Polymer Clay for the first time [Hardcover]

Syndee Holt (Author)

Book Description

Series: For The First Time | Publication Date: June 30, 2000

“It is easy to think of polymer clay as glorified modeling clay, but as a serious craft medium, it requires knowing some basic techniques. These are covered in great detail with excellent photos....Beginners will find many of their questions answered....After mastering the basics one can move on to complex projects such as miniature villages.... Recommended.” —Library Journal.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Readily available, inexpensive, and easily manipulated, polymer clay is an ideal beginner's medium, and Syndee Holt does an admirable job of introducing it. She sets the stage with background on materials and basic handling, then presents 27 approaches and variations as a series of questions on technique whose answers are full-fledged projects. "How do I make a pinroll cane?" for instance, explains a simple cane process and uses it to cover a candleholder. Other cane methods yield jewelry, a frame, a barrette, drawer pulls, and a covered pen, utilizing both basic canes (bull's eye, banner, checkerboard, blended) and pictorial types (flower, millefiori, star, face, shaman). The final section focuses on molds and textural effects such as metallic and rubber stamp effects to produce brooches, light switch covers, a box, and coasters. Most of the designs are fairly ordinary and there are certainly more exciting books on polymer clay, but this one does provide a thorough, easily understood introduction to this popular subject. --Amy Handy

From Library Journal

It is easy to think of polymer clay as glorified modeling clay, but as a serious craft medium it requires knowing some basic techniques, such as making multicolor canes. These are covered in great detail with excellent photos in Polymer Clay for the First Time. Beginners will find many of their questions answered in this book. After mastering the basics one can move on to complex projects such as miniature villages. The tiny houses in Ritchey's book are only several inches high and would be just right for a tabletop display or a small-gauge model railroad layout. Buildings include cottages, stores, a church, and a lighthouse. There are also instructions for making shrubbery and grounds. Both books are recommended for public library crafts collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (June 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806968273
• ISBN-13: 978-0806968278
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #812,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for Beginners, April 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Polymer Clay for the first time (Hardcover)

This book is a great way to start working with polymer clays,not only does she describe the various methods of working with this exciting medium,she also includes facts about the clay itself such as:composition,compatibility to other similar products,which glues and varnishes to use and baking times for different brands.Syndee is very thorough in giving every possible fact you would need to know to pick up this clay and create a masterpiece.She even lists some(all would be impossible!)of the basic tools needed to easily complete most projects and techniques.I would highly recommend this book for beginners and experts alike.

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Call me fickle, but now I'm in love with polymer clay, July 16, 2000

By 

bandonARTS "Bandon Arts" (Bandon-by-the-Sea, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polymer Clay for the first time (Hardcover)

Bought a book...took a class...left my husband for polymer clay. Well two of the three are true. I bought my first clay over two years ago and didn't know what to do with it. This book took me from how to open the package to how to make wonderful gifts. Each technique taught is followed up with an actual "no fail" project. From covering inexpensive BIC pens to making jewelry the book uses photographs and humor to coerce chickens like me to become fine artists. No longer is this medium connected with cutsey bears carrying balloons. The book takes each step seriously, yet lightly, to lend credence to this new art. Best of all, the book gives teeny projects which are extremely portable. Got kinda hard finding an extension cord for my sewing machine which would reach from my home to Europe for vacation! This is a "can't miss" book which provides instant gratification for artists-in-waiting!

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent for all levels, June 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Polymer Clay for the first time (Hardcover)

I am not new to clay, but when I saw this book at a bead and button show, I had to have it. There are techniques that I had not seen before and the explanations/pictures/et cetera are so clear and concise that I could immediately grasp the concept! I also enjoyed Syndee's style of conveying her thoughts and ideas to the reader.