I am very fortunate in that I get many lovely craft books sent to me to review. I love looking through them and telling you about them, and often will pass them on to you.
But very rarely (if ever) do I get a book that makes me go “Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” as soon as I clap eyes on it. But squee I did when I pulled this baby out of its mailing envelope last week:
This is The Polymer Clay Cookbook: Tiny Food Jewelry to Whip Up and Wear by Jessica and Susan Partain. Published by Watson-Guptill Publications, its release date is today, October 20.
And oh my gosh and golly. My first instinct was to take photos of every freaking page to show you. But that would be wrong.
The authors, Jessica and Susan, are sisters. In the introduction they explain that they’ve been playing with polymer clay since childhood. They talk about their relationship with food — how it evokes memories and emotions, and ties to places and times of our lives. So what could be better than to create a “Cookbook” of miniature polymer clay jewelry in the shape of favorite foods?
They start with a section of great information about polymer clay and how to work with it.
This section is extremely comprehensive and covers types of polymer clay, tools that you need, and includes a lot of great information about working and baking the clay and adding color and glazes to your masterpieces. Included in this section is a recipe for a sugar scrub that will remove excess clay from your hands.
Next is a chapter called “Jewelry-Making 101: Tools and Techniques.”
This covers supplies, tools and techniques that you need to turn your tiny clay masterpieces into charms, earrings, rings, bracelets, etc. There’s even a great section on bead stringing — beads can really enhance your mini-food jewelry.
Now we get to the really fun stuff: the recipes for tiny foods.
These are divided into five chapters: Fresh Fruit, Morning Favorites, Savory Entrees, Sweet-Tooth Delights and Other Treats, and Holiday Goodies. The photos here had me squeeing all over again.
Check out this banana bracelet.
And who the heck doesn’t want a bacon and eggs ring? Seriously.
Or taco earrings?
Or would you prefer soft pretzel earrings?
And of course, the ultimate Thanksgiving accessory: a pumpkin pie necklace!
My only question — is that whipped cream or Cool Whip on those pie slices? 
An added bonus: a recipe or two for a real (i.e. edible) treat is included in each of these sections. A very nice touch!
Believe it or not, I’m going to give my review copy away to one of you. You may ask why, since I’m squeeing all over the place about this book. The answer is simple: if I were to keep this book I would very quickly find myself surrounded by pounds of polymer clay and jewelry findings and my poor knitting would languish unloved for an extended period of time. Yes, I have a compulsive personality.
Ah yes, I remember The Unfortunate Incident of the Bead Stringing Class back around 1989. I took one innocent class in bead stringing and very quickly found myself taking more classes, and more classes, surrounded by piles and piles of jewelry supplies. I gave away all my jewelry supplies a few years ago and I don’t need to become obsessed once again, thank you very much.
Ahem
So leave a comment to this post if you’d like to have this book, but do so at your own peril. It is addictive!
(Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)
The Random Number Generator will select a winner next Monday, October 26, noon-ish.
Lucy Sez:
“Are there salmon earrings in that book?”
P.S. — yesterdays pile o’ packages? Mostly boring non-yarn household items. Sorry to disappoint.
P.P.S. — Lucy loves the cleaning lady. She always enjoys the days that Miss Jackie comes to play with her clean the house. The only part she does not like is the vacuum cleaner, and Jackie thoughtfully does that last.
