Mixed Metals: Creating Contemporary Jewelry with Silver, Gold, Copper, Brass and More ($22.95 Interweave Press) by Melinda Barta and Danielle Fox makes metal findings, components, chain, and beads the stars in this book that covers basic jewelry construction. While you will see other jewelry and bead items in the jewelry, like crystals and gemstones, they are just there to accent the metals like copper, brass, silver, and gold.
Projects and Techniques
The projects section is divided up by types of metals: gold, silver, base metals (like copper and brass), faux metals, and then finally a mixed metals chapter. The designs are rich looking, many with a vintage feel to them, which I really like. I especially like the mixed metals section including the "Secret Garden" projects (which is on the cover as well) and the "Memories of Victoria" which showcases a cool filigree locket.
The layout of the projects section (the main part of the text) is interesting because at the beginning of each chapter you get a full-page picture of each finished piece along with a page reference for the corresponding project instructions. Then after the picture pages, you get the detailed step-by-step for each one. I like this because if you see a project you especially like, you can immediately flip over to the instructions.
The techniques section in the back of the book covers the basics of bead and wire work and also provides instructions on oxidizing metals and caring for metals. As a helpful bonus, a resource area provides a list of suppliers for each project. So if you want to know where a specific component came from, you can flip over there, look up the project, and locate the supplier. There a number of unusual components in the jewelry designs, so this list is a great idea.
Concluding Thoughts
While you aren't going to learn to fabricate metal, Mixed Metals: Creating Contemporary Jewelry with Silver, Gold, Copper, Brass and More by Melinda Barta and Danielle Fox demonstrates methods for using basic wire and bead stringing techniques and creating metal jewelry masterpieces. I recommend this text to anyone who enjoys jewelry designs that have a mix of timeless and vintage style to them.
