Lifestyle and Hobbies

For the first time, a book has been written that explains all the tools and techniques necessary for successfully building models with brass. The detailed text is illustrated with over 320 color photos.

Protect that beautiful hand-forged knife you’ve just completed or keep your favorite piece of cutlery close for daily use with a leather sheath. From basic leather working techniques to a completed sheath, this how-to book will walk you through the steps to produce your own fixed-blade knife sheath.

This beginner-level guide explains, step-by-step, how to make a fixed-blade hidden tang knife and a matching leather scabbard. Used by hunters and fishermen the world over, hidden tang knives have tangs that are completely hidden by the handle material, which makes for a more comfortable grip on the knife.

Over 340 striking color photos introduce readers to the quintessential flower of the Cape and the Islands, the hydrangea. The lucky people who live in the region revel in these lush flowers flourishing in a maritime climate.

No other graffiti crew from New York City's graffiti heyday conjures up more images of angel dust-smoking, beer-drinking, "crazy white boys," than the Bronx-born-and-bred writing group Morris Park Crew (MPC). This official history of the crew tells the stories behind the group with never-before-published photos, oral histories from MPC members, and details on the 2009-2010 MPC revival.

The history of quilts, their makers, and usage is an important part of our country's heritage presented here in full detail through 330 vintage photographs. Books on quilt history have, to date, included only a few photos of quilts. This in-depth collection, most of which has never been seen before, date from 1855 to 1955.

Learn how to make two types of Japanese knives: a tanto (dagger) and a hocho (chef's knife) following traditional techniques. With step-by-step images and clear instructions, this how-to guide covers acquiring iron ore, building and using a bloomery furnace, forging the blades, fitting the blades with handles, and sharpening the blades with water stones.

From basic leatherworking techniques to the professional-level tips you need to make your project its best, this how-to book will walk you through the steps to produce two top-quality welted sheath designs: a welted sheath with attached belt loop, and one with belt clip and protective strap.

This introductory guide and valuation of the world's most legendary wristwatches includes more than 200 photographs that trace the trends of man's favorite toy – and his only socially acceptable piece of jewelry – for more than 100 years. The finely detailed photos reveal the beautiful and fascinating fashions in wristwatch style from 1879 to the modern era.

Pop-art connoisseurs are treated to a mind-bending journey through the blistering paintings of San Francisco artist Dirty Donny Gillies. Take a visual tour of his vibrant, hand-drawn and screen-printed poster art series "Blacklight Rebellion" and hand-painted solo art show "Fantastic Voyage.

With 142 photos and these short, step-by-step lessons from a master Chinese calligrapher, you can enjoy the basics of the beautiful characters of Chinese. Begin by learning the history and traditions of this art form, and the techniques of using the "four treasures": the brush and other basic tools. Learn the correct body position, and how to hold the brush.

Zendoodling, the popular process of relaxation through drawing, uses repeating shapes or patterns to create an image. Whether you're a first time Zendoodler or an experienced one, all you need is a pen, paper, and this guide. Step-by-step instructions show how to draw all four versions of the basic pattern model: surface, geometric, scatter, and band patterns.

Nearly 500 photos of artwork with personal insights from 78 of today's most noteworthy artists show the tremendously broad range of possibilities that working in three dimensions can offer. In conjunction with the other two books in this acclaimed series, it invites readers to re-examine fiber art through a multifaceted contemporary lens.

There is much discussion among artisans when it comes to improving the cutting behavior of tools quickly and permanently, but the debate is settled here, where expert engineers and master craftsmen prove the benefits of sharpening blades and tools using methods based on time-tested Japanese water stone grinding techniques.

More than 300 colorful photos and behind-the-scenes details reveal the fascinating story of Japan's cotton and indigo, and their enormous contribution to fiber arts worldwide. Learn how Japan and its top fabric designers, quilters, scientists, and artists combine tradition and high tech to weave the thread, fabrics, and stunning designs that are so coveted in today's fiber art world.

Paracord handle wraps are popular with respect to survival knives and tactical knives. They rest comfortably in your hand, they're slip-proof, and they're impervious to moisture and temperature fluctuations. In an emergency, the wrap can often be undone and then you have a practical rope at hand.

America’s famous and influential WWII submachine guns (SMGs) are all featured in this fully illustrated book. Beginning with the legendary Thompson submachine, its design, construction, and testing in the early 1920s, as well as its use by the US Marine Corps, the Irish Republican Army, and Prohibition-era gangsters, are presented in detail.

The legendary British, World War II STEN submachine gun is featured in this concise, illustrated book. Famous for its use by British elite forces, as well as the French underground during WWII, variants of the STEN were manufactured and used by many countries during the war and up through the 1970s.

Germany’s World War I– and World War II–era submachine guns are all featured in this fully illustrated book. Early Bergmann models are presented first showing their development from the MP18, through to the MP35, followed by discussions of the Schmeisser MP28, Steyr MP34, and Erma “EMP.

The fascinating luminosity of colors from plants can be easily transferred to wool, silk, or other materials at home. Necessary materials, mordanting, the preparation of fibers and dye sources, and different dyeing methods are described in detail. This richly illustrated book also shows how the dyed materials can be felted or turned into woolen pictures.