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Welcome to our latest Books Of The Month from Create & Craft!

Each month we are going to hand pick new books that we know will inspire you to get creative. Grab a cuppa, sit back and have a read with our newest picks just for you.

Books
Book

Alice's Wonderland Sampler Quilt

Gorgeous patchwork designs such as square-in-a-square, checkerboard, log cabin and Ohio Star combine with beautiful English paper-pieced blocks and raw edge applique animals, flowers, butterflies, hearts and stars.

Book Summary

Gorgeous patchwork designs such as square-in-a-square, checkerboard, log cabin and Ohio Star combine with beautiful English paper-pieced blocks and raw edge applique animals, flowers, butterflies, hearts and stars.

Starting with the simplest patchwork techniques and building from there, you will learn one or two basic techniques across ten different blocks, each one creating completely different patterns simply by using new arrangements and placements. Full sized EPP and applique templates, including Alice's hand-drawn designs, are provided. Each block forms a 6-inch square which then joins together at the end with the other blocks to make the finished quilt comprising of 100 beautiful blocks.

After you have made your main blocks, the stunning rainbow border of the quilt is added. It includes a double rainbow border, an ivory border, and a further square-in-a-square rainbow border using prints from the main quilt to tie the whole colour scheme together.

Featuring step-by-step illustrations for all the techniques and full-size templates, this stunning sampler quilt will build your skills and leave you with a treasured heirloom to pass on down the generations.

About the Author

Alice Garrett’s business, Alice Caroline, grew out of a life-long love of Liberty fabrics. As a maker and designer of dresses, cushions, bags, childrenswear and quilts, Alice’s shop has grown through her knowledge of Liberty and of stitch culture, sourcing rare, classic, and new season prints. Alice has a particular passion for creating patterns, taking care to write instructions clearly enough to encourage and support new crafters.

Book

Creative Resin by Mia Winston-Hart

This collection of 17 inspirational projects will get you started on your resin journey with step-by-step instructions for techniques such as mixing and pouring resin, creating your own moulds, and how to use pigments and inks. Resin craft is an exciting way to make jewellery and other accessories and it is easy to do at home with just a small number of tools and materials.

Book Summary

Learn how to create everything from earrings to key rings with this definitive guide to resin craft.

This collection of 17 inspirational projects will get you started on your resin journey with step-by-step instructions for techniques such as mixing and pouring resin, creating your own moulds, and how to use pigments and inks. Resin craft is an exciting way to make jewellery and other accessories and it is easy to do at home with just a small number of tools and materials.

Author Mia Winston-Hart explains how to use botanicals with resin, with advice on how to source, prepare and dry our own flowers and plants. There is comprehensive information about how to use resin craft safely and the different types of resin available, including plant and vegetable-based resins. Choose your favourite from this collection which includes floral earrings; heatproof coasters, a beach scene tray, a galaxy-themed table top, a shell comb, a flower and gold leaf keyring, glittery hair clips and a floral phone case.

Some of the many techniques covered include: sanding, deep pouring, making your own moulds, how to avoid bubbles in your work, de-moulding, mixing and pouring, working with different layers, and drying and preserving botanicals. There is even a trouble shooting section to help you put your newfound skills into practice.

About the Author

Mia Winston-Hart is a UK based maker who creates a wide range of resin jewellery and accessories. She's the presenter of a successful online resin course and sells her products on Etsy. To see more of Mia's work, find her on Instagram @miawinstonhart

Book

The Art of the Travel Journal by Abbey Sy

The Art of the Travel Journal shows intrepid adventurers how to creatively document life on the road in take-along travel journals, using fun, easy techniques for drawing, lettering, journaling, adding colour, and much more. No experience is necessary to create these one-of-a-kind keepsakes.

Book Summary

The Art of the Travel Journal shows intrepid adventurers how to creatively document life on the road in take-along travel journals, using fun, easy techniques for drawing, lettering, journaling, adding colour, and much more. No experience is necessary to create these one-of-a-kind keepsakes. Author Abbey Sy (Instagram: @abbeysy) covers all facets of travel journalling, including essential art supplies and how to pack them, how to set intentions, ideas for staying motivated, methods for collecting and keeping travel ephemera, and how to use colour effectively. Learn how to build cohesive pages that tell a story around popular themes such as museums and galleries, food, architecture, and nature.

The book also offers suggestions for developing a creative habit, cultivating a unique style, and ways to photograph and archive journals so they’ll last a lifetime. Armchair travellers won’t be left out the techniques, ideas, and inspiration can be used for day trips, staycations, or just discovering a new local café or museum. With The Art of the Travel Journal, every adventure becomes an opportunity to dive into creativity.

About the Author

Abbey Sy is an artist, author, and designer who loves art and traveling extensively as part of her inspiration-hunting process. She loves documenting her trips through her travel journals, frequently posting her colourful and imaginative journal pages on Instagram. Her passion for hand lettering and design is inspired by retro advertising, desaturated hues, and vintage labels. She is a best-selling author and also the founder and creative director of ABC Magazine, a publication for artists, crafters, and makers. Her popular social media platforms include three Instagram accounts (@abbeysy, @alwaysbecreating.art, @shopabbeysy) and a YouTube channel (Abbey Sy). She produces her own merchandise and teaches art and hand lettering classes. Abbey lives in Berlin, Germany.