Trompe l'oeil gives that realistic 'wow' effect. Murals can brighten any room in your home, yet tackling a whole wall can be an intimidating prospect. For a quick and easy solution, start small with one of these ten down-to-size projects. Paint a quaint one-room schoolhouse on a notebook cover, dress up a plain window shade with summer garden blossoms complete with fake handle at the bottom, surprise your friends with a beautiful Siamese cat perched above a window frame, paint an artistic scene on top of a box, or choose a hat box with heavy cardboard construction to produce a Tuscan scene complete with lilies, ionic columns, Italian stucco by mixing glaze and sand, a decorative frieze and sculpture against a green Tuscan landscape. For each stage there is very careful painting instructions, templates and patterns that may be hand-traced or copied with details of whether enlarging to 200% or in the case of a stunning bottle green grandfather clock with decorative face and a tiny mouse on top, enlarge a further 200% and a third time at 128% to bring them up to full size. One of our favourites is the trompe l'oeil wall shelf, a decorative blue and white plate, clear glass vase with yellow flowers and two lemons all atop a realistic looking green bookshelf. Bunnies and kingfishers, a goldfinch photograph frame and a shaker clock are among the other projects with everything about materials and techniques covered. 144pp in extra large softback, colour illus., tips and mini demos.

Most of Pendleton's wools still comes from the USA and its in-house fabric design department has a beautifully organised archive of thousands of historic fabric swatches on cards including plaids, solids and jacquards. To complete all of the handmade projects in this special book, whether you are a sewing beginner or just new to sewing with wool, there are just a few tools and materials you will need with tips on cutting, tearing and pressing and piecing pieces of wool together patchwork-style which is just as easy as sewing with more familiar fabrics like quilting cottons. There is a leaf table runner with reverse appliqué, a draught excluder snake, set of three 'nesting' boxes of graduating sizes made with eco-wise wool in bamboo colours, a simple set of square-within-a-square trivet and reversible coasters in a box, a modern stylish wooden plant hanger, a kitchen rug, pillows and upholstery, a chevron bolster a colourful graphic jacquard ottoman cover, soft baby blanket, stylish backpack and embroidered tote, and soft warm woolly scarves, shawl, obi belt, stunning hooded winter cape and all projects could be gifts or kept for yourself in your favourite colours and patterns. 156 page large softback with templates and colour photos throughout.

Choose from ten all-new designs and follow the clear, step-by-step illustrated instructions by this bestselling author to create beautiful complex looking quilts and achieve great results, right down to those narrow little points. The kaleidoscope block is a firm favourite and fun to play with, and when multiple blocks are set side by side they form wonderful secondary designs. Plus when combined with paper-piecing techniques, experienced quilters may pick one of the more complex designs such as Raspberry Truffle on page 72. All the projects at every level include step-by-step cutting and stitching instructions, as well as full-sized patterns, to make constructing the quilts a breeze and a wonderful creative outlet and a joy to share with everyone. The first design is entitled Shadow Play, an orange-ish yellow print, adding purple and green and black to create alternating light and dark blocks creating an interplay of shadows that move across this lap-sized quilt of form circles, waves and elongated Xs. A diamond border which is easier to piece than it looks adds a dramatic finish. A rich palette of chocolate, coffee and cream-coloured batiks mixed with a shot of rust and green prints create a delicious visual sensation with a simple border for the Mocha Latte quilt, finished size 52½" x 65½". Each sparkling pattern features eight shapes that come together to form a single, wonderfully unique block. 80 page large softback, colour.

For newborn babies to 24 month old toddlers each design has been hugged, played with, tossed about and snuggled and designed with a sense of old-fashioned style and made with materials that are totally touchable. Every article is cosy and sensible - nothing to make little ?uns itch, fuss or feel constricted, comfortable enough to wear while playing in the park and pretty enough to put on for parties. Parents will find the garments easy to put on and take off as they are designed with the minimal number of buttons and ties. For every skill level, the designs blend yarns that include cotton and wool and are pleasant and soft to the touch. Try the super striped socks, bunny ear booties with matching Miss Muffet's Mittens, tiny thumbless mittens that will keep fingers warm during baby's first winter. With a fluffy visor and top, ear flaps and a pompom, here is a fun hat youngsters will love to keep on their heads, booties made for walking with a soft felt sole, Capri-style wide-legged jumpsuit with big wooden buttons and wide straps, a wide bottomed Kimono sweater and a beautiful knitted dress with lavender buttons and a delicate purse pocket, a stylish forest green trimmed cardigan, a flowery pullover, a little braided dolly stitched on to the back of a cardigan, a coat with polka dots on the cuff, collar, waist and strap - these adorable accents will get your needles clacking in no time. There is even a soft toy rabbit, a vintage blanket and a six-sided cuboid toy showing a truck, tree, house, boat, fish and children, all playful and fun. For each there are lists of materials and tools, gauge, experience levels, sizes and finished measurements. Big clear simple instructions and gorgeous colour photographs. 128 large page softback.

Sub-titled 'Embroidered With Beads', this innovative collection from the author of 'Embroideries from an English Garden' celebrates the contents of the sewing box in colourful designs embellished with fine bead embroidery. Decorate a simple Panama straw hat with an elegant bow and decorate around the brim with tiny seed pearls or sequins or silk. We look at Victorian style with a thimble slipper, pin cushion, needle book and go on to greetings cards, key fobs, tools and embroidery then the beading stitches to single or double stitch, thread and couch, making four-petal flowers or a ring of 6-8 petals, a beaded lotus flower, gently curved stems, tight scrolls, Satin stitch, Picot, flat beaded or triple bead edgings or edgings with threads like a twisted cord or a blanket or stab stitch. You can imagine many of these stunning floral borders embroidered onto doll's house curtains for example or for any number of personal fashion statements from denim outfits to bridal wear - or enlarge the embroidery outline and use larger beads and threads. Just remember that the embroidery must be worked on a hoop. Step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations for all of these gift and dress decorations in Victorian, Indian and floral styles. 128pp.

How many of us know what's behind those gorgeous prints of batik and how they came to be? Batik is a basic hand-dyeing method elevated to an art form in which wax is used as a resistance to create patterns on fabric. When dye is applied areas coated with wax do not accept the colour and the fabric is characterised by a mottled or marbleised look. The second batik method involves block printing or stamping. Quilters love batiks and it's easy to see why they are so popular - they are beautiful. Play up all the special qualities you love in this collection of fabulous patterns to inspire from traditional projects to new ways to show off batiks or other favourite fabrics in quilts using pre-cut strips, fat quarters and or yardage. Learn fascinating titbits about batik fabrics, colourways and as you assemble block by block Purple Daze, Winter Stars, Paradise Winds or Tangerine Summers. 80 page large softback, packed with colour diagrams and full page images.

20+ simple sewing projects and 30+ fresh hand embroidery designs including sweater mittens, a snowflake sweater scarf, floor cushion, clutch bag, sketchbook cover with pencil case, iPad tablet sleeve, drawstring shoe bag and more. The bonus is that this book includes an iron-on transfer sheet with more than 20 unique designs like a kitty and speech bubbles, a sketchbook cover with pencil case, woodland creatures, a feather, a triceratops dinosaur finger puppet, grasshopper, spider, ladybird and butterfly felt brooches, a farmyard moo cow, a bird patchwork tote bag, a turtle and leaves for a playmat among them. They are folded neatly for easy removal under tissue paper at the back of the book. If you love to embroider, the projects in the book will excite rather than intimidate you. Level One skill level involves zero sewing so anyone can do it. Level Two is for sewing beginners and uses primarily straight stitching and only a few steps. Level Three can be completed by a beginner but involves more steps and more complicated skills such as adding zips. There is owl wall art, an octopus quilt, dreamcatcher, an outer space parachute and quirky characters like a tiny hedgehog, a racing elephant for adorable embroidered toys, accessories and home décor items from the quirky Penguin & Fish design company. Large softback packed with colour photos and explanations.

A boho-inspired tassel scarf with a lightweight fabric in a pretty pink and handmade tassels, a stretchy headband, a cute apron requiring just three fat quarters with the addition of a handy waistband pocket, cosy fleece kitties with neck ties and dresses, a chalkboard fabric style bunting banner, a kitchen quilt made with scraps or a touchable textured baby blanket, an appliqué happy cushion, mug rugs (large coasters) with a hexagon design, embroidered flowers on a pretty table runner, a needle keeping case, pin cushions in patchwork and a slightly structured classic shoulder bag with flap and magnetic-snap closure decorated with an Art Nouveau inspired felt flower which could be unclipped to use as a brooch, a go-to tote bag, sturdy and stylish with a zip top, a Cathedral Windows make-up bag or quilted patchwork pouch, here are gifts for everyone on your list, even you. Quick and easy, bright and delightful, thrifty and nifty gifts which can be customised with favourite colours and fabrics and appealing designs for adults and youngsters. 96 page large format softback, colour throughout.

A car seat cover, felted clutch bag, cushions, fingerless gloves, beanie hat, scarf, all using the same cable stitch and working narrow sections of ribbing in between two cables along each edge, each of these projects is sure to become a favourite, adding to your wardrobe and making gifts. There is a classic belt which is a cinch to knit and a confidence builder for a beginner. Follow the chart and instructions to knit the six-row repeat until your belt is the correct length. Buckle and go. Knitting basics are given and projects lead up to a spectacular wrap which features a slightly different kind of cable called Twist that are worked with a purl stitch and three knit stitches. Follow the detailed stitch guide and chart, last but not last a classic cable knit sweater. 96 page large softback.

Another quality title from Search Press, the family run publishing house with over 30 years? experience, this time in conjunction with Woman's Weekly magazine. If you can't get to a beading class or workshop close to home, this skill-building book is the next best thing for the beginner and the improver. It features hundreds of detailed how-to photographs and is carefully annotated so it is easy for you to see what you should be looking at. Guest designers share some of their favourite patterns. Quick-start projects for beginners who are impatient to try out their skills don't need much in the way of materials or time. Beading clinics troubleshoot the most common dilemmas. Jean Power explains all the basics including stringing, beadwork and using wire to stunning effect. There are colours and 3D in such beautiful designs as a trellis bracelet with an open lattice constructed in cubic right-angle weave and accented with Swarovski pearls and crystals, turning cabochons into beautiful pendants, centrepieces and eye catching jewellery - easy once you know the basics of bezeling which holds your gemstone firmly in place using different stitches for the odd-shaped cabochons. For those you can use raw and peyote or tubular peyote stitch. Loom work is the only beading work technique that requires a piece of equipment and straight strips are ideal for bracelets and you can widen or narrow by changing the number of warp threads you use and the colour and patterns are endless. A Gritty Tweed Bracelet by Norma Jean Dell combines two-hole Super Duo beads with seed beads in a modified raw stitch and a piece of raw can be bent and folded in any direction, making these pieces very comfortable to wear. Square stitch, herringbone, brick, ladder and all about increasing and decreasing, not only jewellery but a small beaded purse or bag, the possibilities are endless. Guest designer Abby Hook uses woven wire to secure and embellish a drop stone with Celtic-inspired flowing design named a Mermaid's Teardrop Necklace and Kristin Smith Ornate Frame Earrings adding spirals and sparkling briolettes for a touch of elegance. All about hammering, making coils, measuring, cutting and fitting, wrapped and turned loops and using chains, multi-strand magic, pearl knotting, crimping and stringing, using elastic and throughout essential tools and supplies and guest tips. 160 page large softback, colour photos.