The Knew York Times

by Mac Ragan

Marvelous, extreme close-up photography provides a child's-eye view of 33 years of Hot Wheels. Features a foreword by Jay Leno.

by Eric S. Trautmann

A lavish, full-colour collection of the artwork prepared in the course of creating the award-winning and massively successful Xbox video game, Halo. Included are behind-the-scenes secrets, stories and anecdotes recounting the making of the game, concept sketches, characters and environments. The text focuses on the techniques used in the illustrations and the stories of the team that made the game. This is a must for any fan of the Halo world.

by Yumiko Higuchi

Stitch simple and striking embroidery designs with wool, cotton, pearl cotton, and metallic threads. Japanese artist Yumiko Higuchi is celebrated for her embroidery designs with a Scandinavian flair. The motifs and patterns she offers here are true to her trademark zakka style: simple and graphic yet softened with organic shapes and imagery drawn from nature. The result is embroidery that feels modern and nostalgic all at once. In Embroidered Botanicals, Higuchi offers 39 embroidery projects highlighting the distinctive quality of different threads. With motifs created specifically for different types of thread-wool, cotton, pearl cotton, and metallic-makers will become better versed in the materials available to them. With beautiful photographs, clear step-by-step instructions, and detailed diagrams, this book will be an inspiring guide for those new to embroidery and a fresh and unique offering for those experienced with needle and thread.

by Will Roya

Learn when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em with Card Night, a collection of 52 classic card games, including rules and strategies. Featuring step-by-step, illustrated instructions, and two indexes that organize each game by difficulty and number of players needed, Card Night includes directions for playing all the most popular card games, including Hearts and Bridge, Rummy and Go Fish. In addition to providing the rules of standard game play, Card Night also details the fascinating stories and peculiarities behind some of the world's most famous card decks, some of which were used as currency, tools for propaganda, and even as a means for sending coded messages. Offering one game for each week of the year, Card Night is the go-to companion for weekly game nights, long car rides, and rainy days spent at home. Wow your friends and family with your game playing prowess and keep them entertained with fascinating details from playing card history.

by Musashi Miyamoto

A vibrant new translation and a guided tour through the history and strategic lessons of the most influential martial arts treatise ever written. Written over 300 years ago, this classic work speaks equally to the businessperson, philospher and the practitioner of martial arts. Master Hidy Ochiai is considered as a living legend in the martial arts world. His translation and annotations, which clarify the text's lessons in strategy for the contemporary reader, represent a seven year effort. Overlook's original edition has to date sold over 600,000 copies.

by Leon Pray

This early work on taxidermy is a fascinating read for the amateur or professional taxidermist and also contains much information that is still useful today. Extensively illustrated with full page diagrams and drawings. Contents Include: Tools and Materials; Preparing and Mounting a Deer Head; Preparing and Mounting a Fish; Preparing and Mounting a Bird; Preparing and Mounting a Wildcat; Preparing and Mounting a Small Mammal; Preparing and Mounting a Tortoise, A Horned Toad, and a Crayfish; Papier-Mâchés, Pasties, Mothproofing Solution, Etc. 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.

by Amanda Murphy

Creative free-motion ideas for traditional quilt blocks, borders, and more Take the guesswork out of free-motion quilting with 155 fresh ideas, each handpicked for a specific space on a quilt. Popular author Amanda Murphy pairs unique free-motion designs with 30 well-loved quilt blocks, such as the Sawtooth Star and Drunkard's Path. Pick and choose elements from each chapter (borders, sashing, motifs, and more) for an artful finish! This must-have reference includes an inspiring gallery of quilts, expert advice on domestic and longarm quilting, and complete instructions for a table runner project to hone your skills. • 155 quilting patterns to complement specific areas on your quilt • Free-motion pairings for 30 traditional quilt blocks, plus borders, sashing, freestanding motifs, and allover designs • Expert advice from author and BERNINA spokesperson Amanda Murphy

by Howard Coutts

The great age of European ceramic design began around 1500 and ended in the early 19th century with the introduction of large-scale production of ceramics. In this illustrated history, with nearly 300 color and black and white photos and reproductions, curator Howard Coutts considers the main stylistic trends�Renaissance, Mannerism, Oriental, Rococo, and Neoclassicism�as they were represented in such products as Italian Majolica, Dutch Delftware, Meissen and S�vres porcelain, Staffordshire, and Wedgwood pottery. He pays close attention to changes in eating habits over the period, particularly the layout of a formal dinner, and discusses the development of ceramics as room decoration, the transmission of images via prints, marketing of ceramics and other luxury goods, and the intellectual background to Neoclassicism.

by Azby Brown

The Genius of Japanese Carpentry tells the story of the 1200-year-old Yakushiji monastery in Nara and the dedicated modern-day craftsmen who are working to restore what has been lost to the depredations of time, fire and warfare. Although the full monastery reconstruction will not be completed until 2030, one of the main temples, the Picture Hall, has been completely restored employing the same woodworking technology used to create the original building. This new edition of an architectural classic is by Azby Brown--one of the world's leading experts on Japanese architecture. It contains a new preface and many new text materials and photographs--most of them now available in color for the first time. Azby Brown chronicles the painstaking restoration of the temple through extensive interviews with the carpenters and woodworkers along with original drawings based on the plans of master carpenter Tsunekazu Nishioka. An inspiring testament to the dedication of these craftsmen and their philosophy of carpentry work as a form of personal fulfillment, The Genius of Japanese Carpentry offers detailed documentation of this singular project and a moving reminder of the unique cultural continuity found in Japan.

by Charles Marshall Sayers

"This is an absolutely first-rate book for beginners in wood sculpture, well thought out and well executed. It is exceptional in the quality of its illustrations, and contains many original and unusual conceptions and designs."--E. J. Tangerman. In answer to complaints from students that there was no concise, simple text on wood carving, Charles Marshall Sayers, a nationally famous teacher and craftsman, wrote this book. It is still the finest book for the beginning student in wood sculpture. In clear, straightforward language, Sayers carefully guides the reader through the fundamentals--what tools and materials to use, how to use them. There are lessons and designs for incised carving, relief carving, and other cutting methods. Sayers discusses woods suitable for carving, stains and finishes, preliminary and advanced methods of preparing woods for finishing, even how to make a workbench. The 34 illustrated designs for over 34 projects encourage the student to build slowly and methodically a sound, practical technique while creating objects of beauty and utility. All of the projects employ only four tools (one straight parting tool, three different sizes of straight gouges). With this book you can make panels for cabinets, chests, and doors; borders; table aprons; chair and bench rails; circular mirror frame; wall bracket with shelf; bookends; rectangular mirror frame; footstools; guest-book covers; mirror frame with half-circle top; holy water font; and doors. Though "The Bo

by Syne Mitchell

Rigid-heddle weaving is simple to learn, is easy to master, and offers a lifetime of possibilities to discover! Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom covers everything rigid-heddle weavers need to know about the craft, from the basics — how to select a loom, set it up, and get started — to a wide variety of fun techniques that yield beautiful results. Begin by exploring a variety of weave structures, including finger-manipulated laces, tapestry, and color play with stripes, plaids, and multicolor yarns. Then move on to more complex designs and irresistible projects, from pillows and curtains to bags, shawls, and even jewelry. Explore warp-face patterning, weft-pile weaving, weaving with fine threads, woven shibori, shadow weave, and the textural effects you can create with different yarns and with wire and conductive thread. Everything you need to know is here, with fully illustrated step-by-step instructions to ensure success.

by Katrina Rodabaugh

This guide explores visible mending techniques in both hands-on projects and thoughtful insight about how mending relates to mindful well-being. Mending Matters explores sewing on two levels: First, it includes more than twenty projects that showcase visible mending—styles that are edgy, modern, and bold, yet draw on traditional stitching. It does all this with just four simple mending techniques: exterior patches, interior patches, slow stitches, darning, and weaving. In addition, the book addresses the way mending leads to a more mindful relationship to fashion and to overall well-being. In essays that accompany each how-to chapter, Katrina Rodabaugh explores mending as a metaphor for appreciating our own naturally flawed selves. She also examines the ways in which mending teaches us new skills, self-reliance, and confidence, all gained from making things with our own hands.

by Linda Darty

Enamelling is the art of fusing glass onto metal to create colourful designs and is one of the most ancient art methods. This guide covers basic instructions in the technique, how to set up a studio and what equipment is needed and finishes with 12 projects to try.

by Helen Sheumaker

Using a wide array of evidence drawn from poetry, fiction, diaries, letters, and examples of hairwork, Love Entwined traces the widespread popularity of the craft from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century.