Javier Gomez, a highly talented figure painter of long experience and excellent reputation, shares the secrets of his success in this accessible 'how-to' guide to painting miniatures. He takes the reader step-by-step through the whole process, from choice of materials (unlike other available guides it is not linked to any specific figure manufacturer) and preparation of the miniatures to basing and even advice on photographing the finished item. Techniques such as dry-brushing, ink-washing, shading and highlighting are all explained clearly with the help of step-by-step photographs and colour charts. Specific case studies tackle a variety of useful subjects across all periods, such as mixing realistic flesh tones for different races; painting horses; guns and limbers; Medieval heraldry; Napoleonic uniforms; WW2 and modern camouflage patterns. Javier also clearly explains how these techniques and processes can be applied to all the major wargaming scales, from 40mm down to 6mm. Whatever historical period (or Sci-fi/Fantasy) and whatever scale the reader is interested in, this book is an invaluable source of practical advice and inspiration.

Dolls have long been perceived as symbols of domesticity, maternity, and materialism, designed by men and loved by girls who wanted to "play house." In this engagingly written and illustrated social history of the American doll industry, Miriam Formanek-Brunell shows that this has not always been the case. Drawing on a wide variety of contemporary sources-including popular magazines, advertising, autobiographies, juvenile literature, patents, photographs, and the dolls themselves-Formanek-Brunell traces the history of the doll industry back to its beginnings, a time when American men, women, and girls each claimed the right to construct dolls and gender. Formanek-Brunell describes how dolls and doll play changed over time: antebellum rag dolls taught sewing skills; Gilded Age fashion dolls inculcated formal social rituals; Progressive Era dolls promoted health and active play; and the realistic baby dolls of the 1920s fostered girls' maternal impulses. She discusses how the aesthetic values and business methods of women doll-makers differed from those of their male counterparts, and she describes, for example, Martha Chase, who made America's first soft, sanitary cloth dolls, and Rose O'Neill, inventor of the Kewpie doll. According to Formanek-Brunell, although American businessmen ultimately dominated the industry with dolls they marketed as symbols of an idealized feminine domesticity, businesswomen presented an alternative vision of gender for both girls and boys through a variety of dolls they manufactured themselves.

A selection of 40+ projects guides readers in creating realistic-looking food from polymer clay for their dolls' house the easy way! Renowned polymer clay expert and author Sue Heaser teaches how to make over 100 items of food which cover a number of popular periods, including Georgian, Victorian as well as modern day. A comprehensive techniques section covers everything crafters need to know to work with polymer clay miniatures such as shaping, mixing colors, creating texture and baking. Illustrated step-by-step projects and color photos throughout show how simple the finished items are to complete. Presentation ideas for displaying the food, from bread baskets to complete table settings, are also included.

Sam McKechnie's new craft book invites readers to lose themselves in the incredible world of Miss Violet. Whether they have a doll's house, some shelf space, or an unwanted shoebox, Sam has created 25 projects that are perfect for any miniature residence. Readers will also find a shoebox house project and a chapter of scraps (to photocopy or download) so that every room in their house can be embellished with fabulous paper furnishings—from cooking pots and carriage clocks to picture frames and paper pansies. There is a pop-out paper Miss Violet doll , and outfits to dress her in, at the back of the book.

You won't find molded plastic, mass-produced items in this Texas Folklore Society Publication. These are folk toys, made from natural or available materials, whatever is handy or can be scrounged. The folks who make them are amateurs of varying degrees, from the ten-year-old hammering together a skate scooter or box kite to the doting grandparent sewing doll clothes or whittling paired giraffes for a Noah's Ark. Texas Toys and Games combines both how-to descriptions and reminiscences. Folk games encompass guessing, gambling, and counting games; physically competitive games of chase, tag, and mock combat; skill games using sticks, stones, marbles, tops, and knives; variations of baseball, basketball, and football; and rhythmic clapping, rope-jumping, and dance-like games. This book is as much fun as Christmas morning--and not a single battery required!

This new volume of the successful LEGO (R) builders' book series addresses beginners as well as skilled builders who want to improve their building techniques and create individual and lifelike buildings, vehicles and all kinds of other fancy designs. Step-by-step instructions help the reader to come up with their own personal LEGO (R) masterpiece. The authors clearly demonstrate how to build 'around the corner' or put LEGO (R) bricks together so no studs can be seen from the outside. Furthermore, cobblestone pavement or various buildings consisting of skeleton framing elements can be created. Plenty of new modules can be built when people start using the bricks for purposes other than intended. Just start building, but don't forget: Just click - don't glue, clip or paint!

From curtains, blinds and drapes, to pelmets, tiebacks and valances, everything you need to create inspirational window dressings for our dolls' house is included here. Over 25 step-by-step projects show how to make a variety of window treatments. Further variation ideas, illustrated in colour, allow you to adapt many of the project to suit your dolls' house. A section on the basic tools and equipment used offers practical guidance on choosing fabrics and miniature haberdashery such as silks, cords, fringes and trimmings. Essential techniques such as making a pattern, fabric pleating and making tassels and cords are included and guidance on installing your finished project is also covered. Easy-to-use templates are provided where necessary, and inspirational colour photographs show the finished curtains displayed in situ.

Create a range of beautifully detailed accessories for dolls' houses of every period and style. From tables, chairs and shelves, to letter racks, mirrors and coat racks, everything you need to make your dolls' house a home is here. Over 30 detailed, step-by-step, illustrated projects show how to make a variety of decorative accessories. Further illustrated variation ideas allow you to adapt the style or period of the project, and mix-and-match your favourite projects to suit your dolls' house. An illustrated section on the basic materials and equipment used offers practical guidance, while the basic techniques, such as working with wood, using glues, and varnishing, are illustrated with step-by-step photographs. Easy-to-use templates and diagrams are provided where necessary, including colour photocopying pages with a selection of pictures and patterns, and inspirational colour photographs show the accessories displayed in situ.

Now in a full-color second edition, "Not Just a Pretty Face" is an engaging exploration of the role of dolls and doll making in Alaska Native cultures. From ancient ivory carvings to the thriving tourist market, dolls and human figurines have played integral parts in the ritual, economic, and social lives of Native Alaskans. Dolls served as children's playthings, represented absent community members at ceremonies, and predicted the movements of game animals for shamans. "Not Just a Pretty Face" surveys these and other uses of dolls and figurines, illustrating in beautiful color photographs the diversity of the doll-making tradition in Eskimo, Athabaskan, and Northwest Coast Native communities.
Authors explore the ethnographic literature, twentieth-century oral histories, and photographic documentation of dolls and the doll-making process. Contemporary doll makers explain, in their own words, how they learned to make dolls and what doll making means to them. The second edition features a photo essay on Rosalie Paniyak of Chevak, one of the most influential doll makers in Alaska today.
"Not Just a Pretty Face" provides a panoramic view of an ancient tradition and situates the art of doll making within a contemporary context. Scholarly, yet accessible, "Not Just a Pretty Face" is a lively contribution to the literature on dolls, anthropology, and Native studies.

Considered to be one of the world's greatest miniature houses, the replica is the result of over 30 years of research and construction by the Zweifel family. The tiny, working telephones, hand-carved chairs and tables, and miniature carpets that reproduce the original stitch by stitch, are all proof of great craftsmanship and minute attention to detail.