Sally Jean uses vintage ephemera in a collage style to create unique pieces of jewellery – from bottle caps, crystal chandeliers, laboratory slides, glass nuggets … and deals very thoroughly with the practical side: how to cut glass safely, the best ways to solder, the best materials to use.

Sally Jean doesn’t just make jewellery though: she is also a very talented collage artist and leads you through a How To Collage project with step-by-step photographs so that you can create your own unique pieces. Wonderful for those inhibited or unsure of this medium.

You might also feel the urge to create a tiara (for a wedding, a party, for fun) and Sally Jean is your woman! She’s also the one to turn to if you want to make your own whimsical lumieres, whether one little house or a whole village. Or what about a full-sized doll’s house (for yourself, a niece or daughter?) and the furniture to go in it?

With full-colour photographs throughout, this book is brimming with ideas, from little trinkets to prettify your home such as a pendant vase, wall pieces and little gifties (3D pendants filled with memorabilia; a fabulous pen with silk flowers attached). Look at the photos of her studio for inspiration (this lady has immaculate taste. I want her studio, I want her stuff, I want her life! – well, her studio anyway.)

After all, why should your everyday life be humdrum or boring: surround yourself with beautiful things, and life itself will feel more beautiful. Come home after a hard day and see how your spirits will soar!

PROS:
Easy to follow with very clear directions
Excellent closeup photographs throughout
Perfect for those with a little experience, dying to sink their teeth into
something more challenging

CONS:
Emphasis is on jewellery and soldered projects
Does assume a certain level of skill/crafting expertise
This book isn’t for complete newbies who have never ever made a single thing before

Art dolls; shrines; jewellery: pendants, pins or brooches; photo frames mirrors; Christmas ornaments; vases – Sally Jean shows how to make all these, and I am sure you’ll be inspired to try these projects too.

Learn more about Pretty Little Things at

Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

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This book will stay open whether laid flat or propped up on your workstation, so that you can follow along – with the page in question open right in front of you (how many of us are driven absolutely wild with frustration when trying to follow a particular technique we haven’t tried before – only for the book to flop closed – usually right at the crucial moment!).

Each chapter leads you into a new technique which is clearly explained in language I can understand, and with absolutely loads of full-colour photographs including stepped How To’s as well as finished pieces – by herself and other artists, so that you can see each technique from a different point of view.

Although Mary is essentially a Fine Artist, this book would also serve well for anyone interested in other branches of arts and crafts, from collage, mixed media and journaling to calligraphers, altered book artists, quilters etc.

The techniques incorporate many different mediums including watercolours and acrylics, along with items you may never have thought of (eg: shelf liner, aluminium foil). Mary covers subjects such as resist (used in a way I hadn’t seen before) and creating surface texture, how to find your own personal voice and streamline and strengthen your own designs. She also deals with personal symbolism, something I had never really thought about.

Mary Todd Beam’s use of colour is truly inspirational and will definitely encourage you to work out of your “safe” colour zones. She also suggests layouts, and shows actual examples of paintings using those layouts, which is really helpful. Every style is covered, from figurative and virtual (photographic) style through to truly abstract.

Mary’s techniques also cover practical problems you might encounter: how to make realistic rocks that have weight; really wet water; rough, grainy sedimentation; a leafy, loamy forest floor – not just in colours of paint but also in use of texture so that you really FEEL your subject (quilters and embroiderers especially will love this).

I highly recommend this book, and hand on heart I think anyone would gain a tremendous amount of information from it. It is true eye candy from a deservedly highly successful artist, who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. An essential for any artist’s book shelf.

Summary

• Each section very clearly explained and easy to follow
• Tons of full colour step-by-step photographs
• Truly inspirational use of colour
• I really felt encouraged to try these projects

Learn more about Celebrate Your Creative Self

Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

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So, as you can imagine, I was delighted to discover this book! Alison concentrates mainly on cards, and you’ll find this luscious book just that little bit different. Alison has a style all her own: a little bit collage-y, a little bit scrapbook-y.

Her projects range from cards to full-size framed pieces and cards are themed to the recipients – here are just three:

Retail Therapy : ’50s retro, tongue-in-cheek, girly pink and very charming – I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t be delighted to receive something like this.

A Lifetime of Chocolate : an adorable hanging card, and would grace any kitchen – or workspace!

Cake : a shadow box (this one is going to grace my kitchen, just as soon as I have made my own version).

Talking of versions: for every project, there is one (often two) alternatives made in the same theme, so you can easily see how to adapt the instructions to incorporate materials, stamps and photos you already have on hand – great for cards on the run!

Materials used are eclectic – anything and everything is grist to her mill, from bottle caps, antique lace, eyelets and chipboard letters, to matchboxes (transformed into little drawers full of keepsakes, complete with pull handles).

The emphasis is on collage, with antique and scrapbook papers and memorabilia, and Alison shows how to age and distress these using a variety of techniques including inkpads and gesso.

Not just collage: Alison also uses rubber stamps to achieve the effect she is looking for. A very charming book altogether, with a very fine judgement of colour and composition.

As you would expect, this is another great publication by North Light Books, so you know there will be full colour photographs throughout, and well planned and stepped-out projects, very clearly explained.

Highly recommended – especially for card makers wanting to stretch their wings, and scrapbookers wanting to escape from their albums!

Learn more about The Artful Card at

Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

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