Book Review: The Art of Enameling

Title: The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration
Author: Linda Darty

Pictures: 8/10
Clarity of Instruction: 7/10
Complexity: 8/10
Overall Score: 8/10

This book to me felt sort of... run together. Everything was one after another after another. It didn't really give you any room to think, to breathe and digest what you' had just learned. Maybe it's just me, but I find that problematic. 

On the other hand, this book did give me a lot of hope, because it went into detail on how to use a torch to fire enamel, rather than just a kiln. At this point, I'm working with a Max Flame micro torch, and loving it. This book (along with a separate article over at beadingdaily.com ) helped me figure out that I really could use the torch for enamel work, if I was willing to think about how it could be done. It also put me in mind of doing some really detailed pieces, combining chasing and enamel work, with an oriental or middle eastern flair. Who knows, maybe I'll do both some day...after I have a kiln mind you. Because that's the thing I didn't know up till now. I thought you had to keep your piece /still/ when you were firing it, but with a torch, according to this book anyway, you can't do that. You have to move it around to allow for even heating. I'll cover more about torch fire and enamels another day though.
 
This book is also an odd combination of art gallery and historian. Along the tops and sides of most of the pages there are pictures of enamel work, in all different styles and complexity levels. The work is...stunning. I could spend hours just looking at this and drawing ideas. I just might do that anyway ;). Each of these mini galleries though has to do with what's being discussed on that particular page, with the exception of the pieces shown off at the beginning during the tools explanation. It allows you, or at least me, to see and think "  ok, this is some examples of what /can/ be done with this technique their telling me about....now how could I use it?"

As to the historical bit, there are sections and pages throughout the book that talk about how enameling has been done throughout the ages. One page discusses the processing of enamels, quoted directly from a 12th century German monk. Another shows samples of painted enamel pieces of the likes of Lady Russel, and the Duke of Nevers. I loved reading these sections, it made me think of the way some teachers will share interesting side notes. Things that still have to do with your topic, but maybe you wouldn't have known or learned otherwise. 

So, to cap it all off, if you don't mind a fast paced book, this really is a good book to take you through learning about enamels. Heck, even if you don't read it you can look at the gallery shots and get ideas from that...but seriously, you should read it, otherwise you might end up doing things like I did, and finding out that quenching after firing is a baaaaaaad idea. 

Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :) 

Book Review: Totally Twisted

Title: Totally Twisted Innovative wirework & art glass jewelry

Author: Kerry Bogert

Pictures: 10/10
Clarity of Instruction: 10/10

Complexity: 3/10

Overall Score: 9/10

I'm going to do something a little off the wall with this one and list my complaints about this book first. Guess what? I only have one! The only thing I could find that bothered me about this book is that I can't afford the lampwork beads to make these cute pieces!  Now let's get on to the good stuff ;)
The designs in this book all work around basic wire working, and an essential tool for this is a wire gizmo (or something that will allow you to have long consistent lengths of coiled wire). You also need a good pair of pliers or two for this, and maybe some ice for your hands. I kid you not, it's hard for me not to ditch doing this and sit down to try and just make the wire components from this book. The pictures are large, and clear. There is no questioning about what you're trying to do in any particular step. The basic techniques section in the front is clear and concise without spending too much time on it. Digging into the meat of the book, I love the palettes that were chosen, and the designs are a lot of fun, both to look at and to wear (from what I can tell anyway). At the beginning of every design, there's a bit about it, a list of materials and tools you'll need as well as a list of techniques. Simple, straightforward, and well organized, while still being nice to look at. (I admit, I'm a sucker for a well designed book.) What I loved most about this book was the beadmakers section in the very back. It lists every lampwork artist whose beads were used in the book, which projects they were used in, a bit about them, and how to go about getting in contact with them if you want to purchase some of their work.

Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :)

 

 

Book Review: Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry

Title: Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: A Workshop in Painting with Fire
Author:  Barbara Lewis 

Pictures: 8/10
Clarity of Instruction: 7/10
Complexity: 7/10
Overall Score: 8/10
It took me eons to get my hands on this book, but it was well worth the wait. I love playing with fire, and my Max Flame torch is my best friend. <3 I try to find a way to use it for almost every piece of jewelry I make, in some way shape or form, simply because I love playing with fire. It doesn't often turn out that I can just yet, but I try. This book, kicked that into overdrive.
The 'getting started' section covers things I never would've considered, including etching copper sheet, and what the author calls 'hot riveting'. The etching...I don't even want to think about the money I'd have to sink into it, but I admit, I am very interesting in trying that one day. As to the hot riveting, sadly, with my microtorch, it's just not possible. The flame is simply too big. I'll have to upgrade to MAPP at some point.. probably when I get an actual workshop ;) The color play in this book is lovely, and the projects are interesting. I admit, most of them are not to my personal style, on the flip side though, that doesn't mean there is a single project in here that I wouldn't attempt. Just flipping through this book has me scrambling for my sketch book so that I can draw out ideas and make color notes, things I want to try.
One of the things I found really interesting to learn is that enamel doesn't mix like paints do. Which, yeah, in retrospect makes total sense. It's made of glass particles, why would it mix like a liquid? (Paint does count as a liquid right?) So what do you do if you can't find the shade you really really want? Get a transparent enamel. This was the most stunning advice I'd ever found. The idea is that the transparent holds a.. a  'ghost' of the color. Hmm, that's not the clearest way to explain that. Try this:  Say you want to make a green pendant, but you don't have any. You do have blue and yellow though. If you layer a blue enamel, and then overlay it with yellow, you'll get speckles. Looks pretty, sure. But it's not what you wanted is it? If however you take a blue enamel, and fire a transparent yellow over it, you will get a green. I can't vouch for what green yet, because I don't have any transparent enamels. ^^ I'll have to test that out at some point in the future for ya'll though. 
This book is... possibly one of the coolest books I've found. I love the ideas that I've learned from reading it, and I cannot wait to expand my enamels so that I can work with it even more.  One idea that I'd love to try out someday, that this book inspired was a series of necklaces, one for every month, with a different enameled flower for that month.
One thing that isn't covered within the book, but is mentioned on the author's webpage: Thompson Enamels does NOT sell their enamels in 3oz packages as is suggested in the book. You have your options of 1oz sample packs, 2oz or 8oz for individual colors. This is important to keep in mind, as 3oz really does make a big difference. However, if you're going to get into this, you have two options that I could hunt down. 1) You can buy from the Painting with Fire studio. Their colors are SO much better organized than Thompsons, in my opinion. (I admit though, that could be because of my browser.) 2) Is that you can buy directly from Thompson Enamels. The upside, you can get it directly from the manufacturer, and any blame can be placed directly at their feet.  Both of these have their upsides and their downsides. Choose for yourself based on what you think you can afford.
** An interesting note that I learned is that colors like red, orange and yellow are often more expensive because they will have some amount of gold in them.
I will add a disclaimer as a final note. In this book the author states that micro torches do not get hot enough to work with enamel. However, after reading this article, I was willing to take the risk and see if it was possible. For this post I'll leave it at this, it IS possible, if you're careful and you're willing to make mistakes at first.
Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :)

Book Review: Kumi

Title: 'Kumi' Braiding with Beads, Thread, Yarn, Cords
Author: Suzanne MCNeil
 
Pictures: 6/10
Clarity of Instruction: 9/10
Complexity: 4/10
Overall Score: 7/10
This is actually the shortest book I've reviewed to date, with  a grand total of 19 pages! Oh me oh my, whatever will I do with such a ginormous book!? 
While I haven't had a chance to test any of these projects out yet, I can tell you this much, they look really easy, and really fast. Since I make a good amount of pendants that I just don't know what to do with, I love the idea of being able to string them on cords I've made myself. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and it looks like once you get the hang of it you'll be able to work for hours without needing to really pay attention to the work.  Perhaps I am merely uninitiated, but it appears to me as though they all work off the same pattern, and the book only shows you different color combinations and how to arrange themm on the wheel so that your cord ends up looking a certain way. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I also like the tips that are given at the front, such as accounting for how much thread you need versus how much cord you're going to get. If you want a 20" necklace, you apparently need to have 60" of each color of thread/cord. The only thing set forward by the book that I don't agree with is the idea of not using it with wire. It states that because the braiding wheel is made of foam that the wire will cut it. I could be wrong, but I believe that using annealed wire to do this would make a very nice cord, and still leave the wheel intact....in fact I do believe I'll try that and get back to ya'll at some point. 
On a side note? While I am all for making things on your own, and not spending money if you don't have to, I don't suggest trying to make one of the boards....I cannot imagine that it would turn out right. Unless of course you are super precise and far better at figuring out how to make this sort of thing than I am.
Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :) 

Book Review: The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques

Title: The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques
Author: Anastasia Young
 
Pictures: 10/10
Clarity of Instruction: 8/10 
Complexity: 1/10 -10/10
Overall Score: 9/10
Let me start off with, I LOVED this book. Now that we've got that out of the way, I'll do my best to explain why. The book is divided into 6 sections. There's a brief history of jewelry at the very beginning with beautiful photos of jewelry from around the world, throughout time. After that begins the actual chapters. Chapter 1 is Work Space, Tools and Materials. I loved this section because it really went into depth on everything you should have when starting off, and then everything else you /could/ have. The info on the different materials was great to read, very easy to follow along with, and I learned quite a bit in this section alone. 

Chapter two is all about Techniques, and here is the only place the book had me ever so slightly confused confused. There would be times, such as when I was reading the enameling section, or reading about making rings, where it would use a term that the book assumed you would know, and yet it's not explained anywhere. 

On the other hand, there were tons of sections that I, being the ditz I can be at times ><, never would have considered including. Examples? Bending acrylic and making catches. It simply never would have crossed my mind. The techniques section is both very indepth and manages to cover a broad range of topics, while also giving only a small amount of information. Each technique is only given two to three pages, but within those pages, there's a wealth of information and at least one series of beautiful pictures. The techniques also range from the 'basic' such as working on a wire jig, or stringing, on over to the 'complex' like chasing and repousse or enameling. 

The third chapter is all about Design. I admit, being self taught the idea of designing a piece of jewelry from start to finish is rather daunting to me. The idea though of making samples and keeping detailed notes on how you came up with something isn't new, but the concept of technical diagrams certainly was. Even though I took drafting in school, I never thought to apply that to my work now. The things you learn.. 
Chapter four is all about going into business, and is one of the shortest chapters in the book.  My favorite section in this chapter was on Photography and the different effects that can be obtained, not to mention how to photography shiny surfaces.  (I admit, I am not the best when it comes to photography.)  The only section I had issue for in this was the pricing. It was more words and 'general' ideas than examples that could actually help you get a working idea for it. (and that's after taking into consideration that jewelry is a very broad range of prices.) 

Chapter five is the reference section, I really enjoyed reading this section, especially the suppliers and galleries listings. 

Final thoughts: Like I said at the beginning, I loved this book. Most undoubtedly, when I get the chance I am buying it and it is going to be a constant companion near my workbench. I highly suggest it for anyone of any level of work. 
Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :) 

Book Review: Kumihimo

 

Title: Kumihimo Wire Jewelry

Author:  Gionvanna Imperia 

Pictures: 10/10
Clarity of Instruction: 10/10

Complexity: 8/10

Overall Score: 10/10

Thoughts on the book.

I really enjoyed reading through this book. Not only does it start off with a bit of history about Kumihimo, but it explains the why behind different tools that are used. It also shows how different tools and patterns are used in conjunction to create specific pieces.  The instructions, for me at least, were exceedingly easy to follow, and it pointed out many things that I hadn't considered prior to reading this book. Ways to remind yourself of where you left off if you have to stop in the middle of a piece.  Figuring out how to create new patterns (which there are now a few sitting in my design journal...) It also made sure that for every pattern that was shown, there was an example of what could be done with it, as well as a close up shot of the weave done in thread, to see how tight/open it is naturally.

Regarding the complexity, I have to say that it does look a bit intimidating at first, and there are a bunch of things that are considered ‘specialized’. I’m sure though that with a bit of ingenuity you could find the majority of it around the house, or a way to rig something together that will allow you to do the same work without having to spend a large amount of money. That’s just the tools though. The work itself only /looks/ intimidating. If you follow along with the patterns and the way the diagrams are laid out, it’s easy to follow along and find a rhythm.

This is a book I plan on not only purchasing but also working into regular use in my own work.

Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :)

Book Review: The WireWorker’s Companion

Title: The WireWorker's Companion

Author:  Denise  Peck & Jane Dickerson

Pictures: 10/10
Clarity of Instruction: 10/10

Complexity: 2/10

Overall Score: 9/10 

 

The WireWorker's Companion..... was a lot smaller than I thought it'd be. When I first ordered it online, I figured it'd be roughly 9x12 the way most of the craft books are. Instead it's more like.. 8x5? It's not a bad thing at all, I just found it hilarious when I first got it.  It's a spiralbound book, and flips open sort of like a sketchpad, rather than a notebook would. I like that about it. I think it keeps it open better on my bench when I'm working. 

This is a really basic book, but everything it does cover, is done very well. It's basic wire work techniques. Things that are covered in the back of most of the step by step wire magazines. However. The photos are much better, and you can see everything that's done very clearly. It covers tools, types of wires, different things you can do with wire, and which wires work best for different applications. There's even a (SUPER) short section on fusing silver using a micro torch. :D 

My favorite things out of the entire book were actually the tools, charts and the reference section in the back. Since I'm self taught I learn about tools primarily from the books and articles I read. My newest one that I've learned about? A set of hole punching pliers. I admit, I'm astounded. I'm also miffed that my local craft store doesn't carry them. :( These specifically stuck in my head because of a project I"m working on, and I keep thinking how much easier the job would be if I had these, which is true. I just have to keep working as I have been though. :) The charts cover things like wire gauge, and different diameters that should be kept in mind when working with chainmail. The reference section is something I'm just starting to see in the Interweave books, and frankly I love it. They have 'further reading' as well as a list of places for where to get the supplies used in the book and the tools. Again, being self-taught, this makes my life so much easier (although I admit price hunting is still a pain!) 

I also really loved the tips. There's pretty much a tip for everything in the book. Just something small that makes whatever you're doing so much easier. My favorite one was one about tumble polishing. Apparently if you don't remove some of the oxidization from your jewelry before tumbling, it will be polished to a gunmetal appearance. I don't know about anyone else, but I think that's pretty useful! 

I think my two favorite things I learned from this book were the ideas of stamping my clasps, and how to do a proper wire loop. I know, I know, you're staring at my in disbelief right? I've known /how/ to do a wire loop and even a wrapped loop for ages. Something about the way it was presented in this book though, it made it so much easier to get them all the same I suppose? I must say, from what I've seen, my stuff looks much better now and I am very pleased by that. 

All in all, I definitely recommend this book, even if you're a master at wirework, I think it might be useful. 

Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :)

Book Review: Designing Jewelry With Semiprecious Beads

Title: Designing Jewelry With Semiprecious Beads

Author: Kim Gover

Pictures: 10/10
Clarity of Instruction: 2/10

Complexity: 2/10

Overall Score: 8/10

 

Hullo :) How are you doing today? Good I hope? Today's book is a book that, odd as it seems, just puts me in a good mood. Not because it's got super complex work, or deep insightful teachings on how to make jewelry. More because of the attitude of the jewelry it shows off. Let me start off by saying the pictures in this book are BEAUTIFUL! They're bright, they're colorful, and they're not too cluttered. The layout is superb and it's not a book that when flipping through it I get what I call "shiny glare' . (You know it, you go into a bead or gem show and after staring at everything for so long your brain just shuts down and can't absorb any thing else? Yeah, that.) Luckily this book doesn't do that :D

The most complicated thing in this book is a bit of wire wrapping. Other than that, it's a simple stringing book, with nothing too scary in it. The first third of the book is devoted to going over different stones that you can work with, if it's altered and what it does to it, if it can be passed off as something else, the relative price of the stones, and some suggested companions for the stone. The second half is about making a piece of jewelry for every stone listed, if not more than one.  Say you like the idea of amazonite? There's a beautiful combination of amazonite and rose quartz on page 68.   All of the designs are classy and fun, and vary in style design. 

While this isn't one I'd pick up for myself, if you're just getting started, or you need a good reference on stones, I would definitely pick this one up. 

Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :) 

Book Review: Jewelry With A Hook

Title: Jewelry With A Hook: Crocheted Fiber Necklaces, Bracelets, & More

Author: Terry Taylor

 

Pictures: 5/10
Clarity of Instruction: 8/10

Complexity: 8/10

Overall Score: 7/10

I will be completely honest and say that this book was not what I thought it was going to be. I had reserved the book from my local library, thinking it was about crocheting with wire. I admit, it had been a very bad day. I COMPLETELY missed the lines underneath the title saying 'Crocheted fiber necklaces, bracelets, and more".  Don't ask me how I missed it, I'm still not sure. ><  In my defense though, the library page didn’t have an image of the book.

So, if you're not like me, and that subtitle made sense to you, this book is entirely about making jewelry from fibers. It's not really my thing. But, since it is about jewelry, and I did bring it home, I figured I should review it. 

The pictures are clear and the models are lovely. The entirety of the instructions is in shorthand though, and I admit, it left me baffled. According to a friend who does crochet though, it's well written and makes perfect sense. There's even a section in the back that shows you how to do 'basic' techniques and explains all the abbreviations used in the book. I did try decoding it. For once my coding skills failed me miserably. I will be quite blunt and say that most of the pieces in the book look more like... well, centerpiece decorations than something you'd wear yourself. Then there are some pieces that look as though they can't tell whether they want to be scarves or necklaces. On the flipside though, there are pieces that I find quite lovely, if not something I'd wear myself. There's one that is a high choker done in a very lacy fashion, that when in black, looks stunning. Another is a fine chain done from a silver thread that would looks superb with a pendant strung on it. 

This is a book that has it's upsides and it's downsides as far as I'm concerned. I will say this though, if you already knit or crochet on your own, and you've ever wondered if you could somehow combine the two, this is the book to check out. 

Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :)