Customer Reviews

Contemporary Copper Jewelry

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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!

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!

I love a new style of book which also harks back to the olden days. That, this book by the amazing Sharilyn Miller does so well you recall your early delight, as you fist discovered museums and the magic of beautiful hand made, hnad created jewelry.


The author has done a realy great job with this book! I think you will agree with me.





There are very few people who don't know of and/or actually own at least one of Sharilyn Miller's books or DVDs. She is one of the major influences upon modern jewelry designers, as her style of teaching is original and beautiful, combining the fluidity of the ancients with new influences she has developed herself. Additionally, she has a series of steps to her work which are worthwhile to read and learn.
I find her great!
I spent around two years waiting patiently until I was experienced enough making jewelry to properly understand how to create one of her pieces I had fallen in love with when she was editor of Belle Armoire. I still have that stunning bracelet, and I still love it! She may sustain similar styles, but is never boring.
You would be surprised how many jewelry designers (like me!)who make things that never see the light of day as a good way of practicing for future creations which they will be submitting to magazines or books. Along the way, they are learning from the best teachers around. People they wouldn't be able to see unless they could fly all over the country. I can't do that.
Therefore, thank you to teachers like Sharilyn Miller for writing great books like this for people like me who are basically homebound.

This specific book is a full-on original: Contemporary Copper Jewelry:
Step-by-Step Techniques and Projects
by Sharilyn Miller

and to be succinct, it is a great set of lessons whether you are interested in copper or not!
We could all use a little spare change these days and copper is great to work with. Silver and gold have lost some of their popularity due to hard times and costs.
Sharilyn, sensing this was going to be happening, put these projects together at just the right time. They are lovely, finished, different and fun. There is one steel project by Richard Salley made of steel entitled "Found Pebbles Necklace" and there are three other contributing artists, but this book belongs to its author. The "Coin-Pearl Copper-Washer Bracelet" is a wonder, and satisfying to view due to the manner in which it is put together. It is so peaceful. Her "Spiral Fibula Pin"--these pins for which she is famous--is one pure clean note of sweet beauty.
The "Cool Copper Bangle" (which employs dead soft sterling with the copper) is a winner as well.
I have neglected to mention the great earrings! One example of these is the "Sticks and Stones Earrings". They are so evocative of the past. This is, as I previously mentioned, something which the author is wonderful at designing. However, as I said as well, they are modern at the same time. Perfect.

A great addition to all the projects is the fact that you will learn how to distress copper, how to cold join, and how to design wire components, as they will tell you on the back of the book.

Sharilyn Miller is one of the most famous teachers in the USA. She knows her stuff!
This valuable, wonderful book is one no serious jewelry designer should neglect to have in his or her library. It is a Wow, and brings copper to the fore! You will quickly realize that more than one or two metals are must-have metals for your toolbox! Contemporary Copper by Sharilyn Miller shows you clearly that copper is right there, blazing with warmth, waiting for you to use and create with. Then when you have designed something, I assure you you will admire it just as profoundly as the silver and gold thought to be the only things we could use seriously and with integrity, before.
Thank you, Sharilyn.

I am quite happy to welcome this edition to my library of how- to- books. Unlike the popular Bead On a Wire, this book is a shared enterprise. In all of the projects Ms. Miller's instructions are clear and the photos are well done.

My comment is that this book CCJ is not for the beginner. It does not go over the basics except in a cursory fashion. However, not every book should! Some of the designs are a bit "complicated" and that puts this book in the intermediate category.

My only critique of the pieces submitted by Ms. Miller is that in some of her designs the usage of "tiny" spirals whether as a functional element or as an embellishment on a piece is overdone. I find these small curlicues to be distracting and feel their omission would have yielded a cleaner even more contemporary look.

Not only is Sharilyn Miller an outstanding artist, she is also an amazing instructor. Whether you are an experienced wire worker or just starting out, this book will teach and inspire you. You will be amazed with the beauty and flexibility of copper. This book is another winner from Sharilyn!

I have been a big fan of hers for about 5 years now and again she has exceeded my expectations. The book is very well layed out and easy to understand with some wonderful jewelry ideas. I am looking forward to her next book.

I own two of her DVD's which are outstanding in step-by-step instruction and wonderful tips. And I am grateful for her patience. This is the first book I have purchased and I am delighted. Her book is as detailed as her DVD's. Very well done. I can honestly say, these DVD's and books are just like being in her classroom. God Bless, don't stop!!!!

I couldn't wait to see this book when it came out, and WOW, I was not disappointed in the least. The projects in this book are gorgeous and the instructions are very clear to follow. I have made most of the pieces in this book and have started using these as jumping points to creating my own versions. There are a good variety of techniques to appeal to everyone...beginners and advanced jewelry artists alike. Sharilyn Miller blends her own stunning pieces with those of some very impressive jewelry artists to create a-must-have book that will be referred back to time and again. (The only drawback I had was in finding a local source for copper washers. I visited every local hardware store, auto repair place, and air conditioning repair place within 25 miles of me and ended up ordering them online. It was an inconvenience, but one well worth the results once I had the copper washers in my hands. You may want to order some copper washers the same time you order this book so that the wait isn't as frustrating.)

I received my brand new copy of Contemporary Copper Jewelry last week but wasn't expecting it until after September 1st. It was a much anticipated and welcomed surprise. Readers/owners of her previous book "Bead on a Wire" will be glad to see that her clear, concise easy to follow instructions complete with the best photos has carried over into this latest work. For me Sharilyn's books, articles and words of wisdom are something that I refer to over and over again. I am glad that she devoted this volume to Copper Jewelry alone as many frequenters of our local craft shows are avid Copper fans in any shape, form or fashion. I've dubbed them "Copper Heads". You will not be disappointed by this book and it should become a permanent staple in your Jewelry How To's collection. Thank you Sharilyn for this latest offering...it was well worth the wait.