Compendium of Jewellery Making Techniques

This book packs in the combined wisdom of two writer-educators who are consummate problem solvers when it comes to jewellery making. Together they show the reader how to fix common screw-ups, try out new creative techniques, get more skilled at familiar methods, improvise tools and discover ways to save money, such as recycling gold and other precious metal scraps. From beading to setting a stone, understanding annealing to soldering your own silver chain, you can riffle through the book, experimenting with new innovations to create your unique jewellery designs. Packed with over 200 expert fixes, insider tips, and tricks of the trade, content is arranged by topic to enable any jewellery maker to achieve a striking and professional look to their earrings, necklaces, rings, and more. A must-have for anyone who makes their own jewellery, whether at beginner or intermediate level.

Jan 14 If you have ever wanted to know anything about jewellery making techniques, this is definitely the book you need. It is incredibly comprehensive, packed with information and ideas, with clear demonstrations of techniques such as how to use a wheel to polish, how to create a folded piece of metal, barrel polishing, the pros and cons of using ready made settings and much much more. It offers a way to experiment and innovate in order to create unique jewellery designs; as well as how to improvise tools and save money by using recycled materials, gold and other metal scraps. A very useful book which will undoubtedly become a key reference work for many new to the jewellery making craft. Well written, well presented, and a very good buy if you are looking for a present., October 2014 Ever fancied yourself as a silver smith? Then this book is for you! Beginners will find inspiration and those already into jewellery making will find more than 350 expert tips and tricks of the trade. Arranged by topic so you can easily achieve professional looking earrings, necklaces, rings and more., Oct 13 Two makers come together to solve all your jewellery making problems. Find out everything you want to know, including fixing mistakes, techniques, methods, recycling and more. Includes beading, wire, metalwork and non-traditional materials. 350 expert tips arranged by topic. Great photography, easy to use format., Spring/Summer 2015 This is an extremely comprehensive book on the many and varied techniques of making jewellery. It is over 150 pages long and the authors manage to cram a great deal of information into its pages. The book is highly illustrated with very clear photographs and the writing style is concise and informative - overall a very useful book for any jewellery maker to have in their library. The book is unusual in that it covers both beading and metalworking. Most books on these subjects stick to one or the other because the tools and techniques are so different. But those who enjoy making bead jewellery often want to move on into metalworking of various kinds so this book covers that transition neatly. The two authors are each specialists in their own type of jewellery making - Sara Withers in beading and Xuella Arnold in metalworking - so each subject is covered by and expert in the field. In all, this is a beautifully written and illustrated book and really does manage to cover a huge range of techniques that will be enjoyed by many. Beginners will find it an excellent primer with a very wide sweep while advanced metalworkers will find it fills gaps in their knowledge and shows some new and interesting ways of improving their techniques.

Sara Withers has worked with beads for many years, as a collector and maker. Her jewelry is sold in galleries, shops, and at exhibitions throughout the United Kingdom. She also enjoys teaching bead- and jewelry-making, and lecturing on all aspects of bead history. She is the author of five books on beadwork. Xuella Arnold trained in 3-D design and has been a jewellery designer and maker for 17 years. As well as exhibiting and selling her designs across the country, she teaches jewellery making with precious metal clay to adults in the South East of England, where she lives.