New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry: Unexpected Combinations, Unique Designs is written by well-known jewelry designer and weblogger Margot Potter (North Light Books $24.99 US; $28.99 CAN).
This is the author's sixth book for North Light Books, and while it definitely has her design touch, in this book Potter takes a more 3-dimensional approach to the 30 projects inside.
Book Front Matter
Before getting to the projects, the first part of the book includes information about wire, jewelry findings, tools, and techniques. The wire used in this book includes metal wire (such as silver wire) as well as memory wire and beading wire. So this book is not just about the regular base metal or precious metal wire that some wire workers might first think about. The information about tools and other supplies is all text-based. There are no photographs or illustrations, but instead, the various items required are described.
Now the techniques section does have lots of full-color photographs that show the techniques step by step. Some of these include how to make and work with jump rings, how to shape wire with a bench block and hammer, making wire clasps and ear hooks, crimping, using jigs, and making wrapped and unwrapped dangles with wire and beads. Beadalon supplies are used throughout the book, so along with the company's beading wire, you will recognize other products such as the scrimp and ez-crimp.
Projects
This book is packed with 30 projects, all of which I think are very accessible as far as techniques to beginner jewelry makers. However, because of the sculptural approach taken, even more advanced jewelry makers might find some design ideas they had not considered before. The projects are organized into 5 different chapters: Foundations, Wrapped, Crocheted and Coiled Shaping Wire Designs; Thinking in 3-D, Woven Beading Wire Designs; Sculptural Concepts, Complex Dimensional Shaping Wire and Bead Designs; Architectural Exploration, Complex Dimensional Beading Wire and Bead Designs; and The Fifth Dimension, Combining Beading and Shaping Wire Designs.
Some of the standout projects include "BQOTU," a bead and wire tiara that has an adorable headband variation; "AMPHORA," a necklace with a U-shaped wire frame that is wire wrapped with garnet and green cat's eye beads; and "ARACHNE," a necklace made up of crochted iron wire and adorned with a vintage skeleton key.
Final Thoughts
As stated in the book's introduction and subtitle, while the basic techniques are not really anything new, the projects take a different approach to traditional jewelry designing. The book was developed around a sculptural concept, so it should be expected that while most pieces of jewelry made in the projects section are very wearable, some might see a lot of those projects as being avant-garde and unusual. You are going to see layers of materials and loops of wire woven together. For jewelry designers who want to go beyond the basic idea of using beading wire to string up a necklace or bracelet or who want to create contemporary and trendy wire elements, then this book is a good fit.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our
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