THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERFrom award-winning writer Nigel Slater, comes a new and exquisitely written collection of notes, memoir, stories and small moments of joy.'Nigel Slater’s prose is the rarest delicacy of all: exquisite yet effortless, filled with heart, tenderness, yearning and humour' ELIZABETH DAYFor years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned while at his kitchen table, soaked in a fisherman’s hut in Reykjavik, sitting calmly in a moss garden in Japan or sheltering from a blizzard in a Vienna Konditorei.These are the small moments, events and happenings that gave pleasure before they disappeared. Miso soup for breakfast, packing a suitcase for a trip and watching a butterfly settle on a carpet, hiding in plain sight. He gives short stories of feasts such as a mango eaten in monsoon rain or a dish of restorative macaroni cheese and homes in on the scent of freshly picked sweet peas and the sound of water breathing at night in Japan.This funny and sharply observed collection of the good bits of life, often things that pass many of us by, is utter joy from beginning to end.‘I loved this. It is a secular book of hours – thoughts and pleasures beautifully cadenced and generously placed’ Edmund de Waal‘Nigel Slater has a magical capacity to find beauty in the smallest moments. A nourishing, sustaining book’ Olivia Laing‘His evocative, uplifting observations are a balm for life: a prose-poem for eaters and a spiritual companion for thoughtful cooks. A true and enduring joy’ Nigella Lawson‘You can’t always feel buoyant and grateful but noticing – and getting pleasure from – the seemingly insignificant is a good way to live. As he says, feel the “small moments of joy”’ Diana HenryNigel Slater's book 'A Thousand Feasts' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-09-23. Read more

Artist Rachel Dein introduces readers to botanical bas-relief, an innovative and exciting technique developed by the author, one that anyone-gardener, parent, weekend crafter, or artist-can try at home in every season. Casting Flowers introduces botanical bas-relief as a rewarding method that encourages even the most basic beginners to revel in the ability to record a plant's texture, pattern, and delicacy in fine detail, creating compositions as small as a single stem or as complex as a field of wildflowers. All it takes is clay, flower, plants, and plaster. Artists can leave a finished piece bare and elegant, or experiment with painting on its surface, bringing the plants to life in color. From small plaster tiles featuring a single flower portrait to large panels that suggest an entire garden full of blooms, botanical castings reflect every artist's desire to capture the ephemeral in nature. A meditative activity that encourages artists to explore their gardens and natural spaces for materials, botanical bas-relief teaches readers how to track the progress of the seasons, immortalizing the plants at the moment when they are most alive. With accessible instructions, stunning photography of the process from start to finish, and insights into the artist's own garden, readers will discover: ·Step-by-step guidance on the tools and equipment needed to set up a simple workspace ·What plants work best in botanical casts, and which to avoid ·How to arrange flowers and stems to make well-balanced artistic compositions ·Tips on creating unique pieces of artwork as mementos of a season or records of special occasions Read more

The inspirational memoir from the star of OUR WELSH CHAPEL DREAM and THE GREAT POTTERY THROWDOWN Readers LOVE Boy In A China Shop: 'What a brilliant book. Keith is so charming and funny and my goodness what a hard worker. I loved it. Get it and read it - enjoy.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This book was enlightening and entertaining, full of laughs and heart. And of course with Keith, there's always going to be tears.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Really inspiring and relatable. A great read.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'During downtime on the pottery throwdown Keith made my hair curl with some of his tales - he's a great raconteur and recounts his story in this book as he does in real life - with joy, charm & mischief.' - Sara CoxBallet dancer. Front man in an almost famous band. Judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down. How did all that happen?'By accident mostly. But I always say we make our own luck. What if an art teacher hadn't given me a lump of clay? What if my band had properly taken off? What if I hadn't taken a photograph of a bowl to the buyer at Heals in London? What if she'd hated it? Or hadn't seen it... Every chapter of my book is based around an object (usually a pot) that's been significant in my life. It's just a trigger to let me go off in a lot of different directions and tell a few stories. A lot of stories. Dyslexia. The art teacher who changed my life. My Mother. My Father. A life-changing job interview with a man who lay under his car throughout. *That* video. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, a quick search of 'Keith Brymer Jones Adele' should do it.)'The end product? A warming, clever memoir of Keith's pottery life with some very loud music, some pretty good dancing, and a lot of throwing, fettling and firing. Oh ... and a good dose of anxiety. Read more

'Every page made me wish I was a potter' Nigel SlaterFlorian Gadsby has devoted his life to pottery, refining his technique towards the point of perfection - and as his skill has grown, so has his social media following, which today numbers in the millions. Based at a studio in North London, he releases three new collections per year, characterized by simple forms and sharp edges, which sell out in a matter of minutes.In By My Hands, Florian tells the story of his artistic awakening, his education in England, Ireland and Japan, and of the sheer discipline which has led him to become the cultural sensation he is today. Arguing for the value in dedicating yourself to a craft, Florian weaves anecdotes about particular pots and processes into the narrative of his life, exploring what he has learnt from specific pieces he was taught to throw during his apprenticeships and how they have informed his philosophy and approach to his work.By My Hands is an ode to the beauty of small things, such as a simple hand-thrown mug or bowl, which can brighten life's daily rituals and make them more meaningful - as well as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance. Read more

Discover everything you need to know to create beautiful ceramics and unleash your pottery potential!Want to start exploring your creativity with clay and find harmony working with your hands? Or are you looking to expand your range of skills as a potter? Then Complete Pottery Techniques is the book for you!With the expert advice of makers working across a range of styles - from classic to cutting-edge contemporary - Complete Pottery Techniques helps you master every skill needed to bring your ideas to life. Dive straight in to discover: -A wide range of pottery forming techniques equipping you with everything you need to bring your designs to life. -Stunning showcase spreads for each section including beautiful close-up photography.Did you know that pottery has become a very popular wellness trend in recent years due to its relaxing and restorative qualities? With the expert advice of makers working across a range of styles - from classic to cutting-edge contemporary - Complete Pottery Techniques can help you master every skill needed to bring your ideas to life.From modelling to moulding, slabbing to sprigging, this all-encompassing pottery book is a one-stop guide to develop your design skills, taking an in-depth look at forming, decorating and firing, whilst featuring vivid photographs of inspirational pieces to show you what you can achieve using different pottery techniques.A must-have volume for both pottery beginners and intermediate potters seeking a technical guide alongside their pottery class, or potters of any level seeking inspiration for their ceramic projects. So whether you're looking to take up a new hobby this New Year, or you simply want to connect with this craft as a form of relaxation and mindfulness, Complete Pottery Techniques can teach you tonnes of techniques and tips so you can master your pottery skills and create beautiful art along the way! Read more

Focusing on the pottery surface, Carve Your Clay covers a wide range of decorative carving techniques, from piercing, etching, inlaying to sgraffito, faceting, and fettling.The techniques are taught through 20 projects in Hilda’s signature style, with clear, step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow instructions to achieve beautiful results. With easy guides on how to create form as well as glazing and firing, this is a comprehensive guide suitable for new and practising potters alike. Read more

The Great Pottery Throw Down is the official tie-in to the popular Channel 4 show. The Great Pottery Throw Down book is a practical and beautiful guide to creating in clay at home. Accompanying budding potters on their creative journey, this book teaches the basics of both handbuilding and throwing techniques before taking you through 20 projects inspired by the show's challenges. The projects are aimed to build on your skills as you work through them starting with an egg cup or mug and working up to a jug or teapot. Covering a range of topics from setting up your space and choosing the right clay to the basics of using a wheel and the three core hand-building techniques (slab building, coiling and pinching) – this is an essential guide to pottery. The projects include spoon rest, vase, dinner plate, nesting bowls, plant pot, teacup, animal figurine, salad bowl and more. Once you have mastered the basics, finesse your creations with expert tips on decorating, glazing and firing your projects. Discover the joy of the iconic Great Pottery Throw Down in your own home and open yourself up to a world of ceramic possibility. Read more

A complete stained glass course in one book!31 step-by-step projects for copper foiled and leaded window panels, candle holders, mirror and picture frames, light catchers, and moreBeginner-friendly essentials including techniques for cutting, polishing, tracing, copper foiling, leading, and solderingProjects for every level of ability, including easy starter pieces like simple light catchers, and ranging up to amazing flat-panel creations for doors and windowsLearn how to combine traditional techniques with modern materials and methodsInspirational photo galleries showcase dozens of designs from today's most talented stained glass artistsStunning to look at and exciting to make, stained glass work is perennially popular. Discover the rich and versatile craft of stained glass with this complete beginner's guide!Author and professional stained glass artist Lynette Wrigley shows you everything you need to know to make beautiful decorative pieces for the home. Thirty-one step-by-step projects range from copper foiled and leaded window panels to candle holders, mirror and picture frames, lightcatchers, and more. Expert methods for cutting and polishing, tracing patterns, and soldering are explained with the novice in mind.Even if you've never cut a piece of glass before, Stained Glass Projects for Beginners will inspire you with the fascinating potential of stained glass.For those eager to try their hand at a decorative glass project, Stained Glass Projects for Beginners is the ideal starting place! Read more

**WINNER OF THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD**Edmund de Waal uncovers the history of a family through a turbulent century through 264 objects.264 wood and ivory carvings, none of them bigger than a matchbox: Edmund de Waal was entranced when he first encountered the collection in his great uncle Iggie's Tokyo apartment. When he later inherited the 'netsuke', they unlocked a story far larger and more dramatic than he could ever have imagined.From a burgeoning empire in Odessa to fin de siecle Paris, from occupied Vienna to Tokyo, Edmund de Waal traces the netsuke's journey through generations of his remarkable family against the backdrop of a tumultuous century.'You have in your hands a masterpiece' Sunday Times'The most brilliant book I've read for years... A rich tale of the pleasure and pains of what it is to be human' Daily Telegraph**ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURY* Read more

Everything You Need to Know to Start Your Stained Glass Journey. Dive in to the captivating world of stained glass with this practical handbook for beginners and beyond. Rosie Linebaugh is an expert in making modern stained glass art easy and accessible. With her encouraging advice, step-by-step tutorials, lead-free approach and full-size perforated, fold-out templates at hand, you'll never want to leave your stained-glass studio. Begin by mastering foundational skills like cutting curves for a sunlit Five-Petaled Wildflower or learning how to use zinc came for a shining Glass Spider Web. Then, discover the ways that new materials and skills can elevate your pieces, like using copper foil overlay to make intricate wings on a Buzzing Bumblebee. Finally, graduate to making complex detailed panels like the radiant Sun & Moon Dreamscape with wire work details. Not only does Rosie guide you through each phase of your journey, she also addresses the most common questions and issues that most new artists encounter along the way. And because Rosie teaches a new technique with each project, by the end of the book you'll have everything you need to design eye-catching, one-of-a-kind pieces of your own! Read more

The Potter's Book of Glaze Recipes is a must for potters and ceramicists of all abilities who are interested in creating their own glazes.Emmanuel Cooper's classic guide to making glazes is now available in a thoroughly revised new edition. Cooper provides potters with an introductory section on glaze materials, colouring, mixing and the application of glazes, as well as information on health and safety issues. This essential guide also features over 400 recipes ranging from opaque, matte and transparent glazes to crystalline and black iron glazes, organised according to their firing temperature ranges. Read more

This is the black and white paperback edition of Toast & Marmalade and Other Stories, published in hardback in 2014 by Saltyard Books. If you would like the original colour illustrated version of Toast & Marmalade it is available in hardback. 'Emma Bridgewater, queen of kitchenware, proves herself to be queen of the memoir too.' Stephen Fry'What a great read - a true British inspiration story - I loved it!' Cath Kidston'Emma Bridgewater's captivating recipe for a happy family life: food, passion, work, love.' Meg RosoffPlunge into the world of pottery, family, childhood, work, motorway service stations, holidays, beaches, markets, recipes, dressing-up boxes, patchworking, country & western music, picnics, camping and the lost world of telephone calls costing 2p. Emma Bridgewater looks back on her life and work, with a wonderful patchwork of stories that show the inspirations behind the Bridgewater business and how it all started after a failed attempt to find the perfect birthday present... Read more

“This book made me fall in love with glaze all over again.”—Ben Carter, author of Mastering the Potter’s WheelJoin author and Odyssey Clayworks founder Gabriel Kline on a journey that makes glazing pottery less intimidating and more fun.Whether you look forward to glazing your work or are guilty of saying “I hate glazing!” Amazing Glaze is for you. Start in the “glaze kitchen” where you’ll set yourself up for success, then move on to learning the tools and techniques for getting your glaze right every time. Once you know the basics, discover how to take your glazing to the next level with specialized application and finishing techniques. Along the way, Gabriel shares dozens of tried-and-true glaze recipes and combinations. Stunningly illustrated with color photography, this comprehensive glaze guide includes:An introduction to glazing, covering studio safety, tools and materials, the chemistry of glazes, preparing glazes, testing glazes, and various ways to apply glazesAdvanced techniques and special topics, including layering with slip and underglaze, working with resists, creating crystalline effects, achieving an elusive red, applying decals, and combining techniquesOver 60 glaze recipes (23 high fire, 22 mid-range, 11 low fire, and 7 raku)—refined over dozens of workshops, hundreds of firings, and innumerable tests—from reliable classics to obscure gems, plus recipes for slips, underglazes, washes, terra sigillatas, and more, together forming thousands of potential color and texture combinations Artist features and inspirational galleries with photos of work from today’s top artists, including Cayce Kolstad, Anja Bartels, Nick Moen, Genevieve Van Zandt, Julia Weber, Molly Morning-glory, Naim Cash, Josh Copus, Linda McFarling, and Tisha CookTake your skills—and your work—to the next level with Amazing Glaze.The Mastering Ceramics series is for artists who never stop learning. With compelling projects, expert insight, step-by-step photos, and galleries of work from today’s top artists, these books are the perfect studio companions. Also available from the series: Mastering Hand Building, Mastering Kilns and Firing, and Mastering the Potter’s Wheel. Read more

Thrown is a beginner's guide to making ceramics using a pottery wheel. Beginning with the basics, this book will teach you how to create a collection of 20 stylish homewares from construction to completion with a professional finish including decoration, glazing and firing techniques. From dinner plates, pasta bowls, coffee mugs to decorative vases, a rippled lampshade and more, each project is minimal in design but with thoughtful details, making it the ideal for first time crafters. Complete with stunning lifestyle photography and clear step-by-step instructions to inspire your handmade journey, Thrown is the ultimate modern guide to this addictive, tactile craft. Read more

'I have never read such a stimulating short guide to art' Lynn Barber, Sunday TimesNow Grayson Perry is a fully paid-up member of the art establishment, he wants to show that any of us can appreciate art (after all, there is a reason he's called this book Playing to the Gallery and not 'Sucking up to an Academic Elite'). Based on his hugely popular BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures and full of pictures, this funny, personal journey through the art world answers the basic questions that might occur to us in an art gallery but seem too embarrassing to ask. Read more

No kiln? No problem! A clay artist-designer teaches you how to make beautifully textured home décor accents with inexpensive air-dry clay.Aimed at absolute beginners, this book starts with an overview of the tools and materials needed to produce the best results. A comprehensive "Getting Started" chapter teaches essential home pottery techniques such as rolling slab, coiling, sculpting, and pinching. Also included are creative ideas for adding color with acrylic paint, watercolor, and metallics. At the book's heart is a range of beautiful projects, including coasters, jewelry, trinket bowls, napkin rings, wall hangings, and more. Each lesson comes with a detailed reference photograph and easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions. The process is easy and the results are surprisingly stylish. While a fun creative outlet, home pottery also provides much-needed relaxation and stress relief.  Read more

Rock art is showing up everywhere, and anyone can do it!Over 30 step-by-step tutorials make Rock Art Handbook your comprehensive rock art resourceCovers various craft techniques for decorating rocks like dot painting, marbling, embellishments, and much moreUse your favorite craft supplies from nail polish, puff paint, and gelly roll pens to chalk, washi tape, glitter glue and morePerfect family craft for parents & kids to do togetherMake your own "kindness rock," a growing trend seen on Facebook and reported on the TODAY showRock art is showing up everywhere—on Etsy, at craft shows, online, and on hidden "kindness rocks" around your neighborhood. And the good news is you can do it yourself!Just look in your own backyard, a nearby beach, or the local gardening center to find the perfect rock. Then with the help of a few colorful craft supplies and the tutorials in Rock Art Handbook, you'll be on your way!Author Sam Sarles shares her favorite tips and techniques for transforming the humble rock into a work of art. Brush painting isn't the only way to decorate a rock! Almost anything you do on paper or canvas, you can do on a rock. Discover how to get great results with puffy paint, acrylics, oil pastels, alcohol inks, gelatos, art pens, watercolors, and more.With more than 30 step-by-step projects, this book is the comprehensive rock art resource! Read more

Become a part of artist and master gardener Frances Palmer's world as she shares everything she knows about growing and arranging flowers in this gorgeous book-"Flower lovers, prepare for peak inspiration" (Amy Merrick, author of On Flowers).In this follow-up to Life in the Studio, potter, gardener, and photographer Frances Palmer celebrates her love of flowers. Frances approaches her garden planning in waves, ensuring there are always beautiful booms for her to photograph in her vases. In Life with Flowers, chapters for each these "waves" includes profiles on her favorite varieties--with flower-specific gardening how-to's and arranging techniques, as well as delicious flower-forward recipes and simple DIY projects. Part of the delight and richness of this book comes from the fact that Frances is at once a gardener and an artist: We learn that she was inspired to grow bearded irises after an exhibition of Cedric Morris's iris paintings at the Garden Museum in London; that when arranging her tulips she thinks of André Kertész's 1939 surreal photograph Melancholic Tulip; and that she never passes a tiger lily without imagining the chattering garden from Alice in Wonderland or smells her azalea bush without being transported to the English garden of Rebecca. To read Life with Flowers is to be invited into both the garden and the creative mind of an insatiably curious, highly skilled, and wildly generous talent. Read more

Explore the powerful medium of mosaic in this book which offers a fresh perspective on the ancient art. Packed with photographs, clear instructions, and new ideas about how to create stunning mosaic pieces for indoors and outdoors, Make Your Own Mosaics explains the principles of mosaic making as practised since Roman times. This easy-to-follow book contains step by step instructions on how to make mosaics, covering every aspect of the process from designing mosaics to tools, adhesives, and substrates. Written for creators with all levels of experience, this book opens up a fascinating world showing how ceramic and glass alongside recycled and reclaimed materials can be used to make lasting pieces for the home and garden. Make Your Own Mosaics offers eight unique mosaic projects and seven different approaches to this addictive skill. Chapters on Learning from the Ancients are included alongside practical tips and information on how to choose the right mosaic method for your project. From making a mosaic house number to a garden wall plaque or seasonal decorations, this book will show you how. Whether you want to make classically inspired mosaics, experiment with found materials or decorate your space with beautiful and expressive art, Make Your Own Mosaics is for you. Read more

Discover the slow, tactile art of hand-building ceramics and express yourself through the act of creating unique, timeless pieces for your home.The Urban Potter teaches you how to make beautiful, one-off handcrafted pieces with simple, natural shapes and neutral tones. Ceramicist Emily Proctor's unique, self-taught style embraces irregularity and asymmetry - here, there is no such thing as perfection, every piece is created through an authentic, intuitive process, with no wheel required.The 24 step-by-step projects include functional homeware such as bowls, plates and vases, as well as other decorative accessories, and are ordered by difficulty, making this book suitable for anyone who wants to play with clay, from beginners through to more seasoned ceramicists. For each project, Emily guides you through the whole process and explains all the techniques involved, from slabbing and pinching, to carving and glazing, while also fully leaning into the joys of slow ceramics and the mindful, patient nature of the art. Read more