What should one know to choose an engagement ring? The answers are all here, with facts and practical advice that is easy to understand. Learn how to determine what you should pay, where diamonds come from, and how to judge their cut, color, clarity and weight. Learn about popular colored stones, different metals, and the many classic, modern, and unique ring settings. If you can't find what you want in the stores, design your own. Presented here are over 160 color photographs of antique and modern engagement rings along with a selection of ring sets and wedding bands. The 4-step guide makes judging what you like easy and the selection process a pleasure. After you make your choice, learn how to protect and care for your ring. This is the perfect gift for your fiancee, before the ring! Get the book and thank yourself on every anniversary.

Here is the first book that focuses on unique custom-made fireplace accessories as works of art by talented modern artist blacksmiths. Over 400 ideas for unusual fireplace designs reflect historical styles from Renaissance to Post-Modern. You will be amazed at the infinite effects that can be wrought from a bar of metal between the hammers and anvils of more than 100 master artist blacksmiths from nine countries. You'll learn to appreciate the forms that are used, from scrolls to carved animals, and to recognize their texturing, unusual handles and hinges, supports, and more. Fire screens, hoods, doors, andirons, grates, tongs, pokers, shovels, brooms, and their stands emerge as significant decorative items in today's homes. This is also a wonderful sourcebook for homeowners and designers seeking original art for their homes. You will marvel at the artistry, variety, and craftsmanship.

Meet more than 50 master wood craftsmen who reveal new designs in this book dedicated exclusively to the emerging studio furniture movement. Furniture ranges from footstools to elaborate entertainment and office centers, each exquisite and unique in its execution. Featured are craftsmen who work in local lumber they mill on their private lots alongside artists who inlay precious, exotic woods from far corners of the earth. Some celebrate the natural art in the edges and grain of wood while others contort wood into seemingly impossible balances and configurations. The vast range of imagination and craftsmanship will delight as you peruse this collection of over 400 lush images, most of them never before seen in print. You'll revisit each page time and again.

This dazzling text takes the reader on a journey through time, rolling back the years, revealing the elegant, streamlined, moderne art deco chrome wares received as gifts in decades past. Contained between these covers are no fewer than 600 photographs and illustrations displaying more than 700 examples of fine art deco wares with sparkling metal finishes, including table decorations, drinking service pieces, buffet service items, smoking articles, and lamps. These items were the products of large, well known firms such as Chase, Manning-Bowman, Kensington, and Revere. Histories of the firms and the industrial designers who created these objects, along with patent and design information on many of the illustrated wares, are provided as well. Also included in this thorough text are all of the details necessary to identify art deco design, differentiate between-and care for-a variety of metal finishes, and to determine value. Values are included in the captions for the items shown. A bibliography and an appendix listing the Chase giftware items designed by Harry Laylon round out the presentation.

Frank Pozsgai is internationally known as an artist of the scroll saw. His previous books have focused almost entirely on what the scroll saw can do with wood, its most common medium. Now he takes the art up a notch to introduce scroll sawing in metal. Joining him is Mark Downing who has been working in metals for many years. Together they explore this great medium for the scroll saw. The process is simple, and with a few extra steps, cutting metal is as enjoyable as cutting wood. And the results are wonderful. Because metal is pliable, it is possible to give it shape by bending it. The results include chandeliers and other decorative, but useful decorative accessories for the home. With heat or chemicals it is possible to give metal very interesting patinas that add color and character. All is explained in clear, step-by-step instructions, illustrated in color photos. In addition the author supplies many patterns to get you started and a gallery to inspire you. For many this will be a new experience with the scroll saw.

There's never been a better time to be an amateur space explorer! From high school programs designed to send real student-led experiments to the International Space Station, to building a working VTVL (vertical take off, vertical landing) model rocket like the one from SpaceX, this issue is packed full of projects with actual space applications. And if a space aesthetic is more to your liking for your earthly abode, we've got a giant light-up full moon to hang on your wall and desktop orreries to simulate the movement of the planets around the sun. Plus 38 more great projects: Program a bot that points to the ISS when overheadLearn to laser-cut EVA foam to customize any cosplay creationBuild a light-up acrylic rainbow that changes colors to tell the weatherMake a cardboard camera that uses sun prints for filmAnd much more!

Popular Furniture of the 1920s and 1930s is a facsimile reproduction of the Elgin A. Simonds Company's furniture catalog. It presents the reader with an extensive resource of traditional and commercial furniture styles of the 1920s and 1930s. Founded in 1901, the Elgin A. Simonds Company engaged exclusively in the production of faithful reproductions of the finest work of master furniture craftsman of the past. The company president would spend much of his time researching styles in Europe looking for patterns that were worthy of reproduction by the craftsmen at the Simonds Company. Current values of the furniture have been added to make this book a useful addition to the collector's library. This nostalgic look at furniture styles of the 1920s and 1930s includes over 850 photographs, with important information about size, materials, and the period of the reproduction.

Build Stuff with Wood is a true beginner's guide to woodworking, aimed at anyone who is interested in the craft but has only a few tools and no real idea where to start. The idea behind the book is to begin with a basic toolset (a circular saw, chop saw, cordless drill, jigsaw, and a few hand tools) and then add tools as you go. Step-by-step projects are presented showing what you can build with that tool (plus the basic toolset). For example, adding a router to your tool arsenal allows you to gracefully round edges on tables and shelves; buying a simple doweling jig opens up the world of joinery. As well as power tools, hand tools are also introduced. In all, 14 fun projects will be presented, all built with just a few woodworking tools and off-the-shelf lumber.

Akin to having a one-on-one carving course with a master carver, this resource-a collection of tips and tricks honed over many years-mentors newcomers and serious beginning woodcarvers alike. A comprehensive guide for those who want to learn carving, this manual provides a handful of lessons, including how to choose the best woods, safe tool handling tips, making cuts, and executing a variety of techniques. The careful step-by-step instructions that are explained in a warm conversational voice help novice crafters find quick success and encouragement as they work on a number of carving motifs and three projects for both relief and in-the-round styles. For serious beginners eager to know more about a timeless craft, this go-to reference provides an answer to every question. Introduction SECTION I: CARVING TOOLS AND SETTING UP *Technical Mastery Chapter 1: Tools of the Trade *Your Tools are Your Carving Chapter 2: Commissioning Your Carving Tools *Understanding Wood Chapter 3: Supporting Cast SECTION II: USING CARVING TOOLS *Getting to Grips Chapter 4: Handling Your Carving Tool *Thin Edge of the Wedge Chapter 5: The Outcome of the Tool SECTION III: EXERCISES *Good Habits Chapter 6: Simple Moldings *Surfaces, Lines & Junctions Chapter 7: Veiner and V-tool SECTION IV: RELIEF CARVING *Form Into Space Chapter 8: An Exercise in Setting-In *Over the Horizon Chapter 9: Low Relief *A Touch of Drama Chapter 10: High Relief *Feel the Form Chapter 11: Pierced Relief SECTION V: CARVING IN THE ROUND *Entering Choas Chapter 12: In the Round: Baseball Cap *Making It Up as You Go Along Chapter 13: In the Round: Wren

Nationally recognized woodturner Judy Ditmer shares her techniques for making beautiful, fanciful jewelry on the wood lathe. Beginning with the turning of tiny "bowls" by hand from a variety of wood, she then cuts and sands them into various shapes, producing graceful compound curved edges and surfaces. They are finished and assembled with findings, wires, and beads of silver, glass, or stone. The result is beautiful, unique jewelry. Judy takes the turner step-by-step through the process of creating this wearable art form. Each step is illustrated with a color photograph and captioned in a concise and informative way. Novice and experienced turners alike will enjoy and profit from her insights and secrets. An extensive gallery of finished works, touches upon the infinite varieties of forms and combinations this jewelry can take.

In 1929, wicker furniture reached its peak of popularity, not surpassed until today's widespread enthusiasm for antique and modern styles. This is the largest catalog of the pre-eminent wicker and wood furniture manufacturer, Heywood-Wakefield Company. Heywood-Wakefield Co. furnished countless American homes with household and outdoor furniture, particularly chairs, for over a century. This book presents 925 examples of Heywood-Wakerfield Co. furniture in one volume, including chairs, sofas, beds, tables, bird cages, planters, desks, wardrobes, suites, and children's furniture. Collectors, dealers, historians and auctioneers will welcome this definitive source of the furniture styles, names, and fabrics as depicted here in their original presentation.

Here is a magnificent presentation of the Mexican artisans and their creations displayed in 484 beautiful color photographs. The chapters present the master designers and silversmiths whose reputations have grown to international fame with an intimate look at one of the principal designers, H-ctor Aguilar, and the personnel at this workshop. Valentin Vidaurreta, Los Castillo, William Spratling, Antonio Pineda, Hubert Harmon, Enrique Ledesma, and many more craftsmen are represented by their exquisite designs.

Friendship knows no bounds, and now that the internet has connected us with a host of on-line friends, the desire for trading and sharing tokens such as friendship bracelets has become more popular than ever. Learn over two dozen braiding techniques and how to use the popular braiding wheel in this easy book.

In contrast to much current scholarship on women and material culture which focuses primarily on women as consumers, this essay collection provides case studies of women who produced material objects. The essays collected here make an original contribution to material culture studies by focusing on women's social practices in relation to material culture. The essays as a whole are concerned with women's complex and active engagement with material culture in the various stages of the material object's life cycle, from design and production to consumption, use, and redeployment. Also, theorized and described are the ways in which women engaged in meaning making, identity formation, and commemoration through their manipulation of materials and techniques, ranging from taxidermy and shell work to collecting autographs and making scrapbooks. This volume takes as its object of investigation the overlooked and often despised categories of women's decorative and craft activities as sites of important cultural and social work. This volume is interdisciplinary with essays by art historians, social historians, literary critics, rhetoricians, and museum curators. The scope of the volume is international with essays on eighteenth-century German silhouettes, Australian aboriginal ritual practices, Brittany mourning rites, and Soviet-era recipes that provide a comparative framework for the majority of essays which focus on British and North American women who lived and worked in the long nineteenth century. This volume will appeal to a broad range of students and scholars in women's history, art history, cultural studies, museum studies, anthropology, cultural and social history, literature, rhetoric, and material culture studies.

From one-of-a-kind, hand-made fashions, accessories, and jewelry to commercially made, highly decorative items, wearable art has become an important category for collectors of vintage costume and unique contemporary fashions. This book, with its 575 color photographs, showcases stunning examples of vintage and contemporary wearable art accessories, including close-up shots detailing the intricacy of handiwork involved for the items, a glossary, bibliography, and value guide. An exquisite assemblage of hats, handbags, scarves, shoes, and jewelry present this compelling topic at its best. From Art Deco enameled mesh to Judith Leiber jeweled handbags, antique African trade beads to Femo, the examples shown are not necessarily museum art, but are real wearable creations from the antique to the present. It is sure to delight and intrigue anyone interested in fashion, art, and the unusual and beautiful.

At the forefront of the Art Deco movement were metalware and sculpture, made by highly skilled craftsmen and artists. This book contains over 200 photographs and illustrations of Art Deco metalwares and sculptures, The author discusses Art Deco's most significant artists, as well as their predecessors and modern counterparts. He provides an introduction to the designs of Hagenauer, WMF, the Bauhaus, Ferdinand Priess, Chiparus, Brancusi, and Brandt, among other important metalworkers of the era. Value Guide.

Artist Linda MacNeil's outstanding works in contemporary jewelry are shown in exquisite detail. Nearly 200 pendants, neck collars, and necklaces are shown, along with matching earrings in an exquisite exploration of MacNeil's celebrated works in hand-fashioned glass gems and metalwork. An essay by Suzanne Ramljak, curator, art historian, and editor of Metalsmith magazine, summarizes the artist's career and contributions to the worlds of jewelry design and glass art. A foreword by Helen W. Drutt English, art historian, collector, and gallery owner, introduces readers to MacNeil's role in the current craft movement. Portraits of owner-patrons of MacNeil's work model pieces they own, illustrating the important marriage between wearer and the art object. This book is a tribute to the artist, and an inspiring portfolio for collectors and designers.

Following the tremendous success of his first book, Tom Wolfe now offers his most popular wood-carving with step-by-step instructions. Tom attributes the popularity of his Pig Pickin' carving to nostalgia. This work harkens people back to a simpler time, when the hog harvest was a community event. Everyone shared in the festivities...and the food. Tom makes the directions clear and each step is illustrated with a photograph. Because the book starts with the bandsawing of the pattern and continues through the painting, even a novice should be able to complete the project. At the same time, the seasoned carver will benefit from Tom's technique and expertise, and everyone will enjoy Tom's anecdotes about country life.

The focus of this book is on functional seating, and the key argument presented is that functional seating needs to assist the person using it for the performance of seated tasks, enhance rather than detract from the person's posture and health, and it needs to provide aesthetic features that do not limit task or health. The book spans the period 3000BC to 2000AD and presents largely Western seating. This book is unique in its approach to seating because it draws together evidence that relates to seating that facilitates health and task while also addressing aesthetic factors. This evidence creates an understanding of how seats may be designed to not only promote bodily health but also allow functional optimisation of sitting and seating. This book is important to furniture and industrial designers, interior decorators, architects, those teaching seat design, health professionals attending and educating those who relax or work in the seated position, furniture historians, and members of the general public interested in the history of seating.

The artist-makers represented here come from every region of the United States, making this book a compilation of many native traditions as well as modern styles. Exciting background ideas are expressed in the details of these works, so their study and appreciation is quite fascinating. Over 50 living jewelry masters of Native American heritage are featured in this lavish new book. Their dynamic work includes many pieces that were awarded at recent juried shows. Tufa casting, stone cutting, engraving, metalsmithing, and other technical skills that are highly refined and personalized are evident, demonstrating the work of true Masters in this evolving field. See and be inspired by new designs in bead necklaces, silver bracelets, pendants, pins, earrings, belts, and rings, as well as sculpture that ranks as wearable art. Marvel at the new pieces by top masters living today.

The carved embellishments found on eighteenth-century American furniture pieces are what make them memorable works of art. This book directs the serious student through nine authentic elements from the colonial period. Each chapter is devoted to one element and provides pattern drawings, detailed instructions, and abundant photographs of every step. Learn how to execute the entire process from sculpting the surface to layout, roughing in the shapes and levels, and finally carving the details. The selected projects are chosen from historically important eighteenth-century furniture and adorned some of the best pieces ever made. Although the book tackles advanced topics, the instruction is logical and complete so that the serious reader, independent of skill, can successfully work through the steps.

Many of the most beautiful costume jewelry pieces made since the 1940s are presented with full color photographs. In chapters arranged chronologically, the jewelry reflects the changing retail market and manufacturing changes in materials, techniques, and colors. An introduction was written by Lawrence Feldman of Fior in London. The effects of popular heroes and competition are seen to have shaped the costume jewelry industry.\nThe jewelry of such well-known manufacturers as Boucher, Coro, Christian Dior, Grosse, Jomaz, Kramer of New York, Mitchell Maer, Trifari, and many others are displayed with newly revised prices.\nThe book portrays the affordable opulence and sheer beauty of costume jewelry.