Written by curator Aileen Dawson, this comprehensive volume focuses on the British Museum’s Worcester porcelain collection. Made with a ‘hard paste’, Worcester porcelain was more durable than other contemporary wares, and particularly suited the brewing of tea – a custom rising in popularity during the 18th century. In this guide, 101 exhibits are clearly photographed and itemized and many – cups, mugs, sugar bowls, a tea pot – are tea-related, though the collection also features vases, figurines, a punchbowl and a wine cooler.

Through looking carefully at a subject and understanding and interpreting a scene as it appears to them, each artist – whether beginner or improver – can develop their own sketching style. Providing answers to problems such as how to direct light, add shadow and tone or approach complex scenes, and offering information on materials and how to use them, this illustrated guide includes many helpful examples of the author’s own work.

Soon after St Petersburg was established in 1703, jewellers began setting up workshops, and the art flourished further under the reigns of successive queens later that century. In this highly illustrated and informative volume, the author, herself born into a family of St Petersburg goldsmiths, uses letters, portraits, diaries, anecdotes and personal documents to trace the history of individual brooches, bracelets, rings and other items of jewellery – items that often passed through generations of the same families.

Formed deep in the earth, under immense pressure and heat, up to 3,000 million years ago, diamonds were first discovered in India around 800 BCE and have remained among the rarest and highly prized substances ever since. Illustrated with large-format photographs, this impressive book explains the history of the diamond trade and profiles the modern industry from mining, assessing quality, cutting and setting stones to famous royal jewels and celebrity wearers.

The preferred tool of some of the best-known photographers of the 20th century, the Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera is renowned for its high-quality build and excellent lenses and remains highly capable as well as collectable today. This guide to the classic camera tells the history of the brand and profiles the different models manufactured between 1929 and 1981, exploring the lenses, shutters and accessories, giving tips on use and offering advice to anyone wishing to acquire one.

For the absolute sewing novice, this manual provides information on materials and tools, as well as tips on how to measure and get organized. Starting with basic stitches, followed by a simple bunting project, the techniques progress to hemming, binding, gathering and appliqué, while projects include a tote bag, an apron, a cot blanket and a covered coat-hanger.

Explaining one stitch at a time, with clear step-by-step instructions, this manual introduces nine different stitches and provides a project for each one, from a traditional Bangladeshi running stitch cushion cover to a needle case decorated with button-hole stitch cutwork. With information on materials and tools, and templates provided, this is an ideal starting point for anyone new to embroidery.

While 19th-century ladies might pass their time stitching complex needlework patterns in Berlin Wool Work, or copying William Morris designs, working-class women produced items of ‘white work’ to supplement their income. From a patchwork tea cosy and a young boy’s dress to a history lesson stitched into a sampler, this publication presents a richly diverse range of embroidery samples – also incorporating diagrams of stitches – from the extensive collection of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, of Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire.

Celebrated watercolour artist Annette Kane uses examples of her own confident and powerful work to demonstrate direct application of watercolour paint, rather than the traditional build-up of layers. Including advice on brushes, paints and papers to use, she describes techniques from how to create texture and express colour to ways of observing light and shade, and encourages readers to develop their own unique style.

This comprehensive guide for beginners and experienced dolls’ house enthusiasts, whether using 1/12 or 1/24 scales, describes a range of styles, covering historical periods and cultural influences from a Tudor interior to a Zen apartment. The author suggests ways to present miniature scenes featuring purchased items and provides instructions for making items such as tables, a modernist house and a fireplace. Illustrated with colour photographs, the book includes advice on equipment and a list of suppliers.

Matt Chapple, one-time winner of the Great British Sewing Bee, shares his skills, outlining the essential toolkit for marking, cutting, stitching and making patterns. Starting by customizing and decorating existing garments with patches, pockets and darts, the reader can then attempt seven projects from scratch, from a bow tie to a summer dress. There are tips for maintaining clothes and all instructions are clearly explained and well illustrated.

A compendium of advice on love, sex and family life, the Hindu text known as the Kama Sutra was probably compiled in the second century CE from earlier texts, and it is best known for its practical advice about sexual positions. This adult colouring book provides intricate line drawings based on illustrations of those chapters. Sexually explicit.

These 20 ideas for horror knitting include a Shrunken Head in a Jar, a Light-up Ghost and a Zombie Marionette. Although some knowledge of knitting is required, there are detailed instructions on the different stitches used and tools required.

Before the mass production techniques of the 20th century, keys were valuable crafted items, the art of making keys and locks reaching its height, in terms of complexity and quality of workmanship, in the 17th century. This illustrated introduction to the little-considered art of the key examines important English and European examples from the Middle Ages to the late 19th century, including intricately decorated, gilded and engraved keys belonging to notable and royal personages.

Inspired by the Scandinavian seasons, this how-to book provides 21 year-round projects: a baby’s winter cover; a quilted birds’ nest for spring (complete with birds); a fishy sampler for the summer, and a colourful tree scarf for autumn. Focusing on quilting, applique and embroidery techniques, there are tips, templates to copy and a section on finding inspiration.

By liberating colour from its subservient role to drawing, abstract artists have found innovative ways to use and develop the pictorial space. In this title, the author complements works by well-known abstract artists with many of his own, giving clear descriptions of choices made and techniques used. He examines the media and tools available, looks at creating a series of paintings, and encourages the reader to paint with confidence.

This comprehensive guide to portrait painting begins with information on materials, painting and composition, followed by five chapters detailing the stages of painting a head from life, and finishes with self-portraits and portraiture. Illustrated with over 100 paintings, the author’s detailed advice draws on his personal experience and knowledge of art history, and includes practical tips and helpful suggestions on how to work with a sitter.

These seven lessons, focusing on watercolour, cover various aspects of landscape painting, from tone and texture to composition and perspective, each including clear instructions for tackling a relevant project, including a desert view, a brooding sky and a Hawaiian beach scene. The book also offers practical information about materials and a detailed account of a sketching trip along the West Coast of Ireland.

The 101 short lessons in this practical guide offer artists a variety of ways to practise and hone key skills. Materials are clearly explained and photographed in the first chapter, and the different exercises are broken down into illustrated steps and graded by level of difficulty. Including shading, contrast, surfaces, brushstrokes, and techniques such as pointillism, the breadth of content will suit beginners and professional artists alike.

Inspired by his belief in an ‘unseen realm of beings’ who live on Earth, the author encourages readers to experiment with their own imaginations. Starting with basic information on materials and tools, the guide touches on colour, tone and perspective, before moving on to detailed descriptions of how to draw fairy features and poses, create magical effects and ultimately realize whole fairy worlds.

‘To mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy is one of the first principles in war.’ As this manual shows, the timeless tactical lessons of the ancient Chinese treatise The Art of War are applicable as much to the chessboard as to the battlefield. Two experienced chess teachers share a selection of Sun Tzu’s pithy advice and, through their analyses of classic games, illustrate how the most successful grandmasters have put each of these ideas into practice.

Using simple Scandinavian style and colours, these projects include traditional folklore bunting and a Christmas stocking, alongside more contemporary iPad and laptop cases, as well as fun ideas for mug warmers and toys for the nursery. All are presented with clear step-by-step instructions, while information on tools, techniques and a list of suppliers can be found with the templates at the back of the book. Felt-tip mark on lower trimmed edge.

After providing basic information about materials and colours, each chapter in this DIY guide focuses on a specific material – including wood, thread, clay and wax – explains how to use it, and offers two or three easy projects to try. From making your own tea-lights to spray-painting a dining chair, these unusual designs can make a striking difference to your home. (References to websites may no longer be valid.)

Incorporating unusual materials into paintings can create interesting 3D effects that trick the eye and attract attention. Inside this guide are ten basic ‘recipes’ for bold, colourful artworks that include unexpected components – from tissue paper and fabric to noodles and rice. With step-by-step instructions and recipe cards to explain materials and techniques, artists are encouraged to explore their media in the same way a creative chef experiments with food.

Creating beautiful portraits requires a variety of skills, from planning the composition to perfecting the details of hair and facial features. This handbook offers valuable and reliable advice, including how to choose a background, how to work out a pose, and methods of ensuring a good likeness.

This guide provides information on many aspects of pastel drawing, from the history of the medium to storing and transporting your work, as well as explaining the meaning of expressions such as ‘working thin to thick’ and the significance of the ‘focal point’.

Covering drawing media including pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel and coloured pencil, this comprehensive ringbound manual explores an array of drawing styles and techniques. The book provides step-by-step sequences comparing different approaches, and offers specific advice on different subjects as well as applied styles such as fashion and textile design.

This book of colouring patterns is inspired by shapes found in masterpieces of modern and contemporary art, such as the dots, spirals and paint splashes used by Close, Escher and Pollock respectively. Each illustration is different from the next, but all have a mesmeric quality, so colouring the design, whatever medium is employed, can be a soothing, relaxing activity.

Many adults have discovered the therapeutic benefits of simply colouring in a picture. This volume provides 31 intricate illustrations of popular birds, from an Atlantic puffin and a kingfisher to a Victoria crowned pigeon and a Major Mitchell’s cockatoo. Printed on single-sided pages using high-quality paper, these superbly detailed line drawings offer hours of relaxing and rewarding enjoyment.

Starting from the premise that anyone can be taught to draw to a level of representational competence, this practical manual sets out a programme for achieving convincingly realistic drawings. With simple tips for assessing scale and perspective, observing and recording accurately and understanding light and shadows, the hundreds of examples and exercises offer advice on the rendering of all subjects, from landscapes and still lifes to animals and the human figure.

Some tips that make origami simpler for beginners are to use plain paper rather than patterned so that the fold marks are clearer, and to use a bone folder (a plastic tool that allows you to make sharp creases easily). This introduction to paper folding presents 26 projects of varying difficulty from ladybirds and paper boats to spaceships and butterflies. Age 5+

Inspired by traditional Swedish textiles, this photographic guide provides ideas for customizing items from T-shirts and baby clothes to cushions and lingerie. Useful advice in a section at the back includes an embroidery lesson illustrating basic stitches as well as templates for all the designs and a packet of tracing paper. Readers can adjust pattern sizes, if necessary, before transferring them onto their own projects.

With designs traditional and modern, this ringbound guide offers 365 patterns for 12x12-inch quilting blocks that can be sewn together to form larger works. Useful information on equipment, fabrics and how to cut and stitch, plus four sets of templates, complement the colour-coded and clearly photographed designs. While beginners might start with a single block, more experienced quilters could choose to produce a block a day for a year.

Richard Noyce has journeyed around the world exploring printmaking traditions and techniques in less familiar centres of art production. Featuring an extensive selection of works rarely found in contemporary art books, by printmakers from Alaska to Japan, this unique collection provides the opportunity to compare artworks from a wide variety of places, setting them in their historical context and examining how artists have reflected their experiences of conflict, resolution, diaspora and exile.

Robert Baden-Powell intended his 1908 scoutcraft manual to be a book of practical advice and instruction for boys' self-improvement, but its success gave impetus to the foundation of the Scout movement. Mixing practical advice on such topics as woodcraft, camping and first aid with personal anecdotes and moral observations, the book is read in this audio version by Hugh Dennis.

Based on the meticulously detailed illustrations of animals and sea creatures in the original Art Forms in Nature (1904) by the German biologist and artist Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919), this book offers an astonishing variety of well-drawn natural forms to colour.

The most versatile, easily worked and readily available of media, paper can be used in a range of craft projects from simple, child-friendly shape cutting to sophisticated sculptural art. With a brief history of paper, its uses and manufacture, this practical guide explores the many creative ways to use it, with instructions for projects including folded and glued models, papier-mâché forms, cast and modelled pulp sculptures and handmade paper.

With 26 designs – from Celtic to 70s Retro – for the letters of the alphabet, numbers and emoticons, this book suggests some unusual ways to customize your knitting. The letters are charted on graph paper, and photographs show the effects of using different colours and textures of yarn. All stitches are clearly explained, and ten simple projects, including socks, cuffs and a shoulder bag, provide practical ideas for using the designs.

This ringbound reference book offers inspiration for enthusiastic knitters and is a guide to developing new skills. Taking effects such as rib, cable and mosaic, it provides designs for swatches that can be adapted to suit any pattern, whether knitting from top down, bottom up or in the round. Well-illustrated with colour photographs, the book includes six garment patterns and six ‘recipes’ for making socks, caps and shawls without the need for a template.

Frustrated by mass-produced soft toys made with cheap labour and materials, the author set out to produce a collection of unique toys for children, friends and family that could be crocheted and given as presents. Basic crochet stitches are clearly described and illustrated, while detailed and straightforward patterns cover a range of animals, from larger elephants and a jagged-toothed crocodile to smaller curly-tailed chameleons and fluffy-eared owls.

This comprehensive book, illustrated with colour photographs, starts with the basics – yarns, equipment, simple stitches and how to use a pattern – and builds up to cable, bobbles and knitting in the round. A gallery at the back of the book offers a range of stitches for some of the effects that can be achieved, and patterns are included for 20 projects, from babies’ booties to blankets and jumpers for all ages.

With its radiant colours and fascinating imagery, stained glass is one of the glories of medieval art, and many of the finest examples can be found in the cathedrals and parish churches of England. Covering the golden age of medieval stained glass, from 1100 to 1530, this highly acclaimed work describes over 100 windows in detail, explaining the history, techniques and meaning of the art form, and presenting 200 colour illustrations of windows and panels.

The Japanese tradition of manga comic book art with its instantly recognizable bold graphic style has become increasingly popular in the West, influencing the style of Western graphic artists and filmmakers. This manual explains the manga style and its basic forms, provides step-by-step instructions for drawing a host of characters from ninjas and cyberpunk kids to superheroes and monsters, and explores how to render dynamic poses and expressions.

Drawing and painting people convincingly is one of the most challenging subjects for artists, whether giving figures correct proportion and natural posture or achieving a likeness in portraiture. With step-by-step instruction and examples in various styles and media, this manual advises on all aspects of painting the human form, including nude studies, rendering clothing, approaches to facial features and considerations of light and colour.

Originally published in France, this book provides an initial guide to basic techniques – embroidery, crochet, felting, papier mâché and pyrography (burning on wood) among others – followed by 140 creative craft projects, including fashion accessories, interior design ideas, lighting and lamps, organizers, decorative table linen and ‘little ideas’ with buttons, beads and seeds. The projects all have clear instructions, templates and diagrams where needed, along with photographs of the finished work.

As well as explaining how to create paper flowers and foliage, Kelsey Elam presents a gallery of 100 flowers, each with a list of the materials needed to make it, the techniques used and, at the back of the book, templates for the leaf and petal shapes. A practical section explains and illustrates the techniques and there are four projects to try, including a bouquet and a corsage.

Nuriya Khegay presents 20 hat-and-mitten sets to knit for babies and toddlers, and provides a practical section on knitting basics. The designs are not all monsters – as well as the Chinese Dragon, the Friendly Monster and the Garden Gnome, the animals include a koala, a lamb, a zany zebra and a lion.

In the restoration and maintenance of clocks, the focus of repairers is usually the intricate mechanisms; the cases that house them, often crafted, embellished and ornamented with comparable skill in wood, stone or metal, receive less attention. This illustrated guide offers advice on restoring all types of clock cases from 18th-century longcase clocks to Art Deco shelf clocks, and includes a chapter on making new cases from scratch.