Polymer Clay Color Inspirations – Techniques and Jewelry projects for creating succesful palettes by Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio (RRP $21.95)

This book will teach you everything you need to know about color palettes. With topics like “playing with colors” and “mixing colors that flow” you are destined to travel on a kaleidoscope of colors when reading this book. It’s almost like a sophisticated color trip with only an addiction to clay and not drugs.

For your chance to win this review copy simply enter your details here

Competition details

Open – Worldwide

Closes – November 1st

This review was written by Editor Shellie Wilson

The Polymer Clay Cookbook – Tiny food jewelry to whip up and wear by Jessica and Suan Partain. (RRP $16.99)

Scrumptious delights are not just for eating but wearing too with this step by step polymer clay instruction book that hows you how to complete apples, gingerbread men, pumpkin pie pieces and even pretzel earrings and much much  more.  My favorite would have to be the conversational heart bracelet, nothing says sweet love like a conversational heart and wearing one is sure to bring back memories of classroom crashes and valentines day romance.

These projects require minimal skill as each step is shown with closeup photos that make them easy to follow.

For your chance to win this review copy simply enter your details here.

Competition details

Open – Worldwide

Closes – 1st of October

This review was written by Editor Shellie Wilson

by Ronna Sarvas Weltman

I was recently lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the new book  Ancient Modern; Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry by Ronna Sarvas Weltman, being published by Interweave press. The book can be pre-ordered here.

Featuring artistic, bold, and organic jewelry, the book is a joy for sheer eye-candy value.  Ronna gives an excellent overview of the basic techniques for working with both polymer clay and wire,  and she also gently reminds the reader  that practice is the only true way to build the skills required for working with both materials.  I found the section on designing jewelry while keeping in mind the physics of how it would hang on the body especially useful.

After the technique sections, there follows fifteen projects and a gallery of lovely work.  A couple of instructions are repeated throughout the book, for example several projects require a zebra cane and the instructions are reprinted each time.  This may be useful if you are following the projects exactly,  as you will not need to go back and find the instructions in another section, but not really necessary if like me, you tend to look for techniques to add to your arsenal,  and not projects.   Ronna paid attention to the little details like filing wire ends and tucking them in so that even the very dramatic and bold jewelry would remain comfortable and wearable.

Overall, I found the book to be a delight, there were several texturing and antiquing ideas that I am excited to try in my own projects,  as well as some new (to me) bead shapes with which I am planning to experiment.  It has also reminded me what a great compliment to clay wire makes, and inspired me to pull out my wire once again!

P.S.:  Stay tuned to the blog for the next week for two giveaways!

[tags]interweave press, Ancient Modern, Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry, Ronna Sarvas Weltman, polymer clay book, book review[/tags]

Polka Dot Creations has just released their “Best Seller ” list for the month of February.  Click on through here to check ot out, and see what’s hot in the polymer clay world!  (And perhaps add a couple of titles ot your wishlist!)

[tags]february polymer clay books bestsellers, polka dot creations[/tags]

Getting back to voting, While I can’t sit here and tell you word for word what’s in this issue of Polymer clay. I will tell you that the tutorials are great. I hope I get to keep it long enough to do the ones I want to try, or well ….. until I have to mail it to the winner sometime this week To be entered to win,all you have to do is go to PCC and vote for your favorite entry  then email me with who you think will win in the PCC drawing

                Don’t forget   Email me at polymerclay@craftgossip.com  if you think you know who will win

I just love the eggs on the front cover. They aren’t polymer clay, but the roses on top are. I don’t think I’d have patience for something that detailed. (I mean the etching on the eggs) The roses maybe, not the eggs.

Don’t change the channel, I’ll be back with how to go about winning this issue!

You’ll find a complete collection of the basic polymer clay techniques.  While nothing is explored in great detail, it’s the perfect jumping point before you start exploring on your own.

This book covers it all: from tools and supplies, to creating basic shapes, a magican’s bag of techniques, color mixing basics, bead finishing and jewelry ideas. 

This is a perfect book for beginners, it reminds me of a great cookbook filled with classic recipes along with tried and true tricks to make creating accessible for everyone.

[tags]polymer clay, book review, beadmaking, beads, arts & crafts[/tags]

[tags]polymer clay, crafts, arts, magazine review[/tags]

And now is the perfect time to run out and pick up clay, it’s 99 cents at Micheal’s this week!  I recommend Sculpey for little hands.

[tags]polymer clay, projects, books, crafts, holiday gift ideas[/tags]

 Another book worth getting is her Fantastic Figures: Ideas & Techniques Using the New Clays.  This one is geared more towards the polymer clay artist, although I don’t find this one quite as appealing.  It does offer more tips on construction using clay, so if you are just starting out, this may be the one to get.

[tags]polymer clay, dolls, doll-making, sculpting, figures, crafts[/tags]

Polymer clay definately has a reoccurring role in this production!  Her projects are innovative and show off polymer clay in organic colors and patterns.  

PMC and polymer clay pendant by Sherri Haab.

[tags]polymer clay, sherri haab, metal clay, mixed media jewelry, crafts[/tags]

[tags]polymer clay, crafts, jewelry, beads[/tags]