Introducing Pottery: The Complete Guide

In "Introducing Pottery," international potter and teacher Dan Rhode shares more than twenty years of experience in a well-organized, fully illustrated volume. Rhode's comprehensive overview of the methods, techniques, equipment, and theory allows novice and more advanced clay artists to solve problems as they develop and to keep improving.
"Introducing Pottery" begins with a brief history of world ceramics and a practical discussion of the fundamentals of clay chemistry and composition. The guide quickly moves into step-by-step instructions for working in clay. It covers throwing and handbuilding methods, and even shows how to set up a clay studio. "Introducing Pottery" includes an in-depth look at glaze making, formulation, and application that goes beyond mainstream glazes and allows artists to express their own aesthetic. Readers will learn about the differences between firing techniques, and how to use them in variety of kilns. Each method is illustrated with full color photographs of professional ceramicists at work in their studios. Easy-to-read tables and charts also complement the clearly written instructions.
Request Introducing Pottery : the complete guide from the catalog.

Mastering Raku: Making Ware/Glazes/Building Kilns/Firing

From firing to finishing, this is the definitive reference on raku. Ceramists will be informed and inspired by this newly updated, technique-based book with how-to photos and text. It covers such topics as types of clay, forming techniques, firing, glazes, decoration, and kilns and kiln construction. "Mastering Raku" also includes a gallery of works from around the world along with updated clay and glaze recipes.
Request Mastering Raku from the catalog.

Country Living the Handmade Home: 75 Projects for Soaps, Candles, Picture Frames, Pillows, Wreaths & Scrapbooks

"Country Living" knows that beautiful handcrafted accents are as essential to home-sweet-home as a comfy cushion to sink into at the end of a long day. Whether it's richly indulgent herbal soaps, vintage-inspired woven pillows, a keepsake family album, or beeswax tapers to illuminate a dinner party, the 75 projects in this varied collection will warm your heart...and give a personal touch to every room in the house.
Request The Handmade Home from the library. 

Sewing Bits & Pieces: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps

Sewing with scraps is an economical way to make the most of your designer fabrics-as well as a fun way to use up a stash of your favorite leftovers for smaller projects. Michael Miller fabric designer Sandi Henderson holds to the adage "waste not, want not" to deliver a collection of innovative sewing projects that lets you make the most of bits and pieces of your beloved fabrics.
From a market skirt to a butterfly pin, from an embellished table cloth to hip hair accessories, "Sewing Bits and Pieces" gives you 35 sewing projects to make unique pieces that are perfect for gift-giving (or keeping for yourself)!Features gorgeous full-color photography throughoutDetailed instructions walk you through each projectSandi's popular Portabello Pixie blog is read by thousands every day
Packed with tons of fun, innovative projects, "Sewing Bits and Pieces" will have you creating sewing masterpieces in no time.
Request Sewing Bits & Pieces from the catalog.