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Crafts & Design
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Making Matters
'A hymn to the sensory wonder and connectivity of the homemade'OBSERVER'Packed with fascinating detail . . . a celebration of the overlooked artistry in crafts practised across the world'THE TIMESAs children, we made things: snowmen, paper boats, elaborate costumes. But as adults it is hard to find the space for such creativity, and to remember its importance.Exploring craft traditions across centuries and cultures, Clare Hunter encourages us to rediscover the power of creativity, from paper crafts to wonders made of light and snow. Weaving history and culture with rich storytelling and memorable characters, Making Matters urges us to see the world afresh. 'Now inspired, I'm off to get creative'DAILY EXPRESS
£10.99
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Dressing the Queen
'A truly wonderful and fascinating book!' Lady Anne GlenconnerThe hidden story of the people who designed, sewed, stitched and steamed the clothes of Britain's queens, from Victoria to the present day.From tours and walkabouts to the dazzling spectacle of a wedding or Coronation, the clothes worn by royal women have always been a fascination. Starting with Queen Victoria and moving to the modern Elizabethan age, DRESSING THE QUEEN shows the incredible craftmanship and painstaking effort that go into the making of what is known as the 'Royal Wardrobe', from handmade boots to Crown Jewels; country tweeds to delicate stockings.Dress historian Kate Strasdin reveals a tribe of previously unsung women and men. Some may be more renowned - such as designer Norman Hartnell or suitcase-maker Louis Vuitton - but most are ordinary, highly talented working people from across the British Isles. From rural straw plaiters to wartime coat-makers and refugee glovers, their skilled labour is a vital part of our country's history.As we see modern princesses sally forth in fantastically arranged ensembles, we can think again of the vanishing trades that once employed millions - and still remain integral to royal life today.'A fascinating glimpse into the lives of the makers behind all the glitter of royalty' Daisy Goodwin'A must for fans of royal and fashion history' Tracy Borman
£25.00
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Nailed It!
Dreaming of a beautifully decorated home, but never been taught the practical skills to execute your plans? Laura Deller of @houseprojectuk teaches you everything you need to know in this handy step-by-step guide, for house projects big and small, in any space.Say goodbye to DIY disasters and hello to a relaxing home that reflects your personal style and your amazing new skills.With Laura's expert, easy-to-follow instructions, you'll learn how to finally hang those frames with confidence, pick the perfect kid-friendly paint, and impress visitors with your DIY shelves.The projects are super budget-friendly and doable, covering everything from upcycling to flat-pack hacks. Learn how to apply caulk, fill holes in the wall, sand a surface and wallpaper around a socket. Laura's projects include no-fuss bookshelves, different styles of panelling, and a simple but gorgeous no-sew bench cushion.Large DIY stores can be overwhelming with their endless aisles and jargon-laden signage, but Laura reimagines tools as a 'capsule collection', with key staples and nice-but-not-necessary additions. Each project features a Toolbox so you can easily identify which tools are needed for each project.Every activity also comes with a time estimate, from quick tweaks to a weekend-long renovation, so you can fit everything in and make each project a success.Laura's genius tips are accompanied throughout by gorgeous, helpful illustrations. With her know-how in hand, you'll feel calm, secure and empowered to pick up your toolkit and know exactly what you're doing!
£20.00
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Watercolour Botanical Art
Unlike botanical art books that only focus only on painting techniques, and botany books that do not take account of the artist's method, this volume balances both botany information and the painting practice used to depict it. The intended reader is any artist who wishes to be more informed about botany; who needs to tackle the challenges of painting complex and particular botanical structures; who wants to learn what to look out for; and discover variations and morphological parts that are not obvious.
£30.00
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168 Songs of Hatred and Failure
Raging out of the stricken mining communities of south Wales in the late 80s, Manic Street Preachers were bonded by friendships, family ties and a self-styled 'geometry of contempt', whereby James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore would orchestrate the daring intellectual broadsides written by Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire. Seemingly condemned to mere cult status by a cruel juncture of artistic triumph, commercial failure and personal despair, the story took an agonising twist when the tragedy of Edwards' 1995 disappearance was followed by a remarkable rebirth built upon 'A Design For Life's hymn to the band's working-class roots, and then the award-winning, multi-million-selling album Everything Must Go, a majestic soundtrack to history and loss. Through the prism of their music, Keith Cameron tells the definitive history of Manic Street Preachers, taking a deep dive into 168 songs.
£30.00
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Making Matters
As children, we made things: snowmen, paper boats, eccentrically costumed plays. That making fired our minds and imaginations - it altered our small worlds and shaped who we became. But as adults, it is hard to find to find the space for creativity and to remember its power. Exploring craft traditions and forms of making from across centuries and cultures, Clare Hunter encourages to engage with the world afresh. To use our hands again, to see beauty in unexpected places, to play and protest and embrace imaginative possibilities. From paper crafts to wonders made from light and snow, she searches for creative delight - making lanterns, puppets and pinhole cameras. Inspiring and fascinating, 'Making Matters' celebrates individual and collective creativity. It blends history, culture and politics with rich storytelling, wonderful characters and tales of remarkable objects.
£20.00
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Music's Odyssey
Robin Holloway's 'Music's Odyssey' is a book about classical music unlike any other. With the insights of a composer himself, he takes us to the essence of baroque, classical, romantic and modern classical music - lesser-known composers and their works, as well as the greats - through close readings, daring comparisons and brilliant insights. Holloway characterizes, illuminates and energizes his subject with musical empathy,sureness of judgement and mastery of descriptive language, tracing not only the evolution of forms of music but the history of feeling and the emotion behind the creation and enjoyment of composition.
£45.00
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Little Course In Crochet
Ever wanted to learn how to crochet but don't know where to begin? This guide takes you from complete beginner to being able to make beautiful crochet projects. Start simple with basic crochet stitches, including chain stitches and treble crochet, build on your skills with 20 crochet patterns and show off with a crochet hat, crochet baby clothes or a traditional crochet afghan blanket.
£12.99
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Clean Magic
The definitive guide to green cleaning, with 100 new tips and ideas from the Sunday Times bestselling pioneer.
£15.99
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£68.00
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The Upside-Down World
Twenty years ago, Benjamin Moser followed a love affair to an ancient Dutch town. In order to make sense of the place where he had ended up, Moser threw himself into the world of the painters of Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer among them, and found himself confronting the bigger questions those artists asked. Why do we make art, and why do we need it? Who, and what, is an artist? How can art help us see ourselves and others? And in a world without religion, can art provide a substitute for God? As he explored the Dutch museums, Moser met a crowd of fascinating personalities: the stormy Rembrandt, the intimate Ter Borch, the mysterious Vermeer. Now, in this colourful, brilliant and idiosyncratic book, he unveils the whole hidden world of the Dutch Masters (and one Mistress).
£18.99
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How to Live an Artful Life
The year ahead is a gift that has been given to you. What might you do with it? Dive into the year with the wisdom of artists. Gathered from interviews, personal conversations, books and talks, 'How to Live an Artful Life' moves through the months of the year offering you thoughts, reflections and encouragements from artists such as Marina Abramovic, Nan Goldin, Lubaina Himid, Louise Bourgeois and many more.
£16.99
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A Drawing a Day
This text is for those who've forgotten what it's like to draw for no reason and colour outside the lines. It is also for anyone who misses the feeling of putting pen to paper to create something. No one else needs to see these pages. Start wherever you like and draw for as long as you need. Find an escape, find calm, find your creativity - every page offers a simple drawing prompt to learn new techniques and skills and grow your confidence while offering you a calm daily practice away from your screen.
£14.99
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Get Stitched
Dive headfirst into the world of knitting. With Tom Daley as your coach, learn everything you need to know to practise this versatile craft.
£18.99
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How to Art
Kate Bryan is a self-confessed art addict who has worked with art for over twenty years. But before she studied art history at university, she'd been into a gallery just twice in her life and had no idea she was entering an elitist world. Now, she's on a mission to help everybody come to art. Like playing or listening to music, or cooking and eating great food, reading or watching films, making art or looking at other people's deserves to be an enriching part of all our lives.So here, in this book, is a nifty way to take art on your own terms. From where it is to what it is, to tips on how to actually enjoy famous artworks like the Mona Lisa, to how to own art and make art at home, this book gives art to everyone, and makes it fun.
£16.99
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Unquiet landscape
'A minor modern classic, to my mind, uniting art history and landscape thought by means of dazzling, dancing, unsettling sentences ? I'm delighted it's back in print in a new edition' Robert Macfarlane
£10.99
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Interwar
British architecture between the wars is most famous for the rise of modernism but the reality was far more diverse. As the modernists came of age and the traditionalists began to decline, there arose a rich variety of styles and tastes in Britain and across the empire, a variety that reflected the restless zeitgeist of the years before the Second World War. At the time of his death in 2017, Gavin Stamp, one of Britain's leading architectural critics, was at work on a deeply considered account of British architecture in the interwar period, correcting what he saw as the skewed view of earlier historians who were unable to see past modernism. Beginning with a survey of the modern movement after the armistice, 'Interwar' untangles the threads that link lesser-known movements like the Egyptian revival with the enduring popularity of the Tudorbethan.
£25.00
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A short history of British architecture
The architecture of Britain is an art gallery all around us. From our streets to squares, through our cities, suburbs and villages, we are surrounded by magnificent buildings of eclectic styles. 'A Short History of British Architecture' is the gripping and untold story of why Britain looks the way it does, from prehistoric Stonehenge to the lofty towers of today.
£12.99
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Watercolour for the absolute beginner
'If you want to learn to paint, but don't know where to start, start here.' Artbookreview.netThe ultimate guide to watercolour painting for the complete beginner, from expert teacher, Matthew Palmer. This is a revised and updated edition of his beloved bestseller, which has now sold more than 100,000 copies.
£14.99
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10-minute watercolours
This handy, practical and inspirational little book is perfect for the pocket or art bag. It shows watercolour painters of all levels how to loosen up their paintings and maintain spontaneity by painting simple watercolour studies in no more than 10 minutes.
£7.99
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Photography
Discover the history behind photography and learn the skills to get the best from your photographs. A comprehensive all-in-one guide, this title introduces you to the art, history, and culture of photography, and shows you how to take your own fantastic professional-standard photographs.
£25.00
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Creative calm
Creative Calm is a practical mixed media art and craft book for those seeking soul enrichment and a more calming gentle life through a creative practice. Written and illustrated by qualified art therapist Sandy Cousens, this holistic guide explores the various ways we can connect with our more creative selves and find peace and fulfilment.
£15.99
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Your brain on art
The arts can deliver potent, accessible and proven solutions for the well-being of everyone. Magsamen and Ross offer compelling research that shows how engaging in an art project for as little as 45 minutes reduces the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level, and just one art experience per month can extend your life by ten years. 'Your Brain on Art' is a portal into this new understanding about how the arts and aesthetics can help us transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet. Featuring conversations with many artists, the book is an authoritative guide neuroaesthetics. The book weaves a tapestry of breakthrough research, insights from multidisciplinary pioneers, and compelling stories from people who are using the arts to enhance their lives.
£10.99
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Whittling woodland animals
Whittling Woodland Animals introduces the simple art of whittling with 15 wilderness creatures to create from scratch.
£14.99
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