Christmas Gift Idea - Jewelry Design Techniques for Making Wire Jewelry

So you want to learn how to design with wire to make fantastic jewelry? Or you've never picked up a pair of plyers in your life and you're aching to get started? Whether you are an old hand or a newbie, jewelry design books are a great resource with which to start. Sure, you can find a lot of information online, but nothing beats the easy portability of a hand book. Today, I'm reviewing three wire jewelry books in order to help you make the decision about which books are right for you. Books are always fantastic Christmas presents, because knowledge is power, but these would be great presents any time of the year.

I teach jewelry design to high school students, and sell my own work in galleries, but wire working for jewelry is a fairly new craft for me. I already knew the basics of working with wire, but when I started reading Making Wire Jewelry: 60 Easy Projects in Silver, Copper, and Brass (1997), my mind started swirling with all sorts of new design possibilities. Written by Helen Clegg and Mary Larom and published by Lark Books, this 110 page tome is a must read for any wire worker! The introductory pages give you hints (such as starting your work with copper, as it's inexpensive, and practicing your designs before purchasing any sterling silver or gold) as well as a list of necessary tools for completing the projects in the book. This includes a helpful section detailing how to make your own wire jig, as well as what to substitute for often-expensive mandrels. The projects include an ancient Egyptian design technique that is stunning in appearance, but suprisingly easy to make. I used it as a design challenge with my students, and it was fun watching them try to figure out how it was done (and they were successful, too!). There are lots of different ideas for creating chains, which is great when you've gotten bored with simply linking jump rings together. Learn how to make rings, buttons, belts, bead cages, and much, much more. Well worth the $18.95 price tag, this book will inspire you for years to come.

On the other hand, Quick and Easy Wire Jewelry: 18 step-by-step projects - simple to make, stunning results (2005) was a bit of a let down. Published by Creative Arts & Crafts and written by Dorothy Wood, this book didn't not include much in the way of projects that I would actually make and like to wear. It's not that it was a bad book either: the full color photographs in the techniques section would be excellent for the very beginner. Someone who has never worked with wire and doesn't have the benefit of having a teacher could certainly learn how to get started with this book. The projects, however, are uninspired creations, with few exceptions: The Interlinked Wire Bracelet featured a great idea, but the execution is more suited to a young girl than an adult woman. With different choices, this design could be stylishly executed. Too many projects featured the use of a Knifty Knitter machine, which made interesting pieces, but I know from my own use, that this product is shoddily made and breaks easily. (Boo!) Also, it seems unnecessary for someone new to the craft to purchase specialized equipment. I suppose if you already owned the product, that would be okay, but probably if you already own it, you've already broken it. If you're brand new to wire jewelry, and you don't mind overly simplified projects, this book might be worth the $12.95 price tag for you. For me, it wasn't.

Finally, Elegant Wire Jewelry: Contemporary Design & Creative Techniques (2007) by Kathy Frey, published by Lark Jewelry Books, presents a more artistic approach to wire jewelry. The projects are inspired and innovative, expanding my design ideas by presenting three-dimensional wire working techniques. With full color photographs of the specific design techniques, this book won't leave you guessing at proper application of the discussed ideas, but still leaves the projects flexible enough for creative alteration. There are ideas for added mixed media elements to your designs, including recycling small game pieces and other traditionally non-jewelry items. Some of the designs aren't that great -- I don't care for the Dancing Branches or the Bound Chaos Pendant -- but others are stellar: I simply love the Bountiful Bubbles Pin and the design gallery at the end of the book. This is the most expensive book of the three at $24.95, but it would be great for the long-time wire worker looking for new inspiration. It's not the best book for a beginner; however, the techniques could easily be learned with a bit of practice, albeit more frustration, by someone who hasn't mastered their use of jewelry working tools.

If you were only going to purchase one of these three books, my recommendation would be the first book, Making Wire Jewelry, as its classic ideas are still inspiring today, 11 years after its original publication date. This book is crammed full of design ideas that, although they require practice and precision for perfect execution, are still easy enough to inspire the designs of the beginner. This book would make a great Christmas present for both the budding jewelry design and the seasoned vet (though you will want to check his or her library first to make sure this isn't already in the designer's collection).