500 Silver jewelry Designs: A Review

Here’s another one. I really love Lark Books’ 500 series and this one is no exception. A book chock full of the most exquisite, thought provoking jewelry designs using silver, can really make your heart start pumping and your mind start racing with inspiration.

This gallery style book is 420 pages long, and includes many up and coming jewelry artists such as Chris Irick who actually teaches jewelry classes at Pratt, right across the street from the Munson- Williams- Proctor- museum where I work! The piece shown in the book is actually part of the museum’s collection, it is STUNNING!

Cutting edge jewelry designs whet my appetite, and I know they will wet yours. Although many are still quite un-wearable- it is still fun to see such funky designs and I love how some of the pieces were photographed on a model so you can actually get a good idea of how the piece is worn.

This would make a fantastic gift for that beginner Silversmith that you might know. I know one and will be giving this to her this evening. 🙂

I was not paid or compensated to do this book review in any way shape or form. These thoughts are just my own opinions about this particular title.

Ring a Day by Marthe Le Van: A Book Review

I have been a real slackass when it comes to doing book reviews, so I am going to make an effort to at least try to get one written once a week.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of that online Flickr Group, RAD, Ring A Day or RAW, Ring a Week– okay well they made a book of 700 of the rings from the Ring a Day group.

It came in the mail the other day. I was flipping through it  this morning,  and it’s really cool. Although in my opinion, quite a few of these rings are really unwearable, as is quite a bit of modern jewelry these days. I guess I’m more into functional jewelry- BUT, there are some seriously talented artists included in this collection.

My favorite part of the book is how artists give little commentaries about the process as their rings took shape. It’s interesting to know that the rings didn’t just form  in their minds automatically but that there was much more of a thought process.
So if you are looking for a How To on making rings, this isn’t it, but if you want something to spark your imagination and get you thinking outside the box, the book is a definite must-have! 
Published by Lark Books, and is available at all major book stores such as Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Enjoy!

I was not paid or compensated for this review in any way, and these are just own opinions of this particular book.

Tronex Tools Review

 

This is a really unscripted and short review on my Tronex tools- Enjoy!

Book Review: Jewelry Inspirations, Techniques and Designs from the Artist’s Studio by Sherri Haab

Author, jewelry designer, teacher, and crafty diva, Sherri Haab has done it again. She paired up with Watson-Guptill Publications and created a jewelry how-to book that is a must have this Spring season. I got my hands on a copy and am quite impressed.

Jewelry Inspirations: Techniques and Designs from the Artist’s Studio is an all-inclusive jewelry technique and design book. It covers everything from the basics of wire wrapping, to the more complicated  techniques of metal clay and etching.

Have trouble with organization and creating your own perfect studio space? Sherri sheds some light on these topics too in the beginning chapters. The book is broken up into themes such as Memories, Seasons, Collections, Hobbies, and Blast from the Past. Each section features a couple of different subsections, that take you through the process of a few different techniques. 

I have been asked a couple of times within the past few weeks if I know of any technique books that show fiber and leather techniques. GUESS WHAT!? Sherri features a few different designs that use this technique. Along with others such as wire crochet, Braiding, lucite flowers, polymer clay, and woven fibers. 

The step by step instructions for each project read easily, and are understandable. But my favorite thing about this book is the photography. It’s impeccable. The photos of each project are clear, bright, colorful and eye catching. Each section has a beautiful collage photo in the beginning that is truly inspiring in and of itself.

If you are lacking some new inspiration, I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Sherri’s Jewelry Inspirations. It really does deliver: INSPIRATION! TIPS! Step by Step Instructions! and how to find Inspiration in the world around you!

Available for pre-order now, here on Amazon. It will be released on March 9th.

I have a surprise for you! I have a copy to give away here!  Leave me a comment on this post and I will pick a random winner on Monday March 8th. One comment per person, please. And PLEASE be sure to leave your email so that I can notify you if you win!  Anonymous comments WILL NOT COUNT!