Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry

Being new to wire jewelry. This book is a great help. Techniques and projects

I found this book to be a super adjunct to my library of jewelry making books. I think that you need a small amount of experience or it might be ovewhelming to view the first section on tools, which is very comprehensive and could be daunting. However, if you really love learning, Sharilyn is just the person to teach you. With great photographs (and lots of them!), she properly demonstrates how to accomplish something as simple as making a jumpring (and how to open it correctly so you don't mess it up!). She then progresses to creations as fancy as making a festive and festooned charm watch you will want to wear right away, and some lovely bracelets, earrings and necklaces which are worth the time and effort. After all that, she throws in a description of how to oxidize (using a mindblowingly beautiful spiral bracelet she shows how to make, first) better than anyone I have ever read or listened to. She gives good advice about design and sturdiness (I hate thinking stuff I wear is going to break--that is why I like wiring to begn with) and she is generous in sharing her style. Take what you like fom this book, and go make something spectacular of your very own!

I've been waiting for over 10 years for a book just like this one. Ever since I first saw the work of Lynne Merchant. Her wire work was elegant, gorgeous, and looked possible. Unfortunately she was in California and I was on the East Coast. I've tried and managed to teach myself some of the work, but Sharilyns book has answered all my questions and then some! Sharilyn explains everything in this book, like she was sitting next to you explaining it while you work. She seems to anticipate the questions your going to ask, and gives the answers before you get a chance to ask the question! The photographs are perfect, and totally understandable. They read well on their own most can be understood without the text, which is the sign of a good teacher. One last thought, how many times do you buy a book because it teaches technique but the projects are either too simplistic or two far out to ever see yourself wearing them? Well, to my surprise, I can't wait to make everything in this book, they are all beautifully done and make you want to own them,and because of the way that the author writes her books, it is completely possible for you TO own every one of them!!!