Beadwork magazine's special issues were mined for this collection of more than 50 elegant and trendy designs from past years along with the debut of ten new projects, all from the Beadwork design team. The book begins with a technique tutorial—Stringing 101—that introduces the stringing tricks of the trade used to create these pieces; lessons extend to even more methods, such as crimping and adding jump rings and clasps, with some insider design tips. Photographs, illustrations, and instructions walk beaders of all levels through designs like the Water Nymph Bracelet, Superstar Lariat, and Purple Power Cuff. Reviewing the elements and focusing on design, this diverse workbook allows beaders to simply follow the instructions or go where the imagination leads. Softbound, 96 pages
A must-have for every enamel workshop! Put together to present a treasure trove of technical information on enamels and enameling, this workbook includes 40 pages of black-and-white drawings and illustrations. Topics include firing times and temperatures, softening point, fusion flow, expansion, the importance of particle size, metals suitable for enameling, enameling procedures, metal preparation, physical characteristics of enamels, furnaces and equipment, liquid enamel application techniques, painting media and techniques, trouble-shooting, and more. This book delivers the down 'n' dirty technical specifics critical to achieving the glorious color and beauty that enamels make possible.
Twelve newly-designed and never-before-published bead jewelry designs make their debut in this collection mined from Beadwork magazine's recent special issues on stringing. More than 50 elegant and trendy pieces from dozens of top jewelry designers include long delicate chains, chunky nugget strands, multistrand gemstone necklaces and bracelets, dramatic dangles, and chandelier earrings of every variety. The first tutorial, Stringing 101, introduces the stringing tricks of the trade used to create these pieces, while other lessons cover such methods as crimping and adding jump rings and clasps—all with insider design tips. This workbook's diverse photographs, illustrations, and instructions walk beaders of all skill levels through designs such as Dewdrops in the Grass, Ice Fall, and Tourmaline Tango, allowing them to simply follow the steps or adapt them into original creations of their own. Softbound, 96 pages
SteamPunkery is a 96 page full-color book by Polymer Clay Artist, Christi Friesen. This book walks you through fun projects in the steampunk style (a turn-of-the-century Victorian mad-scientist/adventurer/fantasy kind of thing... sorta'). It shows how to use vintage and old-looking embellishments to enhance polymer clay creations. Challenging, but not stressful. Structured without being confining. It doesn't matter what your skill level. All the projects are step-by-step with lots of pictures and explanations (and some silliness to keep things interesting). Plus there are lots of hints and creative nudgings to help keep your imagination gears turning! You're going to have great fun with this one! Softbound, 96 pages
Working with Polymer Clay is a new option for beginners who want to expand their jewelry-making skills. Budding artists will learn how to make and shape beads, add texture, develop faux techniques, and more. Each project builds on the techniques learned in the previous lesson. Soft bound, 96 pages
Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry shows how to create beautiful, dimensional silver, copper, and brass chains using simple tools. The main style is based on the elegant, classical Byzantine pattern, and uses the Golden Ratio to determine the circumference of a chain’s interlocking rings based on the thickness of the wire. Illustrated step-by-step directions show how to calculate the circumference of the rings, how to wrap wire into coils, how to cut, and finally, how to assemble the chain. Starting from the basic Byzantine, new chain makers can then progress to increasingly Byzantine variations, including linear, knot, crown, and combination chains. Incorporating beads and charms offers endless possibilities for crafters who will soon, surely, be locked up in chains!
This second edition in what appears to be a great new series of metal clay books. The projects in this book are definitely designed not just for beaders, but for everyone who loves great design and cool project. The projects include pendants, earrings, and brooches, many with an appealing nature theme. Detailed instructions and step-by-step photographs make each project easy, and a colorful gallery of inspiring finished pieces accompanies each project. Get ready for more metal clay and beading fun! Softbound, 112 pages
With this lavish introduction to the centuries-old art of enameling, even beginners can effortlessly create imaginative designs. Written with clarity and passion by a leader in the field, it covers all the popular techniques, the fundamentals of setting up a studio, and 14 fabulous projects. The various styles range from traditional cloisonné, champlevé, and plique-à-jour to experimental techniques such as firing enamel onto mesh forms. Even more creative possibilities await in the firing: use copper oxide to create cool color variations or try raku firing for unique effects. All the well-photographed projects, from a vibrantly toned flower ring to an elegant set of buttons with a delicate leaf pattern, encourage novices to use their skills and imagination. Paperback: 176 pages
Welcome to Sherri Haab’s home studio You’re invited to bestselling author and crafter extraordinaire Sherri Haab’s studio—where her inspired jewelry designs come to life. In Sherri Haab Jewelry Inspirations, you’ll see just what makes Sherri’s pieces special, from concept to creation. Supported by the detailed, step-by-step instructions that Sherri’s readers and students have come to expect, these 25 projects will do more than teach you new techniques in jewelrymaking—they’ll encourage you to seek out what inspires you. Sherri gathers inspiration from all areas of her life and shares how her childhood memories, personal collections, love of cooking and gardening, early crafting experiences, and favorite times of the year become the basis for her charming jewelry designs. There’s inspiration all around you, and Sherri shows you how to find it. Sherri also demonstrates techniques in wirework, resin, polymer clay, metal clay, and image transfer. You’ll discover the exciting new art of resin clay and a new eco-friendly copper-etching technique. With these tips and techniques at your fingertips, and Sherri’s help in seeing how your everyday life can inspire you, there’s no limit to the beautiful jewelry you can create!
Experienced seed bead artist Maggie Roschyk gives friendly advice on topics like choosing bead colors and finishes, how to “audition” beads, and deciding which stitch to use to achieve a desired effect as they create necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Using rich cultural imagery from around the world as a teaching tool, Maggie Roschyk examines how decisions about bead color combinations, texture, and finish affect the finished work as she helps readers think like designers. Soft-bound, 111 pages
Traditional and Contemporary Techniques for Working with Metal and Mixed Media Materials. Great jewelry is original, well-designed, and--with the right tools--can be created at home by the aspiring artist. The Jeweler's Studio Handbook guides you through the process of equipping your own jewelry studio and teaches you the techniques that will have you crafting one-of-a-kind metal jewelry in no time. Artist Brandon Holschuh walks you through planning your work space, selecting tools and materials, mastering basic metalwork techniques, and applying your new skills to twenty original pieces. In addition, The Jeweler's Studio Handbook encourages novel design, good organization, and fearless experimentation, ensuring it will remain an invaluable resource for jewelry artists for years to come. Flexi-binding, 350 photos/illustrations, 176 Pages
Chain is fast, fun, and affordable. Popular beading magazines are featuring projects incorporating chain, and the designs range from classic to vintage to steampunk. Chain Style expands on this hot trend by offering 50 creative ideas for how to use chain as the key design feature.
Key Features:
Designing with chain is fast, fun, and affordable. A few special beads connected together with chain will make a fabulous necklace in minutes!
Soft bound, 128 pages
Challenges are one of the hottest crafting trends, so we put a who's who of modern jewelry artists to the test. Chosen for their different aesthetic visions, 30 designers received a box containing nine jewelry supplies with the request that they create a piece using only those items, plus one "wild card" material of their choice. These are their show stopping designs, complete with how-to steps for making them. Soft cover, 128 pages
Copper Jewelry Collection presents 10 unique, wearable copper projects and 7 technique articles collected from Art Jewelry magazine. Learn new skills and approaches, including wire working, metalworking, adding colors and patinas, etching, enameling combining copper with other metals or polymer clay, and many more.Soft bound, 96 pages
For those wanting to incorporate sterling silver into their work using traditional methods, this is an excellent place to start. This book shows you how to layout a home workshop and what tools you'll need. The easy-to-follow projects explore many important techniques for a great start to a rewarding craft. Readers will learn to use techniques such as soldering, texturing, and enameling on wood, acrylic, glass, precious stones, and more. Detailed instructions and illustrations accompany each project, and designs are flexible enough to be modified. Professional jeweler, Jinks McGrath explains how to optimize minimal workspace with suggestions for home workshop designs. She also reviews the necessary tools to begin and the larger equipment to buy as skills develop. Paperback, 112 pages
Discover firsthand the endless design potential of using recycled materials and found objects for creating one-of-a-kind jewelry. Clear instructions and detailed photos guide even the beginner through 25 innovative projects that pair natural elements with free form wire and metal techniques. This amazing transformation of simple raw materials into exquisite finished jewelry encourages wire workers, stringers, and jewelry makers to expand their skills with simple metalwork. Softbound, 112 page
Straight from a jewelry-business mentor, this guide to entering the bauble business compiles expert knowledge and wide experiences for those looking to take their hobby to the next level. Aspiring businesspeople will gain the advantage of experience from the numerous case studies and engaging personal stories. Starting with the basics of assessing style, time commitment, and target market, the sections progress through business licenses and tax numbers, developing a cohesive presentation for a business, and the fine art of pricing for a profit. Helpful appendices on display suppliers, business and government agencies, and recommended reading complete the handbook, making it a valuable companion for entrepreneurs. Paperback, 96 pages
Learn how to solder, dap, saw, and other skills from metalsmith Kay Rashka. Projects include, for beginner metalworkers, adding semiprecious beads to metal jewelry with illustrated step-by-step photos. Soft-bound, 96 pages
Polymer Clay Global Perspectives showcases the best of contemporary artists, techniques, and how-to projects from around the world. Softbound, 160 pages
In Discover Torch Enameling, professional designer and teacher Steven James shows jewelry makers how to get sophisticated results from simple torch enameling techniques. His well-planned process enables jewelry makers to get started and succeed quickly, creating quality jewelry at their own kitchen tables. He introduces 25 all-new projects in his guide to kitchen-table torch enameling. His fun, engaging style teaches readers to make colorful bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and pendants using simple enameling techniques. Readers will learn a few basic mentalwork skills - sawing, cutting, punching, dapping, and riveting - along with applying enamel effects. Armed with Steven's personal mantra, "What are you going to make today?," readers will be encouraged to get creative, experiment with color, and have fun. Softcover, 112 pages
Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders features twenty-one projects that combine wire working skills with beaded jewelry design. The book is technique-driven, with chapters on wire fundamentals, terminology, materials, and basic wire working techniques, and projects that develop the reader’s skills. The projects incorporate gemstones, crystal, glass, and pearls and are designed for both beaders and wireworkers of all skill levels. Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders includes appealing designs — all tested — for necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pins, and jewelry components. Soft Cover, 112 pages
While the market has many books on solid, chunky wirework, there are few that teach lacy, intricate wirework done without soldering or casting. Melody’s work is airy and lacy, and while the techniques may be similar to traditional wirework, the results are unique. With step-by-step written directions, photos, and illustrations, this book presents more intermediate level techniques on how to make classic necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants, pins, and hair jewelry. Softbound, 96 pages
For thousands of years, cultures around the world have made filigree: delicate jewelry, decorative objects, even furniture. The intricate curls and twists mislead people into thinking that filigree is difficult to make--but it's much easier than it looks, with help from Silver Threads. This book demystifies the process of creating filigree jewelry. First, basic silverworking techniques are paired with an overview of tools and materials. Then readers learn to make simple filigree shapes, used in 12 stunning projects ranging from simple pendants and earrings to more complex necklaces with gemstone settings. Detailed instructions, illustrations, and full-color photos guide readers through the learning process--and into planning and creating their own unique filigree designs. Softbound, 112 pages
Laura Poplin’s popular jewelry designs can be found in many Dayton-area galleries and boutiques under the brand Enchainements. She was a finalist in the 2010 Halstead Grant competition for up-and-coming jewelry entrepreneurs. Laura is a member of the Ohio Arts Council, Dayton Visual Arts Center, and the American Craft Council.
Laura Poplin’s hybrid style has an urban feel that’s easy and fun to make. Her versatile approach uses chain mail not just as the focal point of jewelry, but also as an unexpected accent to pearls, metals, and even leather. A technique tutorial opens each chapter and covers five basic weaves: Euro 4-in-1, Byzantine, Unbalanced Euro 4-in-1, Japanese 12-in-2, and Chrysanthemum.
Cold-connection techniques are pushing the envelope of what is possible in metal without the use of a torch or kiln. All the necessary tools and materials—a common drill, hammer, sandpaper, wire, metal sheet—are all readily available and affordable for almost any budget. Learn how to use rivets, screws, and other materials to combine elements without having to deal with heat. Master jewelry designers Robert Dancik, Connie Fox, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Tracey Stanley, and others offer signature pieces, constructed using cold-joins. Accompanying each project are expert tips and tricks for additional ideas and customization.Metal Style is full of inspiration and techniques for jewelry makers looking to ignite a creative spark in their metal jewelry without lighting a flame.
What makes a piece of jewelry special isn't the cost--it's the creativity, novelty, and originality that go into the design. And this imaginative and informative compendium of jewelry-making techniques, packed with more than 700 color images and written by the noted jeweler and instructor Carles Codina, features a range of contemporary alternative materials. From paper, wood, and polymer clay to glass, new metal formats, and plastics, each material receives detailed attention, with the key techniques demonstrated in a single, finished project. Mold and embellish paper clay to create a whimsical brooch. Fold rice paper into a sculptural bracelet. To finish in style, there are six additional items to make that build upon earlier skills, including a necklace of hollow ceramic orbs. Hardcover, 160 pages
Learn to use wire links as decorative connectors, foundation chains, and focal points in and of themselves. Learn how to craft your own custom wire links. Softcover, 159 pages
This soft cover book features 120 pages of ICE Resin® jewelry inspiration, including step out photos for everything from the basics of mixing and pouring, making resin paper, to advanced techniques such as resin casting. There’s even a handy chapter on fixing any possible mistakes when working with this jeweler’s grade two-part epoxy resin!
Explore, Create, Resinate Jewelry features gorgeous photography, “Make This” projects and a gallery of work by the ICE Resin® Founder Susan Lenart Kazmer and Jen Cushman, as well as gallery images from dozens of talented designers from past and present ICE Resin® Design Teams.
Learn to use soft metals to create a variety of decorative home accessories in metals. You'll learn to work with various gages of sheet and wire. 35 projects in all, including: punched tin votive candle holders, folded copper and pewter ornaments, funky paper clips, and spice jar labels. Use the metal embossing technique to create original texture plates for metal clay. Hard cover, 128 pages
Starting with the basics of metal clay, this book offers projects combining silver clay and glass, enamel, polymer clay, lump gold clay, keum boo, ceramic and bisque, mixed metals and techniques in various caring and punching techniques. Softbound, 96 pages
Resin jewelry is made from liquid plastic that magically turns solid when a hardener is added. Pretty cool! The popularity of these resins for jewelry making has soared with the introduction of easy-to-mix, low-odor products, ideal for crafters. Now best-selling author Sherri Haab shows how to put the miracle of modern technology to work making necklaces, bangles, bracelets, pins, earrings, and rings. Projects range from simple to sophisticated, from Bakelite-style heart pins to faux amber earrings to glitter gem bracelets, from scrimshaw bracelets to cloisonné pins to transparent resin necklaces backed with gold leaf. Packed with tips on tools, supplies, finishing, and creating special effects, including ideas on combining resins with polymer clay, The Art of Resin Jewelry is a beautiful and practical introduction to an exciting craft. Paperback, 128 pages
This is the first book to feature solder sculpting. Laura Beth Love introduces readers to the future of soft solder. All projects are created with soft soldering which uses a soldering iron, no torch required! Learn techniques while creating 24 beautiful art deco and art nouveau projects. Softbound, 128 pages
152 pages beautiful color pages explores jewelry design through six essential elements that elevate a piece from a hobbyist's craft project to a professional-looking work of wearable art. These elements—unity, focal point and emphasis, balance, movement, shape, and color—are described in detail, with plenty of examples in different styles, ranging from minimalist wirework to intricate bead weaving to over-the-top statement pieces that incorporate mixed techniques. Deeb also presents a series of challenges for jewelry makers that engage their creativity and encourage them to think carefully about jewelry design. One of the most useful aspects of the book is that her lessons aren't specific to a particular jewelry-making technique, which gives this book a wider audience than most such titles. VERDICT Deeb's passion for design and practical advice, combined with the copious sample pieces, will help jewelry makers refine their design process and create high-quality, marketable pieces.
"Two books in one" refers to the format of this spiral-bound guide the pages are split in the middle, with projects above and techniques below, so that techniques can easily be consulted while working on the projects. Tools, equipment, and safety procedures are covered in the introduction. A very practical book suitable for public libraries. Not only is this a smart book, you'll love the projects. You'll want to make every one of them. The techniques you learn can be applied to all your work as you expand your skills. Here's what one reviewer had to say about this book: "As a beginner, I picked up this lovely book and immediately was drawn to its format. The hard cover, yet internally spiral bound book, is for the majority of pages, split horizontally into two books with a separate top and bottom section. The Top Section covers 23 different jewelry making projects, while the bottom section covers in detail 20 core craft techniques, from marking and cutting materials to soldering, polishing and setting stones.While viewing the detailed steps in any of the beautifully photographed projects, one is referred by number to the specific technique employed in crafting that step. The reader can then turn to the specified technique in the bottom section of the book while still viewing the project step itself. This actually gives a nice flow to the project and stimulates the learning process in linear fashion. You don't lose focus on the idea of the project while searching through indexes or tables of contents to figure out which technique is required, and where to find it. You are sent to the specific information you need, and can refer back and forth between the project and the skill required for a particular step with only a flick of the eye.This helps to make the book a good one for the beginner, as do the wide variety of projects, and the well detailed techniques. There is a good description of what is needed for a home workshop, how to set it up, what basic tools one needs to get started, and how to use them. I bought the book and pored eagerly through it, learning a lot. The 23 projects were selected to teach the basic techniques a beginner would employ, yet the results of each project are a lovely piece of jewelry that the artist would be proud to display.The author has included at the back of the book a gallery of other artisans works which I found appealing as it showed what could be accomplished with more demanding techniques and experience. After reading the book, the beginner is able to view these items and identify most of the basic steps involved in their creation using their newfound knowledge.Further in the back of the book are some useful tables and technical information of interest to the beginner,as well as a glossary of commonly used terms particular to the craft.All in all, I loved the book because it very quickly showed me the individual steps and techniques needed in the crafting of a number of very simple yet appealing jewelry pieces, in a way that ingeniously allowed me to learn the techniques without losing focus on the flow and beauty of the project itself.The author, Madeline Coles, has done a great job bring to the beginner both the joy and beauty of the craft on the 'artsy' level, while performing the difficult job of teaching a lot of very detail specific technical skills. I think she did a superlative job on both fronts." Spiral bound split cover. 128 pages.
In this creative workshop, metal clay, one of the hottest trends in jewelry making, is combined with traditional metal forms to create fabulous jewelry. Twenty fun projects, professional instruction, and a gallery of inspirational jewelry will show jewelers and general crafters how to combine an easy-to-work with material with sheet metal, wire, and other embellishments. The result: gorgeous wearable art. Hardbound, 128 pages
This book is the complete guide to simple soldering. Soldering Made Simple takes all the mystery and fear out of soldering so that amateur jewelry makers — even those who have never held a torch — feel empowered and confident. Friendly and thorough instructional text and step-by-step photos help readers build skills gradually, which they can then employ with the included projects. Joe Silvera presents soldering techniques that use a simple setup, a handheld butane torch that is safe and easy to operate, and a few other supplies. Softbound, 112 pages
A comprehensive introduction to the materials, tools, equipment, and techniques used to make unique beads with a variety of shapes, colors, and finishes. The straightforward instructions discuss topics that include conditioning raw clay and making simple shapes, producing more complex shapes, such as rounds, canes, and spirals, decorating the beads with foils, powders, and milléfiori, and creating faux effects like ivory, bone, turquoise, marble, and silver. A gallery of beads by internationally renowned artists, hundreds of step-by-step photographs of new beads designed by the author, and a clay gauge that allows one to estimate how much clay is necessary to make a specific quantity of beads are. This comprehensive guide will provide inspiration, demonstrate the range of effects that can be achieved in polymer clay, and teach beaders how to incorporate these beads into jewelry designs.
Learn metalworking skills using shape templates and shears to cut and layer metal into daffodils, orchids, roses, and more. Additional tips on forming leaves, vines, and branches. Includes 12 complete jewelry projects. Featuring easy-to-learn cold connections and accessible techniques.
Learn simple techniques for making custom wire and metal clasps, links, chains, pendants, headpins, and other components that are usually purchased. This book includes techniques such as wire shaping, metal texturing and sketching, adding color with polymer clay and more. Experiment and combine components to create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Includes 29 projects Soft bound, 112 pages
This student version of the Complete Metalsmith gives you full color pictures, more techniques and reference material and a durable fabric cover. In a few short paragraphs and with simple illustrations, you'll get the important information you need to get started with anything from soldering to riveting or polishing and patination. Also includes a wonderful section on chainmaking and many useful tables of information you will refer to again and again. Spiral-bound fabric cover, 201 pages
This the expanded and revised version of the original Keum-Boo on Silver book by Celie Fago. This book covers all aspects of Keum-boo, an ancient Korean technique in which thin sheets of gold are fused to silver. For metalsmiths, non-metalsmiths and those who work in silver clay, the techniques described in this book provide a simple and relatively inexpensive way to add the luster of gold to silver work. This book provides an excellent guide for beginners, and for the more advanced, Celie demonstrates applying the gold to large, hollow forms, and to complex shapes.
This expanded edition, with over 90 color photos, includes tips for cutting the gold, more information on burnishing tools and on the Keum-boo process itself. The revised section on heat sources compares a torch and various hot plates and introduces the reader to the UltraLite kiln, a tool perfectly suited for keum-boo.
Softbound, 64 pages
Flourish is a 120 page full-color book by Polymer Clay Artist, Christi Friesen. In this book, you will wander through leaf, flower, and plant designs in the form of projects, techniques, creative nudgings, doodles, inspirational photos and guest-artist spotlights. Great for all skill levels, of course, and a good volume for artists who work in other media, since the emphasis in this book (and the others in this series) will be on technique, exploration, creativity and design, not just projects. Don't worry, though, there are still plenty of step-by-step projects. Softbound, 120 pages
Follow fifteen ring repairs ranging from a simple stretching job to installing a spring insert, enlarging a bi-color shank, replacing a platinum half-shank, adding an adjustable ring mechanism and more.Softbound, 125 pages
Thoughtful composition of your bench enables efficient movement and a productive, enjoyable jewelry-making experience. This book offers a collection of more than 300 full-sized samples of surface effects for anyone working in metals, including jewelers, sculptors, and metal artisans. The book covers working with steel, iron, copper, brass, bronze, silver, and aluminum. Many patination techniques are offered, including immersion, brush application, spraying, fuming, layering, using resists, hot and cold applications, and more.Hard cover, 256 pages
First published in 1997, Jim Kervin and Dan together wrote what has become one of the best instructional books on kiln casting glass. Completely revised with the second edition in 2000, this books covers:
Paperback
