With its overview of flower pressing’s rich history and a beginner-friendly guide to getting started, this book is a bona fide garden of delights that’s sure to inspire creations rooted in the past, yet flowering in the present.
A great starter guide for readers wanting to learn to paint with a palette knife; they will learn all about the additives, mediums, and other items Fisher has experimented with to achieve the effects that enhance his works.
The book’s cute animal designs include sloths, dinosaurs, unicorns, rabbits, foxes, and a veritable menagerie of animal friends, so there’s sure to be one that fits any child’s unique interests and imagination or a nursery’s theme. This book is as joyful and simple as its title suggests.
Essential for libraries supporting a fashion design program. Also useful for programs such as 4-H, Extension Homemakers, and others wanting to go to the next level.
Far from a how-to for beginners, this book includes projects that expertly teach processes, such as color blocking, blending, and multiple effects that can be executed with a knife. This will likely be a popular addition to craft collections.
This is an excellent companion for those who may need to express themselves and heal but aren’t sure where to start. Worthwhile to have in any library, especially for readers who may be hesitant to reach out.
A great title for beginners or readers looking for new inspiration in watercolor techniques. The illustrations are all nature-based, making it an excellent option for the summer season.
A great addition for arts or craft collections. The featured projects will likely keep novice painters interested, and there are clear instructions for absolute beginners.
This book will likely appeal to readers of all sewing levels, especially those who are environmentally conscious and interested in learning to sew with recycled materials.
Crafters interested in adding macramé touches to their homemade Christmas decor will likely enjoy this book. This is a strong selection for libraries with well-circulating holiday craft collections.
A great lettering and calligraphy resource that’s filled with inventive ideas, rather than traditional approaches. Readers interested in exploring creative lettering will likely find this to be a helpful title for getting started.
A well-structured title filled with detailed instructions and photos. The book’s projects would make cute gifts, but its focus may be a little too narrow for some collections.
Crocheters of all skill levels will be able to produce cute creatures that any child (or adult) will beg to cuddle. Librarians should add all of this author’s books to their crochet collections.
The projects are great for those new to shibori techniques, but readers are likely better off choosing titles that are more current and less focused on the use of a specific kit.
A fun book for eco-conscious parents who aren’t afraid of a little extra work in order to extend the life of their kids’ clothes. Children can help with these projects as well.
For experienced watercolor painters. This book, illustrated throughout with Beale’s beautiful landscapes, will provide ample inspiration and instruction.
This book takes readers through the process, from start to finish, of making cotton and linen clothing. Many crafters and readers interested in sustainability will likely enjoy this one.
Functional and beautiful, this book will likely inspire readers want to perfect their pottery techniques. An excellent and useful purchase for libraries with vibrant art communities.
This is a sumptuous reference volume that not only offers a plentitude of patterns but also contains helpful photos for each stitch for knitters to easily visualize and incorporate into their own original creations. This handy guide can enhance the abilities of all knitters.
This book shows exactly how fun, fashionable, and flattering retro crochet garments can be. Its patterns are suitable for all crochet skill levels, making it the perfect addition to any library’s catalogue of crafting books.
Artists interested in learning colored pencil techniques could hardly find a better resource, but librarians should be aware of this title’s removable practice pages.
A quick-start intro guide to the craft of embroidery. Best suited for right-handed beginners who want to dive right into projects. Left-handed readers and those who have already mastered the basics but are interested in improving their skills are advised to look elsewhere.
This excellent work is chock-full of helpful and fascinating facts about a popular knitting technique. Ideal for intermediate and advanced knitters, and an essential purchase for crafts collections.
For his first print book, Ghafari, who created the Urban Farm and Kitchen blog, has written an approachable, deeply useful work for beginner gardeners that is enlivened with recipes and great images.
A foreword by Jane Goodall and quirky dog drawings enhance this title. For comprehensive collections of materials on dog studies, animal cognition, and psychology and for general readers who love their pet dogs.
While the information in this book isn’t particularly new or groundbreaking, its straightforward language and expressive illustrations of many different cat species make it a helpful read for families with children who are getting their first pet cat or for new cat owners looking for an easy manual to help guide their understanding of their new feline family member.
A glossary and further reading for field guides and species accounts will satisfy the scientific reader, and artists are well served by the beautifully presented artworks and Hashimoto’s tips and personal insights. Consider also for displays on nature-related travel destinations.
Families interested in developing a stronger connection with the natural world will find a wealth of enjoyable recipes and activities in this well-organized guide.
Libraries with an already established machine sewing collection will find this an enchanting title to have available as a next read for their patrons. This is a fun resource for beginners to use to learn and practice new skills and for seasoned sewists to try something different.
This upbeat book provides clear guidance about the shape of letters, the layout of a page, and much more. It cleverly shows readers how to transform letters that fit their personalities and styles while embracing progress, not perfection.
This time-honored method to artistically enhance clothing presents a new opportunity for intermediate or even new sewers. The book is a useful addition for all library collections, especially when paired with library programming.
A nice collection of information and patterns, but the niche subject matter of the designs doesn’t make this book an essential item for craft collections.
While this is a great resource for getting started and includes a variety of gorgeous and creative pieces, true beginners should be prepared for some complex projects that require additional patience and skill.
This simple short book, while imperfect, is a nice addition for larger crafting collections. Libraries should be warned that there are several places where readers are encouraged to write in the book to chart their own crochet journey.
The pairings in this book will likely inspire readers to mix craft techniques, create uncommon, interesting projects, and consider scraps, fabrics, and fibers in new ways.
General readers, historians, and flower lovers will enjoy this book’s ability to take them on a virtual visit to the islands of Hawai‘i, where they can learn about the rich heritage of the lei.
A well-written title with excellent basic sewing directions geared toward moderately experienced sewists. Purchase where fat-quarter books are popular.
This stunning book will likely compel readers to imagine the past as they work on the towels, baskets, blankets, and more that will keep traditions alive.
Many sewists have an interest in sustainability and the environmental impact of fashion. This book provides thoughtful guidance for repurposing a variety of garments and textiles. Recommended for all sewing collections.
This is a practical guide for beginning watercolor painters who want to learn, improve, and apply their techniques. A solid addition to arts and crafts collections.
What is great about this book is that it stresses the benefits of floral arrangements in a clear, approachable way. Designs are welcoming, accessible, and mindful of the environment. From the simple to moderately complex, these projects offer something for all levels.
This book is full of practical advice, such as notifying the neighbors before construction begins and the need to research local building codes. However, it is not for true beginners, as it requires a basic understanding of woodworking, tools, and construction terms. There’s also only one specific architectural plan. If readers want to make a different type of treehouse, they may need to consult a professional or another resource.
The technical aspects of kintsugi are best directed to artists interested in learning the Japanese techniques. For the layperson, there are other methods of repairing ceramics that mimic the look of kintsugi without the expense and difficulty.
A beneficial purchase, of particular use for self-published and small-press authors, with information that will be helpful for anyone seeking to boost the visibility of their work.
This visually striking art book will appeal to all who appreciate the beauty of ikebana and might inspire readers to try their hand at creating their own hanaike using Ueno’s techniques.
Whether readers are looking for the perfect dish to woo or a way to comfort through food, McAlpine provides the tools and recipes to say it with love from a kitchen.
Armchair travelers and fans of the brand will enjoy this title cover to cover, and serious home chefs will delight in the multifaceted, complex yet rewarding recipes. Instructions are in metric measurements, which will detract for some readers but not devotees.
Flynn may be Canada’s best-kept secret, with her laidback attitude, entertaining chops, and deceptively simple dishes. She will be a popular fresh new voice for cookbook shelves.
Part memoir, part cookbook, this is a work that readers will devour cover to cover in between trying Boudy’s recipes in the kitchen. Boudy fans will come for the memoir and stay for the food, while other library patrons will come for the recipes and be delighted by Boudy’s journey.