Design and Make Jewellery Using Textile Techniques
Make Textile Art Jewelry
A new book from the UK, Sarah Keay's Design and Make Jewellery Using Textile Techniques, is both an interesting and intriguing publication that any art jeweler or enthusiast will find most valuable. This book just won't disappoint you with all of its unusual potential and cool materials.
The first unusual feature of Ms. Keay's book is the introduction where she supplies a rare text on the history of the crossover between jewelry and textile techniques. The book then proceeds with a part on the beginning of contemporary jewelry using textile techniques. Delicious. This rare and informative section is completed with a brief blurb on today's foremost textile art jewelers including Mary Lee Hu, Arlene Fisch and Flora Book. Anyone interested in textile techniques for art jewelry will undoubtedly be fascinated by reading this entire book introduction. You won't find this kind of historical perspective in many art jewelry books.
A three page Materials section comes next which is adequate given the considerable diversity in projects and materials used in the book. A real bonus here is that the author presents several tips and warnings for readers before beginning any project.
_________________________________________________________________
The first two projects teach both regular felting and Nuno felting, a Japanese felting technique, wherein loose fibers get bonded onto a sheer fabric like silk chiffon. All is quite well illustrated and the instructional text steps are clearly laid out. Crocheting follows this interesting felting section and instructs on making a crocheted silk necklace as well as including an inspiring five page gallery.
Binding (or as we know it in the States, Wire wrapping), differs a bit from our norm and adds some sophistication to this technique. Make sure to check out the inspiring gallery page here, too. You'll learn to make both a tiara and a hollow bangle in the next section on Knitting and French Knitting that are quite nicely done. A nice touch to the sections above is having gallery shots following each technique which really helps you envision possibilities. You’ll find knitting encased in resin and some very unique pieces sure to spark you own creativity..
Another bonus to this book is the section on how to manually weave jewelry on a loom. While this woven piece looks complex, the process is actually far simpler than would be expected. Textile art jewelers should find this section most valuable as it is rare to find this particular technique so well demonstrated.
The final four textile techniques for creating textile art jewelry include bobbin lace making, sewing, smocking and hand spinning. Make the effort to go to Myung Urso's gallery in this section to see her sewn/sterling pieces.
Make sure you check out the hand spinning project here as well. By recycling old newspaper, you can spin it into yarn for art jewelry making. Fascinating. If going green is appealing o you, you’ll completely enjoy this project.
A well conceived book, Design and Make Jewellery Using Textile Techniques, finishes with a delicious gallery section sure to inspire. A well conceived how-to, this book can offer some originality to your library of textile art jewelry techniques. A nice finish comes complete with a resources section and applicable websites to review.
Just click on the link below to get more info about this great book: