Customer Reviews

Making Metal Jewelry: Projects, Techniques, Inspiration

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A cold connection = any connection made without heat.

Joanna has put together a fantastic book that brings together many different cold connection techniques. I have yet to find another jewelry making book that covered as many cold techniques that this one does.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to enhance their jewelry making skills, but is not yet ready to move to the use of a torch for soldering.

I was looking for new and helpful information to add to my growing fascination with metalworking. This book is not for beginners. The projects are too precise for artists new to using a saw. Trying to saw a simple straight line takes lots of practice. I have some experience with the saw, but one project in this book scared the crap out of me. It's a geometric nightmare. The instructions in here are incomplete and vague. Some are a bit foolish or dangerous. For instance, there are many ways to make jump rings. This book instructs you to put your fingers directly in the path of the saw blade. There is a chemical etching project. It doesn't remind you to use gloves. The person in the pictures isn't wearing gloves. Also, there are safer ways apply a resist that doesn't include a razor sharp knife. The narrative sounds evasive to me. Example regarding the pendant on the cover, "Design eight decorative elements." I bought this book thinking that the author would show me how to make those little flowers. I liked the pinback idea, but again the instructions are vague. This book doesn't cover enough basics and it isn't safe.

I bought this book when I took my first jewelry making class. The book was extremely helpful. It's descriptive, precise, and has great photographs. It's good for a beginning jewelry student because it doesn't involve soldering. It's also good for someone who wants to focus on learning techniques instead of working on original designs. About a year after purchasing this book I looked through it again, and it's still inspiring! Now that I know some more advanced jewelry making techniques and am proficient at soldering I sometimes forget about the basic cold-connections covered in this book. After looking through the book again I came up with some new and original designs. Anyone interested in making jewelry should own this book (& the series of books by Tim McCreight).

This is an excellent book for beginners or those who are slightly more advanced in jewellery making. The jewellery in this book is made stricly with cold connections, no soldering or heating involved. For the more advanced, such as myself, I find this book great for inspiration to include cold connections in my designs.
Step by step instructions and nice photography, this book is a real asset for those even who are just interested in beginning to make jewellery.
Enjoy!

Many people are put off making metal jewellery as the prospect of soldering is off-putting for them. Have no fear now, Joanna is here with one of the best books covering cold-connections I have come across. What is even better: 21 projects that are ALL fabulous, you would happily wear any of the contemporary designs, they are all very different, highlighting different techniques and cover Rings, Necklaces, Brooches, Earrings. Handy Hints, Troubleshooting together with clear concise instructions with the added bonus of quality photographs. A must have for the library.

This book is a must have for anyone who wants to create beauty with metals, but does not have safe access to a torch. I live in a condo, and had to find an available 'lab' whenever I wanted to complete a piece of jewelry.
I have moved on to a new style of fabrication, and love it.

I love books, but this one had a spell on me! I was smiling with everytime page turn! Is like I commanded someone to create a cool jewelry book and Joanna just did it!

I already started gathering the materials to create this beautiful pieces and then take the designs farther with my ideas.

The book deserves the "Best Jewelry Book" Award!
Hope to see new titles from the author!!!!
ben

Cold connections are not merely the last resort for jewelry artists who lack a torch or soldering set-up. These projects are refined and sophisticated, taking cold connections to a highly sophisticated level with plenty of challenge for even advanced metalsmiths. However, none of the projects is beyond the ability level of beginners, and all could lend themselves to different materials and treatments according to how much you'd like to spend. This is a really good book for anyone wishing to master cold connections on any level.

I am trying to teach myself jewelry making, and I find soldering rather intimidating, complicated, and do not really have the space to set up a properly equipped soldering station, so I bought this book.
I LOVE this book! One only needs some basic tools in order to get started. I think the projects are cool, I think they are unique and stylish, and are perfect for those who like jewelry with more of an industrial or modern edge.

Even as someone relatively new to metalsmithing, I think this book is a fabulous resource of information. But more than that, it's a wealth of inspiration for opening my mind to using metals other than just silver, and that's a beautiful thing! Instructions are clear and concise, and the photos are great! It's a terrific book for anyone's metalsmithing library, to be sure.