Gift&TradeSpring2026

106 CANDLE MAKING • CROSS-STITCH ISBN 978-0-7643-6961-2 ISBN: 978-0-7643-6961-2 $19 99, £18 99, 26 99 CAD softcover • 96 pp • 8" x 10" (203 x 254 mm) 50 color images & diagrams NOW AVAILABLE Monsters and Mayhem in Cross-Stitch Designs and Instructions for 25 Creatures and Cryptids By Nicole LaBranche & April LaBranche Featuring 25 captivating patterns for all skill levels, this collection invites crafters to enjoy hours of imaginative stitching. From legendary beasts like fire-breathing dragons and mischievous goblins to modern cryptids such as Big Foot and Mothman, these whimsical designs are sure to delight both avid stitchers and fans of fantasy. More than just a pattern book, each design comes complete with expert stitch guidance, a photo of the completed project, and a brief history (or myth) about the creature, adding a creative storytelling element to every project. A must-have for anyone looking to bring mysterious myths, legends — and a little magic— to their stitching time! Nicole LaBranche is an expert cross-stitch designer and the founder of Spot Colors, a business providing modern, fun, and fandom-inspired cross-stitch designs. Her kits are sold in over 500 stores worldwide. Known for making cross-stitch accessible to crafters of all skill levels, she also shares her expertise through workshops and hands-on craft experiences. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia. spotyourcolors.com April LaBranche has been an avid cross-stitcher since childhood. A lover of all things myths and monsters, she and her husband collect books on creatures, ghosts, and legends. She lives and works near Atlanta, Georgia. ISBN: 978-0-7643-7137-0 $22 99, £20 99, 31 99 CAD softcover • 128 pp • 7" x 9" (178 x 229 mm) 69 color photos AVAILABLE MARCH 2026 Candle Whimsy 23 Bold, Bendy Projects That Break the Mold By Anna Dykhoff ISBN 978-0-7643-7137-0 Learn the basics of candle making, then use your skills to color outside the proverbial lines. This clear, colorful guide focuses on ways to add eye-catching visual movement to candles. First, learn in-depth candle-making basics. Next, master five techniques: dipping, casting, building, shaping, and dyeing. The 23 projects encourage you to shape your candles in unexpected ways. Twisted, spiraled, angling in striking directions? • The 23 projects allow candles to shine with curves, twists, sculpture , and other ways to level up and personalize this craft. Projects include a candle crown; candles that are twisted balls, multiple branch, spiraling, color- marbleized, and more. • A fresh design aesthetic for today’s makers. The author’s innovative, whimsical designs transform this craft into an ultracontemporary, expressive new favorite. • Focuses on natural, sustainable materials. Anna explains ways to source your wax and wicks wisely, and their environmental impact inside and outside the home. The projects use beeswax or stearin wax (a vegan option), plus cotton wicks. • Repurposes everyday materials that readers probably have lying around the home, such as glass jars, toilet paper rolls, and crayon wax. • Teaches dyeing and coloring methods using either purchased wax pigments or crayons: dyeing wax, dip painting in a water bath, and marbleizing. Anna Dykhoff is a set designer and interior designer working primarily in film, television, and the performing arts. Her design curiosity led her to try working with wax as a potential set-creation medium, and then she decided to make a few candles. She teaches her striking candle design techniques to makers of all kinds. Anna holds a degree in interior architecture and furniture design from Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design. Instagram @annadykhoff