Customer Reviews

Complete Guide to Making Wire Jewelry

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most of the projects in this book have been published in Art Jewelry Magazine. If I had known this, I would not have bought the book. However, the book is beautifully done and covers many different style of working with wire. I would recommend this book only if you do not subscribe to AJM.

I found this book to have quite a bit of information in it. As a matter of fact too much! If you are a beginner wire worker I'd advise against this book. If you want to purchase it anyway I suggest you take it very slowly. In this book it mentions soldering wire. The book states that if you are going to do this you need flux, pickle, pickle pot and a torch. If you are just going to just solder jumprings or make head pins you don't need all of that. All you really need is some "fine sterling silver wire". Fine sterling silver wire doesn't tarnish and get scale build up. Thus your end product ends up looking like it was just polished. As for the "captured coin" on page 50 you can go to the Kalbach website and purchase the instructions for a couple of dollars. On page 81 it says to put the coin in a doming block and use a punch. The book states don't tap too hard or you will mar the coin. Don't press too hard or the coin will cave in and the sides will fold and overlap themselves. At the beginning of the book they show a set of letter stamps. If you want to spring for an expensive set in a wooden box you can but, I bought mine which look exactly like the set pictured at Harbor Freight for quite a bit less. The torch I didn't buy at Harbor Freight because I found one cheaper at Home depot that does just the same thing. Well that is my review for all that it is worth. Now it is up to you to decide if you would like to purchase the book.

I liked this book. It was the second book I bought. The first was:Beads on a Wire. Great book to start out. If not for that, the Complete Guide
for Making Wire Jewelry would have been a little much. But it gave me a
lot of new ideas, which I used one immediatly, it came out beautiful. I would highly recommend this, expecially starting out.

This book was a real disappointment. The first thing I do when getting a new book is go through and mark the good stuff. This book only had 3 marks. It is definately NOT for the beginner and the designs seem to focus more around showing off a technique than on making beautiful jewelry. I found the projects clunky and not something I would wear, give as a gift, or sell. To put it mildly, they were lacking in style and originality. I saw a lot of repetition of other designs from more informative books, especially in the chain mail and coils and shapes sections. There is nothing here that is new. As stated before, I thought the designs were more to show off the techniques, especially in the cold connections and soldering sections. The one redeeming section was the bezel and frames section, but there was little originality here either and the designs are certainly NOT for the beginner. Save your money and choose a book such as Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders: Creative Wirework Projects for All Levels. Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry: Techniques for Creating Dimensional Necklaces and Bracelets

it's covered in this book. Well, no one book can cover all aspects of jewelry making with wire, but this one comes pretty close. A multitude of techniques are covered in this book, including weaving (Viking Knit and others), soldering, cold connections, wraps, and making pendants. Some of the patterns are a little difficult to follow, but the because the basic methods are included a jewelry artisan can interpret and design her own jewelry with the basic instructions. I bought this book in a craft store for $22 because I couldn't wait to get it home and try some of the methods, but I suggest getting it here on Amazon because you'll save about $7 or more.

This book has some great project in it and shows photos of how to do all of it.

I truly love learning different ways to do the same thing. Then I can choose which way is best for me or even combine ideas to do my own thing. (Some people say I am trying to reinvent the wheel, well, it will be my wheel!) I am constantly looking for easier ways to express myself. Naybe a dufferent tool or even the way the author expresses himself/herself. I read each book I buy cover to cover. I put them on a shelf and then I use them later or just look at then again for inspiration. Every book, basic or for the more experienced artist, contains new ideas, processes, pictures and most importantly part of the artist and their love for their craft. My books are a window to the world for me and I read them again and again. You will see many of the things I learn in the pieces I make.