Creating Your Own Antique Jewelry: Taking Inspiration from Great Museums Around the World

I just completed two projects in this book and the pieces turned out beautifully! This is my first foray into the polymer clay medium and I can't wait to create more pieces.I do not understand some of the previous reviewers' comments about the pieces being unsophisticated etc.... these are reproductions of ANTIQUE pieces which, by definition, didn't use modern "sleeker" methods of metallurgy etc... One reviewer also mentioned that painting with the model paints is a problem. Not so! My only conclusion is that the author of that review didn't try the techniques or didn't follow the directions for painting. The "Testor" brand paints I used worked great. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in recreating antique pieces. The projects are easy, fun, and a springboard to use one's own creativity.

I wrote an initial review of this book when I had never worked with polymer clay before. In the few months that have passed, I have gotten pretty excited about the medium and have a few varied projects under my belt. Which means this book is worthless, right?Wrong! This book is still quite an inspiration to me. I love the way the author blends stones and clay for an affect all her own. While such stones and jade and rose quartz can be simulated to near perfection with clay but rubies and emeralds and such must still be replicated with glass and semi precious stones since even the transparent clay is relatively opaque.This is most certainly a book for people who enjoy and can pull of chunkier, ancient looking jewelry and if you fit into this category I am certain this book will appeal. If you taste runs toward cute jewelry or more delicate stuff, there are plenty of polymer clay books that will fill your needs. This book is also ideal for rennaissance fair junkies, and people who need specialized ancient looking jewelry.One element I really enjoy about this book is the collection of pictures that show where the author got her inspiration. (many are paintings from the Louvre) So, you're really getting two books in one, a light art book and an instruction book.As to painting, the way I like to add a metallic look to black clay (after comapring many different instructions) is to dust it with powder and then add highlights with metallic wax. Both items are easily available.If you fit the profile of someone who would read this book, give it a try. If it isn't to your taste, shop around for another book and enjoy the wonderful medium of polymer clay.

I enjoy ren-fairs and I love old style jewelry. This book was an impulse buy entirely. I have no experience with clay (beyond the flour clay I had as a kid) and none with jewelry making.I bought some clay and today I tried the simple pendant near the end of the book. It turned out beautifully! The author's simple advice and step-by-step instructions were a great help. The clear photographs helped me to see what I was doing.All of the pieces in the book can be basically broken down into just a few shapes: the main shape, small balls of clay and spaghetti like strands used to simulate filigree. The pieces are modeled in black polymer clay and painted with patina which makes them look antique with very little effort.If you like the raw look of ancient jewelry, or if you want to broaden your artistic horizens, this book will be a help and an inspiration. I am excited and can't wait to try another piece.

I just received the book today and have two projects in the oven as I write. Beautiful reproduction ideas and fairly simple directions to follow. Highly recommended for those who enjoy creating their own pieces of jewelry, without requiring a lot of jewelry making skills.

Ways to imitate metal and gem stones to create the pieces of jewelry shown in famous paintings.... the cover shows only a hint of how wonderfully authentic the pieces are. And there are step by step instructions for so many of them!The instructions and illustrations seem to be easy to follow, and I'm hoping to re-create a bunch of the pieces shown.Really nice addition to my library.