The biggest plus of this book are all the color photographs, more than a hundred throughout its 87 pages. For those who shy away from reading instructions, photographs are important. But when in doubt, always read the directions, and they have those as well so that you can follow both the step-by-step instructions and the photos together as you try each technique such as wrapped loops, unwrapped loops, wrapping briolettes, clasps, ear hooks, and various wire components.
Another item was I was impressed with was the fact that the books discusses the difference between soft and hard wire. Not all wire books talk about this, and while it doesn’t go into a huge amount of detail, enough is covered to allow a beginner to have an understanding of the difference between dead soft, half-hard, and hard wire.
If I had to find one issue with this book, I think buying wire on line and through catalogs should have been addressed more rather than primarily talking about bead shops and craft stores. Yes, a beginner would go to these places first, but most stores like these, in my opinion, not only have a limited selection but often charge too much when compared to on-line or catalog sources. Most jewelry makers, even beginners, find out pretty quickly that they need a less expensive source after just a few trips to their local craft or bead shop.
Any way, this is a good little book for someone totally new to wire jewelry making. It’s easy to follow and has plenty of techniques to get you started making a variety of wire jewelry designs. You can find out more about this book as well as view some pages from it through the Interweave Press website. Just go to the books section of the site and look for it under the beading category.
