Custom Cool Jewelry: Create 200+ Personalized Pendants, Charms, and Clasps by Melinda A. Barta

From the Publisher

Common craft supplies find new purpose with the stunning, nontraditional jewelry designs in this guidebook. Basics items such as embossing powder, collage paper, wire, fiber, and fabric can be used to create one-of-a-kind, boutique-style pieces with a personal twist. From romantic wire-worked dangles and simple polymer clay beads to fabric charms and baked bead collages, the unconventional use of basic supplies provide a wealth of new possibilities for crafters. Each project component is shown in a number of color and design variations, inspiring readers to create their own jewelry pieces, and sidebars share insider tips, basic stringing and wirework techniques, and project and shopping resources.

Detroit News

Packed with interesting projects for creating unique jewelry pieces.

Library Journal

Uses a combination of beads and found materials to create unique necklaces.... Would make good addition to public libraries.

About.com Guide to Jewelry Making

Takes a crafting approach to make parts and pieces for your jewelry making needs. It is very refreshing to see a book for those of us with more experience.

Craftypod.com

A nice blend of mixed media and jewelry-making, using very easy-to-find materials. There are so many cool ideas in here.

Constance Ashmore Fairchild - Library Journal

Eclectic contemporary jewelry of all sorts is found in these two practical guides. The projects by Adelson and others require expertise in working with acrylic thermoplastics and liquid resins. Some of the finished jewelry items are reminiscent of mid-20th-century Bakelite. Barta (Hip To Stitch) uses a combination of beads and found materials to create unique necklaces. Such unlikely things as watch parts, playing cards, and printed tin containers are all raw materials for her projects. These unusual books would make good additions to public libraries.

School Library Journal

Adult/High School

This reference and idea book for serious jewelry makers or beaders is beautifully laid out and gorgeously photographed. The individual projects come with instructions, but not step-by-step pictures, and the assumption is that readers have some basic skills. In the end matter, "Beading and Wireworking 101" includes descriptions of bead types, findings, stringing materials, and tools, and a short how-to section. There is a list by project of materials needed and another of sources (online and brick-and-mortar stores). Some projects require non-jewelry tools, such as an embossing heat gun. There are several interesting recycling ideas, such as using old candy or spice tins, pocket watches, lockets, or antique playing cards as the basis for new pieces. A few items use gemstones and silver, which may put them out of the price range of most teens. However, for crafters who want to create one-of-a-kind jewelry that reflects their own interests and sense of style, this is a great source of inspiration.-Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

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