A stunning book on kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with precious metals to highlight its history beautifully. A broken pot is made whole again, and within its golden repair we see a world of meaning. Kintsugi is the art of embracing imperfection. In Western cultures, the aim of repair has been to make the broken item 'as good as new'. Kintsugi on the other hand, is a Japanese art that leaves an obvious repair - one that may appear fragile, but which actually makes the restored ceramic piece stronger, more beautiful, and more valuable than before. Leaving clear, bold, visible lines with the appearance of solid gold, it never hides the story of the object's damage. Kintsugi traces memory, bringing together the moment of destruction and the gold seams of repair through finely-honed skills and painstaking, time-consuming labour in the creation of a new pot from the old. There is a story to be told with every crack, every chip. This story inevitably leads to kintsugi's greatest strength. an intimate metaphoric narrative of loss and recovery, breakage and restoration, tragedy and the ability to overcome it. A kintsugi repair speaks of individuality and uniqueness, fortitude and resilience, and the beauty to be found in survival. Kintsugi leads us to a respectful and appreciative acceptance of hardship and ageing. Author Bonnie Kemske explores kintsugi's metaphorical power as well as exploring the technical and practical aspects of the art, meeting with artists and ceramists in Japan and the US to discuss their personal connection to this intricate technique. With the inclusion of diary entries, personal stories, and in-depth exploration of its origin and symbolism, this book shows kintsugi's metaphoric strength as well as its striking aesthetic, making it a unique and powerful art form that can touch our lives.

Express yourself in this adorable tokidoki journal! Every lined page in this journal is decorated with the irresistible tokidoki character Mermicorno--which makes writing down your thoughts, dreams, and activities even more enticing. Carry it everywhere you go! Flexibound 192 lined pages with illustrations on every page Measures 5 1/2 x 8 1/4

Professional caricature carver Mike Shipley introduces you to a whole clan of colorful backwoods characters from his native Ozarks. Whether you re a beginner just learning to whittle, or an old hand looking for some new ideas, this book delivers plenty of fun, inspiration, and satisfaction. More than 100 step-by-step color photographs guide you through whittling, painting, and staining. You ll learn Mike s quick and easy clean-cut method, plus his original formula for mixing your own wood stain in a blender. All twelve projects feature distinctive patterns with easy-to-follow cut-lines. Whittling Country Folk, Revised Edition also provides valuable Getting Started advice on tools, sharpening, wood, and safety, as well as humorous down-home tales about each friendly country character."

A single carving knife and an afternoon is all that is needed to create one of the charming little characters in this book. The whittled little folk are full of personality, from the Monk, to the Policeman, to the Woodsman, acclaimed artist Harley Refsal provides patterns and instructions for carving over 20 delightful characters in wood. At the beginning of "Whittling Little Folk", readers will find step-by-step carving and painting instructions for a Scandinavian inspired man and woman. Once they have learned to carve these two projects, they will find an additional 20 patterns that can also be created with the same technique and some subtle changes. Each project includes four separate patterns (for each view) and carving/painting notes. Also included is a brief overview of the Scandinavian flat-plane style of carving and instructions on how to customize patterns.

The perfect book for cat-loving crocheters! We all know there's nothing a cat can't be or do. With Amigurumi Cats as your crochet guide, a cat can become a brooch you can wear, a small pouch for your belongings, a little mascot to keep you company, and so much more! Instructions for crocheting these feline friends are given in the Japanese-style using visual charts and symbols that are easy to follow and clearly explained in a special section. The steps and diagrams walk you through the process of creating sweet little kitty items such as: Spotted kitties to attach to a pendant, key chain or strap A sleeping cat pouch to hold pencils, glasses or other small bits An irresistible roly poly cat toy (illustrated lessons included) A Maneki Neko Japanese good luck cat to preside over your bedroom or workstation And many other little cat-themed items! The projects in this book are simple and fun to make and use, and make ideal gifts. Illustrated instructions for executing the stitches used in the projects are included. Amigurumi has never been this cute or this easy!

Learn to make your own jewelry designs with pearls. Step-by-step photographs, patterns, and simple-to-follow instructions guide you through 23 projects that showcase the color, luster, shape, and size of pearls. Mix pearls with crystals or semi-precious stones. Chapters present beads, basic skills, color charts, ideas, and tips. With 186 color images and 47 patterns, both the beginner and advanced beader will enjoy making classical to funky pieces, perfect for wearing or gifts.

A 'How to' book featuring painting techniques used by Dutch Renaissance Masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens, Bruegel and Bosch. This beautifully illustrated book for practising artists and art students examines everything there is to know about the techniques used by the Dutch Masters of the Golden Age. From the preparation of surfaces and the creation of paints and pigments to the methods used, award-winning artist Brigid Marlin considers how these skills can work in modern settings and includes stunning representations of contemporary artists' work. Discover the techniques and materials used by Rembrandt in his portraits, how to achieve balance and tension, rhythm and points of interest in the style of Bruegel and Rubens, and how to recreate luminous still-life paintings like those of the Van Eyck brothers. Projects include clear, step-by-step demonstrations to replicate these almost-forgotten techniques as well as examples of works which they inspired.

If you have ever looked at a piece of beaded jewellery and wondered if you could make it yourself, the answer is "Yes! And "Bead Basics" is definitely the book for you!" Simple steps make it easy...just refer to the gorgeous photos and follow our step-by-step instructions. You will want to make every project.

This early work is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of netmaking, but contains a wealth of information and instructions that are still useful and practical to today's net maker. Contents Include: Foreword; Introductory; Basic Knots; Bindings; Parcel Tying; Square Knotting; Sennets; Netting; Plain Netting; Netting in Square Mesh; Circular Netting; Miscellaneous Netting; Turk's Head Knots; Stopper Knots; and Useful Accessories. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This coloring book has an assortment of coloring pages that will truly be fun to color. This will surely release the creative juices in anyone who colors these unique coloring pages. Coloring is fun for children and adults and have been proven to help people relax.

A compelling activity for crafters and artists, doodlers and colourers of all ages, each Paint by Sticker book includes everything you need to create twelve vibrant, fuli-color "paintings." The original images are rendered in low-poly, a computer graphics style using geometric polygon shapes to create a 3D effect. As in paint-by-number, each template is divided into dozens of spaces, each with a number that corresponds to a particular sticker. Find the sticker, peel it, and place it in the right space. Add the next, and the next, and the next--it's an activity that's utterly absorbing, both in the pleasure of peeling and sticking and the growing satisfaction of watching a "painting" come to life, emerging from a flat black-and-white illustration to a dazzling image with color, body, and spirit. Paint by Sticker: Music Icons brings us face-to-face with Elvis, The Beatles, Beyonce, Katy Perry, David Bowie, Cher, Prince, and other legendary stars.

A mix of Mandalas will without a doubt keep your kids tranquil and occupied for a couple of good hours. Shading these perfectly complex pictures is profoundly advantageous in fortifying hand and eye coordination and also penmanship abilities. The action will likewise assist youngsters with comprehension hues, examples, shapes and structures. This is likewise a sublime chance to incorporate enjoyable to learning. Get a duplicate at this point!

Ceramicists searching for new ways to fire their creations now have a wealth of options. Authors James Watkins and Paul Wandless, along with a group of distinguished artisans, demonstrate in detail how to build low-cost, low-tech, yet high-quality kilns and varied firing techniques. The plans range from an easy, affordable and versatile Raku Kiln to a unique wood-fuelled Downdraft Stovepipe Barrel kiln. These clever devices make it possible to produce rich surface effects from alternative reduction firing techniques. In addition to showing the basic procedures for using each kiln, easy-to-follow directions for many fast-fire methods unfold in color photographs: you'll see how to achieve terra sigillata surfaces with direct chemical application and how to do traditional crackle-glaze raku and smoke finishes.