Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration [Hardcover]

Grant Diffendaffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

Twenty different crafting methods—countless breathtaking beads, all made from easy to work with polymer clay! The varied techniques in this comprehensive skill-building book—many of which have never before been published—range from hand-formed tubes, spheres, wedges, teardrops, and baguettes to traditional mokume gane with fantastic layered effects. Add mica clay to create iridescent “ghost image” beads. Construct veneered pillow beads. Carve beads, press-mold them, or even use a cookie-cutter to get an array of fabulous shapes. Turn and form the bead on an extremely affordable craft lathe. Close-up photos show every step in the process, as well as the completed beads; some also appear as part of a finished piece of jewelry for inspiration. 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

GRANT DIFFENDAFFER travels the world teaching his techniques and exhibiting his jewelry. He lives in CANYON, CALIFORNIA. View Grant's work at www.diffendaffer.com.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books; 1st edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600590241
• ISBN-13: 978-1600590245
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something a little bit different, February 10, 2008

By 

R. Eberhard "Eclectic Studio" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration (Hardcover)

Like many people who work with Polymer, I eagerly was awaiting this publication by the very talented Mr Diffendaffer. I was not disappointed.

This book seeks to take many artists outside of the normal practices of hand rolling and creating beads, by using small lathes and mandrels to form and shape a huge variety of beads.

Starting with the obligatory Essential Tools section, - ho hum I here you say...not so, I guarantee that you will find items here that you either don't have, or had not considered using even if you had them. I have dapping blocks that I use for metalwork, but had relied on plastic moulds to create shape, I had not considered using my dapping block before!

The pictures are excellent, hard pressed to make a mistake in the projects and he is very clear in his intructions. Of course he covers Mica Shift, one of the techniques he is well known for. I enjoyed all the sections, from the Pearlized Mica Clay Beads through to Textured Beads, Lathe-Turned, Recursvice molded Beads, Hollow Form and Mandrel Formed Beads.

This lovely book finishes with a stunning gallery of the "masters" - Dustin,Fago,Toops,Dever,Wallin Malinow and Cormier are a sample. Thank you for producing a "different" book on this wonderful medium.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting, but, February 23, 2008

By 

Carol Cope (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration (Hardcover)

definitely not for beginners or hobbyists. The chapter on mica shift is the most useful for someone who doesn't have the tools that the later chapters require. The author explains more clearly than any other book I've read how to build various ingots and how to use them to make beads.

The emphasis is on art beads perhaps larger and more modern art than the average reader has in mind to make. The book is well worth reading but perhaps it would be better to check it out from the library before buying to be sure that the book covers topics you will actually use.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, July 10, 2008

By 

Victoria S. Cubeiro (Newport Beach) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration (Hardcover)

I devour instruction art books. Polymer books are usually for beginners

making cute stuff. This is in another class. Outrageous, over the top gorgeous. Not for a week-ended artist. the turning process is brilliant and finish product is show quality.

As a statement jewelry artist [...] myself I learned

by leaps and bounds from this book. Thanks.