Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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89 of 89 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to understand, fabulous!, February 19, 2008
I have a LOT of wire wrapping books, metalsmithing books, almost the complete set of Wire Artist Mag's (no longer in print), subscribe to every bead, wire and jewelry magazine out there and I have to say this is one of the best wire wrapping books I have discovered! The author gives clear directions and there are actually <cough> pictures with each step in each project. There are several projects on bracelets, rings and pendants and I find the book to be very helpful in easing the tension in trying to decipher the instructions vs. only one or two pictures provided (usually). This author seems to actually be able to put himself in a student's shoes and understand that we need pictures as well as instructions. I highly recommend this book!! AAAAA+++++
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65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The BEST book yet, and I have spent $$$$; the ONE to start with., June 20, 2008
This is the first book I have found that REALLY shows you everything you need to do, step-by-step, and requires only a couple of types of wire and truly minimal tools.
I have spent thousands of dollars (not an exaggeration) trying to "get it" as far as wire wrapping. I have an online shop and although my main focus is faceted gemstones, I love the look of wire wrapping and carry intaglios and other interesting items to wrap. I have spent a fortune trying out products, and nothing worked for me. Part of the reason is that I have no artistic talent, but the biggest reason is that I got started wrong. I took my first wirework class from someone who owned a store and just downloaded class information/patterns from the internet. Half-hard wire was used in all classes, and I could not understand why I could not get it to make the lovely curves I see wire artists achieving. One of the first things the author explains is that the half-hard wire that is so popular is hard to work with and hard on the hands. I obtained some dead-soft wire and shazzam! -- My first attempt produced a finished, wearable result.
I bought this with Jewelry Studio: Wire Wrapping, and it was a good combination. There really is no overlap, and the styles are completely different. I think both are quite useful. Whereas Jewelry Studio throws you off into the deep end (it is quite a small book, without space for details), this book shows every single step in photographs -- literally. Each simple project covered an amazing number of pages, simply because such care was taken in explanation.
This is not an "eye-candy" book; you will not find a single color photo except on the outside covers. It also covers nothing but cabochons. However, it is still the most valuable publication on the topic I have purchased (and I have purchased more than a hundred) because if you follow his instructions to the letter, you will turn out a piece of wearable art the very first time. If you can't get past that stage, all the inspirational photos in the world are not going to help. And completing the first pendant makes you understand things better. For example, you wrap around any corners or narrow curves to keep the wires from separating. How the bail and upper wraps work together is not nearly as clear from a diagram or photo as it is when you are holding the piece in your hands.
Another major benefit of this book: You need only two kinds of wire (22-gauge square and 21-gauge half-round, both dead soft) and really basic wirework tools (such as square-nose pliers and flush cutter). Every other book I have calls for dozens of types of wire (different combinations of metal, gauge, shape, and hardness) and an endless array of tools and supplies, many of which I have never found. (Jeweler's rouge, anyone?) Later he adds a third wire (round!). Even books I love (such as Making Metal Jewelry by M. Lareau) make me despair when I make a list of the "basic" tools, only to find that I need about $3000 of them, not to mention the inevitable organizers and storage needed so you can actually find them when you need them.
If you really want to learn wrapping and have felt very frustrated with other resources that have lots of clever ideas and enthusiasm but not enough detail for the beginner, this is the book for you.
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50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly the basics!, February 22, 2008
This is a wonderful guide for those who want to learn wire-wrapping. Techniques are presented "cook-book" style, with each step described and illustrated, so that learning the skills is easy. The use of humorous comments and tips engages the reader and makes it easier for the aspiring wire artist to acheive success. The author addresses the basic premise that assumes the reader wants use these project instructions as a springboard for developing their own style rather than simply reproducing the same designs repetitively. The guide gives suggestions on how a reader might experiment with a given design in order to adapt their own unique designs. I am very happy that I purchased this book and consider it a valuable resource.
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