In the Loop Knitting Now by Jessica Hemmings, softback published by Black Dog Publishing. ISBN 978-1-906155-96-4, price 24.99 available from www.blackdogonline.com

This is not a knitting pattern book. Instead it tracks the position of knitting as an art form today. It offers perspectives on knitting, mainly as a textile art across the world. Theme-wise, it reminds me of a very similar book I reviewed some time ago – Knitting Art from Voyageur Press, which in my opinion is the better book. However the content is different even if we are going over the same tracks – knitting to make an artistic statement and expanding the boundaries of knitting. Amongst the essays, Sandy Black’s name will be well-known.

Botanic Gardens – A Living History, hardback by Black Dog Publishing. ISBN 978-1-904772-72-9, price 39.95 from www.blackdogonline.com

I remember Stephen Anderton, one of my favourite British garden authors writing a piece on the future of Botanic Gardens some years ago, when the National Botanic Garden of Wales opened. Ever since then, I nurtured the idea of writing a book on botanic gardens – but never got around to it, hey these guys have beaten me to it. What a fine job they have made. This 294 page book includes text from various garden authors on botanic gardens around the world. The photography is very good, although at times I yearned for even more larger images.

It is so much more than a mere directory of gardens. The book traces the history of the botanic garden. There is also a wonderful section on ‘Where Art and Science Meet’, discussing the paintings of Marianne North and other botanical artists. Informative, learned and interesting, I recommend this book.

Art and Text, hardback by Black Dog Publishing. ISBN 978-1-906155-65-0, price 24.95 from www.blackdogonline.com

This is a hefty tome, full of examples of text  and typography as an art form. It stands as a survey of the use of text. Over 280 pages of examples trace the usage all over the world, especially in avant-garde art. This book showcases many artists who currently use text, it documents the relationship between word and image and shows what can be achieved.

I was excited about this, having once been married to a typographer. I found it a little bit disappointing as it did not match what was in my imagination. I guess I was thinking beautiful type, lovingly caressing the page. However, Black Dog are a very contemporary publisher, forward-thinking and this book is a resource for designers,w ho also want to know about the history of type.

The first part of the book traces the story of communication and the roots of type. The second part is a reference for 50 of the most popular typefaces in use today.

It’s a small format, which I didn’t think was best suited to the subject. The examples of type in the ‘history’ section are pertinent and interesting. The font selection could have been broader. Useful for graphic designers and typographers everywhere.

Subtitled ‘The Fabric of Fine Art’ this 192 page book takes a look at the new wave of textile art over the past 50 years. It features the work of many textile artists whilst chronicling the history and the possible future of textiles.

The book is split into four chapters looking at drawings, paintings, sculptures and spaces. It’s the cutting edge of art and textiles that often leaves me cold and not the beautiful art quilts I usually review. If you are looking for the next big thing, you might find a lead in here somewhere.

Subtitled “An Alternative Craft Book”, this book appeals to the modern crafter at the younger end of the market, or indeed anyone with a sense of fun.

It’s a guide to knitting, felting, sewing, applique and crochet. After a short how-to section on each craft, we’re into the meat of the book. Most of the projects are for accessories, some are serious, some are fun. Can you really walk around wearing angel’s wings? There is a jewellery section for making jewels out of papier mache to paper itself. More accessories – this time for the home – including the delectable ‘Barking Mad Draught Excluder’. Bet you cannot resist the ‘Jumper Monkeys’. There’s a really fun section of things to make for kids (the grown-ups will want one too. My favourite project here is the ‘Steiner Dolls’, real cute.

All in all, if you like something slightly wacky, this will be right up your street. 144 page book of exciting things to make life special.

This book traces the influence of Picasso’s collage on modern art and its legacy in each art movement  through to the present day from Constructivism to Post Modernism. This is achieved through seminal essays.

The book is divided into five themes, all well illustrated with collage. Famous names like Duchamp, Juan Gris, Picasso and around 100 more are represented in this work.  beautifully presented though tis book is, the work left me cold. I guess I’m just not a modern art collage girl. If you are, you will find this a fascinating look at the subject.

Publishers have finally cottoned on to the fact that not all gardeners have one foot in the grave. It’s a brave new garden. Try as I might to uncover the reason for the subtitle “An alternative Guide to Gardening”, I found that most of the information was just basic garden know-how you could find elsewhere, presented in a slightly more flamboyant way to get people interested.

This book is suitable for all skill levels and is definitely aimed at the younger market – and it should be congratulated for that reason. Maybe you don’t find ‘Grow your own Mojito’ in every garden book, but hold on to your trowel – it’s just about growing spearmint. It’s a trendy way of getting people to garden and I’m all for that.

The information is compiled from different writers, but it is down-to-earth. If you are new to gardening, you should find this practical, non-stuffy, book a big help. Some of the photos are unintentionally (i.e. we are not discussing diseases) of diseased veg, which was rather off-putting. There is however, the now ubiquitous mentions of ‘growing your own’. I found the resources section lacking somewhat – the usual suspects in the world of gardening are found here.