A beautiful backstory, stunning layout and premise...of all the craft books I’ve read, none were able to draw me as much as this title. Jema Hewitt, also answering to her steam punk persona of Emily Ladybird, entrepreneur and explorer, does an incredible job using her crafts to make her steam punk world a reality, inviting the readers to join in her adventures from encountering space pirates to robotic tea parties.
For those who are unfamiliar with the concept of ‘steam punk’, a popular cosplay genre, the dress style is a sort of ‘Victorian sci-fi’, all clockwork and mechanical as the future was envisioned to be at the time.
The book is divided into sections according to one of Ms Ladybird’s fantastic settings, like her voyage discovering Atlantis and its underwater treasures or her expedition to Jurassic Valley. She integrates each of her projects with a backstory, if anything adding to the allure of making them yourself! I for one would love to create my own Ocean Gate Key Device, a pendant made of marbled polymer clay with various jewels and cogs that can open the gates of Atlantis.
Despite the whimsy of her tone and text, superb photography and amazing backstories, the one downside I have to highlight is the complexity of the projects. Seriously, the list of tools needed for certain projects goes on for 3 pages! Maybe if you’re a hardcore steampunk follower you could take apart a clock in your sleep, but for the rest of us the idea is a little daunting. However, I’ve picked up some great moulding tips, like her marbled clay technique to fuse different colored clay into a gorgeous rainbow effect. Some projects are more geared towards beginners, like her Azure Cog earrings or the Empire Medal.
Either way, I love rereading it over and over for the amazing photography and to get a glimpse into the quirky yet stunning world of Ms Ladybird. Please write a sequel, Ms Hewitt!!
Final Score: 4/5
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