There's a bench in Cully, Switzerland. It's in a little park tucked up against the shore of Lake Geneva. I go there a lot to just sit and think, or...
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Making gorgeous handcrafted jewelry can be an amazingly simple process that even beginners will quickly master—as long as they have this guide by their side. Written by an experienced artist and teacher, and generously illustrated with attractive how-to photos and drawings, it demonstrates a wealth of easy techniques in superb detail. Twenty dazzling projects—including a twisted wire choker, bangle bracelet, bead pod pin, and mixed metal earrings— are created by wrapping, stitching, and folding metal, and by making cold connections with basic screws, bolts, pop rivets, eyelets, brads, and nails. Sophisticated photographs of each piece highlight its rich textures and visual complexity. Would-be jewelers will love this—and beaders, memory crafters, and anyone eager to explore metal jewelry will want it, too!
CindyNG, November 1, 2008 (view all comments by CindyNG)
Fiber artist, Mary Hettmansperger has written a lovely book applying a fiber artist eye to metals. If you're new to incorporating metals into your jewelry, Hettmansperger has written a comprehensive introduction to tools and metals you'll find very helpful. The explicit directions on which tools and metals to buy with photos is invaluable to someone who's got the itch to use metal but doesn't really know how to go about it. Let's not forget the comprehensive section on patinas - which is worth the price of the book all by itself!
I enjoyed seeing the "gallery style" pictures of art pieces using particular techniques in the chapter devoted to the particular technique. For example, Wire Wrapping is covered on page 26 and a picture of Janice Berkebile's "Lillies and Leaves #1" is included. It's a fine piece demonstrating how to use wire wrapping in a finished piece. Rather than saving it for the end of the book, it's included here where Hettmansperger describes wire wrapping. Wonderful! But Hettmansperger isn't done yet. A bonus is the gallery at the end of the book - I feel like the book is a tasty double dip sundae, with yummy surprises of finished art pieces throughout with a sweet candy confection to finish it off at the end. The gallery is full of lovely finished pieces that will make your creative mouth water!
There's a good mix of photos and drawings throughout the book to demonstrate how to do each technique and project. Projects are divided according to technique and there is a chapter on Wraps and Folds, Commerical Cold Connections, Wire Work and Stitching. If you're familiar with Hettmansperger's other book, Fabulous Woven Jewelry, you'll see her fiber background shine in the chapters on Wire Work and Stitching.
I admit to buying the book because of the chapter on Wraps and Folds and the Bead Shelf Necklace project in particular, I thought it was just lovely. I had to make it and did! I made it larger creating a small wall hanging entitled,"What Lies Beneath" incorporating my handmade lampwork beads. Hettmansperger's blog invited readers to post their version of her projects on it. I've posted," What Lies Beneath" over there and on my own blog. The project that follows the Bead Shelf Necklace is the Wrapped Beads Necklace, my version is currently in progress. Bending metal is almost as therapeutic as pounding it! While I was excited over the Wraps and Folds chapter, equally exciting to create are the Woven Windows pin (p. 64) where you weave pieces of metal to make a pin, or the Looped Silver Cone Necklace (p.83) using a sewing technique to create a unique pendant sewn with silver wire.
One thing I haven't mentioned yet is how the directions are structured for each project. There is a large picture of the finished project, a short paragraph describing the main technique learned followed by headers: Techniques describing all the techniques you'll use in the project; Materials listing the metal sheeting by gauge, wire by metal and gauge and findings/embellishments; Tools; "What You Do" the step by step directions for completing the project. It's a very organized structure and is highlighted so it makes it very easy to figure out what you need to do the project. A definite plus.
All in all, Wrap, Stitch, Fold, & Rivet is a clearly written, lovely book for the beginning to intermediate student who wants to start including metals into her/his jewelry with a distinct preference for texture and a fiber artist perspective. I find myself going through it again and again and you will too!
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