December 26, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
Knitting in the details : charming designs to knit and embellish by Louisa Harding — There are a variety of techniques you can use to bring a little something extra to your knitting projects. This book covers embroidery, duplicate stitch, beading and a number of other such techniques. It's amazing what a difference a seemingly small effort can make.
December 22, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
Pruning & training by Christopher Brickell, David Joyce — There are so many plants that like to climb or have other growth habits that make it easy for gardeners to help them grow in a particular shape or pattern. This book covers a huge variety of those plants, as well as presenting background information on how different types of plants grow and the basics of both pruning and training. There's info here on how to prune and train established plants as well as how to get new plantings started to match your vision.
December 19, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
The Star Wars craft book by Bonnie Burton — Star Wars fans, get ready! This book contains a Millennium Falcon-full of awesome crafty projects. Star Wars maven Bonnie Burton is back with instructions to make your own Wookiee sock puppet, AT-AT herb garden, R2-D2 crochet beanie, Jabba the Hutt body pillow, and a ton of other way cool projects. Many of the projects are easier than bulls-eying womp rats, while others may require you to use the force (or perhaps have a helping hand from a parent or Jedi).
December 15, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
Lacy knits : 20 delicate projects in soft, luxurious mohair-silk yarns by Alison Crowther-Smith ; photographs by John Heseltine — Knitting lace can seem intimidating, but it really doesn't have to be difficult. There are many lace stitches that are almost as simple as knitting a basic rib pattern. Lace knits feel so indulgent and can be a great way to spoil yourself or someone you care for. This book includes patterns for scarves, wraps, shrugs, and even pillows and corsages.
December 12, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
Backyard birding : using natural gardening to attract birds by Julie Zickefoose ; and the editors of Bird watcher's digest — Watching birds in your yard can be a great way to relax and learn more about native creatures. Having birds in your garden can also benefit you in other ways: many feed on insects, which can help your garden flourish and make your yard a more pleasant place for people, too. Many of the plants that attract birds also attract butterflies - a double bonus!
December 8, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
Contemporary color in the landscape : top designers, inspiring ideas, new combinations by Andrew Wilson — In addition to the directions and tips on using color, selecting a palette, creating intensity, harnessing contrast to create drama, color combinations, and information on other technical ways of using color in your garden, the photographs in this book would stand on their own. They're gorgeous, and terrific inspiration for gardeners or anyone who appreciates natural beauty.
December 5, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
Closely knit : handmade gifts for the ones you love by Hannah Fettig — Are you looking for ideas for quick-to-make holiday gifts? There are a number of them in this book, as well as projects for speedier knitters or those whose gift-giving occasion is further in the future. Hats, scarves, bags, sweaters, and a few special unique items are included here.
December 1, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
The complete guide to saving seeds : 322 vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and shrubs by Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough — Purchasing plants every year can be expensive! Even buying seeds can add up after awhile, so why not save your own seeds? This book includes all the information you'll need to save seeds from herbs, vegetables, fruits, trees, and even shrubs. It also shows how to go a step further and customize your plants through cross-pollination.
November 28, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
Envisioning the garden : line, scale, distance, form, color, and meaning by Robert Mallet ; translated by Bryan Woy ; drawings by Yves Poinsot — Now that it's getting toward winter, it's a perfect time to work on garden plans for next year. It's hard to overstate the impact that careful planning can have on a garden space, but how many of us actually take time to do take all of these concepts into consideration before we start choosing varieties and planting? (Maybe it's just me who gets inspired and forgets to plan?) Either way, this book has a wealth of information that can help you create exactly the kind of garden space you desire.
November 24, 2011 | Anne Heidemann
The fleece & fiber sourcebook : more than 200 fibers from animal to spun yarn by Deborah Robson & Carol Ekarius — Have you ever wondered about the differences between various kinds of yarn? How is Merino defined, and what are the different types? What are all the animals from which fiber can be collected? What exactly is Cheviot? This book explains all that and much more. Large photographs make the illustrations quite clear and the background information for each type of animal and fiber is detailed and of interest to all fiber enthusiasts.