Silver Clay Keepsakes by Judi Hendricks, Judi L. Hendricks, Kathryn Baum (2009, Paperback)

This is one of my favorite books of the year.

I'm not hugely experienced at metal clay, having made only a few pieces, so I'm a good test as to whether a beginner could make the projects in this book. And even though the projects are creative and innovative, I'm happy to say they are suitable for beginner to intermediate metal clay artists.

An introduction describes metal clay and the basic types available. The Techniques and Tools section explains how to work with both wet and dry clay, what tools you will need, and how to fire your finished work.

The book’s 24 projects celebrate the spirit of life: a silver baby spoon, a silver-painted piggy bank, personalized cake-serving utensils, cufflinks and money clips, a fashionable take on the dog tag, a Celtic knot pendant, a birthstone bracelet. I especially love the license plate project!

Illustrated with 400 easy-to-follow color instructions, the book covers the basics of working with metal clay, along with info on necessary tools, firing and drying schedules, torch and stove-top firing, online resources, and much more.