Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping

Description

Achieve the look of designer wire jewelry with this step-by-step guide for the intermediate artist seeking new design possibilities combined with solid technique instruction. Dale "Cougar" Armstrong showcases her classic jewelry style with 18 projects and traditional wireworking techniques using hard wire. Her methods show how to create beautiful custom bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, pins, rings-even a tiara!-incorporating detailed designs, faceted stones, cabochons, and beads. Wirework begins with an introduction to materials, supplies, and techniques that includes how to work with hard wire (14k and 18k); when to use other tempers and why; Dale's favorite tools; proper tool usage for producing specialized styles; using geometry in wire jewelry formulations; making the "right" right angles; shaping with and without mandrels; using "found" items for shaping; when and how to use "snap-set" components; choosing the right cabochons and gemstones; and much more. Then work through 18 classic, stunning projects that explore and hone wireworking skills. All the projects are shown with detailed step-by-step photography. Also included is a gallery of work from the author and her students to inspire, using techniques featured throughout the book. Readers will enjoy learning how to wire-wrap using faceted stones, how to create pendants with any size or shape of faceted stone, how to use several methods for working with and setting faceted stones, plus mixing wire gauges and tempers to create stable yet creative pieces. Wirework will challenge artists to be creative, think outside the box, and transform jewelry into their own style.

Dale "Cougar" Armstrong is a self-described "rockhound" with a background in metal work prior to making wire jewelry. She teaches workshops nationally, where she is known for her tips and tricks called "Cougarisms," and she has participated in many juried shows. Her work has been published in Lapidary Journal/Jewelry Artist, Step by Step Wire, Art Jewelry, Bead Unique, Wire Artist Jeweler, The Crafts Report, and Fire Mountain Gems. Currently, she is working with Jewelry Television to make a series of wire jewelry instructional DVDs. She lives in Tennessee.

Discover what can be done with wire in this attractive book on jewelry making. You won't need a soldering iron, or any expensive tools either, as this is just about wrapping, coiling and twisting wire. I say "just" but taking a look at the cover was what convinced me that this was one book I just had to own. There are some truly stunning pieces in here, and all made predominantly with something as ordinary as wire! As the author of the introduction says, this is not a beginner's book, but as she goes on to point out, neither is it an advanced one. It is a book that sets out to tell you all about the different types of jewelry wire and what they can do for you, and then what you can make. Each project concentrates on a different aspect of wirework, so you can learn while you fill up your jewelry box. In my opinion, this is always a good way to learn rather than just by making practice pieces, especially when you are working with materials which do not come cheap. There are some staged photographs to show how it is done, and if you follow the instructions and work carefully you ought to be the proud possessor of some items that look as if they have come from a high-end jewelry store. At the back is a short gallery of pieces done both by students and by the author, and a list of addresses and magazines for US readers. This is a book to grow into-one for the keeper shelf.-Myshelf.com