The natural world is our home, and we like to bring a little bit of it into the house, writes Laura Donnelly Bethmann in the preface to this unique home decorating guide. She and co-author Ann Ramp Fox practice twigology, which they define as "the art of forming whimsical, practical, naturally pleasing twig things while enhancing one's knowledge of the unique characteristics and beneficial qualities of trees." Now they share their art in this colorful handbook filled with easy-to-make, attractive, and inexpensive features and accents for every room using vines twigs, and branches. One look and you'll yearn to be a twigologist, too. Getting started is easy with the authors' clear, straightforward instructions, a few simple tools, and some free of inexpensive materials. In no time at all you'll be creating your own natural-feeling home environment, accented with the whimsical projects you've made with your own hands.
Laura Bethmann is an artist, author and master gardener. She enjoys giving presentations and workshops, but most of the time she's squirreled away at work in her southern New Jersey studio. Her third book, Hand Printing from Nature, is packed full of inspired ideas and projects for creating designs and home accessories direct from Nature herself.
Laura studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Pratt Graphics Center and Syracuse University. Her nature printing techniques have been featured on Home and Garden Television, Lifetime Television, the Discovery Channel and Good Housekeeping magazine. Laura's watercolor paintings and nature prints reveal the intrinsic qualities of nature and can be seen in galleries and museums. Visit her at laurabethmann.com
