Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.
Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.
Try your hand at the ancient and venerable tradition of basket weaving by following tricks of the trade passed on from generation to generation. A host of ideas and information will transform even the novice into a basket-weaving expert. Learn to identify the various fibers, such as wicker, raffia, medulla, and cane, available commercially, and how to prepare honeysuckle, clematis, wisteria, holly, or other branches gathered from your own garden. Tips on dyeing, a descriptive list of tools, detailed technical instruction, and plenty of pictures will soon have you weaving dozens of objects. Not just conventional baskets, but trays, hampers, bicycle baskets, wreaths, even woven shopping carts will take form under your hands. And, the best part is, these will not be slavish imitations, but original, one-of-a-kind creations, with the variations that come from nature and from your thorough understanding of this traditional handicraft.
An in-depth, illustrated history of South Carolina's Lowcountry baskets Coiled grass baskets are icons of Gullah culture. From their roots in Africa, through their evolution on Lowcountry rice plantations, to their modern appreciation as art objects sought by collectors and tourists, these vessels are carriers of African American history and the African-inspired culture that took hold along the coast of South Carolina and neighboring states. Row Upon Row, the first comprehensive history of this folk art, remains a classic in the field. The fourth edition brings the narrative into the twenty-first century, with a chapter describing current challenges to the survival of the time-honored tradition. The artform continues to adapt to the changing consumer market, the availability of materials, economic opportunities, and most recently, the widening of the highway near the majority of basket stands. As globalization transforms the world, the coiled basket in all its iterations retains its power as a local symbol of individual identity and cultural distinction. A preface is provided by Jane Przybysz, executive director of the McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina.
There is nothing like the satisfaction of owning a beautiful handmade basket. They brighten any room, are useful around any home, and make cherished heirloom gifts. This magnificent collection of over 30 baskets draws on the long, rich tradition of basketmaking and uses a variety of fascinating techniques and easy-to-find materials. In a matter of hours, you can proudly produce a handsome basket that will be admired for generations to come. You'll appreciate the step-by-step instructions, including over 400 illustrations, colorful full-page photos and helpful hints and suggestions. Gorgeous watercolors of baskets are interspersed throughout, making this book as beautiful as it is useful. Book jacket.
Exchange traded funds, one of the most exciting new classes of funds, provide investors with an opportunity to get the benefits of individual stocks at the lower costs associated with mutual funds. Although they are a very new type of fund (they were first introduced in 1993), ETFs have nearly 100 billion in assets under management. Written by senior editors Jim Wiandt and Will McClatchy at IndexFunds.com, Exchange Traded Funds clearly explains this exciting class of funds for savvy individual investors and investment professionals alike. The authors provide a frank appraisal of the advantages of exchange traded funds including low management fees and lower capital gains taxes. They acquaint readers with the full range of what's available, and provide valuable information on evaluating the funds' usefulness and performance. They also describe proven strategies for using exchange traded funds to balance investment portfolios and manage long-term and short-term risk. IndexFunds.com is a Web site devoted to index funds. It currently hosts more than 100,000 visitors each month.
Add That Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi to Your Home, Effortlessly Rustic and elegant French décor never goes out of style—and with easy yet sophisticated accessories for your home, these 70 projects will transform your space and add that special touch to any room. Jamie Lundstrom’s projects use easy-to-find and recycled objects, as well as new materials, to bring her French vintage style into your life. Projects span every season and category, from sewing to painting and upholstery, including provincial antique baskets, a fantastique Trumeau mirror, a jolie gold leaf frame, boutique plaster of Paris–dipped flowers and a chic antique chair. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions with beautiful photos to help guide you, these projects can be created in just a few hours or less.
When she published her first book about starting a home-based gift basket business, Shirley George Frazier blazed the trail for other home-based business owners coast to coast. She also tapped a growing demand for gift baskets, the all-occasion solution for personalized and memorable presents. Her business was such a phenomenon that Frazier turned her experiences into a book to instruct readers how to make these baskets themselves, combining the creative with the practical and even providing designs for those who wanted to start their own business! This all-new revised edition features: *distinctive holiday ideas *alternate containers for gift baskets *new gift baskets geared for: the techie, the college student, the pet lover, and more! Shirley George Frazier is also the author of MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR THE HOME-BASED BUSINESS (November “07) and HOW TO START A HOME-BASED GIFT BASKET BUSINESS, 4th edition. She is a business owner and marketing expert who appears at small-business workshops across the country, and is often featured on TV network shows as an expert on home-based businesses.