Customer Reviews

New Directions in Metal Clay: 25 Creative Jewelry Projects

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

CeCe has produced another wonderful read. Like most books on Metal Clay she begins with an overview of product, techniques, tools etc. As someone who has worked with clay for a number of years now I often find this tedious, however this time I didn't. Why? simply because there were a couple of techniques new to me ( Setting stones in Sheet Clay, Slip Dip Setting ) and the top quarter page in this section is devoted to a gallery of glorious creations by a plethora of names, a veritable who's who of Silver Clay are featured, better still, the vast majority of images are new.

CeCe moves forward to create 25 diverse projects, each concentrating on a specific skill. They are creative, such as using silver mesh wire to create the foundation for an enamel plique-a-jour pin, there is wonderful use of the diversity of the clays - both silver and gold, slab, sheet and paste.

Earrings, pendants, pins, rings and brooches - all covered in some wonderful designs that are achievable. As in her previous book, the projects are limited to a finished photo and written instructions, there are no step by step photos which may cause some people concern, especially if you are a visual and not verbal learner, just as the use of language - 1st, 2nd and next generation clay (clearly explained at the start) rather than brand type may also cause you to pause. I actually like this explanation. Overall another wonderful book to add to your Metal Clay Library.

I'm fairly new to PMC but buy a lot of books about something I'm interested in. This book is fabulous for all levels of experience...thorough descriptions of all the types and brands of clay, many techniques, and many gallery pieces to learn from. Far and away the best I've seen. Don't pass this up.

For a second book, I found this new one by Cece Wire to be a step above the last one. The basics are addressed well for anyone who is just starting with metal clay. I even found some tips and ideas that were new to me and I've been working with metal clay for 6 years! Chapter 3 is well done and is a good dictionary of working with metal clay. The step by step photos for gem and stone setting are excellent. A few things are added that might have been better left out because they are not addressed enough, i.e. Kum Boo and Enameling.But there are other books to go into more depth.

The photo gallery at the top of many of the pages is inspirational! This has always been a plus of Cece's two books, the glamor shots are great!

The selection of projects are different enough from what has been already published, that there is lots of new and exciting things to make. Most of them are appropriate for beginner and intermediate metal clay artists. The one major fault I have with this book is the same as the last one. While the projects are described step by step, there are not step by step photos. If you are a visual person like me, the explanation is good to read to fully understand the process, but until I SEE how it should look at each stage, I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly! My students agree. Maybe the publisher wanted to keep the number of color photos limited, but I'd rather see a smaller glamor shot and photos at crucial points in the instructions.

All in all, this is a good book to add to your library!

I bought this and Truty's book, Metal Clay The Complete Guide. Both books deal with the basics such as clay, tools, and equipment; but Wire spends far less time and explanation of the basics. It is glossed over. This would be fine, but the rest of the book is filled with some really ambitious projects for jewelry that one would never want to wear or sell. One project has you making a ring and to this ring you attach a very large bead that is attached by metal tubing. It looks more like a beaded weapon than a work of art.

Perhaps this book might inspire the artist in you. To be fair, there are some pieces I liked. For the most part, it just seems like most is glossed over. Glance at it in a store, and buy Truty's book for reference.

While at first inviting, this is a book I chose to return. If you have worked in metal clay quite a bit, read related articles in publications, or attended workshops taught by leaders in this medium, you will have little use for this book. Some showcased images are refined and intriquing. And, a few images can be attributed to clay artists recognized in this field. Overall, however, I feel many examples and projects lack depth and do not reflect a level of quality and difficulty I would expect in a second book by someone now so well associated with this material. For metal enthusiasts just starting out, or with some experience, you may find it helpful; for me, the purchase was not warranted.

This is a very nice work. It includes most of the necessary information on materials and techniques, and offers some stunning illustrations of completed art by the author and guest artists. I was especially pleased with the variety of embellishment exhibited, particularly the inclusion of enamel, gemstones, and appliquéd patterns. Just the versatility of the medium is amazing. More than any of the metal clay authors, this lady inspires me to actually try it.

Cece's done it again and better!

I love this book! I will recommend it to my own students. It is a beautiful book, lovely projects and great information. Both beginners and advanced Metal Clay artists will get a lot out of it.

The book inticed me at first but, upon receiving it I was disappointed with the simplicity of the projects. Taking into consideration the title of the book, I was expecting a book with some new and innovative ideas and projects. Not the case. The book is a good book for beginners but, if you have any previous experience with classes, formations, etc., it's better to pass on this one.

The projects are beautiful and the book is well written. This is a book that will benefit anyone who reads it.

Cece does it again. She inspires, teaches, challenges and supports right through a range of projects to increase my knowledge of an exciting medium.