5 comments about Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making and Beading (Teach Yourself VISUALLY Consumer).

1. I was pleased with the book on Visually Teaching Yourself. I have another one that I picked up at my craft store about a year or so ago titled "Visual Quick Tips Wire Jewelry" by Chris Franchetti Michaels. I truly enjoyed both of the books. The fact of the visuals being there to show exactly how to do things were very instrumental in correcting some mistakes I had been making.



2. This book's format is fabulous. Short of a video you will not get a better view of how to do basic jewelry making. It is well recommended even if you already know how to do these techniques because of the comprehensiveness and detail and great ideas in pictures! If you are a visually learner this book is your friend.



3. I am most certainly a beginner and I bought this book to help me with working wire to add beads to some of my stained glass items. I found the book to be helpful. Listing tools, their proper names and showing with pictures how to use them is very good. I liked the many photographs along with written directions. If I could not immediately grasp what the directions were saying, I got it with the pictures!



4. The book arrived very quickly and was a real delight. Good refresher course. The pictures along with the instruction made it very simple to follow. Well worth the money.



5. I have bought tons of books on jewelry-making, and wish I had seen this one first. As far as learning from books goes (my favorite method), this book and the Beading Answer Book are the only two I need. Of course, I still have the TYV wire book and the bead weaving one on my public wish list. I love books.
   
   The author of this book is so clear that I don't have to figure out what she's saying by actual practice, the way I do with others. The photos are the best I've ever seen. This book has chapters on design, stringing, weaving, wirework, using a jig, macrame, beginning and intermediate projects, and getting more training, even a short section on becoming a business. The resource sections are excellent.
   
   You can't go wrong with this book, you'll love it.

5 comments about Stamped Metal Jewelry: Creative Techniques and Designs for Making Custom Jewelry.

1. I purchased this book because I'm interested in making stamped metal jewelry. I've made the stamped washer necklaces, but I'm thinking about investing more money to make prettier pieces of jewelry. So, that's why I purchased this book. I've never been to the classes the author offers, so I only found this book through web searches and ratings. I've decided it's great to have and will be very helpful. It has gorgeous photographs and goes into great detail to explain the entire process, step-by-step. It gives a huge supply and tool list with everything pictured and explained in color, so that you know exactly what you are looking for when you get to the point of purchasing. Besides teaching the basic techniques, this books has many beautiful projects included, everything from jewelry, to leather cuff bracelets, to key chains. So, this doesn't just have to be for the ladies. The only complaint I have about this book is that I wish it was in a spiral format. I'm not holding it against the company because I knew that when I purchased it. I just love craft books in spiral form, because they are easier to use while you work. It's just a suggestion=) I haven't used the included DVD yet, so I can't accurately review it, but I will update my review when I get around to watching it. I hope this helps=)



2. I am thrilled with this book and the bonus DVD is awesome. Even though there was probably a pretty good size waiting list for this book and I didn't order mine until the release date, shipping was timely. It was delivered in great shape and a little earlier than I had been promised. I will definitely order from this seller again.
   As for the book itself, I couldn't be happier. The illustrations are beautiful and quite helpful and the text is well written and easy to understand. I'm a visual learner and the combination of photos and text makes it seem like Lisa is right there with me, all the way.



3. Good photos for step by step for several projects. Uses products sold on the authors website so you can find many of the supply items from her. Also includes a short video. Overall well done. Would have liked to find more on the cuff bracelets but that is just a personal preference. I would buy a more advanced book if one is published.



4. I absolutely love this book! It thoroughly explains each project in easy to understand terms. I like how they tell you exactly what gauge wire you need including the riveting wire. Unfortunately not all books are like this one. I have run into several that had great projects and they would say sterling wire but they wouldn't say what gauge you needed to make the project or even worse they would show you beautiful projects and they will say for instance use round or square lamp work beads but they wouldn't tell you where they got them at. Not in this book. This book tells you every step of the way what gauge wire you need and the tools needed and at the back of the book it tells you a list of suppliers. One of my favorite aspects of the DVD is that it has a bonus project on it that isn't in the book. Lisa Niven Kelly spoke very clearly and the DVD was done perfect. It showed her hands as she was doing the work. What was nice was that when she made a mistake she would tell you what to do so that you won't make the same mistake she did. She even shows you how to rivet on the DVD. I have always wanted to learn to rivet. I thought it was all about metal stamping but when I saw that she was going to show you how to rivet, I was even more excited. I guarantee if you buy this book you are going to love it. I can't think of a single item that was left out of the book or the DVD. It is absolutely wonderful. I will definitely keep this one in my library of books. This is one I definitely don't want to part with.



5. A really well written book from someone who is obviously used to teaching beginners. Clear, easy instructions. Each project lists the skills needed (and taught) earlier in the book and refers the reader back to that page in case they need a refresher. Really great projects. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders: Creative Wirework Projects for All Levels.

1. Very well written for jewelry makers on all levels. Excellent instructions and illustrations. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to easily add a lot of "zest" to their jewelry making projects.



2. I've been designing and creating wire wrapped bead jewelry for over five years now. Irina's book just blew me away! ALL of her designs are beautifully photographed and detailed to perfection with alternate ideas galore. Honestly, I've never seen anything like her jewelry. Fantastic! Thanks, Irina, for providing SO MUCH inspiration. I can hardly wait to get into my bead/wire stash and start creating!



3. Admission time, I bought this book because of the full page advertisement I saw in the May issue of Art Jewelry Magazine. The bracelet featured in the ad is very much my style of wire work, so I bought the entire book for one project.
   
   However, Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders by Irina Miech is so much more than one project. The book is set up as so many of these books are. It starts with wire, tools, and supplies and explanations for them. One handy thing in this section is the chart that shows the conversion of wire guage size to inches AND mm. Often when I am buying beads and need to know the hole size that will fit with the wire, the beads are given in mm while the wire is in inches. Then I have to look up the conversion each time. I am thinking I will photocopy the chart and post it on the wall for easy reference.
   
   The next section is very basic wireworking techniques needed to know to do any wirework at all. Although they are explained again in the the beginner projects, it is a good reference section for beginners to turn back to without wondering which project they saw the instructions for how to make a basic loop or a spiral.
   
   Next the book is divided into Beginner, Intermediate and then Advanced. Each project builds from the previous project. For example, the first project in the Beginner section uses basic loops to construct a necklace and earrings. The second project covers making a necklace and earrings using wrapped loops. By the end of the Beginner section, you could potentially have a full jewelry box AND a set of basic skills that results in beautiful pieces. Although I had all the basic skills down, there are some really cool ideas that I never would have thought of in that section.
   
   Intermediate starts out with instructions for 3 different Whimsical Pins and covers a wide range of projects from pendants, to rings, to creating your own findings.
   
   And guess what? That bracelet I was so entranced by? It's the 2nd to last project in the Advanced section of the book. Let's just say I skipped ahead and started on the Spiral Cuff first. However, Irina's cuff uses a variety of sizes and materials of beads in her demo cuff and I decided to do my first one in copper (cheap if I screw up!) and used all 4mm swarovski bicones. Honestly, I don't like the look of all bicones. So, I am going to cut the wire used to coil the bicones on and redo it using a variety of stuff laying around.
   
   Interestingly, I didn't like some of the advanced projects. It is mostly due to my wire wrapping style and what appeals to me asthetically. I prefer a more organic, loosey goosey look. My first foray into wire wrapping was the more rigid, almost architectural look using square wire, etc. I hated it. I still have that piece, but gave up playing with wire for a long time until I learned not all wire wrapping has to be like that.
   
   However, the fact that there are 21 projects in this book and I don't like 2 or 3 of them...is a pretty darn good deal. One of the best features is that immediately following the instructions for each individual piece is a gallery of ideas for other ways to use what you just learned. Many books have a single gallery. This book has a gallery for each and every single project. I think I got as much out of those as the original piece shown.
   
   Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders really has something for everyone: from the beginner that has never picked up a pair of chainnose or a wire cutter, to the most seasoned wire worker, this is an excellent book. There are very few wire working books that I personally love. This is one of them and I think you will love it too.



4. I am a beader and have done some wire work. This book is easy to read and well displayed with directions that are easy to follow. I too am a collector of Art/Bead design and appreciate the chance to purchase these at a reasonable price. Thank you.



5. I'm new to wirewrap jewelry, this book is great because it introduces techniques I can use in more elaborate designs.

5 comments about Inspired Wire: Learn to Twist, Jig, Bend, Hammer, and Wrap for the Prettiest Jewelry Ever.

1. I've bent wire before, but never knew the 'right' way of doing it. With help from this book, my wires look more professional. It teaches the basics & is inspirational.



2. I am so excited about this book! I can't wait to try some of the techniques demonstrated here. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to make jewelry. Lots of good stuff!



3. What can I say. This is simply the best basic book on wire working I have in my collection and I have many.



4. I'm fairly new to wire work and this book made something that seemed intimidating very manageable and fun to learn. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in wire! And, I'd recommend getting the jig, as well - it makes it a little more fun!



5. I received this soft cover yesterday in very good shape. The book has through information and states what you will need in advance of you work so you will not need to stop what you are doing before getting involved. Thank you for making this book affordable.

5 comments about Beaded Allure: Beadweaving Patterns for 25 Romantic Projects.

1. Absolutely wonderful. Have made several of the necklaces. Instructions are easy to follow. A must have. Purchased two more for my friends.



2. I love this book! The pictures and projects are just beautiful. It's very delicate and romantic jewelry, my favorite! I've started on one of the projects and can hardly wait to see my finished necklace.



3. I love every project in this book. A friend discovered it in a craft magazine and wanted the item on the front. I made it and she loved it. These projects are fairly simple to make, even though they look difficult. I plan to make many more of them. I think this is the best bead project book I have purchased. The projects are all in my style. I am glad I purchased the book.



4. The designs an beadwork in this book are amazing! Instructions are very clear, but the work is very complicated and takes a lot of skill and practice. The book is great for those with some previous experience in beadwork, only because a lot of skill is required to complete each project.



5. I have ordered books before only to realize the best looking design was on the cover. This was not the case with this book. Most of the designs are beautiful inside as well. I am very pleased with this book.

5 comments about Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry.

1. There is definitely more to making good jewelry than putting beads on a string or wire. The first half of the book is detailed instructions on how to handle wire and metal in jewelry making. The tools, techniques and materials are explained and shown in good detail and color pictures. I would say it's definitely a beginners book but really necessary if you are new to handling these materials. The second half of the book is good instructions on how to use what you've learned in a variety of projects. I really like the projects and am collecting materials to make some of them. The only VERY SMALL negative is that when it shows a project the beads and findings used are pretty much up to you. I choose to do a project because I like that project and the materials used specifically. There is a resources directory in the back of the book but it would help if each project gave you what sources they used for the beads etc unique to the project. I really do like the book!



2. I like to wire wrap and the directions and photographs makes it easy to understand. Great to practice with using less expensive material other then gold or sterling.



3. I was glad to receive this book which I had wanted for quite a while.After ordering on Amazon I received the item quickly and was very pleased with the content. Good purchase.



4. I am reading all of the instructions in this book, as I am new to jewelry making, and I think there is a lot of great information here. Some of the designs are too ornate for me, as I prefer simpler jewelry pieces. Overall, I think it is a good book to have in my library even if I do not specifically make any of the pieces.



5. I'm so happy I read the reviews and decided to purchase this book - I totally agree with every glowing testimonial!

5 comments about Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts).

1. I emphasize the word "brief" - for many things, such a soldering, the descriptions here just won't be enought for a self-teacher to get off the ground. Descriptions of techniques are generally clear and come with helpful photos. Still, the goals of covering a wide range of techniques and covering them in a book of non-intimidating thickness conflict, giving the novice reader too little about too much.
   
   But, for a reader who's already mastered some of the basics, this offers solid tips that will help advance the basic skills. Lavish and varied photos offer inspiration in just about any direction you can name. McCreight offers many approaches to basics like stone-setting, surface texture, cold-joining, clasps, and other techniques, with enough variety that even experienced metal-workers will find something new.
   
   Set your expectations properly. This book can't take the place of a patient instructor for learning the fundamentals. Once the reader has mastered the first steps of metalwork, though, this gives plenty of help and inspiration in advancing one's skills, if only by letting the reader know about the existence of techniques described more fully in ohther texts.
   
   -- wiredweird



2. I've been making jewelry only 3 years and have made plenty of mistakes -- which is to say I've learned a lot. This book was perfect for what I was looking for. It explained in the perfect amount of depth the various forms of jewelry making, soldering, annealing, drilling, firing, stamping, how to form metal, what tools are actually NECESSARY and which ones are just good to have. I wish I'd read this book before I'd started. I would have saved a lot of money knowing what to skimp on and what to save on. Curiously this book was very inspirational to me. It allowed me to get an idea of what type of jewelry making practices are done, and now I know what appeals to me without having to purchase all the tools to find out. I'm not quite done with this yet, but I'll be keeping it on my desk as my best & favorite jewelry making reference book.



3. At first look this book has great pictures but complicated looking projects. On a closer look the info and techniques for metalsmithing are great. It is a perfect book for inspiration and information. Mccreight should be read by all.



4. Excellent book. I am just starting to make jewelry. I am taking a class. Reading the information in this book helped me in my class to understand why you do what and the techniques to do things better. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn how to work with metal.



5. This book is great to review the basics of various techniques without too much fluff. Nicely organized, laid out and illustrated, and written well. I am learning metalsmithing, and it was very helpful in reviewing and complementing the techniques I've learned, and gave me some new ideas too.

5 comments about The Jeweler's Studio Handbook: Traditional and Contemporary Techniques for Working with Metal and Mixed Media Materials.

1. I knew I was in trouble when I read the forward. Sometimes folks try to be so esoteric and artsy they forget to be practical. To be fair, the author didn't write the forward, but this was just not the book I expected. This book is for the independently wealthy who can build their own studio and furnish it with every imaginable (and expensive) tool.
   
   Many of the how-to pictures were too small. In the section on sawing, I had absolutely no idea what I was looking at.
   
   On a completely different subject, the binding of the book was not good--the type that is too tight for the book to stay open; if you force it open, the binding 'breaks'.



2. The pictures in the book are many, but not good enough to see the detail in them sometimes. i.e. camera angle or hands blocking view. Not a beginners book but a good overall general review for all types of jewelry making.



3. I collect a lot of jewelry books and this was a great addition to my library. Unfortunately, I don't have a large living area so my "workshop" is confined to a little corner of my living room. Although the information on organizing a studio was fantastic, it wasn't too relevant to my situation.
   
   I did get the book because I liked a lot of the jewelry making ideas. Although they are more beginning to semi-intermediate projects, I don't look so much at the finished project, as the different ideas you can take from various parts of projects. I am an advanced jewelry maker, but often times, I need some inspiration on different takes on earrings, necklaces and bezels. This is a great book to get you going again.



4. This is a very informative book regarding working with sterling silver and mixed media. Great book for understanding the tools needed to get started with working with metal and torches. Gave great tips on how to use the tools. Also projects explained in very good detail. Looking forward to doing some of these projects. Would recommend this book for someone interested in starting to do soldering and working with metal and mixed media projects.



5. This is a clearly written, beautifully produced, extremely helpful introduction to basic jewelry metalsmithing. It renders accessible many techniques initially intimidating to the beginner like myself, and does so better than many other books I've evaluated. The photo work is excellent, the step-by-step projects well selected and inspiring. More than adequate to give me the info and the confidence necessary to take on all sorts of new techniques and launch myself into a new hobby.
   
   However, the book is physically assembled incorrectly -- the sheets after page 55 or so are glued out-of-sequence, creating a jumbled mess! So it is an inconvenient read at best, with all the flipping around required to track down the correct next page. And I'll be darned if I can find pages 72-73 anywhere in there.

5 comments about The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques.

1. The Workbench Guide includes numerous techniques with clear, detailed descriptions, yet not too long. Techniques are well illustrated, with clear examples. Each section found me fascinated.



2. The review above covers the content of this book, so I'll just go on to add my own observations.. This is a lovely, fully illustrated book - full of photo's and a good variety of work. It covers a lot of techniques and gives a brief demo of them. These are not in depth though, they don't go into great detail and if a certain technique interests you or you want to learn it, I'd say you would probably need to find further, more detailed, reference. It covers a lot, so this was to be expected. I think its a very good book for showing the large variety of techniques available to us and it does a really good job of introducing the reader to the various methods with photo's and work examples.. It also has some great sections near the back of the book covering personal design work and the business side of jewellery making - what jewellery do you make? ie; is it studio jewellery, fashion jewellery, fine jewellery etc.. These sections are really useful to read. The author, anastasia young, is a lecturer at central st martain's in london and the work that comes out of that university is incredible. Having visited there I can confirm that it is a high achieving course and the students push themselves utterly. Considering the work that emerges from this university, I find it very exciting that one of its lecturers/tutors is now sharing her knowledge and thoughts/processes/techniques in beautifully put together books.. She has also added a section on outsourcing - getting work electroplated, cast, set etc.. this is a brilliant resource - particularly for us brits! (as it has extremely useful addresses and contacts) (O:
   
   To sum up, this is a beautiful and useful book - somewhat of an encyclopedia of techniques - it is definately worth having and will be informative. However, it does not cover all these workbench techniques in great detail, sometimes not really enough to successfully achieve a result, unless you already have some experience - so perhaps bear this in mind.. I am glad I got it and I would not be without it now in my growing library! I think that this cover vers is also the nicest.. (I got mine from the states as the UK vers has a different cover and came out a little bit later)



3. I am in my first year of Metal Arts at the Community College Level. As much as I appreciate the great teachers, I need something written and organized to review at the end of each class.
   
   The Workbench Guide is the book that I needed. The clear directions and great photography make it a resource I can review as I learn each new skill. The organization happens to fall along the same line as the classes I am taking, I assume because certain skills build on each other.
   
   The description and use of the tools at the beginning of the book helped me immensely in putting together a basic tool box, definitely something a beginner needs to be smart about because of the costs.
   
   I was also looking for some basic charts and information of which several are gathered at the back of the book. The Index is comprehensive. Several other jewelry books I have looked at are spotty at best so this is a definite help.
   
   Overall, I use the book on an almost daily basis.



4. I rarely write reviews, but I just received this book and regret that it was not available a few years ago when I started jewelry making. It is beautifully laid out, nice pictures, and very comprehensive. Although comprehensive, unlike other overview books, it provides the detail of how-to. I especially like the indicators provided that indicate whether the tools are "must have basic", basic, or intermediate. Unfortunately, the basic level is very broad. It would have provided better start-up guidance if they had reduced skill level of basic and added the category of advanced.
   
   The complete Metalsmith is a nice reference that every jewelry maker should own as a quick reference. But if you can only buy one, I would recommend this one. I consider myself at the basic/intermediate level but I would expect this book would be a great reference and inspiration for the more advanced jewelery artists as well. And a side benefit, the text is big enough that I don't need reading glasses to read it :)



5. This is a new book by second time author Anastasia Young. Her website is located here: [...] . Her first book, Jewelry Techniques: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Using Materials, Stones and Settings, was a well received reference source.
   
   The Workbench Guide is a high quality hardcover, 320 page text which a reader might like to consider adding to his or her permanent library of "how to" books. Packed with 400 photographs, 200 illustrations and 100 charts, it doesn't allow your mind to wander for a second as it guides you step by step through the five sections it is divided into. Whether purchased by a serious student of jewelry design and technique, or just by a passionate lover of jewelry who privately, safely teaches herself as much as she can, there is valuable knowledge to be found in this book.
   
   I am not a believer of choosing one book as the "be all and end all" for any process of learning. I am well aware that there are fine books in existence already [ here are a few, for example ,
   1. Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts) by Tim McCreight
   2,The Complete Jewelry Making Course: Principles, Practice and Techniques: A Beginner's Course for Aspiring Jewelry Makers by Jinx McGrath
   
   3. Jewelry Making Techniques Book (Quarto Book)
   Elizabeth Olver .
   
   There are many, many more ]. However it is a good idea to stir up new energy and insight by adding to older favorites, whether you are the teacher or the student. Artists create amazing new styles of jewelry all the time and some of them are exhibited in here. How to make them is explained, carefully.
   
   Some of the subjects covered are shown as part of the design on the front of the book :
   Engraving, Chasing and repousse, Fusing, Riveting, Enameling (one of my favorite parts), Drilling, Piercing,
   Cutting, Filing, Annealing, Soldering, Pickling, Wirework, Fold Forming, Bending Metal, Hammering, Carving, Mounting and setting stones, polishing, Stamping, Dappling/swaging, Forging, Anticlastic raging, Hydraulic press, Wax carving and modeling, and masses more.
   
   The book's sections are as follows:
   First there is a history of jewelry making. Then come the five sections, very clear and extremely helpful if you are searching out something specific.
   Chapter 1: Work Space, Tools, and Materials
   Chapter 2: Techniques
   Chapter 3: Design
   Chapter 4: Going Into Business
   Chapter 5: Reference (for example, Directory of Gemstones,Conversions, Suppliers and more)
   
   As I said, any one book is not sufficient to teach a reader every aspect of jewelry making, design , photography, selling, and more, no matter how good that book is. But if you are building yourself a solid library of jewelry technique books, I recommend this consistently fine addition: The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques, by Anastasia Young. I think you will be happy to own it. It truly is quite successful as a text which attempts not to leave anything out!

No comments about Classic Chain Mail Jewelry: A treasury of weaves.