Each title in this new do-it-yourself series presents over 20 projects to complete with clear, step-by-step color photographs throughout. Each book includes an easily-accessible materials list for each project as well as all necessary stencils, patterns and templates. Whether you decide to decorate an entire house or garden, or simply want to make a thoughtful hand-made gift, the In A Weekend Series has all the ideas you need.Look inside for a host of creative ideas for making planters and window boxes from scratch, as well as transforming and reviving articles from around the home.

Make, mend, and customise your own wardrobe with this highly photographic beginner's guide to machine sewing. A sewing book for beginners that's actually helpful. It's love at first stitch! This highly photographic, easy-to-use guide to machine sewing features more than 200 step-by-step techniques to help you master every stitch in the book! Inside the pages of this sewing reference book, you will find: - More than 200 sewing techniques, all clearly and closely photographed and explained in sharp detail - Discover how to read a pattern, use a sewing machine, and sew basic stitches, seams, and hems - Explore how to put your new-found skills to use to create, personalise, up-cycle, and re-purpose your clothes and soft furnishings. - Photographs and explanations of essential sewing equipment and materials - for both hand and machine sewing - A guide to sewing jargon and terminology that describes when, where, and how to use each tool and technique - Techniques to create something new or to customise things you already have Whether you're a seasoned sewer or just starting to learn how to sew, a fashion design student or sewing for yourself at home, Sew Step by Step will guide you through every hand stitch, machine stitch, and sewing technique you will ever need. With fully updated text and a refreshed design, this is an essential sewing handbook that you will want to keep next to your sewing machine to come back to time and time again. Close-up photographs accompanied by crystal clear instructions take you through everything from cutting out patterns to inserting collars, sleeves and pockets into garments. Explore how to put those skills to use to make, mend and customise your clothes and home furnishings. You will also learn how to find a suitable fabric for every project with an easy-to-use guide to different materials. It also makes a wonderful gift for beginner sewers and expert stitchers alike.

Making, maintaining and mending our own homes is part of what makes us human. It is a skill that was alive and well until just two or three generations ago. Harrison Gardner is a man on a mission to help us rediscover the lost art of building our own while leaving a more harmonious mark on the environment. Build Your Own explores the principles of construction and outlines a multitude of practices and methods that enable you to build a home with the materials available to you. Practical techniques, such as plastering, moving earth, basic demolition, installing insulation, building internal walls and attaching cladding, are demystified and made easy. Whether you plan to build your own structure, are curious about the idea or are dealing with construction workers, Build Your Own is an essential tool that shows that anyone can learn to build - and perhaps everyone should. 'A revolutionary book ... within it is the knowledge to empower you to shape and craft your own living space.' Manchan Magan

In Building A Low Impact Roundhouse Tony Wrench shares his many years of experience, his skills and techniques, his ups and downs, always in a witty and inspiring manner. The book covers the process of visualising and designing a house through to the practical side of lifting the living roof, infilling the walls, laying out rooms and adding renewable, autonomous technology. Building A Low Impact Roundhouse has become a classic text. Tonys home and lifestyle have attracted the interest of the media and he and his partner continue to inspire many individuals and communities to seek out ways of living more sustainably. Now in its fourth edition, with a fascinating 2014 update. Tony also includes sections on the physical design and writes about the lifestyle required for living in a roundhouse. He offers advice on roofs, floors, walls, compost toilets, wood stoves, kitchens, windows and on planning permission. There are additional photographs of life in and around the dwelling and illustrations from the construction plans for one of the UK's most unique of homes. This true and captivating story covers the realisation of a lifetime s dream as well as being a practical how to manual for anyone who loves the idea of low impact living and wants to self-build an affordable, organic home.

In 2003 Ben Law captivated the nation by building his woodland house on Channel 4s Grand Designs programme, the home was later voted the most popular Grand Design ever by viewers. The presenter, Kevin McCloud, loved the project so much that he has written the foreword to this book! A Grand Designs Revisited programme was aired on British TV in October 2005. Full of stunning colour photographs, The Woodland House is a visual guide to how Ben built his outstandingly beautiful home in the woods. It is also a practical manual, and the story of a man realising a lifetimes dream to build one of the most sustainable and beautiful homes in Britain. The Woodland House gives details of the evolving design process, the identifying of materials, costings, project management and the actual building. It proves that low cost, low impact and high aesthetics can go hand in hand and that it is possible to build green and affordably. As the pre-eminent UK example of building with wood and renewable materials this will also appeal to the growing number of people with environmental and green interests, as well as to the building community

This latest volume in the Workshop Practice Series presents a general overview of the grinding, lapping, honing and polishing of metal, as well as the materials used to make grinding wheels, belts and papers. The uses of various machines and grinding mediums are described, including the off-hand grinder, modern miniature hand drill/grinders and toolpost grinders. There are also instructions for making a small barrelling machine and other suitable devices.

John Vivian tells you everything you need to know to build your own stone walls from start to finish. He covers everything from basic equipment and materials to building retaining walls, building in gates and stiles, moving boulders, and using lower-quality stone. Clear, detailed drawings show exactly what to do and how to avoid problems.

Parties with pizzazz -- parties that everyone talks about -- happen when some creative person gets things rolling! Twenty-three absolutely unforgettable party themes for all seasons and occasions are included -- a "TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) Party, " a "Murder We Wrote (whodunit participation) Party, " a "Kidnapping Caper (for teens only) Party" -- these and many more. Each party plan tells how to do it, gives food suggestions with recipes, reproducible party game papers, checklists and lots more, plus "do-it-yourself" invitations professionally designed! Just add the specifics and photocopy them. Everything made easy. Success assured -- these ideas have all been party-tested. We know they're good! Enough parties here for a year or two of fun. Guaranteed to make you the most celebrated party people in town!

For the first time, the art and craft of creating concrete countertops is detailed, step-by-step. This invaluable manual will guide craftsmen through each step of creating a cast concrete countertop, from the careful process of measuring for a template, to building a mold, through casting and installation. Moreover, you will be inspired by a gallery of more than 60 color images that explore actual kitchens and baths featuring hand-crafted countertops. With more than 30 years of experience in concrete art and fabrication, artist Buddy Rhodes shares his skills and experience in this tell-all book. Most importantly, he shares the process he pioneered for creating the natural, stone-like pressed surface countertops that have become his hallmark. Additionally, he details techniques for hand-trowelled and polished countertop surfaces. As the popularity of concrete in home decor soars, this book will be an indespensable guide for any craftsman who hopes to make his mark in this expanding market. Amateurs alike will appreciate the intricate detail and the helpful hints that Rhodes includes in this comprehensive guide.

Easy-to-care-for, productive, inexpensive, and full of personality, chickens are popping up in backyards throughout the country--in the suburbs, rural towns, and even on city plots. All it takes to keep a small flock is a bit of land and a properly designed coop.
Just like houses, chicken coops come in all sizes and styles to meet the needs of any chicken family. Author Judy Pangman has combed the country identifying the top chicken coop designs, from utilitarian to high-style. The result is this ultimate collection of 45 building plans that are sure to meet the needs of any chicken owner.
The featured designs include basic easy-to assemble hoop houses, A-frames, and multi-storied wooden structures, as well as larger models for small commercial farms. There are also a variety of moveable coops that can be rotated around the yard, and low-budget coops constructed from found and repurposed materials.
Pangman shares inspirational and instructive stories about the participating coop designers/ builders. Enthusiastic communities of chicken-keepers have organized chicken tours in cities such as Seattle, highlighting the fun and fantastic imagination of some coop architect/builders. There are designs echoing the house styles of the neighborhood, as well as the most contemporary trends in architecture. Building a chicken coop offers a great outlet for any would-be architect who wants to stick to the miniature, scaled-down building
A 16-page color section shows detailed photos of many of the featured coop plans, as well as some amazing kits and one-of-a-kind coops built from recyclables.
With its comprehensive building plans and chicken-laden stories, "Chicken Coops" is sure to inspire a sunny-side-up, no-yolks-barred attitude in all chicken owners who dream of building a bigger, better coop to house their flock.

Includes a wonderful circular patio centered around a firepit, to a demonstration walkway that illustrates how to lay basketweave, running brick, and herringbone patterns, this book is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to undertake a great home improvement project. Learn how to lay the groundwork, study details for edging and popular paver designs, and finish up like a pro. A special chapter details the process of laying a permeable paving surface, an increasingly popular alternative in today's eco-conscious world. Clear photos detail every step in the process, and a gallery of more than 100 finished projects will inspire you to get to work. All you need is the muscle.

Many of us dream of owning a treehouse, whether it's a tree fort or playhouse for the children, a secret retreat or just a unique space for relaxing and reconnecting with nature. This book is a comprehensive guide to designing and building your perfect treehouse - no previous building expertise required. Beautifully illustrated, and written by a professional treehouse builder, the book explains how you select the right tree, which materials and tools to use, and how to construct the platform, walls, floor and roof. For anyone wanting to be more ambitious, there are options for installing special features such as ladders, slides and climbing walls.

Build the garage of your dreams by doing all or part of the work yourself. Planning and constructing a handsome new garage may seem like a daunting task, but you can make it a reality by following the instructions in this essential do-it-yourself guide.All of the techniques and tips you'll need are inside. Build Your Own Garage Manual graphically demonstrates the latest in garage construction techniques and illustrates every step of the construction process in detail.Because drawing up your own plan from scratch may be challenging for the inexperienced builder, make planning and cost estimating easier by selecting from more than 175 terrific plans, prepared by garage experts. Easy-to-follow construction blueprints and materials lists are available for each project to ensure success.

By combining proven and promising wind, solar, and other clean and renewable energy technologies, individuals, businesses, and communities can invest in equipment to produce electricity for themselves. This book explains how to reduce reliance on power companies, restore market forces, increase economic security, create jobs, improve efficiency, and reduce waste.For more than 100 years, electric energy has been a fundamental feature of human existence. It powers our tools, which helps us achieve our many individual and societal wants, needs, and goals. This comprehensive survey explores how electric power generation in the United States began, largely as a private endeavor, and quickly evolved into a race to capture and control its release to the people. The combination of wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies, as proposed, enables people to restore their ability to independently generate electricity for home and business use.

A dry-stack stonewall is a project that almost anyone can build, and it will last well over a century if built correctly. Like most projects, knowing all of the steps involved is critical to ensure a safe and solid job. This book provides thorough, step-by-step procedures for three projects using stones of various sizes from the smallest all the way up to boulders, with a focus on a safe work environment. Learn a system for planning a project, and proceed through all the steps required to completion. A gallery of wall images will inspire you to start stacking.

This book captures today's hottest design trend for the home - textures, design, colors, and craftsmanship that evoke European ideals of a bygone era. Explore kitchens and baths rich in the fine details that characterize Provencal, Tuscan, and English country designs. Massive range hoods and brick hearths, faux finishes, rich natural stone, and tile provide polish and posh to up-to-the-minute home environments. Enjoy hand-carved wood, wrought-iron, and fine crystal chandeliers in spaces filled with the latest appliances and an abundance of workspace. The atmosphere is timeless, and these designs are certain to endure. This is an indispensable design guide for professional designers and discerning homeowners.

In Owner building made easy, Tamara Aspeling takes the would-be owner-builder through all the steps involved in the process in a way that's logical, accessible and chronological. She leads through the apparent minefield of regulations, estimating, drawing-up of building contracts and dealing with contractors, suppliers and professional people to the end result – your new home, just as you envisaged it, built the way you wanted it and with the minimum of fuss and expense. The book deals with the preparation of plans, obtaining local authority approval, costing and estimating, putting the project out to tender and selecting a contractor as well as negotiating a building contract that’s fair to both owner and contractor. Filling a much needed gap in the South African market, Owner Building Made Easy shows the first-time owner-builder how to anticipate and thus avoid unexpected pitfalls, and follows the house-building or renovation process sequentially from design to completion. Where appropriate professional help might save costly headaches later, Aspeling says so, thereby helping to avoid expensive lessons in false economy.

In 265 photos, this book provides all the knowledge you need to make the most of your space outdoors, creating landscape for recreation, gardens, and play that is also a safe, child friendly environment. Whether you choose to design the ideal setting for the neighborhood ping-pong tournament, create an imaginative space to inspire games for kids, or add splash-happy features to your pool, this treasure trove of backyard fun will show you how to do it right. The popularity of outdoor living is growing by leaps and bounds as ever-increasing numbers of homeowners look for ways to enjoy economical backyard environments. From croquet, bocce ball, badminton, and table tennis to horseshoes, corn in the hole, and ladder ball, families everywhere are getting outside to play. Why shouldn't you?

There is something about antique homes and their hard-working barns that captures the imagination. Maybe it's their pleasing proportions, maybe they remind us of a simpler time, or maybe we sense that these venerable old survivors that were built when our country was young have seen it all. But how many of us have bothered to listen to the stories they tell or tried to understand what makes them tick? This book reveals the essence of antique New England homes and barns-their history, the people who built them, why they were built that way, and how to restore them, piece by piece, without losing their character. Learn to identify architectural styles from different periods, how to strategize a restoration, and how to approach it systematically, from the timber frame to the floors, walls, and ceilings, windows and doors, wiring, finishes, and landscaping.