There were some really great ideas in here! There was some ideas I had never heard of before and I want to try them out. My only complaint is that multiple ideas were the exact some thing and didn’t need another tutorial, just maybe listed as variations.

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of information and the careful instructions Schmidt-Kohl was able to include in what is not a large book. As in any book of this type, the range of designs may not be to everyone's liking, but there is more than enough for the beginner to get started and to spark their design ideas. Library readers will be happy with what they find in this book whose title perfectly describes what's inside.

This book does an excellent job walking the reader through doing air dry or modeling clay projects. The instructions and tips are written in engaging and clear language. The photography is well staged and the instructional images are quite useful.

I will be making a few of these projects. Most of them can be done with items that you would already have.

I was honestly impressed with the ingenuity of this book. In short, using modeling clay instead of “regular clay” is a great way to make pottery if you don’t have access to a kiln (and let’s be honest, who does off the top of their head?). You can make these pieces look more finished by covering them in clear varnish afterward to simulate glazing. You can also use air drying clay, which keeps its shape better than modeling clay while drying, but can be affected by contact with water. This book also comes with some great ideas for different projects you can make with the modeling clay and are arranged by season. My favorite project was the flower pot/planter using an old tin can as a base, which I thought was A) A very cool idea and B) A great way to recycle. I also thought that the gift tags were a lovely idea and may use those myself this coming Christmas.
I’m a crafty girly myself, so I have some experience with clay. However, I do think that this is a great way for beginners to get the feeling of working with clay without investing tons of money in clay working tools. I thought that the creativity of this author was off the charts. Very informative and interesting!

This book was really enjoyable. I have often been interested in pottery, but finding a kiln to use can be very challenging so it was nice to find a pottery book that does not require kiln firing.
The introduction section of this book was filled with helpful information to help even novices. I liked that the book was organized by season. It was helpful to have plenty of photos to show how to make each project step-by-step. The projects, themselves, were varied and looked very professional. I think this book would be great for any fan of pottery or crafting.

I was excited to read this book because I was hoping for instructions for using natural clay (which is easy to find in nature) for pottery projects without a kiln, like using a fire pit or campfire the way we fired pottery for most of history. Instead, these are decorative projects using purchased polymer clay and air dry clay. They are mostly for things like ornaments and decorations. You do need to purchase a fair amount of stuff for most of them and they are a bit fiddly, better suited for adults than children. I think the projects would end up costing you a lot more than if you just bought the items, but if you enjoy hand crafting little decorative pieces then you will definitely enjoy this book.

I read a digital copy of this book for review.

This book was really beautiful and put together really well. The designs are perfect for someone with a very neutral, minimalist style that is a beginner into clay crafts.

I wish the designs were a little more intricate and colorful for myself personally but it all depends on your style.