Red Victorian Rose Arts: Book Review

Book Review

Craft Book Review: Celtic, Viking, & Anglo-Saxon Embroidery by Jan Messent

Monday, February 3, 2014

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"The Art & Embroidery of Jan Messent."

I don't often get choked up and weepy when I see a craft book, but I very nearly did cry when I saw the astonishingly amazing artwork contained in these pages! The book is about embroidery, yes, but it's also about preservation of Nordic, Anglo-Saxon, and Celtic traditions and ideas. Ms. Messent carefully catalogs and discusses her works: from mixed media projects (like the Fragment's Box), traditional embroidery (like the Ancient Accessories Book Cover), beadwork, painting, using pasteboard boxes to create a sewing box, to stunning weavings, fibers, threads and inspirations. It was sort of like finding the Holy Grail at the library. In fact, I love this book so much I went out and bought it.

Craft Book Review: Steampunkery by Christi Friesen

Monday, January 6, 2014

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"Polymer Clay and Mixed Media Projects"

This is a wonderful book for those interested in starting clay projects, because they range from easy (Glow-in-the-Dark Steampunk Blobs) to medium (Dragonfly Pendant) to more difficult (Gargoyle Guardian Pocket Protector). It is also a great book for those interested in Steampunk and if you've ever seen these on Etsy: Steampunk Clay Heart, you can pocket that $31.00 and put this book on hold at your local library: the direction to make those hearts lies within the pages!

It also gives a person the chance to use up strange odds and ends from the garage, like old screw, wires, nuts, bolts, and if you are very lucky, clock gears. It is best to have already purchased certain items, like a polymer clay tool set from Hobby Lobby or a similar craft store, also beads, metallic clay powders, and Tim Holtz or similar jewelry/findings line can supplement what you already have.

This book is really a delight with clear instructions, pictures of the items being made, and suggestions and inspirations at the end of the book. I personally made a Steampunk Blob from Glow-in-the-Dark clay and gifted it to someone. They loved it!

I hope this book inspires you to make polymer clay elements for your steam and gift projects!