Contemporary Copper Jewelry [Paperback]

Sharilyn Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

This eye-opening guide epitomizes the revolution of copper as a rapidly growing trend among designers due to its inexpensive yet stylish nature. Considered to be one of the prettiest and most accessible alternatives to silver and gold, this essential reference details just how simple copper is to work with, offering step-by-step photographic demonstrations on how to craft beautiful and functional pieces with ease. With 17 inspirational projects from top jewelry designers and an extensive exploration of the many varied techniques and styles available, this handbook will help jewelry artists of all skill levels discover exciting new avenues for their craft.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I love Sharilyn Miller's work. This new book contains a great techniques section, followed by page after page of Sharilyn's one-of-a-kind designs."  —Beading-Arts.com

About the Author

Sharilyn Miller is a wire jewelry artist and the author of Bead on a Wire, Rubber Stamped Jewelry, Stamp Art, and The Stamp Artist's Project Book. She is the former editor of Somerset Studio and the launch editor for spin-off titles Art Doll Quarterly and Belle Armoire. She lives in Idyllwild, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596681438
• ISBN-13: 978-1596681439
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been making artistic jewelry with wire and beads for several years now, and I thoroughly enjoy teaching others to do the same through my books and instructional DVDs. I also teach workshops in the Southern California area where I live, and occasionally travel across the US to teach for bead stores and at shows and conventions. Lately I've been teaching quite frequently in Europe as well. So far, I've taught jewelry making retreats in Cortona, Italy, in the south of France, in Montreal, Quebec, and in Santorini, Greece, as well as near Prague in the Czech Republic. What a joy to share my passion for jewelry making with other artists from around the world!
My list of published books includes Stamp Art (1999), The Stamp Artist's Project Book (2001), Rubber Stamped Jewelry (2003), Bead on a Wire (2005), Contemporary Copper Jewelry (2009), Wire Art Jewelry Workshop (2011), and Arty Jewelry and Arty Jewelry II (ebooks available on amazon.com, published in 2011).
My list of instructional DVDs includes Tribal Treasures Bracelet Workshop, Rings of Beauty Workshop, Bohemian Bangles Workshop, and Ethnic Style Jewelry Workshop. All of my DVDs and books are available on www.amazon.com.
To learn more about my workshops and retreats, please visit my own Web site: www.SharilynMiller.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 22 Gorgeous projects with amazing step-by-step directions!, August 22, 2009

By 

N. Smith (CT, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Contemporary Copper Jewelry (Paperback)

This book has 22 gorgeous projects with amazing step-by-step pictorial directions! This book is fabulous with the level of pictures and detail, a novice should be able to reproduce these projects with no trouble!

There are many different styles of pieces in here ranging sophisticated, modern, bohemian, to abstract. A wide variety of materials get used, copper, silver, brass... glass, gemstones, pearls... I think varied materials means you'll produce something more unique to yourself when you go pick out YOUR particular combination of materials for whatever project you choose.

Lots of these are also components that you could mix and match to create your own projects after you graduate from what's shown in the book. Those traits make this book an awesome find that will be flexible as your tastes grow and change. Her "cool ideas" at the end of each project are great to spark your own imagination!

Textures! Lots of texturing/hammering metals in here and using liver of sulphur to bring out the details to great effect!

I'll also vouch for her recommended resource section and tell you she's steering you well! I've shopped with most of the places she lists and always found them to be competitively priced with great service!

If you like the coin pearl bracelet on the cover, you'll love another variation she has on pg 40 called the coin-pearl copper-washer bracelet. I'll try to upload a photo

I loved her first wire-working book, this is an excellent follow on with very new and unique designs!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She's done it again!, August 23, 2009

By 

Karen Hardy (Redondo, CA - United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Contemporary Copper Jewelry (Paperback)

Another wonderful book By Sharilyn Miller! I've been waiting with baited breath for this book ever since I bought her other book Bead on a Wire.

I am VERY VERY biased against how-to jewelry books, I often find that they tend to skip critical steps in the execution of the pieces, or worse, cut down on images in favor of words detailing the steps (artists don't want to READ, that's why we are all visually motivated!). As any artist knows, a picture is worth ten THOUSAND words. No artist wants to have to follow written directions - especially for difficult steps like "bend wire in a 90 degree angle perpendicular to the other 12 wires"....WTF???

Sharilyn's books UNDERSTAND the way we work, and are just chock full of images detailing ALL the steps necessary to accomplish the projects. The projects are all reasonably challenging and visually beautiful. I wouldn't style this as a beginners book - but rather one that compliments all OTHER beginners books in your library. Not only are the designs beautiful, they allow you to use a whole compliment of other ingredients from your bead stash to make each item individual to your tastes.

An excellent book. A must have for your learning and teaching library. I'm very, very happy with it!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, August 21, 2009

By 

Gigi Greer (La Crescenta, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Contemporary Copper Jewelry (Paperback)

The designs were simple enough yet had a lot of character giving the jewelry maker a real sense of accomplishment. When I got to the last page I thought, oh no, it can't stop. I loved it!