by Loretta Fontaine

his is the time of year to make requests for holiday gifts. And what do I want more than anything else wrapped in satin paper with a big bow on top? Books!

Illustration by Dave Fontaine

There’s the promise of knowledge and inspiration that comes tucked inside the covers of a great craft book. But lately my problem has been finding time to read them. The last few I’ve gotten my hands on have been cracked open, photographs glanced at and then put up high on a shelf to be read later.

I have a backlog of reading to do. But does that stop me from wanting more books? Of course not! So, here’re my favorite holiday picks, as well as favorite book suggestions from other artists.

I’m requesting “The Penland Book of Jewelry: Master Classes in Jewelry Technique,” edited by Marthe Le Van. Someday I’ll make the pilgrimage to Penland to take a class in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Until then, I’ll settle for this book: a technical reference and insightful look at the creative process of 10 contemporary jewelers who have taught at the Penland School of Crafts.

Sarah Thomas, of Brooklyn, N.Y., recommends “Making a Living in Crafts: Everything You Need to Know to Build Your Business” by Donald Clark. “I am a textile designer and [this book] is filled with relevant advice for the rapidly changing craft business,” she says. “It talks about everything from legal issues to customer relations, and it features stories from a diverse group of leaders in the industry.”

Joie LaFrentz of Charbano in Lexington, Mass., recently received as a gift “Vintage Paper Crafts” by Anna Corba and recommends it to others. “It is full of great information and the photographs are beautifully done,” she notes. “I love looking through it because you can come up with new ideas about how to use the embellishments in your own collection for your work. Anna’s instructions are very thorough and clear and it is a great book not only for beginning artists but for experienced professionals, too. [Even if you do] not use paper in your work, you can get ideas for thank-you notes, hang tags, or advertising fliers.”

“Quilt National 2005: The Best of Contemporary Quilts” is sheer inspiration to Susan Leslie Lumsden of Rebel Quilter in Thayer, Mo. “In it, an aspiring quilt artist will see that whatever itch needs scratching, it can create a trail worth pursuing,” she enthuses. “So many styles, so many skills, so many directions — all of them viable. I find it inspiring and even more, hope strengthening. This book shows what can happen when a little idea tickles the brain and maybe even itches. Should that idea be investigated? You bet! See what happens when others do so — magnificent works of art!”

Ellen Freeman of Freeman Ceramics in Los Angeles, Calif., would try to find a copy of “Clay and Glazes for the Potter” by Daniel Rhodes as the perfect gift for a ceramic artist. Freeman has shelves full of ceramic books, but this is the one she keeps coming back to. “This book was first published in 1957,” she says. “My edition is from 1975 when I started dabbling in ceramics. It is very thorough in explaining clay bodies and glazes. Whenever I had a problem, probable causes and possible solutions could be found in this book. Chemical composition of raw materials is discussed as well as the effect of various firing techniques. A good basic knowledge of ceramic materials is provided. This book inspired me to experiment with a lot of different glazes and to change the make-up of some of the clay bodies I use.”

“Making Glass Beads” by Cindy Jenkins is the pick of Paula Canant, owner of Red Hot Design in Owensboro, Ky. She feels it is a must for anyone considering lampworking. “This book starts with the history of beads and goes on to tell of making glass beads,” she says. “By the end of the book you want to run out and buy a torch and glass and get going (which I did!).”

And, if I could pick another gift besides books this holiday season? How about an extra week in 2007 so I could get more time to curl up on the couch and read!