An inspiring guide to sketching and painting the world around you! Packed with practical tips and advice, this book shows you how to fill your sketchbook or watercolor pad with a variety of everyday items that catch your eye, such as: Kitchen items like cups, teapots and silverware Toys like Rubik's Cubes and model cars Tea sandwiches and roll cakes Colorful bottles and containers Household items like umbrellas, bottles and candles Clothing and acessories including shirts, hats and umbrellas And so much more! Author Tomoko Kuramae provides clear step-by-step instructions on the proportions and perspective of basic objects and clearly explains how to draw dozens of items based on cubes, cylinders and flat shapes from a variety of angles. She then shows you how to bring your finished sketches alive with the use of brilliant transparent watercolors.

Plant ownership serves tons of purposes. For those who don't have the space (or time) for a garden, houseplants are the perfect solution. If you want something to nurture, you must care for a plant to ensure it survives. However, houseplants and succulents can be temperamental. Are you giving them enough sun? Did they get too much water? Why are the leaves yellow? Houseplants & Succulents For Dummies teaches you everything you need to know about plant care, whether you have one fiddle-leaf fig tree or an air plant, pothos, and croton. Plants are good for our mental health and purify the air. A study by Craft Jack found that 59% of respondents believe houseplants are important to their health and wellness, while 1 in 3 responded that plants are more important to overall wellness than meditation. If you want to feel better and freshen up your home, get digging with Dummies! Inside: - Plant care basics - Finding the right plants for your climate and style - Common plant identification - Differentiating between direct, indirect, and low light - Choosing the right potting soil - Troubleshooting pests and diseases - Incorporating plants into your home décor - Pet-safe varieties - And so much more!solution. If you want something to nurture, you must care for a plant to ensure it survives. However, houseplants and succulents can be temperamental. Are you giving them enough sun? Did they get too much water? Why are the leaves yellow? Houseplants & Succulents For Dummies teaches you everything you need to know about plant care, whether you have one fiddle-leaf fig tree or an air plant, pothos, and croton. Plants are good for our mental health and purify the air. A study by Craft Jack found that 59% of respondents believe houseplants are important to their health and wellness, while 1 in 3 responded that plants are more important to overall wellness than meditation. If you want to feel better and freshen up your home, get digging with Dummies! Inside: - Plant care basics - Finding the right plants for your climate and style - Common plant identification - Differentiating between direct, indirect, and low light - Choosing the right potting soil - Troubleshooting pests and diseases - Incorporating plants into your home décor - Pet-safe varieties - And so much more!

The perfect guide for all collectors of Western film, television, radio and comics memorabilia, this book contains everything you need to know about getting your old Lone Ranger comic book signed by Clayton Moore or tracking down that Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox. Festivals and conventions in your area, the best museums (from art to Native American history to toys),which newsletters and magazines to subscribe to, which websites to check. The section on reference books includes biographies, genre histories (radio drama, mysteries, comedies), studios, music reference, serials and cliffhangers, locations and movie ranches, episode guides, cast listings, film listings, price and collectible guides, and a list of publishers. Each entry shows the author(s), publisher, format, length, and a brief summary.

This book has it all: commemorative artwork, posters, production stills, lobby cards, autographs, books, costumes, newspaper strips, comic books, cups, plates, and utensils, commemorative weapons and play sets, toys, games, models, lunchboxes, Christmas ornaments, magazines, movie and TV props and memorabilia, scripts, press packets, audio and video recordings,and cereal box premiums. The book tells how best to preserve your treasures and how to get in touch with other fans, whether buying, selling, or swapping. A survival guide to auctions, garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, and antique stores follows. Systems of ranking item quality, cataloguing guides, and format diagrams for listing and insurance purposes are included, as is a list of collector clubs.

Author Bob Hunt's first book, Randall Fighting Knives in Wartime, provided him the opportunity for further study on this subject. It was apparent before publication of the first book, that the subject matter could not be exhausted. In his second book, Hunt continues the process of identifying, describing and dating fighting knives produced in the dramatic early days of the Randall experience. This new volume provides a vast amount of material, carefully organized and presented to enable the reader to further his own research in the areas most interesting to him.

Rebecca Browning Rankin was a politician in the best sense of the word. She supervised the New York Municipal Reference Library for 32 years until her retirement in 1952. Serving in many key policy-making positions, both on mayoral committees and in professional organizations, Rankin was an excellent lobbyist for the role of information in educating the electorate. She published over fifty articles and books on aspects of city government and libraries, and delivered weekly radio speeches on WNYC from 1928 to 1938. Her career as a librarian, author and radio commentator demonstrates the use of research in the formation of public policy decisions and provides a unique perspective on politics in New York. Rankin also served as president of several library organizations including the Special Library Association, which she led to national status during her tenure. During the Depression, she established the Association's employment service and worked with Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and other library officials to provide pensions for public librarians in New York City. Rankin and La Guardia shared the belief that government should carry out the will of the people and care for their needs, and the two worked together to make this a reality. Quotations from primary sources in the archives of the New York Public Library and the City of New York give the book a strong narrative style. Focusing on Rankin's efforts to document New York City's past as its unofficial historian, the book examines the city's political history during the first half of the twentieth century and illuminates the relationship of the local government with one of its great cultural institutions, the New York Public Library.

A passionate and imaginative exploration of wood – the material that shaped human history. As a material, wood has no equal in strength, resilience, adaptability and availability. It has been our partner in the cultural evolution from woodland foragers to engineers of our own destiny. Tracing that partnership through tools, devices, construction and artistic expression, Max Adams explores the role that wood has played in our own history as an imaginative, curious and resourceful species. Beginning with an investigation of the material properties of various species of wood, The Museum of the Wood Age investigates the influence of six basic devices – wedge, inclined plane, screw, lever, wheel, axle and pulley – and in so doing reveals the myriad ways in which wood has been worked throughout human history. From the simple bivouacs of hunter-gatherers to sophisticated wooden buildings such as stave churches; from the decorative arts to the humble woodworking of rustic furniture; Max Adams fashions a lattice of interconnected stories and objects that trace a path of human ingenuity across half a million years of history.

Home Inspirations by teNeues goes into the next round - and has never been more relevant. After all, when the world around us is in shambles, a home with a feel-good vibe is essential. For some, a pared-down aesthetic that exudes a pleasant homeliness may be the right path to well-deserved ease; for others, a cheerful riot of colour is a fitting counterpart to the monochromatic daily grind. Two very different approaches that nevertheless pursue the same goal: to conjure up a real retreat from a simple living space. The power of colours and their influence on our psychological well-being has long been no secret. What fashion is currently demonstrating with the dopamine dressing trend is now being continued in interior design. True to the motto Good-Vibes-Only, colourful good-mood boosters are being used as eye-catchers, individual accents or even in an all-over look. As proven mood lifters, the polarizing color elements represent optimism and a joie de vivre. In the usual teNeues quality with a high-quality layout, large-format images and exciting content, the new illustrated books in the freshly launched series now skilfully set the scene for two further interior trends, elegantly acting as decorative eye-catching pieces themselves. A practical index, which offers support in the search for brands and manufacturers, as well as fascinating rooms for re-styling make the books true inspirational treasures for every interior enthusiast. Other titles in the series include: Boho Style: Bohemian ISBN 9783961715008 Eco Materials: Decorating with Ecological Materials ISBN 9783961715015 Modern Glam: Glamorous ISBN 9783961714308 Patterns: Patterned ISBN 9783961714292 Scandi Style: Scandinavian ISBN 9783961714490 Text in English and German.

Perfect for budding designers and newcomers to flowers, this book demystifies the art of floral arrangements with 10 simple techniques plus over 20 stunning bouquet ideas, all presented in lush photographs with clear step-by-step instructions. Filled with useful tips and easy-to-follow tutorials, Just Add Water reveals the secret to transforming beautiful blooms and greens into gorgeous designs for everyday enjoyment—and with just a few materials. With creative spirit and a friendly voice, author Cynthia Gaylin Bigony shows you how to use what you have on hand already and then elevate it. Learn to combine different colors, textures, and sizes of flowers into a design, repurpose everyday containers into unexpected ways, use rubber bands and tape to invisible but noticeable effect, lengthen the life span of wilting flowers, and much more. Once you discover how amazingly simple and easy it can be, you too can create uniquely styled designs with this beautiful nature-inspired guide.

Follow-up to the eagerly awaited Alexandra’s Garden Flowers. Here are 30 friendly vegetables waiting to be brought to life by hook and yarn. The array includes orange Pumpkin, yellow Corn on the Cob and red Cherry Tomatoes. In this new book, Kerry Lord heads for the allotment or veg patch to produce delightfully colourful crocheted produce. No digging needed and the slugs will never eat all your seedlings! The 30 patterns include Curly Kale, Radish, Cabbage, Avocado, Artichoke, Peas in a Pod, Bell Pepper, Okra and Garlic. These charming amigurumi-like figures are sometimes crocheted whole, and sometimes seen in ‘sliced’ view so, for example, you get the avocado with a 3D central stone and the lovely veining within a red cabbage. As with Kerry’s flowers, alternative colours give you many variations, too. Kerry’s TOFT brand has produced three new yarn colours especially for this book – Beetroot, Aubergine and Kale – to enable you to crochet a rainbow of roots and shoots.You have the option of adding legs to personalise your veg, if you like, and Kerry shows you how to add personality by embroidering eyes too. Kerry includes step-by-step instructions and charts for each vegetable, including how to assemble and finish, plus a guide to all the basic crochet and sewing techniques needed, so this book is perfect for all skill levels. There’s even a Practice Potato so you can hone your skills before going on to bigger projects. Also in this series, Alexandra's Garden Flowers (9780008553999).

From crushing grapes to bottling wine, this essential handbook enables the home winemaker to make informed decisions about ingredients, equipment, and the winemaking process. Precise step-by-step instructions lead both novice and advanced winemakers through all of the important procedures, including selecting and working with new equipment, determining the best material for specific styles, analyzing the product, monitoring acidity levels, and common troubleshooting problems. Using accessible charts and tables to offer detailed instructions for making Pinot noir, port, and sparkling wines, this newly updated edition also covers often overlooked topics, such as ice wines and blending varieties.

Cut and Fold Techniques for Promotional Materials is a unique collection of more than 40 attention-grabbing cut-and-fold designs that promote and advertise services and products. This revised edition includes four new projects: Credit Card Wallet, Reversing Cubes, Photo Frame, and Baseball Cap. Following the elegant, easy-to-follow style of Paul Jackson's other titles for Laurence King, this book is an essential resource for marketing professionals and design students, and an inspirational guide to anyone looking to enhance the presentation of their product or service.

Have you ever thought you were being followed or watched? Have you ever needed to follow or observe someone and not be seen? In the world of espionage, surveillance and surveillance detection are a way of life. It is the job of every CIA operations officer to make sure he or she is not under surveillance—that is, being followed to the commission of an “operational act.� It is also the job of every CIA operations officer to surveil his own targets, whether they are terrorists or terrorist suspects, foreign intelligence officers, hostile actors, or even sometimes his own agents for vetting purposes.   In everyday life, many people from all walks of life need to know how to perform similar operations. Whether avoiding a stalker, checking up on an unfaithful partner, or just securing one’s own privacy, a working knowledge of modern surveillance and surveillance detection techniques is a critical skill to possess. And there is nobody better to teach that skill than someone trained by the CIA. From former CIA counterterrorism officer John C. Kiriakou, Surveillance and Surveillance Detection: A CIA Insider's Guide takes you through the CIA's surveillance and surveillance detection program. It will teach you to apply CIA surveillance techniques to your own everyday life. You’ll learn how to stay safe, to ensure your privacy, and to keep the honest people honest—the CIA way.  

A Petal Unfolds is brimming with easy-to-make DIY paper flowers to bring beauty and style to your home. Susan gives you step-by-step advice so you can create something just as stunning as the real thing – but lasts forever.  Susan discusses basic materials, tools and techniques as well as tips on flower parts, colouring and painting, before guiding you through the flower tutorials. From peonies to poppies, dahlias to sweet peas, there are flowers and foliage for every aesthetic. Includes: Materials & Tools Techniques The Anatomy of a Flower & Leaf THE FLOWERS: Anemone, Cyclamen, Crocus, Narcissus, Fuchsia, Tulip, Lisianthus, Coral Charm Peony, Bowl of Beauty Peony, Dahlia Café au Lait, Semi cactus Dahlia, Lily Regale, Cupcake Cosmos, Hydrangea, Honeysuckle, Hollyhock, Sweet Pea, Icelandic Poppy, Garden Rose, Hybrid Tea Rose. TUTORIALS: Wild Rose Table Setting, Mini Cherry Blossom Wreath, Peony & Tulip Arrangement, Poppy Wall Hanging, Summer Mixed Bouquet. "Not only do they look beautiful but we love that paper flowers live forever, so they’re a sustainable way to keep your place decorated." - Megan Murray, Stylist

For its luminescent beauty and timeless elegance, the pearl has been prized for centuries, from ancient civilizations and royalty to society girls and Hollywood celebrities. Not only a symbol of wealth, status and power, this rare gem is a moon-like talisman associated with healing, protection and purity. Weaving myth and history, art and literature, the sacred and the secular, this book unfolds the fascinating 4,000-year-old story of the pearl, including tales of pearl-divers in the Pacific, the jewellery of ancient Rome and legendary pearls such as the 500-year-old La Peregrina and the 14-pound Pearl of Allah. Here you will learn of the various types of pearls, both cultured and costume styles, how to wear and care for them, as well as pearls in popular culture and in fashions through the ages.

Originally published in 1988, Mesa Verde National Park: Shadows of the Centuries is an engaging and artfully illustrated history of an enigmatic assemblage of canyons and mesas tucked into the south-western corner of Colorado. Duane A. Smith recounts the dramatic 1888 "discovery" of the cliff dwellings and other Anasazi ruins and the ensuing twenty-year campaign to preserve them. Smith also details the resulting creation of a national park in 1906 and assesses the impact of more recent developments -- railroads and highways, air pollution, and the growing significance of tourism -- on the park's financial and ecological vitality. This revised and completely redesigned edition includes more than 50 illustrations and will be enjoyed by readers interested in environmental, Western, and Colorado history.

Join Hunter Davies on a celebratory stroll around London’s greatest glories – its parks. We need our parks more than ever before, for our health and spirits, our bodies and souls, to keep us fit, to save us from pollution, to protect nature and wildlife; and Londoners are lucky enough to enjoy more green spaces than any other major city in the world. In London Parks, Hunter Davies illustrates their wonders by spending a year walking round his favourite parks. From his local haunt on Hampstead Heath to the capital’s latest wonder, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, each one is chosen for its unique appeal. Informative and entertaining, he details their history, describes their layout and reveals hidden delights and new attractions that might otherwise be missed, such as the statue of a small brown dog in Battersea Park, a garden full of exotic plants and palm trees in south London’s Burgess Park or, for something completely unique, Ian Dury’s musical memorial bench in Richmond Park. Fun, thought-provoking and uplifting, London Parks is an essential companion for anyone wishing to explore the ever-green beauty of Britain’s capital city, whether it’s spotting pelicans and politicians in St James’s Park, the birds in the London Wetland Centre or the views from Greenwich Park.

Go vegan in a bowl - that's what happiness tastes like! Really tasty and so healthy: Buddha bowls are fun and easy to prepare - and all without animal products. In Vegan Buddha Bowls the author has put together over 50 recipes for breakfasts, salads, bowls for during the week, dinner and dessert bowls - from smoothie bowls to stews and sweet bowls. This brings the vegan kitchen into the spotlight with a diverse selection full of essential nutrients, fresh ingredients and aromatic spices. The first cookbook full of Buddha bowls without animal products Over 50 recipes for varied and sustainable enjoyment from morning to night New inspiration for a balanced weekly plan Vegan dressing recipes and topping ideas Salted caramel date bowl, Asian rainbow bowl, chickpea and sweet potato goulash or jackfruit nacho bowl - there is something for every taste. Many healthy ingredients, flavours and different textures come together to create a harmonious whole.

A complete guide to the stitches, techniques and finishing touches that every sewer needs to know. Whether you want to learn new techniques or brush up on the basics, this is the perfect reference guide to keep by your side as you sew. Step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow artworks show you how to master everything from preparing a pattern and cutting out your fabric, to applying zips and making hems and darts. If you are a beginner, the first chapter takes you through all the tools you will need, including a sewing machine, pins, needles and scissors. For experienced dressmakers, tips on French seams, making buttonholes and topstitching will help you achieve a perfect finish. Whatever your skill level, this essential handbook will build your confidence and abilities, giving you all the foundations for creating beautiful projects.

A refreshing antidote to the contrived nature of much contemporary interior design, the textiles and decoration of Nathalie Farman-Farma have gained a devoted following among celebrity and socialite clients for their folkloric charm and romantic exuberance. Drawing on the enchantment of fairytales and a history of material culture spanning Persia, Central Asia and Russia, Farman-Farma employs traditional printmaking techniques to create exquisitely detailed fabrics, which she uses to conjure interiors infused with warmth and natural charisma.

Farman-Farma’s townhouse and studio in London and her family homes in Connecticut and Lake Tahoe feature in this captivating volume, forming the backdrop for her Décors Barbares range of fabrics, as well as her vast collection of antique textiles, costumes and jewellery.

Vogue has called Farman-Farma ‘the textile designer you need to know’. Her clients include Lauren Santo Domingo, Tory Burch and influential interior designer David Netto, who writes the foreword to this book.

Have you ever wondered about the place-names that appear on Scotch whisky bottles? What language the names come from, what they mean or if they are even real places? If you feel baffled about where to start looking for such information, then this reliable and informative book is for you. Within its pages, you will be able to find out about the derivation and identity of any of these place-names. This book discusses each place-name that is concerned in some way with Scotch whisky, either as the name of the whisky itself, or as the name of the distillery. For each of these names the author provides an informative discussion of the origin, history and development of the name from a linguistic and historical perspective. He also offers an early spelling of the name, the original meaning (where known) and the correct pronunciation. Where applicable he has added curious information, such as a proverb or extract of poetry that mentions the place-name. No special linguistic or local knowledge is assumed. Additionally, there is an introduction for the educated non-specialist dealing with the various languages of Scotland: Gaelic, Scots, English, Norse and Pictish. At the end is a full list of sources used, and an appendix identifying some 'lost' distilleries. Peppered throughout the book are information boxes about particular pertinent topics, such as Inver- and Aber- names and tautological names. As a professional place-name researcher, the author has ensured that the material in this book derives from primary sources (many of which are unpublished) and has been rigorously researched, allowing the reader to distinguish between genuine and spurious names. Interest in Scotch whisky, the Highlands, Gaelic, Scots and place-names has never been higher, and there is an increasing demand for reliable works on these subjects. This is an informative and entertaining book that sets the standard for whisky place-names.

At the time of its construction, the Forth Bridge was the largest bridge in the world, and to this day it remains a breathtaking monument to the vision and confidence of the Victorian age which created it. For seven years, thousands of men from all over Europe worked beneath the waters of the Forth and hundreds of feet in the sky on what was widely regarded as the eighth wonder of the modern world. Sheila Mackay vividly recounts the story of the bridge from its inception to the opening ceremony in 1890. Featuring more than a hundred archive photographs which detail every stage of the project, this book is a magnificent celebration of one of humankind’s most impressive engineering achievements.

Every home has a story to tell, but curious homeowners often don't know where and how to begin to reveal it. This practical manual demonstrates how to obtain information and organise it into a lively narrative history. Previous owners, architects, community newspapers, and local and state agencies are some of the valuable sources discussed. With these tools homeowners can inexpensively and easily create a legacy that will enhance the emotional and financial value of their property for family and future owners. A state-by-state guide to resources is included.

Go beyond the glass and discover the secrets behind your favorite style of whiskey. Over the past three decades, Lew Bryson has been one of the most influential voices in whiskey—a longtime editor of Whisky Advocate and author of the definitive guide Tasting Whiskey. In this book, Lew shares everything he's learned on his journey through the worlds of bourbon, Scotch, rye, Japanese whiskey, and more (yes, there are tasty Canadian and Irish whiskeys as well!). In this book, you'll find it all: An overview of the different types of whiskeys, including the rules and identities of each. He also includes information on craft whiskeys, which tend to be more creative and freewheeling than the styles made by traditional producers. Exploration of the key whiskey ingredients, with a close look at the flavor contributions of malt, peat, corn, rye, wheat—even water matters. Distillation for non-distillers and the beauty of barrels: Whiskey is both an art and a science, and what's in the glass is affected by things like pot stills vs. column stills, barrel char, and of course, time.  Numerous interviews with master distillers, still makers, and other artisans at the top of their field. Tasting notes throughout so you can identify the whiskeys you might want to try next. Every chapter contains a variety of unique, often behind-the-scenes photography. And with whiskey as the subject, this is a class where you'll want to do the homework!

Fully updated and revised, with new photographs and glaze recipes, this is the third edition of this classic guide to ash glazes. Forever curious and eager to learn new things about ceramics, Phil Rogers constantly tinkered with clay bodies, glaze formulae and approaches to firing. This volume is his seminal work on transforming ash into glaze: an essential text for all potters and ceramicists with additional relevance today with its focus on prioritising the use of natural resources. Ash Glazes examines the practicalities of collecting and testing wood ashes, demonstrates the process of making them into glazes and offers a step-by-step guide to using them to decorate your pots. This edition, updated and revised by Hajeong Lee Rogers, is a celebration of pottery at its best. Starting with an introduction to the history of ash glazes, then moving on to a wide range of practical advice and methods, the book is enlivened by photographs of the work of potters from around the world, who use ash in colourful and imaginative ways. It provides true inspiration for working potters and delight for all those interested in contemporary ceramics.