Book Review by Mary Timme, Rocky Mountain Bead Society, rockybeads.org
First let me tell you I’m not a metal clay artist, but I do pretend sometimes. Metal Clay Magic has joined a heavy hitting line up of books on metal clay. I like the techniques in this book and the explanations of different types of heat applied to metal clay and the results you get from that. The tools and materials section is really good, because it shows the little ‘hot pot’ techniques up to the most wonderful of kilns. I also like the division of projects, meaning the one chapter is for beginners and then next chapter is intermediate and goes on to using more advanced techniques. There is a section for inspiration, resources and suppliers and suggested reading that I find not really long, very well presented. I also liked the idea of using sheet metal clay in what seemed to me unique ways, and of combing metal clay with glass and gemstones. I’d never thought of making a metal clay ring and that was fascinating also. This seems like a good book for the metal clay enthusiasts.