And, of course. if you’re utterly sick of Valentine’s Day – here’s just the piece for you! Roscata’s whole shop is full of quirky – and yes, a little twisted – awesomeness.
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Book Review Wednesday: Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook
This week’s Book Review Wednesday pick is Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook by Jacalyn K. Myron, and this is another one of those crossover craft books that could easily live in more than one corner of CraftGossip.
It is not strictly a jewelry making book, but the cover does mention jewelry projects, and air-dry clay is a lovely material for making lightweight pendants, charms, ring dishes, earrings, beads, and little decorative pieces. So I’m letting it sneak into the Jewelry Making series because, honestly, half the fun of handmade jewelry is experimenting with materials that were not necessarily “jewelry supplies” to begin with.
Air-dry clay is especially appealing for beginners because you do not need an oven, kiln, torch, or specialist setup. You can shape it, texture it, let it dry, sand it, paint it, seal it, and turn it into something sweet and useful. It is very approachable, which makes it a nice option for crafters who want to try clay jewelry without jumping straight into polymer clay baking or resin mixing.
This book looks like a practical beginner guide covering air-dry clay techniques, tools, tips, and projects, including jewelry, home décor, animals, figurines, and small sculptures. I like that mix because it gives makers room to play. You might start with a simple ring dish or pendant and then wander off into little bowls, ornaments, charms, or handmade gifts.
For jewelry makers, I’d see this as a gentle introduction to clay-based accessories. Think handmade pendants, textured earrings, little clay charms, or small dishes for storing rings and earrings. It would also pair nicely with our Jewelry Making projects and the more clay-focused ideas here.
My Shellie-style take? Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook looks like a calm, beginner-friendly craft book for anyone who wants to try clay without too much fuss. It may lean more general craft than pure jewelry, but there is enough jewelry potential here to make it useful for makers who enjoy handmade accessories, gift projects, and pretty little things made by hand.
You can find the book here: Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook.
Sorry, but that’s not quirky, and it’s certainly not awesome. It’s negative. Why would anyone want to wear a necklace with a message like this, or worse still, want to give it to someone? If you don’t like Valentine’s Day, or don’t like a particular person, that’s one thing. But to wear a pendant with the words ‘I Hate You’ on it??
That’s not cool. That’s not quirky. That’s not awesome. It’s negative, and it’s hate-filled.
I agree – there’s no need for all this negativity. Who’d want to wear a necklace that has something like that on it, anyway? It’s kinda twisted, really.
This is just nasty. So when you are wearing this and you stop to speak to someone, this monstrosity is glaring back at them? No thanks.
Hi JD, Sharon, Emma! I guess this becomes one of those pieces that’s each to their own taste! I didn’t see it as nasty but did swap it for one of the milder anti-valentine’s in there.
I have to say that I agree with JD, Sharon and Emma completely, but also with Elaine to a lesser extent and on another point – taste and opinions are subjective…beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all that.
I just cannot see anyone – young or mature in age – actually wanting to wear this or even wanting to give it to anyone or, as Emma said, wanting to talk to someone who is wearing ‘I Hate You’ around their neck. Charming…NOT!
I just wanted to add my two cents worth here, for what it’s worth, and suggest that when you wear or display a heart (either as a pendant, locket, bracelet, earrings, a ring on your finger, or on your clothing, etc.), it should represent something (or someone) you love or care a great deal for/have great affection for. That’s the whole point of the symbol of the heart in the first place, isn’t it?
There’s too much hate and negativity in this world as it is. We need to have a little more love…actually, a LOT more love. For ourselves and for each other. Wearing a heart-shaped piece of jewelry with loving, affectionate messages is the way to go, and it’s still cool and it’s still awesome. And, with some added creativity and imagination, it can even be ‘quirky’ and ‘awesome.’ Love is always awesome.
That ‘hate’ heart was the exact opposite of that.
This new ‘Whatever’ message is definitely ‘milder,’ as you put it, and thanks for changing the image on the blog post. It’s apathetic, but at least it’s not hate-filled in theme and actual message.
Thanks, JD, for speaking your mind. It may be only crafts we’re talking about here, but it speaks volumes about where our tastes and preferences are going, if that’s what a designer actually believes is a good thing to want to sell, or even wants to make and sell something this negative in the first place.
Thanks!