Customer Reviews

The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques: Projects and Inspiration for Creative Canework

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own over a dozen books on polymer clay techniques but I still find wonderful pieces of work for which I don't understand the techniques used. Donna Kato's latest book fills many gaps in my knowledge. She explains many new techniques as well as the basics. The book is well written and the projects are of a very high quality level.

This is already my favorite book on the subject of Polymer Clay and if I could only choose one book about the subject it would be this.

The photography and pictures, of which there are many, are also exceptional and the printing is much better quality than Donna's previous books.

I thought the projects looked fine BUT the pictures are small and the book is not written in a particularly clear step by step manner. I love details and many are just not in this book. It's more of an overview than a step by step. Then she shows you pictures of what I found were her nicest beads, but no instructions, just the most basic info, no real secrets. It's just more Skinner blends and jelly rolls, I wanted tricks and inspiration!
I would love a book by Donna Kato with fewer projects (if necessary), but better, bigger, more detailed pictures and more detailed step by step instructions.
The book isn't user friendly to me, the way it's organized bothered me.
Her dvds are great though!

I received this book 2 days ago while I was in the midst of moving roomfuls of stuff from upstairs to downstairs, cataloging books, getting ready for a craft fair, and an upcoming trip. In other words, I was BUSY and had no time for sitting down with a book, so I put in on the side, and would glance at the cover from time to time. But a new book by Donna Kato! - how could I resist?!? I peeked, and then I was hooked. Every page was a pleasure and a lesson that was so well photographed and explained, I wanted to try each and every project right then and there! Donna's sense of color, contrast, play, and attention to detail makes every one of her creations a masterpiece, and with her great instructions, I think I can create my own little masterpieces too!

Donna Kato is a legend in polymer clay, her gorgeous beads are coveted and collected for their intricate canework, and as you'd expect, her 3rd book, The Art of Polymer Clay- Millefiori Techniques is incredibly well written with beautiful photographs.
When you make a cane, it's the same design all the way through, and you cut off slices of the cane to decorate your items with. That's the emphasis of the book, making gorgeously detailed canes to decorate polymer clay items with.
The introduction chapters have a lot of information about the different clays, working with them, and tools that come in handy for creating canes. She introduces you to cutters, bead rollers, extruders, and racks. She also explains the best methods for curing pieces, how to keep harmful fumes out of your oven if you are curing in your home oven, and tells you about specialty tools and methods for curing beads so they don't wind up with a shiny spot on them. She also briefly covers the best way to finish a project, and what sorts of glues to use.
After you get through all the information in the first 30 pages, she goes on to explain some of the history of millefiori, which in Italian means "thousand flowers", originally a technique for glass cane work, it's translates into working with polymer clay in a great way. Polymer clay canes are a lot easier to build than glass canes, and you can get an almost painterly effect with shading by blending clays. She explains very well color blending, color theory, and how contrast can affect a piece.
Then she goes into really simple canes, and explains reducing, which is how you start with a short fat cane put together almost like a mosaic, and make it a long thin cane with that same design all the way through it.
After that, it's the yummy part of the book, the inspirational part. Projects using what you have learned. The projects build on each other, so if you are an absolute beginner to working with canes, and work them in order, you'll find you've built skill sets for the next project, and the projects themselves are brightly colored, satisfying, and inspirational. You'll get lots of ideas for what you can do with what's you've learned.
In short, I love this book, and think it's well worth buying if you're interested in polymer clay

Do not pay attention to the negitive review. This is the best book on canework. I have just finished a cane after purchasing this book yesturday. I read the whole book last night and it is great. The commenter who complained about picture size and lack of detail and not giving instructions to the really cool canes needs a clue. Just by using this book and learning what is in it and making canes it will be clear to all but the very limited few that the intricate canes are easy to make and you do not need each step spelled out. Take this book, use it as a starting point and you will be an expert caneworker in no time. Of all the polymer clay books I have this is a must have. Buy this book. Half the fun is the learning and it goes fast with a book like this. Love the information on cane reduction much better information than you can get anywhere else and the information on color mixing is the best I have seen to date. The look inside the book on the web does not do this book justice. Buy it now at this price it is worth it. I got it for cover price at local craft store and I am happy even at full price. Glad I have it I just could not even wait for shipping. It is that good.

The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques: Projects and Inspiration for Creative CaneworkI was curious when I read the negative review of this book so I had to buy it to see why anyone would write a negative review on Donna Kato??? Wow, am I glad I bought this book. I am a clayer but not a caner. I decided long ago, I can't do it so I won't! Pout, pout! After I got this book, I tried the techniques and I am now a caner!! The explanations, photos, projects are so clear that I did it!! One review felt Donna was pushing her line of clay? Duh!!!! What brand do you think she is going to use but her own??!! It's the best on the market right now for polymer clays. I am mainly a Premo/ Fimo Soft person but I switched. Donna's clay is far superior. Her book isn't advertising it, it just makes sense that she uses her own products. Why would she use another?? It's a great book, one of the best in my vast collections and the most comprehensive on canes I've seen yet. Thanks Donna

I purchase this book as a newcomer to working with polymer clay generally and the millefiori technique in particular. What I really liked was how the book broke each type of cane construction into 1-2 page project sheets which built off the prior project. The directions and photography are clear, concise and well thought out. There are also techniques for use of the completed canes that I have not seen in other books on the subject. I was very pleased with the book and felt the price was quite reasonable.

I already had Donna Kato's first book and wasn't sure why I would need another one or if it would have much "new" stuff that I didn't already find in the first book. However, I had read some great reviews from members in my clay group and decided to get the new one.
What a wonderful book! For those of you that are failry new to caning or millefiori, you will LOVE this book.
If you have always admired Donna's work and wondered how she got such lovely results then you will want this book. She doesn't just give you tiny tidbits to help you "almost" know how to do something - she gives you the real thing! The lessons for her techniques are complete and the instructions are easy to follow. She doesn't leave you hanging about wondering about the 'rest of the technique'.
There were many things in her book that I had wanted to know how to do and she did not disappoint. She is very generous in sharing her knowledge.
The price is extremely reasonable and it is worth every penny and more. I would recommend this book to my best friend or ANYONE that loves polymer clay!
Michele "luny" Holley

Donna has a wonderful way of using simple elements and techniques and making them look like a million. Her newest and latest book does it again with simpl;e caning techniques. Having taken many of her workshops, this a fantastic review of how each is done. Her new projects will be a joy to complete

The author assumes that you are an experienced polymer clay person. I had hoped there would be more
details for the steps.