CICO books

A STEP-BY-STEP guide packed full of FUN, COLOURFUL and SIMPLE projects, perfect for CHILDREN AGED 7+ to learn how to crochet. Features TOYS, ACCESSORIES and BEDROOM DECORATIONS that children will love to make, from a cuddly rabbit to a bobble hat and a caterpillar draught excluder.    Requiring just a hook and some yarn to get going, crochet is a brilliant way for children to learn a new skill, build their confidence and boost their creativity. Starting with a clear techniques section that explains all the essential skills and stitches, this easy-to-follow guide will inspire children to crochet fun projects to keep or give as gifts. In the first chapter, they can have a go at crocheting accessories from an owl beanie hat to quick hair bows and a chunky book bag. Next, there are lots of ideas to help kids personalise their bedrooms, with projects including a craft basket, a roses garland and a daisy mirror. Finally, children can choose from toys such as colourful baby chicks, a sweet lion and simple juggling balls. As well as a skill rating, each project features step-by-step instructions and colourful illustrations that are specially designed for children to follow.

Discover a COLORFUL menagerie of CUTE cardboard animals, all of which can EASILY be crafted by REPURPOSING and RECYCLING the cardboard and egg boxes you have in your bin!Transform everyday items you might otherwise throw away into fun, imaginative projects for kids. With clear, step-by-step instructions and helpful tips throughout, this eco-friendly crafting book is perfect for sparking creativity while teaching kids about recycling and the wonders of nature. The animals are organized by five distinct habitats, providing an educational experience as children craft. In the Safari, cardboard tubes become a pride of lions, alongside a zebra, giraffe, rhino, and flamingo. Then, explore the Jungle, with playful chimpanzees and orangutans. In the Snow, a delightful family of penguins made of egg cartons awaits, along with a seal, walrus and polar bear. The Aviary is home to chattering parrots, lovebirds, and even a bald eagle. Finally, dive into the Aquarium, where manta rays, stingrays, dolphins, jellyfish, and octopuses come to life. Children can also create enclosures and scenery for their animals, from trees and rocks to icebergs, grass, and flowers—transforming their cardboard zoo into a complete, imaginative world.

Help your little ones MASTER the science of COOKING with this HELPFUL book by Amanda Grant, featuring FUN and TASTY recipes for ages 3–11.Easy Cooking for Kids is the perfect introduction to the world of cooking for young chefs. In the book, Amanda Grant covers the essentials, from kitchen hygiene and safety to more than 50 fun, age-appropriate recipes designed to foster a love for cooking and learning. The book is divided into three main stages: Stage 1 (3–5 years), Stage 2 (5–7 years), and Stage 3 (7–11 years). Each stage includes recipes tailored to the abilities of children in those age groups, gently nurturing their development, self-confidence, and independence. Easy Cooking for Kids includes essential techniques such as making crumble topping, Victoria sponge, pastry, white sauce, and pizza dough. Children can also unleash their creativity with customizable recipes like sushi, fruit salad, and decorative herb and flower ice bowls. Vegetarian alternatives are suggested for all meat-based meals. With clear, step-by-step photographs and easy-to-follow instructions, this book makes cooking accessible, enjoyable, and rewarding for kids.

Discover Rachel Ashwell’s floral inspirations and the unique touch she brings to interiors in her first book dedicated to flowers, a deeply-held passion come to life. Flowers and floral decoration are at the core of Rachel Ashwell’s world and her designs. From her showcase rose garden in California, she set out with photographer Amy Neunsinger to capture the full-blown romance of the quintessential English country house, the dramatic colorways of northern Europe, and the faded opulence of a Parisian apartment. This is the story of that magical journey, which takes us through a variety of beautiful spaces large and small, some ornate and others simple. Every aspect of floral accents is showcased, from wallpaper to fabrics, floors to ceilings, architectural details, lighting and, of course, flower arrangements, some breathtaking and some simple… but all beautiful in their own right. First published in 2018, this is a new edition.

Dubbed the "LeBron James of plant styling..." by "Good Morning America," Hilton Carter now shows how you can make, style, decorate, and care for your own stunning plant-inspired interior with his 25 step-by-step DIY projects and plant hacks. In plant and interior stylist Hilton Carter’s previous books he has given us glimpses into stunning plant-filled homes where ivy and creeping figs hang miraculously from ceilings, mosses grow effortlessly to create living walls, and succulents flourish planted in terrariums. Now in Wild Creations, Hilton will show you how you can actually create these amazing fixtures for your own home. There are step-by-step instructions for Wild Ideas—making projects such as a wall mounted plant and a leather hanging plant stand, genius Wild Hacks for all of your plant worries from how to water your plants while you are away to repelling bugs, thought-provoking Wild Rants looking at the transformative power of plants, and finally a detailed look at ten key Wild Plants and how to care for them. Design and learn about your very own wild interior, get creative, and get WILD!

Romantic English Homes is an inspirational collection of truly timeless houses. Robert O'Byrne has gathered together a collection of some of England's most glorious homes including a rural farmhouse set in a quietly picturesque village and a fourteenth-century folly. Ever since the English aristocracy embarked on a Grand Tour in the seventeenth century, the passion for developing collections has been a national trait of England. As a result, the country's aristocratic palaces became repositories of treasure gathered from around the globe. But so too, thanks to the spread of an Empire providing goods from across the globe, did almost every residence in England. Romantic English Homes features 14 such houses. Large or small, old or new, they all convey an impression of massed objects intentionally mingling styles and tastes, the classical placed next to the gothic, tartan pattern competing with floral print. Decorated with defiant eclecticism, the buildings featured here indicate that although the Empire may have gone, the English love of collecting remains as strong as ever.Criss-crossing the country, from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall to East Anglia and Suffolk, from London to Staffordshire and Northumberland, it is both the romantic timelessness of these properties and their many-layered appearance that makes them so alluring.

Create 35 beautiful planters, decorations and gifts - all using concrete. Follow Hester van Overbeek's simple tutorials to make a huge range of unique concrete projects. You will find everything you need to know - what type of concrete to buy, how to use it and how to decorate it - explained in a comprehensive techniques section. From there you can make chic and on-trend home accessories such as upside-down plant pots, a concrete vase with a wooden base, serving platters, a letter-shaped bookend, fruit bowls and much more.

Decorative paint expert Annie Sloan shows how paint can transform any surface in your house. In this, her most personal book yet, Annie Sloan opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to decorating your home. As well as ways to transform walls and furniture, you’ll also learn wonderful techniques for painting floors, fabrics, lighting and more. Discover three chapters, all packed full of inspiration and advice: Furniture and Lighting, Fabric and Other Surfaces, and Walls and Floors. Forty step-by-step projects will guide you through the methods for using paint in ways you never thought possible, with clear instructions accompanying each picture, and helpful tips along the way. Learn about printing, stencilling, gilding, transferring images and dyeing fabric, as well as all the secrets of making the most of Annie’s own Chalk Paint® range. Find out, too, how to combine colours for different styles, and how to tap into your creativity by painting patterns freehand. No matter what your skill level, Annie Sloan Paints Everything will enable you to make over your home so you have the naturally stylish, individual interior you’ve always wanted.

Let Geraldine James show you how to reinvent your home with new and exciting ways to make it uniquely yours. Whether you live in a bustling home where a family of different ages with varying tastes and interests needs to be accommodated, in a compact city pied a terre, or in a country or seaside retreat, you will find inspiration here for your ideal living space. The Creative Home brings together the best of Geraldine James's Creative series of books and shows how to apply these ideas in your own home. There are four chapters on different areas of the house - Cook and Eat features kitchens and dining areas, Relax and Socialize covers living rooms, Work and Create includes home offices and studios, and Sleep and Bathe, of course, shows bedrooms and bathrooms. A final chapter, Store and Display, shows how your home can be used to show off your treasures and store your collections. Each chapter features rooms of different styles - from sleek and minimal, to Aladdin's caves belonging to collectors of anything and everything, thrifty chic-style rooms furnished with second-hand buys, and renovated homes with no expense spared - as well as displays featuring designer items alongside inherited family heirlooms. However, the one thing every room has in common, whatever its style or purpose, is that it has been furnished and decorated with great attention to detail.

Discover how all trees can mirror us, teach us and heal us. As author Alice Peck reflected on the maple tree in her backyard, she began to notice and then study its intricacies and changes. This became her regular meditation and inspiration. In Be More Tree, Alice shares what she has learnt from that maple tree, and from the trees all around us. Every tree tells a complete and ongoing story - from its powerful taproots to the birds that alight on its fragile high branches. Trees reflect our lives through their perseverance and seasonal rhythms - always changing yet consistent. They evolve along a much more protracted timetable than humans. Like us, trees feel and react to their environment, and communicate with us in subtle but distinct ways. Here Alice explores trees from four perspectives: their roots - wisdom and understanding; their branches - symbols and rituals; their leaves - healing and science; and their seeds - transformation and spirituality. All of these elements show us how, although they live outside us, trees offer a path to our inner selves. From the Bodhi Tree to the Garden of Eden, the Druids to forest monks, medicines to tyre swings - people have always received physical, psychological and spiritual sustenance from trees. Filled with insights from botany to poetry, ecology to mythology and herbalism to sacraments, Be More Tree explores the ways these grounded yet soaring entities can steady and move us, teach and transform us, inspire and comfort us

The Craft Beer Tasting Kit is the perfect excuse to get a group of friends over to share some great beers and good times. Attention all craft beer fans, you must have this brilliant box set in your life, because if you've ever needed a valid reason to enjoy some delectable brews, this kit is it. Containing 200 tasting notes to fill in, a flavor wheel to help you identify the tastes you are experiencing, some specially designed beer mats and even a bottle opener to crack open a few bottles, the only thing you will need to do is supply the beers to try. To get you started, a 64-page book explaining the brewing process, how to taste beer and a guide different beer styles is also included. The kit is brilliant for social gatherings - beer-tasting parties are great fun and perfect for sharing some of the amazing craft brews that are on the market. They also provide the perfect excuse for popping the cap on a few of those bottles of beer you've been saving for a special occasion.

Let's get stoned with these 30 tasty recipes from Mary Jane, the weed world's answer to Mary Berry. Whether you go for an after-work treat to take the edge off the day or want your party to pack a punch, these tasty little recipes will help get you there, the natural way. We begin with the story of Mary Jane Belmont and her protege, Dr Hash, then get right to The Basics-knowing your weed. Check out what you have and how to treat it right for maximum effect, then move onto Cool Beginnings...and cannabis canapes. Sweet and Small Treats gives you the recipe for Mary Jane's very famous hash brownies and fudge, or try out her cupcakes (but don't donate any to the bake sale). If you're really hungry, Big Stuff, like pizza and tacos, will do the trick. The Refreshments chapter offers drinks like hash coffee and cocktails to kick-start the evening or bring you gently down. Depending on how much hash you put in, of course.

An easy-to-follow guide to the stress-busting, tension-taming practice of meditation. Trying to find a work/life balance can be exhausting, which means we are always looking for ways to release tension and relax. Meditation is the perfect solution! People often worry that to meditate properly they need to sit for hours in cold and empty rooms, but in The Little Pocket Book of Meditation Stephanie Brookes sweeps aside these out-dated stereotypes. Writing in a down-to-earth, accessible style, Stephanie shows us how to incorporate simple meditation techniques into our busy, non-stop lives. Over the years she has created bespoke meditation routines and developed a large inventory of meditations to suit a wide range of situations, including meditations for self-healing, meditations for relationships and meditations on the go. Packed with engaging insights on the benefits of meditation, this book will show you how even a short meditation can reduce stress, ease tension and set you on the path to inner peace.

Crochet a cosy for your phone, your teapot, your laptop, your favourite books, your passport and more! Cover all your most precious items with cute and colourful crochet, and then why not make something for all your friends too? Start with simple vase cosies to brighten up your mantelpiece, keep your tablet or e-reader safe with a wave-patterned striped cosy, then move on to more complex designs such as the adorable crocheted flower tea cosy, the pretty lace tealight covers, and the soft and warm hot water bottle cover. Expert crafter Nicki Trench, a crochet teacher and author with over 20 years' experience, has designed a series of patterns that will guide you through making these beautiful projects incorporating a wide range of crochet techniques. There is a comprehensive techniques section that explains all the stitches with clear artworks and instructions, followed by three chapters packed with patterns that will delight and inspire you.

Save money and have fun with this beautiful collection of Christmas makes. There are three chapters covering a wide range of different crafting techniques - from papercutting and collage to embroidery and sugarcraft - with projects which take inspiration from different festive cultures and traditions. Start with Decorations, where you will find delightful ideas such as a traditional advent calendar and colourful embroidered Christmas stockings, brighten up your dinner table with tin candle holders that will glimmer and shine, and welcome carol-singers with a pretty wreath for your door. There's nothing so satisfying as making your own cards, and Cards and Gift Wrap also has inspired ways to present your gifts, such as goody bags and labels in the shape of gingerbread men, and why not get the kids involved with making the potato print star gift wrap? In Handmade Gifts, there is something to please everyone, including tasty edible treats such as button bites, chocolate coins, and traditional German lebkuchen.Every project comes with clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations, most of the projects require no specialist equipment, and many can be made in an afternoon, so you can get started right away.

Geraldine James, is a true flea marketing expert. She begins with the 10 Golden Rules (from arriving early and knowing how to work the stalls to training your eye to spot treasures amongst the rubbish). The following chapters on china and glass, text iles, furniture, metal, art, jewellery and gardens explain what to buy, what to ignore, how to clean and repair and when to call in the services of a restoration expert. There's advice on how to display your finds and how to build a collection. Final ly, there is a detailed directory of Geraldine's favourite flea markets, from Round Top in Texas and Los Angeles' Rose Bowl, to the markets of Paris and the south of France and the country towns of England.Vintage, retro, unusual, quirky and one-of-a-kind - all these words perfectly describe the bounty to be found at a flea market.