Customer Reviews

Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit (Lark Jewelry Books)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Irene Fromm Peterson starts with one of the most basic of wire skills: making and coil then proceeds to create some of the most amazing looking solderless wire jewelry using basic tools and a coiling tool of your choice (she uses and egg-beater device). She also has wire-crochet and wire knitting with knitting needles. But the photos of the finished projects are stunning! A tumbler gives the jewelry its mirror-like shine. It's probably the most expensive tool needed. (There are quality tumblers available from places like Fire Mountain and Rio Grande for under $100.
If you have Peterson previous book "Great Wire Jewelry", then you'll have an idea of the format of this book. Ratings are 1 coiled bead for easy to 4 coiled beads to most difficult. The directions and illustrations are clear and concise.

I don't have the same problem the other readers have (although I agree the layout could have been better): My problem is with the first project I attempted in the book (a chainmaille-type necklace)... the sizes of the materials asked for do not jive once you try them. If you've ever worked with wire before you'll know that 2.8mm, 20 gauge jump rings will not link together many 5mm,18 gauge jump rings. The 2.8mm rings are WAY too small! I bought the jump rings because I did not want to wrap my own and than attempted the project only to realize this problem. Now I have to buy new sizes and try to figure out what will be large enough to work together. The pictures are nice and some of the projects look very interesting which is why I wanted to try it but having errors in the instructions is just going to frustrate readers...like myself!

While this may not be the most comprhensive book I have ever seen on this subject, I find it to be quite attractive and useful. I have been artsy/craftsy for a LONG time, and have seen more than my share of pattern/craft/idea books, so I think I have a decent basis of comparison. A very good book for those just getting interested in using textile techniques with wire.

I liked the book because it was easy to read, easy to understand with de pictures. I liked the ratingfor the skill levels... but it is not for beginners

I've been a professional jeweler and metalsmith for many years, and have taught jewelrymaking for a long time. I tried to learn to do the Viking chain from this book and I was so frustrated, it took a fellow jeweler friend to help me and a good year to learn to do the Viking chain. As for the woven bracelet, some instructions were left out since how do you go from step 5 to 6, not to step 8. A number of my students have expressed their frustrations in trying to learn from this book. Based on the poor setup on getting started on the Viking chain, an engineering student and me set up a better way to get started. Don't be afraid to use a wooden dowel or a plastic marker as your mandrel, not an alley wretch as this author says to use, plus she says to clamp your alley wretch in a vise. Well, you can't go anywhere if you are stuck to the vise, doing your Viking chain. I would find other resources to learn to do the Viking chain, just not from this book. Take it from a very experienced jewelry teacher who has seen her fair share of great and lousy books.

This book is pretty detailed and has interesting designs to try. The only thing I didn't like about it was the pictures of the finished work is not listed on the page where the instructions are. While making a new piece of jewelry, I do like to have the picture on the same page so I can compare what I am doing to the finished work pictured in the book. Otherwise, this book is pretty good.

I'm new to making jewelry, and am very interested in making chains by hand. This book has some very intriguing designs to play with. It holds my attention well,and I'm learning some really cool new stuff!!!