Get the Most from Books

Follow these guidelines to ensure that you get the most out of your investment!

Whenever possible, try to have a clear idea of the book's contents before you buy it. You want to know that it's something that meets your needs and appeals to your sense of style. The best way to do this is to see it for yourself. Borrowing a book from your library (or a polymer clay guild library) is an excellent way of "test-driving" it before deciding if it's worth purchasing. Second-best is to find it at a local book store where you can give the book an up-close examination-- and maybe make the purchase immediately, if it's too good to put down!

If you simply can't see the book in person, you may be able to preview it on-line. Amazon.com offers a peek inside selected titles. If this feature is available on a book, there will be a "Search Inside" clickable logo on top of the bookcover photo. Click this to see scans of certain portions of the book. You can also use this feature to search within the book for specific words or phrases. You are limited on the number of pages you're allowed to view, but this is still a great way to get a feel for the book and read the table of contents or index so you'll know exactly what you're getting. (And of course you don't have to make your purchase from Amazon to use this free service.)

You can also obtain helpful information about books from others who already own them. Internet booksellers usually have customer reviews and rating systems, and if you join a polymer clay mailing list or forum, you can ask for specific advice. Of course, keep in mind that opinions on the quality of a book will vary from person to person.

People have different ways of learning. (This explains why some of us had to take notes in high school, while others fared better if they just listened and watched the teacher.) You may wish to consider your learning style when making the decision whether or not to make a purchase. If you're a visual learner, you'll want photos or very good illustrations. If you rely more on written instructions, step-by-step photos will be less of a concern for you. (Those who do best when they see things demonstrated might want to look into the availability of classes, videos or DVDs, or Internet video tutorials.)

Also remember that if you're a beginner, you may benefit from a book with a strong emphasis on basic information and fundamental techniques. Books with more advanced or specialized techniques may be confusing or frustrating for a complete beginner. However, you shouldn't be afraid to try something a little more difficult. Push yourself occasionally. Just don't be too hard on yourself if you find that something isn't working out. If one project or technique is currently beyond your grasp, set that book aside for a month or two, or until you feel ready to give it another try.

Don’t let the age of a book deter you. Yes, it's true that some of the brand comparison data may be out-dated in older books-- but polymer clay is such a new and evolving medium that information about the qualities of different brands of clay (and clay-related materials) can change at any time. As a matter of fact, I know of a book that was published just last month that recommends a product that's already undergone a change in formulation. This is a sad fact of life (or an interesting one, depending on your perspective). Join a polymer clay group-- on-line or off-- to keep abreast of these changes, if you like. If not, just go with the flow and learn along the way.

Aside from a little out-dated information in the clay comparison section, a good older book is just as useful as a good new one.

Try to look at books not so much with the attitude of “I'll do these 20 projects and then move on to the next book”, but more with the idea that “from these 20 projects, I can learn a number of techniques and tips that I can modify and apply to my own projects”. (The same goes for lessons found in magazines and free on-line tutorials.)

This approach to project books is helpful in a couple of ways. First, it liberates you from the constraints of having to love every project in the book. Don't like the finished product? Well, can you tweak it-- take just part of the process and adapt it-- change the colors-- apply it to a bowl instead of a bangle-- somehow alter it so that it does suit your tastes? Also, you'll get so much more knowledge and joy out of a book if you look at it as a learning tool and not merely a set of instructions for a handful of projects.

Following a lesson exactly as it’s presented in the book is fine and a great way for beginners to test the waters, but you’ll get much more use and satisfaction from your books if you learn to adapt projects to suit your own personality and style.

We're all guilty of skipping ahead sometimes, but it's really best to read the directions in project books, even if there are plenty of photos. Sometimes important steps or valuable tips are buried in the text. This is especially important for beginners who aren't completely familiar with the safety issues associated with polymer clay.

If you end up building a personal library of clay-related books and magazines, you may find it helpful to somehow keep track of your favorite lessons or tidbits of information. If it's your own book and you aren't one of those who consider marking in a book to be a serious crime, you can underline or highlight favorite parts-- even jot down notes to yourself for future reference. If you'd rather not mark directly in the book (or if you need more room than the margins allow), you can bookmark favorite lessons with sticky notes and/or keep a notebook to record your favorite tips and techniques (along with titles and page numbers). A notebook of ideas can also be useful for collecting information you gather on-line or from guild meetings or classes.

Of course, if you aren't the note-taking type, ignore this advice. Polymer clay should be fun! (Some of us weirdos actually enjoy taking notes!)

Continue to enjoy your purchases beyond the first month or two. Once you've made your way through a book and put it in its place on the bookshelf (or buried beneath a pile of art supplies in the corner), don't forget that it's there. Browse through your books when you feel the need for inspiration. You’ll be surprised by how much you can get from them, even on the hundredth read-through.

If you have the space, consider leaving a book out on display. (There are book display stands made espeically for this purpose, or you can rig up something with whatever is handy-- even just something to prop the pages open.) This allows you to catch a glimpse of a favorite project or gallery page every time you walk past, which can stir up polymer clay inspiration at any moment. (A simple book display stand is also useful when you need to see a particular page while you're working with the clay. They're great for cookbooks, too!)

Sometimes we need to make room for new books-- or maybe our interests have changed, and we find that we no longer use some of our books. If the time comes that you need to pare down your collection-- and if you don't already know someone who's eager for hand-me-downs-- you might try listing your clay-related books for sale or trade on-line. Chances are, there’s someone out there who’d love to have your copy. If the prospect of Internet dealings daunts you, there's always the local used book store-- or you might see if you can donate books to a local library book sale or a charitable organization.