David & Charles – The Bell Bookshop

The Wonder of Wool

Emma — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Knitters, spinners and weavers have never before been so interested in sheep breeds. At yarn shows around the world they can be found seeking out skeins of yarn from their favourite sheep breeds. Provenance is increasingly important to yarn lovers alongside sourcing yarn from farmers using regenerative methods.The UK has more ancient breeds than any other country and the rich diversity of breeds and the unique characteristics of British wool are valued worldwide. This is a guide to the pure breeds of sheep found in the UK, exploring their history, habitat, appearance and, of course, their fleece and the resulting yarn. Historically, British sheep originated from three main sources: longwools and a few shortwools from the Romans; ancients from the island of Soay in Scotland; and mountain breeds from the Vikings. Today, sheep breeds used for knitting are categorised slightly differently: there are the primitives, longwools, and downs and shortwools.Knitwear designer and author, Justine Lee, set out on a search for the British ‘cashmere’ and knitted with yarn from each of the 62 pure breeds in order to find the ones that produce the best yarn for hand knitting. She has designed 10 knitting patterns for garments and accessories made using yarn from 10 different pure breed sheep, focusing on the ones that provide the softest and most beautiful wool for hand knitted projects.The UK has a long history of sheep farming and has contributed significantly to the development and preservation of many sheep breeds. Although the sheep are native British breeds all of the sheep featured in this collection can be found in the USA and Australia which also have a strong tradition of sheep farming and conservation.Beautiful black and white photography captures the unique look and characteristics of these wonderful animals that mean so much to fibre lovers around the world.

Sketching Nature

Emma — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Learn how to start a botanical sketchbook, to improve both your drawing skills and your appreciation of the natural world, with renowned botanical illustrator and tutor Dianne Sutherland.Sketchbooks are a simple and accessible way of becoming more involved with nature, with all the wellbeing benefits that brings, while learning to draw and paint with purpose. This beautiful yet practical book is aimed at those just starting out in botanical art and nature journaling, as well as more experienced artists looking to evolve their sketching practice.? Explore a variety of subjects: From delicate flowers and towering trees to fascinating insects and their habitats.? Learn to compose your sketches effectively: Highlight key features and capture the unique beauty of each specimen.? Experiment with different techniques and materials: Add depth and dimension to your work with expert guidance.? Incorporate colour swatches, notes, and labels: Enhance your sketchbook’s educational value and create a lasting record of your observations.In this comprehensive book packed with step-by-step instructions, Dianne generously shares her knowledge on selecting the perfect sketchbook (or even making your own with simple bookbinding techniques), to the in-depth development of sketchbook pages, covering content and composition, what parts of the plant to include, how to deal with different subjects, and now to bring your work to life with simple watercolour techniques.Illustrated throughout with examples of Dianne’s beautiful sketchbook pages this is a truly inspirational guide that will give you everything you need to start creating stunning nature sketchbooks and journals.Discover the profound therapeutic benefits of botanical sketchbooking, immerse yourself in nature, observe the intricate details of plants and insects, and harness your creativity to capture their essence on paper with Sketching Nature.

Embroidery Made Easy: Botanical Bliss

Emma — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Thready or knot, here we come… easy animal embroidery patterns with iron-on transfers to make your next embroidery project a breeze!In this innovative, high-quality booklet you’ll discover 12 beautiful botanical designs, aimed at complete newcomers to embroidery, as well as more experienced stitchers looking for an easy, mindful project.? Beginner-friendly booklet featuring step-by-step stitch guides, full-colour photos and thread keys.? Tear-out heat-activated transfers take all the hassle out of transferring the designs onto your fabric.? 12 creative designs to choose from: Blackthorn Bramble, Fields of Provence, Forest Ferns, Highland Heathers, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Seedhead Spray, Succulents, Wildflower Meadow, Wildwood, Winter Walk and Wintertide.Learn a range of hand embroidery stitches, create lovely keepsakes, and enjoy the process with this great-value embroidery experience, from crafting expert Stephanie Carswell, founder of Hawthorn Handmade.

The Little Wild Library: Nettle

Emma — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In The Little Wild Library: Nettle, discover how to make the most of this tenacious plant, with recipes and makes to try throughout the year. Bursting to life in spring and popping up everywhere, the nettle is one of the most common plants, though sometimes cruelly called weeds!Once you’ve found your favourite patch of nettles, come back as the seasons change and find new things to do with your foraged treasure…? Learn how to identifyand how to safely forage for nettles.? Discover easy recipes that make use of fresh and sweet nettle tips that appear in spring.? All the recipes and makes are beginner friendly! Learn how to identify the nettle amidst its hedgerow friends from the comprehensive botanical information included, and take this pocket-sized book out on foraging adventures to help spot the urtica dioica waving merrily on a spring breeze, or brightening a dull fall afternoon. Through the book, learn all about the nettle including how it got its name, and discover some of the myths, legends, and folklore attached to this fantastic plant.The perfect beginner’s guide to foraging, in a handy pocket-sized format, The Little Wild Library: Nettle will reveal the secrets of this magical weed and inspire those new to foraging to experiment and explore the beautiful plants around them.

Alice’s Wonderland Sampler Quilt

Emma — Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The only sampler quilt book made using stunning and highly desirable Liberty fabrics (though any other fabrics can be used), which will become a true heirloom piece.
Features a combination of designs and techniques – from more traditional pieced blocks to EPP and raw edge appliqué – meaning sewers will build their skills as they progress.
Written by Liberty fabric ambassador Alice Caroline, with over 48k Instagram followers, and featuring a beautiful pastel rainbow palette.

Gardener’s folklore

Emma — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ever wondered if there's any truth behind planting by the moon? Or why wassailing is still a common folk practice in some parts of the world? In Gardener's Folklore, the record of these practices is unveiled, with plenty of tips and tricks to try in your own 21st century garden for blooming bushes and plentiful potatoes.

The pocket cloud book

Emma — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Brand new pocket size edition of the bestselling Cloud Book which has sold over 100,000 copies since 2008.
Updated to include the 12 new officially designated cloud types that have been recognised by the World Meteorological Organization.
Includes updated information on climate change and human-made clouds such as contrails.

The wildlife gardener’s almanac

Emma — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The ultimate guide to encouraging wildlife into the garden all year round.

Taking a month-by-month approach, The Wildlife Gardener’s Almanac is packed with ideas, advice, tips and checklists, to give gardener’s the best chance to make their contribution to conserving our native flora and fauna, no matter what size their garden.

Each chapter of this beautifully illustrated book presents an introduction to the wild plants and creatures to expect at that time of the year, lists of seasonal tasks with straightforward instructions on how to carry them out, detailed profiles of plants in bloom, and a practical project aimed at encouraging more wildlife into the garden, including making a wildlife pond, building a nest box, planning a herb bed, planting a wildflower meadow and more.

With appendices covering wildlife gardening in containers and suggested garden layouts, this guide offers a wealth of gardening information in an accessible format, allowing gardeners to find the advice they need, exactly when they need it.

The magic of seeds

Emma — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The ultimate reference to growing plants from seed.
Seeds are magical. Every little one has the potential to become a new plant and give you more seeds – connecting us to the circle of life and nature’s endless ability to surprise and delight. The act of planting seeds and watching them grow into seedlings and then on into productive plants is enormously therapeutic. Even when things don’t go to plan, the gardener is constantly learning, growing and deepening their connection to nature. It’s an incredibly grounding and humbling experience that feeds the soul of the gardener.
This beautifully illustrated guide will show readers how and when to harvest the seeds of 100 different garden plants and flowers, with advice on when and how to sow them, and where and when to plant them out. Alongside this hands-on guidance, the reader will be engaged with snippets of folklore and traditions that further enhance their appreciation of nature and help them discover the inherent magic of seeds.
Whether the reader is a practising green witch, or simply an amateur gardener with a spiritual affinity with nature, this book will give them everything they need to successfully make a garden from seed and unlock the wonders of nature.