Book Review! - Stylish Jewelry Your Way

Compiled by Karin Van Voorhees

Published by Kalmbach Books

Fabulous, Simply fabulous book!  Kalmbach has done it again! This book is a compilation of projects, styles, techniques, and designs to wet the imagination and inspire one to "get busy creating"!

Put It In Reverse with Polymer Clay by Sheryl Yanagi

All of the 32 projects of stringing, stitching, wirework, metalwork, polymer clay, metal clay, and resin have been formerly published by Kalmbach in Beautiful Jewelry Make It Wear It, Bead&Button, or Bead Style magazines. The most wonderful addition in this book is the Bonus DVD featuring 28 techniques.

If you love to create, experiment with new techniques and materials, or simply want to stimulate your creative muse for a new design, this book will do that. I just love it! The step-by-step directions are easy to follow. Pages 89-94 give Basic instruction in stringing, stitching, wirework, metalwork, clays and resin. The DVD also explains basic skills with close-up demonstrations of 28 techniques. I personally enjoyed several of these. I have tried for quite some time to get my tubular peyote stitch to look right. Seeing it close-up on the DVD was very helpful. I also enjoyed the metal clay demonstration. The DVD run time is 77 minutes; however, it is designed to watch for assistance, to refine a skill, or as a confidence builder as you work on a particular project.

Newfangled Bangle, pages 82& 83, by Sherri Haab.

The book is divided into 5 categories: Romantic Allure (7 projects), Tailored Classic (6 projects), Urban Edge (8 projects), Bohemian Beauty (6 projects), and Modern Art (5 projects). Each project also offers a Budget option to make it more affordable or a Design option for more creativity. In addition, each project lists the materials, tools and supplies, techniques, and DVD review locations. Some projects even list a location from which to purchase particular materials.

Bracelets in Bloom, page 14, by designer Naomi Fujimoto

This project is found under Romantic Allure. It has a Design Option for a ring strung on memory wire with a showcase of Lucite flowers. 

Wrap and Weave, pages 31-33, is a Tailored Classic project by Kris Silva. It has a Design Option turning the bracelet into a choker!

These Lovely Latch-backs found on pages 52 & 53 by designer Leanne Elliott Soden use metalwork and wirework techniques. Learn how to cut your own disks on the DVD!

Last but not least, a project I made!

This is the bracelet I made from the project by Kim St. Jean under Tantalizing Triangles, pages 56-58 in conjunction with the Patina Compass Blog Hop by Kathy Lindemer of Bay Moon Designs. I have already worn it & received so many complements!

This book definitely is worth adding to your collection! It instills confidence to try new techniques or just to "dabble in something different"! Try it, I think you'll like it! :)

BOOK REVIEW - Bead Meets Metal

BEAD  MEETS  METAL

by Kay Rashka

published by Kalmbach Books

The author & artist, Kay Rashka, knows her business. She has been creating jewelry for 25 years, 20 of those years have been working with metal. She is well known in the jewelry making industry and her work has been featured in Art Jewelry magazine.

If you've ever had a desire to work with metal and don't know how or where to start, this is the book for you. I've taken several classes & still wonder what to do. This book is a jewel! This book merges  metalworking techniques with wirework and beading. You learn how saw, form, drill, and texture sheet metal which are techniques necessary to make earrings, pendants, bead caps, charms, and other findings. The author also teaches how to form and forge wire to create clasps and earring wires. Some projects call for the use of heat with an easy-to-use, handheld butane torch. You will also learn how to ball wire ends, anneal, and solder metal. This book is packed with teaching tools, techniques, tidbits, alternative ideas, tips, and other information to help you be successful in learning metalworking.

The book begins with Materials and Workspace Safety. Then comes 22 pages of Fabrication - Tools & Techniques. These wondrously filled pages include learning how to cut, saw, drill, form & forge, texture, and finally closes with finishing the metal, followed by forming spirals, making earring wires, antiquing, etching, tube-riveting, and making jump rings. Each lesson includes the tools & materials needed with step-by-step instructions & pictures. I really enjoyed that at the top of each project the techniques used are listed; highlighting the new techniques.

I just love the Kimono Earrings Project on pages 48-50. New Techniques: sawing, creating stamped designs, doming. There is a box under each project that lists: Tools needs, Additional Supplies, Materials, & Beads. Then there are Design Notes & finally Variations to this project. Each project is unique & inspiring to the imagination.

Then there are the Etched Earrings with Turquoise on pages 58-60.. New Techniques: etching, designing earring wires. There are Tips & Design Notes & 4 Variations at the end of this project.

Finally, I also really enjoyed the Riveted Beach Stone Bracelet on pages 74-77 & learning how to rivet large stones to use in jewelry. New Techniques: drilling large holes in stones, soldering bead chain ends. Design Notes & Safety Tips were very helpful in sizing & choosing stones.

If you've ever had a desire to work with metal and don't know how or where to start, this is the book for you. I've taken several classes & still wonder what to do. This book is a jewel!

Book Review! - Project Necklaces

Project Necklaces 

by Kalmbach Publishers

This book has a wonderful variety of projects - 30 in all - using wirework, stringing, and stitching techniques. It is designed for beginners as well as the more experienced designer.

Beginners can benefit from pages 10 & 11 with Necklace Fitting 101. These two pages are designed to help you find the perfect length for your designs; choker & collar length, princess length, matinee length, opera length, and lariats & ropes. Learning how to custom tailor your necklaces to fit each individual you design for is a must!

I liked the way this book was divided; Stringing, Single Stitches, Combined Techniques, & Wirework. Each section has projects that a beginner would find simple enough and at the same time could spark the imagination of the more experienced.

The first section is simple stringing projects. Totally designed for the beginner.

But the second Section of Single Stitches has a little versatility in it. For example, the Peacock Fan on pages 22-24 is a fairly simple beading project.

and the Get to the Point necklace on pages 31-33 is a little more advanced single beading stitch.

I totally fell in love with the Autumn Garland necklace on pages 39-41 in the third section under Combined Techniques and .......

the Elementary Engineering project on pages 54-57. This project is actually two necklaces with the same techniques but allowing for creativity in design & imagination for the more advanced beader.

My love is actually in the last section under Wirework. The project on pages 66-67, Raining Petals, gave me inspiration for my latest project with ZnetShows' Pearl Challenge.

This is the necklace I made for the Pearl Challenge.

One of my next projects will be inspired by Sew Wired on pages 73-75. This is a combination of buttons, wire, and chain. I can totally see incorporating beads & copper into this project to personalize it.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Kalmbach did a wonderful job with the pictures, instructions & art work.

BOOK REVIEW!

Metallic Seed Bead Splendor

by Nancy Zellers

published by Kalmbach

Recently I received this book from Kalmbach to review.  I found it to be an extremely interesting and very beautiful book!  Sometimes I feel like metallic can be gaudy, but that is obviously NOT always the case! The 29 projects in this book have something for everyone and are rather elegant, NOT gaudy.

Nancy begins the book with a fabulous, yet simple explanation of metallic beads, the differences and the similarities. This I found useful in how I would make my choice on which beads to use with a particular project. She even explains how to determine whether a bead will hold up over time or will damage easily based on your skin type. Good to know!!!

There are great pictures, photographs, and illustrations of bracelets, earrings, necklaces, charms, and pendants.  Each project is laid out with materials, stitches, and directions for the project with details and tips. These are very easy to follow, especially for those of us who don't regularly seed bead.

For example, I love the Opposites Attract Bracelets on pages 19-21. She shows how to make two bracelets with peyote stitch by using opposite colors in each pattern. By alternating the color this way, two unique bracelets are made and yet similar if you look hard enough. I love making adaptions of projects I see pictures of or read about. There are so many possibilities with these bracelets, I honestly can't wait to give it a try. Then if you throw in the color contrast, you can really let your imagination run wild because you wouldn't HAVE to use metallic beads!

 Isn't this interesting looking? Just let your imagination run wild!

There are also simple projects for the beginner. For example, the St. Petersburg Choker and Earrings on page 22 or Going Baroque With Pearls bracelet on page 41 are simple enough for a beginner to do. 

 Pretty and dainty, too!

I'm definitely no expert, but recently I adapted the Going Baroque With Pearls bracelet to make an anklet for the Anklet Blog Hop hosted by Kashmira Patel. I didn't have any metallic beads that matched pearl beads I had and since it was extremely late the night I decided to give it a try, midnight, I couldn't really go to the store for beads. However, I was able to lengthen the bracelet to an anklet (10 inches instead of 7) and change the beads with a little adjustment in numbers. It worked very well!  The best part is I can repeat it any time with other colors and beads.

Then there are projects for the more advanced beader; The Dragon Pearls Necklace and Earrings on page 68 or the Gold Lace Cuff on page 29.

At the end of the book, Tools For Beading, is a great page of information for the beginner seed beader. It is very informative and easy to understand. This is followed by 7 pages of Stitch Basics which are a great reminder and very helpful to those of us who only seed bead occasionally. I was able to refer to these pages throughout the book refreshing my memory on certain stitches I haven't used recently.

It's a great book for all! I highly recommend it. You can even go to Kalmbach for another preview of a few pages and projects. :)

Book Review!

Multistrand Jewelry Secrets for Success

Published by Kalmbach Books

Kalmbach sent me this book at the end of March to review. Unfortunately, my mother developed Macular Degeneration at the same time but we didn't know what it was. After weeks of doctor visits and tons of tests, we got the bad news. At the same time, I was working on the "Diamonds in the Rough" Znet Design Team project. This book couldn't have come at a better time AND it is fabulous! So many ideas & creations! My muse had taken a nose dive due to LIFE and this was just what the Doctor ordered! My muse got going! Woohoo! :)))

It is 87 pages packed full of Design Alternatives, Techniques, Supply Lists, and "Secrets for Success" for each of the 31 projects. The step-by-step instructions have wonderful photographs and pictures that can walk you through each project.  Also, the extra tips and design alternatives are wonderful for getting the creative thinking moving!

The book begins with information on How To Use This Book, Basic Techniques, Tools & Materials, and Multistrand Secrets for Success. This is all very helpful especially for the beginner or less experienced enthusiast. 

Each of us who design, create, and develop jewelry know how important it is to keep everything we do fresh and unique. This book is designed to help with "ideas" and "imaginative creating". I feel it does that very well! The possibilities for multistrand jewelry are endless. 

To wet your appetite: 

 

Mint Medley pg 16

Gemstone Twist pg 60

Blue Ribbon Style pg 40