Crafts and Decorative arts

A gorgeously illustrated, complete deck of 78 tarot cards and accompanying guidebook for the user to fully colour in, blending the widespread and growing appeal of tarot with the continuing trends of customization and adult colouring and activity projects.

Fifty years ago, the fountain pen was an expensive, and very personal, prized possession. Once deposed by mass produced ball points, the fountain pen is making an elegant return through the wood turner’s art. Michael Cripps takes the reader through every step necessary to create elegant pens (fountain and ball point alike) with turned hardwood outer surfaces in a variety of shapes and sizes.

From the formal carvings of the nineteenth century to the colorful and informal plastic and glass examples of molded relief jewelry, this revised and expanded guide is the perfect reference for those on a search for cameos.

When first invited to give talks and demonstrations on carving techniques to school children, Howard K. Suzuki quickly found out that wood was not the most suitable medium. It took too long to show much progress in the limited time available. He decided to use bars of soap to demonstrate basic techniques on carving and sculpturing. Soap is an inexpensive and very desirable carving medium.

Over 50 color photos, 80 patterns and mechanical drawings, with clear, concise, step-by-step instructions, reveal all the reader must know to successfully create twelve original whirligig projects made from wood and/or metal, including imaginative, original designs that all will enjoy. Each project has been designed, built, and tested by the author to ensure success.

Bamboo, bemoaned by many as a runaway weed, is treasured in many cultures around the world for its strength, durability, and versatility. This book illustrates ways in which any person capable of using a saw, rasp, screwdriver, and chisel can set about to create beautiful furnishings and useful accessories for the home.

When observing an especially beautiful mobile, beginning artists often think, “Wow, I want to make one like THAT!” If you have stood under a mobile by Alexander Calder and entertained such thoughts, this book will help you “make one like that.” This guide provides practical and encouraging step-by-step instructions for making horizontally balanced mobiles.

This is the first comprehensive book written on the uses of InLace resin inlay for gourd artists and wood turners. Chapters present carving techniques in gourds, mixing resin, insetting, sanding, and polishing. Step-by-step directions that can be applied to any gourd and five projects from contributing artists are include, as well as three original designs for the crafter's use.

In this book Ernst G. Siebeneicher-Hellwig and Jürgen Rosinski show the simplest and least expensive ways to construct a simple forge, make all necessary tools yourself, forge a stub tang blade from an old automobile coil spring, and make a complete knife. Their practical guide demonstrates the most important theoretical basics and shows how simple it can be to experience bladesmithing.

Rediscover the art of knotting! A variety of projects with different levels of difficulty are provided, including cell phone or music player cases, wallets and key chains, bracelets or eyeglasses cases in contemporary colors and designs. Readers will quickly master important knots that include the vertical and horizontal half hitches, spiral knots, square knots, and finishing knots.

Enter the studio of major mosaicist Alexandra Carron and learn the secrets of this art! From the basics of mosaic materials to the most sophisticated techniques, step-by-step you will produce four original and elegant objects (a vase, a colorful table, a springtime mirror, and decorative tiles) assisted by your own crafting coach.

Damascus steel: centuries-old, hot-forged steel that is legendary for making sharp, strong blades that struck fear in many a man’s heart. Artisans, blacksmiths, and hobbyists the world over have initiated a renaissance of this fascinating, decorative material, which is the focus of this comprehensive book.

An innovative designer is always looking for new concepts. Fresh Floral Jewelry, an instructional introduction to the world of making jewelry that incorporates fresh flowers, is the first of its kind.

Reuse, recycle, and repurpose the clothing you love, creating new, one-of-a-kind garments. Every one of the twenty-one inspiring projects in this book can be sewn quickly, even by beginners. The descriptive photo instructions make it easy to follow the process step by step. Sew a length of chiffon onto a top to create a unique dress. Change a beloved sweater by giving it a great new neckline.

With seven techniques and 101 patterns, this how-to book provides detailed, clear instructions for knitting and crocheting colorful and artful socks. These projects cover a wide range of skill sets, from the beginner to the advanced knitter.

With detailed instructions, templates, and colorful photography, this book shows how to craft fifty-five paper jewelry projects. Colorful and graphic designs range from necklaces, brooches, earrings, and bracelets to hair accessories. Learn how to find inspiration in a wide variety of recycled papers. Projects re-use maps, stationery, comic books, cardboard, magazines, and even candy wrappers.

Scrimshaw is the art of the Eskimos and whalers. They began by carving fine lines into walrus ivory and bones, which developed into complex images. Today, scrimshaw is a recognized art form that inspires collectors all over the world – especially in Europe and the United States. Richard "Ritchi" Maier is one of the best "scrimshanders" internationally.

Guilloché is the decorative engraving of a metal surface, such as watch cases, cufflinks, or Fabergé Eggs, with the use of a hand-powered device called a rose engine. This passionately researched book tracks the birth, decline, and revival of this endangered craft and features exclusive information from the world's few living professional guillocheurs, as well as an exploration of the distinction ...

For the first time, the history of spalted wood—wood coloration caused by fungi—is detailed in a comprehensive resource covering the science, the history, and the applications of spalting. Featuring 870 photos and photomicrographs, this resource goes back 700 years to the beginning of written records of spalting, and follows its evolution from closely guarded guild secret to scientific curiosity ...

Clear instructions and 129 photos welcome you to the world of calligraphy. Starting with the pens, inks, and writing surfaces you'll need, the book explains the basics, from filling the pen to holding the nib at the right angle. Practice exercises help you understand upstrokes, downstrokes, the optical center, and more.