'This is a book about the stories we tell ourselves and one woman's determination to make hers true' Spectator 'A fresh . . . heartfelt book that . . . makes you want to throw away your mobile, run for the hills and learn a traditional craft' The Lady 'A spirited defence of manual labour' TLS At the age of twenty-six, Whitney Brown met a dry-stone waller. Within weeks she was out on the hill with him in Wales, learning the language of dry-stone walling. Far away from the pressures of her old life, she found deep satisfaction in working with her hands, in the age and heft of the stones, and the ring of the hammer. Out under the open sky, Whitney relished every sore muscle and smashed finger, opportunity to stand atop a wall she'd just built and feel like the strongest woman alive. Between Stone and Sky is a celebration of the raw and rugged splendour of the Welsh countryside and the enduring beauty and relevance of traditional craftsmanship. It is an unflinchingly honest account of the emotional struggle to become and belong. Most of all, it is an empowering story of female friendship, accepting uncertainty and risk, and crossing oceans in pursuit of dreams.

From selecting yarns and learning basic crochet stitches to assembling your doll or animal and adding whimsical details, The Complete Guide to Crochet Dolls and Animals makes any amigurumi project possible! Hundreds of photos demonstrate the best crochet stitches to use, along with lessons on how to assemble amigurumi figures correctly and give them more personality. All the basic stitches and steps are explained in detail, including extra directions for left-handed crafters. This is the official guide created by The Japan Amigurumi Association--whose thousands of members are found all over Japan, the original home of amigurumi. It provides an authoritative overview of techniques and includes all the information that amigurumi enthusiasts need to know to create their own toy. This indispensable book shows you how to: Shape and proportion expressive heads, limbs and tails Assemble all the pieces together in a way that makes your toy come alive Add armatures so your toys can bend and stand on their own Create facial features that give your toy attitude and personality Make cute little accessories (zakka) like mittens, scarves and purses The Complete Guide to Crochet Dolls and Animals includes 3 start to finish project lessons to practice the skills you learn. Then style your own amigurumi with over 1,500 color photos and detailed diagrams instructing more than 100 crochet stitch techniques. This is a book you'll refer to again and again. Open it up, and get ready to crochet!

Highly readable and hugely practical this book is either armchair reading or a valuable guide to getting your hands dirty and creating something useful as you discover the art of slow technology. Featuring topics such as building bread ovens, making clay pots in a bonfire, felling and processing trees, cooking on open fires, blacksmithing, beer making, wattle and daubing, this book is a combination of the dangerous book for boys and a practical manual of experimental archaeology and historical research.

In an age when people are in search of new and more fulfilling experiences to replace screens and bring families together, this book explores 100 ways to connect with nature and discover the benefits of forest fun. From bushcraft activities like whittling and firelighting to spiritual pursuits like forest bathing and meditation, forest educator Jennifer Davis has brought together activities for people of all ages, helping them to connect with their forests and woodlands, while discovering the healing and restorative benefits of a life lived outdoors.

A wealth of stylish patterns inspired by the textile history of Norway. One of the oldest textile factories in Norway, Salhus Tricotagefabrik (1859-1989) operated outside Bergen for over 130 years, producing thousands of sweaters and other durable everyday clothes such as wool and cotton underwear and woollen socks. The technical limitations of the knitting machines of the day gave rise to timeless geometric motifs with strikingly distinctive features motifs which inspired some of Norway's best-loved knit designers to come together and create this striking collection of all-new contemporary hand-knit garments, now translated into English for the first time! A detailed introduction to Salhus Tricotagefabrik Sweaters, jackets, skirts, home decor, and more, for children and adults The best of both worlds: bold, dynamic, fashionably retro designs, and flattering contemporary shaping and cut! Full-colour photographs and step-by-step instructions, with patterns that include both complex finishing for veterans and simpler raglan shaping Features designs from Birger Berge, Kristin Wiola Odegard, Siv Dyvik, Berit Lokken and other notable Norwegian designers

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.

Enhance your gourd vessel or basket with antlers. Containing 169 color images and step-by-step instructions, learn how to drill, frame, and attach antlers to a traditional weave basket, gourd bowl, floor vases, and even masks. Twenty projects - both baskets and gourds - are featured for the beginner and advanced crafter. A gallery provides inspiration for your own creations.

In a period of meaningless mass manufacturing, our growing appetite for hand-made objects, artisan food, and craft beverages reveals our deep cravings for tradition and quality. But there was a time when craft meant something very different; the Old English word craeft possessed an almost indefinable sense of knowledge, wisdom, and power. In this fascinating book, historian and popular broadcaster Alex Langlands goes in search of the mysterious lost meaning of craeft. Through a vibrant series of mini-histories, told with his trademark energy and charm, Langlands resurrects the ancient craftspeople who fused exquisite skill with back-breaking labour-and passionately defends the renewed importance of craeft today.

Alli Koch has mastered the art of turning simple doodles into beautifully designed floral illustrations. She shares her expertise in this book, a step-by-step guide that teaches everything you need to know about modern florals. You'll learn designs from classic favourites like the rose to today's trendiest florals, as well as succulents and cacti. This book is an introduction, so no experience is needed!

Alison Ospina has been making green wood chairs and stools for over twenty years. She has developed her own distinctive approach to creating sculptural, functional chairs using the natural shapes of the tree. The techniques she shares in Green Wood Stools are simple and relatively easy to master. According to Alison, The green wood approach is so accessible, people see it and immeditely think "I could do that!" As a skilled crafts woman and teacher, Alison Ospina's understanding of the joy of green wood working inspires us to discover our "inner chair maker". Green Wood Stools shows innovative ways to use beautiful, versatile, unseasoned hazel, to create that most fundamental of seats - the wooden stool

Forest Schools need not be just for children. Here is the ultimate guide for how adults can enjoy the benefits of outdoor learning too. Have you always wanted to know how to start a campfire, forage for (the right) fungi, or know how to tie a good knot? Or would you like to expand your horizons - and lower your stress levels - by building a dry stone wall, fashioning a bow and arrow, or beachcombing for shells? Forest schools for kids originated in Scandinavia as outdoor, play-based learning groups and, as the benefits of nature play became internationally recognised, quickly became established around the world. But why should kids have all the fun? Connecting with green spaces, trees and plants can lift our spirits, improve stress and relax our brains - in short, playing outside is good for everyone. Forest School for Grown Ups shows you can learn new skills and practise forgotten ones from finding your way in the woods to whittling utensils and carving sculptures; from trapping and smoking game to making and using a divining rod, from building a bird box, or insect house, to simply just climbing trees. Beautifully designed and illustrated, Forest School for Grown Ups provides the perfect resource for anyone wanting to enjoy spending quality time outdoors.

Feast your eyes on these fascinating fabrics! Cherished by America's farmers for years, cloth feed sacks are part of America's rural history and are now entering the marketplace as hot collectibles. Over 500 color photographs illustrate fabulous patterns on beautiful feed, sugar, flour, potato, corn meal, salt, rice, and even bank and lead-shot bags. Also presented are examples of the aprons, tea towels, and bonnets commonly created from these pretty printed textiles. This colorful, entertaining, and useful book shares heartfelt reflections of life in the country and will appeal to quilters, crafters, and those with fond memories of farm life. Includes price guide and helpful hints on starting one's own feed sack collection.

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.

Learn to make stunning crafts with these beautiful sea gems! Sea glass is the beautiful result of broken glass being naturally polished and smoothed by the ocean's currents for extended periods of time. These beautiful jewels become weathered and frosted from abrasion and erosion in salt water, giving them a distinctly beautiful, jewel-like appearance that is perfect for all sorts of crafting! Sea Glass Crafts includes more than twenty step-by-step projects for you to create beautiful works with your collection of sea glass. Accompanying each project are beautiful full-color photographs that visually aid readers in the instructions as well as display of the finished product. From jewelry to other lavish lifestyle crafts, this book will give readers the skills needed to learn the art of creating beautiful homemade pieces. Sea glass can be purchased in bulk online, but it is way more fun to collect on your own. On your next trip to the beach, when you find yourself swimming in these treasures, be sure to utilize the lessons in this book to create something truly homemade, unique, and beautiful. It's a perfect activity for anyone interested in jewelry making or crafting, or for someone looking to learn a new hobby.

Chic and timeless, macrame has once again established itself as a popular home decor trend. Decorative Macrame walks you through the process of creating your own unique pieces, perfect for your space. Clear step-by-step photographs show you how to create the four basic knots and apply simple macrame techniques, while detailed diagrams help you with things like measurements--making the creation process less daunting. Diagrams, drawings and instructions show you how to create 20 projects that are simple enough for beginners and satisfying enough for practiced knotters. Ranging from small accessories to hanging statement pieces, everyone will be able to find something that catches their eye. The projects in this book include: Soft wall hangings--perfect for warming up any space An elegant room divider A boho chic lampshade An adorable bunting that can hang year-round Multiple hanging plant holders Curtain ties that add a touch of interest to your windows A keychain so you can carry your crafts with you And much more! Beautiful lifestyle images of the finished projects (surrounded by muted tones, natural materials and an abundance of plants) are sure to inspire your own space.

Whether you have already tried your hand at bookbinding or are a complete beginner, Rachel's knowledge and passion will inspire you to explore the many possibilities of bookart. After explaining the tools and materials needed, Rachel takes you through each project with step-by-step instructions. Different techniques for cutting and folding are demonstrated, and, once you are happy with the various techniques, you will then begin to bind your own books with stitches such as ladder, dash and chain. Projects include The Slit Book, A Concertina with Pockets and The Five-Hole Pamphlet, which can then be developed further to create unique and personal handmade notebooks, books and keepsakes that are not only fun and satisfying to make, but also make wonderful gifts.

For beginners, nature lovers, and expert weavers alike, these pages teach how to create baskets using natural materials found in the woods and fields. One of craft pioneer Osma Tod's most popular books, this guide was first published in 1933 and is still in print thanks to its timeless information and its clear instructions. Tod explains a wide variety of weaving techniques step by step, offering precise diagrams to follow, and her charming way of inspiring respect for natural materials helps make this book one of a kind. The chapters explain gathering and preparing both round and flat natural materials like leaves, roots, reeds, grasses, vines, shoots, willow, pine needles, bark, splints, and more. Instructions for making borders, lids, handles, and fasteners give many options. Projects include a cedar-bark basket for kindling, cat-tail mats, a vine birdhouse, a pedestal fruit basket of coralberry runners, sturdy bark work baskets, and dozens more.

This is a complete guide to growing herbs, with an informative directory and over 120 recipe and gift ideas. It offers practical advice on every aspect of growing herbs from designing your own herb garden and raising healthy herbs, to propagation, pruning and training. It is a botanical A-Z of over 150 herbs, with information on uses, cultivation and detailed descriptions of each variety. It features over 80 tasty and innovative herb recipes from summer soups, tasty snacks, and rich casseroles to light desserts, refreshing punches and soothing tisanes. It offers a wealth of attractive craft gift ideas including scented candles, table decorations, bath lotions and much more. For centuries, herbs have been used in gardening, perfumery, folk crafts and cooking. This book combines the range of skills needed for herb cultivation with hundreds of inspirational ideas for appetizing herb recipes and attractive craft ideas. The first half of the book is a practical guide to growing herbs successfully. The second section identifies over 150 herb varieties, providing cultivation tips as well as essential information on their medicinal, culinary and scented properties.An irresistible collection of recipes follows, including dishes for every taste. The book ends with a treasury of projects for scented displays, gifts and beauty products.

Hand Hewn is a fascinating and inspiring tribute to traditional timber framing by one of today's foremost expert architects and practitioners of the craft. In this highly visual book, internationally renowned builder Jack A. Sobon weaves his personal history of learning about the craft with its 2,000-year-long history. Sobon begins with the story of how he fell in love with what was then a little-known building technique and how he eventually became the "Sherlock Holmes" of timber framing. Through evocative text, stunning photography, and hand drawings, Sobon highlights the intimacy of timber framing: its connection to place and to the trees and forest, as well as the honesty and artfulness of the craft, the satisfaction of working with hand tools, and the thoughtful - even spiritual - nature of design. Ultimately, the book reveals how contemporary timber framing offers links to the past, to the natural world, and to the homes and structures that shape our lives.

From blue- green to purple and pink, flower-shaped to squat and spiky or tall and fuzzy, the variety, versatility, and low-maintenance care of succulents makes them go-to plants for home gardeners. Here, succulent stylist Rachael Cohen shows that these traits also make succulents the ideal material for living art. Tiny, jewel-like succulents can be clipped and replanted in infinite combinations, and unlike cut flowers, they thrive in these arrangements. When planted in corks, they become charming living magnets; when placed in seashells, they are a delightful reminder of a day at the beach. Succulents can also grow nestled in moss, creating an opportunity for even more creativity: arrange them atop mini pumpkins or adorn a headband or a tiny wreath. In addition to illustrated step-by-step instructions for more than a dozen crafts, Cohen explains which succulents are best for each project, how to clip and prepare rosettes and leaves, and what to do when the plants outgrow their art pieces. Lush photographs throughout capture the natural beauty of the plants and boundless range of possible creations.

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.

In this inspirational and practical guide to country life, passionate and hugely knowledgeable countryman Alan Titchmarsh explores the heritage of rural Britain, its landscapes and wildlife, its traditions, customs and crafts. The Lost Skills and Crafts Handbook will help you rediscover your love of the countryside, including: - a checklist of British butterflies and where to find them - how to keep chickens, ducks, goats and sheep - how to make soap, candles and your own herbal remedies - how to track animals and forage for food - essential knot tying - how to build a campfire without matches - how to create a kitchen garden - the origins of country superstitions And much more. With beautiful line art illustrations throughout, this compendium of the British countryside and its delights will be an essential read for any nature lover in your life.

From the Victorian cloth mills to contemporary studios, the people of Stroud have a long and noble history of making things by hand. All around the valleys, makers are engaged in creating beautiful and useful objects, works of art and installations. Here, Clare Honeyfield, multi-award-winning business owner and coach, brings to life the conversations she's had with the many wonderful and talented makers and artists of the ever-popular Stroud.