The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming (New York Review Books Classics)

Call it “Zen and the Art of Farming” or a “Little Green Book,” Masanobu Fukuoka’s manifesto about farming, eating, and the limits of human knowledge presents a radical challenge to the global systems we rely on for our food. At the same time, it is a spiritual memoir of a man whose innovative system of cultivating the earth reflects a deep faith in the wholeness and balance of the natural world. As Wendell Berry writes in his preface, the book “is valuable to us because it is at once practical and philosophical. It is an inspiring, necessary book about agriculture because it is not just about agriculture.”

Trained as a scientist, Fukuoka rejected both modern agribusiness and centuries of agricultural practice, deciding instead that the best forms of cultivation mirror nature’s own laws. Over the next three decades he perfected his so-called “do-nothing” technique: commonsense, sustainable practices that all but eliminate the use of pesticides, fertilizer, tillage, and perhaps most significantly, wasteful effort.

Whether you’re a guerrilla gardener or a kitchen gardener, dedicated to slow food or simply looking to live a healthier life, you will find something here—you may even be moved to start a revolution of your own.

List Price: $ 15.95

Price: $ 9.13

The Naked Gardener

Artist Katelyn Cross loves Greg Mazur and he loves her. He wants to be married but a previous relationship that went sour has made Katelyn overly cautious about any permanent commitment. And what about Greg’s first wife? He lost her to cancer and Katelyn worries that he’s only looking for a replacement. What’s a girl to do? Canoe down a river with five gal pals, camp out, catch fish, talk about life and men. The problem is, a river can be as unpredictable as any relationship and just as hard to manage. On their last day, when the river turns wild, the women face the challenge of a lifetime and find that staying alive means saving themselves first while being open to help from a most unlikely source. As Katelyn navigates the raging water, she learns how to overcome her fear of change in a world where nothing stays the same. When Katelyn returns to her garden, she’ll face one more obstacle and the naked gardener will meet the real Greg Mazur.


What bloggers are saying about The Naked Gardener:

http://foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/2011/01/naked-gardener-by-lb-gschwandtner.html
The characters are appealing, both as individuals and as a group, and I was quickly pulled into their story. 4 strong stars- a great way to ring in the new year!

http://everydaylifeofamamaandwife.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-of-naked-gardener-by-l-b.html
"I would hands down read anything that L. B. Gschwandtner writes."

http://whisperingwriter.blogspot.com/2010/12/naked-gardener-by-lb-gschwandtner.html
"I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it. Now, whenever I see a garden, I’ll probably think, 'That chick from The Naked Gardner book would be in the buff here.'"

http://100starsorless.blogspot.com/2010/11/naked-gardener-by-l-b-gschwandtner.html
"...the book surprised me in such a great way. Both the writing style combined with the interests and the voice of the book’s main character, Katelyn, spoke to me in a way that seemed incredibly close to life. Within the first few chapters I began to wonder if I was really reading fiction or if I was somehow mistaken and reading non-fiction instead. I even went so far to check the back of the book and online as well. It was indeed fiction and this really impressed me. One of the things I enjoyed most at the beginning of the novel was the description of gardening and Katelyn’s summer home. The gardening scenes reminded me much of both my mother and grandmother in their own gardens (okay, leave out the naked part, and there you go). However, as the book continued and Katelyn’s group of friends went on a weekend-long canoe trip this burst of reality came to life on a whole new level for me. The conversations these women have and their reactions to each other were yet again faithful to the way (I believe) many women actually act in real life."

http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-naked-gardener-by-lb.html
"... the novel is not really about gardening naked; it is about the freedom to make the choices that drive our lives."

http://www.psychoticstate.net/2010/11/book-review-naked-gardener-by-lb.html
"I thought The Naked Gardener was a satisfying read with an underlying female empowerment theme. It left me feeling grateful for the circle of female friends I have and desiring a girls’ weekend with them (although perhaps not canoeing!) I would not hesitate to recommend The Naked Gardener as a subtle, yet fulfilling, read."

In her first novel, award winning writer L B Gschwandtner explores the push and pull of love, a woman’s need to maintain her individuality within marriage, and the bonds that can make women stronger even when the world feels as if it’s breaking apart.

List Price: $ 0.99

Price: $ 0.99

Knit Noro: 30 Designs in Living Color

Japanese designer Eisaku Noro creates some of the world's most magnificent yarns-made from exquisite natural materials and color-blended into stunning hues, they're prized by knitters everywhere. This lush, beautifully styled book offers needleworkers of all skill levels a collection of patterns that make the most of Noro's breathtaking creations. The projects, which range from an Entrelac Scarf and Cowl Neck Vest to a Felted Cloche and Chevron Throw, include on-trend fashion and accessories.

List Price: $ 24.95

Price: $ 14.55

Politics - A Treatise on Government

Politics - A Treatise on Government

List Price: $ 15.00

Price: $ 15.00

National Electrical Code 2008 Index Tabs

User-friendly and up-to-date, these National Electrical CodeTabs are a great way to organize the NEC 2008. These self-adhesive tabs can reduce the time spent searching to find key information. Tabs are durable and allow for positioning adjustments after being placed on the code paper. Affordable and time-saving, these are a must-have for NEC users.

List Price: $ 16.50

Price: $ 12.68

Serendipity Quilts: Cutting Loose Fabric Collage

Save those scraps! Discover the joy and freedom of creating collage-style quilts without rules and measurements. Get hands-on instruction from an award-winning artist who believes creating with your instincts will produce gorgeous results every time.

List Price: $ 27.95

Price: $ 16.58

Couture Sewing Techniques, Revised and Updated

The world of haute couture is a place where only a privileged few can ever hope to reside, right? Wrong. Fashion historian Claire B. Shaeffer opened the door to this exclusive realm in her authoritative guide to the techniques that define couture sewing. And now, the industry bible, Couture Sewing Techniques, has been revised and updated throughout — with new photos and a chapter on specialty fabrics. No one can unravel couture garment construction the way Schaeffer can, from the art of hand sewing to mastering edge finishes, from classic closures to shaping a garment for a perfect fit. Readers learn all the basics — and more importantly: how to apply the techniques — on skirts and sleeves, pockets and jackets, evening gowns, and more. Gorgeous photos, clear illustrations, and concise language combine to make this the most complete couture-sewing course available.

List Price: $ 24.95

Price: $ 13.82

Papertoy Monsters: Make Your Very Own Amazing Papertoys!

A breakthrough paper-folding book for kids—paper airplanes meet Origami meets Pokemon. Papertoys, the Internet phenomenon that’s hot among graphic designers and illustrators around the world, now comes to kids in the coolest new book. Created and curated by Brian Castleforte, a graphic designer and papertoy pioneer who rounded up 25 of the hottest papertoy designers from around the world (Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Italy, Croatia, Chile, even Jackson, Tennessee), Papertoy Monsters offers 50 fiendishly original die-cut designs that are ready to pop out, fold, and glue. The book interleaves card stock with paper stock for a unique craft package; the graphics are colorful and hip, combining the edginess of anime with the goofy fun of Uglydolls and other collectibles. Plus each character comes with its own back-story.

And the results are delicious: meet Pharaoh Thoth Amon, who once ruled Egypt but is now a mummy who practices dark magic in his sarcophagus. Or Zumbie the Zombie, who loves nothing more than a nice plate of brains and yams. NotSoScary, a little monster so useless at frightening people that he has to wear a scary mask. Yucky Chuck, the lunchbox creature born in the deepest depths of your school bag. Plus Zeke, the monster under your bed, Nom Nom, eater of cities, and Grumpy Gramps, the hairy grandpa monster with his very own moustache collection.

List Price: $ 16.95

Price: $ 9.03

The Emotional Lives of Animals

Based on award-winning scientist Marc Bekoff’s years studying social communication in a wide range of species, this important book shows that animals have rich emotional lives. Bekoff skillfully blends extraordinary stories of animal joy, empathy, grief, embarrassment, anger, and love with the latest scientific research confirming the existence of emotions that common sense and experience have long implied. Filled with Bekoff’s light humor and touching stories, The Emotional Lives of Animals is a clarion call for reassessing both how we view animals and how we treat them.

If the onus on Emotional Lives of Animals author Marc Bekoff was simply to prove that nonhuman creatures exhibit Charles Darwin's six universal emotions (anger, happiness, sadness, disgust, fear, and surprise), then his book would be very brief. As anyone who has ever had a pet dog, cat, rabbit, or even bird can attest, animals not only possess such emotions but broadcast them clearly and often. Bekoff's goal, however, is much grander: To show that wild and domestic species have a kaleidoscopic range of feelings, from embarrassment to awe, and that we dismiss them not only at their peril but our own. And if an endorsement squib by PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Foreword by renowned animal scientist Jane Goodall doesn't give it away, then readers quickly learn that Bekoff also has an agenda: showing that using animals for scientific experiments, amusement, food, and the like is reprehensible and unconscionable.

Not that The Emotional Lives of Animals is a polemic. By turns funny, anecdotal, and deeply researched, the book is all the more persuasive because it's so compelling. As Bekoff (professor emeritus of biology at the University of Colorado) points out, "It's bad biology to argue against the existence of animal emotions. Scientific research in evolutionary biology, cognitive ethology, and social neuroscience supports the view that numerous and diverse animals have rich and deep emotional lives. Emotions have evolved as adaptations in numerous species, and they serve as a social glue to bond animals with one another." And with us, as Bekoff argues in this absorbing and important book. -- Kim Hughes

List Price: $ 14.95

Price: $ 14.95

Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process

"You be good. I love you," were Alex's final words to his owner, research scientist Irene Pepperberg, before his premature death at age thirty-one on September 6, 2007. An African Grey parrot, Alex had a brain the size of a shelled walnut, yet he could add, sound out words, understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none, and he disproved the widely accepted idea that birds possess no potential for language or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Alex & Me is the remarkable true account of an amazing, irascible parrot and his best friend who stayed together through thick and thin for thirty years—the astonishing, moving, and unforgettable story of a landmark scientific achievement and a beautiful relationship.

List Price: $ 13.99

Price: $ 5.92

DESSERTS AND SALADS (FANTASTIC CLASSIC - New Edition) (LOWEST PRICE)

DESSERTS AND SALADS


BY
GESINE LEMCKE

SO MUCH HERE

I ASK every one who may become possessed of this book to read the recipes herein contained carefully and thoughtfully before attempting the making of any of them, and also to observe the following instructions:
Weigh and measure all ingredients exactly, and have everything ready to mix before you commence.
If you measure your ingredients by means of a cup be sure you use one which holds half a pint.
Use neither more nor less of anything than the recipe instructs you, and be sure to have your fire just right, as also instructed by the recipe.
If at first success does not come to you do not despair, but persist in following the advice of the old adage: “Try, try again.”
You should always bear in mind that honest work is never lost and that reward must come in the end.


Directions for Making Ice Cream.— The implements needed are a freezer, rock salt and finely cracked ice. Ice cream freezers can be bought at any hardware store. They consist of a large wooden pail with a faucet on the side near the bottom and a freezer with a paddle inside. The cracking of the ice is best accomplished by putting it into a coarse sack and pounding it fine with a hammer or mallet. Place the freezer into the pail, put in the paddle and cover the freezer tightly. Fill the space between the pail and freezer with fine cracked ice to ⅓ its height, sprinkle over 2 handfuls salt and pack down the ice with a piece of wood, so that it may be firm all around the freezer; continue with layers of ice, salt and the packing down till the ice reaches to the edge of cover; next pour into the freezer the mixture that is to be frozen; but care should be taken not to put in too much, for the cream needs plenty of room in order to become light and smooth; cover the freezer and let it stand for 5 minutes; then commence to turn; after 10 minutes’ turning remove the cover from freezer and cut the frozen cream with a long bladed knife from the sides of can; repeat this every 10 minutes until the cream is frozen hard; then remove the paddle, even off the cream in the freezer, cover and let it stand for 10 minutes; do not draw off the water from pail until it stands above the ice and the freezer has lost its firm hold; after drawing off the water fill the space up again with cracked ice and salt; when the 10 minutes have elapsed fill the frozen cream into an ice form, cover tightly and paste a strip of buttered paper around the edge of cover; then pack the form into cracked ice and salt for 1 or 2 hours; when ready to serve take the form from the ice, rinse it off with cold water, remove the 70 paper and wipe the form dry; then dip it quickly into hot water, take off the cover, turn the cream onto a dish and serve at once.
265. Ice Cream (large quantity).— 14 quarts sweet cream, 6 quarts milk, 7 pounds sugar, 30 eggs and ¼ pound gelatine; soak gelatine for 10 minutes in a little of the milk; put the remaining milk over the fire and boil; then add the soaked gelatine and stir and boil till it is dissolved; set aside to cool a little; beat eggs and sugar to a cream and add by degrees the milk, stirring constantly; return to fire and let it get boiling hot; but do not allow it to boil, otherwise it will curdle; remove from fire, pass it through a sieve and set aside to cool, stirring it occasionally; beat the cream until quite thick, gradually add the cold custard and continue beating for a little while longer; then put it in a freezer and freeze as directed.

List Price: $ 0.99

Price: $ 0.99

England's Hideaways: Discovering Enchanting Rooms, Stately Manor Houses, and Country Cottages

Featuring stunning escapes selected for their unique views, unrivaled décor, and one-of-a-kind ambiences, this book is the perfect gift for both the sophisticated traveler and interiors aficionados. Travel journalist and hotel expert Meg Nolan van Reesema has explored England from London to the Lake District for its most pampering, exclusive hideaways. Oxfordshire’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is one of England’s most prized destinations, with its 2-Michelin–star cuisine and the manor house’s French-inspired rooms featuring luscious silk fabrics, mullioned windows, and four-poster beds. Just an hour outside London, the stately Hartwell House ensures a peek into the grandeur of England’s former estates: each room offers original details, antique furnishings, and massive Georgian windows overlooking the property’s parkland, complete with grazing cows and a small river filled with swans. With more than 200 original photographs of stunning interiors set against romantic English landscapes from the moors to the seaside (the book includes properties in Cornwall, Devon, York, Wiltshire, the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, Norfolk, The Peak District, East Sussex, Lancashire, Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, Middle England, Lake District, and London), the book is an invaluable guide to the finest escapes in England.

List Price: $ 50.00

Price: $ 31.50

Oliver + S Little Things to Sew: 20 Classic Accessories and Toys for Children

Home sewers love to dress the children in their lives in garments they have hand-crafted. No one understands this better than Liesl Gibson, who is both a mom and the founder of Oliver + S, a sewing pattern company known for its contemporary yet classically sensible kids’ designs, its precise, easy-to-follow instructions, and its charming paper doll–inspired packaging. In Oliver + S Little Things to Sew, you’ll find 20 acessories for children, such as a hat with bear ears, scarf, vest, tutu, art smock, backpack, and quilt—all impeccably photographed by Laurie Frankel. The book includes two full-size pattern sheets and, as an added bonus, two cardstock paper dolls that can be dressed with “clothing” cut from the book’s jacket—a little something extra to keep young ones occupied while grownups stitch new items for their wardrobes!

List Price: $ 27.50

Price: $ 16.56

175 Fresh Card Ideas: Designs to Make and Give Throughout the Year

Share joy with handmade cards!

Handmade cards are fun to give and receive! 175 Fresh Card Ideas is packed with ideas for all occasions—from kid-friendly themes and milestone birthdays to holidays, bridal and baby showers and sweet sentiments—so you’ll never be stuck without a design idea for any card-giving occasion. More than 50 cards include step-by-step instructions and each chapter features a gallery brimming with more inspiration.

You’ll discover:

• Essential techniques for card-making—including rubber stamping, paper trimming, using Copic markers and more—makes this book great for beginning card-makers and enthusiasts alike.

• Ideas for special sentiments that will work interchangeably with many of the cards.

• Sketches for creating cards and inspiration for tags, gift bags, candy wrappers and more are also included.

Let 175 Fresh Card Ideas help you celebrate any occasion!

List Price: $ 21.99

Price: $ 5.71

Patternmaking for Fashion Design (5th Edition)

Renowned for its comprehensive coverage, exceptional illustrations, and clear instructions, Patternmaking for Fashion Design offers detailed yet easy-to-understand explanations of the essence of patternmaking. Hinging on a recurring theme that all designs are based on one or more of the three major patternmaking and design principles–dart manipulation, added fullness, and contouring–it provides students with all the relevant information necessary to create design patterns with accuracy regardless of their complexity. Some innovative, new information in this book include:

 

Updated with modern, cutting-edge sketches and designs.  

DVD included in the back of the book.

Ribbing added to the knit section of Chapter 27.

More materials on children's wear and swim wear.

Knock offs.

Fitting corrections

Advanced design projects

A practical introduction to patternmaking

Complete coverage of the three steps of design patterns: dart manipulation, added fullness, and contouring.

Chapter projects

List Price: $ 125.00

Price: $ 90.00

California Native Plants for the Garden

California Native Plants for the Garden is a comprehensive resource that features more than 500 of the best California native plants for gardening in Mediterranean-climate areas of the world. Authored by three of the state's leading native-plant horticulturists and illustrated with 450 color photos, this reference book also includes chapters on landscape design, installation, and maintenance. Detailed lists of recommended native plants for a variety of situations and appendices with information on places to see native plants and where to buy them are also provided.

List Price: $ 29.95

Price: $ 18.78

Book of Us: A Journal of Your Love Story in 150 Questions

This attractively designed, user-friendly, and elegant volume invites readers to record the stories and moments of the romance of a lifetime through 100 simple, yet poignant, prompts.For the diehard romantic, there may be nothing so thrilling as chronicling that one true love. The Book of Us presents 150 topics on the subject--ranging from "Before I met you, my love life was..." to "One of the reasons I think we lasted so long as a couple is that..." Like David Marshall's earlier book, The Book of Myself, which is also a keepsake, this book makes us wish it were prettier. But it is the thought that counts, and a lot of thought will go into turning these empty pages into something a spouse, one's children, and then their children will cherish. And not to fear: While this is a very sweet book, there is also plenty of room here to ruminate on the less saccharine aspects of life partnership: financial crises, humorous escapades, parenting woes, and home-improvement projects. A word to gay readers: One of the book's five sections focuses on "Tying the Knot"; some of the questions specifically address elements such as the bachelor party and the wedding dress, but most of the questions are generic enough to apply to any type of commitment ceremony. --Jane Steinberg

List Price: $ 14.99

Price: $ 8.31

Wiring a House (Best of Fine Homebuilding)

-- Covers wiring any room, proper grounding, installing panels, and more

List Price: $ 34.95

Price: $ 35.00

500 Vases: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Form (500 Series)

Form, function, beauty: vases are versatile and flexible,  and beloved by potters for the variety of techniques, ideas, and aesthetics they embrace. 500 Vases is the tenth book devoted to ceramics in the popular series, and a welcome addition. It showcases the finest contemporary work from international artists, capturing the full spectrum of styles, each potter's original voice, and whenever possible, close-up details that truly capture the surface quality of the piece.

List Price: $ 24.95

Price: $ 13.95

Natural Patchwork: 26 Stylish Projects Inspired by Flowers, Fabric, and Home (Make Good: Crafts + Life)

Whether you are at home or out enjoying a walk on a wooded path, you can add a touch of color and comfort to your daily routines with one or more of the twenty-six projects featured here. By using the patchwork placemats to enliven your dining experience or by taking the hexagon patchwork bag on a picnic in a meadow, you never have to stray too far from the comfort of patchwork. The simple and traditional patchwork styles used in this book are paired with retro fabrics and contemporary designs to create everyday items.

Detailed diagrams and instructions are provided for each project. In addition, six mini-lessons on patchwork sewing are offered, making the projects here perfect for beginner and intermediate sewers.

Make the projects in this book and add the warmth of handmade to your home and nature outings.

List Price: $ 19.95

Price: $ 11.07

How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: A Training Manual for Dog Owners

For nearly a quarter century, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend has been the standard against which all other dog-training books have been measured. This new, expanded edition, with a fresh new design and new photographs throughout, preserves the best features of the original classic while bringing the book fully up-to-date. The result: the ultimate training manual for a new generation of dog owners - and, of course, for their canine best friends. The Monks of New Skete have achieved international renown as breeders of German shepherds and as outstanding trainers of dogs of all breeds. Their unique approach to canine training, developed and refined over three decades, is based on the philosophy that "understanding is the key to communication, compassion, and communion" with your dog. The importance of honest and effective communication with your dog is underscored throughout this guide, especially in the practical training exercises: a detailed, comprehensive, fully illustrated obedience course through which the monks lead you (and your dog) step-by-step. How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend covers virtually every aspect of living with and caring for your dog, including: Selecting a dog (what breed? male? female? puppy or older dog?) to fit your lifestyle Where to get - and where not to get - a dog Reading a pedigree Training your dog or puppy - when, where, and how The proper use of praise and discipline Feeding, grooming, and ensuring your dog's physical fitness Recognizing and correcting canine behavioral problems The particular challenges of raising a dog where you live - in the city, country, or suburb The proper techniques for complete care of your pet at every stage of his or her life In this new edition, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend has been expanded to encompass the latest equipment (e.g., retractable leashes, "invisible" fences); new trends in training and care (doggy day care, professional dog walkers, etc.); and dozens of new anecdotes and case studies, drawn from the monks' own experience, that bring to life the essential training concepts. In its scope, its clarity, and its authority, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend remains unrivaled as a basic training guide for dog owners. Like no other book, this guide can help you understand and appreciate your dog's nature as well as his or her distinct personality - and in so doing, it can significantly enrich the life you share with your dog.The Monks of New Skete share their invaluable training techniques and philosophy in their bestselling book, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend. First and foremost, the Monks--who themselves breed and raise German shepherds in Upstate New York--emphasize that "understanding is the key to communication, compassion, and communion" with your dog. Outlined in seven highly readable and informative chapters, the training principles offer a better knowledge of your pet's psyche and personality--ultimately deepening the bond between human and animal. Striving to educate and sensitize new and potential owners to dog kind, the book explores different breeds and temperaments, and assesses the best places from which to obtain a dog. Thanks to a succession of neatly ordered chapters and subsections on everything from crates and leash training to dog treats and massage, training is made accessible and even fun. The Monks lay particular emphasis on the importance of training with "spirit, humor, and most of all, physical and verbal praise!" Whether you're a new owner or an old-timer, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend is one of the best training guides available, written with compassion, empathy, and humor. --Naomi Gesinger

List Price: $ 8.99

Price: $ 8.99

Earthbag Building: The Tools, Tricks and Techniques (Natural Building Series)

Over 70 percent of Americans cannot afford to own a code-enforced, contractor-built home. This has led to widespread interest in using natural materials-straw, cob, and earth-for building homes and other buildings that are inexpensive, and that rely largely on labor rather than expensive and often environmentally-damaging outsourced materials.

Earthbag Building is the first comprehensive guide to all the tools, tricks, and techniques for building with bags filled with earth-or earthbags. Having been introduced to sandbag construction by the renowned Nader Khalili in 1993, the authors developed this "Flexible Form Rammed Earth Technique" over the last decade. A reliable method for constructing homes, outbuildings, garden walls and much more, this enduring, tree-free architecture can also be used to create arched and domed structures of great beauty-in any region, and at home, in developing countries, or in emergency relief work.

This profusely illustrated guide first discusses the many merits of earthbag construction, and then leads the reader through the key elements of an earthbag building:
Special design considerations
Foundations, walls and floors
Electrical, plumbing and shelving
Lintels, windows and door installations
Roofs, arches and domes
Exterior and interior plasters.

With dedicated sections on costs, making your own specialized tools, and building code considerations, as well as a complete resources guide, Earthbag Building is the long-awaited, definitive guide to this uniquely pleasing construction style.

Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer have been involved in the construction industry for the last 20 years, specializing in affordable, low-tech, low-impact building methods that are as natural as possible. They developed the "Flexible Form Rammed Earth Technique" of building affordably with earthbags and have taught the subject and contributed their expertise to several books and journals on natural building.

List Price: $ 29.95

Price: $ 29.95

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi

Creating an Amigurumi of one's own...

Amigurumi, the traditional Japanese art of knitted or crocheted stuffed figures, is a craft that is sweeping the country. In The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Amigurumi crafters will learn the basic stitches of crochet, how to make basic shapes (heads, arms, legs, torsos), stuffing techniques, and embellishments such as hair, eyes, and tassels. They will also learn how to make flowers and vegetables, and will acquire the tools to be able to let their imaginations run wild and create their own unique and adorable Amigurumi.

•Easy-to-follow instructions and patterns for the absolute beginner

•The only book that teaches readers how to make their own Amigurumi (not just follow patterns)

•Includes several complete patterns

•Author is a foremost expert on Amigurumi

List Price: $ 16.95

Price: $ 6.81

A Knitting Wrapsody: Innovative Designs to Wrap, Drape, and Tie

Designer Kristin Omdahl is one of the most innovative designers working today, and in this collection, she showcases her signature motif designs and experimental construction in 18 original patterns—five scarves, six wraps, five shawls, and two skirts—that provide new ways to think about knitting pieces that wrap, drape, or tie.

Unlike other wrap books, this collection offers ingenious ways for wrapping your knitting, whether around the neck, shoulders, or waist. The designs for these garments are just what you've been waiting for—inspirational, creative patterns that advance your skills, explore shape and silhouette, and are beautiful to wear year-round.

All of the garments incorporate interesting elements, from reversible stitch patterns and unique knitted edgings to interesting closures. Each project is knitted, but much of the aesthetic draws inspiration from the geometry, motifs, and techniques of crochet.

Some of the techniques are quite unusual and the enclosed DVD will demonstrate them in-depth before you cast on for a project.

With her passionate attention to stitch detail and one-of-a-kind motif designs, Kristin offers a wide range of projects in A Knitting Wrapsody for a variety of skill levels and time commitments. Expand your wardrobe with bold, stylish shapes and add form-flattering pieces perfect for layering.

List Price: $ 24.95

Price: $ 14.90

Yoga for Your Brain a Zentangle Workout

This much anticipated sequel to 'Totally Tangled' is just as tangled. Inside, the pages are jam-packed with Zentangle ideas, tips, projects and more than 60 new tangles. Zentangle is the perfect exercise to keep that big muscle inside your skull flexible.

List Price: $ 16.99

Price: $ 10.89