Customer Reviews

Making Polymer Clay Beads

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

IMPORTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS

Before I do this review, International Customers need to check this book. It is also sold under a different ISBN - Title: How to Make Polymer Clay Beads, has a completely different cover and publisher. It also retails cheaper - in Australia for instance it's full retail in AUD19.95. I have BOTH copies and they are identical books. It also has a completely different cover in the UK - making it three "versions" - how to confuse customers.. Now to the review........


I am often asked by cash strapped students, if you had to pick one, what do you recommend....this is it. Carol Blackburn has set out to clearly show you how to make beads in every shape, form, style and faux technique that you could imagine, and she has succeeded. Commencing with an excellent intro, very handy for newcommers to PC, she covers all materials and techniques that you would want to know, Caning, Colour Mixing, Stacking, Applique, Inlay, Transfers, Rubber Stamping. Mokume Gane and Mica shift are just a few of those covered.

She then moves onto Faux Techniques, absolute winners, each and every one, and with 16 of them you would be hard pressed to not find some you liked. In particular the coral, amber, Abalone and Veined Marble were brilliant.

You are then taken to an area that many books fail to deliver - bringing it all together. Understanding tools, finishing techniques, jewellery findings and what works well with what. Finishing with a very nice gallery indeed.

What makes the book extra special. Brilliant clear photographs that actually show you the technique, not leave you guessing. Logical sequence, clear written instructions and fabulous examples of completed work. All very wearable and contemporary - no glitzy or cutesy bits here. The final winning element came with loads of tips sprinkled through the pages.

This book is a veritable one stop shop, sure it's title is beads and it does an excellent job of focusing on the diversity of beads, but this is also about technique, and you can use any of the techniques shown on any polymer creation. This is definitely one book that will be highly recommended to my students.

This book is a compilation of MANY techniques I'd learned here and there over the years for making polymer clay, especially faux materials (wood, stone, leather, bone) and mokume-gane, which is a layered, irridescent technique that mimics layers of metal cut and polished. (Hard to describe, think cutting layers into the damascene metal like a Samurai sword's visible layers of steel to make a moire-patterned surface.)

Skinner blends, millefiori, mica, foil, inlay, stamping and surface impression are also covered. Nothing is handled in too much depth, but enough is given so that most of the techniques are accessible even to polymer clay beginners.

The examples of bead jewelry will take your breath away. I just wish there were more of them, as the artistry was exceptionally good.

If you want a one-stop shopping volume for making faux stone or materials, this book has a great sampling and very good tutorials. There were a number of techniques I hadn't seen before. In all, an exciting book for the polymer clay artist, and a great reference for faux materials, let alone the many shapes and styles of beads. A must-have for your beading library.

This book is far and away one of the best polymer clay books out there! The steps are clear and beautifully photographed. All the techniques, (and there are close to all of them in this book,) to make the beads can easily be applied to any other project. But the finished pieces, oh the finished pieces, are perfect for this book. Each one simple, beautifully finished, elegantly put together, thoughtfully arranged. If you are new to clay, BUY THIS BOOK!!! It will be an invaluable resource for you. If you have more experience, BUY THIS BOOK!!!! It will remind you how to hone your skills and give you beautiful work to be inspired by. Excellent job Carol Blackburn!

I love this book. I love all my polymer clay books, but usually most have many techniques that cover many different projects from vessels to figures. I always find useful information, but this book is EXACTLY what I've been wanting. I love beads and aside from a few cat figurines I've made with my 8 y.o. daughter, that's what I make. THANKS!! Ms. Blackburn. Love it, love it, love it!!!!

It seems hard to believe that no one has come out with a book dedicated to making polymer clay beads, especially since beads are what attract many people to the medium. Carol Blackburn has written a comprehensive book covering the many techniques that are used in making beads. Her section on "faux techniques" is a blessing. It's nice to have all of those techniques in one book.The photography is lovely and the book inspires me to go back and use some of the techniques I have put on a back burner for a long time. I appreciate the attention paid to detail in this book.I am glad to add this book to my polymer clay library!

Carol Blackburn has written a must-have book for anyone who wants to learn more about polymer clay. She has packed each page with beautiful photos and clearly written instructions and has managed to elevate each technique to a new and higher level. The beautifully finished pieces show how truly amazing and versatile polymer clay can be even when the steps involved are relatively simple. Any of these valuable lessons can be applied to other projects if beads are not really your thing. Everyone, from beginners to experienced clayers, will come away with new ideas and a wealth of inspiration from Carol Blackburn's magical book!

Kim Cavender,
author of Polymer Clay For the Fun of It

First off - yes, there are LOTS of books available showing all sorts of different projects using polymer clay and no, you won't become an expert overnight with this one or any other one. HOWEVER, Blackburn has provided a book with updated information and the guidelines to get you on your way to make the beads of your dreams - referring to the first section entitled "Materials and Techniques:" espcially, blending-Skinner Tech., Combing, Caning, Molding, Shapes, Drilling, Polishing (very important), Varnishing, Foils, Extrusions, Textures, Transfers Stamping, Mokume Gane, Mica Shift and more. Just remember, she and others making beautiful polymer products do this all the time and so practice, practice, practice. That being said, I have to say that I truly enjoy this book as so many others have mentioned - that being the focus on bead making. My own efforts over many months of work were so so at best. Once I followed her steps, which are given with photos & written info for each step, I am much more pleased with my own beads.

My main interest in this book has been section two "Faux Techniques" - wood, marble, ivory/bone, leather, amber, coral bronze, abalone, jade, mother-of-pearl (amazing), silver, malachite, turquoise, lapis, onyx, agate. For the most part, I have been extremely pleased at the outcomes of my efforts, but some of Blackburn's representations of imitating certain things could be better. Lapis - get the book "Polymer-The Chameleon Clay" by V. Hughes in order to get a more realistic lapis stone appeal, same as for jade - but this 2nd book is horrible when it comes to Turquoise (also described in Blackburn's book but still not as realistic as I would like...a difficult stone to mimic). So I use the Hughes book for some faux items. Blackburn does have some outstanding examples (IMHO) of Wood (not the ultimate best, but close); Veined Marble - compared to the real thing, I was amazed; Coral bead work was admirable and worth practicing to get it just right; Abalone - love it - very realistic; Jade was comparable to Hughes work; Mother-of-Pearl - truly striking, especially when making the colored pearls; Malachite - close but before YOU make it examine natural malachite in order to develop a more realistic color pattern but still closely following Blackburn in the color production end; Onyx - MY FAVORITE - actually it is more like a natural agate stone as typically when you think of onyx, it is black. Blackburn's Onyx is highly layered using products that I wish I would have thought of...but now I know...in order to get a REALLY natural looking agate stone bead. Blackburn's section on "Agate" in the "Faux Techniques" applies more to a cut stone of agate and she has produced some interesting pendant type pieces. But again, get an Agate book and try to mimic some of the patterns of real agates following Blackburn's technique. You won't be sorry.

Sections to use other books or to keep trying to find better ways to mimic these items are: silver, turquoise, lapis, bronze (this could go either way for some of Blackburn's pieces are admirable - same with her amber pieces), ugh on the leather look, and noooo on the ivory and bone beads. Books with more realistic bone are "The Polymer Clay Techniques Book" by S. Heaser - and pay attention to the antiquing section for bone or "Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay" by I.S. Dean where the best looking bone look is shown. However, both these books lack the more detailed descriptions and images that Blackburn provides in her book. Yet, Blackburn's work/descriptions are a great way to start from in getting the look you may want using products she recommends.

In the 3rd section of the book called "Bringing It All Together" - she does a great job of pulling the necessary items needed to really make the beads - from various jewelry findings, cording, attaching, designing...thus flowing smoothly into the final section "The Gallery." Many of the great polymer bead artists' work is shown here and definitely grab your attention. Yet this section is small as Blackburn focuses upon the other areas mentioned above and thus earning more stars from me as that is the reason I wanted the book...not for the gallery but for the great guidelines and examples to help ME develop my own pieces.

With all this being said...or rather written...by me, I guess I have to say there is not just one book for all things in polymer clay. However, I feel the layout, descriptions, images and all around clarity by Blackburn makes her book stand out in my library. I am glad to have the NUMEROUS other books, magazines, etc. on polymer clay plus seeing some of the extraordinary work by many artists focused on this medium - all of which increases my drive to improve my own work with polymer clay...and hopefully your own work as well. This medium is amazing and so available - use Blackburn's book as a great stepping stone and you definitely will not be disappointed.

I am not a beginner to Polymer Clay and have many other books. I ordered this book just in case there was something new in it for me. Well there was, plenty. Even the tip for storing clay was liberating. Why had I not thought of such a simple way of storing my clay so that I could see what was in my stash at a glance? The step by step instructions are really clear and cover some of the gaps not covered in other books. A beginner would be well served by the clear inspirational bead ideas in this book as would a more experienced clayer. The images are clear and the layout is very user friendly. Well done. If you are a bead fanatic this a a great book.

This book does not disappoint -- it is by far the best polymer clay book I own. Beginners will love the step-by-step (with photos showing each step) tutorials, and non-beginners will love the all-in-one reference of techniques and inspiring designs.

You'll be able to learn a number of techniques, including basic cane-making, mokume gane, inlay, marbling, etc. You'll also learn how to make faux dichroic glass, wood, leather, and a number of different faux gemstones.

Although some of the techniques are covered in other books, the photos outlining the steps in this book are very easy to follow for a beginner such as myself. That is the biggest difference between this book and others on polymer clay. The author takes the "guesswork" out of how to achieve the end result.

I can't say enough about this book! If it's a bead and you can make it with polymer clay, it's in Carol's book. Beautifully illustrated, concise and well written. The pictures provide great detail and a step-by-step guide to her processes. The author also provides alternative color treatment options, so if you've struggling with how to do it differently, suggestions abound. Beginner or experienced, there's something here for everyone. Gorgeously done - you will NOT be disappointed. Definitely a Keeper!