Soldering has moved out of the garage shop and taken the crafting world by storm! It's an easy-to-learn technique for creating jewelry, decorative accents, and keepsakes, and this guide takes beginners step-by-step through all the basics: glass cutting, working with copper foil, and the actual soldering itself. A comprehensive techniques section helps novices learn the basics and trouble-shoot potential problems as they work.--From publisher description.
Metalworking is generally regarded as a skill that takes years of dedication, requires a large studio space, and costs a lot of money. Fortunately, Simple Soldering proves that does not need to be the case. This handy how-to guide is complete in its exploration of the craft of creating soldered metal jewelry, including tools, techniques, and 20 beautiful projects that beginners and enthusiasts can make at home. Author and teacher Kate Richbourg demystifies basic soldering for any home crafter, showing how to create sophisticated, polished, and professional-looking jewelry pieces through simple soldering techniques. First, she instructs how to set up a jewelry workspace that fits the confines of your budget and living space. Detailed step-by-step instructions walk you through the basic tools and materials you need, plus how to use them. A sample chapter gives a host of introductory exercises that teach solid skills, allowing you to test these techniques on a small scale. Finally, you'll discover 20 finished projects that include earrings, pendants, rings, bracelets, and clasps that may also include bead or wire embellishment. Kate also demonstrates how to combine and layer techniques to gorgeous effect. She also examines common mistakes, shows how to correct or adapt them, and gives advice on when it's time to start over. Most of all, having taught thousands of classes on soldering, Kate has a "you can do it!" attitude that shines through to help even the most reluctant jewelry maker fire up the torch with ease. With Simple Soldering, the art of metal working one-of-a-kind jewelry is now at your fingertips.
The art of soldering—permanently joining metal components with a torch and solder—can open up a new world of creative possibilities for jewelry makers. In Hot Connections Jewelry, award-winning jewelry designer Jennifer Chin guides you through every step, from choosing a torch to basic techniques like sawing, filing, and riveting, as well as more advanced techniques like creating surface textures, setting stones, and using inlay. With 23 in-depth lessons and 15 stunning projects, as well as inspiring examples from contributing artists, Hot Connections Jewelry is your essential guide to unleashing your creativity and confidence in jewelry making.
• 28 stylish DIY jewelry projects with step-by-step how-to photos. • Everything beginners need to tackle their first jewelry project. • Covers the full range of jewelry mediums—beads, findings, wire, hemp and leather. • Easy ideas for necklaces, earrings, bracelets, bangles, chokers and rings. • Skill-building tutorials teach essential techniques. • Includes beginner’s guide to basic tools and materials.
• This book shows how to create exciting metal jewelry using just 12 simple, inexpensive hand tools. • No jewelry torch required. • 8 exercises and 12 projects feature step-by-step photos that show exactly what to do and how the result should look. • Readers can master the use of jeweler’s tools and create beautiful pieces of jewelry along the way. • Required materials are readily available at craft stores, hardware stores, and/or around the house. • The author has extensive experience teaching jewelry making to beginners—she knows how to explain the tools and techniques in an easy-to-understand, reader-focused style.
Organic, expressive, and exciting, the projects in this book reflect a truly original artist’s vision. Mixed Metal Mania makes metal jewelry accessible to a brand-new audience. This book starts by teaching the basic techniques and giving helpful tips, and then moves on to simple projects before building into more challenging work requiring new skills learned. Kim St. Jean also includes the stories of inspiration behind each project, adding to the unique appeal of this book. For jewelry designers who crave something distinctive, Mixed Metal Mania is a dream come true.
Leather jewelry doesn’t have to be traditional! Fabulous leather can be anything from casual and fun to stylish and sophisticated. With a smattering of beads and some clever construction ideas you can take leather jewelry beyond conventional and onto the fashion runway. Award-winning jewelry designer Myléne Hillam shows you how to use leather not just as a stringing component, but as the featured material in designer accessories. No conventional leather crafting skills are required. You’ll learn how to loop, twist, fold, and recolor leather in ways that will redefine your perception of jewelry. Whether you’re looking for something colorful and fun to team with your T-shirt and jeans or a statement necklace to dress up your work wear, you’re bound to find something here to suit your style and take your wardrobe from glum to glam.
Discover the possibilities of cold joins! The hottest trend is cold. Cold-connection techniques are pushing the envelope of what is possible in metal without the use of a torch or kiln. All the necessary tools and materials--a common drill, hammer, sandpaper, wire, metal sheet--are all readily available and affordable for almost any budget. Learn how to use rivets, screws, and other materials to combine elements without having to deal with heat. Master jewelry designers Robert Dancik, Connie Fox, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Tracey Stanley, and others offer signature pieces, constructed using cold-joins. Accompanying each project are expert tips and tricks for additional ideas and customization. Metal Style is full of inspiration and techniques for jewelry makers looking to ignite a creative spark in their metal jewelry without lighting a flame.
Learning to make your own jewelry is easy with the step-by-step instructions in Simple Beginnings: Beading. Author Suzann Sladcik Wilson teaches you everything you need to know to bring out your inner jewelry designer. By learning about the different varieties of beads and becoming familiar with stringing materials, findings, and clasps, you'll soon discover there is no wrong way to design earrings, necklaces, and bracelets- only your way.