The Art and Craft of Making Jewelry

Joanna Gollberg

Lark Jewelry

Did you ever get the feeling that there was something pulling at you?
Many years ago when visiting a small gallery in LA, I experienced this visceral feeling. The exciting handcrafted jewelry displayed in the cases held me spell bound. I had made up my mind. Inasmuch as I was now a retired educator, I was ready to learned new skills. Taking workshops and college courses in the art and craft of making jewelry led me down a new path of self discovery. The flow and eventual control of the solder was mesmerizing. Sawing and texturing the various nonferrous metals presented many challenges. Designs were conceived and often reworked.

Joanna Gollberg’s book “The Art & Craft of Making Jewelry” gives each of us the vicarious pleasure of “making.” In the beginning we are introduced to a profusion of tools and equipment. Both the flex shaft machine and its attachments are discussed along with soldering tools and other materials. She furnishes the reader lists of the necessary tools that are a prerequisite for successful jewelry making. Pattern transfers, sawing, piercing, chasing, cold connections, tube riveting, hot techniques, finishing, forming, texturing, cuttlebone casting, reticulation, etc., are all presented in full color. We are then able to follow the beautiful illustrated step-by-step instruction to complete the specific projects.

This book is outstanding and the gallery pictures are awesome. As I stated, I have taken many workshops and classes through the years. Many of the processes I have learned are elucidated in this extremely informative book.