Lifestyle and Hobbies

When Mattel's Hotwheels toy cars exploded onto the market in 1968, venerable Matchbox Toys met the challenge with its Superfast line. The successful result is now presented in the largest book on Matchbox Toys ever produced - so big it is two volumes that celebrate 35 years of Matchbox Superfast production with over 7000 color photos and over 10,000 listed variations!

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.

Stained glass has long been a part of domestic architecture, but in the late 1800s its popularity soared. In part, this was due to new manufacturing techniques and distribution networks, but also it caught the imagination of Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Arts and Crafts designers around the world. Here over 350 examples of architectural stained glass span several countries and many years.

Hollywood movie monsters are enduring pop culture standards. Kids and adults around the world recognize Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolf Man, and the Mummy. Although monsters are Aurora’s most famous products, the company created model kits of all varieties, including historic sailing ships, sports cars, moon rockets, military and commercial aircraft, TV stars, comic book heroes, wildlife scenes, ...

A book that explains various tools and techniques necessary for successfully building models with brass, now in its second edition with a new chapter on shipbuilding. Whether substituting for an existing plastic model kit part or assembly, making a master pattern for casting, or creating a complete scratch-built model, the range of brass fabrication methods and tools used are explained.

Flowers color our lives and make us feel good. This vibrant book uses flowers, floral motifs, botanical information, and legends and myths about flowers as inspiration for artists and crafters of all levels.

This is the second comprehensive wood carving manual by the successful team of Roz Daisey and Pat Kurman. Through a detailed yet concise series of carving and painting instructions, beautifully drawn illustrations and careful photography, novice as well as expert carvers are given all the information they need to complete realistic wood carvings of five different songbirds.

 1000-PIECE PUZZLE featuring Sherlock Holmes's London in glorious detail

SPOT FAMOUS CHARACTERS, crime-solving clues, and historical figures as you build the puzzle. Hunt for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most memorable characters, from the hound at Baskerville Hall to Moriarty, Dr. Watson, Mycroft and more, as well as real historical figures from the era. 

From The Peninsula Hong Kong to Lake Como's Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Marrakech's La Mamounia to London's Claridge's, this beautifully illustrated collection unveils the grand histories, one-of-a-kind experiences, and lush hideaways of 100 of the world's most remarkable hotels. Visit the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, where a wood-paneled water boat brings you to the hotel's front doors from St. Mark's Squ