Art and craft still survive, and it is a polymer
I must admit I eased into polymer clay the easy way with a couple of ready-made kits. Then I decided it was time to go beyond the mechanics.
However, for the more adventurous this is a great starter book. It covers tools, techniques, and step-by-step instructions on being creative with polymer clay. It is organized to take you from ground zero to where no other artist has gone before.
Back in the sixties and seventies people spent a lot more time with unique materials and were sort of back to basics in crafts. Crafts (real crafts where one had to work from design and raw material) seem to become scarce from mainstream living. During the following years, polymer clay has survived and is not just some kid's kitsch projects.
The author of this book is the president of the San Diego Polymer Clay Guild and takes the craft seriously. She even works for the National Polymer Clay Guild. If you are wondering why the photographs are so well-done Syndee Holt has a Fine Arts degree in photography.