take you through nearly 100 easy-to-make projects: Namecard folds -the Diamond, the Fortunella, the Cathedral, and the Wedding Ring Party-favor folds -the Algonquin, the Pyramid, the Flower Basket, and the Phoenix Novel centerpieces -Preening Peacocks, Birds -of-Paradise, Swans Breadbasket folds -the Artichoke and the Breadbasket Children's-party folds -pinwheels, sailboats, animal faces, paper airplanes, and party hats, all simple enough for children to do themselves, and ideal party activities You'll also learn how to create accessories such as bottle ...

Cynthia B. Wuller
Inspired Wire: Learn to Twist, Jig, Bend, Hammer, and Wrap for the Prettiest Jewelry Ever
by Kalmbach (Paperback)

Be a live wire at the next party--with stunning wire jewelry * More than twenty beautiful projects * Comprehensive basics section with how-to photos * Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets; all presented in skill-building progression Wire jewelry can look complicated...but Inspired Wire makes it easy to create wonderful hand-formed precious metal and gemstone pieces. More than twenty beautiful projects are presented in skill-building progression, from creating basic wire links to forming more complex hand-shaped jewelry. Step-by-step instructions show exactly how to make the Cynthia’s striking designs. With sophisticated yet minimalist jewelry projects, clear instructions, and how-to photographs, Inspired Wire helps beginners develop their skills and allows intermediate crafters to learn new techniques and gain a better understanding of wirework.

Lisa Bluhm
Simple Soldered Jewelry & Accessories: A Crafter's Guide to Fashioning Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & More
by Lark/Chapelle (Hardcover)

Soldering has moved out of the garage shop and taken the crafting world by storm! It’s a fabulous, easy-to-learn technique for creating jewelry, decorative accents, and keepsakes, and this comprehensive guide takes beginners step-by-step through all the basics: glass cutting, working with copper foil, and the actual soldering itself. Easy-to-trace patterns with glass cutting lines are included, along with vintage photos and decorative paper. Make a mini scrapbook fold-out frame to hold cherished photos and mementos. Learn to work with curved surfaces on projects such as a playful Turquoise Swirl Cuff. A comprehensive techniques section helps novices learn the basics and trouble-shoot potential problems as they work.

Rayna Gillman
Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth: Stamp, Screen, and Stencil with Everyday Objects
by C&T Publishing (Paperback)

Eight techniques, endless possibilities * Create fabric that expresses the artist within * Great for cotton, silk, and rayon Discover your inner artist--and the deepest bowels of that junk drawer--with this practical guide to fabric design. The eight easy techniques, explained in clear step-by-step directions and photographs, are stamping, stenciling, random screenprinting, gelatin plate printing, deconstructed screenprinting, discharge printing, soy wax batik, and rubbings. Use one, two, or more to make gorgeous, utterly unique fabric for fashion, home décor, or crafts.

Therese Laskey, Chika Mori
Zakka Sewing: 25 Japanese Projects for the Household (Stc Craft)
by STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (Paperback)

The phrase “Made in Japan” once conjured images of assembly-line production, but now it connotes well-made products that are unique and ingeniously designed—sometimes elegant, sometimes cute, always charming. And none are more charming than the graceful, functional, sewn objects called zakka. In Japanese, zakka means “household goods,” referring specifically to hand-sewn items for domestic use—tableware, kitchenware, containers of various kinds, even simple clothing. Therese Laskey and Chika Mori were enchanted by the many clever pieces they saw online but disappointed that directions and patterns were solely in Japanese. They knew they had to put together an authentic zakka book for English-speaking crafters.  To do so, the authors enlisted the help of some of the best zakka makers in Japan to create 25 projects ranging from utterly simple (an appliquéd pot holder, flower-shaped coasters) to ambitious (a house-shaped camera cozy, an adorable pair of comfy padded ...

Donna Kato
The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More
by Watson-Guptill (Paperback) (Release Date: 2007-06-26)

Polymer clay has grown and grown and grown in popularity since the publication of Donna Kato’s best-selling The Art of Polymer Clay in 1997. And there have been so many technical advances, too. Now poly-diva Donna Kato presents an all-new look at one of crafters’ all-time favorite mediums. Donna Kato’s Polymer Clay Innovations begins with the essentials of polymer clay, including its working properties, plus tools, curing, safety recommendations, and color blending (with full information on the now-indispensable Skinner Blend). Photo-packed chapters focus on exciting projects—beads, bracelets, pins, pendants, and boxes--and showcase new techniques, including image transfers, surface treatments such as stencils, stamps, paints, and inks, sculpting, inclusions, special effects, and finishing. Finished pieces by some of the biggest names in polymer clay, including Kathleen Dustin, Pier Voulkos, and Nan Roche, plus Donna Kato herself, offer ideas and inspiration.

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