Crafts and Decorative arts

The islands of Murano, in the lagoon of Venice, have been a sheltered community of glass artists for at least 700 years, leading the world in blown techniques and design of beautiful and functional objects. This new study captures the artistry of Murano glass as well as the multi-generational world of discovery, innovation, alliances, and realliances that have fostered that artistry. With 250 stun

Collectible porcelain Christmas plates have been made in Denmark by Bing & Grondahl since 1895 and by Royal Copenhagen since 1908. These and their many other popular commemorative series, including Mothers' Day, Jubilee, and Childrens' Day plates, have been cherished by generations of people all over the world. This is the first book to bring all the plates together in one beautiful, organized ref

This book beautifully illustrates the wide range of artistic innovation and techniques expressed in vitreous, or “hard,” enamels on metal. More than 30 experienced enamelists share their specialized knowledge for using cloisonné, plique-à-jour, champlevé, and basse-taille techniques on silver, gold, foils, and metal clay to make jewelry, vessels, portraits, and more. Works from an additional 55 ar

Follow the saga of this remarkable fiber from seed to woven fabric. Learn about flax cultivation, processing and spinning, natural and synthetic dyeing, and weaving and finishing linen cloth. 233 color photos and 156 black and white photos and drawings reveal the characteristics of linen and emphasize its practical use. An inspirational chapter includes 15 articles by Canadian and American weavers

Master furniture craftsman Craig Vandall Stevens takes you from novice to advanced woodworker with this illustrated guide to marquetry, a technique where different colors of wood veneers are carefully cut to fit precisely together, forming a single sheet of veneer.Explore your creative potential and learn the essential elements of marquetry: using a fret saw, sawing your own veneers from solid woo

With a fascinating variety of American Indian rings from the southwestern United States shown in more than 350 color photos, this book provides a design history of these rings, beginning with pre-contact artifacts and continuing through to contemporary artistic innovations. The text surveys key developments in Native American ring design; materials and methods of construction; definitions for hist

This new reference book examines the common features of quilts made by the Amish in America and the Welsh in Britain. More than 90 images show colorful combinations and design repertoire that provide a possible cross-cultural link. Today Amish quilts are seen both as an art form and a symbol of the values they hold near and dear: controlled order, simplicity of design, and discreet ornamentation.

This comprehensive, technical guide offers the distiller pretty much everything there is to know about distilling fruit brandies. Raw materials, fermentation, mashing, alcohol determination, clarifying and filtering, and storage are all presented in great detail through text, diagrams, and photos. Each and every aspect of distilling is presented, including timing, yields, detecting distillation er

Crackle is a surprisingly versatile weave structure with exciting design potential. This book offers a comprehensive explanation of drafting the crackle weave structure and weaving classic crackle. Tools and tips for independent designing add extra depth to your study of crackle. Explore crackle’s flexibility with a myriad of treadling variations, including an in-depth discussion of polychrome tec

Nearly 500 photos ofartwork with personal insights from 78 of today's most noteworthyartists show the tremendously broad range of possibilities that working in three dimensions can offer. In conjunction with the other two books in this acclaimedseries, it invitesreaders to re-examine fiber art through a multifaceted contemporarylens. Both established artists and emerging artists whose work isattra

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. Learn through detailed instructions how to get perfect edges on your chisel

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 combinetradition and high tech to weave the thread, fabrics, and stunningdesigns that are so coveted in today's fiber art world. Take a tour of

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. This clear, straightforward guide teaches everything you need to know, including selecting the paracor

This comprehensive, full-color guide features dozens of images of slings from various cultures, both ancient and contemporary. Slings had great significance in many cultures, particularly in the Andes, and were often used as both prehistoric weapons and herding tools. The book shows novice and experienced braiders how to make 50 designs, from 8 to 32 strands, on a braiding card or with a braiding

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

Narrow bands woven in colorful patterns are a centuries-old part of Baltic craft tradition. Thedouble-slotted heddle makes patterned band weaving quicker to learn and easier to do, and this is the first book that offers beginnersinstructions for using it. The craft doesn't involve bulkyequipment—all you need can be stored in a shoebox! Learn how to weave these beautiful bands stepby step, from the

Renowned textile artist Meredith Woolnough creates replicas of nature using a delicate system of tiny stitches. Her artwork is breathtaking,and now for the first time Woolnough offers crafters and fiberartists a lesson in how to use the "organic embroidery" technique. Look behind the scenes of her art process, from the initialfieldwork sketching and research that inspires her designs, to theproduc

This long-awaited guide serves as a tool to explain the general principles of natural dyeing, and to help dyers to become more accomplished at their craft through an increased understanding of the process. Photos of more than 450 samples demonstrate the results of actual dye tests, and detailed information covers every aspect of natural dyeing including theory, fibers, mordants, dyes, printing, or

An accessible and easy-to-use guide to the principles and elements of jewelry design, this resource helps jewelry makers of all skill levels take their designs from good to great. Instructor and expert Loretta Lam offers guidance on working with a wide array of materials, along with exercises to help you explore new design concepts before applying them to your work directly. Dozens of stunning exa

The history, legacy, and boundless creativity of weavers over the centuries is the base in this helpful guide for new weavers, seasoned tapestry artists, and enthusiasts. Tapestry weaving is an art form that has been around since antiquity, and these insights from renowned artist Jean Pierre Larochette offer 30 traditional techniques built upon weavers' centuries of work. A fourth-generation Frenc