Lifestyle and Hobbies

This exquisite volume presents the best vintage exotic skin handbags by the most renowned designers of the past century and a half. Intended particularly for fashionable women, design students, collectors, dealers, and clothing historians, it outlines the fascinating history of alligator and crocodile handbags, the ultimate status symbol since the 19th century.

In this book Ernst G. Siebeneicher-Hellwig and Jürgen Rosinski show the simplest and least expensive ways to construct a simple forge, make all necessary tools yourself, forge a stub tang blade from an old automobile coil spring, and make a complete knife. Their practical guide demonstrates the most important theoretical basics and shows how simple it can be to experience bladesmithing.

Rediscover the art of knotting! A variety of projects with different levels of difficulty are provided, including cell phone or music player cases, wallets and key chains, bracelets or eyeglasses cases in contemporary colors and designs. Readers will quickly master important knots that include the vertical and horizontal half hitches, spiral knots, square knots, and finishing knots.

Enter the studio of major mosaicist Alexandra Carron and learn the secrets of this art! From the basics of mosaic materials to the most sophisticated techniques, step-by-step you will produce four original and elegant objects (a vase, a colorful table, a springtime mirror, and decorative tiles) assisted by your own crafting coach.

Damascus steel: centuries-old, hot-forged steel that is legendary for making sharp, strong blades that struck fear in many a man’s heart. Artisans, blacksmiths, and hobbyists the world over have initiated a renaissance of this fascinating, decorative material, which is the focus of this comprehensive book.

Since the 1968 World Amateur Surfing Championships were held in Rincón, Puerto Rico has been on the international map of world-class surfing destinations. But it wasn't until photographer Steve Fitzpatrick relocated to San Juan in 1992 that the island's outstanding surf conditions and culture had a dedicated documentarian.

This is a high-level overview of the legendary watch brand, A. Lange & Söhne. In 1845 Ferdinand Adolph Lange convinced the Saxon government to build a pocket watch factory in Glashütte, a quaint town in the East Ore Mountains now known as the birthplace of the German watch industry.

An innovative designer is always looking for new concepts. Fresh Floral Jewelry, an instructional introduction to the world of making jewelry that incorporates fresh flowers, is the first of its kind.

America is the land of the beautiful, but it is also a land of mystery and many haunted and bizarre places. With 150 images, addresses, and directions, go state-by-state to tour the macabre side of the United States.

On July 2, 1900, Ferdinand Graf Zeppelin made the first ascent in an airship of his own design. The flight was initially viewed with skepticism, however public opinion changed after the destruction of his fourth airship at Echterdingen.

Though only three were produced in late-1920s/early-1930s Germany, the Dornier Do X was the largest flying boat of its time and flew passengers on international flights in extreme comfort during the pre-World War II years. Powered by twelve engines, the aircraft could accommodate over 100 passengers and crew and included sleeping and dining areas.

By training fruit trees and shrubs to grow in controlled shapes, you accomplish two goals: improved appearance and increased productivity. Depending on location and demand, espalier fruit trees can offer privacy, weather protection, and decoration, not to mention an abundant and delicious harvest.

Humans are the only species known to adorn themselves with a second skin. This extra hide, leather, can be smooth, soft, and cosmetic, or robust, resistant, and protective. For thousands of years this versatile material has provided the foundation for the manufacture of clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Josephine Barbe encourages the reader to use this all-purpose material in a variety of ways.

If you love making meaningful gifts for friends or just desire a stylish accessory that doesn’t break the bank, this book is a must-have. Instructions for making Brazilian bracelets of various shapes and sizes are included, decorated with crosses, zigzags, diamonds, dots, and even fish, and adorned with beads and charms.

Over the years the motion picture industry has (sadly) gravitated to generating poorly cropped and heavily airbrushed posters that rely far too often on celebrity head shots. Thankfully, an underground network of graphic designers and artists has reinvigorated the art of the movie poster, crafting stunning pieces for classic and cult films.

Here is a travelogue for those whose idea of a perfect vacation doesn't involve amusement parks and tourist traps, a guidebook for fans of horror and the macabre. Ride along with the author to ghoulish destinations, such as where fright flicks like Friday the 13th and Jaws were filmed, Jeffrey Dahmer's childhood home, UFO crash sites, and macabre graves, to name a few.

Following the life of this aircraft from its initial inception to the delivery of the first production models, this book begins with Boeing's initial thoughts concerning a new wide-body transport, how the original concept changes over a period of months of discussion, and finally, a description of the final configuration. The reasoning that went into the final design is explored.

A revolutionary commercial propeller transport, the Lockheed Constellation burst on the aviation scene in the early 1940s. Unheralded for the most part, due to wartime secrecy, it finally entered commercial service in 1946, and promptly set new standards for speed, range, reliability, and passenger comfort.

The revised and expanded second edition of this beautiful, popular, and easy-to-follow book is a thorough reference to antique and period jewelry, created over a 200-year period, in Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Many supernatural creatures are said to inhabit our world. Their magical, wonderland realm has been the subject of many books, movies, and our childhood dreams. In this richly illustrated book, 30 designers from around the world transform natural settings into enchanting displays that recreate that sense of wonder.