Crafts and Decorative arts

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.

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.

For the first time, a book has been written that explains all the tools and techniques necessary for successfully building models with brass. The detailed text is illustrated with over 320 color photos.

Protect that beautiful hand-forged knife you’ve just completed or keep your favorite piece of cutlery close for daily use with a leather sheath. From basic leather working techniques to a completed sheath, this how-to book will walk you through the steps to produce your own fixed-blade knife sheath.

This beginner-level guide explains, step-by-step, how to make a fixed-blade hidden tang knife and a matching leather scabbard. Used by hunters and fishermen the world over, hidden tang knives have tangs that are completely hidden by the handle material, which makes for a more comfortable grip on the knife.

Patchwork is a fascinating technique and this new method takes away the fear of “cutting away” without a ruler, using a rotary cutter freely and naturally! After an introduction to free-form cutting, you will learn about the approaches and various scopes of design for free-form strip piecing, the log cabin pattern, and the carpet pattern.

Sarah Coventry became a household word by selling beautiful, inexpensive, costume jewelry direct to the consumer and remained in fashion for more than 60 years. This in-depth look at the history of their designs contains more than 1,000 color images and engaging text.

The history of quilts, their makers, and usage is an important part of our country's heritage presented here in full detail through 330 vintage photographs. Books on quilt history have, to date, included only a few photos of quilts. This in-depth collection, most of which has never been seen before, date from 1855 to 1955.

Learn how to make two types of Japanese knives: a tanto (dagger) and a hocho (chef's knife) following traditional techniques. With step-by-step images and clear instructions, this how-to guide covers acquiring iron ore, building and using a bloomery furnace, forging the blades, fitting the blades with handles, and sharpening the blades with water stones.

This do-it-yourself book for stylish handbags features 25 projects with more than 500 illustrations. Sewers of all skill levels will gather the information they need to create many kinds of bags, from casual to romantic, as well as ideas for jazzing up your old bags. Handbag styles include clutches, totes, makeup cases, and a roll-up pencil case.

From basic leatherworking techniques to the professional-level tips you need to make your project its best, this how-to book will walk you through the steps to produce two top-quality welted sheath designs: a welted sheath with attached belt loop, and one with belt clip and protective strap.

With 142 photos and these short, step-by-step lessons from a master Chinese calligrapher, you can enjoy the basics of the beautiful characters of Chinese. Begin by learning the history and traditions of this art form, and the techniques of using the "four treasures": the brush and other basic tools. Learn the correct body position, and how to hold the brush.

With easy-to-follow guidance and more than 175 photos, this book helps mosaic artists meet the challenge of creating 3-D substrates. It explains various approaches to issues ranging from reaching the needed levels of density and strength to applying tesserae to coils, twists, and spheres.

Nearly 500 photos of artwork with personal insights from 78 of today's most noteworthy artists show the tremendously broad range of possibilities that working in three dimensions can offer. In conjunction with the other two books in this acclaimed series, it invites readers to re-examine fiber art through a multifaceted contemporary lens.

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.

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 combine tradition and high tech to weave the thread, fabrics, and stunning designs that are so coveted in today's fiber art world.

Featuring 450 full-color photos and 241 of the world’s foremost narrative jewelry makers, this book showcases the best of what today's makers, ranging from newly graduated students to the luminaries of the jewelry world, have to offer us: jewelry that's designed to evoke a range of thoughts and feelings. Do you have a piece of jewelry that offers a story?

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.

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.

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