Needlework serves functional purposes, such as providing warmth, but has also communicated individual and social identity, spiritual beliefs, and aesthetic ideals throughout time and geography. Needlework traditions are often associated with rituals and celebrations of life events. Often-overlooked by historians, practicing needlework and creating needlework objects provides insights to the history of everyday life. Needlework techniques traveled with merchants and explorers, creating a legacy of cross-cultural exchange. Some techniques are virtually universal and others are limited to a small geographical area. Settlers brought traditions which were sometimes re-invented as indigenous arts. This volume of approximately 75 entries is a comprehensive resource on techniques and cultural traditions for students, information professionals, and collectors. Entries include: -Applique -Aran -Bobbin lace -Crochet -Cross-stitch -Embellishment -Feathers and Beetle wings -Knotting -Machine needlework -Macrame -Mirrorwork -Netting -Patchwork -Quillwork -Samplers -Smocking -Tatting -Whitework Geographical areas include: -Africa -British Isles -Central Asia -East Asia -Southeast Asia -Pacific Region -Eastern Europe -Eastern Mediterranean -Indian Subcontinent -Middle East -North America -Scandinavia -South America -Western Asia -Western Europe

Transform old books and magazines into beautiful paper crafts, with over 50 inspiring projects. Packed full of ideas for everything from stationery and homewares to paper animals and gifts for kids, Creative Book Art shows you how to make stunning projects that look impressive but are deceptively simple to make. Get cutting and gluing to make display scenes and decorations such as a fairy-tale castle, printed feathers and hanging paper birds. There are also ideas for turning books into 3D works of art simply by folding the pages – you’ll learn how to make beautiful sculptural shapes including a heart, a star and a cloud and raindrops. Clear step-by-step instructions guide you through a variety of techniques, such as origami, block-printing and quilling, to make your paper creations. With just a few basic tools and some old books or magazines to get you started, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to repurpose pages into unique items to keep or gift.

Delicious and original recipes for 100 different pickles and preserves, from fruit-filled jams, jellies and marmalades, to tasty curds, cordials and chutneys. There's something about homemade produce that always tastes so much superior than anything store bought. Making jams, jellies, preserves and pickles at home has never been so popular, and is the perfect way to use up surplus seasonal fruits or vegetables; by turning them into something tasty and longer-lasting. Flavours and combinations are vast and range from the traditional tried-and-tested recipes such as orange marmalade and redcurrant jelly, to the more adventurous and exotic like the butternut and ginger curd or the pear and chocolate jam. Full of lip-smacking recipes, including ways to create sippable cordials, pickle vegetables, store fruit in syrup, the secrets to great flavours, simply made, are unlocked in this delightful book.

Add the perfect deck and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your own home! Featuring 30 complete deck plans that are created and provided by the industry’s leading master deck builders, this comprehensive, easy-to-read guide will walk you through the entire process of designing and building a deck from start to finish. With step-by-step instructions for accomplishing all the included deck designs, coordinating photography, material lists, and expert advice, build the deck of your dreams whether you do it yourself or hire a contractor.

Regional American food culture still exists and is strongest in more rural, homogenous areas of the country. Regional foods are a major component of regional identities, and Americans make a big to-do about their home-grown favorites. The current food cultures of the major American regions-northeast/New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the South, the West, the Midwest-and subregions are illuminated here like never before. Everyone knows something about the iconic fare of a region, such as Soul Food in the South and New England clam bakes, but with this resource readers are able to delve wider and deeper into how Americans from Alaska to Hawaii to the Amish country of the Midwest to the Eastern Seaboard sustain themselves and what their food lifestyles are today.

The unique regional food cultures that have developed according to natural resources and population are increasingly affected by social and economic trends. Increasingly mobile Americans generally have access to the same fast food and supermarket chain offerings, read the same mass market food magazines and watch the cable food shows, and younger generations may have less time to continue family food traditions such as baking the ethnic breads and desserts that their mothers did. "Regional American Food Culture" discusses the various traditions within the context of a new millennium. Narrative chapters describe the background of the regional food culture, what the primary foods are, how the food is cooked and by whom, what the typical meals are, how food is used in special occasions, and diet and health issues in the regions. A chronology, resource guide, selected bibliography, and illustrations complement the text.

In a broad sweep from Central Europe to Ireland and from the Sixteenth to the early Nineteenth-century, this work puts the Jewish community and its rabbinic and 'lay' leaders at the centre of Jewish history. Of surpassing value is Kochan's treatment of the community not only as a religious but also as a political unit. It shows the community at grips with the Reformation and the introduction of the ghetto system in the Italian states. Thence to the great maritime centre of Venice, Amsterdam, Hamburg and London, under the dominance of the Sephardi exiles from Spain and Portugal; and also to the metropolitan centres of Prague, Vienna and Berlin and the liaison of their court-Jews with the Hapsburgs, Bourbons and Hohenzollerns. This was not achieved without severe tension inside the communities and, whilst eschewing the concept of class-struggle, Kochan's analysis of the clash of interests between the few wealthy and the multitude of poor Jews raises doubts about the whole notion of 'community'.

"Amy's beautiful recipes are an ode to the pleasures of cooking with honey and the importance of it in our lives." – Thomasina Miers "Something truly magical happens when beekeeping, gardening and cooking meet, and in that intersection stands Amy with this wonderful book." – Itamar Srulovich, Honey & Co. "A beautiful, thoughtful exploration of keeping bees and cooking with honey – with such enticing recipes." – Mark Diacono A sticky celebration of honey from bloom to plate, with 80 inspiring recipes straight from a beekeeper’s kitchen. Amy Newsome is a cook, gardener and beekeeper – and this is her homage to honey and its deliciously distinct varietals from around the globe. Marvel at the floral intricacies of honey’s terroir and all its wonderful flavours, before getting stuck in with 80 sweet and savoury recipes that celebrate the magic of cooking with honey; from honey ferments, fancy fritto misto and Honeyed Chipotle Lamb Tacos, to Saffron & Apricot Honey Buns, Eucalyptus Honey Granita and a Bergamot Bee's Knees to wash everything down. Covering the beekeeper’s year and how honey is made, you will journey through the changing seasons, take a peak inside the hive and discover just how to create the perfect bee-friendly garden. This cookbook is an incredibly thoughtful collection of recipes and stories that offers an inspiring glimpse into the craft of beekeeping and the remarkable world of the honeybee, confirming why and how we should be treating honey with the respect it deserves.

Beekeeping is surprisingly easy; the bees are the ones that do all the hard work. In Bees & Honey, Rachel de Thample tells you everything you need to know about setting up a hive in both rural and urban locations, keeping happy and healthy bees and harvesting golden pots of honey for use in your kitchen. This practical handbook will enable you to establish a colony of honeybees and understand exactly what is going on inside the hive. You’ll be guided through the bee’s year month-by-month, and be given instructions for sustainably harvesting the products of their hard work. And once you have retrieved your first pot of delicious honey, there are recipes for cakes and buns, sauces and marinades, and drinks and tonics, as well as some creative ideas for using the beeswax. With an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and plenty of clear step-by-step photography, this book will be the only one you ever need on the art of keeping bees.

Knitting has recently exploded in popularity. Professionals, punks, and feminists are embracing this ancient craft, an activity that was previously relegated to the realm of the traditional woman, the mother and homemaker. While knitting books featuring such hip projects as iPod cozies and yoga mat bags abound, few explore the subculture of knitting in any depth. Who are these people? Why knitting, why now? Wills takes the reader on a fascinating tour of this subculture, complete with lively anecdotes and revealing interviews. Those who are new to the craft will enjoy a fascinating introduction to the knitting community, while those who have been unable to put down their needles since knitting that first scarf will glean new ideas for their next blog session, online shopping spree, or knitting group get-together. Knitting has recently exploded in popularity. Professionals, punks, and feminists are embracing this ancient craft, an activity that was previously relegated to the realm of the traditional woman, the mother and homemaker. Books that cater to this new generation of knitters are flooding the market with patterns for such contemporary projects as iPod cozies, yoga mat bags, and laptop covers. The attitude of these publications is decidedly hip, featuring models sporting tattoos or piercings. Missing from the avalanche of knitting books, until now, is one that fully explores the subculture of knitting. Who are these people? Why knitting, why now? Intrepid journalist and avid knitter Kerry Wills set out to find out. She takes us on a fascinating tour through the history of knitting, exploring the lives of such women as the revolutionary Elizabeth Zimmermann, whose strong opinions and classic book, Knitting without Tears, popularized knitting in the 1970s, anticipating current trends. Wills visits knitting groups that meet at such places as a feminist vegetarian restaurant, churches, pubs, and senior centers. She describes political activists who knit tree cozies to protect the trees against developers, groups that knit afghans for Afghans, and knitters who make shawls for people with cancer. She also explores online knitting communities. Those who are new to the craft will come away feeling more connected to the history of knitting as well as to their place in today's universe of knitters, while those who have been unable to put down their needles since stitching that first scarf will glean new ideas for their next blog session, online shopping spree, or knitting group get-together.

Discover the joys and health-giving benefits of nurturing a garden We have long been aware of the positive effects of spending time in nature and how it can be a powerful antidote to the stresses of modern life. Science now tells us that cultivating a green space of our own can be restorative and even transformative for our physical and mental well-being, with a proven ability to reduce depression and anxiety, boost our happiness levels and provide a feeling of balance and calm. Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul will help you: - Explore which plants release scents to help uplift and soothe. - Discover the ways gardening can boost physical and mental well-being, and promote feelings of balance and calm. - Learn about birdsong and how it can boost happiness and creativity. - Experience the wonders of growing plants from seeds, and how it teaches us to slow down and appreciate the simple things.

"Valuation and Selection of Convertible BondS" offers practical guidelines for selecting convertible bonds and making efficient investment decisions. Based on modern option theory and the most recent developments in investment analysis (including a chapter on Euro-bonds), this sourcebook will prove invaluable to both professional investors and individuals involved with similar financial transactions.

In Planting for Garden Birds find straightforward ideas and easy to achieve plans that will make your garden irresistible to birds. Packed with interesting facts, environmental and habitat information as well as easy to achieve planting ideas, this is a practical, illustrated guide for people wanting to encourage more birdlife to their outdoor space. By gardening sustainably, you can make a considerable difference to the wildlife populations in your immediate area, as well as in the country as a whole. While some birds are residents we’ll see from day to day, others are fleeting visitors – but they’re all potential guests in our gardens if we make the environment suitably welcoming. Planting for Garden Birds is aimed at the keen amateur gardener and those hoping to take their knowledge and experience to the next level. Planting for Garden Birds is part of a series of books aimed at encouraging wildlife into your garden. Other titles in the series are: Planting for Butterflies, Planting for Wildlife, Planting for Honeybees.

From biscotti to limoncello, the world's love affair with Italian delis goes back many years.

The Italians have taken the very best of Italian produce all over the world. From Hong Kong to London, Sydney to Brooklyn, people everywhere have access to a treasure trove of ingredients through Italian delicatessens.

Theo Randall's Italian Deli Cookbook showcases delicious family recipes using favourite ingredients. Easily accessible in supermarkets now too, and worth paying a little extra for the very best, these are transformative ingredients that can make for easy lunches and suppers, or dinner party centrepieces.

With 100 recipes using cured meats, smoked fish, jarred vegetables, vinegars, olives, pasta, pulses, cheeses and wine, stunning photography throughout, and original, simple recipes, as well as a directory of classic delicatessens worldwide, elevate your cooking the easy way with the expert guidance of world-renowned chef Theo Randall.