Wire Wrapping Books

I love craft books of any kind and will often look at one even if I don't actually do the craft just to see how they present a craft. I believe that if you are not a knitter (for instance) that if you want to buy a book and teach yourself how to that the book should include plenty of photos with the step. Maybe that is because I'm a visual learner. So, with that I would like to tell you about a couple of wire wrapping books that I think are well worth the price. The first one Jewelry Studio: Wire Wrapping which I have. I really love this book and had looked inside it several times at bead shops before I finally purchased it. The authors have included loads of step by step photos (YAY!) and very good written instructions alongside. They cover plenty of different design ideas from beginner to advanced.



The second book I highly recommend is one on my wish list and I will definitely be buying this one as soon as I can afford it. It is Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wirewrapping by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong. If you are not familiar with Dale's work then you don't know what you are missing. I would LOVE to take one of her classes. I've thumbed through this book and as with the other she has plenty of projects from beginner to advanced and is thorough in her instructions and plenty of photos of all the steps. One of the other things I love about this book is that she includes photos of some of the finished projects by her students, their interpretation of her design. How cool is that?



Both books include all of the usual first chapter about all the tools and explanations of all of them and what you really need and what is helpful to have. I find this information useful when you compare what different wire workers use and prefer as far as tools. While mostly they use the same things and suggest the same tools for you to use there are always variations which I find very useful.

I've found that the one problem I have when doing any wire-wrapping project is how much wire to use. Both of these books help you to figure this out so you can work on projects and hopefully get the amount right. So if you are interested in wire wrapping check out both of these books.

Also, apologies for not posting in a while. Hope everyone is having a great 2010 so far.

New Discovery

I found this great place. It's this building and it has books, magazines, cd's and dvd's you can borrow!! It's called The Library and it is the best place ever!! LMAO Yes, I'm being a dingbat...apologies. Actually the libraries here in Las Vegas are new to me despite having lived here for 15 years I finally went to the main Clark County Library a few weeks ago and got a library card. Initially it was so I could use their computers to print a few things since I'm sick of going to Kinko's and paying not only to print but to use their computers. The computers at the library are free to use and you only pay for the copies which are half the price of Kinko's. While I was there the first time, the husband and I got a few cd's and a dvd (which we never got to watch). It was a Kirk Douglas movie which I may get again. The last time I went was to use the computer and I was checking out the dvd's and they had a volume of season one of The Streets of San Francisco. Now, yes I love this show because of the fact that it is based in SF but it was a great series and the relationship between Stone and Keller (Karl Malden and Michael Douglas) was brilliant. There was another one there at the time but I just got the one. Of course, today when I went someone had it out.

I also got a few books last time. Mostly wire books such as Sharilyn Miller's Bead on a Wire which is an excellent book. I'd recommend it as a must have for any level of wire worker. It is a great reference book for tools and basic designs that can be used over and over. Definitely one that is on my Wish List over at Amazon now. The other books weren't as good, one was downright awful.....great for inspiration but definitely not for a novice. Today, when I brought those books back I checked out a couple of issues of Bead & Button magazine from 2005. I've had a subscription to this magazine for a few years now and have quite a few issues I had bought individually before that but only one from 2005. There are a few projects I may have to get photocopied to hang on to. Personally, this magazine is one of my favorites hence the subscription. I find their instructions and photos impeccable and their range of projects is brilliant. Something for everyone. Mostly, I like to use it as inspiration and to sometimes alter the projects more to my personal taste. The only other magazine I really like is Step by Step Wire. They have a lot of great projects and good instructions. I'm a very visual learner....I like to see every step as well as read the description. That's why I love to take classes. Plus, who doesn't like to hangout with other jewelry people and just talk about making jewelry?!? Ok, enough about my new discovery and back to looking at the pretty designs in the B&B magazine.

Oh, don't forget there is only one week left to enter the EJDSS Team blog giveaway here. The prize is a pair of Silver Chainmaille Earrings made by ME!!