Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit (Lark Jewelry Book) 
asked by crick on November 5, 2006 5:24 AM
With a coil, braid, and twist, plus other ingeniously easy techniques, these magnificent silver bracelets, necklaces, and earrings take lovely shape. Each of the 99 projects, illustrated with color photos and diagrams, shows exactly why wire jewelry has become today's hot craft. All that's needed are very basic tools and this helpful advice on making coils, plying wires, stretching out the coils to form graceful waves, joining rings to make elegant chains, fashioning wire into figure eights, incorporating beads, or creating crocheted adornments. Pretty earrings come in a delicate teardrop or corkscrew style, a flat braided necklace has a unique, oxidized finish, and the traditional chain mail bracelet features freshwater pearls. Every piece in this handsome collection is graded for difficulty. A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.
Reviews
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I learned a lot from this book. It is the best book for a beginner that I know of. The explanations are clear and no nonsense. It's not a beautiful book; it's a good book.
reviewed by harrypotter on November 16, 2006 10:06 AM
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Like other reviewers, I bought this book (along with Woven Wire Jewelry by Chandler and Ritchey) thinking how on earth could a book be that bad. It was. The layout is simply amateurish and the photography of the projects isn't on the same level as other instructional books I have.
The directions are ok, provided you have some experience working with wire and don't need to see a picture to know you're doing the step correctly.
The projects are not particularly inspired, although there was one stringing technique, more of a beading technique than wire, that I made as the necklace and reused as a bracelet as well, with terrific results.
You may find a project or two in here that strikes your fancy, which would make the purchase of the book worthwhile, but if you're looking for a solid instructional book with plenty of demonstative photos, skip this one and go for Woven Wire Jewely. It's a much better investment.
The directions are ok, provided you have some experience working with wire and don't need to see a picture to know you're doing the step correctly.
The projects are not particularly inspired, although there was one stringing technique, more of a beading technique than wire, that I made as the necklace and reused as a bracelet as well, with terrific results.
You may find a project or two in here that strikes your fancy, which would make the purchase of the book worthwhile, but if you're looking for a solid instructional book with plenty of demonstative photos, skip this one and go for Woven Wire Jewely. It's a much better investment.
reviewed by versed on November 22, 2006 3:49 PM
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While this may not be the most comprhensive book I have ever seen on this subject, I find it to be quite attractive and useful. I have been artsy/craftsy for a LONG time, and have seen more than my share of pattern/craft/idea books, so I think I have a decent basis of comparison. A very good book for those just getting interested in using textile techniques with wire.
reviewed by siriusfanboy on November 22, 2006 7:45 PM
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I liked the book because it was easy to read, easy to understand with de pictures. I liked the ratingfor the skill levels... but it is not for beginners
reviewed by work on November 25, 2006 4:44 PM
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I read M.L.Lorey's review and thought it couldn't be that bad. I bought the book and it IS that bad. Being a graphic designer, I am simply appalled that a book that is this user UNfriendly could even get published.
Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of information in this little book and the two-page beauty shots of the finished pieces are beautifully done.
Therein lies the problem. The designer was probably so into the beautiful photographs and refused to ruin them with any copy so there is a smaller version of the same photograph on the preceding page with number keys and a legend with the names and the page for the instruction.
As Lorey's review indicated, there is NO number keys when you turn to the page with the instruction so you have to remember the name. Who can remember what the author named the different pieces?! To make matter worse, some of the instruction are not anywhere close to the beautiful photograph they reference - they are in a completely different section of the book!
I gave it 2 stars because if you do have the patience and put your own navigational device on the book as M.L. Lorey did, this book does cover a lot of techniques. Or you can put it aside and go to a book such as "Bead On a Wire" that is beautifully illustrated, easy to follow and a joy to learn from.
Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of information in this little book and the two-page beauty shots of the finished pieces are beautifully done.
Therein lies the problem. The designer was probably so into the beautiful photographs and refused to ruin them with any copy so there is a smaller version of the same photograph on the preceding page with number keys and a legend with the names and the page for the instruction.
As Lorey's review indicated, there is NO number keys when you turn to the page with the instruction so you have to remember the name. Who can remember what the author named the different pieces?! To make matter worse, some of the instruction are not anywhere close to the beautiful photograph they reference - they are in a completely different section of the book!
I gave it 2 stars because if you do have the patience and put your own navigational device on the book as M.L. Lorey did, this book does cover a lot of techniques. Or you can put it aside and go to a book such as "Bead On a Wire" that is beautifully illustrated, easy to follow and a joy to learn from.
reviewed by imtheboss on November 26, 2006 10:10 PM