Simple Soldered Jewelry & Accessories: A Crafter’s Guide to Fashioning Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & More by Lisa Bluhm
I received two more jewelry books to review last week. Again, Lark was so great about supporting the Boxing Day Sew-in that I just can’t say no to reviewing this book.
This book has a very appealing necklace on the cover. I like the charm bracelet look of it. This book has an introduction that explains the reason behind the book, and that is followed by a section on essential tools and materials. This includes a part on setting up her workspace. I haven’t seen a section like this before and I think it is a good idea, especially for an art like metal working. Both are well illustrated. The illustrations are both of tools and of the final result of the details of the book. I particularly like the layout chosen in this section. Every paragraph or so has a heading and describing each type of tool.
Chapter 2 discusses creating soldered glass pieces. It is includes cutting and scoring glass, followed by breaking the glass and tidying the edges. My first job was in a stained and leaded glass shop and the section reminds me of learning how to make leaded glass windows as the author discusses the various parts of the process of working with glass.
This book includes sections on basics. In the glass section there is a ‘basics’ page called “techniques for working with wire.”
Finally, Chapter 3 is all projects.I was expecting the regular projects, but was pleasantly surprised by the wide variety and I have to admit being tempted by some of the lovely shapes. There wasn’t just jewelry, but also a Letter Pendant (pg.39), which is jewelry, but could be a bookmark with a charm on it. There is also a Holiday Ornament (pg.41). The next section is called New Life for Found Objects, which starts off with a broach (pg.45). I like the project called Snazzy Storage Labels (pg.47). I also like the Beautiful Bobby Pins (pg.85), which use store bought bobby pins. I also like the Scrapbook Frames (pg.119), which I think is a very different and interesting project. It includes some variations, which I thought was an excellent idea for a book with a lot of projects. The Decorative Tin Box (pg.121) would also be a good gift or stocking stuffer.
There are a wide variety of designs, shapes and different jewelry and projects in the book. I like the wide variety of projects.
Check it out! Thanks to Lark for sending me this book to review!