“Nostalgic and timeless, convenient and functional. You name it—or need it—and it can be found in this seemingly all-inclusive ‘how-to’ tome of more than seven hundred projects.” —David Stiles, from the IntroductionPractical Projects for the Handy Man, Third Edition, is the perfect book for any model maven, do-it-yourselfer, or just plain grown-up kid. Originally published in 1913 by the editors of Popular Mechanics Press, this gigantic collection of activities an...

Here is the very best of backyard building: Popular building authors Jeanie and David Stiles—whose treehouse once garnered a spread in Architectural Digest—have gathered dozens of original plans for treehouses, playhouses, and sheds, as well as a summer house, tea house, garden arbor, and functional workroom.Backyard Building will cover backyard accessories, the fundamentals of tools and materials, and useful tips based on real-life questions from the couple’s popu...

A treehouse is a wonderful idea, but how in the name of creation do you actually build one? In this delightfully illustrated handbook, David Stiles, the unofficial world grandmaster of the treehouse, shows how.Not assuming anything about the treehouse builder, Stiles starts with the basics: how to nail, how to buy wood, what kind of screws and nails to use.Then it's on to an A-frame design so simple that it can be built in a weekend out of four sheets of plywood, followed b...

This book explores the kinds of Christian service or diaconia that develop in non-institutionalized practices for supporting survivors of indigenous ritual servitude or Trokosi in Africa. Drawing on empirical research from Ghana, it examines the possibilities of freedom, equality, and dignity for liberated Trokosi and the manner in which these women’s experiences constitute a repudiation of dominant patriarchal family systems. With close attention to the work of indigenou...

Build your own treehouses, swing sets, skate ramps, Ninja courses, and more!Kids and families of all ages are rediscovering the great outdoors, including their own backyards. It is more important than ever to be able to entertain our kids at home, teach them about nature, and give them a great time building, exercising, staying in shape, and working together. All of these actions help foster independence, confidence, and growth. In Do-It-Yourself Backyard Playg...

This revised paperback contains exact plans for building dozens of real projects with young people, such as a clay castle, a scooter, a treehouse, a swing, and a raft just like Huck Finn’s. Newly-added projects include a Mobius strip and a jungle railing for your treehouse. Hours of weekend fun –half the fun is in the perusing of all the possibilities.David Stiles is an industrial designer who has appeared on many television programs, and whose playground designs have won awards fr...

A dreamer’s handbook for kids—and parents—offering practical resultsAll kids love the idea of a hideaway—a place that is theirs, no parents allowed. But how on earth can they actually build one? In Forts for Kids, an inspirational yet practical guide, David Stiles, the most trusted authority on DIY building projects, shows them how.Assuming no previous experience from the fort builder, the book starts with the basics for kids and their parents: how...