Crafts

Knitting, Textiles, Paper, Wood, Seasonal, Needlearts, and more

Friday, August 27, 2010

Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In

Decorate Your Home the Natural Way!
Nothing adds more warmth and charm to a home than the simple, rustic beauty of natural wood. Now, thanks to the inspiring and creative ideas of woodworker Chris Lubkemann, bringing the natural elegance of the outdoors into your home is easier than you think. With little effort that can produce amazing results, twigs, branches and fallen trees can be transformed into artfully designed candle holders, coat racks, and coffee tables that will flavor your home with an eco-chic style.
If you're creative, have an appreciation for wood, and can work with a few basic tools, you can create these 35 unique and practical projects using easy-to-follow instructions and some found wood.
Among the distinctive projects in Tree Craft, you'll find:
*A gallery of knotted-wood photo frames to hold your favorite pictures
*Attractive table lamps in a variety of styles
*One-of-a-kind décor items such as curtain rods, clocks and planters
*Beautiful and practical coasters, napkin rings and spoon holders
Reusing what nature has provided is a simple way to add rustic elegance to your home. (Ingram Publishing)
Request Tree Craft from the catalog.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Fabric Remix: Repurpose & Redecorate With Simple Sewing & Easy Upholstery

Why pay the upscale prices at eco-chic boutiques when you can creatively upcycle? Sandy Stone presents her unique outlook on sewing and decorating: repurpose, reconstruct, and renew. Learn all the techniques and how to find vintage fabrics and furnishings “scavenger style” at thrift stores, then get to work at transforming these treasures with delightfully unexpected projects. Old ties become a sturdy chair back, vintage scarves become luxurious pillows, and a trampoline becomes a chic window treatment. With plenty of inspiration in each eye-popping photograph, Fabric Remix doesn't just instruct stitchers, it upcycles their style. (Sterling)
Request Fabric Remix from the catalog.

The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays

For “Farm Chick” Serena Thompson, Christmas means a house overflowing with ornaments, lights, and cherished treasures, and the aroma of baking cookies to welcome family and friends. Here, she shows us how to spread the magic of the season, with ideas for entertaining, decorating, tree trimming, charming crafts, and 17 recipes for yummy holiday sweets-plus tips for wrapping food and gifts.
As in The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen, Serena weaves delightful stories of her family and friends throughout the book, calling forth nostalgic smiles that remind us of the importance of tradition at this special time of year. (Sterling)
Request The Farm Chicks Christmas from the catalog.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Craft Hope: Handmade Crafts for a Cause

It started with a pillowcase dress…and grew into a worldwide movement: crafters using their passion to help those in need. The Craft Hope blog-which organizes crafters to make handmade items for charities-has attracted followers around the world. This book, written by the site's founder and featuring crafting's hottest start, celebrates the cause and encourages others to join in.
Each project is matched with a specific charity, with alternative suggestions for local places to contribute the item. The projects-all with beautiful photographs, step-by-step instructions, and templates-include: cheerful quilts for hospitalized children, soft dolls for Nicaraguan orphans, tug toys for animal shelters, knit gloves for homeless shelters, a cloth backpack for schoolchildren in Africa, a stylish purse for women moving out of abusive relationships, and knit scarves for fostercare teens heading off to college. Contributors range from fabric designers Amy Butler and Heather Bailey to popular authors and bloggers such as Amanda Soule (www.soulemama.com, Handmade Home), Karri Meng (French General), Amy Ray (Doodle Stitching), Celine Dupuy (Simple Sewing with a French Twist), Vickie Howell (Craft Corps), Cathie Filian (Creative Juice), Susan Wasinger (Eco Crafts), and Betsy Greer (Knitting for Good).
Request Craft Hope from the catalog.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Print & Stamp Lab: 52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools


Artist and popular workshop instructor Traci Bunkers can turn just about anything into an interesting stamp, printing block, or tool. In this book, she shows readers how to see overlooked, everyday objects in a new way, and how to "MacGyver" them into easy to use printing blocks and tools. Readers learn to create 52 print blocks and stamp tools, all from inexpensive, ordinary, and unexpected materials--string, spools, bandaids, flip flops, ear plugs, rubber bands, school erasers, and a slew of other repurposed and upcycled items. The book also shows how to use those simple tools to make gorgeous, multi-layered prints and patterns that can be used to enhance journal covers, stationery, fabrics, accessories, and more.(Quayside Pub Group: )
Request Print & Stamp from the catalog.

Friday, August 13, 2010

The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book

Author Steven Tatar discovered a treasure trove of mint-condition knitwear and patterns when he acquired the mill's archive in 2005. Now, working with the original garments, from the 1940's through the 1970's, he has painstakingly adapted twenty-six colorful knitwear projects for the home knitter.
Request The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book from the catalog.

Gifted: Lovely Little Things to Knit + Crochet

Known for her colorful and inspired designs featuring creative embellishment, Mags Kandis loves to share handmade gifts with her friends and loved ones. Gifted is her celebration of joyful crafting and gracious giving, featuring 20 designs for small but lively projects. From wearable accessories such as hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and wraps to home décor including pillows, a tea cozy, pin cushion, needle case, and laptop sleeves, this collection offers projects for knitters and crocheters with any level of experience and time.
Request Gifted from the catalog.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The New Knitter's Template: Your Guide to Custom Fit and Style

Back by popular demand, this is the must-have guidebook for anyone who wants to stitch knits that fit and flatter. You'll find techniques and templates from the original edition along with even more tips and tricks.

Request The New Knitter's Template from the catalog.

Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations




Thanks to some seriously crafty designers who have created 45 festive felt projects, it's easy to deck your halls and your tree and mantle this season. 
Request Fa la la la Felt from the catalog.


Horrockses Fashion: Off-the-Peg Fashion in the 40s and 50s

This lavisly illustrated book tells the history of Horrockses Fashions, one the most famous postwar British ready-to-wear labels. In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, Horrockses’ created designs with a fresh, distinctive look, and were celebrated for their lively floral prints and full-skirted summer dresses, which were popular with women of every background, including the royal family. In addition, they collaborated with contemporary artists such as Eduardo Paolozzi, Alastair Morton, and Graham Sutherland to design textiles. The book includes interviews with many of the people who made, wore, and designed these dresses and reproduces magazine spreads and illustrations from the period.
Request Horrockses Fashions from the catalog.

Vintage Knits: 30 Knitting Designs from Rowan for Women and Men

In this collection "vintage" is classic Rowan with a little mid-20th-century inspiration : think romantic English countryside, complete with rundown castles and horseback riding. The patterns are predominantly sweaters, with a few wraps and scarves thrown in, and generally feature advanced techniques such as Fair Isle color work and lace. The list of designers, including such luminaries as Kaffe Fassett and Kim Hargreaves, is impressive, and fans of the Rowan aesthetic will enjoy this collection.
Request Vintage Knits from the catalog.

The Basics of Corset Building: A Handbook for Beginners

In 2006 Linda Sparks opened Farthingales L.A. Inc. (www.farthingalesLA.com) to better supply the US market. Farthingales L.A. Inc. is a corset shop, selling the raw materials, patterns, books and both ready made corsets and custom corsets. The L.A. location is also where Linda teaches her corset making workshops.




Think of a corset as a blank canvas.
Here’s what’s included in this comprehensive guide to building your first corset:|
Section One: Tools and Materials for Corset Building
Discusses the tools you’ll need, plus types of steel, plastic, and textiles.
Section Two: Building a Corset
Everything you need to know about working with bones and busks, setting grommets and eyelets, and creating a beautifully finished corset.
Section Three: Construction Techniques
Covers all the steps, including making a modesty panel, making a mock-up, and building single layer, double layer, and fashion fabric corsets.
Section Four: Alterations and Fit
Discusses commercial corset patterns, as well as how to fit and style a corset for exactly the look you want.
Request The Basics of Corset Building from the catalog.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Jackets For Work and Play

After more than 20 years of quality publishing and numerous sold-out issues, Knitter's Magazine has compiled the best jacket projects designed by renowned players in the knitting field. The 25 projects cover a wide range of classic styles—from suits to coats to light-weight cover ups—that provide stylish options for both work and play. Stitches such as the slip stitch, linen stitch, and moss stitch are introduced, as well as more advanced techniques that are thoroughly illustrated with detailed instructions. Creative finishing options are also provided for the motivated knitter seeking to customize and personalize their projects.
 Request Jackets for Work and Play from the catalog.

Simply Sublime Gifts: High-style, Low-sew Projects to Make in a Snap

A follow-up to Simply Sublime Bags instructs crafters on how to create dozens of stylish home-made gifts with little or no sewing, from a set of note cards and a fashion wallet to personalized baby onesies, in a volume that is complemented by creative gift-wrapping tips. Original.

Request Simply Sublime Gifts from the catalog.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Christmas in Crochet

Celebrate Christmas with more than 50 beautiful and fun crochet designs. From enchanting decorations for your tree and halls to delightful gifts for loved ones young and old, this collection of festive designs will add warmth to your holiday festivities.
Request Christmas in Crochet from the catalog.

365 Days of Scrapbooking Ideas

Great photos deserve great pages, and 365 Days of Scrapbooking Ideas helps you accomplish just that by providing the inspiration to keep you scrapping all year long. With examples for all of life's key events - from holidays and birthdays to graduations and weddings  - as well as tips and bonus ideas for cards and albums, 365 Days of Scrapbooking Ideas enables you to create the perfect showcase for all your memories.
Request 365 Days of Scrapbooking Ideas from the catalog.