Click by Charlie Styr with Maria Wakem, softback published by Amphoto Books (Watson Guptill) in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBS 978-0-8230-9237-6, price 10.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com

An interesting photography book taking a fresh look at the subject. This book is written by teens for teens. It has a basic introduction of the usual techniques then goes on to look at many styles of photography from landscape to underwater, portrait to night photography and everything in between. Good photographs with appropriate text that offers tips and techniques from professionals to improve your photography. An accessible guide to photography for all ages.

Spirit of Color by Connie Smith Siegel, softback published by Watson-Guptill Publications in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-0-8230-9911-5, price 16.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com

Inspired by the painting of masters, this book aims to enable the reader to grasp the use of colour in art through the means of several creative processes. It is subtitled ‘A Sensory Meditation Guide to Creative Expression’. Understand the language, energy and rhythm of colour with this fascinating book. Discover how to use colour for effect and much more besides.

Remake, Restyle, Reuse by Sonia Lucano, softback, published by Watson Guptill in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-0-8230-9842-2, price 11.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com

Subtitled ‘Easy Ways to Transform Everyday Basics into Inspired Design’, this book presents a series of projects to transform work out objects and give them a second lease of life. More than forty projects are presented. 

The book includes basic techniques such as embroidery and dyeing for embellishing existing objects such as personalising a wine glass with your initials. I guess you will either love the style or not. Sadly I have to say that I don’t. I think the look of the book would have been improved if the line drawings, which are usually templates, were at the back of the book. The projects themselves are very simple and I just thought this could have been improved on with a little more thought. Although this is trying hard to be a recycling book and cash in on being green, most of the items seemed to have been bought. 140 pages of simple projects, well-photographed but not imaginative and sadly lacking good production.

The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting by Nancy Queen and Mary Ellen O’Connell, softback published by Watson-Guptill in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-0-8230-0675-5, price 10.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com

Knitting has been revived as a fun thing to do. Cool! Nothing is cooler than the ‘Chicks with Sticks’ approach. Subtitled ‘Learn to Knit With More Than 30 Cool, Easy Patterns’. This is a neat guide for beginner’s and one that won’t put you off and have you transferring those knitting needles to an oriental hairdo!

This book works on a series of building blocks, enabling the beginner to master the necessary skills. More than thirty easy-to-knit projects will help build your confidence. The projects include hats, scarves, pillows, handbags and sweaters for men and women. There’s a gorgeous t-shirt, a lovely wrap, a cosy hat and a great man’s striped sweater. 

The detailed instructions have schematic diagrams, clear colour photographs and line drawing showing the size. This is not a book that assumes you are a dummy, but that you are an intelligent person wishing to knit and create your own clothes. Instructions are given for finishing garments and even fixing mistakes. This is the book I would choose for anyone starting out.

Felt, Fabric and Fiber Jewelry by Sherri Haab, softback published by Watson-Guptill in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-0-8230-9909-2, price 12.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com (US spelling retained)

Sherri Haab, best-selling author of many craft titles, turns her attention to jewellery projects made from fabric, ribbon, thread, cord, wire, beads and buttons. Using a variety of needlework techniques, you can create personal style and unusual adornments. 

Sherri says that the inspiration came through digging through her own sewing box and fabric stash, so this books is all about using remnants in an innovative way. There is a comprehensive introduction talking about materials and equipment. The twenty projects are varied and interesting and include no-sew ideas. I like the cuffs, the embroidered rings and the fabric necklace. 

The instructions are easy-to-follow, the photographs are clear and there are how-to’s for the basic stitches and so on. This book brings new ideas for jewellery to the craft maker.

Screen Your Stuff by Marion Levy and Veronique Georgelin, softback published by Watson-Guptill in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-0-8230-2476-6, price 7.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com

This small 64-page book is full of fun ideas for screen printing. It is not for your granny, and is definitely aimed at a younger age group – teenagers or students. It’s kind of groovy and funky of those words are not too out-of-date.

Silk-screen your t-shirts, jeans, totes, towels and everything else. Find hints and tips on colour, an how-to on screen printing plus fifteen projects to get you started. Anything that cna lay flat can be screen printed – so what are you waiting for?

Wonderful World of Watercolor by Mary Baumgartner, softback published by Watson-Guptill in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-0-8230-9910-8, price 14.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com

Subtitled ‘Learning and Loving Transparent Watercolor’, this book captures the essence of watercolour. The author focuses on the basics of colour, value and mixing colour to build composition. She uses her own work as well as examples of her students’ work to demonstrate her effective methods. The examples cover many topics from fruit to people.

Mary takes us by the hand with step-by-step instructions to make the process simple. She also offers advice on how to start a career as an artist. Vibrant watercolours fill the pages of this 140 page book. I found this very useful.

Collage Journeys by Jane Davies, softback published by Watson-Guptill in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-0-8230-9951-1, price 11.99 from www.thegmcgroup.com

Explore the exciting medium of collage with artist, designer and teacher Jane Davies. This book will guide you through the entire process of collage from initial design to creating a meaningful, personal artwork. 

Learn how to assemble ideas and imagery, how to work a collage, discover how to use text and layers. Explore personal expression. This book includes a special feature on digital software. The book is suitable for beginners as well as providing inspiration and techniques for those who have delved before. No previous experience is required. 

You can record part of your life by keeping images and materials that mean something to you and putting them together in a collage. The examples of Jane’s work and that of others, will help you to see things differently and guide you through the process. How many times on a day out have you gathered things such as tickets, programmes, a leaf, a seed, a menu, a photo only to discard them when getting home or a few weeks later as having too much to keep? Imagine capturing and recording that moment forever.

The colour group collages are wonderful and fit in with anyone who buys my garden books and loves one-colour themes. The explanations for the different techniques are inspirational. The latter are backed up by superb photographs.

This book is full of fabulous ideas, it’s a visual delight. It explores the many facets of collage. The 144-page book is the first I have seen that really makes me want to collage. I’m sure we all did it at school and then we forget. This is a complete exploration of the medium of collage and I’ll be picking up the threads where I left off years ago and recording some of the moments in my life that I would like to see visually. I’m adding collage to my repertoire, thanks to this wonderful book.

The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques by Donna Kato, softback published by Watson-Guptill in the USA. Available in the UK price 12.99, ISBN 978-0-8230-9918-4 from www.thegmcgroup.com

Polymer clay is one of my crafts – I love the possibilities of this material. Donna Kato is one of the chief exponents of the craft ad even has her own type of polymer clay. Millefiori is, of course, a glass technique, but it transfers well to polymer clay. 

In this book Donna provides an introduction to polymer clay. She then takes us through the various millefiori techniques including bullseye canes, embedding, slabs, jellyrolls, zigzags, kaleidoscopes, shape-shifting and tiles. Some of the stuff I have seen elsewhere, some is new to me and I have trawled most books on the subject.

In the chapter on millefirori and skinner, Donna explores the technique attributed to Judith Skinner- the Skinner blend. Here she again looks at different effects such as Ikat, translucent and mokume. In flowers, feathers and faces, Donna introduces these three themes into canes to create not just beads, but floral scenes and realistic faces.

Many polymer clay artists have contributed to this book and the examples are incredible. This 176 page book is full of inspiration. The instructions are top notch and easy to follow and the photographs, both for step-by-step instructions and for finished projects are beautifully clear. A must for any polymer clay fan.

Please bear in mind that polymer clays are a plastic and cooking at the recommended temperature is deemed safe. Get an oven thermometer and check your oven temperature. Phthlates have recently been removed from most polymer clays. The cover of the book I received is different to that shown.