Not Really My Style
Making Designer Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry
by Tammy Powley et al.
What is Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry? In her opening chapter, author Tammy Powley defines mixed-media as glass, fibers, found objects, and paper used as alternative media for making jewelry. From movie tickets to yarn, an old button to a bird feather, almost anything can be used for jewelry making in this book featuring original and creative jewelry design.
Making Designer Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry has the requisite "Basics", "Tools and Materials", and "Techniques" chapters, but these are a little different than most jewelry-making books! As an example, Powley talks about scrap booking supplies, like eyelets, eyelet pliers an eyelet setters, as well as stamping supplies, paints and resins. There's a nice section on knot-making in the Techniques chapter that has nice step-by-step illustrations. Browsing through the introduction sections, you know you are not in for your average jewelry making book.
On to the projects. I have to admit, I'm intrigued by the some of projects in this book, but some of them are just, well, ODD.
There are three sections of projects, containing 21 projects. Necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and pins are all represented. The projects are grouped by type of mixed media items used to create the jewelry — "Ephemera and Memory", "Collectibles and Souvenirs", and "Found Objects and Natural Materials".
The full color photographs of the finished projects are very nice — close enough to be able to see detail. Project materials are listed — with many of the projects you are going to use an idea and make it your own, it's not very likely you'll be able to duplicate the exact materials used in the examples.
Step by step text instructions seem easy enough to follow. There are no step by step illustrations with the exception of the basic techniques outlined in the opening chapters.
At the end of the book, there is a healthy section of gallery items from the various contributing authors. A paragraph describing the piece is included with the full color, detailed photo of each gallery item. Use these for inspiration for your own mixed-media pieces!
As I said, I found some of the projects to really not be my style (A Trip to Asia necklace doesn't even look like it would wear well) but my daughter fell in love with the Pop Culture earrings made from aluminum soda cans and rivets, so we'll be trying that as a Mother-Daughter project one of these days.
If you are interested in mixed-media and want to create some jewelry that's a little off the wall, I recommend Making Designer Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry. If you are more of a traditionalist and want to stay that way, this book is probably not your cup of tea.
Making Designer Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry retails for $24.99 US, $29.95 CAN and can be purchased from Amazon.
