Siwa is a remote oasis deep in the heart of the Egyptian desert near the border with Libya. Until an asphalt road was built to the Mediterranean coast in the 1980s, its only links to the outside world were by arduous camel tracks. As a result of this isolation, Siwa developed a unique culture manifested in its crafts of basketry, pottery, and embroidery and in its styles of costume and silverwork. The most visible and celebrated example of this was the silver jewelery that was worn by women in abundance at weddings and other ceremonies. Based on conversations with women and men in the oasis and with reference to old texts, this book describes the jewelery and costume at this highpoint of Siwan culture against the backdrop of its date gardens and springs, social life, and dramatic history. It places the women's jewelery, costume, and embroidery into social perspective, and describes how they were used in ceremonies and everyday life and how they were related to their beliefs and attitudes to the world. The book also describes how, in the second half of the twentieth century, the arrival of the road and of television brought drastic change, and the oasis was exposed to the styles and fashions of the outside world and how the traditional silver ornaments were gradually replaced by gold.

Thread Folk: A Modern Makers Book of Embroidery Projects and Artist Collaborations is a modern refresh of an age-old craft. Author Libby Moore teaches basic stitches and how to choose materials, and shares original patterns with easy-to-remove perforated pages. Thread Folk also features Artist Collaborations, a series of projects based on the curated artwork of several distinctive, talented artists, including clothing designer Audrey Smit, and illustrators Alli Koch and Lauren Merrick.

The spirit of "country" can be evoked in many ways but is an enduring and much-loved home style. This beautiful collection offers the reader practical knowledge and inspirational ideas to create their own very personal sense of country, wherever they live. The first section, Country Decorating, illustrates how you can create restful decorative effects around your home. The second section, Country Crafts and Flowers, draws inspiration from nature for a variety of decorations and arrangements created from fresh and dried flowers, and the final section, Country Cooking, is a collection of 50 seasonal recipes for mouthwatering country fare.

Welcome to Halesmere House, where romance might be just around the corner...After years of living in the past, Ella is ready to start building a future. The perfect opportunity presents itself when she is offered a short-term role at Halesmere House in the Lake District, and tasked with kick-starting its artists' residence. She can't wait to start and explore a new career in an inspiring location. But when Ella arrives at Halesmere, she wonders if she's made a huge mistake after she clashes with Max, the new owner. Max has his own reasons to be unsettled by her presence, but despite his misgivings it seems everyone else loves having Ella around. As a single dad, it's his children's attachment to her that bothers him most. Who will pick up the pieces when Ella leaves? What Max doesn't know is that Ella is falling for more than just the Lake District and the community around her. Can her temporary job lead to a permanent happy ending? A tender and uplifting Christmas romance for fans of Heidi Swain, Karen Swan and Sue Moorcroft. Praise for Snowfall Over Halesmere House 'Warmth, community and romance all wrapped up in a sumptuous setting - this is everything I want from a Christmas book!' Donna Ashcroft 'Suzanne's writing flows beautifully and her characters are real and vibrant. I thoroughly enjoyed the story carrying me along until was quite desperate for Ella and Max to find a way to be together.' Sue Moorcroft

'Not everyone can keep a cow, but everyone can make cheese.' This book shows you the very basic equipment needed to make your own cheese: the ingredients, including different milks, herbs and flavours; how to make a simple cheese; and how to produce some of the worlds speciality cheeses such as Roquefort, Brie and Edam. You will find recipes for making many cheeses at home. Whether you are making a cheese cake, a ricotta-based pudding or a stonking salty blue, this book is a cheese lover's guide to making their own favourite food - and there are some recipes for the biscuits to go with it, too. Contents: Cheese: The Miracle Food; How Cheese is Made; Milk, Starters and Other Ingredients; Cheese-making Equipment; Basic Cheese-Making; Hard Cheeses; Soft Cheeses; Cheddar; Blue Cheese; Goats Cheese; European Cheeses; British Cheeses; Manufactured Cheeses; Cooking with Cheese; Cheese for Sweets; Common Cheese-making Problems; Index.

Traditional blacksmithing returns to its home roots with "Blacksmithing for the Homestead". Here, author and master blacksmith Joe DeLaRonde demonstrates the basic skills and techniques needed to make the tools and accoutrements required for life on the homestead or ranch. Detailed and easy-to-understand instructions, illustrations, and photographs will help the beginning blacksmith set up the forge, get the fire hot enough for welding, and craft the tools needed for blacksmithing. You can learn how to forge everything from weapons and tools - knives, axes, screwdrivers, hammers, and chains - to home-helpers like forks, coat hooks, towel bars, candleholders, and more!

Full-color expert advice for first-time seekers start new collections and veteran hunters who want to learn more-from California to Cape Cod, from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Northwest, and around the world! As the owner of one of the world's most elaborate sea glass collections, Mary Beth Beuke gets to talk about these prized ocean gems on a daily basis. Unfortunately, with each passing day, sea glass becomes more and more difficult to find, making the hunt more of a challenge to the seeker-especially one with limited experience in sea glass hunting. There are several reasons why the hunt is so important to the sea glass seeker. Some find their Zen moments in the solitude and beauty of the hunt. Some collect to add color to their lives. The history, mystery, and discovery of sea glass are also strong forces that draw collectors to shorelines around the world, looking for these pieces of physically and chemically weathered frosted glass. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn about and start your own collection of sea glass, the window for doing so is closing as pieces are becoming more elusive due to a growth in sea glass popularity and a decrease in recent glass bottle production. Take this manual with you as you search for your own collection and make notes about what you find along the way.

This classic text in basket-making, now in paperback, shows how to transform fragrant pine needles into stunning coiled baskets and other decorative items. It's surprisingly easy, with all 40 projects based on wrapping needles around a center. From this simple technique, however, crafters can create limitless variety through the way they shape the coils, dye the needles, vary stitches, embellish with beads and seeds, and incorporate leather and wood. Special sections address gathering and storing materials, making lids and handles, and more.

Create twenty practical and stunning basketry projects for your home and garden. Author Sylvie Begot uses coloured cane to bring this enduring, traditional craft right up to date. She uses simple techniques that are clearly explained through step-by-step photographs and instructions. Anyone can create one of these basketry projects - no special skills are required, and the baskets can be made at home.

Bring the joy of flowers into your home with 30 stunning projects for every season. From spring planters to summer floral crowns and autumn vase arrangements to winter wreaths; life is better with flowers all year round. With clear, step-by-step instructions, expert florist Ashlee Jane leads you through her inspirational ideas for floral designs to bring the calming presence of flowers and foliage into your home. There is something for every occasion here, from small place settings and everyday bouquets to show-stopping displays for a mantlepiece or staircase, and everything in between. Including styling tips, a directory of favourite flowers and gorgeous ideas on every page, you will be inspired to fill your home with flowers throughout the year.

Learn to hook with easy step-by-step photos! Rug hooking at its simplest is pulling loops of colorful wool fabric through a piece of linen backing to create beautiful designs for the floor or wall. Though in years past this was accomplished with a bent nail, a feed bag, and worn-out clothing, today we have specialized hooks and other tools that make the process much easier. In Basic Rug Hooking, you will learn what tools and materials you need to get started, and how to pull your first loops. Once you've learned and practiced the basics, you will be ready to try any of the 5 hooked projects included. Each project includes the pattern and complete step-by-step illustrated instructions. The styles of rugs you can make once you've learned the basic hooking process are endless. Rug hookers today create traditional florals, bright geometrics, pictorials, portaits, and primitives perfect for the modern farmhouse. Basic Rug Hooking teaches you everything you need to know to start hooking today!