Book Review – Wire Style

Wire Style: 50 Unique Jewelry Designs, edited by Denise Peck.

As the editor of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine, Denise has access to a talented pool of jewelry designers. She showcases 8 of them in her new book along with her own designs in this collection of 50 wire projects.

Denise writes, “You can make designs in wire that are elegant, lush, lyrical, whimsical, austere or even primitive. Designs can be evocative or literal” I’d say this book showcases projects that capture the spirit of each of those descriptions.

I really love this book. You can create findings with wire or an entire design using chain maille. Some of the projects are simply wire. In others the wire is used to enhance a collection of art beads or stones.

The majority of the designs can be created with a minimum of tools: pliers, needle file, ball-peen hammer and steel bench block. You probably have these in your work area! Oxidizing with liver of sulphur is also covered and the most complex part of any of the projects. Wire Style projects are beginner to immediate skill. Denise writes that “if you can hold a pair of pliers, you can make jewelry out of wire!” Wire Style will help you get started.

This is a pair of earrings from Lorelei Eurto that features a technique in the book. Lorelei has cleverly added some ceramic art beads to the designs to give it her own touch!