7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Metal Clay Magic!, June 20, 2008
This review is from: Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry (Paperback)
Tammy Powley, the resident jewelry making expert at About.com, is an incredibly bright and talented woman. She's very well respected in the jewelry and craft industries and she's a college professor with a strong command of language and excellent technical writing skills. It's no surprise that her new book Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry is phenomenal. If you've been standing on the edge of diving into the world of metal clay, wait no longer. Ms. Powley will take your hand and guide you step by step in this extensive guide to absolutely everything you need to know to get started.
From tools, techniques, materials and sound advice, this book is in my opinion the ultimate guide for the metal clay novice and has plenty to offer for those who already dabble in this fascinating medium. Not only are the instructions clear, well written and easy to follow, the photographs guide you effortlessly through the basics so that you can be well on your way to mastering this medium. There's a DVD included with bonus projects and video footage that solidifies the information in the book beautifully.
Tammy Powley is someone whom I, as a fellow jewelry making book author, respect immensely. She's proven time and time again that she is a force with whom to be reckoned and here she does it again. She's got that rare gift of knowing how to articulate things in a way that everyone can understand and her subtle humor makes reading this book a joy.
I particularly enjoyed the wonderful photographs of artist's studios, what a treat! The fabulous projects shared by Ms. Powley along with several metal clay masters were truly inspirational. Many craft books skirt across the surface of a discipline or they are so advanced they can be daunting to the neophyte. Ms. Powley has taken all of the mystery and frustration out of learning something new and made it a true pleasure.
I highly recommend this title become an addition to your craft library. This is one you'll read from cover to cover and reference endlessly. Kudos to Ms. Powley for making the definitive beginners Metal Clay book!
Margot Potter
The Impatient Crafter(tm)
Author The Impatient Beader series
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The "Can Do" Book for Metal Clay Enthusiasts!, June 12, 2008
This review is from: Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry (Paperback)
I really like the positive title of this book, written by Tammy Powley: Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry.
When I read the title, I felt as if the daunting aspects and the confusion people might experience when confronted by metal clay were immediately whisked away and replaced with the reassurance of a voice which said "You CAN do this!"
This "Can-Do!" sort of attitude is a wonderful one which the author conveys. It runs all the way through the book!
The cover shows some of the many aspects of working with metal clay, and some finished jewelry pieces as well. Indeed, Tammy has made sure to take the reader right from the very beginning of learning what tools and equipment and safety concerns will be required, to the final aspects of super fun created pieces in a wonderfully cohesive manner. She is an experienced jewelry designer, a well known author of numerous jewelry design books, and a member of the PMC Guild. Who better to write this almost encyclopedic, yet always interesting, metal clay book?
It is fascinating as well to learn through viewing other artist's studios, and other artist's work, the incredible variety you too will be able to accomplish, once you get the basics down.
I want to stress that this book is basically a "low fire" metal clay book. This means that the projects in the book (and also in the fantastic bonus DVD, which I loved!) which are demonstrated by Tammy, use ways of firing metal clay which usually do not involve a kiln. For example, a hot pot and a butane torch are two of the ways which are utilized in the book. Both are used outdoors for proper ventilation and for safety!
If you low fire metal clay, there is a limit to the thickness of the jewelry piece you can create. A kiln is required for weightier pieces. You will discover, by reading this book, information like this. It will be presented to you in a very clear manner. Why not buy this book and see how you like metal clay before sinking a ton of money into a kiln? It is really logical to try this method first. By the way, you will LOVE metal clay! It is SO FUN!
I think Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry, by Tammy Powley, with its inspiring photo gallery from many artists who were kind enough to display their metal clay creations and their studios, its "down to earth manner" of how to make your own pieces, its great list of tools, tips and techniques, the inclusion of some fantastic findings you can teach yourself to make (Tammy does it all!), and finally some wonderful, accessible and very lovely low fire projects, such as "ID ME" and "Y-You are a Star", AS WELL AS (I am getting out of breath here!) gallery projects with instructions by guest artists, for those of you who do have a kiln to use in some cases, is a terrific starter book, reference book, reminder (if you already use metal clay) book, inspiration book, and get it all going on book! Yes! You can DO it with this great book, Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A step-by-step guide to creating one's own unique jewelry, June 9, 2008
This review is from: Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry (Paperback)
Teacher and jewelry crafter Tammy Powley presents Creating Metal Clay Jewelry, a step-by-step guide to creating one's own unique jewelry designs from metal clay components. Chapters discuss how to create original metal clay necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more. Readers will learn how to roll, cut, fire and finish metal clay into beads and charms; 14 projects with variations will help novices get their feet wet in the joy of three-dimensional art. Full color photographs illustrate the methodical instructions, and a bonus DVD with two additional projects rounds out this great guide for jewelry hobbyists of all backgrounds and experience levels.
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