Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Enlightened Polymer Clay

Rie Nagum
I was recently gifted with the lovely book "enlightened polymer clay" by Rie Nagumo.  The cover says it all.  Translucent gosamer forms serve as the focal point of the necklace.  As I perused the book, noted that all the projects were well defined.  Tool and material list was very complete.  I'm looking forward to presenting this book to my Guild and exploring some of the design comcepts.

Japanese Beadwork With Sonoko Nozue

When You Wish Upon a Star

Several years ago, Sonoko sent me a signed copy of her book, “ Mode de Beads.”   I was mesmerized.  The artistry was amazing and each and every piece of jewelry was breathtakingly beautiful. 

The instructions were straightforward, but they were written in Japanese.
I contacted a young Japanese student to whom I had been introduced.  She was kind enough to translate one of the designs.  But, since she was unfamiliar with the “beading world” and I with her written world, our attempt at collaboration was not very successful.  

The process and jewelry featured in the new translated version are very well defined.  “Sweet Breeze,” a netted shawl, particularly caught my eye.  I could envision a young woman wearing it as she strolled through a fragrant garden with her love.  It was gorgeous and so utterly fluid and feminine.

Sonoko Nozue is a gifted master artisan.  Her 25 jewelry designs are exquisite. Her color pallet is captivating.  Thank you, Sonoko, for the gift of your translated book to all of your admirers.  I can’t wait to collect my tools, beads, and thread, and get started. 

 Sometimes when we wish upon a star, our dreams do come true!  

Monday, March 19, 2012

Metal Clay Fusion: Diverse Clays, Detailed Techniques, Artful Projects (Metal Clay Master Class) (Hardcover)

Gordon K. Uyehara
The cover of "Metal Clay Fusion" speaks volumns as an example of the book's contents. The Silver Flora Pendant is alive with many of the techniques presented; stenciling,sanding,drilling,texturing,carving,stone setting,brush finishing,burnishing,granulation,and anodizing are all there in this one design statement.

As a metalsmith student, I have applied several of these tehniques to silver or gold sheet after completing the fabrication process. But, Gordon Uyehara takes the wonderful metal clay and accomplishes all of the above in a seamless manner. The finished pendant appears so fluid and must be a joy to wear.

He is truly a "master" and I marvel at the inspirational concepts and his knowledge of the material. The designs are quite challenging, but the instructions make each and every one of them doable.

I would highly recommend this book as a "buy now."


Color,Texture & Casting for Jewelers

This book by the gifted studio jeweler, Charles Codina, is better than Metalsmithing 101. The various techniques covered are granulation, kum boo, plating, melted filings, mukume game, casting, and granulation. The detailed photographs captured the processes involved, and the closeups of the step-by-step instructions were amazing. I could feel the heat eminating from the torch and furnace. Both necessary materials and tools were covered in this publication. None of my questions were left unanswered.

Over the years, I have experimented with most of these techniques in either a university classroom setting or my own studio. After perusing the book's contents, I was transported back to these college metalsmithing courses. I believe this book provides those jewelry making students with a multitude of learning oppportunities minus a hefty college tuition.


Ring A Day

Marthe Le Van

The Ubiquitous Circle

In this book "Ring A Day," artists were challenged to make a ring a day. I can't even think of a "meal a day." What should I make for dinner even though I might have all the necessary ingredients? Perhaps what I've always been missing in my menu planning sessions is my inability to visualize that special "something," take that "something," and make "something."

These artisans across the globe submitted over 700 rings. They represented fantasy, inorganic forms, animate and inanimate creations, etc. A myriad of materials were used: wood, sponge, plastic, glass, metal, paper, string, wax, pods, shells, clay, ribbon, twisty ties, leaves, thread. Their cupboards spilled over.

"Ring A Day" is an interesting fun book to peruse. One's studio doesn't have to be filled with all kinds of gadgets and materials. These artists have the ability to see the fascinating potential of everything in their field of vision.

Contemporary Cube Bead Designs

 Virginia Jensen

HOW LUCKY CAN ONE BE!

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to be gifted a large stash of cube beads.  Nothing inspired their use at the time.  So, they were stored in a plastic drawer.  As I passed the container, their lush colors would beckon, but their shape didn’t inspire me.

And then, “Contemporary Cube Bead Designs” was published.  It featured several unique pieces of jewelry.  My “stash” would now be able to show its true shape and colors.

This book is well organized and the projects are easy to follow.  The photographs add an extra wonderful dimension to the pieces.  Thank you Virginia, there is a cube bead fairy!

The Absolute Beginners Guide “Making Wire Jewelry”

Martine Callaghan

EASY DOES IT

The title of this book says it all.  For several years, I have enjoyed utilizing wire-working techniques.  Since practice should make perfect, I am now pretty adept at this.  But, this wonderful publication would have been so helpful.  Proper tools, types of wire and gauges, etc, would have taken the guess work out of “how to.”

Twenty-eight well defined projects are presented.  The photographs have wonderful resolution. Numbered instructions are featured to take readers   through the creative process.   None of the jewelry examples require a large expenditure of time, effort, or money.  One can quickly learn to master the techniques: twist, bend, and wrap, etc.  Soon you will be creating your own special jewelry.

I would highly recommend this book.  It offers an “easy does it” fun-filled creative adventure.