When the forest animals find a gold leaf, they fight about who gets to have it.

A Choice Reviews Editors' Pick Through the rise and fall of empires, ideologies, and economies, tobacco grown on the tiny island of Cuba has remained an enduring symbol of pleasure and extravagance. Cultivated as one of the first reliable commodities for those inhabitants who remained after conquistadors moved on in search of a mythical wellspring of gold, tobacco quickly became crucial to the support of the swelling Spanish Empire in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Eventually, however, tobacco became one of the final stabilizing forces in the empire, and it ultimately proved more resilient than the best laid plans of kings and queens. Tobacco, and those whose livelihoods depended on it, shrugged off the Empire's collapse and pressed on into the twentieth century as an economic force any state or political power must reckon with. Cosner explores the history of this golden leaf through the personal narratives of farmers, bureaucrats, and laborers, all struggling to build an independent and lucrative economic engine. Through conquest, rebellion, colonial and imperial schemes, and the eventual Communist revolution, Cuban tobacco and cigars became a luxury item that commanded loyalty that defied mere borders or embargoes. Ultimately, The Golden Leaf is a story of two carefully cultivated products: Cuban tobacco, and its lofty reputation.

As whitewater rafting guides down the New River in Fayetteville, West Virginia, sixteen-year-old Tia and her twin brother, Finn, hope to find a way to escape poverty after the recent deaths of their parents. When a Hollywood film producer offers the siblings acting roles in his movie, Tia sees the vision of her golden ticket she has prayed for God to provide. How can she refuse? From Chile's exotic Río Futaleufú, to her captivity in the Amazon Rainforest and the slums of Buenos Aires, Tia's deep faith touches everyone she meets . . . . . . but will her faith be enough to survive the darkest pits of humanity? Praise for The Girl and the Golden Leaf "An unforgettable journey, full of adventure, suspense, mystery, and despair to triumph, The Girl and the Golden Leaf, will forever touch your heart, as the book uniquely touches on many injustices and social issues that span the globe - namely children in poverty and slave trafficking." (10/10 stars) -CBM Christian Book Reviews "Combining an intriguing, engrossing story with a salutary message of hope and charity for deprived innocents, The Girl and the Golden Leaf by June N. Foster is both riveting and revelatory." -Chanticleer Reviews "Foster's deft writing can generate tension by mere suggestion." "...rewarding tale of a kidnapped teenager's resilience." -Kirkus Reviews

Tonight everyone in Moominvalley will be going to the Autumn Ball and Moomintroll and Sniff are busy helping with preparations. But when they discover an extraordinary golden leaf on the forest floor, will they be able to find a tree full of golden leaves and give each of the valley folk a gift they'll always treasure?

For over thirty years, Stephen Braude has studied the paranormal in everyday life, from extrasensory perception and psychokinesis to mediumship and materialization. The Gold Leaf Lady and Other Parapsychological Investigations is a highly readable and often amusing account of his most memorable encounters with such phenomena. Here Braude recounts in fascinating detail five particular cases—some that challenge our most fundamental scientific beliefs and others that expose our own credulousness. Braude begins with a south Florida woman who can make thin gold-colored foil appear spontaneously on her skin. He then travels to New York and California to test psychokinetic superstars—and frauds—like Joe Nuzum, who claim to move objects using only their minds. Along the way, Braude also investigates the startling allegations of K.R., a policeman in Annapolis who believes he can transfer images from photographs onto other objects—including his own body—and Ted Serios, a deceased Chicago elevator operator who could make a variety of different images appear on Polaroid film. Ultimately, Braude considers his wife’s surprisingly fruitful experiments with astrology, which she has used to guide professional soccer teams to the top of their leagues, as well as his own personal experiences with synchronicity—a phenomenon, he argues, that may need to be explained in terms of a refined, extensive, and dramatic form of psychokinesis. Heady, provocative, and brimming with eye-opening details and suggestions, The Gold Leaf Lady and Other Parapsychological Investigations will intrigue both adherents and detractors of its controversial subject matter alike.

Gold leaf gilder and restoration artist Ellen Becker brings her years of experience to readers through over 300 full color photos and step-by-step instructions for various gold leafing and restoration techniques through a series of projects.This is the most comprehensive instructional book for gold leafing on the market today.

This pioneering book is the first publication in English to devote itself to the methods, techniques and history of reverse painting and gilding on glass, often known as 'verre eglomise'. Since the Renaissance the practice has passed in and out of fashion but today it is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Discerning designers commission decorated glass for wall and ceiling panelling and for furniture inserts, while artists are increasingly exploring the medium, pushing at its boundaries. This book is written for students, artists, conservators, curators, interested amateurs, teachers and designers, many of whom will have been patiently waiting to learn more on this topic. The history of unfired decoration on glass is recounted in depth, illustrated with hitherto unpublished pictures. In the practical section clear step-by-step projects, suitable for a beginner as well as for a more experienced artist, serve as a singular introduction to an elegant, sophisticated art. Book Review 1: This is probably the most condensed (and refreshingly so), yet comprehensive book to date on gilded and painted glass. Concise and easy to read it mainly covers the most widely used cold process of gold and painted decoration on glass. Frances wastes no time in pointing out and clearing up the true meaning of the term verre eglomise, now commonly used as a general title for any type of decoration applied to glass, but let's not give too much away. This is all covered, including both cold and hot methods, in the opening paragraphs and under the Terminology section. There are many old books from medieval manuscripts to un-translated documentation, so this book is very welcomed. There has been a long gap in the market for gilded glass, but now the art of glass decoration is enjoying such a revival, and with so many new and varied designs, this couldn't really be better timed. The book moves from techniques (ancient to modern day) to origins and the development of glass decoration throughout the world. Fabulous examples of historic and important pieces are illustrated, each with a brief description of techniques and materials used. Some of these examples show a real diversity in design and methods used. The step by step approach for the entire gilding process is also explained and shown in great detail, covering initial design process for geometric and free hand patterns, the process of laying the leaf, engraving and colouring. Recipes, materials & tools, suppliers and useful references to websites make it easy for even a complete beginner or an amateur who has never laid a single leaf, but may wish to try their hand. Even for the professional there is nothing comparable to this book. It is up to date, an excellent concise reference manual with a wealth of useful information, in essence it is a book that can teach even the most experienced restorer or gilder something new. -- Dominic Schuster for The BAFRA, British Antique Furniture Restorers Association. Book Review 2: ...This book... brings together the results of years of research by the author... time-tested arcane formulae have been thoroughly modernized; intricate order-sensitive processes are thoroughly explained. Anyone practicing today has to get many things 'right' if they expect their work to last really long-term: that is why this book is so very important. -- William Gudenrath, Resident Advisor at The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass, NY, USA. Book Review 3: I started reading your book and I think that it is great - it contains amazing amounts of information and yet it doesn't beat about the bush. -- Nina Binnington, mirror specialist, Germany. Book Review 4: Have now read four times, ever more slowly and with increasing understanding of the variables. Your experience and comments about what can be laid on top of what have in particular been very handy indeed for working out some potential snags ....I do so agree about repeating basic instructions in each separate context - from the reader's point of view, this is a blessing. Not to have to dash back and forth to re-establish an idea from a previous chapter, keeping a thumb in the page, is genuinely sensible.... I have put pencil marks all over the pages to remind me of small important details in the text. For me, that is clear proof that this is a book... genuinely useful workaday... to learn from and work with, not just to gawp at... -- Richard Byrne, UK. Book Review 5: It's a work of gilded art! This book will encourage and teach students for years to come. -- David Smith, ornamental glass artist, UK. Book Review 6: ...I want to say how much I am enjoying the book! Its such a fantastic resource and so inspiring - a real gift to the glass world. -- Lucy Batt, glass artist, UK. Book Review 7: ... after so much time, research and careful thought, it is truly an inspiration. I am very keen to explore this use of gold and colour in what I hope eventually will be my own personal expression. -- Christopher Ainslie, glass engraver, UK. Book Review 8: ...I just got the book in the post. It's lovely! Really well done, so easy to follow and beautifully illustrated. -- Lynne Rutter, decorative artist, San Francisco, USA. Book Review 9: ...Such a handsome book, and so filled with fascinating photos and text. It is beautifully organized, and will provide many worthwhile hours for readers of all levels. Congratulations, and thank you from all of us in the gilding community. -- Ina and Allen Marx, conservators and decorative artists, USA.

“A Way to Garden prods us toward that ineffable place where we feel we belong; it’s a guide to living both in and out of the garden.” —The New York Times Book Review For Margaret Roach, gardening is more than a hobby, it’s a calling. Her unique approach, which she calls “horticultural how-to and woo-woo,” is a blend of vital information you need to memorize and intuitive steps you must simply feel and surrender to. In A Way to Garden, Roach imparts decades of garden wisdom on seasonal gardening, ornamental plants, vegetable gardening, design, gardening for wildlife, organic practices, and much more. She also challenges gardeners to think beyond their garden borders and to consider the ways gardening can enrich the world. Brimming with beautiful photographs of Roach’s own garden, A Way to Garden is practical, inspiring, and a must-have for every passionate gardener.