Jewelry

Metalsmithing can be a daunting task, especially to the beginner. This beautifully photographed, comprehensive guide provides crafters of all levels with a gentle, user-friendly approach to substantial metal jewelry-making skills. After reviewing the fundamentals of jewelry design, raw materials, and safety in the studio, readers are introduced to tools for cutting, drilling, forming, soldering, polishing, and more. Next, they will learn a variety of techniques including piercing, stamping, forging, annealing, oxidizing, casting, and even setting stones, enabling them to create 25 stunning and professional-looking projects. "

Over the past ten years, crochet has developed in an exciting new direction, as many artists have begun using wire to create unique jewelry. Arline Fisch, an internationally acclaimed jeweler and one of the foremost experts in adapting textile techniques for metal, introduces this new form of needlework and provides a wide range of exceptional projects from 16 international designers.

Designed to make people look twice, Junk Jewelry's beauty lies in featuring otherwise ordinary items in artful, surprising ways. What looks like a metal cuff turns out to be made of safety pins; translucent hoop earrings are actually computer chips; and a drawer pull transforms into a pendant. As the world goes green, there's never been a better time to pack a visual punch with recycled materials and everyday objects or mementos found in a dresser, at a flea-market, or in the loft. But it isn't just about throwing together useless bits without some thought - artist and designer Jane Eldershaw shares prin-ciples for assembling it successfully without sacrificing imagination. You'll learn how to find inspiration, create aesthetic rhythm and pull off wearing the pieces with panache. The 25 projects featured here are perfect for anyone who appreciates thrift-store funkiness and avant-garde fashion. With step-by-step instructions, tips on finding the best raw materials and instructional illustrations, Junk Jewelry is both a thoughtful how-to manual and a unique, intellectually satisfying style guide.

Step-by-step instructions for over 70 beautiful pieces.

The Phenomenon of Studio Goldsmithing When the history of art in the 1980s is written, much of it will be etched in gold. This is the time of the contemporary goldsmith, an artist who chooses to work in precious metals rather than oils or marble. The contemporary jeweler-as-artist has only recently become a re cognized force. With rare exceptions, the whole field is little more than thirty years old. But it is only within the past fifteen years that these jewelers have entered the jewelry mainstream. The phenomenon of contemporary goldsmithing embraces an eclectic group of artists, each with a unique vision, each taking a per sonal path to jewelry producing. They have as little relationship to the typical, mass-produced jewelry as a champagne maker has to a bottler of orange soda. They approach a piece of art, not a piece of metal. The work is personal and a perfect expression of the "back to the land" movement that spawned it. Many of these goldsmiths were looking not merely for a way to make a living but for a way to make a life that was worthy of living. Running a business while trying to remain a creative metalsmith at the same time is the ongoing challenge. The jeweler-artists have solved or resolved these often conflicting needs in slightly different ways and in a beautiful variety of techniques and styles. Their meth ods, their growth, and their work are discussed here.

A Jewelry Classic For three decades, Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry has served as the most respected and authoritative reference to the subject of vintage jewelry on the market. The new edition of this timeless classic finds acclaimed jewelry expert C. Jeanenne Bell at her best uÌ‚ sharing her impressive understanding of the subject with unbridled passion for her life-long pursuit. Offering significant historical information and lavish images of remarkable pieces, this best-selling guide to antique jewelry takes you on a beautiful and edifying adventure. Bell's historical sense, coupled with her keen eye for detail and value, makes her work a cherished addition to the library for both the beginning or veteran jewelry collector. This new edition features nearly 1,000 all-new color photographs of the most collectible jewelry today from 1840 to 1950, fully vetted values, and offers indispensable insight for various jewelry styles, including: • Victorian • Edwardian and Egyptian Revival • Art Nouveau and Art Deco • Retro Modern • Bakelite, Costume, Mexican and Modernist A former appraiser for "Antiques Roadshow," Bell also provides additional information on maker's marks, trademarks, designer marks, and circa dating clues.

You've probably coveted jewelry you've seen in artsy boutiques and fashion magazines or envied friends who have the perfect bling to accent everything. With this book, you'll learn to craft designs that are chic but inexpensive. With hundreds of detailed photos, this book covers tools and supplies, bead stringing and weaving, wire wrapping, and more. Terrific projects will get you started and inspire you to create your own jewelry and beadwork designs. Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review Each skill or technique is defined and described Detailed color photos demonstrate each step Step-by-step instructions accompany each photo Helpful tips provide additional guidance