Woven Wire Jewelry: Contemporary Designs and Creative Techniques (Beadwork How-To) [Paperback]

This book starts with an inspirational introduction - it encourages the reader to 'play' and be creative. One point must be made regarding this book, before starting get yourself familiar with soldering. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't purchase this wonderful book, but that a bit of groundwork should be done whilst being inspired by the work pictured within its pages. There is good information regarding tools and safety at first before starting on the techniques section. The designers (Linda Chandler and her best student, Christine Ritchey) show how to weave wire using wires of varying thickness to create wonderful pieces of jewellery (including fine silver wire). One downside if you're curious about using PMC or Precious Metal Clay is that you would either need to purchase a small kiln or have access to one, but this shouldn't dissuade you as you can certainly concentrate on the wire weaving section of this book until you choose to embark upon embellishing work with PMC, which certainly is a fascinating product. The five projects are nicely laid out ranging from easy to advanced, with clear photographs and make elegant pieces which start with a simple woven bracelet and concludes with a pendant with a woven frame. The book includes a good resource list and has a gallery which should inspire those wishing to take this craft further. One thing to take into account is that you will have to practice to be able to calculate the amount of wire needed, but if you read through the book thoroughly before starting on the projects you will b able to do this once you know the wire lengths and cuts. All in all a really inspiring book for those who wish to create beautiful, fine jewellery and I can certainly see some using PMC to add symbolic stones or craft spiritual items. --Pentacle, Summer 08

Gold and silver wire skillfully woven into gentle yet substantial forms adds dimension and refinement to your handcrafted jewelry. Designer Linda Chandler, along with one of her best students, Christine Ritchey, introduce a new wire weaving technique that varies the number of wires and their thickness to create stunningly beautiful bracelets, neckpieces, and pendants. Project instructions go well beyond simple line drawings to show the assembly process of each piece in a series of step-by-step photographs. The five projects begin with an elegantly simple woven bracelet, and move on to more dramatic projects that include a domed cuff bracelet with soldered bead ends, a free-form bracelet, a woven neckpiece, and a pendant with a woven frame. Projects range in difficulty from easy to advanced, and many projects can be completed without soldering (though knowledge of soldering is a plus). The more experienced craftsperson will savor the way Precious Metal Clay adds striking embellishments to four of the projects. And to help you develop your own designs, there's a full-color gallery of finished work to inspire and bend your imagination.

Linda L. Chandler is a jewelry designer and teacher with more than twenty years experience. She is a Precious Metal Clay TM certified teacher who conducts workshops around the country in a variety of jewelry skills including wire wrapping, metalsmithing, and glass fusing. Linda and her husband live in Indianapolis, Indiana. Christine R. Ritchey has been an independent writer/editor for ten years, as well as a potter and jewelry maker. She has worked for D magazine and the local PBS station in Dallas. Christine and her husband live in North Texas with several border collies and a parrot named Gracie.