The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Jewellery Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide for Jewellers and Metalsmiths - Softcover

Seecherran, Vannetta

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844484904 ISBN 13: 9781844484904

Publisher: Search Press Ltd, 2009

Synopsis

All the techniques are explained step-by-step, from the essential metalsmithing techniques to working methods for a wide range of other materials, to be used on their own or in combination. Techniques and processes for working with plastics, ceramics, glass, textiles, paper, natural and found objects, mixed media, and precious and non-precious metals.

About this title

About the Author

Vannetta Seecherran has been a jewellery designer/maker since 1998. After receiving a bachelors degree in Jewellery Design from Parsons School of Design in New York City and a Masters from New Paltz University, New York, she set up her workshop in London. Her work is now sold and exhibited around the world. She currently teaches contemporary jewellery techniques at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, and Camberwell College of Art in London. www.vannettaseecharran.com

Review

Issue 50, Spring 10 From the outset, this book is not trying to be a universal studio manual, covering enamelling in one chapter, gemsetting in the next, and so on. There are no prescriptive texts about what is right and what is wrong and - very pleasingly for a modern technical book - no enormous, bombastic health and safety passages: pointers are given but the author trusts the reader to have common sense about their workshop practice, to have a sense of the experimental and to derive excitement from experiment. Everything is treated intelligently, non-judgementally and with a quiet enthusiasm for the subject matter. The book opens with a brief overview of the workshop and the principles of jewellery design - a necessarily cursory overview: this is not a manual for beginners - before dividing into six main sections: broadly Metal, Plastic, Fibre, Paper, Other and Casting. Each section begins with a photographic selection of works exhibiting some of the processes which will be covered and is then followed by an overview outlining the advantages and disadvantages of the materials and processes and a list of online resources. The following section covers the topic in various stages of depth, from introductory to advanced. The book is filled with compelling colour photographs of finished work. Overall, this is a book to be perused and used. Regardless of the reader's area of practice, there will be something her to fire the imagination and perhaps lead to new directions. * Findings * June 10 The aim of [this book] is, according to the author, to inspire and encourage experimentation with materials when designing and making jewellery. It is easy when designing jewellery to stick with the old faithfuls of wire, beads and stones, but this book is a great reminder that it is not which materials you choose to work with that really matters, it is how you use them. The six chapters are organised by material. Included are traditional metal techniques such as soldering and piercing and textile techniques such as crochet together with techniques for using plastics, rubber, glass and even paper. Combining precious and non-precious materials is encouraged, I was particularly inspired by the combination of wood with silver. Also included is a comprehensive and well laid out tools section. The photographs are beautiful. Even those of materials look like artwork! However, this is no "coffee table book" - it is designed and written to be read from cover to cover and then dipped into at need. It is perfect for both reference and inspiration; this book won't be spending much time on my book case as I will be using it so much! * Beads & Beyond * Autumn 2010 This is a very attractively presented book with detailed instructions and clear pictures in every section. The introduction shows details of the tools and equipment required for the processes discussed throughout the book. There is a very interesting section on designing contemporary jewellery. This introduces areas to consider when designing, from initial inspiration to the importance of note taking, sketching and the pros and cons of the materials being considered for use. The main body of the book is divided into six chapters. Each chapter covers a different material which could be used for jewellery - metal, plastic and rubber, fabric, fibre and leather, paper and paper pulp, other materials and finally casting. This is followed by several pages of decorative effects using materials covered in earlier sections. The encyclopedia would be very sueful for students studying contemporary jewellery making as there is adequate information to try out a wide variety of techniques. It is also a good starting point for anyone unsure of the materials they will eventually feel comfortable using. * Bead Society For Great Britain * Dec 09 This is a fabulous reference book for jewellery making and covers an amazing range of techniques from using plastic and rubber, to crocheting. The main aim of the book is to help consumers get to grips with the range of jewellery making techniques out there, making it an absolute must for customers looking for new and unusual materials to incorporate into their work. Ideal for both beginners and more experienced crafters alike, it is likely to appeal to consumers of all levels. Bright and colourful, the book is easy to navigate, and full of modern techniques and ideas. Beautifully laid out with clear photographs illustrating every step of the process, it takes a practical approach to jewellery making and covers every detail. At GBP12.99 it is definitely good value for money. * Craft Business * Jan 2010 If there are teenage girls in your life, here's one for you. It's a comprehensive guide for creating unusual and unique pieces of jewellery that look fabulous, but can cost very little. All the techniques are explained with step-by-step instructions including working with plastics, ceramics, glass, textiles, paper, natural and found objects, mixed media plus precious and non-precious metals. If you like dabbling in this sort of thing, it's one not to miss. * Machine Knitting Monthly * Nov 09 We all know about making jewelry with conventional materials like beads, polymer clays, metals and wire but there are a lot more exciting materials out there to be shaped into trendy and eye-catching pieces. In here you can learn how to use some of them. As the subtitle on the cover says, this is also a book for metalsmiths and so if you look at the section on what you need you will find a comprehensive range of items associated with this side of jewelry making. The whole of the first chapter is devoted to contemporary ways of using them, but if you don't have all this kit then don't despair as the rest of the book is about using far less conventional materials and methods. Work with plastic, rubber, crochet, concrete, leather, paper, resin and glass, getting to know what you can do with each material and how to do it for best results. Again for quite a few of these you will need various tools beyond the scope of anybody who works just with beads for example, but it depends what you want to make. What this book does is give you guidelines on how to do it, what you need to buy and illustrates it all with the familiar Search Press' excellent photos and captions. If you are finding traditional methods are holding back your creativity and you want to create something more avant garde then this book is a good place to start. * Myshelf.com *

Edition details

• Publisher: Search Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1844484904
• ISBN 13: 9781844484904
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 160