Gifts from Nature

A creative compilation of more than one hundred craft projects, recipes, and gift ideas that incorporate the beauty of nature includes a variety of seasonal projects and offers tips on collecting natural treasures, 17,500 first printing.

"Nature is an extraordinary gift," says designer Matthew Mead, "one that is perennially given to us, and one that we can give and share with others." And you don't need your own garden, either--Mead explains how to make the most out of nature walks, beachcombing treks, or an outdoor wintertime excursion, and he offers numerous mail-order sources in case you're stuck in the city or your foraging trips don't yield all the materials you need. Guiding us through every season, Gifts from Nature is packed with a multitude of ideas, including recipes. Spring offers the delights of early blooms, a garland of pastel Easter eggs, a floral May basket. From the endless bounty of summer come fruit-filled taste treats, pressed flowers and ferns, home accessories featuring seashells and beach glass. Autumn affords crafting with colorful leaves and berries, brewing up spicy teas, cooking with cranberries. The unique beauty of winter gives us graceful natural arrangements for table, mantel, and tree; there's even a seaside Christmas utilizing beach treasures. Many ideas are meant to be enjoyed with loved ones (particularly the edible ones), but even more than making presents for others, this is a book about giving the gift of nature to yourself, using it to fill your home and thereby sharing it with the world. --Amy Handy