Everlastings

The natural world offers a rich and endless variety of materials for the craftsperson to use - dried grasses, flowers, mosses, fir cones, leaves, twigs, nuts, spices, chillies, fungi and shells. These are only a few of the many organic items that can be easily gathered and used to create lovely pieces for gifts or decorations. Whatever the occasion or season, this book will help you create the most stunning and inspirational displays. Moving far beyond the standard dried-flower arrangement, this imaginative book presents a veritable harvest of innovative ideas. From the simplest lavender- and rosebud-filled terracotta pot to breathtaking structures of lichen, leaves and twigs; from a plain but elegant sheaf of wheat and flowers bound together with a raffia bow to a dazzling Christmas garland of nuts and winter foliage; from summery swags and opulent hangings to avant-garde moss globes and fiery displays of dried chilli peppers, there are projects here to suit both traditional and contemporary tastes - and every level of ability. There are also designs for summer wedding pews, attractive posies and special gifts. Brimming with over 700 evocative, specially commissioned colour photographs, this unique book is highly practical, with over 140 projects explained clearly through step-by-step instruction and visual examples, making even the most complex-seeming creations eminently achievable. Full details of basic techniques, materials and tools are included, as well as helpful advice on preserving the finished work. This attractive and comprehensive book is designed to ensure that you have all the information you need to create the most original and beautiful displays for every occasion.