Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping [Paperback]

Dale Cougar Armstrong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2009

Seeking new design possibilities combined with solid technique instruction, intermediate artists can achieve the look of designer wire jewelry with this step-by-step guide to wireworking. The introduction to materials, supplies, and techniques includes such topics as how to work with hard wire, when to use tempers and why, using geometry in wire jewelry formulations, shaping with and without mandrels, and choosing the right gemstones, among others. Following the introductions are 18 classic, stunning projects that explore and hone the skills developed throughout the guide, as well as a gallery of sample work for further inspiration.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Discover what can be done with wire in this attractive book on jewelry making. You won't need a soldering iron, or any expensive tools either, as this is just about wrapping, coiling and twisting wire. I say "just" but taking a look at the cover was what convinced me that this was one book I just had to own. There are some truly stunning pieces in here, and all made predominantly with something as ordinary as wire! As the author of the introduction says, this is not a beginner's book, but as she goes on to point out, neither is it an advanced one. It is a book that sets out to tell you all about the different types of jewelry wire and what they can do for you, and then what you can make. Each project concentrates on a different aspect of wirework, so you can learn while you fill up your jewelry box. In my opinion, this is always a good way to learn rather than just by making practice pieces, especially when you are working with materials which do not come cheap. There are some staged photographs to show how it is done, and if you follow the instructions and work carefully you ought to be the proud possessor of some items that look as if they have come from a high-end jewelry store. At the back is a short gallery of pieces done both by students and by the author, and a list of addresses and magazines for US readers. This is a book to grow into-one for the keeper shelf.-Myshelf.com --Myshelf.com

About the Author

Dale Armstrong is a wire jewelry maker, a workshop teacher, and a former metalworker who has been published in Art Jewelry, Bead Unique, The Crafts Report, Fire Mountain Gems, Lapidary Journal/Jewelry Artist, Step by Step Wire, and Wire Artist Jeweler. She lives in Riceville, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680881
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680883
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Internationally known, Dale "Cougar" Armstrong is a diehard rockhound, lapidary, and a full-time wire jewelry artist, instructor and author, with a background in the fine arts, cloisonné and reposse prior to making wire jewelry. With more than 40 years of combined experience, Dale uses absolutely no solder or glue in her classic wire jewelry designs, and teaches how at jewelry making events around the world. Her award winning work is sold in galleries and gift shops and has appeared in many printed publications. Author of the best selling book, "Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping", she has made several series of instructional DVDs for, and is the Education Consultant of, Wire-Sculpture.com. Dale is a member of the Beadalon Design Team, has worked as an instructor for Jewelry Television and has appeared on the PBS broadcast show 'Beads, Baubles & Jewels'. When she is not travel-teaching, Dale creates new designs in Southeast Tennessee with her family, furry friends and lots of rocks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty pictures; not much else, June 24, 2009

By 

D. King (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping (Paperback)

I bought this book on pre-order, but it's far from the book I expected or need. I don't want to start with rings--I need a good, solid book on how to wire wrap. The photos are of excellent quality, but there are few that don't assume you already know how to wire wrap in the first place. If it's not for beginners, say so, and don't spend two chapters on wire and tool basics! In fact, even the latter chapter isn't helpful--there are photos of tools that simply aren't covered in the print descriptions.

I wasn't thrilled with the designs, either. While technically well made, they are busy and overly complicated. I don't think there was a single item I would want to wear.

There are plenty of other how-to books available, and plenty of others offering pretty pictures of completed jewelry. At the time I ordered this book, I also purchased Wire Wrapping: The Basics and Beyond, by Jim McIntosh. Although some have criticized its black and white photos, they at least show how to do these projects, and the jewelry is exquisite. Less wire, more design!

I wish I had seen this book before I ordered pre-release. I have returned it.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here is the book you need to take your wirework to the next level!, June 20, 2009

By 

MyGemStoneBox by Diane "Diane" (Smithfield, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping (Paperback)

It was my pleasure to receive and review this brand new book by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong, "WIREWORK An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping". Dale has a unique way of inspiring her readers and to challenge them new levels (yes, I am included in this group!) I would consider this book to be for the intermediate to advanced wire artist and it is packed with tips and step by step instructions for wonderful projects that you can build on and make your own. By using Dale's examples as a start point, you will soon be on your way to creating wonderful wearable works of art to collect or to sell.

Topics included in this book revolve around choosing the proper tools for the right result. Not all tools have to be bought. Using "found" items for shaping is completely acceptable. In staying with the traditional methods of wire wrapping that go back to the age of the pharaohs, no solder or glue is used. The wire does all the work and mixing tempers and shapes make anything possible! Dale takes you through 18 different projects all detailed with materials required and wonderful photos that take you through each step.

Dale's belief that you can be creative and think outside the box to create your unique style is supported by the level of detail in each project. She makes suggestions along the way and gives you the gentle guidance to make you feel like "Yes, I CAN do this!" I feel the support in her words and have worked up enough courage to give a try to projects just six months ago I would have been "afraid" to attempt.

I highly recommend this book to those artists that have a good baseline understanding of wire wrapping techniques and want to progress to the next level. The photos of the wonderful jewelry will inspire you to see what you can create. Just think, soon you'll be saying "Wow that wonderful design was hiding inside of me!" Thanks Dale!

Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping

25 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty of Balance in Wire Wrapping and Designing, June 15, 2009

By 

Jean Yates "jean, jewelry designer, book and... (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping (Paperback)

To enjoy wire wrapping, and to not instantly recognize the name Dale "Cougar" Armstrong, is an impossibility. Wire wrapping, and the author of this lovely book, go hand in hand.


Ms. Armstrong's is a name we wire wrappers all respect and recognize.


Her beautiful, distinctive work is seen in many jewelry magazines, and demonstrated on DVDs as well. Additionally, she teaches all over the country.


Now she has a great new book out: WIREWORK, An Illustrated Guide to Wire Wrapping.


I have had the good fortune to read it, and it urges me to grab my wire of all sorts, my pliers and a bunch of my other tools, and get going on wrapping some wire, twisting some wire, and capturing some gorgeous stones and scrimshaw in frames of wire!




What Dale "Cougar" Armstrong does is so exuberant, and so full of fabulous energy, you will be inspired to try your hand at her style of wire wrapping, I guarantee! You will also understand to a greater degree than before what properties dead-soft wire, half-round wire, and square wire avail you. This is very helpful, at least it was to me. Along with the great explanation of the tools you will be requiring to create the pieces in the book, you've got a fine head start on making some gorgeous jewelry!




This great book is a "start to finish" course in how to wrap like Dale does. And trust me, you will want to give it a try, after just one glance at the ornate cabochon bracelet which is throwing off sparks of beauty on the book's cover. Incidentally, you may choose to use a different type of stone cab for your bracelet, but the cabochon stone which is shown is called "eudyalite". I thought I had seen it all, but, as they say, the author started out as a "rock hound", and the beautiful cab framed in this bracelet is an example of the exotic type of stone you just don't get to see in most jewelry design books. I would go to great lengths to obtain one like it, when trying to recreate this lovely piece. What a motivator! The rhodolite garnets the author chooses to use with it as accents really show it off wonderfully, as well. It's not the whole point, but it is a great example of how the author balances her love of wire (twisted, flat, in two colors, and also in tiny spirals ... all in this one piece: wow!) with her love of beautiful stones and focals. It is a stellar combination by this fine jewelry designer, teacher, and artist.


However, it is also great fun to see examples of the same bracelet made by different artists, using different stones. I loved that! Therefore, if you were to try making this bracelet with a different color cab entirely, you would have a whole different jewelry piece. This illustrates something which is good about this book, as well. Over and over, once you get the basics down, due to the solid teaching WIREWORK offers, you will see that you will keep learning more and more.




It all begins with that nicely photographed, easy to understand section which encompasses the wire and the list of the tools you will require. As you read along, WIREWORK stretches your knowledge to the point that ultimately you come to a major realization. What you realize is that potentially there is no limit to what you can achieve with your new-found skills in the art of wire wrapping. Possibly that is why Dale "Cougar" Armstrong has had such a solid following of students and devotees for many years. Maybe it is also why her pieces exude such life and energy. She clearly loves what she does! It's great to read a jewelry design book by an author whose boundless enthusiasm is so obvious, and whose expertise is so endlessly helpful.




I loved the rings she designs and the earrings are great! They hark back to jewelry which might have been worn thousands of years ago. That is one of the good things about basing your jewelry upon the classic use of your hands as the main tool, and then your choices of wire, and your selections of stones. Wire work has survived through the ages, and will live on as long as humans continue to love to decorate themselves with things of beauty. Dale "Cougar" Armstrong has done much to contribute to keeping the home fires burning in the sense that her designs and her level of teaching are of the highest quality. I can easily envision Babylonian princesses and Roman countesses wearing her jewelry! You will see what I mean if you view her "Freeform Orbit ring" or her "Gem Drop" earrings. Her pieces (and those of the artists also presented in this book) are, at the same time, right up-to-date. You get it all in WIREWORK!




Finally, there is a great gallery of jewelry pieces in WIREWORK to encourage the reader further, when the projects have been studied and poured over.




Note: If you haven't learned at least one new thing by the time you reach the gallery, I will eat my favorite pliers!




I totally enjoyed this fun and wonderful wire wrapping book, WIREWORK, by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong. She is a gem!