Crafts

• A how-to guide to primitive living skills and crafts
• Teaches the basics and many crafts that are not covered elsewhere
• Teaches you ways to incorporate stone age technology into your life, no matter who you are or where you live
• Some topics are oversimplified for lack of space

Bart and Robin are masters at finding the quick, efficient way to high quality results. This doesn't mean their baskets or hides look like they belong in a gallery, it means that they function excellently and are beautiful as a result! Everything written in this book is based on their experience, you won't find a shred of regurgitated knowledge.

Earth Knack is not a survival book per se (doesn't teach hunting, gathering or shelter technologies), but the skills they teach are very important for survival, wilderness living, or just having fun! Topics covered include friction fire-making (bow drill, hand drill and fire plow); cordage, netting and finger (card) weaving; stone age tools, flintknapping, pigments, bark containers, burn bowls, whole shoot basketry, primitive pottery, soap, brain tanning furs and buckskin, hide and pitch glue, cat-tail visors and moccasins.

The weak point of this book, which is the weak point of all general books, is that some of the skills are over-simplified simply because there isn't enough space to teach something like brain-tanning in 10 pages. You are better off learning some of the more involved skills in a book dedicated to the subject, but Bart & Robin will teach you many valuable ones right here in Earth Knack.

The definitive guide to leather-braiding
• Covers dozens of rawhide and leather braids, as well as horse-riding accessories
• Step-by-step instructions accompanied by illustrations

This book is it! A fully comprehensive study. You'll learn braids, buttons, buckle coverings, edging, hobble, turk's heads, knots.... You are guided through each of these by a full page of illustrations that clearly show you each step. Sometimes the drawings make everything look easy when you really wish he was looking over your shoulder telling you what to do next. But this book is the next best thing. Highly recommended for anyone interested in leathercraft or braiding.

Excellent beginners guide
• Easy step-by-step instructions
• Loaded with projects and great learning visuals

Sadie has an excellent display of photos that show every step of the process, visually! Its impossible to make a wrong move. She covers simple drop earrings, barrettes, circular peyote stitches, and lots more. The color plates in the back section are inspiring, offering a wealth of ideas based on the basic projects in the book.