The Art of Boot and Shoemaking
By John Bedford Leno
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Windham Press is committed to bringing the lost cultural heritage of ages past into the 21st century through high-quality reproductions of original, classic printed works at affordable prices.
This book has been carefully crafted to utilize the original images of antique books rather than error-prone OCR text. This also preserves the work of the original typesetters of these classics, unknown craftsmen who laid out the text, often by hand, of each and every page you will read. Their subtle art involving judgment and interaction with the text is in many ways superior and more human than the mechanical methods utilized today, and gave each book a unique, hand-crafted feel in its text that connected the reader organically to the art of bindery and book-making.
We think these benefits are worth the occasional imperfection resulting from the age of these books at the time of scanning, and their vintage feel provides a connection to the past that goes beyond the mere words of the text.

Long overlooked, Zulu basketry is the first comprehensive pictorial record of a craft form that has endured political change in education and empowered basket weavers with a sustainable means of making a living. Zulu Basketry focuses on contemporary basket weaving from the Hlabisa area of Kwa-Zulu Natal where some of the best work is produced. Master weavers from this area – like the late Reuben Ndwandwe and Beauty Ngxongo – are represented in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and in private collections world-wide.

"Palmetto Braiding and Weaving" is the definitive book for creating a variety of crafts from palm fronds, straw, rush, and grass. In this well-illustrated volume, artists and authors Viva Cooke and Julia Sampley explore thoroughly one of the most fascinating traditions of the southern United States: palmetto basketry. This tradition of crafts made from palm leaves has been passed on through generations. "Palmetto Braiding and Weaving" includes techniques and patterns for braiding and weaving-from simple to complex-for a variety of creations. In addition to baskets, "Palmetto Braiding and Weaving" explains how to make hats, handbags, trimmings, mats, fans, belts, and more.

"Palmetto Braiding and Weaving" explores a wide array of uses of this native plant. Cooke and Sampley give full instructions for basketry, including samples of popular braids that have been developed and passed on by word-of-mouth, from generation to generation. Instructions are clear and accurate, and samples and finished pieces are shown with drawings and photographs of the authors' creations. The combination of drawings, photographs and thorough instructions make for the perfect how-to resource for palmetto basketry, and are adaptable to the use of other fibers including straw, rush, and grass.

Architectural Birdhouses: If you can build a box, you can build a great birdhouse using the simple instructions contained in this book. You start with a Basic Box, add a few shapes, alter a few features, embellish a surface or two, then add some of your own creative juices and you have a recipe for success.The key is using handmade and off-the-shelf items in unusual ways, coupled with unique painting techniques. In addition to building birdhouses, you will find useful information about how to attract birds, mounting your birdhouse, security, maintenance and other functional aspects, including a special chapter on outdoor and indoor display. Building birdhouses, the Basic Box way, can be fun for the whole family - a great way to share an experience and an opportunity to teach youngsters how to handle and respect tools. So let's get started

With "Creating Your Own Yucca Pets," beginning or advanced crafters can now make a menagerie of unique animals using seed pods from the yucca plant and common craft materials. Tuzi Williams' step-by-step instructions and colorful photos detail the creation of each of her folk-art style creatures.

Photo essay of custom, redwood, children's treehouses designed and built by Barbara Butler.

More than 40 fun and easy to make craft projects for using dried lavender in relaxing bath mixtures, stimulating beauty scrubs, stress reducing eye pillows, scented soaps, and fragrant sachets; plus delectable mixes and tasty treats to give as gifts. Visit www.BlueSagePress.com for free lavender craft project ideas and recipes.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

A detailed and well illustrated work on leathercraft and production, first published in the 1940s. Contents Include: Foreword - Plates - Introduction - Materials - Design - Cutting Your Pattern and Material: Construction Notes - Small Articles - Handbags - Travelling Equipment - Gloves - Slippers. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.