Metal Jewelry Workshop: Essential Tools, Easy-to-Learn Techniques, and 12 Projects for the Beginning Jewelry Artist

by Helen I. Driggs

This beginner’s guide to metal jewellery making shows how to create exciting wearable art using just 12 simple, inexpensive hand tools—no jewellery torch required! Metal Jewelry Workshop includes 8 exercises and 12 projects featuring step-by-step photos that show exactly what to do and how the result should look.
By working through this book you will master the use of jeweller’s tools and create beautiful pieces of jewellery along the way. This tried and true learning method will help you build a foundation of proper technique and let you excel without frustration. Wearing jewellery you made yourself means you can express your creativity, talent and personal taste all at once.

• ISBN13: 9781565239531
• Publish Date: 9 October 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 160
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Metal Jewelry Workshop is a new tutorial instruction manual for aspiring metalsmiths by Helen I. Driggs. Due out 8th Oct, 2018 from Fox Chapel, it's 160 pages and available in paperback format.

This book is a nice beginning introduction to metalworking and presupposes no experience. The author follows a logical progression, starting with an introduction to tools and materials. One thing I really appreciated was how she grouped tools into an essential 'jeweler's dozen'. The introduction also includes a necessary and understandable discussion of safety and sensible precautions to prevent injury and insure the best results.

The projects themselves are presented in series, with more complex items using concepts and techniques from earlier chapters. Although the projects are more 'artsy' and modern, the lessons presented include cold connections, chainwork, shaping, sawing, fabrication, work hardening and all the basic coldworking techniques one would expect from a more formal jewelry course. The materials are inexpensive (copper, base metals) but the techniques are perfectly applicable to more precious metals and materials. I especially liked the author's suggested uses for gallery wire and patterned sheet.

The book's final section includes more advanced cold techniques to expand the beginning artist's repertoire and the author gives some good advice about potential further exploration. There's a nice full color gallery along with a glossary, index and resource list (aimed at North Americans). This book does not cover torchwork and none of the projects require a torch. The toolbox is very basic and easily acquired.

The last project in the book is a tabbed one-piece cabochon setting which is large enough to not frustrate newer metalworkers and detailed enough to give a nice finished wearable result.

The photography and illustrations are well done and support the instructions well.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.