Until recently beads were under-researched. Even today in the UK, antique markets, necklaces and single beads still turn up in bargain boxes at cheap prices, whether glass, plastic, semiprecious stones – in fact almost anything that can have a threadable hole – or ethnic jewellery, holiday souvenirs or lavish carnival costume accessories. Throughout history, beads have shown prestige and wealth in their roles as trade goods, heirlooms and dowry, markers of tribal loyalty, prayer aids, magi...

With this book in one hand and a brush in the other, you can learn how to create different finishes and effects with paint to change everyday rooms and furnishings into something special, all for the price of a pot of paint. The first section of the book tells you everything you need to know before you start - how to prepare surfaces properly, choose the right paint for the right place, use the best tools and select a colour scheme that will work with the room in question. 50 different tec...

When I am in my bead shop and teaching, the most common problem I come across is people not knowing where to start, so in this book I have covered basic ways to get started. I have also given people a little insight of basic projects covering more than just beads, so you can try your hand at different things and have a lot of fun on your first steps to creating your own works of art.

This color-illustrated Encyclopedia of dinosaurs introduces over 50 types of dinosaurs. Clearly written and easy to understand text introduces us to the most important of these amazing rulers of our planet Earth which suddenly disappeared about 65 million years ago.The first animals we can recognize as dinosaurs lived about 225 million years ago. To begin with dinosaurs were small animals about a meter long, running on their hind legs. Early dinosaurs were among the first animals t...

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

DK Readers: Spiders' Secrets is now available with read-along audio feature, paced so that a child can read along with the text according to their level of reading confidence. It is the ideal programme to enable parents to support their child's literacy at home. Compiled in close consultation with leading literacy experts.Spiders' Secrets takes a look at all kinds of spiders from around the world, from hairy tarantulas to eight-eyed jumpin...

A handy guide identifying over 170 types of the world’s gemstones with beautiful colour photography taken from the Smithsonian Institution’s archives.‘Gem Gemstones’ is an indispensable guide for amateurs and enthusiasts alike. This pocket-sized book explores the fascinating history of ornamental stones, discussing their different social and cultural meanings and monetary values through the ages.Each page features specific details about the crystal system, hardness, composi...

Did you know there is a species of dinosaur named after Hogwarts? Which were the largest and smallest dinosaurs? What is the difference between a brontosaurus and an apatosaurus? This excellent book answers all of these questions and more, with over one hundred facts about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.

Packed full of tips for the aspiring watercolourist, its handy format makes it ideal for quick reference either in the studio or out in the field.Contents include:essential tips on all the basic watercolour techniques, plus helpful advice on sketching and drawingguidelines on painting skies, backgrounds, foregrounds, the main subject, trees, details and shadowsclear and straightforward step-by-step instructions for painting a complete landscape in ...

“Fascinating...Buchmann’s knowledge and enthusiasm jump off the page.” —The Wall Street Journal“An extraordinarily good book.” —Edward O. WilsonThe lively and definitive story of the beauty, sexuality, lore, economics, and ecology of the world ’s flowers, written by a devoted scientist and illustrated with his stunning photographs.Flowers—and the fruits they often become—feed, clothe, and inspire us. Indeed...

This complete guide to Batik is an invaluable resource for those interested in Batik history, design, and weaving.Here in this volume, the author has not only given a comprehensive and fascinating account of the origins and history of batik, with examples of techniques and design, but also includes a complete "How-To-Do-It" section on modern methods of creating batik.The text is lucid and easy to follow, and the simple step-by-step format will enable the ar...