Books

This is one of those recipe books where you get hungrier and hungrier, the more you flip through the pages. Cupcake Magic by Kate Shirazi may be a small but it's stuffed full of baking goodness.

I'm not a fan or recipes that call for long lists of ingredients, and this book caters exactly to my whim, with a number of "Low-Faff" recipes, designed to make baking cupcakes easier. There is also a selection of "High-Faff" recipes too, for times when you are in the mood to make something extra special. For example, a Bollywood cupcake, covered in rich fondant and embellished with glittering icing flowers.

There's certainly a cupcake for every occasion in the book, with each recipe pictured in mouthwatering detail. Celebrate Valentine's day with a super sexy Bite My Cherry or Cupid Cupcakes. Even just the name of the Carrot Cupcake with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting is enough to send you running for the baking supplies. If you're looking for something a bit different, then this book's savory cupcake selection might suffice, with weird and wonderful combinations like Ricotta & Smoked Salmon or Bacon & Cheese cupcakes.

Once you've gobbled down a plate-full of cupcakes, you even make yourself feel better with the knowledge that a donation will be made to the Battery Hen Welfare Trust from your purchase of the book.

You can pick up a copy of this book from Collins & Brown.

Order a copy for only £6.00. Call 0870 787 1613 and quote reference CH1068

The Bead Maker by Mary Maguire is a great book for all those bead-crazy crafters out there. Sometimes it's easy to forget that you can actually make beads yourself, as their something you use to make other things, but as this book will teach you, there are dozens of ways to make your own.

The book includes a variety of techniques for making your beads, such as embroidery, molding, felting and papier mache. The beads are also made from a wide range of materials including clay, candy foil, plastic, paper and natural items like spices, shells, stones and seeds. My favorites were the embroidered Clever Cubes, adorable Dabbling Ducks and the Spotted & Striped felted beads.

Making your own beads is a great way to save money, recycle and be creative from the complete start to finish of your project.

Pick up a copy of the book from Collins & Brown.

Order a copy for only £12.00. Call 0870 787 1613 and quote reference CH1069

The frock has always been an important part of any woman's wardrobe and Fabulous Frocks by Jane Eastoe and Sarah Gristwood is a homage to the garment.

The book is an exploration of the dress throughout the years, from the elegance of 1930's starlet red carpet couture, to the ease of hippie dresses in the 1970's, to the harder-edged punk and constructed styles of Gaultier and Westwood in the 90's.

With ever changing hemlines, seasons and fashions, there have been hundreds of styles throughout the years, each captured on the pages of this physically substantial and inspiring book. If you can't get enough of that little black dress, then you may want to cuddle up with book and flip through each page of designer eyecandy.

You can pick up a copy of the book from Pavilion.

Order a copy for only £20.00. Call 0870 787 1613 and quote reference CH1067.

If you're a fan of papercraft then you will love Complete Origami by David Mitchell. A comprehensive guide to the art, the book has everything you'd hope to see in a good origami title. Starting with a brief but interesting history, the book explains origami throughout different countries and traditions.

The projects range from beginner to advanced, though I must admit that they start to look rather trick by the time you get to the intermediate section. There are step-by-step directions for making a huge range of designs, including animals, shapes and flowers. There is even a selection of practical projects including Coasters and The Enigma Bowl, which would make a great little storage solution.

Some projects have only a handful of steps whereas the more complex designs can have 30+, making this truly a skill to be mastered. Don't let the pile of paper on your desk grow, turn each sheet in to something wonderful.

You can pick up a copy from Collins & Brown.

Order a copy for only £14.99 including free UK p&p. Call 0870 787 1613 and quote reference CH1058.

If you've ever wanted to pick up a set of knitting needles, then this may be the ideal book to start you off. The Chicks With Sticks Guide To Knitting by Nancy Queen & Mary Ellen O'Connell is a complete guide, so let the chicks take you on a crash course to knitting.

Progressing from simple to more complex knitting skills, the concept of the book is that you will be taught a technique and then provided with a pattern to try out using your new skill. With everything you need to know about yarn, tools, techniques and even washing, you can learn to make a range of knitted projects, such as a gorgeous and cozy, "Make Out" Sweater, s simple and effective Artisan Belt and a super cutesy Envelope Bag.

This book is a worthy advisory to the Stitch 'N Bitch series. Although this title is more technique rather than project driven, I think this can only be a good thing because you can use whichever skills you learn in the creation of your own projects.

You can pick up a copy of the book from The GMC Group or Amazon now.

Cooking Lessons by Daisy Garnett is more of a novel from the kitchen than a cookbook, crammed full of stories and home-style recipes.

A wonderful insight in to the life of a foodie, the book follows author Daisy and her lifetime experience with food - from her childhood days in her family kitchen to her move to New York and city cooking in her adulthood. As Daisy shares her experiences, her beautifully illustrated food diary is periodically interrupted with lessons on how to cook various dishes to perfection.

With family classics such as Gingerbread and delicious sounding Potatoes Dauphinoise, and more unique dishes such as Pine Nut Ice Cream and Spaghetti With Squid And Courgette, there's sure to be a dish to inspire your love of food. If you missed out the day when you're elders were handing down the family cooking secrets then this book will give you a more than needed top-up.

Pick up a copy of the book from Quadrille or Amazon now.

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a seamstress then this book will teach you everything you need to know. The Ultimate Sewing Bible by Marie Clayton is a comprehensive guide to sewing and dressmaking.

Covering hand-stitching, as well as sewing with machines and overlockers, the book will teach you all the need-to-know techniques including finishing seams, clipping corners, piping, cording and pressing. If you fancy yourself as an aspiring designer, then the sections on constructing patterns, body measurement and darting will come in very handy. There's also practical advice on the best fabrics to use in dressmaking and techniques for sewing on buttons and embellishing your items.

All of the tutorials featured in the book are clearly explained and there's a range of projects for you to try out at home. Not just limited to garments, the book also includes a range of home furnishing ideas, such as upholstering and curtain making. When you're finished making your projects, the guide to laundering will come in very handy!

You can pick up a copy from Collins & Brown now.

Order a copy for only £14.99 including free UK p&p. Call 0870 787 1613 and quote reference CH1057.

The latest offering from the Jewish Princess, Feasts & Festivals offers a witty and contemporary take on traditional cooking. This book will take you by the hand, explaining traditions and advising on how best to cater for various Jewish festivals and celebrations, with recipes such as Lime & Apple Slaw, The Handbag Sandwich and a Ginger Beer Cake.

Though not as picturesque as some cookbooks, it is stocked full of recipes for you to try at home - you'll just have to use your taste buds to gauge if it turned out right. There is even a selection of recipes suitable for vegetarian Princesses. Filled with practical advice, the book aims to make cooking for family and friends easy, with recipes that are suitable for royalty.

You can pick up your copy from Quadrille or Amazon now.

Knitting may primarily be seen as a woman's 'sport', but with books such as Men's Knits by Erika Knight increasingly hitting the shelves, its popularity is growing with both sexes. Some of the styles in this book are better suited to an older man, but there are 20 projects to choose from.

To get the male opinion, Crafterella asked one of her guy friends what he thought of the book. "The key is what you wear the pieces with, you need a good sense of style", he stated. "The hats and scarves are really good".

There are some interesting pieces in the book, including a sweater with external seams, and others which use various cabling and texturing techniques. Whether you pick this book up for yourself, or for your man, it will teach you everything you need to know to keep cozy through the winter months.

You can pick up a copy of this book from Quadrille or Amazon.

If you're an aspiring rollergirl or an avid knitter and spectator of the sport, then you'll love Knockdown Knits by Toni Carr.

Featuring '30 projects from the roller derby track', this book will have you skating in style. If you haven't heard already, roller derby is back and it's got a new punk-rock look. Add a bit of flair to your team's uniform with projects such as knitted pivot and jammer hats, legwarmers and bloomer pants. And, with projects like an Elevate That Ankle Pillow, "Hey, at Least It Wasn't Your Leg" Arm Sling and a cosy to hold Frozen Peas for Bruised Knees, you can find a knit to sooth every conceivable roller girl injury or ailment.

There are even knits for the referees, crowd and announcers, as well as more off the wall items, such as a derby-inspired Wedding Veil and Baby Bootie Skates for new recruits. As well as patterns, the book is filled with stories from the track. Knitting and roller derby may seem two worlds apart, but you can combine these two hobbies and exercise your mind and body at the same time.

Keep an eye out for our interview with Toni in the upcoming Day Of The Dead issue of Snippets. Check out Toni's website for more roller girl action, or pick up a copy of the book from Wiley or Amazon.