94 Reviews

122 out of 124 people found this review helpful:
Outstanding - Every Step of the way!

Many other books leave important steps up to the imagination, or show shoddy craftsmanship on the completed pieces. Sharilyn's step by step imagery is near flawless and the completed pieces breathtaking. I am a huge fan of Sharilyn's ethnic inspired jewelry and it warms my heart when someone with so much talent is willing to share their passion for art with others. I was especially taken by the pins and several of the silver link variations.

I noticed that some of Sharilyn's techniques (basic wire wrapping techniques) are a bit different than those of other metal artists, and I find it refreshing to see alternative (and better) ways to achieve the same goal. (For those of us who couldn't make heads or tails out of other artist's tutorials.)

I personally am not a fan of the white handled Lindstrom pliers that Sharilyn favors. I find them too small and hard on my hands. (I use the Swanstrom ergonomic line) When looking to buy tools - pick up one of Rio Grande's Tool Catalogs and take notice of the many different options available. Buy the best that you can afford, and make sure that the tools are the right size for your hands.

For goodness sake, stop reading my ramblings and buy this book! You will not regret adding this wonderful book to your library.

PS - Sharilyn! When will you write us a book showing how to make those wonderful rings?

76 out of 77 people found this review helpful:
Read it, then go make something gorgeous!

I found this book to be a super adjunct to my library of jewelry making books. I think that you need a small amount of experience or it might be ovewhelming to view the first section on tools, which is very comprehensive and could be daunting. However, if you really love learning, Sharilyn is just the person to teach you. With great photographs (and lots of them!), she properly demonstrates how to accomplish something as simple as making a jumpring (and how to open it correctly so you don't mess it up!). She then progresses to creations as fancy as making a festive and festooned charm watch you will want to wear right away, and some lovely bracelets, earrings and necklaces which are worth the time and effort. After all that, she throws in a description of how to oxidize (using a mindblowingly beautiful spiral bracelet she shows how to make, first) better than anyone I have ever read or listened to. She gives good advice about design and sturdiness (I hate thinking stuff I wear is going to break--that is why I like wiring to begn with) and she is generous in sharing her style. Take what you like fom this book, and go make something spectacular of your very own!

41 out of 51 people found this review helpful:
Good techniques, Not for the average beader!

This book had fantastic photos and relatively clear instructions! Sadly, no book can have moving pictures, which is what would really make some of the techniques more clear to the average designer. Very useful tips on making your own findings, but with the relatively inexpensive cost of commercial findings today, unless you need something in a custom size, I wouldn't waste my time making your own jump rings, eye pins, or ear wires...you'd never finish a project! The need to oxidize everything with Liver of Sulfur was redundant. Not to mention that chemical is not a safe thing to have around your house if you design at home. Just use some hard boiled eggs and a Ziploc bag to get the same result organically. And if you are buying this book to get design ideas for your own work, it is not for you. There are absolutely lovely designs included, but they are very few in number. This is a pure techniques book. Check it out from the library and skip buying it, unless you need a reference manual. I would not recommend this for the beader making everyday craft fair items. Unless you are a designer making custom, high-end pieces, this book is not for you.

21 out of 21 people found this review helpful:
An excellent place to start

I agree with the other reviewers who praise this book. This is an excellent introduction to wire and bead craft. The instructions are all accompanied by step by step photographs and the necessary tools are listed and how to use them explained.

I looked through several books in the store and was extremely disappointed by what I call the "look at me" syndrome - that is too many pictures of the author's work and far too little instruction on how they did it.

In contrast, this book starts right out with the how to of the craft. The various techniques are nicely broken down into reasonable and clearly explained and demonstrated instructions. Then you get a plethora of lovely projects to practice on. Add to that, the photographer who shot the jewelry pieces is another scary talent in her own right. The pieces look gorgeous.

Now I must say, this is not the end all and know all of bead and wire but it will get you started making high quality jewelry. That is why Bead on a Wire made its way home with me while so many other similarly named books are still sitting pretty on the store shelf.

And as an aside, for as impressed as I was with just the book, I also checked out Sharilyn's web site. There are even more seriously cool looking pieces there. I would love to attend more than one of her classes!

20 out of 35 people found this review helpful:
Another view

The book is beautifully photographed and projects are very pretty. However, all of the projects are based on Lynne Merchant, Louise Duhamel & Connie Fox's work. I've never taken a Lynne Merchant class, but I've taken classes from Louise & Connie and, Sherilyn for that matter and, this is all re-hash for anyone who has taken a class with any of the above mentioned women or with anyone who teaches this particular style of wire work.

If you are short on funds, but still want the knowledge in this book, check out Connie Fox's site, go to the Education link and read all of her tutorials, follow her links to Lapidary Journal and read all of the bangle tutorials and, get the May 2005 Step by Step Wire magazine and you will have 85 - 90% of what is in the book. Add in Sherilyn's heart link tutorial in a magazine - Belle Armoire.... and you're getting really close to all the wire shaping information in this book.

Again, the book and projects are very nice, but with the exception of one 'kuchi' type bead, there is nothing in the book that can't be found elsewhere.