Handcrafted Wire Findings

Description

Add personal style at minimal cost with custom-made findings! Why spend hundreds of dollars stocking up on expensive manufactured clasps, jump rings, ear wires, bails, and more when you can make exactly what you need for a fraction of the cost? Making custom findings enables jewelry makers to affordably create just the right component to complement their own jewelry designs. Handcrafted Wire Findings looks at your wire stash and focuses on how to create custom, professional-quality findings. With fundamental skills for beginners that progress to more sophisticated designs, this book covers techniques such as basic wirework, texturizing, silver fusing, adding patina, and traditional finishes. Included are over 30 projects for making custom wire findings, each accompanied by step-by-step photographs and directions to ensure success.

Denise Peck is a wire/metal jewelry artist and the editor in chief of Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry, senior editor for Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, and projects editor for Step-by-Step Beads. She is a metalsmith with a bench jeweler's certificate and makes and sells her own jewelry when she can find the time. Jane Dickerson was the editor of Creative Jewelry magazine and is the author of Chain Style.

"Once you see just how easy it is to make your own stunning custom findings, you'll never go back." - "beading-arts.com" Denise Peck and Jane Dickinson have used their shared experiences to create a one-stop shop for some stylish wire worked findings. With over 30 projects for you to try there is something to suit all budgets and abilities. Six sections cover all the main topics: ear wires, connectors, links, hooks, S-Hooks, toggle clasps etc. Each project has its own set of detailed instructions and photographs, plus special attention has been given to providing you with detailed information on the tools to make your findings. Simple projects using simple pliers lead on to more complex items using a micro torch. Definitely not one for the faint-hearted. Written in the US, the wire gauges are American too, but this book offers the reader lots of useful tips to identify the requirements. If you have plenty of time to practise, and lots of patience, why not finish off your treasured piece with a personal touch.-Beadworkers Guild