Tribal Treasures Bracelet Workshop DVD by Sharilyn Miller

When I got this DVD, I expected a simple instruction session on how to put a bracelet together but I was pleasantly surprised to discover so much more. Whether you're a beginner with beads and wire or an old hand, you're bound to get glean some great tips from this class.

Sharilyn Miller, author of Bead on a Wire, has created a two and a half hour DVD class to make a beautiful bracelet basically from scratch. The information is presented chronologically and begins with a basic lesson in tools and their specific uses, cleaning and measuring the wire, and hammering tools and techniques. Then you'll learn how to make wrapped eyepins, double wrapped eyepins, two different techniques for jump rings, bead dangles, spirals, coiled and caged beads, clasps and earring findings, that can be used to create whatever jewelry your imagination can conceive. When these artful pieces are ready, Sharilyn shows you how to assemble and finish them with detailed information on more cleaning, artificially aging and tumble polishing your jewelry.

The DVD consists of separate sections on each subject, which makes it easy to find what you want when you're ready to work on it. Her instructions are very precise and easy to follow and what I really liked is that Sharilyn anticipated that her audience would watch the DVD piecemeal and so made sure to repeat pertinent information in each section that may have been forgotten from a previous viewing. Being able to watch Sharilyn do each task naturally makes it easier for the viewer to follow the instructions but I also appreciated that she told anecdotes to illustrate certain information, making you aware of the consequences if the work is not performed correctly. She makes it clear that she's teaching you the best way to do each task for the best results possible. It seems to be a point of pride for her, which in this cutting-corners world is a refreshing experience.

I watched the DVD in large chunks to be able to review it for a newsletter I edit. I'd advise watching it that way, too, the first time to get an idea of what you want to work on, what you'll need for your project and to see Sharilyn's style of teaching. I enjoyed her casual speaking style--she made me feel like she was discussing the project with a friend--but that doesn't mean she wasn't imparting tons of fabricating wisdom all the while. One thing that I thought was strange, though, is that we never see her face, only her hands, which had a lovely French manicure, by the way...

Tribal Treasures would make a terrific gift for a new beader or wireworker but is also a great refresher course for any jewelry designer in need of inspiration. You can tell that Sharilyn is loving both the jewelry making itself and passing on her considerable knowledge to others.