A&C Black

This delightful mini library features four books of rhymes accompanied by adorable full colour pictures of animals by Holly Webb illustrator Sophy Williams. Throughout the year, kittens and puppies play and explore the world, as the seasons change from spring through to winter.

One night a year, Santa J. Claus delivers presents to the children of the world... but for the rest of the time, he's protecting the world as the top secret agent of the Xtremely Mysterious Agency of Secrets (X.M.A.S.), dishing out his own brand of justice to the world's most dastardly criminals. Santa and his Little Helper, newly qualified X.M.A.S. agent Jingle Bells, are on the trail of Dr Cumulus Nimbus, who's hell-bent on creating a new ice age... and Santa hates snow! Can they stop the evil plot before the world is snowed under?

Following the success of «Christmas Animal Tales» and «Winter Magic», this brand-new collection of original stories is the ideal Christmas gift, featuring tales from a host of best-loved authors — Adele Geras, Julia Green, Karen Wallace, Elizabeth Baguley, Penny Dolan, Tanya Landman, Michael Broad, Caroline Pitcher, Malachy Doyle and Holly Webb.

A heart-warming treasury of Christmas animal stories, prefect for sharing for sharing when the nights draw in. As the snow falls and children sleep, a young reindeer witnesses the magic of the Northern Lights for the first time, a lonely owl searches for someone to share Christmas with, and Santa is in for a surprise when he encounters a playful puppy on Christmas Eve...

This book covers the complete process of making fashion prints from the design of the prints to the final product on a garment. The book is divided into two parts: one devoted to the creative process of developing a design and the second focused on the technical aspects of producing the design. The book discusses not only the various systems for producing prints but also the problems and practicalities of printing on a wide variety of different fibres as well as the problems inherent in the use of various colours. The book also contains a large gallery of different types of prints classified by themes in accordance with the latest trends in fashion.

This is a cutting-edge and stunning comprehensive guide to making best creative use of new designing and making technologies available to the fashion industry, from the original design via production through to the marketing of finished pieces. The content and presentation have been carefully monitored in order not to be too ephemeral, i.e. so that the information doesn't become obsolete too quickly. Highly illustrated and completely international in scope, this is an excellent new handbook for anyone working in the fashion field.

This lavishly-illustrated and comprehensive survey of 50 of the most influential designers, ranging from early celebrity designers such as Paul Poiret to current cutting edge talent such as Hussein Chalayan.The names chosen are there because they have had an extraordinarily powerful influence on fashion and collectively they are responsible for almost the whole fashion story of the last 100 years. Each designer's iconic creations are shown in detail, and graphic timelines and cross references show not only why these pieces were extraordinary in their own time, but why they are still influencing those creating fashion today. The timelines demonstrate design influence through the generations. The result is a fascinating look at the fashion world that will appeal to anyone interested in fashion as well as being a useful resource for all fashion students.

This is to be a glamorous book covering the new trend of international designer-makers, showing the cream of the contemporary craft world, and crossing most disciplines (incl. ceramics, textiles, wood, glass, precious materials & metals). Designer-makers are pushing the boundaries and concept of craft, taking it to a new level and making small batches of work for large retail outlets which are finished to a high standard. The book shows a glorious array of handcrafted objects, with information gathered from each maker, explaining the ideas and concept behind their products, and how they got started and developed their work. The book also includes lots of practical information on running a small craft business effectively, such as liasing with manufacturers, dealing with press, sourcing commissions, packaging and marketing. It contains a gallery and design shop guide and will appeal to makers for both visual interest and practical information, but also to buyers as a directory of contemporary craft makers at the top of their field.

Horrockses was one of most respected ready-to-wear labels of the late 40s and 50s. This title tells the story of this iconic label and its role in the history of the British high street, while also exploring the connections between couture and ready-to-wear fashions in the post-war decades.

Couture in the 21st Century is a reference book of inspirations, featuring interviews with 30 of the world's top designers today expressing, in their own words, the importance of the traditions of couture in shaping the future of fashion. Over the last decade, designers have been delving into the archives of the old masters such as Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel and Madeline Vionnet and discovering a new relevance in traditional techniques. This comprehensive study of contemporary couture features interviews with designers such as Giorgio Armani, Oscar de la Renta and Azzedine Alaia, as well as the fresh faces such as Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri at Valentino, Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent and Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy. Each designer describes his or her own particular relationship with couture accompanied by beautiful photographs and illustrations, as well as a portrait of the designer by Rankin, the internationally renowned photographer. Couture in the 21st Century captures the allure of couture in the hands of the world's best-known couturiers. It is a must have this season for anyone interested in fashion.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is the world’s greatest museum of art and design, with a vast collection that been an unparalleled resource for designers for 150 years. This new series of pattern books presents the range of the V&A’s superb collections. Beautifully designed, accessible, and informative– perhaps a little quirky – they are a repository of ideas for designers of all kinds, but also a collection of desirable gift books. Included in each volume is a CD of all the images shown within--to be redrawn, reworked, or even licensed for further use. The books are available individually or in a beautiful decorative slipcase. Garden Florals brings together a wonderful range of botanical patterns from wallpaper, textiles, prints, and drawings. The short text is followed by 60 colorplates that feature gorgeous plant-form patterns dating from 1880 to 1910.

Don'ts for Husbands and Don'ts For Wives were originally published by A&C Black in 1913. They contain hundreds of snippets of entertaining advice for a happy marriage, which ring true almost 100 years after they were written. An ideal Christmas stocking filler and gift for weddings, engagements and anniversaries. Advice appears under the following chapters: 1. Personalities 2. How to Avoid Discord 3. Habits 4. Financial Matters 5. Evenings at Home 6. Jealousy 7. Recreation 8. Food 9. Dress 10. Entertaining 11. Household Management 12. Children.

Following the success of the previous titles in the V&A Pattern series, these four books reveal the Victoria and Albert Museum's spectacular and extensive pattern collections. Available separately — as well as in a collectors' slipcase edition — this season's titles are Kimonos, Novelty Patterns, Owen Jones and Secret Garden.

Roger Stevens has written a captivating series of poems for younger readers. On My Way to School I Saw a Dinosaur bridges the gap between nursery rhymes and more challenging poetry. Readers will love the characters that reappear throughout the poems, creating a vivid picture of a school, with all of its unusual and exciting goings-on.

Do you know your geek-speak from your geek-chic? Ever wanted to put Humpty Dumpty together again? Can you distinguish Spanglish from Chinglish? We adapt words from other languages, from slang, from developments in science, literature and art. Learn the advantages of having your own signature word; why the lifts in the House of Commons have posh accents; and, discover the discreet art of the loophemism. Witty and utterly delightful, «The Last Word» will tease, tickle and tantalise those who enjoy all things lexical.

This workbook provides exercises to help teach and build English vocabulary. It has been written both for students who are studying towards professional exams, and for those who want to improve their related communication skills. The material covers general and topic-specific vocabulary, as well as grammar and use of English, comprehension, pronunciation and spelling.

Fashion is all around us, and few of us are unaffected by it. Yet how many people know the origins of the little black dress, or the bowler hat, or the ladies trouser suit? How many people can pin down the famous brand of leather jacket Marlon Brando wore in The Wild One, or why the Chanel bag is known as the 2:55 bag? How to Read Fashion identifies the main fashion trends of the past 200 years and shows how they relate to contemporary styles. From Neo-Classical to Gothic, Empire to Punk, Military, and Designer Branding, the defining characteristics of each 'look' are explained. Chapters on techniques and materials give additional technical grounding. The book then shows how all of these are applied in the world of men's and women's fashions, including formal, casual and leisure wear, as well as accessories, jewellery, hair styles and make-up. Both dip-in reference and stylish resource, How to Read Fashion will equip you with the visual vocabulary to understand, investigate and interpret styles.

Who said « Neither a lender nor a borrower be»? Who are the star-crossed lovers? Which Shakespearean lady protests «too much»? If you have ever been stuck trying to identify a Shakespearean quote then this is the book for you! With over 3,000 quotes from single lines to quite long extracts, organized by topic and by play, this is an essential book for anyone with an interest in Shakespeare. The key word index makes it easy to use and it also includes a glossary of unfamiliar terms and a brief biography of Shakespeare. The Dictionary is easy to dip into by word or theme (love, greed, disease, war etc.) or by play, and the indexes allow readers to track down a half-remembered quote easily. An ideal companion for all students, teachers or performers of Shakespeare.

Packed with breathtaking photographs, this tribute to Alexander McQueen (1969-2010) celebrates the incredible creations of an iconic, imaginative, and inspirational fashion designer whose work turned heads and hearts all over the world. He was a major fashion figure, famous throughout the world, especially the US (where he is a celebrity-favourite with clients including Sarah Jessica Parker, Peelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman) and Japan. McQueen's dramatic designs, also been worn by celebrities including Bjork, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, met with critical acclaim and earned him the British Designer of the Year award four times. This book is a must-have for fashion lovers everywhere.

From credit crunch to golden parachute, barking up the wrong tree to storm in a tea cup in this book, Gordon Jarvie explains all you need to know about these and 3,000 other common English idioms. Packed with nuggets of fascinating information, the Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms traces the origins of these phrases, explains meanings and gives examples of up-to-date usage. Ideal for word buffs and English students alike, this book will help all users of English to mind their (linguistic) ps and qs.

This book is a handy guide on how to build your portfolio in order to get into fashion design. It introduces the fundamental design process, which will enable the reader to develop his own personal methods through research, theme-based projects and design development. There is guidance on how to produce materials in both 2D and 3D. Featuring a wide range of media, the reader will work through the whole fashion process from design to the construction of garments in fabric. Filled with step-by-step instruction, this is an ideal introduction for anyone interested in going into the world of fashion design.

Design and Make Hats provides a thoroughly beautiful and comprehensive introduction to the craft of millinery. First the author discusses design and inspiration, and then she takes the reader through a survey of the materials and techniques generally used in millinery. Then the reader is guided through fourteen fashionable hat designs, easy to make from inexpensive and accessible fabrics and components, clearly laid out in an instructive and attractive design. Each project is set out in a simple and straightforward way, starting with an image of the finished piece, listing the supplies you will need and the basic tools required, then following with an illustrated making sequence. Even absolute beginners can confidently and successfully tackle all the projects. Finally there is a section of pattern-cutting, taking you through a variety of styles and shapes. By the end of the book you will feel confident enough to complete a variety of hats, as well as design your own unique styles.

This new series celebrates the V&A's status as a source of inspiration for designers, reflecting the unique breadth and depth of a collection that represents over 3,000 years of objects from all over the world. The pocket-sized books make attractive and collectible gifts, but are also a valuable source of ideas for designers of all kinds. The first four titles in the series feature some of the museum's most popular patterns, from William Morris wallpapers to 1950s textiles, and a short introduction to each puts the patterns in context. Complete with a free CD of the images inside, to be redrawn or reworked, commercial designers looking to license patterns and individual motifs from the collection can use the books as a starting point for research.

This new series celebrates the V&A's status as a source of inspiration for designers, reflecting the unique breadth and depth of a collection that represents over 3,000 years of objects from all over the world. The pocket-sized books make attractive and collectible gifts, but are also a valuable source of ideas for designers of all kinds. The first four titles in the series feature some of the museum's most popular patterns, from William Morris wallpapers to 1950s textiles, and a short introduction to each puts the patterns in context. Complete with a free CD of the images inside, to be redrawn or reworked, commercial designers looking to license patterns and individual motifs from the collection can use the books as a starting point for research.