A practical craft book and a visual delight packed with ideas, information and tips on materials and techniques for decorative painting. Stunning full colour photographs guide and inspire, and the simple explanations tell you about mixing just the right colour, using just the right technique and adding just the right shading and highlights so your painted project will stand out from the rest. You don’t need art training or even be particularly talented – you just need to know how. And that this book tells you.

• Over 50 original templates, all designed by the author • Step by step projects on wood, bisque-wear, glass, paper, galvanized steel etc. • Essential techniques explained • Ideas for unique gifts or items that will be snapped up at any craft market

Also available in Afrikaans as Verfkuns.

Funky stitches takes a fresh look at embroidery and provides original ideas for fun and funky designs, inspired by anything from urban graffiti and children’s drawings to nature. An introductory section deals with practical matters such as fabrics, threads, needles, designs and how to transfer them, how to make up embroidered items and much more. The stitches are clearly illustrated and are simple enough for a beginner to master. There are more than 30 room-by-room projects, from the nursery to the kitchen, with suggested variations to show how the same basic design can be used to decorate or create a range of items with a similar theme. Every project in the book is accompanied by full instructions, templates and a beautiful colour photograph of the finished item. Also included are contemporary and fun ideas for gifts.

Ook beskikbaar in Afrikaans as Moderne borduurkuns.

With the wonderful variety of strong, brightly coloured natural fabrics available today children’s clothes are fun to make and fun to wear. Easy-to-follow patterns and spectacular fabrics will inspire even the most reluctant among us to haul out a sewing machine and get busy. The designs cover the age-range from two to ten and with mix-and-match patterns and outfits you can create a new look for your child for every day of the week. This book has something for everyone – from fun windbreakers to dazzling dungarees and practical playsuits. The sizes are generous so that children will feel comfortable and unrestricted when they play in their new outfits which will last and last and last. Making kids clothes offers the following:

• More than 50 outfits and over 100 garments • Patterns to scale for each garment • Step by step sewing instructions for each garment • Suggestions for variations • Full colour photographs of each outfit • Close up photographs of specific finishes • Line drawings to clarify specific steps

Also available in Afrikaans as Maak kinderklere.

In this delightful and unusual book Rachele Franco shows you how simple and easy it is to turn this healthy food source into beautiful and interesting arrangements, table decorations and gift presentations – to excite both the eye and the palate.

Dried Fruit Gifts includes: • Interesting and innovative ideas for containers, packaging and finishing touches • Simple instructions explaining how each arrangement is made • Step-by-step photographs to show you how to make flowers from dried guava chips, pineapple or apple rings • Gift ideas for everyone, from young children to sophisticated friends • Projects easy enough for anyone to tackle • Hints and tips and a host of extra ideas

Ook beskikbaar in Afrikaans as Droë vrugte - ’n Fees van idees vir geskenke en projekte met droë vrugte-kuns.

Make practical items for baby’s room, outings and playtime. Includes step-by-step instructions and full-size patterns!

A practical book that shows you how to sew essential items for your baby’s room – from a basic curtain to a fitted sheet for the mattress – creating a space that is attractive, functional and safe. Also included are necessities for outings – from a backpack to a carry-cot – and special items for playtime. Practical hints and tips throughout are accompanied by advice on how specific choices may enhance you baby’s sensory and motor development. • Detailed step-by-step instructions with line drawings • Beautiful colour photo of every finished item • Suitable for beginners and busy working moms • Full-size patterns included.

Ook beskikbaar in Afrikaans as Vir my baba.

If it was at all possible for Di van Niekerk to improve on her previous book Dreamscapes, then indeed she has.

A Perfect World is a rich, sumptuous celebration of the beauty of the natural world. The design, painted in watercolour by South African artist Verde, consists of 17 panels containing a total of 60 elements. Each element is presented individually, along with a list of its required materials, making it really simple to utilise a single element on its own in another craft project such as scrapbooking or knitting.

A feature of the book that I find very appealing is that each element is given with both its Latin and common names - education through craft!

A Perfect World features a full-colour double-page spread of the completed design, the original watercolour design for copying onto fabric, and a line drawing version of the design for those who'd prefer to choose their own colours and background; there is also a comprehensive (and easy to follow!) stitch gallery.

The book is suitable for both beginners and experienced embroiderers.

Reviewed by Kerry-Anne Gilowey

Also available in Afrikaans as 'n Wonderwereld vir lintborduur en stumpwerk

This book demonstrates the versatility of cardboard as a medium, and is packed with eye-catching projects you'll find difficult to resist. With little more than cardboard, glue and some finishing materials, you can create a whole range of beautiful and useful items at very little or no cost. Cardboard can be used for decorations for your home, for functional gifts such as a telephone set, for something special for a special occasion, for example an advent calendar for children, for interesting and original hand-made cards, and much more than you have ever imagined.

• Over 30 practical and inspirational projects
• A good balance, from easy projects which children can make, to more complicated ideas for more experienced crafters
• Step-by-step instructions, simple and easy to follow
• Templates for all boxes and 3-D items
• Full colour photographs of every finished project
• Simple line drawings to explain techniques where needed
• Hints and tips boxes with a host of additional ideas and suggestions to help you produce original and innovative cardboard items

This book is quite unlike any other craft title I've seen recently, and will appeal to a very broad base of crafters, from scrapbookers to beaders and card-makers to mosaic artists.

An incredible range of paper-decorating techniques are covered in the book, including dry-brushing, stippling, daubing, layered stamping, reverse stamping, lino-block printing, stencilling, encaustic art, batik, wax stencilling, sun paint, dip-dyeing, stamp-pad staining, scrunching off, embossed motifs, wax rubbing, marbling, monoprinting, vegetable dyeing, and metallic effects. I could go on and on - there are more than 130!

The techniques are interspersed with clear and colourful photographs and plenty of creative application and project ideas. The text is conversational and easy to follow.

The first section of the book is dedicated to describing the various kinds of paper used in the book (I had no idea there were quite so many different types of paper!), as well as the paints, dyes, glazes and tools you may need. There's even a very simple explanation of how to test the acidity level of any piece of paper, using ordinary household bits and pieces. You'll have to get the book to get the full instructions, but I'll give you a little hint - you'll need red cabbage, amongst other things. Intrigued?

Paint on Paper presents a selection of accessible projects and techniques, and is suitable for those just getting started with crafts, as well as advanced crafters looking to give their work a new twist; it's also likely to be a hit with children and their art teachers. In fact, this is the kind of book that every crafter should have on their bookshelf, because it's bound to come in handy soooner or later...

Reviewed by Kerry-Anne Gilowey

Also available in Afrikaans as Verf op Papier

Each time a new Metz Press title lands on my desk, I know I'm in for a visual and creative treat. This time proved to be no different.

I must admit that I had some rather unflattering preconceived ideas about pewter craft, based largely on the same-old-same-old work I've seen in magazines and at a few craft markets recently. Well, Sandy Griffiths has very kindly put an end to my negativity, by bringing together a stunning selection of designs in her new book, from an exquisitely-patterned book cover (my personal favourite) to colourful Christmas decorations, and even pewter-covered candles (yes, you can put pewter onto candles!).

This book is well-suited to beginners (although there's plenty here for those who've already tried the craft as well), as Sandy gives clear instructions on what is required and how to get started. All the relevant materials and equipment are described and explained, and illustrated in clear photographs. The reader is then led through 3 beginner projects, to get acquainted with pewter-crafting techniques such as low-relief and high-relief modelling and applying patina.

The other projects in the book are used to teach accompanying techniques, such as adding decorative borders and edging, or making use of colour. Projects include light-switch covers, photograph frames, a tissue box and mirror set, an ornate antique clock, and even an artistic nude!

The book is packed with useful tips and ideas direct from Sandy's very creative mind, which gives it a very relaxed conversational feel - a lot like being in a class, really.

Reviewed by Kerry-Anne Gilowey

Also available in Afrikaans as Maklike piouter-projekte