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48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The book is frustrating because, December 12, 2005
This review is from: Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit (Lark Jewelry Books) (Hardcover)
All the jewelry is phtographed and laid out on a beautiful 2 page spread including the shadows of each item, then you go to the previous page and look at the layout box and get the number of the item-you are interested in, then look in the other box that has the titles, the numbers and the pages that the directions are on; go to that page and there are no numbers only titles, so look back & see what the title is and find it.
I am at present placing all the item numbers on the layout page and putting in the page numbers for the 'how to make it directions'. When I find the directions, I put in the item number and the page where the picture is. Doesn't this sound like fun?
The directions are clear, short and have illustrations. I havn't made anything, yet. I have the unique ability of picking out the hardest piece to make as a first project especially as I don't have any experiece making any of it. I am going to wait awhile and do other stuff before trying any of this.
All projects are labeled 1 to 4 beads in difficulty. I might go ring making crazy to do some of the projects (270 rings+). This book was copyrighted in 2004 and I think some new tools have been invented which will make some of the items easier to make.
I occilated between 4 stars & 3 stars - I give it 3.
I just wish the picture & directions were on the same page.
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53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Another frustrated reviewer, February 7, 2006
This review is from: Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit (Lark Jewelry Books) (Hardcover)
I read M.L.Lorey's review and thought it couldn't be that bad. I bought the book and it IS that bad. Being a graphic designer, I am simply appalled that a book that is this user UNfriendly could even get published.
Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of information in this little book and the two-page beauty shots of the finished pieces are beautifully done.
Therein lies the problem. The designer was probably so into the beautiful photographs and refused to ruin them with any copy so there is a smaller version of the same photograph on the preceding page with number keys and a legend with the names and the page for the instruction.
As Lorey's review indicated, there is NO number keys when you turn to the page with the instruction so you have to remember the name. Who can remember what the author named the different pieces?! To make matter worse, some of the instruction are not anywhere close to the beautiful photograph they reference - they are in a completely different section of the book!
I gave it 2 stars because if you do have the patience and put your own navigational device on the book as M.L. Lorey did, this book does cover a lot of techniques. Or you can put it aside and go to a book such as "Bead On a Wire" that is beautifully illustrated, easy to follow and a joy to learn from.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Awful Awful Layout, May 12, 2006
This review is from: Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit (Lark Jewelry Books) (Hardcover)
Like other reviewers, I bought this book (along with Woven Wire Jewelry by Chandler and Ritchey) thinking how on earth could a book be that bad. It was. The layout is simply amateurish and the photography of the projects isn't on the same level as other instructional books I have.
The directions are ok, provided you have some experience working with wire and don't need to see a picture to know you're doing the step correctly.
The projects are not particularly inspired, although there was one stringing technique, more of a beading technique than wire, that I made as the necklace and reused as a bracelet as well, with terrific results.
You may find a project or two in here that strikes your fancy, which would make the purchase of the book worthwhile, but if you're looking for a solid instructional book with plenty of demonstative photos, skip this one and go for Woven Wire Jewely. It's a much better investment.
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