Search Results for: Hobbies

Tarina Tarantino’s love affair with fashion jewellery and accessories began when she was just a little girl. Tarina now owns and operates her famous global jewellery, accessories, and cosmetics brand, TARINA TARANTINO , out of her international headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, The Sparkle Factory. In her first book, Tarina invites you into her world to learn how to make and wear beautiful and inspirational fashion jewellery. Fashionistas, aspiring jewellery designers, and DIY lovers will learn how to make 20 of Tarina’s most essential pieces including statement earrings, cocktail rings, hair jewellery, stretch cuff bracelets, embellished spectacles, and more. Fans of Tarina will also learn about her brand history, getting inspired, creating themes and stories, sourcing materials, essential tools and techniques, how to wear and style your jewellery wardrobe, and more. The text is complemented by tips and hundreds of full-colour photos throughout.

Once you’ve got a handle on your delivery from the stork, flip through this adorable assortment of 30 knitting projects for the bundle of joy. The projects range from first trimester projects (which are moderately advanced, since there are months to finish) to second trimester (when most parents can determine the baby’s gender and prepare for a boy or girl), to third trimester quickies, when time is short. The booties, bibs, toys, blankets, and clothing will be one-of-a-kind items, fit to welcome a special person into the world.

In a fashion world that constantly speaks to youth, The Wardrobe Wakeup, is an essential look book for every woman 40+. Leading fashion and beauty editor Lois Joy Johnson shares style-boosting, closet reviving, money-saving fashion tricks she’s learned over thirty years working with A-list models, celebrities, and real women. The Wardrobe Wakeup is packed with solutions to fashion dilemmas specific to women 40+, like: changes in skin that make baring legs, arms, and chest an uncomfortable experience working with colleagues half your age or a boss twenty years younger going on job interviews where the competition is thirty years old. Lois also addresses fashion problems surrounding lifestyle changes including the horrors of dating again, what’s sexy vs. sleazy, and rethinking spending on clothes if living on investments or 401(k)s. Featured in photos throughout are glam women 40+ in the fashion and beauty business. Each woman provides inspiration through interviews about their own style and fashion solutions at this time of life. In Lois’s engaging point of view and straightforward approach, she teaches women to maximize their wardrobeand feel fabulous at any age.

The right greeting card is hard to find, but with the most basic sewing machine and a few recycled materials, you’ll have cards for every occasion in a snap. With 52 sewn designs made from easy-to-follow, straightforward instructions, you can show just how much you care with a beautiful, handmade creation: no sewing experience necessary! This DIY guide contains eight sheets of cardstock and basic stitch patterns that can be completed with nothing more than a needle and thread, either by hand or machine, transforming a blank card into a whimsical, inspired, one-of-a-kind design. The perfect expression for birthdays, graduations, or a simple thinking- of-you note, each design incorporates inexpensive and easy to find household items such as strips of fabric, brightly coloured plastics, handmade stamps, and more. Even recycled items such as mesh produce bags and seed packets are put to new use to create truly one-of-a-kind cards!

If you thought origami was just about making peaceful cranes, flowers, and sailboats, you’re in for a wicked treat. Horrorgami is a new and dark way to look at the once gentle art of paper folding. Follow simple step-by-step instructions for creating 25 creepy creatures like evil witches, ghoulish goblins, sinister skulls, fearsome fangs, Frankenstein’s Monster, and more. Also included is level of difficulty for each project, a glossary of fiendish folds and tips, paper-sourcing ideas, twelve 6×6-inch origami papers, how-to illustrations, and a fun full-colour design throughout.

Danny Seo is America’s leading lifestyle authority on modern, eco-friendly living. In his last book, Upcycling, Danny demonstrated how to create beautiful things with the stuff you already have. Now he returns with 100 more projects,this time focused specifically on parties and holidays. Whether you’re making dramatic party favours for New Year’s Eve, giving a unique birthday gift, creating paper lanterns for a summer BBQ, or planning the Thanksgiving table, Danny shows how you can transform the ordinary into striking one-of-a-kind objects that will make every occasion a little more festive.

The timeless appeal of Jane Austen is evidenced not only by perpetual interest in her classic novels but also by countless book clubs, movies, plays, books, and sundry products which celebrate her work. Austentatious Crochet presents Austen fans with a unique opportunity to step into the scarf, skirt, or chemise of Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, and a host of other favourite Austen characters. The book features thirty-two original crochet projects inspired by Austen novels but fabulously brought up to date and wearable today. The designs focus on women’s wear, such as dresses, sweaters, cardigans, and capelets, but also encompass accessories such as handbags, scarfs, and pillowcases and clothing for children. Introductions to each project include favourite bits of dialogue from the original novels. Fully illustrated with evocative photos, Regency-style illustrations, and step-by-step schematics, Austentatious Crochet is certain to please the devoted Austen lover as well as craft enthusiasts.

It’s the perfect add-on gift for baby showers, perfect for crafty people, and perfect for anyone who has a baby in their life. This kit has everything needed to knit one adorable pair of baby booties: 40 yards of white yarn, circular knitting needles, a darning needle, 2 stitch markers, an instruction book, and for a bow, lengths of blue and pink ribbon so you can personalize the booties for him or her.

No one knows better than Strawberry Shortcake and her pals how sweet it is to have best friends. The berry merry world of vintage Strawberryland is captured in this mini book that comes packed with visions of friendship in the art of Strawberry, Blueberry Pie, Angel Cake, and each of their delectable buddies. This heart-warming little book makes a perfect gift to those who bring sunshine to our lives everyday. The retro Strawberry Shortcake is a generational success story. The children who loved her in the 1980’s are the mothers of today!

Become the David Beckham of the boardroom! Soccer has finally come off the field and into the office with Finger Soccer . The kit includes a soccer mat, two goal posts, one soccer ball, two pairs of soccer cleats for your fingers, and a 32-page book to help you create your very own miniature soccer game,and win! Stretch out those aching fingers that spend every day typing, satisfy that soccer obsession even when you’re stuck inside, and start your own miniature soccer tournament today!

Marsha Greenberg returns with even more stunningly original doll-size fashions, flawlessly crafted from vintage handkerchiefs and paired witty lifestyle advice, in this newly re-designed and revised edition of Hankie Couture.

Featuring a gallery of 125 unique outfits and accessories, with 60 new fashions and fresh Hankie Couture girl “philosophy,” Hankie Couture showcases an infinite variety of doll-sized styles for every occasion, from pyjamas to wedding gowns. The book also includes a how-to-guide with patterns and easy-to-follow sewing instruction to help you craft your very own unique outfits. Whether you’re a crafter or doll enthusiast, Hankie Couture is the perfect book to unleash your imagination in transforming treasured heirlooms or colourful flea-market finds into one-of-a-kind fashion ensembles.

Get ready to journey into the huge world of growing small!The next garden trend combines the joy of gardening with the magic of miniatures. Gardening in Miniature is a complete guide to creating lush, living, small-scale gardens. It has everything you need to pick up this new hobby, including scaled down garden designs, techniques for creating tiny hardscapes, miniature garden care and maintenance, tips on choosing containers, how to buy the right plants, and where to find life-like accessories. Inspiring step-by-step projects feature basic skills that can be recreated in any number of designs, like a tiny patio, a trellis, a pond, and a secret garden.Whether you want to build a miniature empire in your garden bed or design a private garden with a pebble patio for an indoor centerpiece, Gardening in Miniature is the primer for creating your own tiny, living world.

Relax. Let your shoulders drop, turn your phone to silent and take one (freshly sharpened) pencil.

Paper, Pencil and You: Calm contains over 300 puzzles designed to foster calm in a stressed-out, busy world. The puzzles in this book will take you on a journey through a wonderland of calming activities. You’ll divide shapes, draw loops, fill grids and much, much more. Each one has been designed to give you a moment of peace; a break from the hectic pace of life and a chance to quieten the mental noise.

With sections for practice runs and workings out, each puzzle is designed to be completed on the page itself. As you complete the book you’ll be unconsciously developing your memory and visual processing skills, thinking laterally and logically to find solutions, but will emerge from each exercise feeling relaxed and refreshed.

So, sharpen that pencil, turn over the page and feel calm.

Get the party started with your buddies and a travel-size kit of drinking-game fun! This packed party kit includes everything you need to add excitement to an otherwise run-of-the-mill bar night.

Mini kit includes:
– Shot glass
– Standard dice
– “Dirty” dice
– Deck of cards with 48 drinking games
– 16-page book

A fascinator is a chic little adornment, not quite a traditional hat but more than a headband, that suits any occasion and any time of day. Style mavens in England are credited with setting off an international fascination with fascinators this smashing headwear now appears everywhere, donning the heads of celebrities and A-listers on the red carpet to today’s fashionable brides, who are tossing aside their traditional veils for fascinators bedazzled with crystals and feathers. This is the first craft book of its kind with how-tos for fascinators, floral crowns, tiaras, and more: 25 in all, plus variations on each project,there are even sweet projects suitable for little girls. Fascinators range from dressy professional to black-tie elegant.

Use the puzzles in this book to sharpen your mind and improve your ability to focus.

The perfect antidote to staring at a screen for hours on end, Paper, Pencil and You: Focus presents over 300 puzzles designed to improve focus in a distracted world. With each one you will learn to eliminate mental distractions, improve concentration and develop your powers of deduction. Test your skills with a range of visual conundrums and lateral-thinking problems that include matching pairs, odd one out and pathfinding.

Keen puzzlers will find themselves absorbed in developing their memory and visual processing skills, called on to think laterally and logically to find solutions, and will emerge from each exercise feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Switch off from screens, pick up a pencil and focus.

25 Dazzling Handcrafted Projects Learn how to create wearable works of art! Beaded Bracelets will show you how to make 25 original woven beaded bracelets that are contemporary and sure to make a statement. Every bracelet design is unique and has been created by author Claudine McCormack Jalajas to help you master the four main basic beadweaving stitches: peyote, crossweave, right angle weave, and herringbone. Each design comes with a complete and detailed material list, and clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations. And all the projects will show you how beads are gently woven together to create bracelets that are lacy, chunky, sleek, fringed, delicate, and most of all beautiful. Also included are tips for purchasing the right tools and beads and resources that will guide your buying decisions.

Get ready to rock your world with ‘Rock your Life,’ a virtual treasure trove of geological fun and facts.

The card deck consists of 50 cards, with each card spotlighting a different stone’s story, from ancient lore to modern marvels. For instance, did you know that obsidian was a portal to the supernatural for the Maya? Or that ancient Greeks believed clear quartz to be solidified ice? Or that amber has been used as a medicine for over 12,000 years? Whatever qualities of precious stones you admire most, this deck of cards certainly has some new insights for you. The deck comes with a specially designed leaflet with even more background info.

In short, the perfect gift for gem enthusiasts, budding geologists, or anyone who loves a good adventure.

Tune into a moment of mindfulness with over 300 pencil-ready puzzles.

Paper, Pencil and You: Mindfulness presents over 300 puzzles designed to encourage mindfulness in a busy, stressed-out world. From simple word searches and labyrinths to challenging logic problems and visual conundrums, each puzzle helps to keep the brain sharp, while providing a mindful moment free from distractions and worries.

The puzzles in this book encourage you to develop mindfulness skills to help relieve the stresses of modern-day living. Each one is designed to channel your mind away from distractions and to focus on the here and now. Work your way through puzzles that include drawing fences, finding hidden words, matching shadows and linking shapes to improve your awareness, instinct and creativity.

So, sharpen that pencil, turn over the page and tap into mindfulness.

Folding paper,what a fascinating art! But forget about clunky origami books with complicated instructions. This little kit is packed full of travel-size origami basics, including fourteen colourful sheets of paper and simple instructions on how to create five beautiful origami designs,the Japanese helmet, swan, penguin, sailboat, and the classic crane. From kids who are fans of folding paper airplanes to adults who wish they can turn their piles of paperwork into entertainment, The Classic Art of Origami Kit awaits!

When you’re stuck for a great gift for Dad, look no further than GREAT BRITISH DADVENTURES: the ultimate guide to helping Dad discover adrenaline-inducing, mind-expanding or stomach-pleasing mini or big adventures around the British Isles – and families of all ages can join in the fun too!

Using maps of all the Scottish and English counties and the Welsh principal areas, the book pinpoints almost 1,000 destinations and activities, including plenty of free and baby-friendly options (and a few that are for Dad’s friends only). Whether he’s looking for something interesting to do nearby at the weekend or heading off on holiday around our vast and varied British Isles, GREAT BRITISH DAD-VENTURES has all the inspiration Dad needs to get off his screen and do something exciting.

Activities include:
– walks, hikes, cycling and mountain biking
– castles and museums
– watersports, wild swimming and boat trips
– nature reserves and safari parks
– orienteering and bushcraft experiences
– scenic driving routes and walking tours
– climbing, coasteering and gorge walking
– brewery and vineyard tours
– and plenty of activities that are unique to the local areas

WATERSTONES’ BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2023: NATURE AND TRAVEL

“It might sound odd, but I can honestly say knitting has saved my life.”

When mental illness strikes, we need tools at our side to help make things better, that give meaning, relief and dare we say…happiness. From wild swimming and mindful running, to community singing and everyday yoga, the inspiring stories in this book reveal the power of activities and hobbies to distract, exorcise and calm, helping us to heal and recover from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.

From the team behind the bestselling The Recovery Letters, this honest, uplifting and motivational book will help you to discover the activity or hobby that will transform your life and make every day that much brighter.

Philip’s Stargazing With Mark Thompson provides the perfect introduction to the fascinating hobby of astronomy for beginners, written by TV’s favourite astronomer.

With 30 years’ experience in observational astronomy and helping hundreds of newcomers get started in their new hobby, Mark Thompson takes everything he has learned and leads his readers skilfully through their early stargazing experiences in this brand-new book – Philip’s Stargazing With Mark Thompson. He provides a wealth of knowledge, with valuable hints and tips to aid beginners in their first steps in astronomy. Not only does Mark demonstrate great observational techniques and how to find the brighter objects in the sky, but he guides his readers through the important steps of choosing and using a telescope.

This is a book that will not only act as a guide to the novice astronomer but, by drawing on Mark’s own experiences, will be a companion to share in the wonders of the night sky.