Lots of New Books! Metalcrafts, Quilting & Jewelry

Oooohhh!  A VERY HAPPY DAY is  getting books in the mail!  And I received a lot yesterday!  Five books for $25 ~ that included the shipping.

THE BORDER WORKBOOK by Janet Kime.  Easy Speed-Pieced and Foundation-Pieced Borders ~ 10ty Anniversary Edition.  2006.

I normally just add sashing type or flying geese borders to my quilts ~ so I picked this one hoping it would inspire me to add prettier borders to my future quilts! The borders included are ~ Easy Braid, Log Cabin Spiral, Flying Geese, Tilted X, Kitty Faces, Eeek! Mice!, Spinning Stars, Sawtooth, Double Sawtooth, Stacked Strips, Checkerboard, Paw Prints, Stacked Bricks, Squares on Point, Beads on a String, Small Dogtooth, Large Dogtooth, Folded Ribbon, Shaded Squares, Arrows, Zigzag, Side-by-Side Hearts, Vertical Hearts, Speed-Pieced Braid, Diamonds and Accordion Pleats.

From what I’ve seen by just flipping through the book ~ Nice layout and easy to read instructions.

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL BEADED JEWELRY by Heidi Boyd. 50 Quick and Easy Projects. 2006.

This is a nice book ~ easy to read layout with good introduction on findings, materials, tools and techniques. But it probably isn’t a book I would have bought if I was able to thumb through it at a bookstore. Very good book for a beginner ~ I’m not a beginner. I may pass this one onto my my sister and my soon-to-be 8 year old niece to use.

ELEGANT WIRE JEWELRY by Kathy Frey. Contemporary Designs & Creative Techniques. 2007.

THIS one I like! Definitely a keeper. I’m not big on most of the designs, but excellent in step by step techniques!

The Basics ~ tools, beyond-the-basics tool kit, fully-committed-tool-junkie kit, wire, manipulating wire, cutting wire, finishing cut ends, filing and sanding, straightening wire, hardening wire, bending wire, making sharp & soft bends, forming simple loops, wrapped loops, coiling and wrapping, opening and closing loops, making basic hook and eye clasp, making a headpin, purchasing commercial findings, hammering wire, oxidizing wire and finishes. Lots of tips.

SIMPLE SOLDERED JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES by Lisa Bluhm. A Crafter’s guide to fashioning necklaces, earrings, bracelets & more. 2007.

I already had all the materials and equipment to give this art craft a try ~ thought I’d get a book to help me along with the techniques. And it looks like I picked the right one as this book is loaded with good ideas and tips. Lots of pictures and very good directions and explanations. This book is mainly for lead-free low temp soldering ~ if you are jumping right into silversmithing you may want to skip this, but then maybe you wouldn’t. As I said…great foundation of learning this art. It would make the transition into using silver easier, me thinks…

Introduction has Project Tools and Materials ~ tool setup, glass cutting area, soldering tools, tools for beading, finishing tools, soldering materials, bead materials, art materials. A few words about safety. Lots of projects.

METAL CLAY THE COMPLETE GUIDE by Jackie Truty. Innovative Techniques to Inspire Any Artist. 2007.

Not really sure why I picked this book up other than the fact that it fascinates me that metal clay can look like traditional silver and gold jewelry! I may play with this later on down the road.

With metal clay there is no initial preparation with wax, no sprues, no investment, no burn-out, no melting of metals, no vacuum or centrifugal casting. If you prefer, there’s no soldering of any kind. Molding, carving, drying, sanding, firing and polishing metal clay are the only steps involved. Best of all, everything in metal clay prior to firing is recyclable into more clay and paste, ready for reuse. That’s not to say that mastering metal clay techniques is easy, but the time, money and product investments are far less than those associated with traditional metalworking.

HOME & GARDEN METALCRAFTS by Jana Ewy. Included 15 easy-to-make Projects. 2002.

This is one of the books that Sue of Perpetualplum sent me with a bunch of others in trade for soaps.

I’ll be using this book ~ lots of great ideas for outdoor artwork, lamps and other stuffus made of copper.

Crafters’ Cafe ~ an eBay Group

I’m in an eBay Group called Crafters’ Cafe…we’re a bunch of people who bonded together before the groups even came into play over there.  Found each other over on the Craft & Hobby discussion boards.  There is a core group of us, who always welcome newcomers…but I sometimes think they are a little intimidated by the craziness that goes on.  LOL!  Over the next few weeks I’m going to highlight two members at a time…there are beaders, quilters, knitters, embroiderers, jewelers, painters, crafters, artists, sewers, candle makers, soapers, clay sculptors…you name it, we make it. 

Today I’m going to introduce Sue Clark and Donna Bohler ~

Donna retired in the Fall of 2006 from the phone company back in Michigan…since then she picked back up an old hobby, macrame,  and a new hobby ~ beading & jewelry making. She mastered beading real fast and is making beautiful designs! Am trying to get her to start a shop over on Etsy, but one step at a time, I guess…she’ll be starting a blog this weekend. Fingers crossed! Until then…you can find her at her ebay store ~ Knots Sew Much.    She plans on selling her creations at craft shows in her neck of the woods, as well as on-line.  Below are some of Donna’s beaded jewelry that she has finished ~

Siam Peyote bracelet with crystals & gold rings

Bracelet: Turquoise crystals and gold pearls

Byzantine: Chain Mail bracelet, sterling silver

And one of my favorites ~

Necklace with African art glass beads, copper beads & spacers

Sue Clark, of Pertualplum and Unique Re-tiques, is a VERY multi-talented lady. Sue works with recycled materials to create one of kind artwork,  she also makes art and fine crafts as well.  Sue loves to work with metals, especially copper.  She paints, draws, and loves watercolors and pastels.   I would love to spend a week up in Oregon with her…in her shop and wandering around her property.

You can find Sue at her website ~ Unique Re-tiques~ a resource for free craft ideas, do it yourself projects, art and craft supplies (new and recycled), Portland, Oregon area shopping, Oregon travel, Oregon sightseeing, Recycled or Repurposed art information, craft fairs and festivals….

At Etsy ~ Perpetualplum….

And at her blog here on wordpress.com ~ Perpetualplum’s Weblog

Below are pictures of some of Sue’s creations ~

Altered Domino Bracelet Celebrating Grapes ~ can be bought on etsy

Framed Altered Art Jeweled Copper Butterfly Aenus Decororis ~ also can be bought on etsy!

Pink Flowers Hand Ink Rendered Altered Domino Brooch ~ etsy item

Paisley Peacocks Altered Mini Domino Necklace with Vintage Copper Findings ~ etsy

And from my collection ~ here is one of my many ACEO cards of Sue’s ~

Instead of Growing Old, She Grew Wings.

Please check out this wonderful ladies at their sites! You won’t be disappointed!