A Library Journal Best Crafts & DIY Book of 2015 Incorporating concrete design into a home garden can now be easily achieved by any do-it-yourself enthusiast! Concrete furniture and containers add style and personality to outdoor spaces, and the addition of color makes these objects even more eye-catching. These trendy pieces can cost thousands of dollars at garden centers and furniture stores, but they can also be made affordably at home. In this hands-on guide, concrete artisans Nathan Smith and Michael Snyder offer basic information on how to mix concrete and add color using dyes, paints, and inlaid materials. The twenty step-by-step projects include small items, like a candle holder with an old-world feel and a simple stacked-ring planter, and larger pieces, like an elegant bike rack and a beautiful fire pit that is the perfect gathering place for friends and family. Concrete artisans Nathan Smith and Michael Snyder offer easy-to-follow directions for creating colorful concrete garden furniture and plant containers that are functional and stylish. Nathan Smith has a BBA in business management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. He started his journey with concrete in the form of countertops for his own home. The material was fascinating and the medium was too much to resist. Since its formation in 2007, Set in Stone has slowly assembled a team of talented and creative individuals. They all consider themselves a part of a concrete evolution, using the seemingly limitless material to enrich lives ultimately through the creative process. He resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He feels at home in the shop, on a bike in the woods, and especially hanging out with his family. Michael Snyder is an artisan craftsman with a background in sculpture and carpentry. He works at Set in Stone, a concrete design company with a focus on making beautiful useful objects. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Charles Coleman is a photographer based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with over nine years in the field. His works are fostered from a desire to express stories through mediums ranging from tintype photography to video documentary. Visit charlescolemanphotography.com for more information. Getting Creative with Concrete: An Introduction Concrete is a simple, beautiful, and very accessible medium with which to explore one's creativity. The process of creation is just that-a process. It is human nature to influence and improve our environment, and the process generally begins with an idea that fills a need, whether that need is functional or aesthetic. The heart of creative action is problem-solving, and we believe that everyone can do it, although it takes practice. This is exactly what these projects are about-exploring your own methods of problem-solving and making things you love. Everyone can creatively affect their world, and working with colored concrete is a wonderful way to do it. Once you have determined what it is you want to make, you have to figure out how to make it. There is usually more than one way to go about a project, so take some time at the beginning and weigh the options. Planning is the part most people want to skip-they are eager to jump in, get dirty, and begin making, which is understandable. But spending some time planning can save a lot of pain and frustration in the future. The more time you invest in thinking about the project-where to begin and how to pull it all together-the more original, successful, and enjoyable the project will be. There is always an element of fear here-everyone is afraid of failing. Don't be! The truth is that you are going to fail in some way, but this is something to be embraced and viewed as a learning experience. There is freedom in recognizing you will fail-you'll be inspired to push yourself. With every finished project you will probably ha

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