Plexi Class-Cutting Edge Projects in Plastic
Tonia Davenport
North Light Books
June 2008

I happen to like books. In fact, I actually love them. I would far prefer a good book to a TV show any day of the week. I'm rather particular about my books. I don't review a book unless I can say without hesitation that it's worth your time to buy it. I highly recommend Plexi Class-Cutting Edge Projects in Plastic by Tonia Davenport. Ms. Davenport has created a fantastic book on how to get started using Plexiglas in your jewelry and artwork. She covers everything succinctly and with total clarity and she makes the sorts of projects that inspire you to race out and give a new material a whirl. That's no small feat. Everything about the book from the clever sheer plastic cover to the punny title to the beautiful designs to the easy to follow instructions to the gorgeous layout and photography all invites the reader in to explore freely. I felt as if I were having high tea with an artist who has a true passion for her medium and that she was kind enough to share with me all of the things she'd discovered on her creative journey.

I found all of the designs to be absolutely enchanting. Usually when you look at a craft title, perhaps you like some of the designs or you see things that spark ideas for you but maybe aren't your style, but this book was filled from start to finish with designs I not only loved but I would buy if I saw them at a retail store. I have never seen any designs quite like these, which makes them unique and exciting. I fell madly in love with the Show and Tell Purse, which reminded me of the wonderful vintage Lucite bags from the early 1950s. The Knotted Nautical Necklace which looks like a tiny tide pool was another favorite. The Heart on a String, with its rustic stitched wire center, resonated with this girl who has had her heart broken more than a time or too

This isn't just a craft book, it's an art tutorial and it is a book that won't gather dust on my book shelf. What North Light does brilliantly is to create books for the novice that aren't cheesy or lightweight. They have substance and they have style. Their books stand out because they're detailed, easy to follow and they aren't pretentious or off putting. When I read a craft book, I want to feel as if the author is sharing something they truly love with me and not as if I'm being lectured or condescended to. Ms. Davenport has created a wonderful beginner's guide to designing with plastic that is totally thorough but utterly lacking in pretense. I'm very excited to explore this book further in my studio and delighted that Ms. Davenport has so generously shared her secrets with us. I think you will be too!

Margot Potter
The Impatient Crafter^TM
Review copyright 2009