wendyleehearn.com » Book Reviews http://wendyleehearn.com/blog Adventures in Glass and Jewellery Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:09:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Metalworking 101 for Beaders – Candie Cooper http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2010/01/metalworking-101-for-beaders-candie-cooper/ http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2010/01/metalworking-101-for-beaders-candie-cooper/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:52:41 +0000 WendyLee http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/?p=377

I have taught Metalworking for Beaders at the Australian Bead and Gem shows for many years. When I saw this book in Dymocks recently I thought it was brilliant.

It is an ideal book for those wanting to go to the next step with there beading and learn basic metalwork Techniques without the complication.

The book has 29 tutorials in it to start you out with the basics and slowly work up from there.

It is broken down into 4 sections
*Metals
*Tools and Materials
*Basic Metalworking Techniques
*Jewelry (tutorials)

Book is Softcover
128 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-60059-332-1

If you are looking for advanced techniques this is NOT the book for you. It is a beginner entry level book into Metalwork.

]]> http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2010/01/metalworking-101-for-beaders-candie-cooper/feed/ 0 Embroidered Jewellery – Shirley Anne Sherris http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/12/embroidered-jewellery-shirley-anne-sherris/ http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/12/embroidered-jewellery-shirley-anne-sherris/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:43:23 +0000 WendyLee http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/?p=374

This is a great book that is full of wonderful ideas on combining Embroidery and Sewing with your beading skills.

Book is broken up into the following chapters.
*Materials
*Designing and sizing
*Surface Background
*Surface Decoration
*Joining Techniques
*Chains and Fastening
*Exploring other materials

If you already do alot of bead embroidery then this book will take your work to the next level and give you a whole range of possibilities and ideas you had not considered.

Hardcover
120 Pages
ISBN: 9781906388119

]]> http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/12/embroidered-jewellery-shirley-anne-sherris/feed/ 0 The Sculpters Bible – John Plowman http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/04/the-sculpters-bible-john-plowman/ http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/04/the-sculpters-bible-john-plowman/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:33:21 +0000 WendyLee http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/?p=38

This book is labelled as the “All-Media Reference To Surface Effects And How To achieve Them”

It is a part of the same series of books released by New Burlington Books. I reviewed one of the other books The Jewellers Techniques Bible.

I must say that I love these books, they are easy to read and follow, spiral bound and they act as great reference books.
It gives you the basics and quick instructions on how to achieve the effects without going into wordy descriptions.

This book is divided up into the foloowing chapters

*Stone
*Wood
*Metal
*Fired Clay
*Plaster
*Resin
*Cement and Ciment Fondue

The book is full of ideas that you can carry on over into Polymer clay, Precious metal Clay, Air Dry Clays and to any other medium you work with.
It is one reference book that will get your head running wild with ideas and stepping out of your comfort zone.

The best thing about this book is the price tag attached. I paid $19.99 AUD for it at Dymocks. Its excellant value for this series of books.

]]> http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/04/the-sculpters-bible-john-plowman/feed/ 0 Creative Stone Setting – John Cogswell http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/03/creative-stone-setting-john-cogswell/ http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/03/creative-stone-setting-john-cogswell/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:35:30 +0000 WendyLee http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/?p=41

Hardcover
Pages: 207
ISBN: 978-1-4081-0945-8

This book answers so many questions in a clear and concise way that I have had for awhile. There are so many jewellery books out on the market that cover the basics on stonesetting. How to bezel set a round or oval cabochon, claw setting using prefabricated settings.

BUT how do you set that stunning trapezoid cabochon you have, or the fancy shaped faceted Amethyst.

Well the answers are in this book.

The book is broken down into chapters as follows.

Getting Ready
Tools, Supplies, Equipment
Bezel Settings
Prong Settings
Graver Settings
Gyspy Settings and flush mount settings
Beads, Pearls and Gem Balls
Tension Settings

For those of you who are self taught then this is a must have book on your desk, It even shows you how to make your tools to set stones.

It was worth every dollar I spent on this book!

]]> http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/03/creative-stone-setting-john-cogswell/feed/ 0 The Jewellers Technique Bible http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/01/the-jewellers-technique-bible/ http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/01/the-jewellers-technique-bible/#comments Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:37:13 +0000 WendyLee http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/?p=44

The Jewellers Techniques Bible – Anastasia Young
Published – 2008
Available – Dymocks Bookstores across Australia for $24.99
Spiral Bound

There are so many of these types of books on the market at the moment so what makes this one different and worth purchasing?

The simple answer is that it covers materials that are not discussed in so many other books.

The book is broken down into 6 parts or chapters if you prefer.

Part 1 : Base Metals
Copper, Brass, Gilding Metal
Aluminium and refractory Metals
Steel

Part 2: Precious Metals
Silver and Gold

Part 3: Natural Materials
Wood
Bone, Ivory, horn , shell and jet
Leather
Feathers, hair and Quills

Part 4: Plastics and Rubber
Acrylic, polypropelene, nylon, resin
silicone, neoprene, polyurethane
thermoplastic polymer

Part 5 : Other Media
Cement, slate, plaster, ceramics
porcelain, glass, paper, textiles
electronic components

Part 6: Stones and Settings

Parts 3,4 and 5 is what makes this book stand out from all the others in the crowd. It covers all the usual techniques but using them with other materials.

+sandblasting wood
+etching plastic
+engraving shells

Each section gives enough instructiona nd advice for you to go off and experiment further or look for more indepth information if thats what you recquire.

This is a fntastic book and if you like playing with Mixed Media then its definitely worth having in your book collection.

]]> http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2009/01/the-jewellers-technique-bible/feed/ 0 Link It – Susan C Thomas http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2008/12/link-it-susan-c-thomas/ http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2008/12/link-it-susan-c-thomas/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:39:05 +0000 WendyLee http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/?p=47

I am a self confessed book and magazine jumkie and will pretty much buy anything that is related to jewelry making.

I saw this book advertised in Art Jewelry magazine and had to have it. I was unable to find this book available in Australia in any book shops or online sellers so had to purchase it from Amazon. There are also a few sellers on US ebay selling this book as well.

It was well worth buying. This book is so fresh with ideas and tutorials that I am itching to try most of the tutorials.

The tuorials are chainmalle with Rubber rings and incorporating them with metal rings to create really unique and woven chainmaille jewelry.

This is a must have book for lovers of Chainmaille and are looking at taking there jewelry to the next step.

Link It – Susan C Thomas
Published: Lark Books
ISBN: 978-1-60059-156-3

If you are wanting to purchase this book in Australia, check with Dymocks as to when they will be getting it in as they always stock the Lark Jewelry Books and get them in for you very quickly.

]]> http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2008/12/link-it-susan-c-thomas/feed/ 0 50 Heirloom Buttons to make – Nancy Nehring http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2008/06/50-heirloom-buttons-to-make-nancy-nehring/ http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/2008/06/50-heirloom-buttons-to-make-nancy-nehring/#comments Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:42:14 +0000 WendyLee http://wendyleehearn.com/blog/?p=53

What a wonderful book full of lots of stunning eye candy.

I never knew it was possible to make so many beautiful buttons. The book is very easy to read with lots of beautiful photos, Instructions and graphs are very easy to follow.

The book is broken down into 5 sections
*Needle Lace Buttons
*Braid Buttons
*Crocheted Buttons
*Frog Closures
*Fabric and Ribbon Buttons

I can picture some of these stunning buttons as closures for an elaborate seed bead project or made up and simply worn as pendants. There are so many possibilties that you can use these for other then just buttons!

You will not be disappointed with the purchase of this book.

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