Customer Reviews

Metal Clay and Mixed Media Jewelry: Innovative Projects Featuring Resin, Polymer Clay, Fiber, Glass, Ceramics, Collage Materials, and More

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a PMC teacher I am always on the look out for new books, Sherri Haab's newest book is an absolute winner. What sets her books apart are the photographs of the step by step instructions. They are so incredibly detailed and precise that you would be hard pressed to make an error. One project on crotchet with wire and PMC closures will have you crotcheting in a minute, better photos than many books dedicated to crotcheting! The written instructions are also clear and concise.

This book is broken into four sections Metal Clay essentials, Creative Connections (6 projects), Metal clay as a support or bezel (7 projects) and Color,Image and Surface Design, (7 Pprojects).Both PMC and Art Clay are used in the projects which will make everyone happy. Whilst some of the Mixed Media has been done in other publications, such as Ceramics, Glass, Resin, Keum Boo and Polymer to name a few, it is inclusions such as Painting on Silver, Concrete insertions, Image transfers and crotchet work that are welcome new additions.

It is also refreshing to see such a beautiful variety of projects that are not too glitzy, this has taken Silver clay and Mixed Media into a whole new level. The gallery of artists work is both beautifully photographed and inspiring, Wendy Wallin Malinow's pmc/polymer is stunning, Robert Dancik and Celie Fago are their normal brilliant selves together with Sherri's own beautiful work and a number of other highly talented artists. I particularly liked the contributing artists section at the back which gives a short bio and website information for each person.

If I had to make one slightly negative comment it would be that the 33 pages devoted to Metal Clay Essentials at the start of the book which covers types of clay, tools, supplies, basic techniques and firing have been done to death and you can refresh your knowledge by checking in her wonderful Art of Metal Clay Book. I would have preferred to have had more media and projects, (Paper Maiche, Faux Bone etc), although there are more than enough to keep you happy. Of my books which specifically cover mixed media with PMC, this has now become No. 1 and the feedback by my students tells me that Sherri has another winner on her hands.

This book is jammed packed with helpful information and a ton of eye candy that has me perusing the pages over and over! Having taken a PMC class and having read many books on the subject I was very impressed with the plethora of projects and the detailed instructions. Even the most minute details are covered. And the gallery is absolutely stunning and inspiring!

Many books fall short when attempting to describe step-by-step instructions, but Sherri Haab's book goes the extra mile. The steps outlined are detailed, easy to follow, and understand. The beautiful photos are so incredible that I can hardly wait to try several of the projects covered! In fact, I have already started playing with resin: Fun, fun, FUN!

Anyone purchasing this metal clay book will not be sorry. Reading Sherri's book has definitely taken my art work to a higher level. KUDOS!!!

I was anxiously awaiting the release of Sherri's second book and must say that I was disappointed when I finally received it. Many of the projects seemed to be near copies of projects in the metal clay book that Louise Duhamel had in her book. There was the same bicycle reflector pendant, a similar project using cement, a project using images covered in resin, a "Moon Baby" project etc. The rest of the projects had very dull and basic metal clay work. There was a bracelet cuff project made with fabric where she made simple molded buttons. The crocheted bracelet had simple metal clay circles on it. There was a leather bracelet with a rectangle of letters, similar to a piece in her first book. Other projects were simple findings such as buckles and toggle clasps. Even the gallery pictures were disappointing. I recognized most of them from previous magazines and books. Many from years ago. I guess what I am saying is that I expected innovation and didn't get it. I understand that Sherri has written many books lately. Perhaps she hasn't had time to spend really diving in and working with the medium, testing the metal clay boundries. I did find Louise Duhamel's book to contain innovation. I hope someone else will step up to the plate again sometime soon.

This book's cover features a gorgeous silver charm bracelet to invite you to look into incorporating resins and other media into your metal clay pieces. The book follows Sherri's 2003 Art of Metal Clay and 2006 Art of Resin Jewelry and includes the best of both. She begins with fairly thorough metal clay instructions (although I consider a class essential for safety considerations, especially for people who have not previously used a torch or a kiln). Learning how to plan a design prior to opening a package of metal clay is also an important class lesson because the binder in metal clay dries so quickly.

What sets this book apart from other metal clay books are the instructions on making findings, supports and bezels from metal clay. Other books show jewelry projects and, because many jewelers like to use precious metal findings, Sherri's instructions on findings and bezels are most welcome. There's also a section on the use of color, images, and surface design. If you've enjoyed working with metal clay and want to expand its use, this book is for you.

Wonderful book with great layout, pictures and instruction.

If you are starting in metal clay this is a good book to read.

Like a lot of beaders, I've been facinated by the silver and gold clays for a while now. Also like a lot of beaders, I don't have regular access to a kiln. This book is about making jewelry using clay like PMC, PMC + , PMC3 and art clay.
Author Sherri Haab has written a lot of wonderful books on techniques and different mediums to make jewelry in, like her wonderful The Art of Resin Jewelry. This book is as detailed and as good as I've come to expect of her books.

It starts with an overview of the clay types, firing methods, and instructions for finishing pieces,it explains the kiln types, and what will work best for the sort of piece you are making.
After you know the clays, tools and methods, there are a lot of projects. The projects are varied and inspiring. A wide range from simple pieces made with clay, to pieces that mix the clay with other mediums like polymer clay, enamel, resin and even concrete and cement!

The detail in it is great, color photos and examples that illustrate very clearly how to do everything, including the best and easiest instructions I've ever seen for torch firing the metal clays. It defines the steps to start with the wet clay and end with a lovely piece of jewelry, and the descriptions of the clays are complete, firing times, the strength and shrinkage you can expect.

I was very impressed with the book, the layout is logical, the projects are lovely and the explanations are clear enough that I went out and bought a torch this weekend. I feel very secure now trying these wonderful clays and plan to make necklaces with my children this weekend.

I am a certified PMC artisan and teach PMC. I have been working with polymer clay for years. This book is great. I love how she shows how to integrate all the different media such as polymer clay, resin, enamel, colored pencils and gesso [!] with PMC. I love learning all the techniques and also like the projects. If you are into PMC, BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

This is a great book for the intermediate and advanced artisan. This book further explains how to incorporate new media into PMC designs. This is a great book. I highly recommend this book if you want to have endless possibilities of artistic expression with PMC.

The product was shipped very quickly and it was exactly as advertised. Very pleased would order again.

This book is terrific for the masses! People who want to make mixed media jewelry with PMC, but don't want complicated and intricate stuff will be thrilled with it. Of course, one can go further with these techniques into much more detail-oriented jewelry, but these projects are the perfect jumping off point for anyone to try. The instructions are complete and precise, and the photographs are helpful and clear. Sherri Habb is a wonderful artist with an excellent knack for teaching, which all of her books have proven. Every one of them is very highly recommended!