If you're looking for a book on polymer clay that's a bit different from others that are available, you'll enjoy Polymer Clay Beads by Grant Diffendaffer.
Here are the parts of the book that stood out for me:
Favorite Polymer Clay Brands
Surprisingly, there is no discussion on the merits of different brands of polymer; the author considers the choice a personal preference. This was a huge surprise. Most artists who work with polymer clay have strong feelings about brands and are not shy about sharing their opinions. This lack of discussion is one reason that this book may not be suitable for an absolute beginner.
Unusual Tools
This book includes one of the most unusual lists of tools I've seen in a polymer clay book. A doming block, for example, is used in a project for making end caps. This is a tool that is traditionally used for metalwork, so it was fascinating to see it used in a different medium. The tools section is a text list, so beginners will likely need to do additional research if they are not familiar with some of the items listed such as a rasp (made for woodworking) or drywall screen.
Mica Shift and Hollow Beads Techniques
The two techniques I found most interesting were mica shift and hollow beads.
- The author describes the mica shift technique as "using only one color of clay you can create patterns of light that shift, depending upon the angle from which you view them." Polymer clay beads can sometimes look flat and dull; this technique gives them a little more dimension, making them look more like glass.
- Hollow beads are an important technique if you want to make large beads. Solid, large beads would be heavy and uncomfortable to wear.
Bottom Line
This book is best for someone who has at least some previous experience in polymer clay and is looking for new ideas and techniques. The book features nice step-by-step photos for all the techniques, along with tips and ideas for variations.
Win a Copy of This Book
The copy featured here is the paperback version republished in 2011; the original hardback was published in 2008.
To win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this blog post before May 6, 2012 that answers this question:
What is your favorite tool to use with polymer clay? (If you've never used polymer clay before, just write that in your comment. I'll understand that you don't have a favorite tool yet!)
This giveaway is open to U.S. and international readers. I'll draw a winner at random from the comments and post his or her name on this blog on May 8, 2012.
Standard Disclaimer: I received this review copy of Polymer Clay Beads from Lark Publishing. The review is my own honest opinion. I am also personally sponsoring the giveaway (paying for shipping costs to the winner), not the publisher or author.