The Bookshelf of PöRRö

Celebrations With Polymer Clay
by Sarajane Helm

In the book Sarajane gives instructions for her "trademark" style which is very stunning and rare thing to happen in polyclay books. On the book there are - for instance - stains and a way how to make those relief eggs: both things that I can assimilate with "Sarajane Helm" immediately. The book is rich of combination of mold work- texture- antiquing- "gypsy cane" thing that is so "Sarajane", but the instructions give a possibility to make own works in the same style. That is the fun thing in this book: the book is written so that a newbie should understand it but it still has a great appeal to old polyclayers. The book is rich bazaar of art. I have to applause the publisher, Krause Publications, for allowing a polyclay artist to really give herself to the book instead of making it newspaper dry.
The book follows years cycle, so it can be used to make holliday orientated things.

+ Very inspiring book that is simultaniusly both basic and more advanced in approach

+ The book has lots of Sarajanes "trademark" style projects.

+ Has so much variation in the book that can be used both with kids and adults.

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Foundations in Polymer Clay Design
by Barbara E. McGuire

This book is all about designing items with material called polymerclay. Not only is Barbara E. McGuire a talented artist, she also is a very good writer. The structure of book, the way the different aspects are in order is amazing and freeing: this is a book that makes you feel planning/designing amazing art piece is just a matter of following pretty simple steps of choosing colors, shapes, texture, finishes.

There is at least one picture on every page on the book, some have half dozen. Pictures are used to both illustrate the instructions or text, but also to teach. There are lots of pictures of various artists work in the book. She also has used the pictures of other artists to point out different aspects in design, which also adds to the experience of seeing great works of art.

+ Clear and simple project-type of "rehearsing steps" to teach different aspects of art and design.

+ The book has best works of hundreds of different clayers

+ This book is new every time you read it, it always has something new to notice

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Polymer
by Victoria Hughes

Tory Hughes book is oddball. It is truly unique in the way it is written. It is "art way meets polymerclay" and "discussion meets book reading" and "either I tempt or irritate you to think" kind of book. I am not sure what my reaction actually is to the tone, some of it is so inspiring and some draws lots of other feelings. But I love the book. It is really good one. Not just a project, tips and "forget me" book but much much more. I think it is now one of my favourite books because I cannot "just love" it or "just ignore or hate" it. It touches me, the artist in me, and makes me both inspired and also active. I have gotten a new attitude towards colors (in the start the talk about "really looking at colors" was very inspiring) and also I think the part in the start where she talks about goals and their importance in all creating have made a good impression into my own thinking.

And, in case it is not clear: I suggest EVERYONE to at least borrow this book from library. It is one of those books you have to see yourself to really know. The projects in this book are wonderful and great, but not at all as important as the things this book is able to give to the soul of artist/crafter. IMO, of course.

+ Very very inspiring

+ Good projects and they are written clearly

+ Gives inspiration and motivation for your own claying

+ Is very good book for serious artist as it also gives lots of support for the soul

- Some of the pictures are bit yellow and some drawings are bit hard to read

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The Polymer Clay Techniques Book
by Sue Heaser

Polymer clay is not only very versatile medium but also it is a medium where people that did not know having any artistic skills can achieve great results if getting good instructions. Sue Heasers book is excellent example of how all craft books should be written: There are hundreds of inspiring photographs in the book that give plenty of ideas. There are dozens of projects that really are unique and not only variations of previous projects. All the instructions are so well written than even a beginner without any prior knowledge about polyclay could easily do the projects.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is new with polyclay or has not even heard about polyclay before because I feel that after reading this book a person would know so much about different techniques with polyclay. It also should be in any serious clayers bookshelf just because it is the only book so far that has such a good overall look to most of the new and different techniques and ideas that have kept the polyclaying community busy.

+ Has tons of different techniques

+ Very well written instructions and gives ideas how to use them further

+ Pictures are clear and informative

+ Tools are inexpensive and available to all

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Making Miniature Food and Market Stalls
by Angie Scarr

If you want to make food for your dollhouse, this is THE BOOK. Actually this is the book even if you don't want to do it as you really have to see what an amazing reality Angie Scarr is able to produce with polyclay. I have bought worse and more artificial looking groceries from my local market ! The works of Angie Scarr are unbelievable and what is even more unbelievable is that you are able to make very alike things with this book – even with way too large hands and without patience.

+ The minifood in the projects looks real

+ There are tons of instructions in the book

+ She uses millefiori most of the time, so the items are way more cool than "painted" ones would be

- You get hungry by reading this book !

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The New Clay
by Nan Roche, et al

This is The Polymerclay Book that started the movement. It gathered all the information that was available 1991 (before internet was truly available to all) and showed what endless possibilities there are with polymerclay. Even though some of the illustrations have aged a bit, it still is one of the best books in the field. This book is especially good for people who want to learn complicated caning as there are plenty of examples and ideas how to do it. This book has plenty of millefiori works pictured.

+ Well written book

+ Very much ideas how to use clay

- It is old so it does not have the newest techniques

The Art of Polymer Clay
by Donna Kato

Donna Katos book is a good book about "everything possible" in polymerclay starting from beads ending to sculpture. It is one of those books that teach you basics and gives an idea what polymerclays are all about.

This is a book that still has the ability to surprise me on the freshness in its approach. The projects are made for adults, and the jewelry is – for most part – so ageless it could have come from 30´s or 2000. The book is written more technique orientated than project orientated so the project information is more on the line of "cut some holes with your puncher" than "cut three holes as pictured in the chart" which is nice for creative type of people.

+ Good variety of projects from different areas of claying

+ The designs of the items stand time very well

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Creating Life-Like Animals in Polymer Clay
by Katherine Dewey

There probably is no better book for sculpting animals than Katherine Dewey's book. This book is stunning and gives hope for even the clumsiest clayer in the world: it is possible to make amazingly life-like animals with these instructions. Every step is visualized, the tools used are either self made or available for all. Nothing is actually very difficult to make even though they are labour intensive. But this book has been able to show the steps and make them easy enough for everyone to use.

Also Katherine gives full permission to sell anything made by the instructions of this book in craft fairs and such.

+ Tools are inexpensive and available to all

+ Instructions are clear and easy to follow

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Making Doll's House Miniatures with Polymer Clay
by Sue Heaser (Author)

This book is a must have for dollhouse enthusiasts who wants to learn to make "everything" for the doll house. There are projects for food, for furniture, decorations, pots and bowls... The instructions – as always with Sues books – are very easy to follow, the pictures are good and the tools used are available for everyone. In this book there are also several little tools that Sue teaches to make.

My favorite item is definitely the toilet that is made from polyclay !

+ Tools are inexpensive and available to all

+ Instructions are clear and easy to follow

+ The items are photographed in dollhouse settings and the photos look almost real

Creative Stamping in Polymer Clay
by Barbara A. McGuire

This book gives a very good idea about how stamping and polymer clay can be used together. Vide variety of projects that show how stamping can be much more than a picture on a sheet.

The projects are very good going from decorative items to usable items. For stamping newbie like me it was a really good reference to what stamping really is. I have had this idea of "pushing stamp to paper and then that's it", which is not at all the case with modern stamping. The look of the book is very modern so it is interesting book for that too.

+ Good pictures, very interesting gallery

+ Instructions are clear and easy to follow

- If you don't have stamps and are stamp newbie, you need to buy lots of stuff to be able to make the projects

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The Weekend Crafter
by Irene Semanchuk Dean

Irene's book is a very good book that has appeal to newbies and older clayers too. All the basic information about polymerclay has been written in easily readable format to the start of the book. There are 20 projects that are from various artists. The projects are very inspiring – and mostly for items one could actually use and not just admire.

There is a project for probably most real jade bowl I have ever seen in this book. And it is even easy !

+ Very good projects

+ Instructions are clear and easy to follow

+ Pictures are beautiful

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Polymer Claywork (New Crafts)
by Mary Maguire, et al

This was the first polymerclay book I bought after I had been claying for about 2 years. So my relation to this book is very special.

It has been a delight to realize this book is so good book even after all these years. The gallery is really good, the projects have a look that does not age much, and all the pieces are finished with great care. The projects vary from jewelry to home décor and miniatures. Something for everyone but without the usual too much feel.

+ Good gallery

+ Instructions are clear and easy to follow

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Create a Polymer Clay Impression
by Sarajane Helm

Sarajanes book is one of those books, where the artist really gives instructions to work where the artist has came famous from. The book is filled with her unique style which makes it bit different book from others. Even the projects are written as a set of various accessories in same color/texture group from boxes to jewelry.

Some of the pictures in the book could work as polyclay examples poster. I am especially fond of the texture samples on this book as well as the pictures of different edgings and simple texture samples.

+ The artist gives instructions for making the "trademark" look

+ Has plenty of ways to use and make texture to clay

- Some of the instructions are bit confusingly written

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Creative Home Decor in Polymer Clay
by Sue Heaser, et al

The book has 19 projects for home decorating. The instructions are clear, the pictures good and the general feeling of the book very elegant. There are many projects that use liquid clay, and some have ideas that I have not seen anywhere else, so this is a good book for people who are into liquid clay.

+ Tools are inexpensive and available to all

+ The instructions are easy to follow

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Creative Ways with Polymer Clay
by Dotty McMillan

Dottys book is a good basic book for novice clayers, but it still has inspiring enough projects for more advanced clayers. The instructions in the book are written by various people which gives the book many different styles and ideas. It has plenty of good and easy instructions for making mokume gane. Also there are instructions for eggshell mosaic with polymerclay.

There is one project that has alarming alternative. Its a lantern project that is a cube with only one side open. If done with lighting kit (electric light) it is stunning one and there is no problem. But the text suggest that "Or you may simply place a votive candle inside for softer light". With this instruction the person could get the clay on top burn, so this is not a good idea.

+ Good pictures, most of the projects are easy to make

- The lantern instructions with the suggestion of using candle

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Polymer Clay
by Jacqueline Gikow

This book is one of those books that have almost everything about polymerclay in it. There are lots of good pictures, and pictures are used to teach. The projects are very pretty and interesting.

+ There are lots of variation of different vessels, boxes and books in the book.

- Makes flutes and bowls out of clay without talking about safety issues with them

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