I’m so excited about this new book that is coming out soon: Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration: In the Studio and Behind the Scenes with Extraordinary Women. I’ve read a couple issues of the Somerset Where Women Create magazine, and it always inspires me to daydream about what my ideal workspace would look like. [...]

Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet by Mary Hettmansberger is a great jewelry making book that explains how to use a lot of creative cold connections in metal and fiber jewelry work. If you like rustic looking jewelry, you’ll love this book. The projects all have that handmade look, and the author encourages experimenting. I love [...]

With the holiday season upon us, many people are thinking about wrapping up end of the year projects, finding the perfect gift for everyone on their list, and avoiding gaining five pounds while being surrounded by tempting food and drinks. What a lot of people won’t think about until after December 25th are their goals [...]

I just read about this new jewelry making book, The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Jewelry Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide for Jewelers and Metalsmiths, and I want it! Apparently it has chapters on all kinds of non-traditional jewelry making materials, like paper, plastic, etc as well as the usual information on basic metalsmithing techniques. Sounds pretty [...]

Modern Jewelry from Modular Parts: Easy Projects Using Readymade Components by Marthe Le Van is a book I was immediately drawn to when I saw it. The cover had some pictures of very modern looking metal jewelry, and the title claims you can make this jewelry with “readymade components”. This is partially true. You can [...]

I was inspired by my recent beeswax collage class at ZNE Convenzione (taught by Anna Corba) to learn more about mixed media artwork. I went to my local library, and found a great book on collage, “Creative Collage: Making Memories in Mixed Media” by Marie Browning. In this book, a number of different collage techniques [...]

Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Projects for the Everyday Crafter by Kathy Cano Murillo is a fun book of easy sewing projects. I’m one of those people who loves to make things without a pattern, and so is the Crafty Chica – so I had to check out her book, even though I [...]

There is some pretty amazing jewelry being made by knitting or crocheting with wire. Want to try for yourself? Here are some online resources and books to check out. Books: Arline Fisch’s book, Textile Techniques in Metal – one of my all-time favorite books, period. Fisch’s more recent book, Crocheted Wire Jewelry: Innovative Designs & [...]

Sometimes the best cure for artist’s block is a good book on creativity. I was at my local bookstore recently, and saw Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspiration from Working Artists by Rice Freeman-Zachery in the craft section. Flipping through, I was intrigued by the artistic page layouts, features of mixed-media artists (including some [...]

I just read Fabric Jewelry: 25 Designs to Make Using Silk, Ribbon, Buttons, and Beads by Teresa Searle. Loved this book. Sewing is one of the few crafts I haven’t really gotten into, but not because I don’t want to – I just keep trying not to buy a sewing machine, or a dress makers [...]