Metalworking 101 for Beaders

Something for Everyone!

  

Designing and creating custom findings, pendants, and other projects has never been too much of a challenge for me.  Since I am not self taught, I confess to having spent a great deal of time and money studying with the finest.  In essence, thought there wasn’t anything new to teach this old dog.

When I reviewed “Metalworking 101 for Beaders,” I was put down a notch or two. Yes, sheet, wire, and tubing are very familiar to me.  I have a workbench overflowing with tools and materials, but this book taught me a thing or two. 

Scrimping was an unfamiliar term.  Scrimps are more attractive than crimps and easier to affix with their tiny tools and screwdriver.  No accidental disheartening cracking and malformation of those elusive crimps.

The basic metalworking photos in the book were well defined and all explanations on how to proceed were clearly set forth.  In addition, author gives many wonderful clues to assist in sanding, forming, and soldering.

Twenty-nine projects were presented in an easy to understand format.  Candie shared many of her design concepts by providing multiple sketches.  I was intrigued with the details of the fanciful feathered friend broach which would complement any outfit.  It was an delightful  exercise utilizing many elements of jewelry construction. Author also shares many of her pattern templates.

As I stated in the beginning, there is something in this book for beaders and anyone interested in further whetting their creative juices.

Setting Stones in Metal Clay

Jeanette Landenwitch

 Just a Stones Throw Away

First of all, this is a spiral bound book.  This makes it so much easier to read the pages.  I don’t have to hunt in my cabinet for a stack of cans to hold the pages open.

The contents section of this publication by Brynmorgen Press is very thorough.  It covers gemstones, tools and materials, settings, bezels, prongs, and other setting options.

 I have perused many PMC Yahoo Groups and frequently the question comes up about setting stones and the appropriate stones to use with this material.  I learned that natural stones can be fired in the kiln, but others such as pearl, ivory, shell, coral, amber, and jet are verboten.  Most, but not all synthetic stones can be fired in a kiln.  Simulated gemstones comprise another category, such as the cubic zirconia that is ideal for kiln firing.

There is a table on pages 14 and 15 illustrating gem tests that were done by Kevin Whitmore and the staff of Rio Grande.  Here one can find many answers to both torch and kiln firing.

The line drawings of the techniques and the setting illustrations are well executed.  There is no guesswork here.  As an example, the bezel strip on page 44 is a definitive “how to.”  One is presented with a heat tolerant gemstone pressed into a lump of clay, variations of the method, and final finishing steps.

The goal of “Setting Stones in Metal Clay” was to expand the PMC’s artist’s stone setting options.  They are all here and are less than a stone’s throw away!

Winner of Lark Books Contest

Congratulations Jvaala!  You are the winner of contest ending Sept. 30, 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.

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!

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.  

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. 

   

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.”   

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.

 

Winner Contest Ending Aug. 31, 2012

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

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.

Metal Clay Rings

Not Enough Fingers or Toes

Do you remember playing with that lump of clay as a child; kneading it and then rolling it into a ball? I would pull off a small amount, roll it on a hard surface to create a snake and then form it into a ring. If it was well done, I would keep if, if not so well done, I would give it to my younger sister.

I marvel at the various styles of rings presented in this book by Irina Miech, published by Kalmbach Publishing. All were constructed using silver metal clay PMC3 which comes in lump, syringe, paste, and sheet.

The rings in “Metal Clay Rings” are more than snakes of clay. Their thickness is measured and then the various projects show step by step instructions for finished rings that have been fashioned by various techniques. Some have been rolled and trimmed, others incised or stamped, while others illustrate such techniques as molding. Many are enhanced with CZ and lab-grown stones and dichroic glass.

There is no guess work involved. It was almost like deja vu. Hot or cold weather didn’t deter me. All I needed was my small lump of clay.

What my sister wouldn’t give for one of these delightful metal clay rings.

Beading with Gemstones

Valerie MacCarthy

A Gem of a Yard Sale

My visit to my children’s principal’s home one day promised to be quite fortuitous.  He was gathering things together for a yard sale.  The money gleaned would pay the insurance premium at his daughter’s “special needs” school program.

The backyard was filled with all sorts of odds and ends.  A box of sparkling gemstones caught my eye.  Evidently a former beader had donated them for the sale and he hoped they would bring a good price.  There were various shades of coral, tourmaline, amethyst, quartz, amber, etc.  Inasmuch as I have had experience setting and stringing beads and gemstones, I knew this was my treasure trove.

The book “Beading with Gemstones” has been a valuable source of reference for many of my beginning to intermediate beading students.  I have shared this book and many of the gemstones I acquired that lucky day.  The instructions leave no questions unanswered.  The photographs are well focused and a very good list of materials and tools were included in the presentation.  Each project has its own special sparkling allure.

One doesn’t need a yard sale to acquire any of the gemstones.  But, sometimes we do luck-out!

WINNERS

We have two lucky winners in the August contest.  Congratulations to D. Sislen, who won the wonderful Lark Book, "Showcase 500 Necklaces" and B. Etta, winner of the Carol Sharpe beautiful bracelet.  

Making Metal Clay Jewelry

It’s Probably on the Shelf

As I looked over this list of supplies in this book written by Cindy Thomas Pankopf, and published by Kalmbach Publishing, I was overjoyed.

In terms of the tools listed, no problem. I have a deck or two of cards. When I’m thinking about my next book review, the game of solitaire helps me focus. My kitchen cabinet proudly displays my butane torch which I light with quite a dramatic flourish when presenting my crème brule. Freezer paper is ever present for the meats and poultry brought home to languish in the freezer. Striped and multicolored straws rest side by side in the drawer for my grandchildren’s visits. Paper towels are stacked row after row, can’t ever turn away from a sale at Cosco. Oven toaster always plugged in ready to go inasmuch as it was once reserved for bagels. Always plenty of olive oil and hopefully neither I nor it will get rancid before our time. Files, paintbrushes, sandpaper, drill bits, tweezers, and polishing pads are a given in any artist studio.

The above is not a long list and is a fairly inexpensive one. Once you have them all collected, you are ready to go for it.

“Making Metal Clay Jewelry” has a wonderful step by step progression of exercises. The oval loop earrings on page thirty are a great example of an easy but sharp look finished project. The photography is excellent and directions are easy to follow. Very good tips are presented on practically every page.

Pendants, rings, earrings, stone setting, bracelets, necklaces, and beads beckons the metal clay enthusiasts on each and every page of the book. One can have almost immediate gratification when attempting any of the designs. And, you don’t have to worry that you’ll make the kitchen too hot when lighting your oven.

500 Earrings

Precious Lobes


Lightness, length, movement, suspension, symmetry, etc., are always attributes to take into consideration when designing earrings. No other forms of jewelry are as visible as earrings. They are sculptural manifestations of a designer’s and wearer’s mindset.

“500 Earrings” published by Lark Books, is a wonderful compilation of unique and interesting forms, concepts, and presentation.

Ear piercing was something I had never considered until I was in my late 20’s. Since my budget was limited, I could never envision owning a pair of Tami Dean’s Glitz Kick earrings of 18Kt gold decorated with rainbow pyrite, spinel, and diamonds. My style gravitated to a simple pair with small hoops and a most uncomfortable clip on mechanism.

Sometimes I would wear a conventional pair of pearl earrings, decorated with a faux jewel dangling on a jump ring. Nothing was as striking as Deborrah Dahr’s Red, White, and Blue earrings created using 22kt, and 18kt gold, lapis lazuli, garnet, and pearl.

Today, my style has changed, but alas not my jewelry budget. What I would give to own Masako Onodera’s “The Mating Season.” I have a long neck and the sterling silver, freshwater pearl, polyethylene cord earrings would surely enhance any of my ensembles

Hsiao Chia-Pei “Change” with its aluminum, dye and anodized material sieve like shape might fit well into my stash of kitchen utensils.

Alan Revere’s shield like shaped earrings “Pearl Reflections” brings out the battle cry in me.

Tessa E. Richard’s earrings could be worn as a hat if one was so inclined.

The earrings featured in “500 Earrings” should convince a designer that “once you get the hand of it,” anything goes.

The Complete Book of Jewelry Making

By Carles Codina

Not Just Another Juice Table Book

This Lark Books publication is heavy with material and not just weight. I studied with Heikki Seppa for many years. He had retired as the “master” in the Fine Arts Metal Department at Washington University in St. Louis. During our sessions together, his adage was “learn one, teach one.”

Carles Condina does just that. He learned his lessons well. In this well documented and illustrated book, there are lessons that he shares to be studied and learned by all.

I used to marvel at the ingenious hinges, pin back, and latches that I would examine on many pieces of jewelry. How does one construct, place, and design these elements to do their trick. How does one become “unhinged?”

My strong recommendation is to get your gloves on this book. It contains invaluable information on many of the skills needed to become a heavyweight in the jewelry making arena.

Winner of "1000 Rings" contest

AJ Henry is the winner of the Larks Book Contest, which ended July 31, 2012. Congratulations AJ.

500 Necklaces

The Juice Table Book

Many of the marvelous Lark Books are described as “coffee table books.” They are great conversation tomes. Since I don’t drink coffee wherever I sit or recline, what should I call them?

Finally the inspiration came to me. On glass table surrounded by clutter, a brimming crimson glass of cranberry juice stood out. Thus I labeled my table “The Juice Table.”

“500 Necklaces” is a beautifully produced book to sit on any “juice table,” to be picked up, contemplated, and examined page by page. Juried by Marjorie Schick, this was quite a demanding task. She had to consider over 5000 entries. I believe she was very astute in her final 500 choices.

The necklace form of adornment goes back to the Neolithic Age, around 15,000 BC. There are many reasons given for making necklaces such as “demonstrations of power, love, status, religion, and wealth, etc.” My reasons are pure and simple. I create because the act gives me tranquility and happiness.

The materials utilized in the featured group ranges from the radiant gold, fine silver, and wonderful gemstones, to the innovative use of steel, silver, and hosiery (now I know not to discard anything,) by Sarah Turner. Christine Bossler’s neckpiece tickled my fancy. Yael Krakowski “Elephant Necklace” with glass beads and knitted cotton thread related to my interest in textile techniques for jewelry. Dallae Kang captivating squared box-like shaped structure was tension set, fabricated and hand cut, making use of sterling silver, and acrylic.

These are just a few of the presentations that drew me into the book. They all project a wonderful glass filled to the brim with creativity. I believe “500 Necklaces” is guaranteed to quench your thirst with inspiration. This is another winning “Juice Table Book.”