Papermaking was invented in China probably around 2000 years ago and spread with the rapid expansion of Islamic culture into Spain and throughout Europe where the techniques for the production of decorated papers emerged. Often made to resemble expensive material such as marble, gold or exclusive fabric, they were sold at markets and paper shops and used as endpapers and wrappers for books, musical scores and brochures and for linings for boxes and decorating interiors of cabinets. They still appear in books today and are found in specialty paper stores. The combination of a viscous underlayer and floating dyes is essential to the flowing, organic designs typical of marbled paper. Dyes can be splashed or dipped to resemble naturally occurring structures or can be arranged into orderly patterns using a brush or comb or stick and introducing veins, curves, fans or waves. Once the desired effect is achieved, a sheet of paper is floated on the dye, transferring a mirror image of the design to the paper. This book contains examples of the best-known styles of marbling including comb pages 24-41, French curl pages 56-57, and stone marbling pages 80-119 including pebble patterns and veined marbling. Designs on pages 120-144 illustrate a shadow effect achieved by making ripples in the marbled liquid. The full page colour images throughout the book can be used as wrapping paper for small items (if you dare!), as a graphic resource and for inspiration and all are stored on the enclosed CD-ROM to decorate your letters, flyers, T-shirts etc. Large square softback, 144pp, colour.

Every time you send an email you have a choice of hundreds of fonts, and this exquisite collection focuses on fonts that are based on handwriting or cursive script. Over 300 examples are collected in the book, and an accompanying CD gives you a free download of 122 to use for your own special purposes, for instance invitations, posters, or business cards. Each font has a page to itself where the whole alphabet is displayed in upper and lower case, followed by numerals and the most common punctuation marks. Finally a whole sentence showcases the font by using every word in the alphabet: "Forsaking monastic tradition, twelve jovial friars gave up their vocation for a questionable existence on the flying trapeze." Many of the fonts are accompanied by illustrations in which they feature on posters and book covers. The different styles of script are classified according to the way they are produced, for instance "Italian and French Italics", "Brush and Swash" or "Decorative and Freestyle". One of the most popular cursive fonts today is Mistral, illustrated here by a specimen sheet from 1957. The bold and assertive Ballpark is accompanied by an advertising poster for a DKW motorbike from 1938, while the whimsical and spidery LainieDaySH is illustrated by a book cover for a 1992 novel Margaret in Hollywood. ITC Zapf Chancery was used for the 1979 edition of The Amorous Adventures of Fanny Hill, while Pablo, a typeface of 1995, is based on a 1906 letter of Pablo Picasso to Leo and Gertrude Stein. Xiparos is inspired by the crabbed script of a German manuscript of 1206, while FranciscoLucas Llana comes from a writing manual of 1540 by Palatinus. Fonts can be works of art, and a gorgeous New York Times magazine cover from 2009 uses Volupia, created in 2005, in an abstract swirl incorporating the names of contributors. 14.6 x 22cm, 496pp, index of designs, numerous colour illustrations, CD.
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Admittedly some look rather manic with their wild staring eyes, but curled up the tabby cat has a traditional mackerel patterning, created by stranding or the Fair Isle method for knitting the stripes. There are tabby cats prowling, a black and white, a street cat, a Siamese cat, a Burmese cat seated, the Abyssinian, a refined cat that is also easy to knit, a Devon Rex with enormous ears, all about coats, heads and tails. Our favourite must be the white kitten made in mohair yarn and luxuriously furry. The gallery of the finished long and short hairs, tabby and striped in their different poses is absolutely glorious on pages 138-9. Organised by Long-haired, Short-haired, Exotic and Street, this is a perfect gift for cat lovers and knitters everywhere. 16 cats, every pattern is easy to follow for both new and experienced knitters with expert tips on choosing yarns, stuffing and sewing the cat and adding personality with details like collars, bells and bows and positioning your cat standing, sitting, crouching or curled up. 144pp, softback, hundreds of colour photos.
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Kickstart your creativity with 30 new and old crafting techniques in this beautiful big gallery and compendium. Whether it is felt, knitting, crochet, weaving, tapestry, macramé, basket making, leather or rugs, stitching embroidery, cross stitch needlepoint, quilting and patching, surfaces like marble, indigo (as William Morris once said 'of blues there is only one real dye, indigo'), print, collage and gilding, or the form of clay, beads, jewellery, origami, paper, mobiles, veneer and wood to zakka. All about upcycling and a historical overview of each craft, with design notes and explanations of key techniques to help beginners get started, tools and methods are explored through a combination of hand drawn illustrations and photography. Each project includes one basic craft and a further top five selection, while examples of inspirational work from contemporary artisans displaying the possibilities of each medium. We love the foodie's picnic quilt, the modern takes on embroidery embellishment, a glamorous clutch bag made from leather scraps from a seconds sale with metallic finishes, even rather crazy basket 'costumes'. 408 large pages, 22.9 x 28.5cm. Hundreds of colour illus. in a modern resurgence and beautiful graphic design for inspiration.
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These 50 simple fabric projects can be made in less than a day, most of which take less than three hours from start to finish, whether that is a patchwork throw, table linen, pillow covers, curtains or lampshades. Each project has a quick introduction, an estimated time, list of items needed, advice on cutting out and step-by-step diagrams and instructions. A 'low sew' table runner requires minimal sewing and has a beaded trim and looks its best when made with luxuriant fabric. Rather than buying a new duvet set, sew a cover with appliquéd centre which offers a decorative element. Add a personal touch to the home with braid trimmed curtains or button-and-tab seat covers which work well with painted furniture. There are also professional tips including the use of an elegant ready-made trimming, crocheted trimming or pom poms on items such as a lampshade. The tip on ribbon ties shows readers how to make the detail in just three steps while the advice on tassels shows crafters how to make them using cardboard. There are sewing machine features, guidance to prepare and cut fabrics and practise a range of stitches including the style of basting, buttonholes, hemming and slips. 13-page techniques section, paperback, 8.2" x 10.9", colour photos, 160pp.

Exquisite pen and ink images to colour in for yourself for calmness, the book is grouped by desert with the camel, phoenix, lizard, cactus, scarab and thunderbird and more, the prairie and savannah with the deer, bison and bee, mountains and woodland with the fox, Arctic fox, eagle, cougar, lovebirds, wolf, butterflies, raven and bear and more, the rainforest with frogs and butterflies, hummingbirds and elephants, toucans and tarantulas, rivers and wetlands with cranes and dragonflies and oceans and seas with blue whales, dolphin, lobster, puffin, sea turtle, humpback whales and polar bear and many more. All you have to do is colour in these stunning illustrations drawn by artist Sue Coccia, animal totems representing a deep spirituality. As we concentrate on the colour schemes, shapes and details in this Native American looking set of drawings we appreciate the birds and animals and bees of mother earth and learn to reduce our stress and live a more calm and relaxed life. For each there is a tiny description of the polar bear for example with its wisdom, power, the Shaman and the terrapin grounded with wisdom and endurance. Even as black and white artworks, they could be removed for framing from the extra large softback. 96pp.

Crafting something from scratch means you get to carefully choose the materials you use, your method and philosophy for making it. Here are 15 craft projects for eco-friendly living, to freshen up old curtains with colour and pigments from Mother Nature, dye natural fabrics to bring a tattered chair back to life, repurpose wooden pallets for your next bookcase, learn how to use resin to create unique pieces of furniture for your home and with some basic electronic knowledge, you can turn a classic speaker into a modern Bluetooth radio. Construct a portable greenhouse from old picture frames, create your own drawstring bag for a zero waste, zero plastic shopping trip, upcycle fast furniture, make a paper and plaster lamp, a hanging plant gutter, wine crate garden features, self-watering planters, solar lamp, a ladybird or bee house, a tablet or iPhone sleeve from a sweater, an insulated lunch bag, a Bluetooth radio, your own shampoo and conditioning bars, reusable bulk food bags, print with nature, make a cyanotype chair upholstery, crate or pallet furniture. Practical and useful projects for home and garden. 160pp, 18.8 x 23.8cm, dozens of colour illus.

Without damaging the book, press out the cardboard pieces to create four fantastic paper engineering models by David Hawcock. A companion to Leonardo da Vinci's Inventions code 92531 and Space code 92539 for modellers ages 8-98, simply press out the pre-cut pieces to assemble your own police car with just a few folds and glue. The model measures approximately 6". A tow truck in bright yellow, an ambulance in white with red cross and a bright red fire truck, learn along the way about airport crash tenders, the emergency air ambulance, what tow trucks can do and the motorbike police patrol alongside activities and informative text and vivid illustrations. Large colour softback.

Very much back in vogue, here are more than 30 patterns for timeless clothes and toys for babies aged 0-18 months, based on examples of babywear dating from Victorian times to the 1950s. Here are exquisite shawls and handmade garments knitted with love and care by family members and passed down as family heirlooms - snuggly shawls, christening outfits and lacey matinée sets to pretty dresses, cardigans, cosy coats and loveable toys. Traditional stitch patterns such as stripes, basket-weave, flag stitch and many lace patterns are combined with delightful details like ribbons and vintage buttons and all are practical and gentle on delicate skin including merino, cotton, cashmere, silk, alpaca and other mixes. There is a cuddly rabbit, teddy bear, little duffle coat and mittens, bloomers, a VE Day stripy cardigan to a 1947 Dior New Look bolero jacket in fluffy angora and everyday short trousers and cover-ups, pram suits and bonnets, bootees to a spectacular long christening dress set. A charming and nostalgic knitting pattern set, 144 very large pages, colour photos.

Rivers are extraordinarily beautiful, from the trickle of a stream at its source and its gentle meandering bends, to the expansive estuaries as they meet the sea. In more than 200 images, learn how to tackle each stage of painting rivers, from inspiration, focus and sketching, to information gathering, planning and painting. The author Rob Dudley is an experienced artist known for his riverscapes and takes the opportunity in this book to share his methods and techniques for landscape and en plein air artists. There are fantastic step-by-step demonstrations for artists to follow as they attempt to paint a boat on the side of a river in 'Woodbridge Workings' or create a sunset at Aveton Gifford. The demonstration for 'Looking Upstream from Greenwich' will show artists how to transport their audience to a London skyline and artists can study the texture of water and stone in 'Butterbrook Cascade'. The guide takes a painter from drawing out the main elements of a scene and applying a 'wash' of lemon yellow and rose to the background, to painting details such as a river bank and reflections of the landscape in the water. The guide not only shows pictures of each step in the painting but also lists the type of paper needed, required materials and equipment such as masking fluid and a palette, and artists? quality watercolours. Learn that it is important to be selective when painting and, if an artist feels the feature may dominate the composition, they can exclude it, such as ignoring a fallen tree in a woodland scene. Discover how to make a brush that creates a watery texture in one swoop using masking fluid and a round bristle. The guide also includes fantastic advice on the necessities for painting rivers, from selecting the perfect brush to paint details and picking out the perfect painting board for stretching paper, to understanding how to mix greens from Windsor blue with lemon yellow, cobalt blue with cadmium yellow, or adding a little burnt sienna to a ready mixed green to create a softer colour. Paperback, 8.8" x 11", colour images, 160pp.