Book Review & Giveaway: New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry

New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry: Unexpected Combinations, Unique Designs is written by the effervescent jewelry designer and blogger Margot Potter.  (North Light Books $24.99 US; $28.99 CAN).


This is Margot's 6th book she's written.  Margot has over 20 years of creative experience under her belt. Just like her other books, this book too, is packed full of projects, techniques and tips.  There are 30 projects in this book each with up close color photos to guide you along your creative beading journey. 

There are 5 different chapters: Foundations, Wrapped, Crocheted and Coiled Shaping Wire Designs; Thinking in 3-D, Woven Beading Wire Designs; Sculptural Concepts, Complex Dimensional Shaping Wire and Bead Designs; Architectural Exploration, Complex Dimensional Beading Wire and Bead Designs; and The Fifth Dimension, Combining Beading and Shaping Wire Designs.

One of my favorite projects is in Chapter One's FOUNDATIONS: Wrapped, Crocheted and Coiled Shaping Wire Designs: ARACHNE featuring a antique skeleton key which hangs from a delicate crocheted black wire chain. Although it's meant to look primitive and imperfect when it's combined with the crocheted wire this gives it an elegance as well.

Another favorite is in Chapter Fours's ARCHITECTURAL EXPLORATION: Complex Dimensional Beading Wire and Bead Designs: AMPHITITE.  Here Margot shows you how to design the Amphitite featuring a fishnet pattern using silver pleated beading, sparkling crystal connections and fringe-like tendrils she calls "fringles" to add dimension and kinetic moment to this sparkling piece.

Whether your wanting to learn beading for the first time, but were afraid to take that first step or you've already tried your hand at beading Margot's book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry: Unexpected Combinations, Unique Designs is the perfect book for you!

I'm thrilled to announce that I have a copy of Margot's new book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry: Unexpected Combinations, Unique Designs to offer as a giveaway!

Simply leave a comment here telling me what creative endeavors you like to do, along with your name and email.  If you post about this giveaway on your blog you will also have an additional entry, but please make sure you comment again with the link back to your post.

Happy Creating!

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Inspiring Book

I've been meaning to post about 

a book I recently came across at 

the bookstore that I really found 

interesting and inspiring using Epoxy clay.

Inspired Remnants, Curious 

Dreams: Mixed Media Projects 

in Epoxy Clay

By: Kerin Gale

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Enchanted Adornments Book Review

 

 Now days when it comes to book and magazine buying I'm much more selective on what I actually buy.  Gone are the days where I had to have any new book that came out. More often then not I will look through the book or magazine at the bookstore and feel inspired but not usually enough to purchase the book.   Not because they are bad books just because I've gotten much more selective on my book buying.  It has to have more then one project I feel compelled to make or have several techniques that I really want to learn.  So when I picked up Cynthia Thorton's Enchanted Adornments book I was  very drawn to it but reluctantly put the book back.  When after the third time of going to the bookstore and feeling myself drawn to her book again I decided I HAD to get it!

Enchanted Adornments is a wonderful addition to your book collection if you're a mixed-media jewelry artist looking for something uniquely different.   It offers polymer clay, precious metal clay, and resin jewelry projects.   Is it for a beginner?...no I would say not.  If you haven't already worked with these mediums or at least a couple of them I would recommend getting some more experience under your belt (unless your one of those people that can pick up on things quickly).  It is also not a step by step manual but more an inspirational magical whimsical book of ideas!  Cynthia combines her love of storytelling with her love of creating enchanted jewelry beautifully! I've found it to be very inspiring for me.




Artistic Inspirations to help you create!
 

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Beyond the Bead Review

I had the opportunity to pick up a new book this weekend at the bookstore: Beyond the Bead By Margot Potter. I really enjoyed the projects she offers they have good clear pictures and concise directions as does all her books. Although some of the projects may not be new to some of you that doesn't matter we all need to be reminded and inspired to use some of those supplies we've have sitting around that we forgot we have. What I love about Margot's books is that she has a talent for thinking outside the box she has a great eclectic whimsical style. I also appreciate the fact that it is her work in her books and they are not comprised of other artists work.

Check out Margot's blog the Impatient Crafter TM and get a sneak peek at one of the projects she offers in her book.

<==check the archives to view previous posts

Anatomy of a Book Review

You all know that excitement when you order a new art book and you're eagerly awaiting it's arrival short of stalking the mail person. The day finally arrives when the mail person delivers your package and the excitement is almost too much to bear and you daintily rip and tear open the box! What do you mean you don't do this?!?

As I've acquired so many books I've found that I've become much more selective then when I first started out. I usually try to look through the books I want at the bookstore first and then decide, but most times our local bookstore doesn't get the newest books in for quite awhile. If my withdrawals are too much, and I need a fix I'll give in and order after reading book reviews online (this helps some, but not totally since we're each look for something different in a book).

I'm usually left with one of the following feelings after reading a book:

1. I'm thrilled and think this is a keeper! It not only gives me great eye candy, but actual techniques, steps and projects! Its definitely a keeper and I'll put it on my shelf to use it as a reference book.

2. It's a nice book, BUT it's not what I had hoped. I put this in the category of it would be a great check out of the library book, but not one that I feel the need to keep on my shelf.

3. Disappointment, why did I spend the money. Thankfully this doesn't happen often.

So with all that said I received two books in the mail this week. I excitedly thumbed through them quickly and then set them down until I had more time when I could sit down with my favorite warm drink and peruse, drool and read through each of the books and really savor them! See my take on each of the books below:

Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by by Kelly Rae Roberts (Author)--I love this book and find it very inspiring, with great how tos and tips along with eye candy. Its definitely one that will go on my shelf and I'll use as reference and as inspiration book.

Mixed-Media Self-Portraits: Inspiration & Techniques
by Cate Coulacos Prato (Author) -This one was nice eye candy from various artists but was a bit disappointing for me. I was hoping for more techniques then pictures of projects by other artists. It would be a great check out of the library book in my opinion.

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Guilty Pleasure

I'm admitting to my guilty pleasure my sister has enticed me by gifting me a book for my birthday...I must state these are not the typical books I like to read so I was pleasantly surprised when I did like them and "got hooked!" The books are written by Stephenie Meyer and titled: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. I have always been an avid reader, but sadly between business and having to steal time for art I quit reading unless a good author comes along that hooks me! That's exactly what with this new series did, damn my sister for tempting me with this drug! I'm very excited to learn that the first book will be made into a movie coming out Nov. 21st.

They're classified as young adult books, but none the less they have been fun to read. Although, I would consider them light reading and rather doubt they would win any great literary awards I did them enjoy. I think it helped that I had no clue about them and was not caught up in the hype therefore I had no preconcieved expectations so there was no disappointment on my part.

Read the following Summary from Twilight the book One:

Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

From School Library JournalGrade 9 Up–When Bella Swan moves from sunny Phoenix to Forks, Washington, a damp and dreary town known for the most rainfall in the United States, to live with her dad, she isn't expecting to like it. But the level of hostility displayed by her standoffish high school biology lab partner, Edward Cullen, surprises her. After several strange interactions, his preternatural beauty, strength, and speed have her intrigued. Edward is just as fascinated with Bella, and their attraction to one another grows. As Bella discovers more about Edwards nature and his family, she is thrown headlong into a dangerous adventure that has her making a desperate sacrifice to save her one true love. One of the more original vampire constructs around, this recording of Stephenie Meyers debut novel (Megan Tingley Books, 2005) is narrated with great style by Ilyana Kadushin, who makes the infinitely romantic tale of star-crossed lovers resonate with a bittersweet edge. Although Edward and Bellas romance and subsequent danger develops slowly, the pacing is appropriate for teens who want learn all the details in this suspenseful tale. An excellent purchase for both school and public libraries.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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The Artists Muse: Unlock the Door to Your Creativity

I highly recommend the following book I recently bought. It's titled:

The Artists Muse: Unlock the Door to Your Creativity

by Besty Dillard

Book and Card Kit

If your looking for something different to spark your creative energy this book is for you. It's not an eye candy book and more then just a technique book it's a kit that gives you exercises to unleash your creativity! Not only do you get a book, but it also comes with 3 decks of cards to jump start your muse. The cards are meant to be used as a game. You may select one, two or three cards to create a painting. Choose a rectangular card from the DOORS OF AWARENESS deck for subject suggestions. A circular Card from the CIRCLES OF GROWTH deck will offer ideas on color. To really challenge yourself, draw a square card from the WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY deck to find a new technique or approach that will force you to think in new ways. This game can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. The ideas in the book and exercises from the cards can easily be applied to other mediums such as fabric or paper. From the beginner to the advanced artist this book will get you creating.

I really enjoy just drawing a card or two from the decks and once I start the idea that's given it spurs me on from there. I find many times that I create better when I have a focus or reason to create a piece then when I don't, so I've found this book and card set to be a useful tool for me.

Below are scans of the decks of cards:

Here you should be able to read what each card says:

Here's a sample page from the book: