Explore the fascinating history and contemporary influence of turquoise as a gemstone of choice for collectors, artists, and jewelry wearers. Immerse yourself in its history from ancient times to the present, and the influence of Native American artists in making this gemstone an enduring part of popular culture in America. Illustrated with over 500 color images, this updated second edition includes nearly 150 photos never seen before. It shows turquoise from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada, plus Australia, China, and Iran, and the major localities in between. The gems appear in their natural state, cut, polished, and set into silver and gold jewelry. Extensive text details the gems' values and the many mines that have relinquished turquoise over thousands of years.

Eileen Dubrow has exhaustively combined all original catalog material from major American furniture manufacturers of the 1880s and 90s. This period was American's hey day of growth, and its furniture is the fastest growing field of collecting today. This book will enable the reader to identify makers and give ideas of other pieces available. This book presents a fascinating study showing hundreds of examples covering furniture for the dining room, parlour, library, bedroom (brass beds), and office (a tremendous number of variations of roll top desks), including rattan and children's furniture. These pieces are still available in the market place at reasonable prices and are superbly crafted. This book contains a price reference guide.

Chicago jewelry designer Ani Afshar invites you to a workshop in your own studio where you can learn her step-by-step methods for weaving jewelry with beads and sterling silver wire. She'll help you create 5- and 3-strand necklaces and a 3-strand pearl bracelet, with beads of your choice or similar to those she demonstrates. 141 close-up color photographs of each step show her hand positions, tools, and progressive stages of development. Her clear explanations of the techniques she uses will ensure your success. Also included is a gallery of similar jewelry Ani has made that use the same techniques. Be inspired to design your own. If you need supplies, kits are available for the jewelry in this book.

A moving and inspirational memoir from the beloved maverick carpenter on HGTV's smash hit Fixer Upper that shows how to turn your hobbies and craft into a career and celebrates the power of meaningful work. Now known to the countless fans of Fixer Upper as Chip and Joanna Gaines's go-to table maker and acclaimed artisan, Clint Harp hasn't always lived the DIY dream we see on the show. Ten years ago, he was dutifully working at a sales job that, while it provided security for his family, did nothing to help him achieve his unfulfilled dreams of building furniture. With the support of his wife, the encouragement of a mentor, and a life full of lessons, he finally took the leap, quitting his job and setting out on the quest to become a carpenter. Without formal training, financing, workspace, or customers, the Harps were quickly on the edge of financial collapse. Then Clint met Chip Gaines at a gas station--a chance encounter that marked the next chapter on a wild ride Clint could never have imagined possible. Spanning Clint's remarkable journey--from a childhood learning carpentry and hard work at his grandfather's knee, through his struggles to balance pursuing his dreams with supporting his family, to his partnership with Chip and Joanna Gaines and the many adventures and misadventures of filming Fixer Upper--Handcrafted is part memoir and part manual for dreamers of all backgrounds. "From the floor of his first shop to the foundations of Habitat for Humanity houses, to building furniture for the world to see, Clint Harp is living a handcrafted life" (President Jimmy Carter).

Jewelry is art that can be worn, and crafters who make jewelry like to personalize pieces to wear themselves or give as gifts. But many crafters are scared away by intimidating techniques or new materials, or they just don't have the time to devote to intricate designs. With The Big Book of Jewelry Making, crafters will learn that making your own jewelry doesn't need to involved complicated techniques, expensive tools, or a lot of time. The 75 fun and simple projects curated here all can be completed in just a few steps, and each features clear instructions and step-by-step photographs and illustrations to ensure you achieve perfect results no matter what your experience in jewelry making. Every crafter will find something to inspire thanks to the dazzling collection of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, and more that are fashioned using beading, wirework, or polymer clay. Once you are confident in your skills, you can easily customize or adapt any of these projects into countless variations to showcase your own unique style.

The first comprehensive book for carvers of aquatic animals! It includes practical tips for carvers as well as the anatomic and behavioral information vital to their search for realism. Detailed drawings, patterns, and photographs of the animals in their natural environments fill the book. In addition, examples of Howards wood sculpture are offered as models and inspirations. This book will inspire you to create your own original designs. Included are the Great White Shark, the Tiger Shark, the Manta Ray, the Spotted Eagle Ray, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, the American Alligator, the Great Sperm Whale, the Orca, the Bottlenose Dolphin, the West Indian Manatee, and the Humpback. In addition to general carving considerations, there are special carving/sculpting suggestions for each of animals. For the Humpback Whale, detailed photographs and captions document each step of the sculpting. These can be readily adapted to other subjects.

Quillwork began in Europe around the 13th century as a paper imitation of gold and silver filigree work. In this vintage book, originally published in 1975, Janet and Alex D Amato have evolved traditional quilling into a delightful and whimsical craft. They show you how to make quillwork jewelry, wall-hangings, Christmas ornaments, gift wrap decorations even quilled Valentines, place cards, mobiles and paperweights. The materials are so inexpensive and the techniques so simple, that quillwork is truly a craft for all ages and budgets. Line drawings and photographs throughout the book provide inspiration and clarification."

Antique wicker furnishings are greatly cherished by collectors today. Here hundreds of charming pieces made of cane, rattan, reed, rush, and willow that are displayed in full-color photographs from private collections. Trace the evolution of wicker furniture design from 1870 to 1930, the heyday of its popularity. Learn about preeminent manufacturers of the period such as Dryad Works, Bielecky Brothers, Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Rattan Company, and Lloyd Manufacturing Company, all carefully documented with pertinent examples of their work. A useful discussion of care and restoration of antique pieces is included. A wide variety of wicker furniture styles are highlighted, from ornate Victorian to Art Deco. The chairs, rockers, tables, baby carriages, sofas, loveseats, desks, and ferneries that you've seen tucked in grandmother's attic or prominently displayed at the local antique store are very valuable. Take a stroll through the decades when wicker furniture was a staple inside and outside homes all across the world. And take this book along when shopping for wicker--an up-to-date price guide will help you with your buying and selling decisions.

Take a trip through the ages and the world to uncover a unique stone with amazing properties. In this well-researched book, readers discover amber and the products made from it, especially jewelry. The easy-to-read format and over 320 color photographs and drawings make it both informative and appealing. The fascinating history of this ancient and unusual stone is explained, and identification methods, origins, amber products, carving techniques, and care tips are among the invaluable information included. Interesting mysteries, concerns, and triumphs about amber and a discussion of its cost are presented. Mineral and rock collectors, history buffs, and jewelry lovers all will enjoy this freshly compiled and up-to-date reference.

Step-by-step instructions for carving an amusing golfing figure from wood, painting it, and displaying it. Full of original personality and a spark of wit, the design will delight all who encounter it. Other patterns make up a foursome, with a color gallery illustrating all.

By what means did so much beauty and ingenuity appears in articles of everyday rural life in Portugal? How did the shape of these objects balance necessity and formal perfection so skillfully? This book explores the effect that generations of trial and error, individual craftsmanship, and an instinct to carve out the essential with the slenderest of means brought to objects that made life both livable and meaningful to a pre-industrial society. The objects photographed and described by designer Jasper Morrison may be appreciated both for their beauty and for the example they set of design at its purest.

Just as macrame homeware has been given a contemporary, stylish makeover in recent years, here, Isabella Strambio does the same with jewellery. Ideal for beginners, this book contains 20 contemporary jewellery and accessory projects, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and headbands. Isabella is committed to working with sustainable materials, to ensure that these items can make you feel good, as well as look good. She gives advice on sizing and resizing the pieces to suit, and attaching jewellery findings, fastenings, beads and so on. As well as providing 20 wonderful designs, the book also covers the knots that are needed, making it ideal for beginners or people who are keen to give the craft a try and create some truly unique, truly sustainable jewellery pieces.

Once seen, never forgotten: that's a Moss lamp! Plexiglas bodies, spun glass shades, and spinning figurines were radiantly combined to transform humdrum 1950s home decor into something extraordinary. Today, these marvels of modern design continue to spark the interest of collectors. This book offers the first-ever, in-depth look at the Moss company and its shining array of lighting products. It traces the Moss success story through exclusive interviews with family members and employees, 750 current and vintage product photos, and never-before-seen materials from the Moss archives. Also included are a product index, price guide, and detailed information on the many collectible figurines that graced Moss lamps, from such noted design houses as Ceramic Arts Studio, deLee Art, Hedi Schoop, and Lefton. An illuminating and lighthearted look at the lamps, it's ideal for anyone attracted to the fresh, fun side of brilliant '50s design!

It features 25 practical projects for beadwork designs to make at home. The luxurious beauty of beadwork, featured in exquisite designs and practical projects. Complete step-by-step instructions for 25 original creations, including bead-wrapped earrings, a velvet pillow and a waterfall screen. Everything you need to know - from getting started to achieving excellence - with comprehensive guides to materials, equipment and techniques. It features the finest beadwork from today's leading designers and craft artists. It is the definitive contemporary approach to a timeless craft shown in over 300 specially commissioned photographs. "Beadwork" can lend a touch of class to everyday objects, from bead-embellished buttons and cushions or children's slippers to a flowered picture frame or sequin-covered Christmas decorations. This book is the ultimate guide to this rich and rewarding craft. The basic techniques section takes you through the essential skills you will need to embark on these easy-to-make, yet impressive projects. It includes instructions on stringing beads, making fringes and loops and threading a bead loom. Clear, step-by-step instructions take you through each of the 25 projects. Most of the basic equipment can be found in your sewing basket or around the home, but there is ample advice on choosing the best and most appropriate materials for each particular job. Trimmings for cushions, fringes and lampshades are also included. Further inspiration is provided in a gallery of the best in beadwork from contemporary artists, highlighting just what can be achieved with this exquisite craft.

The ultimate beginner-friendly guide to pyrography, Woodburning Projects and Patterns for Beginners is the perfect place to start your new favorite hobby! Featuring a complete overview and introduction to woodburning, you'll understand the tools, supplies, and safety precautions involved in this unique art. Learn basic techniques - from burning even lines, shading, stippling, and more - to then complete step-by-step projects for frames, boxes, ornaments, coasters, and more. Also provided are full-size patterns, helpful information on how to avoid and fix mistakes, as well as how to seal and finish your projects. Author of the popular Woodburning Realistic Animals, Minisa Robinson is an extremely talented pyrography artist and has contributed to Woodcarving Illustrated and Pyrography Magazine.

"The style you want--at the price you want to pay!" From 1930 to 1942, such advertising slogans drew cash-strapped Depression consumers to the Chase Brass & Copper Co.'s attractive array of lamps and lighting fixtures. Heralded as "brilliant in style and authentic in design," the Chase line presented a new concept in brightening the American home, as designed by modern industrial pioneers, including Lurelle Guild, Walter Von Nessen, the Gerths, and Harry Laylon. Chromium, brass, and copper fixtures appear in hundreds of current, catalog, and historic photographs (many in color), vintage advertising, a complete cross-reference listing, price guide, and index. Admirers of twentieth-century decorative arts will enjoy this in-depth look at "lights that give lasting satisfaction."

This unusual and interesting book is a fascinating account of the world of Chinese writing. It examines Chinese space and the political and social use of writing as propaganda, a publicity booster and as a ladder for social climbing.

Break the rules, embrace imperfection, and express your unique self through lettering art! This book is for anyone who's felt the pressure of perfection. As a schoolgirl in Vietnam and later in online lettering classes, Huyen Dinh was always told to perfect her penmanship. Instead, she started embracing her own imperfect style-with squiggly lines, cheeky messages, and candy colors. In this upbeat guidebook, Dinh walks you through the basic rules of lettering and then teaches you how to break them in clever and creative ways. She shares challenges and triumphs from her own artistic journey and offers inspiration as well as technical tips. You can use your new lettering skills to tell your personal story, support a cause you care about, or decorate your tote bags and sneakers! Fully illustrated in Dinh's signature pastel palette, this book is the perfect companion for any aspiring creative.

Making more from less is today's trend in crafting, and renowned craft instructor Miriam Joy reveals the amazing design boost you can give your projects by using crayons as an economical source of wax. Try the 15 basic wax designs taught here, from circles to waves to flowers, and then combine them with your own creativity to turn your crafts-or everyday objects from the thrift shop or dollar store-into colorful and eye-catching works of art. The book covers the basic materials needed, the techniques, and the many types of surfaces to which wax can be applied, from wood to glass to felt. Then 11 "starter" projects help you discover the unlimited things you can transform with wax decorating, from a simple tile magnet to more advanced projects like a masquerade party mask, wall art, and a transformed old guitar. Bonus video links help you learn even more.

Polishing and finishing is a highly skilled specialist craft; a professional finish will transform a piece of jewellery or silver into a work of art. Written by a leading polisher, this practical book explains the traditional techniques and shares the secrets of this often under-rated craft. Topics covered include: setting up a workshop, tools and compounds; finishing methods including satin finish and oxidizing; polishing bangles, rings and cutlery and there are finished photographs showcasing a range of exquisite work.

Upland Game Bird Carving displays all the talent and creativity of Rosalyn Daisey and makes it available to other carvers. In easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and illustrations, the reader will be able to learn the methods of creating these fine and beautiful sculptures. Beginning with accurately detailed plans, the techniques of carving, texturing, painting and mounting are explained with exquisite photographs and drawings. The book includes five carving projects. The male mourning dove is a particularly fun project, not only because the bird has opened wings but also because it is lighted from within the branch of the piece. Its base is a sculpted shadow of the bird in flight. A perched dove, a female, is one of Rosalyn's favorites because of the elegance of the dove itself. The complexity of the female woodcock project is balanced with the simplistic cuteness of the chick project. And the challenging bobwhite quail is intriguing because of its interesting feather patterns. The illustrations, carving directions and explanations, and the photographs are five conclusive seminars in tangible form. The complete instructions will lead the reader through all five Upland Game Bird Carving projects.

Wearable fiber art, whether in garment or jewelry form, is unique in that the human body breathes life, shape, and movement into the pieces. Be it a felted brooch or a dress made of book pages, wearable fiber art can provide personal expression unavailable from the world of mass production. In this volume of the acclaimed three-book series, comments from the makers, who discuss creating pieces that the wearer influences, are accompanied by more than 300 photos. Susan Taber Avila offers insights to what wearable art means and how fibers play into that combination. Margery Goldberg discusses the term in relation to jewelry. The hundreds of creations here, bridging art, design, craft, and fashion, show how fiber art that relates to the human body is in a class of its own.

Add instant eco-chic street fashion to any outfit with friendship bracelets Get that trendy bohemian look with bountiful, bright colors on your arms and wrists. Inside you ll find dozens of stylish designs and easy techniques for making beautiful bracelets with embroidery floss and hemp."Friendship Bracelets" offers fresh ideas for expressing yourself with the texture and beauty of intricate knotwork. You ll find cool patterns here for making chevrons, stripes, waves, diamonds, and more, with step-by-step instructions for each knot pattern. Gorgeous color photographs illustrate variations in every style, from classic and natural to playful and eclectic.Stack your bracelets for a boho arm party, and embellish them with beads and buttons. Learn how to make inexpensive hemp jewelry in fun colors, inspired by laidback hippie vibes. Transform ordinary friendship bracelets from middle school memories to chic contemporary pieces you ll be proud to wear. Whether you re going bohemian, mod, or all-out fashionista, "Friendship Bracelets" will help you to create exactly the look you want."

This compact handbook shows the many bits available for electric-powered carving tools and how to use each properly for a wide variety of effects. The techniques for wildfowl texturing are shown through many photographs and can be used by wood sculptors for all types of art.