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ARTICLE:Book Review: Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton |
Description: Full title: "Enchanted Adornments: Creating Mixed-Media Jewelry with Metal Clay, Wire, Resin, and More" Review: She gives you a quick introduction to Resin, Art Clay, Wire Wrapping, Polymer Clay and even incorporating fabric in your jewelry. If you need inspiration to start a new project, this book is fantastic, as you get a quick, but good introduction to so many different techniques and how to incorporate them together. Worth mentioning is a project showing how to use resin in your wire wrapping, a very interesting technique I haven't seen used before. I believe this book is perfect for both beginners and experienced jewelry artists. Beginners will be introduced to all the techniques that are very easy and excisable for a beginner and this might give you an idea of what techniques you want to try out. The experienced artists might find new energy and inspiration within these pages and perhaps also new ideas for how to incorporate everything you know into one piece. As a big bonus every project in the book has a small story connected to it. It's almost like reading a novel written just for us jewelry makers. I wont reveal too much but I promise you this story is a dream come true for all jewelry artists. If you buy this book, do read the story; it is a big part of understanding the pieces. I do have one but; If you are not into fantasy, elves and mystique this book might not be for you. Cynthia has a very distinct style coming from the world of fantasy, and if this is not your thing, you will probably not see the inspiration as clearly as I do. However if you like to flow into another world this book incorporates everything that a fantasy loving jewelry maker could want. The projects are only described in written words and with very few pictures, so if you are a beginner you will need to buy other books on the techniques you want to try out. However she does mange to put in a lot of projects because she saves space on descriptions. So you probably gets twice as many projects as you would in a normal jewelry technique book. This is story telling with jewelry, I have never seen anything like it before, and I most admit I am very taken by the beautiful creations in this book. I have a ton of jewelry making books but this is the first one I've read from cover to back. It is not a book to follow direct instructions from, but more an inspirational journal. My overall opinion: | |
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Thank you for writing a review of my sister's book. You've provided quite an interesting point of view and have a lot of good things to say. Personally, I think she did an amazing job pulling everything together and creating a perfect mixed media jewelry book that is full of useful and invaluable practical information. Being a metal-smith for over a decade, she's carefully crafted a thorough understanding of what works and is essential and what doesn't work or is superfluous. She imparts the information creatively and from the perspective of someone who has taken it past a hobby and formed a successful creative business. With her experience, she's created a book that is designed to be worked with, starting with some of the most basic techniques and working up to some of the more challenging. It's easy to see the projects as stand alone, but I think there's something about immersing oneself in the process, working with a material, and developing along with the techniques. She gives the jumping off point to developing a personal passion for the materials... a passion that reveals mysteries only through the process of working with a material. Capturing inspiration and getting your hands dirty say more than any picture or written words can. Even still, she's prepared the reader with 50+ pages of techniques, tips, tricks, and methodologies... developed in-depth working examples and approached this for either those who work with the right side of their brain or their left. I don't think she could have added more and still kept it at a manageable size and retained the fun and entertaining aspects.
I have a "but" of my own regarding your review. I think it's unfair to say that someone will hate the projects if they're not into fantasy. Sure the fantasy element is prevalent throughout the book, but it provides an access point and a different approach to understanding the inspirational side of creating your own projects. The projects themselves are technically based and I think can stand alone as timeless pieces. They are not overtly fantastical or over-the-top. You won't find a pixie dust pouch project, a bejeweled athame instructions, or how-to's on creating encrusted glass, ruby, or silver slippers. Many of the projects are perfect for everyday wear.
Anyway, I agree that the book is worth every penny, very beautiful, and totally inspirational. Thanks again for your feedback.
Your sister is very talented and I love this book. I do think the style is very distinct, and some people might not find it as facinating as I do. However I've showed this book to people who doesn't make jewelry, and they where going to buy it just because it's so beautifully done and the stories are just so delightful. If she makes another book I will be the first costumer to order it.
Oh and by the way I read the "hate" part again and rephrased it. English is my second languish and I didn't mean it like that :-)