Tag: Winter

New Crafts and Hobbies Books to Curl Up With This Winter

Ria

As we embrace the peak of the winter season, you may find yourselves holed up at home longer than usual and in search of something cozy. Why not celebrate this glorious hibernation mood by snuggling up with a comfy duvet on your couch, sipping a newly brewed vanilla chai tea and crafting your day away?

If you find your fingers frozen these winter mornings, we offer you these recently acquired titles to keep you all warm and bundled up to ward off the winter blues. From needle to fabric work, create simple wardrobe embroidery to upcycle your clothes; or alternatively, choose from a combination of 100+ cross stitch patterns of borders, alphabets, and motifs to create a design you want. For some “yarnspiration”, there are knitting projects to explore and enjoy that suit every crafters varying skill level – from a simple teacup coaster to a garden of cute Amigurumi flowers.

Perhaps you are just wanting to settle into a good book and let the day unfold slowly. Embrace the warmth that a good ol’ knitted sweater gives, while enjoying Osman Yousefzada’s memoir as a child growing up in Birmingham, or learning about the significance of colours in clothing throughout history.

These are just a few of handicraft projects and reads to choose from to keep your creative heart warm!

Wardrobe embroidery : knit & embroidery projects for upcycling clothes / Bolstad, Warunee
“In Wardrobe Embroidery, Warunee Bolstad of @plystreknitwear shows you how to easily breathe new life into your wardrobe by adding embroidery to clothes both old and new. Warunee presents a collection of charming embroidery patterns, ranging from beginner-friendly hearts and daisies to intricate floral arrangements. Use these lovely designs to freshen up worn out blouses and jeans or to personalize plain white t-shirts and boring bags.  From classic crewnecks and cabled cardigans to elegant handbags and cozy neckwarmers, these beautiful and simple designs offer sustainable style for everyday life. “–Amazon (Adapted from Catalogue)

100+ cross stitch patterns to mix and match : motifs and borders, plus 21 alphabets / Greenoff, Jane
“From flowers to cottages, birds and bees to holiday and sampler-style motifs, 100+ Cross Stitch Patterns to Mix and Match is bursting with exciting cross stitch designs to make! It’s easy to combine them (Jane teaches you how), and you’ll be ready to make a special stitched piece for any occasion. ” — Back cover. “With the 100+ motif and border patterns in this book, it’s easy to combine them to make your own cross stitch designs. The 21 unique cross stitch alphabets, made to coordinate with the motifs in a variety of styles, allow you to add words to complement your ideas”– Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Knitting : 20 mindful makes to reconnect head, heart & hands / Kludje, Sicgmone
“Knitting (Conscious Crafts) is a contemporary craft project book presenting over 20 projects for beginners. In Knitting (Conscious Crafts), co-founders of the Black Girl Knit Club unpick the meditative nature of the knitting process and its empowering skill set for creating, well-being and mindfulness. Making is mindfulness made practical, and knitting is an iconic craft proven to have a therapeutic impact on well-being. Sicgmone Kludje and Vea Koranteng have curated 20 modern makes, ranging from plant pot cosies to throws and snoods, to introduce the basics of knitting. Covering fundamental stitches and techniques including casting on, knit, pearl and moss stitch, Sicgmone and Vea show how these can be adapted for different projects as well as repurposing used textiles into your own upcycled yarn, all whilst embracing the restorative benefits of craft.” (Catalogue)

Kawaii crochet garden : 40 super cute amigurumi patterns for plants and more / Bradley, Melissa
“Crochet a garden of kawaii happiness with this super-cute collection of 40 patterns! Cultivate a colorful world of crochet flowers, plants, and garden creatures that are perfect for gifting, and learn the simple crochet techniques needed for everything to come up roses”–Page 4 of cover.” (Catalogue)

 

Nordic knits : 44 beautiful patterns to knit and keep you cozy / Flanders, Sue
“Nordic Knits offers 50 authentic, Scandinavian-inspired patterns for hats, mittens, and gloves-including stylish, traditional projects from Sweden, Norway, and Iceland”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

 

 

The color of fashion : the story of clothes in ten colors / Young, Caroline
“The Color of Fashion is a stunning coffee table book with fascinating stories of fashion woven throughout history with COLOR. Whether it’s mellow yellow, in the pink, feeling blue, or green with envy, COLOR is so entwined with our emotions that there are countless expressions and song lyrics devoted to it. But what meaning does color have in what we wear? What does a green dress convey when worn to a cocktail party, what significance does a white trouser suit have when worn by a female politician, and why does a woman in red command attention?” (Catalogue)

The go-between : a portrait of growing up between different worlds / Yousefzada, Osman
“A coming-of-age story set in Birmingham in the 1980s and 1990s, The Go-Between opens a window into a closed migrant community living in a red-light district on the wrong side of the tracks. The adult world is seen through Osman’s eyes as a child: his own devout Pashtun patriarchal community, with its divide between the world of men and women, living cheek-by-jowl with parallel migrant communities. The stories Osman tells, some fantastical and humorous, others melancholy and even harrowing, take us from the Birmingham of Osman’s childhood to the banks of the river Kabul and the river Indus, and, eventually, to the London of his teenage years. Osman weaves in and out of these worlds, struggling with the dual burdens of racism and community expectations, as he is forced to realise it is no longer possible to exist in the spaces in between.”–Publisher’s description.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Warm up with New Crafts and Hobbies Books

Ria

Winter is upon us and the atua Tāwhirimātea is making his presence known with a series of thunderstorms and biting wind chill in the last couple of weeks. As we say goodbye to barbecues and frolicking on a beach, what better way to usher in this new season than to get lost on a passion project at the comfort of your home!

Thinking of making a pair of your own simple slouchy socks for your cold feet but don’t know where to start? Tracy Lord’s “A Beginner’s Guide to Knitting: a complete step-by-step course” has 20 workshops and corresponding projects to put your knitting into practice. Likewise, packed with more than 100 patterns with fresh themes ranging from galaxies to terrariums “Fun & Funky Cross Stitch: 160+ Designs, 5 Alphabets, 30 Bonus Gift Ideas” is a must-have on your winter hobby list.

For those keen to learn about fabric craft, the book “Furoshiki : The Japanese art of wrapping with fabric” by Aurélie Le Marec invites you to discover the benefit of this ancient Japanese art of folding and knotting a fabric to carry all kinds of items (guitar case, anyone?). With over 50 projects to try, this creative and versatile craft could be part of your journey to a greener lifestyle. If you find yourself dabbling in flower arranging, don’t let this winter season stop you from enjoying the beauty fresh flowers evoke. Two books in our collection this month, “Floral Evolution: Over 20 displays that make the most of every stem” and “The Little Flower Recipe Book” provide practical guide, step-by-step instructions, along with stunning photographs for budding florists on a budget.

Other titles in this month’s selection includes “The Fashion Show : The stories, invites and art of 300 landmark shows” .  This pink and gold colour motif book is a window to over 50 years of  fashion’s exclusive printed art invitations. In “Anna: the Biography”, author Amy Odell delights us about Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour’s rise to become one of fashion industry’s most powerful women. So curl up with a cup of tea and spice up your winter night with intriguing tales from one of catwalk’s most important figures.

A beginner’s guide to knitting : a complete step-by-step course / Lord, Tracey
“Presents a step-by-step guide to stitches and techniques, from knit and purl to Fair Isle, and includes twenty beautiful projects to make.” (Catalogue)

 

 

 

Fun & funky cross stitch : 160+ designs, 5 alphabets, 30 bonus gift ideas.
“Hand stitch funky designs! Stitch an eclectic collection of funky designs from top cross stitch artists around the world. Includes a beginners guide to the basic stitches, the stitch chart, and supplies lists. Each design has a skill level suggestion and an estimated time of completion”–Page 4 of cover.” (Catalogue)

 

Furoshiki : the Japanese art of wrapping with fabric / Le Marec, Aurélie
“Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, and is used to wrap gifts and create bags for carrying things more easily. There is no sewing involved and, using just a square of fabric, Aurélie Le Marec shows you how to wrap all kinds of items from books to guitars and laptops to wine bottles. You can adapt furoshiki to suit items of all shapes and sizes and, with more than 50 furoshiki folds explained with step-by-step illustrations and clear instructions, you can help to reduce waste by making furoshiki part of your everyday life.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Floral evolution : over 20 displays that make the most of every stem / Foxwell, Catherine
“Author Catherine Foxwell believes that the flowers and beautiful arrangements should be accessible to all, and this book takes you through some simple projects using sustainable techniques to achieve this. She uses readily available, inexpensive flowers in straightforward projects that teach you how to repurpose the bloom into four different displays. With this step-by-step, extremely accessible approach, anyone can arrange blooms like a pro.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The little flower recipe book : 148 tiny arrangements for every season & occasion / Rizzo, Jill
“Beloved florist Jill Rizzo is back, and this time she has turned her attention to charming miniature arrangements. Projects are organized seasonally, and range from a thimble-sized vase of pansies to a tiny teacup holding a bundle of zinnias to a bud vase with a single Japanese anemone. All told, the book contains over 100 easy-to-follow recipes: ingredients lists specify the type and quantity of blooms needed; clear instructions detail each step; and hundreds of photos show how to place every stem.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The fashion show : the stories, invites and art of 300 landmark shows / Webb, Iain R
“The story of the haute couture catwalk, through an exclusive collection of VIP invitations. Spanning over 45 years and 300 shows, each invite opens a window into the key trends and ideas behind each collection.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Anna : the biography / Odell, Amy
“This definitive biography of legendary fashion journalist and media mogul Anna Wintour follows her journey from the trendy fashion scene of swinging 1960s London to becoming the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine.” (Catalogue)

 

 

 

Winter warming

Celeste1 Comment

With the temperature dropping and the Summer season of home maintenance well and truly over, we bring you winter warming cookbooks and a selection of gardening books to peruse for ideas for your Winter garden!

Syndetics book coverDelia Smith’s winter collection / illustrations by Flo Bailey.
“A collection of recipes for wintertime, featuring ingredients from a progression of winter produce from October to April. Both meat and vegetarian dishes are included, and many of them reflect the influence of French, Italian, Spanish and oriental flavours and ideas.” (Amazon)

Syndetics book coverWinter on the farm / Matthew Evans ; photography by Alan Benson.
“Join chef, food critic and author Matthew Evans as he embraces winter with more than 85 warming recipes – from Winter Potato and Bacon Soup, and Stout, Beef Shin and Mushroom Pie to an exceptionally delicious Kentish Cherry and Elderflower Fruit Pudding. Winter on the Farm is the ultimate guide to cooking nourishing and hearty food, and will inspire you to create these rich, wonderful flavours as soon as you feel a winter chill in the air.” (Library Catalogue)

Syndetics book coverBest winter plants / Stefan Buczacki ; special photography Andrew Lawson.
“Gardening expert Stefan Buczacki presents advice and information on growing the best winter plants. A reference for both beginning and expert gardeners about all aspects of plant care from propogation and pruning, to problem solving.” (Amazon)

Syndetics book coverWinter house / Charlotte Moss ; written with Jennifer Cegielski ; photographs by Jason Dewey.
“One of America’s top interior designers presents a beautifully illustrated guidebook for creating a comfortable, inviting winter home. With 200 color photographs.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverGrowing year round : vegetables, fruit, herbs / Dennis Greville.
“Dennis Greville is respected internationally for his plant and garden photography and is New Zealand’s most published gardening author and photographer. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned gardener, growing year round will encourage and inspire you, with practical advice that will help you achieve optimum results in your garden, whatever its size, climatic conditions and soil type. Dennis provides readily accessible information and tips on how to do things better. These easy to follow ideas will enable you to take charge of your garden and its productivity.” (Fishpond) Includes seasonal recipes.

Syndetics book coverSeasons in my house and garden / written and photographed by Holly Kerr Forsyth.
“In her latest outing, beloved gardening writer Holly Kerr Forsyth takes readers from her garden into the home and kitchen. Season by season, and month by month, Holly shares her gardening secrets and hard-won wisdom from years in the garden. Inside the house, Holly offers ideas on how to transform the produce into beautiful dishes, as well as tips for flower arranging, table setting, and more. Fully illustrated throughout, and with useful identifying pictures for flowers and produce, Seasons in My Garden is the perfect companion for gardeners experienced and novice, homemakers and keen cooks.” (Global Books)

Syndetics book coverWinter in the Alps : food by the fireside / Manuela Darling-Gansser ; photography by Simon Griffiths.
“Take a culinary journey from the peaks of St. Moritz down to the glittering streets of Zurich–home to some of the most delicious food in all of Europe–in this attractive cookbook of Alpine cuisine. Be tempted by Cloud Souffle, Pappardelle with Duck Ragu, melt-in-your-mouth Spatzle, Rosti, and Creamy Zabaione; sip warming Gluhwein and roast chestnuts over the open fire and be transported to the enchanting heart of continental Europe during winter. Showcasing the culture, lifestyle, and food of this remarkably diverse region, this beautifully illustrated book is a stunning depiction of the unique cuisine and breathtaking beauty of the Alps.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverThe winter garden : structure, planting and romance in the garden in winter / Eluned Price, photographs by Clive Nichols.
“After the exuberance of summer, the garden in its winter transformation is every gardener’s greatest challenge. The Winter Garden looks at the ways of creating a garden that is beautiful in adversity, when the weather is cold and inclement. With the loss of the rich colours of autumn, it explores the importance of shape and form, of choosing trees as much for their leafless winter frosts as for their summer foliage and textures. Using beautiful and varied gardens as examples, it looks at ways of shaping the garden with topiary, trellis and tunnels, of providing form with architectural planting, of using statuary, urns and tubs. This beautifully illustrated book explores what it is that makes the winter garden magical, unpacking the aesthetic thrill that goes with the sight of the ghostly white arcs of bramble or the flaming wands of dogwood, the clean frame of yew hedging or the filigree of interlaced leafless branches.” (Amazon)

Syndetics book coverWhat to eat now : the best of autumn and winter eating / Valentine Warner ; photographs by Howard Sooley.
“In ‘What to eat now : the best of autumn and winter eating’ Valentine Warner take us on a mouth-watering journey seeking out the foods and ingredients the colder months have to offer. In this seasonal guide Valentine shows how autumn’s meat, including lamb, pork, duck and partridge, is often roasted, braised or served in stews and pies. Fish is found in batter, soup, on toast and quickly fried. There are rich dairy dishes and an abundance of vegetable dishes using beetroot, cabbage, sweetcorn, pumpkins and so much more. This is a book for the inquisitive eater with the recipes that are both simple and satisfying. Most of all with Valentine’s engaging style, it promises to bring a little pleasure into your kitchen and joy to your table.” (Amazon)

Taste of New Zealand winter / Robyn Martin.
“A recipe book for the winter months, illustrated with full colour photograph. The chapters range from ‘stock pot saviours’ and ‘fireside meals’ through ‘hot and hearty’ and ‘things to make on rainy days’ to ‘winter puds’. It is a companion book to Taste of New Zealand Summer. The author is food editor of the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly.” (Syndetics summary)