Saturday, September 29, 2012

Necklaceology

ology=branch of knowledge

The author, Candie Cooper, goes to all lengths literally and figuratively to show one “How to Make Chokers, Lariats, Ropes, and More.  She has gifted us with a book of 40 “Wow” necklaces.  There are projects illustrating samples of collars, chokers, princess length, and rope jewelry. 

Materials and necessary tools are covered in depth in this well conceived book.  Many of us have acquired books over the years.  If you have a collection like mine, some have disappointed and others have stroked our creativity.  This book is a prime example of “ology.”

The techniques section is comprised of stringing, connections, components, etc. 
 We are introduced to combining beads with wire, chain, silk cord and ribbon.  If the material is available, the author utilizes it in a myriad of interesting designs.

Whether one wants that Jackie Kennedy look with the lovely princess style length pearls, or the Maria Callas opera length necklaces, the choice is yours.  If you would like to travel back to the flapper era, this book will extend a hand.

Necklaceology truly represents a branch of knowledge on where to start and how to finish.  Most important of all, all this knowledge doesn’t require big bucks or leaving home for an advanced degree.




Thursday, September 20, 2012

Marketing & Selling Your Handmade Jewelry



Vicki Lareau

The Green Light

Early in my career as a designer, I was passionate about my work.  Although I had family responsibilities, which I prioritized, many of my remaining hours would be spent thinking about and creating jewelry.  During this period, I would view findings and tool catalogs, have serious discussions with other designers, and attend workshops and classes, hoping to make it all happen.  Recognition and sales was the name of the game. 

And “happen” it did, but slowly. This book, “Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry” would have paved the way for a much smoother
ride.  No heavy equipment is needed to get one down to the business of “marketing.”  Author discusses in depth the first steps one must take to make the red light turn to green.  She points out the importance of building a portfolio, pricing, selling both wholesale and retail, and most important of all “marketing.”

Unless we want to be idling behind a “red” light for the rest of our careers, this book helps direct us on our journey.  No GPS is needed!




Tuesday, September 18, 2012

September 15, 2012 Lark Books Winner.

Congratulations Robyn S.  winner of the Lark Books Contest.

Contemporary Metal Clay Rings


Nothing Left to Chance

Reviewing books on this blog site has given me a wonderful opportunity to receive, review, and almost always “rave.”

In my English 101 class many years ago, the instructor was emphatic.  The mantra was that when writing an essay “tell your audience what you are going to say, say it, and then tell them what you said.”  I hope you will agree that I learned my lesson well.

The book “Contemporary Metal Clay” by Hattie Sanderson captured
my attention with its wonderful metal clay ring on the cover.  The well documented pages fully explain the use of tools and techniques, materials, shaping, firing, finishing, etc., and how to add those extra appendages which elicits all those oh’s and ah’s when viewed.

Sections in the book concentrate on ring shank types, and many other aspects of creating with metal clay.  These include making holes, components, forming, sizing, patinas, etc.

The 72 featured rings display intriguing designs enhanced with various stones of all shapes and sizes.  Who said it couldn’t be done?

As I said in the beginning “nothing is left to chance.”  The artists who have contributed to this book have demonstrated to metal clay aficionados the wonderful versatility of this material. And, Hattie Sanderson and Brynmorgen Press are the ones to applaud.  




Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Professional Jewelry Making: Alan Revere


No Fuel Necessary

The other day I received the above book from Tim McCreight of Brynmorgen Press.  I own an original copy of this publication, but had never reviewed same.  Members at a workshop that I attended were praising the book, so for me it was a “must have.”

Upon taking off the shrink wrap and opening the first page, I had a very strong olfactory sensation.  It felt as though I had just stepped into an elegant automotive showroom and had opened the door of a new vehicle.  My senses told me that I was in for a wonderful ride on a jewelry making adventure.  The beautiful front cover of the book was a further affirmation of the well defined learning experiences appropriately outlined in “gold.”

The pictorial content pages are well laid out similar to a dash panel on a superior automobile.  No guess work here.

The author covered each and every aspect of getting started.  This was much like the manual found in a car’s glove compartment.  No foreign language mumble jumble here, just straight forward talk.  Each and every project was presented with beautiful photographs, thorough instructions, with lists of material and tools.  I felt exhilarated.

Alan Revere is a visionary.  He has presented us with a masterful book.  I felt like I was on a terrific joy ride as I turned the key and set out to explore each and every page before me. 








   

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Great Designs for Shaped Beads




The Choice is Yours


We can go into a grocery store and marvel at the many different choices of lettuce.  One is enticed with arugula, cobb, boston, little gems, mesclum, mizuna, purslane, and the ubiquitous iceberg dressed in its see through garment.

The selection of cheeses offer a myriad of olfactory sensations emanating from american, gouda, blue cheese, swiss, parmigiana, goat, cheddar, ricotta, brie, etc.

Jams and jellies, by-products of fruits from all over the world, line the shelves in profusion.  The colors and selections are overwhelming.

“Great Designs for Shaped Beads,” is similar to a grocery store.  In this book, we are introduced to a multitude of choices to savor and consider for our favorite creative endeavors.  No longer do we direct our thoughts to “round” beads, much like “iceberg and American.”  Tilas, peanuts, and dagger beads whet our appetite for new and interesting challenges.

In my opinion, this book could have been called “Rachel Ray at Her Best.”  The projects are fun and the finished dish, whether worn on the arm, wrist, or finger, are enticing.  The many shapes, colors, and styles of these beads are conducive to a wonderful creative adventure as we experience page after page of this inviting new shaped beads “cookbook.”   





Thursday, September 6, 2012

Crochet Garden


Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

Suzann Thompson has created a lovely book.  She chooses some of my favorite blooms from my spring and summer garden.  Fortunately none were as labor intensive to cultivate as my blooms.  None required fertilizing, weeding, pruning, and pinching.  Her tools are small and light weight.  She had no need of a barrel, spade, or hoe.

“Crochet Garden” takes the reader thru easy, intermediate and experienced skill levels.  The instructions leave nothing to chance.  The author illustrates how different types of yarn and different hook sizes creates different looks, all of which are very appealing when completed.  This book doesn’t present a “how-to” glossary of crochet stitches.  Various sites are cited where one can refresh this vocabulary.   The importance of proper blocking and finishing is emphasized.

I attempted to crochet some of the flowers and leaves presented in this comprehensive book.  The easy one, such as the Sunflower on page 60, was just that.  The Dogwood, on page 40, enticed me to try to reproduce this lacy bloom.  Although it was an intermediate pattern, I was able to recreate it after a couple of attempts.

Inasmuch as my writing skills are better developed than my crochet ones, I didn’t attempt the Forget Me Not.  But, I will certainly do so in the near future.  Maybe it will just take a little bit more perseverance such as Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, displayed when planting her backyard ever blooming garden.









 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Winner Contest Ending Aug. 31, 2012

Congratulations to A. Gibney. She is the winner of the Lark Books "Beading with Gemstones."

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Practical Joining

Bringing It All Together

It was going to be a real challenge. I had crocheted a rectangular swatch from fine silver wire. The design that was racing around in my head would incorporate this piece as the inner body of my butterfly broach. The form itself was constructed of black Lucite. The next stepwas to place the airy crocheted piece over this. A winged sterling silver frame was then placed as the edging over the entire butterfly. So far, so good! After much hit and miss, I decided to join the completed piece together with very small brass brads. In addition to a great “cold connection,” they lent a decorative accent to the construction.

The book “Practical Joining” by Tim McCreight, is an excellent compilation of various cold and hot joining techniques available to the contemporary metal smith. The illustrations and explanations are straight forward. It is pointed out that some materials, like my Lucite base are heat sensitive, so therefore, heat connections are out of the question. The different sections of the book cover cold connection elements such as rivets, tabs, staples, bezels, glue, friction collars, settings, threaded connections, bolts and nuts, etc.

The hot connection section discusses soldering and all that is involved in the process in addition to brazing and welding. There is an excellent section on all the necessary tools for successful hot connections.

If I had owned “Practical Joining,” with the comprehensive section on “cold connections,” my butterfly could have emerged from its cocoon much sooner.


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