Review by Julie Bean
We love jewelry making books here at Beadaholique. Not only are they indispensable in terms of teaching us designers new techniques, but they are also amazing sources of inspiration. We have teamed up with Lark Books to bring you a series of book reviews of some of the hottest jewelry making books on the market today. This week I had the good fortune to review the new book Steel Wire Jewelry by Brenda Schweder.
If you have followed my blog posts before, you know that I love mixed media designs and found objects. I have even trained my husband to keep his eyes glued on the sidewalk as he walks to the coffee shop each morning so that he can pick up old rusted gears, shards of glass, and odd springs which have come off cars. Most men bring their wives flowers, mine brings me dirty and broken metal objects - and I love it!
This book hooked me right away with a forward by Keith Lo Bue and his almost sexy writing about steel wire - who knew? In the following pages Brenda introduces us to steel wire, its appeal, workability, affordability, and versatility--"In the raw, it's dirty, it's heavy, and it's most certainly lack-luster. It's the proverbial lump of clay (but not clay at all). I guess it's just that - that diamond in the rough quaility - that's so gripping."
Throughout the beginning of the book there are highlights of other artists' work showing the wide range of projects which can be made with steel wire. The layout of this book makes sense, first introducing you to the medium and its properties, next teaching about tools needed, general working tips, and fundamental skills to get started. Because steel wire is so affordable (we are talking about the steel wire from a hardware store for around $3 or $4, not shiny and fancy "jewelry making" steel wire) it is an attractive avenue to explore without having to make a big investment. I like the idea of taking the wire, twisting it, bending it, and seeing what happens. I agree with Brenda that it is very much like a lump of clay, something you can mold to your own designs and really just play with and see what happens. There is a sense of freedom with steel wire because it is not "supposed" to look like anything, there is no right or wrong way of doing it, and your only limitation is your own imagination.
Throughout the beginning of the book there are highlights of other artists' work showing the wide range of projects which can be made with steel wire. The layout of this book makes sense, first introducing you to the medium and its properties, next teaching about tools needed, general working tips, and fundamental skills to get started. Because steel wire is so affordable (we are talking about the steel wire from a hardware store for around $3 or $4, not shiny and fancy "jewelry making" steel wire) it is an attractive avenue to explore without having to make a big investment. I like the idea of taking the wire, twisting it, bending it, and seeing what happens. I agree with Brenda that it is very much like a lump of clay, something you can mold to your own designs and really just play with and see what happens. There is a sense of freedom with steel wire because it is not "supposed" to look like anything, there is no right or wrong way of doing it, and your only limitation is your own imagination.
Brenda's projects in this book are not what I would call "soft" or "feminine", and for me, there is a definite appeal in that. They are more structural, industrial, and architectural in nature. They have an edge to them, like pieces you might find at a modern art gallery. What I like best about the projects is how I see certain elements in them that I want to take and apply to other applications. For instance, in the "Flies Have Dreams, Too" cuff bracelet project, I can see using this same cuff pattern and then wire wrapping gears and cogs to turn this into a Steampunk piece. I love it when the projects in books are spring boards for new designs of my own.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a new challenge in jewelry making. Perhaps you love wire wrapping and want to expand your skills and range. Or maybe you have been working with more traditional jewelry making elements and have been craving that new medium to try. If this sounds like you, then find your hammer and bench block and grab some steel wire and give this book a try!
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