Finger Strings: A Book of Cat's Cradles and
String Figures - Michael Taylor
Finger string games are a wonderful opportunity for today's children to practise meaningful movement, explore space, interact with others, and exercise their creative spirits. They're also great fun!
String games can be particularly useful with children who struggle at school, are dyslexic or who are learning concepts such as 'left and right', 'up and down'. The book contains games that will delight all children, from the very young to those with greater dexterity.
Michael Taylor has many years of experience in working with children and has shared his string figures at schools and camps throughout the world. This book contains over 80 inventive and imaginative string games and stories, all clearly illustrated with step-by-step colour diagrams. The book is particularly designed to require as little page-turning as possible in the middle of making a string shape!
Includes two brightly coloured strings to get you started.
Quirky, cute & cuddly handmade toys.
Designed by crafters from around the world, these inspired soft toys are funky, fresh, and full of personality. With little more than needle, thread, and some scraps of your favourite vintage fabric, you can make your very own fashionable friends. There are quick and easy sewing projects for beginners, as well as more advanced designs for those looking for a bigger challenge.
Each unique toy includes a detailed pattern, step-by-step instructions, and tips and tricks to ensure perfect results. There's also an easy-to-read glossary that explains all the terms and techniques that you'll come across, so even if you've never felt crafty before, you'll be able to create one of these fantastic creatures. Providing endless opportunity for originality and experimentation, Softies will inspire your imagination and nurture your creative spirit.
Your gateway to the glorious world of homemade soft toys.
More Softies provides instructions and patterns for 22 original and adorable soft toys that will appeal to adults and children alike. Talented crafters from around the world have contributed their designs to this book and each unique softie is testament to their passion and inventiveness. The toys are made using a range of techniques, from simple hand-sewing to crochet, and there are patterns to suit everyone - from complete beginners to experienced crafters. Each entry includes a list of the tools and materials you'll need, as well as detailed instructions, hints and tips. Hunting down the perfect vintage fabric, choosing which charming toy to make next, and exploring your creativity with new techniques and styles, are all part of the fun of making your own creations, knowing there is a little of your own personality in every creature you make.
Flower children are a fun craft activity which can be made from a range of easy-to-find materials, such as wool, felt and cotton. This book contains all the patterns and instructions you will need to make your own flower children, including strawberries, shamrocks, mistletoe and daisies, and is clearly illustrated with diagrams and photographs. It is a sequel to the ever-popular Making Flower Children, offering an entirely new set of flower children to make.
he figures are arranged by season so they can be made according to the time of year, and are ideal for decorating a seasonal table.
Here are detailed step-by-step instructions and illustrations for making a range of lively, creative flower figures. Activities are organised by season, making the book ideal for decorating a nature corner or seasonal table in the home or classroom
The toys surrounding a child during the first five years of life are of great importance. They awaken imagination and stimulate creativity. Freya Jaffke has suggestions for making a wide variety of toys, including wooden boats, log trains, doll’s furniture, rag dolls, puppets and soft animals. This greatly expanded edition is an excellent handbook with plenty of ideas for the parents and teachers of young children.
- Angelika Wolk-Gerche - Felting and making Toys and Gifts
People have been making felt for thousands of years, and there has been a recent upsurge in interest in traditional textile techniques. Containing easy, step-by-step instructions, accompanied by helpful photographs and diagrams, this is an invaluable book for modern feltmaking. It also contains a wealth of ideas of things to make with felt; ranging from toys and dolls to beautiful accessories and gifts.
Gnome craft offers a wealth of possibilities for children, appealing to their imagination in a vivid and entertaining manner. Thomas and Petra Berger show how to make gnomes out of walnuts, twigs, wool, and paper, as well as from a variety of other materials. There are plenty of different types of gnomes to keep children amused for hours
- Making Dolls, Gifts and Toys
Wool Felt is a durable and flexible material ideal for children to work with. Petra Berger offers detailed instructions for a range of lively and creative ideas using felt. Continuing a tradition passed down from her grandmother, she makes small dolls, finger and glove puppets, animals, wristbands, little gifts and even wall tapestries. It can also be used for decorating cushions or other objects. She has tried all these ideas with her own children.
Here is an irresistable collection of animals to knit in soft, natural materials: ducklings, teddy bears, lambs, piglets, a handsome rooster and many more. Most of the projects can be easily and cheaply knitted with small oddments of wool, and many can be completed in an hour or two. Step-by-step instructions for making over 20 delightful, soft knitted animals. The finished designs make enchanting children’s toys and gifts or decoration for the nature or season table. .
Easter time has a traditional wealth of symbols representing new life and rebirth: the eggs, the hares, the chicken and the lamb, Mother Earth and the flower children, birds and butterflies. The authors show how to make Easter figures and decorations of dough, wool, felt or tissue paper, different ways of decorating eggs, making egg cosies, puppets and creating a festive table.
Simply made decorations for home or school are an absorbing way for children to become involved in the celebration of Advent and Christmas. The decorations are all described and fully illustrated with colour photographs.
- Celebrating the year’s cycle with a seasonal table. Seasonal nature tables are an invaluable way of making young children aware of the changing cycle of the year. With simple materials and basic knitting and crocheting skills a series of colourful and effective tableaux can be made at home or in school for depicting seasons and major festivals.
Instructions and diagrams are provided for making the figure and objects, along with basic hints for setting up the table and involving children.
- Thomas and Petra Berger
Simply made decorations for home or school are an absorbing way for children to become involved in the celebration of the festivals of the year. The authors show how to make almost 200 different things, ranging from decorating Easter eggs or candles, making corn-dollies and straw horses, to cutting Christmas transparencies.
A vital factor in a child’s development is the stimulation of active imagination and creativity. Here are ideas for encouraging self-expression through water-colour painting. Essentially practical, this guide covers preparation, colour-stories and poems, painting moods of nature and the seasons of the year.
This book describes how to make seventeen different kinds of doll : for instance, a cuddly doll for toddlers, a large baby doll, finger puppets, gnomes, dolls for a doll’s house, and many more.
- Creative Activities with Natural Sheep’s Wool.
Activities with unspun sheep’s wool offer a wide range of creative possibilities for both children and adults. The colours and textures of natural wool appeal to the imagination in a vivd and inspirational manner.
- Creating Figures and Pictures with Dyed Wool.
Plant-dyed unspun sheep’s wool offers a wide range of creative possibilities for creating scenes which appeal to the imagination in a vivid and inspirational manner.
- Environmental Crafts and Activities with Young Children.
Full of practical ideas for nature crafts and seasonal activities to encourage young children to be aware of their environment. Carefully written and beautifully illustrated.