Fit To Print -- "Spotlight on Wire" by Melissa Cable

When I was recently at the Bead & Button Show, I snagged this recently-released book my Melissa Cable.  As the title indicates, the book shows how to twist, fold, hammer, weave, and wrap metal and wire.  The cover project immediately caught my eye, and a quick flip through the book showed a number of other projects that were beyond beginner level.  Don't get me wrong -- a beginner will both learn and be able to accomplish many projects in this book, but there are plenty of projects for more advanced wire-lovers.

The chapters are broken down into styles of wire:

1:  Woven Wire

2:  Textured Strip Wire

3:  Corrugated Wire

4:  Heavy Wire

5:  Chain and Wire

The tips and techniques pages explain how to do interesting things with wire and strip metal -- texturing, using a "poor man's rolling mill" (something I found really cool), and patinating.  There are plenty of step-by-step photos, too.

If you aren't used to working with wire, dealing with the many different gauges and lengths of wire in each project might be a little confusing at first -- lots of numbers to deal with in some projects.  However, if you're new to wire, start with the simpler projects first and you'll get the hang of it quickly.  The font is also a little small, but the projects are worth it.

I'm looking forward to trying out some of the projects in this book in a challenge with my friend soon.  Stay tuned for that!

Lori Anderson writes the blog Pretty Things and creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs.   She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.   

Fit to Print -- "Handcrafted Wire Findings" by Denise Peck and Jane Dickerson

One of the things I love about making my own jewelry is finding beautiful clasps and links.  Lately, I've been pulling out my hammer and my bench block and spools of wire and experimenting with making my own findings, so this book came at an opportune time.

This is a book that should become a staple on your shelf.  It covers tons of basics and lots of techniques that can be used day after day in virtually anything you make.  I LOVE knowing what gauge AND how long to cut my wire before muddling around trying to figure things out -- this book has saved me a lot of time and angst.

You'll find simple projects that only require the usual jewelers pliers to projects that require a small butane torch for fusing.  Yes, there's some fire involved, but no, they aren't difficult -- they're wonderfully accessible and once you try one, you'll be off like a shot.

My suggestion -- before trying anything in sterling silver, try several times in copper.  That way, you'll feel confident when you move to the more expensive wire. 

Absolutely check this book out!  Published by Interweave, you can find it in the Interweave.com store, Amazon.com, and other book sellers.

Lori Anderson writes the blog Pretty Things and creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs.  She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.  

Fit to Print Review -- Jewelry Upcycled! by Sherri and Michelle Haab

I love books by Sherri Haab.  Not only are they sure to have innovative tutorials, but they're a treat for the eyes.  This book is no exception!

The book, "Jewelry Upcycled!", features techniques and tutorials for "reusing metal, plastic, glass, fiber, and found objects".   The tutorials are broken down into five "upcycling" sections:

• Metal and Wire
• Plastic
• Glass and Ceramics
• Fabric and Leather
• Found Objects

There really is something for everybody in this book.  You'll learn how to rivet, use resin, felt old sweaters, solder with copper tape -- there really is a LOT between these pages.  

And if you think that using recyclable materials means the jewelry won't look like.. well, jewelry, take a look at Sherri's bubble wrap necklace:

Isn't that cool?  

The book is 144 pages and is put out by Potter Craft.  I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking to expand their jewelry-making horizons and go green!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off.    She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party. 

Fit To Print Review -- Chain and Bead Jewelry Soldering Connections by Scott David Plumlee

Well, David Plumlee has done it again!  Another of his beautiful books landed on my doorstep but this time there's a twist -- he teaches us to solder!

The book covers twenty simple projects using sterling silver, bronze, copper, and gold jump rings.  I love that he shows how to solder rings, many using a butane torch, such as this Blazer torch:

The beginning of the book covers the basics, which includes a handy and complete demonstration on making ear wires, a magnetic clasp, and a hammered S-clasp.  He also covers the finishing process, which I found very informative, particularly when he talked about a second pickling process.  I've run into the same technical issues he discussed, and when I tried his solution, it cleared my problem right up.  

The projects are fantastic, and many of them don't require you to solder.  Earrings can be solder-free, due to their nature, and some of the bracelets are able to be made without firing up a torch.  However, David's explanations and diagrams are so easy to follow, you'll be able to whip out that torch and become an expert in no time.

The designs are fresh and creative.  The Beaded Triad earrings above prepare you for the Beaded Triad bracelet and the Beaded Star key fob and earrings.  He also shows you how to make a stunning mobius pair of earrings (shown below) and a bracelet.

One of the things I love about Scott David Plumlee's book is it's not all chain maille -- it goes into forging as well.  The other beauty is the projects are accessible and doable for all skill levels.  It's a terrific book with a lot of places for you to jump off and run with your own creative variations.

Highly recommended!!!!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site lorianderson.net.  She writes the blog Pretty Things.  She lives in Maryland.

Fit to Print Book Review: Wire Art Jewelry Workshop

Wire Art Jewelry Workshop by Sharilyn Miller is one of those books jammed packed with tips and tricks that you'll be turning to again and again if you love working with wire already or if you'd like to learn how to tame wire in your jewelry-making designs.

The book is broken down into simple directions to create the basic building blocks of working with wire.  Once you have mastered the techniques Sharilyn walks you through several projects that mix the techniques in complex jewelry creations.  Even if you have been working with wire for a while, you'll learn rock solid techniques to improve your designs. 

I love that the many of the projects are shown in copper as well as silver and some are mixed metal. If you aren't ready to invest in silver while you are learning, you can see how wonderfully earthy the copper designs look.

An instructional DVD is included in the book and shows how to create several techniques.  While the book is very well photographed with great step-by-step directions, it's helpful to see how the author actually creates the pieces, holds the wire and offers some insider tips as she goes along.

 

Fit to Print Review: New Color Palette Ebook

When it comes to teaching color, Margie Deeb is the queen.  I've had the fortune of working with Margie on the Bead Cruise last year and she is brimming with inspiration and focused on helping others use color confidently. 

Her ebooks are filled with great tips, beautiful photography and down-to-earth lessons. In 7 Strategies for Extracting Color Palettes, Margie walks you through creating color palettes for your jewelry based on photographs, fabrics or colors from focal beads. 7 lessons show you how to translate those colors into beads and jewelry, explaining the theories of why they work.

The photos above feature the cover and an inside page from the book. I included the bead vignette showing art beads that use the same color palette to give you an idea of how you can translate the information in the book into your own work.

7 Strategies for Extracting Color Palettes is available as a PDF to download instantly.

Margie is the author of The Beader's Color Palette and The Beader's Guide to Color.  She teaches color classes across the country and online. Visit Margie's website for more information.

Fit to Print -- Chain and Bead Jewelry Geometric Connections: A New Angle on Creating Dimensional Earrings, Bracelets, and Necklaces

In my hot little hands I have an advance copy of "Chain and Bead Jewelry -- Geometric Connections" by the incredibly talented Scott David Plumlee.

David's third book, published by Watson-Guptill Publications

I first discovered David Plumlee when I started making jewelry six years ago.  Chain maille is one of the jewelry styles I admire, so I fell in love with David's work.  He takes chain maille and adds his own special touch to it, adding beads, mixing metals, and creating his own unique designs.


In this book, David adapts and builds upon the Byzantine weave, a common and (to most) easily learned weave.  I've made several of his projects in his other books, and this book continues the tradition of plentiful and wonderfully photographed instructions.  (I'm partial to photographs rather than drawings of chain maille instructions -- to me, they're easier to follow.)

Quatrafoil Earrings from www.davidchain.com

The projects are gorgeous and rich.  This is NOT your basic chain maille book!  My favorite section is Plumlee's "Organic Formations" chapter.  Here, he teaches you how to make a Beaded Fish formation (which translates into a set of jewelry), Beaded Byzantine Cross earrings, Beaded Snowflake variations, and a Beaded Butterfly formation (also for a jewelry set).

Triangle Keyfob, from www.davidchain.com

My recommendations:

If you are a chain maille enthusiast -- buy this book.  It's a must-have.  It will excite your imagination and give you options like you won't believe.

If you've never tried chain maille -- buy it, make the byzantine bracelet in the first project a few times, then dive in.  Once you master some of the easier pieces, try out the rest of the projects.  Some are definitely easier than others, and you can usually tell by looking at them which are the toughies.  But once you get a few under your belt, you'll be fine.  And you'll WANT to try these projects once you see them!

The book comes out November 16th.

Enjoy!

Legalese:  These opinions are my own, and I was not paid to make them.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and writes the blog Pretty Things and An Artist's Year Off.  She lives in Maryland.

Fit to Print Book Review - Sculptural Metal Clay

I am a huge fan of Kate McKinnon's work.  I can remember years ago when I was first starting to do seed bead designs and I would find one of her projects in the magazines - I could tell it was her work instantly.  Even with seed beads Kate has an unmistakable signature.

When this book arrived it was like enjoying a gallery show.  The projects are so amazing.  And you'll soon discover they are deceptively simple.  At least Kate makes them seem that way as experts often do!

My favorite projects in the book are the findings - bead caps, clasps, decorative headpins, branch connectors. I love that she offers a collection of techniques that you can adapt to your own style to use in your creations. 

The book has three sections.  The Basics covers tools, techniques, firing, finishes and safety. The next section, the Elements, covers the components Kate uses in her projects.  And finally the last section has 10 step-by-step projects for inspiration.  The best part of this book - it comes with a DVD where Kate walks you through the key techniques to complete the projects in the book.  If you have wanted to dive into Metal Clay, this is a great place to start for a solid education and a mega-dose of inspiration.  And if you've been working with metal clay for a while, I have a feeling this book is probably already on your shelf - it's one not to miss!

Buy the book.  Visit Kate's website. 

Fit to Print Book Review: Totally Twisted

The subtitle of Kerry Bogert's new book is "Innovative Wirewire & Art Glass Jewelry." And that is exactly what you'll find in this colorful and fun book. 

I love that Kerry wrote in a conversational tone, you feel like you've stopped by her studio for the afternoon where she shares all her best tips and tricks for working with wire.

The book includes great step by step photos and clear instructions on the techniques.  The projects vary from using sterling silver wire to Kerry's signature mix of sterling and brightly colored artistic wire.  You'll learn how to make findings, your own chain, wire beads and how to use wire as a design element.

I love that the author shows 'tools' from common objects found in the studio like shaping a bracelet around a glass or links around tube of beads.  The idea that working with wire is easy and accessible is a common theme in the book.  I also enjoyed seeing the alternative views of the projects in different colors to show the versatility of the design and to spark the readers own variations.

Now let's talk art beads! Kerry is a glass beadmaker and every project in this book features a juicy collection of lampwork beads.  The projects could easily be adapted to showcase art beads of any medium.  I gave one of the projects a test run last weekend and worked up Kerry's Scrolliriffic bracelet using some of my disk beads, aquamarine stones and recycled glass, shown below.

I have wanted to make a chain using those s-links forever but just couldn't work them up successfully on my own.  After reading Kerry's directions I was whipping them out like a pro. 

You can find out more about Kerry on her blog and website, where sells her lampworked beads at http://www.kabconcepts.com/. 

Order a copy of Kerry's book today, I highly recommend it!
Totally Twisted: Innovative Wirework & Art Glass Jewelry

Reviewed by Art Bead Scene founder and editor, Heather Powers.