Of all the French dollmakers, for over half a century, Jumeau reigned supreme. Originally made as playthings, many of these dolls are, today, among the most sought after antiques, being fought-over at international auctions by some of the leading collectors. This history book, the most complete written on the subject to date, traces the chronology of Jumeau production from its beginnings in the 1840's through the end of the nineteenth century. Full color pictures, carefully chosen to show the beauty and different moods of the faces, are accompanied by text that provides collectors with important and interesting information. A current price guide, a special section on Jumeau marks, and a historical list of international prices and sizes are presented as important references.

This beautiful, three-dimensional dollhouse is easy to assemble. Children and adults alike will enjoy the rich architectural ornamentation of this classic, Victorian cottage. Create your own color scheme for both its interior and exterior. Two resident cats add charm, and you can furnish the home with dollhouse furniture, small dolls, and your imagination. Assembled, the house stands a full 13 1/4" tall on its base of 6 3/4" by 9 1/2". Made of sturdy, thick board, this dollhouse folds flat back into its own box, and can be used again and again or preserved for future generations to come. Middle grades-ages 8-12.

The latest title from sewing guru Debbie Shore has arrived - and it's her most fun yet! Packed with 20 colourful, inventive projects, it contains something for children of all ages. It contains a fold-away easel for a budding artist, a magnetic fishing game for an intrepid naturalist, and a colourful backpack for the young explorer. Why not make some spooky Halloween bunting to get ready for trick-or-treating, make a pirate cuddle pillow for a swashbuckling bedroom, or line up some funky monkey skittles for a game or two? The book contains all the guidance a beginner sewer will need - containing useful tools and techniques sections at the beginning, and plenty of tips throughout - while its fresh, exciting designs will also inspire experienced sewers.

Best in Show: Knit Your Own Cat offers the unique opportuity to knit yourself a cat. There are 25 different breeds included, from a charming moggy to a sleek Siamese, a precious Persian to a loving long hair. With Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne's designs you can now knit your precious pet, reproduce your favourite breed or even knit the cat you have always desperately wanted. The cats are surprisingly easy to make. It will only take a few evenings to create a covetable companion for life. Idiosyncratic descriptions of the various breeds accompany beautiful photography, making this book irresistable for both keen knitters and devoted cat-lovers.

This tremendously informative book is the most complete source for collectible plastic toys. Over 850 vivid color photographs display plastic toys-from cars, trucks, and airplanes to dolls and dollhouse furniture-supplemented by manufacturers' diagrams and molders' marks. Industry development from the 1930s through the 1960s is discussed, with attention to wartime changes in plastic toys production. With charm and light touch, Bill Hanlon explains technical facts of the plastics industry and provides down-to-earth, useful information on how to evaluate, repair, and care for your collection. For the detail-hungry collector, there is an extensive price guide and a chapter on researching and identifying individual pieces. Hanlon also presents significant information that has only recently come to light, providing a means of identifying toys whose origins until now were a complete mystery.

Andy Singleton has been modelling and painting most of his life and has been a professional commission figure painter for some years now. Here he shares his experience and tips of the trade with those collecting figures for the North African campaigns in WWII. The four main sections of the book cover British, Italian, German and US troops, as well as tips on assembly and painting camouflage uniforms. Each section is divided into three levels of complexity, 'conscript', 'regular' and 'elite', allowing the reader to build up an array of techniques as they gain confidence and experience. The emphasis is on achievable results and practical advice that is applicable to painting units or whole armies for wargaming purposes in a reasonable time frame, not on spectacular individual display pieces. Most of the figures featured in the numerous illustrations are sized either 28mm or 20mm but the techniques described are easily adaptable to smaller sizes and both plastic and metal figures are covered. Andy's clear, step-by-step guidance takes the reader through the process from the initial preparation and assembly of the figure, to finishing and basing.