Description:

Moods in Wire
An extended guide to the fine are of wirewrapping, by Ellsworth “Ed” Sinclair

This book has often been referred to as “the bible” of wire wrapping. Living in the very rural setting that I do it is impossible for me to take and attend classes. So I studied the descriptions of every book available on the subject of wire wrapping. I was looking for a book to give me the knowledge that I needed for wire wrapping, from basics to projects that were challenging. I was not disappointed in the purchase of “Moods In Wire”.
This book is soft bound in a spiral wire spine. This is great for opening it to a page and folding it back to the section that you need, and can then glance at it for guidance while your hands are occupied with wire. Originally published as two separate volumes “Moods in Wire” and “Moods in Brass and Glass”, the second edition has combined both in one book.
Before even listing the basic tools for wirewrapping, Mr. Sinclair gives a basic....how to use this book. Here is good solid advice for the budding wire wrap jewelry artist, based on his own experience in this field. He swiftly moves into basic tools list and descriptions, then into a list of wire to be used as practice as well as wire gauges in gold and silver. Also are the stones and beads that are the most commonly used sizes needed to get started in wirewrapping.
Moods in Wire is divided into two different sections. Mr. Sinclair suggests that the first half is for precious metals and gemstones, and that the second half is devoted to the less expensive projects using practice wire (brass or copper) and glass. He also suggests that you start with the second section and practice with the less expensive materials and building your skills, before tackling the projects in the first section.
Then he starts laying out a bounty of projects for gorgeous rings, bracelets, pendants, stick pins, earrings, crosses, and even a spider and wire web. Although there are photographs of the completed projects, he relies on good illustrations to take you through the projects step by step. Along the way in these projects are instructions for gaining center skills that can be applied in different ways as the growing wire artist expands and explores different variations.
I highly recommend “Moods in Wire”. Not just for beginner’s but for all levels of wire wrapping. I will note that the absence of pictures in favor of drawings has been something that many other readers on other sites did complain about. So if you need step by step photographs this is not the book for you.
The picture that I put up with this book review is of a bracelet I call hugs and kisses. Hugs and kisses is an adaptation of a pendant project in Mr. Sinclair’s beautiful book.