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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

Imperfect - Embracing Improv Quilting by Julie Burton

While improv quilting involves starting a quilt without a pattern, it is a skill and a technique. In modern quilting, every quilter approaches improv with their own style and method, keeping the foundations of traditional quilting in mind.

Book Summary

While improv quilting involves starting a quilt without a pattern, it is a skill and a technique. In modern quilting, every quilter approaches improv with their own style and method, keeping the foundations of traditional quilting in mind. In My Improv Journey, Julie Burton, breaks the seams between traditional and improv in the quilting world. She takes the reader on her journey in a quilting education, showing classic quilt patterns with a modern twist and introducing improv to traditional quilters.

About the Author

Julie Burton is the founder of Running Stitch Quilts. As the mother of two and an army wife, she has travelled around the country through her husband's various postings. She is a personal trainer and a marathon runner, as well as an accomplished photographer.

Book

50 Makes for Modern Miniatures by Chelsea Andersson

A collection of tutorials for 50 modern dollhouse furnishing makes. Create your fantasy interior on a tiny scale with this practical guide to miniatures. With this step-by-step guide you can let your imagination run wild and create your dream home without the constraints of location or budget!

Book Summary

A collection of tutorials for 50 modern dollhouse furnishing makes. Create your fantasy interior on a tiny scale with this practical guide to miniatures. With this step-by-step guide you can let your imagination run wild and create your dream home without the constraints of location or budget!

With this practical guide to miniatures you can let your imagination run wild and create your dream home without the constraints of location or budget! There are techniques for 50 projects to create beautiful, modern rooms at the miniature scale of 1:12, which is suitable for dollhouses and room boxes. The projects can be mix and matched to create endless interior variations. Designer and author, Chelsea Andersson, has designed an aspirational collection of furniture for the contemporary home for you to create in miniature. Learn how to make iconic pieces like the kidney shaped coffee table, a mid-century inspired lamp and a classic accent chair to create your own tiny interiors world. The projects are made using a variety of inexpensive and easily accessible materials including wood, fabric and paper.

The projects include different kinds of seating, tables, bed shelving, flooring and wall decoration, as well as soft furnishings such as wall hangings, rugs and baskets, throws and cushions to bring the space to life. The projects are divided up into chapters based on different rooms: living room; bedroom; dining room; kitchen; bathroom and patio. All of the projects can be mixed and matched to create your own unique interiors.

About the Author

Chelsea Andersson is a maker, miniaturist, and prop designer based in New York. She spent nearly a decade as a licensed landscape architect, until her love for creating models and miniatures led to a career in building scale replicas. Through her studio ChelseaMakes, she offers custom-made miniature replicas as well as a line of DIY modern dollhouse kits. She made her TV debut on season three of NBC's Making It, a reality competition show hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Chelsea has also been featured in various magazines and has a course about miniatures on the Domestika platform.

Book

The Joy of Modern Calligraphy by Joyce Lee

A complete guide to modern calligraphy with Artsynibs.

Joyce Lee first picked up a calligraphy pen when she started making stationery for her wedding. For her, it is now a way of life, her career and what she calls a 'calligraventure'.

Book Summary

A complete guide to modern calligraphy with Artsynibs.

Joyce Lee first picked up a calligraphy pen when she started making stationery for her wedding. For her, it is now a way of life, her career and what she calls a 'calligraventure'.

In this practical and inspiring book, Joyce introduces modern calligraphy, including the tools you need and how to use them. She teaches various techniques and methods for creating beautiful artwork to give you the confidence to embark on creative projects of your own, including handwritten envelopes, gift tags and an elegant monogram.

To help you practise your handwriting skills, the book is accompanied by an envelope of photocopiable practice sheets, contained within an attractive hardback folder.

However, this is more than just an instructional guide; it encourages you to find joy in committing your thoughts to paper. Joyce believes that calligraphy is not just about perfecting the strokes, but about patience, concentration and slowing down to be mindful of the moment. Creativity is at the heart of us all; it simply needs to be unlocked, nurtured and given an outlet.

This book is everything calligraphy should be: classic, stylish, creative and thought-provoking. Fall in love with the art of handwritten lettering as you release your own creativity on the page.

About the Author

Joyce Lee is a modern calligrapher who works under the pen name Artsynibs. Set up in 2015, Artsynibs creates bespoke artwork, runs calligraphy workshops and collaborates with various companies including Dior, Topshop, Bentley, Harvey Nichols, Paperchase, John Lewis and Pentel. Joyce has also co-created a range of modern calligraphy kits with British pen company Manuscript, and these are sold across Europe, Asia and North America. Her work appears effortless and full of life, encouraging all who see it to try their hand at calligraphy themselves. Joyce is currently based in Singapore.